Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

number of labourers that flocked in was extraordinary, ! and the work was executed in a few months at the small cost of £600.

Many thoughts come to one looking out from the breezy vantage ground of the church tower. Here about us long geological processes, the activities of conquest and defence, the energies of industry and civilisation, have left indelible marks. They have drawn long lines and heaped up curious mounds like those made by the action of the sea on the shore. The coal and ironstone measures, their witnesses these numerous hills of waste, speaking of teleological vegetation and upheaval; the flat valley witnessing to glacial times and the river that once rushed down this green plain; the Roman Wall, suggestive of that ancient Power which overran the world and to humanity was a blessing in disguise; the ancient forts, speaking of the intrepidity of the primeval inhabitants; the battlefield, testifying of the bitterness of Covenanting strife, and the rise of our religious liberties; the canal, like the Roman Wall, stretching from sea to sea, and suggestive of the rise and progress of steam navigation; the Kelvin, taking the mind back to those bogs and marshes which marked the extreme boundaries of the lowlands; the homely potatofields, reminiscent of the revolution of Scottish agriculture; the dismantled mansion house at our feet bringing again to view days of political revolution and overthrow ; the churchyard and the church, commemorative of seasons of spiritual quickening and days as of heaven upon the earth; the white turnpike roads, recalling the old stage-coaching days; the railway and telegraph systems instinct with the throbbing life of the close of the 19th century; all these things, with their memories and associations, strongly stimulate the imagination. In the scene

around us, we have veritably "line upon line," carrying us from the clear and busy present away far back into a dim and inscrutable past. And should a present project be realised, and a waterway for ocean-going ships be cut from sea to sea, those who see its accomplishment will but point it out as another added to the number of those equally wonderful "lines" already drawn by the hands of nations, empires, and industries, across the face of the district. The parish of Kilsyth has an honourable past, but it never was at any period so prosperous as it is now, and evidences are not wanting that it may have before it a future no less distinguished.

[graphic][merged small]

APPENDICES.

I.

THAT William Livingston fell in the battle of Flodden, conclusive proof is afforded by an instrument of seisin in Colzium House, of which the following is a translation:

Instrument of seisin in favour of William Livingston, Fourth Laird of Kilsyth of the Lands of Castletoun and Balmalloch, 15th March, 1513-14.

In the name of God, Amen: By this present public instrument let it be evidently known to all that in the year of the Lord's incarnation, a thousand five hundred and thirteen, and the fifteenth day of the month of March, the first indiction and first year of the Pontificate of our most Holy Father and Lord in Christ, Leo the Tenth, Pope. In presence of the notary public and the witnesses underwritten, there went a noble man, Alexander, Master of Levingstoun, with the underwritten witnesses, to the lands of Castletoun and Balmalloch, lying in the Barony of Calendar within the sheriffdom of Stirling, and there with his own hands delivered and gave heritably, with effect, sasine, state, and heritable possession of all and whole the aforesaid lands of Castletoun and Balmolock, with the pertinents to his beloved kinsmen, William Levingstoun of Kilsyth, who died under the King's banner in the battlefield of Northumberland (qui obiit sub vexillo Regis in campo bellico apud Northumberland) according to the tenor of his infeftment. Of and upon all and sundry which things the said William Livingstoun of Kilsyth craved from me, notary public underwritten, one or more public instruments to be made to him. These things were done at the castle or principal messuage of the said lands, about the third hour after noon of the year, day, month, indiction, and pontificate which are above mentioned, there

being present prudent men, James Levingston, John Levingston, Donald Smyth, John Leis, John Bard, and William Watson, witnesses, with many others, to the premises, specially called and required.

And I, Master Alexander Levingston, clerk of the diocese of St. Andrews, notary public by imperial authority, was personally present, together with the aforenamed witnesses, whilst all and sundry the premises were said, acted, and done, as is premised; and saw, knew, and heard these things all and sundry to be done, and took note thereof, and thence have made this present public instrument, written with my own hand, and here myself subscribing, have reduced into this public form, and have signed with my sign and name used and wont, having been asked and required, in faith and testimony of all and sundry the premises.

(Signed)

ALEXANDER LEVINGSTOUN.

II.

Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the losses sustained by the Laird of Kilsyth during the Civil Wars, as recorded in the Acts of Parliament of Scotland, under date 9th July, 1661.

The Estates of Parliament, now presentlie conveened by his Majestie's speciall authoritie, haveing considered the Report underwritten, Have ordained and ordaines the same to be recorded in the books of Parliament, whereof the tenor follows: We, the Earle of Callander, the Lord Cochrane, the Lord Carden, the Laird of Ricartoun, the Provosts of Ayr and Stirling, Commissioners appointed be the Lord Commissioner, his grace, and heigh court of Parliament, for reviseing and considering the accompt of the fynes and losses sustained by Sir James Levingstoun of Kilsyth, knight, dureing the trubleous tymes for his loyaltie to the King's Majestie in maner afters peit, Conforme to the Commission granted be the said Commissioner and Estates foresaid to us thereanent, And to report Be vertew whairof Wee

haveing this day met, and the said Sir James haveing produced ane act of the Committee of Estates made and granted be the King's Majestie and Committee of Estates in anno 1651, whereby commission is granted for tryeing of the said Sir James, his and his tennents, thair losses and sufferings. Lykas he did give in the particular accompt of his fynes and losses with the instructions and verificatiouns thairof, which being considered be us, Wee find that the victuall growing upon the said lands of Kilsyth, his lands of Eister and Wester Kilsyth, with the bestiall and other goods, were destroyed in anno 1645 be my Lord Marques of Montrose and his opposers, whereby the said Sir James sustained losse of fiftie thousand one hundred and seventie-sex punds. And also wee find the said lands of Eister and Wester Kilsyth in anno 1646 lay waste, at leaste, the two parte therof, wherby the said Sir James wes losser in the sume of six thousand punds Scots, and siclyk in anno 1648 his lands were quartered upon be those who were under the command of George Munro when they went from Stirleing to Ireland and took money out of the said lands as the Act of Parliament bears, the sume of one thousand seven hundred twenty-sex punds. Item, Wee find in November, 1649, the then Committee of Estates Ordained the said Sir James to pay to Sir James Stewart, then Generall Commissary of the armie, the sume of four thousand eight hundreth punds, whilk the said laird was forced to pay accordingly. Item, the arent therof from Mertymes, 1649, to Whitsunday last by past being eleven yeers and ane halff Extends to the sume of three thousand three hundredth and twelf punds. Item, Wee find that the said Laird of Kilsyth sustained great losses throw the English Armie their quartering severall tymes up the said lands of Eister and Wester Kilsyth in anno 1650, Extending to the sume of fourty two thousand threttie seven punds. As also wee find that in the said yeer, 1650, his mansion house of Kilsyth was burnt be the Usurper's Armie with all his plenishing and victuall whilk wes put in the said house for preser

« AnteriorContinuar »