1

To the north of the toune stands the Castle of Banf, depending on the crowne, lately purchased by Lord Deskfoord, a pleasant dwelling house, with a wall, and of old fortified.

To the south-east of it is the church; and a little from that, south-east, an old great house, by way of castle and court, belonging to Lord Banf. Beside which

"De Carnutio eiusdem filio.

Hic jacet aequalis meritis Carnutius, annis
Longaevo decies quinque parente minor.
Hic cito, virtutis tulit alter praemia sero,

Nec minus hic vitae, quam fuit ille, fatur."

(Artvri Ionstoni Poemata Omnia, pp. 442, 374. Middelb. Zeland. 1642.)]

1 ["Part of the ancient wall of the Castle of Banff is yet entire, and the remains of the moat and intrenchments are still visible. Near to the Castle was situated the chaplainry of the Holy Rood. At what period, or by what founder, this chapel was erected, no information can be derived, either from tradition or ancient record. Dr. James Sharp, Archbishop of Saint Andrews, and Primate of Scotland, whose tragical end exhibits a melancholy instance of the furious and misguided zeal of ancient times, was born in the month of May, 1613, in the Castle of Banff. He was the son of Mr. Sharp, sheriff-clerk of Banffshire: his mother was a daughter of the laird of Kininvy. He died with the intrepidity of a hero, and the piety of a Christian, praying for the assassins with his latest breath." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xx., pp. 343, 371, 372, 375.) "The house where Archbishop Sharp was born, was pulled down about the year 1816. two pieces of lettered freestone, taken from it, have been built into the churchyard wall, at the burial ground of the Sharp family." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xi., p. 30.)

One or

In a roll of missing charters by King Robert III. is "Carta to Alexander Keith of Grandoun, of the keeping of the castle of Banff, in vicecomitatu de Banff." (Robertson's Index to the Charters, p. 141.)]

2 ["About the tyme that the Assembly ended in Aberdeene [August, 1640.], Monro lifted his leagwer, and, leaving Strabogye, marches for Banfe, August tenth, a sea towne about thirteen myles distant from Straboggye, north-easte. The reasone of his going ther was to tacke cowrse with Sir George Ogilvye, (at that tyme called laird of Banfe, though shortly afterward created Lord by the King.) Banfe had been active against the Covenanters, anno 1639; and all this yeare, 1640, had made his residence at cowrt with the King, as some other northerne gentlemen and noblemen did, such as the Lord Ogilvye, Walter Urqhward of Cromby, William Seaton of Shythinn, Sir Gilbert Menezes of Pittfodells, etcet. The cittizens of Banfe, for the most pairt, wer Covenanters; and, albeit in former tymes they depended much upon Banfes familye, who dwelt ordinarlye in their towne, yet now they wer so farr estranged from him, that they were growne his enemyes. The cheif ringleader and agent amongst them for the Covenant was one Dr. Alexander Douglasse, a mediciner, who was gott into such credite with his townesmen and with the Covenanters, that in the following yeares he came to be provost of Banfe, oftner then any man ther; as also high sheriff of the shyre of Banfe, and alwayes either a member of parliaments and comittyes of

is a lodging, (the old house not habitable,) with ane fine garden at the end. South-east, is a pleasant dwelling house, of old belonging to Lord Banff, thereafter to the Earle of Airly, now to Braco.

towne.

state, bearing great sway in thes places for severall yeares afterward: which preferrments, (being a wytte man,) he improved much to the inriching of himselfe, and, for the most pairt, (considderinge the tymes,) to the good lycking of all the shyre, except some particular enemyes, who either envyd his rysing or mislycked his wayes, which wer ambigously spockne of: or because ther was hatred tuixt him and them, for ill offices done to them, and extortiones under colour of justice. This man was thought a maine instrument in bringing Monroe to Banfe, who no sooner came thither, but he sett downe his qwarter in the laird of Banfe his beautifull garden, which was a great ornament to the towne of Banfe, and, being gallantly planted and walled, overshadowd and enclosd the east syde of that The souldiours were no sooner sett downe there, but they fell to macke havocke of all the fruict trees and other trees which grew there in great aboundance; leaving not so much as one standing tree, younge nor old, and cutting upp all the hedges to the rootes; in which deformed condition it is yet to be seen as they left it. Adjacent to that garden, in the very heart of that towne, stood Banfes pallace, high built and qwarterly; the structure magnificent, with two base cowrts; and few houses in thes places of Scottland comparable to it. Upon it the souldiours fell next, and, in few dayes, defaced it; leaving neither any covering, glasse, timber, nor iron worke ther; breacking downe the hewed worke, doors, windows, and knocking out the iron barrs of the windows; leaving nothing to be seen but defaced walls, which yet speacke its beautye, as it now standes, lycke ane old rouinouse abbey. In this industriouse defacing of so brave a pallace, the souldiours wer helped by the rascalitye of the cittizens and countrey people neerest adjacent, who either bought, stole, or embeasled the materials thereof. It is reported, that when it was told to the Kinge, he said, That for the house it matterd not muche, since expences could sett upp as good ane house againe in short tyme; but, he said, that it was a crwell thing to fall upon the garden, the losse wherof could not in many yeares be repaired, and so much the worse, because it neither had done evill, nor could hurt them; besyde, that it was ane ornament to the toune and countrey. For to sett upp this losse, King Charles in anno 1641, gave to Sir George Ogilvye of Banfe ten thousand merkes Scottish in gold, which Banfe brought home with him; yet too little for to repair his losses; but the King could not do better to him at that tyme. And not only was the pallace defaced, but lyckewayes much houshold stuff and spare furniture, which had belonged to Banfe his predecessors, was seised upon and embezled, together with a considerable librarye of bookes which wer ther. After they had defaced his pallace in Banfe, a pairty is directed to a countrey dwelling of his called Inshdrure, lying two miles south-west from Banfe; and it was rifled lyckewayes, August eighteenth, but not so ill handled as his townes dwellinge. Thereafter they goe to another countrey house of his, called Forglen; which is about five myles distant from Banfe, south-west, and stands in sight of Turreff, within a myle therof, upon the water of Doverne; and they search it lyckewayes and rifle it, but to lesse pourpose than the rest; for Banfes servaunts, perceiving how the rest of his dwellings wer used, came in the night tyme, and either did lay upp in secrett places, or carrye away such houshold stuffe as was

P

In the midle of the town is an Hospital, the Tolbooth, and the Cross, and several good houses in the toune. From which, to the west-south-west, is a house, (one myle from Banff,) called Colleonard, belonging to one called Joss, seated near a large muir, to the north-east, wherein are two lochs without fish. Below which, to the south-east, is a dwelling called Backlay, now belonging to Braico, near Diveran, to the east and south.

From that, one myle south, is a dwelling-house called Inchdruer, belonging to Lord Banff: above which, to the south, are great mosses and muires.

To the north-west of Banff, a quarter of a myle, is a sea toune belonging to Braco, where ther's white fishing; and in the mouth of Diveran, at the toune of Banff, to the north-east, is a harbour for ships.3

of most value. All his victwall that could be founde was tackne out of his girnells and givne to the souldiours for to maintaine them, (as at Strabogye,) who mostly sold it at ane under worthe to the poor countrey people about. The reason why his pallace of Banfe was defaced seems to have been the jealousy of the cittizens of Banfe, who supposed that sometyme it might be made use of as a cittadel to overawe their cittye: yet such as yet sees it, and understandes the form of cittadells, know that could not be the true reasone; for it was built for beauty, not for strenth, and not for defence, lett bee offence; for it is scitwated low, and overlooked by the castell and a great pairt of the towne of Banfe, which hanges above it upon the side of a swellinge grounde and hille. All the wonder heer is, that, using Banfes house so ill, they should have spared the earle of Airlyes lodging, which is distant and separate from Banfes house only by the lenthe of the formentioned garden interjected betuixt the two houses; for which clemency I can give no reason, but posssibly because Argylle was not ther at that tyme." (Gordon's History of Scots Affairs, vol. iii., pp. 251-254.) See also Spalding's History of the Troubles in Scotland, vol. i., pp. 236, 239, 240, 250. Edinb. 1829. 4to.; Sir James Balfour's Annales of Scotland, vol. ii., p. 382. Edinb. 1824. 8vo.

"A few very old persons can yet remember some large massy ruins, standing on the space now occupied by The Plainstanes, called The Towers, and known to have been a residence of the Lords Banff." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xi., p. 28.)]

["Here is a small hospital or bede-house, which affords lodging to eight poor women. It has no other endowment than what is derived from the parochial funds, and the donations of charitable individuals." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xx., p. 338.)]

2 ["The Castle of Inchdrewer, on the estate of Lord Banff, is situated on a fine rising ground, about four miles south-west of the town. It is still entire and habitable. By the stile of its architecture, it seems to have been built about the time of King James IV. or King James V. This is the opinion of Captain Grose, who, in his book of Antiquities, has given a correct view of this castle." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xx., p. 344.) See The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xi., pp. 30, 31; Carstares' State-Papers and Letters, pp. 736, 737. Edinb. 1774. 4to.]

3" At Banff there was a convent of Carmelites, or White Friars, consecrated to the

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF BOYNDY. BY MR. WILLIAM OGILVY. A.D. M.DCC.XXIV.1

THE parish of Boyndy hath Banff to the east ; and the parish of Alva to the southeast; the parish of Saint Marnoch church to the south; and the parish of Ordiewhill to the south-west.

The church stands about a quarter of a myle from the sea, on a burn called Burn

of Boyndy.2

Virgin Mary. The first grant respecting it on record is a Royal charter, dated apud Sconam, primo die Augusti, 1324,' whereby King Robert I. confirms Deo, Beate Marie Virgini, et religiosis viris Fratribus ordinis de Monte Carmeli, capellam Beate Marie juxta villam de Banff, una cum solo ad eandem capellam pertinente, ad edificandum ibidem ecclesiam et alios domos sui ordinis, et ad inhabitandum dictum locum cum Fratribus ejusdem ordinis, prout a summo pontifice eiisdem Fratribus specialiter est concessum.' The charter farther proceeds: Preterea damus et concedimus et hac presenti carta nostra confirmamus Fratribus ibidem Deo servientibus et perpetuo servituris, illam davatam terre cum pertinentiis que ad dictam capellam ante presentem collationem nostram pertinere solebat, ad inveniendum panem, vinum, et ceram ad cultum Dei ibidem devotius exercendum.' The davata terre' is the plain called The Dawhaugh, on which Duff house stands." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xx., p. 339; The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xi., p. 27.)

In a roll of missing charters by King Robert I. is " Carta of ane foundation of ane chaple, near Bamf, in vicecomitatu de Bamff." (Robertson's Index to the Charters, p. 22.)

"Some years ago, in levelling a small hillock on the farm of Poddocklaw, a stone coffin or case was found, inclosing a vase of baked earth, in which were some ashes and fragments of bones. In a tumulus dug into on a neighbouring farm, several such vases were found, placed on a sort of stone bench, supported on blocks. On this bench some of the vases were inverted; others had a flat stone on the top; the whole being covered over with earth." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xi., p. 31.)]

1 [From Macfarlane's Geographical Collections for Scotland, MSS. Adv. Bibl.]

2 ["The ancient name of the parish was Inverboindie, id est, The Mouth of the Boindie; the old church, now in ruins, (having been abandoned in the year 1773,) being situated near the point at which the small stream of that name falls into the sea. The patron saint of the parish was St. Brandon. His festival was held on the sixteenth of May. Brandon Fair, now held in Banff, but formerly, it is understood, in Brannan How,' near the old church, takes place on the twenty-sixth of May, new style. On a rising ground, on the farm of Bankhead, known by the name of the Lodgehills, are to be seen a number of large stones, called The Brannan Stanes.' Under one of these, an urn, containing coins, said to have been much defaced, was found a number of years ago." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., pp. 220, 224, 225, 239.) "16. die mensis Maij. Sanctus Bran

From the church to the westward, a quarter of a mile, is a house called Buchraiggy, belonging in old to the laird of Boyne, now to the Earle of Findlater. There is a sea town north from the church, one myle, called Whitehills, where there's great fishing and many boats.

The parish from that goeth three myles by the sea, to the north west, to the House of Boyne, in old call'd Craig of Boyne, belonging to the lairds of Boyne, now to the Earle of Findlater, standing on The Burn of Boyne, to the west, about half a mile from the sea. The burn runneth north-east to the sea, where are the ruins of the Old House of Boyne, on a rock.2

danus Abbas apostolus Orcadum et Scoticarum insularum, qui cum puer esset Herci episcopi viri doctissimi lateri semper adhaesit, a quo purioris literaturae rudimenta percepit: grandior deinde factus monachatum suscepit. Tantam vero discipulorum suarum manuum laboribus victitantium multitudinem collegit, vt trium millium monachorum diceretur abbas, multaque ad monasticam vitam spectantia ex ore Angeli suscepta composuisse dicitur. Patrem habuit Finlug: mater vero dicta est Cara, quae nocte quadam somniauit sinum suum auro obriso plenum esse, suasque mamillas ardere, et ingenti luce splendere: quod cum marito suo indicaret, episcopo Herco referre ipse curauit, qui mysterium somnij intelligens, dixit, Finlug, vxor tua pariet tibi filium potentia quidem magnum, sanctitate vero illustrem, vnde te rogo vt mihi illum tradas ad nutriendum:' quod factum est, adhaesit enim, vt diximus, sancto Episcopo. In festo vno Sancti Petri apostoli videns Sanctus Brandanus piscium innumeram multitudinem, iussit eos Deum laudare, qui super vndas enatantes vocibus intonare coeperunt. Alio tempore ferebatur ad sepulchrum iuuenis, parentibus et cognatis miserabiliter eum plangentibus, quorum lamentis compatiens vir sanctus, pietate plenus, ad loculum accedens orauit, et qui mortuus fuerat reuixit. De eo vide Fasciculum Temporum in sexta aetate; Vuionem; lib. 3. Ligni Vitae ; Breuiarium Aberdonense; Sconensia Chronica; Petrum de Natalibus; et alios." (D. Camerarii de Scotorvm Fortitvdine, pp. 144, 145.) See also Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 646, 647; Butler's Lives of the Saints, vol. i., pp. 633, 634.]

1 ["Ogilvies possessed the estates of Baldavie, Culfin, and Buchragie. The foundation of the mansion house of the last family, with the garden adjoining, may be traced on the rocky eminence to the west of the old church." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 229.)]

2 ["The House or Castle of Boyn, on the Boyn water, near its junction with the sea, is still standing, and, as a ruin, is tolerably entire. It was dilapidated about or soon after the middle of the last century, when the roof was removed, and the hewn stones used for buildings in the parish. It exhibits the remains of considerable beauty and magnificence: in front may be traced a double row of gardens and terraces, with flights of stairs. The ruins of a more ancient residence and place of strength, are still to be observed, situated on the west side of the burn, on a precipitous rock by the brink of the sea, below the mansion, to which it had given place." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., pp. 228, 229.)]