Forsamekill as we with advyss consent and assent of the said conuent being chepiturlie gaderit and ryplie advysit heirupoun hes sett and lettin ane assedatioun to our weil lefitt seruitouris Androw Pattoun and Augnes Laungmvir his spouse [etc.] of all and haill the sex oxingang landis of Burroleris quhilk now the said Androw and Augnes his spouse occupiis togidder witht the new landis callit The Corbe Craig for all the dais termes ande space of nyntene yeiris [etc.] Oure will is heirfor and we chairge you or ony ane of you [etc.] our baillies foirsaid to pas to the said sex oxingang landis [etc.] and ther gif him stait and possessioun be thak and rape as use is The quhilk to do we gif you ful powar be this our precept subscriwit witht our handis and our commoun sele affixit therto At Kinlos the first day of October the yeir of God m° ve and

.

9

"Dominus Gulielmus Forsyth, nunc comes abbatis sui Roberti Reid." (p. 38.) "Dominus Gulielmus Lyell, jucundus homo." (Id.) "Dominus Adamus Riddall, nunc chori suc. centor." (Id.) "Dominus Archibaldus Braidwod, nunc guardianus, seu cellerarius potius, quondam Domini Thomae abbatis comes primarius." (Id.) "Optimum juvenem dominum Adamum Eldar, primum artium magistrum Parisiis creatum: quantum debeat nostris musis et rectis admonitionibus, dicet (scio) melius nobis." (p. 41.) But see pp. 51-53. A charter of the lands of Lechnot granted by the abbot and convent of Kynlos to Patrick Cheyne of Essilmonth, dated at Kynlos on the twenty ninth of March 1519, is subscribed: Thomas abbas de Kinloss manu propria Ego frater Willelmus Merchand subscribo. David Aliat Patricius Wille Johannes Kelle Johannes Ricard David Spens. Andreas Weddell Johannes Chyld Patricius Fotheringhame. David Murray • Jacobus Pont Walterus Hettoun Johannes Parson Johannes Smytht Servanus Broun Willelmus Broun subscribo (Copy in the charter room at Slaines.) All these monks are commemorated by Ferrerius: "Dominus Gulielmus Merchand, cantor chori, qui phiala argentea et duabus casulis, una byssinia palmata, altera porracea, sacellum Divi Laurentii adornavit, obiit 1520." (p. 31.) “Dominus David Eliot, qui pleraque volumina ritualia, studiosis necessaria vel coemit, vel sua manu descripsit, obiit 1526." (p. 33.) "Dominus Patricius Wilson, vir (ut audio) probus, novitiorum formator, obiit 1525." (pp. 33, 63.) "Dominus Johannes Kelle triduo quam moreretur in templo Eucharistiam sumens, patres rogavit ut funus suuin in diem tertium ducerent, et ita evenit: 1522 periit." (p. 33.) "Dominus Joannes Richardi obiit 1526." (pp. 34, 63.) “Dominus David Spens, jam sub Roberto abbate Prior, 1538 migravit ad Dominum: requiescat in pace fuit vir certe pius et humanus." (pp. 34, 35, 38, 46, 47, 83.) "Dominus Andreas Weddell, et dominus Joannes Childe, qui etiam nunc vivunt, viri senes et probi." (p. 35.) "Dominus Patricius Fotheringame obiit 1532, in Divi Bernardi festo: interfuit funeri Robertus abbas." (p. 37.) Dominus Joannes Person, institutor novitiorum Belloci, 1539 migravit ad Dominum." (pp. 37, 38.) "Dominus Joannes Smyth, nuper subprior, jam monachorum confessor, simul et bursarius." (p. 37.) "Dominus Servanus Browne, nunc piscationum custos." (Id.)]

fifty nyne yeiris. Befoir thir witnes Thomas Innes/ Maister Eduard Brus. Thomas Leisk Schir Jhone Anderson witht wtheris diuers Walterus abbas a Kinloss Ego frater Johannes Philp subscribo. Ego frater Alexander Bad subscribo. Ego frater Jacobus Kympont subscribo Ego frater Walterus Hetton subscribo. Ego frater Willelmus Brown subscribo Ego frater Ricardus Sands subscribo Ego frater Guillermus Forsyth subscribo. Ego frater Willelmus Lyell Ego frater Adamus Riddell subscribo. Ego frater Archibaldus Bredwed subscribo. Ego frater Thomas Brown subscribo Ego frater Jacobus Burt subscribo. Ego frater Adamus Eldar subscribo.

The Rentall of the Abbay of Kynlos. (A.D. 1574.)

The Baronie of Straithylay ·

Item, the mains and landis of Straithylay, with tour, fortalice, and orchard of the samyn, The Clerk Sett, Boglugy, Thornetoun, Hauches, Murifald, Brakhall, Carinhillis, Craigleithe, Auchindanery, Ouir Mylne, Nethir Mylne, and mylne landis of the samyn, sett for je xxj lib. xv s. j d.

Item, the landis underwrittin, videlicet, the landis of Millegin, Garwotwod, Eister Cranokis, Newland thairof, Westir Cranokis, Eister Croylettis, Westir Croylettis, Ethres, the half landis of Ballnamene, Fortrie, Newland of Fortrie, the ouer sett and nether sett of Kilmanitie, the landis of The Clerk Saitt of the west syde of the burne, the landis of the xix oxingange of The Knok, sett for je lxij lib. iiij s.

Item, the remanent of The Knok, extending to xiij oxingange, set to the tennentis for yeirlie payment of xij lib. xviij d. iij bollis, iij firlots custume meill; iij bollis, iij firlotis custume aittis; iij wedderis, iij quarteris wedder, viij caponis.

Item, the landis of Auchinhovis, with the pendicles, Glengarock and Mengreowis, sett for lxxiij lib. v s. ij d.

Item, the landis of the hauches of Kilmyntutie sett for v merkis, vi s. viij d., tua firlotis custum meill, and ane boll of custume aittis, ane wedder, ane guis, thrie caponis, and thrie pultrie.

1 [From Ferrerii Historia Abbatum de Kynlos, pp. 91, 92, 94.]

The landis of Kelliesmonth, Toirmoir, and Nether Kylmanedy, sett for xxxviij lib. xviij s.

The landis of Pethnik, sett for vij lib. xj s., viij caponis, xvj pultrie, and twa geis.

Item, the landis of Edingeith, with the pendicles, sett for xix lib. vij s. viij d., xj s. ryne marte silver, ij geis, viij caponis, xvj pultrie.

The landis of Over and Nether Cantlie, sett for viij lib. xi s., ij bollis of custume meill, ij bollis custume aittis, ij wedderis, viij caponis, xvj pultrie, xi s. ryne marte silver.

Item, the landis of Fluris, and the landis of the auld toun of Ballamene, sett for yeirlie payment of ix lib. ix s. v d., ij firlotis custume meill, ij firlotis custume aittis, half ane weddir, xiij geiss, iij caponis, iij pultrie, ij s. ix d. in ryne mart silver.

Item, the landis of Windhills, callit the Sauchy town, sett for the yeirlie payment of vij lib. xiiij s. viij d., v s. vj d. in ryne marte silver, ij bollis custume meill, ij bollis custume aittis, ij wedderis, xij geiss, xij caponis, xij pultrie.

Item, the landis of Ouer Hauchies of Kelleismonth, sett for the yeirlie payment of iiij lib. xx d., ij bollis meill, ij bollis aittis, j wedder, j guis, iij caponis, vj pultrie.

Item, the landis of Lynnache, sett for payment of vj lib. xiij s. iiij d. Item, the Newlands of Millegin, callit Jonettis Scheill, with Straibknow, sett for the yeirlie payment of xx s.

Item, the Lady land, sett for yeirlie payment of iij lib. vj s. viij d.

Thir ar to be deducit of the money and victuallis aboue specifiet.

Item, to the baillie of Straithylay for his fie, x lib.
Item, to the officiar of Straythylay for his fie, xl s.

THE PARISH OF KEITH.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF KEITH. (circa A.D. M.DCC.XXVI.)

HE parish of Keith has for its tutelar Saint Summarius, or
Samarive, whose fair is held here on the first Tuesday in
September.

I find one of Saint Colms disciples called Summarius, in Jonas's Life of Saint Colm quoted in the Scotish Historical Library, page 233.2 Mr. Thomas Innes takes it to be Saint Malrubius the Hermit 3 (quhose feast is on the twenty seventh of August) called in Irish Sa-Maruve. On Samarevis day

(the twenty seventh of August) there is a fair at Forres.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF KEITH IN BANFFSHIRE.

A.D. M.DCC.XLII.4

Keith parish in Banffshire, is bounded, on the north, by the parishes of Bellie and Raffen (the first whereof lies west from the second); on the east, a little northward, by Grange; on the south, by Cairnie, alias Martin parish; on the west, by Boharm; and on the south west, by Botriphny.

It is enclosed by four hills. On the north side is the hill called Old-More, where one may travel five miles all upon fine heather; under which lies moss ground, containing great plenty of fir under ground, which the people thereabouts dig up, some two fathoms deep; and by this, they are served with winter light, and timber for their houses. In this hill is a large peat bank, about six or seven foot deep, and near two miles long, which may be carried forward some miles without interruption, no stones being there found. The country there abounds much with sheep, having plenty of pasture. On the west is the hill of

1 [From a MS. Account of Scotish Bishops, in the library at Slaines.]

2 ["This work of Jonas's is in Surius's Collection on the twenty first of November; and that the author liv'd not long after the Saint himself appears from this expression in his Life: Pergentes ergo simul, adolescentem Summarium qui etiamnum superest, comitem sibi adjungunt, et ad destinatum Eremi locum perveniunt.'" (Nicolson's Scottish Historical Library, p. 233. Lond. 1702. 8vo.)]

3 [ 27. die Augusti. Sanctus Malrubius martyr a Noruegis. Celebris habetur in Mernia." (D. Camerarii de Fortitvdine Scotorvm, p. 168.) See Butler's Lives of the Saints, vol. ii. p. 325.]

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

Muldarie; on the south, The Cards (Tinkers) Hill; and on the south-east by east, is The Ballach Hill, affording good pasturage, and fire for that side of the parish.

The church stands upon a little bit of rising ground, in the middle of a little country village, called Keith; which is situated in such a hollow place, that it can scarce be seen from any place at a quarter of a miles distance from it. In this town is a weekly market, held upon Fridays; and about a quarter of a mile southward from it, near a small moss, is held a great fair, upon the first Tuesday of September yearly, called Summer Eves Fair, which is said to be the greatest of its kind in Scotland.2

The parish is four miles long, and as much broad. The most of it, being arable ground, produceth great plenty of grain.

The church lies six miles north by west from Strathbogy, or Huntly. A small river, termed Yla, runs closs by the north side of the church, having a bridge of one arch: this river takes a little bend toward the north, at ane old ruinous house called Achynachy, two miles south west above the church, where the parish borders with that of Botriphny. From Keith, thro the rest of the parish, this river keeps a pretty straight course eastward, and falls over a steep rock about a quarter of a mile below the church, at an old ruinous house called Milltoun of Keith the place where the water falls into, hath been sounded with a line of many fathoms, but no bottom found. It runs eastward thro the parish of Grange, and runs into the river of Dovern about five miles and a half below Keith, which

1 ["There are in this parish the remains of several Druidical circles, now mostly demolished for the sake of their stones. There is one yet very distinct on the top of a hill vulgarly called The Card's Hill. A little below this circle, there is a very fine fountain of excellent water, called Taber-chalich. Near another of these circles, there is another well of the same kind, to which some persons resorted, even in the memory of persons still alive, always leaving some offering behind them." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. v. pp. 429, 430. Edinb. 1793.)

"There was, in the north part of the parish, a rig of uncultivated land, called The Gun Rig, set aside to propitiate the evil spirits: and tradition says, that, when the farmer, about fifty years ago, was about to improve it, one of his cattle fell down dead. A stone coffin, containing some ashes, was found in a heap of stones, which the present tenant removed, he having succeeded in improving the land, without injury to man or beast." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii, p. 389. Edinb. 1842.)]

2 ["An annual fair, of very old standing, held here in September, was, some sixty or seventy years ago, the general mart for merchant goods from Aberdeen to Kirkwall: it is still the best frequented market in the north for black cattle and horses." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. v., p. 421. See also The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii p. 390.)]