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THE HEREDITARY
SHEEIFFS OF GALLOWAY
THEIR " FOREBEAES " AND FRIENDS
THEIR COURTS AND CUSTOMS OF THEIR TIMES
WITH NOTES OF THE EARLY HISTORY, ECCLESIASTICAL
LEGENDS, THE BARONAGE AND PLACE-
NAMES OF THE PROVINCE
BT THE LATE
Sir ANDREW AGNEW, Babt.
OF LOCHNAW
VOL. I.
EDINBURGH
DAVID DOUGLAS, 10 CASTLE STEEET
1893
AU rightt remrved
v./
£s e» I V \
EDITOK'S NOTE
When my Father died a few months ago, this second and
enlarged edition of the Sheriffs of Galloway was practically
finished. The whole of the MS. was in the hands of the
printer, and some of the early proofs had already been returned
for correction. Under the circumstances, his family were
anxious that a work in which he had taken such a deep interest,,
and to which he had devoted so much labour, should, if possible,,
be brought to completion. The warm encouragement and
advice of Mr. David Douglas has made this an easy task.
As it was mainly a question of revising the proof-sheets,,
and as I had written out the whole of the MS. at my Father's
dictation, it was thought that the work had better be done by
me. I have done my best to keep the book free from slips,
whether in the printing or in the sense ; and with the valuable
help of Mr. George Stronach, one of the assistant librarians in
the Advocates' Library, who kindly undertook to verify the
quotations from old records, whether French or Latin, I trust
all preventable mistakes have been avoided.
It can scarcely be hoped that in a work of this kind,
especially in one which deals so largely with the etymology of
local names, some errors should not have crept in, which only
the special knowledge of the Author could have detected. Had
he lived to see the proofs, these errors would no doubt have
VI HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
been observed and rectified. If any such, therefore, are dis-
covered, I trust they will be attributed, not to the Author, but
to the fact that the book has had to be published without
his personal supervision, which alone could have ensured its
absolute accuracy.
CONSTANCE AGNEW.
LooHKAW, November 1892.
PBEFACE
" Inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and pre^jare thyself to the search of
their fathers ; for we are bat of yesterday, and know nothing." — Job viii. 8, 9.
Having rushed prematurely into print many years ago, as a
natural result the volume abounded with errors of omission and
commission.
Happily the very extravagance of some of the mistakes
induced gratuitous assistance for their correction. As, for
example, a statement hazarded that 'Hhe Agneaux, once
numerous, were now entirely extinct in the country which was
the cradle of their race," led to a mild remonstrance from the
Bocages of Normandy, to which the volume had found its way,
that their Scottish representative had not only ignored but
annihilated them.
Correspondence led to explanations and an exchange of
visits, as agreeable as they proved fertile in results. The
charter-chest of the Ghllteau Isle Marie and the departmental
archives of St. Lo yielded documents innumerable, from which
not only details were to be gathered as to the family in France,
but particidars as to their settlements in England.
The clue thus found, the identification of the Norman
branches in their English domiciles was an easy matter. In the
English State Paper Office, exchequer rolls from Parliamentary
writs, commissions, summonses, etc., afforded abundantly the in-
formation we required ; and now knowing in what direction to
vm HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
look, many further particulars were to be gathered from the
exhaustive works of our English county historians, and of these
more especially Bloomfield and Chauncey.
In our former publication many family papers and ofiBcial
notices were overlooked, and many sources of information which
were really open to us were either unknown or unthought of.
Prominent among these were : —
1. Notes Historiques sur la Seigneurie, le ChMeau et la
Paroisse cPAgneau, Francois Nicolas de Bosque, St. Lo, 1857.
2. NobUiere de Normandie, 2 vols., royal quarto, R de
Magny, 1862.
3. The Pipe Bolls, Parliamentary writs, etc., all accessible
in the State Paper Office, though few then had been published.
Whilst since that date official publication has been made of
the Lord Chamberlain's and Lord High Treasurer's accounts in
Scotland, as well as of the Great Seal Begister.
And the Chronicles of the Picts and Scots, ably edited by Mr.
W. F. Skene, have been officially issued from the Begister House.
Previous also to our publication, Chauncey's History and
Antiquities of Hertfordshire, folio ; and Bloomfield's History of
Norfolk, five vols., folio, had been published in last century, and
these have been largely quoted.
Since our publication there have appeared M'Dowall's
History of Dumfries, 1867 ; Fordun's History, Notes by Skene,
1871-72; Wyntoun's Ckronicles, Notes by Laing, three vols.,
1872-79 ; Lives of St. Ninian and St. ITentigem, Bishop Forbes,
1874; Annals of Viscount and 1st and 2nd Earls of Stair,
Murray Graham, 1875; Skene's Celtic Scotland, three vols.,
published between 1876-80. Correspondence of Sir Patrick
Waus (a model of good editing), Mr. Vans Agnew, 1882 ;
Chronicles of Lindvden, M*Dowall, 1886.
Of older works, I have found extremely useful the AnncUs
PREFACE IX
of Scotland, by Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, as much
for its intrinsic merit as the accuracy of its reference to the
older chroniclers facilitating closer examination. The edition
quoted was in three vols, octavo, 1797.
The early history of Galloway being inseparable from that
of Ayrshire, not only in family notices but as respects the
names of places, we have treated of Galloway in its largest
extent, and have looked for examples as far north as the Water
of Irvine.
As for place-names, this subject alone is approached with
diffidence, well knowing how tentative many attempted explana-
tions necessarily must be ; protesting, however, against the appli-
cation of the sneer laid against oracles of old to those interested
in this branch of philology — Mdvri^ apiaro^ oari<: eUd^ei
Ka\£^ (the best guesser is the best prophet). Any one attempt-
ing to explain the names of a district of which he knows
nothing, by mere guessing from the sound, will soon find himself
in a mess. Personal inspection, if possible, with local and
historical knowledge, are indispensable to anything like an
approach to correctness.
My thanks are due for the many useful suggestions made
from time to time by the Bishop of Down and Connor ; as well
as to Dr. Joyce for his extreme courtesy, although we are
personally strangers, in so fully and kindly answering the
many troublesome queries in the long correspondence I inflicted
upon him.
For the actual force of many of the roots I am much
indebted to the late Dr. Thomas M'Lauchlan, who over and
over again revised my notebook.
As also to my much lamented friend John Campbell of
Islay, who was much interested in Celtic research ; Rev. George
Wilson, Glenluce ; Rev. Andrew Urquhart, B.D.
X HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY
Besides which an historical account of the Kennedies from
charters at Onlzean, privately printed, was kindly given to the
author by Lord David Kennedy, and a MS. collection of
notices of the Agnews in Ireland was sent for perusal by the
Eev. Classen Porter.
Adamnan's Coluniba being considered especially valuable, as
weU as those given by Mr. Skene in his Celtic Scotland, Dr.
Joyce's Names of Places in Ireland, Sir Herbert Maxwell's
Studies in the Topography of Oallotvay ; and certain suggestions
have been obtained from Bannister's Names of Places in Com-
tvall, Ferguson's Northman in Cumberland, and Miss Yonge's
Christian Names, The dictionaries principally relied upon are
O'Eeilly's, with Supplement by Dr. O'Donovan, 1864 (Irish) ;
Armstrong's Gaelic Dictionary, 1825; M'Leod and Dewar^s,
1831 : for pronunciation, Neil M'Alpine's, sixth edition, 1872 ;
Owen's Welsh Dictionary, 1826 ; and William SpurreH's, third
edition, 1872.
The name of Galloway, although so constantly in the
mouths of its inhabitants, is so entirely ignored by map-makers
that we may state that, although in early times its bounds
extended to the river Irvine northward, as weU as eastward of
the Nith, for many centuries its limits have been confined to
the counties of Wigtown and Elirkcudbright. From before
the wars of succession Wigtown has been a sheriffdom ; while
Kirkcudbright, from the days of the Douglasses to very recent
times, was under the jurisdiction of a steward (whose duties
were identical with those of a sheriff). Hence the true Gallo-
vidian rarely names " Wigtown " or " Kirkcudbright," but calls
the whole district "Galloway," distinguishing the former as
" the Shire," and the latter as " the Stewartry."
We are weU aware that the circle is a most limited one to
which a History of the Sheriffs of Galloway can be of any
PREFACE XI
interest whatever ; but, in accordance with the homely proverb
that " what it is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well," I
have spared no pains to make the record of Galloway events,
as well as the doings of the family of its Sheriffs, during the
period they presided in its Courts, as complete and as accurate
as possible, and as such to offer it as a legacy to my descendants,
who, a century or two hence, may give a kindly thought to the
compiler.
LocHKAW, NvmnJbvr 1891.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
A.D. 79 to 794
PAOB
From ths Adtancs of Aoricola to th£ Retreat of the
Northumbrian Saxons ..... 1
CHAPTER n
A.D. 794 to 1124
The Norsemen to Accession of David I. . .24
CHAPTER m
A.D. 1124 to 1161
Feroub, Lord of Galloway . .44
CHAPTER IV
A.D. 1161 to 1234
Lords of the Line of Fergus .65
CHAPTER V
A.D. 1234 to 1360
Alan's Heirs to the Brucian Settlement .81
XIV HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
CHAPTER VI
PAGE
The Raoman Roll .107
CHAPTER VII
Place-names iLLUSTRATmo Old Qalloway Pursuits . .113
CHAPTER Vm
A.D. 1000 to 1460
The Aoneaux in France .180
CHAPTER IX
A.D. 1084 to 1360
The Aonews in England .194
CHAPTER X
A.D. 1865
The Agnews in Ireland ..... 207
CHAPTER XI
A.D. 1365 to 1866
The Kinq*8 Castle of Lochnaw . .213
CHAPTER XII
A.D. 1866 to 1424
The Douglas at Lochnaw .225
CONTENTS XV
CHAPTER XIII
A.D. 1424 to 1440
PAOB
The Duchsss of Tourains ..... 240
CHAPTER XIV
A.D. 1440 to 1455
The First Hbreditart Shbripf .... 253
CHAPTER XV
A.D.' 1455 to 1484
The Second Hereditart Sheriff .271
CHAPTER XVI
A.D. 1484 to 1498
Third Hereditart Sheriff ..... 287
CHAPTER XVII
A.D. 1498 to 1506
Baronial Banquetingb ..... 307
CHAPTER XVIII
A.D. 1506 to 1510
The Forest of Buchan ..... 319
XVI HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
CHAPTER XIX
A.D. 1510 to 1527
PAGB
Flodden ....... 331
CHAPTER XX
A.D. 1528 to 1545
Thb Dawn of the Reformation .... 343
* CHAPTER XXI
A.D. 1544 to 1547
PiNKBY ClEUOH . . • . . 357
CHAPTER XXII
A.D. 1548 to 1559
Sixth Hereditaby Sheriff ..... 369
CHAPTER XXIII
A.P. 1559 to 1570
The Kino of Carri6K ..... 382
CHAPTER XXIV
A.D. 1570 to 1584
Suppression of Pilgrimaoes . . .401
CONTENTS XVU
CHAPTER XXV
A.D. 1584 to 1598
PAOB
The Armada ....... 418
CHAPTER XXVI
A.D. 1598 to 1616
Thb Feuds of the Kennedys .... 435
CHAPTER XXVII
A.D. 1616 to 1630
The Kino's Bailie of Leswalt .... 453
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOL. I.
LocHNAW Castle, from ths Loch .
Vignette — Panel from Lochnaw Cabtle, 1666
ChIteau D'Agneaux, Normandie .
SsAiA of —
1. Heli6 D'Agneaux, 1190 .
2. Andrieu L'Aignell, end of 13th century
3. Herbert D'Aignbaux, Seigneur db Togque-
VILLE, 1224 ....
4. Richard de Agnellis, 1269
Armobial Shields of —
1. algneaux en normandie .
2. Agnew of Lochnaw — Scotland
3. Agneaux de L'Isle
4. Agneaux en Bourgogne
6. Agneaux en Provence
6. Agneaux (early English), date 1298
7. Sir John Atgnell, Hertfordshire
Tawer of Craigoch
Seal of Quentin Agnew, 1487
Seal of Patrick Agnew, 1575
Frontiipiece
Title-page
facing page 1
fadng page 180
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facing page 194
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II
page 217
306
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II
400
rw^^^mm^^^r^^'t^'^t-
CHAPTER I
FROM THE ADVANCE OF AGRICOLA TO THE RETREAT OF
THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS
A.D. 79 to 794
Three forward bands of Novant
Three kings wearing golden torques. — Taliebsix.
Ad terram Pictorum qui Niduari vocantur.
Bede, Vit. Sane Cuth, c. 11.
Picti qui vulgo Galweienses dicuntur.
Richard of Hexham.
The word Galloway is derived from " Gallgaidheal " (d mute),
the Celtic name for its people.^ The Cymric equivalent of this
was Galwyddel (the dd pronounced th), whence the Latin
Gallwethia applied to the province, softened to Gallovidia, and
anglicised Galloway. But though the term Galwyddel is that
usually applied to Galwegians by the British bards of the sixth
century, the name by which they are best known in current
history is "Novantse" (Greek Novaj/rat), meaning the Nith
men, — the Celtic "Nydd" on Eoman lips changing to "Novius," —
whilst in low Latin the Cymric equivalent for the Pictish
" Xyddwyr " was represented by " Niduari." ^
^ Dr. ReeTes, Bishop of Down and Connor, once wrote to the author : " Your
Galloway is a compound word which is found in the Irish annals and implies
something like ' stranger Gaol ' ' stranger ' not implying the Gael in a strange
land, but a hybrid race."
^ ^* Ptolemy terms the Nith, Novius : as the name Nith is the equivalent
VOL. I. B
2 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
The so-called Welsh bards (who were mostly Strath-
clyde Britons), the nearest neighbours of the Galloway
Picts, call them synonymously " Peithwyr," " Galwyddel," and
" Novant."
Mr. Skene, with a stroke of his pen, scatters to the winds the
cobwebs which had long darkened the threshold of Galloway
history, and exposes the mistakes which, made when philology
was young, have been reproduced and even aggravated by later
authors. Of these, the most opposed to fact are :
1st, That the Novantae were Britons (Cymri), not Picts.
2d, That the Galloway Picts, known to medieval history,
were not descendants of the Novantae found there by the
Bomans, but Irish Dalaradians or Cruithne, who swarmed across
the Channel in the eighth and ninth centuries, dispossessed,
exterminated, or absorbed the Novantae, and changed their
place-names. Whereas, on the contrary, the race encountered
by the Bomans were undoubtedly Picts, written of as such
(" Peithwyr " and " Novant ") by Cymric bards, within a century
of the Boman occupation ; and there is no authority whatever for
saying that they were ever subdued, or even invaded in force,
by any Irish tribe ; stni less that they disappeared.^ In short,
our paradox is this, that the Galloway Picts generated the wild
Scots of Gralloway !
Chalmers gives two reasons for believing in this early
annihilation of the Novantae : the one inconclusive, even were
of Ptolemy*B Noyius, so 6ede*8 Niduari is the exact equivalent of Ptolemy's
Novantffi, both meaning the 'gens' of the Nith." — Celtic Scotland^ i. 132.
Nydd is a common riyer name, meaning spinning or whirling in eddies.
' ''Chalmers states dogmatically that Galloway was colonised in the eighth
century by Cruithnigh from Ireland, followed by fresh swarms from the Irish hive
during the ninth and tenth ; and this statement has been accepted by all sub-
sequent writers as if there were no doubt about it. There is not a vestige of
avUhorUy for it. The only authorities referred to by Chalmers consist of an
entire misrepresentation of passages from the Ulster Annals: '682, Bellum
Rathamoire Muigeline contra Britones ; * ' 702, Bellum campi Cuilinn in Airdo.'
Now both these battles were fought in Ulster. Rathmore or great fort of
Muigeline, which Chalmers supposes to be Mauchline, was the chief seat of
the Cruithnigh in Dalaradia, and is now Moylinny ; and these events were
attacks by the Britons upon the Cruithnigh of Ulster, not attacks by the latter
on the British inhabitants of Ayrshire," — Celtie Scotland, i. 132.
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 3
there no evidence to the contrary ; the other depending on an
entire misconception. The first being, That the Irish topography
corresponds more directly with that of Galloway than that of
Scotland proper. The second, That Irish annals represent the
Irish Picts obtaining a great victory over the Britons at
Maigiline, which he renders Mauchline. Now the correspond-
ence of names on the two sides of the Channel is simply
accounted for by the circumstance that the Dalaradians who
inhabited the land opposite Galloway were Picts as well. Again,
while a victory of Irish Picts over the Damnii at Mauchline
would have little concerned the Novantse in any case, the
argument derived from it is at once disposed of by the dis-
covery that the scene of the battle was Moylinny in Antrim,
not Mauchline in Ayrshire. Britons were invading Ireland,
not the Irish Scotland,-^ the Galloway men having no part in
the fray.
Accepting the dates which Mr. Skene assigns to the move-
ments of Agricola, as related by Tacitus, it was in the year of
our Lord 79 that his legions "surrounded the estuaries, and
explored the lands and forests north of the Solway." When
crossing the Nith they encountered a new race, diifering from
those (the Selgovae and Brigantes) they had left behind, whom
they wrote down Novantse.*
From the valley of the Nith the Eomans marched westward
through the territory of this same people, which they foimd
extended continuously to the Irish Sea. Meeting with little
opposition, and masking the native strongholds by fortified
camps, they pushed forward to the " Doon of Kildonan," whence
the legionaries gazed with wonder at the serrated outline of
the Moume Mountains, which, like giant's fingers, seemed to
beckon them onwards to new worlds across the stormy waters.
^ Scotland is here used in its modem sense : the Scots of that day were Irish-
men, a colony of whom, known as the Dalriad Scots, colonised Argyle.
' No doubt adapted from a native word. The "Nydd** becoming Novius.
So the SelgoYse were the hunters, from Celtic "Seilg," the BrigantsB (Cumber-
land and Lake district), hillmen, from Celtic ''Bre," whence the vernacular
''brae." The Selgove and Brigantes were British, the Novantse Picts.
4 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
Fragments of rectangular parapets, as well as place-names, point
unmistakably to Boman stations established in this advance:^
such as the Moat of Urr,* Castlecreavie, Bomby, Sypland,
Dunrod, Dromore Castle on the Dee, Castramont, Longcaster,^
Bispain, and Kildonan just mentioned.
This Doon and its surroundings deserve a moment's notice.
The discovery of the rectangular outline (one-half of which has
been levelled by the plough), which proves its Boman origin, is
due to the intelligent research of the Bev. Andrew Urquhart.
This ascertained, it is curious to note how the surrounding
place-names, the meaning of which had been long as much
unsuspected as the existence of the fort, seem to fill in the story
of its construction. Above it, we find mapped Kirklauchlane, and
short scrutiny is required to convince us that " Kirk " is here the
not unusual corruption of Caer, and that this was a stronghold
commanding a harbour and a town ; the name of the former being
" Portespittal*' (Spideal, suggesting here rather a place of
entertainment for travellers than a refuge for the sick) ; —
and the latter represented by "Nashantee" (na scan teach),
the old houses — old perhaps a thousand years ago ! whilst the
Boman fort or "Doon" has for centuries been known as
Kildonan," that is, a dedication to St. Donan, whose date is l7th
April 616 in the kalendars, suggesting that this was once a
centre of population — although port, tower, camp, church, and
hospice have long alike lain silent.
Ptolemy's British place-names are doubtless those supplied
by Agricola's officers, and their Celtic roots are easily recognis-
^ ''He surrounded the subjugated tribes with forts and garrisons; and the
remains of numerous Roman camps stiU to be seen in Dumfries, Kirkcudbright,
and Wigtown, attest the extent to which he had penetrated the country. The
position of these iUustrates in a remarkable manner the expression of Tacitus :
" Praeaidiis castellisque circumdats." — Celtic ScoUand, i. 48.
^ Thirty years ago outworks, seemingly erected by the Romans, remained
near the Moat of Urr. Three silver coins were found there — one of Hadrian, one
of Commodus, and several legionary spears. — Old Stat, Ace. xi. 69.
' " Castra and Chester always indicate Roman occupation. On a Monreith
estate map of 1777, a rectangular outline on the hill of Drumtrodden is marked
'Roman camp,' all traces of which have disappeared under the plough." — Max-
well's Tapo. of Oallotffay (Camford).
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 5
able through their Greek or Latin dress. The Ehynns and Mull
of Gralloway being mapped by them Novantum Chersonesus and
Novantum Promontorium, proves beyond doubt that these men
of the Nith occupied the whole of modem Galloway.^
Other names are Eerigonium, evidently the same as the Caer
Eheon (Cathair Eiaghan) of the bards, and Eerigonium Sinus is
their Llwch Eheon. In the suffix of Vanduara we have Ayr ;
Clota is the Clyde ; Abravannus, the confluence (Aber or
Inbher) of the rivers, seems to be that of the Luce and Piltanton in
the Bay of Luce ; Lucopibia is the Isle of Whithorn (though it
is an extraordinary confusion of ideas to suppose that Ptolemy
was thinking of Ninian's white house) ;^ Fines -^stus is the
estuary of the Cree;^ Deva, the Dee, the black stream ; Carbant-
origum or Carbantium, possibly Kirkbean ; Novius, the Nith ;
Corda, Caer, the fort, with Sean prefixed, now Sanquhar (scan
caer), the old fort ; Ituna, the Solway, from " Tonn," a tidal
wave.
The neighbours of the Novantae are respectively mapped as
the Selgovae, or hunters (Seilg) ; the Brigantes, or hill-men (Bre) ;
and the Damnii or Damnonii (damh, an ox), the cattle-breeders.
Whilst mapping the province, the Eomans seem to have
brought civilising influences to bear.* This is proved by well
^ One of the most perverse of the popular errors current in Galloway history
is that the Novantie were bounded eastward by the Dee ; this, as well as that
as to their nationality, arising from a neglect of finding the true root of the words.
Thus Camden, suggesting that Kovantse was abridged from the Welsh ''nant,"
low in a vale {Brit, i. 363), those who followed him assumed they were Welsh,
that is British, and entirely overlooking the Kovius or Nydd, they failed to per-
ceive that Novantffi and ** Niduari'* must alike hail from the Nith.
' And was not able to spell it properly if he did ! if so, it should be Luco
kidia.
• In the so-called Ptolemy's Atlas ; reproduced " lenee iEstuarium " (Wigtown
Bay) ; but Mr. Skene asserts that earlier editions have ''Fines ^stus" {Celtic
Seotla-nd, i. 66). If so, the Fines is a translation of Cree (crioch, a boundary) ;
a similar translation is "Longns" in Argyle for the ''Add " (Abhuinn fhada), the
broad stream.
* "The following winter (i.e. 79-80) was devoted to reducing the turbulent
character of the natives to quiet submission." — Celtic Scotland, i. 44.
Mr. Skene connects with this date the description of Tacitus : "Having spread a
general terror through the country, he suspended his operations that the barbarians
might taste the sweets of peace: a fierce people running wild in the woods would
be ever addicted to warfare. Agricola encouraged the natives to build temples.
6 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
authenticated facts of doings of St. Ninian, at a date prior
to their final departure. Their appreciation of the Christian
religion, their reception of strangers, their desire for instruction,
and the security to person and property evidenced by the com-
pletion and endurance of Ninian's works, prove the Novantae of
the fourth century to have been under the reign of law. The
greatest of St. Ninian's works not being the little church built of
stone (" more insolito Britonibxis "), but the conventual establish-
ment, humbler in material (a closely packed cluster of wattled
huts) — the mother, nevertheless, and model of the sixth century
monasteries of the Scoto-Irish Church. Here a seminary,
known variously as Candida Casa, Magnum Monasterium,
Futema, the House of Martin, Alba, and Bosnat, attracted
youths of high birth from far beyond the bounds of the pro-
vince; and during the following two centuries it was the
resort of those leaders of thought — of almost European reputa-
tion— known as "Secondary Saints." Among these were
Tighemach, Eugenius, Malidh, and almost certainly his uncle
Patrick, Mancennxis, Medana, Ciaran, Nennius, and Finian
of Moville. There cannot be a doubt that of the original
Candida Casa, the Isle of Whithorn was the site; its penin-
sular position, as described by Ailred,^ as well as the very name,
Bos-nat (nocht), " the bare point," being wholly inapplicable to
the inland priory and cathedral church ; — built by Fergus, and
not before the twelfth century.
Another work proving the existence of a central authority,
and requiring organisation and skill for its execution, was the vast
rampart, the ruins of which bear variously at different points,
the names of the " DeU's Dyke " ^ and " Picts' Dyke " or " Picts'
courts of justice, and ooiuiuodious dwelling-houses, to establish a plan of
education, and give the sons of chiefs a tincture of letters." — Tac. Fit. Affri. 20.
^ Ailred, who frequently visited the place between the year 1140 and 1165,
writes of Kinian as " selecting for himself a site in the place now called Witerna,
which, situated on the shore of the ocean, and extending far into the sea on the
east, west, and south sides, is closed in by the sea itself, while only on the north
is a way open to those who would enter." — FiL Nin. c. 8.
' This ancient fence is invariably eight feet broad at the base, with a foss on
the north side. The Deil's Dyke commences at Loch Ryan, on the farm of Beoch,
to 794] AGRTCOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 7
Wall." Carried in a right line, over marsh and moor, forest,
mountain, and flood for full fifty miles between Leffnoll, an out-
work of the citadel on Loch Eyan, and Sanquhar, the old
strength upon the Nith — it extended, as Taliessin puts it,
" Between Caer Ryan and Caer Rywg.**^
The erection of this dyke was, as Mr. Skene suggests, prob-
ably accomplished before the final departure of the Bomans in
407. It was obviously reared as a barrier between the Novantse
and their neighbours the Damnii — their southern and western
firontiers being defended by the sea, and their eastern by the
Nith. We thus find their original territory included the modem
shires of Wigtown and Kirkcudbright; with the parishes of
Holywood, Dunscore, Keir, Glencaim, Tynron, Penpont, and
a part of Durisdeer, in that of Dumfries.
As the Eomans seem to have overrun Galloway with little
bloodshed, so they seem to have maintained amicable relations
with the Novantse. For two hundred years after they retired we
glean notices of the province from church calendars and Irish
chronicles, giving us continuous lists of kinglets, whose existence,
though open individually to doubt, yet in the aggregate may
be held to be founded upon fact. And it is remarkable — if not
absolutely conclusive as to their accuracy — ^that most of the
so-called kings have impressed their names upon the soil.^
First we have Sarran, who, according to the Book of Bally-
mote, established his power over Saxons and Picts, married
thence by Braid Fell, Cairazerran, Kyi fodder, by the north end of Loch Mabeny,
Kirkcalla, Ochiltree, Glenvemoch, (a hill fort of large dimensions here,) Enock-
ville,— crosses the Cree, — Terregan, Dranandow, between " the Thieves " and the
Nappers, Auchinlech, Talnotrie, Craignelder, Craigencally, Garrary, Enockreoch,
Auchenshinnoch, and passing Glencaim, Tyuron, and Penpont, is nearly entire
on the farm of South Mains, opposite Sanquhar. — ^Train, App, to MackenaU,
^ Book of Tali£S8ii%, 10. Caer Ryan b Rerigonium, the modem Innermessan ;
Caer Rywg, Sanquhar, the fort on the Crawick. — Four Ancient Books of WaUSf
i. 270.
Leffnoll, ** halfpenny land of the wool ** (Leithpheigan).
' Riaghan or Rheon, Lachlane, Torquil, Bonachie, Troet, Dermot, are to be
classed with those mighty men anterior to Agamemnon, over whose memory has
closed an endless night — ''carent quia vate sacro." They made their mark in
8 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
Babona, daughter of Loam, son of Ere, and by her had, with
three other sons, Leurig and Caimech ; and, after victory and
triumph, " died in the House of Martin." ^ Leurig succeeded him,
Caimech being abbot of this House of Martin or Monastery of
Bpsnat. The date approximately 440.
Leurig after this extended his power and forcibly built a
fort within the precincts of the monastery of Caimech his
brother, that is, the Isle of Whithorn. Caimech remonstrated,
Leurig scoffed, whereupon the Abbot incited his cousin, Murcer-
tach, son of Ere (afterwards King of Ireland), to dethrone his
brother, which he did, and also killed him.^ Caimech then
went to Ireland, and introduced monachism there, on the model
of Bosnat, which had now attained to great note. This must
have occurred before 478.*
Murcertach, or Murdoch, whose name, "sea -warrior," is
an appropriate one to the invader of Galloway, afterwards
ruled there.* The age of Leurig and Murdoch coincides
with that of the somewhat mythic Medana, of St. Patrick,
and of his popular nephew Malidh (from whom the stream
their day, and their names are indelibly attached to places of strong defence,
as Caer Ryan, Kirklochlane, Kilquhockadale, Mordonachie, Ardtrostan, Craig-
dermot
^ Book of BaUymote, Chron. of Piets and SeotSj 52. Mr. Skene there identifies
the House of Martin with Candida Casa in the Isle of Whithorn.
^ In the Irish Nennins this relation follows that of the departure of the
Romans, and immediately precedes the mention of Vortigem's invitation to Hen-
gist and Horsa, a.d. 449.
' To Caimech is attributed the introduction of monachism into Ireland ; he is
mentioned as Bishop of the House of Martin, in other words, of Candida Casa.
From this date we frequently find saints (of the second order) resorting thither for
the purpose of being trained in the monastic life. Among others, Tighemach of
Clones and Eugenins of Ardstraw, natives of Leinster, who had been carried off
by pirates and brought to Britain, were sent by the king, at the queen's inter-
cession, to a holy man, Monennus, and trained by him at the monastery of Ros-
nat, which is also called Alba, or white. — Celtic SeoUand^ ii. 46 ; quoting Colgan,
VU, Tighemach, etc.
* "Then he thrust his battle staff into the king's side, and returned to the
cleric with his head, and said, ' Here is thy brother's head for thee, 0 Caimech ' ;
and Caimech said, ' Leave me the bone, and eat thou the marrow. ' Then he took
hostages and power in the land for seven years, as also the sovereignty of
Britain and Cat and Ore and Saxony." — Book of Ballymote,
Murcertach, ''the sea- warrior," is Murdoch in Scotland.
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 9
which supplied his baptistery is named "the Water of
Malzie ") ; of Bridget, and St. Lassair (mother of Finnian of
Mo\dIle), whence our numerous Kilbrides, and Killeser. In
525 A.D. we find a King Drust, the loose doings of whose " one per-
fect daughter, Dustric,"^ as a pupil of the great monastery, is the
subject of a penitential hymn by St. Mugint, which, as Bishop
Forbes well remarks, sheds a reTnarhahle light on the life — half
monastic, half social — at Whithorn.^ Dr. Stuart connects this
King Drust with a vitrified fort in Anwoth, called "Trusty
Knowe." This would give additional point to the quatrain in
O'Clery's Calendar commencing —
" Trust, king of the eastern confluence on the strand." ^
Contemporary with Drust was Arthur of the Bound Table ;
his name is supposed to be reflected in Loch Arthur, whence,
after fighting his twelve battles, he turned northward. Talies-
sin's line —
" Beyond Caer Wydyr they saw not the prowess of Arthur," *
seems confirmatory of this, and " Caer Wydyr " to point to the
vitrified fort of Castle Gower (" Gwydyr," glass, a term ap-
plicable to vitrification, being easily convertible to Gower).
We find no notice of a direct successor to Drust, but the
death of a king Cendaeladh is recorded, a.d. 580, whose name
was preserved till comparatively recent times in that of the
parish and lake of Loch Kendellach. The parish is now called
New Abbey, and his name is almost unrecognisable in that of
the lake itself, now corrupted to Loch Kinder.
The years of Cendaeladh's reign, and twenty following,
are those of the " Welsh Bards," whose heroes axe contempo-
^ O'Olery's Calendar, 1 November. " Introduction to Life of Ninian, xll
' **Ant-*8aoir" is translated "free bay" by Mr. Skene, "the noble conflu-
ence" by Dr. Todd. But "t*soir" means also "of the east" ; and "Trusty
£nowe " overlooks the confluence of the Cree eastward of Whithorn.
* Arthuret on the Oarwhinelow has nothing to do with Arthur, the roots
apparently being '*ard" and "rod." Oarwhinelow is a corruption of Caer-
gwenddolea, named from a Oymric prince, whose hill-fort overlooked it.
10 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
rary princes, scions of two royal lines: namely, that of Coyl
Hen (the old King Cole), whence the place-name Kyle; —
and that of Ceredig (the Coroticus of the Epistle of St.
Patrick). The line of Coyl are termed in church history
the Pagan faction, though, more correctly, they were simply
unorthodox. Of these were Gwenddoleu, Cymbelyn, Morcant,
Urien, and Gwallawc, nephew of Caradawg (from whom we
have Carrick).
Of the line of Ceredig those contemporary, were Eydderch
Hael, Elydyr, and Aeddan Vradog.
The two opposing factions, with such forces as each could
muster, met in deadly combat at Ardderyd (Arthuret), A.D. 573,
the respective commanders being Gwenddoleu and Eydderch
Hael, Cendaeladh probably assisting the former.
The Christians were entirely victorious. St. Kentigem,
Rydderch's bishop, who had fled from persecution, was now
recalled to his diocese Glasgow (the Penryn-Wleth of the
bards), called Gulath by Jocelyn ; whence soon after, "going forth,
he cleansed from the foulness of idolatry and the contagion of
heresy the land of the Picts, now called Galwethia." ^
We need not follow the complications of the period, — a score
of kinglets perpetually at war, constantly changing sides, some-
times allied with the Novantse, sometimes against them,* — but
we may mention one who, whether as enemy or ally, equally
won and retained the admiration of the Galwegians — Gwallawc,
the hawk of battle,^ latinised Galgacus. There was of course
more than one Galgacus, as there was certainly more than one
^ Jocelyn's Life of St Kentigem^ oh. xxziy. (a hill called Gulath by the water-
side near his home, ch. xiv.)
' A few years before, according to Nennias, there were Urien, Rydderch,
Gwallawg, and Morcant fighting against the Northumbrian Saxons.
' Black Book of Carmarthen, 82.
<' Gwallawg, the horseman of tumult, would drive onward.** — Bed Book of
Hengist,
** The rich plains from Caer-Clud to Caer,
The support of Penprys and Gwallawg." — Book of Taliessin, xi.
The bards of the Four Ancient Books of Wales are Myrddin or Merlin,
Aneuiin, Llywarch (whose son is believed to have built Caerlaverock,
Llywarch's fort), and Taliessin, ("the bright browed bard of Urien and Owen ").
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 11
Caractacus ; and Boece, mixing truth with fiction, and with a
total disr^ard for dates, adopting the local tradition that
Gwallawc reposes beneath the standing stones of Torhouse,
represents him to have been the King Galdus, who, expelling
the Bomans from Galloway, reigned over a united Scotland, and
dying at Wigtown, was interred with great pomp in the neigh-
bourhood, many huge pillars being raised above his sepulchre,
and by a decree of Parliament in the year 103, the province was
named Galdia, — whence Galloway, — ^in his honour.^ It is un-
necessary to refute the absurdities of this relation. It was a
thousand years later before there was a united Scotland, or the
pretence of a National Parliament. As real incidents in his life
we may give a list of battles fought by Gwallawc, of which
Galloway was certainly the scene, the date being the latter half
of the sixth century :
" A battle in Agathes.
A battle of trembling in Aeron.
A battle in the wood of Beit.
A darting of spears — a battle in the Marsh of Terra ^ with the
dawn."
In "Agathes" we recognise Cairn Agathe in New Luce,
"Gath," "a dart or javelin," suggestive of the "darting of
spears " ; " Aeron " is Glen-iron ; the " Marsh of Terra " is that
crossed by " the Stepping Stones of Glenterra ; " and " Beit " is
Beoch, overlooking Loch Eyan — the four battlefields all lying
to the south of the Deil*s Dyke.
Following Cendaeladh was Eochaidh Aingces (the cursing or
^ ** Galdus deceissit fra the incarnation of God ciii. yeres. Many huge pillars
was raisit about his sepulture . . . and that his memory never sail peris, be decreit of
Parliament^ wes commanded that the lands named afore Brigance (!) sail bo in
time coming Galdia — in our days Galvidia — be corruption Galloway." — Boece,
bk. iv. ch. 2.
' Bock of Taliemuj xL Almost by intuition Mr. Skene recognises in the
" stepping-stones " of Glen-terra " the marsh of Terra." The stepping-stones led
across a marsh ; there are also "standing stones," no doubt, marking the field of
battle (New Stat, Wigtoumshire, article *Inch'). Terra is "Teamhair," mean-
ing a fortified enclosure commanding an extensive view.
12 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
fretful), whose daughter married Eochaidh Buidhe (the yellow-
haired), son and heir of Aldan Vradog, king of the Dalriad Scots.
This second Eochaidh being expelled from his own kingdom of
Argyle, the Gallovidians accepted him as their sovereign, appar-
ently in right of his wife. His greatest recorded feat was lead-
ing the Gallovidians across the Channel to assist the Dalaradians,
or Irish Picts, against the Dalriads, or Irish Scots, in which he
was entirely successful, though his sons had come from Argyle
to help the Dalriads, and two were left among the slain.^ The
former Eochaidh's name appears in Kilauchy, and the latter's in
Cragauch, usually called "the Tawer" (Teamhair) — an intrenched
hill-fort, a perfect example of the meaning implied by this
Celtic word, "an intrenched position commanding a distant
prospect." * It seems possible that Lochnaw may rather mean
Eochaidh's Lake than the Lake of the Ford ; the name differs
little phonetically from Lough Neagh, notoriously named from
another Eochaidh, and the site was exactly such as chieftains
of his day affected for their strongholds.
Eochaidh Buidhe's death is chronicled, 629.' A son of his,
Donald Breac (the swarthy) had succeeded to the throne of
Argyle on his brother Conadh Cerr's death in battle. He had
another son, Donald Donn (the brown haired), who may
possibly have been a king of Galloway ; but whoever Eochy's
successor was, he seems to have courted and accepted the
suzerainty of the Northumbrian Saxons.*
' "Oath Fedhaeoin, a.d. 629," Tighernach. "The battle of Fedhaeoin was
fought between the Cruithnigh and the Dalriads. Eochadh Buidhe was here on the
side of the Cruithnigh, and opposed to two of his own sous, one Gonad Cerr being
king of the Dalriads, and two grandsons of Aidan were slain."— CfeZ^ic Scotland,
i. 241.
' 0*Donovan. Cormack's Glossary,
' Annals of Ulster.
* The following names of places retain those of kings of Galloway, and although
any individual instance may be fairly open to dispute, their being all recoverable
can hardly be fortuitous :
c. 440 Harran, Sarran, Ciaran . Chipper Harran, corruptly Chapelhcron
440 Bobona, his Queen Cairn Baber.
440 Luirich .... Castle Larrick.
476 Murcertach, or Murdoch Murdonachie, Dunmurchie, Murchies Wa's.
525 Trust, or Drust . Trusty Knowe (a vitrified fort), Ardtrostan.
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 13
It was during this reign that, a.d. 639, Sabina, an outraged
maid of royal blood, crossed the channel from Ireland, as it is
said, upon a boulder, landed in the Rhynns of Galloway, prob-
ably at Port Nessoch, and leaving her stone currach on the
shore, crossed the Isthmus, and encamped in a wood near Loch
Eyan. Here, on lighting a fire, the glitter of her bracelets at-
tracted the cupidity of robbers lurking near, who, rushing upon
the party, were miraculously paralysed by a gesture of her
" holy boy," Cuthbert, whose saintship was here first asserted.
Next day mother and son embarked in a neighbouring creek,
on a ship of ordinary build, and sailed for the north. ^ Place-
names wonderfully corroborate the details of the legend,^ — the
site of the first encampment being " Killiemacuddican," its
northern comer " Culchintie," and their port of embarkation
" Portencailzie," their first stopping place Kirkcudbright-
Innertig, now Ballantrae, their next Kirkcudbright-Innergarv^an,
now Girvan.^
c. 580 (died) Ceodaeladh . Loch Kendelach.
580 Eochaidh Aingces . Kilauchy, Craigauch Castle.
610 Eochaidh Buidhe . Auchlannochy,^ Tower of Craigauch.
629 Donald Donn . . . Castle Donnell.
^ " Miro modo in lapidea devectiis uavicula apud Galweiam in regione ilia,
quae Rennii vocator in Porta qui Rintsnoc dicitur, applicuit. — Post haec curroc
lapidea in Galweia derelicta, navim aliam subit." — Idbellua de Nativitate Sancti
CtUhberti.
> Given in full, CeUic Scotland, ii. 203.
" Killiemacuddican " (Coile-mo Cuideach-an) means the ** wood of the saintly
little Cuthbert"
**Culchintie'* (cul teinte), **the angle of the fires," where, according to
tradition, any faggots of wood being thrown ignited spontaneously.
** Portencailzie " (Port-na-cailleach), the "nun's port."
Besides Kirkcudbright- Innertig, which is now Ballantrae, there was
Kirkcudbright-Innergarvane, now Girvan, probably marking their camping-
places on the shore.
The incident of the fire is placed in the legend farther northward, but the
name *'Culchintie" seems decisive.
^ The first stood at the influx of the Tig into the Stincher ; in a charter of
Robert III, 1404, it is called ** Sancti Cuthbertide Invertig." At the same date
Girvan was granted to the monks of Crossraguel as "Ec*^. de Sancti Cuthberti
de Invergarvane. "
I Each-lann Ek>chy— Minigaff. Eochy's stable. So Stable-olane seems to be anglicised
Gaelic, Alan's-stable. Stabol is a living word in Gaelic and Irish.
14 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 79
Meanwhile the Northumbrian Saxons were extending their
power northward, Edwin, their king, having permanently im-
printed his name on the Castle Eock of the future capital of
Scotland — '' Edwinesburch," as it is written in the foundation
charter of Holjrrood. Under Edwin, the Saxons had driven the
Strathclyde Britons out of all the country between the Cheshire
Dee and the Derwent, and, seizing the Isles of Anglesea and
Man, opened up alliance with the Galloway Picts, thus
taking them in flank. Without entering into the complications
of Saxon History, we need only say, that though Edwin was
killed, and his throne seized by Eanfrit in 633, the alliance
between the Northumbrians and GaUwegians was continued
by the new king; and we have evidence of its being in full
operation under Oswald (the saint who received a Scottish
education at lona), who succeeded him the following year. It
was with the assistance of the GaUwegians that Oswald gained
his crowning victory near the Bay of Ayr, the site of which is
supposed to be marked by the church of St. Oswald of
Tumberry,^ which gives name to the parish of Kirk Oswald.*
The fraternisation of the Galloway Picts with the Saxons is
the subject of frequent allusion by the Welsh bards.
Taliessin scornfully exclaims :
" Angles and Galwyddel,
Let them make war."
And ventures a prophecy, sadly belied by events :
" I will predict, before the end,
The Brytton uppermost of the Saxon." ^
From 634,for one hundred and seventy years, the GaUwegians
remained true to the Northumbrian Saxons, their admitted over-
lords. The tie being the stronger that it was self-imposed. The
1 Caledonia, iil 632. « Old Stat. Account, x. 474.
' Book of Taliessin, L The Brytton — the Strathclyde Britons. Mr. Skene
remarks that "there was here a comhination of the Britons of Alclyde and
the Scots of Dalriada against the Angles and the Pictish population (of the west)
subject to them." — Four Ancient Books of Wales, i. 284.
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 15
Galloway Picts could not hold their ground against their more
powerful Cymric neighbours without such an alliance, offensive
and defensive. Oswald, who by this arrangement waa practically
King of Galloway, was killed in 642 at Oswestry, and succeeded
by his brother Oswy, and he in 670 by his son Egfrid. In both
these reigns the Saxons extended their conquest greatly over
the Picts of Lothian and Fife ; and it was these, and not the
(ralloway Picts, who made a determined attempt, in the
conmiencement of Egfrid's reign, to throw off the Saxon yoke.
Galloway, on the contrary, was over-run by the combined forces
of these northern Picts and Britons, and Dalriad Scots firom
across the Channel, against whom the Gallwegians made
common cause with the Saxons. The trustworthy Bede ^ tells
us that, to keep the Irish employed at home, Egfrid sent an
army into Ireland (of course through Galloway), who ravaged
its eastern shores ; and that, coming himself in person, driving,
as we otherwise learn, the British and Pictish kings Oan and
Bridei out of the south, he followed them too far, and, becoming
entangled in mountain passes, was defeated at Dunnichen,
near Perth, in the following year.^
The untrustworthy Boece gives as an episode a minute
account of a battle on the sandhills beyond the confluence of
the Luce and Piltanton, which, from its anachronisms, has been
generally discarded as fabulous. But place-names so entirely
agree with his relation, that we are disposed to think that one
of the battles hinted at by Bede was really fought here, though
many of the incidents, markedly that of King Egfrid's death,
were fictitious, and the facts inverted. It was the aptitude of
Boece for furbishing his story with actual local traditions, but
which he used as he chose, — utterly regardless of accuracy,
— that gave his history such a hold over all Scotland in an
uncritical period ; ingleside oracles accepting his spurious ver-
sion as undoubted.
The scene opens on Dunskey Castle, occupied by the Scots
^ Bede, Eccles. Hist. iv. 26. " Celtic Scotland, I 264.
16 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
and Northern Picts under Bridei, besieged by Egfrid and the
Galloway Picts. Oan, king of the Strathclyde Britons, advanced
on Egfrid's rear, obliging him to raise the siege. In the words
of Boece, as rendered by Bellenden :
"Edfred send ane buschement of Saxonis in the Scottis
landes. , . . Sone eafter, ambassatouris wer send be Eugenius to
Edfred desiring redres ; be quhom was answerit ' That he wald
invade the Scottis with mair trubil than afore, but ony redres.'
. . . Eugenius . . . heirand that his ennimes wer to cum in
Galloway, he gaderit ane gret power, to prevent thair cuming.
Yit, afore his cuming the Saxonis and Pichtis wer lyand at the
seige of Donskene, the strangest castel of Galloway in thay dayis.
Edfrid be haisty cuming of Scottis, wes constranit to leif the
seige, and met thame at the river of Lewis in Galloway : quhilk
was that time, be inundation of snawis, boldin above the brayis.
The battalis junit haistely with equale hatrent. Edfred exhortit
his men to remembir thair anciant virtew, and to vincus thair
ennimes only be violent force. Siclik, Eugenius ceissit not to
pas about his folkis, exhorting thame to schaw thair invincibill
curage, that they micht rejose the palme of victory. Quhile
the Saxonis and Scottis war fechtand thus in maist fury, the
Pichtis fled to the nixt mote. The fleing of Pichtis dejeckit
gretumly the curage of Saxonis ; for thay dred that thir
Pichtis suld cum on thair backis. Nochtheless, King Edfred
exhortit his folkis to perseveir in ithand battal. And quhen
he was spekand maist specialy, he rasit up his visour, to be
the mair fervent in speche; and incontinent he was doung
throw the heid be ane ganye (arrow or dart), quhair his face
was bair, and fel to the ground. The Saxonis, seand thair king
slane, gaif backis ; on quhom foUowit the Scottis with lang
chace, and drave tham to the river of Lewis, quhare mony of
thame perist, and few of thame tane." ^
Among the sandhills where the battle was fought, there
is a "mote" mapped Knochencrunze (cnocan-Cruithne) "the
^ Boece, bk. ix. ch. zxiii.
^O 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 17
Picts' KnoU." Their line of retreat lay across the dangerous
ford still called " Droch Dhuil," the devil's bridge ; from there
up Ballochjargon, the red or bloody pass, and the point where
fugitives thence would reach the Luce is CraigfoUy (creag-
na-fola), the rock of the blood, a name which seems trans-
lated in " Bloody Wheel," a little farther up the river. The
scene of action among *he sandhills forms a part of the farm
of Torrs, and here arrow-heads and spear -points are being
constantly discovered.^ The diiference between the true and
spurious versions being that Boece reverses the issue of the
light; it was Oan and Bridei who fled, Egbert and his
Galwegians who wielded the " red pursuing spear."
Egfrid was succeeded in 685 by an elder natural brother,
Aldfred, who had been educated in Ireland by Adamnan, the
biographer of St. Columba. And on Aldfred's succession he,
being then Abbot of lona, sailed round the Galloway coast on
his way to Bamborough, to plead with his former pupil for the
release of Irish captives brought there by Egfrid's General
Beret. His biographer thus relates a miracle worked by this
saint on the shores of the Solway, — which he terms " Tracht
Romra " * (the exact equivalent of the Bardic " Tawne " and the
Roman " Ituna "), The Frith of the Sea Swell.
" At Tracht-Eomra the strand is long, the flood rapid, — so
rapid that if the best steed in Saxon-land were to start from the
edge of the tide when the tide begins to flow, he could only
bring his rider in by swimming. The Saxons in authority were
unwilling to permit Adamnan to land. ' Push your currach on
shore,' said the saint, ' for both land and sea are obedient to
God.* The clerics did so. Adamnan drew a circle with his
crozier round the currachs. God rendered the strand firm under
^ The arrow-heads, knives, spear-points, and other lethal weapons described
as found on the Farm of Torrs, in the ArcfuBologiecU Collections of CkUloway,
vol. i p. 3, in an article contributed by the Rev. J. Wilson (of Glenluce), may
aU be spoils from the battlefield of Knockencrnnze.
« "Tracht" is glossed **the sea" as well as the shore (O'Reilly) ; "Romra,"
"springtide," "sweU of the ocean" (Ibid,)', "Tonn," Gaelic and Irish, *'a
tidal wave."
VOL. I
18 HEREDITABY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 79
them, and forming a high waU of sea around them, the phuie
became an island. The tide roared past them to its limits, and
did them no harm." ^
This description points to a dangerous sandbank opposite
Colvend, known as " Bamhourie," ^ which is completely covered
only at spring tides, and this not being so on this occasion may
be held by the sceptical to explain the miracle.
Aldfred is reputed to have been the first literary prince of his
race, to have ruled Galloway with justice, and preserved peace
till 705, when he was succeeded by his son Osred.
In 716 the crown was wrested from Osred by a cousin of
the blood-royal, Conred, who held it for two years, when in
turn he was deposed by Osric, a brother of Osred.
Osric dying in 729, Ceolwulf, brother to Conred, seated
himself upon his throne. Ceolwulf has left his mark in
Galloway history as the founder of the bishopric of "Hwitem."
Individuals of the Scoto-Irish Church had often been styled
Bishops of Candida Casa, which is the equivalent for Whithorn,
but the title referred rather to the church and monastery
than to the see, which was now for the first time constituted
territorially. Its bishop was a sufiragan of York, an arrange-
ment which held good till the middle of the fourteenth century.*
As to the present bishop, Bede writes : " In the province
of Northumbria, where King Ceolwulf reigns, four bishops
preside: Wilfred, in the church of York; Ethelwald, in
Lindisfame ; Acca, in Hagulstad (Hexham) ; and Pecthelm, in
that of Candida Casa, which, from the increased number of
believers, has lately become a see, and has him for its first
^ Irish lAft of Adamaum, Also Introduction to Adamnan's Coluwha
(Reeves).
^ "Odhar," genitive "huidrie," brown or dun, is often applied to legendary
cows. The famous Leahhor-^uirK'uidre, the "Book of the Brown Cow," was so
caUed because written on the skin of the pet cow of St. Ciaran. Many places
derive their names from such legendary cows, and so^ possibly may Bamhourie.
— See Joyce, ii. 280.
' "Michael, who died in 1359, is the last Bishop of Whithorn whose submis-
sion to the Church of York is on record." — Bishop Forbes, Preface to
Hfe of Ninian, p. Iv.
'^]
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 19
Prelate."^ The "increased number of believers" suggests in-
creased activity in Saxon colonisation. The Galloway Picts
had been Christians centuries before their overlords, but the
newer converts pretended now to greater orthodoxy, that is to
say, they looked to Eome rather than lona. The main points
of contention between the two churches being as to the form
of the tonsure and the calculation of Easter ; the Galwegians,
as members of the Scoto-Irish Church, adopted the tonsure
and accepted the Easter of the Eastern Church ; and the victory
of the Somish over the Scottish Church in Galloway, as
dependent upon Northumbria, is solely to be ascribed to St.
Cuthbert, its active juivocate, who had died in the reign of
Aldfred, A.D. 687, as Bishop of Lindisfame. We need hardly
say that the dedication to himself of " Cuthbrectes Cyrc "
gives its name to Kirkcudbright, the occasion probably being
his visit to the Niduari Picts,^ as recorded by Bede.
With the consecration of Pecthelm, Bede brings his
valuable history to a close: "The Picts," ^ he tells us, "are
at peace with the English nation, and rejoice at being
united in peace and truth with the whole Catholic Church,
The Scots,* satisfied with their own territory, meditate no hos-
tilities against the English. The Britons, though they from
innate hatred are adverse to the English, and from wicked
custom oppose the appointed Easter of the Catholic Church, though
in part their own masters, and elsewhere brought under subjection
to the English, can in no way prevail as they desire. Such being
the peaceable disposition of the times, many of the nobility, as well
as private persons, rather incline to dedicate both themselves and
their children to the monastic vows than to study martial arts.
^ Bede, Ecdes, Hist, bk. v. ch. xxiii.
' Bede, VU, Oudh, ch. iz. It was at this time, when Prior of Melrose
{eircum 661), "that he went to the land of the Niduari Picts, or Picts of Galloway,
then under the dominion of the Angles. . . . The traces of this visit have been
left in the name of Kirkcudbright." — Celtic Scotland, ii. 208.
' Bede, EccUa. Hist. bk. ▼. ch. xxiii. It is to be remarked that there were
Eastern, t.«. Lothian Picts as well as the great northern nation. Bede uses
the word Niduari to distinguish those of Galloway.
* That is, the Dalriad Scots of Argyle.
20 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
This is the present state of Britain, in the 731st year of the
incarnation of our Lord ; in whose reign may the earth ever
rejoice and the islands be glad."
In proof that Bede had read aright the signs of the times, it
is on record that only six years later (737) King Ceolwulf
resigned his crown to his cousin Eadbert, to end his days as
a monk of Lindisfame. During Eadbert's reign, Galloway was
invaded by a Celtic pretender, Alpyn, son of Echach.^ The
Galwegians rose against him en masse. He conquered the
greater part of the country, till he was confronted by Innrech-
tach, a native chief, neax Kelton on the Dee.^ Here he was
completely routed and forced to fly. His retreat was, however,
carried out in an orderly manner, till, as he was in the act of
leaving the province, fording a stream at the entrance of Glen-
App, in the midst of his bodyguard, a single man sprang upon
him and struck him lifeless from his charger.' The stone which
marks his sepulture still preserves his name. From time
immemorial it has been named in charters as a landmark —
Laight- Alpyn. The pillar-stone itself is the "Laight,** whilst
Alpyn is still recognisable in the name of the beautiful glen, near
which he fell. Saxon troops now came, though rather late in
the day, to the assistance of Innrechtach and his Galwegians,
who, following on Alpyn's retreating force, drove them entirely
^ This Alpyn ia not to be confounded with Alpyn, father of Kenneth, who
flourished exactly a century later. Alpyn, son of the Scottish Dalriad king
Echach by a Pictish princess, became king of the Korthem Plcts in 726.
Expelled from this throne in 728, he took refuge in Argyle, and there obtained
the throne. Again expelled from Dalriada, he seized upon the Pictish territory
of Galloway, where he was slain after having subdued it. — Skene, Preface to
Ckron. of Picis and Scots, p. clxxxvi.
* Mr. Skene suggests Kirkcormac as the scene of this battle, which is called
in the AnnaU of Ulster , Drum Cathmail. — Celtic SeotlaTid, i. 29.
' Cesty fust tue en Goloway, com il le auoit destruyt, de vn soul hom qi ly
gayta en vn espesse boys en pendaunt al entree dun ge de vn lyuere, com
cheuaucheoit entre sez gentz. — Chron, of Fids and Scots, 198.
" The name of Laicht Alpyn really belongs to the farms of Meikle and Little
Laicht, on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan. ... On the very line of separation
between the two counties is a large upright pillar-stone to which the name of
Laicht- Alpin, the monument or grave of Alpin, is actually appropriated." — Ibid,
clxxzv.
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 21
out of Carrick,^ with which as a base, Eadbert so well im-
proved his advantage, that by 754 he had annexed " all Carriek,
with the plain of Kyle ^ and other regions," to his kingdom of
Galloway. Eadbert was succeeded by his son Osulf in 757,
but already the power of the Northumbrians had culminated.
Osulf was murdered by Ethelwold, who grasped Osulf s crown,
only to have it snatched from himself in 765 by Alchred. He
was dethroned by Ethelred, a son of Ethelwold, and Ethelred
again by Elfwold, the brother of Alchred, in 778.
In Elfwold's reign the monks of Candida Casa entertained
a distinguished visitor, in the person of Alcuin,' tutor of
Charlemagne, a scholar of European celebrity. Elfwold
was murdered by his troops in 789, and was succeeded, but
for a year only, by Osred, his nephew; when Ethelred, who
had been dethroned ten years before, reappeared, killed the
two sons of Elfwold, to secure himself against a second expulsion,
but was himself murdered in 794. Meantime, whilst the royal
house of Northumbria was crumbling to its fall, aspirants to
dominions wider than theirs were taking their departure fix)m
the Sound. The horizons of the British Isles, east and west, were
darkened by the sails of the dragon-prowed war-galleys of the
" Gentiles," as the Church chronicles styled the Norsemen. A
cry went up from the cloisters of lindisfame in 793, to be
re-echoed a few years later from lona, and the Saxons withdrew
from Galloway at their approach.*
The Saxon colonists during these long years have left few
traces of their occupation in place-names. It is difl&cult, no
doubt, to distinguish Northumbrian Saxon from the kindred
' " 744. Factum est prslinm inter Pictos et Britones.'*— Simeon of Durham.
^ *' 750. Eadbertua campum Cnil, cum aliis regionibus, suo regno addidit." —
Cantinuatum of Bede»
' 782. Alcuin presents a holosericum for St. Ninian's body. Ethelbert was
then Bishop of Whithorn, consecrated at York 777. — Forbes, Preface to Life of
Ninian, p. 44. Keith's Scotch Bishops,
* We have thus followed fourteen soTereigns of the days of the heptarchy :
Oswald, Oswi, Egfred, Aldfred, Osred, Cenred, Osric, Ceolwulf, Eadbert, Osulf,
Ethelwolf, Alchred, Elfwold, Osred, and Ethelred, all acknowledged as head
kings (Ardrigh) of Galloway.
22 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. 79
Norse. But leaving to the Vikings such distLnctiye roots as
by, garth, gil, nes, oe, tun, wark, seat, we may assume ton,
ham, mearc, cyrc, float, beorg when in the form " berry," and
" wic " when an inland station, to be Saxon test words.
The Rosnatense Monasterium, or Candida Casa of earlier
chronicles of the Irish Church, had its name permanently
Saxonised by its Northumberland overlords to Hwitem
(one of the surest proofs of undisputed possession), which to
this day it practically retains.
Cuthbrectes Cyrc was the oldest form of Kirkcudbright,
founded in Saxon times — Kilcudbricht being its contem-
poraneous Celtic form.^ So, Eorkdale is from Anglo-Saxon
" Cyric-doel " (not " dale " or Celtic " dol "), the church portion—
the glebe. " Fleet',' * or " float," indicates a naval station, and we
may presume that the Northumbrians had an arsenal in the
estuary of the Cree, ever since called the " Fleet," * and another
on the Irish Channel, at Float.* The Saxon form of " wic " we
find in Stennoch (stein-wic), and in Wig (now Castlewigg),
behind it— Wigtown being Norse (the tun or station in the bay
of the Vikings or Creekers; as is the Wigg, their naval station
in Lochryan). " Ton " tells its own tale in Aggiston, Engleston,
Ingleston (Angles'), Preston (the Priests'), Carlton (Ceorl, the
churls or husbandmen), Gelston (Gyles), Levingston (Leofwine's),
Myreton (by the mere), Broughton (" broch," the fortified ton,
— a form peculiarly Northumbrian), Orchardtons (villa resi-
dences of officials, with garden attached).*
^ Simeon of Durham writes it Cathbrectis Church ... in an old Manx poem
it is Eeelchoobragh.
' " Fleot," a place where vessels *' float.*' In Norse also *^ fleot '' ; in French
the suffix takes the form of ''fleur," as Harfleur.
' It is to be remembered that the Strathclyde Britons had successfully
disputed the occupation of the Borders and Cumberland with the Saxons, whose
communications with the Galwegians were therefore only by sea — from Lancashire,
Anglesea, and the Isle of Man, to their ports on the Irish Channel or the Solway.
^ Float is preposterously said to be so called from wreckage of the Armada, and
of a piece is the tradition that the little horses called Galloways were the produce
of a stallion which escaped from the said vessels. *' Flote " is to be found in
charters a century before the Armada was built. Galloways were a native
breed, famous a thousand years before.
» " Ortgeard " in Korthumbrian Sazon meant a yard for orts, or wyrts, i,e.
to 794] AGRICOLA TO THE NORTHUMBRIAN SAXONS 23
"Ham" appears in Edingham (Edwine's home), Cumiing.
hame (Coning's — a proper name; or possibly the king's). In
Penninghame the " ing " might represent the family of Penn,^
though it was probably a " penny land." Botel, now Buittle
(a mansion), marked the seat of a man of importance.
" Mark " in later times indicates rates of taxation, as Three
Mark, Half Mark; but the Saxon "merk" meant a boundary,
as Mark on the Meurches of Carrick, Mark Bredden, the Britons'
March, Mark Broom (a broom bush doing duty for the
" mearc treow," the march tree, so frequently named in Saxon
charters).
"Inks" is certainly taken from the Anglo-Saxon "inge,"
glossed "pratum" and "pascuum," — a common meadow, — but
in Gralloway is always applied to low lying land on estuaries,
within high- water mark.
" Holt," another test word, appears in Ghapelshot, Buittle,
the chapel wood.
vegetables, herbs, or roots : an enclosure for apples, cherries, or other fruits is a
comparatively modem meaning of the word.
^ As Pennington, in Hants and Lancashire.
RELATIVE POSITION OF BACES AT THE PERIOD.
CHAPTEK II
THE NOBSEHEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID L
A.I>. 794 to 1124
" And they bnrned the churches, the heathen Dane,
To light their bands to their boats again.'*
ffaroid the DauntUsg,
The fleets of the Galls bore onwards, tales of their violence
preceding their arrival They rounded the Mull, and had
soon enveloped the peninsula of the Xovantae in its full
extent, from the entrance of Lochyran to the estuary of the
Nith.
The Saxons had disappeared. The Galwegians were utterly
unable to cope single-handed with the amphibious w^arriors.
The fanes of their saints, especially their Candida Casa, the
centre of the religious life of the province, lay absolutely at
their mercy, and, to human ken, seemed absolutely doomed
But whether or no St. Ninian's spirit, hovering above his ancient
shrine, miraculously interposed, certain it is, that the brand which
in Norse hands elsewhere symbolised sacrilege and slaughter,
in Galloway became emblematical of the torch of Hymen. No
bard has sung, no chronicler told the story of this fraternisa-
tion; but whilst the Galls, black and white, overran other
districts "as fierce wolves, killing not only sheep and oxen,
but choirs of monks and nuns," in Galloway, and there alone,
they entered into the closest fellowship with its people, sought
their daughters in marriage, and enrolled their sons in their
martial ranks.
A.D. 794 to I 1 24] NORSEMEN TO DAVID I. 25
The Galwegians, on their part, proved apt pupils in pillage
and piracy. Irish annalists term them " the foster children of
the Norseman," and within a generation of the unholy alliance,
Macferbis the Sennachy describes the Galloway Picts as "a
people who had renounced their baptism, and had the customs
of the Norsemen " ; and bad as those Norsemen had been, the
" GaUgaidhel" were worse. ^
But although, both before and after their coming to Gallo-
way, the Norsemen were notoriously burners and robbers of
churches, it is an undoubted fact that they spared Whithorn,
It seems generally to have been taken for granted that the
great monastery then disappeared, to be revived in the priory
built by Fergus farther inland. But there is proof positive
that eighty years after the arrival of the Norsemen the identical
Monastery of Rosnat existed as a religious house.
The Bishop of lindisfame, in carrying the relics of St. Cuth-
bert, to save them from desecration by Norsemen on the east
coast, embarked in 870 at the Derwent to sail to Ireland ; but
driven back by a storm, he perforce took refuge at Whithorn,
and was lodged along with his precious burden by the brethren
there — a statement strengthened rather than invalidated by
the legendary addition, that during his stay a copy of the
Gospels which he had lost in the storm was washed up un-
injured on the beach.
The belief in such a miracle was strictly conventional, and
the legend dovetailed in good faith into the story, substantiates
^ Fragments of Iriali Annals, an. 852. Chron. of Picts and Scots, 403.
"Daring the latter years of Kenneth's reign, a people appear in close associa-
tion with the Norwegian pirates, who are termed 'Gallgaidhel.* The name
was certainly first applied to the people of Galloway. It seems to have been
applied to them as a Gaelic race, under the rule of ' Gall, '^ or foreigners." —
CeUic Scotland, I 811.
But although the word Gallgaidhel is first used in chronicles at this period, the
hards applied it to the Niduari Picts as early as the sixth century. The Norse
sagas change the word to Gadgeddlu
1 "Gall" simply means "stranger,** "foreigner." The Norsemen are "the Oalls" of the
chronicles of the period ; later, the Anglo-Normans. There were FingtUs and Dogalls : the
" flonn " (white, Ikir-hairedX Norwegians ; the " dnbh " 0>laelc, dark.hairedX the Danes.
26 HEREDITART SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
the geographical fact that the monastic house was am the share,
and also the historical <me, that the fraternity were still resi-
dent there, enjoying nnder Xorse rale an immnnity denied to
monks by Norsemen elsewhere.^
Their role, indeed, seems to have been with the hearty
acquiescence of the (ralwegiana^ the OTerlords bearing them-
selves rather as protectors than conquerors, and interfering little
with the internal government and customs of the Picts. But if
they colonised little inland, they established themselves strongly
on the seaboard, the Galloway cliffs bristling with forts, its bays
guarded by carefully constructed camps, which became the
basis of operations against English and Irish, and often against
their own fellow-countrymen.
A thousand years have not obliterated the marks of their
busy spades, and the names of many of their haunts still remain
unchanged, such as " Wigg " in the sense of a naval station in
Lochryan, formed by a curious bank of gravel, running like a
natural breakwater for half a mile into the sea, bearing the old
Norse name of Scar,' in its primary meaning of "cutting,"
** dividing/' not the secondary one of a sea clifil
The well-known Sea-King's Camp at Larbrax is locally called
Kemp's Walks (« wark," old Norse " verke," a fortress). They
had a large station in Monreith Bay, a fortress on Castle-
Feather of great extent, and a look-out post at Burrow
Head.
Burrow Head commands the approach to the Isle of Whit-
horn, as Borgue to the entrance of the Dee ; both forts being
at the extremity of the capes forming Wigtown Bay. Their
very names have a Saxon ring, Buruh being suggestive of
> " In 875-883, Eadwulf, Bishop of Lindisfarne, and Eadred, Abbot of Carlisle,
wandering vith St Cuthbert's relics, resolved to embark at the month of the
Derwent and go to Ireland. They were driven back by a storm to Whithorn,
where his book of the Gospels, lost in the tempest, is found in safety." — Bishop
Forbes's Life o/SL Ninian, p. xlv.
' The primary meaning of " vie *' in both Anglo-Saxon and Norse is a station :
the Anglo-Saxon a station or land, hence a village ; the Korse a station for
ships, hence a bay.— Taylor, Wards and fiaoea,
"Skera," old Norse, "to cut" or "divide."
to 1 1 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID T. 27
entrenchments, and the Norsemen seem to have extended the
name of Beruvik, to the Bay in which the Isle (really the
presqu'ile) of Whithorn^ is situated.
At the confluence of the Bladenoch the Norsemen had a
strongly-fortified station. The old form of its name seems to
have been Wigginton, or Wyggeton, and its prefix seems rather
to be Viking than " vie ; " that is, the " bay-men," or Creekers,
not the "bay" itself, a name which would be somewhat
colourless.^
Cruggleton Castle, one of their most pretentious works, was
probably of a later date. They impressed their own tongue on
the island of Hestan, equivalent to the Celtic Auchness (each
inis), and "the Horse Isles," translating both, is mapped on
the opposite shore — Southemess also, Southwick (the southern
point of the province), and GiU-foot on the strand of Troqueer,
where their galleys rode on the smooth water of the Nith,
bear traces of their occupation.
The Norsemen having fraternised with,rather than conquered,
the Galwegians, we find the latter boldly intervening in the
quarrels of their more peaceful neighbours, — British, Scottish,
and Northern Pictish, — and this with effect, the Norsemen sup-
porting their foster-children both by land and sea. Indeed they
appear to have turned the scale in favour of Kenneth when
he founded the kingdom which developed into Scotland, although
for the present Galloway formed no part of it.*
This Kenneth MacAlpine, who seems to have had heredi-
tary claims on both the Scottish Dalriad and Northern Pictish,
had undoubtedly also Galloway blood in his veins, and, according
^ Eari Solmnndson, when abi-east of Dublin, puts about, "sails north to
Beruwick, and fared up into Whitherae." — JVials Saga.
* WoTsaae condders Wicklow to be Viking-low.
A John of Wigginton (as also a laird of Broughton) was a commissioner for
Edward Baliol's private estates, and for long after this the word was written
with three syllables, Wyggeton.
' Up to the end of the tenth century Scotia meant Ireland. Eenneth'8
kingdom was, correctly speaking, Alban, not Scotland, and when Scotland
superseded Alban, the Scottish kingdom was limited to the district north of the
Firth of Forth, excluding Caithness and Sutherland.
28 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
to Mr. Skene, had been resident there — in what position is uncer-
tain— when he issued thence on his career of conquest.^ Emerg-
ing from Galloway, well supported by his Rctish cousins, he had
within a year regained his father s (Alpyn) throne of Scottish
Dalriada ; while the Norseman, who revelled in scenes of battle
and plunder, taking the Northern Kcts in the rear, opened his
way to their easy conquest at Fortrenn, and beyond the Moimth ;
he was crowned king of the united Picts and Scots at Scone
in 844.* Thence, with the help of the same allies, he extended
his conquests to the Tweed. He now cemented the alliance
which had proved so greatly to his advantage by giving his
daughter to a Gallgaidhel or Norse chief, Olaf or Amlaiph.^
The services rendered by the Galwegians in this consolida-
tion of the Scottish monarchy seem to account for the singular
privilege they claimed in after times of leading the van of the
Scottish armies. No reason has ever been advanced for their
enjoyment of this " hardy pre-eminence," which moreover was
undeniably admitted, even when its assertion was most incon-
venient. We may with some confidence suggest that the right
was conferred by Kenneth ; and that in especial consideration
of the assistance they then had rendered.
Voluminous records exist of the piratical operations of the
^ Celtic Scotland^ i. 319. The whole question of Kenneth's parentage, connec-
tions and exploits discussed. — Ibid, i. 813-832. Mr. Skene conjectures him to
have been at one time a kinglet in Galloway 882-839, King of Dalriada 889,
King of the Picts 844.
' ''We gather that Kenneth emerged from Galloway. . . . If the appearance
of the Norwegians on the scene had led the people of Galloway, as well as Scots
from other quarters, to adopt the same piratical life under the name of Gall-
gaidhel, we can readily understand that Kenneth, taking advantage of the
crushing blow inflicted on the Picts of Fortrenn by the Danes, would be readily
joined by Scots from all quarters in regaining the kingdom of Dalriada and
prosecuting his father's claim to the throne of the Picts." — Ibid, i. 319.
^ Pronounced Aulay. Kenneth's daughter was his second wife. Olaf had
previously married a daughter of a redoubtable viking, Caittil Finn. Caittil
Finn is no doubt the same person as KetiU Flatnose. His daughter Audur
married Olaf the White, who became king of Dublin. — Ibid. i. 812.
His wife Audur the Wealthy, a son called Thorstein the red. — Ibid, i. 826.
Kenneth had three daughters : one married to Run, King of Strathclyde ;
another to Olaf, King of Dublin ; a third to Aedh Finnliath, King of Ireland. —
Ibid. i. 818. Pictish Chron., Irish Ann., Annals of Ulster.
to 1 1 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID I. 29
Norsemen, along with their Galwegian confederates, of which
the shores of Gralloway were the base, the story being much
complicated by the internecine warfare which soon broke
out between White Gall and Black. The most remarkable
feature in the matter is the influence which these Norsemen
(of whichever party) seem to have acquired over the Gallo-
way Celts; this being the only period in their history in
which they submitted to nautical discipline, as both before
and after, their Celtic distaste for salt-water was a matter of
notoriety.
They profited by their schooling, as their overlords, while
teaching them the art of living at the expense of their neigh-
bours, provided them also with rock-built citadels, which defied
attempts at retaliation.
The doings of the Galwegians during this period, in which
the Norsemen, while supreme on the shores, appeared to have
interfered little in the interior, — or meddled with the successions
of Pictish chiefs or kinglets, — are frequently recorded in chroni-
cles deemed authentic.^ Along with their overlords, they were
constantly involved in civil wars, of which it would be tedious
to attempt to follow the fortunes and the changea And without
attempting to unravel the tangled skein, we shall simply glance
at the more salient facts, as illustrative of these times.
Thus in 844, Olaf having married Kenneth's daughter
(presumedly a Galloway lass both by birth and kindred), the
Gralwegians assisted to elevate her to the rank of Queen by aid-
ing her husband to gain the throne of Dublin. Again, in 852,
they invaded Ulster, at first with success, but being attacked
when retiring by the Irish king, they were totally defeated, and
stripped of their plunder; many prisoners remainmg in the
hands of the victor, with whose heads he formed a ghastly
ornament for the palisades of his stronghold.^
^ AuThdls of Ulster. Icelandic Sagas, Wars of the Oaedhel wUh the OaiU^
Dr. J. H. Todd ; published by Master of the Rolls in Ireland.
^ 852. A battle given by Aedh, King of Ailech, to the fleet of the OallgaeL
They were Scots, and foster children of the Northmen. They were defeated by
Aedh, and many of their heads carried off by NiaU with him ; and the Irish were
30 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
We next find them in Munster, with Mailsechnaill as their
chief ; but this time they were taken in rear by their former
leader Olaf, who seems to have considered Monster an appanage
of Dublin, upon which they turned furiously upon him.^ But
although Olafs own father-in-law brought up reinforcements
for the Gftlwegians, they were forced to retire.
Olaf now renounced all connexion with them, allyii^ him-
self with Ivor (Imhair), a semi-Norse Galwegian, against Ketill
Flatnose,^ who came to their support.
Meanwhile King Kenneth having died 860, was succeeded by
his brother Aed, and he in turn by Kenneth's son Constantine.
Olaf and Imhair, after raiding both the Galloway and the
Irish coasts, made a bold attempt to wrest the crown from
Constantine. They attacked and took Alclyde (Dumbarton
Castle), occupied all Pictavia, " from the Kalends of January to
the Feast of St. Patrick";* retiring leisurely with their booty,
they passed through Galloway, carrying along with them "a
great prey of men as well as cattle," and returned to Dublin in
triumph.*
We here see how little ties of blood restrained piratical
instincts ; Olaf unhesitatingly attacked his wife's nephew
Constantine, whilst his own father-in-law, Ketill, was as
ready to attack him. Both he himself and Ivor were connected
with Galloway, yet the two conducted the only successful
raiding expedition that is on record against the province. As
for the Galwegians, they had helped Olaf to conquer Dublin,
and it seems possible that notwithstanding their quarrel with
justified in committing this havoc, for these men were wont to act like Lochlanns.
—Fragments of Irish Annals (Macfirbis). Chron, of Fids and Scots, p. 403.
^ 856. Great war between the Gentiles (Norsemen) and Mailsechnaill, with
the Galwegians along with him. — Annals of Ulster.
^ 857. Victory by Imhair and Amlaibh against Caittil Finn, and the
Galwegians along with him. — Ibid.
' Mr. Skene remarks on this : '* His occupation of the country may have been
in connection with some claim through his wife, daughter of Kenneth. On this
occasion they attacked both the Picts of Galloway and the Angles of Bemicia." —
Celtic Scotland, iiL 824.
* 872. Amlaidh and Imhair sailed again to Alcliath (Dublin) from Alban with
200 ships.
to 1 1 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OP DAVID I. 31
Imhair thej yet assisted his son Sitruic to subdue Deira, the
southern district of Northumbria,
The Norse chiefs extended their conquests in all directions,
each fighting for his own hand, becoming by turns titular
kings of Dublin and Bemicia (of which Bamborough was the
capital), rivals being alternately sovereigns and fugitives, Gallo-
way furnishing either party with a base for operations.
Among the most successful of these leaders, and whose rule
was established on a firmer basis than that of most of his
competitors, was a certain Ronald, variously styled Lord of
Bamborough, — King of Northumbria, — Duke (rather military
leader) of the Galw^ans.^
He has left his name strongly impressed upon Galloway
topography, and in conjunction with him we find mention of a
younger Awlay, son of Sitruic, called, to distinguish him from
his grandfather Anlaf the White, Anlaf Cuaran, that is, " of
the brogues." *
Bonald, with his Galwegian legions, successfully arrested
the advance of the Saxons under Edmund the Elder. The
Saxon Chronicle classes him as an equal with the Kings of
Alban and Strathclyde, all of the three entering into treaties
of amity with Edmund himself, a.d. 924.^ By this agreement
Sitruic was acknowledged King of Deira; but Edmund bad
died A.D. 929, and Sitruic the year following. Whereupon Athel-
stane, who had succeeded his father Edmund the year before,
seized upon it, to the exclusion of Anlaf Cuaran. He of the
brogues was not so easily to be disposed of: hurrying to the
court, of Alban, he cemented an alliance with the greatest
Scottish house by marrying King Constantine's daughter, and
being consequently supported by the united forces of Scots,
Britons, Galwegians, and Norsemen, made a desperate effort to
^ Reginaldua Bex Northumbroram ex natione Danoram et Dux Galwsl-
ensiam. — Flores. Hist. Mr. Skene suggests a connection with the family of
Kenneth.— C7e2^ic Seotlandy i. 373.
' '* Cuaran," a shoe, or brogue ; apparently in opposition to ** barefoot"
' 924. This year ^mund was chosen for Father and Lord by the King of the
Scots, and by King Beginald, and also by the Strathclyde Britons. — Saxon
Chronicle,
32 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
expel the English from his father's territory. They were de-
feated near the Humber at Brunnanbyric in 937.^ But four
years later, another Edmund having succeeded Athelstane,
Eonald and Anlaf Cuaran made terms with him.^ In A.D. 943
the truce was broken. Eonald and Anlaf marched southward,
carrying all before them, " stormed Tamworth, and the Danes
had the victory, and much booty they led away with them." ^
But in 944 the tide of war turned. Deira was retaken from
Anlaf, and Ilonald stripped of his Northumbrian lordships;
whilst Cumbria, taken from the Britons, was handed over to
ilalcolm. King of the Scots, on the sole condition of his
occupying it ; Edmund wishing to make this district a buffer
between his own dominions and Galloway, to which Bonald
had been driven.*
Blood, notwithstanding, asserted itself as tliicker than water.
Malcolm proved unfaithful to the English king, and aided instead
of resisting Eonald and Anlaf in recovering their possessions.
In this they would most probably have been successful, had
they not been taken in flank; and this not by Edmund's Saxons,
but by one of their own race. This new pretender was Eric
Bloody-axe, who, swooping down from the Orkneys and enter-
ing the Tees, drove both parties before him, appropriating the
bone of contention to himself; Anlaf retiring for good and all
to Dublin, and Eeginald to Galloway.^ The White Galls had
expelled the Black ! Duke Eonald's name is to be traced in
^ Celtic Scotland, i. 359. Saxon Chronicle^ 987. Mr. Skene suggests Aid-
borough as the battle site.
^ 941. King Edmund received King Anlaf at baptism, and that same year he
received King Reginald at the bishop's hands.
^ 943. Anlaf stormed Tamworth, and the Danes had the victory. After that
Anlaf acquired King Edmund's friendship, and after a good long time he
received King Reginald.
944. This year King Edmund subdued all Northumberland, and expelled
two kings— Anlaf, son of Sitruic, and Reginald, son of Girthferth. — Saxon
Chronicle.
* Saxon Chronicle, 945.
^ The Saxon Chronicle gives the dates.
949. Anlaf Cuaran came to Korthumberland. 952, the Northumbrians
expelled King Anlaf, and received Eric. 954, the Northumbrians expelled Eric,
and Edred obtained the kingdom of Northumbria (henceforward it was English).
to I I 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID I. 33
contemporary chronicles for over thirty years, 924-952, and
his family maintained their position to the end of the century.^
We presume that he was a Black Gall, but at the begin-
ning of the following century we find that Sigurd the Stout,
son of Thorfinn the Skullcleaver, an undoubted White Gall,
married to a daughter of Malcolm 11.^ acquired the overlord-
ship of Galloway, and named Malcolm (the Earl MelkoflF of the
sagas) as his lieutenant. He again was succeeded by his son,
another and more mighty Thorfinn, who eventually possessed
himself of nine "rikis" (provinces), of which Galloway was
one, and there he frequently resided.* The somewhat contra-
dictory chronicles of the period are independently confirmed
as to this in the Nials Sagas, which state that Kari Solmundson,
tax-gatherer to Sigurd, on his way to Ireland (Sigurd having
gone there with an army to assist the Danes), hearing of the
fatal result of the battle of Clontarf (1014), made for Burrow
Head and *' fared up into Whitheme," where he remained with
Earl Melkoff or Malcolm for the rest of the winter.*
An old chronicle of Man states: "Earl Thorfinn resided
long at Gaddgedlar, the place where England and Scotland
meet " (Gadgedlar being the Norse for Galloway, and Gadgeddli
for its people),^ Ingibiorg his wife having seemingly in her
own blood some claims to rule in Galloway.
The next ruler we find is Suibhne MacCinaeda (Sweeny,
son of Kenneth), styled both by Tighemach, and in the Annals
of Ulster, "Kling of Galloway";* the first appearance of a
The Danes of Northumberland were of the Dubh Gall branch or black strangers ;
the followers of Eric Bloody-axe were Norwegians, Finn Gall, white strangers. —
CeUic Scotland, i. 864.
1 Ibid, i. 373.
' Ihid, i. 386. As Thorfinn was only five years old when his father, £arl
Sigard, was kiUed in 1014, this places the marriage of King Malcolm's daughter
in the year 1008.— TMcf. 890.
' Orkneyana Saga, and CeUic Scotland, L 412.
* Mr. Skene remarks on this, "Whose name (Malcolm) marks him out for a
native chief,"— CeUic Scotland, i. 890.
' Chronieum Begum Mannia, Munck.
^ 1034. Suibhne MacCinaeda ri Gallgaidhel mortuus est. — Ann, of Ulster.
Sinnyness, Old Luce, is Svein or Sweeny's point Kilquhanidy, Kirkpatrick-
Durham, is Cinaeda or Kennedy's grave.
VOL. I D
34 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
Kennedy in Galloway. It is probable he was contemporary
with Thorfinn, and a Celtic kinglet under him; as also may
have been his successor, Dermot or Diarmid, who lived to
1072.^ The Norsemen did not object to the co-existence of
native chiefs with their own kings and " jarls/'
Earl Thorfinn had died a few years before this, and his
young widow Ingibiorg, a fair Gralwegian ^ (probably of mixed
blood), became Malcolm Canmore's queen. She bore him a
son, Dunccm, whom she did not long survive;* facts par-
ticularly to be noted, as it was through this marriage with
Ingibiorg (often strangely overlooked) that Malcolm, in accord-
ance with Pictish laws of succession, acquired claims to the
throne of Galloway, which, according also to Pictish custom,
held good in a less degree to the children of his second wife.*
The prestige of the Norsemen, weakened by their expulsion
from Ireland, as the result of their defeat at Clontarf, was now
waning on British shores as well ; the simultaneous consolida-
tion of the English and Scottish kingdoms having much
narrowed their happy himting grounds. Moreover, their
own rival factions were being gradually absorbed into one
kingdom, the King of Norway being now acknowledged by all
as sovereign, which checked the individual action of pirate chiefs.
As a first result of this, these Norwegian monarchs, anxious
to consolidate their power, occupied in force Caithness, Suther-
land, and the Western Isles ; resigning by treaty or exchange
with the Scottish kings their more easily assailable positions
in the south. Consequently their dragon-prowed galleys stood
^ 1072. Diannait MacMailnambo ri Breatan et insi Gall. Slain, and great
slaughter of the Galls and Leinster men with him. — Ann, of Tighemach.
Craigdermot, Stoneykirk, retains Diarmait's name.
' On Thorfinn's death, Malcolm appears to have endeavonred to conciliate
the Norwegian element by making Ingibiorg his wife, by whom he had a son,
Duncan. — Celtic Scotland, i. 414.
' The G^wegians rose to a man in favour of Ingibiorg's grandson, son of her
son by Malcolm Duncan by Alice de Bomilly, known as the Boy of Egremont,
against Malcolm the Maiden.
* dre, 1068. Malcolm married Margaret, sister of Edgar Atheling, heir to the
Saxon crown of England. Her sons Edgar and David were in turn acknowledged
king by the Galwegians, but Ingibiorg's grandson was preferred to hers.
to 1 1 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID I. 35
out one by one to the north, no more to be seen in the tide-
ways of the Irish Channel or the Solway.
Strathclyde, whose Cymri alone had been too strong for the
Galloway Picts, was now united to the kingdom of Scotland.
The Galwegians therefore had now no choice but to turn for help
to the Saxons, weakened by civil war, or to become liegemen
of the Scottish king. They solved the dilemma by throwing them-
selves into the arms of Malcolm ; and he, as a politic prince,
seems to have been careful that his yoke should not be galling.
Thus, as with the Northumbrian Saxons, the supremacy of
the Norsemen ended by a voluntary withdrawal ; not, however,
without their leaving some impression on the soil.
The Olaves are characteristically remembered in Terally
Bay, a haven on the Bay of Luce, well fitted for a piratical
station ; Tir (land) being suggestive of occupation — Macherally,
adjoining, was evidently a part of the same domain. Kirkcalla
in Penninghame is 01ave*s, or Anlafs "Caer" (fort), not kirk.^
Blanivaird (Blean-a-bhaird), near it, is the "Bard's Creek";
the a m all three names pronounced aw. Imhair is repro-
duced in Emar*s Isle near Corswall Point. The "Bloody
Bock" and "Bloody Slock," mapped beside it, translating
probably Sloc-na-folie and Craig-folly, are points on the Irish
Channel known to have been the scene of Anlafs and Imhair's
sea-fights and depredations. Ketill, the first Anlafs father-in-
law, and afterwards his foe, may give the prefix to Kelton,
sometimes written Kettleton. Kettleside in Cumberland is
held to have Ketill for its root.
Baonul, Duke Eonald, gives his name to the barony of
Loch Bonald. It is curious to find the neighbouring hills here
retaining the Norse "fell," whilst the Norse "inge," a coarse
pasture, appears in " Ink Moss." In the uplands behind
Loch Bonald is Somerton, where his herds were driven for
summer grazing, a name reproduced in the Celtic Belsavery,
^ Eren if it should rather be believed to be a dedication to a saint, we find
in King's Ealendar : 30 March, ''Siole (Anlaf ), King of Norwege and martyr under
Henrie ye crowkit"
86 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
"Baile Samhraith," Summer Town. Mailsechnall,^ whose
name the Norsemen wrote Malachj, appears strangely cor-
rupted in "the Howe Hill of Haggamalag." ^ "Hauga"
being Norse for a barrow, a sepulchral mount, and " howe " its
Saxon equivalent, "Howe Hill of Haggamalag " is a form doubly
pleonastic.
The Teutonic Sweyn or Svein, on Celtic lips Suibhne
(Sweeny), gives us Synniness, a headland on the Bay of Luce ;
at the entrance to which, moreover, two rocks preserve the
exact old Norse form the Skares.*
Of other test- words, byr appears in Corsbie, the dwelling by
the cross ; Sorby, probably^ from a proper name rather than
sour ;* Appleby ; Busby (Byskeby) ; Bomby (anc. Bondeby),
the husbandmen or churls.
Garth (gardr), a fenced place, as Fairgirth (faar),^ Cogarth,
Gadgirth (the sheep, cows, and goats enclosure); Applegarth,
MustardgartL Setr, a dwelling, as in Soulseat, Aldermanseat.
The modern Norwegian "sseter" — a pasture and dairy place
on the mountain side, a summer grazing, nearly an equivalent
to Somerton (Sumar ton).
Old Norse "oe" or "ey," primarily an island, signifying
secondarily a green oasis in moorland, gives us in the first sense
Ramsey (oflf the Isle of Whithorn), and Ailsa (Helsa or Eliza-
beth's Island) ;^ in the second, favoured spots innumerable in the
Moora, often written down " the Eyes " alone, or appearing in
^ Mailsechnall, originaUy servant of Secundinus, a pupil of St. Patrick, rendered
Malachy to suit weak Saxon capacity. — ^Young, Hist, of Christian Names, ii. 117.
' It was the practice of the Norsemen to give the name of the departed
chief to the mound where he was buried. ''Hauga," from which Howe is
derived, is from the verb ** hauga/' primary meaning **to heap up," and the mean-
ing of the word is *' a sepulchral hill." — Ferguson, Norsemen in Cumberland, 56.
» Norwegian " Skar," old Norse " Sker or Skjoer."— Worsaae, 262.
* So Sowerby, Lake District. —Norsemen in Cumberland, 132.
^ So Fair Isle, north of Orkney, and the Faroe Islands ( all sheep).
' Sumar lidi, or summer soldiers, was a name early applied to the Vikings,
who as sea rovers usually marauded in summer time. Whence the name
Somerled, Celtic Somhairle, familiarly Sorley.
7 By the Gaelic-speaking people of Arran Ailsa is stiU called ** Ealdsaidh a'
chuan" (Elizabeth of the sea). — Communicated to the author by the late Dr.
M'Lauchlan of St. Columba's Free Church, Edinburgh.
to 1 1 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID I. 37
such compounds as the " Eyes of Clendry," " Eyes of Kylfeddar,"
" Gleneyes," " Eyes Hill." " Saulsea " (Sol, a proper name), or
" Eig of the Eyes," in which last we have the Norse " hryggr,"
Danish " ryg," the equivalent of the Celtic " drum " and the
English " ridge."
In connection with pasturage, the Norse and Celtic meet
in " cro," a fold or hut, the word being common to both lan-
guages, the frequent " Crows " with English plurals are prob-
ably Norse, but "Alticry," the bum of the cattle pen, is as
plainly Celtic. " Croys" probably indicates a group of huts, "cro,"
rather than hard land, " cruadh."
"Gil," a small ravine, is a sure Norse test- word, as Physgill
(anciently Fischegill), of the fish, Gilhow, of the sepulchral
mound ; the Gill on the Cree, Gillfoot on the Nith, Gate-
gill, Borgue — " gate," here probably a proper name, as a " gil "
often defined the boundary of a property.^
" Stone " also generally has the sense of a landmark, as Eaven-
stone (Rafii's), — Carlinstone (Carlinn's), — Gelston (Giles*), limit.
" Verke, wark," fortification, appears in Kemp's Wark, and
Carlingwark; "borg" (glossed by "arx") is reproduced in
Borgue and Bomess, in modulated form in Burrow Head.
" Tun," in the Norse sense of a naval station, is the sufl&x of
Wigtown (Vikinton), the viking's arsenal.
" Nes, naes," the nose, a headland, gives Bomess, Eggemess,
Almomess, Gowness, Synniness, severally Edgar's, Aymer's, Go's,
and Sweyne's. *
" Vagr," a bay, is the affix of Solway, the prefix being " sulr,"
a sea swell (the same root as in Lough Swilly, Antrim). We
have it also in Sulbum or Solebum, a stream flowing into Loch-
ryan, entered daily by the tide, and rightly named the bum of
the tidal bore.
^ Gftteagill, Gkitescale, Qatesgarth, are referred to Qeit. — Fei^guson, Norsemen
in Ckmberland, 130.
' Ancbneas and Cardoness have nothing to do with capes, being corruptions
of £ach-iniB8, Caer-donas (the first Horse Isle, or pasture ; the second fort of bad
luck, "donas").
Garthknd, which seems Teutonic, is a corruption of the Celtic Oairach-
cloyne — Garbh duain (rough meadows), a name frequent in Ireland as Garradoon.
38 HEREDITART SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
Many proper names left by Norsemen in Cumberland are
to be traced on our map ; as Eigel, in Eagle's Cairn, Kirk-
maiden ; Gro, in Gowness, Gill in CreUstone, Kott in Eadsdale
(formerly Kittiadale), Bafn in Bavenstone, Sol in Soidseat, Geit
in Gat^ill, Thor in Torhouse, Vere or Weir in Weirston.^ Celtic
and Teutonic both meet in Neill, their descendants in Gallo-
way being synonjrmously represented in M'Neill and Neilson.
After the death of Sweyne in 1034 and of Diarmait in
1072 (kinglets already mentioned), a hiatus occurs of thirty
years ; inasmuch as Feigus, the next lord of whom we read,
was probably not bom earlier than 1080,^ nor in power much
before the death of King Edgar in 1107. As to this interval,
Galloway history is silent, and, strangely, all clue to the lineage
of Fergus is lost.
We find Malcolm's family established in the suzerainty
of Galloway at the close of the eleventh century, and as no
force seems to have been employed, we infer that they ruled
there with the acquiescence of its peopla' The Noiman con-
quest of England had indirectly strengthened Malcolm's position.
He was individually no match for the Conqueror, and had to
acknowledge himself ''his man" for the Lothians; but this
done, WiUiam's centralised authority in England had put a stop
to private predatory incursions, and Malcolm's resources were
largely increased by the immigration of Saxon Lords,and his ranks
were efficiently recruited by a stream of Anglo-Normans pouring
in, all eager for lands and employment, and ready to support
the crown in whichever kingdom they could obtain a settlement.
^ In Cumberland in Eaglesfield, Goburow, Gellstone, Kitt's Howe, BaTenside,
Sonlby, Thongill, Weaiy Hall, Kdton. Hound Hill Cairn, Dalmellington,
probably derives its name from a Norseman " Hundi,** as in Hounds Howe in the
Lake District.
* Fergus died very old, a.d. 1161, yet we can hardly place his birth
before 1080. Again, his daughter Africa married Olave the Swarthy, King of
Man, the date unrecorded ; but his reign of forty years commenced 1102, and
her son, weU advanced in life (Godred), succeeded his &ther 1142. So that Fergus's
marriage may be placed between 1107 and 1112.
' " In the reign of Malcolm, the Bishop of Glasgow had several royal writs
for enforcing the payment of tithes, especially in GaUoway." — Cosmo Innes,
JBarly Scottish History, 34.
to I 124] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID I. 39
A people these of different speech, and yet whose hands,
if gloved in velvet, were as tenacious as those of the retiring
Vikings, now took their places, — ^more polished in address, but
quite as masterful Though indeed it is a mistake to term
them of a different race, for what was a Norman but a Norseman,
improved by centuries of cultivation in the sunnier clime of
France!
Anglo-Normans did not settle in Galloway in any appreciable
numbers till many years later ; but already their society had
been sought and their habits affected by the native chiefs. In
the first decade of the twelfth century we find Fergus of
Galloway a favoured guest at the English court, and accepted
as a son-in-law by the English king ; implying early association
with the ruling race and knowledge of their language.
On the Conqueror's death Malcolm, thinking to recover
the Cumbrian province between the Derwent and the Solway,
took advantage of William Bufus's absence in Normandy in
1091 to let his mixed hosts — Highland, Lowland, and Gal-
wegian — ^loose across the borders. Eufus hurried back, order-
ing an invasion of Scotland by land and sea ; but as " almost
all his ships were lost ere they reached Scotland," he was
glad to come to terms, and "the kings separated in great
friendship."^ But the following year, Bufus ordering the erec-
tion of a fort at Carlisle to curb the inroads of the (M-
wegians, Malcokn considered this an infringement of then*
treaty ; crossed the Tweed, and endeavoured by a coup de mam
to possess himself of the Castle of Alnwick, to hold as a pledge
for the discontinuance of the obnoxious work. Arrived before
it, he was beguiled to the walls under pretence of a parley,
and slain.^
Duncan, Malcolm's son by Ingibiorg, succeeded him, but was
murdered soon after, his uncle Donald Bane and half-brother
^ Saaotm Chronicle.
3 This is the Scottish account The Saxon Ckronide, 1093, s^ys : *' Robert,
Earl of Northumberland, lay in wait for him, and slew him ; he was killed by
Monel of Bamborough, the Earl's steward, and King Malcolm's own godfather/'
I
40 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
Edmond becoming joint kings, but both were eventually dis-
placed by Edgar, Edmond*s younger brother, in 1078.*
Taking advantage of the disorders of the times, Magnus
Barefoot appeared on the Irish Channel, when, according to the
Chronicles of Man, ** Those of Gralloway were so much awed by
him that at his command they cut down wood and brought it
to the shore to make his bulwarks withaL" On this slender
foundation Chalmers asserts that he erected the fortlets of
Carghidown and Castlefeather, with a view to the permanent
possession of the country, adding, " Neither the chiefs of Gallo-
way nor the feeble Edgar were able to oppose such power in
such hands,"' all which has been accepted as fact. But not
only are the said castles built of stone, not wood, but their
immense size renders it impossible they could have been
reared in a few weeks; and the chronicle quoted allows no
longer time, as it relates Magnus's departure from Galloway
for Anglesea and Man, various campaigns there, an expedition
to Ireland, and return to the Western Isles, as all occurring
within the season. Nor is Chalmers happy in his epithet of
" feeble " as regards Edgar's reign in Galloway ; for no sooner
was the accession of Edgar proclaimed than Magnus came
to a treaty with him, agreeing to leave Galloway and the
mainland of Scotland undisturbed, conditionally on his right
being guaranteed to all the isles between which and the shore
a helm-carrying ship could pass.^ Indeed, from a comparison
of all the authorities, it is to be gathered that the Galloway
chiefs supplied the Norsemen (with whom, be it remembered.
^ Malcolm left by Ingibiorg (supposed Galloway born) Duncan (eighteen
years a hostage in England), and Donald, who predeceased him ; by Margaret,
Edmund, Edgar, Alexander, and David, Eadgyth (renamed Matilda), Queen of
Henry I., and Mary, wife of Count Eustace of Boulogne. An elder son,
Edward, was slain at Alnwick with his father. On Malcolm's death Rufus
released Duncan to fight for his own hand, who won the crown, but was
murdered next year. Donald Bane and Edmond were then joint kings tiU 1098,
when, with the assistance of Edgar Atheling and the concun'ence of Rufus,
Edgar was declared king of aU Scotland.
3 Caledofiia, iiL 867.
* Magnus Barefoot's Saga. Celtic Scotland, I 442.
to 1 1 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OP DAVID I. 41
they were connected by blood) with such provisions as they
required, out of friendship, not from fear.
In the year 1100 Edgar gave his beautiful sister Eadgyth, or
Matilda (known to feme as Good Queen Mold), to Henry I., who
had just succeeded his brother Eufus, and she took with her to
the English court her young brother David, where, in the words
of William of Malmesbury, " his manners were polished from
the rust of Scottish barbarity," a circumstance destined to have
no little bearing on the fortunes of Gralloway.
For the seven years following Prince David, whilst being
educated in a thoroughly feudal atmosphere, won the while, not
only the brotherly regard of the king, but the personal attach-
ment of the flower of the young Anglo-Norman nobility. In the
year 1107,Edgar dying unexpectedly, as unexpectedly bequeathed
to him the Saxon districts of Scotland south of the Forth, and
Galloway. His elder brother, Alexander, protested against this
dismemberment of the kingdom,^ but the playmates of David's
boyhood rising to a man to assist him, he made a triumphal
progress through his newly acquired dominions,^ and Alexander
perforce had to acqidesce. By the style of Earl, David kept
r^al court at Carlisle for thirteen years, recognising Fergus as
overlord of Galloway, with whose entire acquiescence he intro-
duced the Anglo-Norman element among the landowners.
Thus at a bound the new race, already predominating
in the Saxonised Lothians and fertile valley of the Clyde,
overleapt the barriers, social and physical, which had so long
preserved the Celtic character of the land of the Novantae;
and within a generation effected a total change in the habits of
the upper classes, as well as in the laws of the ancient province.
^ Alexander at first disputed the validity of the donation, hut, perceiving that
David had won over the English harons to his interests, acquiesced. Subse-
quently Henry I. gave Alexander one of his natural daughters in marriage. —
Hailes, AnncUs, i. 57.
^ Thirty years later Bruce reminds him of this, when adjuring him not to
break the peace with the Anglo-Norman barons at the Battle of the Standard.
** Tu ipse rex cum portionem regni quam idem tibi frater moriens delegavit, a
fratre Alexandro reposceres, nostro certe terrore, quidquid volueras sine sanguine
impetrastL" — ^Ailred, Be Bdlo Stand. ; Hist, of Scot. L 445, Appendix.
42 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 794
It was a duions feaiure of this peaceable cooquest that it was
effected with soeh tact that the nadve chiefe, fao- from eying
them «ftlr^«ft<*, took the bold intraders for their models, affected
their ways and manners, and eagerly competed for the hands
of the dan^ters of the more acoMnplished race.
The social ocmditions of the period can only be gathered
faj inference. We know linle of Edgar^s administration of
Galloway beyond his treaty for its eracnation with King
Magnus, and his willing it away from the natnnd heir. Yet,
how fiimly most his power have been established when his
dying wishes alone secored the alienation <^ the province ; and
David, with an aUen bodyguard, was allowed to perambnlate its
difficolt defiles without one otganised attempt at resistance,
and to take possession without shedding one drop of blood.
Xext comes the fact of Feipis's marriage with the Lady
Elizabeth, dang^iter of Hairy L,^ whose sister Sibilla be-
coming Alexander's queen, ^ placed Feigus in the position of
brother-in-law to the Scottish King. Now, though doubtless
David promoted this union, either to secure, or in reward
of, Fergus's assistance in his own settlement, we may certainly
infer that Fergus could woo in French, as well as take
his part in the knightly sports of the Anglo-Norman youth,
and that he had acquired some polish from the association.
Nor can we suppose that the king's daughter would have
consented to follow him to his "Palace Isle" in his distant
principality, unless assured she should have other persons
about her with whom she could converse, and an understanding
that her son was to enjoy all the feudal privil^es of primo-
geniture. And if so, what a change must her arrival have
inaugurated in the tone and usages of Galloway society as well
as of its jurisprudence.
^ That Feigns was a prince of note even at the court of Henry I. is certain,
as he took to wife the natural daughter of Heniy I. In this transaction we see
the original cause of the intimate connection between Darid I. and Fergus. —
CaUeUniia, iiL 250 and 367.
' It was the policy of Henry I. to cultivate amity with Scotiand. He
bestowed his natnnd daughter Sibilla on Alexander I. Such an alliance was
not dbhonourable in these dajrs. — Hailes, Annais, L 56.
to I 1 24] THE NORSEMEN TO ACCESSION OF DAVID I. 43
In 1124 David succeeded his brother Alexander, and
Scotland again became a united kingdom, no more to be dis-
membered. His rule has been chronicled as firm and bene-
ficent ; and it is gratifying to find that in assuming his honours
he justly esteemed Galloway as a precious jewel in his crown ;
significantly altering the ofiGicial style adopted by his immediate
predecessors in their charters ; from " to all our adherents, —
Anglo-Norman, English, and Scottish," to "all good men of
my whole kingdom — Scottish, English, Anglo-Norman, and
Grallovidians." ^
On the accession of David, the Galwegians, of all his
subjects, alone retained the name of Picts, the bulk of them
being directly descended from the Novantae of Agricola. There
doubtless had been a certain admixture of Welsh or Strath-
clyde Britons, a moderate immigration (though not nearly on
such a scale as represented by Chalmers) from Ireland, both
of Dalriads and Dalaradians ; a small infusion of Northumbrian
Saxons also, and a much greater one of Norsemen, On these
somewhat incongruous elements the Anglo-Norman "gentlemen"
now poured in,^ the peculiarity of their invasion being, as ex-
pressed by Cosmo Innes, that it was " all of what we should call
the upper classes — men of the sword, above all servile and
mechanical employment ; they were fit for the society of a
court, and many became the companions of our princes. The
old native people gave way before them, or took service under
the strong-handed strangers." *
With their introduction the racial element became complete,
and as such practically subsists to the present day. The wars
of the succession two centuries later made sweeping changes in
the personnel of the proprietors, through wholesale confiscations.
But the proportions of the races remained unchanged, Anglo-
Norman blood largely preponderating among the landowners.
1 Cosmo Innes, Legal Antiquities, 30.
* A new people was rapidly and steadily pouring over Scotland, apparently
with the approbation of its rulers, and displacing or predominating over the
nation or old inhabitants. — Cosmo Innes, JSarly History, 9.
» JHrid, 10.
CHAPTER III
FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY
A.D. 1124 to 1161
Eireas a Fhearghais ann 'us deaoas an iorghuill.
Go now, rouse thee up, Fergus, and mingle boldly in the fight.
Dean of Lisnufre's Book, 61.
Fergus was a ruler of great force of character, and decidedly in
advance of his age ; he carried out great changes, social and
political, all in the direction of sound progress, with a firm
hand and a princely liberality which well entitle him to be
remembered as enlightened and patriotic Feudalism, which
he may be said to have introduced, was much more calculated
to ensure strong and settled government than the customs
of Tanistry. His importation of foreign orders, which some
writers seem sentimentally to regret, as turning firom lona
to Eome, was no question of Protestantism or Popery, but a
much needed measure for the correction of abuses in the
Church, and for the instruction of the people at large, not
in religion only, but in the habits and rudimentary arts of
civilisation,^
The number, the size, and the beauty of the fabrics which he
reared, are equally matters of surprise ; as, whether for grandeur
^ Marriage, which is vaunted as the privilege of the Early Scottish Church,
had degenerated into the offices of the church hecoming hereditary, and was
leading to the parish clergy becoming a mere caste. Birth — quite independent
of any course of study — ^being the only qualification for a cure.
A.D. I 1 24 to I161] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 45
of design or chasteness in execution, they cannot even now be
surpassed, scarcely imitated.
This incidentally raises the question as to how he met
the cost. Although he might have been able to command any
amount of unskilled labour, skilled artisans had to be looked
for beyond the province, — material had to be brought from a
distance, — and as it was no question of conversion of the people,
— who had long been nominally Christian, — the men of culture
who were induced to reside in his newly reared abbeys must have
had it made worth their while to do so. A Galloway overlord
could have realised but little hard cash from the export of
wool and hides and the sale of horses, hence, to account
for his being able to find the means of supporting such a
lavish expenditiure, we must suppose him to have been able
to draw revenues from England. His descendants. held largely
under English kings, and though there is no record as to any
particular barony having been inherited from him, it may
fairly be assumed that certain fiefs were granted to Fergus by
Henry I. on his marriage with his daughter.
According to tradition, the Lady Elizabeth's favourite home
was the Palace Isle in Lochfeigus, and we may well believe
that her settlement there was an influence for good in raising
the tone of female society. The distinguished pair had other
castles when disposed to change the air, such as Cruggleton, Long-
caster, and Botel. Far more palatial, however, than any of these
strong-houses were the edifices Fergus reared for his Pr^mon-
stratensian and Cistercian canons. His prentice hand was tried
on Soulseat (Monasterium Viridis Stagni),^ to which he brought
monks directly from Premontr^ in Burgundy; next he built
the Priory of Whithorn, within a few miles of the classic
Eosnat, to which St. Ninian's relics were transferred ; Tungland
followed, later St. Mary's Isle (Sancta Maria de Trayll), and
Dundrennan, his chef-d!oeuvre, to which the brotherhood were
^ It stands on a peninsula of a small lake which has a greenish tint at
certain seasons from the spores of an aqnatic plant, whence ''Monasterium
Viridis Stagni."
46 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 1 24
brought from the Cistercian Abbey of Bievaux by Aildred, its
abbot, the biographer of St. Ninian and personal Mend of Fergus.^
In 1126, in concert with the king. Fergus restored the
bishopric of Whithorn, Gilla Aldan being the first bishop under
the new regime,^ who was sent to York (to Archbishop Thurstan)
for consecration. The fact of his being so sent proves the
bishopric to have been a revival of the identical see founded by
the Saxons (a.d. 730), which had seemingly been always (if some-
what irregularly) kept up; for it is inconceivable that David and
Fergus should have originated the precedent had such a con-
nection not already existed beyond all memory of man. Strange
to say, this connection with York remained in force till 1359.
The formation of parishes in Galloway was commenced, and
in a great measure carried out, under Fergus; which Anglo-
Norman habits and laws greatly facilitated. An Anglo-Norman
considered a chapel as necessary an appendage to his castle as his
brew-house or his mill ; he had been used to pay tithes for its
minister, and continued cheerfully to do so when his barony con-
stituted the parish, or a part of it. If he did not find an ancient
"cell " upon his lands he built one. Many of the native proprietors
had long habitually worshipped in such chapels, and if not, they
too followed the fashion of the new-comers and reared them.
Up to 1130 Fergus's relations with King David were almost
fraternal, but about this time we read that " Fergus, Earl and
Great Lord of Galloway, failed in his duty to the King's
Majesty, and incurred his serious displeasure."* His crime
seems to have been one rather of omission than conmussion.
The native lords throughout Scotland, who had made little objec-
tion to the king's first introduction of Anglo-Normans among
them, became jealous on finding what a preponderating influence
^ Founded by Fergus, Lord of Galloway, in 1142. The monks here were
brought from Rievault Sylvanus was the first abbot of this place. —
Keith, 255.
' Bishop Forbes*s Preface to Life of SL NiniaUy xlvii. CeUic ScoUandj
ii. 876.
' ''Oontigit Fergusium, comitem et magnum dominum Galwidie, regie majestati
deliquisse et gravem incurrisse offensam.'* — Service-Book offfolyrood, Bannatyne
Mis, ii. 19.
to I161] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 47
they were acquiring. And in 1130 Angus, Earl of Moray, raised
his standard to the cry of " Scottish land for the Scots." The
insurrection spread, and two circumstances threw Fergus into
communication with its abettors : his daughter Afirica had
married Olave, King of Man, closely connected with Somerled
of Argyle (a co-conspirator with Moray J; and his Anglo-Norman
wife having died, he had re-married a lady of Celtic blood, the
mother of his younger son Gilbert, who sympathised with the mal-
contents. Thus circumstanced, Fergus had presumably a guilty
knowledge of what was going on, but the rebellion breaking out
prematurely, was suppressed, and many slain, before he could
have had time to have taken part in it, even had he meant to
do so. He fell, nevertheless, under suspicions so grave that he
found it prudent to fly for safety to the Abbey of Holyrood,
where he remained concealed until, by the complicity of its
abbot, he surreptitiously obtained from King David the " kiss
of peace." But this not till after the delay of many years.
Hence his absence froln Galloway at its invasion by Malcolm
MacEth a few years later.
This adventurer, whatever his origin, had been a monk of
Fumess, known there as brother Wymond, a man of great energy
and ability. Being sent on a mission to the Isle of Man, he so
charmed its people by his fine presence and address that they
sought to secure him for their bishop.^ Their king and queen
were Olave and Aflfrica (son-in-law and daughter of Fergus), and
they interesting themselves in the matter, procured his conse-
cration as such by the Archbishop of York.
Somerled, Eegulus of Argyle, was closely allied by blood to
Olave, whence doubtless opportunities were aflforded Wymond
for intercourse with his family ; but however this may have
been, he very shortly renounced his monastic name and vows
of celibacy, declared himseK to be the son of Angus Earl of
Moray (slain in 1130 at Strathcathro), married Somerled's
* "Ita barbaris placuit ut ab eis Episcopum peteretur."— J^tZZiaw </ JV<w-
burgh, bk. i. c. 24.
MacEth the son of Aedh (Hugh) is the eqaivaleut of the Galloway M'Eie,
the Highland M'Eay.
48 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 1 24
daughter/ raised a band of followers, and with the direct assist-
ance of Somerled and other Celtic chiefs ravaged the whole
northern coasts of Scotland.
Bold men of desperate fortunes flocking to his standard, he
soon became a power in the north, pillaging to his heart's con-
tent ; if pressed by superior forces, leading them a long chase
to remote shores, and then embarking in the fleet which was
always at his back, he would turn up again at points where he
was least expected.
For long he met with no check, until once, having given the
go-by to David's army somewhere about the Moray Firth, he
transported his band to Wigtown Bay, landing there in full
hope of being able successfully to appeal to Celtic sympathisers ;
having, moreover, Aflrica's name to conjure with.
Far, however, from hailing him as a deliverer, the (Jalloway
Picts rose instantly to oppose him as a rebel to their king, and,
failing their overlord, followed their bishop to the attack.
This brave prelate, Gilla Aldan (termed by chroniclers
" Simplicissimus," to be translated ingenuous, for his conduct
proves him to have been anything but weak), not content to
beat the drum ecclesiastic, armed himscK with a hatchet, the
only weapon he had at command, and marched at once, though
with a very unequal force, to meet the invader.
The showy Wymond, — the mock bishop as they called him,
— if disappointed as to support, laughed to scorn the rabble
led against him by a weaker " brother," and was in the act of
careering across a stream^ which divided them, when Gilla
Aldan, little accustomed as he was to handling axms, hurled his
^ Fordun terms him "a spnrious bishop, who lied and said he was the Earl
of Moray's son ** (bk. v. c. 41). But what is final as to his being actually a
bishop, ''Olave's letter (to the Archbishop of York) is preserved in the White
Book at York. "—Ccfttc Scotland, i. 463.
For detailed account of his career see Hailes, Annals, i. 97 et seq. He is not to
be confused with Malcolm, a bastard son of King Alexander, and a co-adjutor of
Moray in the rising of 1180, he claiming to be the son and earl of said Earl
Angus.
^ ** The scene of this battle is fixed by local tradition in Galloway, and a
stream which flows into Wigtown Bay is said to have been crimson with blood."
^Celtic Scotland, i 464.
to II61] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 49
axe with such force and effect as to bring the intruder to his
knees. Encouraged by the omen, the Galwegians pressed to the
charge, and giving the foe no time to rally from a momentary
panic, cut them down in such numbers that the rivulet ran red
with blood ; MacEth himself with difl&culty escaping across the
fords of Cree ^ with so few followers that he was shortly after
tracked and taken prisoner by the king's vassals in the east, and
lodged in the dungeon of Eoxburgh Castle. The scene of the
action has ever since been known as " the Bishop's Bum."
In 1138 the Galwegians received a welcome summons to
take the field on King David's espousing the cause of his niece
Matilda (Empress of Germany) as against Stephen. The lord-
ship being still, as it were, in abeyance, they crossed the Borders
under local chieftains,* whom they accepted as leaders in battle,
though they paid them little deference in quarters. The only
person who could exercise any real control over them, and to
whom they yielded obedience as of inborn right, being William,
son of Duncan (the king's nephew), and grandson of their well-
remembered Ingibiorg. This William might have proved a
formidable competitor for the crown, with Galwegians especially ;
but happily for the uncle, David had no more loyal subject than
this favourite nephew.
Stephen being detained in the south, the Scottish armies
had it their own way in the north country, and committed
^ This point on the Cree is mapped " Knockdown Feny." An absurd idea
obtains that it is so called because here MacEth was knocked down by the
bishop's hatchet. Nothing is more obvious than that the word, if Celtic, is cnoc
donn, "brown knoll."
* Without a shadow of authority Mackenzie thus writes: **The vice-
sorereignty of the province passed to Ulgrio and Dovenald, probably brothers, and
perhaps descendants of 01 wen Galvus " {History of Qalloway^ i. 158) ; and again,
"Fergus succeeded Ulgric and Dovenald in the lordship of Galloway " (xb, i. 167).
XJlrick and Dovenald are but once mentioned (and doubtless rightly) by Ailred
as ''dnomm eorum ducibus," two of their ''duces," or military leaders — this one
occasion being the onslaught at the Battle of the Standard. Ailred in no way
concerned himself in the provincial arrangements of Galloway ; and whilst
Mackenzie has been accepted without further inquiry, it has not been adverted
to that by all the chroniclers William son of Duncan is the person mentioned
as really controlling the Gallowidiaus, and that constantly y as at Hexham, Durham,
Clitherow, and the eve of the Battle of the Standard.
VOL. I E
50 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. II 24
many excesses for which the chief blame is thrown on the
Gralwegians, though we much doubt whether the other divisions
of "this impious host" ("nefandus exercitus," as Richard of
Hexham styles it) were gentler in their dealings with those
who lay at their mercy. With all their savagery, the much
maligned Picts seem to have had purposelike arrangements
for amusement in their camp, carrying with them a troop of
actors and dancing men and women,^ clowns and columbines,
these implying the presence also of musical performers, and
more appreciation of humour ti.a. might have been expected.
A charge is made against them of ransacking a chapel and
polluting the shrine of St. Michael at Hexham, also of
threatening to destroy its abbey ; but the monk who chronicles
this naively prefixes an account of a wanton attack made upon
them, in which a chieftain was dain. which others might think
was quite sufficient provocation.^ Tet, enraged and excited as
they were, William Fitz-Duncan easily allayed the tumult and
saved the clerics and terrified townspeople from their fury.
Sacrilege, moreover, away from home, lay lightly on the
Galloway conscience ; nor were sacred edifices within the Scottish
Borders more respected by Englishmen with much greater pre-
tentions to civilisation at a much later date.
The Scottish armies marched southwards, plundering and
desolating the country, until when near Durham they were
brought to a standstill by open mutiny in the Galwegian camp.
The king had interposed (not unreasonably, we may be sure)
in favour of a female, probably of rank, whom they had made
^ '* Histriones, saltatores et saltatricea." — Ailred, De Bdlo Stand.
Lord Hailes translates this: "Jesters or buffoons, and dancers both nude
and female." — AnruiUt i 825.
' David had granted a protection to the Abbey of Hexham. The youth of
Hexham rashly attacked a party of Scots and slew their leader. The Scots,
inflamed with revenge, ran to destroy the Abbey and massacre its inhabitants.
William, the son of Duncan, interposed and stayed their fury. — ^Hailes,
AnnaUf L 79.
This is abridged from John of Hexham, 259, 260.
Lord Hailes points out that John of Hexham always calls the Galwegians
Scots, and Richard of Hexham calls them Picts ; adding, English historians call
these (same) men ''Picti, Scoti, Galwenses, Loenenses. — Annals^ i. 86.
to II61] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 51
captive ; but not only did they absolutely refuse to comply or
even discuss the question, but on the king going in person to
enforce his desire, they roughly handled the members of his
suite and even threatened his own life.^
Alarm and confusion were general when William, attracted
by the noise, appeared upon the scene and instantly produced a
calm.
A rumour, probably spread by himself, that the English
were approaching, caused all the divisions to close their ranks,
William tactfully detaching the Galwegians from the main
body of the army; and when this new alarm proved to be
groundless, and David moved to the siege of Norham, he, with
the king's concurrence, led them westward, finding them con-
genial occupation in a raid through Craven.^
Advanced as far as Glitheroe, which they expected to
surprise, they found an English division drawn up in battle
array beneath its walls, whose men-at-arms, from their tall
horses, smiled at the disorderly rabble of riders and walkers
interspersed.
But no sooner did the wild Scots realise the position them,
disengaging themselves from ponies, impedimenta, and plunder,
they assumed their normal fighting formation (wedgelike, much
like a gaggle of geese), and, filling the air with cries, they threw
themselves against the hostile ranks with such force that the
horsemen falling into confusion, their formation was broken.
The ^ile Picts gave them no time to rally ; their victory
was complete, numbers were slain, many knights were made
prisoners, and an immense booty of every sort secured.*
Purged of their delinquencies, William led back his Gal-
wegians in high feather to the royal headquarters, now near
^ Picti ipsum Regem cum suia extinguere minabantur. — Richard of Hexham.
' He laid siege to Norham with the more orderly part of his army, and sent
these barbarianSf under the conduct of William, a son of his nephew (brother)
Duncan, to penetrate into Yorkshire. — Lord Lyttelton, Henry II, y L 268.
' Hailes, Ann, i. %\et seq. : '* Multamque prsedam et multitudinem captivi-
tatis adduxit Hoc belluin factum est inter Anglos Pictos et Scotos apud
Clitherow ferift 6t&, die zv. ante nativitatem Sancti Johannis Baptistse, an.
1138.*'— J. Hagustald, 261.
52 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 1 24
Northallerton, where the king was only waiting their return to
att£U3k the English.
These, under Walter TEspec, had erected their standard ^ on
Cutton Moor. Such English barons as had feudal holdings in
Scotland and declared for Stephen were now in an uncomfort-
able position, as David had a right to claim their military
services, and with all the more grace when in favour of the
daughter and chosen heir of their late king. Foremost among
these men of double allegiance were Baliol and Bruce : great
Yorkshire barons — ^names well known in Galloway.
Bruce sought out the Scottish camp, and in the name of
both besought the king to allow them to make terms for him
with Stephen and to end the war. He expatiated on the services
and attatchment of his English feudatories, and implored him
not to put a too severe strain upon their allegiance.
" Which expressions," we read, " so wrought upon the king
that he forthwith broke out into tears, and had condescended to
a peaceable accord, but that William his nepliew came in, and
in great fury charging Eobert de Brus with treachery, dissuaded
the king from hearkening to him." ^
This fury is partly to be accounted for by the exaggerated
language in which Bruce is represented to have denounced the
Galwegians as " not men but brute beasts, devoid of every spark
of piety or humanity," laying every outrage committed at their
door. Fitz-Duncan naturally resented this, and seeing he was
to gain the day, Bruce further sarcastically taunted the king
with "his new-found confidence in these Galwegians," whom
English barons had helped him to conquer, and whom he in
turn ruled rather by fear than love.^
He then formally renounced his fealty and retired weeping.
A grand oration is put in his mouth by Ailred, but the dignity
^ The standard was the mast of a ship fitted on the perch of a carriage ; from
it were displayed the banners of St. Peter of York, St John of Beverley, and
St Wilfrid of Ripon ; on the top was a casket containing the consecrated host.
' Dngdale's Baronage^ i. 448.
' ^' Nova est in Walensibus ista securitas, qui eos hodie armis petis per quoe hac-
tenus amabilis Scottis terribiHs Galwensibus imperasti." — Ailred, DeBello Stand.
to II61] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 63
of his conduct is somewhat impaired when we find it elsewhere
related that he left a son, a boy of sixteen, in the Scottish camp
to perform the military service which he owed for Annandale.
David now prepared for battle. The great temptation not
to treat with Stephen (which would have been the safer policy)
was that his army for the moment was numerically superior.
He had, however, fewer mounted men, and fewer archers, and
obviously good generalship required that he should begin the
attack with his archers and men-at-arms, and when the enemy's
ranks were broken or loosened then hurl in the Gallovidian
phalanx upon them. But no sooner had he so arranged it than
ominous murmurs rose from the Galwegian lines, and it was
understood that they insisted on leading the van as their ancient
and unalienable right. Their triumph so lately over mailed
squadrons being notorious, they scoffed at the idea of its being
a military necessity to keep them in reserve, and refused to
move if their privilege was ignored — *' kittle cowts" at all
tunes to deal with !
A warm discussion ensued, and though the speakers who
vigorously pressed their claims upon the king are unnamed, in
the closing sentences we seem unmistakably to recognise the
tone of William, their late leader in their raid.
" Be well advised, sire, and trust rather to the iron breasts
of your Galwegians than to those whose trappings, however
formidable they look in the distance, are mere encumbrances
at close quarters." ^
Nothing is more remarkable than that the bulk of the
Scottish army should not have demurred at the Galwegians
being humoured in this matter, contrary to the judgment of the
king and his councillors ; but these were principally Anglo-
Normans, and jealousy was probably the ruling influence of the
moment.''
^ More at length: ''Nobis certe sunt latera ferrea, pectus aerenin, mens
timoris vacua. Quid Oallis apud Clithcrou profuere loricsB? Videat igitur
prndentia vestra, O rex, quale sit in his habere fiduciam, quse in necessitate
magifi sunt oneri quam consolationi" — Ailred, De Bello Stand,
' As to this privilege, we have distinctly stated : {l)its assertion — " Galwenses
54 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 1 24
Whilst the king still hesitated to disregard rales of military
prudence, Malise, Earl of Strathern, a great magnate of the
North, darting looks of defiance at the king's entourage, ex-
claimed, ''Whence this mighty confidence in these Normans.
I wear no armour, yet not one of those here who do will go
farther than me amongst the enemy to-day."
The hands of those addressed grasped instinctively their
sword-hilt, and the king, with difficulty repressing an out-
break, acceded to the demands of the Galwegians.
The order of battle was then formed as follows : — First
marched the Galwegians. Next followed the men-at-arms and
archers under Prince Henry, and the men of Cumberland and
Teviotdale. The third division were from the Lothians, and
Lennox with the Western Highlanders.^ The fourth, com-
manded by the king in person, consisted of the Scots proper of
the period, dwellers betwixt the Forth and Spey, the men of
Moray, and a bodyguard of Anglo-Normans.
Profiting by their experience at Clitheroe, the English
men-at-arms dismounted, and, standing shoulder to shoulder,
presented a front of solid steel to their assailants.
With terrific yells and shouts of " Albanaid ! " the Galwegian
phalanx dashed against the iron barrier, whence issued Saxon
voices scornfully retorting, " Yry ! Try ! " * Spear after spear was
uselessly shattered on proof coats of mail, but here and there a
lithe Pict forced an entrance through an interstice inside the
square, and hacked away as determinately with his short battle-
sword, until gradually the dismounted squadrons fell somewhat
into disorder. Their archers now advanced, riddling them with
dicentes soi esse juris primam construere aciem " ; (2) t?ieir insistence, in spite of
the commands of the king and the reasons against it by his generals — " Restitere
Galwenses!" ''Galwenses nichilominus insistebant ; " (3) iis concession, against
the king's judgment — ^'Rex, ne tumultus nasceretur, Galwensium cessit volun-
tati." Yet for its origin we are thrown back on conjecture, although their help-
ing to place Kenneth on the throne seems the probable cause. — See p. 28, ante,
^ Galwensium cuneus more suo ter ululatum diree vocis emittcns. — ^Aiked.
^ Equivalent to Irish. Lambardi records that at the Battle of the Standard,
when the Scots shouted << Albanaid ! Albanaid ! " the English retorted, " Y17 !
Yry t " (Erse), a term of great reproach in those days. — Dean of lismore's Book,
Int. xiiL
to II61] FERGUS, LORD OP GALLOWAY 55
arrows. Two of their leaders, TJlrick and Dovenald, had already
fallen, the former wounded mortally, when Prince Henry
charged and dispersed the mass of archers and dismounted
horsemen "as if it had been a cobweb," then fell upon the
troops who were guarding the horses in their rear, and followed
far (alas too far) in pursuit.^
The Qalwegians rallied, and prepared to renew the combat,
when an Englishman, cutting off the head of one of the slain,
cried, *' The head of the king of Scots." Confusion ensued ; the
Galwegians looked for support from the other divisions, but
these unaccountably stood still.
The king vainly ran hither and thither to prove he was not
slain ; panic seized upon the third division, their hesitation
proved fatal, and the Galwegians were driven from the field.
If the Galwegians had been perverse as to the order of the
battle, stiU they were not responsible for its loss. They had
gallantly shown the way, they had paid the penalty of their
waywardness in blood, but had effectually stormed the key of
the position, and it was entirely owing to the inertness of the
reserves that their excess of spirit was proved to have been
expended in vain. The disaster was intensified by its attendant
circumstances, as, instead of holding closely together, the divi-
sions separated with mutual recriminations, suffering in their
retreat not only from the hostility of the English peasantry, but
recriminations leading to bloody collisions among themselves.
At last the Galwegians reached Carlisle with greatly dimin-
ished numbers, but yet (whether accompanied by William or
not) in tolerable order ; for we have it from an English chronicler
that here they were overtaken by Alberic, Bishop of Ostia, the
Papal legate, who persuaded them to restore all the women
they had driven into captivity : a fact as creditable to them-
selves as to the prelate.^
^ ''Videres ut herieium spinia ita Galwenaem sagittis nndique circumsep-
tam, nichilominos ribrare gladium et cteca quadam amentia proruentem, nunc
hostem csedere, nuno inanem aerem cassis ictibns verberare." — Ailred, De Bella
Stand.
' Hailes, Annals^ i. 89 et 9eq. — Ailred.
66 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 1 24
After this David, satisfying himself with taking the castle
of Werk, which belonged to Walter TEspec, who had com-
manded at the Battle of the Standard, concluded peace with
Stephen, whose wife was his niece as well as the Empress
Matilda.
A rather amusing story forms a sequel to these dismal tales
of ravaging and rout The younger Bruce, the hobbledehoy of
seventeen whom David had so easily accepted as an equivalent
for the knight's service due to him from Annandale, was taken
prisoner by his own father at the Battle of the Standard, by
whom he was delivered to Stephen, the elder Bruce gravely
asking to what person he would have him committed. " Pooh,
take him to his nurse," ^ the king good-humouredly answered.
Soon after this Fergus emerged from his hiding-place. As
for the necessity of his concealment, there must always be some
mystery, but we have authentic details from church histoTy as
to how he made his peeu^e with his sovereign.
An ancient service-book of Hol3nrood tells us that " Fergus,
being much devoted to God, and, notwithstanding his accidental
fault, always faithful to the king, by various means was
endeavouring to regain the king's favour, and at length in
most secret manner repaired to Alwyn, Abbot of the Monastery
of Holyrood, the king's confessor, for advice and assistance.
The abbot compassionating the aforesaid penitent. Lord Fergus
prayed to God to obtain the king's favour ; and at last, by the
ingenuity of both Fergus and the abbot, it was contrived that
the said Fergus should assume the cloister habit of a canon
regular, and thus, God directing, should obtain along with his
brethren the king's favour and pardon of his oflFence."
" Leaving to God their purpose, they wait for a convenient
hour and day." An occasion occurred thus : Some repairs being
^ Dugdale gives us a more courtly phrase. "By reason of Annandale,
Robert the younger being liegeman to the King of Scotland, and war happening
between the English and the Scots, it was his fortune to be taken by his father,
fighting valiantly for that nation, and sent prisoner to the king of England,
whose courtesie was such, when he had him so in his power, as that he delivered
him back into the hands of his mother." — Dugdale, Barofiagey i. 448.
to II61] FERGUS, LORD-OF GALLOWAY 57
carried on, the king came to inspect them. The brethren were
hastily summoned to the chapte]>house, Fergus among them.
And while the king was visiting the builders the abbot at
a seasonable moment thus addresses him : " We, though un-
worthy petitioners, beg to have the presence of your highness
in chapter." The king, highly pleased, enters. The abbot con-
tinues : " Most gracious prince, we, the petitioners of your high-
ness, confessing our faults, that we are faulty and transgressors,
most humbly beseech thee, in the bowels of Jesus Christ, to pardon
us, aTtd every one of us, every fault and offence committed against
your majesty, with a single and unfeigned heart ; and that in
token of this gracious pardon to bestow upon every one of us
the kiss of peace."
The king, with most placid countenance, replied : " Dear
brethren, 1 forgive you all — I commend myself to your prayers,"
and rising and taking the abbot by the hand, kissed him.
Of the interview and explanations with Fergus that followed
no record remains ; indeed, it was hardly to be expected. The
relation is made in connection with the building of the Priory
of St Mary's Isle (or Trayle), which was raised and handed over
to the monastery of Holyrood by Fergus as a lasting memorial
of his gratitude to God for his restoration to the king's favour
and the enjoyment of his oflSces, as also in grateful recollection
of the hospitality of the convent.^
Of the entire cordiality accompanying the reconciliation
there can be no doubt, as hereafter we find him in constant
attendance upon the king, his name appearing as a frequent
witness to royal charters.^
* "Hec est hystoria fundacionis Pkioratus Insule de Trailb Qt quo-
modo Fergusius Magnus Dominus Galwidie, fundator ejusdem, optinuit pacem
Regis." — ** Service- Book of Holyrood," printed in Bannatyne's Jfisee/Zany, ii. 19.
^ In the chartalary of the Bishopric of Glasgow are two charters, "Apud
Castrum Nostrum de Cadhow," dated approximately 1139.
The one a grant of Perdeye (Partick). '* Testibus : Herbert©, Abbate de
Rochesburc, Willelmo cancellario, WillelmoJUio VuneeaUf Malis comite, Dunecano
comite, Fergusio de OcUweia, Md, cum barba, Malduueni, MacMurdac, Malodeni
de Scona, Malodeni marescal, Radulpho filio Donegal, Duvenald frcUre ^us,
Uchtred filio Fergus, Hugoni Britoni, Herberto Camerario, OUiberto fimboga
Giliberto de Strivelin, Dufoter de Calateria."
58 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. 1 1 24
Within a Teiy short time of his receiving the kiss of peace
we find him in the rojal drcle aloi^ with William Fitz-Doncan,
who had led his Cralw^;ian8 in his absence ; Hngh de Moieville,
Constable of Scotland, to whose office and possessions his
descendants fell heirs ; the gallant MaUse of Stiathem, who had
so lately sappoited the claims of the Clalwegians to the right of
the line ; and DoTenald, recovered from his wonnds in the late
battle. Walter, the son of Alan, High Steward, ancestor of the
Earls of Galloway, and his own son Uchtred, never arrived at
man's estate.
A church legend of the period seems referable to the very
date of the signature of these charters. St Malachi O'Morgair,
visiting King David in a certain castle,^ found Prince Henry his
son dangerously ill ; whereupon, sprinkling him with holy water,
he assured him he should recover, and next day he was welL^
Thence going, probably accompanying Fergus, to his
" country seat of Cruggleton,"^ he there miraculously loosed the
tongue of a girl who had been bom dumb ; whence, travelling
westward, he arrived at last at Caimgarroch (Lapasper),^ where,
finding no vessel in port, retiring a little inland, he raised an
oratory, surrounding it with a rath, consecrating also near it a
burying-ground. Here he watched for the arrival of a ship, and
one coming in due time he embarked, and a fair wind wafted
him to Bangor.* Topography verifies the outline of the story.
In the second DftTid makes known " omnibus fidelibos tarn Gawenaibns qnam
AngliU et Scoticis " that he gives the tithe of cane, animals, and pigs of Benfrew,
CnnniDgham, Kyle, and Carrick, to the Church of St. Eentigern. Testibus : Will.
Cumino cancellario, Hugo de Moreville, Fergus de Galweia, Hugo Britoni,
Waltero fil. Alane, Alano MacArchel, Sad fil. Dunegal, Duvenald fire. sui.
^ "Quodam castello suo." . . . "Yillam nomini Cmgeldum ad portum
Lapasperi" . . . "Constructor in oratorinm, consnmmatum circumdedit yallo."
. . . "Prospere navigayit applicuit monasterio sno Benchorensi." — VUa S,
Malachi, Auctore Bamardo, c S.
Dr. Reeves first called the author's attention to the identification of Rough
Cairn, or Caimgarroch, with Lapasper. There are no less than three Caimgarrochs
on the Galloway coast. Bishop Forbes rightly puts it '* Laperasperi or Lepasper,
probably some bay opposite Ireland, near Portpatrick." He mistakes grievously,
however, supposing that St. Malachi went hence and founded Soulseat, which
had been built by Fergus twenty years before. — See Keith, SeoUh Bishops.
^ Lord Hailes sarcastically remarks : *' It is remarkable that the cure was
not instantly effected." — Hailes, Ann. i. 108.
to II61] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 59
Caimgarroch, anglified in recent maps to Eoughcaim, overlooks
Caer Ochtree (named from Fergus's son), at the southern
extremity of Larbrax Bay. The saint has left his name on
Taphmalloch, Malloch's hillside (taebh), whence Copeland
Island, at the entrance of Belfast Loch, just opposite the old
monastery of Bangor, is visible to the naked eye. The Ghaists'
Ha', Taphmalloch, preserves possibly a recollection of the
burying-ground.
In 1142 Fergus's magnificent Abbey of Dundrennan being
finished, was peopled by a band of Cistercians from Eievaux,
Yorkshire, with Sylvanus, a man of considerable eminence,^ as
their first abbot.
Fergus had doubtless been assisted by Ailred in recruiting
for his religious colonies, the latter being intimate with all the
magnates of David's court, where he was a frequent and
honoured guest, and a visitor at that of Fergus as well as his
son. His own connection with Eievaux suggests the proba-
bility of his having introduced the members of his fraternity to
Dundrennan and taken part in the dedication services, and we
may with some confidence refer his first intercourse with the
Bishop of Whithorn to this date, who then and there " imposed
upon him," as he tells us, " the task of bringing into the light
of clear Latin diction the life of the most renowned Ninian — told
already, truly, by those who had gone before him, but in too
barbarous a style." ^
This book owes its value entirely to the date at which it
was written. The elegance of its Latin proves Ailred to have
been a man of culture, but as to historic facts it gives us really
no more than those already succinctly told by Bede. In the
^ In 1167 he became himself Abbot of Rievaiiz.
^ Ailred, or Ethelred, was bom 1109. In 1183 took vows as a Cistercian monk
at ^ievaoz ; 1142 was Abbot of Revesby ; 1143 Abbot of Rievaux. Bishop
Forbes covjeetures Ailred's prologue to the life of Ninian to be addressed to
Bishop Christianus after 1134. But a considerably earlier date is probable, no
date being given in the prologue; Ailred himself introducing the members of his
fraternity to Dundrennan would be a more appropriate occasion for a meeting
with the bishop, who must undoubtedly have been present at the consecration ;
their bishop being Gilla Aldan, who was succeeded by Christianus in 1154.
60 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 1 24
relation of miracles, however, which in themselves are worthy
only of a place in the Breviary of Aberdeen, glimpses of real
life evidently take their colouring from the light in which the
author saw the province ; and such scenes as the convent
garden abounding in leeks and potherbs of every sort, the
sheilings for the flocks, and more especially the division of the
whole land into parishes, if not appropriate to the fourth
century, yet £is not being later than the twelfth, rank as the
earliest local sketches we possess.
William Fitz-Duncan had long previously married Alice de
Bomellie, heiress of Skipton and Craven, and by her had, with
three daughters, a son, also William, generally known, from
being put into possession of one of his father's fiefs, as the Boy
of Egremont.^ Owing to the disorders in England his enjoy-
ment of these lands seems to have been interfered with, and
David, again letting loose the Galwegians across the borders,
put him forcibly in possession. When at Carlisle the King
had an interview with his grand-nephew, son of the Empress
Matilda, and afterwards Henry II., who then receiving knight-
hood from his father, swore solemnly that on receiving the
English Grown he would restore to him Newcastle, and cede to
him and his heirs for ever the whole territory between the
T3aie and the Tweed. Within a year of this William died, as
in 1151 we find his mother granting charters in her widow-
hood.*
The year following Prince Henry died ; Malcolm, his eldest
son, being a boy but ten years old.* King David, too infirm to
accompany him, sent him on a progress through the kingdom.
^ ^' David conferred the honours of Skipton and Craven on William, the
son of Duncan, and with an armed force put him in possession " (Hailes, AnnaUf
i. 102). William, however, had previously possessed these in right of his wife.
''The Soots again pillaged the places sacred to religion. David bestowed a piece
of plate on every church that had suffered from these depredations." — lb, and
J. Hazalsted, 279.
' In 1151, among the witnesses to a charter by Adeliza de Rumelli is *' Wil-
lelmo filio meo de Egremont "
* By his wife Ada, daughter of the English Earl of Warrenne and Surrey,
Prince Henry left Malcolm (the Maiden), b. 1142 ; William (the Lion), b. 1148 ;
David, afterwards Earl of Huntingdon, b. 1144.
to I161] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 61
In Galloway he was received and escorted by Fergus, and
proclaimed to the people at large as heir to the throne, and his
succession actually took place 24th May 1153.
Donald, a son of Wymond, or Macolm MacEth, was set
forward as a pretender to the throne, strongly supported by
Somerled and other Celtic chiefs ; but Fergus would not, either
by threats or blandishments, connect himseK with the insur-
rection, and even refused to allow Donald to obtain an asylum
in his province when, as a hunted rebel, he sought refuge from
his pursuers at Whithorn.^
Thus far Fergus was strong in his allegiance to the boy king ;
but Malcolm, as he grew in years, did little to retain the affec-
tion of his adherents, and in place of leaning upon them for
council in the art of government, tried fawningly to ingratiate
himself with the English king.
This was Henry II., who, on succeeding Stephen in 1154,
instead of making the cession he had promised to his uncle,
laid claim to all lands in the northern counties held abso-
lutely by Scottish subjects; his only action in the north
being to bribe some of Malcolm's ministers, by whose
advice he went to meet Henry at Chester, and there, with
no consultation with his own great lords, surrendered all
their rights.
Fergus, with many others of these, was deeply aggrieved ;
nor was their displeasure lessened when, utterly neglecting his
home duties, Malcolm was only heard of as dancing attendance
on the King of England, with a puerile desire for knighthood,
which the King dangled before him but delayed to give ; till
at last Malcolm crowned his folly by passing with Henry into
France, and there (that nation being at peace with the Scots)
fighting under the banner of Henry, who then contemptuously
^ He was taken by FeTga8*8 orders and conveyed to the dungeon of Rozbui^gh.
— Chron, Sax, Con, ; Hailes, Annals, i. 114.
Somerled kept up the civil war, but his nephew Donald, one of Malcolm
MacEth's sons, was taken prisoner at Whiteme by King Malcolm's friends,
and was imprisoned in that same keep of Marchmont with his father. — Fordun,
Annals, i.
62 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. II 24
invested him with the honours he had won at the expense, as
it proved, nearly of his crown.^
Living in a fool's paradise, he was roused from his day-
dreams by ominous murmurs at last re-echoing from Scotland,
" We will not have Henry to reign over us." *
Hurrying back, he found himself all but too late, his great
lords holding aloof from him, and the Galwegians irrevocably
committed to a rising in favour of William, great-grandson of
Ingibiorg.
Some mystery hangs over the state of affairs at this crisis ;
history is not explicit aa to whether there was any organised
insurrection in Scotland generally in favour of any individual,
and more especially as to whether William himself was any party
to it, or would under any circumstances have accepted the position
Fergus seems to have wished to thrust upon him.
AU that we know historically of this is that Malcolm, having
trysted his estates to meet him at Perth, they not only failed to
appear, but six out of seven of his great earls closely besieged
him there; Wyntoun hinting that the " Boy of Egremont" was
among them,^ and the Orkneyan Sagas i*elating as notorious that
all the Scots wished to make him king.^
Next we read that the earls failed to take Malcolm prisoner,
and that the clergy intervening, restored them to their allegiance.
No reason is given for the collapse, but modern research has
^ Henry invested him with the honours which his military service had
merited in an enterprise undertaken against the judgment of his nohles. — Hailes,
Annals f i. 118.
' Nolumus Anglorum regem Henricum regnare super nos. — Fordun, Annals,
• • •
111.
' A mayster-man cald Fevetawche,
With Gyllandrys, Ergemawche,
And other mayster-men there fyve,
Agayne the Eyng that ras belywe
For cants that he past till Iwlows."
Wyntoun, bk. viL c 7.
Fevetawche is of course Ferquhar, Earl of Stratheme, but it required Mr.
Skene's eagle eye to detect the Boy of Egremont
" Wynton's barbarous name Ergemawche may have been intended for Egre-
mont*'— Celtic Scotland, L 472.
* ^* WiUiam Fitz-Duncan was a good man ; his son was William the Koble,
whom all the Scots wished to take for their king. "
to II61] FERGUS, LORD OF GALLOWAY 63
recovered a fact which goes far to account for it. "William
the Noble " died at this very conjuncture, being still under age.
Providence thus removing his rival (whether William was such
willingly or unwillingly) from Malcolm's path.
Fergus, who had been so slow to rise, now alone proved
irreconcilable ; and the great moral power he wielded, and his
tactical skill, are evidenced by the fact that, although immedi-
ately invaded by the whole royal forces, — ^backed by the seven
great earls of the kingdom, — he discomfited them at every point,
and drove them with great loss out of the province.^
Again a greatly superior army descended upon (Jalloway,
which Fergus, unaided, drove back ignominiously. But on
learning that the king was mustering for a third expedition,
feeling that his resources were inadequate to compete with those
of the whole kingdom, he made his submission, in accepting
which the king made it a significant condition '' that he should
not be molested on retiring." «
Almost immediately after, Fergus, resigning his lordship to
his SOD, entered the monastery of Holyrood as a canon regular.
The reasons given for his doing so are somewhat conflicting.
One version, as epitomised by Chalmers, being that " Malcolm
obliged him to retire to the abbey of Holyrood House, where
he died of grief and disappointment the following year."*
The other that Fergus sent his son Uchtred os a hostage, re-
taining his vice-royalty,* but that his life being embittered by
family dissensions, his old friend Ailred came to his assistance,
and advised him to withdraw from the world : advice which he
followed.^ He certainly died as a monk of Holyrood in 1161, at
^ Lord Hailes suggests that Fergus's solitary defection was an advantage to
Malcolm. " The insurrection in Galloway at this critical moment enabled
Malcolm to employ his factious nobles, and to concentrate the affections of his
people by personal valour. Twice he invaded Galloway, and was twice repulsed.
— Hailes, Annals, i. 119.
' Rex Malcolmus duxit ezercitum in Galweiam, ter et ibidem inimicis suis
devictis, foBderattts est ifi pace, et sine damno remeavit. — Chron. S. Cruets.
* CalecUmia, ill 251, and ibid. 368. * Fordun, Annals^ 3.
* Descendens in Galwediam Alredus invenit regulam terne illius contra filios
suos iratum filios in patrem sffivientes et in se invicem fratres. Alrccdus patrem
filiorom habitum religionis suscipere inflezit, et qui multa millia hominum
64 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I I 24-6 1
a great age/ having during his long life done much to elevate
the tone of those he ruled, and leaving his native province
adorned with imperishable monuments of his beneficence and
taste.
He has left his name directly on " Loch Fergus," and Drum-
argus (Fheargus) Minigafif; Ben Ailsa (ealasaidh), which over-
looks it, bearing that of his wife. Knockeffrick, near one of his
residences, is supposed to be named from his daughter, the Queen
of Man ; and an outpost he held beyond the Irvine (in his days
the boundary of Galloway) is still mapped Fergushill.
Besides Affrica, he had another daughter, Margaret, married
to Alan, son of Walter, second High Steward of Scotland.
vita privaverat vitse participem etemae fieri docent. — Capgravi, Nova Legendoy
fol. xii
^ 1161. Obiit Fergus, Princeps Galwais quarto Idus mail. — Chron. S,
Cruds.
I
UCHTRED,
murdered, 1174
Roland,
d, 1200
Alan,
d, 1234
I
Deryoroille,
d. 1189
John Baliol,
6. 1249 ; klDg, 1292.
FERGUS
I
Gilbert,
d. 1184
Duncan,
aliye, 1244
!
I
Neil,
Earl of Carrick, d. 1256
I
Marjorib,
m. Robert Bruce, son of the
Competitor, 1271
I
Robert I.,
grandson of Competitor, h, 1274.
CHAPTER IV
LORDS OF THE LINE OF FERGUS
A.D. 1161 to 1234
Francia Pepinis — Brabantia milite signi
Anglia Richardo — Galwidia gaudet Alano.
Henry de Aublay.
(A Monk of Dundremiian.)
Fergus was succeeded by his eldest son Uchtred, married to '
Greynolda, daughter of Waldeve, Earl of Northumberland, who
brought him sundry lands in Cumberland as her dower.
It has been usual to designate Uchtred and Gilbert as joint-
heirs of Fergus/ but examination of contemporary writs prove
the lordship to have been indivisible. Gilbert's claims to
equality were the mere mutterings of treason, and when he did
get the better of his brother, it was to rule the province alone,
not to share its government with him.
For at least fourteen years after his father's retirement, we
find Uchtred making grants of land, and solely exercising
sovereign powers at every point of the compass within the
province, Gilbert's consent not being required, nor he even pre-
tending that it was so.
^ Lord Hailes states this on the authority of Roger de Hoveden, who was
deceived by the petition of Gilbert to be allowed, jointly wUh his brother, to do
homage to the English king, his brother having been murdered with his con-
nivance. Mackenzie intensifies the mistake, *' Fergus was succeeded by his
sons Uchtred and Gilbert," by adding *' between whom, according to the ancient
Celtic law, his dominions had been equally divided " (i. 172). Galloway was then
not ander Celtic but under feudal law, of which primogeniture was the leading
feature, the feudal laws having been introduced by Fergus himself.
VOL. I F
66 HEREDITAKY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I161
Thus, firom the chartulaiy of Holyrood,^ we find him con-
firming to that abbey lands and livings given by his father in
various parts of Galloway, adding, as his own gift, the church
of Colmonell.
To the monks of Holmcultram, across the Solway, he
granted in fee-farm the lands of Kirkgunzean.^
He bestowed "a carucate and a croft" in Troqueer upon the
hospital of St Peter's at York;' and (as every Galloway
archaeologist ought to be aware of) ** he conceded in perpetual
alms the church of St. Bride, in Eirkmaiden," with " a caru-
cate of land, and all its rights in fisheries, wood, water, and
common pasture," " to the church of Holyrood and the canons
there serving God," for the safety of the soul of King David,
his son Henry, King Malcolm, " and my father Fergus." *
These are but a few of his gifts.
Further, we find his position as first subject in the province
recognised by the sovereign. Malcolm addresses him as such in
a letter granting protection to all settlers on the lands of Dunrod
(which Fergus had given to the church of Holyrood), with full
confirmation of Uchtred's charters, implying his right to grant
them.* And Uchtred himself, in attendance upon royal progress-
ions, led the king near his marches.
^ Munimenta Sancta Cruds. — Beg, Male,
Uchtredns, filitis Fergiui, grants " Eccleaia de Calmaneli" to God and the
Abbey and Convent of Holyrood. Witnesses — Macmares Judioe, Gillecatfar
Ck>]Iactaneo Uchtredi (foster-brother), Gilliechrist MacGillewinine Mecthenel,
Daniel fil. Erlemine.
' Roland confirmed his father's grant, and added Saltcoats.— Dogdale's Mon-
astieon.
' Orants hy Scottish Kings and Nobles to the Hospital of St. Peter at York —
Troqueer is there written Creveqner. Bain's Calendar, iL 422. — The gift is in
" frank almonie for the soul of King David, Fergus his father, his mother, and
all his ancestors."
* This, known as the " Logan Charter/' is published in facsimile in the Archae-
ologuxU Collections of Ayr and WigUwn (vol. iv. p. 52). Witnesses — Robert, the
Archdeacon ; Salomon, the Dean ; Malbec, the Dean ; Helias, clerk to the
Bishop ; Ingerannus, chaplain to the Bishop ; Ralph, priest of Lertune ; Gille-
charfar, Gilliechrist, MacGilliwinne ; Daniel, son of Herlewine.
^ Malcolmes R., TJchtredo filio Fergus, et Gileberto fratri ejus, et Radulpho
fiUo Dunegal, et Duvenaldo fratri ejus, universisque aliis probis suis hominibus
totius Galweie, etc. "Quam Fergus dedit quam etiam Uchtredus filius qus
sua carta oonfirmavit, quorum etiam cartas ego ipse carta mea confirmavL"
to 1234] LORDS OF THE LINE OF FERGUS 67
l^Ialcolm having died in 1165, we find Uchtred immediately
after in attendance on William the Lion^ and witnessing a
Crown charter in favour of Robert de Brus, sealed by William at
Lochmaben, and addressed " to all good men — ^French, English,
Scots, and Galwegians.*' ^
The names we thus find grouped together in the court circle
are of genealogical interest
Subscribing first after the bishop is Richard de Moreville,
Constable of Scotland, feudal superior of the whole of Cunning-
hame, owning also wide tracts of forest on the Gala Water.
His daughter Elena had married Rolland, Uchtred's eldest
son (whose signature we find here for the first time), and who
through her eventually fell heir to his father-in-law's offices and
estates.^
Next to the Constable signs Alan, High Steward, and brother-
in-law to Uchtred, by whose sister Margaret he had a fair-haired
son Simon, ancestor of the Earls of Kilmarnock ; ^ Alan himself
being the progenitor of a long line of kings, of the Dukes of
Lennox, the Earls of Angus, Atholl, Buchan, and Traquair, Lords
Blantyre, and (the title still surviving in direct descent) the
Earls of Galloway.
William de Haia was the common ancestor of the Earls of
Errol and Kinnoul, and the Marquises of Tweeddale.
Simon Locard held lands in Kyle under Alan the Steward,
and names the parish of Symington there, as also another
Symington in Lanark. He was ancestor of the Lockharts of Lee.
^ Witnesses— Engelram, Bishop of Glasgow ; Christian, Bishop of VHiithom ;
Richaid de Moreville, Constable ; Walter Fitz-Alan, dapifer ; OdeneU de Um-
franville ; Huctred, son of Fergus ; Gilebert, son of Fergus ; Gilebert, son of
Richard ; Rolland, son of Huctred ; William de Hara ; Simon Locard ; Robert
de Chartres, etc., at Locmaben. — National MSS, of Scotland, voL L No. 39.
' Hugh Morvill, under David I., became Constable of Scotland, and acquired
a grant of Cunninghame. Under him settled as vassals many from England.
The progenitor of the Londons was a vassal of Morvill's, the Cunninghams also,
whose name was locaL The numerous family of the Rosses settled here in a
MimilAr manner. — Caledonia^ ilL 457.
> By Margaret, daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway, Alan had three sons
Walter, Adam, and Simon, whose son is allowed to be ancestor of the Boyds
Earla of Kilmarnock. — Noble's Genealogy of the Stuarts, 5.
Boyd is a hardening of the Celtic Buidhe, yellow or fair (haired).
68 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I161
Richard de Charteris (oddly often latinised De Comoto) ^ was
of Amesfield, now represented in the female line by the Earls of
Wemyss.
Before Malcolm's death Uchtred had built the comparatively
small but very beautiful abbey of lincluden,* and had it not
been for intestine feuds, there is little doubt he would have
followed further in his father's footsteps as to church-building.
This house, in the first instance a nunnery, peopled by a
sisterhood from Clugny in Marmoutier in France, lay in a
sequestered dell near the junction of the Cluden with the NitL
Above it a hillock, artificially scarped as a mount of defence in
prehistoric times, served monks of a later period for a Calvary,
still attractive from its fine views ; such of the ruins below it
as are of the original erection being peculiarly interesting as
specimens of the architectural transition from the severer
Norman to the Gothic. Early English as yet entirely unde-
veloped into the " Decorated " of the two following centuries.
From his father's retreat until 1174 Uchtred kept his
court at the Palace Isle. Kerroughtry, believed to have been
a strong house of his building, may probably have been occupied
by his son ; and Holland Hill, on the opposite side of the Cree,
may have been given from some adventure of his in the chase
or war.^
Church records give us a glimpse of Galloway life of the
period in a little more than usual of details.
Ailred, the Abbot of Rievaux, appears to have been on a
visit to Uchtred in 1164, and at the date of the feast of St.
Cuthbert, the 20th March, a great gala day in the neighbour-
hood of the saint's especial mother church.
Services having been celebrated with great pomp, a penitent
^ Sir Robert Charteris, probably grandson of the above, gave to the monastery
of Kelso the patronages of the churches of Traverflat (now Trailflat) and Dimeri.-
noch, in the shire of Dumfries, in which he is designed Robertus de Cornoto,
miles. — Douglas's Baronage^ i. 150.
' Lincluden was founded in the reign of Malcolm IV. by Uthred, father to
Rolland, Lord of Galloway.— Keith, 280.
Cludan, dim. of Clud (Clyde), Cledfein, and Cleddyfein — Sixth century barda.
* Reginald of Durham, Surtees's edition, 178.
to 1234] LORDS OF THE LINE OF FERGUS 69
was " miraculously freed from an iron belt " before all the con-
gregation ; without was tethered a bull, " offered in oblation to
St Cuthbert," by which we understand intended as a provision
for his votaries, when butcher and cooks had duly performed
their offices.
But before they had taken him in hand, Ailred, on leaving
the church, was greatly scandalised at finding a party of
" scologs " ^ most unclerically engaged in baiting this bull ; he
remonstrated warmly, when one of them " mocked the saint,"
and was instantly gored by the bull.
The point the monkish chronicler seems principally intent
in making is that the animal was miraculously impelled to
avenge the embryo saint,* and instinctively to pick out the
principal offender ; but historically it is of greater interest to
gather from the tenor of the relation that there was still proper
tranquillity near Uchtred's headquarters, and that the gatherings
were for menymaking and fun, as there is nothing in the narra-
tive inconsistent with the belief that the saucy boy was more
frightened than hurt
Indeed the general repose of the province seems to have
remained unbroken until 1173. In this year the Scottish king
most unhappily allowed himself to be bribed by a promise of
the Earldom of Northumberland to assist a rising in England
against Henry II. in favour of his own son.
The summons to arms went forth, and being responded to
enthusiastically by the Galwegians,* they were at once hurried
across the borders, and masking such fortresses as Werk and
^ Scolog, Lat. 8cholasticu8, the lowest order of the ecclcBiasticol community ;
root, 9gol ; Celtic, ysgol, a school. In early Colmnban monasteries the Toiseach-
na-Scolog (chief of the scologs) was an office. Scolog in Ireland, scallag in
the Western Highlands, is now applied to tacksmen, small crofters, and in a
contemptuons sense.
' So early as 1250 Ailred was regarded as a saint, his canonisation foUowing
his death unnsnally quick. For the legend see Reginald of Durham, Surtees's
edition, p. 178.
' The King of Scotland's ''army being chiefly composed of Gralwegians *'
(Lord Lyttelton, Henry IL, book iv. vol. v. 165), "who having no pay but
plunder could be under no restraint" (Ibid. p. 175, based on Abbas Benedic
and Hoveden).
70 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I i6i
Carlisle, which they had not means of reducing, they were let
loose on the unguarded lands beyond, and devastated the whole
countryside as far as the Humber.
Eemorseless forays were continued uninterruptedly, saving
a few weeks' time, until the following summer, when, riding
in the early morning (13th July 1174) insufficiently attended,
William the lion was surprised by a band of horse under
Barnard Baliol, and hurried off ignominiously into captivity.
Dire was the confusion in the Scottish camp as the maraud-
ing bands dropped in one by one with their ill-gotten booty,
their rage and resentment venting itself perversely in murderous
assaults on Anglo-Norman gentlemen in their own ranks, on
the pretext of their afiGLnity to the captors of their king.
Gilbert — whose name, be it noted, never appears before, except
as an occasional witness in his brother's suite — was not slow to
turn the momentary madness to account,^ and denouncing his
brother as a favourer of foreigners, roused race jealousies to such
purpose that Uchtred had to fly from the camp, and was after-
wards driven from his home ; and, wandering as a fugitive, was
finally tracked to a cave on the Leswalt shores, dragged out, and
murdered with circumstances of revolting barbarity, Gilbert
inaugurating his succession by a general massacre of Anglo-
Normans.2
This savage exultation, however, was succeeded by some
alarm lest William the Lion should be released and call him to
account ; ^ and, anxious to secure support, he sent ambassadors
craftily, in the joint names of his brother and himself, ofiering
^ Just after the king's capture, the Galwegians, led by Gilbert, treacherously
made a conspiracy, separating themselves from Scotland. — Fordun, Annals, 14.
' Abscissis testiculis et oculis evulsis. — Benedic. Abbas, 92.
Ochtred, who was a true Scot and could not be shaken, was taken prisoner
by his brother Gilbert on the 22d September, given over unto bonds, and at
length his tongue was cut off, his eyes torn out, and he was ruthlessly murdered.
— Fordun, Amials, 14.
Lord Hailes says: ''Gilbert, by the ministry of his son Malcolm, cruelly
murderad Uchtred." — Annals, i. 142.
' William of Newburgh, 216. "After William's captivity the natives of
Galloway murdered many subjects of Scotland who were settled in their territory,
and expelled the king's officers." — Hailes, Annals, L 14.
_ J
to 1234] LOBDS OF THE LINE OF FERGUS 7X
to transfer their allegiance to England, trusting to be able to
give his own colour to the circumstances of his brother's death.
Henry 11. desired nothing better ; and, pleased at the idea that
consanguinity should so readily aid in the extension of his
influence, he sent Roger Hoveden and Robert de Val forthwith
to accept the homage of the two brothers,^ and to assure XJchtred
of his cousinly regard.
On arriving, however, the envoys found but one to treat with ;
and however Gilbert may have prevaricated as to the cause,
the true story leaked out in all its ghastly details, and they left,
refusing to have any dealings with " the murderer of the king's
cousin. ^
Gilbert, unabashed, renewed negotiations, offering to pay a
price of 2000 marks of silver, a tribute in money, as well as of
500 cows and 500 swine in kind. This Henry could not so soon,
with any decency, accept; the more especially as he, having given
William his liberty, but as his vassal, and thus all Scotland being
practically at his feet, preferred to allow the Scottish king to be
the avenger of his kinsman, and so let matters drift.
William, as he had expected, instantly invaded Galloway,
but soon found that Gilbert was too strong for him, and was
fain to accept a moderate fine and a nominal submission, with a
further promise to submit himself to Henry II. also.
The next year, consequently, Gilbert accompanying his own
king to York, both did homage to the English king as suzerain,
Gilbert's delinquency being condoned for a fine of £1000,*
' Ut allicerent eos ad servitium suam. — Benedict. Abbas.
* Consangaineam Henrici Regis. — Ibid,
Henry, being infonned of the murder of his kinsman, . . . knowing too
that the Galwegians had murdered many English and Normans whom they found in
the country, refused to make any treaty with them. — Lord Lyttleton, Henry II,,
bk. iv. vol. V. 287.
' Henry made little by this dishonourable transaction. He had the power of
punishing Gilbert, but was put off by the promise of the gold. We find that in
1179 Gilbert, son of Fergus, accounts for £1000 for ''having the king's benevo*
lence." One payment into the Exchequer "camera curie" of £80 : lis. by the
hands of Robert de Yallebus is noted. He further reduced it by the merest trifles,
as at his death in 1184 £917 : 19s. remained unpaid. — Bain's CcUendarSf i. 28, 24.
** Gilbart, son of Fergus, charged £917 : 19s. for the king's good-will."— Madoz,
^Eeheqtier, u 437.
72 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I i6i
he also giving up his son Duncan as a hostage for his good
behaviour.
Gilbert's rule, based on the murder of his brother and all of
Anglo-Norman proclivities, was ruinous to the province, and a
curse to the shires bordering on it. A tyrant at home, '' at odds
with his neighbours," perpetually engaged in raids conducted
with fiendish slaughter, it was a general relief when '*thai
lover and wager of civil war I' as Fordun terms him, through the
kindness of Providence, was removed from the scenes of his
crime in 1185.^
Boland now appeared upon the scene, and, backed by his
father's friends, asserted his lordship. A certain " Gilpatrick
and Henry Kennedy and Samuel " rose in support of Duncan's
claims (Gilbert's son, a hostage in England) ; but in a battle,
" sare, scharpe, and snell,^ fought on " Thursday, the 14th of
July," were utterly defeated, and themselves slain. He next
turned upon a robber chief, Gilcolm, who had wrested a part of
the province, from Gilbert, conquered, and slew him,^ thus con-
stituting himself (and with the king's good will) sole lord of
Galloway.
But now the difficulties attendant on the strange state of
double allegiance owed by Scottish magnates began to develop.
Henry II. had not been consulted, and was furious at
Eoland's success. Under pretext that he was honourably bound
to defend Duncan's rights, he ordered Boland to quit the field ;
and he, naturally refusing to relinquish the advantages he had
just gained, refused, on which Henry, assembling a mighty
army, advanced to the Borders. Boland fortified his passes, but,
by William's mediation, procuring a safe conduct, he presented
himself before the angry potentate at Carlisle. Here, his own
king becoming answerable for him that he would submit to
Henry's judgment, it was finally arranged that Boland should
retain all Galloway in its ancient boundaries up to the Deil's
Dyke, giving up Carrick to Duncan.*
^ Fordun, Annals^ 17. ^ Wyntoun, bk. viL c. 8, I. 1980.
* Hailes, AnndU, i. 142. ^ IhicL ; and Fordun, AnncUs, 18.
to 1234] LORDS OF THE LINE OF FERGUS 73
Duncan proved an amiable and able man ; the treaty was
honourably observed by both parties; friendly relations were
ever after maintained between the two cousins; and Boland
himself rose almost as high in favour with Henry II. as with his
own king.
In the year 1187 there was a rising in the north in favour
of Donald Bane, calling himself also MacWilliam, as claiming
to be a son of William, son of Duncan. This was almost certainly
an imposture, as the said William had no legitimate son but the
Boy of Egremont, long since deceased ; and King William would
hardly have tnisted a Galloway force alone to oppose even an
illegitimate son of their favourite chief.
Boland was sent to encounter him, and falling in with the
rebels on the moor of Mongarvey, near Inverness, entirely dis-
persed them, and slew Donald.^
He was now in such high repute as a commander that we
find him summoned by the King of England to quell an insur-
rection on the west marches. It was probably in reward of
his services there that Henry II. bestowed upon him the large
estates in Northamptonshire and Leicester which we know him
to have enjoyed.*
Having now more leisure, and his affairs prospering, in 1190
we find him founding the Abbey of Glenluce, peopling it with
Cistercians from Melrose. The building in its day must have
been both beautiful and imposing ; its ruins cover a full acre
of ground, and the few arches of white freestone yet remaining
are artistically sculptured in quaint designs. Attached to it
was a garden more than fifteen acres in extent, the names still
mapped upon its site being Auchenmanister and Balmesh — ^the
" field " and " orchard " of the monastery.^
On the death of Bichard de Moreville in 1196, Boland, in
right of his wife, succeeded him as Constable of Scotland, inherit-
^ Chrcn, Melrote ; Hailen, AnnalSf i. 144.
^ 1186. Paid to the army of Galloway at Chester, £119 : 10 : 7 (a very large
sum in those days). — Exeheqtier HoUs.
* In early charters always written Glenlns ; Ins, a herb, plant, or leek. Bal-
mesh, Baile-meas, the townland of the fruit.
74 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. I 1 6 1
ing also his vast estates, for which he paid to the Crown, as a
relief, 700 marks.
A grant of a salt- work to the monks of Kelso proves Loch
Kendelach to have been still the name of the parish of New
Abbey,^ and the Viponts (Veteriponti), who had feudal holdings
under him, near Whithorn, seem to have left their name trans-
lated in Auldbrick.^
In 1199 Boland, as High Constable of Scotland, accompanied
King William to Lincoln, who there did homage to Bling John,
who had just succeeded, for his earldom of Huntingdon. A few
weeks afterwards he died, apparently in his English domain, he
being buried in the church of St. Andrew at Northampton. His
reputation stands high as a statesman and a military com-
mander, and in his native province he was esteemed a king, and
such, indeed, he is styled by contemporary chroniclers.^ He left
Alan, his heir ; Thomas, who in right of Isabel his wife became
Earl of Athol; and a daughter, Ada, married to Sir Walter
Bisset
The prestige of Alan even exceeded that of his father and
grandfather, he 13 styled by Chalmers "one of the greatest
nobles of his age," and by Buchanan, "by far the most
powerful of Scotsmen." * In Scotland he was the highest court
official ; south of the border he was recognised as one of the
guardians of the British Constitution; in Galloway he was
supreme ; and his dealings with both the sovereigns, to whom he
owed fealty, were rather those of an ally than of a subject ;
more especially in the case of the unpopular King John, who
set great store on his support; whilst in 1209 his marriage
with Margaret, daughter of the Earl of Huntingdon, the king's
brother, brought him iato the most intimate social as well as
official relations with William the Lion.*
^ OharU KeUo, 258. Grant by Roland of Galloway of a salt- work.
* Roland confirms the grant by Ivo de Veteriponti of the church of Great
Sorby. — Chart, Dryburgh.
^ 1199, KaL January. Rollant, MacUchtraigh-ri-gallgaidhel, in pace, qui
»vit. — Annals of Ulster.
^ Scotorum longe potentissimus.
'^ Margaret's sister, Isabella, married Robert de Brus.
to 1234] LORDS OP THE LINE OF FERGUS 75
On Candlemas Day 1212, he was present at Durham at a
meeting between the English and Scottish kings, at which the
delicate matter of the latter doing homage for his English estates
was compromised by arranging they should be vested in Prince
Alexander, and that he should do the homage to King John.^
Alan afterwards accompanied the king to Norham, where,
in presence of the ministers of both sovereigns, his seal as High
Constable was attached to deeds professing to secure " peace and
love " between England and Scotland for ever ; * and " by leave
and license of his royal master" Alan did homage for himself^
for large possessions which the English king further heaped
on this Galloway magnate. King John had previously granted
him many lands in Ireland for services in 1207, when he had
assisted him with an army and a fleet; and five years later
he bestowed upon him in fee the whole of Dalriada,^ consisting
of one hundred and forty knights' fees, of which his brother
Thomas, Earl of Athol, took seizure forthwith.
Alan succeeded in resuscitating the buccaneering tastes of
the Galwegians, which had slumbered since the departure of
the Vikings ; his fleets, under his brother Thomas, becoming the
terror of the whole countryside, from Bangor to Irmishowan.^
And although his ships and men in great force were thus
engaged plundering the Irish, he was able to raise a second
army to support King John on the Welsh marches. He had
previously sent twenty men-at-arms with their attendants, but
these proved insufficient, as the following letter shows :
^ Fordnn, AnndU^ 26.
' EalendaTB in Record Office.
' "Alan, Lord of Galloway, Constable of Scotland, did homage to John, King
of England, by his lord's will and leave, for some broad lands which the latter
bestowed upon him." — Fordnn, Annals, 27.
* Dalriada, Riada's portion or tribe, that part of Antrim extending from the
Ravel Water northwards. Riada, cormpted in Latin to Rata, was anglified *' the
route."
^ 1212. Thomas (grand)8on of Uchtred, came to DerryColumdlle with'seventy-
slx ships ; the town was spoiled by them very mnch, and Inisowen altogether
was spoiled by them.
1218. Thomas, son of Uchtred, and Roderick, son of Ronald (of the Isles),
plnndered Deny altogether, and carried away the goods of the men of Deny and
the north of Erin ont of the temple and the monastery. — Anndla of Ulster,
76 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. II6i
"The king to his faithful cousin Alan de Galweia, and
requests him for the great business regarding which he lately
asked him, and, as he loves him, to send 1000 of his best and
most active Galwegians so as to be at Chester on Sunday next
after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin ; Alan to place over
them a constable who knows how to keep peace in the king's
army, and to harass the enemy. The king will provide their
pay."
Thither, accordingly, Alan led his men in person, and so
efficiently handled them that a month later we find an entry
in the Exchequer of a largesse given in excess of the stipulated
pay.^ "At Nottingham, 16th August 1212, To Alan of Gallo-
way, by way of gift, 500 merks, to pay his squires, who had
come with him to the king's service in the army of Wales."
Notwithstanding John's blandishments, however, three years
later Alan sided with the English lords, who at the point of
the sword demanded attention to their complaints. He appears
to have joined his fellow barons, of whom Saier de Quinci was a
leading spirit, in the spring of 1215, their first overt act of
rebellion being the siege of Northampton, near which Alan
owned many manors. He advanceed in their company to
London, and was with them on the memorable 15th of June
1215 at Eunnymede, where the signing of Magna Charta^
verified their success and John's discomfitura Entries both
before and after that date in the English kalendars throw a
curious light on the dealings of King John with this great
Galloway lord of double allegiance. Early in 1215 Alan not
^ 8th July 1212. 558. allowed for expenses of twenty horsemen sent from
Galloway.
15th July. Ralf de Cambray going to Alan of Galloway with a letter.
At Nottingham, 16th August 1212. To Alan of Galloway, by way of gift,
500 merks. — Kcdevdars, Record Office.
1211. Alan paid 600 merks and 6 palfreys for recognition of his mother's
right to Whissendine and other lands.
^ Alan had the honour of being one of the illustrious barons to whom the
great charter of King John was addressed. He was one of the Magnates Scotiae
who witnessed the marriage of Alexander II. with Joanna (John's daughter). He
was the witness of many charters of William and Alexander II., as his rank and
office led him to be much at court. — Caledonia^ iii. 257.
to 1234] LORDS OF THE LINE OF FERGUS 77
only detained an English ship at Kirkcudbright, but sent it to
Dublin, there to be laden with merchandise for himself. Yet
on the 2d of April, when Alan was then actually in the field
against him, King John signed a mandate to the Justicier of
Ireland ordering '' him to permit Alan to traffic, to allow the
very ship he had seized to go back to Kirkcudbright The
case to stand over for the king^s investigation." ^
On the 5th of May the king signed orders for the payment
of 330 merks respectively to Alexander of Galloway and Thomas
Galloway, Earl of Athol. Only a fortnight before the king's
capitulation at Bunnymede, Alan sends a present of ''a fine
hound to the king," receiving from his majesty in return " two
geese '' — the latter reading almost like a joke. And just a fort-
night after that event John makes further grants of Irish lands
to Alan, and signs his brother Thomas's commission as Keeper
of the Castle of Antrim.^
The previous December William the Lion had died, and
the first Parliament of Alexander II. (his successor, a youth
of seventeen) was held in Edinburgh the same year, in which
the Constableship of Scotland was ratified to Alan. King
John died l7th October 1216, and so great was the influence of
Alan supposed to be by the English Council, that they addressed
a letter to him in the name of the boy king, Henry III.,
entreating that " his councils may be used in the interests of
peace, and for the restoration to the English of the Castle of
Carlisle." Alan seems to have complied with both requests,
as an order was made forthwith for the delivery of the castle,
with all English prisoners therein, to Bichard de Vetereponte.
After this, Alan delaying an unreasonable time to do homage
for his English and Irish estates, a threat of forfeiture was made
^ The king commands the Archbishop of Dublin, Justicier of Ireland, to
aUow the men of Alan of GaUowaj to come to Dublin, and to return with the
ship that Alan took at Kirkcudbright, and aUow Alan to have his merchandise
in the said ship, tiU the owner of the vessel shaU come over to speak to the
king. At Lichfield, 2d April 1215. — Kalendars, Record Office.
' Grant of lands to Alan from Winchester, 27th June.
To Thomas of GaUoway, Keeper of the Castle of Antrim, 30th June 1215. —
Kalendars, Record Office.
78 HEREDITAKT SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. 116i
in Eliiig Henry's name, which occasioned a Tolnminons cone-
spondence; and in 1218 a safe-condnct was offered him for
the parpose, but of this he n^lected to avail himself; and
even nnder farther pressorey only made his sabmisdon in writ-
ing. With eren this, however, the En^ish Council appear to
have been satisfied, writing : ** The king takes into consideration
that Alan of Galloway is at a distance, and nnable, without great
trouble and expense, to come and do homage to the king, and
he gives orders accordingly/'
The following letter also passed as to Us Irish holdings :
'^Alan, son of Boland, Constable of Scotland, to the king. —
He believes that the king is not ignorant that he and his
brother are his relatives in the line of consanguinity
For the goods and lands conferred on them by the king's
father, they embrace him with warm affection. Seeing, how-
ever, that they have had little use of the lands granted them
in Ireland, he sends messengers to speak to the king on
the writer's behalf, who is ever ready to go by sea and land
on his service." To which Henry IIL, dating from West-
minster 18th April 1220, replies : " Harriz of Galloway, clerk,
having come to the king and council, seeking in Alan's
behalf restoration of his lands, and assuring them of his
devotion to the king, the king has ordered that his lands in
Ireland shall be restored. The king is to meet Alexander, King
of Scotland, at York to discuss matters relating to their kingdoms,
and he invites Alan to come there and do homage for his lands
in England." ^
Alan was present at York at this meeting of the two
sovereigns, and accordingly shortly after assisted at the
marriage of King Henry's sister with the Scottish king, signing
as a witness to the settlements, by which the young queen's
jointure of £1000 a year was secured over the lands of " Jedd-
^ The letter furtber adds : ** The Jncticier of Ireland is also ordered to allow
Thomas de Galweia to hold the lands given him by King John in peace." —
KcUendarSj Record Office.
Thomas was now recognised as fifth Earl of Athol in right of his wife Isabel,
daughter of Alan, fourth and last Earl of Athol of that line.
to 1234] LORDS OP THE LINE OP FERGUS 79
worth, Kyngor, and Carel."^ Alau becoming a second time
a widower, crossed the Irish Channel as a wooer, and married
a daughter of Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Ulster. In returning,
his gay flotilla was overtaken by a storm, many of his vessels
being lost, he and his young wife with diflBculty effecting a land-
ing in a creek, believed to have been that about a mile west-
ward of Cruggleton Castle, which bears the name Port Alan,^
On the 26th October 1229 a mandate, dated from London,
peremptorily orders Alan to appear there personally " on Palm
Sunday next, with horses and arms, prepared to go abroad with
the king.*' Whether this order was a matter of form or not, it
was not obeyed; we find him otherwise engaged at that time.
For some years he had been actively intervening in disputes
between two brothers, his distant relatives, Beginald and Olave,
for the sovereignty of Man.
Eeginald having been worsted, passed in the winter of 1224
to Alan's court, taking a daughter with him, who there won the
heart of Thomas, Alan's illegitimate son, who married her, and
induced his father to support Eeginald. A pitiless war, its area
extending from the Hebrides to Anglesea, dragged its desolat-
ing course for years. Its results in Man are thus described in
the chronicles of the island : " In 1228 Alan Lord of Galloway,
Thomas Earl of Athol his brother, and King Beginald, came
into Man with a great army, and wasted all the south of the
island, and spoiled the churches, and put all the people they
could meet with to the sword . . . After this Alan returned
with his army, leaving his bailiffs in Man to collect the tribute
of the country. . . . King Olave, coming on them unawares, put
them to flight and recovered his kingdom. But the same year
King Beginald came by surprise in the dead of night with five
ships from Galloway, and burned all the ships that belonged
to his brother Olave." ^ Being thus worsted, Olave appealed to
^ Rymer's Fcedera. Jeddworth (Jedburgh), Kyngor (Einghom), Carol (Crail).
' 1228. This yeare Allane, Earl of Galloway, went to Ireland, and tbar
married the daughter of Henry de Lacy, and in his retume had many of servanda
drowned, himself and his ladey verey narrowly escaping. — Balfour, i. 46.
' ChronieUs of Alan,
80 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I161-1234
Haco, King of Norway, who, styling himself Lord Paramount of
the Western Isles, sent a message to Alan, desiring him at his
peril not further to molest Olave. To this Alan with becoming
spirit responded that the voyage from Galloway to Norway
was quite as easy as that from Norway to Galloway, and if
Haco felt inclined to try issues he should see whether Gal-
wegians could not find their way as easily through the Qords
of Norway as his Norwegians among the creeks of the Solway.
If an Icelandic legend may be believed, this proved no idle
boast. It relates that Haco furnished Olave with an army and
a fleet of 80 ships, which, having desolated the Hebrides,
Cantyre, and Bute, were sailing merrily southward, when they
learned that 150 ships of the Lord of Galloway were lying in
ambush for them inside the Mull ; on hearing which, they put
about without attempting a landing in Galloway, and entirely
gave up their purpose of going to the Isle of Man.^
In 1234 the great Alan died ; he was buried in the Abbey
of Dundrennan, where his tomb is still preserved He left no
legitimate son ; the Lordship of Galloway by feudal law passing
jointly to his daughters, and the Constableship of Scotland to
the husband of the eldest
These ladies were all married to Anglo-Norman barons,holders
of English fiefs ; the eldest, Helena, to Boger de Quenci, Earl of
Winchester; the second (the elder by his second marriage), Der-
vorgiUe, to John Baliol of Barnard Castle ; the third. Christian, to
William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle. To anticipate a few years,
we may mention that Christian dying in 1246 without issue,
her Galloway inheritance was shared by the surviving sisters.
The prestige of these joint Lords of Galloway necessarily
fell below that of their father and grandfather ; Alan being the
last of those rulers of Galloway who in contemporary records
are chronicled as kings.^
^ The " Black King of Man." A legend, translated from the Icelandic, p. 16.
Alan, Lord of (Calloway, is said to have driven Olave, King of Man, from his
dominions, having collected for that purpose 150 vessels at the Rhynns of
Galloway. — Macpherson, Ann, of Commerce^ i. S87.
3 1234. Eal. Jan. Ailin MacUchtraigh Ri Galgaidhel mortuus est. — Annals
fo UlsUr,
CHAPTER V
ALAN*S HEIRS TO THE BRUCIAN SETTLEMENT
A.D. 1234 to 1360
Bot in Earryk John Keunedy
Warrayid Gallwey sturdely
He and Alane Stewart tha twa
Oft dyd Galluays mekill wa
Yhit the BallioU all that qwhill
In Gallwa wes at the Brynt-yle.^
Wyntoun, bk. 3, c. xl.
Female succession was opposed to Celtic customs, and this,
aggravated, as in the case of Alan's daughters, by the passing
of the province to three alien overlords, occasioned a strain on
the loyalty of its inhabitants which it could hardly bear. The
Galloway Picts entreated the king to assume their lordship
himself, but Alan's settlement was in perfect accord with feudal
law, and the king " preferring justice to ambition " ^ declined
the offer. They next implored him, failing this, to allow
Thomas, Alan's illegitimate son to be their lord, but this request
Alexander absolutely refused to grant, whereupon they rose as
one man in favour of the said Thomas, receiving active support
from Gilrodh, a native Irish chief, and Hugh de Lacy, father of
Alan's widow.»
Alexander II. invaded the province to quell this rebellion ;
' It requires local knowledge to recognise Botel in Brynt-yle !
' Hailes, Annals^ 167.
' Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Ulster, in anno 1285 entered Scotland, endeavour-
ing to restore Galloway to the bastard son of Alan of Galloway, which country
the King of Scotland had given to the three daughters of Alan as their rightful
inheritance ; but in this attempt he prevailed not. — Dugdale's Baronage j i. 98.
VOL. I G
82 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
but his troops getting entangled in the mazes of the forests and
" flows," which the initiated alone could thread, became demor-
alised, and were surrounded by the natives, who would probably
have overpowered them had not the Earl of Boss burst unex-
pectedly "with furious might upon their rear,"^ and restored
the fortunes of the king.
Thomas fled, and next day the chiefs of the Galloway Picts
appeared, and with ropes round their necks humbly entreated
for, and obtained, the king's pardon.
The following year Thomas, having raised a band of despera-
does in Ireland, landed with them in the Bhynns, and burnt his
boats, to show his determination to do or die. The Galwegians,
however, kept entirely aloof; and he, finding his ragged regiment
quite unable to cope with the royal troops, made his own peace
with the king, leaving his wretched kerns to their fate. Few, if
any, succeeded in escaping. The conduct of the king's army,
especially considering that the native population had declined
to rise, was disgraceful. They not only despoiled the land, but
robbed the churches, the larger abbeys even being unable to bar
them out. The Prior of Tungland and other ecclesiastics were
murdered, and a dying monk at Glenluce robbed of his covering
upon his death-bed.^
^ The natives unexpectedly started ont of the hills and woods, and assailed
the king and his army, who were resting in their tents ; for that spot, full as it
was of marshes and goodly with green grass, gave them no little confidence.
But Maclntaggart, Earl of Ross, burst with furious might upon the rear of the
natives, swept down many, and forced many to flee. — Fordun, Annals, 43.
The Earl is styled Comes Rossensis Maciutaggart by Fordun, Comes Bossensis
Mackintagard by the Melrose Chronicle. Peerage writers give Ferquard as the
name of the Earl of Ross of the name. Mackintagard is " son of the priest"
^ Seeing his own men could not withstand the king's majesty, Thomas, Alan*s
bastard son, by the advice of the Bishop of Whithorn, besought the king for
peace ; so the king kept him a little while in the Castle of the Maidens, and then
let him go. The rest of the Irish were slaiu by the citizens of Glasgow — two
of the chiefs, however, the king ordered to be torn by horses. At that time the
Scots of the king's army despoiled the lands and churches of Galloway with un-
heard of cruelty, so much so that a monk of Glenluce who was at his last gasp
was left naked but for his hair shirt, and at Tongueland the prior and sacristan
were slain in the church. — Fordun, Annals, 43.
Particularly note that in the original these place-names are written ''Glen-
lusse" and "Tungland."
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 83
The province was now fonnaUy divided between De Quenci
and Baliol, the river Cree being their march.
Northward Carrick was still ruled by Duncan, the good son
of the hateful Gilbert, who in a green old age, with energy and
taste worthy of a grandson of Fergus, reared the beautiful Abbey
of CrossregaL^ This was completed about 1244, and shortly
after he was succeeded as third Earl of Carrick by his son Neil,
married to Margaret, daughter of Walter, the High Steward of
Scotland.^
In 1247 De Quenci somehow provoked a rising so serious
that he had to fly to his own castle, whence, finding his defences
likely to be forced, in which case the rebels would have allowed
him but short shrift, he made a desperate sally, and with a few
men-at-arms cutting his way through the unarmoured crowd,
rode straight to the Court, and laid his complaint before the
king, who re-established him in his rights.^
Before this he had remarried, — his second wife being a Bohun,
widow of Anselme le Mareschal, Earl of Pembroke.* The re-
bellion of the native Galwegians, with which he had been hardly
^ A Clnniac monastery in Kirkoswald Parish, near Maybole. Chalmers,
giving no authority, suggests its date as before 1240. Keith gives 1244, quoting
the Chartulary of Paisley. — Keith, Scotch BisJujps, 253.
The name is a puzzle to etymologists. It has been variously written Croce-
regal, Crossraguel, Crossragmid, and Crossragwell.
' This was Walter, fifth High Stewart, styled in genealogies " of Dundonald."
He gave active assistance to Alan*s heirs when hard pressed by Thomas (the
Bastard) and Gilrodh. He is said to be the first of the family who used " Stuart "
as a family name. " His father was styled Dapifer, as were his ancestors, but he
changed it into Senechallus, whence came the surname Stewart, Stuart, or
Steward, in the same manner as we have Boteler and Chamberlain." — Noble,
GeiuaJogy of the Stuarts, p. 7.
The Neilsons of Craigcaffie claimed descent from this Neil of Carrick, husband
of Margaret Stewart.
' In 31 Henry III. de Quenci, being in Galloway, and exercising more
severity to the people of that country than becom'd him, he was besieged by
them in a castle there, and being apprehensive of his danger, mounted hid horse
well armed, and with some followers broke through them. Whence he came to
the King of Scotland, to whom he made his complaint, who punished them for
their rebellious .insurrection, and re-established him in the possession of his
rights. — Dugdale, Baronage, i. 688 ; Matthew of Paris, 496.
* Maud, Countess of Pembroke, was daughter of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl
of Hereford. The title becoming extinct in the head branch of the Mareschals,
was bestowed upon the family of Valence.
84 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
able to cope, made him doubly anxious to surround himself with
powerful vassals on whom he could rely ; and he availed himself
of this new connection to induce a Mareschal to settle on the
important fief of Toskerton in the Ehynns.^ The Champaignes
also, who had already some holdings east of the Cree,^ accepted
other baronies under him in the west But by far the most im-
portant of new comers to his lordship were the Comyns.
In 1249 King Alexander II. died, and was succeeded by a
third Alexander, a child of eight years old. During the long
minority ensuing, the Comyns gained a preponderating in-
fluence in the regency : of their clan, Alexander, Earl of Buchan,
William, Earl of Menteith, and their nephew. Lord of Badenoch,
held prominent offices in the state.^
In 1251 the Earl of Buchan being Justiciary of Scotland, the
new office of Justiciary of Galloway was created at his instance,
and John Comyn of Badenoch named as first holder.
Very early in the reign, Alexander Comyn established inti-
mate relations with De Quenci, whose second daughter, Elizabeth,*
he eventually married. His frequent residence in Galloway led
to his acquiring many lands in addition to those to which he
afterwards fell heir through his wife, among which was that
lordly chase on the marches of Carrick which still retains his
name — ^the Forest of Buchan.
^ The Mareschals of Toskerton were of direct descent from John, nephew of
William, Earl of Pembroke, who in 8. John (1208) obtained a grant in fee of the
office of Marshal of Ireland. — Dugdale's Baronage^ L 599.
^ In 1253 Sir Rauf de Campania granted the church of Wax^ (Borgae) in
Frankalmoigne to the Canons of Drybui^h. — CharL of Dryhtrgh, f. 22.
^ *' At this period the Comyns held the principal sway in Scotland." — Hailes,
AnnalSf i. 181.
They were obnoxious to Edward III., to whose daughter the boy king was
married. By his influence they were removed from the King's Council in 1255,
but two years after they overpowered their opponents and obtained possession of
the persons of the king and queen. Fordun tells us there were thirty-two knights
of the name of Comyn in Scotland.
^ **The date of that marriage formed the epoch of the connection of the
Comyns with Galloway, where they bore sway for many a day. — Caledonia^ iii. 262.
Fordun writes of the Justiciary as " prone to robbery and rashness " (ad rapi-
nam et temeritatem ezpeditus). — AnnaU, 52.
Notwithstanding, it is a historic fact that Galloway flourished especially under
the rule of the Comyns and Baliols.
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 85
The Stewarts also first acquired their baronial status in
Galloway in De Quenci's lifetime. Alexander, the sixth
Steward, commanded the right wing of the royal army at
the great victory of " the Larkis," ^ and received in reward of
his services the Barony of Garlics.
About 1250 De Quenci's eldest daughter, Margaret, married
William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, as his second wife ; and after
this, as his third wife, De Quenci married ^ Alianore, widow of
William de Vaux, and daughter of the said Earl of Derby by
his wife Sybil, a De Mareschal. Thus placing Margaret in the
amusing position of mother-in-law to her father.
Ela, De Quenci's third daughter, married Alan de la Zouche ;
and he himself dying in 1264, by law and custom the Constable-
ship of Scotland should have passed to his eldest daughter, the
privileges attached to the overlordship, as well as his lands,
being equally divided among the three. But these were days
when might was an essential factor in questions of right, and
Margaret's husband being dead, her claims were either prudently
resigned or set aside, and in place of her son, the young Earl of
Derby, the Earl of Buchan was installed as High Constable of
Scotland. Alan de la Zouche, moreover, content to draw the
revenues from his wife's portion of the estates, renounced all
claim to rule, and the Earl of Buchan assumed the overlordship
undivided as it had been enjoyed by De Quenci.
John Baliol and Alexander Comyn were thus sole, and in the
circumstances irresponsible, potentates west of the Nith, in right
of their wives, who stood to each other in the relation of aunt
and niece, the family ties being further strengthened by the
marriage of Baliol and Dervorgille's only daughter Marjory
with Buchan's kinsman, the young lord of Badenoch (the Black
Comyn), son of the Justiciary. Happily for the people, the
heads of the two families were men of vigour, and of a culture
1 Largs, fought 2d October 1268, Haco'a fleet and army being utterly de-
feated and dispersed. The gift of the Barony of Garlies is dated 30th November
1263. — Noble, History of the Stewarts^ 9.
« William, Earl of Derby, died in 1254 ; William de Vallibus (Vaux), before
1153.— Dugdale's Banmage, I 258, 526.
86 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. 1 234
unusual at the period — ^lovers of justice and progress, able to
keep the peace — and under their paternal rule Galloway enjoyed
a period of prosperity for many a long year looked back to with
regret
Baliol from the first succeeded in gaining the affections of
the Galwegians, the secret of which seems to have been that he
loved Galloway himself; for though, like Gomyn, he had English
manorsZ-among them such princely possessions as Barnard
Castle and Fotheringay, — ^his favourite residence is said to have
been Botel, on the banks of the Urr, where he liberally ex-
pended his ample revenues on his estates, as Gomyn did at
Cruggleton.^
It was at Botel that Dervorgille gave birth in 1249 to the
future Competitor.' Her husband died in 1269, and it was from
Botel that she dated and signed the statutes of Baliol College,
founded and endowed in accordance with the wishes of her
husband,^ to whose memory she reared at once a splendid
memorial and fitting resting-place — the Abbey of Sweetheart.^
^ From English sources we gather that he had manors in Hitchen, county
Hertford, Wtghtwicke in Leicester, and others ; whilst, ** having married Eliza-
beth, daughter of Roger de Quenci, in 51 Henry IIL, he had living of her
inheritance ; whilst again, 3 Edward L (1275), he obtained renewed living of the
inheritance of the said Elizabeth, his wife, though she could not at the time
come to the king in person, being great with child." — Dugdale, Baronage, L 685.
^ Chalmers, not much given to eulogy, thus writes of the two Ck>myns who
occupied Cruggleton for more than half a century : "Alexander Comyn, Earl of
Buchan, acted a distinguished part in the government of Scotland during half a
century ; he became a councillor to the king before 1240, was made justiciary
1251, obtained the office of High Constable 1270, and died full of years and
honours 1289, at the end of a long civil war which ended in the ruin of his
illustrious family. BUs son John succeeded him, and acted a still more dis-
tinguished part in the busy scene of a disastrous period." — Caledonia, iii. 262.
* Dervorgille had four sons. Hugh, married Anne, daughter of William de
Valence, Earl of Pembroke, sister to Joan, who married her grandson the Red
Comyn, and died without issue in 1272. Alan, died young. Alexander, died
1279, and John, bom at Botel in 1249. Her name is variously written Devorgilla,
Domagelle, Dervorgille. Edward I., summoning her as a vassal to the Welsh
wars, styles her Dervexgoyle de Baliol.
* She writes herself S. Dervorguil de Baliol in the foundation grants dated
*'Apud Botel, 1282."
^ So called from her husband's embalmed heart in an ivory casket built in
over the high altar, after her death placed on her bosom in her coffin. Latinised
Dulce Cor, Suavecordium ; French, Duize-coeur, Duzquer.
to 1360] alan's heirs to bruciak settlement 87
With much acceptance she reigned as queen of the hearts
of all her subjects for twenty years, devoting her energies to
the establishment and development of the resources of the
province ;— her rule and her works equaUy evidencing her tact,
her taste, and her sense of responsibility. In her architecture
beauty is happily combined with utility. She built a bridge of
nine arches over the Nith, a model and a marvel in its day, which
still spans the stream ; and besides the splendid new Abbey of
Sweetheart, she built and endowed a monastery for Black Friars
at Wigtown, and for Gray Friars at Dumfries, another monastery
at Dundee, and no doubt she added largely to Botel, and accord-
ing to tradition built Kenmure Castle, though of her handiwork
on these houses no traces remain.^
She died at Barnard Castle in 1289, but by her desire her
remains were brought to Sweetheart. Wyntoun, who says, as
we may well believe, that she was " right pleasand of bewt^,"
adds :
A hettyr lady than scho wes nane
In all the yle of Mare Britane.^
Meanwhile Neil, Earl of Carrick, had died in 1256, leaving,
by a daughter of Walter the Steward, an only daughter
Margaret,^ who, when a young widow, meeting, returning from
the chase, Eobert Bruce, son of the Lord of Annandale (by
Isabel, an aunt of Dervorgille), forcibly carried him off to her
Castle of Tumberry, and married him ; of which abduction the
birth of Eobert, future King of Scotland, was the result
The death of Alexander III. in 1285, followed by that of
his infant grandchild Margaret, the Maid of Norway, plunged
the whole of Scotland into all the embarrassments of a disputed
succession. Many claimed the crown, on pretences more or
less plausible; but eventually the competition was narrowed
^ According to Eirk, the Dominican Abbey at Wigtown was boilt 1267 ; that
of the Cisterciftns at Sweetheart in 1275 ; and that of the Franciscans at Dumfries
a few years later. She granted the monks the toll of the bridge that she had built
there.
' Wyntoun, b. viiL c. 8. Mare is great, from Celtic mor ; should be written
"mare."
' Hor first husband was Adam de Rilconcath, who, going on a crusade in 1268,
died in Palestine in 1270. Her adventure with Bruce occurred in 1271.
88 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 2 34
to the descendants of David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother of
William the Lion, and that again to the heirs of his two eldest
daughters : Margaret, who had married Alan of Galloway, and
Isabella, who had married Eobert Bruce. These were: John
Baliol, son of Margaret's daughter Dervorgille; and Eobert
Bruce,^ the son of Isabella.
Baliol claimed as grandson of the eldest daughter ; Bruce, as
son of the second, therefore one degree nearer in blood than
Baliol. This latter plea was fairly overruled by Edward I., to
whose arbitration it was submitted ; it being absolutely incon-
sistent with feudal law.
The candidates both had a common ancestor in Fergus, and
a blood connection with all the descendants of his line. There
was an interregnum of nearly two years whilst the matter was
in abeyance. The attitude of the Galwegians towards the
competitors was not for a moment doubtful — Baliol, the son
of their own gracious Dervorgille, being a favourite with them
as well as their hereditary lord.
Previous to acting as umpire, Edward I. had required that
all the strong castles of the kingdom should be surrendered to
him, and had given the keeping of those of Wigtown and Kirk-
cudbright to William de Boyville ^ and Walter de Curry, both
Galloway landowners (De Curry was succeeded by Eichard
Steward), to whom Edward addressed a mandate in 1292 to
deliver both to Baliol.
In 1294 Benimundus di Vicci, sent by the Pope to Scotland
to ascertain the value of ecclesiastical benefices and the inci-
dence of tithes, explored Galloway from end to end The rent-
^ The competitor was father of Robert Bruce, who, from his marriage with
Marjorie, Duncan of Galloway's granddaughter, became titular Earl of Garrick. He
resigned his pretensions, and died at his castle of Lochmaben in 1295, aged 85.
His son, Earl of Carrick, had by Migorie, Robert — eventually king ; bom
1274, he himself dying 1304. The famous Robert Bruce was therefore the grand-
son of the original competitor.
^15 Aug. 1291. William de Boyville, keeper of the castles of Dumfries,
Kirkcudbright, and Wigtown, had 1 mark per day. 1291. Sir Walter de Currey
summoned to be castellan in room of Boyville deceased. 24 March 1292. A
payment of 40 marks to Richard Steward, knight, as keeper of the castles of
Gidloway and Dumfries.
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 89
roll by which these dues were levied is well known by the
curious corruption of " Bagimont's EoU."
Alexander Comyn, dying in 1289, was succeeded by his son
John, as third Earl of Buchan ; and it being on record that he
had licence from the English king to dig for lead in the Calf
of Man, to cover eight towers of his Castle of Cruggleton,^ we
may presume his occupation was not interfered with. These
were difficult days for those of divided allegiance. When Baliol
finally broke with Edward, he turned especially to (ralloway
for assistance, and had a willing response ; the Earl of Buchan
heading "a mighty force," his kinsmen the Eed Comyn and
Bichard Si ward being forward amongst his partisans, and carried
the war across the Borders, burning Carlisle and sacking the
neighbouring monasteries.
Nimble and daring as may have been Baliol's (Jalloway
levies, they were no match for the armed and well-appointed
forces which Edward had called out and ordered to muster at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, citing Baliol also to appear there.
Baliol declined ; but soon 30,000 soldiers, of whom 4000
were horse, answered to Edward's roll-call, with whom he
crossed the Tweed, and, taking Berwick, marched northward in
search of King John.
Fortress after fortress fell before him, and Baliol was fain to
implore mercy and resign his crown. Eetuming southward,
Edward held a Parliament at Berwick, and the Scottish lords
and barons flocked in there to make their submission. The
lists of the clergy and laity who then did homage constitute
the paper known as the " Ragman's Boll," useful as preserving
the names of many of the actual proprietors of that day.
From English writs we find that in the king's train, a
spectator of the pageant, was a John de Aignell, summoned
to perform knight's service against the Scots in virtue of an
English fief,^ little aware how closely his descendants were
^ The words used in the royal mandate are : ''To cover eight towers on his
Castles of Crigelton and Galwej in Scotland," obviously a clerical error for Cruggle-
ton in Galloway. — Dagdale's Baronage^ i. 685.
- Johannes de AygneU, returned by the Sheriff of Hertford as having been
90 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
soon to be connected with the baronage of "Dunt'res and
Wyggeton," as they swept past the royal presence.
Of these Comyn now made his peace with Edward, and the
earl remained unmolested in his forest of Buchan. His name
appears prominently on the "Eagman's EoU," while that of
Thomas of Galloway is absolutely wanting. Just previous
to the Comyns making their submission, Thomas had tried
to profit by the occasion, and to stir up an agitation in favour
of his own claims, which, he hoped, the English king might find
it politic to encourage.
When Edward issued a proclamation addressed to the
" good men of Galloway," setting forth his complaints against
Baliol, Thomas took upon himself to answer for the community ;
suggesting certain grievances, the redress of which might incline
them to the English. To which the king at once replied by
letters patent, "that, at the request of Thomas of Galloway,
he. has granted to the whole community of Galloway all their
liberties and customs, as they and their ancestors held them
in the time of King David, and of Alan, the said Thomas's
father,! and will consider as to the relaxation of such amounts
of their rents as they have asked by the said Thomas." But
the ink was hardly dry when the king seems to have realised
that Thomas was an impostor, and sent an order to the Sheriff
of Westmoreland " to take the said Thomas and keep him in
close custody in the castle of Carlisle." ^
We hear no more of Thomas of Galloway.
All traditions respecting Wallace, and especially those in
which Galloway matrons are described as rearing their children
summoned to perfonn military service in person against the Scots. Muster at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1 March 24, Edward L Two years later we find
Johannes Aygnel Knight of the Shire for Hertford, Parliament of York, 25
May, 26 Edward I.— Pari. Writs, p. 276, No. 7 ; p. 70, No. 16.
^ It is impossible to conceive that the Thomas who was an active warrior
years before Alan's death in 1234 could have been an efficient commander in the
field in 1296. For "father" it seems evident we should read "grandfather."
^ 7 March 1296. The King commands the Sheriff of Westmoreland to receive
Thomas of Galloway from William de Heck, and conduct him to the castle of
Carlisle, and keep him in safe custody, as Antony, Bishop of Durham, will
instruct. — KaUndar of StaU Documents, Reg. Edw. I.
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 91
in undying loyalty to Bruce, must be ranked as spurious, being
opposed to the whole tenor of authentic history. In one of these
Cruggleton Castle is stated to have hereditarily belonged to
Kerl4 Wallace's lieutenant, and to have been taken from him
treacherously by Lord Soulis. Wallace thereupon marched into
Galloway, took every strength from the Water of Urr westward,
the garrison of Wigtown flying at his approach, and Cruggleton,
which held out, he demolished. Trustworthy records oppose
this stoiy at every point. Cruggleton was not the patrimonial
domain of the Kerl&, but of the Galloway petty kings and their
descendants.
Comyn, we know, held Cruggleton in 1292, and continuously
until 1308, when his lands were forfeited and given to Lord
Soulis by Bruce, who in his turn being forfeited for conspiracy,
the castle passed to the monks of Whithorn. The strengths
westward of the Water of Urr were never taken by Wallace,
but held by English partisans till wrested from them many
years later by Edward Bruce.
Indeed, it seems a stretch of fancy to identify Cruggleton
Castle with a " strength on the Water of Cree." The Bladenoch
intervenes between Cruggleton and the Cree. Moreover, on the
Water of Cree itself a spot is still mapped " Wallace's Camp,"
which, if rightly named, was no doubt palisaded. Blind Harry's
epithet, " built of tree," is certainly more applicable to such a
structure than to a stone castle on the sea-cliff.^
The incursion of Edward I. into the province in the summer
of 1300 stands on very different authority. The official entries
in his accounts and state papers are of the highest value as
accurate records of the agricultural prosperity which the
^ We cannot trace the tradition beyond Captain Denniston's introduction to
certain novelettes styled Legends of Oallotcay, published in 1825, in which he
affects to qnote from a certain Tolume styled *^ Buke of me Wanderins in the Weste,
be Father Stewart, ane Moncke o' Crossraguel," "written partly in Latin and partly
in English, sometime about the middle of the sixteenth century. " But besides the
obvioos objection that a mendicant friar of Crossraguel would be little authority
for domestic matters in Wigtownshire, much less for the history of two centuries
earlier, — the book is absolutely unknown to the learned. Nor do we believe that,
from the nature of the context, Captain Denniston intended his statement to be
taken seriously.
92 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
Galwegians enjoyed as a result of the mild role of the Baliols.
Having taken Caerlaverock on the 17th July, his queen riding
by his side, he defiled over Dervorgille*s Bridge across the NitL
Entering Galloway, "mountains and valleys seemed suddenly
alive with sumpter horses, wagons with provisions, tents, and
pavilions. Afar off was heard the neighing of his horses, many
a beautiful pennon fluttering over lances, many a banner dis-
played ; and the days being fine and long, he rode leisurely to
Kirkcudbright." ^
Here the king occupied the old castle, requisitioning pro-
visions of all sorts, for which he paid, the prices minutely
entered. Beans as well as oats were used for the cavalry
horses, the soldiers being supplied with wheaten bread and peas
for the kitchen, butcher-meat in unlimited quantities being
washed down by strong ale and beer. Malt made from
both oats and barley was bought in large quantities, and
wines of various sorts were procurable at Kirkcudbright The
best (Vinum Clarum, whence claret) at 30s. a hogshead,
and Ordinaire at Is. 6d.^ What is especially worthy of
remark is that the agricultural produce of this part of
Galloway sufficed not only to maintain an army in the field
and the royal retinue, but that Edward despatched thence
supplies to another army in the north, besides provisioning his
castles of Ayr, Caerlaverock, Dumfries, and Lochmaben.
Within a narrow radius from Kirkcudbright he collected more
wheat than the mills of the country could grind, and many
cargoes were shipped to ports in Cumberland and Ireland,
there to be made into flour and re-exported to his ganisons.^
^ Walter of Exeter, who accompanied the army and wrote a poem on the
campaign in old Norman French.
' Large purchases were made at the undermentioned rates : —
*' A whole ox, 5s. to 68. 8d. ; fat pigs (bacones), 2s. 2d. to Ss. 9d. ; barley
malt, 48. 4d. the qr. ; oat malt, 2s. 9d. ; wheat floor, 78. ; beans, 58. ; peas,
28. 9d. ; salt, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 2d.; strong ale, 18s., 16s., 12s. the batt; small
beer, Ss. ; vinam clamm, £1 : lOs. per hogshead ; vinnm expensabile, Is. lOd. ;
40 hogsheads, £3:18: 4."— Wardrobe Acets. Edward I.
* Simon Kingsman, master of the Margaret^ was paid £2 : 9b. for carrying
30 qrs. of wheat from Kirkcudbright to Dublin to be ground, thence to Ayr
for the king's army. Wymond Gegge of the Sauveye, £1 : 7 : 6 for carrying 143
to 1360] ALAN*S HEIRS TO BRUCIAN SETTLEMENT 93
From Kirkcudbright the king presently advanced to the Fleet,
encamping in the glades of Cally.^ Here be held courts for
the administration of justice, and pushed on detachments to
Wigtown, whence, having there obtained the adhesion of the
MacDowall's, he opened up communication with Ayr.^ He
then retraced his steps, and sleeping on the 24th of August at
the Abbey of Sweetheart, written in his journals " Douzquer,"
he recrossed the Nith.
Eobert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and John Comyn were now
styled Guardians of Scotland,^ and meanwhile had taken Stirling
Castle.
Edward I. having secured the ground behind him, advanced
in person against them, and the capture of Stirling early in
1303 left him undisputed master of Scotland.
Galloway remained perfectly quiet, enjoying her " ale and
bread," and continuing her superior cultivation for sevei-al years,
until the impious if unpremeditated murder of her Justiciary,
the Eed Comyn, in 1386 sent a thrill of horror through the
province, and lighted up the flames of war farther north. No
one knew better than Bruce himself that he had hopelessly
alienated the affections of the Galwegians by his rash act, and
he gave a wide berth to the province whilst reeking with the
blood of the grandchild of Dervorgille, in connection with
which is a strange episode. The Earl of Buchan having all
along been a consistent opponent of Bruce, had now, with all
his clan, a blood feud with him. Bruce, moreover, driven to
qrs. of wheat from Kirkcudbright to Whitehaven to be ground, thence to Ayr,
etc. When retiring, Edward paid to William de Carlisle £20 for 40 acres of oats
damaged by his army, adding two hogsheads of wine as a royal present.
A similar present was made to Ada, widow of Robert de la Fierti, for iigury
to her crops at Dornoch. — Wardrobe Accts. Edward I.
^ Heningford calls the Fleet ''the Swim," catching the radical meaning of
the word. Near Cally, on the lands of Enrick, a spot is mapped *' Palace Yard,"
where, doubtless, Edward held his courts, amercing the authorities, among
other misdoers, for habitually using false weights, and Henry le Mounier for
short measure from his mill.
' Expenses of Sir John WaUeys and two men-at-arms and twenty foot, from
the toun of Are to Wygeton in Galloway, dOs. — Wardrobe Accts. Edward L
' Lord Hailes remarks : " Bruce, Guardian of Scotland in the name of Baliol,
is one of those historical phenomena which are inexplicable."
*T IT i. * "^^r^r^nm
94 HEREDITARY SHERIFTS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 2 34
fight, knowing that the alternative was a scaffold or a throne,
well knew also that he had to count upon the deadly hate of
the Comyns. Great, therefore, must have been the surprise and
rage of the head of the house on finding that his ovm wife had
stolen secretly away from Gruggleton, and repairing to Scone,
had with her own hands placed the Scottish crown upon his
foe ; her pretensions as a descendant of Macduff giving a colour
of legality to the act. Though historians call it high-spirited,
and Bruce proved worthy of the crown, thus to have scandal-
ised at once her father's, her husband's, and her adopted family,
cannot be called a wifely proceeding.
In great wrath Edward I. appointed Aymer de Valence,
brother-in-law of the murdered Comyn, to be guardian of Scot-
land ; and Isabel, Countess of Buchan, he committed to close
confinement in the Castle of Berwick. She and her justly in-
censed husband met no more.^
So embittered were the Galwegians generally, that when
Thomas and Alexander Bruce, bringing succours to their
brother, landed shortly after in Lochryan, they were pounced
upon instinctively as enemies by the people, their followers
receiving no quarter, and they themselves, bleeding from the
blows of their captors, were led off at once by Duncan Mac-
Dowall to the King of England at Carlisle, who ordered them
to immediate execution, bestowing the hand of a wealthy heir-
ess upon MacDowall's son, in reward of his energy.^
To this period may be referred that series of Bruce adventures
in woods and wilds on the Galloway marshes narrated with
' The second Earl of Buchan had married Isabel, daughter of Duncan, Earl
of Fife. Her brother, also Duncan, Earl of Fife, favoured the English interest
Matthew of Westminster accuses her of a criminal partiality for Robert Bruce
(p. 454). The unfortunate woman was confined in a cage strongly latticed and
barred in the Castle of Berwick ; as to this Hemingford says, ''The Earl of
Buchan, her husband, sought to kill her for her treason, but Edward restrained
him, and ordered her to be confined in a wooden cage." She was not released
until April 1813, before which her husband had died. — Wood, i. 268 ; Hailes,
Anixals, ii. 11 ; Matthew of Westminster ; Fcsdera,
^ The king, at the request of Dungall MacDowyl senior, for the good services
which he and Dungall his son both have done, grants to Dungall junior the
marriage of the daughter and heir of Hugh de Ghaumpaigne deceased. Dated
from Lanercost, March 1807.
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 95
poetical license by Barbour, and of such hairbreadth escapes as
are quaintly indicated by such lines as —
Quhen the Gallowaiss wyst suthli
That he was with sa few nienye
Thai maid a priw^ assemble
Off wele twa himdir men, and ma,
And slewth hundis with thaim gan ta.
Book iv. 688.
A considemble English force, commanded by Aymer de
Valence, Earl of Pembroke, closely searched the borders of
Galloway, determined to take him dead or alive. No local tradi-
tion is more current than that of Bruce taking refuge with the
Dame of Craigencally, and assisted by her three sons with a
handful of followers defeating the English with great slaughter
at Glentrool. That the English cavalry fought at a disadvantage
owing to the nature of the ground, and were obliged to retire
without inflicting any loss upon their nimble opponents, is
probable enough ; and that Bruce himself, seated on a boulder
at Moss Baploch (still called the King's Stone), watched with
satisfaction their retreat, is as likely ; but we are as incredulous
as to the heavy losses inflicted by a handful of peasants upon
the men-at-arms, as to the feats in archery eclipsing those
of William Tell ^ which are popularly ascribed to the widow's
sons. It 18 preposterous to suppose that Sir Aymer and his
veteran cavalry were frightened out of their wits by herds of
deer and goats driven down upon them from the heights by
the happy thought of these striplings !
The simple fact, disguised under much embellishment, is,
that Pembroke gave up his search as hopeless, driven from the
district by want of subsistence.
On the 6th of July 1307 Edward I. died ; his son Edward
11. advanced immediately after into Ayrshire, but somewhat
^ Annabel, his hostess, had had three sons by different husbands, — MacEie,
Murdoch, and Maclnrg. Bruce expressed a wish to test their skiU in archery,
and two accompanied him forthwith. MacEie called his attention to two carrion-
crows seated side by side on a rock, and drawing his bow its full stretch,
skewered both birds together through the head. A raven croaked high above
them in mid-air ; Murdoch, aiming his shaft, struck it in the very heart, and it
fell quivering at their feet.
1
96 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
ingloriously retreated Bruce thereupon re-entered Galloway,
and summoned the inhabitants to his standard; but they failing
to comply, he ravaged the country with fire and sword. Sir
Aymer de Valence came to their relief, put Bruce to flight, who,
retreating northward, was followed by the Earl of Buchan at the
head of the Galwegians. The north country people rallying to
Bruce, he turned upon the Galwegians and drove them back
again.
The fortunes of Bruce now began to turn. Being now
opposed to one of the weakest, as formerly to one of the strong-
est of the kings of England, his own superior talents became
apparent, and many Scotsmen who had sided with Edward I.
deserted the cause of Edward II.
The Galwegians, however, were irreconcilable,^ and the king's
brother, Edward Bruce, was despatched against them. He de-
feated them in a sanguinary battle near the Dee, where many
of their chiefs and a "certain knight named Roland" were
slain.^ This was followed by a series of victories terminating
in a coup de Ktmin at Kerrouchtree, near the Cree, in which it is
asserted that Edward, under cover of a thick mist, with only
fifty horsemen, surprised and almost annihilated 1500 English-
men under John de St. John. The result of this campaign was
the reduction of thirteen fortlets for his brother ; Fordun pre-
serving a rhyming legend — "Insula combusta semper Scotis
inimici " ^ — which seems to point to the fortlet which gives its
name to the parish of Inch. Botel was now the only garrison
which held out against King Eobert, which he took himself in
^ The Fcedera mentions Comyn, ''Donegal, etc. ; et tota communitas majorum
et hominum Galewydise," as being faithful to England. — Fcedera^ t. iii. 14.
^ Quondam militem nomine Rolandam cum mnltis nobilibus Galwidaei inter-
fecit, ac dictum Donaldum, ducem eorum, fugientem comprehendit, et post hsec
Insulam combussit — Fordun, AnnalSj 125.
' Quoting this. Lord Hailes says : "By Insula I understand interior Gallo-
way, or that part of the country which lies next to Ireland. — Hailes, AnncUs, 231.
Lord Hailes was probably unaware that Insula was the old charter name, as
the Inch was the later one for the strength on Loch Inch, which lies close to Loch-
ryan, and gives its name to the parish. From its position it was impregnable in
those days if weU provisioned. It afterwards fell into the hands of the Bishops
of Galloway.
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 97
person in 1312, thus completing the conquest of the province.
From Botel he crossed to the Isle of Man, which he subdued,
taking prisoner his inveterate enemy Duncan MacDowall, the
governor of its chief castle. A year later the crowning victory
of Bannockbum — ^in which, sentiment notwithstanding, we
suspect as few Gallovidians were " led " by Bruce as had " bled "
for Wallace — enabled him to deal as he chose with the un-
friendly province : in other words, to escheat its proprietors
wholesale, resettling their lands on his own partisans, retaining
a few of the old landowners, who accepted such conditions as
he chose to grant them.^ The private property of the old lords
was divided between Edward Bruce and Isabele, Countess of
Athol ; Thomas Eandolph, her husband ; and Margaret^ wife of
William Karlo, his sister; whilst the disappearance of all
the Mareschalls, De Buskebys, Champagnes, Percys, De Ferrers,
De Soos, and other Anglo-Normans, left wide lands at his
disposal.
To the "good Sir James Douglas" he gave Percy's Barony
of Urr, to Lord Soulis Comyn's Castle of Cruggleton, to Sir Alan
Stewart the Barony of Corswell, and to De Mande Vella
(Mandeville) the site of the modem burgh of Stranraer.*
Edward Bruce was now titular Lord of Galloway, but the
sphere was not wide enough for his restless ambition. He
eagerly accepted an oflfer of certain discontented lords in Ulster
to make him their king, and early in 1315 sailed for Ireland
with a following, among whom we recognise Galloway
barons in —
Sir John the Soulie, ane guid knycht,
And Schyr John Stewart that wes wyght,
And Schyr Alane Stewart alsua.
^ The third Earl of Bachan was probably the last of his line ; he left two
daughters : Alice, who married Henry de Beaumont, who had in her right the
manor of Whitwicke in Leicestershire, and assumed the title of Earl of Buchan,
and was one of the descendants who rose in favour of Edward Baliol ; and Margaret,
who married Sir John, son of the fourth Earl of Ross, and got eventually as her
tocher the half of her father's lands allowed her by King Robert
' To Fergus de Mondo Villa, the lands of Stranrever in vice de Wigton —
Robertson's Index,
VOL. I. H
98 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
With these he landed at Carrickfergus on the 25th of May and
ravaged mercilessly the possessions of the English settlers in the
north.
Meeting with no encouragement in the west or south, he was
brought to a standstill, till King Robert, his brother, bringing
him succours by way of Loch Eyan, the two advanced as far
as Dublin, which they failed to take. Edward nevertheless
allowed himself to be crowned Eling of Ireland by his Ulster
friends on the 2d of May 1316, although he hardly possessed a
stronghold but Carrickfergus ; and on the 5th of October 1318
he was killed at the Battle of Fagher, near Dundalk, Lord Soulis
and one of the Stewarts being among the slain. Thus the rash
enterprise collapsed. On Edward Bnice's death it was enacted
by Parliament that, if King Robert died without male issue, the
succession should lie in the son of his daughter Margaret by
Robert the Steward. The king did, however, leave an heir,
David IL; but he being childless, Margaret's son eventually
succeeded in virtue of that Act.
The lordship of Galloway was now given to Edward's
natural son, Alexander.
In 1320 a plot against the king was discovered, and William,
Lord Soulis, heir presumedly of John, who had fallen at Fagher,
forfeited his lands and liberty, and his Castle of Cruggleton
was given to the monks of Whithorn.^ Sir Eustace de Max-
well was tried for complicity in the same plot, but had the
rare good fortune, for one lying under such a charge, to be
acquitted.
In 1322 Edward II. invaded the Lothians, and King Robert
found congenial employment for his Galloway lieges by letting
them loose upon his flank. The wild Scots ravaged Lancashire
from end to end, laying homesteads and abbeys alike under
contribution, and having joined hands with the column led by
the king in person at Stanemore, near the Yorkshire marches,
We identify Stranrever with Stronrawer in a writ in the Lochnaw charteiv
chest dated 1484.
^ Carta Candida Casa, of Craigiltoun, quhilks pertenit to Lord Soulis. — Robert-
sou's Index,
to 1360] ALAN'S HEIRS TO BRUCIAN SETTLEMENT 99
they returned home in triumph with an extraordinary booty,
liaving suffered hardly any loss.
Scottish historians wrote of this affair rather vaguely, but
Knighton, the English contemporary chronicler, whom all later
ones follow, distinctly states that these succcessful raiders came
by way of Fumess, necessitating the conclusion that the
Gralwegians operated in a separate column, as they evidently
went by sea. Fumess was esusily accessible from Galloway, and
a sea route especially convenient for bringing back plunder ; but
to suppose that the army from Lothian, Fife, or the eastern
borders marched to Galloway to embark is preposterous.^
King Robert I., prematurely aged at fifty-five, is believed to
have visited Whithorn a few months before his death to plead
at St. Ninian's shrine for his recovery.^
He, dying the 7th June 1329, Randolph, Earl of Moray,
immediately assumed the Regency. He made frequent pro-
gresses through Galloway. Two standing-stones on the moor of
Dranandow, mapped " The Thieves," are the grim monuments
of a band of robbers who, daring to assault persons on their way
to attend his courts, were justified on the scene of their mis-
deeds.
The reins of government falling from the strong hands of
Randolph — who succumbed to disease in 1332 — into the feeble
ones of the Earl of Mar, Edward Baliol profited by the occasion
to efifect a landing in the Forth.
His principal lieutenant was Henry de Beaumont, married
to the Earl of Buchan's daughter, his leading partizans being
" disinherited " Anglo - Normans and other claimants, quaintly
^ ''Intraverunt Scoti in Angliam per medium FomeJUet et comitatam Lan-
castrue devastayenint undique, absque aliqno damno suorum, coUigentes immen-
sam pnedam auri et argenti, animalium, omamentoram eccleBiasticorum, lectu-
aliam, mensaliam, abducentes onustas carrectas omnibus bonis patrise ad suum
placitum." — Knighton, p. 2542. "Fumess, the furthest point of Lancashire
north of the sands, derived from fur or fyr, a light." — Norsemen in Cumberland,
108.
" Furness, a Norse name indicating the antiquity of the lighthouse." — Taylor,
Words and Places,
' A royal charter to the city of Aberdeen is dated from Galloway 16th March
1329.
100 HEREDITAKY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
styled by old -chroniclers " Les Querrelleurs *' — quarrellets
with the Brucian settlement. Of these connected with Gal-
loway, besides De Beaumont, there were John, son of the Bed
Comyn ; Henry de Ferrars ; William de la Zouche ; Sir John
le Mareschal ; Henry de Percy ; John de Mowbray ; Thomas
Bisset, and his younger brother Henry Baliol ; and of native
Galloway family Sir Patrick M'Culloch, and many more.^
Thus supported, Edward Baliol joined issue with the Begent
Mar on Dupplin Moor, gained a complete victory, and on the
29th September 1332 was crowned king at Scone, immediately
after which he turned his footsteps southward, eager apparently
to revisit the scenes of his youth.
The eastern shires remained true to David, but so great was
the attachment to the name of Baliol in the west that the
Galwegians rose en inasse to receive him; and, carried away
by the general enthusiasm, the first to interpret their feelings
and place his own services at Edward's disposal was Alexander
Bruce, the especial representative of the rival house.
Among the leaders of the Brucian party were the Earl of
March and Archibald Douglas, whose estates lay especially
exposed to Baliol's attack ; and they, despairing of immediate
succour, and knowing that they could not hold their own
unaided, asked and obtained from him a truce until the 2nd of
February following, on the specious suggestion that before that
time all controversies ought to be settled by a national con-
vention.
This treaty signed, Baliol moved about freely, often slenderly
attended ; this coming to Archibald Douglas's ears, he raised a
a body of horse, and on Christmas eve treacherously attacked
him at Annan, at dead of night. Both Baliols had abeady
retired to bed, and their followers were indulging in noisy
revelry. The king escaped to Carlisle with difl&culty, on a
sorry steed, literally in his nightdress. His brother Henry and
^ Henry de Beanmont claiming the earldom of Bachan and the Castle of
Cruggleton, Forest of Buchan, and other lands ; guided by the counsels of Heniy de
Beaumont, the disinherited barons assembled 400 men-at-arms and 3000 infantry.
— Halles, AnnalSf ii. 258.
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 101
Walter Comyn offered a stout resistance, but both were slain,
and Alexander Bruce was taken prisoner. As Wyntoun has
it—
Alysawndyre the Brws wes tane,
Bot the Ballyoll his gat is gane
On a harme horse wyth legys bare.^
For this feat Archibald Douglas was now named Begent,
but the first effect of his sharp practice proved in every way
disastrous, as it brought Edward III. forthwith upon the scene,
furnishing him, moreover, with an excuse for further claims on
the Scotch exchequer, for settling its affairs against his will.
Baliol being soon rejoined by his followers at Carlisle, re-
crossed the Borders, and faced his foes, and on the arrival of the
advanced guard of the English gained a decisive victory in a
sanguinary battle at HaUdon, near Berwick, in which both the
Regent and Alexander Bruce (who had again changed sides)
were slain.
But now, as a serious drawback to his triumph, BaUol had
to reckon with his protector, who exacted for his assistance the
castle and town of Berwick, the Ettrick Forest, the shires of
Edinburgh, Roxburgh, Peebles, and Dumfries, this last including
the whole modem stewartry of Kirkcudbright ; and so deter-
mined was the demand, and so precipitate the surrender, that
Baliol found he had inadvertently signed away the possession
of his private property, which was only restored to him as an
act of grace.*
Disgraceful as this surrender may have been considered
elsewhere, as a matter of fact in Galloway it was not unpopular.
There all classes profited by free intercourse with England ; an
intercourse long established, and which it was necessarily the
policy of all English kings to encourage, whilst it was the
1 Wyntoun, bk. 8, c. 26, 1. 8725.
* Parliament at Edinburgh made the surrender 12th February 1834, ratified
by Edward III. 12th June and 18th June 1834. Asserting that he had too much
reverence for G^, justice, and good faith, to allow the cession to be prejudicial to
Bailors private interests, the King of England issued a declaration that the lands
of Botel, Kirk Andrewes, and Kenmure, were Baliol's private property, and not
included in the resignation. — Fcedera, iv. 590-618.
102 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
avowed if benighted policy and constant practice of Scottish
kings and parliaments to prevent.
The leading families of the province had been reared under
a system of double allegiance tending to relax strong feelings of
nationality, and although the successes of Bruce had put an end
to such a state of things, yet the very circumstances attending
the struggle had tended rather further to alienate the affections
of Galwegians from his family, and many would have been glad
to accept English protection if ensuring them free trade.
Galloway was at this moment completely isolated from the
rest of Scotland. David II. had command of all the approaches
to the province, and advancing in person to Ayr, there signed,
9th November 1342, a patent to Sir Malcolm Fleming of the
Earldom of Wigtown, granting him extraordinary jurisdiction,
and all the Crown lands of the shire on fee.
He thus practically threw down the gauntlet to Edward III,
who was not slow to take it up, and at once liberally supplied
his partizans with the sinews of war, such military stores being
usually consigned to Dugald MacDowall as their chief.
MacDowall was summoned to the English Court, and there
renewing vows of allegiance, received promises of assistance
which were loyally redeemed ; and by aid of the Rotuli Scotice,
in which all such subsidies and presents are minutely accounted
for, we are able to follow his fortunes in all their twists and
turnings, which we shortly glance at as a typical illustration of
the vicissitudes incident to the position of a Galloway baron
during the quarter of a century succeeding 1332.
MacDowall, originally a strong partisan of John Baliol,
afterwards supported Edward I. in preference to Bruce. After
Bannockbum he made his peace with King Robert, kept
aloof from Edward Baliol in 1332, and rejected the advances
of Edward III. when claiming the sovereignty of Galloway.
When, however, Baliol took up his residence at Botel, personal
intercourse revived hereditary leanings and overcame all scruples.
An entry in the rolls of August 1339 attests that " Edward III.
then received the fealty of Duncan MacDowall, and pardoned
to 1360] alan's heirs to brucian settlement 103
him for his late adherence to the Scots and all his political
crimes." He was now received into that sovereign's full con-
fidence, summoned to a personal interview in 1342, his lieutenants
subsidised, and arrangements made for a campaign.^
In April Edward III. ordered his "admiral to furnish a
large ship and take MacDowall to Galloway, as had been
agreed on by the king and his council," issuing at the same
time a precept to the Treasurer of Ireland, "to provide 100
quarters of com and 18 tons of wine for the furnishing
of the said ship." He granted safe-conducts " to all merchants
to carry provisions and merchandise to MacDowall's fortalice
in Galloway " ; and by the king's command wines were furnished
to him " gratis " from the royal stores at Carlisle.
Mandates were addressed to De Lacy, the warden of the
marches, and to the sheri£fs of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and
Lancashii'e, commanding them to give MacDowall prompt
assistance if his fortalice should be besieged, and to " collect
provisions and furnish archers to be sent to the sea-board,
thence to be transported to the Pele of MacDowall in Gallo-
way." 2
Sir Patrick Maculloch, his son Patrick, and John Gilbert
and Michael Maculloch, John le Marechal, and Thomas Bisset,
are among the landowners mentioned who were largely sub-
sidised. And in December of the same year, 1342, precepts
were issued to six merchants in Bristol, commanding them to
convey 10 tons of wine, 100 quarters of com, and 2 barrels of
^ All from Rotuli Scotia^, The followiDg are but a few of the entries alluded
to: —
Sirs Patrick MacGuUocb, John le Mareschal, and Thomas Bisset each re-
ceived £10 for outfit. 15 August 1341.
Patrick MacCuUoch has £20 to account, and a quarter of a year's wages for the
men at arms, besides a yearly pension of £20.
Patrick, son of Patrick, John, and Michael MacCulloch, five marks each ;
Gilbert MacCulloch, £4 : lis., a year's wages for himself and a man-at-arms, and
£5 as a gift from the wool-money. June 1342. — Rotuli Scotice
Previous to this Edward III. had lent Baliol £300 sterling, and 27th January
1386 bestowed upon him a pension of five marks a day. Given him in three
sums, £500 in 1335, and 6 ten dolia (tons ?) of flour, besides loose quantities of
wine and provisions. — FcederOf iv. 674-710.
' The passages within inverted commas are quotations from Rotuli ScoticB,
104 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 234
salt to the Island of Eastholm (Hestan) in Galloway, in aid of
MacDowall and his men.
All this time, however, the national party in Scotland were
increasing in strength ; and Edward III. being involved in war
with France, David II. might have easily overcome Baliol had
he not imprudently resolved to take advantage of Edward's
absence to reannex Northumberland to Scotland. He crossed
the Borders in the autumn of 1346, and carried all before him
to the Tyne, where the English, commanded by William de la
Zouche, Archbishop of York, Metropolitan of Galloway, joined
issue with him near Durham, gained a complete victory, and
led away both David himself and the Earl of Wigtown to
a long captivity, Baliol being thus left to keep his little
court undisturbed a little longer on the Urr. Here he was
joined by Henry Percy and Sir Ealph Nevil with a goodly
following.*
An entry of Duncan MacDowall's name in the English
Exchequer Bolls, as a prisoner at Bochester the following year,
is somewhat mysterious. It has been erroneously inferred from
this that his "Pele" at Hestan had been reduced before the
battle, and that he had thereupon transferred his allegiance
to David II., and was one of the Scotch prisoners taken at the
battle. But for this there is no authority whatever ; and though
the cause of his detention is not stated, it is further mentioned
that (unlike the Scottish prisoners taken at Durham) he was
released the following year, having been first conducted to York,
where his wife and sons met him and surrendered themselves
as hostages for his good behaviour, upon which he returned to
Galloway as warm a partisan of Baliol as before. Six years
later, however. Sir William Douglas, gaining advantages over
the English, and expelling them from Teviotdale and the Ettrick
Forest, penetrated to Galloway, and induced MacDowall to
come to a parley — when, whether through fear or persuasion, he
persuaded him to detach himself from the English party and
^ Henry de Percy had 100 men-at-arms and 100 archers on horsehaok ; Ralph
Neyil 80 men-at-arms and 80 moonted archers. — Hailes, AnnalSj L 243.
to 1360] Alan's heirs to brucian settlement 105
to swear fealty to David II. in the church of Cumnock, an
oath which he faithfully observed.^
The defection of MacDowall doubtless hurried on the clos-
ing scene of Bailors reign ; although, by the irony of fate, the
victory of his own partisans at Durham had at least an equal
share in his final eclipse.
He had only been King of Scotland by favour of Edward,
and Edward having the rival king of the Scots in his power,
conceived he might best further his own interests by making
terms with David, the chosen king of the nation, which the
Scots would readily endorse to effect his restoration. Negotia-
tions for his release were entered upon, that he was to be
acknowledged by Edward as sole King of Scotland. Baliol
protested, but in vain, the only voice he was allowed to have
in the matter being that three of his partisans — Patrick
M'CuUoch, John of Wygginton, and William of Aldeburgh*
— ^were allowed to be present at the conferences to protect
his private rights, the final results of which were that
Edward Baliol surrendered all claims, whether to the throne
or his estates, to Edward III. for 5000 marks in gold, paid
down, in addition to a pension of 2000 marks a year. This
absolute surrender having been made by delivery of a portion
of the earth of Scotland, and also by the upgiving of his golden
crown. On the 20th January 1356 Baliol left Scotland never
to return,' and Edward III., after some dallying, released David
from his captivity the following year, and summoned a parlia-
ment, which ratified the conditions of his release at Scone on
the 6th November.
' Fordun seems to place the event in 1856, but I have placed it in 1853 on
the authority of an instmrnent in Fcedera, v. 759. — Hailes, Annals, i. 250.
' Aldeborgh, Saxon eald byric, the old fort, a strong position so mapped be-
tween Port Alan and Port Yerroch. The present lands of Aoldbreck lie inland.
' The fate of Edward Baliol was singular. On his invasion of Scotland he dis-
played a bold spirit of enterprise and a courage superior to all difficulties. By
the victory of Dnpplin he won a crown ; some few weeks after he was surprised
at Annan and lost it. The overthrow of the Scots at Halidon, to which he
signally contributed, availed not to his re-establishment Year after year he
saw his partisans fall away. He became the pensioner of Edward and the tool
of his policy. He died childless in 1368. — Hailes, Anrials, i. 255.
106 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
So undoubted, however, were the territorial rights of Baliol
held to be, that the Scottish estates were inclined to admit the
justice, if not the expediency, of recognising Edward's III/s
claim to Galloway estates, based on Baliol's resignation, and
entertained proposals for settling them on the King of England's
son, which, however, came to nothing.
No sooner had Baliol and his partisans disappeared than
Fleming asserted his chartered privileges in his Earldom of
Wigtown, whilst Sir William Douglas (younger brother of the
"good Sir James"), also created an earl, exercised similar
powers east of Cree. So great did the power of the Douglases
speedily become, that the person whom they entrusted with the
administration of justice between the Nith and Cree (inter
aquam de Creth et aquam de Nyth), they considered their own
personal officer, and designed him Steward, Western Galloway
continuing under the jurisdiction of the king's sheriff; hence,
until the other day, it was considered a lapsus lingua to speak
of the "Shire" of Kirkcudbright, Wigtown and Kirkcudbright
being popularly known as the "Shire" and "Stewartry" of
Galloway,
Following the re-establishment of David II/s power came
the tale of forfeitures, offices and lands innumerable falling
to the Crown. The lion's share fell to Fleming and Douglas.
Almost all the descendants of Anglo-Normans introduced by
Roland and Alan were proscribed, others of the same race taking
their places, many of whom took deep root in the soil.
Fleming soon ousted John of Wigtown. William of Auld-
breck, as well as Henry de Beaumont, were succeeded in their
lands by Sir Gilbert Kennedy, who had been one of the hostages
for King David on his return in 1353. Percy's lands were aU
taken by Douglas. Lauchlan Adair (Edzear) received Bomby,
" qwhilk was Lyndsay's." Fergus MacDowall, now in favour,
got the barony of Borgue, which " Mowbray forfeited " ; and an
Aygnell or Agnew was given a share of Crown lands untenanted
in the Ehynns, with the keeping of the Castle of Lochnaw.
CHAPTER VI
THE RA6MA.N ROLL
My ladyes and my maistresses echone
• •••«*
Resave in gr^ of my sympille persone
This roUe which withouten any drede
Eynge Ragman me bad mesoure in brede.
On a Ragman Roll, \Uh Century,
The word " Ragman Roll/' which has much mystified philo-
logists/ admits of the simplest explanation, having had its
origin in good-humoured banter, and far from being intended in
any way to wound Scottish susceptibility, was a merry allusion
to a favourite diversion of the Ladies' Bower.
Ragman or King Rageman was a game much afifected in
Anglo-Norman society in the thirteenth century. A number of
characters, good, bad, and indifferent, were written in couplets
consecutively on a sheet of parchment. To each character a
string was attached, having a piece of wax or metal at the tip.
This sheet when rolled up was called a Ragman Roll ; each
pereon playing drew a character by pulling a string, which he
or she maintained for the rest of the evening.
When the Scottish Baronage swore fealty to Edward I. at
Berwick, their names were written down, and the seals of
such as had them attached to the sheet by small strips of
parchment. The rolls containing the signatures, when made up,
^ In Brewer's Didionary of Phrase and Fable (a really useful work) the
Ragman Roll is explained to be a corruption of " Bagimund's Boll " — an absurd
confusion, Bagimont (Baimundi's), which is obviously intended, being a list of
benefices and church dues, and has no connection whatever with the Bagman
BolL
108 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
with a mass of seals dependent from them, had each much the
appearance of a huge roll^ of this game of Ragman; and that
name being jokingly given to it by some of the young courtiers
in attendance, has stuck to this important state paper ever since.
The roll for Wigtownshire is drawn up separately, but that
of Kirkcudbright is included in Dumfries, with no territorial
arrangement, and it is impossible to decide what names, and
even what holdings, are to be set down exclusively to Gralloway.
DEL COUNTE DE WYGGETON
Johan Comyn, Comte de Bouchan. Joh&n de Meynreth.
Thomas, Euesqe de Candida Casa.' William de Champaigne.
Morice, Priour de Whiteme. Dougal MacDowjL
Johan le Mareschal de Toskerton.^ Rauf de Champaigne.
Thomas de Torthorald. Hectur Askelot^
Fergus MakDowylt. Arthur de QalbratL
Roland MacGaghen.^ Gilbert de Hannethe.
Thomas MacUlagh.^ Fergus Askolo.
William Polmalot« Thomas de Kithehilt
Andreu de Logan. William de Byskeby.
^ The Ragman Roll, when rolled up for use, would present a confosed mass of
strings hanging from it, with bits of wax at the end, from which the drawer had
to select one. This game possesses a peculiar historical interest. When the
Scottish nobles and chieftains acknowledged theirj dependence on the English
crown in the reign of Edward I., the deed by which they made this acknow-
ledgment, having aU their seals hung to it, presented when rolled up much the
appearance of the roll used in this game, and hence, no doubt, they gave it in
derision the name of Ragman's Roll.— Wright, Domestic Manners of the Middle
Ages, 233.
' Succeeded ** Henry " as Bishop before 1296 ; succeeded by Simon before
1821.— Keith,
' Elsewhere described as Johan le Mareschal de Toskerton, Chevalier. His
barony was also a parish, afterwards called Eirkmadrine, now absorbed in Kirk-
maiden. Tuaiscairt with the formative particle an : the northerly place, i,e,
north of Kirkmaiden.
* Fergus MacGachan (addressed by George Douglas as cousin) is described as
of " Corsmagachan in Glenluce," an. lA65.—Lochnaw Charters,
» KSheriff of Wigtown 1296.— Ryley, PlacUa.
' Now Polmallet May have its name from a deep pool, once much larger
than now, Pol-mallacht (the cursed pool), whether as a scene of massacre
or strife, or even a want of fish ! such a meaning for the suffix being recognised
in Irish place-names.— Joyce, ii. 448.
' We find the name elsewhere written Ector Ascelog, suggestive of ap*or-ui
scolog, the son of the scholar or crofter.
THE RAGMAN ROLL
109
William MacUlagh.
Dougal Qotheriksone.
Michel MacUlagh.
James Seneschal Descore.
Johan Seneschal fr^re mon
James Seneschal.^
Marie la Regne de Man.^
sire
DEL COUNTE DE DUNFRES*
Johan, Abb^ de Dou^quer.^
Alisaundre, Abb^ de Tungeland.
Wautier, Abb^ de Dundrennan.
Dangald, Abb^ de Saint Boiz.^
William, Prior de Canonby.
Henry de MundeawilL
Thomas de ColewilL^
Andreau de Chartres.*^
David le Mareschal.
Umfrey du Qardin (Jardine).
Mariot de Sutton.
Patrik de Botle.
Dovenald fiz Can.
Wautier de Twvnham.
William de la Chaumbre.
Johan de Qeueleston.
Wautier fiz Richard de Twynham.
Steuene de Kilpatrick.^
Wautier Durant.
Mathew de Legh.
Thomas de Eirconnel.
Thomas de Bardonan.
Robert de Moffet.
Rogier de Fauhside.^
Dunkan de Coningesburgh.
Gilmyhel MacEth.^o
Macrath ap Molegan.^^
Johan Murthoe.
Robert de Chartres.
Alisaundre de Eetb.
Johan de Joneston, Chevalier.
Johan le Blunt de Eskeby.
Henry de Graham.
Johan de la Leyle.
Johan de Seton.
Piers de Graham.
Beatrice de CarleaL
Adam de Holm.
Eustace de Boyuill.
Tue le Messager.
Richarde de Seton.
James de Tortherald.
^ Sir James Stewart, seventh High Steward of Scotland ; his brother, Sir John,
married the daughter and heiress of Sir John de Bonkil, and by her was pro-
genitor of the Damley or Lennox branch.
* Widow of Malise, fifth Earl of Stratheme, " daughter of Eugene of Ergadia, ''
previonsly "relict of the King of Man." — Foedera, ii. 571 ; Wood, ii. 557.
* The following names are in the published edition : Eufemme qui fut la
femme, William de Homden ; William de Weston ; Johan de Mundeuill, persons
de Moffat ; William de Striulyn (Stirling) ; Nicol de Swafham, persone de Grant
Dalton — ^but not followed with any indication of being connected with " Wygge-
ton," obviously out of their proper place.
* New Abbey — Douzquer in the Wardrobe Aeeounts.
' De Sacro Nemoris, Celtic Dercongal, doire conghbhail, church wood ; not
St. Connal or Congal.
* Ancestor of Lords Colyille of Culross, and of Ochiltree.
^ Of Amisfield, represented by the Earl of Wemyss.
* Eirkpatrick of Closebum, reputed ancestor of Eugenie, Empress of the
French.
9 * * Faugh, " a part of the outfield never dunged. — Jamieson . * ' Fanners' faugh
gars laiids laugh" — Proverb ; whence name Fawcett, and probably Forsyth.
^^ Represents equally Mackie, Macghie, and Mackay.
^ Fergus Amulligan acquired Dempstertown, Dunscrore ; his descendants are
Milligans.
110
HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Hughe de ITrre.
Johan de Seton.
Nicol de Corry.
Johan de Dordof.
Raof de Erington.
Symond de la Chaunibre.
Robert de Donbretan.
Robert Freser.^
William de Hellebeck.
Henry de Gillonby.
Gyles persone del Eglise de Eggles-
feyan.
Robert de Perressar.^
Johan de Kirke Patrik.
Thomas Moffet.
Maucolum MacCuffoc.
Bathelmea de Egglesham Chopelyn.
Gardein de Nouel leu de Seneware.*
WiUiam le Tailleur.
Patrik fiz Mathieu de Parton.
Henry Vicaire del Eglise de Laur-
ineton.
Robert de Tyndale persone del
Eglise de Grant Dal ton.
Wautier Curry.
Henry Crak.
Johan de NormanwilL
Johan de Araz.*
Patrik de Bardonan.
Morice MacSalny.
Humfrey de Boys, Chivaler.
Rogier de Kirkepatrick.^
Hugh Manleurer.
Gilberd de Joneston.
Huue de Orre.
Cuthbert Makelemwyn.^
Gilbert Makenight.
Johan de Bundeby.^
Fergus le Mareschal.
Roulande le Mareschal.
Morice de Esttubbille.
Gilbert de Southeyck.
Gilbert de Karlel.s
Wautier fiz Wautier de Gummeston.
Thomas de Coleuile.
Adam de Colweune.
Thomas de Southayk (Southwick).
Michel de Cardelnesse (Eirkdale).
Duncan fiz Andreu.
Dougal fiz Gothrik.
Aleyn de Rossa.
Robert de Drusquem.®
William de Heriz.
Thurbrandes de Logan.
Johan de Kerdemesse (Cardoness),^^
Piers de Jarum, persone de Kelles.
Johan Vicaire de Urres.
Sire Herbert de MakeswelL
Sire Richard Freser.
Wautier de Demington, persone de
Parton.
Mestre William de Goseford person
de Castelmilke.
Robert de Carsan, persone de Kirk-
andres.
Alianore Prioresse de Lincluden.
Johan de Hay ton.
Wautier, persone de 'Morton, emestre
de Caldestreme.
Gordon (Adam de Miles) chevalier.^^
^ The Frasers carried originally three strawberry leaves for arms, now
registered cinquefoils. In Galloway they were " Frisells."
^ A clerical blunder for Pennersax, anciently a parish, now absorbed in
Middlebye.
* In Galloway, Newall ; in England, Noel. * Herries.
' Eirkpatrick made siccar the Red Comyn's death.
^ MacClellan, MacGille ; Fhaolain, son of the servant of St Fillan.
' Bomby.
^ Father of William, who married King Robert I. 's sister ; ancestor of
Lords Carlyle. * Rusco.
^^ Caerdonas, Cardoness, cyrc dael (Saxon), Eirkdale.
^^ Son of Alicia, heiress of Thomas, son of Richard de Gordon. Alicia married
her cousin Adam, gi'andson of the foresaid Richard, brought him the lands of
Gordon in Ber^'ickshire, and had a son Adam, the above, who died the year of
THE RAGMAN ROLL 111
William de Soulis Dominus de Gilbert Maccoignache.
Lydisdale. Hwe de Deresdere.
As the earldom of Carrick represented the portion of Gallo-
way allotted to Duncan (Fergus's grandson) in 1186, we give
such of the names of Ayrshire as have connection with our
history.
DEL COUNTE DE ARE
Renaud de Craufurd.^ Gilmor fiz Edward.^®
Andrew fiz Godefrei de Ros.^ Wautier de Lynne.^^
Gilbert fiz Roland.^ Michel de Mohaut, Chivaler.^*
Mestre Neil CambeL* Gilchrist More.^^
Johan de Knoudolyan. Alisandre de la Boutelerie.
Adam de Waleys.^ Ingram de Umgrauile.^*
William de Kathkerk.^ Rogier de Crauford (and five other
Robert de BoynillJ Craufords).
Aylmere le Huntere,® Wautier (James and Robert) de Ros.
Thomas de Cregayn.® Johan fiz Roland.
his signing the Ragman Roll, Marjory, his widow, having restitution of his
estates, 3d September 1296 ; in consequence, his son Adam, by this Marjory, was
the common ancestor of the Dukes of Gordon and Viscounts Eenmure.
^ Sir Reginald Crawford of Londoun, Sheriff of Ayr, murdered there by
English garrison 1297. His son, Sir Reginald, was taken prisoner in Lochryan
along with Thomas and Alexander Blair in 1307, sent to Carlisle, and executed.
His only daughter, Susannah, married Sir Duncan, son of Sir Donald, second
son of Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow, ancestor of Dukes of Arg}'le.
* Godfrey de Ros was appointed Sheriff of Ayr by Edward I, 1805. He
was ancestor of the Lords Ross of Halkhead. Roos and Rose are forms of same
name.
* Roland is held to be Roland of Carnek, and (Sir) Gilbert de Carrick
to have been the person recorded as submitting a difference between himself
and the nuns of North Berwick in 1285 to the arbitration of Robert Bruce and
Robert (Henry !), Bishop of Galloway. He is believed to be ancestor of the Earls
of Cassilis.
^ Either Sir Neil Campbell of Lochow or a near relative.
^ Wallace of Riccarton — the name meaning the Welshman or Briton.
^ Ancestor of Eari Cathcart
^ Boyle of Eelburn, ancestor of Elarls of Glasgow.
* Hunter of Amul, afterwards of Hunterston ; on an ancient boundaiy charter
his neighbour's lands are described as marching *'terris Normani venatoris,'*
^ Craigy was carried by an heiress to Wallace of Riccarton.
^^ Head of the Cunninghams of Kilmaurs, ancestor to the Earls of Glencaim.
^^ Probably ancestors of Lynnes of Larg.
^' De Monte Alto, Scotticised Mouatt
** ** Rowallan Mures," Nisbet Mure of Polkelly,
^* Appointed by Edward II. in 1310 to receive submission of Galloway men ;
an English baronet possessed of great estates in Angus as well as Ayr.
112
HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Johan fiz Neel de Karrik.^
Duncan de Carleton.
Nicol de Waleys.
Hawe of the Blare. ^
Richard de Boyuill.
Rauf de Eglynton.*
Neel fiz Robert de Dullop.
Rauf Faireye.*
Murthauch de Montgomery.^
Symund de Spalding, persone del
EgliflB Ogheltre (Ochiltree).
Renaud de la More and Adam.
Aleyn le Barbour.
Maucolum Lockare.^
^ Believed to be the ancestor, and to have given his name to the Neilaons of
Craigcaffie. ' Whence perhaps Blair of Blair.
' Eglinton of that ilk. His line ended in a daughter, married to Sir John
Montgomery, ancestor of the Earls of Eglinton.
^ Fairly of that ilk. Root of name apparently Norse : faareye, *' sheep
pastures." — Nisbet, Remarka on Bagman Itoll, it 41.
" Second son of John Montgomery, whose great-grandson married the daughter
of the Lord of Eglinton.
' Malcolm Lockhart of Barr.
CHAPTER VII
PLACE-NAMES ILLUSTRATING OLD GALLOWAY PURSUITS
^temumque tenet per ssecula noxnen.
ViBOiL, JSnid, vi. 281.
The ancient language of Galloway is so indelibly impressed
upon its soil, that in default of any Pictish literature, its old
place-names, if read aright, may largely supplement the meagre
chronicles of the middle ages.
They retain memories of its mighty men, many mythic,
" carent quia vate sacro " ; of its princes, of its warriors, of its
saints, of its pirate chiefs, of the callings of its people, lay and
cleric — friar, artificer, robber, herd, hunter, or beadsman ; they
specify the very trees of which the primeval forest was com-
posed, they name its denizens, and enable us in a measure to
judge of the progress made in arts and agriculture by its people
previous to their speech being assimilated to that of Lowland
Scotland.
A certain mystery attaches to the " Pictish " tongue ; but for
our purposes it is sufficient to know that " Pictish is a Gaelic
dialect partaking largely of Welsh forms." ^ And this, qualified
by the fact that prior to the fifth century, before which the
bulk of old Galloway place-names had been probably given,
the various dialects of Celtic dififered very much less from one
another than they do at present. And whatever inflections may
^ Four AneieTii Bocks of WaleSt i. 188. "There are seven Celtic dialects —
Irish, Scotch-Gaelic, Manx, Pictish, Welsh, Cornish, British or Armoric.
** Cymric and Gaelic had each a high and low variety ; Scotch-Gaelic, Irish,
and Manx are high ; Pictish, low ; Cornish and Breton, high ; Welsh, low."
VOL. I I
114 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
have been peculiar to the Pictish, two broad facts are capable
of historic proofc
Firsts That in its application to places the Pictish differs
immaterially from names imposed by Dalriad Scots or Strath-
Clyde Britons.
Second, That as to its colloquial use, the youth of both sexes
in all the neighbouring kingdoms, as the clerics of all the three
nationalities, had a common meeting-place at once for inter-
course and instruction at the *' Magnum Monasterium/' the great
Galloway Pictish College at Rosnat
As to the first, just opposite Galloway, lay Dalaradia and
Dalriada, their inhabitants respectively Picts and Scots, Now,
not only is there no radical difference in the place-names of
these two peoples, but those of both closely resemble those of
Galloway.^ Again, north and east the Pictish Novantae were
closely pressed upon by the powerful septs of British race,
known to the Bomans as the Damnii and Selgovae. Yet, as a
matter of fact, there is no radical difference between the old
Celtic place-names of Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire, and those of
Galloway. In the three districts the great majority of names
are alike to be explained by Gaelic and Irish dictionaries,
and of the very few referable to the "Welsh, there are as many
to the south of the Deil's Dyke as to the north of it.
Of such exceptional instances we may name Cumloden,
Minigaff (the cwm especially Cymric), as also Ochiltree (Pen-
ninghame), Galtway, Trayl, and Threave.^
As to the second, the whole tenor of early Irish history and
its church legends point to the constant interchange of visits
between Irish saints and the brethren of Candida Casa, Cymric
^ ''The Irish annals do not contain a hint that the Dalaradians spoke a
language different from the rest of Scotland."
''Nor is there the slightest hint of any diversity of language between the
Cruithne (the Dalaradians) and the Scots." — Celtic Scotland^ i. 198.
' Cwm-llydan, "the broad hollow between hiUs," which exactly describes it.
Uchel-tre, "high house"; Galtway (pronounced Gatah), Gallt-gwy, "the
ascent from the water" ; Trahel or Trayle (now St Mary's Isle), Tre-hel, " the
house and the river holm" (a living Cornish name); Threave, Tref, "a
homestead."
PLACE-NAMES 115
kinglets and chieftains sending their children to the famous
seminary;^ from which the inference fairly to be drawn is that
Strathclyde Britons could then freely converse with Galloway
Picts, and both races alike with Irish Dalriads and Dalaradians.
As a rule, all over Scotland names given by the Picts are
indistinguishable from those given by the Scots, both having an
occasional mixture of what is called the Cymric element, but
which may really be an unrecognised trace of the ancient
Pictish.2
The intermarriage of Pictish chiefs with Anglo -Norman
ladies led to their children learning to Usp in their mother's
tongue. The monks first introduced as the schoolmasters of
the province were mostly Frenchmen, and though these were
followed by English-speaking friars, few if any of these clerics
attempted to acquire, much less to commit to writing, the
Pictish speech, rather teaching Latin as the common medium
of communication. Consequently, on the accession of Alan's
heirs a.d. 1234, French was the language of the "classes,"
Pictish of the " masses."
A great change was, however, in the air. Saxon had been
adopted, both in the palace and at the courts of law, earlier
in Scotland than in England ; in the counties of Ayr and Dum-
fries it had even then superseded the Cymric. All classes in
Galloway soon found it most convenient to adopt the language
of their neighbours.
The flight of Baliol severed the connection of the baronage
with the English court ; the forfeitures incident to the Brucian
settlement largely introduced a Saxon-speaking proprietary, even
^ " As a daughter of the king of the Picts received her secular education
here, so we learn that the king of the Britons also sent his children to the
school." — Forhes, Life of St. Ninian, Introduction, 42.
' Having submitted a list of Galloway names to Dr. Joyce, he made the
initiatory remark, " When I plunge into your names, I fancy myself walking
in a quagmire guided by a rushlight " ; and on a subsequent occasion, ** In
dealing with your local names I feel somewhat as we may suppose a good
billiard-player would feel if asked to play a game with cubical pieces instead of
familiar balls. The Scottish names don't suit my hand at all." Why sot
Obviously because Galloway names, though to the uninitiated resembling the
Irish, have Pictish as their root
116 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
of Anglo -Nonnan blood, all of whom brought with them
followers who knew no Celtic.
Hence the double change. The upper classes ceased to
speak French, whilst the lower classes gradually dropped their
Pictish, which, never having been a written language, was soon
absolutely forgotten, surviving only for a while in isolated
hamlets on the moors.
We are therefore entitled with some confidence to assert
that all Celtic place-names date at latest before the close of
the thirteenth century : many of them before the Christian era.
Genuine Norse names carry us back to the ninth and tenth
centuries, and Northumbrian Saxon two hundred years earlier.
Of the first the Moat of Innermessan stands a stable and
imposing relic of a station visited by Phoenician mariners in
prehistoric times. AR other buildings have disappeared, but
the bay in which their galleys rode retains its name phonetically
almost unaltered, whether in its Celtic or Cymric form (Loch-
riaghan or Llwch Eheon),^ as known to Strabo or Pliny. Whilst
among last of Celtic names we have Auchmanister, Old Luce,
which could not have been so named for fourteen centuries
later, and being so called as the field of the monastery founded
by Roland a little previous to A.D. 1200.
The Saxon and the Celtic name-giving period seems to over-
lap on the moors of Minigaflf, where Craigencally (cailleach,
old wife, witch) is so called as the site of the cothouse where an
old dame sheltered Robert Bruce on the eve of the battle of
Moss Raploch, whilst " the King's Stone " near it is the boulder
against which he leaned while watching the issue of the fight.
No one can carefully study place-names without observing
how old they generally are, and that many which seem modern
^ Caer Rheon (Cymric) and Rath riaghan were the synonyms, whence the
Romish corruption Rerigonium.
Pytheas, a Massilian, reaching the Land's End (Beleriam) about three centuries
B.G., sailed northward through the Irish Channel, passed Loch Ryan, reaching-
Orkney, whence he made a six da3rs' Yoyage to Thule (probably Shetland), and
returning by Cantium (the North Foreland), proved Britain to be an island.
From him Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny derived their information of the
British Isles. — Lempri&re, art. "Pytheas;'' Celtic ScoUarid, i. SO.
PLACE-NAMES 117
are merely translations of the original Celtic. A difficulty to
the inquirer lies in finding a genuine and if possible ancient
form of the word with which he has to deal. But having
satisfied himseK as to this; if Celtic, he must master certain
rules before he can explain it, as the Celtic root-words are often
almost unrecognisable owing to the disguises they assume.
Consonants are changed in sound or altogether disappear by
aspiration (expressed in writing by being followed by an h) ;
whilst one consonant often takes the place of another by
eclipse. There are also various recognised interchanges of letters :
the addition of d after /, n, and r, the addition or attraction
of the article, the insertion of t between 8 and r, and various
others more or less systematic.
As examples, aspirated 6 becomes v in Culvenna (bheanan),
" back of the peak " \ w \tl Laniwee (leana bhuidhe), " yellow
mead"; /in Dinduflf (damph), *'ox fort"; ch is changed into
wh in Einganwhey (rinn-an-chaedh), " point of the marsh " ;
e is eclipsed by g in Altygunnoch (g-cuinneag), "the glen of
the chums " ; 6 is eclipsed by m in Lignaman (leac-nambam),
" the witches' stone " ; s by ^ in Baltier (baile-an-t'saier), " car-
penter's town." We have the addition of d after n in Land-
berrick, " St. Berach's Church " (lann) ; and the insertion of
t between s and r in Stranraer (sron reamhar), "the bluff
point."
A source of error in dealing with place-names arises from
ignoring " the growth of words," i.e. treating idiomatic particles
as substantive roots.^ Of these, ach, lach, trach, seach, and others,
have the simple force of " abounding in " ; en, nat, can, gan, nan,
og, etc., are diminutives ; an, common to both, is sometimes
^ A good example of such an error exposed is the case of Clogher, Tyrone,
long confidently asserted to represent cloch oir, the golden stone. A tradition
being adapted to the translation — namely, that *' Clogher takes its name
from a golden stone, from which in times of paganism the devil used to pro-
nouQce juggling answers like the oracles of old."
The derivation and story Dr. Reeves (now Bishop of Down and Connor)
annihilates in a sentence : **The prevalence of the name of Clogher in various
parts of Ireland with the same general meaning of * stony place' is rather
damaging to such an etymon." — Joyce, i. 414.
■4«"
118 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
merely ornate or formative. Thus smeurach is not " blackberry
field/' but a place abounding in blackberries. Brockloch is not
necessarily a " badger's lake," but a " badger warren." Bashnock
has no connection with cnoc, " a hill/' but is a place abounding in
briars or roses. Toskerton, the sufiBx, is not a diminutive, but
primitive tuaise-art-an, " the northerly pleuje."
It is the rule in Celtic names that the qualifying term comes
last, it being the reverse in Teutonic ; but there are numerous
exceptions, as ShinvoUey, Kirkcowan, old dairy-place (and
sean is almost always prefixed) ; Fennart (feonn ard), white
■
height.
It is impossible here to enter on the wide subject of changes
in the names of saints to which have been prefixed or added
terms of reverence or endearment, such as Moinean for Ninian,
Maccuddican for Cuthbert.^
Connected with personal as apart from place-names, it seems
worthy of notice that four Galloway landowners, presumably of
native stock, — Hannay, Carson, Shennan, and Milligan, — ^were
anciently written, Ahannay, Akersane or Accarson, Aschen-
nan, and Amulligan — the latter Ap Molegan in the Eag-
man EoU, suggestive rather of the Cymric ap than the Irish
ui, o'.
We shall now proceed to group certain place-names as
examples.
First, As to fortifications; residences generally; hos-
pitals and CHURCHES.
The terms we find in use for forts of any sort are dun,
cathair (C. caer), caiseal, mur, rath, lios, aileach, teamhair,
longphort. Northujnbrian Saxon, burh and byric ; Norse, borg
and wark (verke).
By far the most common is dun, C. don, Latinised dunurn,
a stronghold. Whence Dunikellie, Kirkmaiden (Ui Cheallagh),
O'Kelly's fort ; Dunmurchie, Kirkcolm, and Dinmurchie, Barr,
^ More singular is it to find si classed as an equivalent for morgue from the
same cause. " Aedh (Hugh) is the same name as Maedhog (mo-aedh-og), my
little aedh ; though when pronounced they are quite unlike, aedh being ai, and
maedhog morgue." — Joyce, i. 147.
PLACE-NAMES 119
Murcbad's or Murdock's;^ Dunorrock, Kirkmaiden, Ony's or
Eric's ; * Dunharberry, Girtbon, Cairbre's or Carberry's ; Dun-
ragit, Old Luce, Bagat's ; Dunabaskel, Kirkmaiden, Macaskill's ;
DunemiD, Incb, and Dunrod, Borgue (din-y-Eun, din-Ebudd),
Ehnn and Bbudd, of Bardic fame ; * Dunottrie, MinigafiF, Ucb-
tred's ; Dundonald, Girvan, Domball's ; Dinvin, Portpatrick and
Girvan (as also Dinfionn, Arran), Fingall's; Dumfries (Doun-
fres), of tbe Frisians.
Connected witb animals we find Dunnanee, MinigafiT, fort
of tbe red deer ; Dunmuck, Kirkmaiden and Golvend, and Duni-
muck, Girvan, of tbe wild swine ; Dinduff, Leswalt, of tbe oxen;
Dunagarrocb and Dunanrae, Stoneykirk, of tbe sbeep and
ram ; Dinveocb, Kells, of tbe ravens ; Dunkirk, Kells, of tbe
moorfowl ; Dunannane, Kirkmaiden, of tbe birds ; Dunman,
Kirkmaiden, Gaelic, pbonetically Dum-Meadbon, central fort — as
probably tbe suffix is tbe Cymric maen, stone fort.
Connected witb bale-fires we bave Dinniebinney, Kirk-
maiden; Dindinnie,* Leswalt; Dunniecbinie, Incb (all Dunteine),
fort of tbe fire. " Doon " alone occurs in Glasserton, Penning-
bame, Mocbrum, Kirkcowan, Elirkinner ; we have also tbe
Doon of May, tbe Doon of Borland, and Doon Castle (pleon-
astic) ; Baldoon, Wigtown, is tbe townland of tbe fort; and
Dinnan, Dunan, and Dunnanee, are diminutives of frequent
occurrence. Duncow, Kirkmaboe, anciently DuncoU, in Eobert-
son's Index Duncole, is Coyl's.* Dunanskail, Kirkmaiden, was
presumedly baunted by some sea-king's gbost, seal meaning a
spectre or apparition.®
^ Muireftdhach, sea protector, whence the family name of Murray, though
generally Murdoch in Scotland, Morough in Ireland, Meredith in Wales.
" Orry or Eric, Danish King of Man in the tenth century ( Worsaae, 295), also
Eric Bloody -axe, a Norwegian rover of later date, harried the very sea-boards.
' The grave of Llacher, son of Rhun, is in the valley of the Ken (clun kein). —
Taliessin. " The grave of Rhudd is not covered with sods." — Hid.
There were three Runs : son of Maelgwn, son of Artgal, and Rhun Drum-
rudd, son of Brychan, from whom Loch Roan has its name ; his sister was mother
of Llywarch Hen.
^ It might be Din duine, of the men, but inspection proves it to be a fire-hill.
^ There is a Duncow on Loch Doon more certainly connected with Coyl Hen
— the old King Cole.
' A spectre ; a hero is a secondary meaning (Joyce, iL 103). O'Donovan
120 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Cathair or caer gives the Eoman Corda, afterwards Sean
Caer (Sanquhar), the old fort ; and is the prefix of Carbantium,
probably Kirkbean, synonymous with Castle Bann, white, that
is of stone. Cardoness (the second s corrupt) is the devil's fort ;
Cardrine,the fort of the blackthorn. Caer runs easily into kirk,
as Kirkmagill and Kirklauchlane, Stoneykirk, Magilli's and
Lauchlann's forts. Craigcaffie (Karcophy, Pont) is a corruption,
being Cathbhodh's or Coffey's fort.^ In Ireland Cathair takes
the form of Caher.
Caiseal, which in Ireland indicates a circular stone fort, and
is usually called a cashel, has in Galloway a more general
application to any strong house of stone, and pronounced castle,
as Castle Ayne (Aine's, or of joy); Castlecra vie, Berwick, the
wooded ; Castlenaught, Kirkmaiden, the bare; Shancastle, Parton,
the old, or Nectan's ; Castle Maddy. the wolfs ; Castle Feather,
Peter's, or the piper's (fhiobaire's) ; Castle Shell, Shell's, or of the
hunting ; Castle Gower, Buittle, Guaire's,^ possibly the vitrified ;
Castle Donnell, Penninghame ; Castle Larrick, Inch, Leurig's (or
the castle site) ; ^ Castle Bann, Kirkcolm, the stone. As a
suffix we have Auchengashel (Twynham), Poulnagashel, Stra-
gashel, Craigengashel (Minigaflf), the field, pool, river, holm, and
rock of the stone fort.
Mur is a rampart, a bulwark, a fortified place ; mothar {t
mute), not unlike it in pronunciation, denotes a ruined fort,
and in the form of moher is applied in Ireland to the remains
of any old rath or castle. Murdonachie, New Luce, is Duncan's
gives a hero; O'Reilly (besides), a noise, a rombling, the cry of a hound in
chase.
1 ** Obviously the great Celtic* historical name Cathbhadb, which in the
genitive form is pronounced Caffie. The oldest form is Cathbie ; it has descended
to Coffey." — Dr. Joyce's Letter to the Author.
^ Gwawr, a Cymric name. Dunguaire was the Celtic name for Bamborough.
Castle Gower is one of our few vitrified forts ; Caer Gwydr is named as if in
Galloway by Taliessin ; Gwydr, Cymric for glass, might imply vitrification ;
Caer Gwydr might easily turn to Castle Gower.
' Larrack has many meanings : it represents Leath Rath, half rath ; Lath-
rach, a house site ; Larach, a mare. There was a Leurig kinglet at Whithorn
{Chron. Picts and ScotSf p. 52). Laraig, a Norse chieftain, who from Galloway
plundered Waterford a.d. 951.
PLACE-NAMES 121
fort; Monreith is corrupted from Murrith, the gray tower. The
name has traveUed with the family from their original location
in Glasserton to Mochrum. The tower house in which they first
settled they called " the mouri," built probably on the site of, or
adjoining, the older gray moher, which gave its name to their
lands.^
Sath and lios, denoting circular entrenchments, are terms
less used in Galloway than in Ireland. Of the former, we have
Kattra, probably Bam's fort, Borgue ; Coolraw, Buittle, the back
or angle of the rath ; perhaps Wraiths, Elirkbean. A well-defined
camp gives its name, with hardly the change of a letter, to the
parish of Leswalt (lios uilt), the fort of the glen ; Lashandarroch,
the old fort of the oaks, is in the same parish ; Garlics, MinigafT,
is the rough fort ; and Drumlass, Berwick, the ridge of the fort ;
Airless, Kirkinner, the height of the fort.^ Aileach (Ailthach,
literally stone-house), indicates a stone fort, whence Craigenellie
in Crossmichael and Balmaghie, DrumaneUy, and CraigneUie in
Kirkcolm, and Craigenally, Mochrum (rock, townland, and ridge
of the stone tower), whilst Eilah Hill, New Luce, is a half trans-
lation.
"Teamhair," genitive "teamhrach," pronounced tawer and
tara, indicates an elevated entrenchment which commands
a wide view. Of this a notable example is the ''Kirkland
Tawer," as it is generally termed, in Leswalt, or, as Chalmers
writes it, " the Tower of Craigoch," Craigauch, as it should be
written, the suflSx representing King Eoch or Eocheidh, the
Norseman. Glenterra in Inch (the word taking exactly the same
form as the famous Tara in Meath) is the scene of one of
Gwallauc's battles, as told by Taliessin ; the standing-stones of
Glenterra being monuments of the slain.
Longphort is another term for a fortress, whence Drumlam-
ford, Colmonell ; Dallamford, Dailly ; Lamford, Carsphaim ;
^ Symson says: "The mower," together with the whole parish of Kirkmaiden
(in Femes) belongs to Sir William MaxweU. Kirkmaiden is absorbed in
Glasserton.
^ Possibly the name is Dhurlas, strong fort. Thnrles, Tipperaiy, is a corrap-
tion of Durlas. — Joyce, i. 273.
122 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
and Longford, New Luce. Cannphort suggestiye of a
chiefs principal residence, gives us Camford on Loncaster
Loch.^
The Northumbrian Saxon burh and byric appear in
Burrowhead and Auldbreck (eald byric) ; the Norse boig
and wark (verke) in Borgue, Borness ; Carlingwark and
Kemp's walks (wark), Leswalt; and Bumswark beyond the
Nith.
Of residentiary structures, not necessarily fortified, the most
imposing in name was the grianan, literally a sunny spot, con-
ventionally a palace, whatever meaning we may attach to the
word.^ ''Grennan" stands as a name alone in Stoneykirk,
Kirkmaiden, Glasserton, and Old Luce. We have Argrennan,
Tongland, and Bargrennan, Penninghame, both meaning the
palace height.
Lucairt, used in the sense of a palace in the Highlands, gives
us Drumloccart, Leswalt ; Barlockhart, Old Luce.
Baile, the word for dwelUngs most in use, means not merely
a town or townland, but often a single homestead, like the
vernacular " farm toun."
Celtic and Norse meet in suidh, and seat, Sheuchan (Suid-
deachan), Inch, is a diminutive of the former, and Sheuchanowre,
Minigaff, the gray seat ; Soulseat, Inch, and Aldermanseat,
Gretna, are examples of the latter.
Teach and tigh, cognate with Cymric tref and tre, mean
'' house," as Nashantee (na sean teach), the old houses ; Tannie-
laggie (tynalagach, Pont), the hollow of the house.® Threave,
Balmaghie, and Penninghame ; Ochiltree, Penninghame.
^ In a Monreith estate map, 1777, a rectangular fort is marked "Roman Camp,'*
aU traces of which have disappeared under the plough. Ceann-phort, lit. head-
fort. Longphort has a more general meaning, applied alike to circular raths and
entrenched forts of any sort ; all the Longfords in Ireland (of which Joyce says
there are twenty) are Longphorts . . . '*a further softening is in Ath-lunkaid,
Lemerick, the ford of encampment." — Joyce, i. 800.
' O'Brien explains Grennan as *' a royal seat," in which sense it is used hy the
hest Irish writers ; and this is unqttesHonably its general meaning when U occurs
in topography, — Joyce, i. 290.
* Tamhnach, a meadow, often confuses with ''Tigh na"; e,g. Tannie flux,
Tamnach fliuch, the wet meadow, not the house in the swamp.
PI^CE-NAMES 123
Arost appears frequently in airies, " the house." ^
The Saxon ton appears in Mjreton and Broughton^ the
dwelling by the lake and fort. We have in Cauldhame and
Guningham, the cold and cuning's home.
Botl, a house, is the same in Norse and Saxon, whence
Buittle; and by is a Norse test- word, appearing in Appleby,
Corsbie, Busby, Sorbie,
Oil is the most frequent root for church, as Kilpatrick,
Kilfillan, Killantringan (Ninian's) ; but it is so prolific and well
known that we shall rather try to trace it in its corruptions.
Thus Culcaldie, Inch, should be (as written in the curates' lists
of 1684) Kilcaldie, the Culdees' church (cil celide) ; Culmore,
Stoneykirk, is not the great back or angle, but great church, cil
being the head or parish church of Clayshant (clach seanta,
holy stone), now absorbed in Stoneykirk ; so Culmalzie is St.
Malie's church, and should be written Kilmalzie, as in Argyle ;
Gillespie, Old Luce, is Elillespie, the Bishop's church ; we
have a pleonasm in Kirklebride (the Saxon cyrc before the
Celtic cil), St. Bride's church church.^ Lann (Cymric), " land "
(old Irish), appears in its ecclesiastical application in Land-
berrick, Mochrum, St. Berach's church.
Domhnach, a term of frequent application in Ireland^ is
held to imply that a church so-called had been personally
founded by St. Patrick^ — a ceremony he performed invariably
on a Sunday.
In Ballantrae we have Kildomine, locally corrupted to
Kirkdamnie, a name which has puzzled philologists, unaware
of the fact recognised by the Bishop of Down, and other high
ecclesiastical authorities.
Eaglais, a Celtic adaptation of the Latin, appears in Terregles,
^ Trehel or Trayle (now St Mary's Isle), Kirkcudbright, synonymous with
Trehal, Cornwall, given by Bannister as house on the saltwater estuary.
Dreghom, Parton, seems Celtic tregwem, house on the marsh or alders. Ochil-
tree (Uchel-tre) is Welsh as spoken, high house.
* Joyce estimates that 2700 names in Ireland are derived from cill ; 700 more
beginning with kel or kyle represent coill, a wood.
^ Domhnach, from Domenica. *'A11 the churches that have the name of
Domhnach were originally founded by St. Patrick." — Joyce, i. 318.
124 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
originally Traveregles, the church lands ; Slewnagles {s omitted
in Ordnance Survey), Leswalt, the church hill. In Clashmahew,
Inch, clash is a clerical error for eaglais, St. Machute's church.
Caipeal, from the Latin capella, appears in Chapel Donan,
Kirkcolm ; Chapel Finian, Mochrum ; and Chapelrossan, Eark-
maiden — the two former from well known saints, the latter
the chapel of the little point ; the said chapel being probably
the dedication to St. Lassair, mother of Finian of Moville, whence
the lands of Killeser are named, her church being a place of
peculiar sanctity, overlooked by Hermon Hill (Tearmann),
suggesting the existence of a sanctuary.^
Annoid means "a parent church" (a church of a patron
saint), whence Annat, Kirkinner ; Annatland, New Abbey ;
Penhannat, Barr — the lands of the Annat
Spital (spideal) in the early times meant rather a place for
entertainment than for cure — a hospice. So Portesspital, Stoney-
kirk, below the Roman camp of Kildonan ; " Spital " frequently
alone, as in Kirkcowan and Kirkmabreck ; and " Spital Crofts "
in various places ; many of these were once possessed by the
Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem.^
From very early times there seem to have been places for
the isolation of lepers ; such were Killielour, Kirkpatrick-Iron-
gray, the leper's wood ; Barlour, New Luce, the leper's height.
Ochtralure, by Stranraer ; Farrenlure, Inch ; Craiglure, Straiton ;
Carlure, New Luce. This last translated by " Liberland "
near it*
Second, As to occupations. The oldest industries were the
^ Termon and Tarmon are the names of several places, indicating in every
case the former existence of a sanctuary. — Joyce, iL 210.
^ In the Lochnaw charter chest there is a conveyance of the spital croft of
Craichmore, dated from the Preceptory of Torphichen, the headquarters of
the Knights of St. John. The Hospitallers fell heirs to the Knights Templar
on the suppression of that order, whose occupation is proved by the existence of
various Templelands and Crofts.
' Lobar is glossed in the oldest Irish writings by 'Mnfurmis " and *' debilis,'*
and was not confined in its application to leprosy. Dr. Reeves translates
lobar by sick. The usual anglicised forms being lour, lower, and lure.
' ' Whenever we find a name containing this word, we may generally infer that
some kind of hospital or asylum was formerly established there.'' — Joyce, iL 79.
The parish of Liberton, Midlothian, is supposed to take its name from lepers.
PLACE-NAMES 125
pastoral ; horses, hides, and wool being the principal exports
from which the lords of the land derived their revenues of old.
Of the structures required for such purposes, we find the
Celtic and Norse languages meeting in the word " cro," a cattle
pen ; the former in Craigencroy, Stoneykirk ; Alticry, Moch-
rum ; Dymagrow (na-gcroithe) obsolete. The frequent " crows "
and " croys " may be as possibly Norse as Celtic, with English
plurals.
Airidh, and its diminutive aroch, a mountain booth, is
equivalent to the Norwegian saeter. In nomenclature aroch
is hardly distinguishable from earrach, spring; but in connection
with herding the terms are cognate, both alike indicating haunts
resorted to in spring. Clashnarroch, Leswalt ; Knockanarroch,
Stoneykirk ; Lochnarroch, Minigaff, are the hollow, knoll, and
lake of spring sheilings. Bellsavory and Fellsavory, Inch, the
root of both samhraidh, indicate summer grazings.^
Of airidh itself we have examples innumerable : as Airie-
glassan, the green ; Shannarie Urr, the old ; Savery, the summer ;
Airieguilshie, among the broom; AirieoUand (twice), of the
wool ; Airiequhillart, of the orchard ; Airiewiggle (bhuachaile), ^
of the herdsmen.
Mr. Joyce does not give a single example of airidh in his
Irish Names of Places, Bo teach, a cow-house, appears in
Buyoch, Whithorn ; and aspirated, Wayoch, in Mochrum. Tra-
boyach, Barr, is the three byres ; ^ Craigwoughie, Stoneykirk, is
a corruption of bho tigh, and we find " bo " impressed into the
^ Bellsavory is baile sambradh, exactly translated by Somerton in Norse
form across the Tarf. Fellsavory, Inch, translated by Sommerhill in Balma-
clellan, Balmaghie, and Holywood. All these indicate summer pasturages ;
whilst, on the contrary, Minigaff (gauf, Gaelic ; gauaf, Cjrmric), means the wintry
moorland.
Ceitein is another Qaelic word for spring, whence Qlenkitten, New Luce, the
glen of springtime ; whilst Samaria, Mochrum, if a genuine name, is the summer
sheiling. Aroch is glossed by O'Reilly as '* a hamlet, a little aheilding."
* Bhuachaile (Cymric, bugail ; Cornish, bigel).
' Other numerical combinations are Traloddan, Barr, three pools ; Tryach, New
Luce, three fields ; Tregallan, Troqueer, three pillar-stones ; Trolane (lann) Dairy ^
three enclosures or churches ; Lanedripple, Inch stream of the three pools ; Tro-
queer, is perhaps three forts.
126 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
vernacular in Akebusbowhouse, Terregles, the byre by the
pollard oak.
Badhun, pronounced bawn, is a cow fort, whence Drumbawn,
Stoneykirk ; Millbawn, Portpatrick ; Knockbawn, Stoneykirk ;
it is aspirated in Drumawan, Kirkcowan. BuaiUe (anglicised
in Ireland, booley) is a dairy-place, whence Shanvoley, Kirk-
cowan ; Altivolie, Stoneykirk ; Craigenvolie, Balmaclellan; Craig-
envolie, Garsphairn, the old dairy place, and the booley of the
glen and rock. The Ox-fort, Dinduflf or Dundafif, has been
already mentioned.
Cuinneag, Cymric cunnoch and cunnog, a milk-pail or
chum, is equally suggestive of a dairy-place. Cunninghame,
"Canawon" of the Bards, was the churn country,^ abounding
in butter and cheese. Drumcunnoch, Minigaff ; Altigunnoch,
Ballantrae ; Glengunnoch, Parton ; Knockcunnoch, Carsphaim,
are the ridge, stream, glen, and knoll of the milk-pails or
chums, the c being eclipsed in the three latter by g,^
Eachlann and stabuU ^ stand for stable, whence Auchlane,
Kelton, long celebrated for its breeding studs and horse fair ;
Auchlannochy, Minigaff (Eochy's stable) ; Drumstable, Penning-
hame ; and Stable Alan, Kirkmaiden * (Alan's).
Turning to the animals themselves, the cow is bo, plural
ba, Cymric bewch, whence playfully Bilnavoe (beul), the cow's
snout, a rock in Kirkmaiden ; Slocknaba and Sloganaba, the
cow's gullies (on the sea coast), Drumawa, New Luce, and Kirk-
cowan ; bo is eclipsed in Damemow,* New Luce, and Bingimow,
Kirkmabreck, the oak wood and point of the cows.
A milking cow with a year old calf (in Ireland a stripper)
was gamnach (gaunie), whence Pulgawny, Kirkcowan, and
Elnockagawny, Kirkmaiden, the stripper's pool and knoll.
^ Canningham, topographised by Pont, SI.
^ Joyce, ii. 186.
' Auchland, near Wigtown, properly Aucbleand, is the broad field (leathan).
Auchland in England means Oakland.
* Stable appears in the Cornish as weU as the Irish and Gaelic dictionary.
In ComwaU we find Park and Stable as a place-name, the Gaelic and Irish form
is StabuL
' Daire-nam-bho.
I
PLACE-NAMES 127
Odhar, genitive huidrie, dun, in old legends is applied in a
substantive sense to dun cows. The famous " Lebor-na-huidre/'
book of the dun cow, was made from the hide of St Kieran's
favourite dun cow. Bamhourie, a dangerous sandbank in the
Solway, and Glenowrie, Minigaif, may derive their names from
dun cows, real or legendary.^
Earc is glossed by O'Beilly and Armstrong as " a beast of
the cow kind," whence Dimeark ; but as they add that it also
signifies honey, a salmon, a bee, a tax, heaven, speckled, and
red, the ejtplanation is somewhat vague.
Damh is an ox, its force in names variously daw, daif,
dttflf,* and dam. Thus Knockdaw, Girvan, knoll of the ox;
Daffin, Berwick, a place of oxen ; DindufiT, Leswalt, the ox fort ;
Damlach, New Luce, abounding in oxen. The ancient name for
the site of the town of Ayr was Monadamdarg, moss of the
red ox ; and for its people, Damnii, the breeders of oxen.
A bull is tarbh. Clontarf, Kirkcowan, is the meadow of the
Water of Tarf ; the stream being so named from a belief in its being
haunted by a bull spirit, the mate of the Highlanders' '' water
cow," the l^endary " Tarroo ushley " of the Manxmen. Cairn-
harrow, Anwoth ; Barharrow, Borgue ; Lochharrow and Pul-
harrow, Kells, are the hill, lake, and pool of the bull.*
A calf is loogh or laech (low and lee), whence we have
Benny low, Kirkcowan; linnielow, Eirkmaiden; Loddenlaw,
Portpatrick, the hill, meadow, and pool of the calves. Carslae,
Wigtown ; Barlae, Old Luce ; Slocklaw and Slockalew, on the
sea-shore, are the carse, hill-top, and guUey of the calves.
Ballochalee, Stoneykirk, is the calves' road ; Bellowe, a cave
in Portpatrick, the calves' mouth.
Milk was bainne, whence Acanabaine (obsolete) in Inch;
Auchanbainzie, Penpont; Lagabaine, New Luce; Enockvenie
in Parton and Kirkpatrick-Durham ; Kirvenie, Wigtown, the
field, hollow, and knoll of the milk. Whilst whey was meag,
^ Monahoora, County Down, is the bog of the dun cow. — Joyce, iL 280.
* In the end of a word damh often changes to duff, as Cloudnff, Down,
meadow of the oxen.
* Harry as a suffix is usually " fhaire," a watcher.
128 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
whence Balmeg, Wigtown; Slewmeg, Kirkmaiden ; Altimeg,
Ballantrae, townland, knoll, and stream of the whey.
Caora (gen. singular and plural caorach) is a sheep, whence
Drumacarie, Blirkcowan ; Culgarie, Glasserton ; Slocnagany,
Kirkcolm, ridge, comer, and gulley of the sheep ; plural
Damgarroch and Knockingarroch, Carsphaim ; Craignaquar-
roch, Portpatrick, wood, knoll, and rock of the sheep. The
Cymric hespin, a year old ewe, appears in Garrahaspin, Stoney-
kirk.
We trace the Norse faar (a sheep) in Fairgirth. *
Lumagarie, Glasserton, is the sheep's leap (leum) ; Sloclo-
mairt, Kirkmaiden, is the shearing pit ; ArioUand, in Mochmm
and Stoneykirk, is sheilings of the wool, olann.^
Beithe, a ram, is often undistinguishable from reidh, smooth.
Dunanrae, Stoneykirk, is probably ram's fort ; Loddanrae, Old
Luce, the ram's pool ; Bamsey, Whithorn, is pure Norse, ram's
isle ; and Bamshawwood, a Teutonic form old enough to have a
pleonastic addition.^ Drumrae, in several places, may either be
the ram's or the smooth ridge.
Mult is a wether ; whence Knockmult, Berwick ; Wether-
hill, in Kelton and Dairy, are probably translations, taking
a Norse form in " Wedderdod," Sanquhar.
A lamb is luan and uan, Cymric oen, plural wyn, giving
the suffixes Drumalone, Dairy; Drumanoon, Penninghame;
Lagwine, Carsphaim.
Gabhar (gower) is a goat, as in Knockgower, Leswalt ; Inch-
nagower, Kirkmaiden ; Lannigore, Old Luce, the goats' meadow,
(leona) ; Altigober, Ballantrae ; and very many others. Castle
Gower, as before said, is from a proper name, or vitrification.
A horse has many names, as each, capall, mark, peall,
gearran ; ^ a mare is laer, a foal searrach. Whence we have
^ LeffnoU, Inch, is a modem contraction for Leffiu oUa, the halfpenny hind of
the wool.
^ Shaw is hoth old Saxon and Norse ; the former sceaga, the latter skogr.
' Gearran is not from gearr, to cut, hut is a diminutiye of gohhar, a goat,
anciently a horse. It is often translated "gelding" firam misapprehension.
O'Reilly renders it work-horse, hack.
PLACE-NAMES 129
Craigeach and Graiglarie, Mochrum, the horse and the mare's
rock; Glashneach, Kirkmaiden; Auchness (a very frequent
form, " eachinis "), horse isles ; Cassandeoch (da each), the path
of the two horses ; Slocklaurie, Kirkmaiden ; Glenlair, Parton ;
Auchenlary, Anwoth. Mark in topography is often a march, as
well as indicating the duty of a mark (coin) to a superior ; but
considering Ochley, a sea rock, is undoubtedly the gray horse, a
similar rock being mapped " the yellow horse " near it ; we con-
ceive Markbain, Kirkcowan, and Markdow, New Luce, to indi-
cate white and black horses, whether real or representative.
Marklach, New Luce, abounding in horses ; Earmark, Millmark,
and Portmark, being as likely to be horse hills and port as
marches. Peall we find only in Drumpail, Old Luce, translated
in '' horse hill " opposite ; and peall again explained in the
*' moss of the horse hill," lying between the two ridges.
Capall appears in Barcaple, Tongland ; Barhapple (twice) ;
Glenhapple (twice) ; Cairnhapple, Leswalt ; Portwhapple, Moch-
rum, and Sorbie, the summit, glen, hill, and harbour of the
horse ; Craignagapple, Mochrum, Lodnagapple, Old Luce,
Fannygapple, Kirkinner, the rock, pool, and slope of the horses.
Searrach, a foal, is the root of Balsarroch, and Dalsharroch,
Kirkcolm; Laggansarroch, Colmonell; Barsherry, Alcherry(allt);
Falincherry, Kells — the town, field, hollow, hilltop, glen, and
rock (faill) of the foals (an t'searraich).
The Norse best appears in Hestan,^ Horse Isles being mapped
opposite to it Gearran has been adopted into the vernacular
as Garron, for the Galloway nag; as the modem Garranton,
Carsphaim, is equivalent to the Celtic Balgarron, Crossmichael
the latter the site of Kelton Hill horsefair ; Dalzerran, Inch ;
Knockgarran, Girvan ; Glengarron, Minigaff.
Madadh is the dictionary word for dog, but in topography
allaedh, wild, is usually assumed to follow it when it denotes a
wolf; and in place-names it is generally so translated. Domes-
ticated dogs are cu, genitive con; and gadhair, the latter a
^ As it does across the Solway. ''We have hestr, a horse, in Heat Bank,
Hest FeU, Host Holme." — NorHmen in Cumberhmd, p. 123.
VOL. I K
130 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
greyhound or mastiff, as in Ossian's line, " gath-gadhar-a-cnoc-
gu-cnoc," the voice of hounds from hill to hiU.^
Carrickcune, ELirkmaiden, and Garrickcundie, are respectively
the rock of the dog and of the black dog. Many names ending
in quhan or whan, as Glen whan, Old Luce ; Drumquhan, Pen-
ninghame ; Torquhan, Graiglewhan, we suspect to have con for
their root. Attiquin is undoubtedly Con's house site, con
there being a proper name ; and Democonner, Colmonell, by
Irish analogy, should be the oaks of the dog's wood ; Glengyre,
Leswalt, is the hound's glen ; " Dogstone Hill," overlooking it,
and Balingair, Dairy, the townland of the hounds. Such names
mapped as "Dogtail Hill," Mochrum; "Hound Hill," Car-
sphairn; "Doghead," Urr; "Hound's Loup," Portpatrick, seem
translations.
Of swine, which ran wild, and were followed by hound and
horn, we shall speak further on.
Turning to agricultural processes, "ar" is ploughing, but
the same word means slaughter ; and although with some con-
fidence we suggest that Falhar, Alahaar, Macherhaar, indicate
ploughed lands, " Craignair," which appears four times in the
map, may as probably refer to the battle-field.
Ceapach is a tillage plot, whence Capenach, Kirkinner;
Knockcappy, Kirkmaiden ; Glengappach, CrossmichaeL
Losaid, a kneading trough, is used in Ireland to denote a
rich, well -tilled field. We find "Lossit" in Kirkcolm, and
" the trencher " in Kirkmaiden may be accepted as representing
another Lossaid.
Garradh, Norse gardr, modernised garth, was an enclosura
From the Celtic root we have Garryharry, Stoneykirk ; Garry-
horn, Colvend, respectively the bulls and the barley enclosure ;
whilst the Norse is instanced in Fairgarth, Cogarth, Gadgarth, and
Applegarth, the enclosures of sheep, cattle, goats, and apple trees.
Fal, a penfold, hedge, or fence, separating holdings, as Fal-
^ Dean of Llsmore's Book, p. 6.
Clooseguire, Kerry, is the dog*8 ear. — Joyce, ii. 402.
Phonetically, Glengyre might be rendered short glen, but it is particularly
long and shallow. Dogstone Hill above it seems conclusive.
PLACE-NAMES 131
shawn, Falkeown, Kirkmaiden ; Falhar, for ploughed enclosures ;
Falbae, by the birches; Faldarroch, among the oaks; Fallincherry,
ant*seanach, of the foals ; and probably Ardwall, Anwoth,
Borgue, New Abbey (Ard bhfal).^
Grabh is to grub, whence graffans, a grubbing axe, gives
Glengruff, Whithorn; Culgruflf, Crossmichael ; Glengrubboch,
Minigaff — the grubbed glen and angle.^
Winno wing-places are indicated by Cathia, chaff; slight eleva-
tions were desirable for the process, so Knockricaw, Colmonell,
means the knoll of the winnowing. Urlar, is a threshing-
floor, of wliich the Airlour, Mochrum, furnishes an example.
Celtic words for structures connected with agriculture are
ith-teach and lann-ith, synonymously cornhouse; and sab-
hall (soul) a bam. The first we find in Lagatie, Dailly;
Knocketie, New Luce, and Kirkmaiden ; Drumatye, Glasserton ;
Emanity, Crossmichael — ^the hollow, hill, and portion of the
cornhouse.®
" Island Buoy," Stoneykirk, is an amusing instance of the
tendency to force Celtic words into English forms. The place is
neither an island nor near any channel requiring to be marked
by a buoy, but the English-sounding word closely reproduces the
Gaelic original, " Ithlann-buidhe " * (i and d mute), the yellow
barn, or perhaps Boyds, a proper name. Lann-ith appears
in Knockalanny, Elirkcowan, equivalent to " Barnhill," in con-
stant use. And " Linney " (Lann-ith) has been pretty generally
accepted in the vernacular as a synonym for a corn-barn.^ Sabhall
(soul) appears in Drumsoul, Old Luce ; Auchensoul, Barr ; and
eclipsed in Knockatoul, Portpatrick — the ridge, field, and knoll
of the bam.
^ In the genitive plural fal is usually represented by wall or vaul, as Comawall
Moneghan, round hill of the hedges. — Joyce, ii. 212.
* Graf, primarily to write, secondarily to grub ; grafan, a grubbing axe. —
O'Reilly.
* Atty, as a prefix, represents eth-teach, a house site, as Attiquin, Con's
house ; as a suffix, a cornhouse or granary, as Knocketie.
^ The Brehon laws explain ** Idhlann" {d mate), "Frumenti Repositorium. "
' Ithlann and lannioth (ihlan and laniha), Cymric ydlan, all signify a granar}',
literally "house of corn." The English-speaking people of some counties call a
bam a "linney." — Joyce, L S21.
132 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY
" Aith," a kiln, whether for malting or drying com, is usually
distinguished from ath, a ford, by having the h of the genitive
prefixed. Thus Auchenhay in Borgue and New Abbey; Knock-
enhay, Old Luce, are the field and knoll of the kiln.^ The
'' Auld Kilns," a little south of the Dunman in Kirkmaiden,
was supposed to be the great distillery where the Picts prepared
the heather crop. The tradition has taken a hopelessly un-
historic form, but it is worthy of note that the fifth century bards
apply as an epithet to the Galwegians the name '* kiln distillers."
Bro was a quern (genitive broin, plural brointe). Ligna-
brawn, Kirkmaiden, is the hollow of the quern ; Craignabronchie,
Penninghame, is equal to ''Knocking-stone Hill," in Kirkmaiden
and New Luce.
Muilenn, Cymric melin, a mill, enters largely into our topo-
graphy.
The quern, if humbler as a utensil, was hardly a more
primitive one than the mill.
The use of water-mills in GcJloway is to be traced back to
archaic times : indeed, in past ages they seem to have been more
numerous than now. This is moreover attested by Irish Annals.
It is there a historical tradition that Cormac M'Art, monarch of
the third century, sent across the channel for a millwright ; and
as the man so sent was probably a Niduari Pict, it is a curious
coincidence that the mill then erected was placed upon an Irish
Nith, a stream which flowed from the well of Tara.^
From Church History we learn that the founders of the
earliest Irish sixth century monasteries received instruction in
the arts of secular as well as of religious life at Whithorn, —
notoriously founded their respective houses on the model of
Candida Casa, — and that their names are usually expressly
connected with the construction of mills at the said monasteries.
The Ordnance Map marks a mill dam as still existing by the
^ Not to speak of the mythic Picts' kilns (Cymric or Ydlan) which eyery one
has heard ahout, but few have seen.
^ This tradition is still vividly preserved, not only in the neighbourhood,
where a mill still occupies its site, but also in most parts of Ireland. — Joyce i. 374 ;
Ordnance Memoir of the Parish of Tenyslemore,
PLACE-NAMES 133
site of St. Ninian's famous monastery ; DrummuUin Hill, which
overlooks it, having its suflBx from the very mill used by the
fraternity at Bosnat. We find Holland Hill (anciently Drum-
moUin), Penninghame ; Ballymellan, Mochrum ; KnockmuUin,
Stoneykirk; Drumwhillan (Mhuilinn), Kirkcowan; Camywillan,
Kirkmaiden; TormoUen; Drummullins without number; several
BarmuUins; also Milton, Millisle, Millhill, in every direction.
The antiquity, number, and ubiquity of these mills prove
that from a very early date crops were produced which they
were required to grind.
Ith, or iotha, Cymric yd, and arbha (arrow), both mean corn
in general. The former appears in Ballyett, Inch ; the latter in
Arrow, Glasserton ; Ervie, Kirkcolm ; Arvie, Parton ; Arbrack,
(Arbharack), Whithorn. Coirce (kirke) for oats, whence Cul-
quhirk, Wigtown ; Awhirk, Stoneykirk — the angle and field of
the oats. Eorna for barley ; whence Culhorn, Inch ; Tallo-
whom, Kirkbean ; Homey, Stoneykirk ; Knockhoman — enclos-
ures and hills of barley. " Berefeys " are mapped in every
parish ;^ Berehill and Bereholm are connected with barley, but
" Barley Hill," Mochrum, is probably Celtic Barleath, gray hill-
top, " hill " being pleonastic.
Seagal, Cymric rhygen, is rye ; somewhat oddly we find our
only Cymric example in Pictish territory — Carseriggan, Penning-
hame ; whilst in Cymric Kyle we have the Scottish Gaelic in
Knockshoggle. Under Norse rule rye seems to have been culti-
vated in Eydale, Troqueer. Lin, flax, an important factor in Celtic
economy, appears in Glenling, Mochrum; Auchteralinachin
(upper flax pool), Leswalt ; Lochanaling (the lakelet in which
it was steeped), and Portleen, Kirkcolm (whence it was ex-
ported).
Abhall (having the force of owl and howl in composi-
tion) is the apple. The sixth century bards sang of
the "sweet apple trees of the woods of Celyddon," which
^ Bere (Hordeum vulgare, Linnteus) — a coarser sort of barley, having foar rows
of grains. — Jamieson.
Pese and atys, bere and qwhet — Wyntoun. Bere means barley of any sort.
134 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
could hardly have roused poetic enthusiasm had they been
uncultivated crabs. We find " Glenhowl " in Glenluce, Kirk-
cowan, and twice in Dairy ; Knockhooly in Kelton and Colvend ;
Marnhoul, Parton — the glen, knoll, and plain of the apple trees.
Abhalgort, pronounced Oulart, is an orchard, whence Balnowlart,
Ballantrae ; Airiequhillart (anciently Ary whollart), Mochrum —
the townland and sheiling of the orchard.^ Orchard hill and
" the orchard " are common place-names, which, if translations,
from the Celtic, are sites of fruit orchards, if Old Saxon, vege-
table gardens.^ Orchardton is from a man's name, — ^Archar,
Orchar, — strangely accepted in Galloway as an equivalent for
Urquhart. Appleby, Glasserton, Norse, seems to refer to the
fruit, and exactly to translate Balnowlast.
Meacan signified any taprooted plant, the usual translation
of the word connected with garden produce being parsnip ; thence
Lagnamekan; Blairmakin, Kirkcowan; and Barnamachan, Pen-
ninghame — the hollow, field, and hill-top of the roots.
Meas, a general term for fruit and acorns, appears in
Tannymaws (Tigh-na-meas or Tamhnat), Borgue, and Balmesh,
adjoining the garden of Glenluce Abbey, house or field and
town of the fruit.
In the life of St. Ninian, written in 1142, we read of the
saint inquiring why there were neither leeks, other vegetables,
or garden herbs upon the table ; and even if we doubt Ailred
having obtained any such particulars as to the fifth century
from an older life of the saint, yet had a garden of some sort
not been attached to the monastery when he wrote, the mention
of the unexpected failure of leeks and potherbs would have
fallen rather flat if they had been then unknown in the convent
garden.
Achadh^ (auch), tamhnach, is a field; as Auchencleish,
^ Agowle, Wicklow ; Aghywle, Fermanagh ; Ballyhooley, below Mallow, are
the field and the ford of the apples. Ballynowlart, Wexford ; Ballywhollart,
Down, signify the town of the orchard. — Joyce i. 515.
' Saxon **oort-yeard," vegetable or wort garden.
3 Eilean dubh is the exact equivalent of the constantly repeated ''Black
Isle " — a moory meadow.
PLACE-NAMES 135
Kirkmaiden, the field of the hollow ; Auchenfranco, LochruttoD,
of the Anglo-Nonnan. We also have Tannul Pen, New Abbey,
later Tonneshree, Irish ailean, a meadow, as Allanbey, Kells ;
Allandoo, Leswalt, the yellow and black meadow ; cluain, very
similar in meaning to the Norse " eyes," a green or arable spot
in bog or marsh, as Clonidder (eadar), Penninghame ; cashel, the
meadow, and in the plural Clantibuies, Kirkcowan, the yellow
meadows ; a very wet meadow is leana, as Lanigore, Old Luce,
the goats, and Laniwee, Minigaff, the translation mapped beside
it " yellow bogs."
The chase was as much a source of subsistence to the
Celtic chief as cultivation. The larger game, such as the
hart and hind, the roebuck and the boar, were sought for
the pot ; whilst the wolf and fox, the wild cat, and otter,
were hunted in defence of the breeding lairs and fish weirs.
Sealg (shalloch), hunting, appears constantly in names. Bam-
shalloch, Kirkpatrick - Irongray, and Barnchalloch^ (the c a
corruption for $), Stoneykirk, are the ridge of the hunting.
Kittyshalloch (ceide), the hillock of the hunting. Castle Shell,
Kirkmaiden, is from its name sUU pointed to as the " hunting
seat" of a laird of olden time. Slewnark,* Portpatrick, and
Mulwharker in Barr and Minigaff, from Irish analogy, are to
be explained as "the hills of the hunting horn," and still
re-echo the wild music of the chase : most appropriately so
in the latter example, as Mulwharker, Minigaff, overlooks
" Hunt Ha'," a favourite rendezvous for the Earl of Cassilis's
hounds in the forest of Buchan. Assemblies of any sort, fairs,
and cattle markets, were called aenach, and coinne (from verb
eonnich). The site of a cattle fair is to be recognised at least
five times absolutely unchanged phonetically ; as Enoch or New
^ c is often oorntptly interchanged with «, and vice versa. Whilst Bam-
challoch, Stoneykirk, should be written BamshaUoch, ShaUoch O'Minnoch and
ShaUoch OTig in Carrick should both be Challochs— t.c Tulach— conical hills
overlooking the streams, whence their names.
* The yery spot where the huntsman wound his horn to coUect his dogs and
companions is identified by such names as EUlinerk, West Meath ; Drumna-
heark, Donegal ; Tullynaherka, Roscommon — the little hiU, ridge, and knoll of
the hunting horn (adharc, genitive ; adhairce, a hunting horn). — Joyce, i 21.
136 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Cumnoch, Maybole, Whithorn, Glasserton, and Portpatrick.
The approach to Enoch in the latter case is across the Pin-
minnoch Bum at Ashendram, the ford of the old ridge (Alti-
sean-dniim). Why oldl the obvious answer being, "Because
a place of assembly from the earliest times." ^ Examples of
coinnich as a meeting-place are to be found in Barquhanny
(anciently Barwhinny), Kirkinner ; Barwhinny, Buittle ; Craig-
whinny, Girthon and, Kirkmaiden ; Lochwhinny, Dalry.^
Farrach was also a meeting-place, as Farrach Bay, Minigaff,
the meeting- place at the birches, and Loch Farroch, Col-
monelL Mordhail, glossed an assembly.
The cattle herdsmen was buachile, Cymric bugel, Cornish
bigel: whence we have Barnbauchle, Loch Eulton; Porto-
beagle,* Colvend; Airiewiggle, Old Luce. A shepherd was
aodhaire, not easily distinguished from airidh in composi-
tion, but in Drumanairy, Portpatrick, the use of the masculine
genitive article points rather to the shepherd than the
shelling.
In early days no duty was more important than the keeping
of watch and ward. Faire, a watcher, sentinel, a watching,
occurs frequently in our topography.
At the entrance to the Isle of Whithorn, the great sail-
ing resort, is Knockenharry, exactly translated by the name
" watch crag '* on an opposite rock.* At the entmnce to the
roadstead of the ancient Eerigonium is another Knockenharry,
with a similar translation, "watch knowe," Kirkcolm. At
the foot of Harry's Hill, Inch, we find in ancient charters
Ballyferry, the townland of the watchers. Kilfairy, near
Killgallioch, is the watcher's grave ; Drumferry, Parton, the
^ An assembly of people for any purpose was anciently called aenach ; in
modem times the word is always applied to a cattle fair. — Joyce, i. 203.
Aenach, hardly distinguishable in sound, is a marsh. Loch £noch,
Minigaff, may have been a place of assembly, but as probably its name indi-
cates a marsh.
' So Dalwhinnie, Blair Athole, which any of the recognised guides wiU
translate to the traveller the field of meeting.
^ Rose-au-beagle, Cornwall, the shepherd's moor. — Banister's Cornish Names,
* Clachnaharry, Inverness, is recognised as the stone of the watchers. Dr.
Reeves translates Cnocnafaire, lona, hill of the watchers. — Reeves's Adamnan,
PLACE-NAMES 137
watcher's ridge ; whilst " The Look Out/' Troqueer, and " Ward
Hill," New Luce, are translations.
Connected with watching were bale-fires, usually denoted
by teine, plural teinte and tendal, whence Tintoch, Kirk-
inner, which (as also the well-known hill in Lanarkshire) is
the place of fires ; Dumchinnie, Inch ; Dindinnie, Leswalt ;
Dinniehinney, Eirkmaiden; Drumhinnie, Old Luce; Knocky-
tinnie, Kirkcowan, are all named from bale-fires ; but when the
term is applied to hollows and waters, fish-spearing seems
rather to be indicated. Piltanton (although apparently St.
Antony's water) was probably so called from sea trout being
habitually speared in its pools by torchlight. Aldinna, Barr,
and Lochnahinnie, Colmonell, are the stream and lake where
fishermen pursued their trade by "burning the water." Cul-
chintee, Kirkcolm, the angle of the fire, is the scene of a
legendary adventure of St. Cuthbert. Knocktentol is the hill
of the bale-fire.^
Of professions, there was one not of the Church that might
be caUed learned, that of the sennach or the bard: whence
Blanivaird, Penninghame, near Castle Donnell ; Dervaird,
Old Luce, near Barlochart (Lucairt) ; Dalvaird, Minigaff, near
Uchtred's fort ; Milvaird, Leswalt, by a rock-built fort ;
Drumavaird, Colmonell ; Barneboard, Balmaghie — the first the
bard's creek "in Loch Ochiltree, Bleau," the others bards*
woods and hills. The bards were poets and genealogists ;
lower in the scale were musicians, feadaire (piob fhear), in
short, whistling men or pipers : whence AUanfedder, Kells, the
piper's hill, and it is quite as probable that Kilfeather, New
Luce, is the piper's grave, rather than Peter's ; indeed this may
be the case with Castle Feather, a ruined stronghold in
Glasserton. The Piper's Cove, Colvend ; Piper's Hill, Inch, all
represent this " piob air."
Those names indicative of clerical functions in the Scoto-
^ It is curious to note the cbaDge in the position of the site of these beacons
after the Brudan settlement. They lay largely to the westward, and especially
on the Irish Channel, whereas in the Douglas's laws of march not one is detected
on the western seaboard, those being all to the eastward, and mostly inland.
138 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Irish Church are many of them very old ; such as easpuig, bishop,
whence Ernespie and Gillespie, the bishop's share and " cil."
Abbot (ab), as Balnab, Craignab. Culdee (Ceile-de), Knock-
aldy, Leswalt (the old Culdees' well, " fors Colidee," bubbling up
before it) ; Culcalday, Inch, the " cul," probably a corruption for
the Culdee's chapel or cell ; his glebe indicated by the name
" Garclearie," the cleric's enclosure. Priest (sagart), Altaggart,
New Luce ; Drumataggart, Minigaff. Monk appears in Dal-
mannoch, Inch ; Ernmannoch, Parton ; Kirminnoch, Kirrie-
mannoch, and many others. Friar (brathair), Altibraiar, New
Luce; Portbraiar, Whithorn. Scholars (scolog), Balscalloch,
Kirkcolm ; Craigenskulk, MinigafT.
Clerics generally (cleireach), Barneycleary, Penninghame ;
Portacleary, Elrkcolm ; Garthleary, Inch (which old charters
prove to have been anciently Garclearie), keeper of the relics.
The Jore, Dewar, keeper of the relics, names Glenjorie,^ near
the monastery of Luce.
A nun was caileach, " a veiled person," but indistinguishable
from a witch in nomenclature. Of Portencailzie, Kirkcolm,
believed to be named from St. Cuthbert's mother, an outraged
princess and nun, however, we have a clue from its translation
upon the map, " Lady Bay."
Of ranks we find king (righ), Portree, Portpatrick ; Kilroy
(king's grave), Dunscrore ; King's Laggan, Anwoth, seemingly
a translation. Queen (rioghan, genitive riogna), Kilrhiny (a
queen's cell or tomb), Ballantrae. Chiefs (toisech) in Caimtosh,
Girthon, and Barhoise (pronounced bar-hosh) in Kirkcowan and
Minigaff.
Earlston, Dairy, has its name from James, Earl of Boswell.
Each Mhilidh, the horse knight, of which Agholy is reduced
by aspiration, may be represented by the suffix of Caimholy.
Knight (riddere) is half translated in Kidersknowe, Carsphairn,
^ Deoraidh, a pilgrim. The word assumed a religious limitation, an official
keeper of the relics, and became a family name, Dewar ; thus we find *'lator de
Coygerach qui Jore vulgariter dicitur." These Deorays or Dewars were probably
descended from some Irish fomilies whose proper names merged in their officia
title. — Reeves's Adamnan.
PLACE-NAMES 139
and may appear in Glenruther, Penninghame, though that is
probably from riderel.
Of tradesmen, the foremost was the armourer, — gobha
(gow), genitive gobhan (gown) ; of a very different position from
the modern smith, as the word is translated, the ancient '' gow "
indicating a man of high position, often a chieftain, and armourer
by profession. Places named from them are innumerable, as
Calgow, Minigafif ; Balgown (numerous), Killiegown, Anwoth.
Ceard was an artificer of any kind. Cerdach was his work-
shop ; whence Cloncaird, Glencaird, Slewcart, Carty, Penning-
hame ; Drumicarty, Old Luce ; Polcardoch, Ballantrae ; Knock-
kerdoch — the meadow, glen, hill, pools, and knoll of the artificer
and workshop. Caird has now sunk to tinker.
Greusach, of which a most undignified modem rendering is
cobbler, is from Greis, and meant originally an embroiderer
and ornamental worker in leather ; whence Glengroosy, Stoney-
kirk ; Balgracie, Leswalt.
Sudaire was a tanner — a term which, always eclipsed,
appears in Bentudor, Eerwick ; Drumtooter, Dairy ; and Caim-
tooter. Old Luce.
Saor or saer was a builder or architect, usually translated
carpenter; whence the name Mlntyre (Mhic-an-t*saoir), son
of the carpenter. We have both Balsier and Baltier, Sorbie ;
Dnimasor, Kirkcowan; Drumatier, Penninghame; Drumashore,
Colvend; Dunsour, Kirkcolm; and Lochintyre, Anwoth — all
townlands, hillsides, and lake of the carpenter.
Ceannighe, a chapman, a merchant in modem Irish, a pedlar,
appears in Bameconachie, Old Luce ; Cairnkenny, Inch and New
Luce ; Cairnkennagh and Caimkinna, Minigafif; Caimhandy,
Stoneykirk — numerously translated, as in Chapman's Craig, Chap-
man's Stone, Chapman's Cleugh, Chapman's Lees, and with a
Norse ring in Copinknowes, Minigafif, as also in Copeland Island,
opposite the entrance of Belfast Lough, and in vulgar form in
Cadger's Loup, Kells.
In forging iron weapons charcoal was required more than
for culinary purposes ; in Celtic " gual," coal, it being the coal
140 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
of the Galloway Picts ; more fully fiodh-ghual, whence Dargoals,
Old Luce, now a flow moss, but where once the charcoal-burner
pursued his trade in a drj^ clearing amidst umbrageous oaks. So
Auchengool, Berwick, whilst Gool-hill, Earkcowan, is a half
translation. Demafuel is daere-na-fiodh-ghual, the oak wood of
the charcoal; fiodh-ghual (fewal) having the definite sense of
wood coal.
Fighting and tuilzying are certainly to be counted among
Pictish occupations. Tachor (strife), a skirmish, appears in
Drumteacher, Old Luce, half translated in Tacher Hill, Sorbie ;
Tacher Bum, Eerwick ; and wholly translated in our frequent
Strife Hills, Strife Knolls, Strife Land.
Fuel, genitive fola, blood, in nomenclature refers to its
effusion, as Loch -na- folic, Leswalt; Craigfolly, New Luce;
Damnaholly, Kirkmaiden, are all allied to a class of names
— bloody wheel, bloody rocks, bloody burn, bloody neuk — ^into
which the genitive fola enters and has been translated. Balloch-
jargon (dearg, the red), may mean the bloody pass. A quarrel is
trodan, whence Drumtroddan, Mochrum ; here three large stand-
ing stones perpetuate the memory of a tuilzie, the actors in
which have been long forgotten. Where quarrel appears in
the vernacular, — as Quarrelknowe, Balmaclellan ; Quarrelend,
Carsphairn, — it is not a translation of trodan, but simply Scottice
for stone-quarry.
Piracy and brigandage were recognised, indeed honourable,
vocations during the early name -giving period of Galloway
history. In Ireland " places where bands of robbers fixed their
lair and hid their plunder are to this day known by the word
' Bradach,' " ^ a word figuring largely in maps of the Ehynns.
East and west of Corswall Point we have " Braddoch "
as "Braidport"; between Salt Pans Bay and Portslogan,
the Ordnance map has Broadsea Bay, a name as absolutely
unmeaning as unknown to " residenters." As in the case of
Kemp's Wark, which the English surveyor changed to Kemp's
^ Bannister translates Braddoch, Cornwall, ''a place of treachery," and Dinny-
road as the " castle of treason or plotters." — Joyce, ii. 108.
PLACE-NAMES 141
Walk, so the sapper employed on the Ordnance Survey con-
sidered Broadsea ^ a happy modernisation of Brodseach, utterly
unaware that it conveyed the idea of a pirate's cove. Near the
Mull of Galloway, again, we find " Breddoch " and " Breddoch
Cave," all dens of sea robbers, exactly where we might expect to
find them. Bradach and Braid occur in the hills overlooking
the eastern shore of Lochryan; the last in connection with
Shinraggie, where the ancient floors of what may be supposed
to have been a thieves' village are to be traced within an angle
of the Deil's Dyke. The prefix evidently " old," the suffix a
corruption of entrenchment or rogue's place ; whilst Braidenoch
and Braiden^ Knowe point to haunts of the same fraternity
in Carsphairn. Sladaighe and Sleidear are also synonyms for rob-
bers and robbery, whence Barnsladie, Kirkinner ; Garasladoch, a
charter name in Penninghame. Near Sliddery, Sorbie, is mapped
" Reifer Park," which seems so obvious an attempt at translation
that we are inclined to think that Inchsliddery, and more especi-
ally Slidderich in Kirkmaiden, are not slippery places as re-
presenting the vernacular, but rather derivatives of the Celtic
" sleiderach," the resort of thieves.
Meirleach, genitive Meirlech, was another term for a robber,
whence Knockamairly, the thief s knoll, in Stoneykirk. Bradach
and meirlech figure side by side in the proverbs: "Ghoid
am meirleach air hraideen e," "The thief stole it from the
robber." »
Little dishonourable as may have been esteemed the profes-
sion of a thief, the *' reifer " carried his life in his hand, and if
taken redhanded was dealt with by a man of a calling as legiti-
mate— crochaire, the hangman. This official's name appears in
^ Similarly, just above this very ** Bradseach," we find ^* Light of the Maze,"
another amusing simulation of English forms, the sapper apparently supposing
this to be the ruins of a lighthouse, whereas the true name, which he failed to
catch, was " Lacht o' Maize," the " lacht" being the monument of some robber
chief, and the word pure Celtic.
' Braidein, a thievish fellow, fined for braid theft. Braidenoch, a hill of
some height near the eastern end of the Deil*s Dyke. Brady, as a family, derives
from this once honourable calling.
' Sheriff Nicolson's JProverbs, p. 204.
142 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Knockrocher, Dailly, and Auchrocher/ Inch — the hangman's
knoll and field; and the instrument of his trade, croiche, in
Belcrosh, Sorbie ; Culcruchie, Penninghame — the townland and
back of the gallows. The Gallow-hills, in every part of the pro-
vince, when used for executions before the Brucian settlement,
are probably translations. " The Thieves," two standing-stones
on the moor of Drennandow, are said to mark the spot where a
gang of robbers were " justified " by orders of Bandolph, Earl of
Murray, in 1330.
As to divisions of land : " tir " is land generally, territory ;
as Terawly, Awlay, or Amlaph's land.
"Earrann" (ern or iron in names) is a share or portion,
district or division, as Emmenzie, Aammacnillie — ^Menzies's^
and Macnillie's portion ; Irongrey and Ironmacannie, Grey's and
M*Kenna's; Ernespie, the Bishop's; Emfellan, St. Fillan's;
Ironlost, the burnt portion ; Arnmannoch, the monk's portion ;
Amdarroch, the oak-wood district. Bailie is a town, town-
land, residence, or holding; a "very vague" term, but very
common, entering into 6400 place-names in Ireland: as Bal-
greddan, Kirkcudbright, the townland of the greaddan, com
parched, or rather burned, out of the ear. Balquhirry, of the
Corrie; Balgoun, the smith's townland. Leath is a half, as
Cockleath, Halkett's Leath, the red, and Halkett's half.
Lucarron, again, is the half of a quarter.
Ceathramhaidh (Carhoo) gives us Kerrone, Minigafi^, and
Carhowe, Twynholm and Mochrum ; Kerronrae, Kirkcolm, and
Kirminnoch, Inch, the gray and the monk's quarterland, besides
many others.^ It is translated quarter in a place-name in New
Luca
The davoch explained is land capable of pasturing 320
cows, or as containing four ploughgates of 104 acres arable
^ In a charter of the Bishop of Galloway to Sir Patrick Agnew the name is
written Ardcroquhart.
' Ardmynuies, Pont, precisely as Highlanders pronounce Menzies.
' Carron begins the names of more than 700 townlands in Ireland, and Carhoo
of about thirty. Lecarrow, half quarter, gives names to about sixty. — Joyce,
i. 243.
PLACE-NAMES 143
each, or as equal to twenty pennylands.^ Whence Ardoch,
Dahy (an old holding of the Agnews). And Ardoch in
Cunningham which Pont translates "a high plot or daach
of land lying upon a knowe." Duchrae (Dochray Pont), the
smooth^ davoch, appears in Buittle, Dairy, Colmonell, and
Inch. Dochroyle, Barr, is the royal davoch (rioghail) ; Culin-
daich, Girthon, is the back of the davoch (but Culdoch, Twyn-
holm, is the back of the doach, cruive, or weir).^
"Mark," "Half Mark," "Two Mark," "Three Mark," as
place-names, all have i-eference to Crown dues. Pen-peighin
and Leffin (Leath-peighin) mean penny and halfpenny. The
markland had no uniform relation to the pennyland, the old
Norse measure; but an approximation is suggested by the
statement that " five-pennylands were equal to a forty-shilling-
land, which equalled a three-markland." The penny was the
Norse expression of this measurement, because under Norwegian
rule each homestead paid a penny as " scat." The Wigtown-
shire Pens are not the Cymric equivalent for Ben, but the
Celtic peighin, the penny, and the halfpenny, Leathpeighin
(Leffin),* whence Pennymuir, Borgue, Muir*s pennyland; Pen-
verrains, anciently Pennyveran (gwern), penny alderlaiid ;
Penninghame, nearly Teutonic. Pinminnoch, Portpatrick, in
old retours is always Pigmoinoch, the monk's pennyland.
Penkiln, Sorbie, is an instance of the proneness for simulating
English forms, the n being corruptly added by a person ignorant
of Gaelic supposing it had been a kiln, whereas the true mean-
ing is the pennyland of the church (cil.). Dupen, Ballantrae,
is probably Dapeighin, the two-pennyland.
1 Davoch is sometimes translated oxgang, which Mr. Skene shows to be
incorrect. "The oxgang contained only thirteen acres, two oxgangs made a
hnsbandland, eight oxgangs a ploughgate." — Celtic Scotland, iii. 221.
' The force of the word is prepared for cultivation. O'Reilly gives under
reidh, *Mevel, smooth, prepared." Armstrong has the significant addition,
"freed of obstructions."
' Thin name is from dabhach, primarily a tub, secondly a cruive. The Doachs
of Tongland are now well-known as a salmon weir.
^ In the western districts we find pennylands entering into topography in
the form of Pen or Penny ; while the halfpenny becomes Leffin. — Celtic Scotlandf
iii 226.
144 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Lefiin appears in LefBinolla, Ballantrae ; Leffinclery, the
clerics' ; Garleffin, both in Barr and Dairy, the rough halfpenny-
lands, or the enclosed pennylands (garadh); Leffnoll, Inch,
anciently Leffindlea, the halfpenny wool -land. Valuation
descended to the eighth of a farthing (clietach), which appears
in Clutag, Mochrum,^ which might be freely translated the
pendicle.
Third, FAUNA and FLORA. — The most formidable of the
animals indigenous in Galloway was the wild boar, tore ; whence
Glenturk, Wigtown; Mindork, Kirkcowan; Craigork, New Luce ;
probably Glen Orchy, Mochrum. Muc, wild swine in general,
appear unmistakably in Slewmuck, Kirkcolm; Killymuck,
Blirkcowan ; Elnocknamuck, Barr ; Lochmuick, Carsphaim ;
Drummuckloch, Inch, abounding in swine, and very many
others. Litters of piglings, bambh or Bonibh, named such
places as Auchnabony, Eerwick ; Craigbonny, Balmaclellan.
The red deer, hart and hind, were respectively fiadh (the /
almost always aspirated) and eiled, genitive eilte, whence
Drumannee, New Luce and Kirkinner ; Craiganie, Dervananie,
Larochanea,^ New Luce ; Pulnee, Kirkcudbright ; the Gairy of
Pulnee, Minigaflf — all hills, pools, woods, and sites frequented
by the red deer.'
Kinhilt, Portpatrick ; Craignaltie, Inch ; Craignalty, Mini-
gaflf; Craigneltoch, Kells, are exact equivalents of " Hind Hill "
^ The common computation of land in these countries (Western*^ Highlands)
is by pennies, halfpennies, farthings, half-farthings, and clitighs. — Old SUU,
Account (Harris), x. 866.
* So Gortnavargh, Tipperary, and Gortnavea, Galway. — Joyce, L 477.
' The Qalloway poet Montgomery, thus describes the fauna which might be
seen in a morning's walk from Cumston Castle on the Dee, circum 1580 :
I saw the hurcheon and the hare
In hidlings hirpling here and there
To make their morning mange :
The con,i the coney, and the cat,
Whase dainty downs with dew were wat,
With stiff mustachis strange ;
The hart, the hind, the dae, tiie lae,
Tlie fulmait, and fiilse fox,
The bearded buck clamb up the brae,
With birsie^ boars and brocks.
Tht CTierrie and the SUu.
1 Con, squirreL 3 Binie, bristly.
PLACE-NAMES 145
and " Hind Craig," frequently mapped, as also is Hart Burn,
Kirkcudbright ; Hartthom, Terregles ; " Deer's Den," mapped
five times in Minigaflf and Carsphaim; Deerhow, Ballantrae; and
Bucksloup, MinigafiF.
From the roe-deer, earbag, are Drumnarbuck, New Luce ;
Craignarbie, Kirkcowan, both translated in " Eae Hill," Parton ;
" Eaeford," in Dairy ; and EaebeiTy, Kirkcudbright, suggestive
of earliest Saxon occupation.
The hare was gearrfiadh (geary), literally small deer,^
whence Craigengeary, Carsphaim ; Craigengearoch, Kirkcolm ;
Knockengearoch, Carsphaim ; and in the vernacular, " Hare-
cleugh," Carsphaim, translates the three. We also find " Hare-
moss," Eerwick ; Mawkenhole, Loch Ken.
The badger, which once greatly abounded, was in olden days
much esteemed for food (as was also the seal). Caimbrock,
Carsnabrock, Kilbrock, represent a large class of names. In
Brockloch, occurring seven times, " loch " is not a lake, but the
"lach of abundance," and the word should be translated
Badger Warren ; as also Brocklan Braes, Kirkmaiden ; Brock-
ennie Braes, Parton.
Sonan is a seal, whence Gobaronning, a sea rock in Kirk-
maiden, " the seal's snout," and near it Knocknossan,^ literally
the " Whelp's Eock," probably indicating the haunt of the young
seal.
Madadh, as said before, is supposed to be used in nomen-
clature for wolf ; Slocamaddy, Kirkmaiden, is exactly translated
by "Wolfs Slock," Carsphaim, where we also have Castle
Maddie. Claymoddie, Glasserton, is equally matched by
"WoKstane," east of the Nith. We have Strathmaddie,
Minigaff ; Pulmaddie Gairy, Kells ; Poomaddy, in the Forest of
Buchan;^ and Lochmaddy, on the marches of Carrick,all of which
^ The hare would appear to be the smaUest animal to which fiadh (origin-
aUy any wild animal) was applied, if we may judge from the composition of the
name gaarr, fiadh (gerree), short or small fiadh.— Joyce, iL 393.
' ** Osain, usually a fawn, is also a seal or sea-calf, and so used on the sea-
shores of Cork." — O'Donovan.
' Joyce gives mactire as a term for wolf, signifying literally ''son of the
country," as also, breach. Sir Herbert Maxwell suggests that this last word may
VOL. I L
146 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
we should be disposed to explain as connected with the wolf,
which the sheriffs were enjoined to hunt, and more especially
** in the gang and time of year when they have thar quhelps,"
as late as 1427.
The polecat (feocalam, foclan) appears in Corriefech Loch
(feoclan ent), Minigaff; Drumvogal, New Luce, translated in
Fumart Glen and Fumart Liggat.
The fox, sionnach, looms largely in Galloway nomen-
clature (although we find no mention of the "varmint" in
Joyce's names of places in Ireland). Knockshinnoch, Kirk-
cowan and Kirkpatrick-Irongray ; Kirshinnoch, Minigaff ;
Inchshaennoch, Kirkmaiden, practically translated by "Fox's
Eattle " close by ; Auchenshinnoch, Dairy ; Benshinny, Parton ;
Craigshinny, Kells ; Dalshinnie, Troqueer, are examples.
Another troublesome poacher, the native wild cat, expressed
by the same monosyllable in Cymric, Norse, and Anglo-Saxon,
gives us Allwhat in Dairy, Carsphairn, and Cumnock — " the rock
(aill) of the wild cats," — " Cat Craigs " ; Altiwhat, Girthon and
Carsphairn ; Dalwhat, Kirkoswald ; Drumwhat, Mochrum and
Minigaff; Macherquhat, Colmonell; Magherawhat, Old Luce,
are the " glen, ridge, and fields of the wild cat"
Lagnagatchie, Kirkmaiden; Pulhatchie, New Luce, are
*' hollows and holes abounding in wild cats." Craighet, New
Luce ; Dalhet, Kirkcowan, are the " rock and field of the wild-
cat." We also have in the vernacular " Wild Cat Knowe," Kells ;
« wad Cat Wood," Berwick ; ^' Wild Cat Craigs," Southwick ;
and the " Cat Craigs" of Auchencloy, Girthon.
The otter, doran, literally "the water-beast," names
Aldouran, Leswalt ; Puldouran, Glasserton ; Bardouran, Stair.
There is a remarkable cavern on the Galdenoch shore known
as " The Otters' Cave," which, arched lightly over with rock, run-
ning far under the cliff, is divided from the ending of the den
by a deep pool, almost a lakelet. To this otters resort, and in
former times were sometimes trapped by gamekeepers, their fur
be preserved in some of our numerous names ending in brake or breck. — OaUoway
Topography^ 82.
PLACE-NAMES 147
being valuable. The cliflf above it is " Drumahowan/' a name
which local knowledge confinns as truly descriptive (druim-an-
uamhain, the ridge of the cave).^
Of Luchog (dim., a mouse), we find an example in Glen-
luchoch, Penninghame.
Of birds, we have the eagle, iolaire, presented in Pictish
form in Petillery,* Carsphaim ; also BenyeDary, in the same
parish, reproduced exactly in the vernacular as "Eamscraig,"
New Abbey.
A hawk is seabhach; its force in names shouk or
habback, when aspirated, and eclipsed touk. The Cymric
is gwalc (whence Gwallauc, "the hawk of battle") and hebog.
The four examples are Slewsack, Kirkcolm; Pulsack, Bal-
maghie; Balshaig and Gamshog, Mochrum — the hill, pool,
townland, and cairn of the hawks. Eclipsed we have Bartyke,
Kirkcowan ; and aspirated or affecting the Cymric, Dalhabboch,
Inch ; Poulhabbock, Stoneykirk ; Barnhabbock (obsolete) Pont; ®
whilst "HawkHQl," " Hawk's Hole," " Gledknowes," " Gled-
craig," " Gledebog," " Gledsmuir," and many others, are repro-
ductions in the vernacular.
To kill a hawk or destroy its nest in feudal times was as
great a social crime, more serious for the perpetrator, than
shooting a fox would now be thought to be in Leicestershire.
For aristocratic hawkers the favourite quarry was the
heron, " corr" (in dictionaries translated a heron, crane, or
stork). Knockencurr, Kirkinner; Craigencorr, Leswalt, New
Luce, Dailly, and Dairy ; Knockcorr, Kirkcudbright; and Knock-
core, Stoneykirk, all mean the heron's rock.
Bunnan, the bittern, does not show in Celtic form, except
^ Uaimh, gen. namhain ; so MuUrenn-ia-hnamhaiQ MuUinahome, Tipperaij ;
Athhowen, Cork ; mill of the cave, Knocknahooan, Clare, cave hill.— -Joyce i.
440.
' Pet occurs frequently in the Pictish nomenclature of the east of Scotland,
and is understood to have meant a portion or place, as Pitlochrie, Pitancleiroch,
a portion of the clerics.
' Habbock has been supposed by dabblers in nomenclature to be kebbock, the
Lowland Scotch for a large cheese, but seems certainly Celtic. So tyke is Gal-
loway vernacular for a dog or cur, but Irish examples show that it is rather
tseabhaic, as is Craigatuke, Tyrone, the hawk's crag. — Joyce, i. 485.
148 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
perhaps in Barbunny, Eirkcowan, though often translated in
its old Scotch name btUter, as Butterbum, MinigafP; Butter-
cairn, Penninghame ; Butterhole, Dairy, Kirgunzeon, Buittle,
and Terregles — all marshy spots resorted to by the bittern,
utterly unsuitable for the dairy or manufacture of butter.
To both bittern and heron was extended the especial
protection of the law. So late as 1600, among the Acts of
James VI., Parliament ''discharges any person whatsoever,
within this realm, in any ways to sell or buy skeldraikis,
herrouThy butter, or ony sic kynd of fowllis, commonly usit to be
chasit with hawkes."
The raven (fiach and fitheach) appears in Craigenveoch,^
Old Luce ; Benaveoch, Kirkmaiden ; Dinveoch, Kells ; Minny-
wick, Minigaflf fa corruption of Minnyveoch). We have also
" Ravencrags," Kirkpatrick-Durham ; " Eavenshall," Kirkma-
breck ; " Ba'ennest Haugh," Minigaff ; " Eavenstone," Glasserton
(though the raven (rafn) here was probably a Viking name).
Coileach and cearc, genitive circe, in the dictionaries cock and
hen, in our topography represent black-game and moorfowl.
Thus Bamecullach, Kirkcowan ; Cornhulloch, Mochrum ;
EasnaguUoch, Colmonell; Clashgulloch, Barr, represent the
ridge, hill, thicket, and hollow of the grouse or blackcocks ;
and Bamkirk, Penninghame, and elsewhere, three times ;
Barnkirky, Girthon ; Millwhirk, Inch ; Dunkirk, KeUs ; Loch-
kirky, Colmonell, are the hills, fort, and lake of the moorhens,
the latter matched by " Grayhen Bay," Stoneykirk.
Partridge and quail seem to have been included under the
general term of birds, enn, whence Dunanain, Kirkmaiden ;
Slewnain, Leswalt ; Bamean, Penninghame ; Elnockneen, Kirk-
colm.^
Creabhar (crower) is a woodcock, and naosg a snipe, whence
Knockcaars, with the half translation, " Crowarstone," adjacent,
as well as " Crowarhill," and the full one of " Cock Hill " in
^ Craigenveoch was the war-cry of the Glengarry Maodonalds.
^ Nighean, a girl, pronounced nyen, was applied to the ''little folk," t.e,
fairies. There are here a group of three remarkable knolls, which were probably
called Enocknain, as haunts of the girls, i,e. fairies.
PLACE-NAMES 149
Blirkmaiden, where, as of old, woodcock still abound. Pulnasky,
Mochrum ; Lochnisky, Colmonell ; Knochenaiisk, Stoneykirk ;
Lagganausk, Kirkmaiden ; Knochnaskrie, Portpatrick, all point
to spots abounding in snipe, " naosg." ^
Lacfaa, genitive lachan, was a duck, whence Craiglauchie,
Kirkmaiden ; Craiglochan, Inch ; Portlochan, Kirkinner ; Ben-
lochan, on the sea cliffs of Kirkmaiden, seem rather to mean
bays and cliffs of ducks than of the lakelets, which would be
colourless.^
Gadh was the goose. In composition the word is indis-
tinguishable from gaoth, wind ; but Ilan-na-guy, Kirkcolm ;
Lochanghie, Girthon ; Craugie, Penninghame ; Glenghie, Dailly ;
Derhagie, Old Luce,* seem certainly to denote wild geese (rather
than gulls), which notoriously abounded on Galloway shores, as
Goose Isles, Crossmichael, in the vernacular. Gayfield, Leswalt,
and elsewhere, means "goose field," but the birds were of the
domestic sort
Eala is the wild swan, a frequent winter visitor to Galloway,
whence Craignell, Minigaff; Craiganelly, Crossmichael and
Balmaghie ; Craignallie, Kirkcolm.
Allanfaichie, Kirkmaiden, is the rock of the pufi&ns
(fachach), nearly equivalent to " Gull Craig," Leswalt.
Gairg is the cormorant, and Gargrie (gairgreach), abounding
in cormorants, is the appropriate name of the mossy meadow
adjoining the Castle Loch of Mochrum, where to this day
"scarts" breed in thousands. The throne of Gargrie is an
elevation overlooking the spot. We have " Scart Island " in
Mochrum Loch itself; "Scart Craig" is frequent on the sea
coast ; and we have native authority for saying that " Docker's
^ Naosg, naosga, a snipe. ''The word is generally easy to recognise in names,
as Tullynesky, Cork, the little hill of the snipes. "—Joyce, ii. 288.
' Cadhan (coin) is a barnacle goose, the word used much in Ireland ; as Gort-
na-goyne, Galway, the field of the barnacle goose. So Carrickcune, Kirkmaiden,
may very probably be the rock of the barnacles, although phonetically it may be
equally rendered of the dog.
' This agrees with Irish examples. Monagay, Limerick, Mom-a-ghedh, bog
of the goose ; and Inis-na-gedh, Fermanagh, is the counterpart of Ilan-na-guy
goose island — Joyce, L 488.
150 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Byng," Colvend, denotes the cormorant and not the northern
diver.^
Feannog is the hoodie crow, and appears in Bamvannoch,
Ballantrae ; Barwhinnoch, Glasserton ; Knockenfinnoch, Ballan-
trae ; Bingvinaghan, Stoneykirk ; Slannievannach, Minigaff — all
ridges, points, and hills of carrion crows.
We have the cuckoo (cuach) in Altigowkie, New Luce;
Bamegowk, Elirkcowan ; translated " Gowk Hill " in Whithorn
and Leswalt.
Traona, or more correctly tradhnach, the corncrake, appears
in Clontrainnaight, Mochrum (now contracted to Clone), and
Drummatrane, Elirkcowan ; and snag, the woodpecker, is un-
mistakable in Darssnag, Mochrum.
The thrush, smeorach, appeal's in Slewsmirroch, Stoneykirk.
" Cha dean aon snteorach sambhradh," as Sheriflf Nicolson tells
us, was proverbial : " One mavis makes not summer." The
song-thrush in Scotland did duty for the nightingale.^ Once
only do we find the wren, drealan, in Drumadryland,' Inch, the
^ Scarts, 8 name for the black cormorant. Its common name is Dooker,
also Mochrum Lairds, because they have been, as it were, proprietors there for
an unknown length of time. They are also called " Elders o' Gowend," from
their black, grave, and greedy appearance, being common on Colvend shores.
— MTaggart, Oal, EncyclopcBdia,
Byjig, a heap or lump.
' Montgomery describes himself as walking near the old Bridge of Tungland —
About a bank with balmy bews,
Where nightingales their notes renews,
With gallant gowdspinks gay.
And adds —
To hear her aae near her,
I doubted if I dreamed.
The idea in Scotland that a song full, clear, and of groat variety, heard after dark,
as it constantly ^vas in the very early spring, must be that of the nightingale.
It was, however, certainly that of a throstle or mavis, as there is no reason, as in the
case of red-deer, black-game, or snipe, that the nightingale should have changed
its habits. As natural history became a science, it was accepted by the Scots that
they had no nightingales ; but this seems to have been a sore subject. ' A GaUo-
way laird visiting English friends was awakened in the middle of the night to
hear a nightingale sing. Cross at being disturbed, and offended at the air of
superiority his hosts seemed to be assuming, when pressed by a lady to say if the
song was not exquisite, he bluntly exclaimed, "Ma'am, I wadna gie the wheeple
o' a Galloway whaup for a* the English nightingales that ever sang."
' The dryland might, and may, mean the three enclosures (lann), or three
churches.
PLACE-NAMES 151
ridge of wrens ; a nest (nead) in Knockaneed, Stoneykirk, and
Knocknidi, Cumnock ; and eggs (ubh) in Dimow, Kirkcowan.
Of fish, a salmon was "bradan," whence Loch Bradan,
Straiton ; Lanebreddan, Minigaff ; and it is probable that Drum-
breddan, Stoneykirk, is the salmon-shaped ridge, or salmon may
have been caught on the shore adjacent, just as Ejiockscadan,
Stoneykirk, is the hUl of the herring. Breac stands for trout,
to be so translated with discretion, as the word means simply
speckled. Lochinbreck, Balmaghie; Lochbrack, Balmaclellan ;
Altibreck, Kells, are the trout lake and trout stream ; Loch-
breckbowie, Straiten, being the lake of the yellow trout.^
Culscaddan, Lochanscaddan, Glasserton ; Knockscaddan,
Stoneykirk, are respectively the comer, bay, and knoll of the
herrings (scadan), the latter overlooking a place of their resort.
A fish-weir is coradh, and towards the mouth of the Cree we
find twice on opposite shores (Gassencarie-cos-an-coradh), foot
of the weir — a familiar name (we believe) near the confluence
of the Luce and Filtanton, and a weir seems to have for this
purpose been used where the tide enters the Solebum, Lochryan,
the present lands of Salchrie being written in all old charters
Salachquharry, the dirty or salt-water weir.
Giol is the leech, and one or two lakelets bearing this name —
as Loch Gill, Penninghame, and "Gill's Loch," Kells — are not to
be rendered "Lochs of the Brightness," as they might be in
Ireland,' but "Lakes of the Leeches." Indeed " gill " has been
adopted into the Galloway vernacular, gill -gathering being
long a recognised occupation for old women of a certain class,
who, armed with a long stick cut for the purpose, called the
"gill- rung," and a bottle suspended by a string from their
waists, waded into such lochlets courting the attack of the said
leeches, which no sooner fixed themselves upon their legs than
they were transferred to the bottle and thence to the apothe-
cary's shop.*
1 We have many small lakes called Lough Nabrackboy, the lake of the yellow
trouts. What these are I cannot venture to conjecture.
' Joyce, ii. 298.
' Music was supposed to aUure them. M'Taggart writes : ** These old women
152 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
The ant, seangan, plays a prominent part in topography, it
is difficult to say why. Dalshangan, Carsphaim, Minigaff, and
New Luce ; Bamshangan, Stoneykirk ; and Bamshannon, New
Luce (which, as written, seems to represent scan dun, old fort),
is mapped by Pont Barnshangan, and consequently, along with
others named, is the gap, summit, and field of the ants.^
The reliability as well as the extreme antiquity of many of
our place-names is especially illustrated by those which, whilst
suggestive of umbrageous forests, are now attached to our deepest
and dreariest mosses. Their correctness can be easily tested by
the spade. The bleak tract from Killiemore to Darvaird, im-
passable in a bee-line from the frequent " flow," is studded with
names recalling oaks and golden birches, with copses of hazel
and holly interspersed. And these names not only rightly
indicate the position of woods, but retain the exact description
of the species of trees which grew on them. Their names are so
numerous, and their correctness so well authenticated, that we
shall only give one or two specimens of each.
Coill and coillidh, plural coile (Cymric coed), are wood and
woodland, represented by kil and killy,^ whence Killiemore,
Penninghame, great wood; Glenwhilly, New Luce and elsewhere,
wood of the glen ; the Celtic plural in Cultiemore, Minigaflf; and
with the English plural frequently in Cults, notably as Inch and
wade about with their coats kilted high ; when they come to a deep hole they
plunge the gill-ning into it and start the leeches, singing a strange song at the
same time." We give a few lines as a specimen :
My under-cotie'8 hie now,
Gif ony bodies see now ;
The water's boon my knee now,
Aye faith, aboon o' thee now ;
Among my yellow spawlies,
There ye come and crawlies ;
Now thou sticks, my gilly,
Book thy filly, filly.
Bonnie's the moss lily,
But bonnier for my gilly."
GalUtvidian Encydopcedia^ 228.
^ Seangan, the Irish word for pismire or ant, is a diminutive from seang,
slender, and means a slender little fellow. — Joyce, ii. 284.
^ I have conjectured that ahoat a fifth of the kils that begin names are woods.
Eilmore, Cork, is great wood, but the vast majority of Eilmores are great church.
— Joyce, i. 491.
EiUy is always wood.
PLACE-NAMES 153
Sorbie; Kelton, Kells, being the diminutive, a little wood.
Doire is a grove, strictly of oaks, hence the frequent Deny, as
in Kirkcowan, Old Luce, Mochrum, Penninghame, Kelton. The
Cymric coed seems to appear in Cuttiemore, Minigafif; Cutfad,
Kirkpatrick-Durham ; Cotreoch, (Rioco) and Cutcloy, Whithorn ;
and we have an example of the Norse holt in Chapelshot,
Buittle.
Bas was brushwood, smaller bushes, briars and roses, as
EasnyguUoch, Golmonell ; Drumrash, Parton ; Glenrazie, Pen-
ninghame ; Sashnoch, Mochrum — '^ the brake of the moorfowl,"
the "ridge," and "glen," and "the place abounding in bramble,"
and wild rose.
A small tuft or copse was gas, as Gass in New Luce and
Kirkinner.
Ceap was a tree-stump, frequent objects when wanton waste
of woodland was the order of the day. Thence Dalnagap, Inch ;
Glengap, Barr and Twynham; Pulgap, Minigaff; Kipple,
Urr — ^the field, glen, pool, and place of stumps ; and Balloch
o'Kip, Kirkcolm, the road through the tree-stumps."
A single tree was "crann," "craobh," and "bile," whence
Slewcreen, Kirkmaiden ; Crancree, Inch — " the mill of the tree,"
and the " march tree " ; and Lochchranochy, Mochrum, the tree
trunks at its bottom; Castlecraivie, Berwick; Corncraivie, Stoney-
kirk ; Knockravie, Kirkcowan. Bile gives us Knockville, Pen-
ninghame ; Billyshill, Portpatrick, as a half translation.
Tom, genitive tuim, was a bush, and tomach, adjective,
bushy ; whence Knocktim, Kirkcolm ; Milltim, New Luce — ^the
knoll and hill of the bush ; Knocktammoch, Stoneykirk ;
Lochnatammoch, Penninghame — the bushy knoll and loch.
Dreas means briar and bramble, adjective dresach, whence
Glendrissoch, Ballantrae.^
^ Dumfries is usually explained by dun phreas, the fort of the shrubs,
equivalent to the English Shrewsbury, (scrobbea byric). Mr. Skene, however,
usually a safe guide to follow, considers the suffix to be derived from the Frisians
(the Frisia or Frissonoo), whence also the term ''Frisian shore," or the south of
the Firth of Forth. ^ The spellings are very various : Dounfres, Cottonian MSS.,
1 CtUic ScoOand, i. 231.
154 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Of generic names, dair, genitive darroch, Cymric dar, is oak ;
whence names innamerable, as Kildarroch, the chapel of the
oaks ; Dirnow (n'ubh), " oak wood of the eggs," Kirkcowan ;
Darachans, Minigaff, " abounding in oaks " ; Pinderry, Ballantrae,
the pennyland of the oak wood.
Uinnseann and Uinnseog, is ash ; whence Inshanks in
Kirkmaiden and Kirkcowan; Drumnaminshog, Minigaff; Knock-
ninshock, Kirkmabreck.
Leamhan, longhill, and sleamhan, are elms ; whence Auch-
lewan, Barr ; Barluell, Old Luce ; Ringielawn, Mochnun ;
Craigslonn, New Luce — the height, field, and rock of the elm ;
and Lowran, Kells, " abounding in elms."
The birch was beith, whence the numerous " Beochs " ;
Dalbeattie ; Knockibay, New Luce ; and Cassanvey, Balmaclel-
lan, " the pathway through the birches."
The alder was feam, Cymric gwem. Examples are
numerous, as Balfern, Kirkinner; Drumfamachan, Kirkcolm,
" ridge abounding in alders." The parish of Carsphairn, is the
alder cairn ; and Glashverains, on the Carrick marches, " the
hollow of the alders," has a Cymric ring.
Willow, seileach, confuses in nomenclature with salach, dirty ;
Balsalloch may either be the " miry townland," or " of the osiers."
We can point to the willow with some confidence in Glenselley
and Barnsallie, Old Luce ; and Mountsallie, Kirkmaiden, is
probably not Sally's hill, but of the willows, a half trans-
lation.
The yew tree, once much prized and commoner than now,
"iubhar" (yure), appears in Glenour, Ballantrae; Glenowrie,
Minigaff; Palnure, Kirkmabreck. Uroch, Balmaghie, means
" abounding in yews " ; and Ballochanure, Kirkmabreck, the
" pass of the yew tree."
The holly is coinleann, whence Collin, Berwick ; Collindoch,
Girthon and Kirkmabreck ; and CuUindeugh, New Abbey — as
1292 ; Dunfreze, Harding ; Dunfres, 1805 ; Dramfreiss, 1395, Charter of Robert
III. ; Drumfrees, Pont ; Dunfreys, Camden. Preos is synonymous, indeed only
another form of dreas.
PLACE-NAMES 155
written, all the "davoch of the hoUies,** unless indeed the d is
intrusive, in which case the "nach'' is of abundance, and
the name is synonymous with Cullenoch, Balmaghie, " a place
abounding in hollies." ^
The hazel is coll (its force when aspirated quill), a hazel
copse calduinn, whence Barwhill, frequent; Auchenquill,
Eerwick ; Knockenquill, Kirkmaiden, refer to bushes ; and
Caldons, English plural added, in Stoneykirk and MinigafT,
represent larger copses. Though we can hardly doubt that the
Scotch fir abounded, strange to say we can trace it but once in a
Pictish name, viz. Lochgoosy (guisach), Kells.
The rowan tree was carthainn (kearan), whence Barwhirren,
Penninghame ; Drumconran, Kirgunzeon ; and Cooranlane,
Minigaff, which seems translated in " Eowantree Bum," Barr.
The white -thorn was sceach ; as Scaith, Penninghame ;
Skeock, Kirkpatrick-Durham ; Skeog, Whithorn ; with Drum-
skeochs, and Knocksceochs innumerable.
The blackthorn was draighean, Cymric draen; whence Knock-
dronnan, Parton ; Cardryne, Kirkmaiden ; Auchendrane, the
knoll, fort, and field of the blackthorn ; Drannigower, New Luce,
the goats' thorn ; Lanedriggane, Leswalt, the thorny meadow ;
and Dronnan, Penninghame ; and Drangans numerous ; Drun-
gan, Kelton ; and Drongan — all meaning brakes of blackthorn.
The sloe (airne) is even distinguished from the blackthorn :
Clachanarnie, Mochrum ; Bamarnie, Kirkcowan — ^the stone and
summit of the sloe-bush.
Muine (difficult to distinguish from moin, a peat-moss, in
composition) means a brake or thicket : a compound leath-
mhuine, pronounced leewinny, is often used in Ireland, glossed
as gray brake. Dmmlawhinnie, Minigaff, seems to be the ridge
of the gray brake.^ Dalmoney, Urr, may either be the field of
the thicket or the peat-moss.
Conadh is firewood (force, conny ; when aspirated, honey).^
^ Calenick, Cornwall, a place of hollies. — Bannister.
* Joyce, i. 496.
' The Irish examples are severaUy, Eilliconny, Westmeath ; Eilconny, Cavau ;
and Dramhoney, Fermanagh. — Joyce, ii. 881.
156 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Alwhenny, Carsphaim; Barwhanny, Kirkinner; Dnimhoney,
Old Luce, seem to be the glen, hill, and ridge of the firewood.
Heather is fraoch, reproduced simple in Freugh. The/ often
disappears by aspiration, so that Knockenree, Kirkmaiden ;
Auchenree, Portpatrick, by Irish analogy when naming small
moors, should rather be translated " heathery hills " or " places,"
than of " the king's."
The whortleberry, Scottice blaeberry, was fraochan ; whence
Stronfreggan, Dairy, and Barfreggan, Kelton, " the point of the
blaeberries."
Samhadh, having the force of sow, appears in Pulsow, Cars-
phairn; Arnsow, Kirkmichael; Auchensough, Sanquhar; and
Sowiehill, Minigaflf, exactly corresponding to Sooey, Sligo, ex-
plained by Joyce as sorrel-bearing land. Smirle, Glasserton,
and Smeurach, Ballantrae, are spots abounding in blackberries
(smeur, Scottice blackbides), and Smyrton, Ballantrae (the suflBx
" ton " dim. of abundance).
Creamh is wild garlic, and, combined with coill, forms a
compound well known in Ireland. Creamhchoill (cramuhill),
wild garlic wood.^ The word, almost identical, appears in
Tongueland — Cramuhill. We may suspect Crow Hill, Parton
and Old Luce, both rather represent hillsides abounding in wild
garlic than hills of either rook or crow.
Four Celtic words are used for ships and boats in our place-
names — long, bad, corrach, and cot.
Long indicates shipping generally. Port Long, Kirkcolm ;
Portlung, Inch — ship port. Cumlongan, Holywood — the ship's
nook. Killylung, Holywood, and Derlongan, Old Luce — the
wood of the ships ; that is, whence the oaks of which they were
formed were taken.
Bad, is a boat. We have very early particulars as to Gallo-
way boat-building. Writing of Whithorn, Ailred says : " It is
the custom in that neighbourhood to frame of twigs a certain
vessel in the form of a cup, of such a size that it can contain
three men sitting close together. By stretching an ox-hide
^ In Sligo the name becomes *'Crawhill." — Joyce, ii. 328.
PLACE-NAMES 157
over it, they render it not only buoyant, but impervious to
water." It was the middle of the twelfth century that he was
there himself, and referring to the days of Ninian, with which
he is dealing, he adds : " Probably at that time vessels of im-
mense size were so built." Possible enough, for, however
constructed, regular passages were made, and generally safely,
from Bangor and Bosnat to Mantes.
Moreover, sails as well as oars were in general use ; as, in
proceeding to describe a miracle worked by Ninian's staff, he
tells us that this '' staff, acting for sail, caught the wind, acting as
helm, directed the vessel " ; and that, as it unexpectedly entered
a distant port, the people gazed amazed at the little vessel
moving swiftly and directly thence, neither propelled by sail
nor moved by oars,^ both which methods of propulsion they had
been accustomed to see.
Portavaddie (bhada), at both Kirkmaiden and Portpatrick,
are boat ports. Craigavad, opposite entrance to BeKast Loch,
is translated by Boat-rock, Whithorn. The word appears also
in Portvad, Ballantrae.
Ailred's description of the little vessel exactly coincides
with that usually given of the Welsh coracle.
Corrach, Cymric cwrwyg, in the construction of the word
implies a hide, as we have the name in Glencurroch, Kirkcolm.
Cot, or coit, a boat hollowed out of a tree-stem,^ is more
generally used in our nomenclature ; having coiteen for a diminu-
tive. A few such boats, made from monarchs of the forest,
were long and large ; the majority, little canoes, of which the
shells are yet often to be found deep in the mud of river
bottoms.
Cottach, Troqueer, means a place where such little boats
were made or lay ; so is Cattar, Kirkmaiden.
' Ailred's Lift of Ninian^ ch. x.
' *'A boat formed out of a single oak wrought hollow is called in Irish
coiti " (Harris). The correct word is cot, of which coite is the genitive ; it is
still in constant use, whence Ath-na-coite, Annacotty, limerick.
Carrickcottia indicates that the cot used to be moored to the carrock or rock :
a diminutiye the people pronounce Loch Coiteain — the lake of the little cot.
Lough Cullein, Tipperary, shows a dififerent diminutive. — Joyce, i. 225.
158 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Cutbraid, Portpatrick, is the gulley of the little boat.
Cutcloy, Whithorn ; Cotlig, Portpatrick ; and Cotvennane *
— ^the stone or little peak to which the boats were moored.
When the meaning of individual names has been entirely
lost by the residents, the pronunciation gradually becomes con-
fused, and the spelling hopelessly corrupt. It then becomes
difficult to ascertain the true roots, as syllables phonetically
alike represent very different words; and, as a further com-
plication, the same word is sometimes used in very different
senses.
Thus riabhach, brindled or gray ; reidh, smooth ; and reith,
a ram ; have on Saxon lips alike the force af ray. Whilst breac,
brindled or spotted, generally used adjectively, sometimes as
certainly represents a trout (the spotted fish), and also speckled
land, in a substantive sense, as Brochdoo Leswalt, of which
the unusual neighbouring name, Blackspots Hill, is an evident
translation.
In such cases much assistance may, as in the case first men-
tioned, be derived from old maps, on which translations, even
if seemingly unintended, suggest the probability of the name
having the sense thus shown.
Drumrae, which might be " the gray ridge," or " the smooth "
one ; yet, from the frequent recurrence of " Eam's Hill," was as
probably connected with the " ram."
Again, whilst Benbrake is certainly "the spotted peak,"
that is, heath interspersed with mountain grasses, Lochbrack
and Lochenbreck should be translated " lake of the trout."
Madadh is a dog, but in topography is generally applied
to the "wolf" or "wild dog" ; and we feel some confidence in
rendering Slocamaddy on the Kirkcolm shore " the wolf's pit,"
or "gully," from finding "the wolfs slock" a place-name in
Minigaff.
Auchness, which at first sight has a Norse ring, is pure
^ The Ordnance Survey alters the local o or t^, coat or cut, to eat, which,
though immaterial, is radically wrong. The Catevennan as mapped is from cot
or coatvennan, not as in the Christian name Kate.
PLACE-NAMES
159
Celtic, '' each inis " ; and we are confirmed in the correctness of
the assumption by the frequent recurrence of Horse Isles upon
our maps.
We are disposed to believe that Allanfedder, Kells, refers
rather to a musician than to Peter, or to the " whistling plover,"
by the closeness of the translation in " Fiddler's Bog " close by.
To give a few more examples of translations intentionally or
unintentionally mapped down :
Craigengeaviach, Eirkcolm.
Mulnigarrocb, New Luce.
Enockmuck (frequent).
Drumanoon, Penninghame.
Benyellary, MinigaflF.
Corriefeckloch (feocalacb), Minigaff.
Craigenveoch, Old Luce.
Kinhilt, Portpatrick.
Knockmult, Berwick.
Bamsoul, Kirkpatrick-Irongray.
Knockalanny (lannith), Eirkcowan.
Boothnaw, Dairy.
Craigencroy, Stoneykirk.
Drumanazy, Portpatrick.
Auchenhay, Borgue, etc.
Farrenlure, Inch.
Oraignargit, Mochrum.
CraigfoUy, New Luce.
Knockormal, Colmonell.
Portancorkrie, Eirkmaiden.
Balgracie, Leswalt.
Enockwhasen, Portpatrick.
Auchenquil, Berwick.
Drumfleucb, New Luce.
Curghie, Eirkmaiden.
Belsavery, Inch.
AUwhat (three times), Carsphaim,
Dairy, Cumnock.
Enockeen, Eirkcolm.
Hare Clench, Carsphaim.
Sheep Hill, Eirkinner.
Hoghill (as common).
Lamb Hill, Inch.
Eam's Craig, New Abbey.
Fumart Qlen, Eells.
Corbie Crags, Inch.
Hind Hill, Leswalt.
Wether Hill, Dairy.
High BamS) Inch.
Bam Hill.
Ford House, Penninghame.
Sheil Hill (frequent).
Shepherd's Hill, Leswalt
Eiln Park (Scotticey field), Eirkcolm.
Libberland, Eirkcowan.
Silver Hill, Eirkcudbright.
Bloody Brae, Eirkcolm.
Blue Hill, Berwick.
Bedstone Cove, Leswalt.
Souter^s Croft, Eirkmabreck.
Path Brae, Eirkcolm.
Hazelfield (frequent).
Big of the Jarkness,^ Minigaff.
Wondy Hill, Wigtown.
Somerton, New Luce.
Wild Cat Craigs.
Bonnyknowes (adjectives).
In others the same idea runs in the two tongues thus : Och-
ley (each liath), the gray horse, Eirkcolm, is matched by
" Yellow Horse," a rock on the same shore. Cunnoch, a chum
or barrel, Eirkcolm ; Beef Barrel, on the same shore. Bilnavoe,
^ Jarkness, Galloway vernacular, same as Jamess, Lowland Scotch, ''any
place so wet as to resemble a marsh."
160 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Kirkmaiden ; Cow's Snout, Colvend. Gobawhilkin (choilchean),
Kirkmaiden; Cock's Comb, an adjacent rock. And Tondoo,
also on the Irish Channel, seems freely translated by " Dutch-
man's stem."
Fourth, Under MISCELLANEOUS we shall treat of roots generally,
commencing with adjectives; endeavouring to throw these as
much in apposition as possible.
Big — mor ; as Kenmure, Barmore, all frequent
Little — beg, Cymric bychan, whence Barbeg, Portpatrick," the
little hilltop " ; and we suspect Barbuchany, Penninghame, to be
synonymous with the Cymric bychanig. The adjective takes a
funny form in Cash Bay, Kirkmaiden, little fissure ; cos being a
cave or crevice as well as a foot.
Long — fad ; as Drumfad, Minigaff and Terregles.
Short — ^gearr; as Gairloch, Kells; Garlakin (leacan), "the
short hill " and hillside. It is often impossible to distinguish it
from garbh, rough.
Broad — ^leathan, Cymric llydan; whence Auchleand, Wigtown,
" the broad field " ; and we seem to have pure Cymric in Cum-
loden, Minigaflf, Cwmlwydan, "the broad hollow between
hiUs."
Narrow — caol; so Portkale, Portpatrick; Killiness (caol-
innes), " narrow isle or pasture," Kirkmaiden.
High — ard, Cymric uchel; whence Ardoch, Dairy, "the high
davoch" ; Ardrie and Airdrie, frequent "high places" or "sheil-
ings " ; and Ochiltree, Penninghame, " the high dwelling."
Low — iosal; Falwhistle, Kirkinner; Craigeazle, Inch; Cor-
visel, Peninghame, " the low dyke, rock, and corrie."
Upper — uachdar ; as Corrochtrie, Kirkmaiden ; Bamywater,
Girthon, " the upper hill and quarter."
Bare — maol ; whence the Mull (of Galloway) in the sense
of bald. Lom (sheared), as in Kenlum, Anwoth. Nochd
(naked), in Auchnaught, Kirkmaiden ; and the ancient Bos-nat
(Eosnaught), Whithorn.
Bushy — creabhach, as Comcravie, " the bushy hill, "
Stoneykirk ; tomach, as Knockantomachie, " the bushy knoll,"
PLACE-NAMES 161
Kirkmaiden ; and rasanach, "abounding in briars and roses/'
as Bashnoch, Mochrum.
Crooked — crom ; as Cromoch, Kirkmaiden.
Sound — cruin ; as Slewcroan, Leswalt, " round hill " ; Mill-
croon, Ballantrae.
Eough — ^garbh; as Garvallock, Inch, '* rough road"; Gar-
rarie, Kells and Mochrum, "a rough place"; Garlefl&n, Barr,
" rough halfpenny land."
Also carrach ; as Gaimgarroch, Leswalt, and Drumcarrick,
Inch, " the rough cairn and ridge."
Smooth — reidh ; as Ballochrae, Kirkcowan, " the smooth
pass."
Mid — meadhan ; as Balminnoch, Kirkcowan, '' mid town-
land."
Between — eadar; as Adderhall, Penninghame; Clonidder,
Penninghame, "the centre fence" (fhal) and "meado\^."
Across — tarsuinn ; as Craigentarsie, New Luce ; Kilterson,
Kirkcowan, " the rock and wood lying athwart."
Dirty — salach ; as Barsalloch, Penninghame and Wigtown.
Beautiful — caoin ; as Knockeen, Alticane, Colmonell,
" bonny braes" and " glen."
Cold — fuar ; as Milfore, Minigaff ; and Caimfore, translated
by " cold-craig," Balmaclellan.
Sunny — ^grianach ; as Milgrane, Penninghame.
Warm — teth (pr. tya) ; Pultayan, Kirkcowan.
Windy (see gaoth afterwards) — saideach ; Sheddoch (sched-
ack Pont), Whithorn, " a stormy place."
Sloping — claen ; as Clenarie or Clendry, Inch, Old Luce,
and Kirkcolm; Clennoch, Carsphaim and Inch — all "sloping
places." And staonach; as Stenoch, Whithorn, and Knock-
sting.
Wet — finish; as Drumfluich, and Fleuchlarg, Penning-
hame— " wet ridge " and " hillside."
Eocky — sceileach (from sceilig, a sea rock), as Dunskirloch,
Kirkcolm.
Sandy — gaineach; as Guinoch, Genoch (very common)
VOL. I M
162 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Mullachgany, Minigafif ; Baxgany, Girvan ; and Bingainea,
Stoneykirk, equal to sandhead.
Spotted — Breac; as Benbrack, Carsphaim; Kells, Dairy;
Benbrake (the highest hill in Wigtonshire), Kirkcowan ; Lar-
brax, Leswalt ; Learg-breac, the spotted hillside.
Of colours in an adjective sense we have fin, Cymric
gwyn; whence Finloch, Stoneykirk ; Fintloch, Kells — ^not
" white lakes," but " white land" ; Fyntalloch, Penninghame,
" white knoll" ; Finnart, white headland.
There is a derivative of fin, Ceinnfhionn (pr. cannon), liter-
ally " white head," but applied to any objects speckled with
white spots. Whence Slewkennan , Kirkcolm ; Knockcannon,
Balmaghie — ^both meaning " the speckled hill." ^
Geal, also white ; whence Eingheal, Mochrum, " the white
point " ; Port Gill, Kirkmaiden, suggestive of white sand in the
little creek ; Loch Gill, if clear (but also giol, leech lake) ; Ban,
C. can ; whence Inchbane, Kirkcolm, " white pasture " ; Tor-
bain, Parton and Minigafif, "white knolls'*; Markbain, Kirk-
cowan, " white mark" or " horse." *
It is probable that the Cymric " can" names the river Ken,
the " White," in opposition to Dee, the " Black." The name-
givers did not consider the Ken to be the head water (ceann),
because when the combined streams issue from Loch Ken, the
name for the river formed by both is Dee. Dee, moreover, is
more in Cymric form than Gaelic ; and, as if especially to point
to the distinction in colour, the Dee above Loch Ken is mapped
the "Blade water of Dee."
Black — dubh. C. du. pr. dee ; as Faldoo, Kirkmaiden ; Inch-
dow, Kirkcolm, "black enclosure or meadow"; Craigdhu,
^ The word Ceinnfhion is now applied to a cow with a white spot on the
middle of her forehead. It is, however, extended to designate anything speckled
with white spots ; as Lettercannon, Kerry, ** speckled hillside" ; Clooncannon,
Galway, ** speckled meadow." — Joyce, ii. 268.
^ Mark, G. march, is in all Gaelic dictionaries glossed ''a horse," though in
Galloway names it usually signifies a march or a markland. We find, however,
a " Markbain" and a ** Markdow" in New Luce, and as several translated names
are "white" or "yellow horse," it seems very probable that there were hills
which were so fancifully called.
PLACE-NAMES 163
Glasserton, "black rock"; and on the river Dee, Ballochadee,
Kirkcowan, is " the black pass." Black topographically denotes
peaty soil, in opposition to sandy, loamy, or hard tiU.
Brown — doun ; as Knockdown, five times ; Milldown, four ;
Slewdown, Leswalt, all " brown hills."
Gray — riabhach, brindled (force ray) ; as Monreith
(murrith), " gray tower" ; Culreoch, Inch, " gray corner" ;
Kirrereoch, Minigaff, " gray corrie " ; Lochree, Inch, " gray loch."
liath (pale) ; as Craiglaw (anciently Craigley), Kirkcowan,
and Craigley, Urr and Kirkgunzeon, " gray rock."
Dunis-odher, gen. uidhre ; whence Bennour, Girthon ; Dun-
ower, Balmaclellan ; Milleur in Kirkcolm, Kirkbean, and Gir-
thon ; Knockodher (hardened) in Barr ; and genitive form
Barnhourie — all " dun hills."
Green — glas ; as Knockglas, four times. This is really equiva-
lent to " white hill" ; in Galloway topography " glas" is always
" green" (implying good soil), whereas in the north "glas" means
gray. Muirglas, New Luce, is " the green tower " ; Barglas,
Kirkinner, " the green top " ; Challochglas " (pr. Ghallass),
Mochrum, " the green knoll." The Glaster, New Luce, and the
Glaisters, both mean " green land" (tir).
Pale green is uaine (wan) ; as Gaimwanie, Kirkmaiden.
Blue is gorm ; as Gormal, with the pleonastic hill, in Girthon
and Minigaff (Gormaill) ; Craighom, Carsphaim ; Knockormal,
Colmonell ; Drumgorman, Dairy ; translated by " Blue Hill" in
Berwick and Balmaclellan.
Yellow is buidhe ; as Kilbuie, Kirkmaiden, " yellow wood"
or "cell"; Blairbuie, Glasserton, "yellow field"; Drumbuie,
Kirkcolm and Kells, " yellow field" and " ridge ; " ^ Lanniwee,
Minigaff, " yellow meadow."
Bed is dearg ; as Barjarg, Penninghame, Leswalt, and Col-
monell, " red top " ; Benjarg,^ Girthon; Drumjargon,^ Kirkinner,
" red hills " ; Daljarroch, Colmonell, " red field " ; Baryerroch,
^ Yellow applied to objects above the soil ; as Milkbuie, Kirkmaiden, '* yellow
hill," to gorse and broom ; in woods, to golden birch in autumn ; in fields, to corn-
flowers ; in mosses and wet meadows, as Minibum, Minigaff, to the bog asphodel.
' In these cases the dearg, red, applies to red clay or reddish till.
164 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Kirkinner ; Glenzerroch, Kelton ; Poolzerroch, Anwoth, " red
top, glen, and pooL"
Euadh, C. rhudd ; whence Bouchan, Glasserton, " reddish
land " ; MiUrow, Kirkoswald, " red hilL"
Eod (but this last also means road) signifies " red ** in the
sense of soil impregnated with iron scum ; ^ whence Knock-
arod in Leswalt, Portpatrick, Stoneykirk, and Kirkcolm ; Eud-
doch Hill, Leswalt (Drumierand, New Luce, means '* the ridge
of the road ").
Eed, or rather crimson, is corcur. Portencorkrie and Bam-
corkrie are respectively an-corcur, *' of the crimson," as here a
mass of red granite crops up above the bay.
The Cymric coch appears unmistakably in Cochlick, Elirk-
gunzeon ; Cochllech, pure Cymric for red flagstone; as also in
Cochrossan, " the red point "; and Cochleaths, the Celtic leth,
a " half portion."
Two adjective forms of gall, literally a stranger, but in their
local application meaning Anglo-Norman, are masculine.
Gallda, whence Galdanoch or Galdenoch (four times) in
Wigtownshire, Leswalt, Inch, Stoneykirk, and New Luce, means
the place of the Anglo-Norman GfdUseach (fem.); as Arriegilshie,
Kirkinner ; Gilshi Feys and Knockgilsie, Kirkcolm — the sheil-
ing and hill of the English, that is Anglo-Norman, lady.^
The cardinal points, the elements, and seasons, are all
frequently used adjectively.
North — ^Tuaith and Tuaiscairt ; whence Slewintoo, Leswalt,
^ Knockarod occurs in frequent cases where local knowledge points clearly
to such red oozings which so often choke our drain-tiles, and also not on any
line of road. Dunrod, Kirkcudbright, is believed by its inhabitants to mean
a reddish hill. It might have been so called &om a fort above a road. — Joyce,
IL 850.
^ From gall foreigner, we have Gaillseach,' constantly used in Irish writings
for an Englishwoman; so Ballynagalshy, Meath. — Joyce, ii. 9.
The author referred the name, remarking that other interpretations had been
offered, to Dr. Joyce himself, facile princepa in this field ; he replied from
Rathgar, Dublin, " I am quite in favour of English Lady."
On paper guilshie is not unlike Guilcach, rushing or abounding in broom,
but again Dr. Joyce remarks, '^grolbch pronounced gelka, g hard, which is fatal
to the rendering."
PLACE-NAMES 165
and Drumatoo, Ban, northerly hills ; and Toskerton, Stoney-
kirk, " the northerly place."
South— deas ; whence Eingdoss, Inch, and Tonndoos, Les-
walt, "the southern point" and "hillock."
East is oir, and has usually s prefixed; whence Druma-
shure, Colmonell, " the easterly ridge."
West is iar, which, with the usual s, gives us Balshere,
Kirkmaiden, " the westerly townland." ^
Wind is gaoth, and appears three times in that singular
compound Ton-re-gaeith, " backside to the wind "; in Tonderghie,
Whithorn ; Tandragee, Stoneykirk ; Tonerahie, MinigafiP. Ben-
ghie, Girthon ; Curghie, Kirkmaiden, are both " windy hills."
As respects the seasons, names connected with spring and
summer do not imply warm or sheltered places, but rather the
reverse, too exposed for occupation in winter.
Spring is earrach ; whence Knockannarroch, Stoneykirk ;
Lochnarroch, Minigaff; Clashnarroch,* Leswalt; Clachanarrie,
Mochrum, are respectively the knoll, lake, hollow, and stones
of spring.
Ceiteiun is also spring, and has probably the same meaning
in Glenkitten, New Luce.
Summer is samhradh (savry), which appears little altered
in Bellsavery, Inch ; and Fellsavery. Savery is also a place-
name in Inch, evidently conveying the idea of summer
pasturage.
Winter is gamh (gav), whence Bellgavery, Kirkmaiden,
and probably the parish name of Minigaif, anciently written
'Moneygoof and Monigov ; the suffix, having exactly the force
of the Cymric gauaf, is winter and cold.
^ Oir, 8oir, and thoir, are used for east. So iar, west, is quite common in
the form of siar. The most eastern of the Aran Islands ia now Inisheer, which
is very puzzling, for it exactly represents the pronunciation of Inissiar, Western
Island. — Joyce, ii. 428.
If it is difficult to distinguish between soir and siar in Ireland, where Celtic
is spoken and the language written ; it is doubly so in Galloway, in which this
is not the case.
* Aroch, as before said, is a dim. of aros, and is glossed a little hamlet, sheil-
ing ; where not summer pasturages, this may be the root of some narrochs.
166 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Almost every part of the body has its counterpart in some
of the features of the country.
The head — ceann, C. pen; as Eandee, Mochrum, "black head";
Kinilaer, Barr, " head of the plank," i.e. plain ; Kenlum, Anwoth,
" bare head " ; Cymric Pinwherry, Inch and Colmonell, " head of
the corrie."
It is to be remarked that in the West pen is not Cymric,
but Gaelic peighin, and refers to " pennyland " ; so Pinminnoch,
not central head, but " peighin manach/* monk's pennyland.
Hair of the head was urla; whence Urrall, anc. Urle,
Kirkcowan, indicating a place with long hairlike grass.
Mong, C. mwng (meaning also a horse's mane), indicates
places with long sedgy grass, as Balmangan, at the mouth of
the Dee.
The breast is ucht ; whence Auchneight, Kirkmaiden. Dim.
Uchtdan; whence Auchten (a rock), Portpatrick.
The back is drum, a word adopted into the vernacular in
"The Drums," Leswalt ; "The Little Drums," Kirkcolm ; "the
Drums of Carsebuie," Kirkcowan. Cul is also the back of
anything.
Humpbacked is emit (literally gibbous), and is applied to
humpy -looking mounds. So Crotteach, Kirkcowan; and
Culgroat, Stoneykirk, " the back of the humps " ; closely allied
to Crottees, and Bamagrotty, given as Irish examples.^
The shoulder of a hill — ^guala ; as Slewgulie, Kirkmaiden.
Pap — ciche, whence Carrickkee, Kirkmaiden, equivalent to
Maiden Pap, Colvend.
The throat, braghad, is applied to a gully ; as Braid, Inch ;
Powbrade, Colvend.
The tongue is teanga ; Norse, tang. We have Tongue, Inch ;
Longthang, Kirkcowan ; and the curious corruption Chang in
Mochrum and Barr.
The nose — sron, Celtic trwyn ; whence Strone, Kirkmaiden ;
Troon, Ayrshire ; Stronfreggan, Dairy (Fraochan), point of the
bilberries.
* Joyce, ii. 898.
PLACE-NAMES 167
The mouth — beul; whence Beliavo, "the cow's mouth,"
Kirkmaiden.
Snout — gob ; Gobaronning, Kirkmaiden, " the seal's snout."
The palm of the hand — ^glac ; whence Core of the Glaik,
Leswalt
The finger is meur, adj. meurach ; as the well-known
Merrick, Minigaflf, the " centre of finger in the group " ; Tulmer-
rick, Old Luce, " fingerlike knoll."
The groin is blean; in topography means a "creek," as
Blanivaird on Loch Ochiltree, " the bard's creek."
The thigh is mas ; whence Masmore and Knockmassan (the
latter dim.), Leswalt.
The rump is ton ; whence Tandoo, Portpatrick ; and
Tonderghie.
The foot is cos ; as Cushiemay, Buittle ; and Cassancany,
" the foot of the meadow," and " of the weir."
The side is taebh; as Taphmalloch, Leswalt, "Malloch's
hillside."
The knee — glun; as Eig of Gloon, Minigaff; and the
translation near it the " Knee of Caimsmore."
The fist is dom, and is generally accepted as the root of
Dornoch, Sutherland,^ whence it seems possible that the two
lakes Domal, Penninghame and Balmaghie, may be the '' fist-
shaped lakes."
The tail is earball, and applied to the extremities of any
natural features ; as Damarble, Minigaff ; and Drummienarble,
Kirkcowan, " the oak wood " and " ridge of the tail." *
Of other hill roots, barr is the top of anything ; Lochinvar,
" lake of the summit"
^ Dom-eich, the hone's fist, i.e. hoof. This, which is the name, as well as
the arms, of the borough, was given because a thane of Sutherland being disarmed
in a battle here with the Danes, picking up a horse's foot which lay by chance
on the ground, laid about him with such a will that, like Samson with the jaw-
bone of an ass, he slew *' heaps upon heaps " of the foe, as well as the Danish
generaL
' Though our other examples have been from parts of the human body, no
confirmation of the Darwinian theory can be founded on the tail in this place-
name, however old, as the translation lb recoverable within measurable distance,
'' Dog-tail }nll"
168 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Barrachan, a common name, '' the uplands."
Sliabh (slew), in Galloway, as in Ireland, is generally used
for a hill, not a moor or marsh, as is often supposed ; as Slewfad,
Leswalt, " broad hill," one of a group of ten " slews " rising out
of the contiguous levels of the Galdenoch or Garthrie mosses.
Beinn, dim. beannan, is also used as in Ireland, applying
here rather to a small pointed hill than to a mountain. It takes
the curious form of " Bine " alone in Portpatrick and Eirkcolm,
both remarkable sugar-loaf hillocks. Bennane alone is frequent ;
Culvennane is " the back of the peaks. "
Cnoc is our commonest name for a hill, dim. cnocan;
Gnockynocking, Stoneykirk, and Cnockanicken, Eirkcowan,
being curious reduplications.
Meall, lit. a lump, is also a hilL As Barmeal, Glasserton,
" top of the hill " ; Millgrane, Penninghame, " sunny hill"
Cruach, lit. a stack, means a stacklike hill ; as Craichmore,
which is often corrupted to Craighmore, but which is " the laige
stack." The word appears alone in Croach. It is sometimes
corruptly spelt Craig.
Cnap is a hillock ; whence Knapps, Barr ; and with an s
prefixed, " the Snap," Penninghame.
The Norse dodd appears twice in Carsphaim. We also find
the " Dodd of Troquhair, Balmaclellan, and the corrupt Dogtum-
mock, probably meaning the bushy (tamach) dodd. We find also
Mickle and Little Dodd, as well as " Wedder dodd " (wether),
Sanquhar.
Geide, a hillock level at the top, appears in Eittyshalloch,
''the hill of the hunting," Minigafif. Leiter, a hillside, in
Letterfin, Girvan. Tulach,^ a knoll, takes in Galloway the
peculiar form of Challoch. The word alone occurs seven times
in Wigtownshire, besides Challochglass,Challochmunn,01d Luce,
it is possible it indicates tallach, "a forge," but generally a
remarkable hillock can be discovered. We believe the tch
^ We have two words which mix a good deal : tulach, a hUl, sometimes spelt
tealach ; and tealach a hearth properly spelt teaglach, as derived from tech, a house.
I would hesitate, unless I were aware from other sources that tealach was used
elsewhere for a forge, so to designate it." — Dr. Joyce to the author.
PLACE-NAMES 169
to be peculiar to Galloway ; we also find Laggantalloch, Kirk-
maiden ; Fintalloch, Penninghame ; and Shalloch o' Minnoch
and Shalloch o' Tig are respectively " the hills " of those two
said streams. Shallochwrack, Ballantrae, is a corruption of
tulach-bhreac, "the spotted hiU"; whilst again Bamchalloh,
Stoneykirk, is a corruption for Bamshalloch, " the gap of the
hunting."
Torr also is a hill, as Tordoo, Tormollen, Tarbreoch, Torbay,
Colvend — " the black hill, or rather round knoll, of the mill,"
« the spotted hill," and " of the birches."
Of roots for plains and hollows. A plain is magh, Cymric
maes. "We find it as May in Mochrum, " the Doon of May " ;
and Mye, Stoneykirk.
The Cymric appears in "The Maize," Leswalt (a wet
meadow). Machair,^ a derivation from magh, is extensively
used, as "the Machars," generally denoting arable, or at the
least " white " land, sometimes a field. Blair is a green field.
There is no reason to suppose that here the term (as it is said
elsewhere) applies only to battlefields. Keidh is a flat; as
Eephad, Inch, " the broad flat" Cluain is a meadow, gener-
ally supposed to be an insulated one ; as Clone, Mochrum ;
Cloncaird, " the tinker's meadow " ; and Gairachcloyne (the old
name for Garthland), " the rough meadow."
Glac, literally "the palm of the hand," is a narrow glen.
Sloe, a hole or gully. Coire, literally a caldron, a narrow glen ;
generally b.cuI de sac.
Amar, literally a trough, is also a hollow ; as Slocanamar,
Elirkmaiden; Laganamour, New Luce; Ballochanamour, Kirk-
mabreck — ^the pit, hollow, and pass through the hollow.
Bearna^ a gap, a common affix, difficult to distinguish from
"bar-na"; thus Bamcalzie and Bambauchlie, Loch Button,
might be either the summit of, or the gap of, the witch
and the herdsman, though most probably " the gap."
^ Machair is in Galloway often corrapted to mar, as Marbrack, Carsphaim ;
Mancallocb, the spotted field, and of the scolog (scholar and crofter) ; it is
obyiously not mor, great
170 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
As a suffix it is unmistakable ; as Craigbernoch, New Luce ;
Glenvernoch, Penninghame — " the gapped rock " and " glen/'
Passing over roots readily understood, as pol, port, gleann,
laggan, etc., — ^traigh is " a strand," generally applied to a sandy
beach ; as Killantrae, Mochrum ; Ballantrae, '* the chapel "
and " town upon the shore."
Cladach, in apposition to traigh, indicates a stony beach ; as
Cladiochdow, Kirkcolm, "the black stony beach"; whilst
across Loch Byan we find the word used in the vernacular in
Cladyhouse.
Murbhach is a sea plain, a flat piece of land extending along
the shore, whence Morroch, Stoneykirk ; Morrach, Whithorn ;
and Myroch, Kirkmaiden, all meaning " sea plains."
Several roots for bogs and swampy places are curious.
Leana, a meadow, indicating ''grassy land with a soft spongy
bottom," appears in Laniwee, Miniga£f; Lanigore, Old Luce,
"the yellow swampy meadow" and "of the goats." Lain-
driggan, Leswalt, is the " thorny meadow."
It is obviously the root of the Galloway " lane," explained
as " the hollow course of a stream in meadow ground," applied
"to brooks of which the motion is so slow as to be barely
preceptible."
Leoghuis, an adjective form of leog-a-marsh, gives us Loch
of the Lowes.^
Muchan, a derivation from Much, smoke, is applied to a
morass, as a place in which people are liable to be suffocated.
Loch Moau, Minigaff; Drumanmoan, Ballantrae.
Maothail, spongy ground, gives us Moile in three or four
places; Meowl also four times in Wigtownshire; Mahoul,
Glasserton ; Meehools, Old Luce ; Moine, C. Mawn, is a peat
bog ; as Monjorie, Kirkcowan, red bog ; Portmona, Kirkmaiden,
" port of the bog."
Munloch is a puddle, " dirty water, mire " ; whence Menloch,
Penninghame ; Muntloch, Kirkmaiden.
^ Leoghas, the Isle of Lewis. This name given because Lewis abounds in
swampy grounds. — Annstrong.
PLACE-NAMES l7l
Bog, which is really a Celtic (not an English) word adopted
by Saxons, gives Bogue, Minigafif ; Glenvogie, Penninghame ;
with derivatives Boggrie, Girthon, and Annaboglish, Mochrum.
Ath-na-boglish, " the ford of the flow."
Turlach is explained as a spot marshy in winter, dry in
summer, whence Drumtarlie, Penninghame. The root, "tur,"
dry.
Corcagh,^ C. cors, a marsh; whence Carcow, Cumnock;
Trevercarcow, an absorbed parish in Kirkcudbright. Whilst to
the Cymric we must refer Corsoch, Parton ; Corsglass, Dairy ;
Corsmalzie, Mochrum.
Crith, a verb, " to shake," with the particle lach, is iised for
a shaking bog ; as in Crailloch, Portpatrick, and Creloch,
Mochrum, in both which names the sufiix has no reference to a
lake, but has the force of very — ^very shaky.
Biasg is a marsh, whence Bisk, Minigaff, Kirkoswald, and
Balmaghie ; Susco, Anwoth.
Eanach is also a marsh, and probably gives us Loch Enoch,
Minigaff; but it is difficult to distinguish the word from
Aenach, a market or fair, which is in more general use.
Caedh, a marsh (whence the vernacular Quaw), appears in
Culquha^ Twynham ; Culkae, Sorbie ; and Lochquie, Penning-
hame.
Caladh also is a marsh, but it has a secondary meaning,
Cala or caladh, a port or ferry; whence Cally, Girthon, anc.
Kalecht, the landing-place or ferry. Its primary meaning, a low
marshy meadow along a river or lake, we find in Brackenicallie
(New Luce) on the Tarf.
Breaenach Caladh, the spotted land of the marshy meadow ;
or, as it would be expressed in Ireland, of the caUow.^
Of roots relating to the supernatural —
^ Corcagh names the city of Cork. Its marshj site was known for many
hundred years as Corcach-mor-munhan, the great marsh of Munster.
' Callow, as an English word, is quite current in Ireland. For both meanings
see Joyce, i. 464. We are much disposed to think the prefix should be
Brackene, the callow frequented by badgers — ^broken, rocky ground, yery much
interspersed with meadow.
172 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Sidh (pronounced shee) is a fairy, with a diminutive
sidhean (sheen), meaning more especially a fairy hilL Knock-
nishy, Whithorn; Brishie, Minigafif; Auchansheen, Colvend;
Amsheen, Ballantrae ; Barnshean, Kirkmichael ; Shawn, Stoney-
kirk, and very many more, all denoting " haunts of the ' Little
Folk/ "
Bruigheen, a diminutive of brugh, a distinguished residence
or fort, now generally applied to ruined forts or palaces, as these
are always supposed to be inhabited by fairies; whence Kil-
breen, Stoneykirk; Kirbrean, Eirkinner; and Loch Braen,
Mochrum, uninviting as its site appears for a palace ; represent
the wood, quarters, and lake of fairy residence.^
Ban, a woman, when used in the supernatural sense, applies
rather to malevolent old crones than the elves of the fairy hills.
Thus Bamamon, Stoneykirk (Barr-nam-ban), and Caimmon, may
properly be rendered " the gap or round hill of the witches."
Seanta is fortunate — having a charm or protection in the
superstitious sense ; whence Clayshant, Stoneykirk, " the holy "
or " fortunate," or as glossed by O'Reilly, " enchanted stone."
Donas was misfortune, bad luck ; applied also to the devil
himself ; whence Cardoness and Miltonise, New Luce, respect-
ively " the devil's fort and hill of bad luck."
Diabhal, Celtic diawl, is the devil ; whence Drochdhuil, Old
Luce, " the devil's bridge " ; Whithorn, Knockatonal, Kirk-
cowan and Ballantrae, " the devil's hilL"
Mallacht, a curse, appears perhaps in Polmallet, Sorbie.
The following in modern garb are probably reproductions of
ancestral humour : Lot's Wife, Colvend ; Adam's Chair, Berwick.
Goleach (the witch), Kirkcolm, a sea rock having the contour
of an old woman ; so Monachan (the monk), Whithorn Shore ;
Yellow Horse, Kirkmaiden ; Green Saddle, same shore. The
Celtic Cunnoch (the milk-stoup), Whithorn, is matched by
Beef Barrel, Kirkcolm. The Docker's Bing,^ Colvend; the
* Joyce, i. 288.
' Bing, a rude lump or heap of anything. Dooker, here the cormorant —
MTaggart.
PLACE-NAMES 173
Scutching Stock/ Kirkmaiden. Throne of Gargrie, Mochrum;
Pharaoh's Throne, Twynham, neither of which we can explain.
Three Brethren (rocks), Borgue ; Old Man, Berwick ; Nick of
the Dead Man's Banes, Girthon.
Two or three words are peculiar to Galloway j as gairy,
in such composite forms as "North Garry," "the Garry of
Pulnee," Minigafif ; " Poomaddygarry," and the " Black Garry,"
Kells; Dougaries in Glenluce. The word seems to convey
the idea of a piece of land cut off either for pasturage or
cultivation.
Knoits is such another ; as " the Knoits of Bentudor," " the
Elnoits of Linkens " ; the word meaning rocky knobs, " little
rocky hillocks."
Nearly allied to knoits are clints : the " Glints of Clendrie,"
Kells ; " Clints of Dromore," Kirkmabreck ; " Clints of the
Bus," Minigafif. Clints glossed by M'Taggart " little awkward-
lying rocks " ; by Jamieson, " hard flinty rocks."
Elrich has undoubtedly the meaning of eerie, whether as
expressing relation to evil spirits, or to a wild, lonely, frightful
place ; as such we believe the place-name to apply in remote-
lying spots where no cultivation can have ever taken place,
such as Loch Eldrig, far away on the moors. The name is
interchangeably written Elrig, Elrich, Eldrig ; and Oldrig
may of course frequently, but not always, apply to old
cultivation.
Gurlie, a bleak spot given to squalls, appears in Gurlie-
hawes,^ Kirkcolm, anglice a bleak-lying narrow gorge. The
word is rendered unintelligible in the Ordnance Map as spelt
Garliehawise.
Pasper is a living Galloway word for samphire;' whence
Pasperrie Rock is on the Leswalt seashore. This has been mis-
printed in the same map as Pasbuery.
In these, as in other instances innumerable, it will be found
^ A stick to beat out flax or hemp. MTaggart calls it a scutching sparkle.
' Hals: Hawse — (1) the neck; (2) any narrow entry or passage. —
Jamieson.
* MTaggart, under Pasper.
174 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
that local knowledge is absolutely required for the discovery
of the true forms of place-names, which is essential to their
interpretation.
As these have never been written in their original form,
and are not understood by the people, local pronunciation is
by no means the same sure guide as it is in Ireland to the real
roots.
Dr. Joyce ^ tells us that " whether the syllables kill and kyle
mean church or wood, we can ascertain only by hearing the
names pronounced in Irish ; for the sounds of cill and coile are
quite distinct."
No such nicety of inflection is to be looked for from a
Galloway resident ; even upon the spot the inquirer will often
be baffled by the interchange of " achs " and " ochs " ad lib., and
the different intonation given in the same words by every one
he applies to in succession.
True, an old residenter may set a stranger right in some
such ridiculous blunder as light (suggestive of a beacon) for
lacht (indicating a commemorative standing-stone) ; but in such
a common case as " Cos-an-coradh," few local persons would so
pronounce it as to make its recognition inevitable. Some might
rightly call it Cussencorry, but at least as many would adopt
the form of the Ordnance Map, " Cass-en-carie " ; even this
being an improvement on a former survey, in which it was
mapped " Castle Cary," though the true meaning is " cos," the
foot, whereas " casan " is a footpath.
Within the recollection of many living, Auchleand, Wig-
town, has been changed to Auchland. Old people rightly pro-
nounced the word Auchlawin (achadh-leathen), a d added
made it Auchleand ; as a further corruption e has disappeared,
and probably the next generation will change h into A;, the
radical meaning thus apparently shifting from a " broad field "
to " Oakland."
Croft-an-righ, pronounced as written, to the author, by no
less an authority than Sir James Caird, when giving him
^ Joyce, L 491.
PLACE-NAMES 175
interesting particulars as to an excellent apple once cultivated
here, which bore its name, has recently been changed to Croft-
angry, also pronounced as written, a name which will puzzle
future philologists.
Two suggestions may be offered in conclusion. The same
name may in difierent places have an entirely different mean-
ing. Interpretations must always depend upon circumstances
and facts.
We are authoritatively told that lisnegarvie (now Lisbume)
means " the fort of the gamblers." ^ But it would be absurd so
to translate Belgarvie on the Tarf, which probably simply
means ''a rough townland," as the suffix usually implies in
other places.
Secondly, it does not follow that we have ascertained a true
root because the word we are in search of is found in the dic-
tionary. The author of The Gaelic Topography of Scotland
confidently asserts that Glenapp means the " glen of the ape,"
simply because the suffix is so glossed in the dictionaries ;
naively adding, "At some very remote period these animals,
therefore, must have existed in the south of Scotland, though
they are long since extinct." ^
Had the writer of this sentence ever visited the locality, he
might have observed a remarkable pillar-stone overlooking the
entrance to Glenapp, the name of which, well known in the
locality (Laight Alpyn), as pronounced by any herd boy, must
have suggested a more likely origin for the word than dic-
tionaries could give him.
The following places retain the names of saints who
either frequented, or were held in honour, in the several
localities : —
^ A gambler is designated in Irish by the word Cearrbhach, which is
still in common use. One of the best illustrations of this word is Lisne-
garvie. We read in a pamphlet published in 1691 : **We marched towards
Lisbume, one of the prettiest towns in the north of Ireland ; the Irish name
is Lisnegarrah, which, they tell me, signifies 'gamester's mount.'" — Joyce,
ii. 118.
' Robertson, Cfaelie Topography of Scotland^ p. 342.
176 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
They are generally to be identified in the Kalendars.^ Their
" days " are those of their death.^
From Ninian, 16th September 432 (437, Adam King). Kill-
antringan, Portpatrick, Leswalt, Ballantrae ; Killanringan, Col-
monell ; St. Eingan's Well, Kelton ; Tringan (the attraction of
the t of the Saint), Leswalt^ etc.
Patrick, 17th March 432 (the saint is, however, tripartite).
Kilpatrick, Kirkpatrick (1) Irongray, and (2) Durham, Port-
patrick, Patrick's Well ; Cnllenpattie, Inch, etc.
Malidh, Mallie Mell, son of Patrick's sister Darerca, 6th
February 487 ; Culmalzie (Kilmalzie), Water of Malzie (Malzie
Symson) ; Malzie Well, Crossmichael. Egilsmalzie, a dedication
to him in Fife, is corrupted to Egsmalee.
Medana, 18th November, contemporary with Ninian. Three
Kirkmaidens, Medana's, chapel and well of the Co., Kirkmaiden.
Brioc, Briocus, 29th and 30th April 500.
Kirkmabreck parish, which Symson says is " so called from
some saint or other whose name was M'Breck" — the worthy
curate did not understand the mo of endearment (maith, holy) ;
also Kirkmabreck, Stoneykirk ; Elilbrocks, Inch.
Bridget, 11th February 523. Kilbride (1) Kirkcolm, (2)
Kitkmaiden ; Kirklebride, Kirkpatrick-Durham.
Machute, 15th November 565, patron saint of Wigtown
Parish Churck Kirkmahoe parish, Clashmahew, Eglaismahew,
Inch.
Columba, 9th June 597. Kirkcolm Parish Church, St.
Columba's Well.
Finian of Moville, Wynnen (white and fair men), 10th
September, M.D.;^ 24th January 379, K.S. Chapel Finian,
Mochrum, and holy well, Kirkgunzeon parish ; Loch Whinzean,
Girthon ; Kilwinning, Ayrshire.
^ The Felire of Aengus, O'Clery's ** Kalendar" (embodied in Martyrology of
Donegal^ Keith's Scotch Bishops ; King's Kalendar, Breviary of Aberdeen, Bishop
Forbes's Kalendars of Scottish Saints.
' Where two dates are given, M.D. is Martyrology of Donegal ; K.S. Bishop
Forbes's Kalendars.
' According also to Tighemae and Annals of Ulster.
PLACE-NAMES 177
Lassair^ '* flash of fire " (so named in the Ealendars), mother
of Finian of Moville.^ Killeser, Stoneykirk.
Fintan (the generous), the little fair man, I7th February 973.
Knockiefountain, New Luce.*
Barr or Finbar (white head), 25th September, named Parish
of Barr, as well as Island of Barra. Landberrick (Llanila),
Mochrum, probably Barrbarrons, also probably Lochmaberry
(Maith Berarch), and may, however, confuse with Berach, Abbot
of Elilbarry, Eoscommon, 18th February, fix)m whom Elilberry,
Argyle, has its name.
CJolman Eala (of Llanila), 26th September 610. Colmonell
Parish.
Kentigem (Munghen, the wild man), 13th November 603.
St. Mungo's Well, Dairy.
Donan (of Eigg), 17th April 616, names six church sites:
Kildonan,Kirkmaiden(Stoneykirk),Kircolm (Colmonell), Chapel-
donan, Kirkcolm, and Girvan.
Medhren or Merimus, 16th September (and two Medhrans,
Mart Donl., 6th and 8th June). Kirkmirren, Kelton; Kirk-
madrine, absorbed parish, Stoneykirk.
Begha, 31st October 660. Culbee, Kirkcolm (near Kirk-
bride); Culbee, Kirkinner; St. Bees', opposite Whithorn in
Cumberland.
Cuthbert, 20th March 687. District and Church, Kirkcud-
bright; Kirkcudbright, Invergavane (Girvan); Kirkcudbright,
Innertig (Ballantrae) ; Blillie-me-cuddican, Leswalt.
Sabina, his mother, may possibly have had a dedication in
Mochrum, Culshabbin (Cil Sabina).
Kennera — a virgin martyr, one of the companions of St.
Ursule, names Kirkinner ; her day, 29th October 450.
Catherine, martyred in the fourth century, had dedications,
near one of which in Kirkmaiden is the curiously corrupt name
Klibbertic Kite. On referring this to the accomplished scholar
^ On authority of Capgrave. See letter of Dr. Reeves to Bishop Forbes,
KcUeTidarSf p. 465.
* "To your Knockiefountain our Eilfountain in Kerry is a parallel." — Letter
of Dr. Beeves to Author, 13th March 1876.
VOL. I N
178 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY
Dr. Thomas Ml^uchlan of St Columba's, an answer came by
return that the explanation was easy : t corrupted to k, Tiobar-
tighe-chert, the well of Kate's horse. There are St Catherine's
Wells in Stoneykirk and Glenluce.^
Lawrence, 2d February 617, a Bishop of Canterbury, is
named in St Lawrence's Well, Colvend.
Comhghain, or Cowan, 23d October 527, uncle of one of
the St Fillans, appears in Kirkcowan parish and Tencowan.
Fillan (" faelan," the little wolf), 9th January 703. There
are nineteen saints of the name, but we presume the dedications
to be to him whose arm bone wrought wonders for the Scots at
Bannockburn. Kilfillan, old Luce ; Elilfillan, Sorbie.
Molor, Molonache of Lismore, 25th June 592, seems to
have his name in the singular Norse corrupted and pleonastic
place-name, the Howe Hill of Haggamalag, Whithorn; his
name is joined with St Ninian's in Kilmaluag and Kilmorie in
Mull.
Malachi O'Morgair (really the same name), a much later
saint, who died 3d November 1148, and was not canonised till
many years after, names Taphmalloch, a hillside, where he
built a chapel without a rath in Leswalt parish; and to
Eilmalloch, New Luce.
Enan of Eigg, 29th April M.D., 18th August (King's Kal-
endar), 839, leaves his name in two Elirkennans, Buittle and
Parton ; Fellyennan, Mochrum ; St Inan's Well, BeitL
Glas, Glasvanus, is mirrored in St. Glas's Well, Berwick ;
he was similarly invoked in wells in Argyle and Fife.
Galgacus, classic Latin Yolocus, Saxonised or Low Latin for
Wallach, Cymric GwaUawc, "hawk" of battle, was a name
known to the early church militant ; Woloch or Voluen's day
standing 29th January 720 in the Kalendars. It appears also
in our topography in Carsewalloch, Kirkmabreck ; Knockwal-
loch, Kirkpatrick-Durham ; Ulloch Cairn, Balmaghie; but we
cannot tell whether they refer to a warrior or a cleric.
^ It ia impossible the old Geltio name oould refer to St. Catherine of Sunric,
who was of a mnoh later date.
PLACE-NAMES 179
Maure, a virgin, 2d November 899, who names Kilmaurs
parish in Cunninghame, is probably remembered in Maurs
Cairn, Kirkcowan ; Maurs Craig, New Luce.^
^ Two Christian names common in Galloway have deriyed their ori^ from
saints:
Quentin, which does not, as elsewhere, mean the fifth, bnt is an abbreviation
of the Gaelic Ceam tigheam=£entigem, a clear proof of which is that the saint's
honorific title — Monghu, the mild or gracious one, is always accepted as its
diminutive.
Gilbert is not the Teutonic "bright pledge," but GiUe Brighd, "servant
of St Bride."
CHAPTEE VIII
THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE
A.D. 1000 to 1460
Le premiere jour de mai par permission divine
Saint Lo fut assailli a coups de couleuvrone
Matignon y etoit la et sa gendarmerie
Rampon-Gleret, aussi, Agneaux Sainte Marie.
The Agnews of Lochnaw are a branch of a family which
take their name from a district in the Bocages of iN^ormandy,^
which for many centuries they owned.^ Their name figures
frequently on the early rolls of the chivalry of France, and
notwithstanding all the vicissitudes of time, — outlawries as
Huguenots, proscriptions as aristocrats, — a Marquis d' Agneaux
stiU owns portions of the ancestral fiefs, and the Chateau
d' Agneaux stiU overlooks the valley of the Vire.* Popularly
the origin of the name is ascribed to a miracle wrought at
Les Deux Jumeaux, near Bayeux, which, notwithstanding an-
achronisms common to aU early legends, deserves mention as a
really old and genuine tradition, supported by the well-authen-
ticated coincidence that Les Deux Jumeaux have been possessed
^ La famille d' Agneaux a ou donner son nom k la paroisse d'Agneaux on le
recevoir de ce lieu. — Le Claude d'Anesy, Recherches sur le Domesday^ 258.
^ La famille possedait la Baronie d'Agneaux depuis un temps immemorial,
et un grand nombre de fiefs nobles. Deux Jumeaux, De Souoelles, De Putot, De
Sainte Croix d' Ardennes, De St. Contest, De Buron, Du Holme, De I'lle Marie,
De Cameville, De Formigny, etc — De Magny, NobUiaire de Nomuvndie, Part
2™o p. 5.
' Les Seigneurs d'Agneaux poss^daient de vastes domains dans le Cotentin,
ses donations de I'ann^e 1066 prouvent qu'ils existent depuis longtemps. — Le
Claude d'Anesy, Heeherches sur le Doineaday,
1. 8ul ot Heli£ d'Agneaui, 1190.
2. Seal of Andrieu I'AignBll, end ot thirtsenth century.
3. Seal of Herbert d'Aigneanx, Seigneur ie Tocqueville, 1224.
4. Seal ot RichBrd d'AgneUia, 1269.
A.D. 1 000-1460] THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE 181
by the Agneauxs since the days of Duke KoUo.^ It runs
thus :
Among the earliest of the Norsemen who took seizure of
lands in France, was a viking settled near Bayeux. Things
went well with him, and he and his buxom wife had but one
unsatisfied desire, — they were childless, — but long after they
had ceased to hope, the lady presented him with two fine twin
boys. Their happiness seemed now complete, when suddenly
their darlings sickened, drooped, and died. Hardly had the
cry of agony broken from the mother's lips when a knock was
heard at their gate, and St. Martin of Tours, whose name and
fame were equally unknown to the heathen Dane, stood without
and humbly begged for shelter. Even in this, the darkest hour
of grief, the claims of hospitality were paramount with the
worthy pair ; he was at once admitted and his wants carefully
attended to. When shown to his bed the saint could not sleep,
his feelings harrowed by his entertainers' sorrow, intensified to
himseK by the thought that the unburied babes were unbaptized.
He rose in the night, hastily consecrated water, and stealing to
the silent chamber sprinkled it, mingled with his own tears, on
the faces of the little ones as they lay beautiful in death ; he
breathed a prayer for their eternal welfare, and for that of his
hosts, and left their dwelling unperceived.
Early next morning the bearers arrived to carry the corpses
to the grave ; the weeping friends were following, when a shout
was raised, " the children breathe ! " It was no illusion : the
parents had entertained an angel unawares — the lost ones were
restored to the maternal embrace.
The news spread, crowds came from afar to verify for them-
selves the story, the most incredulous were convinced of the
completeness of the miracle, and as they watched the merry
gambols of the twins — snatched but a few hours before from the
^ Une ancienne tradition bien connue dans la province, fait remonter la
Maison d*Aigneaux anx premiers invasions des Normands.
Le nom de eet famille est ecrit dans les anciennes chartres, Agnus, Agnes,
Agnelles, d'Aignians, d'Agneaux ou d' Aigneaux et Aigneaulx. — De Magny,
Nobiliaire de Normandie, article **d*Aigneaux."
182 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I GOO
brink of the grave — ^the words "Agneaux de St. Martin" rose
spontaneously from their lips. And the name clung to the pair
as they developed into manhood.
Topography enhances the antiquity of the legend, as from
the date of the earliest records this scene has been known as
"Les Deux Jumeaux," the owners of which were lords also
of the district of Agneaux. Heraldry also associates the story
with the name, as from the time when armorial bearings and
surnames went together, the d' Agneaux or De Agnellis carried
what are known as canting arms, or armes parlarUeSy which were
lambs.
Simple, however, as was the name, and obvious as is its mean-
ing, the perverse ingenuity of scribes made many changes on its
form, which was originally pluraL De Agnellis and De Agnis
in Latin, d' Agneaux and d'Agnels in French ; an i was early
introduced before the g, when d'Aigneaux and d'Aignells, usually
written in English y, Aygnell, and an I was sometimes introduced
before the final x, Aigneaulx. The Galloway and least eupho-
neous form Agnew is not an attempt to return to the original
Agneau, but from the Scottish custom of considering II and w
interchangeable ; and the first Agnew arriving from England
when his name was written Agnell, the equivalent w, used
accidentally, seems to have become the settled form.^
The blessing of St. Martin followed the progeny of his
" Lambs." When the Norse chief Hrolf received investiture of
Normandy as Duke BoUo from the King of France as his
suzerain, he in turn gave feudal investiture to the Agneaux of
the lands connected with their name, on which they flourished,
and to which they added during the reigns of three successive
Dukes Richard who followed EoUo.
The first scion of the house who acquired any distinction
individually, and, what was then rare with his race, acquired
some literary fame, was Andrew De Agnellis, who in pursuit
of letters travelled to Italy, studied in its universities, took
^ In manj of the earliest charters at Lochnaw it is impossible to say whether
UoTwia intended.
to 1460] THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE 183
orders, and at his consecration assuming, with curious agreement
with the after traditions of the family, the name of Andrew,
rose eventually to be Archbishop of Bavenna, and wrote many
works considered of great value in their day, and which have
been frequently republished : in particular a history of his own
see, characterised by an independence of thought unusual for
the period.*
The next whose name appears in writing is Herbert
d'Agneaux, who, at the accession of Duke Bobert in 1028, was
safely housed in his almost impregnable fortalice upon the Yire,
and so well landed that it is said he could mount his horse and
ride uninterruptedly from his gate over seven leagues upon his
own estates.^ And this Herbert, on Kobert's death, was a lead-
ing spirit in the confederation of nobles who refused to acknow-
ledge William (the future conqueror of England) as their
sovereign, on the ground of his illegitimacy.
For years these Lords of the Cotentin successfully defied
him, till William, sorely against the grain, called on the help of his
feudal superior. Even then the malcontents faced the united
forces of the king and duke, and victory long hung in the
balance, and slipped almost accidentally from their hands.
The deciding conflict occurred at Val des Dunes, a.d. 1047,
and was all but won by the chivalry of the Bocages. So fierce
was their charge, though against superior numbers, that they
broke the imperial ranks, unhorsed the King of France, and held
him as their prisoner. The battle was won, their opponents fled,
but in the excitement of success, and guarding their prisoner,
they neglected the pursuit. William, with eagle glances took in
^ His entire works were published by P. Bacchino in 2 vols. 4to, in 1708.
His name written ** Agnelli qni est Andreas.
His Liber Pontificalia siv6 Vila PorUificum Bavennatum, is reprinted by
Muratori in his Italian historians.
' Le premier propri^taire de ce ch&teau qui nous soit bien connn est
Herbert d'Agneaux qui viyait an milieu de Xl^e gi^le. Outre le fief
d'Agneaux, il poss^dait les terres de Loncelles, Pntot et Sante Croce. — Duboac,
Notes Historiqiiea,
Les Seigneurs d'Agneaux poss^daient de vastes domains dans les environs de
Caen et une baronie plus importante s^par^ par la riviere de la Vire pendant sept
lieues du cours de cette riviere. — Jtecherehes sur le Domeaday, Le Claude d'Anesy.
184 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I GOO
the situation, galloped after the flying squadrons, rallied, brought
them back, fought another action, and snatched from the barons
the honours of the day.
Henceforth he ruled supreme ; the malcontents were at his
mercy. Short shrift for those first clutched in that iron grasp.
Happily for Herbert d'Agneaux, his castle ofTered a retreat
almost impregnable until the "Conqueror's" anger had time
to cool.^ Whilst there he had a foretaste of how heavy his hand
could be. On hearing that three of his manors were gifted
irretrievably to the Church as a thank-offering for the victory
gained over the Lords of the Cotentin,^ and happily for him-
self taking his punishment with a good grace, he appealed to
the victor^s clemency. William was a bom ruler of men.
Appreciating the courage he had found it so hard to daunt, he
accepted the submission of such of these lords as offered it.
Herbert d'Agneaux was confirmed in his principal fief, received
into especial favour, and henceforward William had no more
loyal subject.
The unhorsing of King Henry of France is a favourite
tradition at St. Lo, with which the name of Herbert d'Agneaux
is always connected. And the visitors to the picturesque
entourage of his ancient keep are often reminded by the sturdy
peasants, who like to serve themselves heirs to the glories of
their forbears under their ancient chiefs, that
Da Cotentin sortit la lance
Qui abattit le Roi de France.
Herbert d'Agneaux is the common ancestor of several branches
of the family once powerful in France: of the Agneaux or
Aygnells of Bedenhall in Norfolk, and Aignelis of Pentlai in
Hertfordshire ; of the Lords of Lame, if they had any exist-
^ Assis sur un rocher escarp^ a 60 pieds au dessus de la riviere le Ch&tean
d'Agneanz ^tait imprenable de ce cdt4, et la disposition du terrein devait rendre
presque inutile une tour avanc^ dont on voit encore les mines de Tautre cdt6 ;
il ^tait d^fendu des mure, un pont levis, des touro et autres ouvrages. — ArchoBologx-
ecU Journal of Lt Manche, vol. i. p. 2.
^ In 1056 William confirmed by charter to the cathedral of Coutances their
fiefs : "De Loncellis, et Putot et Sancta Cruce, quam Herbertus de Agnellis tenebat.
— AbU de Bouen,
to 1460] THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE 185
ence excepting in scrolls of genealogists ; of the Marquis
d'Aigneaux and L'Isle Marie and Les Deux Jumeaux ; of the
Marquis St. Marie d'Aigneaux, still owning the GhS^teau
d'Agneaux» and of the Agnews of Lochnaw.'^
Herbert died before the conquest of England, leaving
three sons, Herbert, Pierre, and Fulque, minors,^ who all had
issue.
The second Herbert was early taken into the royal house-
hold, and was frequently with the Court in England, where he
acquired large estates in Norfolk and Suffolk, but not until
after the Domesday Survey, at which date he only had some
eighty acres. He is a witness to several charters of the
Conqueror's reign, one of which is reckoned among the treasures
of the Museum of St. Lo ;^ and in another charter the king and
queen are themselves witnesses to a purchase of a plot of
ground from Herbert d'Agneau by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux,
the king's turbulent brother.*
Herbert — ^identified by Norman genealogists with the Agneli
of the Domesday — had three sons, Corbin, Henry, and Eobert,
all to be traced in official writs, and a nephew Fulque, who, in
^ MM. les Barons Athanase, et Frederick Agneaux h Bayeux, et M. Paul d*Aig-
neanx, k L'Isle Marie (Marquis) poss^ent la terre qu'y possMaient ses ancestres
il y a huit cent ans. II existe en Grand Bretagne de la m^me souche une famille
d'Agnew qui habite le Comt^ de Wigton. — Dubosc, Paroisse d^Agiieaux, 7, 8.
^ Various ''corrected lists of the Battel Roll" have been published in which
Herbert d' Agneaux is confidently introduced. In a recent work, Les ConqueraiUs
dCAngleUrrtf there are three Agneaux, which seem all without sufficient author-
ity. Moreover, a comparison of dates renders it certain that the Herbert who
was in possession at Duke Robert's accession, a witness at the Yal des Dunes,
could not be the Agneli of the Domesday. The second Herbert was almost
certainly under age in 1066.
' In the charter shown at St. Lo the witnesses' names are entered after their
crosses, as below : —
(Signum) + Willmi Reges. +Gaufredo de Saie. . .
+ Odonis de Baiocenci. + Herbert! de Agnellis.
+ Henrici filii Rego. + Gaufredi de CarbonelL
+Rogeris de Albineis.
* Ego Odo d.g. Baiesis Epis. frater GuiUebni Normanorum Duels Anglorum
reges, emi quondam terris qui vocatur Ghernetville a Herberto de Agnellis.
Subscript +Gillelmo Rex, + Mathilda Regine, +Johan Archiepiscopus, +Her-
bertus de Agnellis, + Corbin filius ejus. — Cartulara of Bayeux,
186 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. IOOO
company with their neighbour Bobert de Convey, attended
Duke Bobert in the first Crusade.^
On the second Herbert's death the fief of Agneaux was in-
herited by Corbin ; Les Deux Jumeaux and L'Isle Marie fell to
Bobert, the third son ; and his English lands he bequeathed to
Henry,^ who retained possession of the lands and castle of La
Boque, in the neighbourhood of Caen.*
The three brothers all survived the reign of William Bufus.
When Henry I., not satisfied with securing the English crown,
had ousted his brother from his rights in France, he appointed
commissioners to ascertain what these Norman rights actually
were, and from their recorded report we gather that " Corbin
d' Agneaux, Baron of Agneaux, owed a knight's fee for Came-
ville ; Henri d'Aignel, Baron d'Angleterre, a knight's fee for
his Norman lands ; and Bobert d' Agneaux, chevalier, a knighf s
fee for the Houlme."
Corbin we find married a De Bohun ; Bobert's eldest son
Helie married Adeliza, daughter of an Earl of Albemarle ; and we
trace family connections with the De Hommets, Saies, Beaumont,
and the lordly rhymer Gace de la Bigne, who introduces the
name in vaunting his quarterings —
La poete est n^ en Normandie
De quatre costes de lign^e
Que moult on aimez les oiseaux
De ceuz de La Bigne et d'Aigneauz
Et de Clinchamp, et de Burm.^
The Agneaux continued their connection with the Court,
^ In lists of first Cnisade, Fonlqnes d*Aigneauz, Normandie. — La Noblesse de
France aux Croisades, P. Boye, from MSS. Biblioth^ue Boyale.
' Herbert d' Agneaux eut trois fils, dont I'lin Henri herita les possessions
en Angleterre ; k Corbin ^churent les terres d* Agneaux, de Cameyille, de
Tocqueville, et LieviUe, en Cotentin ; de Loncelles, Purtot, et autres en Basson ;
k Robert, Deux Jumeaux et Vierville, dioc^e de Bayeux, L'Isle Marie ou le
Houlme BoUeville, et autres fiefs dans le diocese de Goutance. — Dubosc,
Paroisse d'AgneauXf y. 94,
' '' Le Manoir et Motte de la Roque ou demeuraient Henri d'Agneux et Jehan
son fils, chevaliers." — Hozier, Armorial OijUral de Frarice,
* Gace de la Bigne attended King John of France when a prisoner in England
in the reign of Edward IIL *'Que moult on aimez les oiseaux," is the refrain
or burden introduced by the troubadours, much affected at the period.
to 1460] THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE 187
and it is a Norman tradition that when the Blanche Nef
foundered within sight of land with Henry I/s only son and
the flower of the young Anglo-Norman nobility, a son of Robert
d'Agneaux was of the number.
On Henry L's death, hastened by this catastrophe, happily
for themselves all the Agneaux were ranged on the side of his
daughter Mathilda ; and as her cause triumphed in Normandy,
they remained in high power there, and stood well in England
on the accession of her son Henry IL
In the next generation Henry d' Agneaux, now of English
domicile, having attended Henry II. in a progress in Nor-
mandy, was drowned with other ofl&cials by the foundering of a
ship of the royal squadron on their return voyage.^
Of this generation the sons of the two lords of Agneaux
and L'Isle Marie were both Helie, a name which, with those of
Herbert and Henry, in a prolific race, is so often repeated as to
produce some confusion * when no date is given.
The seal of the former Helie, attached to a charter, drcmro
1190, preserved among the archives of St. Lo, is noticeable as
the oldest impression extant of the family arms : three lambs
passant (but somewhat wolf- like in their bearing). It is
docketed "Chartre de Helie d* Agneaux fils de Herbert le
vieux, partant pour Jerusalem et donnant aux religieux de
Cherbourg quatres quartiers de froment de rent a prendre dans
son moulin du Val de Saire."
A gift by the widow of the other Helie is amongst the
charters at L'Isle Marie (she styling herself " Adeliza Cometis
Albemaris) in favour of the Abbey of St. Sauveur, " for prayers
for her husband's soul." This witnessed by Engler de Bohun.
The crusader Helie married another Bohun, a cousin, his
father Corbin having married Engler's aunt, as proved by his
^ Qnatre cent personnes fiirent submerges, dans le nombre Henri d*Aignel,
Baron d'Angleterre. — Depping, Hist, de Normandie^ ii. 80, In the English
account he is written "de Agnis."
' On rencontre pendant 300 ans un grand nombre de seigneurs du nom
d* Agneaux portant les prenoms d*Helie, Henri, et Herbert, hereditaires dans
les diverses branches de cette grande famiUe oe qui rend assez difficile I'^tab-
lissement d'une gen^logie exacte. — Dubosc.
]
188 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I GOO
8011 Walter, who, when appearing as a witness in a record of an
action raised by the de Bohuns in vindication of their manorial
rights, is there described as " Walterris de Agnellis," nephew to
Willelmns de Bohun.
The said Walter is credited in the Exchequer EoUs with a
payment of 20s. towards the ransom of Sichard Coeur de lion.
And in 1206 there is record of his taking a solemn oath on
the high altar at St Lo to defend and maintain the Abbey in
its dues, various deeds existing connected with his gifts, in
which his position in the family tree is rendered unmistakable
by such descriptions as "Walteras de Agnellis Miles" and
" arri^re petit fils de Herbert Agneas."
To Walter succeeded Philip, whose memory is especially
fragrant at St. Lo, as he added to the previous dotations of his
family the beautiful wood of Falaise for the benefit of the poor
of St Lo, which, besides yielding a handsome revenue, is to this
day a much enjoyed recreation ground. When the Emperor
Napoleon inaugurated the Hall of the Crusaders at Versailles,
the Archaeological Society of La Manche brought Philip
d'Agneau's claims under the notice of the Government, which
were admitted,^ and his name and achievements consequently
appears upon its walls.
* The official reply of the minister is as follows : —
**M. LE President— L'examen par le Conservateur de Chartres ne laisse
aucun doute sur les droits qu'a le nom d'Agneauz d'etre admis dans la Salle
des Croisades.
''Connu d^ le XI« siecle comme celui d'une famiUe bienfaitrice de I'^glise
de Bayeux, des Abbayes d' Ardennes, de Lorgues, Saint Sauvenr, le nom d*Aigneaux
c*est perpetue en Normandie jusqu'2i nos jours par une filiation non in-
terrompue.
'^Les armes de la famille d'Agneaux ont M toat d'azur k trois agneaux
a^nt Quand au fait de Croisade il resulte d*un passage d'un registre de
I'Echiquier de Normandie de Tannee 1221.
'* Les trois conditions — anciennet^, armes, et fait de Croisade — se trouvent ici
compl^tement remplies.
'' II est done de toute justice de placer dans la salle des Croisades :
" Philippe d'Agneaux, 1221.
" D'azur k trois agneaux d'argent.
" Le Directeur-G^^l des Mus^ Imperiaux.
(Sign^) " CoMTS DE Neuerksrkk.
" M. le Pr^ident de la Society d'Arch^ologie de la Manche."
to 1460] THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE 189
During the thirteenth century the family multiplied and
throve, as is evidenced by numerous charters in the archives of
St. Lo, relating to benefactions to the Church and charities, with
seals attached, and the frequent names of Herbert, Henry, and
the still older one of Andrew. This latter is remarkable, as
being somewhat unusual in France, a facsimile of such a seal
which we possess being different fix)m that of the head of the
house by the substitution of one lamb for three, the lamb
carrying a staff and a banner with a St. Andrew's cross.
Another seal, having Andrew D'Aignell for its legend, was
found among the charters of the Abb^ Blanche, near Mortain.^
The Ban Rolls of France — King Philip Augustus having
summoned the Norman nobility to Tours in 1272 — show that
then a Henry and a Herbert d'Agnew there presented them-
selves.^
Towards the middle of the fourteenth century the fief and
chateau of Agneaux passed by an heiress to the Paynells, and
from them consecutively through the De la Hayes and
D'Esquays, to the St Marie. Eudolphus or EaouU St. Marie,
who married Gillette D'Esquay, being previously a near kins-
man of the Agneaux,^ whose name he eissumed. And his direct
descendant, the Marquis Theobald St. Marie Agneaux, owns and
inhabits the Ch&teau d' Agneaux at the present day.^
Les Deux Jumeaux remained with the representatives of
the second branch. In 1459 we find Jean d'Agneaux, chevalier,
in possession, and marrying " la noble demoiselle Elizabeth de
^ The courteous Archiviste of St. Lo thus writes to the author: "J'ai
l*hoiineur de vous adresser une representation, obtenue par moyen du moulage, d'un
sceau de la fin du 13' si^cle, le champ occup^ par un Agneau et qui a pour legende
+ S. Andrieu D'Aignel (Andrieu est la vieille forme du nom Andre). — DuBOSC
Francois Nicolas, Archiviste, St. Lo, 25 Avril 1874."
^ Herbertus de Agneaus, in Yicecomiti Barocenci,
Henricus de Aigniaus, Miles in Yicecomiti Cadomaner.
Anciens RoUes du Bans et Arri^re-Bans en 1272.
' In the next generation the connection was renewed. In the Marquis
d*Agneaux pedigree we find, *' 1473, Rerre d* Agneaux ^pousa en 1473 sa cotisine
N. de St Marie d' Agneaux."
^ The governorship of Granville and the Isles Ghampees was long hereditary
in his family ; his arms are ^carteld d'or et azur. — Hozier, Armorial OHUral de
Franot et de Mayenee,
190 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. lOOO
Beauqendre " ; ^ the following year being in every sense an
eventful one for the family. Formigny fonned a part of his
estates ; here, on 15th of April, the Constable de Sichemont
gained the victory which finally severed Normandy from Eng-
land. It is a strong family tradition that the two brothers
Agneaux took different sides in the civil war, John, happily for
his heirs, siding with the victors ; both brothers falling on the
field almost in sight of the young wife, who, widowed, gave
birth to a posthumous heir, Pierre, who married his cousin,
daughter of Agneaux Sainte Marie.
Eelations embittered by the fratricidal strife, all intercourse
now ceased between the branches of the family on the two
sides of the channel
But although England was no longer open to their enter-
prise, members of the family prospered on other fields in France.
Doubtless particulars as to their names and holdings might be
obtained from the Departmental Records, which we have not
the energy to explore.
We have ascertained, however, that there was a branch of
the Agneaux in Burgundy ; another in the Isle of France, where
a chateau and a smiling village still bear their name ; as also
it has undoubtedly been left in Agneliers in Provence. The
heads of all these branches being enrolled in the lists of the
noblesse, and their arms differenced in heraldic visitations.
To revert to the Norman line, we may briefly state that they
all embraced the reformed doctrines, and arrayed themselves
under the banner of Goligny against the Guises. During the
brief hour of Huguenot success an Agneaux led the assault at
the capture of Bayeux, and this leading to the surrender of St.
Lo, the Lord of Agneaux, by his influence with Montgomery and
Columbi^res, saved the old Cathedral of St. Lo and its religious
houses from the iconoclastic grasp of the eager Protestants — a
moderation he (much to his disgust) failed to induce other com-
manders of the division before Caen to imitate.^
* Nobiliare de Nbrmandie,
' Agneaux en Normandie ancienne noblesse. Parte d'aziir k trois d' Agneaux
d'argent 2 en clief, 1 en point.
to 1460] THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE 191
As the superiority of the Boman Catholic party in the field
became pronounced, the strong defences of the Chateau
d'Agneaux afforded the provisional leaders of the Huguenots
a rendezvous for consultation, and their pastors a safe meeting-
place with their flocks.
The gnarled trunk of a pollard within bow-shot of the out-
works, where these proscribed ministers used to preach when
the coast was clear to the assembled faithful, still remains,
retaining the name given by the clerics when in the ascendant,
of " the Devil's Pulpit" ;^ whilst a grotto, the entrance to which
was carefully guarded, where the Communion was at times
administered, was called in the same spirit " the Serpent's Cave/'
Happily to-day the priests of St. Lo can point out both to
the Protestant visitor and explain the terms with perfect good
humour,* but there wm no joking on such matters in days
when neither party regarded toleration as a virtue.
Heavily fined, excluded from Court and military employ-
ment, the Agneaux, though not absolutely disturbed in the pos-
session of their lands, for several generations passed through
evil times.^
Agneaux de Provence, parte d'azur an chevron d'or accompagne en point d'un
Agneau d'ai^ent.
Agneaux de Bourgogne, parte d'aznr au chevron d'or accompagn^ de trois
roses de m^me.
Agneaux, Sainte Marie, dcarteU d'or et d'azur. — Did, 04rUalogique et Hit-
aJdiqu/t^ Armorial 0&n4rdl de Franoe.
^ Eistoire de SL Xo, Jonstain de Bilby, and Histoire de Bayeux, I'Abbe
Beziers.
' On remarque partiouli^rement trois lieux ou cia premiers Protestants
faisaient leur assemblies pour leur Cene :
1. La Maison d'Agneaux, dont le Seigneur ^tait perverti.
2. Une caveme k Tautr^ cdt^ de oette maison dans un rocher, a laquelle pour
cette raison on a donnd le nom de Oaveme au Serpents.
8. Au coin du bois de SouUes, prSche d'une arbre qu'on appelle La Chaire du
Diable. — ^Dubosc, Paroisse d* Agneaux; Delalande, Hist, des Ouerres de Religion
dans la Manche,
' Devenue protestante cette famille suivit le parti de L'Amiral de Coligny ;
Agneaux, et de Piriqueville Columbi^res, chefs des protestants, prisent le ChUt^u
de Bayeux. Eloign^ de la Cour elle n'abbandonna la religion rdform^e que
vers la fin du r^gne du Louis XIV. Le Roi Louis XV. fit enlever un des
demiers protestants de cette famille pour le faire dlever aux nouvelles Catho-
liques. — De Magny, Nob. de Normandie, 11. 8.
192 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A,D. I GOO
The youths, however, of the house, debarred from winning
their spurs upon the field, seem to have been brought up with
unusual refinement, Eobert and Antoine d'Agneaux courting
the muses with success, made themselves a name as scholars
and poets which was recognised even by Henry III., bigoted
as he was against the name of Huguenot
Their translations of Virgil and Horace, the first then
attempted in French verse, were read by themselves by royal
command before the assembled Court, on which they were
publicly complimented by the King.^
With the revocation of the Edict of Nantes difiBculties
thickened for the family, till Louis XV. accomplished the con-
version of the head of the house in a characteristic manner,
by forcibly abducting the young heir from a widowed mother
and having him educated to order in the Catholic faith.
Notwithstanding religious disabilities, many branches of the
family figure on the rolls of the provincial nobility and land-
owners during the sixteenth and following century,^ as for
example on the Eegister of Nobles for the Generality of Caen,
marked "an. 1592, maintenu," — which has the force of having
been made good after official inquiry, — are inscribed " Charles
et Adrien d'Aigneaux, Seigneurs des Deux Jumeaux ; Gilles
d'Agneaux, Seigneur de la PeriUe ; Michel d'Agneaux, Seigneur
de la Pionifere."
And on a similar visitation, 1667, an Agneaux des Deux
Jumeaux de la Rivifere et de L'Isle d'Auval; and as indi-
viduals ("nobles qui ont bien justifi^ leur quatre degr^s") who
^ Virgil and Horace in French verse were published respectively in 1582 and
1588, and dedicated to the king by Robert and Antoine d'Agneaux, chevaliers.
'<Ces productions furent tr^ godt^ k I'^poque oil elles pamrent." — Jourigny
et du Gouget, — Hist. Biog. A fellow poet, Lonceur, thus apostrophises them : —
Bn r&me de Moron des Agneaux tiansform^s,
Des neuf muses leurs sceurs.
* The Protestant successions are given as follow : —
Charles d'Aigneaux a embrass^ la religion pretendue reform^.
Guillaume d'Agneaux niari(§ a une noble demoiselle et auteur de la
Grauberge.
Guillaume d'Agneaux (II® du nom) eut pour fils
Jean Philippe d'Agneaux, de la religion protestante, enlev^ par lea
ordres du Roi Louis XY. et ^lev^ auz nouvelles Catholiques.
to 1460] THE AGNEAUX IN FRANCE 193
had proved their four quarteriiigs,Guillaume, Jacob, Eobert, Jean,
GuUlauine Jean, Christophe d'Agneaux, Electors de Bayeux.^
Shortly before the great revolution effectually broke up their
old family estates, a visit of a Scottish kinsman of the old house
is thus recorded :
" Lors de la guerre d'Amerique, un membre de cet famille
(Baron de Luknow), officier supdrieur dans le Eegiment de la
Reine fut fait prisonnier et est venu passer plusieurs mois dans
la famille Normande ^tablie pr6s de Bayeux."
The Baron de Luknow, it is hardly necessary to explain,
represents the Baronet of Lochnaw, and the superior officer, as
nearly as we can judge, is Colonel Montgomery Agnew, nephew
of Sir James Agnew of Lochnaw, distinguished at the capture
of Louisburg, an aide-de-camp to the king, and who served in
the American war. This was probably the first meeting of scions
of Saint Martin Lambs since the battle of Formigny, though
happily, now, intimate relations are re-established between both
houses.
When on a visit to the late Marquis d'Agneaux at his
hospitable chateau of Lisle Marie, he mentioned to the author
that amongst his earliest recollections was that of Colonel
Agnew being brought to their home by his grandfather, who,
recognising his name in the lists of prisoners, had sought him,
claimed him as a kinsman, become answerable for his security,
and entertained him until regularly exchanged.
We have only to add that the late Marquis paid a visit
to Lochnaw in 1875, and was a witness to the marriage of a
daughter of the house, leaving very agreeable impressions, and
that his grandson has inherited " les Deux Jumeaux," his usual
residence being the Ch&teau L'Isle Marie, identical with the
Holme or Houlme, the Castel aet Hulme of the Saxon Chronicle.
The Marquis St. Marie d'Agneaux occupies the Ch&teau
d'Agneaux, and has also kindly given the author much family
information.
^ Harleian MSS. 4581. — NobUiare de Normandie.
VOL. I
CHAPTER IX
THE AGNEWS IN ENGLAND
A.D. 1084 to 1360
And heralds stickle who got who
So many thousand years ago.
At the date of the Domesday survey Herbert d'Agneaux owned
eighty acres of Redenhall in Norfolk/ and a few years later had
acquired the entire manor. " Eedenhall Manor," says Bloom-
field, " was so called from Eada the Dane, lord hereof in the
time of Edward the Confessor. It was a mile and a half long
and a mile and three perches wide, and paid ten pence to the
Dane geld. It extended into Aldborough and Stanton. In the
former were fifteen freemen, in the latter nine." ^ It was owned
by Henry de Agneux in Henry II/s time. This Henry was
son of Walter, grandson of that Agneli who held eighty acres at
the Conqueror's survey.
Eedenhall was on the banks of the river Waveney, which
divides Norfolk from Suffolk ; and in this latter county his
descendants, if not he himself, had considerable possessions.
His brother Peter d'Agneaux is entered in the Liber
Wintonensis as a householder in Winchester, then the royal
residence ; and, curiously enough, another Norman (also hailing
^ In Radanahalla Agneli tenet LXXX. Acr. — Domesday , fol. 80.
Agneli, de Agnellis, ici nous retrouvons une noble et ancienne famille
Normande ; plus tard ils deviurent puissants en Angleterre. — Beeherches sur le
Domesday, Le Claude d'Anesy.
^ In connection with their tenure of Redenhall we find five different spellings
of the family name : De Agnis, De Agneux, Agneus, Agnells, Agneli. — Bloom-
field, Norfolk, iii. 248.
1. AlgDMui en Normuulle. 4. Agneanien Bourgogne.
2. AgDcw of LochnBW — Scotland. 6. Agnuux en ProTsnce.
3. AgDBtnx de VUlt. 6. Agneaui (euly Engliib), daU 1298.
7. Sir John Afgnelt, Hertfordahire.
A.D. I084 to 1360] THE AGNEWS IN ENGLAND 195
from St Lo), Lupus, is named as his next-door neighbour ; the
wolf and the lamb living peaceably together in this paradise of
courtiers.^
Another brother, Bobert, is said to have founded a third
English branch, though whether in Suffolk or Hertfordshire is
uncertain.*
Herbert himself was only a visitor in England, residing
principally at his GhS^teau d'Agneaux on the Yire ; but we
learn from both French and English authority he bequeathed
his English possessions to his second son Henry, who thence-
forward may be looked upon as a naturalised Englishman.
We infer a very early date for the establishment of a branch
in Hertfordshire, as their name stiU clings to two manors which
they once possessed — Aignell in Hemel Hempstead, and
Aignell or St. AigneUs in Eedbourn.^
The Norfolk branch we can trace with the greatest certainty
as to name or date up to the reign of Bichard Goeur de Lion.
Herbert d'Agneaux bequeathed Bedenhall Manor to his son
Henry ; and his son or grandson, also Henry, is mentioned by
contemporary chronicles as a man of considerable position,
whose death by drowning caused much sensation at the period.
As members of the royal household, Henry de Agneaux and
William de Courcy attended Henry II. in a progress through
Normandy* in 1169; the king holding his Christmas court at
^ In Wunegre Stret, Petros Agnellus, Radulphus Lupus,
In Sildworden Stret uxor Gaudfredi de Sancto Laude.
LiJber WinUm, viiL 65.
' Herbert d'Aigneaux returned to Normandy, where his descendants still
subsist. Robert d'Agneaux founded a second branch, extinct about 1289,
and Peter a third. — Gabriel Ogilvy, JLea ConqueraiUa d^Angleterre (a painstaking
Norman genealogist, but often incorrect).
' Of the latter Chauncy writes: *'The Manor of Aignell undoubtedly
borrowed its name from John de Aignel, lord hereof. — Chauncy's Hertfordshire,
593.
* The Abbot Benedict, who gives a circumstantial account of the progress,
thus narrates the catastrophe : *' Una illarum (navium) qua recentior et ceteris
spleiididior Tidebatur et melior ; onusta ditioribus et nobilioribus familise Regis,
proh dolor ! in ipso diei diluculo fluctibus maris obruta submersa est. Submersi
autem in ea sunt Henricus de Agnis nobilissimus Baronum Anglise, et uxor ejus.
. . . et multi alii de nobilioribus Anglic." — Benedict, AbhaSf i. 2.
196 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A,D. 10 84
Nantes, where Agneaux was joined by his wife with two of his
childrea When recrossing the Channel the following March a
hurricane scattered the royal squadron, and one of the largest
and best found ships, in which were Agneaux, his wife and
children, and other passengers of distinction, foundered.
His successor, also Henry, was presumedly an infant at the
time of the catastrophe. That he lived at Bedenhall we know,
and that in due time he married, our knowledge being derived
from the rather startling record that his lands were seized, — ^he
being a rebel to King Richard, — ^reserving, however, to the Lady
Mabel, his wife, her dower.^
This forfeiture, as to its date and attendant circumstances,
certainly fits in, if it does not actually substantiate, with the
Ulster tradition that Henry de Agneux accompanied Sir John
de Courcy, the son of his father's comrade William de Courcy,
in his conquest of that province ; that his name is preserved,
whether in Agnew's Hill, or in its older form Carnanagholy ; and
that, having conquered and parcelled out the country, De Courcy
and all his band fell under the displeasure of King John, and by
him were declared rebels to the king. Had the accusation been
one of actual rather than constructive treason, we can hardly
suppose that Henry d' Agneaux would have been allowed to
return, as he apparently did, to lands in Normandy,^ and been
allowed to compound for real rebellion by a fine.
However this may have been as respects this branch, we
The French account is : ''Cinq bdtimens de la flotte dispersde sor la mer
furent submergis avec quatie cent personages ; dans le nombre de passagera
^taient Henri d' Aignel, Baron d' Angleterre. " — Depping, Hist, de Normaundity ii. 80.
And the English version: ''A great tempest arose; a fleet of fifty ships
which attended the king were dispersed and terribly shattered. One of them sank,
on board which was Badolph de Bellamont, the king's physician, and Henry de
Agnis, who is called by a contemporaiy writer the most noble of the barons of
England." — Lord Lyttleton, Henry II, ^ iv. 292.
^ In 1196, Henry de Agneux, being a rebel to King Richard, that king 8ei2ed
his lands and granted them to Ralph de Lenham for 200 marks, saving to Mabel
de Agneux her dower. — Bloomfield, Norfolk, iii. 248.
* "Le Manoir et Motte de la Roque ou demeuraient Henri d' Agneux et
Jehan son fils, chevaliers." — Hozier, Armorial Oinircd de France,
Bloomfield tells us John Agneaux was heir to Redenhall, but failed to
recover it.
to 1360] THE AGNEWS IN ENGLAND 197
substantiate from Bloomfield authoritatively these facts, that
a Henry d'Agneaux, direct descendant of "Agneli" of the
Domesday, owned Eedenhall Manor in the reign of Henry II. ;
that a Henry d'Agneaux, for some cause untold, incurred the
king's displeasure in the ensuing reign, and that his heir of line
was John.^
But whilst we find Henry and John of a now well-established
English branch recrossing, from circumstances, the channel, it is
interesting to note interchange of visits between the N^orman
stock and their connections in England.
In our last chapter we find intermarriages between the
Agneaux, Bohun, Hommet, and De Saies. In particular we
named a gift to an abbey for prayers to her husband's soul by
Adeliza d' Agneaux, witnessed by her brother-in-law Engler de
Bohun. A year or two previous we trace in English chartularies
this same H^lie d'Agneaux, on a visit to the same Bohun,
witnessing a gift of Engler's to the abbey of Quarr.^
In the first year of King John (1199) we find William de
Humet, Constable of N^ormandy, making a grant at Stamford to
the nuns of St. Michael there, in presence of Jordan de Humet,
William de Saie, Eodolphus de Agnis, Gileberte du Val ; *
and within a year we find the same Bodolphus de Agnis signing
in French form " Baoult d' Agneaux " as a witness to his kinsman
Bichard de Hommet of a grant in Normandy. Bodolph de
Agneaux is styled of Kettering.
Thomas d' Agneaux is entered as an owner in county Buck-
^ A clerical error seems to have crept into Bloomfield's text, writing Walter
instead of Henry. His words are: ''King Richard seized all his lands, and
granted them to Ralph de Lenham, saving to Mabel de Agneauher dower, and to
Peter de Leonibns (Lenham) his goods and com sown on the land ; and in 1199
Walter himself confirmed the grant. In 1200 Roger de Lenham owned one
moiety, and Henry de Agnells settled it on him by fine. — Bloomfield, Norfolk,
iii.248.
From this it appears Lenham advanced the money for the fine. Henry
being Mabel de Agneau's husband, and a Henry in possession in 1200, the
" Walter himself in 1199 " should obviously read Henry.
' Carta Engelgeris de Bohun de Hasileia in Insula de Yicta (following
several btshops), + Helie de AigneU, + Gaufrede Rufi, + Robert de Brehal, etc.
— Dugdale, Moruuticon, i, 761.
' Dugdalcy Monasticon, L 489 ; Feck, History of Stamford.
198 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 10 84
ingham of Chalfunte Sancti Petri, Chalfunte Sancti Egida,
which last we take to be the pretty village of Chalfont, St.
Giles, near Uxbridge,^ of classic memory as Milton's favourite
retreat. And early in the thirteenth century Bobertus de Agnis
gets seizure by royal mandate of lands in SufTolk and Essex.
To revert to Hertfordshire, besides the manors of Aignell in
Bedboume and Hemel Hempstead, the Agneaux possessed Pentlai
or Penley in the former parish, which was their usual residence.'
The names of their neighbours in the reign of Eling John, as
given by Chauncy, have a curious significance.
Near to Penley was the manor of Gadesden, the residence of
Soger de la Zouche, who had inherited through the heiress of
a daughter of a Bohun.^
Beyond Gadesden was Ware, lately inherited by Saier de
Quenci from William de Sale* (lately named). It may be
noted that the Priory of Ware half a century later was the
house of his lady when her son Boger was Lord of Galloway.
Adjoining both manors were the lands of Hitchin, originally
assigned to Peter de Valognes, a knight of the Cotentin,
carried by his two daughters, co-heiresses, to David Comyn and
Bernard Baliol.
The sons of the lords named of Ware and Hitchin married
Helen and Dervorgille, daughters and co-heiresses of Alan, Lord
of Galloway, and became Lords of Galloway in their turn.
Boger de Quenci's daughters carried his honours to Alexander
Comyn (son of David), and Alan, a son of Boger de la Zouche.
The son of Baliol's wife Dervorgille became King of Scotland,
and a daughter married another Comyn, Justiciary of Galloway.
We have therefore the coincidence that the descendants of
a knot of Anglo-Normans, first connected by ties of blood in
^ Hardy, Rotuli LUerarmn Clausarum in Turri Londonensif voL i. p. 882.
' Penley in Domesday Book ; Pentlai between Tring and Berkhampstead, by
the Bolbume river. King William granted this manor to Earl Morton. The
next lord that I find is John de Aygnell. — Chauncy, Hertfordshire, fol. 690.
' Gadesden was previously owned by Edward de Saresborg, married to a
Bohun ; their daughter and heiress married De la Zouche.
* At the Conquest Ware was assigned to Hugh de Grantesmailer, of whom two
daughters and heiresses married respectively Robert de Courcy and William de Saie.
to 1360] THE AGNEWS IN ENGLAND 199
France^ and afterwards by those of property in Hertfordshire,
gave to Galloway (to which some of them had probably at that
period never turned a thought) — six overlords, a justiciary, and a
line of hereditary sheriffs, as well as two crowned Scottish kings.^
The first move in the sequence of events by which these
results were brought about seems to have been the appearance
of Alan upon the scene to support the English barons in their
rising against King John, of which Saier de Quenci was the
moving spirit. The friendships formed round their camp fires
led to renewed intercourse between the nobles who obtained the
Magna Charta. Alan's eldest daughter was married to De
Quenci's eldest son ; Baliol, who was also concerned at Eunny-
mede, secured the hand of another ; and through these heiresses
all the lords named became directly interested in Galloway.
Although the Agneaux were not in the rank of the greater
barons, such as De Quenci and BaUol, we have direct evidence
that they supported these magnates with sufficient effect to
incur the resentment of the king; and that, contrary to the
engagements he had made with the leaders, he forfeited the
estates of those who had assisted them, those of the Agneaux
being named, and their lands in the eastern counties being
especially ravaged by his mercenaries when on his march to
Lincoln in 1217, which he reached to die on the 19th October,
after having been half drowned previously in the Wash.
Within a week of his death we find Eobert d' Agneaux (whom
we believe to have been the owner of the Hertfordshire manor as
well) restored to his privileges by a mandate from the council ;*
and three years later he is named a Lord of Assize.^
^ Roger de Quenci, John Baliol, Alexander Ck)myn, Alan de la Zouche,
John Baliol (2d), Edward Baliol, successively lords ; Alexander and John Comyn,
justiciaries ; John and Edward, crowned kings of Scotland ; Agnews, hereditary
sheriffs.
^ 26 Oct ann. 1 Henry III. The Sheriff of Suffolk and Essex is desired
to give sasine to Robertus de Agnis of aU his lands and other pertinents,
" qualiter inde habuit dre qua recessit a fide et servicio Domini Regis Johannis,
prions noetrL" — Hardy, Itotuli in Turri LandoneTiny i. 882.
' The Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk is instructed to bring certain persons
named before Robertum de Agnens, Robertum de Coleville, "justiciarios con-
stitntos per preceptum nostrum." — 16th October 1224, ib, p. 688.
200 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. IO84
In the criminal records of the period we find several Agneaux
figuring not as judges, but defendants, on charges very similar
to those to which young Galloway lords were often called upon
to reply at " Justici Aires " in their own province.
Thus " Eadulphus de Agneaux of Kettering " in 1277 comes
in for the kings will at an assize at Lincoln for slaughter, paying
therefore twelve solidi to Alexander Cacherel.^
" Eobert, son of Aygnell of Multon," compounds with Adam
Lepeter for goods spoiled (Scotice spulzeit) by the said Eobert,
and compounds for seven solidi (ut cancelerunt ejus latrocinum).
John Aignel is adjudged to pay Peter de Bures three solidi
for assault. This points him out as of Penley, De Bures being a
neighbour. This John was himself a pursuer in court for the
manor of Bedenhall, but the decision was against him.* Never-
theless he otherwise prospered, and we can trace his family
continuously for several generations, until, whether from pecuni-
ary or other difficulties, they migrated northwards.*
His son was a man of some note, as a knight serving his
sovereign and his shire, — a soldier and a senator, — and, what
would now seem incompatible with either, a judge of assize, as
well as acting as sheriff.
From Parliamentary writs, and from the Pipe EoUs, we can
trace minutely his doings in all these capacities. A few speci-
mens will suffice.
In 1296 we find Johannes d'Aygnel summoned to per-
form military service in person against the Scots. Muster at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1 March, 24 Edward I.*
A third letter to the same sherifif styles Robertus de Agnens " Jnsticiarias
Noster," ib, p. 63. Quoted by a French genealogy as *' Justicier da Roi" That
may mean rather judge than grand justiciary.
^ Eotuli Ewndredorunif Co, Lincoln,
^ " In 1264 Peter de Savoy surrendered Redenhall into King Henry IL's
hands for the use of Prince Edward (he apparently held it in mortgage from the
Agneaux). The prince granted it to Nicolas de Yatingdon. John de Agneux
sued Bartholomew de Yatingdon as heir, but failed to recover. — Bloomfield,
Norfolk, iii 248.
' Pedigrees, from old chartularies of St. Albans, of the greatest family interest,
not otherwise readily accessible to him, were kindly communicated by Mr. Cussans
to the author.
* Parliammtary JFriis,
to 1360] THE AGNEWS IN ENGLAND 201
Thence, as a matter of history, we know that the king made
a rapid march, stormed and took the castle of Berwick, then
held a Parliament, and summoned the clergy and laity of Scot-
land to swear fealty to himself. Among those that trooped in,
John Aygnell may have renewed acquaintance with such of the
Barons of Wyggeton and Dunfres as were of Hertford origin,
scions of the Zouches, De Quencis, and Comyns, little think-
ing that a little later his own family would have a firmer
foothold in Gralloway than any of them. In short, though
probably he was little aware of the historic interest destined
for the display, he was a witness of the signing of the Bagman
Roll.
In 1295 Edward I. summoned the English Parliament to
meet at York, and on this John Aygnel sat as Knight of the
Shire for Hertford.^
In 1300 Sir John Agynell was named one of the justices
of Oyer and Terminer,* and the following year was elected to
be one of the assessors and collectors of the fifteenth granted to
the king by the Parliament at Lincoln.
Upon Edward I.'s death in 1306 a Parliament was sum-
moned to meet at Northampton, when Sir John Aygnel was
re-elected for Hertfordshire, and sat on this the first, also on
the second Parliament of Edward IL^
In 1373 we find him by the Pipe RoUs serving the office of
High Sheriff for Hertford,* and as such he appears in an entry
in the chartulary of St. Albans. " Oliver de Burdigans granted
all his lands called Le Troy to the Abbey of St. Albans, wit-
nessed by Sir John Aignel, Sir Eichard Chamberlain, and Sir
Stephen de Cheyndut, the 18 July, 8 Edward 11."*
By a pedigree compiled from entries of various requisitions
in the chartulary of this Abbey, it appears that Sir John
^ All these attendances are to be found in the Parliamentary Returns of
Members for English Parliaments, moved for by Right Hon. Gerard Noel, M.P.,
but in the text are usually quoted from Ohauncy's ffertfordshire.
* Commission tested at Bury St. Edmunds, 10 May, 28 Ed. I.
' Commission tested at Linlithgow, 1 Nov., 29 Ed. I.
* Then written John de Aygnel of Pentlai.
^ Chauncy, fol. 477.
202 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. IO84
Aygnell ^ had three sons — Peter, William, and Adam. The two
eldest predeceased him ; but William left a son, John,^ between
whom and Adam he divided his estates. Adam was succeeded
by a son, also John.* One of these Johns was the progenitor of
the Agnews of Lochnaw, the only daughter and heiress of the
other John being ancestress of the Earls Vemey, now repre-
sented by Sir Harry Vemey of Claydon.
The third John Aygnel married Katherine, daughter of
John de Chilterne, of Rickmeresworth,* and stands thus on the
family tree :
Justice Robert Aygnell
I
John de AygneU
I
Jastice Sir John de AygneU, M.P., 1298-1309
I
"I
Peter Aignel William Aignel Adam Aignell
I I
John de Aignel, M.P., 1339-1360, John de AigneU
m. Elatherine de Chilterne ; |
remarried Sir Andrew daughter m. Sir
de Bures John de la Haye
I
John, Andrew,
supposed daughter m. Williain
Constable of Herts. de Vemey, 1367.
Katherine de Chilterne seems to have brought her husband
considerable property,* and he appears to have lived in style
^ Chauncy quotes this curioas charter from the records of St. Albans:
" Oliver de Burdigans, 8 Edward II. (1315), granted all his land called Le Troy,
and also his lands and tenements which Geoffrey Turkeyld and Alexander the
Fool, his bond- tenants, held of him, to the abbot and convent of St. Albans,
which deed was attested 16th July by Sir John Aignel, Sir Richard Chamber-
lain, Sir Stephen de Cheyndut, John de Lattene, Roger de Meredene, and many-
others."
• John de Aignell, who held this manor (Penley) an. 10 Edward II., without
question was lord hereof, and grandson and heir of John de Aygnell, who
served in Parliament held an. 26 of Edward I., and in the Parliaments of an. 1
of Edward II., and an. 2 of the same king. — Chauncy, fol. 1364.
• Roger de Messeworth held of the king land in Tring, which he alienated
to Adam Aignel, which alienation Roger's son William confirmed to John
Aignel, son and heir of Adam ; and this John Aignel held of the king. John,
son of William Aignel, was kinsman and next heir of the said John, the son of
Adam. — Extracts from minutes of evidence of an inquisition held at Aldebury,
Co. Hertford, 2d Oct. 1364 : Oesta Ahbati Sane. AJhani,
^ Now Rickmansworth.
• In her widowhood, 20th April 1376, Katherine, widow of Andrew de Bures,
to 1360] THE AGNEWS IN ENGLAND 203
at his manor house at Pentley, holding his courts,^ and re-
presenting his county in Parliament from 1339 until his
death.^
Some years before this, however, he seems to have got into
difSculties, and parted with one of his manors of Aignels to the
Abbey of St. Albans,* and eventually with the manor place of
Pentlai to Sir Andrew de Bures.^ He died in 1361, leaving a
son under age to the guardianship of his brother-in-law, John
de Chilteme, and was buried beside his father and grandfather,
Sir John Aygnell, in the Church of Albury, the family burying-
place, in the chancel of which their arms are (or were till
lately) to be seen as given by Chauncy: azure two chevrons
or, on a canton argent, a holy lamb gules, with staff and banner.
previously of John de Aygnell, grants to her brother Henry de Chilteme all her
right in lands in Herts and Backs which he had received from the said Henry,
which had belonged formerly to her father John de Chilteme. — Cussans, Hert-
fordshire, iii. 138.
^ John de Aygnel held a court in this manor in the nineteenth year of
Edward II., and several other courts from an. 2 until the twenty-fourth year of
Edward III.— Chauncy, f. 694.
' A catalogue of those eminent persons that are to be found upon record who
served this county in Parliament :
Edward I.
26. John de Aygnel. Bobert de Hoo.
30. John de Aygnel. Ralph de Munchancey.
Edward II.
1. John de Aygnel. Gerard de Braybrock.
2. John de Aygnel. Ralph de Monte Caviso.
Edward III.
12. John de Aygnel. Philip de Aylesby.
33. John de Aygnel. Ralph de Monte Caviso.
Chauncy, Hertfordshire, fol. 23.
' This is now known as St. Agnells, as to which Mr. Cussans, historian of
the shire, wrote to the author: "There are at the present time two manors in
Hertfordshire known as Agnells or Aynells in Redboume and Hemel Hempstead,
both called after the famUy of Agnell. It is probable, after the two came into
different hands, that the Abbey Manor was caUed St. Albans Agnells to dis-
tinguish it from the other, and that in course of time the ' Albans * was dropped.
—10th April 1879."
^ Of this manor in the history Mr. Cussans says : "This manor was possessed
at a very early period by the family of AigneU— the name of a family in France,
spelt in a variety of ways : Agnels, Agnes, Aygnell, Agneauz, Aynell. It is
from this family Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, Wigtonshire, deduces his
descent"— Cussans, Hwtfordshire, iiL 282.
204 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. IO84
There is reason to believe that the first English branches carried
three lambs gules, differenced from those of Normandy, which
were argent; these further differenced by the Hertfordshire
branch with the chevrons which had been carried by the
branches in Burgundy and Provence.
Notwithstanding dilapidations, we find from inquests that
the younger John Aygnell was infefted into what may be called
very pretty pickings from the family estates; those in Hert-
fordshire alone we give below.^ But his over-zealous guardian
launched himself and ward into lawsuits with the powerful
Abbot of St. Albans, urged with a bitterness that led to feud,
from which the young heir suffered much in pocket and himself
in person.
It is somewhat curious that whilst these entanglements
were undoubtedly the cause of the last of the Hertfordshire
Agneaux changing his domicile and setting out to push his
fortunes farther north, the records of the actions at law in
which he was worsted (lately brought to light) enable us satis-
factorily to unravel matters connected with his pedigree which
seemed diflBcult to reconcile and hopelessly forgotten.^
^ The said John, son of William Aygnel, held at his death of the king :
One acre of meadow land in Rickmeresworth, called Le Estmade ; one acre and
a rood in Rickmeresworth in the hamlet of Crookslee, his principal messuage in
Rickmeresworth, called Le More, with forty acres of land and eighteen acres of
meadow and three acres of pasture held by petty sergeantry of the king ; in the
town of Rickmeresworth half a hyde of land containing thirty acres held of the
Abbot of St. Albans for military service ; in the hamlet of Danielside certain
tenements ; and in hamlet of Crooklee a tenement called Elysonde held by
military service of the Abbot. One 'messuage, one carucate of land, fourteen
acres of meadow, ten acres of pasture, five acres of wood with appurtenances
called Asseles, and one virgate of land called Hanekwellesland, held in free
socage of the heirs of Stephen-ath-grove ; fifteen acres called Le Stratefield held
of John of Muridene in free socage.
In the town of Caeshoo (Cashiobury) one water-mill called Tolfade, one
meadow called Le Mullemade, a small croft called Le Mulm Croft, and one
several bank of the river Colne held of John Chilteme.
In Redboume one messuage, one carucate of land, three acres of wood, and
twenty-one shillings rent held of the Abbot. — Quoted by Cussans, Hertford-
shire, iii. 187.
' John de Chilterne appears to have caused Thomas de la Mare, Abbot of St.
Albans, much trouble. De Chilteme was accused of farming oertain tenements
of the Abbey, which belonged to a minor John, son of John son of William
Aygnel, and refusing to pay the accustomed dues to the Abbot The latter
to 1360] THE AGNEWS IN ENGLAND 205
Katherine de Aygnell shortly after this remarried with Sir
Andrew de Bures, the purchaser of Penley manor house, to
whom she bore a son, Andrew, and John de Aygnell returned to
pass the years before entering upon manhood to the home of
his infancy, over which his mother was thus again called to
preside.
On reaching man's estate, although, as we have seen, he
inherited various lands, it is probable there was upon them no
manorial residency, and that these were heavily encumbered ;
and on his stepfather's death in 1365 the baronial hall of
Penley passed, as a matter of course, to his brother Andrew,
and he was only an inmate upon sufferance.
Bealising, therefore, what he could from such lands as he
had, whether arrangements for his final settlement in Galloway
had been preconcerted with his many neighbours who had con-
nections there or not, he bid a long adieu to his Hertfordshire
haunts, and rode forth in search of adventure.^
Much about the same time John de Aignel, son of Adam,
co-heir with his grandfather, died, leaving an only daughter, who
carried his lands to Sir John de la Haye, whose great-grand-
daughter married John, son and heir of Sir Balph Verney,
Member and Lord Mayor of London 1466. Ancestors of the
Earls Vemey, represented as before said by Sir Harry Verney,
in whose hall of Middle Claydon, on an old shield above the
mantelpiece, among the quarterings, are the arms of John de
enforced Jhis claim by driying off fifty of De Cliilteme'8 cattle, at the same time
requiring him to send their fodder. This the obstinate John de Chilteme
refused to do, and they died of starvation. " Whereupon," the pious chronicler
records, "De Chilteme became more obstinate than ever." At length it was
adjudged that John should pay the Abbot a thousand marks as compensation,
but instead of doing so he went off to join the king's army in France. On his
return the Abbot caused his arrest, and he was committed to the Fleet Prison.
While there he procured an inquisition to be taken to prove how little he owed
the Abbey. This was taken at Albury, 2d October 1865. The result, as showing
the lands in Hertfordshire owned by John Aygnel, are given in the note above. —
G€8ta AhhaJtum Sancii Albanij iii. pp. 3-35. Quoted in Cussans's Hertford'
BhirCf iiL 187.
^ Mr. Cttssans, the greatest authority of the day on Hertfordshire genealogies,
writes : ''The name (Aygnell) does not appear after 1859 on the Rolls of Parlia-
ment ; it is probable, therefore, that shortly after this time the family either
removed or became reduced."
206 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. IO84-1360
Aignel, bearing the chevrons and holj lamb gules, with staff and
banner, as in the burying-place at Albury.
Considering the many ramifications of the family in Eng-
land, and how frequently the name occurs in rolls and inquests
during the three centuries preceding, it seems somewhat strange
that it should have suddenly disappeared by the failure of
heirs-male in one branch of Sir John Aygnell's heirs, and the
migration of the other.
Having been at pains to trace cadets of county families of
older generations, we have only succeeded in recovering two
names — Eadulphus or Ealph Aignell, an ecclesiastic in County
Hertford ^ in 1381 ; Andrew, son of George Aignell, in baptismal
register of St. Mary, Aldermary, 1575. The first of the Anglo-
Normans of whom we have authentic record, as well as the last,
south of the Tweed, being thus appropriately Andrew.
As before said, the Agneaux line thus ran in two manors
of Aignell, as also further on Daynell and Danielside. Anglo-
Norman surnames, when, as was not uncommon at the period,
they were adopted by their retainers of humble rank, take
curious forms ; thus De Aygnell became Daniels ; Pied-de-fer,
Puddephatt ; De la Mare, the name of the haughty Abbot of St.
Albans, is remembered in DolUmore ; and d'Ayeville, still more
uneuphoneously as Devil.^
^ Mr. Cassans, specially referred to, adds : *'In 1587 Balph Aignell, clericus,
one of the executors of Thomas le Gros, conveys the manor of Fameauz Felham
to Thomas Bydeford."
3 '* Agneau, Agnell, Aynel, are identical. I should be by no means unwill-
ing to believe that Daniels is not D*Aynells. I took some pains to trace the
common Hertfordshire names of Devoil (Devil sometimes) and Puddephatt. The
former I traced through old deeds and registers through Devil, Defile, Deovil,
Devoile, to d'Ayeville ; the latter from Puddephatt to Fedifat, to Fedifer, to
Pied-de-fer ; the DoUimores are De la Mares.
** T. £. Cttssaks
** 179 Junction Road, 10^ JprU 1875.
"To Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart."
In Galloway the population generally keep more correctly to original forms.
The "Bou o' Niel," Gordon, and Gumming (Comyn), are phonetically true;
Eraser changes to Frissel, De Veir to Weir ; Taillefer is little changed in Telfer.
Among the baronage the changes are not for the better. In Galloway, Yaux
or De Vallibus (intermediately Woauss) is now Vans ; d'Agneaux, and d* Aygnell,
Agnew ; Mondavilla (in England Mandeville), MundweU ; De Vesci, Yertel ;
De Monte Alto, Mowatt.
CHAPTEE X
THE AGNEWS IN IRELAIH)
A.D. 1365
His plate-jack was braced, and his helmet was laced,
And his vaunt-brace of proof he wore,
At his saddle-girth was a good steel sputhe
Full ten pound weight and more.
The Eve of St John,
A FEW stout English spearmen in his train, and a little gold in
his pocket, John Aignell, bidding a long adieu to the Hertford-
shire home, and his half-brother Andrew, made his way to the
Scottish capital
Scotland was still a field open to Anglo-Norman adven-
turers. Kings courted their society, encouraged their desire to
hold under them, and, having still land in abundance to bestow,
were only too glad to place on it these vassals, on whose per-
formance of feudal duties they could rely, and who were more-
over able to take possessions and hold them unaided.
Hence his settlement at Lochnaw. But before accompany-
ing him thither, we must turn for a moment to the Irish tradi-
tions of the family. The salient points of these are that an
Agneau, having accompanied Sir John de Courcy at the con-
quest of Ulster, received as his share of the spoil the " Tuagh
of Lathama," and left his name there in Agnew's Hill which
overlooks it ; that these lands remained continuously in the
possession of his descendants, not only up to the reign of
Edward III., but after he had transferred his allegiance to a
Scottish king.
208 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 365
All this rests entirely upon tradition, and is incapable of
proof, no Irish charters or state papers of the date having been
preserved. At the same time there are some old written notices
of the matter, and the traditions connecting the family with
Lame are so strong and definite on both sides of the water that
we give them for what they are worth.
Scotch, English, and Irish, it is assumed as notorious that
the Agnews had held Irish lands beyond all memory of man,
and also that the first Agnew of Lochnaw passed by way of
Ireland to the Scottish Court.
Sir George Mackenzie, one of the earliest Scottish gene-
alogists, writes :
"Agnew. — The chief is Agnew of Lochnaw, whose pre-
decessors came from Ireland, Bego Davidus 2do, being a son of
ye Lord Agnews, alias Lord of Lame. There he gott the keeping
of the king's castell of Lochnaw, and was made Heritable Con-
stable yrof." ^
Nisbet the herald^ (whose inquiries were so far official that
he was assisted by a grant from Parliament in their prosecution)
repeats: "The Agnews of Lochnaw were Lords Agnew alias
Lords of Lame. One of their sons came from Ireland to Scot-
land in the reign of David IL, where he got the keeping of the
king's castle of Lochnaw, and was made Heritable Constable
thereof, and of the shire of Wigtown."
Chambers states as a matter well known : " We find an
Agnew accompanying Sir John de Courcy in the invasion of
Ireland." »
Eepeated in the Scottish Nation : * " In the twelfth century
Sir John de Courcy was accompanied, we are told, by an Agnew,
an Anglo-Norman like himself," both referring to their occupa-
tion of Lame.
Playfair, an English authority, whose notice of the French
domicile of the family we have proved to be accurate, writes :
^ Mackenzie's Genealogical MSS., Advocates' Library, Edinburgh.
« Nisbefs Heraldry, 160.
' Chambers, Eminent Scotsmen^ vol. y.
« Scottish Naiion, ii. 679.
A.D. 1365] THE AGNEWS IN IRELAND 209
'* This ancient family were seated in Normandy about the end
of the tenth century, where they bore the name of Agneaux ;
there is a tradition in the family, confirmed by some ancient MSS.,
that the first progenitor in England came from Normandy
with William the Conqueror. How long they resided in
England is uncertain, but it is understood that they went to
Ireland soon after its subjection to the English Crown by
Strongbow, and it is very well known that they had extensive
possessions in the county of Antrim, where they were Lords of
Larne. We are unable to prove this by any specific records, on
account of the unsettled state of that part of the kingdom in
those early times. But in the time of David II. a son of the
family of Agnew arrived at the Scottish Court, where, being a
man of bravery and spirit, he got the keeping of the castle of
Lochnaw, of which he was made Hereditary Constable, and also
was appointed Sheriff of the County of Wigtown." ^
The matter is more authoritatively put by the Eev. Classen
Porter, whose words carry weight from his known accuracy in
Irish antiquarian and genealogical research : ^ " It would be
wrong to suppose that the first immigration of the Agnews into
Antrim took place on the settlement there of King James's
Scottish colonists. They had been in Antrim centuries before,
and during all that time had retained their connection by
property with the neighbourhood of Lame, although, on the re-
distribution by King James among the Chichesters, MacDonhells,
and other families, the Agnews of Larne were obliged for the
first time to hold as tenants under the Earl of Antrim the lands
which their Norman forefathers had won by the sword." ^
A letter addressed to the late Sir Andrew Agnew, seventh
baronet,^ by an Irish resident gentleman, Mr. Farrell of Maghera-
^ Playfair's British Family Antiquity. The MSS. which he alludes to are to
be foond in abundance in the archives of La Manche.
' On tracing the subjoined article to the pen of Mr. Porter, the author wrote
to Dr. Beeves, Dean of Armagh, now Bishop of Dromore, to know his opinion as
to its weight. The Dean's reply \vas : ^' Mr. Classen Porter is a good and reliable
antiquary."
' Published in the NoHhemlVhig, 27th September 1864.
* The author's father.
VOL. I P
210 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 365
morne, dated 1818, has this passage : " There are few estates in
Ireland that are not spoken of as having been the property of
some Irish family not now in possession. But I have never
heard the most distant idea being suggested that Kilwaughter
was supposed to have been the property of any other family
previous to the reign of Elizabeth. I do not know of any
mountain in the north of Ireland that bears the name of a
family, and no other name has been ascribed to it so far back
as I have been able to obtain records." In reference to this Mr.
Classen Porter (to whom the letter was shown by the author)
stated that the townland of MuUoch-Sandal, within a few
miles of Larne, took its name from one of De Courcy's
followers, rendering it prima f(wie not at all improbable that
Agnew's Hill may have got its designation from another.
" We know, however," he subsequently wrote, " from retours of
a very ancient date (one I believe reaching back to 1198), that it
has been also called Camanagholy."^ Now Carnanagholy means
the " Horse knight's Cairn." Horse knight on Celtic lips would
well convey the idea of an accoutred Anglo-Norman. But a
second local tradition respecting the name is even more suggestive
— ^that the hill stood for a French ofificer who settled at Lame.*
The only historical facts in the slightest degree corrobo-
rative of these traditions being : {\st) The intimate connection
between the families of De Courcy and Agneau; (2ti) the
association of the fathers of the Sir John de Courcys and Agnews
of the day as fellow members of the royal household ; and (3rf)
the further fact of Henry de Agnew being *' declared rebel,"
and his manor in Norfolk forfeited to the Crown at the very
time that De Courcy was imprisoned, and also declared rebel,
for high-handed proceedings in Ulster.
1 This was referred to Dr. Reeves, facile princeps in interpreting names,
>vho unhesitatingly rendered Agholy, £ach mhilidh, horse knight ; Agholy being
the recognised fomi of the vernacular.
* Mr. Classen Porter, writing to the author in 1864, says : ** This form of the
tradition I have got from Mr. Burke at Larne, now eighty years of age, he
having been told by a Miss Craig of Glenarm, slie having seen it in an old book,
viz. that the first Agnew who settled at Larne was a French officer, whence the
name of Agnew's Hill."
A.D. 1365] THE AGNEWS IN IRELAND 211
If a story can be constructed on so slender a foundation.
Henry de Agneau may be presumed to have been one of the
Norman knights who joined Henry II. at MUford Haven, the
rendezvous he had appointed for the Irish expedition in 1171,
Hence the kihg "took shipping, and arrived unto Waterford
in the kalends of November, being St. Luke's Day. The Irish
chieftains were greatly astonished at the magnificence of the
Anglo-Norman knights. .Wonderful it was to the rude people
to behold the majesty of so gallant a prince : the pastime, the
sport, and the mirth, the continual music, the masking, mum-
ming, and strange shows; the gold, the silver, and plate, the dainty
dishes, furnished with all sorts of fish and flesh, the wines, the
spices, the delicate and sumptuous banquets, the orderly service,
the comely march and seemly array of all officers, the
gentlemen, the esquires, the knights and lords in their rich
attire, the running at tilt in complete harness." ^ " There were
three sundry sorts of servitors which served in the realm of
Ireland — Normans, Englishmen, and Cambrians. The first
were in most credit and estimation. The Normans were very fine
in their apparel ; they could not feed but upon dainties, neither
could their meat digest without wine at each meaL They left
no means unsought how they might rule the roast ; they would
not remain in remote places — a warm chamber, a ladle's lapp, a
soft bed, a furred gown, pleased them well" ^
Prominent among these dainty gentlemen was Sir John de
Courcy, and he, quarrelling with Fitz Aldelme the viceroy,
started a few years later upon an expedition of his own :
"By his wise confidence and witty persuasions, he allureth
and enticeth to him such as were the valiantest, honestest, and
chosen men of them all, and having so gotten into his company
two and twenty gentlemen and about three hundred others, he
boldly entereth and invadeth the Province of Ulster." *
Again Henry Agneau, we are to suppose, was one of this
little band of twenty-two, who followed his chief into this
unknown country. A prophecy of Merlin Colodiue had fore-
* Hanmer's Chronicle, ^ Giraldus Cambrensis. • Holinshed's Chronicles,
212 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D, 1365
told that a white knight sitting on a white hoise, bearing birds
on his shield, shall subdue Ulster. De Courcy rode forth on a
white charger,^ three eagles were emblazoned on his shield, and
as place after place yielded. to the Norman arms superstition
helped to make the victory easier, and the whole province of
Ulster submitted to this handful of adventurers. The king,
fain to secure allegiance as best he might, instead of treating
De Courcy as a mutineer, created him Earl of Ulster, and gave
him a grant by patent to himself and his companions of all the
lands they could conquer by their own swords, to be held and
enjoyed by themselves and their heirs for ever.'
Acting as Lord Paramount, he granted the lordship of
Howth to a Moricus de Sancto Lorentio, his brother-in-law,
held by the Earl of Howth and Viscount St. Lawrence, his
descendant ; and to D'Agneau he allotted the lordship of Lame,
a part of which was enjoyed by his descendants until the
beginning of the eighteenth century.
The Norman conquerers introduced a species of civilisation
to which the natives would no doubt gladly have remained
strangers. " They builded many castles, made bridges, mended
highways, repaired churches, and governed the country in great
peace until the days of King John." •
It may be mentioned in connection with the name of Agnew
in Ireland that the surname was assumed by a considerable
sept of Celtic origin, the Ognieves or O'Gnives. These have no
connection with descendants of the Norman Agneaus, who all
became Protestant, whereas the O'Gnives are Catholics.
The O'Gnives were the bards of the minor branch of the
Clanneboy O'Neills, and had their residence on a rock near
Ballygelly on the Antrim seaboard. The O'Gnive of his day
is mentioned as appearing in his state dress and attracting
much attention at the court of Queen Elizabeth. His descen-
dants call themselves Agnews.
^ He rode upon a white horse, as also did Bean, in his shield painted birds
blazoned thus: argent, three griples or geires, gules, crowned gold. — Giraldus
Cambrensis, 16.
■ Hanmer's Chronicle. ' Ibid,
CHAPTEE XI.
THE king's CASTLB OF LOCHNAW
A.D. 1365 to 1366
You, my good yeomen,
Whose limbs were made in England — show ns here
The mettle of your pasture. — Shakespeare.
Br whatever route Aignell reached the Scottish Court, whether,
like his great-grandfather, by way of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, or, as
tradition has, by Dublin, Larne, and the estuary of the Clyde,
his mission was a success, as " their he gott the keeping of the
Castell of Lochnaw," furnishing him at once with employment
and a home.
As the writs in connection with his first infeftment were
lost in the rifling of the castle some years later, we can only fix
the date approximately.
King David II. had, on his return from captivity in 1347,
been prevented from taking steps for quieting Galloway by
disturbances elsewhere. And it was not until 1363 that, —
having concluded a final and secret treaty with King Edward
TIL, — ^he felt himself strong enough to attempt a settlement of
the turbulent districts of the west There his Castle of Lochnaw
was without a keeper, and young Agnew arriving opportunely
seemed exactly suited for the place. Forthwith his commission
as Constable was made out, and with his charter of Crown lands
in his pocket, his Hertfordshire yeomen at his back, he set out
to take possession, his escort proving sufficient not only to guard
him by the way, but to keep the king's peace when settled on
214 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1365
the holdings which he and the family henceforth were to call
their home.
The founding of the fortunes and scene of the settlement of
the Scottish branch of the Agnews has been well and humor-
ously described by a lively writer :
" The Isthmus of the Ehynns is guarded by the royal Castle
of Lochnaw, the seat of the Agnews, Hereditary Sheriffs and
Baillies of the county. Pleasantly placed among wooded hills
by the side of a romantic loch, the ancient seat of the Agnews
still boasts the square solid tower about whose battlements is
spread a wondrous scene of land and water. The Agnews, as
their name and arms imply, are of Norman origin, and bear
upon their coat three lambs. They established themselves on
both sides of the Irish Sea, having one foot, so to speak, on
either island, and probably, after the Norman method, without
much regard to the rights of the folk who were there before
them. As a powerful, if alien family, they attracted the regards
of the Scottish monarchs, who sought to strengthen their hold
on the principality of Galloway. And thus from an early date
they were 'par excellence the king's men, and seem to have
gone hammer and tongs, with anything but lamblike behaviour,
against all other potentates in their neighbourhood.^. . . As a
rule it must be said that the sheriffs were every bit as wild and
lawless as the rest of the king's lieges in these parts. Forays,
feuds, sieges, and plunderings, curiously mixed up with plead-
ings and law-suits, went on from century to century. When the
Douglasses were out of the way, there were the Kennedys to
quarrel with. The Kennedys, Earls : of Cassilis, were far more
powerful than the sheriffs, but the AgneWs held their owu in
^ The writer continues, though he anticipates our story : " When the
Douglasses ruled at Th reave, the Agnews had a' hard time of it. Douglasses
grim and black were altogether too strong for both king and sheriff, and Lochna^r
was captured by the Douglas power 'and the Agnews driven into exile. They
probably had some concern in that terrible 6cene at Stirling Castle, when the
Douglas was done to death by the king and his attendants. Anyhow, soon after
that event, the king granted by charter the hereditary sheriffdom to the Agnews."
— "Chronicles of Scottish Counties," reproduced in All the Year Bound, vol.
xxxviii. p. 538.
to 1366] THE king's castle OF LOCHNAW 215
many skimishes and downright battles, both in the field and in
the law-courtfii"
A tradition, though somewhat grotesque, of the first con-
stable taking seizine of Lochnaw, seems not altogether incon-'
sistent with the humours of the period.
When it was rumoured that a king's man had commission
to take it, a native chief, it is said, named M'Clellan, was in
occupation of the stronghold.
Denuding the country round about of all provision, and
stocking well his own larder, he laughed in his sleeve as the
stranger, with his armoured following, surrounded the lake,
drawing up his boats upon his island. Vainly the titular
constable tried to threaten or treat, the king's writs did not
then run very freely in the provincie, and spearmen could not
well conduct a siege with empty stomachs. Attack was im-
possible. Agnew's favourite henchman at last suggested a
stratagem. A mutiny was enacted in their camp, and after a
pretended scuffle, appeared to be quelled, and the henchman
exposed to view as the ringleader dangling from a tree (the rope
having been so arranged about his neck that he could for a
while save himself from strangulation). The hanging scene
arranged, the whole party mounted and made off; an ambush
having been set. The plot succeeded to their heart's content.
M'Clellan, who had been curiously watching the proceedings,
as soon as the last lance pennon had disappeared behind Drum-
loccart, manned a boat and went to examine the victim. But
hardly had he sprung ashore, before the lyers-in-wait cut off his
retreat, and were after him sword in hand. The old Pict, how-
ever, was so supple and sly, that he led them a long chase
through broken ground, and hours elapsed before they ran him
in. His foe despatched, young Agnew bethought him of his
lieutenant, who had been left far longer than he had bargained
for. The farce, alas, was turned into a tragedy : the brave
fellow whose wit had gained him the castle, hung stiff and
cold.
The phonetic derivation of Lochnaw is Loch-an-atha, " lake
216 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1365
of the ford " ; and that there was a submerged causeway from
the island to the shore there can be no doubt But in this
there was nothing distinctive. Almost every lake in the pro-
vince had its castle. Where there was not a natural island, a
crannog was constructed ; and whether built on an artificial or
natural island, every such strength had a causeway to the
shore.
In the oldest description of the shire extant, Lochnaw is
described as a lake ''belonging to the Sheriff of Wigtown,
wherein ye kings of old had an house " ; and as we find two
Eochys among its Pictish kinglets, we are inclined to think
that — as Lough Neagh in Ireland — ^it is from one of these that
it takes its name.
Many place-names in its neighbourhood are suggestive of
royal residence.
The eastern shore of the lake is Drumloccart,^ the " ridge
of the palace " ; a large tract of land connected with the con-
stabulary was Garthrie, '' the king's enclosure " ; Craigauch,
" Eochy's rock," was the name of the old " tawar," or fortified
lookout-post, already mentioned as one of Eochy's strongholds.
The importance attached to the defence of Lochnaw is shown
by many traces of Norse and Celtic spades in lands adjoining.
Below the Tawar of Craigauch^ is a Danish fort (curiously called
Kemp's Graves) in Aldouran Glen, whence the parish name,
Leswalt (Lios-uillt), ^' the fort of the glen" ; and between this and
Drumloccart, in the dry summer of 1880, a submerged cause-
way was discovered through the Black Loch, consisting of
oak staves 6 feet 7 inches in length and 8 inches in diameter,
evenly laid on a bed of hazel branches closely packed and in
perfect preservation. Eastward of Lochnaw is also Dinduff,
" the ox fort," ^ and a castle site called also Craigoch. Above
^ Lucairt is the conventional term in the Highlands for the residence of a kinglet.
' Of the great conic mounds of defence, as we learn from the intrenchments
that surround them, and the encampments on their summits, was the Tawar of
Craigoch in Leswalt — Col. iiL S56.
' So Clondoff, County Down. Damh, an ox, often changes to Duffl — Joyce, i.
478. In this case the soil is light sand and gravel. Duff, from dubh, is applied
to black or peaty soils.
to 1366] THE kino's castle OF LOCHNAW 31?
Lochnaw, Boothward, the highest hill is Sleutennoch (TeiDne-
ach), " the (watch)fire hiU"; and farther westward three con-
tiguons circular laths almost within bowshot of one another, on
a hill-slope called Lashandarroch, which may mean either " the
old forts of the oak wood," or " the fort of the old oaks." At
Larbrax, dne west, is the well-known Sea King's Camp, mapped
by Ainslie £emp's Walks (obviously wark). A little to the
north is the fort on Salt Pans Bay, under Millvaird (the bard's
hill), and farther north. Castle Bann,' evidently synonymous
with Carbantinm or Carbantorigum.
' The Bite is remtrkabU, flattened rrom the rock, 216 fe«t in drcmnfer-
encB ; this det»cb«d from the diCb by a diy ditch 20 feet deep. There ta budly
218 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A,D. 1365
Of the sites of historic or legendary taies we have, on the
shore near Lochnaw, Cave Ochtaree, whence Uchtred was
dragged by his ruthless brother Gilbert. Tapmalloch (rather
Taphmalloch) is the hillside where St. Malachy o' Morgair
reared his chapel and rath whilst waiting for a ship from
Bangor. Below it is St. Eingan's Well ; Tringan, as it is called
in the countryside, famous for its never-failing supply of the
purest water. On the eastern shore was the ancient Kilmoiie,
beside which was a wonder-working well of great repute on
the lands still called St. Mary's Croft, and Glen Mary, now
Glenside. Beyond Glen Mary, Loch Connell intervening, is
Killiemaccuddican, where, as already mentioned, the saintly
power of the infant Cuthbert first asserted itself ; whilst nearer
Lochnaw, the names are rather suggestive of early Anglo-
Norman occupation. Galdenoch,^ "the place of the new
comers" ; DrummuUin, "the mill ridge" ; and Slewnagel, "the
chapel hill."
Of the neighbours, the Constable found on his arrival the
nearest were the Lairds of Corswall, Dunskey, Garthland, and
Killeser.
Corswall was owned by Alexander Campbell, a son of Sir
Duncan Campbell of Loudoun, whose elder brother Andrew was
Sheriff of Ayr. The lands are named from a hill (Cor-siale, " the
round hill of the brine "),^ at the northern extremity of the
Ehynns, against which the billows break in a north-western
gale in one sweep from Labrador.
Corswall Castle lay in a hollow behind it, the lower story
vaulted and serving as a cow fort. A preposterous story passes
current that in the well underneath this was a spring of such
power that by raising the lid the owners could at pleasure flood
the moat and approaches to the castle ; the origin of which seems
a stone lying upon another, but many chisel-sliaped stones lay on the beach
below it.
^ GaUda, as a living word in Ireland, now means "belonging to an English-
man." In Qalloway it is usually to be referred to Anglo-Normans.
' Preyious to 1833 Corsiall belonged to Sir Alan Stewart of Dreghom.
Corsehill is more correct than Corsewell, the modem form. It is written
Crosswell in Robertson's ItujUx ; Erosswell, — Pont.
f
to 1366] THE king's castle OF LOCHNAW 219
due to the corrUptioH of the Celtic name to Corsehill, and after-
wards to Crosswell, whence it became confounded with St.
Columba's Well, once a place of considerable resort at a short
distance from it It seems never to have occurred to the
inventors of the story to inquire what had occasioned the total
disappearance of this impetuous spring.
Dunskey, here the equivalent of Portree, belonged to Adair,
as also the strongholds of Kinhilt and Dromore.
Dunskey ^ (dun-sciath), " the winged fort," stood on a beetling
crag on the lands of Portree (Port-righ, " the king's port," now
Portpatrick).
Kinhilt ^ (ceann-eiltte), the site of the castle of the hind's
hill, was on the lands of Kildonan, just beyond the point where
the line of the Colfin Glen cuts the road to Dumfries.^
Canting origins are proposed for the name of Adair and
Kinhilt, or, as it is corrupted, KUhilt, in connection with his
acquisition of these lands.
Dunskey, it is s«dd, had been long in possession of a robber
and pirate named Currie, who was outlawed for his excesses,
and his castle, deemed almost impregnable, was promised by the
king to whoever should bring him his head.
A Geraldine from Ireland, who had fled from justice there,
endeavoured to retrieve his fortunes by gaining the prize. He
waylaid the robber chief, and surprising him one night, forced
him backwards ; and after carrying on a running fight, struck
him down with the hilt of his sword at the end of Colfin Glen.
Securing his head, he hurried to the court, presenting his bleed-
^ Scceodunum Yulgo arz alata. — Blaeu. So Liskeagh, Sligo ; Donaskeagh,
Tipperary. — Joyce, ii. 178.
The winged fort, or fort of shields ; ''the wing" or "shield" rather io the
senso of extended side-buildings than of a store of arms.
' So Annahilt, County Down. Near Lochnaw is the same place-name,
translated ''hind's hill.'* Adjoining Kinhilt is BamchaUoch (Beam-na-scalg),
"the gap of the hunting" ; and near this again Slewnark, " the hill or moor of
the hunting-horn/' Sleibh-na-hadairoe. So Killeenark and Drumnahark, Ireland,
** the wood and ridge of the hunting-horn." — Joyce, ii. 218.
Kynhylt, Chamberlain Rolls, 1455 ; Kynhelt, 1575 ; Kinhilt, War Com-
mittees, 1643, el aeq.f now corruptly Kinhilt.
3 New sua. Ace., Wigtown, 142.
220 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. 1 365
ing trophy at the point of his sword. He was infeft in Currie's
lands forthwith, and building a castle where the fatal blow had
been struck, called it suggestively Eilhilt.
" Who dare encounter Currie ? '* asked a courtier as the young
Gteraldine entered the royal presence. " I dare/' he answered.
"Grood," said the king, "let that be your name." Heraldry
favours the tradition, which at least is an old one ; the Adairs
carrying for their crest a man's head couped and bloody, drops
of blood falling from it^ As a matter of fact, the origin of the
name is neither the canting one, nor Athdara (ford of the oaks)
from Irish lands, but it is simply a form of Edgar,^ his progenitor
being probably Edgar, son of Duvenald, a leader at the Battle of
the Standard, grandson of Donegal of Morton Castle, a descendant
of whom, Bobert Edzear, had a charter from Bobert Bruce of
the lands of Eildonan, adjacent to which are those of Kinhilt.
In confirmation of this we also find the name Edgar attaching
to a hill on his property at Dromore.
Near Kinhilt was Garthland, the seat of the chief of the
MacDoualls. Though Norse in form, the name is Celtic Garbh-
cluain, " the rough meadow," its older orthography being Gairach-
cloyne, contracted at this time to Garaflan.* The name M'Dowall
is usually derived from Dubhgall, '' the son of the dark- haired
stranger," presumably of the Norsemen. But Mr. Skene, with
truer instinct, points for its derivation to a class of names in
which gal stands for valour, the force in this case being ^' the
dark-haired warrior."*
Next came M'CuUochs, occupying the strong houses of
Killeser and Auchnaught. KiUeser is from a dedication to St.
^ Adair of Kinhilt parted per bend dexter, or and argent, three dexter hands,
gules. Crest, a man's head couped and bloody. It is said they carry the bloody
head for killing one Carey of Dunskey, a proscribed rebel. — Nisbet's Heraldry.
' In the Lochnaw charter chest various deeds prove the name Edzear and
Adair to have been interchangeable with the OaUoway Adairs. In a charter
dated 1625 the name is spelled in both forms on the same page.
* Garflan, Lochnaw charter chest, 1426 ; Garflen, 1485 ; Garthclone, 1488,
ditto.
^ The names Dubhgall and Finngall, Danes and Norsemen, must not be
confounded with Dubhgal and Fingal, belonging to a laige class of names ending
with gal, signifying "valour." — CeUic Scotland, i. 28.
to 1366] THE king's castle OF LOCHNAW 221
Lassair, mother of St Finian of Moville ; Auchnaught (nocht)
meaning the bare field. The two principal families of M'Culloch
were styled of Myrton and Torhouse (both in the Machers).
On the lands of the latter were the well-known standing-stones
beneath which their princely progenitor Gwalauc ap Lleenawg
slumbered.
The earliest form of the name M'Culloch as a proprietor is
M'Ulach, whence we trace it back in church calendars to Mak-
wolok ^ (in the breviaries Volocus), thence to the Gwallawc of
the Cymric bards, and the older Golgacus of the Romans, its
Cymric root being gwalc, " the hawk of battle."
It is amusing to find how tradition travesties facts. It has
been generally accepted that the root of M'Culloch is the Gaelic
cullach, " a boar," and gravely stated that a Galloway chief who
attracted notice by his valour at the Crusades had carried a
boar as his device, whence Cullach became his nam de guerre.
When returning home he was specially commended to William
the Lion by Godfrey de Bouillon, who forthwith gave him the
lands of Myrton, Glasserton, and Auchnaught ; and he, adopting
M'Culloch as his surname, christened his son Godfrey after the
King of Jerusalem, a name henceforward frequent among the
M'Cullochs.
Unfortunately, besides various anachronisms, the earliest and
the only arms registered of the M'CuUochs were Ermine, a fret
ingrained gules.
A more interesting tradition is that a ruin on Auchnaught
is called by the peasantry " the hunting seat of the M'CuUochs."
This is really a Celtic reminiscence, as, although the neighbourhood
is by no means favourable to the chase, the ruins are mapped
Castle Shell, which evidently the natives understood not long ago
to be derived from seilg (hunting), just as the tribal name Selgova
^ There is a Bishop Makwolok in the Kalendars, his day being 29 th January.
Camararias places his death in 783, and names his mission as at Candida Casa.
He was known also at Balveny, Mar, etc., where he is commemorated in the
popular rhyme —
Wallaftiir in Loeie Mar,
The 80th day of Januar.
Forbes, Scottish Saints.
222 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 365
indicated hunters. The M'Cullochs had lately come into posses-
sion of Cardoness by the Water of the Fleet, as thus related :
A Border ruffian, having built up his house by violence and
rapine, took to himself a wife to perpetuate his name. His
spouse presented him with nine daughters in succession, each
new comer more unwelcome than the last After a long pause
his wife was again as ladies like to be who love their lords.
Just before her lying-in he burst into her bower and brutally
declared that, unless she produced a son, he would drown her
and her whole progeny in the Black Loch. So capable was he
thought of acting on his threat, that great was the joy of the
whole countryside, as of the old rascal himself, when a boy was
actually bom. It was midwinter, and the laird, in jovial mood,
ordered a feast to be prepared on the frozen surface of the loch.
The neighbours were bidden, and on a bright Sunday they and
his household assembled on the ice, the lady and her precious
babe being carried thither. The glass went merrily round, fun
was at its highest, when suddenly the ice collapsed ; wife, son,
and the whole bevy of daughters save one, who was ill and had
been left at home, sank fathom deep in the dark waters, the
devil claiming the wicked laird as his own.
The little heiress, on growing to womanhood, gave her hand
to a M'CuUoch, carrying to that family the lands and tower,
which thenceforth had the name of Cardoness, '' the castle of
ill-luck." 1
Besides the M*Cullochs and M*Dowalls, five families of
the Pictish blood still held lands in Galloway — the M'Clellans,
the MacEies, the MacGhies, the Accarsons, and the Ahannays.
The M'Clellans (Mhic Gille Phaolan), " sons of the servant
of St. Fillan," from whom was named the parish of Balmaclellan,
owned the two strongholds of Bomby and Eaeberry, and their
chief was afterwards created Lord Kirkcudbright.^
* Caer-douais. Donais, "mischief, misfortune, ill-luck." O'Ryley : "the
devil, evil, mischief." MacAlpine: "Miltoness is Meall-donais, 'the devil's
hill.' "
^ Arms argent, two chevrons sable. Crest, a naked man supporting on the
point of a sword a Moor's head.
to 1366] THE king's castle OF LOCHNAW 223
The MacKies (Mhic Aedh), " sons of Hugh/* owned many
lands, their chief being styled " of Larg " ; and they carried two
crows, with an arrow feathered thrust through their heads for a
bearing, in commemoration of the feat of forestry performed by
their ancestor before Eling Eobert Bruce.
The MacGhies were their cousins, the root of both names
being similar. This branch of the family became fully the
most powerful, and named the parish of Balmaghie.^
In the names of Accarson and Ahannay the a stands for
the equivalent to the Irish 0, and has been dropped by their
descendants. Of the Accarsons or Akersanes, the chief was of
Busco,^ or Glenskairesbum. These lands were carried a century
later by an heiress to the Gordons of Lochinvar.
The Ahannays or Hannays had superseded the Yipounts in
Sorby, where they long occupied a strong house; as also at
Kirkdale, in the Stewartry.*"
Of Anglo-Normans Sir Walter Stewart, son of Sir John
Stewart of Dalswinton, certainly possessed Garlics at this date,
but it is doubtful if the family, as yet, were often or ever resi-
dent in Galloway.*
The Grordons (of whom more presently) ranged the Forest ot
Glenkena The Vaux were established in Wigtownshire, the
Herries at Terregles, and the Maxwells on the Nith.
As a strong supporter of kingsmen in the shire. Sir John
Kennedy warred sturdily on the northern marches, and in
^ The bearings of the MacGhies differed entirely from that of the MacKies,
being three leopards' heads, or.
' Rusco (Riascach), marshy. Carsan is a living Celtic word for hoarse or
asthmatic.
' Hannay is apparently an aspirated form of Sennach, a name common in the
Kalendars, probably derived from sean, *'old, venerable." Seannach is *^ lucky,
fortunate, crafty."— O'Reilly.
The Ahannays carried argent, three roebucks* heads, azure, collared, or with
a bell pendant, gules.
^ The Stewarts had a charter of Garlics for the battle of the Largs. Sir John,
as above, had a chai-ter of renewal from Randolph, Earl of Moray. In October
1896 a contract was entered into between Sir Walter Stewart of Dalswinton and
Garlies, and Sir William Stewart, Sheriff of Teviotdale, that Marian, daughter
and heiress of Sir Walter, should many John, son and heir of Sir William. —
Wood, i. 116.
224 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a,D. 1 365- 1 366
1365 his son. Sir Gilbert, acquired Cruggleton, Polton, and the
two Broughtons.^
An important element in the Constable's society were the
fraternities of Soulseat and Glenluce, whose lordly abbots took
their places with the baronage in the field, the banqueting
hall, and the council board.
There were also at this date many lands in occupation of
the Elnights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, some of
which had previously been held by the Knights Templars, to
whom they had fallen heirs. '' Hospital " then had a wider
sense than a place for the treatment of the sick, the hospice
being a house of entertainment for the stranger and the traveller.
Near Lochnaw was the Spittal Croft of Craichmore (now Burgess
Croft);* Portes-spittal under Nashantee, "old houses," of the
Novantee, near Agricola's Doon of Kildonan ; Spittal, between
Kirkcowan and Wigtown ; Temple-Croft, Kirkmaiden ; Temple-
lands, Sorby ; with St. John's Croft adjacent ; St John's town,
now Dairy, on the river Ken ; and St John's Croft, the site of
the burgh of Stranraer.
At the coming of the Agnews Malcolm Fleming, Earl of
Wigtown, a man of mark and character, had died, or was dying,
and was succeeded by a grandson, Thomas, who has the character
of being weak, and who had long been a hostage in England for the
King of Scotland's ransom. He succeeded his grandfather before
1365, when he had a renewal of the grant of his earldom, in which
the king expressly reserved the regality jurisdictions held by the
first earl, which he now granted by commission to the Agnews.*
^ Concerning this name it is out of all doubt the same proceeded from the
name Eennethe. — Pitcairne.
' In the Lochnaw charter chest is a charter by Sir William Knowlys, dated
from the Preceptory of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, of "a certain croft,
the Temple Land, vulgerly called the Spittal Croft of Craighmore," dated from
Torfichen, cireum 1487.
' Charter to Thomas Fleming, heir au Counte de Wigton. — Fr. David IL
Perth, 25 Jan. 1865-6.
Sciatis nos dedisse et restituisse Thome Flemjmg totum comitatum de
Wygtoun cum pertinenciis . . . sicut quondam Malcolmus avus pnedicti Thome
tenuit, salvo quod jus regalitatis in ipso comitatu non habeat, aut ipsa regalitate
utatur, ^2^771 ex certa caiisa in suspe7iso remanere volumus. — OrecU Seal Regitter,
CHAPTER XII
THE DOUGLAS AT LOCHNAW
A.D. 1366 to 1424
Grim Douglasse answered him agayne
With great words up on hee,
I have twenty men against they one,
Behold, and thoa mayest see.
Border Ballads,
From the appointment of the Agnews to the keeping of Lochnaw
by David II. to their restoration (after having been ousted by
Earl Douglas) by James I., a hiatus occurs in family records as
to the dates of the successions and marriages of three generations.
Charter evidence, however, suggests their connections dur-
ing that period to have been with the Vauss, the Campbells,
M'Dowalls, and Adairs.
The Vauss (Vaux, de Val, de Valibus) had been Norman
neighbours of the Agnews; Vaux, whence their name, lying
near Bayeux, almost adjoining Les deux Jumeaux; and we
have already noted the association of the families on English
soil, an acquaintance to be renewed in Galloway.
The first Vans of Bambarroch was a son or nephew of
William de Vans of Dirleton ; another son of whom, Alexander,
was inducted into a living in Gralloway in 1381, and was
afterwards consecrated bishop ; his brother or cousin marrying
the heiress of Bambarroch circum 1384^
1 Alexander Vans was possessed of Church livings in Galloway as early as
the year 1381, and was consecrated bishop of that diocese in 1420. — Cor. of Sir
Patrick JFaus.
VOL. I Q
226 HEREDITARy SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 366
Previous to this, however, we find mention of an Andrew
Vans — as a Galloway baron — who fell at Poictiers 1356, fight-
ing against the English.^ And this date is perfectly consistent
with the possibility of his having left a daughter of an age
eligible for the wife of the first constable of Lochnaw.
In 1368 Archibald Douglas received hereditary gift of all
the Crown lands in Galloway eastward of the Cree, and the
rights of the Earldom of Wigtown were soon about to drop into
his hands through the unfitness of its holder. This result was
hurried on by a series of insults which we cannot but suspect
the grim Archibald of encouraging. The last of these insults,
whence Fleming's disappearance from Galloway, reads like a
comedy. But it is quite obvious such pranks could not have
been played with impunity had the Earl of Wigtown not lost
the sympathy of his neighbours.
A cadet of the house of Dunure, Alexander Kennedy, closely
connected with the baronage of the Ehynns, who, from his
readiness to unsheathe his blade, was nicknamed Alschunder
Dealgour (Sandy of the Dagger), having quarrelled with Fleming,
committed such serious depredations on his land that the earl,
in a rage, determined to take him dead or alive ; or, as quaintly
expressed by the chronicler, " This Alschunder fell in mislyk-
ing with the Erll of Wigtoune, quha wes ane werry gritt manne,
and had ane gritt force in all the country, and wes so far
ofifenditt at him that he ofiferitt to any that wald bring this
AJlexanderis heid, thai suld have the fourty markland of
Stewarttoune in Cuninghame ! " This coming to Alexander's
ears, he had the titles of the estate drawn up in legal form,
** heflfand all his rycht of the said xl mark land put in forme,"
" and convening to the number of ane hundred horse," he rode
all night, timing his arrival at Wigtown for Yule-day mom,
^ A French historian, writing of the period, says: ''Dans ce temps-l& le
Ck)mte de Douglas et son fr^re Archinbald Seigneur de Gallovay renait avec trois
mille Ecossais au secours du Roi. lis firent bon service a la Bataille de Poictiers.
Des hommes de marque furent tucs, — Andre Stevart tr^s jeune mais tr^ brave —
Robert Gordon d'une grande famille — Andr6 Vans de Gallovay le fr^re d'armes du
Seigneur Archinbald. Le comte ^chappa mais Archinbald fat pris." — ffist, des
Jialheurs de la France soits le Roi Jean : Paris, chez Bard, 1611, vol. ii. 103.
to 1424] THE DOUGLAS AT LOCHNAW 227
at the hour he knew the earl likely to be at morning mass.
Bursting into the church, his charter in his hand, "My lord,"
he exclaimed, "you have promised this 40 mark land to who-
ever will bring you my head, and who so meet to oflfer it to
your lordship as your humble servant ? And therefore I will
desire your lordship to keep your word to me, as you would to
any other." His dagger dangled at his side, the spurs and
scabbards of his followers clanked on the pavement as they
crowded in behind him. "The earl perceived that gif he re-
fused it would cost him his lyffe, and therefore took pen and
subscribed the same." "Alexander thanked his lordship, and
taking his horse, lap on, and came his ways." ^
That the earl should have been cowed and despoiled by such
a daring roysterer, we can readily conceive. But what were
the Sheriffs of Ayr and Wigtown about that he was not tracked,
and obliged to surrender his person and his charter to superior
force?
No hue or cry was raised ; no blast of the horn denounced
him rebel ; no kingsman stirred to avenge the majesty of the
law. Alschunder profited at least as much by Fleming's
unpopularity as by his own audacity. The officials of Wigtown
and the shire of Ayr shrugged their shoulders, whilst Douglas,
who could easily have righted his feUow peer, laughing in his
sleeve, offered to relieve him of his responsibilities.
As a result, Fleming, disgusted with the Galloway baronage,
who on their part openly despised him, fell in with the grim
Archibald's proposal* A bargain was speedily concluded. For
£500 he surrendered his lands, his castle, his powers and privi-
leges, his very title (though this last was not eventually confirmed
by the king), to Archibald, who thenceforth became Lord Para-
^ History qf ths Kennedys^ p. 5. How far the story is founded on fact, it
wonld now be difficult to trace, but it is certain that the Earl of Wigtown made
a grant of the town of EyrkyntuUach to Sir Gilbert Kennedy, which was con-
firmed 13th May 1372.— A;^. Mag, Sig. 104: Pitcaim, ffist. 0/ Kennedys, 79.
' In the charter conveying his lands and offices to Douglas, dated 6th February
1871, Fleming expressly gives as the cause of his leaving, '* propter magnam
atque gravem inimicitiam inter me et majores indigenos diet! Comitatus." — Craw-
ford's Peeragef 409.
228 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 366
mount both east and west of Cree, and gave special pro-
minence to his style of Lord of Galloway.
His epithet "grim" notwithstanding/ there can be no
manner of doubt that the change from Fleming to Douglas
was for the advantage of the province, the sinister memories
attaching to his castle of Threave ^ belonging not to himself,
but to his great-grandchildren.
The death of David 11. in 1371 farther increased the
prestige of the Douglasses, as it was not until they had been
conciliated that the king's nephew could ascend the throne as
Robert 11.' It altered also considerably the status of all
Galloway officials who had held appointments directly &om
the king. For although Archibald* governed in the king's
name, he considered himself solely responsible for order, with
the right of appointment to all offices vacant, requiring all
Crown vassals to acknowledge himself as their superior.
It was, however, an object with Archibald to make his
service popular, and attach the baronage to his person. Him-
self a veritable Paladin, formidable in the field, and as sagacious
as he was strong, he easily won the admiration of the chivalry
of the province, who freely enrolled themselves imder his
banners, their tastes being constantly gratified by adventurous
wdds, in which they not only lived well at the enemy's expense,
but returned to their homes laden with spoils.
Meanwhile a son had succeeded the first Constable of Loch-
naw, in the keeping of which he was in no way interfered with by
the Lord of Threave ; and there is reason to believe, although
all charters have disappeared, that the family had extended their
^ ^'Archibaldus dictus Grym sive tenibilis." — Bowmaker, CorUinuaHon of
Fordun, bk. zv. ch. xi.
Archibald the Grim was a natural son of the Good Sir James. He married
the daughter and heiress of Thomas Murray, Earl of Bothwell, on succeeding
to whose estates he assumed the three stars, the oognisance of the Murrays, in
addition to those of Douglas, argent a chief azure.
' Tref. (Gym.)» Treabth (Geltic), an equivalent of Aros, ''a house, a home-
stead." The Pictish evidently here approached the Gymric Various deeds in
the Lochnaw charter chest are dated '' Apud Treyf."
' King Robert II. was the only chUd of Walter Stewart by the Princess
Marjorie, King Robert I. 'a daughter.
to 1424] THE DOUGLAS AT LOCHNAW 229
possessions eastward of Lochiyan, and had become possessed of
the lands of Croach and Laight Alpyn.^ Concurrently with the
succession of this generation, William Douglas, a natural son of
Archibald, was entrusted with the management of Galloway affairs.
The first swordsman of his day, handsome, hearty, and
accessible, he was singularly fitted to take the lead in the raids
and revels of the period. Fcdthfully followed by the youth of
the province, he soon made himself such a name that, what
with his prowess and good looks, he proved a successful rival to
the King of France, whose hand the Princess Egidia, the fairest
lady of her day, is said to have refused, for love of this Galloway
knight.
A chronic war, due tp the private rivalry of border chiefs,
raged for years, which, owing to the prowess of Archibald and
William, turned usually to the advantage of the Galwegians.
In 1378, an English army were carrying all before them in
the eastern counties, under Sir Thomas Musgrave, when the
Douglasses fell unexpectedly upon them. The Galwegians,
couching their lances, charged with the cry of " Douglas and St
Giles ! " * with a fury which bore down all opposition ; almost
all the English gentlemen of foitune being taken prisoners and
held to ransom.
A meeting being agreed upon between the Lord of Galloway
and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, to arrange a truce,
this was kept for the appointed time, but the moment it expired
Douglas pounced upon and took the castle of Lochmaben, which
^ The Agnews of Croach on Lochryan were cadets of Lochnaw, in whose
fitvour these lands were detached from the family estates as early as eireum
1460. But though they notoriously so received them and held possession for
three hundred years, all charters connected with these transactions have been
lost
' Then they shouted their war-cry, which I think was "Douglas and St.
Giles ! " — Froissart, i. 224. St Giles was patron saint of Edinburgh, Egidia was
its feminine form. . . . The conduct of the Douglasses in these wars is thus de-
scribed by Froissart: "Sir Archibald Douglas was a good knight, and much
feared by his enemies. When near to the English, he dismounted and wielded
before him an immense sword, and gave such terrible strokes, none were so
hardy among the English as to be able to withstand his blows. The battle was
sharp, the Scots took seven score good prisoners, and the pursuit lasted to the
Tweed."— Froissart, L 225.
230 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 366
had long been in their hands. Further, following after them
with clouds of light horsemen, the terrible Archibald recovered
also the part of Teviotdale which the English had held since the
battle of Durham.
In these years the ranks of the baronage of Western
Galloway were recruited by the arrival of the Dunbars. As
early as 1368 George Dunbar, second son of the ninth Earl of
March, had a charter of lands in the Glenkens and Mochrum,
but usually resided at Cumnoch or Blantyre in the shire of Ayr,
By Alicia, daughter of Mure of Bowallan, he had two sons, to
the second of whom, Patrick, drcum 1375, he gave the lands of
Mochrum, upon which his family continuously resided.
The Earl of Fife, and James, Earl of Douglas, attacking the
English in the east, Douglas, as a diversion, burst with his
Galwegians unexpectedly on the lake districts of Cumberland,
which, lying beyond the usual limits of border raids, afforded
a rich booty to his army, who plundered the quiet homesteads
with a will, ransacking wardrobes, cellars, butteries, and chapels.
Wyntoun's minute description (who gives the date 1386) is worth
attention :
And Schyre Archebald that than was
0£f Qallway Lord : assemblyd then
Thai war welle thretty thowsand men.
Thai swne passyd Sullway ;
Syne till Kokyrmowth held thai
Between the Fellis and the b^
Thare thai fand a hale cuntr^
And in all gudis abowndand.
For na ware was in till that land,
Syne Robert the Brwys deyd away.
Than all that cuntr^ can thai pray
And duelt thre dayis in till that land^
Quhill thai had fillyd welle thare hand.
Syne held than thai hame thair wayis
Wyth thare eupresoneys and thare prays,
And passyd Sullway but tynsell,
For thai war wysly led and welle.^
The mention of Cockermouth, and between the " Fellis and
a6" suggests that this expedition was partly a naval one, and
shipping would greatly facilitate the removal of their prey.
^ Wyntoun, bk. ix. ch. vii.
to 1424] THE DOUGLAS AT LOCHNAW 231
Other successes attended this campaign, the leading spirit
being Sir William Douglas, then, as styled by Wyntoun, " a joly
bachelare," but an ardent wooer too, and that of the beautiful
Princess Egidia. He had now so greatly distinguished him-
self that the king no longer withheld his consent to his
marriage with his daughter, who returned his love. Their
nuptials were duly celebrated, and returning to Carlisle the
knight proudly presented his bride to his comrades of a hundred
tuilzies, thanking them for assisting him to win her,^ and forth-
with Egidia reigned supreme, the queen of all their hearts.
Her honeymoon was to have been spent in camp, but was
fated to be of the shortest duratioa News reached Carlisle
from the west that a band of Ulstermen were harrying the
Ehynns in the absence of its defenders, and leisurely freighting
their ships with whatever they chose to carry off. Great was
the indignation of the Galwegian mosstroopers on learning that
a set of Irish gallowglasses had so presumed to ape their doings
on the Derwent, and still greater their exasperation when,
having made all possible speed, the royal bride heading the
column as their forest queen, they only reached their destina-
tion in time to see the sails of the laden ships disappearing in
the offing.
So great was the energy of William Douglas that in an
incredibly short time shipping was collected sufficient to carry
five hundred spearmen across the channel. Availing himself of
the castle of Lochnaw as a place of safety for Egidia, and
leaving her with the keeper's lady (whose husband we may be
sure accompanied him), he tracked the retiring raiders along the
Ulster shores, and followed them into Carlingford.' Here he
^ William, bofise son to Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, for his
singalar valour and reiterate victories against the Englishe both by sea and
land, Kyng Robert did give him his daughter Geilles, a werry beautiful ladye, in
marriage. — Balfour, ISl.
The king settled £300 annually out of the customs of the great towns, dilecto
et fideli nostro Wilhelmo de Douglas militi filio Domini Archibald! de Douglas,
Domini Qalwidii et Egidiss carissimss filise nostri. 26th December 1386.
' Five hnndyrd fechtares as I heard say
At Earlyngford arrived thai.
Wyntoun, bk. ix. ch. vii.
232 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 3 66
tx)ok the town by assault, and recovering his spoil, laid it under
contribution ; and by his personal prowess and strength
repelled an attack made on him unawares by troops from
Dundalk
Considering this attack treacherous, he seized all the ship-
ping in the port, and loading it with the spoil, set fire to the place,
and stood out to sea with his prizes.
Having thus revenged himself on the Irish he remembered
he had some old scores to settle at the Isle of Man.
Landing there, he seized more ships, filling them also with
goods and animals, and then, although in sight of Burrow-
head, on the Isle of Whithorn, making a long detour by the Mull
of Galloway, and rounding CorswaU Point, his large flotilla
rode in triumph in the calm waters of Loch Eyan.
That he took this course, which quadrupled the distance and
added indefinitely to the dangers of the voyage, is easily but
only to be accounted for by reading between the lines and
remembering that the Lady Egidia was waiting for him near
these distant waters, and doubtless, daily from the Tawar, watch-
ing for the arrival of the avenging squadron.
Ehyming and graver historians are equally minute in de-
scribing the circuitous route taken, and that they returned to,
as they had started from Loch Eyan : ^
Syne bi se thair trade took thai
Till Man and Harryde it in thair way
And syne arrywyd in Loch Ryane.
Wyntoun, bk. ix. ch. viii.
Shortly after this William Douglas led his Galwegians
across the western marches to assist his father Archibald. And
whilst there, James, Earl Douglas, heading a column farther
eastward, was killed at Otterburn.
By ordinary rules llis title should have passed to the Earl
of Angus ; but these were not ordinary times, and Archibald
Douglas was no ordinaiy man. He demanded legitimisation,
^ Buchanan is equally explicit : '*Atque obiter MannisB insula spoliatns ad
Lacmn Rianum qui partem GalloTideae et Caractse diremit, appellunf
to 1424] THE DOUGLAS AT LOCHNAW 233
basing his demand on the right of the sword. The Galloway
barons declared for him to a man ; they were actually in the
field ready and able to uphold him against all comers. The
king consequently formally ratified the claim he was powerless
to refuse.^
If Archibald had been almost equal in power to King
Bobert II. before he was served heir to his kinsman, after it he
was practically master of the situation. And two years later
Eobert III. had to give the hand of the Princess Eoyal to the
eldest son of his great feudatory as the price of his acquiescence
in his own coronation.
But whilst Archibald asserted himself as Lord Paramount
in Gralloway, barring all interference or appeal, his rule, though
despotic, was just, and his ideas of government far in advance
of his age. He habitually assembled his baronage in local
parliament, when laws were discussed, framed, and promulgated,
regulating intercourse across the Borders, military service, the
keeping and burning of bales, and general order. And so well
and 80 long was peace preserved under this system that young
William Douglas, despairing of finding fighting nearer home,
foolishly accepted an invitation from certain fire-eating Teutonic
knights to assist in a war against infidel Prussians, and sailed
for Dantzic, never to return. He fell in a few days after landing,
not in battle, but by the hand of an assassin. Though Quixotic
in his contempt for a quiet life, his untimely death was a real
loss to Galloway, where high and low long mourned him as a
friend.*
He had long acted as his father's right band man, and by the
tact and kindliness of his disposition so administered affairs as
to occasion the least possible friction between the ruler and
ruled, between the autocratic overlord and those who claimed
to be Crown vassals.
^ The lact being that Archibald, Lord of Oalloway, was a bastard, how came
he to be Earl Douglas ? The answer must be by the grant of Bobert II. —
CdUdofdaf iii. 267.
' The customs of the wool of Galloway is remitted to Egidia, daughter of the
king, in her widowhood. — Exchcg^iier Soils, 1401.
234 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 366
After his death the demands of the Douglas, if not more
peremptory, were more harshly pressed, their tenour being that
all oflBcials, whether appointed by the Crown or not, must
acknowledge him as their sole superior. In Kirkcudbright he
altered the style of Sheriff to Steward, as marking the holder as
his personal officer. The baronage also were desired to renew
their titles to their lands from himself under pain of confiscation.^
Most of the lairds complied. M'Douall of Grarthland being
among the first, was treated with distinction, and not only
confirmed in his estates but named Steward of Kirkcudbright
Agnew of Lochnaw, whether from real afiTection to the king,
or emboldened by his close relations with the Kennedys, who
were near at hand, and the distance and strength of his keep,
neglected to bring in his commissions to be checked at Threave,
and Douglas sent to fetch him. According to tradition, Archibald
found his fortalice a harder nut to crack than he had expected.
It was a far ciy from Threave to Lochnaw, and the ways none
of the easiest.
An inland road by Knockwhassan, under the beaten hill of
Dindinnie,^ leads to Lochnaw by the valley of the Piltanton.
Here the Agnews lay in ambush for a party of the Douglasses
who were coming to attack them. A fight ensued, both being
^ A tissue of nonsense has been written on this subject, as if Douglas went
from house to house demanding charters, and burning them maliciously. In the
first place, the native proprietors held allodially, and therefore had none ; in
the second, the actual charter was as valueless to himself as he declared it to be
to the proprietor. He asserted himself superior. If any one declined to accept
his lands from him, because held from the Crown, he simply confiscated
them, and put a vassal of his own in possession. Crawford, the antiquary, writes
such stuff as this: ''It is impossible that old charters could be preserved in
that country ; what might have escaped the mighty Edward were more fully
rifled by Archibald, Lord of Galloway. This is the reason that, although
there be many ancient families in Galloway, yet not one gentleman has any
writings preceding the time that the lordship of Galloway came to the house of
Galloway."— Jf^S'/S'. Hist, of the M'DmocdU of Oarthland,
^ The tradition as told is that the M'Ewans had then lately come from Aigyle.
We should naturally have supposed that a victorious party of Highlanders would
have been more likely to have kept the arms and thrown the men into the moss
hole. Knockwhassan, Cnoc-chasan, "the hill of the pathway"; Dindinnie,
Dun-teinie, *'fort of the fires"; Lochnafolie, Loch-na-fola, ''lake of the
blood."
to 1424] THE DOUGLAS AT LOCHNAW 235
well matched, when a stalwart band of M'Ewans, holding under
the former, took the Douglasses in the rear, who were made
prisoners to a man. Having stripped them of their arms, they
let them go, and afraid of retaining what might afterwards prove
evidence against them, threw the weapons into a flow moss,
called Loch-na-folie.
Whether this little episode is to be believed or not, there
could but be one result to the unequal strengtL The earl had
but to beleaguer the island a few days more or less to starve the
garrison into an unconditional surrender.
His day of triumph came. And considering the standard
by which the actions of oflfended potentates were then weighed,
it cannot be said that the earl treated the constable with any
wanton cruelty. He allowed him to leave with his family un-
molested, and go where he pleased; though he dealt more
roughly with the castle, firing whatever was combustible in its
massive structure, and toppling over the battlements whence
the flag had flown in defiance of his summons.^
Traditionally it is said that the Agnews when driven from
Lochnaw retired to their lordship of Lame.''* Possibly they did,
if they still possessed it. Though we believe that their journey
was much shorter, whether by land or water, and merely across
Loch Eyan to their lands of Groach. But however this may
have been, the constable lost little time in repairing to Court to
lay his grievances before the king. Sobert III. doubtless ex-
pressed much sympathy, but could give him no assistance,
whether with money or men. He, however, allowed him to
remain at Court, whether with or without an appointment,
where he was fortunate enough to attract the favourable notice
^ As stated airtly by the chronicler : " Reg. Davidis 2di, a son of ye Lord
Agnews, gott the keeping of the king's Castell of Lochnaw. His great grand-
child wes opprest by the Erie of Douglas, by whom the Castell of Lochnaw wes
blown up." — Mackenzie MSS., Advocates' Library, Edinburgh.
' ''The Agnews of Lochnaw being dispossessed by Archibald the Grim, and
their lands given to William Douglas, emigrated beyond his influence to Ireland.
But not liking their new place of abode, the father and son removed to the Court
of Robert III. at Perth, the former becoming a member of the royal household,
and the latter having the good fortune to attract the notice of the king's
daughter Margaret." — Chron, 0/ Linduden, 63.
236 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 366
of the Princesses Margaret and Mary. He assisted probably at
the marriages of both — ^the elder to Archibald Douglas, son and
heir of his terrible lord; the latter to George, first Earl of
Angus (the date of which is 24th May 1397), and afterwards to
a Kennedy of Dunura
Meanwhile the jurisdictions of the Agnews and their lands
of Lochnaw were bestowed on William Douglas (probably an
illegitimate grandson of the earl), who took possession of the
shattered keep, styling himself " Constable, and also SheriflF, of
Wigtown."
Shortly after these summary proceedings, the great Archibald
himself passed to his last account (1401).^
Heavy as his hand had fallen on our ancestor, candour
obliges us to repudiate the charges local authors have somewhat
loosely heaped upon him. In truth, he was neither brutal nor
rapacious. He was religious according to his light, and in his
administration as between man and man was scrupulously just.
Two indictments against him have been repeated ad Tiauseam
in exaggerated terms of reprobation. One, that, as an ogre
greedy of old charters, he went from house to house, where, if
his unnatural appetite was unsatisfied, he battered down the
walls to get at them. This we have already shown to be ridicu-
lous. The other, that he laid a tax on every parish of a fat
heifer yearly, to be salted for winter provisions for his garrison.
The record of this "vile oppression" being usually accompanied
by such a sensational sentence as, " Woe be to those who refuse
to pay." It is too absurd to talk of one bullock from a whole
parish yearly as oppressive.
His character as given by Froissart, an observant and im-
partial contemporary, may be accepted as a fair one : " Most
^ Earl Archibald married Johanna, daughter and heiress of Thomas Moray,
Lord of Bothwell. In her right he introduced into his shield the three stars so
well known afterwards as the Douglas achievement. His arms previously were
argent, a chief azure.
The Bothwells held the office of "Panetarius Scotiie." In a charter to his
father, who married King Robert I.'s sister, the office is written in the vernacular
" pantryman." ** Charter by Andrew Murray, pantryman, and Christian Brace,
his spouse." — Robertson s Index,
to 1424] THE DOUGLAS AT LOCHNAW 237
upright was he in judgment, yet severe ; faithful to his word ;
recommended to fame as much bj his wisdom as his valour."
His successor, also Archibald, is distinguished from the grim
Earl as the Tyneman, a soubriquet, we suspect, in facetious
allusion to his loss of an eye, and another member, even more
important, at the battle of Homildon.^
At this battle, fought in Northumberland 14th September
1401, he received five severe wounds, and was taken prisoner,
as well as his brother-in-law Angus ; and of the Galloway
baronage, Fergus M'Dowall of Garthland, Roger Gordon of
Lochinvar, and Eobert Stewart of Durisdeer.^
Earl Douglas was released by his captor, Percy, on condi-
tion of his assisting him in an attack on his own king. The
Lord of Galloway asked nothing better, but was again taken
prisoner whilst performing this engagement.
Henry IV. of England quickly released him on his sending
thirteen knights as hostages for his ransom, among whom were
Sir Herbert Maxwell of Caerlaverock and Sir John Herries of
Terregles.
Douglas's brother-in-law Angus, less fortunate, died whDst
still a prisoner, and the hand of the Princess Mary being free,
she gave it to James, son of Sir John Kennedy of Dunure.
A most scandalous stoiy of how the princess was wooed
was put into circulation by a member of another branch of
the Kennedys, which has developed into a spurious tradition,
the absurdities and anachronisms of which are patent : '* King
James I. send ane of his dochters to the Laird of Donour to
foster, quha remaynit with him quhill sche was ane woman.
At the quhilk time the ladyis owen son heffing mair creditt
in his moderis house nor her stepsone, being in luff with the
young ladye, gettis her with baime. The king her father being
far offendit thairatt, could find no better way nor to cause him
1 Home of Godscroft gives the reason for the nickname, "in that he tint
all his men, and all the battles that he fought." But this is opposed to fact.
He was an able and redoubtable commander, and his serrices notoriously com-
peted for by the kings of France and England, as well as by his own.
* Dorus-darie, ** door of the oakwood," i,e. entrance to the forest.
238 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 366
marie her. And sa the Laird Donour deshereist his eldest sone,
and made his second son laird." ^
We have here a tissue of untrutha The princess was not
fostered at Donore; her first visit there was as a widow.
James, her husband, was the eldest son and natural heir
to his father. The only slight plank on which the scandal
originally floated was that James Kennedy was actually killed
some years later by an illegitimate brother, who may or may
not have been older than himself.^
James and the princess had three sons, — John, Gilbert, James,
— and probably one daughter only, as their married life extended
little over four years.*
We are enabled to fill in a few details as to the Galloway
baronage from the record of courts held at Threave. In 1403
the Earl issued a precept of sasine to Thomas Herts, Steward
of Kirkcudbright, desiring him to infeft Sir Archibald Gordon
in the lands of Kenmure, as heir to his father Boger, killed at
Homildon.
Previous to 1411 we find a charter of confirmation to Sir
John Stewart and Elizabeth his daughter of the lands of
Cally,* witnessed by William Douglas of Leswalt, Thomas
M*Culloch of Myrtoun, Fergus M'Dowall of Garthland, Alex-
ander Gordon of Lochinvar, John Keith, and Alexander Cairns,
Provost of Lincluden. A tombstone of this provost, a valued
and trusted servant of the earl, who styles him *' Cancellarius
noster," was lately recovered under a heap of rubbish in the
Lady Margaret's Chapel at Lincluden — a massive slab of red
^ Historie of the Kenedys, Pitcairn, 6.
' '* Only one wife of Sir Gilbert Kennedy is mentioned in any of his charters,
Agnes Maxwell; and she is described as mother of all his children except Gilbert,
John, and Roland, these being called to the saccession failing heirs-male of Sir
Gilbert's body lawfully begotten.'* — HistoricaZ Account of Kennedies from Char-
tws, 18-17.
' In all peerages and genealogies extant — Douglas, Wood, Pitcairn, and the
History from Charters — all daughters are omitted for four generations, though
there notoriously were many.
^ Cally, anciently Ealacht, Girthon. " Galadh," a port or landing-place. A
dispensation to the Elizabeth named, to marry her cousin Alexander Stewart, was
granted by the Pope in 1411, which fixes the date.
to 1424] THE DOUGLAS AT LOOHNAW 239
freestone, 8 feet by 4, bearing this touching appeal to the
passer by : " Tou that have (unwittingly) trodden upon my
body, pray for my soul " — " Qui me caleatis pedibus prece sub-
veniatis."
In 1414 Fergus M*Dowall resigned his lands of Gairach-
loyne, Lochans, and Longan, into his superior's hands, who there-
upon reconveyed them by charter to his son Thomas, in presence
of Sir William Douglas of Eskford, Sir John Herries of Ter-
regles, Sir Alexander Gordon of Kenmure, Master Alexander
Cairns, and John a-Kersone of Glen.
In the Lochnaw charter chest a writ of the earVs, dated
20th October 1421, confirms a deed of John de Crawford de
Trarinzean to his cousin John de Cairns, scutifer to the earl,
and son of "William Cairns, of the lands of Cults, in the parish
of Cruggleton, he paying yearly therefor a silver penny in name
of blench farm. Though the pedigree cannot be traced, it is
very possible that this De Cairns was an ancester of Lord
Chancellor Earl Cairns. Before this, between 1415 and 1420,
Alexander Vans was consecrated Bishop of Galloway, in right
of which he became superior of a large tract of Church lands,
as well as of the stronghold in the island which gives its name
to the parish of Inch.
CHAPTEE XIII
THE DUCHESS OF TOURAJNE
A.D. 1424 to 1440
After drought commeyth rayne,
After plesor oommetlie payne,
But yet it contynyth nyt boo ;
For after rayne commyth drocht agayne,
And joye after payne and woe.
The second Archibald neither developed his father's adminis-
trative talents nor his liking for Galloway. His forte lay in the
direction of armies in the field ; and wearying of Threave, after
first coquetting with the warlike Henry V. of England, who
would fain have persuaded him to change his allegiance, he
came to terms with Charles VII. of France, the career thus
opening before him being more in consonance with Scottish
tradition.
This settled, committing the management of his affairs,
public and private, to his countess, he sailed for France. There
his reception was of the warmest, the king at once appoint-
ing him lieutenant-general of the kingdom, creating him Duke
of Touraine, and investing him heritably in the lands of the
duchy.
He enjoyed these dignities but a short time, as he fell in
the battle of Yemeuil — against the English under the Duke of
Bedford— the I7th of August 1424.
By his will the superiority of Galloway devolved not upon
his son, now fifth earl, but upon his widow ; and as, almost
simultaneously with her husband's death, James I., her brother.
A.D. 1 424-1440] THE DUCHESS OP TOURAINE 241
was released from his long captivity, all rights and privileges
connected with this lordship were confirmed by the king in
their fullest sense to his '^ beloved sister"; (carissima nostra
Margharita soror) ; and she, being henceforth known as Duchess
of Touraine, ruled for nearly twenty years at Threave, a veri-
table queen«
Prominent among the members of her household, each of
whom she addresses as her beloved squire (scutifer, the modern
equivalent of which would probably be equerry), by a rather
strange coincidence were Andrew Agnew, son of the constable
driven from Lochnaw, and William Douglas, who was in the
enjoyment of his rights.
Both gentlemen seem to have been on the best of terms,
though William styled himself " sheriff " and retained possession
of Lochnaw. There is reason to believe that the Agnews had
been left undisturbed by the Douglasses in any of their lands
which were unconnected with the constabulary, and at this
moment the duchess's squire, when not in attendance on that
lady, seems to have resided in the manor-place on the island
which gives its name to the parish of Inch.^ In this old
strength we find him, a.d. 1426, completing the purchase of
certain tofts and crofts, as well as a mill, described as all Ijring
"between the torrents in the Barony of Innermessan," which we
take to mean between the stream that discharges from the lochs
of Inch and the Galloway Bum.
His new purchases adjoined the lands of Croach and Laight
Alpyn, which he probably already possessed, and it is an im-
doubted fact that beyond all memory of man the Agnews owned
the castle and old moat of Innermessan. Though no charter of
its acquisition is extant,^ there is frequent record of its occupa-
tion by them, as well as of its alienation to the Earl of Stair.
^ The superiority of this strength, as well as of wide lands in the parish, lay
with Alexander Vans as Bishop of Galloway, several of which he granted to the
Agnews in perpetual feu. It is curious that some of these have returned to
scions of the bishop's family, notably Sheuchan and Tongue, by the marriage of
a Vaus with an heiress of a branch of the Agnews.
' Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, son of the duchess's squire, disponed the lands
of Croych to his son William as early as 1460. — Exchequer Rolls,
VOL. I R
242 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 424
A decree of the Lord Auditors towards the close of the century
proves them to have had early occupation of the Aird, Culhom,
Glenhappel, and the Boreland of Soulseat, all lying in the
Inch,!
The charter of this most recent purchase bears that " Gilbert
M'Cambil and Nevin M'Gilbar, burgesses of the burgh of Inner-
messan, dispone the mill of Innermessan and certain tofts
and crofts to Andrew Aignew* and his heirs for ever." And
because the former has no seal of his own he borrows that
" of an honourable man, Thomas M'Dowell of Garslew." And
the latter also having no seal, " appends that of Sir Alexander
Cambil, Lord of Corsevel, provost of the said burgh. Wit-
nessed at the Inch the 14th day of October 1426 by Sir Patrick
M'Men, late abbot of Dundrennan, David Eoss, Gilbert M'Dowel,
Duncan M*Maycan, Andrew M'Kelli, Duncan M'Nely, and
many more."
This we believe to be the only record extant of the
ancient Berigonium having been once a regularly consti-
tuted buigh, having its provost, baillies, and burgesses,
though it has long fallen into decay. It is also interesting
to note that it is not without authority that Camden in his
Britannia styles the early Sheriffs of Galloway Agnew of the
Inch.*
At this conjuncture the Duchess of Touraine actively inter-
fered in favour of her younger equerry's* restoration to his
father's home. She offered William Douglas Cruggleton Castle,
with its lands, as a fair exchange for Lochnaw. And owing to
rumours in the wind of the young king's dealings with defaulters
^ Ada Auditorium, 1490.
' Tliifl charter being printed in the official publication of national records,
need not be quoted at length. The double g in Agnew evidently represents the
y which the Aygnells in England inserted before the g. In this, as in other early
charters, it is impossible to distinguish between a double I and a v at the end of
the word, the two being interchangeable in Scotland.
' Galloway reckoned among the sheriffdoms oyer which Agnew of the Isle
presides. — Britannici, iL 1199.
* Andrew Agnew obtained in the capacity of scutifer the good will of Lady
Margaret Stewart, Duchess of Turenne, while she enjoyed Galloway as her
dower.
to 1440] THE DUCHESS OF TOURAINE 243
in his absence, he was glad to divest himself of a dangerous
possession, getting full value in exchange.^
James I. was a man of a very diflferent mould from
Robert III., especially jealous of any assumptions of his nobility
(the duchess's son, his own nephew. Earl Douglas, had already
been committed to prison on a suspicion of misbehaviour) ; and
a whisper how William Douglas came to style himself Sheriff of
Wigtown * or Keeper of Lochnaw in defiance of royal authority
might have led to his being summarily justified on the dool
tree before that castle gate. It is significant that in the papers
which passed on this occasion William Douglas dropped the
"Vice Comes" which he had invariably subscribed himself
before the king's return, and the duchess simply styles him her
scutifer.
As the result of the duchess's gracious intervention ^ we find
Andrew Agnew on a happy day in the autumn of 1426 riding
with a party of lus kinsmen to the castle of Wigtown; where
William Douglas set his seal to charters transferring to him the
constabulary and lands of Lochnaw, and the privileges of the
barony in the fullest manner : '' By all ancient meiths and
boundaries, in ways, paths, waters, pools, with fishings, huntings,
hawkings, with power of holding courts, with herezelds, blud-
withs, and merchets of women," etc Approved and confirmed
" delecto scutifero nostro, Andrew Agnew by Maigareti, Ducisse
Turonne, Comitessi de Douglas et Domini Galvidii Apud
Treyf," and finally ratified by James I. by a charter under the
great seaL
^ William Douglas was Sheriff of Wigtown and Constable of the Castle of
Lochnaw in March 1424.— C7aZ. iiL 898. As late as March 1424 William Douglas
witnesses a charter to the Bishop of Galloway as "Vice Comes de Wigtoun." —
Oreat Seal Register,
' William Douglas held the lands of Lochnaw and constableship of the castle
thereof both which he transferred in 1426 to Andrew Agnew; he obtaining
from the said lady a charter to the lands of Balquhirry, Cults, and Craglyntown.
— Caledonia^ iiL 361.
3 Margaret, daughter of Robert IIL, after the death of her lord held the
whole lordship of Galloway. Under such rights she disposed of lands, granted
charters, confirmed possessions, and settled transfers of property as Lady
Superior. — Caledonia^ iiL 388.
244 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 424
William Douglas signs at lus castle of Wigtown 10th November
1426, styling himself Dominus de Leswalt. "Witnessed by
Alexandro Cambill Domino de Corsewel, Thoma MakDonel de
Garflen, Nigello Adare de Portre, Adam de Dalzel de Elliotston,
et Magistro Gilberti de Park, Secretario." ^
The first three, kinsmen of Agnew, have before been men-
tioned. Adam de Dalzel was second son of Sir John de Dalzel,
ancestor of the earls of CamwortL*
Some time before this James Kennedy, husband of the
duchess's sister, the Princess Maiy, had been killed in a family
quarrel, and she had remarried Sir WiUiam Edmonstone of
Kincardine,^ leaving her children to be brought up by their
grandfather at Dunure ; and it may be well supposed that they,
and especially the only daughter, were frequent visitors of their
aunt at Threave. Here her young equerry availed himself of
his opportunities of pressing a successful suit. Her interest in
this may partly account for the haste of the kindly duchess
in effecting the restoration of Lochnaw to the intended bride-
groom.
The proposed connection with the Kennedys accounts for
her selection of the lands of Cruggleton as the exchange which
^ All these charters are printed at length in the official pahlication of the
Oreai Seal Register,
The duchess's confirming charter bears as follows :
" Quam quidem cartam officia donationem et concessionem in eadem contentas
in omnibus suis punctis, articulis, conditionibus, modis ac circnmstanciis, appro-
bamus, ratificamus et pro nobis et successoribns nostris Galvideee dominio in per-
petuam confirmamns, dilecti scutiferi nostri Andrea Agnew, in feode et hereditate in
perpetoam. " Recapitulating : * ' Per omnes rectas metas antiquas et di visas, in viis,
semitis, aquis, stagnis, moris, mariscis, boscis, planis, pratis, pascuis, et pasturis ;
piscationibus, venationibus, et aucupationibus ; cum curiis et eomm ezitibus,
herezeldis, bludwetis, et cum merchetis mulierum. Cum molendinibus multuris et
eorum sequelis ; cum libero introitu etiam et ezitu ac cum omnibus aliis et
singulis libertatibus, commoditatibus, asiamentis et justis pertinenciis suis
quibuscunque," etc
^ This charter of 1426 is the oldest producible in Galloway, and in the peerage
pedigrees of the Earls of Cam worth, as well as those of the M'Dowalls and Adares,
it is referred to as identifying the signatories.
' It is somewhat of a coincidence that by her third marriage the Princess
Mary became the ancestress both of the Dukes of Montrose and of Grahame of
Claverhouse, whilst by her second she was that of the Earls of Cassilis and
SheriiSis of Galloway.
to 1440] THE DUCHESS OP TOURAINE 245
she ofifered to William Douglas for Lochnaw; Sir Gilbert
Kennedy ^ having ancient rights over part of these lands, which
he concurred in relinquishing to assist in his granddaughter's
settlement.
The signing of the charter above mentioned was almost
immediately followed by the marriage, and the happy couple
repaired td the Bhynns to re-establish themselves in the old
home. On their inspection, however, of the old king's castle,
it proved to have had so severe a shaking when in the grip of
the Black Douglas, that it was easier to build another than to
repair it.
Civilisation had so far advanced that it was no longer
necessary to cling to the island as the only defensible position.
Not that raids were less frequent, but that the art of fortifica-
tion was better imderstood.
A new site was therefore chosen on a slight elevation above
the lake, by which two sides were defended, the two others
being surrounded by a moat. Here the central keep was raised
five stories high, with thick rubble walls; a continuous stair-
case of rough whinstone leading to a watch tower, adjoining
which a portion of the parapet was corbelled out so as to form
"machicoulis," or apertures in the floor closable at pleasure,
overhanging the entrance door, through which missiles could be
hurled upon assailants. Corbels also supported projections
round the chimneys, allowiag free circulation to those on the
parapets, these being pierced by spy-holes. Built at the same
time as the tower, but with slighter walls, and capable of being
shut off firom it in case of attack, was a dining hall, with a
ladies* bower above it — ^the former 28 feet 8 inches by 17 feet
6 inche& These proportions, although modest compared with
those of English barons, such as Haworth just across the
Borders, were probably larger than any in (Jalloway of the
period. Outside the court, overlooked by the keep, was the
^ He had a charter of the lands of Gruggleton, Powton, and the two
Bronghtons, 22d January 1865. — Seg. Mag. Sig.
A part of these had been granted by Earl Douglas to the monks of Whithorn,
but had been apparently resumed.
246 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 424
banukyn (Anglo-Norman barbican), serving the double purpose
of a defence of the drawbridge and place of security for cattle.
And within the outer lines were granaries, workshops, stable,
and the green.^ And again, within the courtyard were the
chapel, brewhouse, knocking-stone, hawk-perch, and the jouggs.
Happily no gallows knob disfigured the entourage, that ghastly
emblem of baronial state being relegated to the dool tree on the
island.
Altogether, the young couple at Lochnaw might truly say
the lines had fallen to them in pleasant places : overshadowed
by no more powerful neighbour, in the most cordial relations
with the lady superior, hence in favour with the king, whose
marked policy it was to support the lesser baronage against the
more powerful, beyond the reach of Border raids, secure at
nights from the prowling thief when their drawbridge was
raised, and ample calls of duty to occupy their days. House-
keeping, when everything — ^woollen work, linen work, plaidings,
embroideries, were made at home — required the lady's constant
superintendence ; who, besides the supply of the grosser wants
of the mouths and bodies of her household, was expected to
be skilled in the mysteries of the still-room, and dazzle her
neighbours with proof of her maidens' taste in coverings and
tapestry.
Whilst for the laird, a constant practice of military exer-
cises, supervising his flocks and herds over a wide range, a
holding of courts, and even the chase itself, were matters as
much of necessity as of duty. The law required every oflBcial
to have weapon-shawings four times in the year.* Every baron
was enjoined to erect bowmarks near his castle, at which his
^ A green before chiefs' residences, for drills, games, and receptions, was an
institution derived from Celtic times. It was termed "faitche," pronounced
''faha." Jamieson suggests it "as the root of 'fey,' that piece of inland on
which the dung was regularly laid and laboured." It is possible that in its
secondary sense of a green field, it may have applied to this ; but the " fey "
was the especial spot of perpetual cultivation, often called the "berefey,"
whereas the green in question was never cultivated at all, and might be more
idiomatically rendered "terrace."
^ Acts, 8 Parlt James I. ch. 27.
to 1440] THE DUCHESS OP TOURAINE 247
tenants were expected regularly to attend ; and there the lady's
presence might tend much to popularise such gatherings, and
by her smile enhance the value of the silver pennies given as
rewards.^
A statute, promulgated as late as 1427, a year later than the
period to which we refer, required the baron, '' in gang and time
of year," to chase and seek the whelps of the wolf.^ Whilst
such names within an easy walk of Lochnaw as Hind Hill and
Enocknamoak,' are suggestive of larger game than sportsmen
would now find in these coverts. Another duty of the Con-
stable of Lochnaw, which we may feel assured his lady was
pleased to share, was attendance at Threave. And we may be
aUowed to try to realise the ordering of these journeys.
The roads of the period were the old pack-horse tracks,
trodden perhaps by the beasts of burden which had supplied
Agricola's commissariat; any improvement during the inter-
vening centuries being problematical One idea governing the
selection of a line for a highway was its directness ; and so far
from taking level into consideration, steep pitches were posi-
tively preferred, as afifording some natural drainage where much
of the level country was boggy. The sole engineering work
in Galloway worthy of the name was the bridge thrown by
Dervorgille across the Nith, one end of which rested on Gallo-
way soiL
^ That the bowmarks be made be lords and barronnes ; that each man achate
sex schotts at the least ; and that all men within fiftie, and past twelve years,
use schuting : twa pennies to be given to them that comes to drink. — 14 Parlt.
James II. ch. 64.
' Ilk barronn to chase and seek quhelps of the woolfe, and gar slaie them ;
and the barronnes sail give to the man that slaies the woolfe and brings to the
barronn the head, twa shiUings ; and qnhen the barronn ordaines to hunt and
chase the woolfe, the tenants sail rise with the barronn, under the pain of a
wedder each man. — 7 Parlt James II. ch. 105. Date 1427.
Though madadh requires the addition of aUuidh to form the dictionary term
for a wolf, maddy alone is generally held in nomenclature to mean wolf, not dog.
Thus Stockamaddie, Eirkmaiden, seems exactly translated in Wolfs Slock, Cars-
phaim ; Claymoddie, Glasserton, by Wolfs Stone, Eskdale. Polmaddy, Forest of
Buchan ; Glenmaddie, New Abbey ; Gormaddie, Holywood, are the pool or pit,
glen, and hill of the wolf.
* Cnoc-na-muick, ' * knoll of the wild boar or swine." Hind Hill = Einhilt.
t}
>l
248 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 424
Other bridges, so-ctdled, were simply logs thrown across
smaller streams for foot-passengers, and causeways of mixed stone
and wattle were occasionally laid across marshes and flow mosses.
There were numerous fords where the passage had been
artificially assisted, the larger streams being crossed at estab-
lished ferries. The old establishment of these highways and
their adjuncts is proved by the hold they have on our Celtic
nomenclature.
The Pictish term for a highway is represented in Gaelic by
" bealach " ; a path, by " cassan," literally a footway ; (cos) a
causeway, by "ceis" and "ceisseath," primarily a basket or
wicker-work; also by "cliath/*^ a hurdle; a ford, by "ath
{t mute) ; a bridge, by " droichead."
As examples, Grarvalloch and Ballochrae are the ''rough
and " smooth " pass ; Ballochbeathes and Ballochrush, the road
through the birches and the brushwood; Ballochakip, through
the tree-stiunps; Ballochalee, the pass of the calves; and
Ballochjargon, the red, or bloody pass.
Cassan, from cos, a foot, appears in Elnockwhassan and
Culquhassan, the knoll and back of the pathway ; Cassandeoch
(da each), the path of the two horses; Cassanvey, of the
birches ; Cassannaw, of the ford.
Ceiseach, as a causeway, appears in Balkissoch, and Dema-
kissoch, and Knockeiche, the townland, oakwood, and knoll of
the causeway.
Cliath appears in Barely, Barchly, and the Cly — the former
translated in the Ordnance map Causeway End.
We find fords innumerable : Darnaw, Craignaw, Knocknaw,
Inshaw, popularly Lochnaw — wood, rock, knoll, island, lake of
the ford. Annacarry and Annaboglish are Ath-na-Coradh,
Boglach, ford of the weir and of the flow moss. Ashendram,
near Portpatrick, is the ford of the old ridge (whence the term
old ?) ; it crossed the Pinminnoch Bum at Enoch, meaning an
ancient place of assembly, or a fair.
^ Dublin was anciently Acly (Athcliath), ford of the hurdles. — Joyce i. 862.
This was over the Dubhlinn, the black pool, hence the city's name.
to 1440] THE DUCHESS OF TOURAINE 249
Droicharty or droichead^ a bridge, is often applied sarcastic-
ally ; a dangerous ford in the Piltanton is Drochdhuil, the
devil's bridge.^ A spot near Corswall Point, where a man at the
risk of his life might jump a chasm in the cliffs, is mapped
Drochhead. A similar gap in the beetling crags between
Castle Feather and Burrowhead is called in the vernacular,
probably a translation, the Devil's Bridge.
Drumdrochet and Kildrochat are the ridge and wood of the
bridge. Near the latter is Barsolas, indicating an eminence
where a light was placed to guide the belated traveller to this
passage of the Piltanton.^
Bardrochwood, in Minnigaff, is simply a corruption for
Bardrochat.
Let us try to picture to the mind's eye a cavalcade bent on
traversing such ways defiling across the drawbridge from
Lochnaw. The advance guard fully accoutred (for travelling
was hazardous to those not well attended), pricking forward,
their lance pennons fluttering to the breeze. A troop of little
Gralloways carrying the wardrobes and other luggage, hawks and
hounds with their keepers accompanying the party ; for where
the pace had to be regulated by baggage-drivers on foot, it was
usual for knights and their ladies on such joumeyings to enjoy
sport by the way. The first halt of the worshipful constable
and lus wife, we may place with confidence at Soulseat, — a ten-
mile trudge, — where all, gentle and simple, were made welcome
by the monks to their midday meaL Thence a nine-mile ride
would bring them to Drumacardy,^ whence, after fording the
Luce, they were welcomed to the larger accommodations of the
Cistercian fraternity ; and there, in the garden or the bowling-
alley, pleasantly whiled away their time till called to the re-
fectory for the evening meal.
^ Loagli an doul, cavern, Loch an diabhil. — Joyce, i. 199.
* So Aflsolas, Cork, and Bally nasolus, Tyrone. " When roads were few and
bridges fewer, to be able to strike the fordable point, at night especially, was
a matter of life and death. To keep a light of some sort burning on the spot
would suggest itself as the most natural and effectual plan for directing
travellers." — Joyce, L 217.
' The ridge of the workshop or forge.
250 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 424
The next morning, skirting a succession of mosses, whose
names keep green the memories of forests long entombed below
them/ fording the Tarf by the way, an eight-mile ride would
bring them to Craighlaw, the seat of the Mures.^ Whence,
following the Bladenoch and crossing it by a boat or raft, '' as
it was rarely fordable,'' near Spital, a pleasant ride past the
Stones of Torhouse would bring them to Wigtown, where, if at
home, William Douglas would doubtless claim the privilege
of entertaining them in his castle, or if absent on duty good
quarters would be cordially placed at their disposal by the
Black Friars.
The third morning's journey would commence with the long
ferry of the Cree, from Knockdown to Cassencarry ; '^ their
route thence leading them past the old strengths of Carsluith
and Barholm to those of Gardoness and Cally, on either side of
the Fleet ; and entertainment would doubtless be ofifered them
by a M'Culloch or a Stewart Whence through the wood of
Cumston, across a second Tarf, they would reach the Priory of
Tongueland, from the doachs^ of which the brethren would
draw salmon for their refreshment Then leaving the priory,
and still following the banks of the Dee, the party would
presently catch a glimpse of the towers of Threave, where, as
has been happily said, " the widowed duchess demesned herself
so graciously as to rob the rugged pile of half its gloom." ^ But
turning from such pleasing imaginings, the domestic annals
of the period furnish records of sterner realities. The Lady of
Threave and her squire were alike plunged into the deepest
^ As Darvaird, oaks of the bard ; Dargoles, of the coals, t.€. charcoal ;
Damain, Demagee, of the wild geese, or of the winds ; Darsnag (snaig), of the
woodpecker ; and many more.
Although quite treeless, it is curious that a farm on the first spot is known
by the pleonastic name of Wood of Darvaird.
' Craighlaw, creagliath, gray rock. Tarf, a bull, from a superstition of a
bull's spirit infesting the water. Tarbhuisge, the water bull of the Irish and
Scotch Highlanders ; Tarrooushley, of the Manxmen.
' Onoodonn, brown knolL Gosancoradh, the foot of the weir.
^ The doachs of Tongueland are its fish-weirs. Coldoch, near it, is the back
of the weir.
' ChronicUa of Linchiden, p. 62.
to 1440] THE DUCHESS OF TOURAINB 251
anxiety by the double arrest of Earl Douglas and Sir John
Kennedy, eldest brother of the Lady of Lochnaw. Both were
seized on no averred charge ; but, as supposed, for having let
fall, unguardedly, words as to the Draconian code to which
the nobility were being subjected. The Earl was released
after several months' close confinement, and retired into volun-
tary exile ; but Sir John Kennedy was seen no more.^ A deep
mystery hangs over his fate, as to which an entry in the
Exchequer KoUs is little reassuring: "For £14:15:4, Sir
John Kennedy's expenses in tHe Castle of Stirling," dated
1434, three years later. After that he apparently ceased to be
an expense.
The unfortunate young man's crime seems to have been
simply his deprecation of such severities as those to which
he was himself subjected; and their frequent repetition
afterwards drew down on James I. a terrible retribution. He
was murdered at Perth a.d. 1437 by Sir Eobert Graham
and his accomplices ; as the chronicler pithily puts it : " The
cause of the king's slauchter was that he was owre cruel to
his lords."
Some communication, " though no record of it exists," was
doubtless made to Sir Gilbert Kennedy of his grandson's death,
as Gilbert the second was recognised as oldest surviving son
before 1438, when he married Catherine, daughter of Lord
MaxwelL In 1438 James Kennedy, his next brother, was con-
secrated Bishop of Dunkeld. About the end of the fourth
decade of the century Sir Gilbert Kennedy died at a great
age, leaving three sons, — Alexander, John, and Thomas, —
who founded the powerful houses of Ardstincher, Blairquhan,
and Bargany, and was succeeded by his grandson Gilbert
just mentioned. About the same time George Douglas, son
of Agnew's fellow - scutifer William, married Christian,
daughter of Sir William de Euthven, who was infeft for
^ For certain causes the king caused Archibald, Earl of Douglas, and Sir
John Kennedy, his nephews, to be arrested. The earl he sent to the Castle of
Lochleven ; Kennedy he kept in the Castle of Stirling. — Goodall, Ctmtin, of
Fordun, ii. 490.
252 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1424-I44O
her dower in the lands of Berbeth, Dindufif, and Balqohirry,
adjoining those of Lochnaw.^
Immediately after James I/s assassination, Earl Douglas
hasted back from France, and was named one of the Council
of Begency; Sir Alexander Livingstone being appointed the
boy king's governor, and Sir William Crichton chancellor. He
did not, however, survive his mother, and therefore was only
in name Lord of Galloway, though he affected the style.^ He
died of fever in 1439, leaving David his son and heir, a boy of
fifteen, William, and Margaret, " the fair Maid of Galloway."
Soon after, the Duchess of Touraine died, " the exact dat€ has
been lost," and was buried with much pomp and pageantry *
and real grief in the Abbey of Lincluden, where a magnificent
monument was erected to her memory. All chroniclers concur
in stating that she was truly and rightly beloved by all classes
in her little dominion,* where she was deeply and generally
mourned, and by none more sincerely than by her faithful
squire Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw.
^ Bar beith, birch hill ; Dundamh, ox* fort ; Baile coire, townland of the
hollow.
> On his tomb was the inscription : ''Hie jacit Archibaldns Douglas, Dux
Turoniffi, Comes de Donglas, et de Longoville, Dominus Gallovidiffi, Wigtonise et
Annandise."
' The remains of the deceased lady were conveyed from Threave to Ian-
dnden, a distance of fifteen miles ; never before had such a grand pageantry, at
once so solemn and imposing, entered the college grounds. All accounts that
have come down to us concur in stating that she combined in a remarkable
degree sweetness of disposition with strength of purpose. — ChronicUs of
Lincluden.
* The Princess Margaret lived in the Castle of Threave and mitigated the
rigours of her husband and his father. When she died does not appear. She
was certainly buried in the chancel of the Church of lincluden, where an elegant
tomb was erected to her memory, without ascertaining the time of the Galloway
people losing so great a blessing." — CaledoniOy iii. 270, 888.
There can be little doubt that the chronicler of Lincluden is right. The
duchess survived her husband about sixteen years, her death occurring some
time in 1440. — Chronicles of Lincluden^ 68.
f
CHAPTER XIV
THE FIRST HEBEDITARY SHERIFF
A.D. 1440 to 1455
Oh curse oonfoond the Deil o' Threave,
Hiit neebors he doth hany,
But Oallowa ne'er will be his slave,
Nor the braw Laird o' Baeberry.
Oalloway Song,
Almost concurrently with the duchess's death, her nephew,
James Kennedy, was promoted from the see of Dunkeld to that
of St. Andrews, becoming at once Primate of Scotlemd and a
prominent member of the Council. And, probably by his good
offices, both Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw and his son received
appointments in the royal household.^
About this time also we find the Murrays taking a place in
the Galloway baronage as of Broughton, they being scions of the
family of Cockpule.
David, who had succeeded on his father^s death as sixth
Earl of Douglas, on the duchess's decease was now the recog-
nised Lord of Gralloway, and seems to have served himself heir
to some of his grandmother's popularity ; as, although during his
short life he lived principally at Douglas's castle of Dalkeith, he
was favourably regarded in the province as a gay and generous
youth.
Unfortunately he incurred the envy and illwill of Crichton
^ Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, son of the scutifer of the duchess, was scutifer
to James II. — Caledonia, iii. 861. This, though true, carries a wrong impression,
as the father as weU as the son was long in the royal household, receiving the
gift of the hereditaiy sherifiship as a reward of his services.
254 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I440
and Livingstone, who, agreeing in notMng else, concurred in
arranging a fiendish plan for his destruction. This, they would
have had it believed, was necessary for the safety of the state ;
but that he was either a crafty or dangerous conspirator (be it
remarked he was just fifteen years old) is pretty clearly nega-
tived by the ease with which he allowed himself to fall into the
snare. He was decoyed to Edinburgh (24th November 1440) along
with his brother William, and both were murdered at a banquet.
The earnest pleadings and bitter tears of the boy king — " the king
grat very sore " — showed a truer instinct of the arts of governing
than the calculating barbarity of the regent and chancellor.
The sympathy evoked for the victims increased the popu-
larity of the Douglasses in Galloway, and rendered them more
really formidable than they had ever been before.
The victim of the. "black dinner,"^ was succeeded by a
granduncle, Lord Balvany, known as James the Gross. His
years and corpulence inclining him to placidity, he made no
effective protest against the crime, but was succeeded in 1443
by a son William, who, when eighth earl, played a stirring part
upon the scene.
Earl William succeeded in entirely supplanting both Crichton
and Livingstone in influence with the king, boldly accused both
of malversation, on which they fled the country, and he himself
was named Lieutenant-General of the kingdom.
For this appointment he was well fitted, having a clear head
and a strong will. Up to this point public sympathy was
entirely with him, but he now forfeited the good opinion of
many in Galloway by his conduct towards the only sister of his
murdered kinsman.
She had inherited vast estates and the titular lordship of
Galloway,^ which Earl William coveting, although the "Fair
^ Edinburgh Castle, Town and Tower,
God grant thou sink for sin ;
And that e'en for the black dinner
Earl Doaglasse got therein.
OalUyway Ballad,
' Margaret, daughter of fifth Earl Douglas, celebrated as the Fair Maid of
Galloway, enjoyed all Galloway and other domains. The marratagium of this
to I4SS] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 255
Maid " was a mere child, repudiated his wife (a lady of irre-
proachable character), and induced the king to concur in an
application to the Pope to sanction an unholy alliance with
the infant, which was granted, Margaret herself being the only
party not consulted.^
Thenceforth William made Threave his usual residence.
And there, heartless as he had shown himself in domestic rela-
tions, his bearing toward the baronage was uniformly gracious,
and his rule popular and firm. In his earliest essays at admin-
istration he seemed following in the footsteps of his sagacious
ancestor, the first Archibald. Convening the baronage of
Galloway and Annandale in Border Parliament, he presided in
person, whilst statutes and usages of march were considered and
codified. At such a meeting in 1448 statutes were set down for
regulating bales and beacons, the assembling and arranging of
the host, of prisoners, and ransoms. These were approved and
promulgated by the earl on the 18th of December, he having
made all present to swear solemnly that they would maintain
the laws they had concurred in framing.^
These statutes are so illustrative of the habits and ideas of
the period, forming also the military code in force in Galloway
for many a year after, that we insert them in the Appendix.
One only we quote, as amusingly characteristic of a Galloway
weakness, which is historical : " If there happens any chase,
kdy was granted by James II. in presence of Parliament, 2d Febniary 1449-50.
On the death of her brother she had inherited the lordship of Galloway, which
was not entailed, but the earldom went by entail to her granduncle James. —
CalecUmia, iiL 271.
^ In February 26, 1452-58, Pope Nicholas granted a dispensation for the
marriage of James, Earl of Douglas, with Margaret, widow of Earl William.
This is stated to proye that she was actually married to William, which is
disputed, although a dispensation for it was granted in 1444.
As the Fair Maid was only twelve years old when the dispensation was granted
for her marriage with Earl William, she must have been bom in 1482. — Caledonia,
iii271.
' 18th December 1488 Earl William Douglas assembled the lords, free-
holders, and eldest Borderers, and caused those lords and Borderers to be sworn,
the Holy Qoepel touched, that they justly and truly, after their cunning, should
decreet, decern, deliver, and put in order and writing, the statutes, ordinances,
and usages of march that were ordained in Black Archibald of Douglas's days. —
TJie Harleian MSS,
256 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1440
either fleeing or following, whatever he be that takes his fellow's
horse, if he wins any goods on him, either prisoner or other
goods, he that owned the horse shall have the half of it ; and he
shall bring the horse again to the stake, and failing that he shall
be noted as a traytor and punished. And if it happens him to
fly on that horse as soon as he comes home, he shall pass to the
market of the shire, and proclaim him, and immediately deliver
him to the sheriff; and if he does not this he shaU be punished
as a traytor."
A hundred and thirty years later the Galloway contingent
at the battle of Langside improved their position by exchanging
their small and weary nags for the larger and fresher horses of
their Lothian comrades in the front ; and " as it happened to
them to have to fly upon them " in the rout that followed, they
were all the richer for the defeat, as we much doubt whether
conscience induced any to deliver their stolen horses to the
sheriff. Well had it been for Earl Douglas if the wisdom of
which he gave promise at these Lincluden assemblies had
been as conspicuous in his after career. The ef&cacy of the
ordinances that had just been enacted was soon put to the test.
Flames shooting up from the "white wynd of Drifesdale,"
Trailtrow, and Kindleknock, were responded to from Criffel, and
taken up in detail on Bengaim, Cairnsmore of Cree, and the
Knock of Luce ; and by the next evening's sun the baronage
from the marches of Garrick, Shynns, Machars, and Glenkens,
had kept tryst at Lochmaben Stane.^
Earl Douglas greeted their arrival; Percy, the hereditary
foeman of his house, had already crossed the Sark with an
English host ; and as quickly as the earl coTild set battle in
array he joined issue with him.
He himself led in person the men of the Stewartry, Lord
Maxwell those of Nithsdale and the Borders on his left, whilst
the spearmen of "Wyggeton and Garrick" formed the right
^ This was the usual trysting-plaoe for warden raids. It is a standing stone
8 feet high, 21 feet in circumference, near the seashore, between the Kirtle and
the Sark. It has no connection whatever with the lake, castle, or parish of
Lochmaben.
to 14s 5 ] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 257
wing under Craigie Wallace, a "knycht of sovereign man-
hood."
The main body under Douglas in their advance were sorely
galled by the arrows of the English bowmen, and wavered,
when Wallace rushing past them, closed with the archers, who
were now at disadvantage, the combat being between English
swords and Scottish spears. At this crisis of the battle the Bore
of the Sol way rushed up the Sark ^ with a loud roar, threatening
the retreat of the English, and causing a momentary panic.
The spearmen of Wigtown pressed them home, utterly routing
them with considerable loss, and taking all the remainder
prisoners. So many persons of wealth were among the latter
that, what between the plunder of the camp and the ransoms of
those who had surrendered, " thair was such abundance of gold
and silver broght to Galloway that the lyke thereof was never
seen in no man's time before." ^
The Battle of the Sark was one of the few Scottish successes
against the English in a fair field, one happy result of which
was a year's truce unusually well kept.
Shortly after this the leading barons of the realm were
summoned to Edinburgh to assist at the nuptials of the king
with Mary of Gueldres. Among those connected with Galloway
were Earl Douglas himself, his laurels green from the late
battle, his brother Lord Ormond, Sir Gilbert Kennedy, James
Eeimedy the Primate, Stewart of Garlies, Vans, Bishop of
Galloway, Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, and his sons Andrew
and Gilbert. The feast was spread in the great hall of Holy-
rood, course after course was disposed of (without forks) during
five long hours, " strong drinks were as plentiful as sea water,"
and it is gravely recorded, as an incident creditable to the clerical
head, that " a legate, a mitred abbot, and three bishops sat at a
table by themselves, all drinking out of the same cup, and with-
out spilling any." ^
^ ** The water boldening with the filling of the sea."
' The account of the battle and sentences between inverted commas are from
Lindsay of Pitscottie.
» Pinkerton, i. 432.
VOL. I S
258 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I440
Hitherto Douglas had exercised regal powers in support
nominally of the royal authority, though unquestioned. But
now, as the king grew into manhood, and wished to take the
reins into his own hands, the earl declined to submit to any
control. In short, he deliberately organised a party pledged to
support himself under all contingencies, he engaging to defend
his partisans from attack, whether from persons they had out-
raged, or from officers of the law. Such a partaker Douglas
had in John of Auchinleck, who, having frequently raided on
Golville of Ochiltree's lands, and as often been saved by Douglas
from pursuit, was at last encountered personally by Golville,
and killed in a skirmish. Douglas upon this grossly maltreated
many of Colville's tenants, carried his castle by storm, hung him
at its gate,^ and not satisfied even with blood for blood, massacred
every male within the defences.
This was certainly carrying matters too far, even for the
rough ideas of the times, and aroused popular indignation to so
high a pitch that Douglas found it prudent to ask leave to travel,
a permission which the king, powerless to punish, was too happy
to give. And he retired to France, leaving his brother Lord
Balvany in charge of his affairs, who, however, eventually proved
the most contumacious of the two. Insolent and oppressive to
liis neighbours, and flatly refusing, though summoned repeatedly,
to come to Court and answer charges laid against him, " the
king caused ane companie of men of warre to bring him in
against his will," ^ which they having done, Balvany ate humble
pie, promising to restore to every one his own, and to amend his
conduct But being released on these conditions, "he keipt
never a word that he had spoken for the repairing of his
offences," ^ but further maltreated his accusers.
" The king hearing of this proudness," caused Orkney, the
Chancellor, " to pass into Galloway, and gather up all the rents
^ The nnusnal joy for victory, peace, and the royal nuptials was interrupted
by the death of Richai-d Golville, an eminent knight, not so much because it was
unmerited, as that the manner in which it was perpetrated afforded a most
pernicious example to the people. — Buchanan, bk. xi. chap. 82.
« Pitscottie, S7 etseq, » Jbid.
to 1 45 5] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 259
in these parts to the king's use." But Orkney arriving with
only a small bodyguard, Balvany found means to prevent any
payments to be made to him, and openly insxilted him.^
The king, stung to the quick, passed to Galloway in person,
and threw himself upon the loyalty of the baronage.
There can be no doubt that the majority of those east of
Cree remained '' servants " of the house of Douglas, but the king
found sufficient support in the west to enable him to drive
Balvany beyond the marches, obliging his partisans to shut
themselves up in the castles of Lochmaben and Douglas, both
of which at last he took, razing the latter to the ground.^
As few family names are mentioned in the record of these
stru^les, no lists of those on either side can be fully made ; but
we know as a fact that among the king's men to whom rewards
for services were afterwards dealt out were the Kennedys and
the Agnews. Meanwhile Earl Douglas, hearing of the entangle-
ments in which his brother had involved him, hurried home,
and confessing his faults on his knees before both king and
queen, so worked upon their feelings that a free pardon was
accorded him ; and, still more weakly, all his castles were re-
stored. The injudiciousness of this indulgence was quickly
shown by its being ascertained that hardly had he left the king's
presence than he entered into treasonable correspondence with
the English.
Fortunately for James II., at this conjuncture he allowed
himself to be guided by the advice of the Primate, James
Kennedy, who, having satisfied himself as to the earl's treachery,
strongly counselled his master no longer to allow his too
powerful feudatory to set him at defiance, nor longer try to
avert the iaevitable struggle, in which any delay was to be to
^ Bat when the Earl of Orkney passed to Galloway and Douglasdaill,
accompanied by ane small number of folkis, not only was he disobeyed, but also
mocked and injured be the Erie of Douglas's friendes. — Pitscottie, i. 88.
' The king with ane armie passed into Galloway, at whose cuming the thieves
took sic fear that they fled to strongholds and strengthis for safety. But the
king sent an armie to pursue them, who were repulsed, on the quhilk the king
took so great anger that he seized all the fortalices and castles in the countrie,
and won the castles of Lochmaben and Douglas. — Pitscottie, i. 89.
260 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. I440
Douglas's advantage. The king lost no time in acting on this
advice. Whether summoned specially to consult as to the state
of feeling in the west, or in the ordinary performance of their
turn of duty at court, we find the Agnews, father and son, along
with Gilbert (afterwards Lord) Kennedy in Edinburgh in May
1451, and in the company of Crichton the Chancellor. And
within a few days of their signing a family deed, which both
indicates their presence there and fixes the date,^ the king, in
presence of his principal officers of state, asserted the royal
authority in Galloway by naming his trusty squire Sherifif of
Wigtown, in direct contempt of Douglas's pretensions, his com-
mission empowering him " to embody troops, and if need be to
lead them in person to oppose those in rebellion and defend our
lieges." ^
At the same time, if we are to believe tradition, although no
record of the transaction remains, Patrick M'Clellan, tutor of
Bomby, accepted a similar commission as Sheriff of Kirkcud-
bright.* The sheriffship of Western Galloway seems to have
been in abeyance for some years previously. It is stated to
have been held by the Agnews of Lochnaw till transferred by
Archibald the Grim to William Douglas, He dropped the title
^ At Edinburgh, 18tli May 1451, a charter is signed by Gilbert Kennedy of
Dunure of the lands of Largentin and Brocklach to the collegiate church of Miny-
bole for the health of the soul of Catherine Maxwell his wife, in presence of
William Lord Crichton, Sir Walter Scot, Andrew Agnew, Alexander Wardlaw,
Patrick Agnew, George de Schoreswod our clerk, Thomas Brown clarc. not. pub.
— Greai Seal lUgister.
' The commission is addressed: ''Dilecto familiari nostro scutifero Andrei
Agnew. Cum potestate ad summonendum et excitandum omnes et singulos
inhabltantes, ac si necesse fuerit ipsos pro resistantum nostrorum rebellium con-
ducendum . . . testibus."
William, Lord Crichton, our Chancellor ; George, Earl of Angus ; Alexander,
Karl of Huntly ; Alexander, Earl of Crawford ; Patrick, Lord le Glammis ;
Alexander, Lord Montgomerie ; William, Lord Somerville ; with the bishops of
Glasgow, Moray, and Whithorn. Sealed 25th May 1451. At length in Oreat
Seal Register y vol. i.^
' That the M'Lellans in ancient times were Sheriffs of Galloway is beyond a
doubt. — Crawford's Peerage^ 237. He is always styled sheriff in local histories,
but all charters of the old M'Lellans have disappeared.
1 In acknowledgment of the services of various members of the family, " Fto suis suorumque
flUorum gratuitis sen'itiis multipliciter impensis."
to 1455] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 261
on James I/s return from captivity, and there is no mention of a
sherifT in the interval. The commission of 1451 reinstated the
Agnews permanently in the position, constituting the holder a
royal officer, responsible to the king alone, and entirely inde-
pendent of the house of Douglas. As respected the new sheriff
and the Kennedys, with whatever part-takers, it was now war
to the knife with the potentate of Treave.
In the words of the chronicler :
" All this tyme the Earle of Douglas cast himselfe to be
stark against the king, and therefor sought and persuaded all
men under his opinion and servitude, and in speciall the gentle-
men of Galloway, with Coile, Carrick, and Guninghame, and all
other pairtes that were neir adjacent unto him, desyreing them
dayUe to ride and goe with him as his own household men and
servantis, and to assist him in all things whatsomevir he had to
doe, whither it was ryght or wrong, with the king or against
him. Bot some wyse men, seeing the danger of the Earle of
Douglas's proceedings, would not take part vrith him, nor ride,
nor gang with him, nor be his man." ^
Woe to those who did not obey his call, unless they could
make their defences sure. The king sent his quota towards the
strengthening of Lochnaw, by the hands of Sir Gilbert Kennedy,
the keeper's brother-in-law, in the shape of £5 out of the crown
dues in Garrick. The sum seems ridiculously small, but we
may suppose was not then thought inadequate ; at all events a
crown charter signed and sealed was required for its transfer-
ence.^
As for M*Glellan, his castle of Eaeberry, on a clifif overhang-
ing the Solway, was supposed to be impregnable.
Disloyal as Douglas was, and vindictive against those who
opposed him, it cannot be disguised that large numbers of all
itmks were attached to his interest; as it must have been by his
personal popularity chiefly that he was able to cope on equal
1 Pitaoottie, 96.
^ Gilbert! Kennedy per solucionem factam Andree Agnew, de firmis terre de
Tnmeberdy £y per cartam Regis sno magno sigillo sigillatam. — Exchequer Holls,
1452.
262 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1440
terms with the national forces ; indeed the " wyse men " who
refused to ride with him were notoriously in the minority.
For long the issue of the struggle was doubtful No sooner
was the king's flag raised at Lochnaw than the earl's bands
beleaguered it ; and though unable to force the drawbridge, the
sheriff's cattle-pens were plundered and his bams destroyed.^
And not only were the lands of Gilbert Kennedy overrun,
but the earl incited his partisans in the north to ravage those
of the primate. He even contemplated the consignment of the
good bishop to his dungeon.^
What the fate of either of the brothers might have been
may be gathered from his treatment of Herries * of Terregles,
one of the few who had dared to call himself " a king's man " in
the east, as had the Kennedys in the west. Sir John Herries *
having sustained many injuries from Douglas's partisans, and
vainly sought redress, took the law into his own hands, and
having followed some " limmers," recovered from them (a part
only) of his own goods which they had stolen. Upon this they
complained to their lord, who forthwith summoned Herries to
his court, at which, as a mockery of justice, he was condemned
as a thief for stealing what was really his own. And the
sentence was carried out in defiance of express orders from the
king. M'Clellan, as in duty bound, publicly protested against
this judicial murder. Herries's crime had really been his support
of the king's sheriff ; and Douglas, enraged at the said sheriff
intervening, ordered his arrest. M'Clellan naturally defending
himself from those sent to seize him, one of Douglas's men was
^ Four years later compensation was paid to Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of
Wigtown, out of the Exchequer, in consideration of the burning of his grain. —
Kecheqiier Holls,
^ Bishop Kennedy's lands were plundered at the instigation of the Earl of
Douglas, who had further instructed Lords Crawford and Ogilvy to seize if possible
the person of the bishop and to put him in irons. — Chambers, MnineTtt Scotsmen^
iii. 308.
^ He is so called in various histories and by Sir Walter Scott, but is not to be
traced in the direct line of the Herries of Terregles in Douglas's peerage.
^ John Herreise was castin in the yrrones and thairafter schamefullie hangit,
as he had been ane thief, notwithstanding the king's commandment to the
contrair. — Pitscottie, i. 96.
to 1455] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 263
killed in the scuffle, and the tutor fled to Kaeberry. The
infuriated Douglas instantly besieged him, when a wicket of his
castle was found to be not proof against the golden key. Brib-
ing a warder, he got access to his victim, and personally seizing
, him, carried him to Threave. Adam, Lord Grey, and his brother
Patrick, fellow members with the sheriff of the royal household,
uncles of M'Clellan, were on duty at court when the news of
their nephew's capture arrived from Galloway. Eealising the
imminent danger of their kinsman they passed straight to the
king, imploring his assistance; and James II., waiving his
dignity in anxiety to save his officer, " caused right ane sweit
letter to the Earl of Douglas," not commanding, but imploring
him to deliver the Tutor of Bomby to Sir Patrick Grey, who
forthwith started on the errand.
He arrived at Threave just as the earl was rising from table,
who, divining his message, went to meet him with mock
cordiality in his hall. And under the plea that it was ill talk-
ing between a full man and a fasting, gained time to have
M'Clellan's execution carried out before the messenger had had
his say. He expressed himself honoured by a visit from the
king's familiar servant, " made him good cheere," and dinner
over, reverently received and carefully read the king's letter.
Then saying that as to any desire or supplication it should be
thankfully granted to the king, and all the rather for his (Sir
Patrick's) sake; and taking his hand led him forth to the
green, on which lay a white cloth, and on this being raised the
Tutor's corpse was exhibited. With aflfected surprise the earl
exclaimed, " Sir Patrick, you are a little too late, your sister's
son wants his head, but his body is entirely at your service."
Grey called for his horse, and having leapt on, he then fiercely
retorted, " My lord, if I Uve, you shall pay dearly for this
day's work."
" To horse and pursue him," shouted the Douglas, and had
not Grey's horse been an unusually good one the next morning's
sun would have surely seen his own body dangling from the
gallows knob of Threave. "The king was heavilie disap-
264 HEREDITARy SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 144O
pointed," yet we cannot approve his having fought the earl with
his own weapons. Douglas was enticed to Stirling with solemn
promises of safety, received with pleasant words, and on the
20th of February 1452 sat down merrily to supper with the
king and his household. Supper ended, those in attendance
withdrew, and James, with blandishments reminding the earl
of the loyalty of his forbears, urged him to break his treason-
able leagues. Douglas scornfully replied that nothing should
make him break his engagements to his friends. " If nothing
else can," said the king, ** this shall," and plunged his dagger
into his heart. The gentlemen in waiting, hearing the scufSe,
rushed in, foremost among them Patrick Grey, who seeing his
nephew's murderer in grips with his sovereign, finished the
killing with his battle-axe. Thus fell William, eighth Earl of
Douglas, a man of brilliant parts, but through ambition first
faithless to his wife, and then to his king. Overweening pride
led him on to deeds of violence, for which he had well deserved
to die, though the king was utterly unjustified in acting as
executioner. The deed done, the mangled body was thrown
from the window, and the castle garrison had to gird for the
fight. Four stalwart brothers of the deceased soon knocked at
the door. The besiegers were far more numerous than the be-
sieged, but a messenger crept out in the darkness to tell Bishop
Kennedy of their plight, and happily their bolts held good.
The bishop rallied the Gordons of the north to the king, sent
Huntly to intercept Crawford on his march to support the
Douglases, and with his usual tact,^ when Crawford was then
defeated, induced him to make his submission. He then
detached Angus from the cause of his kinsman ; and raising men
in all quarters, ac thousands rallied to the royal standard,
Douglas's partisans commenced to melt away. Angus's im-
portant and somewhat unexpected adhesion to the king^s men
gave rise to the jocular saying, since proverbial, that the Eed
Douglas has put down the Black.
^ Kennedy, Bishop of St Andrews, gnide and councillor of the king, a man
whom it is not unreasonable to believe that God had mercifully provided for the
occasion. — Lives 0/ the Lindsays, 126.
to 1455] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 265
I
An assembly of his states — not very fully attended — at
Edinburgh in June declared that the assassination of Earl
William was a legal act, — in short, that the killing was no
murder ; and further declared his four brothers to be enemies
to the Commonwealth, and their estates forfeited. Whereupon
James II., feeling himself firmly established on the throne, pro-
ceeded to reward his friends with a lavish hand.
Of those connected with Galloway, Sir Gilbert Kennedy got
the keeping of the castle of Lochdoon, Herbert Maxwell was
temporarily appointed Steward of Kirkcudbright, and Andrew
Agnew of Lochnaw had a renewal of his charter ^ to himself and
heirs for ever.
Why this second charter was necessary it is difficult to
understand, the substance being almost identical with that he
received the previous year. However, the charter exists, with a
great seal attached to it, witnessed by the Lords of the Council,
much as was the other, though the Primate, Lord Lindsay of the
Byres, Lord Grey, and Patrick, Lord Graham of Kincardine, are
witnesses to the second, not present at the previous one.
The charter is as follows, the translation being an old one
among the family papers : —
"Penes Dominum de Lochnaw.
" James, by the grace of God, king of the Scots, to all good
men (etc.), greeting — Know that for the singular favor, love,
and affection we bear to our lovit friend and esquire (scutifer)
Andrew Agnew ; and for his and his son's gratuitous services,
manifoldly rendered, and to be rendered, to us ... by these
^ It has been stated *' the Agnews had probably some concern in that terrible
scene at Stirling Castle, when the Donglas was done to death by the king and
his attenders. Anyhow, soon after that event, the king granted by charter the
hereditary sheriffdom to the Agnews." — Chronicle of Scottish Counties,
The loyal barons received lands and honours ; at the same time Andrew
Agnew of Lochnaw was appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire. — Mackenzie, i. 376.
Although they were probably present as stated, it is satisfactory to note that
the services of himself and sons, gratuitously rendered, had been acknowledged in
a royal charter at least a year previous to the terrible scene.
266 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 144O
presents we make, constitute, and ordain the said Andrew Agnew
to be our Sheriflf of Wigtoun.
" The said office of Sheriff of Wigtoun, with all the pertinents,
to be held and possessed by the said Andrew Agnew for the
whole term of his life ; and after his decease by Andrew Agnew,
son and apparent heir of the said Andrew, and by the heirs-male
of his body, lawfully begotte ; whom failing, by Patrick Agnew,
natural son ^ of the said Andrew, and the heirs of his body, law-
fully begotten ; whom failing, by Gilbert Agnew, natural son of
the said Andrew Agnew senior, and the heirs of his body, law-
fully begotten, in fee and heritage for ever (the which foresaid
persons failing, then freely to revert to us or our successors),
with the fees, profits, emoluments, liberties, commodities, ease-
ments and just pertinents whatsoever, as well unnamed as
named, in any way justly held to be belonging to that ofSce,
or that may hereafter belong to it, freely, quietly, fully, entirely,
honourably, well and in peace, with no let or hindrance whatso-
ever.
" With full and free power to them of ordering, beginning,
holding, ending, and (when needful) of continuing SherifTs
Courts, of summoning parties, and causing them to be sum-
moned, with power of levying fines, issues of court and escheats,
and of destraining, if need be, for the same, and of punishing
delinquents.
" With power of receiving and calling on pleas ; and receiv-
ing and opening tiie breves from our chapel (presented to Andrew
himself or his heirs), and duly doing desert thereto ; of hearing,
deciding, and duly determining suits and questions moved in
and belonging to the said courts ; with power of removing
mayors and Serjeants from their ofSces and appointing others
as oft as to them may seem expedient ; of deputing one or more
^ Scottish legal authorities, we believe, are of opinion that ** filias naturalis "
does not necessarily imply illegitimacy. It is possible that this was the case
as to Patrick ; but he was undoubtedly a member of the royal household, and his
services specially acknowledged by the king. As to Gilbert, it is almost certain
that the words applied to himself are a clerical error, as his name was that of all
others most likely to be given to a legitimate son of the family whose mother
was a Kennedy.
to I4SS] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 267
deputy or deputies under them as often as it shall please them,
for whom they shall be responsible, who shall have the like
powers in the matters premised.
" And also with power of ordering parades, and summoning
gatherings of armed men, and raising the bondmen (vincinarios),
all and singular, within the sheriffdom, for the defence of the
country ; and, if need be, of leading the inhabitants in person
to us or our lieutenant to oppose our rebels and to defend our
lieges. With power of correcting and punishing the absent,
remiss, and disobedient, as their defections deserve. And gene-
rally with power of doing, exercising, consummating, and exe-
cuting all other things known to pertain to the office of Sheriff,
whether by law or by usage.
" Wherefore we straightly command, and hereby apprize, all
whom it may concern, that they promptly respond to, obey, and
apply to the said Andrew, and after his decease to his heirs fore-
said, in all matters pertaining to the said office ; under all the
penalties to which they shall otherwise be subject.
*' In testimony whereof we have caused our great seal to be
appended to this charter before the Eeverend Fathers in Christ,
James,^ William, John, and Thomas,* Bishops of the churches
of St. Andrews, Glasgow, Moray, and Quhithome ; our dearest
cousin George, Earl of Angus ; William, Lord Creichtoune,' our
chancellor and well-beloved cousin ; our dear cousins Patrick,
Lord Graham ; * Thomas, Lord Erskine ; William, Lord Somyr-
vile ; John, Lord Lindesay de Bins * ; Andrew, Lord Gray, the
master of our household ; Master John Arons, Archdeacon of
Glasgow, and George de Schoriswod, rector of Cultre, our clerk.
" At Edinburgh, the twenty-ninth day of the month of July,
in the year of our Lord the One thousandth, four hundredth,
fiftieth secondth, and in the sixteenth of our reign."
^ James Kennedy the Primate.
' Thomas Spence, Bishop of Galloway on Yaux's resignation.
' Lord Crichton, reappointed Chancellor 1447.
^ Lord Graham, ancestor of the Duke of Montrose.
' Lord Lindsay of the Byres, High Justiciary of the north of Scotland. A
scion of his was Sir David Lindsay of the Mount.
268 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 144O
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the powers and
privileges of a sherifif in his own province were nearly as un-
limited as those of the great justiciars. The emoluments also
were considerable. When a sheriflf-principal held his court by
proclamation, all barons, knights, and freeholders within the
shire owed him suit and presence. Neither bishops, mitred
abbots, nor barons might hold their own courts unless the sheriff
had been duly notified. So that if he chose either he himself or
one of his deputes might be present.
One of the rights named in the Agnew commission is sug-
gestive, viz. " the power of raising the bondmen, all and singular,
for the defence of the country." The chartered term is " vinci-
narios," otherwise termed "nativi adscripti glebee," a class,
apparently descendants of the native Picts, hereditarily trans-
ferred by sale or gift along with the soil which they cultivated.^
It is curious thus to find the existence of these bondmen
recognised in Galloway at this date, and it is equally curious to
learn that by the end of the following century slavery (for it
was nothing else) had entirely disappeared: a change effected
so quietly and gradually that it is unnoticed in contemporary
history, and no exact date can be assigned for the final manu-
mission of the serfs.
James, Earl Douglas, having continued quiet for several
months, James II. suddenly endeavoured by indulgence and
blandishments to attach him to his person.
The first instalment of the royal favour was in the very
objectionable form of the gift of marriage of his sister-in-law ;
this in spite of the indignant protest of the widowed "Fair
Maid." The second was the impolitic act of accrediting him as
envoy to the English Court, this being then Lancastrian, and
the earl having been notoriously long in correspondence with
the Yorkists. Douglas gladly accepted the mission, as a
pleasant chance for whiling away the time till the Papal dis-
pensation arrived to sanction his unholy marriage. And such
good use did he make of his time, that he was able suddenly to
^ Cosmo Innes, Early Scottish History ^ 98.
to 1455] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF 269
surprise the confiding James by besieging him in Stirling with
a much larger force than the king could muster to oppose him.
Happily the King had the Primate with him in this emer-
gency, whose strong head proved more than a match for
Douglas's irresolute hand.
Had the earl struck home at once, it is generally believed
he might have made himself master of the kingdom ; but,
calling a halt when he should have sounded the charge, Bishop
Kennedy found time to work upon the fears or feelings of his
partisans, and detached many of them from his ranks. Some
joined the king, others slunk silently away, till Douglas, almost
deserted, had no option but to betake himself to flight.
He and his brothers lurked in Annandale a while, but there
the demands made for their supply became so oppressive that one
after another of the numerous vassals of their house renounced
fealty and craved protection of the king.
The host of the west was ordered to be put in array. The
Sheriff of Wigtown summoned the baronage of Western Gal-
loway. Herries of Terregles headed those of the Stewartry,
who, joining the assembled Maxwells, Johnstons, and Carlyles
from the Borders, took up a strong position at Arkenholme,
near the confluence of the Ewes and the Wauchope with the
Esk.
Upon the morning of the 1st of May the Douglas brothers
swooped down fiercely upon the gathering. A hotly contested
battle ensued, the Galloway spearmen at last succeeding in
forcing their opponents to give back, when, as in all such hand-
to-hand fights, the vanquished were utterly dispersed with great
slaughter.
Douglas's next brother, the Earl of Moray, fell upon the
field ; the Earl of Ormonde surrendered to Sir John Carlyle ;
Lord Balvany disappeared unattended in the forest; and the
earl himself, so lately all but master of the kingdom, made his
way as a fugitive to the Earl of Boss, who, eager to rid himself
of so compromising a guest, passed him on to England, whence
he never returned.
270 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 45 5
The losses of the victors seem to have been comparatively
few, but we learn from the Exchequer EoUs that the SheriEF of
Galloway fell in the performance of this last and not least im-
portant service to the king. Great was the rejoicing at Court
at this crowning victory. Moray's head, sent in token of the
complete success, was exhibited to the populace with savage
glee, whilst Ormonde was hurried to the scaffold, lest his wounds
should cheat the gallows.
The Galwegian commanders came in for large shares of the
spoiL Herries of Terregles got the keeping of the Castle of
Lochmaben ; Johnston and Carlyle, joint captors of Ormonde,
received grants of land, the latter in the Stewartry ; and Andrew
Agnew of Lochnaw, now second hereditary sheriflF, received
gifts in money and kind in consideration of his father's services.^
^ To Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, six chalders of meal in considera-
tion of the burning of his grain and the death of his father in the king's
service. To Andrew Agnew the escheat of the giuin of WiUiam Dunbar, etc.
Per concessionem factam per dominum Begem Andree Agnew per literas suas
sub signeto camerario de Bute directas. . . . et pro feodo suo zx Li. — Exchequer
Holls, 1456-68.
CHAPTEK XV
THE SECOND HEREDITARY SHERIFF
A.D. 1455 to 1484
Trowit and lovit wel with the king,
This ilke guid and gentle knycht
That was baith manful, lele, and wycht
A FEW days after the battle of Arkenholme, Andrew Agnew,
now second Sheriff, was served heir to some of his father's
lands, his uncle Gilbert, now Lord Kennedy, acting in loco
parentis. The record of the service is interesting, as being
worded in the vernacular, then very unusual ; also as being
among the last occasions in which any of the Douglas's nominal
rights were held legally admissible in the province. Earl
Douglas was a fugitive, though Threave Castle still held out in
his name, and his kinsman George Douglas here gives infeft-
ment of the lands of Lochnaw in virtue of a superiority recog-
nised by the Duchess of Touraine, though acquired by George's
father, William, in an act of defiance of the Crown.
The precept is worded thus :
" George of Douglas of Leswalt till his lufl&t Cusing Fergus
M'Gachin, Gretyng, & for als mekyll as it is funing be an
Inquest of ye best & ye worthiest of ye Eands^ before me in my
Curt of Witsunday of my lands of Leswalte haldyn at Cors
M'Gachin in Glenluse, y* Andrew Agnew, was nerrest & lach-
ful ayr to quylum Andrew Agnew, his fayr, Schyrraff of Wig-
toun, & of lachful eld, w* al ye laiffe of ye puts, of ye bryff,
1 The Rhynns.
272 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 45 5
beand ful & haile of ye lands of Salcare, Lochnaw, & Gar-
kerue, w* ye offices of Balzare of my Barony of Leswalt : My
wil is, & I charge zhou to gyfif heritable state & sesing to ye
said Androw or his att'na berer of y*" Iris, of ye said lands of
Salcare, Lochnaw, & Garkerue, w* y*" pertinants yir lett'is se^
for owty delay. — In witnes herof, becauss I had na seile to put
of my awyn, I haff prociirit a^i|i^stance ye seile of ane Honorable
& a wyrschipful man Gylbert Kennedy — ^Dinowyr in my said
Curt of Whitsunday ye xvL day of ye moneth of May, ye zer of
our Lord M. four hund fychte and v. zers — to be huning to y^
letteris — befor yr witness, Thomas M'Dowell, Gebon M*DoweU,
Gebon Kennedy, Alexr. son, Gebon, RoUandson, Androw Neilson,
Fynlaw M'Culach, Ferg* M'Gachin, Alexand"" Gordon, Pat^
M'Dowell of Logan, and WiUm of Wyna notar, & oyr more." ^
Of the cadets of the Kennedys, Gilbert Kennedy was of
Kirkmichael.^ "Gebon, Alexander's son," was son of the
Laird of Ardstincher.' " Gebon, Roland's son," was son of
Roland Kennedy of LeffnoU.
Thomas M'Douell was Laird of Garthland, whose daughter
there is reason to think afterwards was married to the young
sherifiF. Patrick M'Douell, founder of the Logan bmnch, was
probably his son, this being the first time that style appears.
Finlay M'Culloch was of Torhouse, the most powerful of his name
after the Laird of Myrton. Alexander Gordon was of Airds, a
brother of Lochinvar. M'Gachan's ancestors were landowners
in Wigtown at the signing of the Ragman Roll. Neilson was of
Craigcaffie.
^ In notes on the Lochnaw charters by Mr. John Vans of Bambarroch, c.
1810, as to this precept, he writes: "I cannot believe this man (George of
Douglas) to be George, fourth Elarl of Angus ; he is possibly the son of a natural
son of that house." [A very good guess.] Of the worshipful man Gilbert :
'* This was Gilbert, first Lord Kennedy, son of the Princess Mary, and half-
brother to Angus."
3 The pedigrees of the cadets we take from the historical account of the
Kennedys, compiled from charters at Culzean. The first Gilbert was son of
David Kennedy, son of Sir Gilbert, Lord Kennedy's grandfather. In charters
of 1455 he is styled Gilbert Kennedy of Kirkmichael.
' Gilbert, son of Alexander Kennedy of Ardstincher, had a charter, 31st
December 1456, of the 25 shilling land of Beoch, in the parish of Inch.
to 1484] THE SECOND HEREDITAKY SHERIFF 273
George Douglas had apparently had do complicity in the
treasonable doings of his kinsman, and had probably supported
the king's sheriff against the earL It seems therefore to have
been found convenient to admit this superiority, his father
having done so, his signature thus facilitating the service.
Moreover the rights of the Douglasses were not formally
annulled till three months later, when Galloway was annexed to
the Crown by Act of Parliament.^ And even when this was
done, George Douglas was allowed a life interest in the lands
of Leswalt, a dower also being reserved for his wife. This lady,
Elatherine Buthven, long survived him, and on her death the
lands were assigned to the queen for her life.
The Act which deprived the Douglasses for ever of their
semi-independent power, was passed the 4th of August 1455.
And the king passed forthwith in person to accept the homage
of the lieges, which was everywhere joyfully accorded except
at Threave, whose gates were closed against the royal train.
This was done in the name of the countess, though her posi-
tion in the castle was rather that of a prisoner than its mistress.
Threave was accordingly besieged ; but the walls proving too
thick for the mild artillery of the period, the lieges of Kirk-
cudbright subscribed to furnish the king with heavier metal.
A local blacksmith named M'Min succeeded in welding together
that triumph of Scottish ordnance, yclept " Mons Meg," which,
charged with a peck of powder and a stone ball the weight
of a Carsphaim cow, swept the castle from end to end, and,
were we to believe tradition, carried along with it the hand
of the '* Fair Maid,'' as she was in the very act of raising the
wine-cup to her lips. Whereupon the castle instantly sur-
rendered.*
^ These are the lordshippes and castella annexed to the Crown : the hail
lordflhippe of GaUoway, with sic freedomes, commodities, as it wes thir daies,
togedder frith the CasteU of Triefe." — 11th Parliament James II. chap. iv.
' The loss as described of the guilty hand may have suited the ideas of a
credulous age, though it might even have occurred to a monk of the fifteenth
century that a lady delicately nurtured could hardly have survived the shock of
a baU from Mons Meg, much less have borne children after the mutilation. But
it is really too ridiculous that the finding of a ring among some rubbish under
VOL. I T
274 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF OALLOWAY [A.D. 1 45 5
little as the latter part of the story requires refutation as
repeated in monkish gossip, it involved a most unfair reflection
on the countess; the insinuation being that Providence had
thus punished that very guilty hand which had wickedly been
given to two brothers.
Poor lady, she had indeed been more sinned against than
sinning. Happily, history utterly belies the tale, as it is cate-
gorically stated that the castle being taken, she forthwith threw
herself at the king's feet, implored and obtained his mercy.
Certainly had her arm been carried away, she would not have
been in a condition to make her obeisance. It is pleasant,
moreover, to be able to add that brighter days dawned on the
*' Fair Maid." The king gave her in marriage to his half-brother,
the Duke of Athole, with whom she lived happily, and by
whom she had two daughters — Janet, married to Alexander,
third Earl of Huntly, and Katherine to John, sixth Lord
Forbes.
The loyalty of the lieges of Kircudbright was rewarded by
the erection of their town into a royal burgh, M'Clellan of
Bomby being its first provost. The keeping of the castle of
Threave was given to Maxwell of Terregles, and a new office
created, that of Chamberlain (collector of the royal revenue),
bestowed on William, Abbot of Dundrennan ; whilst all land-
owners holding formerly under Douglas, who made unconditional
submission, were confirmed in their estates as vassals of the
Crown.
Henceforward sheriff and steward followed their avocations
undisturbed. In 1456 we find the sheriff giving sasine to Sir
William Stewart of Dalswinton and Garlies of the lands of
Glasserton : interesting as the first mention of the family with
this place, for three centuries after their principal residence.^
the castle a few years ago should he gravely mentioned as authenticating the
story. *' Threave Castle was partially repaired under the superintendence of Sir
Alexander Gordon. On clearing out some ruhbish the workmen discovered a
massive gold ring inscribed ' Margaret de Douglas, the Fair Maid of Galloway.'
This singular relic is supposed to have been on her hand when blown away at
the siege of the castle." — Mackenzie, vol. L App. 85.
^ Andrew de Agnew, Vicomes de Wigtoun, onerat se de zxv libris de relevio
to 1484] THE SECOND HEBEDITART SHERIFF 275
The administrative duties of a sheriff were sufficiently com-
plex. With woeful ignorance of the rudiments of political
economy, the king and his council endeavoured to benefit the
exchequer by instructing sheriffs to interfere in every conceivable
turn of commercial transactions.
So many difficulties were placed on exporting in any shape,
as greatly to prejudice the producer ; whilst merchants, if they
had the slightest success in speculation, had hanging over their
heads indefinite penalties for usury or forestalling.^
Crude Acts on such lines drawn up by the Lords of the
Articles, ratified as a matter of course by Parliament, were
referred to the sheriffs for execution.
Among those especially affecting Galloway were such as
follows : —
1. The sheriff was to forbid the exportation of wool, if in
his judgment it might be required at home.
2. No bullion might cross the borders, even to purchase the
necessaries of life ; no cattle might be sold out of the realm,
however high a price might be offered for them ; no cloth might
be bought from Englishmen, however desirable the bargain.
3. Even salmon ^ might not be sold out of the country, but
with the singular proviso that half the value must be paid in
English coin, the other half in Gascoigne wine.
And every court he held the sheriff was expected to ascertain
what persons within his shire bought victuals ; and on the
slightest suspicion that any dealer " held back with dearth," his
goods were to be escheated to the king, and he to be subject
to the pains of usurers (ockerrares).
Sheriffs also were required to hold the barons answerable to
terrarum de Glasserton regi debito per sasinam datum d'^ Willelmo Stewart de
Dalswyntone militL Apud. Edin. 4 Nov. 1426.
^ That Bchiriffia enquire quhat persons within their bounds byes victuals and
haldsit till dearth ; and gif it bees founden, that they be punished and demained
as ockerrares suld be, and the victual escheated to the king. — 6th Parlt. James
II. c. 22.
' That na salmond be sauld nor bartoured with ony man, that hes it out of
the realme, bot for English money allanarlie gold and silver for th' ane halfe, and
Gascoigne wine or sic gud pennie worth for the other half. — 10th Parlt. James
I. c. 132.
276 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. 1 45 5
themselves for the proper cultivation of the land, it being enacted
that every baron should insist that every tenant on his lands
owning a yoke of eight oxen should sow at the least a firlot of
wheat, half a firlot of peas, and forty beans, under a penalty to
himself of ten shillings. " And if the barronne be found negli-
gent in the receiving of that pain from his husbandmen, then
this shall be raised on him to forty shillings, and that as oft as
he defaults without remission to the king." ^
This statute soon became a dead letter, if indeed it was
ever endeavoured to be enforced at aU, as also another, more
unreasonable, though firequently re-enacted, " that the football,
golf, and all sic unprofitable sports be utterly cried down."
Statutes against somers, that is persons extorting enter-
tainment by threats of violence, though startling in their severity,
seem to have been really called for and frequently enforced.
Beggars on horseback, now talked of as a joke, seem to have
been by no means uncommon : jolly beggars in every sense,
with hounds following them as well. The very wording of many
Acts is suggestive of the masterful manner in which this soming
was carried on. Such as ''that sornares be punished to the
death " ; " that sornares taken in time coming shall be delivered
to the king's sheriffs, who shall forthwith do law upon them " ;
"that sheriffs are to take an inquisition at ilk court as to
sornares and masterful beggars with horse and hounds. And gif
any sik be founden, that thair horse, hounds, and other gudes, be
escheat to the king, and thair persons put in the king's ward,
quhile the king has said his will upon them."
" Fenzied fools, bards, and other sic like runners " were to be
kept in prison in irons, " any money being found upon them to
be used for their support ; but their funds exhausted, their ears
were to be cut off, and they banished from the country ; and if
they reappeared they were to be hanged.*
Early in 1460 the sheriff was sent on a mission to an Irish
court, that of Shane O'Neill, representative of the famous Aedh
Buidhe (Yellow-haired Hugh), whilome King of Ulster. It
^ 14th Farlt James II. c. 81. ' 6th Farlt. James II. a 2.
to 1484] THE SECOND HEREDITARY SHERIFF 277
might be supposed that his being chosen to go there favours the
notion of the Agnews's continuous possession of lands at Lame.
But it is far more probable that he waJ3 selected simply in
consequence of the king's long and entire confidence in him as a
member of his household. The object in view seems to have
been to obtain O'Neill's co-operation in a war projected against
England. James II. thought that the dissensions between
Yorkists and Lancastrians there rendered the moment propitious
for his recovery of the Border fortresses which the English had
wrested from the Scots; and an Irish raid on Leoicashire or
Cumberland would occasion a useful diversion in his favour,
should he make a descent on Berwick.
The sherifiT visited the Irish potentate at Edenduif/ Shane's
Castle, overlooking Lough Neah. Whether he succeeded in his
object or not, we are not told, the only record of the visit being
an entry for a considerable stun allowed for his expenses.^
Soon after his return, the king entered in fiill confidence on his
campaign, took the town of Roxburgh, and was besieging the
castle when the sight of reinforcements arriving in numbers
made them " so blyth " that he ordered a general volley to be
fired as ^fm dejoie. But standing too near his clumsy artillery
(in the quaint words of Lindsay), " his thigh bone was dung in
two be ane piece of amisframed gune, that brak in the schutting,
be the which he was strucken to the ground, and died hastily
thairafter."
The arrangements incident to a government for the long
minority entailed by this sad event were soon completed, and
the sheriff was fortunate in having many friends among its
members.
Bishop Kennedy was the young king's tutor. Lords Kennedy,
Boyd, and Graham (sworn friends and part-takers) were three
^ Endendabh = black hiU brow — Aidhe-buidh — ^whence Clann (or Tribe) of
Aidhe Buidhe, in the vernacular Clanaboy or Clandeboye, a name preserved in the
seat and title of Lord Dnfferin.
' To Andrew Agnew, Sheri£f of Wigtoun, for expenses : Enndo in Ybemiam
versos Regains G'Nelej'by mandate of the king of good memory, xx IL The Lord
Chancellor attesting the mandate. — JSxchequer RollSy 6th March 1460.
278 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1455
out of the six regents ; ^ the Bishop of Glasgow was a fourth,
and him the sheriflF was able to oblige by appointing his nephew,
John de Muirhead a sheriff-depute of Galloway. Angus, half-
brother of Kennedy and the sheriffs mother, was Warden of the
Western Marches.
Very shortly after this the sheiiff was summoned to assist
at the meeting of the two queens — ^Margaret of Scotland, just
widowed, and Marguerite of Anjou, the high-spirited wife of
Henry VI. — one of the most romantic episodes in Galloway story.
After the capture of her husband and rout of the Lancastrian
army at Northampton, the English Margaret, with her boy, —
titular Prince of Wales, — sought and received an asylum at
Lincluden. Lyndsay its provost, the bailies of Dumfries, and
neighbouring Gkdloway baronage, vied with one another in
providing good cheer and comfort for their guest ; ^ the Scottish
queen, sending before her a quota of provision,® appeared to
welcome and condole, and on her arrival at once summoned her
Sheriff of Wigtown and the Steward of Kirkcudbright * to assist
her in entertaining.
Among civic dignitaries present at the board we find the
name of Herbert Gledstanes, a forbear possibly of the Bight
Honourable William Ewart Gladstone
Private griefs do not appear to have diverted the royal ladies'
minds from practical politics ; a match for the Scottish
Princess Royal with the English heir-apparent being proposed
by the one, the restoration of Berwick suggested by the other.
And further, the Sheriffs of Galloway, Dumfries, and
^ The lords of the regency were the Earl of Orkney, Lords Graham, Boyd,
and Kennedy, Andrew Muirhead, Bishop of Glasgow, Thomas Lander, Bishop of
Dunkeld. The Bishop of Glasgow was one of the commissioners sent to Denmark
for procuring King Christian's daughter in marriage for King James IIL
' {Inter cUia) A bedcover and pair of sheets lost at Lincluden when the
queen was there with the Queen of England. — ^The accountiug of Herbert
Gladstanes, bailie of Dumfries, 1461. — Exchequer Eolls,
' For 8 pints of white wine of Poitou, £18 : 10s. For carriage of the same to
College of Lincluden, 82 shillings. Also for 8 boles of salt for use at the time
the Queen received the Queen and Prince of England. — Exchequer Bolls.
* The expense of two servants, the one to the Rhynns, the other to Kirkcud-
bright from the College of Lincluden, 12 shillings.— .fib9cA«fu«r BollSy 1460*61.
/
to 1484] THE SECOND HEREDITARY SHERIFF 279
Boxburgh, with the Sherifif of Kirkcudbright and the Warden of
the Marches, were convened to discuss in conclave in the hall of
the college various burning questions of the Borders with the
English queen. Everything seemed settled to mutual satisfac-
tion ; tender adieux were exchanged, and the royal heroine of
the red rose, sanguine of success, rode forth from the peaceful
cloisters to court the din of the battlefield.
The fortune of war proved against her cause, and the crush-
ing defeat of Towton rendered all these negotiations useless,
and sent her back to Scotland powerless to give effect to the
carefully drawn protocols of Lincluden. Her husband too,
separated from her in their flight, sought refuge in Galloway,
having, with a young child and a meagre retinue, crossed the
Solway in an open boat and landed at Kirkcudbright^
Thither, as an old courtier, the sheriff repaired to give the
forlorn monarch what comfort he could and assistance in tracing
his belongings. The party were hospitably entertained by the
Grey Friars in their convent (afterwards the castle), till news
was obtained of his queen's whereabouts, and orders arrived to
escort the royal fugitive to Linlithgow.
In 1462 the Abbot of Dundrennan was succeeded as Cham-
berlain of Galloway by Alan Muir, of the house of Bowalan.'
In his first accounting there is an entry of a large sum paid to
the Sheriff of Galloway (no less than £180) from the Crown
rents, apparently in consideration of the various services above
mentioned, and others rendered to the queen regent.^
In 1463 George Douglas died, the last of that inferior branch
of the Douglasses. His lands of Leswalt reverted to the Crown,
the dower being reserved for Christian Ruthven, his wife.
^ "The King Herry is at Eirkhowbre with four men and a childe. Qneen
Margaret is at Edinburgh, and hir son. 80th August 1461." — A letter of Sir
Bobert Whytingharae. — Original Letters of the Paston Family. Doubts are ex-
pressed as to this visit in preface to vol. yii. of the Exchequer Holla, apparently
on authorities quoted by Miss Strickland. But any loose notices can hardly
weigh against a contemporary letter of unquestioned authenticity.
' The chamberlain had three sons : Alexander, Archibald, and Rankine.
Members of his family onoe owned Craighlaw, and afterwards Torhouse Mure.
' Paid' by Master David Guthrie, treasurer to the king, to Andrew Agnew,
from fermis of the Crown in Galloway, super Croe, £180 : 3 : B,— Exchequer BoUs.
280 HEREaOITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1455
Lord Kennedy was appointed receiver of the rents of the
barony, afterwards acquired by the family in fee ; the Agnews
continuing — as they had been beyond all memory of man — ^to
be bailies of the barony under the Crown. This is to be
specially noted, as Lord Kennedy's grandson, on acquiring full
possession of the barony,^ claimed the sole right of holding
courts at Leswalt, which, though successfully resisted by the
Agnews, led to bitter quarrelling, and a complete estrangement
between the families.
Successive Earls of Cassilis were powerful enough to set
decisions of the High Courts at defiance, and it was not until
the reign of Charles I. that the arm of the law was strong
enough to restrain the Kennedies from violating the Agnews's
chartered rights. At this date no one in the west country could
compare in influence with Lord Kennedy. Besides his own
many vassals and wide domains, he held letters of revenue
or "man-rent" from the powerful cadets of his house, the
Kennedys of Blairquhan, Bargany, Ardstincher, Leffnoll, the
CoifT, Knockdaw, and Drummellar, and had bonds of mutual
assistance and defence from Lords Boyd, Hamilton, Maxwell,
and Montgomery; himself a regent of the kingdom, and
deriving additional prestige from the position of his " wyse and
religious" brother, the bishop. Unfortunately, however, that
^ The barony of Leswalt is thus described in Lord Kennedy's first accounting :
''Ck>nipotum Gilberti Domini Kennedy, receptoris firmaram de Leswalt de ter-
minis Penthecostes, 1464 " : —
£S de firmis terrarum trium Largbrecks ; ^ £8 : 6 : 8 de Masmore ^ et Knocnar-
gade de dictis baronie. Et de ISs. de le Glakis' de dictis baronie. Et de 18s.
de firmis de Achnocharth> Et de £Z de duabus Glenstokdalis. Et de £3 : 6 : 8
de le Tallaich.^ Et de £8 : 6 : 8 de Barbeth. Et de £3 : 6 : 8 de Dunduffis et
duanim Balcurvis.* Et de £8:6:8 de le Mule. Et de 16s. 8d. terrarum de
Garthrowan. Et de £3 : 6 : 8 de fermis de le Flote. Et de £5 de Kerowmacgill '
and Kildonane. Et de 40s. de Drumfad. Et de 808. de Callonnis^ and
Dalyewanach.* Et de £6:18:4 de firmis baronie de Bartonny^ de dictis
terminis.
Summa higis expense, £52 : 2 : 8.
1 Larbnx. 2 Kow Knock and Maize. The original " silver hiU," a laige meadow.
> Glac, a hollow. * Auchnotteroch, upper or Uchtred's field.
B Gh&Uoch, the knoll, or perhaps the forge. 0 Balquhirry, townland in the corrie.
7 Clerical error for Kirk or Oaer MacOill. 8 Galdons, the hazel wood.
9 Dalmannoch, monk's field. 10 Barwhanny.
to 1484] THE SECOND HEREDITARY SHERIFF 281
good man died in 1466, mourned by all parties, an irreparable
loss to the State, and to the king especially, who was not so
happy in his future councillors.
As to local doings, a fierce encounter took place in 1467
between many Galloway gentlemen near Synniness. A M'Dowall
was killed in the fight, for which John Agnew, Thomas and
Nigel Adair, and Niven Mackenzie, were amerciated^ in £10 each.
In 1469 the sheriff's heir, Quentin, married Marian, daugh-
ter of Eobert Vans of Bambarroch.^ The lady's three sisters
married the Lairds of Garthland, Gorswall, and Kinhilt About
the same time John de Muirhead, sheriff-depute, married a
daughter of Lord Hepburn of Hailes, and Andrew M'Dowall of
Eldrig was named another sheriff-depute.
The lordship of Galloway, with the customs of the burgh of
Wigtown and Elirkcudbright, were settled upon Queen Mar-
garet of Denmark by Parliament in 1471. Two years later her
majesty made a progress through the province to receive the
homage of her new vassals and propitiate St Ninian.
The burgesses of Wigtown, anxious to have fresh confirma-
tion of their privileges, among which was the lucrative one of
levying toll on all horses, cattle, sheep, and bales of wool
crossing the Cree, elected the sheriff provost of the borough,
hoping that, as a jpersoiia grata to the royal pair, he might
assist in forwarding their views. He accepted the office, and
we afterwards find him for several years consecutively attend-
ing for the borough's interest at the capital.®
^ Pro morte quondam Thome M'Dovele et aliorum interfectorum apud
Synons, commissa ad septem annos. — Lord Trettsmrer's Account, 1474.
* On the occasion of his son's marriage, the sheriff resigned his lands of
Craighmore to the Crown ; which were regranted ('* Qaentino Agnew et Mariote
Waus, sponse soa ") by charter under the Great Seal, 28th January 1469.
In 1478 the Lord Treasurer compounds with Andrew Agnew for the renuncia-
tion of the third part of the lands of Drun^'ergane ; as also for the renunciation
of Ardnamord (properly Airynamord), airadh na mairt, sheiling of the oxen. —
Exchequer Molls*
* In the Bechequer Rolls, 1474-76 respectively, are the entries : "Compotum
balllTorum per Andream Aggnew, bnrgi de Wigtoune redditum ez parte Andree
Agnew, propositi dicti burgi."
1481. For the baillies of Wigtoun, £zz.
1488. Per Andream Aggnew for the baillies of Wigtoun, two years, £xl.
282 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1455
Their majesties travelled in considerable state ;^ ferrying
the Ken at St. John's Bjrk of Dairy early in November ; 2 a
crane being purchased to grace the royal table by the way !
leaving Wigtown for Whithorn on the 12th November, where,
it is to be remarked, the king bought two Galloway horses for
£2 and £7 : 10s. respectively.
On the 15th of November they slept at the Abbey of
Glenluce, and on the 18th crossed the Bridge of Ayr, which
seems to have then only just been built, as 10s. were given to
the masons.'
Ninian Spot, who had succeeded Thomas Spence as Bishop
of Galloway in 1459, lodged a complaint in 1466 against
Finlay M'Culloch of.Torhouse, and his sons, "for having
wrongously spulzeit his corn, cattle, and goods." The Lords
Auditors allowed the case to drag on for several years ; and at
length, on his repeated application, referred the whole matter
"to Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, sheriff" with an order that
"the said M'Culloch should restore as much as the reverend
father could prove had been taken from him before the said
sheriflF." *
A serious difiTerence arose between Bishop Spot and the
sheriff as to' the latter's tenure of various church lands, which
^ 1478, XX August To Andro Balfoure for lyveray goonis to aez ladys of the
quenis chalmire et hire passing to Quhytehime : xzj elne of gray, fina Danid
Gill, price elne £x, summa £x : lOs. — Lord Treasfwrer'a Accownts,
^ At Sanct Johnis Kirk, for the ferrying of horses and men owre at the
water, 5s.
Till a man for a cran be the way passand to Qnhitheme, 58.
xiL November, in Quhithern. To Johne of Eynloycht, to buy him a horse, ^'li.
XV. November. For a horss boycht to the king, be the way command fra
Glenluss, £vii : 13s.
' 18th November 1478. To the massonis of the Bryg off Ayre, 10s. — Lord
Treasiirer's Accounts.
^ We may here mention that, in the Exchequer RoUs we find Andrew Agnew,
Sheriff of Wigtown, accounting at Edinburgh 1471 for sasines he had given of
Auchlawn ^ (now Auchleand) to William M'Gye of Skeoch ; and chapel croft of
Altoune' to Roland Eennedie of Baijerroch ; and of Barowar to Patrick M'Eie ;
of Clugstone to John Clugstone ; of Glenturk' to Alexander Mure ; of Gotlands
to David Faullerton ; of Logan to Uchtred M'DoualL— ^6& Avd.
1 Acha leathen, brood field.
3 Altoune, often Auld Tonn, iB not brood Scotch, as It seems, but Alltan, little glen.
s Qleantorc, wild boor's glen.
to 1484] THE SECOND HEREDITARY SHERIFF 283
had been acquired by his father from Bishop Yaux. Lands
held nominally under lease from the Church were considered
almost equivalent to freehold ; and this holding was especially
popular with the baronage, as involving fewer military services
than those held under the Crown.
Bishop Spot seems to have demanded larger sums for the
renewal of his leases than the sheriff was inclined to pay ; but
in declining to come to terms, he refused to give up occupation.
The bishop consequently raised an action against him before
the Lords of the Council, " for his wrongous occupation, labour-
ing, and manuring of the lands of Sheuchan and others." The
case was called on the 25th of October, but the sheriff took the
easy course usual with Galloway barons, and failed to appear
or give any answer to the charge. But he had friends at court,
and instead of the decision going against him by default, we
find the entry, '' The Lords of Council assign to Andrew Agnew,
the l7th of January following, with continuation of days, to
produce and shew such evidents and rights as he will use, and
shew anent his rights which he claims to the said lands." ^
That these " evidents " were sufficient seems proved by the
fact that the bishop gave him no further trouble; and, five
years later, we find by records in the charter chest that his son
was infefted in these very lands,^ by right of inheritance, as heir
to his grandfather, 10th June 1478. Elizabeth Hamilton, spouse
of umquhile Helise M'Gulloch, brought an action before the
Lord Auditors against "Andrew M'Culloch, Quentin Agnew,
Duncan Mackmakyn, James Hert, Andro M'Gulloch's man, and
Henry Mundwel, chaplain, for their wrongous withholding of
66 bolls of clene braddit oats " ; both parties being present
by their procurators, and the allegations heard at length, the
Lord Auditors decree that the said parties shall restore and
deliver again the said 66 boUs of oats.^
* Act. Dom, Concil,
' The precept granted by the sucoeeding bishop of these lands is worded :
" Dilecto Qaentino Agnew, viceoomiti, jozta formam et tenorem carte quondam
Andrea Agnew, avo dicti QaentinL"— iSetor, 25th February 1485.
» Ad, Aud,
284 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1 45 5
This year also Lord Kennedy died, and was succeeded by
his son John, who had been married first to a daughter of
Lord Montgomery, and secondly to a daughter of the Earl of
Huntly.
An entry in the Wigtown Borough Becords introduces us to
the sheriff's second son, William, acting there as a bailie.^
The Head Court books chronicle an exploit of his eldest son
Quentin, — who, probably then occupying Innermessan, led a
party through Glen App to the lands of Eonald M'Neil, whence
he drove back a rich booty before him.
Bonald carried his case before the Lord Auditors, who on
hearing both parties ordered, ''that Quentene Agnew should
restore and deliver again to Ronald M'Neile, thirty-three great
kye, price of the piece 24s. ; eight oxen, each 30s. ; one bull,
30s.; seven two-year-old kye, and three fed veals, each 13s. 4d.,
which the said Quentene spoiled from the said Eonald out of
the lands of Areshene." ^
As simple restitution was merely ordered with no fine,
we presume Quentin's visit to Bonald to have been a return
one.
About 1481 the Maxwells first appear as Wigtownshire
landowners. Edward, grandson of Herbert, first Lord Maxwell,
married Margaret, one of the four coheiresses of William
Mundwel (De Magnavilla), who brought to her husband, with
other lands, part of the barony of Monreith. A precept to
Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, from Eobert Boyd, prays
him to give sezine to Edward Maxwell of a fourth part of
the barony of Monreith,® as formally possessed by Hawysai
Mundwel.
Among the witnesses are Herbert Maxwell and Bankine
^ 14th December 1478. Maurice Anderson, burgess of Wigtown, by the de-
livery of a silver penny into the hands of William Agnew, one of the bailies of
the said borough, resigned 12s. rent out of his tenement, lying between that of
Mr. Gilbert Maghellan, chaplain, and Mr. John Maohon.
^ Amsheen, airidh sidhein, "the shelling or place of the fairy hilL" — Ad*
And,
^ Monreith, moine riabhac, but anciently written Murrith and Murrief, which,
if the true name, would be "gray walls" (mur), house or stronghold.
to 1484] THE SECOND HEREDITARY SHERIFF 285
Mure, tenned " baillies," and Fergus M*Lymphquhaia (a quaint
fonn of M'Clumpha).^
In 1483 the Lord Auditors addressed letters to Andrew
Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, "to take prufe before him, and
warn all parties to be present," in a case in which George Vans,
now Bishop of Galloway, sued Sir William Stewart of Garlics
and Lady Euphemia Graham or Vans his wife, for " withhold*
ing the males, farmez, profits, gressums, and other duties, from
Patrick Vans his nephew, and Lady Euphemia's son." She and
her second husband had occupied Bambarroch during her son's
minority, and were disinclined to make it over to him when he
came of age. The Lord Auditors, on the sheriff's report, ad-
judged that " they did wrong in the occupation of the said lands,
and shall restore the back rents and duties so far as Patrick
Vans can prove before the sheriff that they have retained them."
The sheriff received also letters under the Privy Seal to
warn aU the lieges to be equipped for war, and ready to join the
royal standard at eight days' notice; the king undertaking to
find them in victual for twenty days. And should they not be
required to take the field, the sheriff nevertheless to muster all
men capable of bearing arms, and give the king notice of the
day he fixed for that parade, that the king might send a con-
fidential servant to report if " the lieges be well bodin."
John Montgomery, nephew of Lady Kennedy, had married
an Adair, and a dispute arose between him and his wife's family
as to his rights under marriage settlements. The sheriff seems
to have sided with the Adairs, as "Johne of Muntgumre"^
raised an action against Andrew Agnew, sheriff, and " Newyn,
his son," Finlay M'Allon, Gilbert Neilson, Mitchell M'Uvayne,
Gelcallon,' Patrick and Thomas Adair, and Sir Thomas
M'llvayne, "* for the wrangous occupation and manuring of the
lands of Dromore and Ealdonan, pertaining to him be reason of
his spouse."
^ Ramage. — Drumlanrig and the Douglasses^ 186.
' A younger son of the second Lord Montgomery.
' Qilla Colm, servant of St Colnmba.
286 SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. I455 to 1 484
The Lords decreed that the said persons were in the wrong,
and " ordained that they devoid and red the same. Sir Thomas
(the reverend) to pay a fine of 25s., Gelcallon and Patrick Adair
of 12s. 6d. each."
Very shortly after this deliverance, the second sheriff died.
Daring his lifetime he had infefted his second son William in
the lands of Croach and Laicht Alpyne, by whose direct de-
scendants in the male line they were enjoyed for nearly 300
years.^
^ Sasine given to William Agnew, "de firmis terrarum de Creach/' 1460. —
Exchequer JRoUs.
CHAPTEE XVI
THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF
A.D. 1484 to 1498
He was lord of the huntin horn
And king o' the covin tree,
He was lo'ed in a' the westlan waters,
And oh 1 he was dear to his ain menye.
A MANDATE under the Great Seal, dated 30th January 1484,
directed Andrew M'Dowall of Elrig ^ as sheriff-depute, to give
Quentin Agnew of Lochnaw heritable state and seizine of the
lands and offices which his father held under the Crown.
And a precept issued by Bishop Vaus on the 25th of Feb-
ruary following, empowered XJchtred M'Dowall of Gkurthland, as
bailie of the bishop lands in Galloway, to infeft him in the
properties which his family held under the Church, by virtue .
of a "charter granted by Alexander, Bishop of Galloway, to
Andrew Agnew, grandfather of the said Quentin. Sealed
in the presence of Adam Hepburn,* and William Colvel of
Cumston."
^ Honorabilis yir Andreas Macdowall de Ebig, Vioecomes, habeas mandatum
snpremi domini nostri regis sub testimonio sui magni sigilli cum alba cera
sigillatum et virtute ejusdem mandati ad conferendam sasinam hereditatum
Quentini Agnew ... est legitimus et propinquior heres ejusdem quondam
Andrese patris . . . una cum officio Vice-comitatis de Wigtown, et officio
baUiatus de Leswalt, et quod de nobis tenantur in capite.
' Son of Sir Patrick, iirst Lord Hailes. His sister was married to Andrew
M'DowaU of Elrig ; his elder brother was created Earl of Bothwell.
Elrig, £ldrig= Alderich (curates), according to situation has exactly opposite
meanings ; often Auldridge, implying old cultivation, otherwise Elrick — haunted,
eerie, wild. — Jamieson. In glossary to Ramsay's Cfentle Shepherd; vrild, unin-
habitable.
288 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. 1 484
On the 5th of February the formal infeftment of the Crown
lands was carried out in presence of WiUiam Agnew younger of
Croach, Robert Ahannay of Sorby, Patrick M'CuUoch of Larg,
John M*Christin, William Wallace, Jacob Hert, and Henry
Mundwel, chaplain at Lochnaw; ''whilst about 11 o'clock in
the forenoon of the 12th of March" the Laird of Gkrthland,
"by delivery of staff and stone/' gave him possession of the
lands of Dalzarran, Sheuchan, and Tongue, before John M'Kie
of Myrtoun, Andrew M'Dowall of Myroch,^ Uchtred M'Dowall
of Dalreagle, Uchtred M'Dowall in Knockincross, and Thomas
M'DowaU in Stronrawer.*
In these sasines it is to be observed that the royal mandate
recognises the baillierie of Leswalt as held heritably by the
Agnews under the Crown^ which was afterwards disputed by
the Kennedys.
The orthography of some of the place-names deserves notice :
G^thclone reflects the Celtic root " garbhcluain/' rough meadow,
equivalent to Garryclone in Ireland.
Kockincross, now Craigencross, '^ the knoll or hill of the cross,"
a conspicuous knoll in the Spital Croft of Craichmore (now
Burgess Croft), once belonging to the Knight Templars. Cross
in topography oftener indicates a gallows than a religious
symbol; but in this case a real cross may have crowned the
hillock, as we identify the lands with "a certain croft, the
Temple land, vulgarly called the Spital Croft of Craighmore,"
sold at this time to M'Dowall by Sir William Knolys, Preceptor
of the Order of St. John : " There being paid to us at our house of
Torphichen the dues accustomed to be paid at the time appointed
to the Templars." A son or kinsman of this M'Dowall re-
mained as tenant, whence his designation "in" not "of,"
Knockincross ; and the croft was soon after sold to the
Agnews.
^ Murbhach, pronounced Murrach, flat land by the sea-shore, a salt marsh
(Joyce, 166) ; yariously written Murrough, Murreach ; further softened in ** The
Murrowe " of Wicklow.
' Dare sasinam hereditatum de dilecto nostri Quentino Agnew . . . juzta
formam et tenorem cart» quondam recolendi memorii Alezandri nuper Candidae
Cass episcopi . . . quondam AndresB Agnew avo.
to 1498] THE THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF 289
We here find an interesting identification of the name of
Stranraer. Eobert I. gave the lands of Stranrever in the Rhynns
of Gralloway to Fergus de Mondewilla (whence Mundwell) ; but
these have not hitherto been recognised as a site of the royal
borough, owing to the hamlet which first sprung up there
having been known as Chapell and St. John's Croft.
Stranrawer next appears in the charter for its erection as a
borough under Adair of Kinhilt, circum 1595 ; and this it has
been supposed was a new name then given, meaning " the row
on the strand"
Such a derivation is most unlikely, as, if from the vernacular,
the form would not probably have changed. The discovery of
the word on the very spot a full century before seems to fix it
as Celtic "Sron Eeamher," the broad snout (Promontonium
Crassum) ; sufl&ciently applicable to a gravelly bank raised by
the confluence of a stream, the bank having now been levelled
and built upon, and the stream course covered over.
The Adairs at this time were numerous : there were Adairs
of Altoun, of Curghie, of Maryport, of Dromore, of Creechan, of
Genoch, and Eonhilt;^ their family traditions being strangely
tangled with legends of the early Church. Of the latter, none
is more definite than that of Medana ; and despite its absurd-
ities, there can be little doubt that she was a real personage,
and that her name survives in three Kirkmaidens, which local
tradition ascribes to three maiden sisters of a fictitious Bishop
Adair. This bishop, whose name will be vainly searched for in
Keith, is said to have presided over a monastery near Kinhilt ;
and wishing to add a library to his suite of rooms, he had a
large boulder brought from Portesspital to form the lintel of his
doorway. Next morning the stone had disappeared. He sent
for another, when, to the surprise of the messengers, they found
^ Altoun, little glen ; Cargliie, Ck>r-gedh or gaeth, hill of the wild geese, or
windy hiU; Creechan, Cruachan, the stack -shaped hill. Of this last, Simpson
preserves an odd piece of folklore : ''At a piece of ground called Crichen, the
sheep have all their teeth very yellow, yea, and their very skin and wool are
yellower than other sheep in the country, and will be easily known, though they
were mingled with any other flock of sheep." Genoch, Gaineach, a sandy place ;
Kinhilt, hind hill.
VOL. I U
290 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [a.D. 1 484
the first stone lying on the shore, brought it back, and replaced
it. Next day it was gone again ; but knowing where to look for
it, it was soon traced, and the bishop, equal to the occasion,
ordered a Bible and a sword to be engraved upon it before build-
ing it in again. Its erratic tendencies thus effectually stopped,
the stone remained firm until involved in the ruin of all Popish
houses.
The sceptical are recommended to visit the adjoining farm
of Colfin,^ where, doing duty as a coign to his steading, the
intelligent tenant will show them this very stone.
Symson offers a third derivation for one of the parishes :
'' Kirkmaiden, so called because the kirk is dedicated to the
Virgin Mary, the point of whose knee is fabulously reported to
be seen on a stone somewhere about a place called Maryport"
This is altogether a confusion. At Maryport there may have
been a dedication to the Virgin, but the parish " maiden " is
Medana. The Breviary of Aberdeen gives a true legend which
connects her with the three parishes so called. The daughter
of an Irish king, the beautiful Medana (or Modwene) wais sought
in marriage by many, and especially by a knight more per-
sistent than the rest ; but Medana, unknown to her friends,
had taken vows of celibacy, and to avoid the soldier's importunity
fled, attended by two handmaids. Embarking in a helmless skiff,
she was wafted by providential guidance to a creek in the Khynns
of Galloway, still called Portankill, from the chapel that she
reared there. Here, a cave serving for her bower and oratory,
she led a life of poverty and labour. Time flew by, till one day
she was startled by voices on the shore, and her knight rushed
in, entangling her in his embraces. With one wild scream she
freed herself from his grasp, and, followed by her handmaids,
plunged through the surf, and took refuge on a boulder. The
lover sprang after her ; but ere he could lesjch it the stone floated
miraculously, and bore her across the billows to Monreith Bay.
Here she found shelter and repose, and lay fast asleep, when at
^ Cul-fionn, white (that is, arable land, or grassy) corner ; so Coolfin, Ireland.
— Joyce, ii. 265.
to 1498] THE THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF 291
cockcrow her persecutor reappeared, and she with difficulty
gained time for a moment's parley by climbing a tree. ** Why
persecute me thus?" she tearfully exclaimed. "Those eyes
oblige me/' began her knight sentimentally ; but ere he could
finish his sentence Medana had torn her eyeballs from their
sockets, and sobbing out, " Take then what you want ! " dashed
them at his feet. Maddened, broken-hearted, penitent^ when
too late, he slunk away. Medana now came down, asking for
water to bathe her aching face. She was told there was no well
near, when lo ! where her eyes had fallen, up bubbled a fountain
of limpid water, its origin attested by its healing power. She
washed and saw. The remainder of her days were happy ; she
living a life of devotion and good works in the enjoyment of the
society of the saintly Ninian and the congenial brotherhood at
Whithorn.^ And when she died she was in due course canon-
ised, and the chapels she had reared on either side of the Bay of
Luce became the mother churches of the parishes which bear
her name.
The ruined church of Kirkmaiden in Ferns has rather an
eerie * reputation. When its parish was absorbed by Glasserton
the fabric was allowed to fall into decay ; but the burying-ground,
which was that especially of the houses of Myrtoun and Mon-
reith, remains.
It is alleged that a guest at the mansion-house of Moors ^
made a bet that he would ride at midnight to Medana's Chapel
^ In Kirkmaiden in the Rhynns "there is a small cave, though one of no
little note, between the bays of Portankill and East Tarbet, called by Chalmers
St Medan's Gave ; together with a pool in the adjacent rock, called the Well of
the * Co.* From the superstitions observances connected with the spot it seems
likely it was the abode of some Druid or recluse. To bathe in the well as the sun
rose on the first Sunday of May was considered an infallible cure for almost every
disease ; and till no very remote period it was customary for almost the whole
population of the parish to collect on this spot on the first Sabbath of May (which
was caUed Co-Sunday) to bathe in the well. " — New Statistical AeeourU, Kirkmaiden,
For a minute description, and views of St. Medana's Cave and Chapel, see
Ayrshire and Oallovjay Archceological Collectitms, voL vi. art. 2.
* * * Terror '* (Jamieson) ; * ' fear of beings of a supernatural stamp " (MTaggart).
^ Moor, Moore, Mur, " the tower " ; whence Murrith, corrupted to Monreith,
* ' the gray tower." '* The Mower, together with the whole parish of Kirkmaiden,
belonging to Sir William Maxwell of Muirreith." — Symson.
292 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1 484
and bring away the Bible. He started, but was never again
seen alive. Next day his body lay cold beside that of his
horse. The corpse had been neither stripped nor plundered, but
the entrails of both man and beast were garlanded over the old
thorn bushes near the kirk.
Again, when the parish was suppressed, the pulpit and bell
were taken down with the view of being utilised in a new kirk
in a sister parish across the bay. They were put on board a boat,
which sailed on a fine day with a fair wind, everjrthing promising
a good passage. But the bell had been consecrated for use in
" Halie Kirk," and was thus being unceremoniously transferred
to an unconsecrated building ; — the Papists say the Patron Saint,
the Presbyterian guidwives say the Devil — raised a storm which
sent boat, bell, and cargo to the bottom of the sea. Tet even
there this lusty beU clings to the memories of Medana's Chapel,
and, not unmindful of the duties for which it had been set apart,
sends forth a knell from the watery depths whenever the last
breath is passing from the bodies of any of the old family of
Myrtoun. So say the lieges of Portwilliam.
Lawlessness becoming very rife among the upper classes, an
Act was passed instructing the coroners when they received
their " Porteous Rolls," ^ and found persons named therein " that
they dared not, and had not power to arrest," to pass to the
sheriff and inquire whether he will become surety for their
appearance at the next Justice Aire. If the sheriff agree, well ;
but if the sheriff refuse, he shall require the said sheriff in the
king's name to send his officers and familiars in sufficient
numbers to enable him to arrest them. And when arrested, if
the coroner had no safe place to keep them in, he should bring
them to the sheriff, who should charge himself with their custody,
and who on delivering them at the Justice Aire should be
allowed his expenses.^
A sheriff-depute of Galloway furnishes an apt instance of a
^ A list of persons indicted to appear before the Justiciary Aire.— Jamieson.
Chaucer uses " portos " for a missile,
s 14 Parlt James II. chaps. 99-101,
to 1498] THE THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF 293
mighty and disobedient person with whom minor officials might
find it difficult to deal.
John Muirhead, one of Qaentin Aguew's deputes, and
William his brother, and Sankine Mure, son of the chamberlain,
are charged with the masterful spoliation of Sir Alexander
Scott, parson of Wigtown, " of the whole lamb teinds, cheese,
and dues of kirk since the feast of Pasch, last by-past; and
the wrangous occupation and manuring of his kirkland and
glebe."
The Lords and Council decree that Bankine, John, and
William, should "red and devoid the same," and pay the parson
the proper rent.^
The same year we find the account of the bailies and borough
of Wigtown up to 1st July 1488 " rendered at Edinburgh by
Quentin Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, and provost of the said
borough." *
In 1488 civil war had broken out Angus getting possession
of the person of the Prince Eoyal, headed an insurrection
against the father in the prince's name. Angus having been
always popular in Galloway, the baronage there generally sided
with him. Indeed, Earl Bothwell, his right-hand man, was then
Steward of Kirkcudbright.
The final struggle took place on the 8th of Juna Angus's
advance guard, formed of the spearmen of the Merse and the
Lothians, under Bothwell, met that of the king, formed of High-
landers, in greatly superior force, who staggered Bothwell's
advance by a well-directed volley of arrows, then closed, and
used their claymores with such deadly effect that his line
broke, and victory for the king seemed certain, when sud-
denly the Galloway men came into action, mounted on small
but hardy steeds, wielding their long spears, with which the
broadswords could not cope, and charging into the Highland
host with terrific cries, drove back all before them.'
^ Act. Bom, Condlii, * Exeheq\ier Rolls.
' The Homes and Hepbnms having the vanguard, with thame in company,
Mera, Tividaill, and East Lothian ; and next thame the Liddisdale and Annan-
daill, with manie of Galloway. — Pitscottie, i. 219.
294 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 484
The king fled, his whole army dissolved in panic ; and
before that day's sun was down James III. had been cruelly
murdered and his son proclaimed king. The Galloway men,
having exchanged the title of rebels with those they had
opposed, cheering for James lY., marched back as tried and
trusted loyalists, rich in glory and the spoils of war.
Just previous to this insurrection, the sheriff had resigned
his lands and offices into King James III.'s hands, with a view
of their being bestowed upon his eldest son (a fashion of the
times, which answered the purpose of entails). It is of some
historic interest to note that there were duplicate warrants for
this transaction in the Lochnaw charter-chest. The first, in
the name of James III., dated April 26 (which apparently the
rebellion prevented from taking effect) ; the second, in that of
James lY., dated 6th August 1488. This second precept is
addressed to Uchtred M'Dowall, sheriff-depute, desiring him
" to give heritable state and seizine to Patrick Agnew, son and
apparent heir of Quentin Agnew, Sheriff of Galloway, of the
lands of Lochnaw, Salquhirry, and Creachmore, as also of the
offices of Sheriff of Wigtown, Baillie of Leswalt, and Constable
of the Castle, Lake, and manor-place of Lochnaw, reserving to
the said Quentin the life-interest in the lands and offices, and
to Marian Yaus her rights as a Tercer, should she survive him."
The delivery to the minor was made by Nevin Agnew, his
uncle, at "five o'clock on the afternoon of the 16th August,
before William Agnew junior, of Croach, James M'Dowall,
Elias Gordon, Sir Finlay M'Bryd, chaplain at Lochnaw, James
Hert, Thomas Cruikshank, John Makgarue, notary public."
On some cause of quarrel unknown, the sheriff, one fine
autumn day, mustered his retainers on the green at Lochnaw,
and passing by Dindinnie, Knockwhassen, Crailoch,^ Knock-
glass, and the slopes of Craignaquarroch,' to Kinhilt, seized a
considerable prey of cattle, and passing on by the Caldons ^ and
^ Grailoch, Crithlach, "a bounding in shaky places, a shaking bog."
^ GraignaquaiToch, na-chaoroch, "rock of the sheep."
* Caldons, ''the hazel wood."
to 1498] THE TEIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF 295
Kirkmadrine ^ to Ardwell, stormed the house, stripped it; appro-
priated four horses in the stable, sundry oxen, such cows as he
fancied from the byres, and returned with his spoiL It seems
probable that this raid was in retaliation, and that the provoca-
tion must have been considerable, as Adair, one of the parties
attacked, was the sheriffs brother-in-law; and the Lord Auditors,
to whom the case was referred, simply ordered the restoration
of the property taken, and imposed no fine. "The Lord
Auditors decreets and delivers that Quentin Agnew, Sheriff of
Wigtown, shall restore, content, and deliver to William Adare
of Kynhilt, and Archibald M'Culloch of Ardwall, 28 oxen, price
of the piece, 24s. ; 22 ky, the piece, IBs. 4d. ; 88 sheep, price
of the piece, 3s. 4d. ; 4 horses, £3:6:8; and for gudes and
insicht of household, 16 merks spulziet and taken by the said
Quentin." ^
Moderate as this valuation seems, the sheriff demurred,
alleging its excess as an excuse for withholding the whole sum
awarded ; and, strange to say, the Lords of Council, on appeal,
seem to have reduced it by the price set on the furniture, pro-
vided this was given back. "5th May 1489, the Lords of
Council ordain that letters be directed to distress Quentin
Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, his lands and guds, and make
payment to William Adare and Archibald M'Culloch of the
sum of £48 : 2 : 8, rastand the award of the guds taken by the
said sheriff. But gif the guds of household be delivered again
as gude as taken, that they defalk 16 merks."
By one of the earliest Acts of the new reign ships were for-
bidden to "come and make merchandize" at any ports in
Galloway, excepting Wigtown and Kirkcudbright; thus arbi-
trarily preventing the lieges enjoying the advantages of their
situation whether on Loch Byan, the Bay of Luce, and the
many creeks between the Cree and Nith upon the Solway.
In 1489 an Act was passed enjoining sheriffs to take strin-
^ Eirkmadrine, *'St, Median's Churcli." This was the parish church of Tos-
kerton, Taaiscairt, "a northerly place" (as compared with Kirkmaiden).
> Act. Aud., 17th October 1488.
296 HEREDITAKY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I484
gent measures to prevent salmon-poaching, and regulate cruives,
'' that they stand not in forbidden time, and let the midstream
be always free for the space of 5 feet, and that the Setterdaies
slop^ be observed and kept" *
Another Act of local significance is " for undooing of caupes
in Galloway." Caupes were exactions in addition to those
legally imposed, such as herezelds and grassums, and are
interpreted as "pretended benevolences of horses, cattle, or the
like, accustomed to be wrested from the poor by the landlords
in Carrick and Galloway." For which the Estates declare
" they see no reasonable cause," and the sheriffs are desired to
protect those so oppressed: ''all such abusions, evil use, and
extortions, to be punished henceforward as theft." An admir-
able statute, but for long a dead letter.
About this time Lord Kennedy made his usual residence at
the Manor- place of Inch.^
In 1488 he had given Quentin M'Dowall a tcu^k of the lands
of Culmore, and of the Larg, the latter probably as a " kyndlie
rowme" (a holding given on easy terms as to rent, but for
which the tenant was expected to support his superior in the
field). Having either repented of his gift or been dissatisfied
with the occupier. Lord Kennedy annulled the tack; but
M'Dowall declining to remove, his lordship seized some
hundreds of his sheep by way of fine. The tenant appealed
to the Lord Auditors, who decided that Lord Kennedy must
abide by the tack, and leave Quentin undisturbed in the
said lands. The Lords further ''adjudge that Lord Kennedy
does wrong in withholding five score sheep from Quentin
M'DowaD." »
Lord Kennedy appears to have treated their decree with
contempt. Two years later, the matter came before the Council,
^ The Setterdaies slop is the time in which it is not lawful to take salmon
between evensong on Saturday, until the rising of the sun on Monday.
3 Parlt. 2, James IV. c. 15 and 18.
' In the charter history of the Kennedys, the first notice of the Kennedys
being appointed captain and keeper of the Manor-place of Inch is dated 1516.
But the family notoriously resided there before, as evidenced in many cases before
the Courts. * Ad. And,
to 1498] THE THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF 297
who issued a summons to " John, Lord Kennedy, to show why
he had not fulfilled the articles ordered by the Lord Auditors,"
allowing him till the following March to prove that he had
contented the said Quentin;^ which it is to be presumed he
did.
About this time many influential persons, ladies among
their number, stongly advocated reform in the Church. Presby-
terianism, as subsequently developed, was not then so much as
thought of; "Halie Kirk," with the Pope as its avowed head,
being had in reverence ; the sovereign Pontiff being respect-
fully requested to suppress disorders in his household, and to
allow the very few persons capable of doing so to read the
Holy Scriptures as authorised by the Church. As the more
conspicuous members of those preferring these claims belonged
to Ayrshire rather than Galloway, they were nicknamed " The
Lollards of Kyle." Among those most prominent was Marian,
Lady Stair, wife of William Dalrymple, and daughter of John
Chalmers of Gadgirth.
In the year 1494 a meeting of these so-called Lollards was
invaded by Blackadder, Bishop of Glasgow, and cited to appear
before the king. It might have been a serious affair had the
fourth James been as pitiless an enforcer of the law as was the
first, who had acquiesced in Paul Craw being burnt alive, gagged
with a ball of brass, for simply expressing sympathy with
the Lollards of England. With a kindlier disposition, and more
real chivalry, the king gave the accused a fair hearing, allowed
their defence to be undertaken by Bead of Barskimming, " a man
of firm mind and facetious repartee," which he so conducted
"that the greatest part of the accusation was turned into
laughter." ^
Though somewhat of a bigot personally, James IV. jealously
resisted any encroachment of the Church on the royal authority.
Of this Bishop Vans had early experience, when complained of
for opposing the king's authority in Galloway in the person of
his sheriff, under circumstances as follows : —
* Act. Dom, Concil. ' Calderwood, 154.
298 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 484
Sir Alexander M'CuUoch had been appointed by Quentin
Agnew a sheriff-depute, and he, in the ordinary exercise of
his functions, had ordered a distraint on Mitchell M'Brair.
M'Brair appealed to the bishop, who took upon himself to
intervene, and threatened to excommunicate the sheriff's
sergeants if they obeyed their orders. They at once told
their chief, who returning with them, personally superintended
the distraint.
Vans, furious at being held of so little account, sought to
terrify Sir Alexander by the thunders at his command.
Mounting the high altar, he cursed sheriff, clerk, and sergeants,
by candle, book, and bell, and after charging the air with his
curses, had the qurses committed to writing, and served " letters
of cursing " to each of them.
Never was heard such a terrible curse.
But what gave rise
To no little surprise,
No one seemed one penny the worse.
M'Culloch duly reported these doings to the sheriff principal ;
and although against Quentin Agnew spiritual thunders fell
very flat, he resented the affront put upon his office, and com-
plained to the king.
Vans was instantly summoned to meet the charge in court ;
and the humbled prelate had the mortification of hearing it
declared before his accusers and the public, that the king's
Highness was greatly angered at his presumption, and that the
Lords of the Council, having heard both parties, refer the
punishment of the bishop to the king himself, as an example to
others,^
Notwithstanding the high words that passed at this pretty
little quarrel, cordiality was soon restored between the dis-
putants. The bishop did not long refuse to ''take a cup of
kindness for auld lang syne " in his sister's hall ; and the king
^ The Lords of the ConncU refers the corrections thereof to the king's
Highness, and counsels his good grace to provide for remedy thereintil, that it
may be an example in time coming to others not to make stop or impediment to
the king's officers in the execution of their office. — Act, Dom. Condi.
to 1498] THE THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF 299
was 80 entirely satisfied with his subsequent bearing, that when
he founded a chapel royal at Stirling a few months after, he
named George Vans its first chaplain^ who thereafter had much
influence over him.
This chaplaincy became a permanent appendage to the see
of Gralloway ; its salary, a welcome additon to the income of its
bishop.
1st of June 1494, the Snowdon herald " passed with haste " ^
to the Sheriff of Wigtown, bearing letters from the king " anent
the schip at Brak at Quhitheme." These were not written with
any view of protecting the property of the owners, but to
assert the king's privilege as wrecker-in-chief against any local
pilfer.
A more unpleasant letter soon followed from the tax-gatherer,
the Lord of St. John, reminding the sheriff of an unsettled
score "of the rest of the first tax granted for our Sovereign
Lord's marriage," and for arrears of payment by some of the
neighbours, " for whom the said Quentin Agnew became pledged
to the said Lord." ^
The sheriff was long in replying to this, probably because he
had no money to send. Consequently he was cited to appear
before the Lord Auditors, but treated their sunmions with
similar neglect : " The said sheriff being ofttimes called, and
not compeering."
A warrant was therefore issued to distrain upon his lands
and goods for the sum required ; and, in legal phrase, he was
declared rebel His lady, intuitively grasping the gravity of the
situation, rode at once post haste to Edinburgh, and succeeded
in obtaining a counter order, staying action. " In presence of
the Lord Auditors, Marian Wauss, spouse of Quentene Agnew,
and Master James Henderson, procurator for the same Quentene,
permission was given to delay all execution of any decreet,
gif any happit to be given."
^ For which he received 408. — Exchequer Rolls.
' Owed to the Lord Thesanrer by the Sheriff of G&lloway, £19 : 6 : 8. Also
by the three M'Cullochs, £10 each ; by Patrick Black, £10 ; by Andrew Lanch-
laneaon, £10 ; for the qahUk the schirriffe became pledged.
300 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 484
Letters, however, though not issued, had been made out, and
had somehow come into the possession of Symon M'Culloch,
who, owing a grudge to the sheriff, collected a band of wild spirits,
and these, to their great solace and divertissement, organised a
day's sport in sweeping the sheriff's outlying pastures, and seizing
and pounding such booty as they could find. They scoured a
wide range of country ; but from the smallness of the bag at the
end of their long day's sport it is obvious that their amusements
were not altogether undisturbed. The records of the Supreme
Court, to which they were after cited to answer for their conduct,
minutely recoimt the lands gone over and the amount of prey
secured.
When placed at the bar, they endeavoured to plead the
king's letters as a warrant for the outrage. But this was not
for a moment entertained by their judges, who fined them
smartly for their frolic, adjudging them to make good the fiill
value of all that they had taken, paying besides the travelling
expenses of the sheriff and his lady, as well as the expenses of
the trial.
The judgment is as follows :
"The Lord Auditors deliver that Symon M'Culloch, Neil
Neilson of Carcalffy, Alexander Campbell of Auchiness, Uchtred
M'Dowall of Dalregill, Uchtred M'Dowall of Mindork, sail
restore and deliver again to Quentine Agnew, and Marian
Vauss, his spouse, xxiiij** ky with calffs, price of the piece, 3
merks ; 3 horses, price of the piece, 3 merks ; 8 oxen, price of
the piece, 30s. ; 9 score sheep, price of the piece, 4s. ; quhilk
goods were spulziet and taken be the said persones fra the said
Quentine and his spouse out of the lands of Lochinall, Marsch-
lach, Clannerry, the Ard, Culurhome, Glencapill, Suthquhen,
Drumregget, and the Bordland of Salset As was sufficiently
pressit before the Lords, the quhilk gudes were allegit to haf
been taken be the said Symon Mackculloch and his complices,
be virtue of our Sovereign Lord's letters. The quhilk letters
and endorsation thereof beand seen and understood be the
Lords, were declared to be unorderly execut, as was pressit be
to 1498] THE THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF 301
the execution thereof; and ordains that letters be written to
distress the said persones, the wuds and goods therefor, and for
£40 for the said Quentjmes costs, dampnages, and scaith, sus-
tenit be him and his spouse through the wanting of the said
gudes ; and for 40s. to the expences of the four witnesses that
deponet in his matter." ^
As far back as 1487 a resignation by Quentin Agnew, in
favour of his son Patrick, and Catherine Gordon, is witnessed
by the lady's father Eobert Gordon, and his elder brother Sii'
Alexander Gordon of Lochinvar.*
This we must suppose to have been on the occasion of the
betrothal rather than the marriage of the young couple ; Patrick
then being only sixteen years of age. The wedding followed in
due course ; the bride's father, afterwards Sir Eobert Gordon,
being styled of Glen (and on his brother's decease became
of Lochinvar), and her mother was the heiress of John Accarson
of Glenskyrebum, now Eusco.'
The Skyre or Skirsbum, which named this barony, is classic,
as pointing to two Galloway proverbs of great antiquity; "Skirs
Burn warning" being suggestive of calamities sudden and
overwhelming : " By reason," says old Andrew Symson, " that the
Skirs Bum having its rise from Caimsmuir, will swell by sudden
inundation, even in the summer time, almost in a moment."
In the other case, the folklore takes the form of rhyme :
When auld Caimsmoor wears his hat^
Palnare and Skirs Bum laugh at that
^ AcL And, 9ih Deoember 1494.
Carcalffy, Craigcaffie ; Aucliiiiess (Auchness), Eachines, horse isles ; Mindork,
Moinedorch, dark moor, or tore, of the wild boar ; Clannerry (Clendry), Claon-
rach, sloping land ; Culurhome, Culhom, Culk'coma, angle of the barley ;
Glencapill, Qlenhapple, of the horses ; Suthquhen (Shenchan), Suidpeachan,
the little seat, Carzarane (Caimzarran), Querran, the horses* cairn ; Dromregget,
Dunragit, Ragat's fort; Bordland (Boreland), ''Bordlands signifie the demesnes
lords keep in their hands for the maintenance of their tables. " — Cowell's Law
Dictionary.
* The original, with a very perfect impression of Quentin Agnew's seal attached,
was recovered by the author when examining the family charter chest at Eenmure
Castle in 1874 ; and was kindly presented to him by the Hon. Mrs. Bellamy
Gordon,
* Riaseach, an adjective form of riasg, " a marsh or fen."
302 HEREDITAEY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 484
This is matched by a couplet used a little farther eastward :
When Tintock tap puts on a cap,
Criffel wots fu' weel o' that.
A rather melancholy story connects itself with a cousin of
the bride. The Gordons of Huntly were still near of kin to
those of Lochinvar, and still retained their Border properties.^
There was another Katherine Gordon at this date, whose rare
beauty, as well as her name, accounts for the alacrity with
which the chivalry of Galloway were ready to ride in her favour,
and which nearly led to an English war. At the moment
when the golden youth of Scotland were at the feet of the
lovely Katherine, — known as the "White Eose," the King of
France, to suit his own purposes,* palmed Perkin Warbeck on
James IV. as the real Duke of York ; and the Scottish king
falling into the snare, married Katherine Gordon to the
pretender, rightly judging that the young nobility would gladly
don the badge of his Gordon bride, now similar to his own, but
which proved of ill omen to the lady.
There was mustering in hot ha^te from the Merse to the
Rhynns of Galloway : none more ready to maintain his fair
cousin's cause against all comers than the young sheriff.
The din of preparation reached the English court, whence an
army was soon in full march upon the Borders. Their approach
was announced by bale-fires flashing ea^t and west from a
hundred hills ; the king's sheriffs urging every available lance
from their respective districts to the front.
Happily, for once sense prevailed over sentiment, and the
1 It ia Dot generally remembered that the Huntly, as well as the ducal title
of the Gordons, was derived from the Borders. Huntly was a village in the parish
of Gordon in Berwickshire, the only vestige of which is a farm named Huntly,
and Huntly Wood in Gordon parish. The Gordons, on getting possession of their
earldom in Aberdeenshire, carried it with them : whence the name of the parish
there so called.
^ 1496 the French king, Louis XII., discovers to King James a notable piece
of apocrypha caUed Edward, Duck of Yorke : this masked comedian proved a
notable counterfeit . . . This year the counterfeit Duck of Yorke is married to
the Earl of Huntlie*8 daughter, and gets a good armey of Scots for his aide. They
invade the English borders, King Henry prepares a grate armey to invade Soot-
land, but no blood was shed one ather syde. — Balgoni, i. 220.
to 1498] THE THIRD HEBEDITARY SHERIFF 303
English succeeded in convincing the Scots of the futility of
Warbeck's pretensions ; that the beauty of his wife could in no
way assist in his legitimation ; and that the people of England
repudiated him en masse, A formal truce was signed, and the
army simultaneously withdrew : recorded rather boastfully in
official accounts, the intimation made to the Sheriff of Galloway
being worded " Bepuke of an English Eaid." ^
The White Eose was not a name to conjure with in England ;
for poor Katherine the coincidence was unfortunate. Perkin
Warbeck was taken and executed soon after ; but Henry VII.,
struck with the beauty of Katherine, recommended her to his
queen, who retained her about her person, and eventually
married her to Sir Matthew Cradock, ancestor of the Earls of
Pembroke.
The king had now commenced a series of pilgrimages, almost
annual, to Whithorn, generally attended by a large retinue,
including minstrels, to beguile the way. In Wigtownshire he
usually lodged in the religious houses ; though he occasionally
slept in the house of Mjrrtoun, as a charter exists erecting the
place into a burgh of barony in favour of Sir Alexander
M'CuUoch "in consideration of the hospitality tlie king had
received there on the occasions of his passing to and from
Whithorn."
In the ruined tower of Myrtoun an unglazed and unplastered
closet, now used as a pigeon-house, is pointed out as the " King's
chalmer." ^
Almost immediately after " the scaling of the Englishmen "
(September 1497), we trace the king taking his midday meal on
the Loch Eyan shores, on the return from such a pilgrimage,
^ 20 August 1497. David Green receives 828. to pass with the king's letters
to the schirifs of Wigtown and Galloway, to warn them of the scaling of the
Englishmen. Docketed '* Notice of the Repulse of an English Raid." — Lard High
Treasurer's Accounts.
' The other Myrtoun in Penninghame, now Myrtoun M'Eie, had been
previously constituted a burgh of barony by James III., a.d. 1477, subject to the
Kennedies of Blairquhan : both burghs have entirely decayed.
In the Chamberlain Rolls is an entry, ' 'Alexander M'Callauch, Miles de Myrtoun
et Marian Sinclair ejus sponsa." Marian was daughter to Sir John Sinclair, the
Queen's knight.
304 HEREDITARY SHEKIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1 484
from an entry for compensation paid to some of the sheriffs
tenants near Innermessan, for bites taken by his horses from
their growing oats, when turned loose during the king's repast.^
The same year Patrick M'Culloch attacked the house of
Ardwell, and slew his kinsman Archibald, the owner, in the
fray ; the only particulars as to which are to be gathered from
a respite to the said Patrick for the slaughter '* committed under
the silence of night." A still more serious crime is to be
gathered from the same sources/ namely, a remission to Sir
Alexander M'CuUoch of Myrtoun, the Laird of Garthland, and
twenty-nine others, for the burning and reefing of the houses
of Dunskey and ArdwelL The attack must have been made in
great force and with much persistence, which resulted in the
capture of a fortalice of such strength as Dunskey.
Owing to the increasing infirmities of his father, the duties
of sherifiF were now generally performed by Patrick Agnew,
already infefted conjunctly with Quentin in the oflice. Beared
as he had been among scenes offend and violence, such audacious
proceedings as not only plundering, but firing and razing old
strengths, were too much even for the lax code of conduct then in
vogue ; and he bestirred himself with laudable activity. Three
blasts of a sergeant's horn constituted the culprits " fugitive.'*
The officers of the law were on their tracks ; and so hot was the
pursuit, that the offenders, powerful as they were, found it
necessary to tender their submission and make reparation to the
aggrieved parties, upon which they received a « remission." This
word, mild in form, implied no small amount of pain and
penalty endured ; as, in the case of " fugitives " of baronial
position declared rebel, their lands and holdings were left open
to be ravaged and distrained upon with rough justice ; moreover,
they had to find good security for the fines and compositions
imposed. A good round sum must have passed from the
pockets of the lairds of Garthland and Myrtoun, into those of
Ninian Adair, who restored his castle of Dunskey in a style
highly creditable to his taste.
^ Pitcaim, OnmincU Trials,
to 1498] THE THIRD HEREDITABT SHERIFF 305
Other lairds of smaller means, implicated in the outrages —
notedly several of the M'Kies, — wandered as outlaws for many
years before they found securities to be answerable for their share
in the damage.^
Whilst west of the Cree such strongholds were levelled
in private warfare, eastward. Loch Fergus, the palace of the
old Lords of Galloway, belonging to the powerful Laird of
Bomby, was nevertheless destroyed by fire by Cairns and
others.*
After such daring crimes, a simple thefb from a high
ecclesiastic almost raises a smile. On the 18th of November
1497, John Dunbar, son and apparent heir of the Laird of
Mochrum,* is charged with resett of feft with his servitors
William Fleming, James M'Culloch, and John Core, ' quhilk was
with Elizabeth Kennedy that time she took away £43 gold and
silver, a silver sele, and other small gere, had in her keeping
for the Eeverend Father in God, George Vaus, Bishop of
GaUoway." * We read also of a minor crime, but which was
always punished with disproportionate severity : "the refe of
certain haliks out of Dundrennan by John Herries of Barclay,
a^ravated by the binding of the men keeping them/' ^
About this time the sheriff was struck down by disease
(probably paralysis), and in the interests of his family his affairs
were put in trust, a precept under the Privy Seal constituting
Eobert Ahannay of Sorby and Niven Agnew younger of Croach
^ Dancan M'Eieand several others received a remission in 1508 ; and three
more of the M'Eies were not finaUy '* relaxed " tiU 1510, the Laird of Lochinvar
hecoming surety for the jNurties. — Pitcaim, Criminal TricUs.
' Remission to John Camys in the Gopwood, and Thon Hutchenson, for art
and part of the burning of Loch Fergus, belonging to the Laird of Bomby. — 25th
February 1498.
' The young Laird of Mochrum was son of John, the second son of Sir James
Dunbar of Westfield, who had married Margaret, heiress of Sir Patrick Dunbar of
Mochrum, she thus carrying her lands to her kinsman, and dying in 1483, her
husband remarried a Stewart of Garlics.
* Bishop Vaus's nephew, Patrick of Bambarroch, had a charter to himself
and his spouse, Marian Kennedy, of the lands of Longcaster, with the lake and
isle of the same, by John Dunbar of Mochrum, 20th November 1498. —
Pitcaim, CfrimiruU T^rieUa.
' Pitcaim, Onminai Trials.
VOL. I X
306 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1484-1498
cuiatOTs for the management of bis affairs until bia lecoreiy or
deatb.^
Hia death followed soon after. Of younger children we only
trace Michael, a canon of Whithorn, and Mariotta, married to
John de Murehead of Lawchop and Bailies.
' A precept of ;e office of cnntory of Qaintjn Agnew, Sheref of Wigtom, be
a ratoiir ob made to Robert Ahannaj of Sorbj, and to Nerin Agnev, sons uid BT
appersnde to WiIm Agoew of Croich, upon hie Uuds, rents, poBaenions, and
gnda. Ay and qohill God provide of his hele or ded. 10 Janoui, anno r^ii li.
iUaS).~Privy Seal Ittguter, lib. i fol. 68,
We find an Andrew of tbe period, probablj a younger brother, and copy the
«xtcact, «sp«dBlly with a view to the form of " Eirkmedyu " (Ueduia).
1483. King conGrms charter of John Eennedy of LadycrofC, Eirkmedyn, to
NeTin Agnew, sod tad heir of William Aguew of Croach, to be held of the king.
WitDsued by Ucbtred Edyaie of Crachioe, John Gordon, Andrew Agnew, Patk.
Edya^, And. MaecaUane, Sichard Edyar&— Cmi^ Seal BegitUr, vol. i. p. 155.
BBAL OF tvavTW AOinw, 14S7<
CHAPTER XVII
BARONIAL BANQUBTINGS
A.D. 1498 to 1506
The lieges all did till their lady lout,
Wha was conveyed with ane royal rout
Of barroness and lusty ladies sheen.
Welcome our Queen ! the commons gave ane shout
Dunbar.
The year of the fourth sheriff's accession, Cuthbert BaiUie
succeeded Lindsay of Fairgirth as Chamberlain of Galloway.^
Soon after we find him styled of Dunragit, which he must
have purchased from the sheriff or his father, as the only earlier
notice of the property extant is in a decree of the Lord Auditors
(1494), in which it is catalogued among lands belonging to
Quentin Agnew and Marian Vans his spouse.
The dwelling-house was not on the site of the present
mansion of the estate, but about a mile eastward, where the
names and holdings of " Old Hall " and " Orchard " indicate the
family residence. The new Laird of Dunragit, who in his first
accounting is styled Canonicus Glasguensis, was of a family
having a common origin with those of Lamington, Dochfour,
and Folkemmet. Among the first items in these accounts is
one to Sir Alexander M'CuUoch and Marian Sinclair his wife,*
^ Mure had been chamberlain from 1462 to 1496, when he was succeeded by
James Lindsay of Fairgirth, a cadet of the house of Balcarres, who held the office
two years.
Fairgirth is Norse from " faar," a sheep, as in Fair Isle and Faroe.
' Alexander M'Callauch, Miles de Myrtoun, et Marian Sinclair ejus sponsa. —
Charriberlain Bolls,
308 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 49 8
the lady apparently a daughter of Sir John Sinclair, ''the
Queen's Knight."
In 1501 we find James IV. varying his route, entering
Galloway by Dumfries, entertained on the 23d of April by
the friars of Kirkcudbright, to whom he gave eight French
crowns, passing the next day to Whithorn ; to do which he
must have ridden betimes, having to commence his journey
by ferrying the Dee, next to ride to and cross the Fleet,
thence pass to Cassencany, and ford or ferry the Cree
to Wigtown, whence a good twelve miles remained to his
journey's enA^
Sir John Dunbar, who had married as his second wife Janet,
daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart of Garlics, had by her two
sons : Archibald, founder of the house of Baldoon ; and Gkivin,
afterwards tutor to James V., and Archbishop of Glasgow. He
obtained in 1502 a nine years' grant of the keeping of the
castle of Threave, certain fishings in the Dee, and the office of
Stewart of Kirkcudbright; but was unfortunately killed in a
quarrel (probably as to these very fishings) by the young Laird
of Lochinvar, and was succeeded by his son John. This John,
from the very circumstances of his succession, fell heir to a
blood feud with the Gordons. He inherited also the remainder
of his father's term of the Stewardship of Kirkcudbright, and in
due course " letters of slains " having been granted to Alex-
ander Gordon for the assassination of his father, according to
the curious ideas of administration then current, the whole clan
of Gordons were exempted from his jurisdiction, on the ground
that " neither of the two parties could be competent judges in
actions affecting one another, owing to the discord and unkind-
ness existing between them." ^
^ 22 April 1501. To the Freiars of Eyrkcndbricht, eight Franesche crowns.
Item the same day in Whitheme, to Sir Andrew MacBeek, to dispone among
priests, £5. — Lord Treasurer's Accounts,
* An exemption to Alexander Gordon of Lochinvar, himself, friends, tenants,
and partakers, from the jurisdiction of the Steward of Kirkcudbright and his
deputes. — Privy Seal Register,
In Sir John Dunbar's accountings as chamberlain we find, a.d. 1504, £30 as
dues for Leffinnolls (so spelt, Lefnoll), Laucht Alpine, and Mekell Laucht
to 1506] BARONIAL BANQUETINGS' 309
John Dunbar married Catherine, daughter of Thomas
M'aellan of Bomby.
About this time a feud between the Agnews and M'Kies
attained such considerable proportions that the Crown ordered
an inquiry; and the High Justiciary of Scotland summoned
both parties to meet him at Dumfries where, after much ado, he
induced both (on the 13th August 1504) to enter into recog-
nisances to keep the peace ; John Murray of Cockpule standing
surety for the sheriif, etnd Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closebum for
the M*Kies. The former is now represented by the Earl of
Mansfield; the latter is believed to be a progenitor of the
Empress Eugenie of France.
In April 1505 the king made one of his many pilgrimages
to Whithorn ; starting from Ayr early on the 29th, and fording
the Doon, the Girvan, and the Stincher, he entered Galloway
by Glenapp, and arrived early in Glenluce. The same after-
noon we read of his enjoying a game of bowls at the abbey with
such of the baronage as the abbot had invited to assist at his
entertainment
The entry as to this in the Lord Treasurer's accounts seems
to give a touch of reality to the scene. The king was unlucky,
and lost 17s. at the game, which was honourably discharged.^ A
Galloway horse was also presented to his majesty on the
occasion, which he was graciously please to accept.*
Early the following year, " the queen in her thraws of birth
being near the last agonies of death," the king started on foot
for St. Ninian's shrine. His progress was now necessarily
slower, and no conviviality was indulged in by the way.
On the 15th March he reached Dairy and paid 18s. for his
supper and bed. Next day he dined at a haKway-house
between the Ken and Cree in his long walk to MinigafT, paying
9s. for his " belcheir." On the l7th he walked to the Clachan
of Fenninghame, where was the bishop's palace, where he
^ 29 Aprile. To the king to play at the kyles at Glenlus, 17s. Eyles^ bowls,
more strictly skittles, from the French quUles. — Lord Treasurer's Accounts.
' To the Abbot of Glenluce his man of bridal silver of ane gray horse giffen
here to the king, 13s. — Ibid,
310 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 49 8
probably slept, giving 9s. to the man that bore St. Ninian's
belL
On the 18th he got to Wigtown, paid 288. at the inn, and
leaving in the middle of the night, walked fasting and barefoot
to Whithorn, giving 13s. to his guide.^
The faith of the royal pilgrim had its reward in the queen's
recovery; and in token of gratitude the queen and king together
made a progress to Whithorn the following year in royal state.
Queen Margaret's wardrobe required seventeen horses to carry
it, the king's three, and a twenty-first for the chapel gear.
The queen, not strong enough to ride, was borne in a litter,
entered in the accounts as the queen's chariot.^
Gentle and simple from Bhjmns and Machars donned their
best to give the royal pair a befitting welcome. The clerical
element, represented by the bishop, the priors of Whithorn and
Wigtown, the abbots of Soulseat and Glenluce, friars black,
white, grey, red, and parti-coloured ; the lay, by the sheriff, the
chamberlain, coroner, cmd baronage, ''all dighted in their
braws."
Their pleasant ladjes prancing ower the bents,
In costly dothing to their Mche contentes.
Great were the acclamations when the king and queen passed
to St. Kinian's shrine, and placed their gifts over the relics of
the saint. The king, leading her by the hand, presented the
Tudor Margaret to her lieges, radiant in gems and health, which
she acknowledged as due to the intercessions of their favourite
saint
*' Welcome our Queen ! the commons gave ane shout"
The return journey of the royal pair, accompanied by the
^ 16th day of March. To the king's belchior in Dahy, 18s. For the king's
belchior quhen the king dinit be the gait, 9s. Item, that night the king sowpit
at Menegouf for the belchior there, 98. — Lwd Treasurer* i Aecounis.
The phonetic spelling Menegoif tallies with the Celtic Moine-Gamp, or
Cymric Myned-Gauaf, "the wintry moor."
'17 July. Three dozen points to the queue's chariot, 13s.; a quartar carsay
quhilk mendit the queue's letter graith, 18s. ; GaUoway oarsais, kersey or woollen
stuff, a frequent item in ancient book-keeping.
to 1506] BARONIAL BANQUETINGS 311
sheriff and a bodyguard from the Bhynns, was by the Mochrom
shore to Glenluce, where they passed the night ; the abbot doing
the honours of the monastery grounds ; the king, well pleased
that the English ladies of the suite (notably my Lady Musgrave)
should see the acres of esculents, many of them not yet common
in the north, the orchards and trimmed borders, gave a douceur
of 48. to the gardener.
These were days of fun and feasting, any incidental notices
of which are doubly agreeable ; because, whilst the wrong-doings
and bickerings of society are minutely chronicled, we are told
Uttle of the merry-makings and lighter occupations of our
ancestors. Yet, if our forbears were somewhat violent and
prone to enter into " bands " in gendering feud, they were fully
alive to the claims of hospitality. If the baron was too often
to be seen issuing from his gate, " boden in fere of wear," the
baronial halls were frequent scenes of the friendly rivalry of
their ladies, whose red-letter days were those which marked
their triumph of culinary skill ; and we shall for a moment try
to penetrate the mysteries of the kitchen and housewifery, with
the aid of the slight clues we have to guide us. A proverb in
use among the Anglo-Norman baronage gives us a guide to their
hours:
Lever & cinq, diner a neuf,
Souper a cinq, couclier & neuf,
Fait vivre d'ans nonante et neuf.
Freely translated by a later generation :
Early to bed and early to rise,
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
In the fourteenth century, in England as well as Scotland,
nine, poetically the hour of prime, was the usual dinner hour ;
whence Chaucer —
And let us dyne as sone as ye may,
For by my chilindre it is prime of day.^
In the fifteenth century it is believed the higher classes usually
1 '' The Schipmanne'e Tale."
312 HERKDrrARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 498
dined at ten ; and for long five o'clock was the recognised hoar
for the evening meal : arrangements which made artificial light
unnecessary for dinner at any season, and not often wcmted for
sapper — an important consideration when ordinary candles and
oil were bad, and wax both scarce and dear.
The dining-halls of Galloway gentry were less imposing than
those of the English. Barely, if ever, were to be seen there the
raised dais and the deeply recessed fireplaces, examples of which
are to be seen at Kaworth Castle, the nearest to the Borders.
The hall of Lochnaw, bailt aboat 1426, was 29 feet by
17^ ; that of Danskey, rebuilt nearly a century later, 36 feet
by 17.
English and Scottish living-rooms were alike without lath
and plaster ; the haUs of ordinarily good houses having hangings
of worsted, and those of the wealthiest, tapestry.
A polished dining-table (now almost mediaeval) was then
unknown, as was mahogany itself The festive board waa
formed of deal planks loosely placed together on trestles, and
covered with a cloth. This, if somewhat inelegant, had the
advantage of elasticity ; as when, as it not unusually happened,
the dining-hall was overcrowded, free circulation was afforded
by moving a part of the table when eating was done ; and when
the party broke up, the part remaining was lifted from its
trestles and laid against the wall, whence the mediseval phrase
" closing the tables."
Plain deal cupboards, ranged round the room, held the
various requisites for repasts. These, with increasing wealth
and refinement, developed into the buffet : an ornamental open
stand with shelves, on which china> pottery, and plate, were
arranged for show. From the centre of the ceiling depended
the chandelier, consisting in primitive times of two transverse
boards, but usually in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
made of latten or copper,^ carrjdng four candles stuck on
^ Latten, an alloy of brass. In 1495 Henry Mundwell and Janet Buyt saed
Bankin Mure for the detention of a brazen ohandelier at Wigtown. The Lords of
the Council referred the matter to Quentin Agnew, desiring him or his deputes to
value it, which they did at Ss. — AcL Ihm, ConcU,
to 1506] BARONIAL BANQT7ETINGS 313
spikes, a third bar being sometimes added so as to carry six
lights.
Candlesticks of brass were often placed simply against the
walls, having a motto beneath the bracket ; ^ and when much
lighting was required, especially for the passages or court, this
was usually provided by torches carried by the retainers.
The lady of the house usually furnished napkins plentifully
for her guests ; and when a feast was being prepared, the style of
the entertainment was primarily gauged by the amount of
" Domik work (damask) on buird desplayed." ^
Of silver plate the most essential was the saltcellar ; and
second in importance was a round dish similar in size, divided
into compartments for sugar and various spices. Silver punch-
bowls were usual ; or if made of other material, with silver edges.
A silver basin was always if possible procured to hetnd round to
guests for ablutions ; but only a very few of the wealthiest land-
owners had silver trenchers for their joints. Silver drinking-
cups were also in use ; indeed, the baron frequently carried his
own cup with him ; but few could supply these to many guests :
ordinary drinking - vessels being wooden, sometimes with a
metal rim, sometimes of porcelain, all such described as macers.'
Glass bottles, of an enormous size, were early used as decanters.
Many a laird could boast his
'^ Pair of bossis gude and fyne
They hold ane gallon full of Oascon wyne." ^
But a wineglass was a curiosity. It is said, whether jokingly or
not, that one wineglass sometimes went round the table.
In an inventory of 1492 is "my candel beme with six bellys of laton," i.e,
six brazen holders.
^ In an inventory of 1468 we find '*a candy Istick of laton with a pyke" ;
Also " a candylstick of kton whereupon is wretyn, * Grace me goyeme.' "
' Lyndsay, voL ii. p. 279.
' In inyentories "maser" seems equivalent to drinking-cup. They sre sup-
posed to have been sometimes of earthenware, sometimes porcelain. A plausible
derivation is the Dutch "maiser," maple wood, of which fancy cups were often
made. A '* mazer gUt " in inventories seems often to mean silver ^t
* Dunbar.
314 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 49 8
We find Adair of Kinhilt borrowing from Sir Patrick Vans
— both being Galloway lairds — " ane silver basin, gilt abune the
edges, weighing seven score and ten ounces ; and one layer of
silver." ^
Loid Cassilis, in the middle of this century, was able to spare
from his plate-chest, over and above what he required for his
own use, as a loan to his mother, " a silver basin and a laver,
a double gilt cup, a gilt macer, two silver trenchers, two little
salt fjEttts in their nooks, a silver salt fatt and cover thereof
ungUt"*
Where plates were scarce, thick slices of bread did
duty instead, and soaked up the gravy. In frugal houses,
these formed part of the repast; in greater families and at
feasts these trenchers were collected in the alms baskets by
servants, when the tables were closed, and distributed to the
poor.
In the matter of cutlery the host only felt himself bound to
provide table-knives for his own household. Every guest brought
his own knife in a leathern sheath attached to his girdle ; whence
the caution to a diner-out in an old book of etiquette, " Bring
no knjrves unsecured to the table." * Forks, to a much later
period than we now write of, were totally unknown as a
medium of conveying food to the mouth : those mentioned in
inventories were solely used for carving ajid serving. When
gentlemen of refinement endeavoured to introduce the custom
from abroad as cleanly and convenient, it was abominated as a
foreign innovation, ridiculed as an afiectation, and — what seems
almost incredible — denounced from the pulpit as wrong. In
Ben Jonson's comedy of The Devil is an Ass, first acted as
late as 1616, the use of forks in the highest English society was
so little known that we find the following dialogue between
Sledge and Meerecraft, a speculative adventurer :
Sledge. "What?"
Meerecraft. " My project o' the forks."
^ Correspondence of Lord Barnbarroch, p. 261.
' Charter History of the Kennedys. * Lydgate.
to 1506] BARONIAL BANQUETINGS 315
SUdge. « Forks 1 what be they 1 "
Meerecraft, ^^ The laudable use of forks brought into custom here, as
they are in Italy,
To the sparing of napkins. . . .
. . . 'twill be
A mighty saver of linen through the kingdom."
When the cook had put the finishing touches to their
''subtilties/'^ dinner was announced by sound of trumpets
(this in itself being a baronial privilege); and a servant handing
round a basin, another following with napkins, the guests
washed their hands before, as they subsequently did after, meat
They then filed ofif to their places, hand in hand, each couple
eating off the same trencher.
The bill of fare on which a Galloway baron might draw was
as enviable for its excellence as for its variety. Plums in his
savoury broth, red fish, oysters, beef and mutton of the best,
venison and wild boar, grouse, partreck, duck, plover, and game
of every sort, varied by such Twrs d^oeuvres as baggis and Har-
rest brose; there being this difference, however, between his
tastes and ours, that what we consider coarser articles of food,
porpoises and sturgeon, were held to be more lordly food than
smelt and salmon; whilst, not to mention cormorants, coots, and
hedgehogs, all included in his menu, cranes and swans, pur-
chased at exorbitant prices, were preferred to moorfowl and
mallard to be had for the taking near his own gates ; and an
old peacock, first skinned, then roasted and farced, and redecked
in his gorgeous plumage, was more esteemed than the fattest
capon or turkey.
" Bread of mane," fancy loaves, spiced and sweetened jelly
(the art of extracting which from the feet of calves, sheep, oxen,
and pigs, was well understood), pastry, and comfits, were placed
plentifully on the table. But the triumph to the lady of the
house depended upon the skill of her cooks in the production of
the " subtilty," a mighty compound of the elements of cakes and
^ An ornamental device in pastry. These were often very bold, such as a
ship filled with birds, surrounded by a sea fuU of fishes, having a taU mast with
sails of sUk and ermine.
316 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 49 8
sweatmeats, formed into edible models of sculptured groups^
castles, ships, or heraldic devices, set down as an epergne, to be
eaten with the dessert.^
We have been fortunate in recovering the details of a feast
given by George Neville on his installation as Archbishop of
York in 1491, to which many of the officials and baronage of
Galloway were invited, and notably the bishop, his claim
over him as his suffragan being foregone on the occasion, under
protest A great company of the gentry from both sides of the
Border were present, for whose entertainment was purveyed
104 oxen, 1000 sheep, 2000 pigs, and other animals in propor-
tion, 104 peacocks, 204 cranes, 12 porpoises and seals, besides
game and poultry of all sorts, 1000 partid dishes of jelly, 3000
plain dishes of jelly, 4000 cold baked tarts, 2000 hot custarda
Music was a usual accompaniment of feastings. In King
James's numerous journeys to Galloway, he presses into
his service the musicians of the burghs and the baronage.
Thus we read of the Prior of Whithorn's clarsha, Eedman the
lutar, William the tambroner, Ainslie the tambroner, Quhynbore
the tambroner, and his marrow, a piper that playet with the
schawmes (cornet). Pate Harper the clarsha at Whithorn, two
trumpeters of Whithorn, the pipers of Wigtown, Lord Flem-
ing's tambroner, and numerous fithlers ; all these, in the years
1497-98, the usual minstrels playing at merrymakings in the
countryside. When dinner was over the attendants handed
round the ewer, and all washed : a very necessary process where
all had eaten with their fingers. Abundance of napkins were
^ In a manual of such Scottish matrons of the fifteenth centuiy as could
afford such entertainments, called the Menagier de Paris, minute directions are
given for cooking hedgehogs, rooks, msgpies, jackdaws, sheldrake, coots, cormo-
rants, and others innumerable.
We subjoin a bill of fare from the Sloane MSS. of the fifteenth century, which
has a Scottish ring :
1st Course.— Umbles of a heart Side of a heart roast. Swan. Fesaunt.
Bytore (Bittern). Pike. Great gurnard. Haggisse. Blanche custard. A
subtility.
2d Ck>ur8e.— Gelee. Cream of almonds. Eid. Chickens larded. Pertrick.
Larks. Perch. Porpoise roast Frytours lombard. Payne pu£ A subtilty
(a castle of silver with veins of gold).
to 1506] BARONIAL BANQUETINGS 317
provided^ but only one btusin for the whole. As a contemporary
poet puts it :
Then they toke echo other be the hand and weshed.
If this small provision at Gralloway entertainments sounds un-
refined, we find that even a century later there W£U9 but one
' basin, and that only once filled with water, supplied at baronial
banquets in more wealthy England.
When Cosmo III, Duke of Tuscany, travelled through the
southern counties of England in 1663, one of Us suite, whilst
acknowledging the abundance and good quality of the pro-
visions set before them by the west country proprietors, re-
marks in parenthesis that they thought the cooking not so
good as that of France, adds, " There is a great want of that
gentility at English tables which is practised in Italy. . . .
There are no forks, nor vessels to supply water for the hands,
which are washed in one basinfull of water, which serves for
all the company." ^
Lastly, as to wines. Dunbar the poet adjures the king to
leave dull Stirling and come to more luxurious Edinburgh
To eat Bwan, cran, patrik, and plever,
And every fish that swims in river,
And drink with ns the new fresh wine
That grew upon the river Rhine,
Fresh fragiant clarets out of France,
Of Angiers and Orleanse.
The importations of wines direct to Galloway was limited
by law to the ports of Wigtown and Kirkcudbright, the lieges
having the advantage of buying it cheaper than in the eastern
shires, Gascon wines being retailed at 6 and 8 pennies the pint
against 8 and 10 elsewhere.^ Bhine wines were not unknown,
nor those of Spain and Portugal, called sack (i.e. sec = dry), as
^ Trails of Gostm IIL, Duke of Tuscany , in 1663, by Count Lorenzo Mega-
litto, p. 464. Quarto. 1821.
' Tliat na wines that is cum in at the west seas be bocht of onie dearer price
nor £16 the tun of Burdeaux wine, and the Rochel wine for £12 or thretteen
pounds the tun, and that nane of them seU the samin of onie dearer price nor
aucht pennies the pynt of Burdeaux wine, and 6 pennies the pynt Rochele wine.
— ^5 Parlt. Queen Maiy, c. 1.
318 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1 498- 1 5 06
also Malmsey Madeira, called Malvoisie, and MuskadiU, which
were sweet ; and a strong liqueur called Hippocras, mixed with
spices and sugar, was much drunk. Distillation was not then
general in Scotland, but aqua vitse, i.e. brandy, appeared occa-
sionally on the tables of the wealthy.
Lyndsay, describing the reception of a traveller at a Scottish
country gentleman's house, writes :
He found hiB chalmar well arrayed
With domik work on buird desplayed.
Of venison he had his weill,
Qade aqua vitee wyne and aill,
With nobile comfeittes, bran and geiU,
And sua the Squyer fuir richt weill. ^
Whilst on another occasion a host is described as entertaining
his guests
With mirth, music, and minstraUie,
With wyld fowle, venison, and wyne.
With tail and flam and fruitage fyne.
Of bran and geill there was na stent.
And Ipocras he could not want.i
Another Lyndsay (the historian), in giving details of a feast
given in 1528 by the Earl of Athol, where we should hardly
look for greater luxuries than at the command of Galloway
barons, enumerates ** all kinds of drink, as aill, beer, wyne, both
white and claret, malvasie, muskadaill, eligant hippocras, and
aqua vitae ; farder, thair was of meattis, weat bread, maine bread,
and gingebread, with fleshis beiff and mutton, lamb, veUl and
venison, goose, gruse, capon, cunning, cran, swan, pairtrick, plever,
duik, drake, brissel, cock and pannies, blackcock and muirfoull,
capercailles ; all delicat fishes, as salmond, trouts, pershes, pikes,
eels. Syne were there proper stuarts, cunning baxters, excel-
lent cooks and potingaris ; with confections and drugs for the
desserts."
^ Squyer Meldrum ; bran, brawn ; geill, jellies ; skent, scant, scarcity ; flam,
custard, a puddiug baked in a dish.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE FOREST OF BUCHAN
A<D. 1506 to 1510
The Kennedys wi' a' their power,
Fra Cassilis to Ardstencher towers,
May rise and flock like screeching craws,
Fra heighs an* hous, fra homes and ha's.
An' hither come wi* blawing crack ;
They'll bear anither story back.
The Isle of Man had, till the fifteenth century, belonged to
Scotland
In earlier days Olave the Swarthy, an independent kinglet,
had wedded Aflfrica,^ daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway, who
was recognised as Queen of Man ; but later Alan, Lord of Gal-
loway, and his brother the Earl of Athol, held the island in
subjection. Much intercourse consequently took place between
the Galwegians and the Manxmen, till the latter, throwing off
the yoke of Olave's successors, confiscated the property of such
Galwegians as had settled there, and banished them for ever
from their isla* As a consequence the " wild Scots" made
occasional piratical descents upon the Manxmen, who rarely
retaliated.
About 1506, however, the English Earl of Derby obtained
rule there, and carried the war into the enemy's country.
^ Enockeffrich, Eirkinner, near Fergus's strength of Loncaster, is supposed
to take its name from her.
' The legislature in 1422 enacted *' that all Scottish men do avoid the land
of Manx by the next vessel that goeth to Scotland, upon paine of forfeiture of
their goods and bodyes to prison."
320 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1506
Then came Thomas Derby, bom king, 'twas he wore the golden cmpper,
There was not one lord in England itself with so many knee-guinea men.^
On Scotland he revenged himself, and went to Eeelchoobragh,
And there made such havoc on houses, that some are yet unroofed. ^
An owre true tale : he laid Ejrkcudbright in ashes ; but, en-
couraged by a visit of sympathy fix)m Eong James IV., on
-which occasion he made the corporation a gift of the Castle,' it
rose phoenix-like from its ashes, and it was found that happily
the freebooters had spared the marcat cross, which still stands,
purporting to have been erected in 1504.
Lord Derby's fillibustering energy was overmatched by
Cutlar M'Culloch, a cadet of Myrtoun, and a bom sea-king.
He induced the Celts to build and man many more boats, and
envelop the Isle of Man with his flotilla.
Again and again he ravaged it, carrying oflf all that was
not too hot or too heavy for removal, till his very name became
a bugbear with young and old, his ubiqnity being such that a
Manxman presiding at the board would warn his guests to
begiu with the meat and finish with the broth, so as to make
sure at least of a substantial bite before M'Culloch could dis-
turb them.
And so closely did they believe him to match Satan himself
in his powers of mischief, that it was proverbially said that the
family prayers of a Manx patriarch might be epitomised in the
couplet —
God keep this house and all within
From Cut M'Culloch and from sin.
An evidence of his audacity and success is preserved in the
deposition of a governor of Peel Castle, the strongest in the
island, but which he had taken and stripped :
^ The soubriquet '' knee-gainea men" is matched by as funny a one in Gal-
loway a century later, when a moss-trooping laird on the Galloway marches was
known as *'Gibby with the gowden garters," he being Gilbert Elliot of Stobs,
who married Margaret, daughter of Sir Walter Scott of Harden, she being known
as ** Maggie Fendy {i.e. handy). — Life of First Earl of MvnJto^ vol. i. p. 4.
' Translation of a Manx poem in Train's History of Man.
' It was granted by David II, to Archibald Douglas in 1869. On forfeiture
of the Douglases it reverted to the Crown. In 1582 Sir Thomas M'Clellan
acquired it and built the Castle, the ruins of which now remain upon its site.
to 1510] THE FOKEST OF BUCHAN 321
" Taken by Collard M'Culloch and his men, by wrangous
spoliation, two box beddes and ayken burdes, a feder boaster, a
cote mailzie, a mete burde, twa kystes, five barrels, a gyle-fat,
XX pipes, twa gunys, three bolls of malt, a quern of rosate, certin
petes, viii boll of thraset com, xii of nnthraschen, xl knowtes.
(Signed) "John Machariotic, Governor, 1507."^
M'Culloch's * achievements having freed the landowners of
the Galloway sea-board from anxiety of invasion, they ex-
pended their energies in quarrels with one another. Those
which obtained the greatest notoriety were passages of arms
between Sir David Kennedy and the sheiiff, resulting in a feud
which, if temporarily laid, burst forth again and again and
dragged its course for more than a hundred years. The Kennedys
and Agnews for two generations were very near of kin; and for
three, the most cordial relations had existed between them.
The power of the Kennedys would have been irresistible in the
west country, could the stem of the branches have lived in
harmony. But it was not so. The powerful houses of Bargany
and Blairquhan were in chronic feud with that of Dunure, which
they almost rivalled in influence ; and the numerous Kennedy
cadets were perpetually entering into bands with one faction
or the other, changing sides whenever it suited their whims or
convenience. It may have been well for their neighbours that
it was so ; as, if the clan had acted as one body, there would no
doubt have been truth in the ancient rhyme —
Fra Wigtoune to the toun of Aire
And laigh down by the cruivea o' Cree,
Ye shall not get a lodging there
Except ye court a Kennedie.^
^ The barrels were probably ale ; a gyle-fat, a still ; the pipes of wine ;
knowtes, nolt or black cattle. — ChaUerson, 47.
' In a note to Peveril of the PeaJc, Sir Walter Scott writes : "The redoubt-
able Cutlar is now represented by James M'Culloch of Ardwell, the author's friend
and near connection."
' Besides the three great families named, there were Kennedys of Girvan
Mains, of Drummennan, of LeffnoU, of Coiff, of Glentig, of Lenzie, of Gillespie,
of Knockdolian, of Carslo, of Balmaclanahan, of fiennane, of Enockreoch, of
Knockdaw, of Kirkmichael, of Pinwhirry, of Drummerchie, of Garriehorn, of
VOL. I Y
322 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1506
Lord Kennedy's eldest son, Sir David,^ had in his father's
lifetime been infefted in the lands of Leswalt, which his family
had purchased from the Crown, and had taken up his residence
at the Inch, which he held under the Church. Oblivious of, or
rather ignoring the rights of the Agnews as Crown Bailies of
Leswalt,^ he claimed exclusive right of holding court there.
A Galloway sherifif had to find his own troopers, whether to
protect the lieges or assert his own private rights, and Patrick
Agnew could only resist Sir David's pretensions by summoning
his friends and part-takers to come to his assistance. Both parties
were resolute, Sir David's apparently much the strongest;
and we find from official records that he attempted over and
over again to hold these courts, but was foiled by the sheriff and
his friends. Five faction fights, waged with great severity,
occurred, and were adjudicated upon by the Supreme Courts
between the years 1506 and 1513.
Sir David called up numerous kinsmen from Carrick. The
sheriff was supported by his kinsmen the lairds of Loch-
invar, Garthland, Corswall, Barnbarroch, Kinhilt, Sorbie, and
Broughton. Patrick Mure and Nevin Agnew, youths who
delighted in a tuikie, seem to have acted the part of aides-de-
camp.
The campaign was opened by Sir David Kennedy riding,
after formal announcement, in force from the house of Inch to
Leswalt. The court-house of Leswalt lay about two miles fix)m
Lochnaw, at the foot of Aldouran Glen ; and no sooner had Sir
David come in sight of it, by way of St John's Chapel, than
the sheriff's party appeared descending from the so-called
" Danish Camp " in superior force, and warned him off. The
Daljarroch, of Auchtralare, of Barquhanny, of Cloncaird, of Ouiltree, of Skeldon,
of Synniness.
The Coiff, or the core, is now Culzean ; Leuzie, the wet meadow ; Canio, the
calves' carse ; Knockdaw, knoll of the ox ; Garriehorn, barley croft ; Da^arroch,
reddish field ; Cloncaird, tinkers* meadow.
^ He was knighted by James IIL on the creation of his second son Alexander,
Duke of Ross, 29th January 1497.
' Patrick Agnew had been personally infefted in this office by Crown pre-
cept, as mentioned before : ** Officio Ballivatus de Leswalt de riohia tenendo in
capite."
to 1510] THE FOREST OF BUCHAN 323
conduct of the sheriff on this occasion seems to have been
unimpeachable. Backed by numbers able to enforce his rights,
he made a dignified protest, and retired.
Such a peaceful ending to the day's work seemed too tame
to wilder spirits, such as Mure, who after seeing the sheriff
safely housed, doubled back at full speed, overtook the Kennedys,
and had a glorious tussle, in which he had the best of it, and
returned in triumph with the spoils of war.^
Sir David, however, was not to be thus diverted from his
purpose. He proclaimed another court, and proceeded to hold
it with a larger retinue. The sheriff accepted the challenge,
donned his armour, met him by the way, and effectively pre-
vented his holding his court, but this time with considerable
violence.
Kennedy thereupon appealed to the Supreme Courts, which
as usual played fast and loose, and whilst not admitting his
right to hold the court at all, fined the sheriff's followers slightly
for appropriating their opponents' accoutrements. In short,
tacitly admitting the sheriff's chartered rights, but giving Sir
David some solatium for the bruises of his jackmen.
The sheriff, having paid the penalty incurred by the over zeal
of his followers, considered old scores against him cancelled, and
proceeded to open a new account
Kennedy soon gave him the opportunity. He again rode along
^ At a Justice Aire, held July 1510, Patrick Waus of Irsick, Nerin Agnew,
Ninian Adair, with the Lairds of Killeser, Corswall, Mindork, and twenty-three
others ; Alexander Hannay, brother-in-law of the Laird of Capenach ; and ten
others, are indicted for " riding with the Sheriff of Wigtown, and oppression done
to Sir David Kennedy."
The indictment in the first case only charges the sheriff with "riding forth in
rowting." But Patrick Mure, Nicholas Fresle (Fraser), and others, are chaiged
" with forethought felony done to Sir David Kennedy, coming upon him in war-
like manner with invasive weapons, and for hereschip of cloaks and other goods
from his servants."
Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown ; Alexander M'Meiken, Nevin Agnew, John
Adair, George Cruikshank, Thomas Porter, Patrick Agnew, servants of the said
sheriff, are charged with convocation of the lieges with warlike arms, jakkes, and
splents, and the oppression done to Sir David Kennedy, coming to Leswalt and
hindering him from holding Ms court. In both cases the sheriff is permitted to
compound. — Rtcaim, Oriminod Trials,
324 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1506
the same highway, again was interrupted by the sheriffs friends,
more '' cloaks " taken from his servant, his court-book seized,
and its blank leaves scattered ignominiously to the winds, the
sheriiF prudently keeping himself out of sight. Again Kennedy
appealed to the council, and again the sheriff was permitted to
compound with his foUowers by a fine.^
It would be tedious to detail all those collisions, which are
entered in the criminal records, and which may be weU supposed
to represent only a small part of such as actually occurred. It
is remarkable that in every case adjudicated upon, the sheriff's
party had the advantage of the Kennedys : a clear proof of his
popularity and the readiness of his neighbours to support him.
We shall pass to what seems to have been the last encounter,
and which settled the question in the sheriff^s favour for the
lifetime of all parties concerned.
Sir David Kennedy, finding that convictions for undue
violence in no way assisted his pretensions, determined in a
final effort to prove that might was right All that owed him
suit and service were summoned from Kyle and Carrick ; and
such a squadron was soon assembled as he believed would make
the audacious sheriff understand who was master. The sheriff
proved equal to the occasion : keeping his larder full as well as
his powder dry, he invited his part-takers to banquet with him
the evening previous to the day fixed by Sir David for the trial
of strength.
The records of the High Court of Justiciary supply us with
the names of his guests, which included the lairds of Garthland,
Corswall, Killeser, Broughton, Mindork, Sorby, Ninian Adair,
the young Laird of Creaken, the Prior of Soulseat, Thomas
Waus his brother, and twenty-six others.^ Cheerily the cup
went round in the crowded dining-hall of Lochnaw that night ;
and bravely the band mustered on the green the following
morning. The fair Katherine handed them the stirrup-cup ; the
^ Patriok Vaus for oppression, coining upon Sir David Kennedy, stouthrief of
cloaks and other goods from the servants of the said lord ; court-books, etc —
Pitcaim.
' Pitcaim, Criminal Trials,
to 1510] THE FOREST OF BUCHAN 325
Abbot of Soulseat gave his blessing ; the young Laird of Kinhilt,
a suitor for the hand of the sheriffs daughter, led the way — all
happy in anticipation of a fray :
The battle is their pastime, they go forth
Qay in the morning as to summer's sport.
The road from the manor-place of Inch to the court-house
of Leswalt led past the hamlet of Ghapell (now Stranraer) and
across a little stream entering Loch Byan beyond St. John's
Well
Here the Kennedys in a' their power
were met by the sheriffs men, who barred their passage ; and a
m6Ue ensued, in which spear and sword-thrust were so freely
exchanged that the brook is figuratively asserted to have run
red, and that day got the name of the " Bloody Bum," which
has clung to it ever since. Again the Agnews were victorious ;
and again Sir David entered an indictment, charging many of
those present, who had no call to interfere, with " coming upon
him in a warlike manner " and " forethought oppression." The
Court admitted the breach of the peace to have been a ** heinous
one " ; but they simply fined certain of the defendants ten marks
each, to be paid at their leisure ; accepting the sheriff himself
and the lairds of Garthland and Craighlaw as " sureties for the
parties."
Sir David found himself no nearer obtaining any admission
of his claims on the Baillierie of Leswalt, the action he had
entered furnishing a lasting and authentic record of his defeat
So great was the exultation of some of the younger of the
victors, that we find Nevin Agnew playing most audacious
pranks, carting hay out of the great man's bams, and even
making an attack upon his person; as in the Court Becords
" Nevin Agnew comes in for the king's will for breaking His
Majesty's protection granted to Sir David Kennedy," and on
several occasions is charged with "oppression to Sir David
Kennedy," such terms as " protection " and " oppression," reading
rather strangely as applied to the conduct of this pugnacious
326 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1506
little laird towards so great a magnate as the heir of CassiUs.
Meanwhile Sir David had succeeded his father as third Lord
Kennedy, and circum 1511 was created Earl of Cassilis. Being
now beyond all dispute paramount in Carrick and in £yle, he
seems to have ceased to concern himself about holding courts
in Leswalt
Sir John Kennedy of Blairquhan had now become a power
in Galloway. He acquired wide lands in Fenninghame, and
about 1508 built and endowed a chapel on the Cree, which he
dedicated to St. Ninian.^
The Kennedys of Blairquhan, however, rarely supported
their cousin, Lord Kennedy, in his feuds.
Bishop Vans died in 1508, and was succeeded by David
Amot ; ' and from him Lord CassUis formally obtained the keep-
ing of the manor-place of Inch,' as well as a regality jurisdiction
over wide Church lands, of which many Galloway barons were
'' kyndly " rentallers.^ The earl was also titular ranger of the
Forest of Buchan, a style he much affected, of which he was un-
disputed owner, and might well exult in this lordly possession.
A grander range for the field-sports of a feudal chief could hardly
be imagined ; comprising within its limits peaks almost within
the snow range, the haunts of ptarmigan,^ deep dens for deer,
^ Near the ruins of St NiniAn's Chapel is Glachaneasy, which Sir Herbert
MazweU suggests is from the root losa (Jesus) ; if so, equivalent to Kirkchrist.
' On Yaux's death, James, son to John Beton of Balfour, became Bishop elect
of Galloway ; but before consecration was advanced to the Archbishopric of
Glasgow ; and David Amot, son to John Amot of that ilk, was preferred to the
see. — Keith, 164.
* Gilbert, second Earl of Gassilis, was appointed by the Bishop of GaUoway
baillie of all the lands belonging to the bishopric, and captain and keeper of the
manor-place and loch of Inch in 1516. — Historical Account of Keniiedys, 82.
But it is evident that the fother had the appointment previously, and notori-
ously resided at the manor-house.
^ The Agnews had possession of the Dougaries (black enclosure), Craigbemach
(the gapped craig), and Eylfeather (St. Peter's Chapel), all in the parish of New
Luce.
° '' In the remote parts of the famous mountain of the Mearroch, a very lai^
red deer, and about the top thereof, that fine bird the mountain partridge, called
by the commonalty the tarmachan ; that bird feeds on the seeds of the bulrush,
and makes its protection in the chinks and hollows of thick stones from the
insults of the eagles, which are plenty about that mountain." — MTarlane's MSS.,
Advocates' Library.
to 1 510] THE FOREST OF BUOHAN 327
and lochs and streams innumerable. It included the whole
of the large parish of Carsphaim, and portions of those of
Straiton, Dalmellington, Kells, and Minnigaff.
The following modem farms formed but a small portion of
the Forest : Buchan, of which the steading is on Loch Trool,
known by the shepherds as the Four Nines, its extent being
held to be 9999 acres, Portmark, Arrow,^ Lamloch, Palgown,
Stroan» Dungeon 0' Buchan, Glenhead, Castle Maddie, Fow-
maddie, the Bush, the Cooran Lane.
Much of the so-called Forest was heath and hill-pasture ; a
few arable spots intervening among thickets of primeval oak,
birch, and the rarer pine, with breaks of coppice ; romantic glens,
where the rowan, and thorns black and white, picturesquely
contrasted with the juniper and holly ; the only vegetation not
indigenous being an occasional ash tree planted for '* policie **
near the lodges.
Wild lochs at various levels reflected the hills which backed
the panorama, of which the highest peaks, frequently snow-clad,
were Benyellarry, the Dungeon of Buchan, Curleywee, Millfore,
and the Merrick (Giant's Fingers).^
Numerous hunting-lodges were scattered through the Forest,
of which a favourite one of Earl David's is known as Hunt Hall,
its ruin crowning a green knoll, surrounded by three lakelets.
Grarrary was another of his haunts ; and Powmaddie is still
pointed to by the herds as the place where food was prepared
for Cassilis's hounds.
The old names have much significance. The range as seen
from a distance resembles the fingers of an extended hand.
Powmaddie and Castle Maddie recall the days when the barons
raised their tenantry to hunt the wolf. Pulnnee (pol phiadh) is
^ Arrow, a place of com ; Lamloch Lom, a bare place ; Palgown, the smith's
pool ; Castle Maddie, Powmaddie, the wolfs castle and pool ; Buchan, if Pictish,
seems to approach nearest the Cymric form Buwch-an, a place of cows.
' Benyellarry, lolaire, the eagle's peak ; Cooran might be a diminutive of
currach, the little marsh, but more probably caorainn, the mountain ash ; Mill-
fore, meall-four, the cold hill ; Mearich, Meurag, the finger ; Loch Goosie (within
the Forest's bounds), Guisach, of the pine wood, is the only old local place-name
taken from the Scotch fir, which certainly existed in the native forest.
328 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1506
the pool of the red deer (and " deer's den " is mapped four times
within the limits of the Forest). Benyellarry is still haunted by
eagles.
The bounds of the Forest gradually contracted. In the
seventeenth century a large portion had been acquired by the
Lords of Garlics and Lochinvar. In 1678 "a procuratory of
resignation was granted by John, sixth Earl of CassiUs, to Sir
John (Jordon of Lochinvar, of his free forest of Buchan," All
that now retains the name belongs to the Earl of Gfalloway. In
the eighteenth century there was much litigation between the
Earls of Cassilis and Galloway as to its marches : of this, funny
traditions have been preserved. " You will not allow yourself to
be talked out of a rood of my rights," says my Lord John to his
chamberlain. " My Lord," quoth that functionary, " there's nae
living man could fix the bouns within twa or three thousan'
acres."
Lord Cassilis's agent took more energetic steps to vindicate
his master's interests, producing a " wabster body," a great oracle
in the countryside, who swore upon his soul that on a particular
spot he stood upon Cassilis's soil. His testimony was accepted
by the arbiters in the case, and the bounds marked off. But
long afterwards, when in his cups, it is said the old rascal would
recount the story with a twinkle in his eye, adding, " It was
truth that I swore to on my soul, for that very mom I had put
a pickle of Cassilis's soil on the sole of my boot."
In the days of which we write, the marches of the Forest
were for miles ill-defined between CassiUs and Lochinvar. But
disputes arising were settled in a much more high-handed way
than references to any " wabster body," though those with ofBcial
power frequently tried to influence law-courts in their own
favour.
About 1509 Lord Cassilis had a seat at the council board,
whence from a coigne of vantage he fought over again the battle
of Leswalt. Knowing the carelessness of officials in conform-
ing to Acts of Parliament, he raked up a series of charges of
oppressions and malversation against the Sheriff of Galloway,
to 1 510] THE FOREST OF BUCHAN 329
founded on breaches of these, upon which he was called to
plead.
He was accused of oppression done to James Kennedy,
Mariotta M'Ewen, Thomas M'Dowall, and Roger M'Crochat, for
causing them to plough and harrow his lands in the years 1504-8,
to build his dykes with their peats, and with plundering them
yearly of a swine ; also with oppression done to Thomas Mak-
William in taking and harrying ten bolls of barley ; of the
hereschip of a young riding mare from Thomas Kennedy. The
sheriffs retainers, George Cruikshank and Thomas Mure, striking
the said Thomas ; and with the heirship of a jument from John
M'Roy in the Forest of Buchan.^
Though no doubt the sheriff was not immaculate, a know-
ledge of the circumstances and habits of the times go far to show
that his exactions, if illegal, at least were customary; and
certainly the High Courts did not regard the charges as serious.
In the first place they were retrospective, the aggrieved parties
being Gassilis's tenants in Leswalt: the so-called oppressions
were the exactions of accustomed dues to the bailies of
Leswalt, of which in reality the earl illegally disputed the right.
A baron-bailie by law and custom was entitled to so many days
ploughing and harrowing, leading, carriages, peat-cutting, and hens.
The swine were probably taken as " caupes," although doubtless
an Act had passed " for undooinge of caupes in Galloway " ; ^ and
of a breach of this he had to plead guilty, but with the mildest
results ; " being permitted to compound," and the Laird of Loch-
invar accepted as his surety;^ which is the more amusing, as the
taking of the horse in the Forest of Buchan was probably in
support of his kinsman's claim on those marches disputed by
the earl, a mere outcome of the feud between the Gordons and
Kennedys.
And as to this especial case, the entry in the court-books is
that the Laird of Orchardton, the sheriff's son-in-law, should
become surety that he would satisfy the parties.
At a Justice Aire held at Wigtown in 1510, there are several
^ Pitcaim, Oriminal Trials. ' Ibid.
330 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 5 10
convictions for killing ''red fish in close time." Also John
Maklumphaire ^ in Kirkmeren (Kirkmadrine) was convicted of
stouthrief of the wood of Grarthlone,^ and of the barking thereof!
Fined £3, afterwards remitted, he being a pauper. There were
three other convictions for cutting and carrying away timber
from the woods of Barnrawer, Glensiche, and Croschrie, proving
that there were still some remains of the native forest ; as we
may assume that there had been little replanting, the many
statutes to that effect notwithstanding.
^ Same name written M'Lymphquay in 1401. M'Clumpha, often abbreviated
M'Que.
' Garthlone, Grarthland ; Bamrawer, Baraer, Penninghame, the blnff top ;
Croschrie, Crossarie, Kirkcowan, cross-roads, or place of crossings.
CHAPTEE XIX.
FLODDEN
A.D. 1510 to 1627
In suith he was a barronne bauld,
For tnilzies tough in days of auld.
BOSWELL.
Left to maintain his position among a turbulent baronage as
best he might, a Galloway sheriff had no choice but to enter
into bonds offensive and defensive. The highest legal function-
ary in the province was thus compelled not merely to do that
which was in itself illegal, but in so doing he became bound to
involve himself in the quarrels of his part-takers, rendering him
liable to attack from parties who were at feud with these ; the
impartiality of a judge in such circumstances being impossible.
The complications thus induced were endless. We find it on
record that the sheriff suffered from depredations on his estates
from M'Clellan of Gelston, from no personal quarrel of his own,
but because the M'Clellans were in bands with the Dunbars,
who had a blood feud with the Gordons, who were in alliance
with the Agnews.
Sir John Dunbar, who had been unhappily killed by Alex-
ander Gordon, had left two daughters ; the elder married to
M'Clellan of Bomby, the younger to the Laird of Gelston, whose
son entered con amove into the feud. The sheriff, unable to
adjudge in his own case, remanded him to the higher courts,
where the charges proved were so serious, that judgment was
(with a severity very unusual against a man of baronial rank)
332 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 151O
entered that '' Patrick M'Glellan for art and part of stouthrief
of twenty oxen from the Sheriff of Wigtown, under silence of
night," should have " his hede stricken fra his body." The sherifiP
proved not revengeful ; for, satisfied with the wholesome lesson
thus read him, he exerted himself to procure a reprieve, and
this so effectually, that not only was his life spared but the other
penalties remitted.^ Gratitude may have kept M'Clellan from
further attempts on the cattle pens at Lochnaw ; but society had
little reason to thank the sheriff for his clemency.
Shortly after, Patrick M'Clellan, with two kinsmen, was
declared rebel for the killing of Bobert Mure ; and again he was
denounced from the Market Cross of Edinburgh for the " cruel
slaughter of George Frere."
The only notices we have of social life at this period are to
be gathered from the defaulter's book. These certainly are ample,
but, it must always be remembered, show only one side of the
picture.
About 1510, Sir William M'Clellan of Bomby and M'Ghie
of Plumptoune were fined £4, conjointly and severally, ''for
convocation of the lieges at the court held at the Standarde
Stone of Dundrennan," ie. assembling there armed to overawe
the judges.
John M'Clellan was convicted of the theft of two hogsheads
of Gascony wine from John Foster, in Kirkcudbright, the Laird
of Bomby becoming his surety ; he himself being further charged
with " art and part of oppression done to Sir William Shanks,
monk of Dundrennan, casting him down from his horse during
the time of the above said court ; and further, for detaining and
taking Andrew Drury, oflBcer of the Abbot of Dundrennan."
For the latter offences Sir William and M'Ghie were fined six
marks each, and Alan and John M'Clellan ten.
^ 1510. The kingis grace rehabillis Patrick M'Clellan of Gilestoune to his
warldly honours, dignities, and uther privileges, and lauchfully to succeed his
fader and utheres his predecessors, notwithstanding the dome given that the said
Patrick's head suld be strucken fra his body, for the rief and stouth of twenty
oxen and ky frae Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtoune, and his servantis, under
silence of night
to 1527] FLODDEN 333
Patrick Mure, previously mentioned as a free lance, open to
engagements with every faction, was summoned within a limited
period on a variety of charges, which we quote as a curiosity.
First, for forcibly occupying the lands of Andrew Dunbar in
Mochrum ; second, spulzying the annual rent of lands belonging
to the Laird of Bomby ; third, contempt done to the king in
taking one called Lang M*Kie out of the stocks wherein he had
been placed by the sheriff- depute for hurting a Spaniard;
fourth, for heirischip of five oxen from John M'Clean ; fifth,
breaking up the doors of Mr. Eichard Aikenhead, Vicar of
Wigtown, and keeping him furth thereof, and with Thomas
Mure and Nicholas Mure, his servants, casting the vicar^s
servant over his own stair ; sixth, for forethought felony done
to Symon M'Chiystine, sheriff-depute in Wigtown, by chasing
him with a drawn quhinzear ; seventh, stealing a young gray
horse from Andrew Boyd ; eighth, for carrying off ten bolls of
victual and twenty-four threaves of fodder; ninth, stouthrief of
five score sheep from Andrew Dunbar in Derry of Mochrum ;
tenth, theft from James Porter of ten score bolls of wheat;
eleventh, robbery of goods from Andrew Mure ; twelfth, forcible
occupation of the Laird of Bomby's farm, near Wigtown, for two
years.^
The M'Kies of Myrtoun seem to have lived in chronic feud
with the sheriff; whence we find the " sheriffs servants " (which
may simply mean friends in bands with him) charged with
robbing John M'Kie of seven cows with their calves, wounding
John and his men, " with loss of thumb to the said Joha" At
the same Justice Aire they produced a "remission" for the
slaughter of Patrick and Thomas M'Kie, who seem to have been
killed in the fray.
Symon M'Chrystine, a sheriff-depute, is charged with going
forth of burgh in convocation to the place of Myrtoun, of the
stouthrief of oxen, horses, and sheep there, from John M'Eie,
^ Spalzying, carrying off a spoil ; heirischip, the act of plandering ; stouth-
rief, carrying off by force (Pitcaim). Robbery, accompanied by violence, in all
cases panished capitally. — (£rskine. Institutes),
334 HEREDITARY SHERIPFS OP GALLOWAY [A-D. 151O
breaking the said John's bam door and taking aU his beir and
oats forcibly from him. This active sheriff-depute is charged
on other occasions with " oppression done to the community of
Wigtown/' with " taking the best merchandize out of ships com-
ing to the said burgh, and keeping the same in his own cellars." ^
In 4th November 1510 " Patrick Agnew, Sheriflf of Wigtown,
came in for the king's will for usurping lus authority by putting
James Porter to the knowledge of an assize for the slaughter of
John M'Myane, and from taking pledges to purge the said
Thomas of the said slaughter." James Porter was a brother to
the Laird of Lagg, and a " servant " of the sheriff. The Crown
was very jealous of reserving jurisdiction over the "four pleas,"
of which murder was one; and the suggestion is further of
partiality that the sheriff indicted his friend for the minor
offence of slaughter instead of murder. At the same court,
Patrick Waus of Irsack* was allowed to compound for "the
stouthrief of six silver tasses from the Lord Bishop of Galloway.
Item, for oppression done to the bishop for houghing his oxen
Item, for oppression to John M'llvaine, in Whithern for the
detention of his crops. Item, for the southrief of certain oxen
and cows from the executors of unquhile Mr. Alexander Waus."
The bishop was David Amot
Nevin Agnew of Croach continued his predatory attacks on
lus neighbours. He admitted before the Lord Justices his com-
plicity in coming upon the Lairds of Ardwell and Kinhilt
severally, in a warlike manner, and sundry acts of " oppression,"
the cool impudence of one of which excites a smile : " the
stouthrief of tymmer of twa houses, with the windows and
doors thereof." Yet for all his misdemeanours he was permitted
to compound.
These ridings in routing were suddenly brought to a close
by the summons to arms sounding forth from the capital. In-
stantly local bickerings ceased, feuds were forgotten, and the
^ Pitcaim.
* Enoch (arseach), a ploughed place or arable land ; literallyi aboonding in
tillage.
to 1527] FLODDEN 335
baronage assembling, rode forward shoulder to shoulder to
wield their arms for king and country.
Many a manly hand grasped that of a neighbour in un-
affected friendliness after years of strife ; and well that it was so,
as many of these restless spirits were destined to meet no more
on the scenes of their old forgatherings. Within a few days
they all fought, and many of them fell, on the fatal field of
Flodden. The Galloway baronage bore their fuU share of the
national loss, " in this sorrowful battell strichen and cudit the
nynth day of September, the year of God 1513.^
Of the sheriffs neighbours and kin there fell : his uncle, Sir
Alexander Gordon of Lochinvar; Sir Alexander Stewart of
GarUes; the M*Dowalls Lairds of Garthland, French, and
Logan ; Adair of Kinhilt ; M'Culloch of Myrtoun ; Sir William
M'Clellan of Bomby ; the Earl of Cassilis ; Lords Maxwell and
Herries ; Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig ; the Master of
Angus ; and his brother, William Douglas. Poor old " Bell the
Gat " was so overwhelmed with grief at the loss of these, his
only sons, that, riding back with the surviving remnant of
Galloway lairds as far as their routes lay together, he entered
the Priory of Whithorn, and passed there the remainder of
his days in contemplation and prayer.* The body of M'Cul-
loch was mistaken for that of the king, and hurried off to
London in hope of a reward, where, however, the mistake
was discovered.^
There were no lists in these days taken of the wounded ; but
there is reason to believe that the sheriff did not escape scathe-
less, as he died within a few weeks of the battle ; his eldest son,
Andrew, being under age.
1 Pitscottie, L 281.
* The Earl of Angus had implored the king not to attack the English in the
rash way which he proposed. The king's answer to the venerable peer was :
"Angus, if you are afraid, you may go home." Thus publicly insulted, he left
the camp, but returned on hearing that his sons were killed.
' Alexander M*Callo (of his awin guard) was very lyke in make to the king,
and so they tuik and kest him in ane chariott, and had him with them into
England. But trew it is they gote not the king, because they had never the
token of his yron belt to schow. — Pitscottie, i. 281.
336 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 151O
Of three daughters, the eldest married William Cairns
of Orchardtown ; another, Katherine, married Ninian Adair
of Kinhilt (whose mother, Euphemia, was a Stewart of Grarlies).
This Ninian built the square tower once styled a manor-place,
afterwards the gaol of Stranraer. Tradition avers that — no
stones being procurable at hand, and wheeled carts unknown, —
Adair placed retainers in rows some three miles to the quarries,
whence the stones were passed singly from hand to hand to the
builders.^ A third daughter. Christian, married Blaise M'Ghie
(presumably of Balmaghie.) We find a charter in the lady's
favour of the lands of Egerness.^
The fourth sheriff is a fair type, reflecting at once the vigour
and the weaknesses of an hereditary official in the fifteenth
century. If an injury hetd to be redressed, especially that
towards a friend, he was ready to spring into his saddle and
deal out justice with his own right arm at a moment's notice.
Little he troubled himself with studying the statute book, much
less with the technicalities of law.
Help thy friend and do nae wrang
was his motto, and against great odds he maintained the king's
authority in the person of his sheriff, handing down all the
rights delegated to his forbears by the Crown unimpaired to
his successor.
The case has been humorously and happily put in an article
edready quoted : '' As a rule, it must be said that the sheriffs
were every bit as wild and lawless as the rest of the king^s
lieges in these parts. Forays, feuds, sieges, and plunderings
and lawsuits, went on from century to century. When the
Douglases were out of the way there were the Kennedys to
quarrel with. The Kennedys, Earls of Cassilis, were far more
powerful than the sheriffs ; but the Agnews held their own in
^ In a deed it is styled the tower, fortalice, manor-place, yards, and orchards
of Chappell. —^ceatr MSS.
^ 1527. There is a charter, '* Blaisii M'Ghie et Oristina Agnew, sponsa sna,"
of the lands of Egemess and Brochtonwall. — Great SecU Eegister,
Michael M'Ghie submitted to Edward III. in 13S9.-~.Sod. Scot,
to 1527] FLODDEN 337
many skirmishes and downright battles^ as well in the field
as in the law courts."
Andrew Agnew, the fifth sheriff, as a minor was given sasine
of the lands and offices he held heritably by a mandate from the
Crown, dated 20th May 1514,^ Nevin, Thomas, and William
Agnew being witnesses to the service; and a precept £rom
David (Amot), Bishop of Galloway, directed his infeftment in
the various lands his father had held imder the Church, carried
out before Michael Agnew, Martin M'Meiken, Thomas Agnew
in Clone, and Thomas M*Geych, presbyter of Whithorn.
Gilbert, who succeeded a second Earl of Cassilis on his
father's death at Hodden, maintained the kindliest relations
with his kinsman at Lochnaw ; and the quarrel as to the Courts
of Leswalt was allowed to slumber.
Sir Alexander Stewart, who had also fallen at Flodden, was
succeeded by another Alexander, who had married Elizabeth
Kennedy of Blairquhan, by whom he had nineteen daughters,
five of whom married in Wigtownshire, to the lairds of
Mochrum, Garthland, Sorby, and Corswall : the fifth shortly
after this date to the young sheriff. The aimt of this lady of
Lochnaw was Agnes Lady Maxwell, whose husband in 1520
was appointed Steward of Kirkcudbright.
Within a year of fatal Flodden, and a few weeks after the
death of poor old Bell the Cat at Whithorn, the queen dowager
had married his grandson Archibald, now Earl of Angus ; by
which act her regency terminated, and fell by her first husband's
will to the Duke of Albany. Both queen mother and regent
now concurred in appointing Gavin Dunbar, Prior of Whithorn,
tutor to the young king : a duty which he performed to the
satisfaction of his pupil, the Council, and society at large.
Entries in the Lord Treasurer's accounts show that he was en-
trusted with all arrangements for his royal pupil ; as examples :
16th February 1517 — "Given to Maister Gavin Dunbar, the
^ In the case of the Baillierie of Leswalt, ''qaod de nobis tenetur in capite
is applied equally as to the sheriffship.
VOL. I Z
19
338 HEREDITABY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I $10
king's maister, to buy necessar thingis for the king's chalmer,
91i"
*' Item — 28th August. To Maister Oavan Dunbar, for ex-
pences maid by him in repaiating the chalmer in the quhilk
the king now lives, £3."
In 1522 Dunbar was promoted to the Archbishopric of
Glasgow, and in 1528 was Lord Chancellor. Albany, disgusted
with the strife of factions, had retired to France, but now unex-
pectedly turned up in Gralloway. Here the barons received
him with distinction, sided with him in his wranglings with the
queen dowager, and escorted him in force to Edinburgh.
In 1522, having returned to France to ask for King
Francis's assistance, he suddenly reappeared at Kirkcudbright
with fifty ships, and disembarked great store of arms and
ammimition. The Gallovidians flocked to his standard in such
numbers that he marched eastward in sufficient force to raise
the siege of Jedburgh.^
The same year a judgment of the Lords of the Council stands
on record against the sheriff for injury done to Waus, Parson of
Wigtown ; but Ids name seems only to be introduced as a for-
mality, his son's being mentioned along with him, who was an
infant in arms. The real culprit seems to have been a kinsman
of the parson, Nevin Vans, son of Robert Waus, supported by
Nevin Agnew of Croach, the sheriffs kinsman.
In the Court books the action stands against Andrew Agnew,
Sheriff of Wigtown; Patrick Agnew, his son; Nevin Vans,
Gilbert Hughan, John Seed, and Kevin Agnew, for the hough-
ing, slaughter, and destruction of three of his oxen, price of the
piece £3, stopping the labouring and tilling of his mailing, and
damage and scaith further sustained to the amotmt of £20.
The Lords of Council deliver that the said parties have
^ The Duck of Albany this yeare retams from France ; he shipe at Brest and
lands at Earkondbright the 7th of October.— Balfour, L 260.
The French king could not spare him many men, but gave him 8000 pikes
and 1000 launces. The Duke, to the number of fifty sail, embarks at Brest the
21st September, and lands at Kirkcudbright. —David Scott, 825.
Having escaped the English fleet which lay in wait for him, he landed at
Kirkcudbright 7th October 1523.— Mackenzie, L 448.
to 1527] FLODDEN 339
done wrong, and shall content and pay the damages claimed,
and exempt the said Master John from the jurisdiction of the
sheriff and his oflScers. (Nevin Agnew wtts a sheriff-depute.)
In 1625 much brawling occurred between the queen's
faction, of whom were the Earls of Argyle and Arran, and
Angus, the queen dowager^s husband, who conjointly with
Lennox, getting possession of the young king's person, tempo-
rarily got the upper hand.
One of their acts was a wise one. They sent Lord Cassilis,
accompanied by two churchmen, to negotiate for peace with the
queen's brother Henry VIIL, who cordially received Cassilis
and entertained him at Greenwich ; and on his return a Parlia-
ment was summoned to meet at Edinburgh to discuss the
proposals he brought back.
Hither the barons of Galloway repaired ; among those re-
corded as present, beside Cassilis, being the Laird of Lochinvai*,
the Laird of Bomby, Lord MaxweU, the Sheriff of Galloway,
besides many powerful cadets of the Kennedys, the M'Dowalls
of Garthland and Ereuch, M'Culloch of Torhouse, Cairns of
Orchardton, Gordon of Craighlaw, all accompanied by armed
retainers.
The swashbuckler style in which these gentlemen habitually
paraded the streets, their respective followers armed to the
teeth, led to encounters of the most serious nature. In two of
the frays which attained most notoriety, the west country barons
were prominent
In the first, certain partisans of Cassilis killed a Dutch
nobleman. Of the cause of the quarrel no record remains ; but
the extraordinary number of remissions for his slaughter,
amounting to over two hundred and fifty, gives a startling idea
of the fierceness of these street battles, aa the opposing forces
may be presumed to have been considerable. As usual, some of
the Kennedys are found fighting on both sides. The official
record is drawn in form of a respite to Gilbert Earl of Cassilis,
William Lord Semple, and thirteen others, Fergus M'DowaU of
Freuch, Alexander MT)owall, tutor of Garthland, M'Kie of
340 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A-D. ISIO
Myrtoun, Ahannay of Sorby, thirty-four others named, and 233
others, origin unknown, for the treasonable slaughter of Cornelius
de Machitima, Martin Kennedy, and Gilbert M'llwraitL^
A day or two later, old Lochinvar, with his nephew, the
Sheriff of Galloway, and Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig, the
young laird of Orchardton, M'Culloch of Torhouse, and other
kinsmen, when saimtering well attended down the High Street,
met face to face Sir Thomas M'Clellan of Bomby, also with a
band of friends and followers. Between Bomby and Lochinvar a
blood-feud raged. Both parties must needs keep the crown of
the causeway. Neither would yield an inch. A desperate
struggle ensued, Lochinvar eventually keeping the place of
honour, but ending in the Laird of Bomby lying dead at the
door of St. Giles's Church, Much litigation ensued in these
days of weak government. The resource of the Courts was to
incline aggressors to make, compensation to the aggrieved,
achieved by refusing to grant remissions for slaughters till
'' letters of slains " were procured from the families bereaved.
And although persons of position were not easily arrested, they
were formally put to the horn and declared rebel, implying
that any one strong enough to do so might seize their persons.
It was consequently a convenience to a^ressors, however
powerful, to obtain such a remission.
A good instance of the procedure in question is furnished
by the present case. The Laird of Lochinvar and the Sheriff of
Galloway were indicted, summoned, failed to appear, declared
rebel, but remained at large for some eleven years with little
inconvenience to themselves, till the matter was settled and
the outlawry recalled in the shape of '* a remission to James
Gordon of Lochinvar, Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown,
James Douglas of Drumlanrig, William Gordon of Crichlaw,
George M'CuUoch of Torhouse, William Cairns, young laird
of Orchardton, David Gordon, John Gordon, called John of
Whitheme, and twelve others, for art and part of the slaughter
^ For the treasonable slaughter of umquhile Cornelius de Machitima at the
Tolbooth of Edinburgh at the time of seat of our Parliament. — Pitcaim.
to 1527] FLODDEN 341
of Thomas M'Clellan of Bomby, committed eleven years by-
past, in the burgh of Edinburgh. Dated 13 January
1338."
This settlement was hastened by a romantic incident. The
Laird of Bomby, heir to the slaughtered man, met and fell
desperately in love with the daughter of his father^s slayer.
Old Lochinvar wisely smiled upon his suit, and soon parties
who had long been vainly summoned to underlie the law, sat
with the pursuers at the wedding-feast^ the bridegroom pre-
senting his new relatives with ''letters of slains" formally
endorsed by "Thomas M'Glellan, son of Thomas M'Clellan
deceased, to Sir James Gordon of Lochinvar, and all his
assisters in the slaughter aforesaid."
And so the tomahawk was buried.
To revert to 1526, Lennox broke with Angus ; the young
king escaped from the latter's keeping ; civil war broke out^
Angus being supported by Arran, whilst Lord CassUis declared
for Lennox and the queen. The Galloway lairds being friendly
with Cassilis, he was able to bring nearly two thousand men
into the field.
The parties met at Linlithgow ; Lennox was worsted, and, as
asserted by Cassilis, killed in cold blood after the fighting was
over by Sir James Hamilton.
Angus, having now recovered the king's person, summoned
all who had sided against him in the king's name to appear for
judgment for helping the king to escape. Cassilis among others
came in, made his submission, and was permitted to compound.
But whilst he paid lus fine, he unguardedly used some very
hard words against Sir James Hamilton. He mounted to ride
home, but was waylaid in lus journey, and killed near Prest-
wick by the hand of the Sheriflf of Ayr,^ but, as was generally
thought, at the instigation of Hamilton. Earl Gilbert was tnily
mourned in Galloway, his two daughters being married to the
1 Earl Gilbert wes killed at the Pow of Preisetick in Kyll, by Hugh Campbell
of Loudoun, Sheriff of Ayr, 2d Dec. 1527. — Balfour, OeTiecUoffieal CoUeeUons;
Pitcaim, History 0/ the Kennedys, 84.
342 SHEBIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1527
Lairds of French and Einhilt, besides whom, by his wife Isabella,
daughter of the second Earl of Argyle, he left Gilbert his heir,
David of Culzean, and Quentin, who was Abbot of Crossraguel,
and became famous for his public disputation with John Elnox
as to the sacrifice of the mass.
The following year James V.'s power was fully established.
Angus, having stood at bay awhile in his strong castle of Tan-
tallon, fled to England; and by an Act of Parliament 1528,
himself, his kin, and friends, were forfaulted, and their lands
annexed to the Crown.
In connection with this, we find by the criminal records
that many persons of rank were pursued " for abiding from the
king's host and army at Tantallon." Almost all of these were
GaUoway lairds, there being especially mentioned Andrew
Agnew, Sheriff of Galloway, the lairds of Garlics, Balmaghie,
Torhouse, Creachan, Barclay, Larg. The matter probably went
no further; but it is difficult to account for their conduct
There is no hint in history of any disaffection in the province :
it was certainly from no want of stomach for a fight ; and we
can only suppose that there was still a lingering affection in
Galloway for the name of Douglas, and especially for the branch
of Angus.
CHAPTER XX
THE DAWN OF THE REFORMATION
A.D. 1528 to 1545
For, Esayas into his wark
CalliB thame lyke doggis, that can nooht bark,
That callit ae preistis, and can nooht preche
Nor Christis kw to the pepill teche.
Ltkdsat, The Complaint
Gilbert, third Earl of Cassilis, when staying at St. Andrews,
a boy of twelve years old, was forced by Beaton ^ to countersign
the death-warrant of Patrick Hamilton, the proto-martjrr of the
Scottish Beformation. The archbishop had much miscalculated
the effect which his act of faith would produce either on his
young pupil or the general public. Gassilis, from the part thus
forced upon him, was led to enquire into, and afterwards to
approve of, Hamilton's creed ; and so loudly was the popular
disgust expressed against such barbarities perpetrated in the
name of religion, that one of Beaton's most trusted familiars
warned his master in the form of a grim jest against ordering a
repetition of such scenes : " If you needs must bum many more
heretics, my lord, pray bum them in deep cellars below ground ;
for you must know that the smoke from Mr. Hamilton's body
has infected all upon whom the wind has blown it" The
words of the merry gentleman were sober tmth ; the easterly
^ James Bethune or Beaton, was named Bishop of Galloway on the death of
George Vaax ; bat before he was consecrated to that see he was advanced to the
Archbishoprio of Glasgow. In 1605 he had become Lord High Treasmer, and
was one of the principal ministers of state.
344 UEREDITA&T SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AJ>. 1 528
haar of St Andrews had carried the infection fiBur into the
western shires^ and deep mntterings from Ayr and Gralloway
presaged the coming storm. The days had gone by when the
great monasteries were centres of charity and learning. The
shepherds of the period were prone to shear, bnt seldom fed
their flocks. Their usdessness and rapacity were scathingly
exposed, not by heretics, bnt by decorous chnrchmen, such as
Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount ; and so notorious were their
delinquencies, and so true to the life^ that they were read with
acceptance before the king and queen, and specially applauded
by cardinals and spiritual lords — ^veritable Grallios — ^in Ck>urt
circles.
The universal complaint in the west was that the clergy —
regular and secular alike — ^impoverished the people by bare-
faced exactions, for which they gave no religious consolation in
return ; hovering round a death-bed, not to solace the sufferer,
but to secure the corpse present ^ from the survivors ; such dues
being heartlessly extorted, even if the sorrowing relatives were
half-starved by the exactions.
All good Catholics deplored such scandals. Lyndsay lays
the scene of a pitiable case, in which a yeoman, once well to do,
traces his ruin to church dues, heartlessly levied in the hour of
his affliction, on the Earl of Cassilis's lands, near Ayr :
We had three kye that was baith fiat and &ir,
Nane tidier came into the town of Ayr.
He tells at length how, having first buried his father and his
mother, and then sickness suddenly bereaving him of his wife—
The vicar talk the best cow by the heid
Incontinent when my father was deid.
And when the vicar heard tell that my mother
Was deid, for hand he tuik to him another.
Then made my wife did mourn haith e'en and morrow,
Till at the last she died for very sorrow.
And when the vicar heard tell my wife was deid,
The third cow he cleikit by the heid.
* The corpse present was the hest cow and "upmost cloth," i.e. coverlet, of
the bed of the deceased.
to 1545] THE DAWN OF THE REFORMATION 345
Their upmoat clais that was of raplock gray.
The vicar gart his clerk them bear away.
When all was gone, I micht make nae bebate,
But with my bairns passed till by my meat^
To their unapostolic rapacity was added the inability to
preach, whence the satirist makes a countryman explain —
Schir God nor I be sticket with a knife
Qif ever our parsoun prechet in all his Hfe.
When such sentiments were freely expressed in the highest
society, the spirit of enquiry was stimulated rather than checked,
by the persecution of humble Eefonners. It soon was whispered
that their doctrines were none other than those of the Bible ; and
it seemed an enigma that to read the Bible, even privately, much
more to communicate its contents to others, should be deemed
a capital crime by dignitaries of that Church. Consequently a
curiosity to see a Bible pervaded all ranks, especially in the west
coimtiy.
Grordon of Airds, a near kinsman of the sherifif, having gone
on some errand across the borders, met with some of Wycliflfe's
followers, from whom he obtained a copy of that divine's trans-
lation of the Testament On returning, he invited such of his
neighbours as he could trust to come to secret readings in the
woods, where the subject was discussed, and the reformed
doctrines quietly made their way. It must be understood that
the sweeping changes afterwards demanded were not even
wished for at this period. It was no question of Presbyterian-
ism or Episcopacy ; neither Calvin nor Knox had as yet made
their voices heard ;^ to strengthen and improve the Catholic
Church by a reform of abuses was all they asked for, with this
one step only in advance, that the Bible, on which the Church
was avowedly founded, should no longer be withheld from its
adherents.
" Airds " was a remarkable man : brought up at Clanyard,'
^ Lyndsay's Complaint.
* Calvin was bom in 1609 ; Knox, in 1505.
* Claon ard, *' the inclining steep."
346 HEREDITABT SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAT [A.D. 1 528
the third son of Alexander Gordon of Auchenreoch/ and when a
yonth, from his great size and strength, he was known as " Sanie
Bongh." In time he became the father of a nomeroas family,
all like himself zealous for the Beformation; and as a third
generation grew up about him, his designation was changed to
the " Patriarch."
An amusing story is current as to the use to which he turned
his progeny. There being a law that any beast labouring on
Church holidays should be forfeited to the king, and Gordon
habitually neglecting to stop his work on the numerous saint-
days, fasts, and feasts, an order was obtained to enforce the
statute. In response he assembled a large party at Airds upon
Christmas Day, yoked ten of his sons to the plough, an eleventh
acting as coUer, ploughed a ridge of land before the astonished
spectators, and dared either priest or layman to distrain his
team. Years rolled on, the Patriarch grew gray, and great-
grandchildren had sprung up around the grand old man.
A benighted traveller of gentle mien craved one evening
hospitality at his gate. He was courteously received by a
stalwart man, who referred him to his father, — ^the father in-
dicated referred him to his father, and he forthwith accosted a
white-locked grandsire, who again referred him to his father.
Completely mystified, he was passed on to the venerable laird,
seated in the old armchair, who vouchsafed him a hearty wel-
come.
Presently the board was spread ; but whilst partaking of the
good things set before him, our traveller could not divest himself
of an undefined dread that there was something unearthly about
his hosts; and it was not until supper ended, the household
assembled, and family worship was conducted with a simple
earnestness by the Patriarch, that the uneasy guest was fully
convinced that there could be nothing uncanny about the
family.
^ * * Anchenreoch, the gray field." Alexander Gordon, second son of William de
Grordon of Stiohel, had a charter to Alexander Gordon, brother of John Gordon
of Lochinvar, of the lands of Auchenreoch, 1490. From him descend the Gordons
of Aird, now of Earlston.
to IS4S] THE DAWN OF THE REFORMATION 347
The Patriarch is said to have attained the age of 101 ;
having been bom in 1479, and surviving until 1580. His
grandson married Margaret Sinclsdr, who brought him the
lairdship of Earlston ; the honour of which house is in safe
keeping in the person of his descendant of the twelfth genera-
tion— Sir William Gordon, one of the heroes of the death-ride of
Balaclava.^
King James Y. about this time set himself, with more
energy than judgment, to stanch the theft and reiving prevalent
on the Borders. No doubt the mosstroopers required chastise-
ment ; but hanging wholesale batches of men — ^bom dragoons,
forming a ready-made buffer to English aggression ; patriotic, if
thievish — was both unstatesmanlike and cruel.^
Messengers rode post haste to the sheriffs of Galloway, Ayr,
Boxburgh, and Dumfries, to desire them to warn all lords,
barons, and freeholders, to arm and equip themselves, and pass
with the king on his bloody assize. And all gentlemen that had
" dogges that were good ** were charged to bring them with them,
that the king might hunt by the way.
The tale of the royal sport in the intervals of hunting men
was " 18 score of harts, pulled down by the dogs, besides all
manner of small game killed by hawks. "
The blending of st-erner business with field-sports was ex-
emplified in its acutest form in the haiiging of Johnny Armstrong
and his men ; ^ and in a less tragic phase in the case of Lord
Maxwell, who, riding in unsuspiciously, bringing his dogs to
share in the fun, was instantly seized, and placed in durance
^ Earlston, said to have been a hunting-seat of James, Earl of BothwelL Sir
William Oordon served in the 17th Lancers in the Crimea ; for which he has a
medal, the Bibbon of the Legion of Honour, and the Order of the Me^jidie. He
afterwards served with distinction with his regiment in the suppression of the
Indian Mutiny.
* The king marches and surveys the Borders, apprehends 48 of the prinoi-
pallest rogues, and hangs them alL — Balfour, iL 260.
This is only one of many executions following, which we are told ''manie
Scottismen heavily lamented." — Pitscottie, ii. 842.
' Efter this hunting, the king hangit John Armstrang, als guid ane chief-
tain as ever was upon the Borders, and albeit he was a lous leivend man, yett he
never molested no Scottisman. — Pitscottie, also Pinkerton.
348 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 528
vile, very narrowly escaping with his life.^ The charge against
Maxwell was that he had ''winked at the villainies of the
limmers on the marches."
But whilst dealing so severely with sins of omission in the
eastward, James took no adequate steps to punish crimes of com-
mission in the west. The Macdowalls of French and of Mindork
audaciously invaded Arran with fire and sword, and burned
Brodick Castle to the ground The success of this flagrant
attack, conducted by two Galloway lairds against one of the
most powerful nobles of his day, is evidenced by the very terms
of the warrant issued against them, and commanding them to
underlie the law. And yet, as far as we can learn, they neither
surrendered nor were arrested, nor even suffered any serious
inconvenience for their contumacy, as French's name appears in
various records of the period as pursuing his ordinary occupa-
tions undisturbed on his estates.
This outrage was the outcome of the feud engendered by the
murder of Cassilis (who was father-in-law of French) at Prest-
wick, which Arran was believed to have abetted. And as
plunder was not the object, the deed was generally applauded in
Galloway.
A few years later we find the sheriff called upon to make
good damage done by his kinsman, the young Isdrd of Croach.
On the 8th of July 1532, the Lords of the Council decree "yat
Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, pledge and souritie for
Nevin Agnew, sail restore, content, pay, and deliver, to Dene
Andro Stevenson, sub-prior of Quhithom, and Vicar of Clauch-
shant, ye guids underwritten, spuilziet and reft fra him by ye
said Nevin and his complices, and fra his tenants forth of his
kirkland of ye said vicarage — that is to say, 12 kye and oxen,
price of the piece, 40s. ; as also that Andro Agnew, sheriff of
Wigtown, is pledge and suretie for John M'Kewin in ye
parish of Leswalt, shall content and deliver to Dene Andro
Stevenson the guids spulziet and reft fra him be the said John
^ The king causes behead Cockbum of Hindarland and Adam Soot, and
imprisons the Earl of Bothwell, Lords Maxwell and Home, and the lairds of
Buccleugh, Femiehurst, Pollard, Johnston, and Marker. — Balfour, i. 260.
to 1545] TH£ DAWN OF THE REFORMATION 349
forth of his mansion-house of the said vicarage, twa hors, price
of the piece, £20/' The price the dean put upon his horses
seems exorbitant, as the king not long before had purchased at
Whithorn a " lewiy's pad " for one of the queen's suite for £5.^
About this time, M'Dowall of Logan being a minor, his
wardship was granted to Yaux, Abbot of Soulseat,^ who assigned
it to John Yaus of Bambarroch. To this the chapter of the
abbey demurred, appealing to the king, in whose name a letter
was addressed to the sherifif.
"James, be the grace of God, King of Scots, to our Sheriflf
of Wigtown, greeting.
" As it is shewn to us by our lovet, John Yaus of Bambarroch,
that Dean David Yaus, Abbot of Soulseat, having by our gift
the wardship of Logan, and he having made the said John his
assignee thereto, yet nevertheless the incumbrance of the abbey
troubled the said John in the brooking of the said ward-lands.
Our will is, and we charge you that incontinent these our letters
seen, ye call both parties before you, and take cognisance in the
said matter, and do them justice.
"Given under our signet at Edinburgh, the 19th day of
August, and of our reign the 28th year" (1533).
In 1535 an Act of Parliament recapitulating the statutes as
to re-aforesting the land, ordained that " the breakers thereof be
taken cognisance of by the sheriff at his first head coiirt after
Pasche," attaching terrific penalties against all destroyers of
growing wood : £10 fine for the first offence ; £20 for the second ;
for the third, death.* We doubt whether the lieges took much
more note of it than to turn it into rhyme :
^ We find A charter of resignation of the lands of Croach and Brockloch by
GUbert Agnew and Margaret Mnir, his spouse, to their son Nevin, dated 16th
December 1628.
Brockloch is not the badger's lake, but the badger warren. Clayshant,
Clachseanta, the holy stone — ^holy, used in the superstitions sense of a ohann,
auspicious. — 0 'Beilly.
' In 1525 a yenerable father in God, Darid Yaux, is named as coadjutor and
successor to Quentin Vanz, Abbot of Soukeat. In 1581 there is an obligation by
Henry M'CuUoch of Eillaster to infeft David, Abbot of Soulseat, in the lands of
Drumbreddan, to be held of his own lord, the laird of Myrtoun.
' Fourth Parlt. James V. chaps 10 and 11.
350 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 528
The oak, the ash, the elm tree,
Hang a man for all the three ;
For a branch ye may win free,
But for a root ye'll hangit be.
The most important Act of the period was the institution of
the College of Justice (1537), popularly known as the Court of
Session ; a leading feature of which Act was '^ that all processes
be taken in order, the unpriveleged to be tabulat with the
priveleged." The realm being divided into four circuits, the
western comprising "Striveling, Aire, Eenfrew, Lanark, Wig-
toune, Dumfreis, Kirkcudbright, and Annandale."
About this time Sir Alexander Stewart of Garlics was sent
as ambassador to the English Court. Previous to setting out
he obtained renewals of Ids charters of Garlics and Glasserton,
with remainder to his eldest son Alexander, failing whom to his
second son John, parson of Kirkmahome.^ Sir Alexander had
married first Eatheiine, daughter of Sir James Crichton, without
issue ; secondly, Margaret Dunbar, heiress of Clugston. Their
second son is the progenitor of the Stewarts of PhysgilL
In 1536 the king sailed for France incognito, in search of a
wife, taking cunong his companions Gordon of Lochinvar, and
Stewart, Bishop of Aberdeen, granting extraordinary indul-
gences to certain of their relations, among whom are named
Andrew Agnew, SheriiGf of Galloway, the lairds of Gurlies and
Sorby, and John Vaus of Bambarroch — in the shape of
"exemption from answering to the courts of law for any
misdemeanour whatever committed by them during the king's
absence/' An indulgence with a vengeance !
The royal knight errant did not speed smoothly on his
course, being blown north instead of south, and having rounded
Cape Wrath instead of the North Foreland, be suddenly cast
up at the Isle of Whithorn, his ship being damaged, and,
escorted by the baronage, rode back to Leith. Here he em-
^ The ancient form of the name was Eirkmaoho and Eirkmagho. The saint
seems to be the Mahasans, whose chmtsh in Edinbm^h was despoiled by Edward
I., otherwise St Machut, to whom the parish chmtsh of Wigtown was dedicated
as weU as Lesmahagow.
to 1545] THE DAWN OF THE REFOBMATION 351
barked in another ship, leaving Archbishop Dunbar and Lord
Maxwell among others to act as regents, and arrived safely at
Dieppe, where he was met by the Earls of Cassilis, Moray, and
Lennox, sent forward as ambassadors to ask the hand of the
Princess Magdalene of France.
Four years before this. Lord Cassilis having gone to Paris tx>
finish his education, had fallen in with Buchanan, who had fled
from Scotland owing to Ids faith, and who was offered and
accepted the position of Cassilis's tutor, and remained attached
to his person till 1537.^
In 1542 is chronicled the " Solway Bout," where the Scottish
leaders suffered themselves to be taken prisoners, and their
10,000 followers were dispersed by 300 English horse; this
inglorious result being attributed to pique and pride of ancestry,
outraged by Oliver Sinclair — a roturier — being placed in comr
mand.
But though this was the cause alleged, the truth seems to
have been that many of these lairds being Protestant at heart,
were disgusted with the cold-blooded cruelty with which the
king's clerical advisers were urging him to stamp out the new
doctrinea It was the clergy who had hurried the king into
this war with England, having been so imprudent as openly to
suggest that the expenses of the war might be met by exacting
the fines to which the law subjected heretics. The Scottish
baronage well knew that a serious war could not be maintained
with England without help from France; and success, with
French assistance, meant the riveting of the Papal yoke upon
themselves, which the English had just thrown off.
Many Scotch lords with Protestant leanings had already
entered into correspondence with the English ; and it is more
than probable that Cassilis and Garlics inwardly felt what Lord
1 Lord Gaasilis was occasionaUj at home in the interim ; as in 1586 his name
appears in company with the laird of French, as attacking John Dnnbar.
Feigns M'Dowall also had to underlie the law for coming on John Dunbar of
Blantyre with the Earl of Cassilis, assaulting and wounding him. In 1538 there
is a respite to Feigus M'Dowall of French for the cruel slaughter of John M'Cul-
loch, in both cases the Earl of Cassilis becoming surety.
352 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 528
Maxwell openly expressed, when urged by a bystander to put
spurs to his horse and escape capture : *' It is better to be a
prisoner abroad than hang at the market cross at homa " ^ At
all events all three surrendered, and were sent to London,
where they were exceedingly well entertained ; Cassilis being
assigned to Archbishop Cranmer, Maxwell to Sir Antony
Brown, and Garlics to his kinsman the Duke of Lennox, him-
self a fugitive established in England, who had been already
employed by Henry VIIL to intrigue with the Scottish lords ;
and he now assisted in arranging the terms of ransom for the
captives. A letter of his to Lord Shrewsbury on the subject is
exceedingly interesting, dated from His Majesty's castle of
Wressel, 13th June 1543 : " My Lord — I have received the King's
Majesty's letter from your Lordship this Mondaye, being the 13th
of the month, commanding me to certify your lordship in writ-
ing of the names of all such pledges and prisoners as I have in
my custody.
" My Lord, truth it is that my first journey to Dumfries
there came into the King's Majesty's service by my procure-
ment the most part of the Lairds of Gallowaye : such as the
Laird of Garles, the Laird of Lochynwar and Tutor of Bomby,
who I brought with me to Carlele, where they did enter their
pledges to the Lord Wheirton ; and forasmuch as the Laird of
Garles is my near kinsman, I did take into my custody, by my
Lord of Somerset's licens, the said Laird's son being of the
age of 16 years, but by my judgement his father may spend
1500 marks Scots, which is all I can certify your Lordships in
this matter."
Lord Wharton, as Warden of the Western Marches, thus
names the several Galloway lairds taken prisoner in his official
report to the king : —
" The names of suche Scotishe pledges and prisoners as wes
taken on these Western Marches [24th November 1542], with
^ Balfour, i. 274. HIb yersion is : "The Scots, in disdain of their general^
OUver, render themselves captives to the English at Solwa Moss, and were led
captive to London, such as the Earls of Cassalis," etc.
to 1 545] THE DAWN OF THE REFORMATION 353
an estimate of their values and estimation [we extract Gallo-
vidians only] :
" Bobert Maxwell, nowe Lord Maxwell, an ancient baron of
greate lands, his self remayneth as yet in Carliell.
" The Lord Garlishe^ [Garlyle], a man of 300 merks and
more, and little thereof in his hands, but holden from it by
rebeUs in his country. His selfe remayneth at Pontefrett
Castle in the custodie of Sir Henry Savell, besides that he is a
prisoner, as aforesaid, his pledge his son and heyre with my
Lord Latimer for 101 men.
" The Larde of Dabatie [Dalbeattie], of 20 markes land, his
pledge his brother with Sir John Tempest for 41 men.
" The Larde of Orcherton, of ten pounds lands or more, his
pledge with Sir William for 112 men.
'* The Larde of Carlies [Garlics], of an hundred pound land
and more, and of good estimation, his pledge his son and heyre
with the Earl of Lennox for 206.
"The Larde of Loughinware [Lochinvar], a man of two
hundred markes lands, and in goods better than a thousand
pounds, his pledges his cousins, two of them with my Lord
Scrope, and one with my Lord Conyers, for four score and
fifteen:
" James Macklenyne [M'Clellan], Tutor of Bombye, a man
of good estimation and small living, his pledge his sonne and
hejrre with Doctor Bransbye for 151.
"John Maxwell, the Lord's brother, who answers for all
uppon his brother's lands, his pledge Hewghe Maxwell, his
nephew, for 1000 men and more.
" The Abbot of Newe Abbey, of two hundred merks ster-
^ Michael, fourtli Lord Carlyle of Torthorwald, owned Eelhead, Cummertrees,
Domock, Torduflf, Middleby, Lees, Eirkconnel, etc., and his forbears, if not
himself, Coljn and Roweham in Galloway. His ancestor held these by charters
'^ to the king's sister's son," Sir William de Carlyle having married a sister of
Robert Bruce. In 1487 Robert Carlisle had the keeping of the Castle of Threave
and the stewardship of Kirkcndbright. Of this fourth lord it is on record that
at the signing of the bond of association for the support of James YI. in 1567, he
was the only peer who could not write his name, and was obliged to have recourse
to the assistance of a notary.
VOL. I 2 A
354 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 528
ling in right of Ids house, his pledge Bichard Browne and
Bobert Browne, his cosyns, for 241 men.
"The town of Kyrcumbre, a prety haven, pledge for it
Baryby Douglas son, worth nothing, for 36.
"Town of Dumfresse, a fair market town, pledge for it
Cuthbert Murray, worth litill or nothing, for 221 men.
" The Abbot of Salsyde, his house of an £100 yearly, his
pledge James Johnston his son and heyre, for 20 men."
The Scottish prisoners were thrown into company which
confirmed their Protestant leanings ; Cassilis living chiefly with
Cranmer and Latimer, Gkirlies associating openly with the fol-
lowers of WyclifiFe, and (so contagious was the spirit of enquiry)
Lord Maxwell, though still professing himself a Catholic,
signaUsed himself by moving from his place in Parliament, im-
mediately on his return from Scotland, " that it sail be lawful
to all the lieges to have the Holy Writ in the vulgar tongue."
But we are anticipating ; this occurring in 1543, James Y.
having died the 16th of the previous December, and the Scottish
prisoners having been allowed to return. Maxwell's bold
course occasioned a fierce debate. Archbishop Dunbar started
to Ids feet, and in the name of his brother prelates protested
against such a proposition, the more especially coming firom a
Catholic
The queen, much dismayed, threw in her influence with the
churchmen, but aU in vain. For the first time in Parliamentary
strife the prelates found themselves in a minority in the Estates.
Arran, the Begent, for a time encouraged the Beformers,
and all the lords who had been taken prisoners had returned
pledged to support a match between their infant princess and
the heir to the English crown ; the significance of which pro-
posal lay in the fact that it indicated sympathy with church
reform. At this moment, when for a short interlude religious
opinions might be discussed openly without danger to the dis-
putants, George Wishart made his appearance in Galloway, his
coming there being due to the folly of the churchmen in the
east, he having been banished from St. Andrews for teaching
to IS4S] THE DAWN OF THE REFORMATION 355
the Greek Testament. This, to thinkiDg men, showed that the
ground on which Beaton and his party stood was so utterly
without foundation that it obliged them to prevaricate and to
contradict themselves : hitherto the demand for the Scriptures
in the vulgar tongue had been constantly met by the reply that
the Church allowed the reading of the Bible in Hebrew, Greek,
and Latin, whereas the moment that Greek was brought within
the reach of ordinary students, they violently suppressed it,
and no doubt would have done the same with Hebrew had ite
study become popular.
Wishart was supported in the west by Lord Cassilis, Lord
Glencaim, and his son Lord Kilmaurs, and notably by the
young Laird of Garlies, who, when threatened with proceedings
for encouraging heretical preachers, boldly answered, "1 do avow
them, and will maintain and defend such against any or all
kirkmen that may be put at them."
Knox tells an amusing story at Dunbar's expense. Beaton
having written to the archbishop to keep an eye on and oppose
the dangerous heretic in the west, he repaired to Ayr. There
finding that Wishart was announced to preach, he mounted the
pulpit before he arrived. The people were inclined to use him
roughly. " Let him alone," said Wishart, " he will do us more
good than harm." Silence was obtained; but the archbishop
found it easier to occupy the Beformer's seat than to match his
eloquence. He became confused, words refused to come, till at
last he stammered out, " They say we should preicha^ Quhy
not ? Better lait thrive than never thrive. Hand us still for
your bishop, and we shall provyde better next tyme."
Though the narrator cannot be called impartial, it probably
embodies the popular report of his discourse. The habitual
neglect of preaching was one of the causes which hurried the
Boman Catholic Church to its falL
Two hundred years before, a Galloway bishop had acquitted
himself better, immortalised by Wyntoun in his Ehyming
Chronicles :
1 ^z
Kdox's History of the lUforTnatum, i. 48.
356 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1545
The Bishop of Qalloway thare Thomas,
A Theolog solempne he was,
Made a sermond richt plesant,
And to the mattere accordant
Soon after his affair at Ayr Wishart was confronted at
Dunbar, in a court where the bishop was more of a match for
him than in the pulpit. Having wandered from Galloway,
where neither bishop nor cardinal had been allowed to touch
him, Wishart was arrested by Beaton's orders, carried to St.
Andrews, arraigned before the Primate, Dunbar, and Dune,
Bishop of Galloway — unpitying judges where heresy was a
crime. He was of course condemned to die, and the reverend
trio assisted at his burning. Vainly had the Bible been appealed
to before men whose earnest caution to those whom they really
loved was, " If ye will read ye must bum." As useless was
eloquence in a case where its possession rendered the speaker
the more dangerous ; any mental recognition by the prelates of
his shining abiUty taking possibly the form of the thought once
audibly expressed by a famous judge to a less worthy prisoner :
" Ye're a vera clever chiel, man, but ye wad be nane the waur
0' a hangin'."
Dunbar was doubtless conscientiously a persecutor, at-
tached to the old religion, and believing it to be the duty of the
State to punish treason to the Church with death The Ee-
formers themselves held blasphemy to be a capital crime : a
dangerous admission when partisans had to define the precise
legal meaning of the term.
Archbishop Dunbar was an able and estimable man, though
neither liking nor liked by the Eeformers. It must not be sup-
posed that his failure in the pulpit arose from any want of cult-
ure. George Buchanan, one of the most resolute opponents of
his theology, has the candour to state than an evening spent in
converse with the archbishop was to be compared to supping
ambrosial nectar with the gods. Dunbar died about 1546.
Peace to his memory.
CHAPTEK XXI
PINKEY CLEUGH
A.D. 1544 to 1547
** Fight on, my men/* Sir Andrew said,
'* A little I'm hart, bnt not yett slaine,
I'll hot lye down and bleed awhile,
And then I'll rise and fight agane."
The rulers of Galloway — Pictish, Saxon, Norse alike — had from
the earliest times realised the advantage of free trade with
England, whilst the policy of the Scottish kings, finding expres-
sion in Acts of Parliament, was to restrict all communica-
tions across tfee Solway as much as possible. The Church party,
more concerned for orthodoxy than protection, alarmed at the
very whisper of a blood union between their princess royal and
a heretical prince, threw their whole influence into the scale of
breaking with the English and establishing the closest relations
with France.
In Galloway, however, so paramount was the importance
felt to be of a good understanding and free commerce with their
neighbours, that the staunchest Catholics joined hands with the
most advanced Reformers to promote the marriage between their
royal Mary and the heir-apparent to the English crown. For
this Lord Maxwell was not less keen than the young Laird of
Garlics. Divergence of opinion here had not yet been accentu-
ated by blows ; and religious matters seem really to have been
treated more calmly in this province than elsewhere.
Arran, the Eegent, though a Catholic, had sided with those
358 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1544
who called for refonn, till, suddenly alarmed at the free expres-
sion of opinions he had himself encouraged, he threw himself
into the arms of the reactionaries, and the union of interests on
either side of the Borders was postponed for many a long day.
The English negotiations were rudely broken off, and
Panther, Abbot of St Mary's Isle, sent to France to give effect
to the policy diametrically opposed to the interests of the
province in which he lived. The unwisdom of their rulers was
soon brought home to the nation at large when two avenging
columns, sent by King Henry, crossed the Borders, one of
which ravaged Galloway up to the gates of Panther's prioiy,
and laid Dumfries in ashes, while the second placed Edinburgh
under contribution, and applied the torch to the Palace of
Holyrood. This was indeed a national calamity, a mass of
public and private records being thus irretrievably lost — the
mischief all being due to the vacillations of Arran.
Many Galloway barons were now made to feel individually
the effects of Henry's wrath. All the prisoners of the Solway
Rout had received their liberty on the condition of promoting
the royal marriages, and had given hostages for its performance.
These were summoned to surrender themselves forthwith under
penalty of execution of the said hostages : no empty threat ;
Cassilis, who had lingered by the way, received a pitiable appeal
from his uncle and two brothers not further to neglect them.^
He returned at last ; and so favourably was the king impressed
with the young lord's sincerity that he immediately released the
^ His hostages were his uncle, Thomas Kennedy of the Ck>ifir, and his brothezs
David and Thomas. Their letter is as follows : —
"My Lords — We commende all oure services to yor Lop. quhon plesit to wit
yat we all comfortles doo complaine of oure miserable case, for wee arre chargit
for zor intrys — in all haste possible. For gif ze doo not, we sail sufere dethe and
yat ryt certly . . . My Lorde, remember quhat pane and sorrow we doo sufar —
tarying on yor coming in all possible hast, to have sowm comfort of zou, that ye
will relieve us and bring us out of yis great dyspayr.
(Signed) Thomas Eenydie, sometime Laird of Coiff.
David Kenedie of Carrick, ye ane.
Archibald Kynnidy.
Copie of L"- sent to the Erie of Cassils from his pledges, 164S. — Lodge's lUus-
trations, i. 46.
to 1 547] PINKEY CLEUGH 359
hostages, entertained them himself right royally, and allowed the
earl to return with his suite to the house of the Inch. Lord
Maxwell found himself in a more serious dilemma : literally
between the devil and the deep sea. He could not obey his
order of recall, because Arran had imprisoned him for his
importunity in advocating this same English marriage ; whilst
Henry, unaware of this, or discrediting it, issued orders to his
warden to take him dead or alive.
The warden ^ went to work with a will ; and when at last
Maxwell was released by Arran, Wharton bribed his hereditary
enemies, the Johnstons, to entrap him ; ^ and having him in his
power, in order to make him sign the surrender of Caerlaverock,
he treated him with scandalous severity.
Lord Hertford thus deprecatingly reports the matter to
secretary Paget :
" My Lord is in such a state of perplexity, he can neither eat,
drink, nor sleep."
In short, the unfortunate Lord Maxwell was tortured till,
" to effect his deliverance, he gave up his castle of Caerlaverock
to the English on the 28th October 1545."
Lord Wharton, however, had two to reckon with: old
Lochinvar, though wishing for good relations with the English,
had no idea of allowing them to become joint owners within the
marches. Summoning his numerous kin, among whom were
his nephew the shmff and Drumlanrig, he so closely beleaguered
Caerlaverock that Wharton with all his forces by sea and land
vainly endeavoured to relieve it; and, strange to say, the
Johnstons, who had not been unwilling to pocket English money
for making their hereditary opponent a prisoner, entirely dis-
^ In 1542 Lord Wharton was Governor of Carlisle, and in 1548, as Warden of
the Western Marches, defeated the Scottish invaders at Solway Moss, to the
numher of 15,000, himself only leading 800 men. — Lodge's Illustrations, i. 202.
He was ancestor of Philip, Duke of Wharton, at whose death in 1781 the
direct line became extinct.
' '' I have ordered Lard Johnson 800 crowns ; the Abbot of Selsid, his brother,
100 ; and to my special 100 crowns, if by his draught I may have in my hand
Robert Maxwell. I would be glad to trap him." — Lord Wharton to Lord
Shrewsbury, 10th February 1544. — Lodge's lUustnUions, i. 85.
360 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 5 44
approved of his fortaUce becoming an English garrison, and
came promptly to the rescue.
So strong was the fortalice that Lochinvar failed to storm it ;
but his Galloway troopers persistently investing it, the defenders
were starved out the following May.
It was then handed over to the Begent ; but he being now
satisfied of the loyalty of Maxwell, restored it to him, renewing
his commission of Warden of the Marches. Lord Maxwell only
survived the turn of his fortunes a few weeks, dying the 9th of
July 1646, leaving by his wife Janet Douglas of Drumlanrig a
son, Bobert, fifth Lord Maxwell The Johnstons were quite a
power west of the Nith, giving their name to the parish in which
stood the residence of their chief, the strong house of the Lock-
wood, whose decendants were Earls of Hartfell and Annandale.
The brother of the laird was abbot as well as commendator ;
and we find record of his dealings with the sheriff, in which he
grants him church lands in " kyndlie tenancy," which after the
Beformation were confirmed to the Agnews by the Crown in fee.
The original grant, shorn of tautology, runs as follows : " Us
James, by the permission of God, parson of Johnston, Com-
mendator of the Abbey of Soulseat, grants us to haif setten to
our lovit Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, Agnes Stewaxt his
spouse, and Patrick Agnew, sone and apparent heir to the said
Andrew, their heirs, executors, and assignees, a half of the
lands of old extent of Olbrick, lying in our barony of Drum-
mastoun, as it lyes in length and breid, in houses, biggings,
feylds, lesurs, pastures, moss, medow, and with common pasture,
and with all and sundry other commodities and purtenance
quhatsoever, far and neir, with power to the said sheriff, Agnes
Stewart his ladye, his son, and their heirs and executors, to input
and output cottrals and undersettera, who are to remove and
change as oft as shall be thocht expedient by the said Andrew
Agnew and Agnes Stewart, etc., for the sum of fyve marks,
good and usual money, at the usual terms of the year, in
equal portions. In witness thereof, we have appended the
common seal of our said abbey, together with our subscription
to 1547] PINKEY CLBUGH 361
manuals of us and our said convent, at the Abbey Saulset ye
xiii day of ye month of Februar, ye year of Gk)d 1543, before
Master Gilbert Johnston, Eoger Johnston, Andrew Agnew in
Kylstay, Sir Andrew Quhyit, Michael Murray."
The abbot and commendator as has been already mentioned
was taken prisoner at the Sol way Bout, and released on giving his
son and heir, James Johnston, as his pledge, and it is probable
that he was now disposing of Auldbreck to the sheriff^ to raise
the sum required to set him free.
In the Bambarroch charter-chest is a discharge, dated 1st
December 1456, " from Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, to
Johnne Waus, parson of Wigtown, of the sum of fyf pound usual
money, for the Martinmas maill of Culquhoic."
Master Johnne Waus had resigned his benefice the previous
year in favour of his kinsman Patrick, who being only fifteen
years of age, was allowed to perform hia duty by deputy, and to
travel to Paris to finish his education.
The young cleric, second son of John Vaus of Barnbarroch by
a daughter of Sir Simon M'CuUoch of Myrtoun, rose to consider-
able note as a Lord of Session, best known as Lord Bambarroch.
When appointed parson of Wigtown he was a schoolboy at Mussel-
burgh, whence he wrote a letter to his mother, interesting as a
specimen of family correspondence of the period, and also in proof
of our assertion that a greater freedom in religious discussion
seemed to have been then allowed in Galloway than elsewhere.
Here we find a boy allowed by parents of undoubted
orthodoxy to purchase a New Testament and to read it unre-
^ Olbrick, or Auldbreck as now written, falls readily into the Celtic AUt Breac,
" the troat stream," but the absence of a stream of any size, or of any trout,
rather tells against such an etymon, as also against the Saxon Old Bridge.
In a secondary sense, however, this may be the derivation ; the name
being a translation of Vetereponte, an old proprietor, circum 1190. Ivo de
Vetereponti granted the church of Great Sorby, which is adjacent, in pure alms,
to the abbot and monks of Dryburgh ; his charter being confirmed by Roland,
Lord of Galloway. Aygiston, corrupted from Inglestoun on these lands, was
probably one of his seats.
As an example of such derivations, which are unusual, we have Mold on the
Welsh borders, from de Monte Alto, a family name, oomipted in Galloway to
Mouat. And Buttevant in Ireland is derived from Boutez-en-avant, "push
forward," the war-cry of the Lord Barrimores, its former owners.
362 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY [a.D. 1544
proved ; moreover acknowledging the possession of a book, for
writing which its distinguished author, Buchanan, was in exile.^
Letter from Patrick Waus from School to his Mother,
3d January.
Most louing mother, eftir my hairtlie commendaciounnis, ye
sail vit that I am in good helth, praissit be God, vissing this
sam to yow and all youris. Ye sail vit that I am verie skant of
linine cloth of sarkis and aurlairis.^ I haine vrytin verie oft
to yow about them, and ye haine never send me ane anser. I
pray yow vat ^ ye vaild send me sum mo schankis, for them that
I haine vill be schone doina I mervell that ye send vs not out
the ssingill soUit schone, quhilk ye promissit to them out till vs.
Nocht ellis, bot commitis you to God ; and my most hairtlie
commendaciounis to yourself, and to my sisteris, the third day
of Januar. — ^Your loving sonne. Patrick Vaus,
To my loving mother this
Be derecit.
Letter by Patrick Waus written from School.
The count of the silver quhilk I haine receauit from Jhamis
Ghallmiris.
Item mair reseuit from Jhamis Ghallmiris xxiiij" for till bay
ane ovid. Item mair iiij pundis for till giue for iiij pair of
schoune, quhilk I gait or ever Vattie Scot fumishit me at your
avine command. Item mair receiuet xxx* for till bay ane boue *
the quhilk boue the tuteris sune brack hir befoir yor mother or
ever I cam out of the toune, and Jhamis Ghallmiris gaiue for
ane other xxx", and for vi arouis everi arroui iiij'. Item mair
receiuit xxxx'^ for till bay ane bait and ane string. Item mair
iij pundis for till bay thrie pair of bleue hois, quhilk I haid
nene quhiU I gait them. Item mar receauid xxxu^ for ane neu
^ Among his Decessary expenses he accounts for 288. "for ane silva.** This
was a treatise written by Buchanan circum 1536, satirising the FianciscanB, on
reading which Archbishop Beaton was so enraged that he compelled the anthor
to flee the country and remain in exile for twenty-four years.
« Neckcloths. » That. * Bow.
^^_«
to 1547] PINKEY CLEUGH 363
testament and ane sam buck. Item mair receuit xxiij" for ane
silva. Item mair receuid xviii" for the commenteris of ceser.
Item mair for ane salust xii^ Item mair for ane half dusane of
arouis ta me and sandiris x:x^
The soum xxix pundis.
The youth, it will be observed, expresses himself anxious to
have a pair of dress shoes. These, unlike riding-boots, were
supplied very sparingly to young ladies and gentlemen as
expensive luxuries : a story of which, — although the scene is
often shifted, — ^is usually associated with the house of Murray of
Broughton, Yaus's nearest neighbour, and amusingly illustrates
the diflSculty.
As the laird was standing about his doors one day, a
well-to-do neighbour, not in his premitre jeunesse, rode up,
unusually sprucely dressed, and answered the invitation, " Will
ye licht ? " by saying, " First ye shall hear my errand," which
was no less than to ask leave " to coort Miss Jean." The host,
looking rather sheepish, muttered something about Jean being
still owre young. " Just as ye please," retorted the fat buck,
and turned away in a hufiT. No sooner was he gone than
Murray rushed into his wife's room to tell the story. " Are ye
daft ? " roared the lady, ere he had half done ; " three lasses to
marry, and sma' tocher for one ! rin for your life, and ca' back
the laird." " But, my dear," interposed the husband, " hoo can
he see her the day ? Jeanie's shoon are at the mending. The
thought came across me as the laird was speaking, and I was
just dumfoundered." " Stufif," said the dame, " I'll gie her mine."
" And whatever will ye do yersel ? " " Do ? I'll just pull on your
boots, and let doon my lang petticoats ; now rin ! I'se warrant
ye he's no far ofif." The dame was right. Like his prototype
Cockpen, the big laird had "ridden cannily," and was easily
called back. Miss Jean received him smilingly, in her mother's
shoes ; little the old beau thought what the old lady had on ;
the young one did not say him nay, and Miss Jean's shoes came
back from the mending to be danced in at her bridal.
364 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 544
In the course of 1546, in answer to a petition from the
Abbot of Glenluce, the Lords of the Ck)uncil instructed the
sheriff to take possession of the abbey, and prevent Lord
Cassilis from occupying the precincts.
Of the circumstances of the abbot's quarrel with Lord
Cassilis we know nothing ; but the sherifif could only carry out
his instructions, in opposing his powerful neighbour, by calling
in his part-takers, amongst whom were the lairds of Lochinvar
and Gkirlies ; and the former, being already at feud with the
Kennedys, serious complications might have ensued. Lord
Cassilis in his turn complained ; and, with their usual vacilla-
tion, the Lords desired the sheriff to retire forthwith, and the
retreat was effected without any breach of the peace.
The official record of the transaction is somewhat involved :
"My Lord Governor, and Lords of Council, understand that
Gilbert, Erie of Cassilis, Baillie of the Abbey of Glenluce,
intending to hold a court upon the lands and lordship of Glen-
luce, and to that effect has made convocation of the lieges :
and that, on the uther part, Andrew Agnew, Sheriffe of Wig-
town, be assistance of the Laird of Lochinvar and others, his
friends, at command of my Lord Governor and Lords of Council,
has taken the place and Abbey of Glenluce, and holds the same,
tending to make convocation of their kin and friends; for
staunching of inconvenientis in the countrie, and for the wele
and quietness of the realm, it is ordained by the Lord Governor
and Lords of Council that the Sheriff of Wigtown shall remove
furth of the said abbey and place of Glenluce, and leave the
same void and red.
" And anent the supplication of the Eeverend Father in God
Gilter, Abbot of Glenluce, against Gilbert, Erie of Cassalis, John
M*Dowall of Garthland, William Adair of Kinhilt, Fergus
M'Dowall of Freuch, making mention wherein that to resist the
invasion of their place and abbey, Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of
Wigtown, at command of the Queen's letters, entered with
certain friendis and servants in the said place, and remaynit
thair quhill laytlie, it is ordained that the keeping of the said
to 1547] PINKEY CLEUGH 365
place shall cease simpliciter, and the invasion thereof be super-
seded quhiU the 8th day of July next to come." ^
Lochinvar, having readily come at his nephew's call to assist
him in his little difficulties at Glenluce^ we next find him calling
on the sheriff, and his other cadets and king, to strengthen his
hands in better defined operations in the marches. Lord Max-
well had provisioned and garrisoned his strong fortalice at
Lochmaben, and here the board was daily spread, to which all
old comrades were welcome, where schemes were discussed for
keeping the English in check, the tempting proposal being
added that they should try to recoup themselves for the ransoms
of the Sol way Eout.
Old Lochinvar entered heartily into the plans ; and where
such pastimes as tuilzying and moss-trooping, business and
pleasure blending, were in the wind, there was no difficulty in
attracting the daring spirits of the district.
Long details of these Border skirmishes are to be gathered
from the English archives; but as they are very wordy and
somewhat dry one specimen may suffice, in the form of a
letter from Lord Wharton to Lord Eure : *
" On Saturday last aforeday, John Maxwell, Lord Maxwell's
brother, the Laird Drumlangairt (Drumlanrig), the young Loch-
invar, and others of their garrison lying at Lochmaben, to the
number of a thousand men, assembled themselves at a place
called Tordofe, near to the water bank which divideth the realms,
and sent a hundred light horsemen in the daybreaking to
Glasson in England, and laid the rest in ambush at Tordofe.
But the watch descried and encountered them; there was a
sharp skirmish, and they have slain Watty Bell, and two or
three of their geldings, and taken one notable Borderer. Thanks
be to God, no damage done to any Englishman, except a geld-
ing slain under a servant of mine." — Carlisle, 14th June 1547.
More serious work, however, was in store for the Border
* Register of Privy CovmcUj L 8.
^ Sir William Eure, commander-in-chief 1542, created a baron 1544, was of
an ancient Northumbrian family. He had a son, Sir Ralph, killed in one of
these skirmishes with the party at Lochmaben.
366 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1544
chivalry who were thus enjoying themselves in Lord Maxwell's
halL "The Protector Somerset threatening the capital with
both an army and a fleet, the Scottish regent puts out the fyerie
crosse." ^
Bale-fires gleamed from Oriffel to the Knock of Luce;
sheriff and steward had peremptory orders to push forward the
Galloway levy forthwith, to join the great gathering encamped
on the banks of the Esk, where an impromptu Parliament
held at Monkton Hall, the 8th day of December, enacted as
follows : —
"The Lord Governor, noblemen, barons, freeholders, and
gentlemen, convened to pass forward for the defence of the
realm, in Parliament assembled, statute, devise, and ordain, that
gif it shall happen (as God forbid) that any lord, baron, or
freeholder be slain, that their heirs shall freely have their own
wards, reliefs, and marriages in their own hands, to be disponed
upon as they shall think convenient"
This Act passed, and a most important one it proved to be
to the families of many of those there present The host was
marshalled and manoeuvred in the presence of the enemy, with
the view to immediate battle.
The advantage seemed entirely with the Scots ; they repulsed
an onset of English horse with such heavy loss that Somerset
determined on sending a flag of truce to treat for peace. But
as he was on the point of sending his messenger, a bold flank
movement initiated by Angus, which would have completed his
discomfiture, was mistaken by the main part of the Scottish
army for a retreat ; and a want of central authority being the
vice of the Scottish military system, instead of maintaining
their ground and waiting for orders, small parties, each led by
local chiefs, rushed helter skelter to a furious but ill-directed
encounter, which occasioned the wildest confusion, and lost
them irreparably the advantages of their position.
Somerset instantly saw and took advantage of their mistake.
Becalling his flag of truce, he launched his serried ranks against
^ Balfour, i. 288.
to 1547] PINKBY CLEUGH 367
the broken groups of eager Scotchmen, each fighting for his
own hand. Discipline prevailed over iU-directed valour; the
Scots gave way before well-conducted charges em. masse, the
English following on, striking till their arms were tired of slay-
ing, quarter being seldom asked for or given.
Sad was the news which the few survivors of the Galloway
force carried back to their desolated homes. ''In the fallow
fields of Inveresk," writes an eye-witness, " the dead bodies lay
as thick as a man may notte cattell grazing in a full plenished
pasture." ^ There the Sheriff of Galloway met a soldier's death,
and near him lay his uncle, the Knight of Lochinvar, the Lairds
of Garthland and French, the Laird of Bennane and his son,
Vaux of Bambarroch, and George, Master of Angus.
Of the fifth sheriff's family we trace three sons : Patrick, his
heir; Gilbert, afterwards of Galdenoch; and Alexander of
Ardoch ; and a daughter, Helen, Lady of Torhouse.
By virtue of the last Parliamentary Act, at which he had
assisted on the eve of the battle, his eldest son was immediately
infefted in his lands and of&ces ; otherwise, being a minor, the
revenues of his estates would have been the perquisite for five
years of some needy courtier to whom would have been assigned
the nominal wardship.
On the 5th January 1548, George M'Culloch of Torhouse,
the late sheriff's son-in-law, acting as sheriff, in conjunction
with Gilbert Agnew of Croach, gave effect to a Crown mandate
ordering him to give heritable state and seisine to the youth,
dated 26th December preceding.*
George M'Culloch was grandson to Finlay M'CuUoch, a
^ Patten's Expedition,
^ Maria D.G.R.S. dilectis nostris Georgio M'CuUoch de TorhouBe, David
Grauford de Park, Gilberto Agnew de Groach, salutem. Quia per inquisitionem
de mandate nostro per yos factam ad capeUmn nostrum retornatam compertum
est quod Patricii Agnew latoris presentiam, obiit ultimo vestitus et sasitus, ut
feode ad paoem et fidem nostrum sub nostro yezillo in campo juxta Pynkecleuch
decimo die mensis Septembris ultimo elapsis de totis et integris, terram de
Lochnall, etc. £t de officiis vicecomitatis nostri de Wigtoun, Gonstabularie de
Lochnall et BaUise hereditarie de Leswalt.
Apud Edinburgh yicesimo die mensis Decembri anno regni nostri sexto.
368 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 547
witness at the second sheri£f's service. Torhouse at this time
comprised all the lands which a little later furnished out three
baronies : Torhouse M'Culloch, Torhouse M*Kie, and Torhouse
Mure. Upon his lands stood the famous standing-stones of
Torhouse, below which there is little doubt rest the ashes of
Gwallwc-ap-Lleenaug, the eponymous of his race. Gwallwc, " the
hawk of battle/' was, as mentioned before, not the King Galdus
of Boece, or the Galgacus (though the name is the same) who
confronted the Eomans, but the nephew of Caradoc (whence
Carrick in Ayrshire), who flourished in the sixth century — ^the
progenitor of the Galloway M'Cullochs. The mansion-house
was standing at the end of the seventeenth century.^
^ In Wigtown parish there are no considerable edifices, except Torhouse, situ-
ated on the north side of the Blendenoch, belonging to George M'Culloch ; not
far from whose house is a plain on which there is a monument of three large whin-
stones, called King Galdus's tomb, surmounted at about twenty paces distance
with nineteen considerable great stones, erected in a circumference. — Samson's
Large Description,
CHAPTER XXII
SIXTH HEBEDITARY SHERIFF
A.D. 1548 to 1569
The Pape, that Pagan full of pryd,
He has ns blinded lang ;
For where the blind the blind do guide,
No wonder both go wrang.
Spiriiual Songs*
The first judicial act of Patrick Agnew, now sixth hereditary
sheriff, was to preside at the service of Uchtred M'Dowall to
the baron of Garthland, who lay beside his father on the field
of Pinkey.^
The late laird had left two sons, and two daughters — Florence
and Helen — ^married to the Lairds of French and Logan, so that
the heads of the three principal branches of this ancient house
were all for the moment brothers.
The young sheriff was soon called upon to perform the more
serious duty of " summoning gatherings of armed men/' The
bale-fires announced the advance of the English, under Lord
Wharton, who, having driven Lord Maxwell out of the way
with great slaughter, had taken possession of Dumfries, whence
he summoned the towns westward to surrender. He sent for-
ward Sir Thomas Carleton, who, according to his own report,
" rode one night [in Febniary] for the town of Kircobree, and
coming there a little after sun-rising, they who saw us coming
^ Uchtred, John M'Dowall's son and heir, is retoured at Wigtown before
Patrick Agnew, the High Sheriff of the county, upon the last day of February
1548, as lawful heir to John M'Dowall of Garthland, slane at Pynkey Gleuch. —
Crawford's MSS.
VOL. I 2 B
370 HEREDITAEY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 548
barred their gates, and kept their dykes, for the town is dyked
on both sides with a gate to the westward/' so that he was
only able to invest it The Laird of Bomby presently issued
from his neighbouring stronghold, and took the English in the
rear, but was beat oflf; when suddenly, "west of Dee," they
observed, to use Carleton's words, "a well-appointed force of
Gkdloway folks " who had marched at speed from Wigtown with
the sheriff, whereupon Carleton thought it best for the present
to secure the booty he had taken : " about 2000 sheep, 200 kye,
40 or 50 horses, mares, and colts." So after showing a bold
front at the " difl&cult ford of the Dee " till after dark, he drew
off, and marched all night to Dumfries.^
The good folks of Eorkcudbright now opened their gates to
their succourers from the Shire, and joyfully filled the wassail
bowl for their reception. Though checked at Kirkcudbright,
Carleton surprised and took the Lockwood with great address.
He writes that, " learning that the Laird of Johnston, and his
brother the Abbot of Soulseat, were still detained in England,
he thought good to practise some way by which to get hold of
the castla It was a fair large tower, able to lodge all our com-
pany, with a barnekin,^ hall, kitchen, and stables, all within the
barnekin, and was kept but by two or three fellows and as
many wenches."
Timing his arrival for an hour before sunrise, he left the
bulk of his squadron outside. " Twelve men stole into the barne-
kin and took the wenches, the only persons in it, and kept them
close till daylight. Two men and a wench slept in the tower.
At dawn, one of the men, rising in his shirt, went to the tower
head, carefully scanned the horizon, and there being no one to
*
^ MSS. account of a foray into Scotland in Februaiy 1548. Reprinted in
Nicholson's and Bums's History of Scotland, Of this retreat, Carleton says : ** We
left our sheep and put our worst horsemen before the nowte and nags, and sent
thirty of the best horsemen to prick at the Scots if they should come over the
water at the forehead ford ; which the Scots perceiving, stayed. So we passed
quietly that night to Dumfries, leaving the goods in safety with a good watch.
Thus, with wiles, we beguiled the Scots."
^ Barbican, an advanced work before a castle gate, especially intended to
defend the drawbridge.
to 1559] SIXTH HEREDITARY SHERIFF 371
be seen, called to the woman who laid in the tower to rise
and open the tower door ; she so doing, and opening the iron
door and a wooden door without it, the men who lay concealed
rushed forward, but brak a little too soon ; for the wench, per-
ceiving them, leaped back into the tower, and almost got the
door closed to, when they got a hold of it, so that she should
not close it, and so we won the Lockwood."
Here he tells us they found good store of beef, meal, malt,
butter, and cheese, with luxurious quarters, and fortifications
which, when well manned, were almost impregnable ; and
Wharton, well pleased, named him Keeper of the Lockwood.
The laird of Bomby mentioned by Carleton was Sir Thomas
M'Glellan, son of the laird killed in the streets of Edinburgh by
old Lochinvar ; and he who was killed at Pinkey had left besides
his heir a second son William, who succeeded by remainder to
the lands of Penninghame in Wigtownshire ; and four daughters
— Helen, Lady M'Clellan ; Elatherine, married to M'CuUoch of
Cardoness; Margaret, Lady Douglas of Dmmlanrig (whose
grandson was created Earl of Queensberry) ; and Janet, who
shortly after this English foray married the young sheriff, and
became lady of Lochnaw,^ The laird of Bomby, Helen Gordon's
husband, in 1569 acquired the house and grounds of the Grey
Friars Monastery in Kirkcudbright, on the site of which he built
the castle, still picturesque in its ivy-clad ruins.
When we consider how clumsy and inefficient were the fire-
arms of the day, it provokes a smile to read that the baronage
of 1550 seriously complain that they ''can get no pastime,
hunting or hawking, by reason that the wylde beasts and wylde
fowls are exiled and banished by them that schuttes with guns."
Whereupon Parliament enacts that "whosoever of our
sovereign's lieges of whatever degree take upon hand to shoot a
deer, roe, or other wild beasts, or any wild fowls with half-hap,
^ 8d September 1550. Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, with consent of
John Donbar of Mochrom, one of his curators, settles on Joneta Gordon, sister
of John Qordon of Lochinvar, the lands of Salquhany on her viduity.
Witnesses : Gilbert Agnew of Groach, Patrick M'Giacken of Shachane, Malcolm
M*Culloch.
372 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 548
culverine^ or pistol, in ony times to come, shall incur the pains
of death, and confiscation of their goods. And whoever brings
such culprit to the sheriff of the shire shall have escheat of his
goods, and be otherwise rewarded as the sheriff may think fit" ^
As a rider to this the sheriff was to satisfy himself that the
poulterer did not sell game too dear ; a sumptuary law fixing
the prices as follows : " The crane, 5s. ; the swan, 5s. ; the wild
goose of the great breed, 2s.; the claik (barnacle), quink (golden-
eye), and rute (rude goose), Is. 6d. each ; the plover and small
moorfowl, 4d. ; the blackcock and gray hen, 6d. ; the dozen of
powtes, 12d.; the quhaip (curlew), 6d.; the cunning (rabbit), 2s.
till Shrove Tuesday, thenceforth. Is. ; the lapron, 2d. ; the wood-
cock, 4d. ; the dozen laverocks and other small birds, 4d. ; the
snipe and quailzie, 2d. ; the tame goose, 16 pennies ; the capon,
12d. ; the hen and poultry, 8d. ; the gryce (young pig, wild or
tame). Is. 6d."
A feud broke out in 1554 between the Lairds of (jrarlies and
Lochinvar ; as an episode in which Alexander Stewart, young
Laird of Garlics, accompanied by Michael M'Cracken, a burgess
of Wigtown, forgathered with Simon Gordon, a kinsman of
Lochinvar's, and killed him, wounding his servant also, in
revenge for which Lochinvar, with the laird of Barskeoch, Roger
Gordon, David Gordon of Marbreck, Eoger GU)rdon of Hardland,
Gilbert M'Dowall of Machermore, Patrick M'Kie of Larg, and
Eliseus Gordon, attacked and forced open M'Cracken's house in
Wigtown, gutting it, the owner flying for his life.
Both parties presented themselves for trial at a Justice Aire
in Kirkcudbright ; the Laird of Garthland becoming surety for
his son ; the Laird of Lochinvar's own recognisances being
accepted for the appearance of his part-takers to answer to the
charges " of hame sucken and searching for Michael M'Cracken
for his slaughter." ^
^ 4 Parliament, Queen Mary, chap. 9. By an Act, ISth June 1555, 6
Parliament, Queen Mary, chap. 51, there was this addition : " That na man
ryde or gang in their neighbour's com in haUdng or hunting fra the Feast of
Pasche, and that na pairtrich be taken unto the Feast of Michaelmas."
* Pitcaim, Criminal Trials^ 1554-55.
to 1559] SIXTH HEREDITARY SHERIFF 373
At the same court Sir James M'CuUoch is replegiated by
the Bishop of Whithorn for resetting, supplying, and intercom-
muning with Godfrey M'Culloch, rebels at the horn for the cruel
slaughter of Patrick Mure ; and Thomas M'Clellan of Bomby,
his brother, Godfrey M'Culloch of Ardwell, John M'Culloch of
Barholm, Ninian Glendonwin in Parton, Eichard M*Kie of
Myrtoun, and John Akinzean (M'Einnon) had already been
summoned to underlie the law as principals in the said slaughter,
the Laird of Lochinvar becoming surety.
Such was the feebleness of the Government, that at this very
date Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar, a party or principal in so
many disorders, was invested with a special commission as
Justiciary for Eastern Galloway ; apparently in illustration of
the adage, " Set a thief to catch a thief."
This year we find the sheriff in Edinburgh arranging a
settlement of two years' accounts ; not an agreeable process, as,
although a sheriff shared in the fi^es and dues which he hai t<;
coUect, he was often obliged perforce to give long credit to
neighbours, coin being very scarce ; and in this matter he seems
to have been helped by Master David Carnegie, a fact interesting to
note from the close connection afterwards formed between the two
fiEunilies. A formal deed was executed by the sheriff to this effect :
"Be it kend till all men, me, Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of
Wigtown, to be bound and straitly obliged to Master David
Camegy, Parson of KynnouU," who "has relieved me at the
hands of John, Archbishop of St. Andrews, treasurer for the
time, of the sums following : viz. £389 : 6 : 8, resting-owing by
me in my counts made in the Chekker-roUs, the year of God
1553, and of the whole sums contained in the Book of Bespondie
owing by me since making my said count unto the tenth day of
April 1554 years. Therefore I bind me, my heirs and assignees,
and with me John Dunbar of Mochrum and Alexander Stewart
of Garuleis, cautioners and sureties for me, conjointly and
severally, to pay to the said Master David £210 usual money of
Scotland, betwixt the day of the date hereof and the first day of
September nextocum, but longer delay.
374 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1548
" And if we fail in making thankful payment thereof at the
said term, I and my sureties oblige us to pay to the said Master
David the whole sum of £389 : 6 : 8, of which he has relieved
me at ye said Reverend Father^s hand.
"Provided always, that gif the said John, Archbishop of
St. Andrews, give any discharge subscribed with his hand after
the date hereof to any person of any part of the said sum of
£389 : 6 : 8, the same to be allowed to me, the said Patrick, as
for payment.
" I and my sureties subscribed this with our hands at Edin-
burgh, 6 February 1555 years."
David Carnegie was the second son of Sir Robert Carnegie
of Kinnaird. His acquaintance with the sheriff commenced from
his having been appointed a few months before, along with
Maxwell of Terregles, a commissioner to settle disputes upon
the Borders. Though titularly parson, he practised as a lawyer,
rose high in his profession, and served in various commissions
in matters affecting the Laws, the Church, and the Exchequer.
Freed by the Reformation from vows of celibacy, he married in
1560 Elizabeth Ramsay, heiress of Colluthie. Surviving his
elder brother Sir John, he succeeded to Kinnaird in 1595. His
first wife dying, he married Euphame, daughter of Sir John
Wemyss, and had by her four sons : David, created Earl of
Southesk ; John, created Earl of Northesk; Sir Robert Carnegie
of Dunnichen, Lour, and Auchterlony ; and Alexander, Laird of
Balnamoon — a most prosperous family truly.
A direct descendant of his, daughter of Sir James Cam^e,
and but for the attainder eighth Earl of Southesk, became the
wife of Sir Andrew Agnew, seventh Baronet of Lochnaw.
We read that in 1557 "the Queen Regent raisses a great armey
to invade England, and the nobility flatly refuses to invade it." ^
This refusal, which arose from reluctance to augment the
queen mother's powers, had its echo in Galloway, where several
lairds, prominently Stuart of Garlics and Dunbar of Mochrum,
were summoned to underlie the law " for abiding from a warden
^ Balfour, i. 808.
to 1559] SIXTH HERBDITAKY SHERIFF 375
raid summoned to convene at the Lochmaben Stane." In reply
they alleged '' that at the day of Trew, they raid to the water of
Annan, to have passed forward with the warden, but the water
was so great they might not ride it without danger of life."
Their plea was accepted.
Meanwhile the Protestant doctrines had been making great
progress in the west ; the Queen Dowager, ill advised by the
clergy, allowed the time to go by when reforms might have
strengthened the old Establishment.
As early as 1548 John M'Brair, a canon of Glenluce, having
embraced the reformed doctrines, attracted great attention as a
preacher. The see of Glasgow having remained vacant for
some years after the death of Dunbar, and Dury, Bishop of
Galloway (being also Abbot of Melrose) preferring residence at
Court to his house at Claire, evangelical doctrines were sown
broadcast in the province without check. Presently, however,
Hamilton, Bishop of St Andrews, making a progress in the
west, astounded at what he heard, instituted a vigorous search
for '' the Apostate Heresiarch," M'Brair, and at last tracked him
to Lord Ochiltree's,^ where, in spite of the owner's resistance^ he
was arrested and carried to Hamilton Castle. The archbishop,
however, was unable to retain his prisoner, his bolts being
forced and his victim rescued by *' John Lockhart of Barr, a
stout gentleman," who saw the preacher safely across the
Borders. The preachers had long been openly encouraged and
entertained in G^Uoway ; and no generous-minded baron, be he
Protestant or Catholic, cared to assist in the arrest of men who
had broken bread at their tables, well knowing that they would
be dragged before tribunals where they would get short shrift.
The Lords Cassilis, Glencaim, and Ochiltree; the Stewarts,
Gordons, Agnews, Kennedys, Dalrymples of Stair, and Chalmers
of Gradgirth, all interested themselves actively in the safety of
the Beformers, as was quickly shown. The Queen Dowager
allowed herself to be over-persuaded, against her better judgment,
1
I ^ Andrew, Lord Ochiltree, was a determined reformer. One of bis dangbters
I married John Enoz ; another Kennedy of Baigany.
376 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1548
by the bishops to summon all known preachers to Edinburgh;
they fondly supposing that they would thus place them on the
horns of a dilemma, either of running their heads into the noose,
or else by disobedience subjecting themselves to the pains of
outlawry. However, to the confusion of the Council, the
preachers obeyed, but attended by serried files of spearmen
under the leading of the western lairds, eloquent in jakkis.
The Council were dumfoundered. A doggerel rhjrme of the
Bishop of Galloway,^ who seems to have been a fimny fellow,
amused the bystanders so much as to have been thought worthy
of preservation ; when the arrival of their retinue was reported
in the Council Chamber, turning to the queen :
Madame ! because they are come without order,
I redeye send them to the Border.
Excellent advice, had the said lairds been amenable to dis-
cipline. Her majesty proved more equal to the situation than
her ministers, and tried soft words, saying according to an eye-
witness : " * My joys, my hearts, what aileth you ? * Whereupon
a bold man, James Chalmers of Gaidgyrth, upspake, * We know
that this is but the malice of thae jevells and (pointing to the
clerics) those idle bellies; they trouble our preachers, and
would murder both them and us !' 'My lords,' said the queen
to the bishops, * I forbid you to trouble these good men or their
preachers.' So she dismissed them with a good grace." ^
Archbishop Hamilton had to content himself for the loss of
M'Brair by burning Walter Mill, a heretic of much inferior note,
at St. Andrews, where he was still supreme ; though the good
people of the East Neuk showed much exasperation, and as a
mark of opinion closed every cellar door in the city so that the
executioners had much ado to find materials for the fire.
In Galloway, Bishop Dury bore himself more discreetly, and
no collision between churchmen and reformers is recorded
during this phase of the religious struggle in the province.
^ "The BUbop of Galloway, after his accastomed manner, said in rhyme to
the Queen " (as above).— Calderwood, i. 844.
' Galderwood, i. 845. " Jevell," a contemptuous term. — Jamieson.
to 1559] SIXTH HEREDITARY SHERIFF 377
The spirit of the period, however, showed itself in the com-
pilation and singing of grotesque and even ribald ballads, but
which were actually published under the title of "godly and
spiritual songs." Though not without humour, and himself a
wit, Dury must have been scandalised at hearing such verses
as these before an admiring crowd in contempt of the Pope :
His cardmals has cause to mourn,
His bishops are borne abacke,
His abbots gat an uncouth turn
When shavelings went to sacke.
With burgess wifes
They led their lifes,
And fare far better than we.
Hey tricks trim goe tricks under the greenwood tree.
Whilst, however, indignation was rightly directed against
the extortions, idleness, and immoralities of churchmen, the
Seformers were as yet far from grasping those ideas of tolerance
and Christian liberty which underlie the very name of Pro-
testant. If the Bomish clergy had been too lax on the score of
amusements, the Eeformers fell into the opposite extreme. Not
satisfied with insisting on the sanctity of the Sabbath, they
decried innocent diversions on every day of the week, and
dancing was held by them in such abhorrence, that had their
maxims been pushed to their logical conclusions, any one
taking the father for an example in the parable of the Prodigal
Son must have incurred Church censures.
Up to this time the fame of Bobin Hood had been celebrated
regularly in May, always upon a Sunday or saint's day. The whole
burgh populations in Galloway, as ebewhere, turned out to some
neighbouring field, two worshipful bailies being usually selected
as Bobin Hood and Little John, the most respectable citizens
joining as performers, when various scenes in the famous
outlaw's life were acted
Jack in the Green also arrived at the proper season ; and at
Christmas an Abbot of Unreason (the Scotch representative of
the English Lord of Misrule) appeared upon the scene and
played his part.
378 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1548
The reforming party might with great propriety have intro-
duced an act forbidding these diversions upon Sundays ; but in
place of this a law was drawn by which such amusements were
forbidden altogether, and sheriffs were strictly enjoined to see
that ** sic unprofitable sports be utterly cried down." Further,
that for the future " no manner of person be chosen Bobin Hude
nor Little John, nor Queens of May, the choosen of such to tine
their freedom for the space of five years, and be otherwise
punished at the queen's grace's will, and the acceptor of sic like
offices to be banished furth of the realm." Monstrous as this
appears, a clause appended was almost worse : " If any women
or others make perturbation for skaipie of money or otherwise,
they shall be taken, handled, and put upon the cuckstules."
Though these Acts were extorted from the Lords of the
Articles, the Beformers could not always command a majority.
Legislation took the form of a see-saw ; and another Act of the
same year, apparently in retaliation, forbids the eating flesh in
Lent and other days forbidden by the Church, under pain of con-
fiscation of the eater's goods, '' and gif the eaters has na guids,
their personis to be put in prison, there to remain for a year
and a day."
Lord CassiUs had been sent to France to attend Queen
Mary's marriage with the Dauphin, and was named a Lord of
the Bedchamber to Henry 11. of France in honour of the event.
But afterwards he and his colleagues greatly offended the French
king by opposing the giving of the crown matrimonial to the
royal bridegroom.
Cassilis and two other of these Scotch lords died at Dieppe
on the 18th of November 1558, as was generally suspected by
poison, suggested in all contemporary chronicles. But for the
credit of French hospitality it is pleasant to be able to state that
an affecting letter from the earl, written on his deathbed to
Lord Bambarroch, clearly contradicts the scandaL It ends
thus:
" Fair ye weil, off Dieppe this vii. of November. Item, ye
sail wit my fevir is callit the cotedicene. and hes bene thir ix.
to 1 5 59] SIXTH HEREDITAKY SHERIFF 379
dayis paist, quharbe I am groving sa walk that I dow do na
thing. — ^Youris, "Caissailus."^
The Earl left by Margaret, daughter of Alexander Kennedy
of Bargany, Gilbert, fourth earl; Sir Thomas Kennedy of
Culzean; Jean, married to Robert, Earl of Orkney; and
Katherine, married in 1574 to Lord Bambarroch as his second
wife.
Among the last acts of this amiable Earl of Casailis before
starting on his mission for France was, at the request of Sir
Patrick Agnew, acting along with Sir John Gordon in an
arbitration between members of the Adair family, to one of
which Sir Patrick was curator. The matter is of but trifling
importance, but plulologically interesting, as proving with
certainty the derivation of the name Adair to be from the
christian name Edgar rather than the Celtic ath darach " ford of
the oaks." The Adairs of Crichane and Kinhilt were of the
same stock, and of the cousins at this date we find the one
branch adhering* to the older spelling, whilst the other uses the
new.
"At Edinburgh, the 19 day of May, ye year of God 1557
years, we, Gilbert, Earl of Cassilis, Lord Kennedy, and John
Gordon of Lochinvar, judges, arbitrators, and amicabell com-
positors.
** Chosen betwixt an honourable man Patrick Agnew, Sheriff
of Wigtoun, for himself, and taking the burden upon him for
Margaret Edzear and Janet Edzear, dochteris lawful to Niniane
Edzear, son of Niniane Edzear of ye Creechane, on the one part,
and William Adair of Kinhilt for himself, and taking upon him
the burden for Quinten Edzear, son of the said Ninian elder, on
the uyr parte, anent the tocher to be given by the said William
and Quenteni to the said Margaret and Janet
''Dearce, deliver, and for final sentence arbitrall, decern,
and ordain ye 2d William and Quenteni to pay and thankfully
deliver to the 2d Margaret the Sum of 200 merks in manner
following : 100 merks at Whitsunday next the time after she
^ Corretpondevice of Sir Pairiek Watts, p. 12.
380 HEREDITART SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1548
have completed the bond pf matrimony with any man of
possession, and 100 merks at the feast of Martinmas therafter.
''In witness whereof we have subscribed this our decreet
arbitrall with our hands, day, year, and place foresaid, before
these witnesses : Alexr. Stewart of Garleis, Hew Kennedy of
Drummellan, Hew Kennedy of Barquhinny."
In 1558 Bishop Dury died, and was succeeded by Alexander
(rordon, son of the Master, and brother of the fourth Earl of
Huntly. He was titular Archbishop of Athens, and subse-
quently embraced Protestantism, but, rightly or wrongly, was
never thought veiy earnest in the matter.
The queen regent died the following year, and Mary and
Francis summoned a Convention of Estates, which met in
August 1560, in which the Beformers being in a majority
adopted a Protestant confession of faith. In this Parliament
there sat the EarU of Cassilis and Glencaim, the Master of
Maxwell, the Lairds of Lochinvar and Garlies, and the Bishop
of Galloway.
Unsettled as was the state of society, we find the good folk
of Wigtown embarking in commercial enterprise with a spirit
they hardly maintain at the present day.
Certain burgesses having entered into copartneiy to supply
their fellow-townsmen with wines, spices, laces, furs, and other
luxuries, every possible restriction was in these days placed on
trade, and these good folk could not get the required authorisa-
tion until the Laird of Lochinvar became bound, under a penalty
of £1000, that they would allow no rebels to the sovereign
authority to purchase any of their good things. How they
were to discriminate loyal from disloyal persons under the cir-
cumstances of the period would have sorely puzzled the wisest
heads; as the Laird of Lochinvar himself, who was their
security, and the sheriff who had to certify to the bond, were
alike members of the '' Congregation," in direct antagonism to
the religion of the regent.^
^ The bond bears as foUows : —
" Forasmuch as the Regent has granted to Patrick M'Blane, John H'Cracken,
to 1559] SIXTH HEREDITARY SHERIFF 381
Alexander Hannay, John Hannay, William Gordon, John M'Allenay, and John
Wans, a passport and testimonial that they are true and ohedient subjects to our
sovereign lord and lady, and sua may saiflie pass to ye ports of France, and use
leiiful trafect and business, but truble or impediment: Therefore we, John
Gordon of Lochinvar, becomes caution and security for the said persons, that
they shall bring their goods and merchandize, which they shall happen to bring
furth of the realm of France, to the port and haven of Wigtown, so that our
sovereign lord and lady's true and obedient subjects shall be furnished y^S
and that the said persons shall not change nor trafect any of their goods with
any persons that have rebelled against our sovereign's authority. Obliging me
and my heirs, yat gif the said persons doiss in ye contrar of ye premiss, to pay to
the said princes the sum of £1000 money of this realm.
*' Before Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown :
** Master Robert Stewart and John Stewart, witnesses
"At Edinburgh, 13th Jan. 1559. Sic. Subr. LOCHINVAR."
CHAPTER XXIII
THE KING OF CARRIGE
A.D. 1659 to 1570
The Gordon, Hay, and brave Agnew,
Three knights of high degree,
Unto the ladye courting came.
All for her fair beantie.
Although Lord Cassilis was considered a Protestant in the
Parliament of 1560, he had not decidedly declared himself for
the Congregation. It was a great object with the Court party
to gain him ; and among the last acts of the queen regent was
the absurd though not uncommon one of granting an exemption
from the jurisdiction of the Sheriff Principal of Galloway, which
was as follows :
An Exempt for the Earl of Cassilis and his Dependents
FROM THE Sheriff of Wigtown.
" We, understanding that thair standis sum variance, discord,
and unkyndness, betwix oure cousing, Gilbert, Earl of Cassilis,
his kin, friendis, and servandis on that ane part ; and our Schiref
of Wigtoun, his kin, friendis, and servandis on that uther part,
quhairthrow he and his Deputtes may be na jugeis competent to
thame in ony action concerning thame : Therefore, We, for
eschewing of grettare inconvenienttis, be thir presentis exemes
our said cousin, his kin, friends, allies, tenants, servants, and par-
takers fra our said Schiref and his Deputes, thair jurisdiction,
office, and power, anent any action concerning them als weill
A.D. ISS9-IS70] THE KING OF CARRICK 383
criminal as civil in time coming induring our will; charging
therefore our sfdd Schiref and his Deputes that they desist and
cease fra all calling, persewing, or proceding upon any action
concerning our said cousin, his kin, friends, allies, tenants, ser-
vants or part-takers either criminal or civile in time coming ay
and quhill they have command of us in the contrair ; discharging
them utherwayes of all proceedings thairintill, and of their
offices in that part during the said space, notwithstanding any
commission of justiciar given or to be given by us in the contrail
to our Schiref ; anent the quhilk we dispense in so far as con-
cerns the premises by thir presents, given under our signet, and
subscrivit by our dearest mother Marie, queue dowriare and
regent of our realm. At Edinburgh, to the yeir of God one
thousand fyve hundred and fifty-nyne years, and of our reign
the 2d and 18th years. Mabie K" '
A copy of this found its way into the Bambarroch charter-
chest, on which the accomplished editor of his ancestor's corre-
spondence pertinently remarks : " Sir Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw
was the representative of the royal authority, but being seemingly
at feud with the earl, the regent says that he and his deputies
would not be competent judges in actions between them." ^ The
absurdity is even greater than appears on the surface: the
** discord " was prospective ; the earl had as yet not even been
served heir to his father of happy memory, who moreover had
not left him a single feud to inherit
As there is little on record creditable to the fourth earl, it
is pleasant at least to find that he was a better son than a
neighbour ; and we quote the details of the ample provision he
made for his mother, which is interesting as bearing on the
social habits of the period.^
On the 29th August 1559 he assigned her "the place of
Cassalis, with garden and orchard, and yearly for her life 110
bolls meal, 52 bolls bear, 115 marks money, 89 capons, 36
^ Correspondence of Lord Sambarroeh, p. 16,
' He was under age when he made the provision quoted in the text. He
was served heir 16th Octoher 1562. — Charter Hiatory of Kennedys, p. 88.
384 HEREDITAEY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1559
salmon (and the yearly rent of various holdings), 111 tnilTr
ewes, 77 yeld ewes, 108 wedders, 40 gimmers, 40 dinmonts,^
11 old goats, 2 kids, 114 head nolt in the Forest of Buchan, 16
nicol cows and as many calves, 77 farrow and 9 yeld cows, 5
three-year-old cows, 22 old oxen, 2 bulls, 6 three-year-old oxen,
2 bulls, 5 two-year-old oxen, 11 queys, 9 stirks (during her
life), a silver basin and a laver, a double gilt cup of silver, 2
cases of silver, the one gilt the other ungilt, a gilt macer, 2
silver trenchers with two little salt fatts, 12 silver spoons, a
silver salt fatt, a black velvet bed with curtains black damask,
4 pieces of tapestry, 4 feather beds and their bolsters, etc.
Eatified on 5th Nov. 1559 by Quentin Kennedy, Abbot of
Crossraguel, Sir Hugh Kennedy of Girvan Mains, David Kennedy
of Culzean, and Mr. Thomas Hay, pastor of Spynie, the earl's
curators."
Quentin Kennedy, the earl's uncle, was one of the few
Church dignitaries of the day who could preach : a man of parts
and learning, even by the Protestant chroniclers admitted t^
be "ane guid man cuad ane that feared God after the manner of
his religion."
In 1562, when the opposing parties were nearly evenly
balanced, Quentin Kennedy challenged John Knox to an open
discussion as to the doctrine of the Mass, "Which," says
Calderwood, " was granted, and held at Mynibole * three days ;
the abbot undertook to prove that Melchizedek offered bread
and wine," and adds, " he could adduce no proffe." Most un-
biassed persons would now admit that Kennedy was right,
though he naturally failed to convince a west country audience
that the Mass as then celebrated was the necessary outcome of
that act of patriarchal worship. Both parties were satisfied with
their champions : the Boman Catholics permanently so ; and
Quentin Kennedy has since been canonised.
Notwithstanding the blandishments of the queen dowager.
1 Gimmer, a ewe two years old. Dinmont, a wether in the second year.
' Calderwood, ii. 203. The old form Mynibole points to the derivation
moine-buaile, ^' moor of the dairy place.'
t>
to 1570] THE KING OF CARRICK 385
Earl Gilbert, persuaded, it was said, by his young wife, Margaret,
daughter of Lord Glammis, declared himself a Protestant. Un*
fortunately he did not adorn the doctrine he professed.
By a letter dated at Amboise, 25th March 1559, the young
Queen Mary and her husband Francis had asked Cardinal
Sermoneta to confirm Thomas Hay (second son of Hay of
Dalgety, a cadet of the Errols) as Abbot of Glenluce ; as also
an annuity of £100 out of the revenues of the abbey to Mr.
Patrick Vaus. Both were conceded. This Abbot was the pro-
genitor of the Hays of Park.
In 1562, for a matter unexplained, we find Patrick Agnew,
Sheriff of Galloway ; John Gordon of Lochinvar, Finlay Camp-
bell of Corswall, William Adair of Kynhilt, Master Patrick
Vaus, Parson of Wigtown ; John Gordon of Barskeoch, Matthew
Campbell, Sheriff of Ayr ; and Hugh Kennedy, " fader-brother "
to the Earl of Cassilis, denounced for not appearing as witnesses
before the Council when summoned. In 1563 Queen Mary
married secondly her cousin Lord Darnley, who, with his father,
the Earl of Lennox, had a common ancestor with the Stewarts
of Garlics ; Sir Alexander (of Garlics) and his son being both
present at the marriage, the latter being one of the fourteen
knighted on the occasion. Sir Alexander was presented with a
snuflP-box, still preserved at Galloway House, inscribed : " The
gift of Henry, Lord Darnley, to his cousin Sir Alexander Stewart
of Garlies."
The close connection of the Garlics Stewarts with the king
consort accounts for their having, alone among their Galloway
neighbours, remained unsoftened to Mary during her subsequent
troubles.
During twenty years preceding these times, many men of
blameless life had been cruelly sacrificed for endeavouring to
bring the Church practice to the touchstone of the Bible. When,
therefore, the reforming party became masters of the situation,
they would have been more than human had they accorded
their opponents that fuU toleration which Catholics themselves
denounced as wrong. Consequently we find, in 1563, the Bishop
VOL. I 2 c
386 HEREDITAEY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1559
of St. Andrews arraigned for '' saying and hearing Mass/' and
forty-seven others charged with attempts to restore Popery.
The Kennedys of Culzean and Barquhanny were charged with
coming with two hundred persons "bodin in fear of weir" to
the parish church of Kirkoswald. And Malcolm Fleming, Com-
mendator of Whithorn, Sirs the Keverend Thomas Montgomery
and William Tailzefeir, had to underlie the law "for indecently
and irreverently abusing the Sacrament of our Lord's body
and blood, in contravention of our Sovereign Lady's procla-
mation."
The Lords of Assize were Andrew Stewart, Lord Ochiltree,
Maxwell of Terregles, the Laird of Lochinvar, the Sheriff of Gal-
loway, Dunbar of Mochrum, Dunbar of Baldoon, and four other
lairds of Ayrshire ; the doom pronounced being that the two
Kennedys be put in ward in Edinburgh Castle, and the Whit-
horn churchmen in the Castle of Stirling, there to remain during
the pleasure of the queen.^
When the government was taken out of Mary's hands the
regent courted the co-operation of the Galloway baronage.
They were frequently summoned for assistance and consultation ;
thus we find in 1567, letters ordered to be directed severally "to
Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown ; John Gordon of Lochinvar,
Thomas M'Clellan of Bomby, John Gordon of Ardes, Alexander
Gordon of Troqueer, William Gordon of Craighlaw, and Michael,
Lord Carlisle, desiring them to appear before my Lord Begent,
be the 6th day of October next to come, to give their advice
and judgement anent the establishment of universaU justice and
goodness within the bounds of the said marches, and for remeid
of divers disorders and disobediences committed by the in-
habiters of the west country." *
We mentioned the enterprise of certain merchant burgesses
of Wigtown in trading to France : it seems greater dangers
attended much shorter voyages. The sheriff was obliged to
address a remonstrance to the English government, praying
''that compensation and redress be made to WiUiam Wauss,
^ Fitcaim. ' Privy Council R^;i8ter.
to 1570] THE KING OP CAKRICK 387
John Martin, and William Gordon, merchants of Wigtown,
whose ships had been seized and spoiled by Shane O'Neil and
others in Ireland." Also " for a cargo plundered in the harbour
of Carlingford by the said Shane and Ferdonagh Macgenis."
The good Queen Bess graciously acknowledged receipt of the
petition, which she desired her Lord Justice to reply to and
remedy. It is calendared in the State Paper Office, " The com-
plaint of certain merchant burgesses of Wigtown, commanding
Sir Thomas Cusacke to deal in the matter," dated 9th January
1595.
When Mary was deposed on her marriage with Bothwell,
the Galloway baronage generally signed the bond, recognising
the prince as king. But when the beautiful queen effected her
escape from Lochleven Castle, most of these same lairds donned
her colours, the Stewarts of Garlics, Dunbars, and M'Kies only
excepted. In the east, Lords Herries and Maxwell, the Abbot
of Dundrennan, Lochinvar, M'Clellan of Bomby, the Laird of
Drumlanrig ; in the west, the Sheriff, the Bishop, the Abbots of
Soulseat and Glenluce, Baillie of Dunragit, Patrick Yaux,
M'CuUoch, Gordon of Craighlaw, and many Kennedys, flocked
to the queen's standard. Cassilis was there, and shook hands
with Lochinvar ; and Lord Fleming as cordially fraternised with
the Sheriff, who had so lately thinned his breeding stock in the
church lands of Cruggleton.
The queen's partisans outnumbered the king's ; but so hot-
headed were the Galloway knights, that in their haste to break
a lance for their fair mistress, they joined battle without order
or concert on the 13th May 1568, and were totally defeated.
An amusing incident of the retreat shows that the instinct
to appropriate their neighbour's horse was as strong in the true
Gallovidian as in the days of the Black Douglas. When the
Galloway spearmen saw that the battle was lost, with great
presence of mind passing quickly to the rear, they remounted
themselves on the pick of the spare horses of the other divisions,
and thus easily distanced their pursuers, among whom were
many of their former allies, who joined their opponents in the
388 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1559
useless chase.^ "With these they furnished a bodyguard, which,
headed by Lord Hemes, accompanied Mary in a rapid flight to
Dundrennan;* whence she crossed the Solway, to return no
more to Scotland.
Their adherence to the losing side proved a serious matter to
the Galwegians. The following year the Eegent Murray entered
the province from the eastward, and easily took Dumfries ; but
Lochinvar refusing to yield, he burned Kenmore Castle to the
ground. Fortunately for the Wigtownshire barons the regent's
army fell short of supplies, and instead of advancing turned
backwards and lived at free quarters on the lands of the Max-
wells and Drumlanrig.
A fiery summons, however, was issued, ordering them all to
come in and make their submission, which appears to have been
unattended to in the first instance, and reissued by Lennox two
years later. The summons is dated 1569, but endorsed " The
charge of Lennox upon certain barons and gentlemen in Gal-
loway, 1571." * It was as follows :
" James, by the grace of God, with advice and consent of our
dearest cousin, our regent, — ^We charge straitly Patrick Agnew,
Sheriflf of Galloway; Hugh Kennedy of Chappell, Master Patrick
Vaux of Bambarroch, Thomas Baillie of Little Dunraggit,
Andrew Bailzie of Dunraggit, Alexander Gordon of Craighlaw,
Thomas Hay, Abbot of Glenluce ; Archibald Kennedy of
Sinnyness, William Kennedy, M'CuUoch of Ardwell, M'Cul-
loch of Kelleser, to compeer personally before our dearest
goodsir and Eegent, upon the 20th of March inst., at Ayr,
to answer such things as shall be laid to their charge, under
the pain of tresson ; with certification to any of them gif
they failzie, ye said day being by-past, they shall be repute,
halden, esteemit, demesnit, and pursuit with fire and sword, as
^ If there happens to be any chase, either fleeing or following, whoever he be
that takes his fellow's horse, and does not as soon as he comes back deliver it to
the sheriff, he shall be treated as a traitor. — Douglas's Border Ordinances, No. 5.
^ She, seeing herself deprived of the day, fleies with the Master of Maxwell
and his companey of Galloway men quho escaped on their fellows' horsses that
had endured the brunt of. the battell. — Balfour, i. 344.
« State Paper Office.
to 1570] THE KING OF CARRICK 389
traitors and enemies to God, ns theit sovereign, and their native
countrie."
The day after the arrival of Mary and her attendants at
Carlisle she wrote to CassUis, pleased with her reception, and
blissfully ignorant of her future fata The letter is in the Culzean
charter-chest,. and we believe has never before been published:
" Traist Cusing, — ^Forsamekle as I for the salftie of my bodie
findand na suir acces nor place within my realme to retire me at
this tyme, as ye may knaw, I was constraignit to leve the samin
and to pas in this cuntrey of Ingland, quhair I assuir yow I
have bene Bycht weill Bessauit and honorablie accompaigned
and traicted. I have deliberit to pas fortherward in France
to pray the King my gude broder to support and help me to
delyuer and Eeleue my Eealme of sic Eebelliouis troublis and
oppressionis that now regnis within the samin, and to depart
furth of this toun the xxiiij day of this Instant moneth, Thair-
fore I pray you eflfectuouslie traist cusing that ye in the
menetjrme hald yourself constant in my seruice and aduerteiss
your freinds and neighbouris to do the samin, and to be in
readienes to serue me quhan the occatioun sail offer as ye have
done trewlie afoir this tyme, Speciallie at the last battall quhair
(as I am adwerteist) ye have done Bycht weill your deuoir, ye
beand on your featis quhilk sail nocht be forgit be me in tyme
coming. With the help of God I houp to returne agane about
the XV day of August nixt with gud company for the effect fore-
said God willing. This I beleve ye will do as my traist is and
wes ay in you, And for to mak ane end of my bill I will com-
mit you to the protectioun of the eternall God. AT Carlell
the XX day of Maij 1568. Marie R
" I pray you my lord excuss this stamp because the quene
hes na uthir at this tyme.
" To my lord Erie of Cassilis."
The queen from her English prison sent Lord Bambarroch
"a grant of the escheat of Alexander M'Kie, because of his
assisting James, Earl of Moray, in the downcasting of Loch-
390 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 5 59
invar's place of Kenmure." This, of course, firom the circum-
staDces, was inoperative.
The "unlaw" of this period was much aggravated by the
fact that whilst the government was carried on in the name of
James YI., Mary's partisans were the most influential in Gal-
loway, where, the Sheriff himself being a " queen's man," the
" king's men " ran riot. Gradually the former opened their eyes
to the hoplessness of Mary's cause, and made their submissions
to the regent ; but great had been the complications when the
royal authority was thus in abeyanca Official documents sug-
gest situations which would seem extravagant in pages of fiction.
Sir Alexander M'Kie of Myrtoun was a " king's man," and
having insufficient provision for a second son, saw his way of
setting him up at the expense of a partisan of the queen's.
Alexander Vaux, when killed at Pinkey, had left as his
heiress an infant daughter, Helen, who was brought up by her
uncle Patrick (the future Lord of Session), who was out for the
queen, leaving his wife and ward in his house of Carscreugh.
M'Kie formed the bold plan of seizing this infant heiress
and marrying her to his son. It is evident that he secured some
assistance through political partisanship, from the fact that the
Stewarts of Grarlies, the Dunbars, and the Johnstons, the only
" king's men " of note in the west, were proved to have been alone
cognisant of his intentions.^
Under silence of night, on 31st July 1568, a band of M'Kies
forced an entrance into Carscreugh, and, despite the elder
lady's tears, not only robbed her of her charge, but deliberately
plundered the place and premises, carrying away jewellery, orna-
ments, the family plate, a large sum of money, and the title-deeds.
For this they were formally put to the horn on the 11th of
August; but the whole machinery of law was out of gear, and no
arrest was made.
^ Mr. Vans Agnew tells us that the plotting was suspected, and a letter
written to put Patrick Vans on his guard ; also that Alexander Stewart younger
of Qarlies, a week after the oatrage was oommitted, wrote that he had been told
that his own fother and the Laird of Mochrom were both privy to M'Eie's
enterprise. — Bambarroch's Cforregpondenee, 47.
to 1570] THE KING OF CARRICK 391
It should be premised that immediately after her father's
death the gift of Helen's wardship and marriage had been
granted to Sir John Bellenden/ the Lord- Justice Clerk, so that
the aggrieved parties seemed to have unusual facilities for
bringing the outrage to the knowledge of the government.
Nevertheless much delay followed the homing, and it was not
for several weeks that the regent despatched special messengers
to the sheriffs of Ayr, Galloway, and Dumfries, with warrants
for the arrest of the abductors. That to Sir Patrick Agnew is
as follows :
" Forsamekle as it is shewn to us that Sir Archibald M'Eie
of Myrtoun M'Kie, Patrick M'Kie his brother, Duncan M'Kie,
burgess of Quhithom; John M'Elie, son to Isabel Mure, in
Torhouse ; Sandy M'Eie (ai^d other household servants named)^
in maist awful and cruel manner assieged Mr. Patrick Waus's
dwelling-place of Garscreugh in his absence, his wyf and his pupill
Helene, with convocation of Lieges bodin in fear of weir, and
thereafter perforce broke up the doors thereof, and maisterful
reft and ravished; the said Helene being under the age of eleven
years ; had her away with them, and yet uses her in thraldom
and captivity at their pleasure ; and also theftuously by way
of stouthrief, under silence of night, away took furth of his
coffers in gold and silver marks the sum of 8000 marks, together
with gold and silver work, jewels, and others, to the value of
£3000 ; and since they, denounced as rebels and put to the horn,
yet haunts, frequents, and repairs within the said town of
Wigtown, and resorts to kirks and markets, we charge you
straitly thir our letters sene, to search, seek, and take them
wherever they may be apprehended; and gif any of them pass to
strengths and houses to lay siege thereto, and gif they refuse to
be taken, or on taking happen slaine, our sheriffs shall not incur
danger nor skaith in their persons or goods : And we charge all
barronns, gentlemen, and freeholders to assist our said Sheriff of
Wigtown and his deputes, under pain to be called assisters in
rebellion, as will answer to us thereupon. At Edinburgh from
under our signet 7th Sept. 1568."
392 HEfiEDITARY SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. I 5 59
A proclamation was consequently made fiX)m the market
cross at Wigtown, warning all the lieges neither to buy, advance
money or goods on, or assist in concealing or disposing of, any
of the spoils of Carscreugh ; but long before this was read the
prize for which the M'Kies had risked their heads was far
beyond the sheriff's jurisdiction. Helen was where sheriff-
sergeants would find it difficult to follow — in the Johnston's
stronghold of the Lockwood. Here the ceremony of marriage
between the frightened child and the needy cadet had been
gone through before an assembly of persons in good position,
not one of whom seems to have protested.
Now what action did my Lord Justice-Clerk take when he
heard of this abduction of his ward, whom, if legally entitled
to fatten on, he might at least have been expected to protect ?
Outrunning the regent's messengers, penetrating with soft
words or a silver key the defences of the stronghold which sets
all sheriffs' officei's at defiance, a limb of the law in his lord-
ship's interest found his way into the inmost recesses of the
ladies' bower, and there, before a family circle of Johnstons and
M'Kies (who were laughing in their sleeves), as if the Lockwood
was her usual home, and ignoring the fact of the marriage, with
perfect gravity he stated that the Lord Justice-Clerk, solicitous
for the comfort of his ward, had sent him to offer her the choice
of four elder sons of good family in marriage, namely those of
the Sheriff of Galloway, the Laird of Garthland, M'Culloch of
Myrtoun, and M*Culloch of Killeser. The sheriff's son was not
of marriageable age; whether the others were so or not we
cannot tell. Helen was no longer free to choose; but for this he
little cared, having thus publicly, and evidently by preconcerted
arrangement, made the above proposal, following it forthwith
with a protest as follows :
" Ane honourable man, James M'Clellan of the Nuntown,
procurator to ane noble man Sir John Bellendon of Auchinoule,
having offered the said Helene to choose whether she would
marry one of the four persons stated, equal to her in living and
blood, and of the quhilks personis the said Helene refusit to
r
to 1570] THE KING OF CARRICK 393
tak ony of them in marriage, wherefore the said M'Clellan
cledms for the said nobleman the double and treble of the avail
of marriage. This done at the Lockwood, about 12 hours of
noon, 6th day of Sept 1658, before thir honourable men:
John Johnston of that ilk, James Johnston of Cony, John
Johnston of Gretno, David Johnston in the Clairquhite, Herbert
Johnston, servant to Mr. Patrick Waux of Cascrew." ^
The whole affair is scandalous. Sir John Bellenden must
have been aware of the impossibility of Helen's compliance ;
moreover, though he was Lord President of the Council, the
M'Kies were never brought to justice.
Shortly after Alexander M'Eie, in whose interest the crime
had been committed, wrote to the uncle apologising and offer-
ing to make terms. This Patrick Yaux seems to have thought
it best to do. The marriage was acknowledged, and 8350 marks
given by the guardian as his niece's tocher.
The one redeeming feature in the case is that the M'Kies
seem to have used the young lady well, and that her married
life was happier than her rough wooing might have led her to
expect.
The charter-chest discloses another act of turbulence in the
province resulting from the issue of Langside.
Lord Fleming, the great Chamberledn of Scotland, had by
a grants dated 1567, received a gift of the rents of the Priory
of Whithorn, including the lands of Cruggleton, either in co-
partnery with, or on the forfeiture of, Malcolm Fleming, the
former commendator. But after the queen's defeat the regent's
half brother, Bobert Stewart (afterwards Earl of Orkney), super-
^ Some recoUection of this strange incident seems reflected in a genuine old
Galloway ballad. Carscrengh is altered to Craignarget, and there are other
changes in the names. One of these couplets heads the present chapter ; the next
was as follows : —
" Which of these men," they asked her then,
" That should her husband be " ;
Bnt Bcomftilly she did reply,
" 111 wed nane of the three."
With scorn and pride she answer made,
" You'll ne'er chooee one for me,
Nor will I wed against my mind
For all their high degree."
(At fall in Sharpe'B rare BaJka Book,)
394 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AJX 1 5 59
seded both as Commendator of WhithoriL The Flemings
refused to give np the abbey lands ; and Lord Fleming, mnster-
iog his forces, marched off to maintain his preteDsiona The
sheriff on being appealed to sided with Lord Bobert Stewart,
and exercising his functions in a style worthy of his great-
grandfather, swooped down on the pastures of Croggleton, and
swept off the whole of Fleming^s stock upon the disputed lands.^
The r^ent had already written to Bambairoch : *' Traist
friend . . . We understand that certane fntemen and horsemen
ar presentlie cum in Galloway, direct be the Lord Flemyngis,
quhilkis intendis or ar alreddy assegeing the hous of Cmgiltoun,
pertening to our brother the Commendator of Quhithoma
. . . We pray you therefore maist effectuusly, as ye will euir
schaw us plesser and guidwill, that with all possible diligence
ye convene your kin, freindis, seruandis, . . . and releve our
said brother of the said assege, and persew the authouris thairof
with all hostilitie. — ^At Edinburgh, the xxiij of Aprile 1569. —
In traist your assurit freind, James, Begent.^
Lord Fleming raised the siege, leaving Ins kinsman Malcolm
in the sheriff's hands.
Lord Bobert Stewart (a natural son of James Y.) was
connected with Galloway by his marriage with Lady Janet
Kennedy, daughter of the third (good) Earl of Gassilis. He
greatly profited by the temporalities of the Church, being Com-
mendator of Holyrood as well as of Whithorn, exchanging some
of these with great advantage for those of the Bishopric of
Orkney. He was created Earl of Orkney 1581, still drawing an
income from Galloway, as in the Great Seal Begister there is a
letter of provision to Patrick Stewart, fifth son of Bobert Earl of
Orkney, from the Priory of Whithorn. His half-brother the
Begent Murray was murdered 21st January 1570, and succeeded
^ In a testament-datire of Malcolm, Commendator of Whithorn, given np by
John Lord Fleming, exeoutor (catalogued among debts donbtful of reoovBry), are
item : By Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, for 17 score yowes and 17 tapes
spulziet be him in ye tyme of my being in Cmggleton. Ye said yowes and
tupes with the proferts estimat to £1000. — OumbematUd Papers.
' Bambarroch's Corretipondenee, 61. A copy of this letter is in the Loch-
naw charter-chest
to 1570] THE KING OF CARRICK 395
by the Earl of Lennox, father of Damley. He in his turn was
attacked and killed at Stirling, where the gallant Alexander
Stewart of Gktrlies fell fighting bravely in defence of his kins-
man.^
Meanwhile the fourth Earl of Cassilis, who in the sense of
an unchecked tyrant had come to be called the King of Carrick,
had misdoings of every sort attributed to him. In the words of
an old histoiy of the Kennedys, " this last Gilbert was a very
greedy man, he cared not how he got land so that he could
come by the same." He entered into "bloking** (that is
bargaining) with the Abbot of Glenluce for perpetual feu of
some of the abbey lands ; but before the deeds were signed the
abbot died. The earl, fearing his successor might prove less
pliable, "dealt'* with a monk who undertook to draw out a
pretended agreement and forged the necessary signatures, armed
with which Cassilis took possession. Not choosing, however,
to be any way in the power of a libertine monk, " he caused a
carle called Camochan to stick him," and then fearing the carle
might peach, he moved a relative to accuse Camochan of theft,
on which he gave him an assize in his own courts and hanged
him. "And sa," concludes the relator, "wes the lands of Glen-
luse conqueist." ^
If the above charges are to be received with a grain of
salt, a tale of daring wickedness issued &om the " Black Youte "
of Dunure, which the earl himself never aflTected to deny.
Shortly after the death of Quentin Kennedy a Master Alan
Stewart obtained the abbacy of Crossraguel ; of the temporalities
of which the earl determined to possess himself by fair means or
by fouL Stewart having taken possession, was, on the morning
of the 27th of August 1570, walking unsuspicously in the wood
of Crossraguel, when he was surprised by Lord ^Cassilis with
sixteen armed men in lus suite, who after some " flattery and
deceitful words " persuaded him to go with him to Dunure ; he
^ Alexander Steward, young Laird of Garlies, carried away prisoner, was
slaine, bat it is uncertain whether by the enemie or negligentlie by the pursuers.
— Calderwood, iii. 140.
' Pitcaim, History of the Kennedy$t p. 0.
396 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 559
well knowing that if he refused they would have taken him by
force. Arrived there, he was for a season honourably entreated,
" gif," as he ingenuously remarked, " a prisoner can think any
entertainment pleasing." Six persons were specially appointed
to wait upon him ; but he felt they were simply his keepers.
From time to time he was civilly asked to sign a feu-charter
the abbey lands (a nineteen and five year tak of the whole
fruits, duties, and teinds, of all the kirks and parsonages pertain-
ing to it) ; he replying that this was impossible, as he had already
disponed them to '' kyndlie tenants" ; the earl, finding blandish-
ments fell flat, said, as a ghastly joke, that " he would now prove
whether a collation could work that which his previous good
cheer had not," and had him taken to a secret chamber, with such
as were bidden to the banquet. In the victim's own words, " On
the first of September, after long boasting, he caused me to be
carried by John Kennedy his baxter, John M'Clue his cook,
Alexander Eichardson his pantryman, Alexander Eccles, and Sir
William Todd (chaplain;, to the Black Voute, where the
tormentors denuded me of my clothes perforce, except only my
sark and doublet, and then bound my hands at the shackle
banes with a cord, as he did both my feet, and bound my soles
betwixt an iron chimney and a fira
" The first course was : ' My Lord Abbot, will you please
confess here that with your own consent you remain in my
company,' — ' Would you, my lord, that I should lie for pleasure ?
It was against my will I came, and against it that I stay.' ' But,'
said the earl, * you shall remain.' — * I am not able to resist your
will and pleasure.' ' You maun then obey me,' said the earl,
and certain parchments were offered me to subscribe. I declined.
Efter the erle espyed repugnance and that he could not come to
his purpose by fair means, he commanded his cooks to prepare
the banquet. And first they fleeced the sheep even to his skin;
and next they bound him to the chimney, his legs to the one
end, his arms to the other : and as they began to bait the fire
that the roast should not bum, but might roast in soppe, thye
spared not flambing with oil."
to 1570] THE KING OF CARRICK 397
In that torment they held the poor man, " who ofttimes cried,
* Fye upon you ! will ye ding whingares into me, and put me
out of the world, or put a barrel of powder under me. There is
as meikle gold in my purse as will buy enough to put me out
of pain.'
''On this the said earl bade his servant Bichard put a
serviette in lus throat that the voice might be stopped. At length
the King of Carrick, perceiving the roast to be enough, com-
manded it to be taken from the fire ; and the Earl said grace
thus : * Benedicite, Jesu Maria : You are the most obstinate man
ever I saw. Had I known ye wad have been so stubborn I
would not for £1000 have handled you so.' "
The half-roasted abbot was however still kept a prisoner.
The earl " resorting to the same practices on the 7th of September,
which being performed at the 11 hours at night," as the abbot
continues, "seeing that my flesh was consumed and burnt
to the bone, where through I shall never be well in this
life time, I condescended to their purpose, and the Earl got
all his pieces subscribet as weel as a half roasted hand could
do it." 1
Kennedy of Bargany, whose sister-in-law was Stewart's wife,
hearing of the outrage, had procured " letters of deliverance "
from the Court, which the King of Carrick despised, and " for his
contempt was put to the horn," he caring as little for the one as
for the other.
Bargany, who had only been partially informed, getting wind
of what had really happened to the abbot, and " perceiving that
the ordinary justice could neither help him nor yet the afflicted
man," attacked the house of Dunure in such force that he broke
in and released the abbot — the earl disappearing by a back way.
" The brute," as he is deservedly called in the record, " flew fra
Carrick to Galloway, and there so suddenly assembled herd
and hyreman that pertained to the band of the Kennedys," that
in an inconceivably short time he in turn besieged Bargany
^ Act of Privy Council anent the complaint made by Mr. Alane Stewart Also
MemoriaU of Transactions in Scotland frojn 1569 to 1573, by Richard Bannatyne.
398 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 5 59
with the abbot in the house of Dunure, beside himself with
rage, and vowing vengeance.
The Laird of Baigany meanwhile had had letters granted him
calling on all the king's good subjects to assist, which found so
ready a response in Kyle and Gunninghame that the servants
of the earl were outnumbered ; " perceiving which, the earl's
brother and the Master of Cassilis in their heat would lay fyre
to the dungeon, with no small boasting that enemies within the
house should die." ^ Those within remonstrated ; but they per-
sisted in their attempts till *' the wind of an hagbut " blasted the
Master's shoulder, when they desisted, and the earl's company
drew back from the house.
Bargany carried the Abbot to Ayr, where, at the market cross
he declared how cruelly he had been entreated, and publicly
revoked the acts done in his extremity. On the 27th April
1571 the earl was arraigned before the Begent and Lords of
Privy Council at Stirling, who ordered him to be detained until
he found surety in £2000 that neither he nor none that he may
lett shall molest Mr. Alane Stewart."
Beyond this detention, no further punishment was inflicted
for his barbarous act ; but even for this he unblushingly complains
to his kinsman Vans of Barnbarroch, as if he had been harshly
treated, for the '' little matter," as he styles it, between himself
and the abbot
He even asks for his advice as to whether he may not be
demeaning himself by making any submission to the regent :
" Traist cusin. — I have received no word of you since coming
here. The Abbot has written to me that he is willing the business
take end which is between us, but he has not written in what
manner. The Eegent is very urgent in the retaining of me until
I give obedience, quhair I must do after the advice of men of
honour.
" I am somewhat disappointed that you may not have resort
^ The earl's brother was Thomas, afterwards Sir Thomas Kennedy of Calzean,
tutor to his nephew the fifth earL On the failure of the elder branch, 1759, the
title went to his direct descendant, who became ninth earl.
to 1570] THE KING OF CAREICK 399
to where I am, that I might confer with you and have your
advice on such great affairs as I have to do. I would you should
come and speak with me if you could guide me any way. —
You assured cusin and good friend, Cassalis.
" Off Dumbarton Castle, 26th Jime." ^
The end of the whole matter was, that the abbot, despairing
of any redress from the government, negotiated through Lord
Boyd, who arranged that Gassilis should pay £500 to Stewart of
Caimdonald, to whom the abbot had previously feued the land,
3000 marks to the abbot himself, giving a bond of 300 marks to
Hugh Kennedy, which Lord Boyd himself had borrowed, for
which consideration Lord Boyd undertook to procure the abbot's
signature to a charter embodying all the conditions against
which he had held out in the Black Voute. The author of the
Historic, who evidently had not heard all these particulars, states,
"My Lord gave the abbot some money to live upon, quhilk
contented him." Concluded, "and thus were the lands of
Crossraguel conqueist"
We next find the earl himself invoking the law, and that
in a manner peculiar to the period, in the case of a supporter of
his own, M'Dowall of Garthland, killed in one of the many feuds
then carried on. He thus writes to Lord Barnbarroch :
"Cusin. — This is to advertize you that there is a law day
appointed against the 27th of ^pril at Edinburgh, on those who
are suspected and known to be guilty of the unhonest slaughter
of my special friend and servant Uchtred M'Dowall.* Whereat
I intend, God willing, to be accompanied with such friends and
servants as I think needful to that effect, seeing that I can do
no less than to suitt and get such remedy as the law will provide ;
desiring you, effectuously as you would serve me, to be ready to
* Bannatyne's Memorials; Privy Council Records; Barabarroch's Corre-
spondencc, p. 76. Some of the last deeds mentioned are in Lord Ailsa's charter-
chest.
' The M^Dowall's of Lochinvar are the parties pointed at. The slaughter of
M'Dowall was committed in the struggle of the Gordons with Gassilis for the
abbey lands of Glenlace. There is no record of their appearing to defend the case.
At that period all justice was in abeyance.
400 SHBRIPFS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. 1570
pass with me, aad meet me at Ayr the 6th of April next. I
believe nether yoa nor any other that pertains to me will grudge
that joum^, any more than if you or any of yours had Mien on
such evil handling, which God forbid, I should grudge any labour
to see some order done for it.
"I think it meetest thai even/ -man shovid havehisjak. I
commit you to God. Cassalis.
" Prom the Inch, 22d March 1570."
From the above it would appear that the king of Carrick
thought, and probably rightly, that the military maxim " Victory
nsuaUy falls to the largest battalions," was as applicable in his
days to battles in the law-courts as in the field.
SEAL or PAtBlCK AOMIW, I57G.
CHAPTEE XXIV
SUPPRESSION OF PILGRIMAGES
A.D. 1670 to 1584
Ane gat a twist o' the craig ;
Ane gat a bunch o' the wame ;
Jamie Young got lamed o' a leg,
And syne ran walloping hame.
Border Minstrelsy,
Haying alienated the aCfections of the powerful branches of his
house, Earl Cassilis seems to have issued from his short deten-
tion in Stirling " a sadder and a wiser man." We have seen
that from his prison he had entreated the Laird of Barnbarroch
to come and see " gif ye may guide me in any wise."
A better counsellor he could not have chosen ; Barnbarroch,
afterwards his father-in-law,^ being remarkable during a long
life for keeping on good terms with his neighbours ; and we may
feel assured that it was by his advice that the EarVs first act
when released from Dumbarton Castle was to ride straight to
his house of the Inch and endeavour to place the relations
between the Sheriff and his friends on the footing that they
had been with his family of old. His approaches were made
in a spirit which ensured success ; he offering to grant to the
Sheriff and the Lairds of Garthland, Einhilt, and Myrtoun
kyndlie tenancies of a large portion of the Church lands he
had acquired in the very questionable way already mentioned.
^ Lord Bambarroch's mother was Marian , daughter of the second Lord
Kennedy. He married first Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Kennedy of Girvan
Mains, who died 1572 ; and secondly, 1674, Katherine, daughter of the third Earl
of Cassilis, sister of the present earl.
VOL. I 2d
402 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1570
Those which came into the sherifiTs occupation were Kyl-
feather, Craigburnoch, and the Dougaries.^
Shortly after, the sheriff sublet a portion of these to his
second son. We make an extract from the tack, as useful in
verifjring the family pedigree : "Mr. Patrik Agnew, Sheriff of
Wigtown, having in tack and assedation all and haill the lands
underwritten of ane nobbell and potent Lord, Gilbert, Earl of
Cassalis ; — ^with express consent and assent of Andro Agnew,
my son, lets to my weel beloved second lawful son Patrik, all
and haill the lands of Craigberanoche, together with their pur-
tenance and teind charges for the years and terms of 19 years,"
etc. "Signed at Wigtown the 23d January 1575, before
Alexander Agnew of Croach, Gilbert Agnew of Galdenoche,
Quentin Agnew my son, and Sir Herbert Anderson, notary-
public."
On the 6th of September of the same year the sheriff
acquired from John Johnston, Commendator of Soulseat, the
lands of Auldbreck, which he, as his father had hitherto, held
as tenant to the Church, — ^in fee-simple.^
Transcriptions were made of seisines of Dalzerran, Meikle
and Little Toung, Sheuchane,^ Marsloch, Garchlerie,* by which
the sheriff had been infefted by precept from the Bishop of
Galloway in 1550, and which were now confirmed to him by
charters from the state.
^ Eylfeather, Cilpbeadair, "Peter's church," or "the piper's grave" ; Craig-
burnoch, ** Greagbearnoch, "cloven craig"; Dougaries, dubh garadh, "black
enclosure," i,e. peaty soil. The number of clerical names on the lands is
remarkable, there being Altaggart and Altibrair, " the priest's and the friar's
glen"; Knockiebrair, "the friar's knoll"; Kilmacfadzen, "MTadyen's cell
or church " ; Kilmalloch, "St. Malachy's chapel"; Lagnabanie, beannacht,
" the hollow of the benediction."
There is also the Eyes of Eylfeather, from the Norse oe, "a green oasis in the
moor" ; as well as Larachane, " the side of the red deer" ; Altigonskie, "the
cuckoo's glen " ; with the numerical combinations, Bardeoch (da each), and
Altryoch (tri each), " the ridge of the two horses," and " the glen of the three
horses."
* Charter by Commendator, dated 6th September 1675. Confirmation by the
Crown 1586.
» Sheuchane, Suidheacan, the little seat ; Garchlerie, Garthclearach, the
cleric's enclosure. It is now corrupted to Garthleary.
to 1584] SUPPRESSION OP PILGRIMAGES 403
The principal witnesses to these ** transumpts " are : Master
Patrick Vans of Bambarroch ; Eobert Johnnestown, his ser-
vant ; Alexander Vans, burgess of Whithorn ; Nevin Agnew, of
Graloch ; Gilbert Agnew, of Gkildanoch, with many more.
Acts of Parliament were falminated again and again against
the leagues entered into, and the overgrown military establish-
ments resulting from them, kept up by private parties.
" Na person of whatsoever quality, estate, or degree should
raise bands of men of war on horse or foot, with pistolets, picks,
spears, jaks, splents, steel bonnets, white harness, or other muni-
tion, or make sound of trumpet or talbrone, or use culvennes
with banners desplayed, under pain of death to the raisers, as
also to those who rode with them."^ Also that none of the
lieges should enter into leagues or bands ; that all bonds of
manrent, and that all who gave or took them, should be put in
ward.*
Acts serving only as historic curiosities, and proving the
inveteracy of the offences condemned; whilst in a somewhat
contradictory spirit the government constantly urged the
sheriffs to ascertain that every man, gentle or simple, " should
be weaponed effeirand to his honour," these weapons to be
shown twice in the year, ** at sic day and place as shall please
the sheriff." 8
Non-possession of arms was a rare delinquency indeed, but
as any attention to law "was long out of use," few of the
barons we should imagine troubled themselves to parade at
place or time "as it pleased the sheriff," for the Earl of
Morton, apparently well aware of this, on becoming regent,
immediately issued a proclamation commanding the sheriffs
rigidly to enforce such a weaponschawing the incoming year.
Further, desiring that such inspection might be held simul-
taneously over the country, on the 20th July and 10th Octo-
ber 1675. " And further, that none should be obliged to travel
^ 9 Pari. Qneen Maxy, chap. 83.
' 6 ParL Queen Mary, chap. 48.
' 6 Pari. James Y., chaps. 85 and 87.
404 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1570
an unreasonable distance, the sheriffs should furnish names of
persons of note to assist them, so that there might be several
meeting-places in every shire." For that of Galloway, the
sheriff named Sir Alexander Stewart and the Laird of Gkirth-
land, who are entered in the record accordingly.
In the autumn of 1575 Katherine, the sheriffs eldest
daughter, was married to the heir of Larg, head of the M'Elies,
whom Symson writes of '' as a very ancient name and family in
this countiy/' The marriage-settlements, signed 8th October,
are as follows :
"It is agreed, appointed, and finally ended, betwixt the
the honourable parties following, to wit : Patrick Agnew, Sheriff
of Wigtown, taking burden on him for Katheren Agnew his
daughter, on the one part, and Patrick M'Kie of Larg, taking
the burden upon him for Alexander M'Eie his son and apparent
heir, on the other part, in manner following ; to wit, the said
Patrick M'Kie of Larg shaU infeft the said Alexander his son
and Katheren Agnew his future spouse in her viduity in all
and haill the lands of Larg (and others) lyand within the
Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, and parish of Monygaflf, to be
holden of our Sovereign Lord the King's Majesty and his suc-
cessors according to the said Patrick's auld infeftment.
"And the said Patrick Agnew obliges him, his heirs and
assignees, to pay to Patrick M'Kie the sum of thirteen hundred
merks in name of tocher.
" And attoure gif it happens that the auld lady the foresaid
Patrick's guid wife leifif after the yeirs of the said fynding, in that
case the said Patrick M'Kie shall find Alexander M'Kie and his
future spouse the ane yeir in his house, and the said Sheriff
another yeir enduring her lifetime.
"Before these witnesses — Thomas M'CuUoch of Torhouse,
Patrick Vans of Barnbarroch, Patrick M'Kie, James M'Kie in
Corsbie. (Signed) Patrick Agnew.
Patryk M*Kie of Larg.'*
The Laird of Torhouse was the sheriff's nephew ; Patrick
to 1584] SUPPRESSION OF PILGRIMAGES 405
M'Kie was the elder brother of Alexander, famous for the
abduction of Helen Vans. The tocher, though only 1300
marks, was large for the times. When the sheriff's eldest
son shortly after married the only daughter of Stewart of
Garlies he only received 1000 marks with his bride. "The
auld lady" mentioned, was Margaret, daughter of Sir Alex-
ander Stewart of Garlies by Margaret Dunbar, heiress of
Clugston.
On the 14th December 1576 the King of Carrick passed
from the scene, leaving a son, a minor, to whom his brother-in-
law Lord Glammis became tutor, Hugh Kennedy of Auchter-
lour managing the estates. But Glammis the chancellor dying
in 1578, Sir Patrick Vans, who the previous January had been
nominated one of the senators of the courts of justice, thence-
forward called Lord Barnbarroch, assumed entire charge of the
young earl's affairs.
Hugh Kennedy having taken up house at the Inch, and
calculating on the sheriff's reconciliation with the late Earl,
endeavoured unadvisedly to renew claims to holding courts at
Leswalt, and sent an ofGicer in the chancellor's name to order
the attendance at this court of all who owed feudal casualties
to the young earL The sheriff at once deforced the baron-
ofiKcer, and refused to allow any proclamations to be made in
Leswalt court-house but by himself. Hugh Kennedy wrote
word of this "to his special lord and master, my Lord of
Glammis, concerning the fear of the fermes within the parochins
of Inche and Leswalt : I sent an oflBcer in your lordship's name
to the effect that payment should be in readiness, and to proclaim
the same in writing ; the quhUk was taken from the officer by
the Sheriff of Wigtown, and he discharged (forbid) the said
officer to proclaim any fear ^ there by word or writing ; the
which I thought good to advertize your lordship of, for I know
not the lyk done by any friend or servant of the house of
Cassalis. I understand the said sheriff to mislike onything
that may work by him in that country of Galloway, to the
^ The money dues.
406 HEREDITABY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 57O
effect that he may hif things in use to his own commodities,
which use he would be leath to be alteiit of."
This epistle was fortunately submitted by the chancellor to
Lord Bambarroch (among whose papers it was found), a coun-
cillor who above all things was discreet, and who advised his
lordship to check the zeal of his subordinate, especially in the
matter of the court-house. It is to be observed that the
point in Hugh Kennedy's letter against the sheriff lies
in the words " friend and servant of the house of Cassalis" ;
his holding the lands lately mentioned from the earl in kyndlie
tenancy being put forward as a reason for expecting to yield
something of his rights. One sentence of his letter to the
chancellor is interesting as an agricultural reminiscence. '' As
to the com in this country, they say it will nocht gif us hot
horse com, quhilk will nocht be worth 20 shillings the bolL"
But adds afterwards, " Blessed be Grod we are this year als gude
as any countrie is, and no appearance of ony great deartL" ^
The following letters are partly in connection with the
incidents above, and are given as specimens of the sheriff's
epistolary style :
Letter from Sir Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown,
TO THE Laird of Barnbarrooh.
" My lord, eftir my hartlie commendatioim, I resawit your
(1) writting fra ane boy of kinheltis,^ tuichand my awin bissines,
that your (1) is catioun for me. Your (1) sail wit that on my
treuth and honestie the tutour hes tane that silwer of the
tenentis ; and as for the rest that the tresourar sould haif, I haif
^ Nevertheless Hugh Kennedy seems to have heen rather a mischief-maker.
He writes to Lord Bambarroch : "My Lord, I have received your L. writing,
declaring that the Sheriff of Wigtown and the Laird of Garflen had offered to
my Lord Chancellor 4 marks for every boll of finne maill, and twa marks for
every boll of teind maill ; quhereof the Sheriff has made his vaunt in Galloway,
and stays the tenant of payment I desire your L. that I may make proclama-
tions in your L. name and mine to the effect we be na further scomit or mockit in
the country, and nocht to prevail to us. And gif it be otherwise, prays your L.
to advertize me." The answer is unknown.
^ Adair of Kinhilt
■ ■■ *^^i^m
to 1584] SUPPRESSIOK OP PILGRIMAGES 407
wryttin yit as befoir for the sam to master alexr. knowis to maik
sum raleif to me in that. Me lord, sa laing as I half land or
gear, your (lo) salbe raleifit as honestie wald godwilling, and
geif I can get na raleif, hot to mak payment, your (lo) man help
me at the tresourar hand, for I haif na other quantancie ^ bot
your (lo) to charg ; albeit I haif nocht done my dewtie to your
(lo), your (lo) salbe na losar for me godwilling farther quhair
your (lo) wryt to me to be in edr. the aucht of agust to my
chakar compt, I sail asuire your lordschip I haif nocht gottin
my presept of chakar as tuirsday the penult of this instant ; and
as to my compt this yeir, I haif na thing ado bot the supiroritie
of the lady corswall ^ of the tua mark land of knokiname,® and
the quarter of the mill of the galdenoche,* quhilk my lord
argyllis geift* will tak away, that he gat quhen the lard of
corswall died; for scho entret air to hir father^ quhen he died;
Sua I will nocht be cummerit this yeir. I pray your (lo) haif
me excusit, for I haif nocht done my dewtie to your (lo) ; your
lo salbe satisfeit at your cuming to this cuntrie in all thingis to
your (lo) awin contentment, for I haif no other to scharg bot
your (lo), quhen ye haif to do, lyk as I salbe redy to your (lo)
at power on the auld maner. And sua committis your (lo) to
god. At lochnaw, the penult of July, be your (1) at power on
the auld maner. Patrik Agnew."^
" To my the honorabill and my maist speciall
my lord of bambarroche."
^ ? Acquaintance.
' Finlay Campbell of Corswall, Chamberlain of Galloway, died in 1566, leav-
ing two grand-daughters co-heiresses. The elder, Jane, was served heir to her
grandfather, and must be the person here meant.
' A farm in Portpatrick parish. ^ A farm in Stoneykirk parish.
' The gift was that of her ward and marriage. Sir Hew Kennedy "oblist"
him to present Jane Campbell, one of the heirs of Corswall, to the Council, the
Earl of Argyle, donatour to her ward and marriage, consenting thereto. — JUg.
Privy Cotmcil, January 1664-65.
• John Campbell of Lundy. — (Ibid, vol. i. p. 326.)
' Sir Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw succeeded his father as Sheriff of Wigtown
in 1647, and died in 1690. Sir Thomas Kennedy was tutor of Cassilis from
about 1677 till about 1690. This letter was therefore written between those
dates, but it contains nothing to show in what year.
408 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1570
Letter from Patrick Agnew to Sir Patrick Waus,
ABOUT 1577 OR 1578.
" My Lord, efter my maist hartle commendatioun, efter my
writing to your L with hew, I reseuit ane writing of my Lord
Ohanslaris the xxix day of October, desyring me to be at his L
in edinburch the first of november, quhilk your 1 may schaw
my Lord Chanslar it was over schort warning. And in respect
I haid appoyntit befoir the dayat betwix his L and the lard of
Lochinvar, as I writ to your L befoir with hew, I could not be
able to keipe his L writing for schortnes of tyme ; Thairfoir
your L man haif me excusit at my Lord chanslar. And farther,
gif my Lord chanslar rydis over the watter, ye may causs his L
speik the comtrollar and thesaurar with your aun diligence,
quhilk I lippen maist to continew my comptis quhill his (L)
bak cuming, and to adverteiss me of his (L) dayat to Edr. agane,
that I may causs the lard of Lochinvar keipe the same ; and
your 1 anser in writ with the berar, with my hartle commenda-
tiounis to your ladie my ant. Off Lochnaw be your gud frend at
power on the auld manner. Patrick Agnew.
" Your L will delyver this other writing of myne to my Lord
Chanslar, and excuiss the same as your L wysdom thinkis gud.
To my ryt speciall frend my lord of bambarroch."
There is something hearty in the sheriflF's subscription " Your
good friend after the auld manner." Within a few months of
this, Lord Barnbarroch, as a friend of both parties, assisted in
drawing up the pre-nuptial contract between the sheriffs eldest
son, and Agnes daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart younger of
Garlics (killed, as already stated, at Stirling 1571,) and Lady
Katherine Herries ; the Laird of Garthland with others being
among the witnesses, by which the sheriff bound himself to
infeft " Andrew Agnew my son and apparent heir, and Agnes
Stewart his future spouse, in the lands of Dindinnie and Auch-
neeL" The lady's tocher being 1000 marks, for which her
grandfather. Sir Alexander Stewart, made himself responsible.
to 1584] SUPPRESSION OP PILGRIMAGES 409
Lady *Katherine Hemes had remarried secondly Wallace
of Dundonald, and thirdly M'Dowall of Mindork, which she
seems to have regretted ; for we find a letter from her to Lord
Bambarroch, dated "Mundork, 2d day of July" (year un-
named), in which she tells him her husband intends " wodsetting
sum land " of her late husband, and ** quhat he means to do/'
she adds, " is contrair to my will and plesor."
In the following generation Mindork passed to the Stewarts,
as to which an absurd story is told, that the last laird of the old
tower, which has long disappeared, failing to pay certain crown-
dues was put to the horn, and that the Laird of Garlics taking
advantage of this endeavoured to arrest him, with a view to
keeping his land. That the outlawed M'Dowall ^ confided his
distress to a publican, who found him a hiding-place near the
Spittal of Bladenoch, saying that there the devil himsel would
be hard set to find him. Boniface, however, proved false, and
betrayed him to the more powerful laird, who sent a party to
seize him, and he showing fight, was roughly treated, and
among other indignities his captors singed his beard, and
lodged him in Wigtown gaol, where he died, utterly neglected,
his body even not receiving Christian burial The moral
pointed by the story is that Providence did not let the outrage
pass altogether unavenged, as henceforth for many generations
the beards of the Stewarts were singularly scanty.
It is hardly necessary to point out the absurdity of the
whole story.
Alexander Gordon, Bishop of Galloway, died 1576, having
founded a family on the spoils of his diocese, styled Gordons of
Glenluce. He may have been sincere in his religious convic-
tions, but he had the misfortune to be looked upon, alike by the
church he had left and that which he joined, with scant respect.
The former styled him " a time-serving heretic " ; the latter sub-
jected him to various suspensions, and mortifications innumerable.
On the 6th August 1573, he was sentenced to make public re-
^ There is a signature of Uchtred M'Dowall of Mundork to a paper in Bam-
barroch charter-chest, date 28th March 1596.
410 HEKEDITABY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1570
pentance in sackcloth three several Lord's days, and it was only
on his making bumble entreaty that the sackcloth might not be
worn in his own diocese, backed by the regent's personal request,
that it was conceded that he should confess his offences in
presence of a congregation specially convened in the Abbey
Kirk, on a Lord's day, but without sackcloth.
By his wife, Barbara Logie, he had a son John,^ to whom he
resigned his lands, which were confirmed by charter. By the
act of annexation of 1587, the lands became vested in the
Crown, but were regranted to Laurence Gordon, brother of the
above John, by James VL 1602.
Some odd traditions are preserved of the baronial courts of
this family. A certain M'Clumpha and his daughter were there
convicted as sheep-stealers, the father's doom being to be hung
upon a gibbet till he was dead, and the girl to be branded with
S.S.* — a legend of very different import across the Border.
Whilst awaiting execution of their sentences a " supple rascal "
named Douglas, arrested for brawling, was thrust into their cell,
and with his assistance they all managed to break out, but were
soon re-arrested, and Douglas was condemned to be dragged
with them on the hurdle to the gallows, and afterwards to be
banished to Barlure. As the three started on their dreary
journey, the old man with great saTig froid made it his dying
request that the executioner should brand the lassie as far back
as possible, " sae that her mutch may cover the scar." The
interest in the tradition lies mainly m following Douglas to his
destination — Barlure, the hill of the leper. The spot is mapped
by Pont, Libberton, the name giving some colour to the
tradition as a spot to which outcasts might be consigned;
neighbouring place-names, such as Eldrig of Libberland, and
Libberland Bum, all pointing to the fact that wretched lepers
^ John seemB to have resigned in his brother's favour, he being Dean of
Salisbury, to whom the property reverted in 1610, and was carried by his only
daughter to Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstown, who disposed of it to the Crown,
and the revenues were annexed to the see of Galloway.
^ The coUar of S.S. is that worn by the Chief Justices of England. Dugdale
says it is from St. Simplicius. The wearers of the collar of S.S. is a classical
style for Chief Justices.
to 1584] SUPPRESSION OF PILOBIMAGES 411
were consigned to this place rather for separation than for
treatment. Ochtreloure was possibly a leper hospital ; Pullour, a
pool, probably supposed to possess some virtue in curing leprosy.^
Douglas on his way to his penal residence by the old pack-horse
track leading to Killgallioch (the church of the standing stones),
before crossing the Tarf would pass the two remarkable standing
stones at Laggangam. These were once part of a complete
circle, but having been frequently plundered for building pur-
poses, crosses were cut . on the last remaining three, which
were consequently spared. A strong-minded mason, however,
regardless of the charm, carried off one of them as a lintel
for his house. Despite all advice he built it in; but soon
his children sickened and died one by one. his sheep-dog went
mad, and he boldly seized him by the tail and dashed out
his brains against the lintel. His doom was now sealed ; the
dog bit him in its dying struggles, the fell disease attacked him,
and at his own request his wife and wife's sister " smoored him
atween twa cauf beds."
In 1579, at a Justice Aire in Wigtown, Uchtred M*Dowall
younger of Garthland, is charged with "riding furth and con-
voking the lieges bodin in fear of weir, and with the cruel
slaughter of James Grordon of Barskeoch." Andrew M'Dowall
of Dalreagle, and George his eldest son, were heavily fined as
abettors in the matter. These were results of the " dishonest
slaughter " of another Uchtred M'Dowall, mentioned in the last
chapter, for which, even though backed by Cassilis, his relatives
had probably been unable to obtain any redress.
A lively incident of the feud is thus alluded to in a letter
from Lochinvar to Lord Bambarroch : " Efter maist hertlie
commendationis, ye sail wit that the Laird of Barguny and Grarth-
land has come to my friend's house Sanderis Campbell, and has
schot furth of the same his wyff and bairns." *
1 I suppose everywhere we find a name containing this word Lobhair (Lour),
we may infer lepers were connected with it. — Joyce, iL 80.
^ Bambarroch's Correspondence, p. 229. The parties to this were Uchtred
M*Dowall of Garthland and Thomas Kennedy of Bargany, on the one part ; Sir
John Gordon of Lochinvar, John Gordon of Barskeoch, and Alexander Gordon
412 HEREDITAKY SHKEIFPS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. 1570
The greatest change of the centuiy in the usages of the
people at large was now brought about by a series of legislative
measures in the name, though hardly in the spirit, of religion.
Hitherto kings had vied with one another who could go the
oftenest and offer the most at St Ninian's shrine ; special legis-
lation provided for the safety of travellers, even aliens, to the
province. Now, a change had come over the spirit of the dream,
and in 1581 Acts were promulgated which must have filled the
beadles of Whithorn with dismay.
Pilgrimages to St. Ninian's Church, and weUs^ or crosses,
were no more to be resorted to, even those of Medana or St.
Columba were prohibited, under severest penalties.
The preamble set forth that the dregs of idolatry yet re-
remained by usage of pilgrimages to chapels, wells, and crosses,
by observing festival days of saints, by singing of carols within
and about kirks at certain seasons, and observing certain other
superstitious and Papistical rites. For remede thereof the
sheriff was to search and seek the persons passing on any such
pilgrimages, and apprehend them in the actual deed of trans-
gressing of the Act, and condemn them. Ilk gentleman or
gentiewoman landed in a £100, the unlanded in 100 marks, for
the first offence ; and for the second the offenders to suffer the
pain of death as idolaters. Superstitious observers of saint
days, and singers of carols, when caught in the act were to be
put in prison, and speedy judgment passed on them by the
sheriff, and if not able to redeem their persons by fine then to
be kept in prison, irons, or stocks, upon bread and water, for a
month at the least, and then to find caution for better behaviour.^
The sheriffs were to receive one-half of the fines, the other
half to go to the poor of the parish. The framers of this statute,
who had laudably struggled to have the Bible brought within the
reach of all in the vulgar tongue, had been strangely oblivious
of the toleration which its pages inculcate, and of the charity
" not easily provoked."
of Portencorkcrie, on the other. All were bound over to keep the peace. October
1579. ^ Seventh Parliament James YL, chap. 104.
to 1584] SUPPRESSIOK OF PILGRIMAGES 413
Many of the superstitions they laboured to remove were
truly ridiculous ; but it was simply wicked that their exercise
by quiet inoffensive persons should bring them within reach of
the hangman. Happily their bark was worse than their bite,
and though not a few Popish priests suffered death for admin-
istering the mass, we have read of none executed for bringing
their children to holy wells.
So deeply, however, were these usages ingrained in the
habits and traditions of the people, that though these laws
frightened people from parading such practices in public, for
long the wells especially were privately visited at particular
days and hours ; and no doubt in certain nervous diseases cures
were effected in those who implicitly believed in their efficacy.
Of such wells we can mention but a small proportion : Near
Lochnaw was Kilmorie, St Mary's well, " to which," as Sym-
son writes a century later, "people superstitiously resorted."
St Columba's well, known also as the Crosswell (though this
has no connection with the name of Corswall), was in the parish
which he names Kirkcolm ; in which also was St Bride's well,
besides a dedication to her as Kilbride. There is St Malloch's
well at the foot of Tapmalloch (tiebh-malloch), " the hillside of
St. Malachy o' Morgair," whence he watched for a vessel coming
for him from Bangor; below it Tringan, St Ninian's, or Ringan's
well ; and a little farther on the Culdees' well, at Knockaldy
(cnoc-ceilede). A few miles farther on, in Dunskey Glen, is St
Kain's well, whence the name Ochtriemakain (ma and mo indi-
cating a saint), his name interesting as connecting Galloway with
Cornish tradition, where St Keyn is identical with Cainnech or
Canigus of the Scoto-Irish Church. In Cornwall the tradition
attaching to St Kain's well is, that if a bridegroom on his
wedding-day drinks from it before his bride he will be master ; but
that, if the lady gets the first draught, the gray mare will be the
better horse. By Chappell Patrick there was St Patrick's well ;
and at Stranraer St John's well, below high- water mark, was in
much repute. In Stoneykirk and Glenluce there were two St
Katherine's wells, and a third in Kirkmaiden, its name strangely
414 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A,D. 1570
disguised in the corruption Kibbertie Kite, though really the
chief alteration is in the change of the initial K for T (Tiobar-
tighe-Ceat), " Katherine's well house." What makes the identi-
fication certain is that "St Katherine's croft" (so mapped)
adjoins. Near Kibbertie Kite is Chipper dingan. Here again
we have St. Ninian's name in an unusual disguise, the conven-
tional E being changed to D. But this substitute is not with-
out ecclesiastical authority, as Geoffrey Gaimer writes :
A Witemam (Whithorn) gist Saint Dinan
LongtenB vint devant Columban.^
Near the last two there is Muntloch well;* and another, St
Bride's ; and a still more famous one, really Medana's, but
known as "Well of the Co," largely resorted to within the
memory of the present generation on the first Sunday in May.
Across the Bay of Luce, in the other Kirkmaiden, now a
part of Glasserton parish, is the Chincough well (whooping-
cough) well, whose original source flowed from the eyeballs of
St. Medana, " superstitiously resorted to " long after the passing
of the Acts. In Kirkinner was Malie's well, sacred to St.
Patrick's nephew Malidh, who names the Water of Malzie.
Besides others too numerous to mention, there was the Gout
well in Minigaff, Mount Horeb well in Kirkmabreck, the
"Brownie's well," Dairy; St. Mungo's well, Carsphain; St.
Lawrence's, Colvend.
The cool indifference of a Galloway baron to summonses
from law courts is amusingly illustrated in a case in which the
sheriff himself was defendant.
Bishop Gordon had claimed certain sums from him as teinds
of Church property in Glenluce ; but as the bishop himself had
secularised and appropriated many of these, the sheriff, thinking
^ Estoire des EngleSy Geoffroi Gaimar, eleventh century.
I am indebted for this identification of St. Ninian as Dinan, i,e, Dingan, to
Sir Herbert Maxwell.
' About a mile and a half from the parish kirk is a well called Muntlnck
well, in the midst of a little bog, to which persons have recourse to fetch water
for such as are sick, asserting that if the sick person shall recover the water will
so buller and mount up when the messenger dips in his vessel that he will hardly
get out dry shod.
to 1584] SUPPRESSION OF PILQRIMAQES 415
he should have his share in the spoil, declined to pay. The
bishop dying in 1576, his widow remarried Alexander Gordon
of Grange, who, discovering this debt to the late bishop's estate,
conjointly with his wife raised an action against the sheriff
and obtained a decree for the amount. To this the sheriff
opposed a passive resistance, and did nothing, whereupon
"letters of homing" were raised against him, but with no
further effect.
A year and a day elapsed, and under the renewed applica-
tion from Gordon, the court declared the liferent of his estate
forfeited to the king. Nevertheless, the sheriff kept possession :
the sum probably was small. From his papers we find he had
no difficulties as to money, but he was simply contumacious !
Presently, however, his eldest son, being about to receive a com-
mission as justiciar, thought it unseemly that his father should
remain under the category of those with whom that commission
enjoined him specially to deal, and either paid it out of his own
pocket or induced his father to compromise, resulting in his
getting as a grant from the Crown the escheat of Lochnaw in
his own favour. The whole proceeding reads like a legal farce,
Sir Patrick being apparently neither the better nor the worse
for the settlement :
" Under our privy seal, at Haliruid Hous, the 3d of March
1584: Wot ye us to have given to our lovit Andro Agnew younger
of Lochnaw his heirs and assignees the escheat of all guids
moveable and unmoveable, debts, tacks, steadings, rowmes, pos-
sessions, corns, cattle, insicht plenishing, acts, contracts, actions,
obligations, reversions, decreets, sentences, sums of monfey,
jewels, gold, silver, coined and uncoined, and other goods and
geir whatsoever, which appertained of before to Patrick Agnew
of Lochnaw, and now pertaining to us, falling and deciding in
our hands and at our disposition be the laws and practice of our
realm ; and the liferent, mails, farms, profits and duties of all
lands, tenements, and annualrents, which appertained before to
the said Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw, holden by him immedicUeli/
of U8, induring the said Patrick's lifetime which now appertains
416 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1570
to our disposition by our Acts of Parliament, through the said
Patrick wilful and obstinate lying and remaining under the
process of homing without lawful relaxation, attour the space of
a year and a day next after that he was denounced our rebel
and put to our horn. To be halden and to be had the escheat
goods and the liferents by the said Andrew Agnew."
Far from the sheriff being in any disgrace at Court through
these irregidarities, we find him named as taking a prominent
part as an assizer in the trials consequent on the defeat of the
conspiracy known as the £aid of Euthven, in which his Mend
M'Dowall of Garthland was gravely implicated.
The so-called raid weis the seizure of the young king's person
by Buthven, Earl of Gk>wrie, and his accomplices (in 1582), to
compel him to dismiss his favourites the Earls of Arran and
Lennox. It was momentarily successful, but ended in the
discomfiture of all concerned.
The state trials consequent commenced in 1584, and lasted
many months.
On the panels of assize were the Master of Cassilis, Patrick
Agnew, Sheriff of Galloway, John Gordon of Lochinvar, William
M*Culloch of Myrtoun.^ It is noteworthy that Sir John Gordon
was at first placed on another panel, but was challenged by Lord
Gowrie himself, the reason alleged being the enmity known to
exist between Garthland and Lochinvar.
The Laird of Garthland, who had first married a Kennedy of
Girvan Mains, on her death had remarried a daughter of Lord
Methven, sister of the Countess of Gowrie. Most of those
implicated lost their lives, but Garthland managed to escape
and never returned, his enforced exile bringing the feud with
the Grordons to a close. This trial was followed by a non-
political one, in which Patrick M'Kie of Whitehills was charged
with " forging, feuzening, and stryking false moneys : half-marks,
30s., 20s., 10s., and 40-penny pieces." The assize, by mouth of
William M'Culloch of Myrtoun, found him guilty " of counter-
feiting the half-marks and 40d. pieces in great quantity," but
^ Pitcaim's Criminal Trials.
to 1584] SUPPRESSION OF PILGRIMAGES 417
acquitted him of the other charges : a qualification by which he
took little, being sentenced " to tynt life, lands, and goods, and
to be hanged at the market cross of Edinburgh.^
Great cordiality existed between the sheriff and Sir Thomas
Kennedy of Culzean, a letter from whom we insert thanking the
sheriff for his having become security for some of his kin and
dependants for money due to them, assuring him he will take
care that he shall not be the loser.
Letter from Sir Thomas Kennedy of Colzean to the
Sheriff of Galloway.
" Traist freind, efter my hartlie commendationes, I ressauit
your lettre, and consideris be the same that the laird of bam-
barocht is emest with you for that hundreth pundis that he wes
cautioner for. It is trew my seraundis hes ressauit ane part of
it ; alwyiss I sail relief yow at the laird of bambarochtis handis
howsone he cumis to edr., and thairof ye salbe certane without
langar delay. And as to the males, quhilkis he craveis out of the
barony, as I persaue be thair lettre, he willbe awand me twyss
alsmekle male out of glenluce, quhilk salbe allowit to him, ane
part of the ane for the other. Alwyiss nather ye nor the
tennentis sail ressaue truble for ony of thir causis. Swa that
howsone he cumis to edr. ye salke fred. Haveing na forder
occasionn for the present, I committ yow en godis protectionn.
Off blaknes this satirday Be youris assurit freind,
" THOMAS tutor OF CaSSILLIS.
" To my richt traist friend the Sereff off Galloway."
^ Pitcairn's Criminal Trials.
VOL. I 2 E
/
CHAPTER XXV
THE ARMADA
AD. 1584 to 1598
Oo tell it in Wigtoun, in Garrick, in Kyle,
Although the proud Dona are now passing the Moil,
Wi' this magic clue
Of the indigo.blue
That Eleine de Aggart has at her command
A foreign foe never shall win to our strand.
To check the lawlessness generally rampant, Grovernment, feel-
ing itself somewhat stronger, issued a commission of Justiciary
of Wigtown to the sheriff's eldest son, who had previously been
associated with him in his office.^
Entrusting him thus with privileges overshadowing those of
Sheriff Principal, there being no reservation in his jurisdiction
of the former pleas of the Crown, the said commission prefaced
with the words : " As we are certainly informed that there are
very many persons in our shire of Wigtown who cannot behave
orderly, we therefore appoint our lovit Andrew Agnew our
justiciar in these parts, giving him fiill power from us of holding
courts, and of continuing them, as often as need is, and of
causing all to be summoned who owe suit, amerciating the
absent, and indicting persons accused."*
His selection for such an appointment requiring a cool head
^ Among the Bambarroch papers we find that Sir Patrick Yaus requiring a
decreet of removal against certain of his tenants, carried his case before ''ane
honourable man, Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Galloway, 2dd May 1586."
' The commission, which is under the quarter seal, constitutes him our
justiciar in that part known as the Sheriffdom of Wigtown, for a term of nineteen
years. It is dated *' From Halyrude House, 30 April 1586."
A.D. 1584-1598] THE ARMADA 419
and unflinching courage proves him to have acquired a name for
energy and capacity. It was doubtless to his advantage that he
had a Stewart of Garlies for his wife and a Gordon of Lochin-
var for his mother, so that he might calculate on the support of
these two powerful rival factions ; and, what was pleasing in the
result, he seems consequently to have had a hand in their
reconciliation.^ Moreover, some time before his brother-in-law
Lochinvar had been appointed Justiciar of the Stewartry, the
disorders of the time were aggravated by the disaffection of
many men of position, engendered by the severity of the laws
against Boman Catholics.
Lord Maxwell was imprisoned for allowing a single mass
to be said at Lincluden Abbey on Christmas Day, and was only
liberated on the impolitic condition that he should instantly
leave the country. He did so, and going to Spain, in his wrath
urged the king to utilise the Galloway ports for the purpose of
invasion, undertaking to make a diversion in his favour.
In the meantime King James YL appeared in person on
the Galloway marches, summoning justiciars, sheriffs, and
steward to meet him at Lochinvar. The sheriff and his son
received him. Lord Maxwell was necessarily absent. The king
pushed on to Kirkcudbright, where the party were doubtless
entertained by the Laird of Bomby, brother-in-law to both the
Sheriff of Galloway and Lochinvar. It was on this occasion
that the king presented to the burgh the famous '' siller gun "
as an heirloom, which bears on its barrel the initials T. M. C.
for Sir Thomas M'Clellan, and the date 1587.^
The next year Maxwell suddenly appeai*ed in Galloway,
and believing the Armada to be close behind him, hoisted his
flag at his castles of Threave, Caerlaverock, and Lochmaben.
^ Grizzel Qordon, daughter of Sir John and niece to the elder Lady Agnew,
married Alexander, first Earl of Galloway, nephew of the younger Lady Agnew,
the justiciar's wife.
^ In some accounts the year of the king's visit is stated to be 1588, but the
date on the gun itself, 1587, seems conclusive. The Galloway historian speaks
depreciatingly of the trophy: ** This trinket, like a penny whistle seven inches in
length, has been only shot for three times in the memoiy of the oldest inhabit-
ant"— ^Mackenzie, i 629.
420 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 5S4
He was mistaken indeed. As he vainly scanned the horizon to
the westward for the coming Spaniards, the dust of the king's
squadrons announced their advancing from the east Maxwell
fled, and hurriedly embarking in a ship at St. Mary's Isle, stood
out for the Irish Channel in his hopeless quest. Sir William
Stewart, brother of the Laird of Garlics, was at his heels, and
unmooring another vessel, gave chase, and ran him to ground
on the seaboard of Carrick.
The king's troops bringing artillery with them, Threave and
Caerlaverock instantly struck their colours. Lochmaben held
out for another day, but before the evening of the second,
cannon having forced its defences, David Maxwell, its keeper,
dangled from the castle gate.
As it proved, the Armada went by the way of the English
Channel, only appearing on the Galloway shores in a condition
of hopeless discomfiture, as to which there are some dim tradi-
tions, particles of truth underlying the spurious element
That best authenticated is that a first-class man-of-war was
driven ashore in the Bay of Luce, near Portwilliam, at a spot
mapped *' Philip and Mary Point"
A second was said to have been wrecked under Cruggleton
Castle, and that a stallion getting ashore was the progenitor of
the Galloway breed.
A third is believed to have been driven on the Ardwell
shore, and Float Bay is said to take its name from the wreckage ;
and this local quidnuncs hold to be further proved by the
adjoining place-name, " Money Head," derived, as they say, from
the doubloons which were to be gathered there by the handful
when the ship broke up.
Nothing can be more absurd than all these latter state-
ments. Not only did Shakespeare write " Know we not Gallo-
way nags ? " but they were praised by Froissart two centuries
before the building of the Armada,^
^ Taylor, who should have known better, adopts this absurdity, and under
head of words derived from place-names, names Gallowajrs, writing, ** One of the
galleons of the Armada, which had succeeded in weathering Gape Wrath, was
lost on the coast of Galloway, and tradition avers that a Spanish stallion rescued
to 1598] THE ARMADA 421
'' Money Head " is an attempted translation of Bamammon^
and Caimmon (Cairn nam ban) the woman's, i,e. the " witch's
cairn " ; Jeanie's Cairn, close by, being another attempted ren-
dering ; the " women " in such names Lplying either fairies or
witches.
Tradition credits local witches (though of a far later date
than those which named these places) with assisting in the
defeat of the Armada. Elsie M'Taggart, immortalised by Train
as Eleine de Aggart,^ was believed to have watched for ship
after ship as they rounded the Mull of Cantyre, perched on
a rock, holding a blue ball of worsted in her hand, which as
she unwound the storm became more and more serious, untQ at
last they sank into the seething waves under her spell.
A few sentences from a letter of Lady Katherine Vans to
her son-in-law Kennedy of Barquhanny, taking charge in her
absence, gives us some inkling of the cares of a housewife of
the period :
" Ye write me that ye have gotten aucht mais of herrings
for Bambarroch ; we must hold us content of the same for
this year. I pray you fail not, but gar make us 12 bolls of
meal and half a brewing of double ale against our hame-ganging,
and God preserve you. Further, I pray you not to fail to send
me out sUver with the first that comes, for we are very skant
thairoCF. Also ye shall receive rattoun poison and gae give the
same to the rats. — Youris at power.
" Dame Katherine Kannady,
Lady Baimbarroch.
" OflF Edinburch, 23 Februar 1506." «
The last sentence absolutely contradicts Symson's assertion
from the wreck became the ancestor of the strong and serviceable breed of
Galloways."— Taylor's IFords and Places, 5th Edition, 286.
We might answer him with Pistol, ** Thrust him downstairs ! Enow we not
Galloway nags?" — Shakespeare, Henry IV., act iv. sc. 2.
^ Train's Mountain Bard, It need hardly be repeated that Float has no
connection with wreckage, being old Saxon fledt, "where a vessel can float,"
marking a naval station of the Northumbrian Saxons.
' Bambarroch's CorrespoTidence, 345.
422 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1 5 84
that ratB were unknown in Kirkinner before his coming there
a century later.^
The Lady Eatherine's husband had in 1587 been one of
the ambassadors who negotiated the marriage of Princess Anne
of Denmark, which having been solemnised by proxy, the young
king, in daily expectation of her arrival, writes thus to the Laird
of Bambarroch :
*' At Edinburgh, the penult day of August 1589. The Queen
our bedfellow being hourly looked for to arryve, we earnestly
desire that ye will send hither to the help of the honour-
able charges to be made in this action, sic quantity of fate beef
and muttoun on fute^ wild fowlis, and vennysonn or other stuff
meet for this purpose, as possibly ye may provide and fumeiss
of your awen, or be your moyane, and expeid the same here
with all diligence after the receipt of this one letter."
But before the hampers could be packed, all this was
countermanded. News had arrived that the royal bride was
storm-stayed in Norway, and Sir Patrick was ordered at onfce to
attend the king thither. They went to Norway accordingly,
and reaching Upsala the 19th November, we are told that the
king inmiediately at his coming *' past quyetlie with buites, to
hir hienes. His majestie myndit to give the Queine a kisse
efter the Scottis faschioun at meiting, quhilk scho refusit as not
being the forme of hir countrie. Marie! efter a few wordis
prively spoken betwix his majestie and hir, thair past familiaretie
and kisses." ^
They were married on the 24th November, but did not return
to Scotland till May-Day of the following year ; immediately
after which, in recognition of his services. Lord Bambarroch was
given " the advocation, donation, and right of patronage of the
kirks of Kirkinner, Kirkcowan, Cammanell, and Wigtown."
About this time Thomas Hay, late Abbot of Glenluce, settled
on secularised church lands, and took the style of Park. His
* In the Presbytery of Wigtown, although we have mice good store, we have
no rats. — Symson's Large Description,
2 Moysie's Memoirs^ p. 80 ; Bambarroch's Correspondence^ 377.
to 1598] THE ABMADA 423
son, who had married a daughter of the Laird- of Garthland^
built the house so called, which still stands, though used only
as a farmhouse, placing over the doorway the inscription :
"Blessit be the name of the Lord, this verk vas begun the
first day of March 1590, be Thomas Hay of Park, and Janet
Makdoval his spouse." ^
Consequent upon the assumption of church property by the
Crown, royal charters were granted to the Agnews of Lochnaw
of the lands of Kerronrae and Marsloch, which had been held
from the bishops, as well as of the office of the baillierie of
Soulseat.^
This office carried jurisdiction over Portpatrick, the landward
part of which parish was then known as the " Black Water of
the Inch," although it was not constituted a separate parish
until 1620, when Chapel Patrick became its kirk. On its
extinction the revenues of the Abbacy of Soulseat amounted to
£343 : 13 : 4 silver rent, 13 chalders and 4 bolls of meal, 7 of
bear, 6 of oats, 1 lb of wax, and 13^ dozen capons.
In connection with the secularisation of these abbey lands,
we find an inquisition held by the justiciar on the 30th
November 1589, " in Pretorio," as his court-house of Wigtown is
termed, to ascertain the values of the church lands of the Inch.
The principal interest in the document lies in the names of
the assizers in the roll, as follows :
" Before the most honourable Andrew Agnew, Sheriff, in the
court-house of Wigtown, with Gavin Dunbar of Baldoon, and
Alexander Agnew of Croach his deputes, there sat the following :
Alexander Ahannay of Sorby, Alexander Gordon, Tutor of
Craighlaw; Simon M'Christine of Clonche, John Ahannay
younger of Sorby, William Kennedy of Gillespie, Patrick M*Kie
of Larg, Pattrick M*Kie of Drumbuie, Gilbert M'Clanachan in
^ M'Dowall MSS., to which Granford adds: "She was the jonDgest that
was married to Parke, and not verie sprightly."
' Kerronrae (Geath-ramhaidh Riahhach), the gray quarter. The charter of
confirmation under the Great Seal dated 12th May 1587, in favour of Patrick
Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, recapitulates the lands of Marsloch, Kerronrae,
Glendrie, Shenchan, Garchlerie, and Holymark, as granted hy Alexander, Bishop
of Galloway, to the said sheriff, 14th July 1566.
424 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 5 84
Culeram, Gilbert Boyd of Leswalt, Fergus M'Clanaclian in
Machquhar, John M'Culloch of Torhouse, John Gordon of
Crequhan, Bobert Maxwell, brother of John Maxwell of Mureith ;
John Dunbar of Midwig."
About this time the sheriffs third son, Patrick, became
Laird of Barmeill (a name which may be translated '' the top of
the hill "), the lands all in Glasserton parish ; and he afterwards
acquired those of Wigg, founding the branch of the family so
called.
In days when the number of kinsmen able to "ride and
gang" with him added greatly to the prestige of the family
chief, it was of no small interest to the sheriff that the various
cadets of lus family should prosper.^ And besides the acquisi-
tion of these lands by his son, Agnew of Croach now found the
wherewithal to purchase the lands of Culmalzie from the
Commendator of Whithorn ; whilst Agnew of Graldenoch had
a purse sufficiently well filled to be able to accommodate the
powerful Laird of Bambarroch.*
In the Bambarroch charter-chest we find an odd contract
between " the Laird of Bambarroch and Sir Andrew Agnew,
Sheriff of Wigtown, dated at Glenluce 29th March 1588," by
which the Laird of Bambarroch, taking burden on him for
John lus son and apparent heir . . . touching the thieves
apprehended with red hand in the barony of Mochrum Loch,
the profit of their escheat shall be equally divided betwixt both
parties, their respective officers to have free power in searching
and ryping in the said lands, but stop or impediment — John
Hannay of Kirkdill, James M'Culloch of Drummorrell,
witnesses." *
^ From the chief family of Agnew of Lochnaw there sprang various fiunilies
who constituted much of the baronies of Wigtownshire. — Caledonia, iii. S95.
' In the Bambarroch charter-chest is a discharge by Gilbert Agnew of Galde-
noch to Thomas Kennedy of Baijarg for £100 on behalf of Mr. Patrick Waus of
Bambarroch, *'quha was adebted to me for the same. Gilbert Agnew, 22nd
April 1588."
' Under the date 11th July 1588 there is a letter from the Clark Begister to
the Right Honourable the Sheriff of Galloway, asking him to exempt the Laird
of Bambarroch from taxation as being a Lord of Session.
to 1598] THE ABMADA 425
Ninian Adair of Kinhilt had a large family, and a prosperous
one, by Elizabeth of Lochinvar, sister of the Lady of Lochnaw.
His second son became Laird of Maryport ; his third of Chirghie ;
his fourth was successively Dean of Eaphoe and Bishop of
Killaloe, of Waterford, and of Lismora His fifth son is styled
of Cardrine, a smedl estate near the Mull of Galloway.
In a letter dated from Lochnaw 29th November 1582, the
sheriff addresses him as *' brother" ; tells him he has been say-
ing a good word " concerning your plea " to the young Laird of
Mochrum and the Laird of Bambarroch, and signs himself
" your brother at power, Patrick Agnew."
During Sir Patrick's sheriffship, the Hathomes — written
also Halthorne and Hawthorn — established themselves in Airies.
The name occurs as far back as in the Chamberlain Bolls 1455,
in which the Chamberlain accounts for " 15 bolls farinse
avenaticse (oatmeal) of the escheat of David Halthom.
"Quentin Halthorne and Alexander Halthorne" were sum-
moned "to compeer before the Lords of Council, 22 Jan.
1484, — and compeered not." The family became kyndlie
tenants of the lands of Airies under the Church, and on the 6th
November 1562, we find a bond of manrent between Harry
Hawthorne of Airies and Alexander Waus of Bambarroch.
"Harry Hawthorn becoming servant to the said Alexander
Vans, to ride and gang with him in all his leisum causes and
actions ; for which cause the said Alexander gives to the said
Hary his parsonage of his 6-merk land of Mickle Aries, for the
yearly payment to him of 14 marks.
"Simon M^Culloch of Myrtoun; Patrick Mure of Cairn-
field ; Alexander M'Culloch of Kyllasser ; Alexander Vaus and
Sir Herbert Anderson, notary public, witnesses."
A Michael Hawthorne was a " reader in Toskerton " in the
first list of reformed clergy, probably the brother of Harry,
mentioned with the clerical "sir," by Lord Barnbarroch in a
letter to his agent : " Always ye will remember to provide Sir
Michael Hawthorne's silver against Paice (Easter) at the latest.
9 Feb. 1586."
426 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1584
The Hawthornes acquired Aiiie Hemming in the parish of
Glenluce, retaining Airies till the present century. Eventually
John Hawthorn of Airies married in 1738 Agnes Stewart of
Physgill, and took her name. His descendants are the Stewarts
of Glasserton.
Beyond the mere mention of the second hereditary sheriff
having been employed in negotiations with the Eegulus O'Neill,
A.D. 1460, there is no record of any communication kept up by
the Agnews with the north of Ireland. In an historical notice,
however, it is assumed as notorious that some of the Scottish
baronage in the west held lands in Ireland. It is as follows :
" A.D. 1540, King Henry VIII. takes the title of King of Ire-
land, whereat King James somewhat grumbles, but keeps
himself quiet in respect King Henry makes no use of this
title for expelling the Scots there from their inheritance.'' ^
The question of the Agnews' possession of Lame stiU re-
maining entirely dependent on tradition, and that especially
Irish.
Forty years later, however, such Scots as had land there had
a more active foe in a Celt from their own side of the water,
" Sorley Boye," ^ by whom Anglo-Norman and Lowland Scots
were alike termed the Sassenach. To him Queen Elizabeth
made a more vigorous resistance than James V., sending Essex
with a large force to confront him ; but the picturesque bar-
bariEui made good his hold of the seaboard from Strangford
Loch to the Giant's Causeway.
The queen afterwards accepted his submission ; and James
VL treated his son with great distinction, eventually creating
him Earl of Antrim (in 1603), with the over-lordship of the entire
regions known as " The Route " and " The Glynns," extending
* Balfour, I 272.
' This was Sombirle M'DonnelL Somhirle or Somerled, a name composed of
two Norse words, Sumar lidi, *' summer soldiers or wanderers," equivalent to sea-
kings or vikings. The name has been incorrectly rendered Charles, and still
more so Samuel. Sorley Boye is the golden-haired Somerled.
That part of Antrim extending from Ravel Water northward, at the present
day ''The Route" — Latin rata — ^is considered to be a corraption of the latter
part of Dalradia.
to 1598] THE ARMADA 427
landwards from Lame to Goleraine. Connected with this there
seems indirect evidence of the Agnews having been ancient
owners of a part of these domains, in that one of the first acts
of Sir Bandall McDonnell, the son in question, before he was
created an earl, was to offer Sir Patrick Agnew leases of various
townlands in the baronies of Glenarm and Lame.
The last notice we find of the sixth sheriff is an entry in the
Privy Council Becords of special commissions granted to Patrick
Agnew of Lochnaw, Sheriff of Wigtown; John Kennedy of
Blairquhan, Sheriff of Ayr; and John Gordon of Lochinvar,
Sheriff (sic) of Kirkcudbright, to convene the freeholders for
choosing commissioners to meet at Edinburgh the 6th October
following, and to report the result of the elections.
The sheriff died in 1590. The first of his line buried in the
churchyard of Leswalt with Protestant rites. He left, besides
his heir, Patrick of Sheuchan (reproduced by his grandson),
William of Barmeill ; Thomas, whose son was heir of his uncle
William ; Quentin, who had various properties near Stranraer ;
Alexander of Ardoch in the Stewartry, then sheriff-depute ; and
two daughters — Katherine, the Lady of Larg, and Helen, wife of
John M'Dowall, presumably of Garthland.^ Gilbert Agnew of
Galdenoch, in virtue of two Crown precepts, invested his eldest
son in his lands and rights, the ceremonies extending over two
days — the 22d and 23d April 1590. The witnesses the first day
being David Kennedy, Alexander Agnew of Croach, James
M*Ewen in Leswalt, Robert Boyd in Largbrak, George M'Cedlum,
and Niven Adair younger of Kinhilt. On the second, Nevin
Agnew in Mais, William Dunbar in Culmalzon, Finlay
M'Cracken, Patrick M'Kie, William Gordon in Bemernie,
William Agnew, brother - german of the sheriff; Thomas
M'Dowall, Alexander M'Dowall, Michael M'Cracken, notary to
sheriff-clerk.^
^ There is a charter in the Great Seal Register of the lands of Portensak
(Portnessoch) to John M'Dowall and Helen Agnew his spouse, 20th January
1581.
' Both charters in the Great Seal Register. Larghrak, Larbrax ; Mais, Maize,
Cymric maas, ** meadow " ; Bamnemie (n-aime), " hill- top of the sloe hush. "
428 HBREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 5 84
The seventh sheriff as justiciar had already gained himself a
good name by his activity, and at the date of his succession the
local historian relates ''that the condition of the inhabitants
had considerably improved. Law had assumed some vigour,
and both the persons and property of individuals were held
more sacred. The execution of justice had become more certain,
and the chances of escape diminished. The courts of justiciary
had principally contributed to produce this salutary change in
Galloway." ^
In recognition of his services he was moreover appointed
Chamberlain of Galloway, an office of considerable emolument,
and which, except in his case, had never been conjoined with
that of sheriflf. His accountings, as preserved in the Chamber-
lain Bolls, extend continuously from 1595 to 1609. He was
knighted previous to the earlier date. We doubt if he con-
sidered this a privilege, but rather as an attempt of the heralds
for extracting a fee. It is observable that all the principal
Galloway lairds registered as knights, such as Garlies, Lochinvar,
Myrton, and the sheriiffs, never use the " sir " in their signatures,
considering the baronial position the more honourable, except
in the case of being conferred personally by the sovereign for
service in the field. The knightly prefix is invariably given to
the clerics, and often to the notaries public. In 1591 we find
the sheriff serving Sir Patrick Vaus heir to George, Bishop of
Galloway (his good-sire*s brother), who had died at the age of
ninety at least, in 1570. The record is as follows :
"The Sheriff's head court at Wigtown, holdenin the Tolbooth
of the same be ye honourable Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wig-
town, the 12th day of October 1591.
" Suits coiled. — The court affirmed absence amerciate :
Dempster, Patrick Wardlaw.
* Mackenzie, vol. iL p. 2.
The Privy Council Records supply many facts useful in filling in the links
in pedigrees. Thus 1692 : ** Bond by Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, that
James M'Eie of Drumbuy shall not harry Alexander Gordon, Tutor of Craighlaw.
Subscrivit at Lochnaw, 8 July, before Archibald Gordon and Alexander
Agnew."
to 1598] THE ARMADA 429
Jurors,
George M*Culloch of Torhouse. William Campbell of Eerrintray.
Patrick Hannay of Eirdaill. Harrie Halthoime of Aries.
William Danbar in Oulmalzow. Mr. William M'Qowyne^ Commissar
Alezr. Qordonn, apparent of Balcray . of Wigtown.
Simon MKIHiristine of Clonsche. Johnne Baillie in Dunragat
Gilbert Gordon of Polmallairt. John Ramsay of Boghouse.
Malcolm M'Eie in Dyrrie. William Muir, tutor of Gaimfield.
" The quhilk day compeerit the right honourable Sir Patrick
Waiis, Bambarroch, desiring the honourable inquest above
written, to serve him as nearest and lawful heir-male to umqiihile
and Eeverend Father in God, George Wawss, sometime Bishop
of Quhithorne, quha decesit the year of God 1570. Our
Sovereign Lord's brief verified be William M'CuUoch, king's
oflScer upon the 28th day of September last.
" The said inquest passed furth of Court as the use is being
rypelie advicit, with the said brief and claim ; and on entering
again all on ane voice, but variance, servit the said Sir Patrick
as heir-male nearest and lawful to the said umquhile George
conforme to the said claim."
On this, Mr. Vans Agnew remarks : "This good-sire succeeded
in 1482 ; therefore at that date his Father and the Bishop's was
dead, and this Bishop George must have lived for nearly 90
years." ^
But, as seen in our pages, Bishop George Vaus was brother-
in-law to the present (the sixth) sherififs great-great-grand-
mother, which Marietta became Lady of Lochnaw in 1469 ; at
which date she must have been somewhere about nineteen years
of age, and it is highly improbable that George could have been
more than twenty years younger than his sister, or that he was
consecrated bishop before he was himself thirty-three. On
either of which calculations he seems certainly to have been a
centenarian.^
In 1591 the Laird of Larg died, leaving to his widow, the
^ CorrupondeMe of Sir Patrick Waus, Introduction, p. 84.
^ The startling fact being that Bishop George Vaux died 101 years after his
sister was married and established as Lady of Lochnaw.
430 HEREDITAEY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1584
sheriff's sister, the whole of the revenues of Lai^ and other
lands. On the 13th of July 1593 Catherine M'Kie, late Agnew,
was married at Lochnaw to Alexander (xordon of Clanyard;
the settlements then signed conveying to the sheriff, in trust
for his sister, a Ufe interest in the lands of Clanyard, Grarroch-
tree, and Portencorkrae.^
Whilst Catherine Agnew was its lady Clanyard Castle was
famed as the " best halding house " in all the country sid^ and
she herself as a " notable spendar." ^
Kitchen and hall cure now alike silent, but her old dinner-
bell is still as sonorous as ever, it having been removed to the
parish church of Kirkmaiden, where it now weekly summons
the lieges for more serious purposes.
The bell had been cast in 1534 for Lord Dalhousie, from
whom it had been acquired by the Laird of Lochinvar, who
made it a wedding-gift to the bride and bridegroom on their
taking up house at Clanyard. The following letter from the
sheriff is in the Bambarroch charter-chest :
Letter from Sir Andrew Agnew to the Laird of
Barnbarroch, 24th June 1592.
My Lord, eftir my hertlie commendatioun, the berar heirof
Mr. Williame Turner, as I am Informit, hes agreit with the
comnusser, and hes satisfeit him in all things, according as he
^ Clanyard, claonard, ''the high glope."
In a charter nnder the Great Seal, from Stirling, 1594, both settlements are
recapitulated. By the first Eatherlne Agnew receives the lands of Laig, Mark,
Tarff, Polbrecks. Dated 9th December 1591. Witnesses : Patrick M'Kie, apparent
of Larg, Sheriff of Galloway, Patrick Heron, Robert Gordon of Bememey. The
second is to Andrew Agnew, Vice Comes, and Eatharina Agnew, soror ejus,
giving Clanyard, Portencorkrae, Garrachtrie, etc. Signed by Alexander Gordon
and the sheriff as principals ; Quentin Agnew the sheriffs son, and others,
witnesses.
Port an corcoir, " the port of the crimson " ; above it red granite crops out in
the cliff. Bamcorkrae, ''the height of the crimson or red."
' Cloneyard, of old a very great house.
Rather more than a couple of centuries ago Alexander Gordon had brought
home to Clanyard as his wife the richly dowered sister of Sheriff Agnew. They
kept house with baronial splendour and profusion ; for every day in the year a
GaJloway nowt was killed, and not "a peck ** but a boU of malt brewed, dan-
to 1598] THE ABM ADA 431
will testifie and mak knawin unto your (L) Quhairfoir I will
deayre your (L.) that as your (L) has bene ane guid freind and
favourer of him hitherto so in lyke wayis your (L) will forder
him to get his besines exped This nocht dowting bot your (L.)
will do for my requiest, as I salbe habill to do for your (L)
requeist agane. Nocht trubling your (L.) with farder at this
present quhill the nixt occasioun, committis your (L.) to the
protectioun of the lord ffroume the wigtoun the xxiiij day of
Junij 1592. Andro Agnew.
** To the rycht honorabiU and my speciaU my lord of bame-
barroch."
In a charter of renewal in the Great Seal Eegister in favour
of Ninian Adair, dated 12th November 1595, " Portray," the
" Clachane of Stranrawer," is named as part of his barony.
In 1596 "Stranrawer" was erected by Act of Parliament
into a burgh of barony under the Adairs of Kilhilt, the
charter just quoted having been overlooked. It has been gener-
ally assumed that the name was a new one given at this erection,
and, as Symson suggests, descriptive of the situation ; as by the
town " there runs a bourn or strand, so that perhaps the town
should be spelled Strandrawer." But good Andrew Symson
notwithstanding, neither " row " nor " strand " lie at the root of
the name, but " sron," the " nose or snout," and " reamhar," the
" bluflf point." The Celtic form Stronrawer is to be found in the
Lochnaw charter-chest a century before this, and is obviously
identical with the " Stranrever in the Ehynns " in charters of the
days of Robert Bruce. The bounds assigned by charter to the
burgh are: "St. John's Croft, extending to 6 acres, from the
burn which comes from the Loch of Chappell to the Loch of Loch
Ryan, and to the lands of Airds to the east. The tower, fortalice,
manor-place, and yards of Chappell on the west. The water-
gang which was to the mill of Chappell on the south; and
yard must have been a pleasant residence : it is sheltered from westerly gales by
Bamcorkrae Fell, and from bitter east winds by the heights of Garrachtrie.
Around it are fair arable lands, and half a mile to the west is Glanyard Bay, with
its broad sandy beach. — Macllwraith's Cfuide to WigtovrMhirtt 148.
432 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 5 84
the Loch of Loch Bjan on the north ; reserving to Elizabeth
Kennedy, heretrix of the said croft, the tower, fortalice, manor-
place, yards, and orchards of ChappelL" In 1595 we find the
rising town styled "Clachane de Stranrawer"; in 1596 it becomes
" librum Burgum Eegalium."
Within a few years of its foundation, Stranraer became quite
a social centre, a knot of county lairds habitually frequenting
it ; the Laird of Garthland building a large town house, as also
Quentin Agnew the sheriff's brother, as well as Lynn of Larg and
the Kennedys of Chappell ; John Kennedy of Creach being
among its first provosts, and cadets of the Agnews, M'Dowalls,
and others among its bailies. In later years it is traditionally
said that the George Hotel was once the town house of the Earls
of Stair.
The cordial relations established between Sir Thomas
Kennedy of Culzean and his " traist friend," Sir Patrick Agnew,
were drawn even closer with his son.
Sir Thomas, known as the " Tutor of Cassilis," is written of
even by a bitter opponent as " indeed a wery potentious man,
and a wery wise man." The heir whom he had educated seems
to have inherited a large share of his father's (the fourth earl's)
greed, and hardly was he free from his uncle's leading-strings
than he showed himself as unscrupulous in making money, and
more careful to keep it, than his father. He gave early evidence
of this ruling passion, when, in 1597, being barely twenty
years of age, against aU remonstrances, he married the widow of
Lord Maitland of Thurlston, a lady old enough to be his mother,
but largely dowered. As pithily put, *'Ye 3d of November
1597 Earl Cassilis married ye Chancellour Maitland's widow,
of gude yearis, not like to bear children, daughter and heir to
Lord Fleming."^ And at his wife's instigation he further
accepted the ofi&ce of Treasurer of Scotland, from which the
tutor vainly tried to dissuade him.^
^ Oottonian Manuscript
' The 22d March 1598 the Earl of Cassilis is made great Treasurer, persuaded
thereto by his wyfe, quha had been the chancellor's wyfe before, and thought
she would have her last gudeman Treasurer. But his majesty thinking him right
to 1598] THE ARMADA 433
Before this the tutor's eldest daughter Margaret had married
Patrick, the sheriifs eldest son; and shortly after her sister
married the younger Mure of Auchendrane under extraordinary
circumstances.
Sir Thomas Kennedy had obtained a decree in court against
this young man for 12000 marks, " not intending to put the
same in execution, but as an awband above his head," which
greatly incensed his family. They meeting to consider the
matter, Auchendrane, his father, suggested a simple mode of
dealing with the debt. Sir Thomas had a house at Maybole,
and the laird's advice was to waylay him on his return from a
supper-party to which it was known he was engaged for New
Year's night 1597. The accomplices watched accordingly, and
tracking their victim to a narrow close, discharged a voUey
point blank at the party, the tutor escaping their bullets by a
miracle. ** He flees ; they chase him ; but by the mirkness of the
night he escapes." The noise aroused the neighbours, and
friends rallying to Sir Thomas, Mure and his party had in turn
to fly. The misdemeanants were summoned to appear before
the council, and not attending, were declared rebel and put to
the horn. Whereupon the tutor seized the " House of Auchen-
drane, destroyed the plenishing, and wrecked all the yarding." ^
Buin stared the Auchendranes in the face, when the bold idea
occurred to the laird to propose a man*iage between his son and
heir and the tutor's daughter ; at the same time expressing
himself in language of the most abject penitence for his mis-
doings. Young Mure was of good repute, his expectations large,
and there may have been previous love passages between the
young folks. At all events the damsel proved not unwilling.
The tutor took the matter ad avizandum^ and as the result kith
rich, and that she might furnish sums of money, and using words to this effect,
put them to such a ftight that she moved him forthwith to give the pkco
up. He had to pay 8000 marks to be allowed to do so. — Pitcaim*s Historie of
the KennedyiSf p. 112.
Lady Cassilis died 1609, aged fifty-five, having had issue by her first husband
John, created Earl of Lauderdale, of whom one was ancestor of the Maitlands of
French.
* Pitcaim's HUtorie of the Kennedyis, p. 27.
VOL. I 2 F
434 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1584-1598
and kin from far and near were summoned to the bridal ; and
80 thorough did the reconciliation appear that the historian of
the opposing faction writes that " the Laird of Culzean did now
so affect the good of the Laird of Auchendrane and his house,
that it was no less dear to him than his own." ^
An unfortunate quarrel occurred about this time between
the Master of Cassilis and the tenant of Auchnotteroch. These
lands, now a part of the Lochnaw estate, then the Earl of
Cassilis's, had been let by Sir Thomas Kennedy to one M'Ewen,
the Master of Cassilis having previously engaged that they
should be given to his foster brother, Patrick Bickard. Hearing
this, the Master sent a message to M'Ewen warning him not to
accept the farm, ** else he would make all his harness clatter."
But this M'Ewen, " being a proud carle, and having the Sheriff
of Galloway as well as Culzean to back him," defiantly answered
"that he would take any land my lord chose to give him.
Thereupon the Master, forgathering with M'Ewen, slays him,^
whereat my lord was far offendit" Afraid of returning to his
brother, the youth claimed and received hospitality at Garthland,
where, falling in love with his host's sister, he married her ;
" whereat," we are told, " my lord was even more offended than
he had been before." It is a curious coincidence that after the
lapse of nearly three centuries, a M'Ewen is still tenant of
Auchnotteroch.
^ The marriage complete, Auchendrane relaxed from the horn, and all their
folk made free that was with him and made friends. — Pitcaim's Historic qfthe
Kennedyis, p. 86 ; from which are taken all the notices in inverted commas
above.
' Three years later, 14th September 1601, we find a remission to the Master of
Cassilis, John Boyd his servant, and Hugh Kennedy of Ghappell, for the
slaughter of Andrew M'Ewen in Auchnotteroch.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE FEUDS OF THE KENNEDYS
A.D. 1598 to 1616
Few were the words, and stem and high,
That marked the foemen's feudal hate ;
For question fierce and proud reply,
Gave signal soon of dire debate.
Lay of the Last MinstreL
Sir John Kennedy of Blairquhan, whose family had long owned
lands on the Cree, towards the close of the century acquired
from Sir John Yaus various lands in Sorbie. He had married
I^ady Margaret Keith, daughter of the Earl Marshal, by whom
he had two sons, John and James, and a daughter, married to
Andrew, third Lord Ochiltree. About 1605, this second son
married the sherifiTs daughter Jane, and his father settled the
lands of Cults and Baltier upon the young couple, with Cruggle-
ton Castle for their residence.^ Of the branches of the Kennedys
none were more respected than the Laird of Blairquhan. He,
alone of all the clan, keeping himself clear from the frequent
bickerings and meetings between relatives, ending in blood,
which kept the province in a state of continual turmoil Of
the family holding baronial position in Galloway we trace a
Kennedy of LeflFnoll, of Knockybay, of Arioland, of Auchtra-
^ In the Lochaw charter-chest are yarious charters to James Kennedy and
Jaine Agnew his spouse. No. 1 of Baltier, No. 2 of Cults, of 2Sd September 1606,
confirmed ''and to be holden of his majesty by royal charter, 5 Not. 1606."
Also Nos. 3 and 4 of Cruggleton Castle and contiguous lands, one from M'Dowall
of Machermore, another from Sir John Wauss of Longcastle, confirming the
former as superior. John Kennedy of Blairquhan had built and dedicated a
chapel to St Ninian at the Cruives of Cree in 1508.
436 HEREDITAKY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1598
lour, of Chappell, of Airiehemming, of Grennan, of Synnieness,
of Gillespie, of Airds, of Cieach, and of Caimgaam.
The feud between the earl and Bargany had led to such
disorders that, on the complaint of the local officials, the king
summoned both to Edinburgh, and there ''gart them shake
hands." But hardly were their differences composed, than the
earl plimged into a serious quarrel with the whole baronage of
the shire. His father, it will be remembered, had in one of his
softer moods propitiated the good- will of these gentlemen by
granting them kyndlie tenancies which, if they did not bring as
much rent to his coffers as what was marketably obtainable, yet
secured him their good- will, often of more than money's worth
to a superior. Greed being the new earl's weak point, he did
not see the matter in this light, and determined to break the
leases. Accordingly he ''obtenit ane decreitt aganis all the
gentill menne of Galloway, of aU thair kyndlie rowmis, sik as
the Lairdis of Gairfland, Kenhilt, and Meirtonne, with the
Schereff of Galloway, and thair freindis, rydis to his house of
Inche in Galloway, with forty horse in geir, on intentione to
put the same decreite of his to executiounne. . . . The quhilk,
the gentill menne of Galloway perseiffing, send and desyritt me
Lord to wse thame kyndlie ; bot he refuissit the samin, and wald
wse na thing bot the rigour of the law " ; and singling out
Garthland for his first attack, proclaimed a court at Glenluce
for next day, thinking there to enforce the decree against him.
From his intimate relations with Culzean, the sheriff might
probably have made terms for himself ; but this he scorned to
do, and deciding to make common cause with his neighbours,
the friends met, and engaging to support one another to the
death, made arrangements for putting a superior force in the
field on the following morning.
Cassilis's summons was therefore responded to in a manner
as prompt as unexpected. As he was preparing to leave his
house with his troop of forty horse, he was informed that the
gentlemen had already ridden past his gates on the way to
Glenluce with one hundred horse in geir.
vvi -jr ^-
to 1616] THE FEUDS OP THE KENNEDYS 437
M'Dowall's family under the Church had been baron bailies
of the district ; and the gentlemen entering the court, and my
lord not appearing, Garthland facetiously remarked : " If my
lord would come there, he should be welcome, and he should be
his depute." The earl meanwhile occupied his morning in re-
cruiting his forces ; and as the party jubilantly returned,
endeavoured to disperse them by a flank attack. A m^l^e
ensued, ending in the earl's men being driven back within their
defences.^ Where a garrison being ill provisioned, their in-
creased numbers rather told against them, for the gentlemen
knowing this, invested the island so closely that no one could
get out, and food was running scarce. In this dilemma the earl
determined to throw himself upon the generosity of his cousin
Bargany, who was actually at the moment in hostile bands
against him ; and having with him as his chaplain the minister
of GolmoneU, he despatched him on an embassage to Bargany.
The reverend gentleman sped so quickly on his errand that
he reached Ardstincher before Bargany had retired to bed, who,
hearing his story, at once " lapp on with forty horse," desiring a
further detachment to follow, and, riding all night, arrived at
Craigcaffie by break of day. Hence he sent desiring the sheriff
and gentlemen to confer with him. They soon appefiu'ed, ex-
plaining that they were not assembled "to pursue my lord to
his injury," but simply to defend themselves from wrong.
Bargany expressed sympathy with them, and especially with
Garthland (who indeed was in bands with him), promising to
deal with my lord, adding, " Gif me lord be to do you wrong, and
not use you kyndlie by the sight of friends, I will not only
leave his lordship, but defend you to the last drop of my blood."
^ *' Now, the vay that thay war to cum bak was be the Loch-end of the
Insche, quhair me Lord wes ; and me Lord had gaderitt sum ma of his menne to
him or thay com bak ; and sa, isschit oat of the loch, and thocht to put thame
about the way thay com : Bot thay com that way and wald nocht be stayitt.
The Galloway menne com that nycht, and inclossitt the Loche ; and wald not latt
nane out or in ; for thay knew he wes not weill prowydit . . . My Lord of
Gaissallis wes hiche offenditt . . . bot heffing ane minister in the Yll with him,
callit James Zoung, minister of Camnell (who) com out, and said he was going to
his kirk. For the quhilk effect thay sufferitt him to pass."— Pitcaim's ffistorie
of the Kermedyis, p. 81.
438 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1598
All agreed " that they would abyde by his judgement " ; and
Bargany passed to the Inch. Here my lord thanked him for
having proved a friend in need, and promised to be entirely
guided by him in his dealings with the baron's kyndlie rowmis.
Upon this Bargany returned to the gentlemen, and suggested
that they should send their followers home and come with him
to discuss their matters with my lord ; he undertaking to be
answerable for their safety, and to make doubly sure, passed on
forty of his own men armed into the island.
The earl received them aflfably, pronusing to stand by what-
ever "his eame" should settle. Their grievances being thus
discussed in an amicable spirit, and the laird entering into
particulars with my lord, "agreed them aU to their contente-
ments," it being understood that the decreit against Garthland
should be forthwith withdrawn.
The mansion-house being now provisioned, my lord insisted
that they all should stay and dine, which they did, nothing loth;
and dinner over, all mounted and rode off, the Galloway gentle-
men, as a mark of goodwill, escorting his lordship to Glenapp.
All seemed now happily settled, when, a few days later, having
waited on the earl with the conditions reduced to writing,
Cassilis, to his astonishment, coolly told him that he did not feel
himself bound by promises extorted by superior force, and
should fulfil them only so far as he chose.
High words ensued ; the indignant Bargany challenged the
earl,^ who agreed to give him satisfaction, but played him
as false in this matter as the former, never appearing " at the
time or place," and again setting the law in force against his
kyndlie tenants. He took out king's letters against Garthland,
which the sheriff was bound, in virtue of his office, to enforce ;
but he being himself in " bands " with Garthland, he took no
step in accordance with these to compel his removal or distrain his
effects, for which, consequently, he became personally liable.
^ "And efter lus waj-cuming, writ to me Lord, 'that his lordschip wald,
according to his word, apoynt him tyme, place, and maner.' Bot me Lord geff
na ansner, bot lat the samin pass oner withe sylense." — Pitcaim's Hittorie of the
KermedyiSf p. S4.
to 1616] THE FEUDS OF THE KENNEDYS 439
A summons was consequently served upon him by orders of
the Lord Treasurer, requiring him to account for the money he
had been desired to collect ; and failing to reply, he had a visit
from the Carrick pursuivant, with a demand for the surrender of
the keys of his castle to the king, as if he had been an ordinary
debtor.^ The sheriff obeyed, and for the said keys he asked and
received a receipt. It is to be presumed they were handed back
to him, as we can find no suggestion of his having been in any
way further inconvenienced by the visit. This receipt, bearing
date 19th September 1601, is in the charter-chest at Lochnaw :
" Compearit Eobert Campbell, Carrick Pursewant, quha, be
virtue of our Sovereign Lord's letters directed at the instance of
his Highness's Treasurer and Comptroller, had charged an honour-
able man, Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, Sheriff of Wigtown, to
render and delyver to him in our said Sovereign Lord's name
his Castle, Tower, Fortalice, and Dwelling Place of Lochnaw^
and to deliver him ye keys thereof, conforme to the said
letters quhilk are of ye date at Striveling ye 21st day of
August last bypast, under the pain of treesone, ye said Bobert
granted that the said Andrew Agnew, Sheriff foresaid, for
obedience of the said letters has rendered and deUvered to him
the said Castle, Tower, and Fortalice, with the keys thereof,
conform to the said charge, and granted the same fulfilled con-
cerning the delivery of the said place. Done at my dwelling-
house at 10 hours before noon, in presence of Thomas Agnew,
Baillie of Stranrawer ; James M'Morland, smith ; John Smyrlie,
servitor to the said £obert; and Thomas Agnew, merchant
burgess of Stranrawer.
" Robert Campbell, Carrick Pursewant."
Though the whole proceeding reads much like a farce, en-
tanglement in the meshes of the law might have proved a
serious matter for the uncaring sheriff, had not Sir Thomas
^ The law of Scotland did not permit imprisonment for debt, but by a legal
fiction transmuted a refusal to make payment into a question of disloyalty,
equivalent to treason.
440 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 598
Kennedy intervened, and brought these unseemly wrangles to a
closa Inviting the earl, his nephew, to meet at his mansion of
the Coiff, or Culzean, he got both to consent to submit their
matters to mutual arbiters, and abide by their decision; and
in the result the earl seems to have kept better faith than in
the former question of arbitration at Lochinch.
Both parties signed the following paper : —
'" At Maybole, the 12th day of November 1601. — ^A noble
and potent Lord, John, Earl of Cassilis, on the one part, and
Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, Sheriff of Wigtown, on the other
part, have faithfully submitted and compromised themselves by
signing the blank on the other side of the paper, to be filled by
the final sentence arbitral of Gilbert Boss on the part of the
noble Earl, and John Kennedy of Baltersone on the part of the
Sheriff, as judges, arbiters, and amicable composers, equally
chosen by both the said parties to decern and ordain what
satisfaction in sums of money or other ways the said Andrew
shall give to the noble Earl for the heritable fews of the lands of
Kylfeather, Craigberrinoch, and the Dougarie, within the barony
of Glenluce, appertaining to the said Sheriff in kindlie stedding,
and which he alledges should be set to him in few, according to a
decreet-arbitral pronounced by the late Earl of Murray betwixt
the Earl's late father and the Laird of Lochinvar.
''The said Judges have presently accepted these presents,
and shall fill in the blank betwixt this and the twenty-fifth day
of December next to come : and by what the Judges decern
and ordain by that the said parties are bound and obliged to
abide.
" In witness whereof both parties have subscribed the blank
within ; and they, with the Judges, have subscribed these presents,
time, place, and day foresaid, before Sir Thomas Kennedy of
Culzeane, Knyt., John Kennedy of Balneil, Thomas Kennedy of
Sinniness (and their servants).
" John Earl of Cassilis.
" Andro Agnew."
to 1616] THE FEUDS OP THE KENNEDYS 441
The details of the arbitTation are not forthcoming, but we
have ample proof that the sheriff was satisfied, and that the earl
kept faith, by a charter under the Great Seal confirming the
assignment of the lands of Kylfeather, Craibumoch, and the
Dougaries, by the Earl of GassiUs in feu-farm to Andrew Agnew
of Lochnaw, Sheriff of Galloway, and his heirs for ever. Cordial
relations were thus re-established between the house of the Inch
and Lochnaw.^
We find a note as to the Justiciar of Galloway, when in
Edinburgh in 1600, intervening to clear a brother from a scrape
in a manner hardly consistent with judicial propriety. It is as
follows : " Bobert Maxwell, merchant in Edinburgh, having been
disappointed of a sum of £100 due to him by Alexander Agnew,
brother of the Sheriff of Wigtown, apprehended the said Alex-
ander in Edinburgh, and consigned him to ward till he found
caution to answer the law. But while the town officers were
conveying the debtor to the Tolbooth, the Sheriff of Wigtown,
accompanied by Sir Bobert Gordon, apparent of Lochinvar, and
all his friends and servants who were in town, violently rushing
upon the said officers with drawn swords and quhinzears, re-
leased the said Alexander Agnew, and carried him off to John
Gordon's housa The King and Council decern Sir John
Gordon by the 20th of the month, till he find security for the
sum adjudged." ^ The matter was compromised.
The ties between Sir Thomas Kennedy and the sheriff's family,
which had subsisted for two generations, were drawn even closer
in a third, by the marriage of the sheriff's eldest son Patrick
with Margaret, the Laird of Culzean's daughter, by Elizabeth,
daughter of David M*GiIl of Cranstoun BiddelL As a result,
which was no doubt considered natural, we observe in the Privy
Council Begister, a relation that Patrick Agnew, younger of
Lochnaw, becomes responsible by a bond of £1000, that
James Kennedy of Culzean (now his brother-in-law), should
^ Privy Seal Begiater, vol. 74, folio 800. "Apud Halyrude Hous," 26tli
December 1602.
' Meg. of Privy CouncU, voL i. p. 102. The assault seems to have been made
in 1598, but not adjudged upon till two years later.
442 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 598
not harm John Dalrymple of Stair, or James Dalrymple, his
brother.
The relationship of the families of Garlies and Lochnaw had
been for some generations very close. The sheriff was married
to Sir Alexander Stewart's aunt, whose mother was a Douglas
of Drumlanrig by Margaret Gordon of Lochinvar, sister of the
sheriff 's mother.
In 1600, being then under age, young Sir Alexander Stewart
obtained the consent of his curators — ^Walter, Commendator of
Blantyre, and Robert Douglas, Provost of Lincluden — to marry
Grizel, daughter of Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar. The marriage-
contract was signed at Wigtown the 15th October, no one being
present besides the principals but the sheriff and Alexander
Stewart of Clary ; and was solemnised the December following
at Kenmure Castle "in face of Haly Kirk," the witnesses
signing thus: "Blantyre," " Lyncloudon," Sir John Gk)rdon of
Lochinvar, Sir Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown ; Alexander
Stewart.^
The young Sir Alexander was in 1607 raised to the peerage
as Lord Garlies, and further advanced in 1623 to the Earl-
dom of Galloway. A second marriage seems to have been the
residtof the wedding-party at Kenmure; Bosina Agnew, second
daughter of the sheriff, espousing William M'Clellan of Glen-
shannoch, brother and next heir to the Laird of Bomby, who
was shortly after created Lord Kirkcudbright. Bosina's hus-
band did not live to inherit, but her eldest son Thomas
succeeded his uncle as second Lord Karkcudbright, well known
as a dashing cavalry of&cer in the civil wars.
The law, so inert in graver matters, was set in motion in one
which now sounds ridiculous ; Uchtred M'Dowall of Garth-
land, Alexander Hannay of Sorbie, Sir John Vans of Barn-
barroch, and Alexander Gordon, being all summoned, in March
1600, " to compear before the Lords of Session to hear themselves
decerned as having incurred the pains for boarding themselves
^ This contract is in the charter-chest of Kenmore Castle, and a copy was
kindly given to the author by the Hon. Mrs. Bellamy Grordon.in 1874.
to 1616] THE FEUDS OF THE KENNEDYS 443
in oifitlar houses " ; the penalties for which were serious indeed
— '' 500 marks the Lord and Prelate, and 300 the Barons, to be
uplifted for the Kling." ^
The chronic feuds of the Kennedys were meanwhile
troubling the marches^ The intensity of the disorders is
to be gathered from such notices, among dozens of others,
"of the young Laird of Bargany gathering to the number of
600 men and horse with twa hundert hagbutteris, and many
basses " (i.e. cannon) ; my Lord TJchiltree joining him with an
hundred horse, ''so that in all he wes the number of nine
hundred men on foot and horse," to oppose my Lord Cassilis,
who was coming with nearly an equal number to distrain the
crops at Dangart, for which he had obtained a decreet. The
necessarily sanguine result of such a meeting was only pre-
vented by the intervention of Lord Cathcart (married to a near
kinswoman of Lord Cassilis), who " travelled among them " and
composed their diflferences.'
It was but a truce. Very shortly afterwards Bargany, with
the Kennedys of his faction, and the Laird of Auchendrane,
hearing of my Lord Cassilis being about to ride to Galloway,
lay in wait for him at a ford of the Stincher, and would have
taken his life had they not been overawed by the unexpected
presence of his uncle. Sir Thomas Kennedy, who they strangely
seem to have thought would have kept out of sight and connived
at their attempt
The earl's party passed unchallenged, little aware of how
narrow had been their escape, and arrived safely at the Inch,
where, next morning, who, of aU men, should present
himself at the tutor^s bedside, but Auchendrane, the chief
conspirator himself, who coolly reproached the tutor for not
having played into their hands.
The earl, hearing of his coming, had sent orders that he
should not be allowed to leave ; and presently joining him and
the tutor in the courtyard, accused him of plotting to take his
^ 2 James VI/s seventh Parliament, chap. 116.
' Hiatoru of the Kennedyia, pp. 87-88.
444 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 598
life, which Auchendrane audaciously denied. The earl, how-
ever, detennined to detain him as a prisoner ; and as he was
telling him this, dinner was announced, to which he invited
him. As, however, the earl entered the house, Auchendrane's
servant beckoned to him to make for the boat, which he had
unfastened ; and both he and Ardmillan's brother, who was
also in the yard, jumped in and pushed off, the earl supposing
they were following him; and before he was aware of their
escape they were already on horseback and away.
Shortly after Gassilis rode from Galloway to his Castle of
Craigneil, "where he remained ane space"; which castle lying
close to that of Ardstincher, Bargany's residence, both swarming
with £u*med men, encounters were of daily occurrenca In one
of these, Bargany being surrounded by superior numbers, of
whom he struck down many, Hugh Kennedy of Garriehom
"brak a lance on him, Quentin Grauford strak at him with
swords, and ane fellow called John Dick hackitt a lance at him,
and strak him through the craig and the thropilL"
Carried home in this uncomfortable state, the poor young
man died of his wounds, being barely twenty-five years old;
much lamented by his partisans ; the chronicler of his house
adding that " he was of his age the most wise he mycht be, and
gif he had time to add experience to his wytt he had been by
his marrows." ^ That he was a brave young man there can be
little doubt, but we can hardly with the chronicler admit him
to be an example to all posterity, except in the sense of quoting
his untimely fate as a warning against playing with edged
tools.
Bargany was far too important a personage to die unavenged,
and my Lord CassiHs was summoned to answer a charge of being
accessory to his death ; whereupon my lady rode into Edin-
burgh, and dealt with her friends at court Nevertheless things
might have gone hard with him had not the Laird of Culzean
followed, and " Jy Ms moyarie*' obtained for my lord an Act of
^ Historie of the Kennedyis, p. 51. ** Had been by his marrows," would have
surpassed all his contemporaries.
to 1616] THE FEUDS OF THE KENNEDYS 445
Gonncil, declaring ** all IQ7 Lord had done good service to the
King/' because Bargany's brother was at the horn for other
slaughters at the moment of the fatal encounter.
Having thus righted his nephew's aflfairs, the Laird of Cul-
zean rode into Galloway, and " there remaynit a great space "
with his daughter, destined to be his last visit to Lochnaw ;
for, according to the monstrous usages of the day, the friends
of Bargany had solemnly sworn that a man of note of the
Gassilis faction must die, and the occasion to them came very
shortly after.
Sir Thomas Kennedy, having to go to Edinburgh, unsuspect-
ingly wrote a note to Auchendrane, telling him so, and asking
him to meet him by the way. On getting the letter he at once
communicated its contents to Drummurchie, Bargany's brother,
and Mure of Gloncaird. All along Mure, under a disguise of
gratitude, had nursed a deadly hatred to Gulzean, and it was
soon settled that this was an opportunity not to be lost, and
that they should waylay the tutor the following morning.
Sir Thomas started merrily from Gulzean on his journey,
attended by one servant only ; and when among the sandhills,
beside St. Leonard's Ghapel, the four assassins fell upon him,
'' and slays him maist cruelly wi' shots and strakes, and took
from him efter he was slain his purse and ring, and sundrie
diamonds, with his golden buttons of goldsmith work." These
"honourable" men plundered him also of "eleven score rose
nobles, his swordbelt and hangar, and left him " ; when his man
Lancelot " brings him with him to the Grennan, and there gets
ane horse litter, and takes him to Maybole."
Public feeling, lax as it was in matters of feud, was outraged
by the circumstances of this murder. Mure, the instigator,
should have been bound by ties of gratitude as well as of
kindred to his victim, and indignation rose to a boiling-point
when he was further suspected of a second murder on a poor
scholar, who had been an unwilling, and the only witness to
Mure's conference with Drummurchie.
The Mures, father and son, were arrested, and as no direct
wwsv
446 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. I 5 98
evidence was forthcoming, they were put to the torture, under
which, however, they held out bravely; and as most persons
" much misliked that form of trial,** they were on the point of
being liberated, when one of the accomplices in the scholar^s
murder, wishing to secure his own safety, turned king*s evidence,
and all three were convicted, mercy beiug denied to the in-
former, and the Mures made a full confession of both their
offences, much to the satisfaction of the public.^
The tutor left four sons ; the second, Alexander, eventually
carried on the line ; and his great-grandson, on the £gdlure of the
senior branch, was served heir as ninth Earl of Cassilis, the
present Marquis of Ailsa being his direct descendant.
The chronicler tells us '* his dochteris warre thiie : Margaret
married the young Sheriff of Galloway, Helen married the
young laird of Auchendrayne, and Susanna was efter Lady
Larg."
This Laird of Larg being Sir Patrick M'Eie, son of Katherine
Agnew ; and his son represented the Stewartry in Parliament
during the civil wars. Margaret, with her husband Patrick
Agnew, resided during the sheriff's lifetime at Innermessan,
a position commanding the road from Ayrshire, by which
Cassilis was constantly passing to the Inch, rendering it diffi-
cult for young Agnew to avoid taking part in the tuilzies in
which the earl was engaged with the slayers of his wife's father ;
the more so as the Bargany fiEUition loudly proclaimed their in-
tention of offering a second victim to the manes of their chie£
Their next attack was a most ungallant one upon a lady.
Cassilis having occasion to go to London, his lady took the
opportunity of paying some visits in Galloway, arriving by
Innermessan on the 16th April 1604, and returning probably
from Lochnaw about the 21st of May. Kennedy of Drum-
^ Lord Cassilifl gave this extraordinary bond to his brother to induce him
personally to revenge his uncle's death, should law fail to do so : ''We, John,
Earl of Cassilis, binds and obliges us how soon our brother Hugh Kennedy with
his complices takes the laird of Auchendrane's life, that we shall make good and
thankful payment to him of the sum of 1200 marks yearly, together with the
com for six horses ; and herein we oblige us upon our honour. Subscribed at
Maybole, 8d September 1602."
to 1616] THE FEUDS OF THE KENNEDYS 447
murchie, his hands red with the tutor^s blood, getting notice of
her plans, arranged with Sir James Stewart (who was married
to a daughter of Garthland) and More of Gloncaird to waylay
her when beyond call of her Galloway friends. Lady Cassilis
meanwhile had asked her brother-in-law ^^ the Master " to escort
her, which he readily agreed to do, bringing with him fifteen of
his brother^s horse. Deeming their number sufficient, they
parted from their Wigtownshire friends, fording the Stincher, and
getting safely beyond Maybole ; when, on the moor of Auchen-
drane, Beu^gany attacked them with a p6u*ty of nine horse,
twenty-four hagbutt men being drawn up on either side of the
way. Outnumbered as to firearms, the Master effected a retreat
upon the mansion-house of Auchensoul, belonging to a friend
Duncan Crawford, who fortimately had " three stalwart friends
with him : the young laird of Grimatt, a brother of the Laird of
Polquharne, and Quentin Crawford of SilL"
Drummurchie quickly invested the place, but so garrisoned
they refused to surrender; whereupon a torch was procured,
and " it being but a thak house," they were soon smoked out,
but stiU made a stand in the walled yard. My lady came
forward to parley, when Drummurchie coolly informed her
that among her retinue was one John Dick, who, as before
mentioned, was concerned in his brother's slaughter; and
that he would discuss no terms unless he was delivered up
to him.
John Dick, overhearing this, speedily made a " slop in the
dyke " behind them, dashed through, and, assisted by the smoke
which partly concealed him and his horse, was off in an
instant. Thereupon Drummurchie's party made off after him,
chasing him " four or five myle " ; but he distanced them all,
never drawing bridle till far on the road to Loudon, where he
arrived in an incredibly short time, telling his master of the
plight in which he had left the countess.
The earl told his story to the king, which put his majesty
in " sic a rage " that letters were sent forthwith to the Sheriffs
of Galloway and Ayr, ordering them instantly to pursue and
448 HEREDITAEY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1598
arrest the misdemeanants, and farther desiring the matter to
be brought before the Parliament
The sheriffs acted with a will; yet in Galloway so much
more efficient were private bands than legal procedure, that the
release of Lady Cassilis had already been brought about, not
by the action of the sheriffs officers, but by pressure brought to
bear by the Laird of Garthland and Lord Ochiltree, who had a
private understanding with Drummurchie. Summons of treason
nevertheless went forth in due time against Thomas Kennedy
and Walter Muir for the double crime of burning Auchensoul
and the abduction of Lady Cassilis; and on the 11th of July
Parliament adjudged Drummurchie "to have tint his fame,
honours, and dignities, and that he be punished as a traitor, and
all his lands, gudes, and geir forfeited to the king."i
The Earls of Cassilis had hitherto inhabited the old strength
of the Inch, which had sheltered the Agnews when driven from
their home. The present earl now set about building a new
house on a tongue of land between the two lakes, well known
as Castle Kennedy.
Whilst the building was in progress, the earl, riding up
thither near Girvan Bridge, stumbled suddenly on Thomas
Dalrymple (brother of the Laird of Stair), who was then at the
horn for having lain in wait to kill Cassilis himself a few
months previously. The youth was "hard at my lord's men
in the twilight" ere ever he knew them. The earl carried
him to Craigneel, where he halted for the night, and
before starting next morning "gave him an assize and
hanged him on a tree." Though the act was severe, the
earl was perfectly within the law ;^ but in revenge for the pro-
^ Their indictment was ''pro malevolo, cnideli, nefario, abominabili et
scelesto incendio manerii Auchensoul — ubi Domina Joanna Comitessa de
Cassilis, Hugo Eennedie, etc., captivi fact! sunt. Et vi abducti et in priratis
carceribus detenti."
' Lord Gassilis's act may seem harsh, but the chronicler had somewhat
hazy ideas as to the spirit of kindness and what might be cause of offence,
having himself related, without a word of disapprobation, as a fact, that on the
6th December 1606 the youth had lain in wait to murder Cassilis as he passed,
for which he was a fugitive when caught, and for which the Baron Court con>
demned him.
to 1616] THE FEUDS OF THE KENNEDYS 449
ceeding, Muir of Cloncaird, himself also at the horn at the
moment for other slaughters, rode ofif to Galloway, and there
killed David Girvan, the master of the works at the castle, in
cold blood, though he had no concern whatever in Dalrymple's
seizure.
Lady Cassilis, the victim of Drummurchie's escapade, died
in 1609, and her husband the fifth earl in 1615. He was
succeeded by his nephew John, son of the Master of Gassilis,
who had married Margaret, daughter of M'Dowall of Garthland.
This sixth earl resided more constantly at Castle Kennedy than
his father. He is known in family tradition as the "solemn
earl ; " but, as we shall see, he too could don his armour and
" ride forth in routing " on occasions.
Sir Thomas Kennedy, father of the Lady of Lochnaw, had
been predeceased by his eldest son. After his murder, his second
son, James, was served his heir, who, for some reason unknown,
sold Gulzean to his next brother, Alexander. This brother
acquired other estates by marrying Agnes, heiress of Kennedy
of Ardmillan, and his descendants eventually succeeded to the
Cassilis title.
Eequiring some immediate advantage in respect to his pur*
chase, he was assisted by his brother-in-law, as shown in a
bond : " I, Alexander Kennedy of Culeane, grants me by the
tenour hereof from the hands of Sir Patrick Agnew, knight,
SheriflF of Wigtown, the sum of seven hundred and fourscore
marks money usual of this Eealm, whereof I grant my receipt,
and bind me my heirs and executors thankfully to refund and
deliver the same to the said Sir Patrick, and the Dame Margaret
Kennedy his spouse. With ten marks money yearly for the
annual rent of ilk hundred marks of the principal.
"At Innermessane the 20th day of April before thir wit-
nesses ; Robert Weir, servitor to the said Sir Patrick, and James-
Glover, notar, writer hereof."
In 1606 James Kennedy acquired the lands of Cults, as
shown by a charter executed at Glenluce, granted by Vans
of Barnbarroch, the 25th of November, in favour of Jamea
VOL. I 2 G
450 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1598
Kennedy of Cruggleton, and Jane Agnew his spouse. Witnessed
by Andrew Agnew, Sheriff of Wigtown, John M'Dowall of
Garthland, Thomas Hay of Park, and James Glover, notary
public.
We also find a disposition of Mellan, now Molland HiU, in
the parish of Penninghame,^ to Alexander Agnew, the sheriff's
third son, by James Gordon of Hazelfield, dated 21st November
1609 ; and on the 26th January 1611 his father purchased for
him the lands of Barvennan from Sir John Vans. Of these the
Bishop of Galloway was superior ; and we find a second charter
of confirmation by WiUiam, Bishop of Galloway, confirming
Alexander Agnew's right to Barvennan, dated 27th January
1614.
This *'Eeverend Father in God" was William Couper, son of
John Couper, merchant in Edinburgh. Very different characters
are given him by Calderwood and Keith ; the former sneeringly
remarking, " None fracker against the Estate of Bishops in the
purer times, than he, none now fracker for the present course
and corruptions of the times " ; the latter intimating " that he
rested from his labours, Feb. 1619," jwids, " he certainly was a
man of worth."
In 1608 Ninian Adair had died, and was succeeded by his
son William, married first to a M'Clellan of Gelston, and
thirdly to a daughter of Cathcart of Carleton. By the first he
had Eobert, his heir; by the third, William, well known as
minister of Ayr from 1640 to 1684
William Adair succeeded Sir John (the Eeverend) Johnston
as Commendator of Soulseat : an office which must have been
purely honorary, the lands having been secularised when the
abbey was suppressed. William entered into close relations
with Sir Hugh Montgomery of Broadstone, who had received a
part of one-third of the O'Neil lands in the north of Ireland, to
which he led a colony of western Scots. Quite an exodus of
Galloway cadets ensued to this paradise of confiscations.
The following Galloway lairds made application to be
^ Drummolyn, "mill ridge." — Pont
to 1616] THE FEUDS OF THE KENNEDYS
451
enrolled as undertakers in the intended plantation and distribu-
tion of forfeited lands in the province of Ulster : —
George Murray of Broughton for 2000 acres, with Alexander
Dunbar of Egemess as cautioner.
Alexander Dunbar for 2000 acres, with Murray as his
cautioner.
James M'Culloch of Drummorell for 2000, with Broughton
cautioner.
Andrew Lord Stewart of Ochiltree for 2000, his uncle
Bobert Stewart cautioner.
James Dalrymple, brother to the Laird of Stair, 2000 acres ;
and though not a Gallovidian, one who had traversed it in its
length and breadth. Mr. Timothy Pont for 2000 acres.
The sheriff had dealings with the new Lord Antrim as to
his Irish claims, of which we shall say more presently.
Some years after this the sheriff purchased the reversion of
Cults and Baltier from James Kennedy, who had no family,
and which ever since have been known as a part of the estate
called the Sheriff's lands. The charter was signed and sealed
at Lochnaw, the 10th day of January 1615, bearing : " Wit ye all
and sundrie whom it effeirs : me, Sir Andrew Agnew of Loch-
naw, Sheriff of Wigtown, forsamekle as my belovit sone in law,
James Kennedy of Crugiltoun, has sauld, disponit, and dimitted
to me, my airs and successors, bot any manner of regres, rever-
sion, or right of redemption quhatsoever. The five pound land
of Cults, and three and a half mark land of Baltier lyand in the
parochin of Cruggleton. The said James has heritably infefb
me in ye said lands. The charter containing the precept of
seizing of the daitt at the place of Lochnaw, the 9th January
1615, for the sum of 5000 marks usual of Scotland.
" Subscrivit with my hand, written by William Gardner, my
seal is hung and affixed at Lochnaw, before Quentene Agnew,
my sone ; Gilbert Agnew, my servitor domestic ; Thomas Baillie,
servitor to the said James; and the said William Gardner,
notary."
There was a residence on the land of Cults, as we find the
452 SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. 1616
sheriiTs daughter-in-law dating a discharge from the Cults, sub-
scribing herself *' Dame Margaret Kennedy, Lady Lochnaw."
The sheriff seems also to have been able — ^very unusual in
those days — to pay down to his sons their respective portions
before his death, as proved by the following registered dis-
charge : " Be it kenned to all men, be thir present letters, we,
Andrew, Alexander, and Quentene Agnew, lawful sons to the
rycht honourabill Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, knycht.
Sheriff of Wigtown ; forsamekle as ye said Sir Andrew Agnew,
our father, has contented and payit to us, and ilk ane of us, the
full and haill soums of money quhereupon we were infeft in
wadsett in our said father's lands, in satisfaction of all portions
natural and bairns' part of geir, which befell and appertenit to
us be right of umquhill Agnes Stewart, our mother. Be the
tenour hereof, we discharge the said Sir Andrew Agnew, his
heirs and successors, all and haill of the said lands.
" At Lochnaw, the 13th day of November, the year of Grod
1616, before yir witnesses : Sir Patrick M'Kie of Larg, knycht;
William Agnew of Croach; Mr. Thomas Garvey, minister of
Leswalt ; and Gilbert Agnew, merchant in Stranraer."
The Sheriff died before the close of 1616.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE king's bailie OF LESWALT
A.D. 1616 to 1630
Oh ! we have the noble Stewarts that have lived here
For more than the space of four hundred year ;
Agnews, and M'Dowalls, and Gordons so gay,
And Maxwells, and Murrays, and likewise Park Hay.
Galloway STu^Tierds,
The entry of the eighth sheriff's service is as follows : —
" The Sheriff-Court of Wigtown, holden in the Tolbooth there-
of by John Ahannay of Sorbie, and William Agnew of Barmeil,
sheriff-deputes.
" Ye quhilk day, anent ye public edict raised at the ainstance
of the right honourable Sir Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw, Sheriff
of Wigtown, son and heir of unquhill Sir Andrew Agnew of
Lochnaw, Sheriff of Wigtown, his father, summoning and charg-
ing all and sundry be open proclamation at the Market Cross
of Wigtown and other places needful, to have compeirit this
day. To have heard and seen the instrument of seizine insert
and registrat " (which instrument is then recapitulated with lists
of lands and offices, the seizing of the former being by delivery
of earth and stone ; of the latter, by rod and staff). " On the
l7th March 1617, about 2 in the afternoon, in presence of
John Kennedy of Crichane;^ Archibald Gordon in lands of
Luce ; Alexander Agnew in Kerronrae ; William Agnew of
Croach ; Ninian Agnew in Craigauch ; Antony Stewart, servant
^ He seems to be the husband of the sheriff's cousin Jane, daughter of Sir
Alexander Stewart of Garlies, father of the first Earl of Galloway.
!7«B!«^VU.i >- ^■^■^^^^^i^WP
454 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1616
to the said Sir Patrick ; and Alexander Templeton, servant to
the said John Kennedy."
Among the sheriflf's papers is a precept from the Court of
Exchequer for the infefting of Sir Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw,
Sheriff of Galloway, in a house and yard in the town of Stran-
rawer, which belonged formerly to John Adair, burgess thereof,
VJho being a bastard, died without issue or making a settlement
A query here suggests itself : Was this a usual perquisite of
sheriffs ?
In 1619 Bishop Cowper was succeeded by Andrew Lamb,
Bishop of Brechin. On King James's accession to the English
crown he had appointed Gavin Hamilton to the see of Gallo-
way, which had been without a titular bishop for twenty years ;
gifting him also with what revenues remained to the priory of
Whithorn, and the abbacies of Tongland and Dundrennan.
Hamilton died in 1614, and was succeeded by Cowper, who,
as his predecessors, had been constituted also Dean of the
Chapel Eoyal. When King James, moved by his " salmon-like
desire," revisited the land of his birth in 1617, Cowper officiated,
and it is said to have given peculiar offence that the bishop
administered the Sacrament there to the Court and courtiers
kneeling, though we can hardly see how he could have done
otherwise if he used Episcopal services at alL
A General Assembly was called at Perth in 1618, which
adopted by a majority certain reversions to ancient usages:
namely, kneeling at the Sacrament, and observance of Easter
and Christmas Day. Bishop Cowper supported these changes,
and, according to Calderwood, " upbraided Mr. Thomas Provane,
minister of Leswalt ; Mr. James Symson, minister of Tongland ;
and exceeded all bounds in abusing Mr. David Pollock, minister
of Glenluce, for voting against them." ^
More impartial observers, however, declared that Cowper
always exhibited a laudable moderation; with Calderwood,
"purity of worship" meant Presbyterianism.
Cowper's successor was Andrew Lamb, two of whose daugh-
^ Calderwood, 7, 334-849.
to 1630] THE king's bailie OP LESWALT 455
ters married respectively Murray of Broughton and Lennox of
Cally : a son of the former, in a succeeding generation, married
his cousin, the heiress of the latter, and thus combined the pro-
perties.
The acrimony engendered by sectarian differences colours
all the annals of the period, panegyric or abuse being bestowed
entirely according to the writer's religious bias. Thus Eow and
Calderwood, good men, but certainly violent partisans, retail
with glee ribald sayings against all the bishops. We shall only
quote one :
Ymum amat Andreas, cum vino Glasgoa amres ;
Bos coetus, ludos Gallua, Brichaeus opesw
Thus translated for us by the first-named divine :
St Androes loves a cup of wine,
Wine Glasgow with an whoore ;
Bosse companie, play, Galloway,
Brechin not to be poore.^
It is but fair to add that the " play " with which Cowper is
taunted was neither with cards nor dice ; he was not a gambler,
but fond of a game of golf on the links of Leith. Almost all
the Galloway proprietors had accepted the leading doctrines of
the Reformation ; but when James, alarmed at the power the
General Assembly wielded, employed his kingcraft to assimilate
the churches of the two kingdoms, he found many, both of the
clergy and the laity, in sympathy with himself. The Presby-
terian divines, from an exaggerated craving for so-called purity,
had reduced the church services to a baldness distasteful to
those who had been accustomed to more ornate ritual ; and even
a considerable section of the clergy preferred a moderate Epis-
copacy to extreme Calvinistic Presbyterianism.
The leaders 'of the ultra-Presbyterians were good and earnest
men, but prone to denounce all who differed with them in
^ Row, 269 and 292. George Gledstanes, Archbishop of St. Andrews ; John
Spottiswode, Archbishop of Glasgow ; Dayid Lyndsay, Bishop of Ross ; William
Cowper, Bishop of Galloway ; Andrew Lamb, Bishop of Brechin, and afterwards
of GaUoway.
456 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1616
matters of ritual as wicked, classing together Prelacy and
Popery as deadly sins.
The Bishops, thus abused, not satisfied with retorting from
the pulpit, somewhat ill-advised, profited by their position to
get laws framed for their assistance. Hence law, strained to
reusurp unfair powers over conscience, fell into disrepute ; and
under the imposing protests of assertion of the law on the pre-
latical side, and conscientious resistance to it from the presby-
terian, life in Galloway was embittered, and the province
impoverished for three generations. Ko actual outbreak occur-
red until 1638.
Meanwhile the sheriff's attention was called officially to
more trivial matters. Commissioners appointed to examine the
weights and measures used in the realm had reported that the
greatest diversity from the standards existed in the sheriffdoms
of Wigtown, Dumfries, and the border counties. The Sheriff
of Wigtown was therefore desired to convene a court in his
shire within twenty days, and there " embraced the met," and
decreed that none shall presume in time to come within any
sheriffdom, to sell, block, bargain, contract, or deliver, with any
other met or measure but that by the Act then approved.
It is amusing to have to state that, notwithstanding his
exertions, the teinds of Leswalt, of which the hereditary sheriffs
were principal heritors, have continued to this day to be paid
in Galloway met, which is exactly double of that ordained by
statute.
Gallovidians indeed have been always proverbial for "good
weight." Within the present century a stranger presented
himself at a "farm toun" among the hills, and asked for a
pound of butter. The moorman was out, and his gudewife,
though ready to serve him, could nowhere find the " pun-stane."
The meal-stone quarter, her only weight available, obviously
would not do. They searched long and vainly for the " ouncel
weights," when the woman's eyes brightened. " I ken hoo we'll
manage it the noo," she exclaimed, seizing one of the fireirons.
" The gudeman brought hame a pair 0' tangs yestreen fira the
to 1630] THE king's bailie OF LESWALT 457
smiddy, which then just weighed twa pund. Wf them I'll
weigh your pund 0' butter." Baising the tongs in triumph, she
intelligently put one leg in the scale and let the other hang.
The beam got its swing, the butter was plastered in till it
righted, and the new-comer carried off his purchase with a light
heart, well pleased with his experience of Galloway weight.
In the criminal records of 1618 we find a county proprietor
convicted of a cruel murder. Maxwell of Garrarie having got
possession of another man's estate (probably by way of wadsett),
and being bound to make some provision for the penniless ex-
owner, became irritated at the annuitant's tenacity of life, and
took effectual steps to make it a terminable annuity. The man
was murdered and thrown into a moss-hole. Lord Garlies and
M'Kie of Larg assisted hia relatives in tracing the murderer.
Circumstantial evidence was obtained sufficient to authorise the
Sheriff to arrest him, who sent him before the High Court of
Justiciary, where " the dittay" as follows tells its own story :
" Johne Maxwell of Garrarie having, in his politic and crafty
manner, upon conditions best known to himself, conqueist and
acquired from Johne M'£ie of Glassock his haill worldly
moyane and estate, and thereby drawn him to his daily com-
pany and attendance : He, furth of his avaricious and churlish
disposition, loathing and wearying of the said John M'Eie's
company, in the month of July 1618, to rid and exoner himself
of his company devised and concluded in his develish heart the
pitiful and treasonable murder of the said John M'Kie as fol-
lows:— finding the said John for the most part making his
daily residence with him at bed and board within his place at
Garrarie, upon the 18 July, knowing the time of John M'Kie's
dyet in coming to his house, under silence and cloud of night,
accompanied by George Maxwell his son, and others, with
swords and invasive weapons, on John his coming to the said
place, put violent hands on his person, bound both his hands
and feet, and thereafter in most cruel and merciless manner
playing the part of hangman, with a hair tether strangled and
wirreit him to death; and having by that violent and cruel
458 .HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OP GALLOWAY [A.D. i6i6
meane bereft him of his life, thereafter carried him to a peat
moss or bum called the Bum of Savenstoun, wherein they
flang him."
On this charge, upon full consideration, Maxwell of Garrarie
was found guilty ; and was beheaded, as he justly deserved, on the
2d of April 1619.
As an incident in connection with this trial, it is stated that
seventeen gentlemen of the district, among whom were Sir John
Dunbar of Mochrum, James Kennedy of Cruggleton, Alexander
Dunbar younger of Mochruip, George Gordon of Barskeog, and
Alexander M*Culloch younger of Myrtoun, were all fined one
hundred merks each for declining to serve upon the assize.
The Lynns of Larg, owning a small lairdship on the Water
of Luce, were in the habit of fishing with small regard to their
neighbours' marches. The Rosses of Balneil and Hays of Park
remonstrated, but in vain ; the Lynns daring them to try to turn
them back. At last they accepted the challenge, and came
upon the poachers in the act of trespass in a bend beyond the
Muir Kirk of Luce. A tuilzie ensued, in which it is said three
of the combatants fell dead upon the river banks, and few
retired unwounded. The name of " the Bloody Wheel," im-
pressed upon the battlefield, is held to authenticate the story.
A less tragic tradition connects itself with the Hays and the
valley of the Luce.
There was a wedding-party near the abbey of Luce, and a
young Hay of Park was amongst the company. In the course
of the feast one of the few articles of plate was suddenly missed ;
and a blacksmith present, expressing more loudly than any one
his indignation at the fact, ended by a solemn prayer that
"cauld iron might be his hinner en' quhaever took it." He
became much excited, and later in the evening rudely called upon
Hay to pay for the shoeing of a horse he owed him, and irritated
the young man so much by his insulting manner that at last he
drew his sword and ran him through the body. As those present
raised the corpse, the missing article fell from the dead man's
pocket ; and their indignation at his murder was momentarily
to 1630] THE king's bailie OP LESWALT 459
stayed by the feeling that the smith had impiously drawn upon
himself the doom which Providence had thus meted out to him.
Hence Hay was able to retire unquestioned, though afterwards
obliged to fly the country.
A long while after he returned to Glenluce, disguised as an
idiot pauper ; and, blowing a long horn, he begged from house to
house, repeating a string of doggerel verses. He was known as
Jock 0' the Horn, and visited all his old haunts, even venturing
to the House of Park. Here he clamoured for alms, as else-
where, in jingling couplets. He never, however, doffed his
strange disguise, though it was whispered in the neighbourhood
of Park that, when the family were quite alone, the servants
were sometimes kept out of the way, and that then poor " Jock
0' the Horn" again took his proper place in the parlour, and
shared the family meal.
The Hays have been unfairly accused of having reared their
House of Park out of the spoils of the abbey of Glenluce ; the
fact being that the fabric stood entire for several years after the
building of Park Place ; but, being uninhabited, it came to be
looked upon as a quarry, and plundered now of a lintle, now of
a freestone rebate, or quoin, it fell into decay. It is pleasant to
know that the monks were never harried, but permitted to die
out, the last member surviving, it is said, until 1590.
Glenluce had always a somewhat uncanny reputation. Even
in the days of the Commonwealth the General Assembly of
Divines seriously debated taking steps to exorcise the " Deil of
Glenluce." Michael Scott's name is not unconnected with its
sorceries, and, freed from the presence of its ancient canons,
witches and ghosts played there greater pranks than ever. An
ingleside story of the period, handed down as literally true, is
that a labouring man's wife — a sensible, decent woman — Shaving
been detained late from home, was returning about the witching
hour; and
When the gray howlet had three times hoo'ed,
When the grimy cat had three times mewed,
When the tod had yowled three times in the wood,
460 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [AD. i6i6
at a spot known as the " Clay Slap/' she met face to face a troop
of females, as to whose leader being cloven-footed she could
not be mistaken. Her consternation was the greater as, one by
one, she recognised them all, and among them the ladies of the
manor. They stopped her, and in her terror she appealed to
one of them by name. Enraged at being known, the party
declared that she must die. She pleaded for mercy, and they
agreed to spare her life on her taking an awful oath that she
would never reveal the names of any as long as they lived.
Fear prevented her from breaking her pledge, but as one by
one the dames paid the debt of nature, she would mysteriously
exclaim, " There's anither o' the gang gone ! " She outlived
them all, and then divulged the secret; adding, that on that
dreadful night, after getting to her bed, she lay entranced in an
agony as if she had been roasting between two fires. We men-
tion this especially to show that witchcraft was as universally
believed in in Galloway as elsewhere ; and yet, notwithstanding,
amongst the papers at the sherifiTs courts and criminal records
of the shire, we have not found a hint of oflScial witch-hunting,
with its attendant cruelties, which shortly after became too
common elsewhere, and to which, sad to say, the people were
egged on principally by their ministers.
In the year 1619 Gilbert Agnew of Galdenoch acquired by
charter (24th of May) the lands of Knocknean from Uchtred
Campbell of Airies; the witnesses being WUliam Agnew of
Croach, William Boyd of Auchrochar, John M'Dowall in
Dinduff. The land takes its name from a certain group of
peculiar knoUs, such as fairies are supposed to affect for their
evening revelries; the root being nighean, "girls," or the
« Uttle folks." ^
In the year 1621 the sheriff's daughters Agnes and Jane
^ Mo nighean dubh, " my dark-eyed girl,*' is a refrain of a song introduced
by Professor Blackie in AUavona, There were two sorts of fairies : the "little
folk," and the women, rather held to be " uncanny folk." So Bamamon, Stoney-
kirk, is ** the hill-top of the women," these uncanny folk. Joyce gives au
example in Slievenamon, Tipperary (Sleibh na m-ban), ** hill of the fairy woman,'*
a famous fairy palace site being on the mountain (Joyce, i. 185).
to 1630] THE king's bailie OF LESWALT 461
married respectively the Lairds of Freuch and Logan. Uchtred
M'Dowall, the former, was son of a daughter of Lord Bam-
barroch. His branch of the family was especially prosperous,
possessing, in addition to Freuch, the lands and strength on
Dowalton Loch, besides the extensive barony of Loch Bonald
with its two picturesque lakes. Agnes Agnew's grandson mar-
ried Lady Betty Crichton, in her own right Countess of Dum-
fries, her great-grandson inheritiug that earldom, and his only
daughter carried the title to the Earl of Bute.
Alexander M'Dowall, Laird of Logan, settled upon his bride
as her dower the lands of Grennan, Balgown, Chappell Bossan,
and Auchness. The same year we find Gilbert Agnew disposing
on the 26th September to Quentin Agnew, designed brother of
the sheriff, lands lying within the burgh of Stranraer, with con-
sent of Agnes M'Dowall his spouse ; " to his name " this amusing
declaration being used instead of the modem, " his mark/' " with
my hand at the pen, as held by the notary underwritten, because
I cannot wryte myself."
In the Bambarroch charter-chest there is a discharge by
Lady Agnew, mother of the M'Dowall brides, to Sir John Vans,
worded thus :
" I, Dame Margrett Kennedy, Lady Lochnaw, grants me to
have resawitt fra my eam the Lord of Bambarroch ten bolls
beir at £8 the boll, and ten boUs corn at 5 marks the boll, and
shall cause my husband allow the same to him in part payment
of the annuals that he is caution for. Subscrivit with my hand
at the Cultis^ 25 April 1625, before this witness, Alexander
Agnew in Marslache."
The memorandum proves beyond dispute that in the west
countiy at least eme or eam had a wider sense than uncle.
Sir John Vans was undoubtedly her cousin, and Kelly in his
Old Scotch Proverbs rightly glosses eam " relation," though this
has been disputed by Jamieson.
Dame Margaret Agnew must be held to be an authority as
to the idioms of her day.
Her eldest son was married in the summer of 1625
462 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. l6l6
to the only daughter of Lord Galloway, by Grizel Gordon of
Lochinvar. The substance of the marriage -contract is as
follows :
** It is agreed between ane potent Erie, Alexander, Erie of
Galloway, for himself and taking burden upon him for Lady
Agnes Stewart, his lawful daughter, on the one part ; and Sir
Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw, Knycht, SheriflF of Wigtoun, and
Andrew Agnew his son and apparent heir, on the other pari ;
forsameikle as the said Andrew shall, God willing, marry and to
his lawfull wyfe take the said Lady Amies, and solemnize the
bond of matTmony in presence of ckrist^ congregation between
the date hereof and the last days of July next to come. . . . The
said Sir Patrick binds himself to infefb duly and sufficiently the
said Andrew and Lady Agnes in the lands of Oraichmore, Auch-
neel, etc., in the parish of Leswalt, — the lands of Galquhirk,
lying among the borough acres of Wigtoun,— the lands of
Craigbimach in the parish of Glenluce, etc. etc., for the quhilk
solemnization and other causes specified the said noble and
potent Erie binds himself, his heirs, etc., to content and thank-
fully pay to the said Sir Patrick Agnew, the sum of eight
thousand merks in name of tocher with his said daughter— to
witt, 2000 merks at the feast and term of Whitsunday 1626 ;
3000 merks at Whitsunday 1627 ; and the sum of other 3000
merks at the term of Whitsunday 1628. And in like manner,
after the accomplishing of the said marriage, to entertain the
said Andrew, his future spouse, their servants and retinue,
according to their rank, for the space of two years next there-
after, which being expired, the said Sir Patrick binds himself to
entertain them and their servants in the same manner for the
space of one year thereafter.
" Written by Wm. Stewart notary and servitor to the said
noble Earl, at the place of Glastoune, the 22d day of March
1625 years, before these witnesses — John Ahannay of Sorbie ;
Mr. James Adamson, minister of Penninghame ; Mr Abraham
Henryson, minister of Quhithorne ; Alexander Stewart in Larg;
and William Agnew of Barmeill."
to 1630] THE king's bailie OF LESWALT 463
By these provisions the young couple were saved all the
cares and expenses of housekeeping for three years.
It is a proof of the scarcity of money that a potent Earl could
promise no more than 8000 merks (less than £450 sterling) to
an only daughter for her portion ; and that even this sum was
only to be paid by instalmenta And, more surprising still, we
find that, eleven years after, not one farthing of the money had
been paid ; and that, after vainly trying to obtain a settlement,
the sheriff sued the noble earl for the amount, and obtained a
decree from the head courts commanding immediate payment^
John Ahannay, a witness to the young sheriff's marriage-
contract, unfortunately renewed an old blood feud with the
Murrays of Broughton, through which his family had already
suffered much; and from excesses committed he, incurring
further fines and escheats, was obliged to part with the remainder
of his lands. The barony of Sorbie, with " the old place," was
sold to Lord Galloway, and his lands of Crailloch.^ John
Ahannay himself was killed in a quarrel. His younger brother
Patrick was a man of literary as well as military note. He
served with distinction under the King of Bohemia, and rose to
the rank of general He published a volume of poems, so
highly esteemed that, seventy years ago, a copy fetched at the
sale of Sir Mark Sykes's eflFects £42 : 10s. ;. and in 1864 a copy
^ " Charles, by the Grace of God, etc. — Forasmuch as by a contract made and
perfected betwixt our rt. trustie Cousin and CounciUor, Alexander Earl of Gallo-
way, and Sir Patrick Agnew, of Lochnaw, Knight, Sheriff of Wigtown, of the
date 22d March 1623, anent the marriage then contracted and thereafter solemn-
ized between Andrew Agnew and Lady Agnes Stewart, the said Earl bound himself
to haye paid Sir Patrick the sum of 8000 merks in name of tocher ; — ^we will
therefore and command the said Alexander Earl of Galloway to pay to the
said Sheriff the foresaid sum of 8000 merks within six days next after he be
charged by me thereto, wnder the pain qf rebellion and putting of him to our horn,
— 15 day of April and of our reign the twelff year 1636."
' Creloch, now Crailloch, written in the curates* lists Crelaugh. Crith-lach,
'* a shaking bog": so Creelaugh, Galway ; Crylaugh, Wexford. — Joyce, ii. 367.
We find in the Lochnaw charter-chest, first : Contract entered into betwixt
Sir Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw and John Ahannay of Sorbie, whereby the said
John, with consent specified, sold, and, under reversion by way of wadsett, disposed
the lands of Creloch to the said Sir Patrick, 29 June 1625.
Second: Sassine following on the above contract in favour of Sir Patrick
Agnew, dated the 7th and registered the 14th July 1626.
464 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1616
bound in vellum, "printed for Nathaniel Butler 1622,'* was
knocked down for the startling price of £96. A third brother
was created a baronet in 1629 by the style of Sir Eobert of
Mochrum, and was killed in the Civil War in 1642. To him
Sir Samuel Hannay of Kirkdale was served heir of line in 1762.
On the 24th of May 1627 we find sasine in favour of Sir Patrick
Agnew and his lady of the lands of Knocktinnie in Kirkcowan
(the hill of the bale fires), proceeding on a contract between the
said parties and the Earl of Galloway. And the same year the
sheriif acquired the mill of Auchrochar, and the year following
the lands so called from William Boyd.^
We find several notices of purchases made by the sheriff's
eldest son. As : " Disposition by Eobert Weir to Andrew Agnew
apparent of Lochnaw of ane heritable right upon the lands of
Crooch, Minigaff, and houses and yards in the said Kirktown."
And under date 6th April 1627 : " Sassine of the houses in
Wigtown called Turnpeick and Blackball, and the yeards thereof,
to Andrew Agnew apparent of Lochnaw."
In 1627 the king ordered the surrender of all the tithes
throughout the country to himself: doubly rash, because, whilst
it offended many, it pleased few. The bulk of them were held
by the more powerful barons, who were little disposed to give
them up, whilst thq lower orders saw in it only a scheme for
endowing Episcopacy, which they detested. Charles, however,
never did things by halves. Royal commissioners were appointed
forthwith to value these teinds, and every shire was desired to
send two of the barons to confer with them.
Sir Patrick Agnew and Sir John M'Dowall of Garthland
represented the shire of Wigtown ; their commissions dated at
^ In a charter of confinnation of these lands to the sheriff, the Bishop of
Galloway makes it clear that Crochaire, ** the hangman," is the true root of the
name : ** Be it kent till all men, we Andrew, Bishop of Galloway, for certain
sonms of money, other gratitudes, pleasures, and gyd deeds made pasrment and
done to us be Sir Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw, Knight Baronet, be the tenor
hereof, we give, grant, and dispone to the said Sir Patrick his heirs and assignees
the escheit of William Boyd of Ardcroquhart, and all and haill the 408. land of
Ardcroquhart with the purtenance, come mill thereof, milne lands, and multures.
At Edinburgh the 2d day of August 1630."
to 1630] THE king's bailie OF LESWALT 465
Wigtown, 27th June 1627 ; the gentlemen and heritors of the
shire binding themselves to " abide firm and stable in whatever
their commissioners should do in the matter." ^ One important
signature, however, from this engagement was wanting — ^that of
the Earl of Gassilis.
No femUy held more Church property than hia. and no indi-
vidual was more strongly opposed than the earl to the king's
religious innovations. He was dissatisfied with the sheriffs and
Garthland's concessions, and probably suspected them of leaning
to Episcopacy. And so much stronger are sectarian influences
than ties of kindred, that at the very moment when a lady of
his own house again presided at Lochnaw, he fell into wrangles
with the sheriif as to money claims,^ and revived the feud,
which had long slumbered, as to the right of holding courts at
Leswalt.
Lord Cassilis is justly a favourite with Presbyterian historians,
with whom he is everything that is orthodox and good; but
surely it was a strong step for a religious man to choose a
Sunday morning to awake the echoes with shots and the clang
of arms ; and to disperse a congregation assembling for the cele-
bration of Holy Communion — even if Episcopal — was somewhat
of a travesty of Presbyterian tenets as to the sanctity and
observance of the Sabbath.
The act was the more inexcusable because, owing to the
increase of central authority, he could have secured his rights —
if rights he had — in the courts of law. And it is a proof of the
advancing civilisation of the times to find the sheriff, instead of
summoning his friends and sounding to horse, appealing as the
weaker party to the protection of the law ; and, still more con-
clusive, that he received it.
Unable to cope with the invading force, the sheriff appealed
to the king; and the justice of the sheriff's complaint is proved
by the result :
^ M'DowaU Manascript.
' HIb claima against the sheriff were as tacksman of the bishop, in virtue of
an instrument extracted from Church representatives by his father, with a very
high hand, when the Bishopric of Galloway was in abeyance.
VOL. I 2 H
466 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. i6i6
*' To the King's Most Excellent Majesty : —
" The humble petition of Sir Patrick Agnew, Knight, SheriflF
of Galloway in Scotland ; humbly showeth —
*' That whereas the Petitioner and his predecessors are and
have been BaylifTs Hereditable unto your Majesty and your
royall predecessors ever since King James the First's time, and
be/ore, of your Majesty's property and proper lands in the barony
of Leswalt and Mynibrick, and in the continual possession of
several lands and tythes there for payment of the accustomed
duties ; until that John, now Earl of Cassilis, dispossessed the
Petitioner of the said lands and tythes ; upon which the said
earl's oppression your Petitioner having exhibited humble peti-
tion unto your Majesty, your Highness was graciously pleased
to direct your royal letters unto his Lordship (as by the annexed
copy appears), advising his Lordship to forbear such vigorous
course against the Petitioner, least your Majesty in compassion
of your suppliant's wrongs, should interpose your Highnesses
title to this right
'' Nevertheless, the said earl hath not only disobeyed your
Majesty's letters, but hath also since the delivery thereof dis-
possessed the Petitioner of the foresaid lands and tithes. And
(has) placed other BayliiFs in the Office holden of your Majesty
by the Petitioner ; discharging ^ the tenants to answer unto the
Petitioner's Court, or to give their service conforme to the
Petitioner's lawful right as accustomed. Albeit neither the said
earl, his predecessors, nor any other in their names did ever
keep any Court in that place, where the Petitioner usually kept
them, or in any other part of the said Bailliary.
" In regard whereof, and for that the said earl, notwith-
standing your Majesty's letters, did upon the 29th of June 1628,
being the Sabbath and preparation day for the Holy Communion,
come with a number of men, horse and foote, having muskett
powder and shott, unto the Petitioner's parish church, where
his Lordship never was before : Divers of his said company being
rebells whom the Petitioner as Sheriff then had and still has
' Forbidding.
to 1630] THE king's bailie OP LESWALT 467
warrants to apprehend ; and brought the Petitioner's officer that
morning out of his own house and bed to proclaim at the said
Church a Court to be holden in his Lordship's name within the
foresaid Bailliary, and immediately after caused a number of
armed men to go unto that place where the Petitioner used to
keepe his Courts, and there entrenched and fortified the same,
placing musketeers and pikemen garrison -wise there. And
upon the 2nd of July then following, the earl being charged at
the Petitioner's instance by letters of Lawsuitry granted by the
Lords of your Majesty's Council, and on the 3rd day of the said
month being likewise charged by the Privy Council to desist from
holding or keeping Court or approaching unto the said place
under his Highnesses will, yet nevertheless the said earl did
most contemptuously disobey both the said strict charge from
the Lords aforesaid and without having any respect unto the
letters signed by your Majesty's royal hand in the Petitioner's
behalf, did on the 3rd day of the said month, having convocate
three hundred horse and foot with musketts, hagbotts, pistolls,
lances, and such other warlike and invasive weapons prohibited,
come and in most hostile manner upon the Petitioner's own
domains upon a part of the Petitioner's own land which was
opposite to where the Court was to be kept, and there, to the
great terror and disquieting of the country and in contempt of
the Petitioner and the foresaid letters they did shoote off their
pieces ; and there (the earl) kept his men upon your suppliant's
lands for the space of two days, destroying the Petitioner's com
and grasse to his exceeding great losse and hinderance.
" Whose most humble suite is —
" That your Majesty will take the said earl's high contempts,
ryotts, and oppressions unto your royall consideration, or give
order to your Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council to take
a course for the condigne punishing thereof, to the end others
by his example may be warned not to commit the like insolence
and outrage ; and that speedy order may be taken for the Peti*
tioner's restitution unto the foresaid lands tithes and office;
and such satisfaction made him for his wrongful sufferings, great
468 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. 1 6x6
losses, charge and damage as shall be agreeable to conscience
and equity. Without which your suppliant cannot return home ;
many of the said earl's men being very dangerous people, lately
brought out of Ireland and placed in the lands the Petitioner is
now dispossessed ofif. The said earl and his men having done
what in them lies to vex the Petitioner, purposely to have him
forfeit his bond of ten thousand merks, which the Lords of your
Majesty's Privy Council then enforced them both to enter into
for the preservation of the peace.
" And as in duty bound he will daylie pray for your Majesty's
longe and happy wraigne. Patrick Agnew."
Upon receipt of which the king referred the matter to the
chancellor : —
"To our trusty and well beloved Cousin and Coimcillor,
the Lord Viscount Duplin, Chancellor of the Eangdom of
Scotland —
" Charles R — Et. trusted and well loved Cousin and Coun-
cillor, we greet you well. Whereas, Sir Patrick Agnew Knight
hath complained unto us of divers oppressions done unto him by
the Earl of Cassilis, as by the enclosed petition doth appear,
our pleasure is that you consider thereof, and after exact trial of
what is therein mentioned, if you find that our law and author-
ity have been contemned and broken by the said earl, or that
he hath oppressed the Petitioner in his Office, Estate, or Person,
that you censure, fine, or cause punish him as you shall find the
nature of his offence to have justly merited : And that you make
him give sufficient satisfaction to the Petitioner for what losses
he hath sustained by him, that others may be restrained from
attempting the like hereafter and that our peace in those parts
may be duly preserved for the general good of all our loving and
well disposed subjects there.
" Which recommending to your care we bid you farewell, from
our Court at Bagshotte the 15th of August 1629."^
^ ThU letter was forwarded by the Chancellor to the Sheriff of Galloway, and
is preaerred among the Lochnaw Papers.
to 1630] THE king's bailie OP LESWALT 469
The sheriff, in his petition, graphicallj sets before us the scene
of the quiet of the Sunday morning disturbed by the appearance
of Lord Cassilis with his host, largely recruited amongst the wild
Irish from the opposite shore ; and pithily describes their reck-
less proceedings as they bivouacked on his own lands, to the
special detriment of his standing corn !
There had been much previous correspondence about similar
quarrels ; but into this it is not necessary to enter, as the sheriff
indicated in this petition the result of former bickerings; in
consequence of which both the earl and himself, at the very
moment of his writing, were bound over under heavy penalties
mutually to keep the peace.
Another cause of these disputes arose from the claim of
bishop's teinds. Cassilis had become tacksman to the Bishop of
Galloway ; and the sheriff, apparently with reason, argued that
the earl was bound to stand by any such commutations in money
as were customary and sanctioned by previous agreement To
this Cassilis demurred, claiming the tithes in kind in full, and
raising an action "for spoliation of tythes" against the sheriff;
who retorted that the ''Earl was but a tacksman interposed
betwixt the Bishop and himself, contrary to the spirit of the
Royal Proclamation for the surrender of all tythes to the King,
in which it is set forth, that ' what favor is granted in Bishops'
teythes, is onlie to the Bishop himself/ " and not to the inter-
posed tacksman.
The sheriff ably states his own case in a petition to the king,
also extant ; setting forcibly before his Majesty the fact that
subjects living in remote districts may be much oppressed if
liable to be vindictively summoned to the head courts, even
supposing the decision to be given in their favour :
"Tour Petitioner, and his predecessors, are heritable pro-
prietors of certain lands immediately halden of your Majesty,
and hath, in all tyme bipast, had the teythes of the said lands
for sixteen pounds Scottis money payit to the Earl of Cassilis as
tacksman to the Bishop of Galloway. Until now of late most
rigorously the said earl hath called and pressed the Petitioner
470 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. i6i6
for spoliation of the said teythes — notwithstanding of your
Majesty's royal reformation and good course of your revocation,
registrate and published to your subjects, — ^upon which your
Majesty was graciously pleased to direct your royal letters in
favor of your suppliant advysing his Lordship to forbear such
rigorous dealing . . . nevertheless, without any regard to your
Majesty's letter he hes kept the Petitioner in plead of law, both
exacting inordinate dues and intruding himself in the Petitioner's
heritable ofBce halden of your Majesty.
" And now after valuation and approbation of the Petitioner
his teinds before the Commissioners appointed by your Majesty
the Petitioner will have real security in the Petitioner's lands for
the valued bolls — otherways the Petitioner would become one
perpetual fermorer to the said earl of unliquidat bolls, — and by
this means hyd intollerable process of law ilk year, and he in worse
case than he was before; the Petitioner* s residence being near
ane hundred myles distant from the seate of Justice, to his great
damvAige and overthrow,
" Whose humble suite is that your Majesty would be pleased
to give warrant what right the Petitioner shall give to the earl,
and what right the Petitioner shall receive from the bishop or
interposed tacksman. Lykeas your suppliant most humbly
craves your Majesty to convert the valued bolls to a constant
money rent ; your suppliant freed of continual plead of Law.
Humbly craving your Majesty to this effect to stay all action at
the said earl's instance against the Petitioner.^'
As a result, Sir Patrick not only had i*estitution made of the
lands of which he had been dispossessed, but, by a precept from
the Court of Chancery, was retoured as heir to his father in the
bailiary of the barony of Leswalt,^ to the earl's entire discomfiture.
Some of the by-play which occurred during the great bailie-
court quarrel is extremely amusing. A series of petitions
appeared against the sheriff, of some of which it is to be
suspected that the earl was instigator.
^ Dominns Patricias Agnew de Lochnaw, hseres Domini Andree Agnew patzis
in ofiScio balliie hsereditarin de Leswalt — Inquis. Spec,
to 1630] THE king's bailie OF LESWALT 471
Although not sustained, they are curious, as specimens of
charges not considered improbable against a Galloway sheriff.
The dates of the complaints range over several years, all
prior to 1628.
*^ Information contra the. Sheriff of Wigtoun.
" By the space of eight years syne or thereby, in the month
of December, the Sheriff apprehended Mungo Campbell a com-
mon thief, who broke into a booth in Edinburgh, and brought
with him furth thereof sundry sticks of velvet and satin stuffs,
and silk lace, and gold lace. Also he (Mungo, not the Sheriff!)
stole in Ayr a silver piece, with sundry other geir. He stole in
Stranraver, from Alex. Auld, merchant, furth of his merchant
booth, three hundred merks money, wherewith the said Mungo
was apprehended red-hand, who took the whole stuffs all
packed in a wallet, and the stolen silver he had hid at
Portpatrick."
*' InforTnations against his Son, and Depute.
" The Sheriff of Gralloway is a seller of Justice, at the least
his eldest son, who is his depute, by his knowledge and direc-
tion is so, viz. he took from Andrew Dunbar of Baldoon, for sit-
ting Sheriff upon the service of umquhile Thamas M'Kie's son,
in Wigtoun, as heir to his umquhile Father, twenty merks.
" He apprehended lately, in the month of July, 1628 years,
a common thief, called Boss, who stole many nolt out of Carrick,
especially part of them from John Kennedy Younger of Knock-
daw, and from divers others. Another thief sold the same in
Kirkcolm, which goods the Sheriff intromitted with and appre-
hended the thief; whereupon young Knockdaw followed the
(first) thief and his goods and apprehended him, and desired
justice of him before the Sheriff, and offered to find caution to
pursue the thief to the death. The Sheriff refused and gave
young Knockdaw some of his own goods back, detained the
rest, transacted with the thief, and let him go free to Ire-
land," etc.
Not only were the sheriffs, elder and younger, exonerated of
472 HEREDITARY SHERIFFS OF GALLOWAY [A.D. i6i6
the charges against them, but that the fonner had the confidence
of his fellow barons is proved by the fact that a few months
after he was elected as their representative in a Parliament
said to have been the first in which any interest was shown by
the electors in their political rights.
The union of the two crowns had greatly enhanced the
royal prerogative, and had this been used with the most ordi-
nary tacti the kingdom would have greatly profited by the
existence of a central authority.
Already life was more secure, travelling safer, and a little
English money had found its way across the Borders. Private
houses were now arranged with more regard to comfort than
defence, of which we have local examples in the castles of
Kirkcudbright and Castle Kennedy. Fairly good cheer was
procurable at country inns, and if the agriculture of the period
did not quite come up to that of the days of Devorgille, its
produce sufficed to maintain a very numerous small proprietary
in some style, and presumably in comfort.
The yield of oats and here was then much larger than that
to which it sank a generation later, and the Galloway wool, as
well as its little horses, had a world-wide reputation.
Though the native forest had generally disappeared, there
were still some tracts over which the red deer roamed, and
where the boar found covert.
These assertions are made on contemporary authority.
Lithgow, the great traveller of the day, who had made the tour
of Europe and the East, and was well qualified to judge, thus
writes of the ancient province :
"I found heere in Galloway in diverse rode- way innes as good
cheare, hospitality, and serviceable attendance, as though I had
beene ingrafted in Lombardy or Naples. The wool! of which
countrey is nothing inferiour to that in Biscai of Spaine ; nay
the Calabrian silke had never a finer luster and softer gripe,
then I have scene and touched this growing wooll there on
sheepes backes. The mutton whereof excelleth in sweetnesse ;
so this country aboundeth in bestiall, especially in little horses,