very fair House of the Kings a goodly Church and a fishful Lake of which Lake it may seem to have assumed that Name For Lin in the British Tongue soundeth as much as a Lake A Sheriff it had in times past by inheritance out of the Family of the Hamiltons of Peyle and now in our days it hath for the first Earl Sir Alexander Livingston whom King James the sixth raised from the Dignity of a Baron wherein his Ancestors had flourished a long time to the Honour of an Earl In the same Shire is situat Livingstoun the Peyle of Livingstoun which was burnt by Oliver Cromwell and did antiently belong to the Family of Livingston who from the seat and sirname were first designed Lairds of Livingstoun And afterward Callender of that Ilk being Forfaulted for adhering to the Baliol. A Daughter of that Family was married to Livingstoun who by Right of Blood and Grant from King Robert the Bruce obtained the Lands and Barony of Callender whose Successor Sir Alexander Livingston of Callender was great Counsellor to King James the first and by him appointed Governour to King James the second himself or his Heir was created Lord Livingstoun Alexander Lord Livingstoun about the year 1603 was by King James the sixth created Earl of Linlithgow and was one of the Commissioners for the Union 1604. George Earl of Linlithgow great Grand child to the first Earl doth presently enjoy the Dignity and is one of the Commissioners of the Thesaury Near to Livingstoun is the Castle of Calder which antiently belonged to the Family of Sandilands in the Reign of Queen Mary 1563 Sir James Sandilands being Preceptor of Torphichen and Lord of St. John was created Lord Torphichen whose Successor Walter Lord Torphichen doth enjoy the Title The Sheriffdom of Linlithgow being annexed to the Barony of Abercorn it doth belong to Charles Hope of Hoptoun who doth inherit the Barony and Sheriffship CHAP. VIII SELGOVAE BEneath the Gadeni toward the South and West where now are the small Territories of Liddesdale Eusdale Eskdale Annandale and Nidesdale so called of little Rivers running through them which all lose themselves in Solway Firth dwelt in antient times the Selgovae the Reliques of whose name seemed to the Author to remain in that name Solway In Lidesdale there riseth aloft Armitage so called because it was in times past dedicated to a solitary life of old a very strong Castle which belonged to the Hepburns who draw their Original from a certain Englishman a prisoner whom the Earl of Merch for delivering him out of a danger greatly enriched These were Earls of Bothwell in Clydsdale and a long time by the right of inheritance Admirals of Scotland But by a Sister of James Earl of Bothwell the last of the Hepburns married unto John Prior of Coldinghame base Son to King James the fifth who begat many Bastards the Title Inheritance both came unto his Son now extinct Hard by is Branksholm the Habitation of the warlike Family of Buckcleugh surnamed Scot of whom already in Teviotdale or the Shire of Roxburgh where Branksholm is situat beside many little Piles or Forts of military Men every where In Eusdale one would deem by the affinity of the Name that old Vzellum mentioned by Ptolomy stood by the River Euse. In Eskdale some are of Opinion that the Horesti dwelt into whose Borders Julius Agricola when he had subdued the Britains inhabiting this Tract brought the Roman Army especially if we read Horesci insteed of Horesti For Ar-Esc in the British Tongue betokeneth a Place by the River Eske The Author hath disjoyned this Chapter too far from the Description of Teviotdale but gives an Entry to treat of Annandale CHAP. IX ANNANDALE UNto this on the West side adjoyneth Annandale that is The Vale by the River Annan into which the Access by Land is very difficult The Places of greater note herein are these a Castle and Town by Lough-Maban three parts whereof are environed with Water and strongly walled and the Town Annan at the very mouth almost of the River Annan which lost all the Glory and Beauty it had by the English War in the Reign of Edward the sixth In this Territory the Johnstons are Men of greatest Name a Kindred even bred to War between whom and the Maxwels there hath been professed an open Enmity over long even to deadly Feud and Blood-shed which Maxwels by Right from their Ancestors had the Rule of this Seneschalsie or Stewartrie for so it is accounted This Vale Edgar King of Scots after he was restored to his Kingdom by auxiliary Forces out of England gave in Consideration and Reward of good Service unto Robert Bruse or Brus Lord of Cliveland in York-shire who with the good favour of the King bestowed it upon Robert his younger Son when himself would not serve the King of Scots in his Wars From him flowered the Bruses Lords of Annandale of whom Robert Brus married Isobel the Daughter of William King of Scots by the Daughter of Robert Avenal His Son likewise Robert the third of that Name wedded the Daughter of David Earl of Huntington and of Garioch whose Son Robert surnamed The Noble when the Issue of Alexander the third King of Scots failed challenged in his Mothers Right the Kingdom of Scotland before Edward the first King of England as the direct and superiour Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland so the English give it out or an honourable Arbitrator for so say the Scots as being nearer in proximity in Degree and Bloud to King Alexander the third and Margaret Daughter to the King of Norway although he was the Son by a second Sister who soon after resigning up his own Right granted and gave over to his Son Robert Brus Earl of Carrick to his Heirs the Author alledges this out of the very Original all the Right and Claim which he had or might have to the Kingdom of Scotland But the Action and Suit went with John Balliol who sued for his Right as descended of the eldest Sister although in a degree farther off and Sentence was given in these words For that the Person more remote in the second Degree descending in the first Line is to be preferred before a nearer in a second Line in the succession of an Inheritance that cannot be parted Howbeit the said Robert Son to the Earl of Carrick by his own vertue at length recovered the Kingdom unto himself and established it to his Posterity A Prince who as he flourished notably in regard of the glorious Ornaments of his Noble Acts so he triumphed as happily with invincible Fortitude Courage over Fortune that so often crossed him Sir Richard Murray of Cock-pool Baronet was first created Viscount of Annan is so designed in the year 1623 and thereafter in the 1624 was by King James the sixth created Earl of Annandale The Laird of Johnstoun was created Lord
being removed from that Office in the year 1681 was by Their Majesties restored to be President of the Session in the year 1689. And in anno 1690 was created Viscount of Stair whose eldest Son John Master of Stair also an eminent Lawyer after he had been honoured with several publick Employments was constitute one of the principal Secretaries of State anno 1691. In this Country are the Crawfords and Campbels of Cessnock and others of these Sirnames all Families of good Note The chief Messuage of the Stewartry of Kyle was Dundonald purchased by Sir William Cochran of Cowdoun who was by King Charles the First created Lord Cochran in the year 1648. And by King Charles the Second appointed one of the Commissioners to the Thesaury and by him created Earl of Dundonald about the year 1669. His great Grand-child is William Earl of Dundonald The Government of this Jurisdiction belonged anciently to the Lairds of Lowdoun as hereditary Sheriffs who had many Lands in Kyle albeit their chief Residence was on the other side of the River of Irwine at Lowdoun in Cunninghame from which they wer designed CHAP. XIV CUNNINGHAME CVnninghame adjoyning to Kyle on the east-side and on the north butteth upon the same Firth so close that it restraineth the breadth thereof which hitherto lay out and spread at large The Name if one interpret it is as much as the Kings Habitation by which a man may guess how commodious and pleasant it is This Territory is watered with Irwine that divideth it from Kyle at the Spring-head well near whereof standeth Lowdoun the ancient dwelling place of the Crawfords which by the Marriage of Sir Duncan Campbel of the Family of Lochaw in Argyle Shire with the Heiress the Campbels did enjoy that Estate with the Sheriff-ship of Air or Kings Kyle annexed to it as said is Sir Hugh Campbel of Lowdoun Sheriff of Air was by King James the Sixth about the year 1604 created Lord Lowdoun whose Grand-child Lady Margaret Campbel being married to Sir John Campbel of Lawers had the Title of Earl of Lowdoun from King Charles the First anno 1633. and was made Lord Chancellor anno 1641 in which Office he continued until the year 1651 Earl James his Son died in Holland and the Grand-child is Hugh now Earl of Lowdoun King Charles the First did redeem the Sheriff-ship from John Earl of Lowdoun which together with the Stuartry is conferred by Their Majesties on Sir George Campbel of Cessnock The Earls of Lowdoun carries the Arms of the Crawfords quartered with their own Below Lawdoun on the River Irwine lyeth Kilmarnock the Habitation of the Lord Boyds of whom in the Reign of K. James 3d Robert by a prosperous gale of Court-favour was advanced to the Authority of Regent or Vice-roy Thomas his Son to the Dignity of Earl of Arran and marriage with the Kings Sister But soon after when the said gale came about and blew contrary they were judged Enemies to the State Thomas also had his Wife taken from him and given unto James Lord Hamilton their Goods were confiscate Fortune made a game of them and when they had lost all they died in Exile This is the received History but the Family of Hamilton doth contravert many of the Circumstances thereof Howbeit the Posterity of the Lord Boyd recovered the ancient honour of Barons and honourably enjoy it at this day This Family was dignified with the Title of Earl of Kilmarnock by King Charles the Second about the year 1661 and William now Earl of Kilmarnock is the third Earl At the mouth of this River standeth Irwine with an Haven so barred up with Shelves of Sand and so shallow withall that it can bear none other Vessels but small Barks and Boats James Brother to the Earl of Argyle was created Lord Kintyre and then Earl of Irwine by King Charles the First The former Dignity being extinct Arthur Ingram an English man was created Viscount of Irwine by King Charles the Second about the year 1661. Ardrossan also a Pile belonging to the Montgomeries more above standeth higher over the Creek this is a very ancient and famous family as any other who have to shew for witness of their warlike prowesse Ioununy a Fort built with the ransome money of Sir Henry Percie sirnamed Hot-spur whom J. Montgomerie with his own hand took prisoner in the Battle at Otterburn and led away captive Not far from Ardrossan is Largis embrued with the Blood of the Norwegians by King Alexander the Third From whence as you follow the shore bending and giving in you meet with Eglington a fair Castle which was the Possession of certain Gentlemen highly descended of the same sirname from whom it came by Marriage unto the Montgomeries who thereby received the Title of Earls of Eglington Of this ancient Family of the Montgomeries is descended Alexander now Earl Eglington heretable Baillie of Cuninghame and Lord of the Regality of Kilwinning formerly an Abbacie But whence the said sirname should come a man can hardly tell this I know that out of Normandy it came into England and that divers Families there were of the same name but that in Essex from which Sir Thomas Montgomerie Knight of the Order of the Garter descended in the Reign of Edward the Fourth gave Arms a little different from these This noble Linage is fair and far spread and out of those of Gevan was that Gabriel de Lorges called Earl of Montgomerie Captain of the Guard of Scots which Charles the Fifth King of France instituted for defence of his own person and his Successors in testimony of their fidelity and his love toward them who in running at Tilt slew Henry the Second King of France by occasion that a broken splint of his Spear where the Helmet chanced to be open entred at his Eye and pierced into his Brain and afterwards in that Civil War wherein all France was in a broil whiles he took part with the Protestants he was apprehended and beheaded But the Cunninghames in this Tract were counted to be the greater and more numerous Family the Chief whereof enjoying the honour of Earl of Glencairn in Dumfreis-Shire Dwelt at Kilmaurs in Cunninghame and fetcheth his Descent out of England and from an English Gentleman who together with others killed Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury the chief of which Family was first created Lord Kilmaurs and afterward Earl of Glencairn John Son to William Earl of Glencairn late Chancellor of Scotland is now Earl How true this Descent is I know not but they ground it happily upon a probable Conjecture taken from an Arch-bishops Pall which the Cuninghames give in their Coat of Arms. CHAP. XV. ISLE GLOTTA OR ARRAN WIthin the sight of Cunninghame among sundry other Islands Glotta the Isle mentioned by Antonine the Emperour beareth up his head in the very Forth and salt-Salt-water of the River Glotin or Cluyd called at this
day Arran of a Castle bearing the same name Inwardly it mounteth up altogether with high rising hills at the bottom and foot whereof along the Shore it is well inhabited The first Earl hereof that I can read of was Thomas eldest Son to Robert Boyd whose Wife and Earldom together when Boyd was banished the Realm James Lord Hamilton as I said before obtained and his Posterity enjoyed the same Earldom saving that Sir James Stuart appointed Guardian to James Hamilton Earl of Arran when he was so defective in understanding that he could not manage his Estate took this Title in the right of being Guardian Near unto this standeth Bute so called of a little Religious Cell which Brendanus founded for so is a little religious Cell tearmed in the Scottish Tongue In this Island is Rothsay Town and Castle which giveth the Title of Dukedom unto the King of Scots eldest Son who is born Prince of Scotland Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal of Scotland since the time that King Robert the third invested Robert his eldest Son Duke of Rothsay the first in Scotland that ever was created Duke With which Title also Queen Mary honoured Henry Lord Darnly before she took him to be her Husband Then shew themselves Hellan sometimes called Hellan Leneow that is as Iohn Fordon interpreteth it The Saints Islands and Helen Tinoc that is The Swines Island with a great number of other Islands of less Note and Reckoning in the same Forth These Islands are erected in a Sheriffdom and Sir James Stuart of Bute descended of a Son of King Robert the second is Heretable Sheriff thereof CHAP. XVI DAMNII CLYDSDALE c. BEyond the Novantes more inward by the River Glotta or Clyd and farther still even to the very East-Sea dwelt in times past the Damnii in those Countries if I have any Judgment for in things so far remote from our Remembrance and in so thick a Mist of Obscurity who can speak of Certainty which are now called Clydsdale the Barony of Renfrew Lennox Stirlingshire Monteith and Fife Near unto the head of Clyde in Crawford Moor among the wild Wastes certain Husband men of the countrey after great store of violent Rain happened to find certain small Pieces like scrapings of Gold which gave great hope of much Riches since that Sir Beamis Bulmer undertook with great endeavour to find out here a Mine of gold near to which place are the Lead-mines belonging to the Laird of Hoptoun The Castle of Crawford together with the Title of the Earl of Crawford was by Robert the Second King of Scots given unto Sir James Lindsey who by a single Combate performed with Baron Welles an English man won high Commendation for his Valour These Lindseys have deserved passing well of their Country and are of ancient Nobility ever since that Sir William Lindsey married one of the Heirs of William of Lancaster Lord of Kandale in England whose Neice in the third Degree of lineal Descent was married unto the most honourable Family of Coucy in France The Dignity of the Earl of Crawford was conveyed to the Lord Lindsey of whom hereafter Clyde after he hath from his Spring-head with much strugling got out northward by Baron Somervels house called Carnwath which being purchased by the Family of Dalziel also residing in Clyds-dale was by King Charles the First created Lord Dalziel who is ranked the last Lord in the Rolls of Parliament 1633 and thereafter Earl of Carnwath whose Grand-child is John Earl of Carnwath No person at present claims the Dignity of Lord Somervel The last Lords marked in the Rolls of Parliament 1633 are Cranstoun Deskford Melvil Carnegy Ramsey Naper Cameron Newburgh Weyms Ashtoun of Forfar Rae Dalziel And thereafter out of the West falleth in the River Duglasse or Douglasse so called of a blackish or greenish water that it hath which River communicateth his name both to the Vale through which he runneth called Douglasdale and also to Douglasse Castle therein which name that Castle likewise hath imparted unto the Family of the Dowglasses which I assure you is very ancient but most famous ever since that Sir Iames Dowglas stuck very close at all times as a most fast friend unto King Robert Bruce and was ready always with singular Courage Resolution and Wisdom to assist him claiming the Kingdom in most troublesome and dangerous times and whom the said King Robert charged at his death to carry his Heart to Jerusalem that he might be discharged of his Vow made to go to the Holy-land in memorial whereof the Dowglasses have inserted in their Coat of Arms a mans Heart from which time this Family grew up to that power and greatness and namely after that King David the Second had created William Earl of Dowglass that they after a sort awed the Kings themselves For at one time well near there were six Earls of them namely of this Dowglass of Angus of Ormund of Wigton of Murray and of Morton among whom the Earl of Wigton through his martial Prowesse and desert obtained at the hands of Charles the Seventh King of France the Title of Duke of Tourain and left the same to six Earls of Dowglasse his Heirs after him The Earl of Dowglass being forefeited by King James the Second the Earl of Angus got the Castle and Countrey of Dowglasse whose Heir William Earl of Angus was created Marquess of Dowglasse by King Charles the First in the year 1633 whose Grand-child is James Marquess of Dowglass Concerning the Lives and Actions of this Family see the History written by Godscroft In this place of Clyds-dale is the Seat of the Lairds of Carmichael Sir James Carmichael Baronet was a Lord of the Session and Thesaurer Depute to King Charles the First and by King Charles the Second when in Scotland created Lord Carmichael whose Grand-child is John Lord Carmichael he hath been twice employed by Their Majesties as Commissioner to the General Assembly and is of the Privy Council Below the falling of Dowglasse into Clyde is the Town of Lanerk head Burgh of the Sheriffdom thereof whereof the Lords of Hamilton are heretable Sheriffs and eight Miles below that standeth the Town and Castle of Hamilton in a fruitful and pleasant Soil the Lords whereof derive there Original from England They have enjoyed great Lands in Scotland since the time of King Robert Bruce and their Estate was much augmented by the Bounty of King Iames the Third who bestowed upon the Lord Hamilton his Sister in marriage after the death of the Lord Boyd her first Husband as is asserted by Mr. John Ballenden Arch-Dean of Murray Translator in Scots of the Chronicle of Hector Boetius who lived in the Reign of King James the Fifth Book 12. Chap. 5. anent the Genealogy of the Stuarts in these words The first Douchter of James the Secound was marryit to the Lord Boyd of whom was gottin ane Son quhylk
But Antoninus Pius who being adopted by Hadrian bare his name stiled thereupon Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius under the conduct of Lollius Vrbicus whom he had sent hither Lieutenant repelled the northern Enemies back again beyond Bodotria or Edinburgh Firth and that by raising another Wall of Turff namely besides that of Hadrianus as Capitolinus writeth which Wall that it was reared in this very place whereof I now speak and not by Severus as it is commonly thought I will produce no other Witnesses than two ancient Inscriptions digged up here of which the one fastned in the Wall of an house at Calder belonging to the Laird of Keir Chief of the sir-name of Stirling near to the place where the Wall was built sheweth how the second Legion Augusta set up the Wall for the space of three Miles and more the other now in the house of the Earl Marshal at Dunnotire which implyeth that a Band of the twentieth Legion Victrix raised the Wall three Miles long But see here the very Inscriptions themselves as Servatius Riheley a Gentleman of Silesia who curiously travailled these Countries copied them out for the Author Camden IMP. CAESARI T. AELIO HADRIANO ANTONINO AUG PIO P. P. VEXILLATIO LEG XX. VAL. VIC F. PER. MIL. P. III. IMP. CAES. TIT. IO AELIO HADRIANO ANTON AUG PIO P. P. LEG II. AUG PER. M. P. III. D. CIX VIS. At Calder where this latter Inscription is extant there is another Stone also erected by the second Legion Augusta wherein within a Lawrel Garland supported by two little Images resembling Victory are these Letters LEG II AVG. FEC And in a Village called Miniabruch out of a Ministers house there was removed this Inscription into a Gentlemans house which is there new built out of the Ground D. M. C. JULI MARCELLINI PRAEF COH I. HAMIOR But when the northern Nations in the Reign of Commodus having passed once over the Wall had made much waste and spoil in the Country the Emperor Severus repaired this Wall of Hadrian Howbeit afterwards the Romans brought oft-times the Country lying between under their subjection For Ninius hath recorded that Carausius under Dioclesian strengthened this Wall another time and fortified it with seven Castles Lastly the Romans fenced this place when Theodosius the younger was Emperor under the conduct of Gallio of Ravenna Now saith Bede they made a Turff Wall rearing it not so much with Stone as with Turfs as having no cunning Artificer for so great a piece of Work and the same to no use between two Firths or Arms of the Sea for many miles in length that where the fense of Water was wanting there by the help of a Wall they might defend there Borders from the Invasion of enemies of which work that is to say a very broad and high Wall a man may see to this day most certain and evident Remains This Wall began as is generally believed at the River Aven that goeth into Edinburgh Firth and having passed over the River of Carron reacheth unto Dunbarton but Bede affirmeth that it beginneth in a place called Pen-vael that is in the Picts Language as much as the head of the Wall in the Brittains tongue Pen-Gual in English Penwalton in Scottish Cevall all which names no doubt are derived from Vallum in Latine and he saith that place is almost two Miles from Abercurvig or Abercurving and it endeth as the common Sort think at Kirk-Patrick the native Soil as some write of Saint Patrick the Irish-mens Apostle near unto Clyde according to Bede at Al. cluid after Ninius at the City Pen Aloloyt which may seem all one Now this Wall is commonly called Grahams Dyke either of Graham a Warlike Scot whose Valour was especially seen when the breach was made through it or else of the Hill Grampie at the foot whereof it stood The Author of Rota Temporum calleth it the Wall of Aber. corneth that is of the mouth of the River Corneth where in Bedes time there was a famous Monasterie standing as he hath recorded upon English Ground but near unto that Firth or Arm of the Sea which in those days severed the Lands of the English and the Picts Hard by this Wall of Turff what way as the River Carron crosseth this Sheriffdom of Stirling toward the left hand are seen two Mounts cast up by mans hand which they call Duni-pacis that is Knolls of peace Near to this place is Kilsyth which belonged to an ancient Cadet of the Family of the Livingstons who in the year 1606 was a Lord of the Session and his Successor was by King Charles the Second in the year 1661 created Viscount of Kilsyth which Dignity his Son now enjoyeth here the Marquess of Montross obtained a signal Victory And almost two Miles lower there is an ancient round Building four and twenty Cubits high and thirteen broad open in the Top framed of rough Stone without Lime having the upper part of every Stone so tenanted into the nether as that the whole work still rising narrow by a mutual interlacing and clasping upholdeth it self Some call this the Temple of God Terminus others Arthurs-Oven who father every stately and sumptuous thing upon Arthur Others again Julius Hoff and suppose it to have been built by Julius Cesar. But I would think rather that Julius Agricola built it who fortified this frontier part were it not that Ninius hath already informed us that it was erected by Carausius for a triumphal Arch. For he as Ninius writeth built upon the Bank of Carron a round house of polished Stone erecting a triumphal Arch in memorial of a victory he re-edified also the Wall and strengthened it with seven Castles The mid space between Duni-pacis and this Building on the right hand Bank of Carron there is yet to be discerned a confused face of a little ancient City where the vulgar people believeth there was sometimes a Road for Ships who call it Camelot by a name that is rise in King Arthurs book and they contend but all in vain to have it that Camalodunum which Tacitus mentioneth But it would seem rather by the name of the River Carron running underneath to have been Corta Damniorum which Ptolomy mentioneth in this Tract And now take with you that which George Buchanan that excellent Poet wrot of the limit of the Roman Empire at Carron Roma securigeris praetendit maenia Scotis Hic spe progressus posita Carronis ad undam Terminus Ausonii signat divertia regni 'Gainst warlike Scots with Axes armed A mighty frontier Wall The Romans rais'd and limit there Which Terminus they call Near Carron Stream now past all hope More Brittish ground to gain Marks out the Roman Empires end Whence they to turn were fain In this Territory of Stirling on the East side there sheweth it self Castle Callender belonging to the Barons of Livingstoun which with the Lands of Almond were purchased by James second
Charles the First and afterward Earl of Belcarras by King Charles the Second when in Scotland his Son is Colin Earl of Belcarras The Viscount Fentoun of whom before was created by King James the Sixth about the year 1617 Earl of Kelly and is in the Rolls of Parliament 1621 next after the Earl of Roxburgh and before Buckcleugh whose Successor is Alexander Earl of Kelly Sir John Living stoun of Kinnaird Baronet was by K. Charles the First made Lord Newburgh and Earl of Newburgh by King Charles the Second whose Male Successor is deceased lately in England without Issue Male. Sandilands Laird of St. Minnans was by King Charles the First advanced to the Title of L. Abercromby in the year 1648 whose Honour is not now claimed by any Lieutenant General David Lesly Son to the Lord Lindoris was created by King Charles the Second Lord New-warkî he had been Lieutenant General to the Scots Army and at Philiphaugh surprised and defeat the Marquess of Montross he was General of the Army at Dumbar and Worcester his Son being deceased without Heirs Male the Grand child is married to Mr. Alexander Anstruther a younger Son of Sir Philip Anstruther of that Ilk. Beside the Burghs Royal mentioned in this Shire there are also others viz. Innerkeithing Kirkaldy Anstruther Easter and Wester Pitttenweem Crail and Kilrenny all lying on Forth from the West to the East CHAP. XXI STRATHERN AS far as to the River Tau which Boundeth Fife on the North-side Julius Agricola the best Proprietar of Brittain under Domitian the worst Emperour marched with victorious Armies in the third year of his warlike Expeditions having wasted and spoiled the Nations hitherto Near the out-let of Tau the notable River Ern intermingleth his Waters with Tau which River beginning out of a Lake or Loch of the same name bestoweth his own name upon the Country through which he runneth for it is called Strathern which in the ancient Tongue of the Brittains signifieth the Vale along Ern. The Bank of this Ern is beautified with Drymein Castle belonging to the Family of the Barons of Drummond advanced to highest Honours ever since that King Robert Stewart the third took to him a Wife out of that Linage for the Women of this Race have for their singular Beauty and well favoured sweet Countenance won the prize from all others insomuch as they have been the Kings most amiable Paramours Baron Drummonds Successor was created by King James the Sixth Earl of Perth about the year 1605 and so designed from the head Burgh of the Shire of whom is descended James now Earl of Perth his great Grand-child who was an extraordinar Lord of the Session Justice General and Chancellor to K. Ch. the 2d K. Ja. the 7th James a Son of this Family was created by K. Ia. the 6th Lord Maderty and is in the Rolls of Parliament 1617 after the Lord Garlies and before the Lord Kintail whose Successors second Son L. General William Drummond was by King James the Seventh about the year 1686 created Viscount of Strathallan to whom his Son William now Viscount of Strathallan succeeded and also is Heir to his Uncle the Lord Maderty Upon the same Bank Tullibardine Castle sheweth it self aloft but with greater jollity since that by the propitious favour of King James the Sixth Sir John Murray created Baron of Tullibardine before the Lords Colvil and Scoon was raised to the Honour and Estate of Earl of Tullibardine anno 1606. By an unprinted Act anno 1612 there is a Ratification to the Master of Tullibardine of the Lands of the Earldom of Athol who was the Earl of Tullibardines eldest Son Earls eldest Sons at that time being designed Masters and not Lords this Master afterward William Earl of Tullibardine having married the Heiress of Stuart Earl of Athol his Son John succeeded to the Dignity of Earl of Athol and his Uncle Sir Patrick Murray by Resignation became Earl of Tullibardine whose Son James Earl of Tullibardine dying without Issue his Estate and Dignity fell to his Cousin Iohn Earl of Athol Son to the Earl of Athol before named who liveth and was to King Charles the Second Lord Justice General and thereafter Lord Privy Seal and extraordinar Lord of the Session and before the year 1677 created Marquess of Athol he retains the sirname of Murray and carries the Arms of Stuart Earl of Athol quartered Upon the other Bank more beneath Duplin Castle sometime the Habitation of the Barons Oliphant reporteth yet what an overthrow the like to which was never before the English men that came to aid King Edward Balliol gave there unto the Scots insomuch as the English Writers in that time do write that they won this Victory not by mans hand but by the power of God and the Scottish Writers relate how that out of the Family of the Lindseys there were slain in the Field fourscore persons and that the name of Hays had been quite extinguished but that the chief of that House left his Wife behind him great with Child The Precedency of Oliphant is transmitted to Dowglass Lord Mordingtoun as Heir of Line of whom before and Charles Lord Oliphant residing in the Shire of Bamff as Heir-male doth also claim the Precedency The Lands of Duplin were purchased by Sir George Hay of Kinfauns a Lord of the Session and Clerk of Register and thereafter in the year 1622 made Lord Chancellor September 25 1629 George Viscount Dupline is one of the Commissioners for holding of the Parliament in a Roll of the Nobility about that time he is ranked last Viscount after the Viscount of Drumlanrig and in anno 1632 created by King Charles the First Earl of Kinnoul to whom he continued Chancellor till his death and was succeeded by John Spotswood Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews the Earl of Kinnoul his Successor resides in England Not far from it standeth Innermeth well known by reason of the Lords thereof the Stuarts out of the Family of Lorn this Dignity at present is claimed by none Inch Chafra that is in the old Scottish tongue the Isle of Masses hereby may be remembered when as it was a most famous Abbey of the Order of Saint Augustine founded by Gilbert Earl of Strathern about the year 1200. When Ern hath joined this Water with Tau in one Stream so that Tau is now become more spacious he looketh up to Abernethy seated upon his Bank the Royal Seat in old time of the Picts and a well peopled City which as we read in an ancient Fragment Nectane King of the Picts gave unto God and St. Brigid until the day of Doom together with the bounds thereof which ly from a stone in Abertrent unto a stone near to Carfull that is Loghfoll and from thence as far as to Ethan But long after it became the possession of the Dowglasses Earls of Angus who are called Lords of Abernethy
further side of Crantzbain Mountain which as it were in a continued Range by Hills hanging one by another driveth out his Ridge with many a winding as far as to Murray Firth where now lyeth Murray in Latine Moravia celebrated for the Fertility pleasant Situation and commodity of fruitfull Trees By this Province Spey a famous River maketh his Issue into the Sea wherein he lodgeth when he hath watered Rothes Castle whence the Family of the Leslys took the Title of Earl ever since that King James the Second conferred the Honour of Earl of Rothes upon Sir George Lesly of whom in the Shire of Fife Concerning this Spey the Poet Necham hath thus written Spey loca mutantis praeceps agitator arenae Inconstans certas nescit habere vias Officium lintris corbis subit hunc regit audax Cursus labentis nauta fluenta sequens Spey raising heaps of sand amain That shift oft-times their place Inconstant he doth change eft-soons And keeps no certain race A Panier serves here for a Boat Some ventrous Swain it guides Who followeth still the Rivers course Whild down the Stream it glides The River Loxa mentioned by Ptolomy which now is called Losse hideth himself in the Sea hard by near unto which Elgin appeareth in which and in Forres adjoyning J. of Dumbar of Cumnock descended from the Stock of the Earls of March and Murray hath his Jurisdiction as Sheriff by Inheritance whose Descendent is Alexander Dumbar of West-field Sheriff of Murray his Predecessor Sir Alexander Dumbar of Westfield Sheriff of Murray was Son to the last Dumbar Earl of Murray whose Son James Dumbar married one of the Heiresses of Patrick Dumbar of Cumnock descended of the Earls of March by which Marriage their Successors had the Barony of Cumnock and were designed Lairds of Cumnock till they sold these Lands about the year 1600 which now belong to the Countess of Dumfreis and then they resumed their former designation of West-field and Sheriff of Murray But where Losse is now ready to enter into the Sea he findeth a more plain and soft Soil and spreadeth abroad into a Meer full of Swans wherein the Herb Olorina plentifully groweth he hath Spiny Castle standing upon it whereof the first Baron was Alexander of the Linage of the Lindseys now extinct Likas Kinloss also a neighbour by sometime a famous Monastery some call it Kill-flos of certain Flowers miraculously there springing up on a sudden when the Carcase of King Duff murdered and hidden in the same place was found had for the Lord thereof Edward Bruce a Lawyer and a Commissar of Edinburgh afterward a Lord of the Session and Commendator of Kinloss and Ambassador to Queen Elizaheth and afterwards Master of the Rolls in England and of the Kings Majesties Privy Council whom King James the Sixth created Baron Bruce of Kinloss about the year 1604 whose Son was created Earl of Elgin by K. Ch. the 1st anno 1633 and a Lord Baron in York Shire and his Son Rohert was by K. Ch. the 2d created Earl of Ailshury in England whose Son doth succeed him in both Dignities In this Shire also Sir Alexander Sutherland of Duffus an ancient Cadet of the Earls of Sutherland was created Lord Duffus in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the Second about the year 1651 whose Son is Alexander now Lord Duffus Thus much for the shore More inward where now standeth Bean Castle thought to be Banatia that Ptolomy mentioneth there was found in the year 1460 a Vessel of Marble artificially engraven and full of Roman Coin Hard by is Nardin or Nairn an hereditable Sheriffdom of the Camphels of Lorn designed of Caddel Sir Hugh Camphel of Caddel is the present Sheriff and Alexander Campbel his eldest Son is one of the Commissioners for that Shire in this current Parliament where there stood within a Biland a Fortress of a mighty hight built with wonderful Bulwarks and in times past defended by the Danish Forces against the Scots A little off is Logh-ness a very great Lake as reaching out 23 miles in length the Water whereof is so warm that even in this cold and frozen Climat it never freezeth from which by a very small Isthim or partition of Hills the Logh Lutea or Louthea which by Aher letteth it self forth into the west Sea is divided Near unto these Loghs there stood in old time two notable Fortifications the one named Iuverness the other Innerlothea according to the names of the said Loghs Iuverness had for Sheriff thereof by right of Inheritance the Marquess of Huntly who is of great command hereabout now at the Kings disposal Lodovick Grant of Freuchie commonly designed Laird of Grant a Privy Counseller and one of the Commissioners for the Shire is Sheriff thereof Under the reign of Rohert Bruce Thomas Randolph his Sisters son who in his Countries behalf undertook exceeding great pains and most grievous Quarrels was highly renowned by the Title of Earl of Murray Under King Rohert the Second John of Dumhar took to Wise the Kings Daughter to make amends for her devirgination received this Earldom of Murray with her in Marriage Under King James the Second William Creighton Chancellor of the Realm and Archihald Dowglass were at great variance and eager contention about this Earldom when as against the Laws and ancient Customs Dowglass who had married the younger Daughter of James of Dumhar Earl of Murray was preferred to the Earldom before Creighton who had wedded the elder and that through the powerful Authority that William Earl Dowglass had with the King which was so great that he advanced not only him to the Earldom of Murray but also another Brother to the Earldom of Ormond and made two Cousins of his Earls the one of Angus and the other of Morton but this greatness of his not to be trusted upon because it was excessive turned soon after to his own confusion under King James the Fifth his own Brother whom he appointed his Vicegerent in the Government of the Kingdom enjoyed this honour and James the base Son of King James the Fifth received this honour of Queen Mary his Sister but he requited her ill when joyning with others of the Nobility and Nation she was deposed from her Royal Estate and Kingdom a President prejudicial to Kings and Princes which notwithstanding was revenged for shortly after he was shot through with a Bullet his only Daughter brought this Title unto her Husband Sir James Stuart of Down who was also of the Blood-Royal from the Dukes of Albany who being slain by his Concurrents left his Son James to succeed him in this honour Sir James Stuart of Down first created Lord Down by King James the Sixth about the year 1581 the Successor of the Lord Down and Earl of Murray is Alexander Earl of Murray who was Secretary to King Charles the Second and King James the Seventh and