Composicio super terris ad ecclesias de Tarualund et de Migaueth spectantibus etc. (A.D. 1242.) 1 Anno ab incarnacione Domini m°. cco. Quadragesimo secundo post multas et uarias altercaciones coram uiris uenerabilibus. J. Abbate de Lundors de May et de Lundors prioribus domini pape delegatis habitas inter uiros uenerabiles Johannem priorem et conuentum Sancti Andree ex vna parte et nobilem uirum Duncanum comitem de Mar altera super terris ad ecclesias suas de Tarualund et de Migaueth spectantibus et super secundis decimis tocius redditus dicti comitis de tota terra sua ex dono nobilis viri Morgrundi quondam comitis de Mar collatis et carta sua confirmatis scilicet de cano. de coriis de blado caseo. . de farina de braseo de martis de multonibus et porcis de suis uenacionibus cum carne et coriis de placitis. et releuiis denariis quam in ceteris acquisicionibus easque multis temporibus perceperint Tandem propter plures importunitates et incommoditates et dispendia que dictis priori et conuentui Sancti Andree accindant in dictarum decimarum percepcione dicti prior et conuentus de consensu dictorum iudicum cum dicto nobili uiro Duncano comite herede dicti Morgrundi spontaneam et finalem innierunt composicionem tam ex parte dictorum prioris et conuentus quam ex parte ipsius Duncani pro se et heredibus. suis sibi imperpetuum successuris fidei interposicione roboratam talem uidelicet. Quod prenominatus prior et conuentus omnes prenominatas decimas de se et successoribus suis predicto Duncano comiti de Mar et heredibus suis remiserunt et imperpetuum quietas clamauuerunt et eque tali condicione. Quod terre et decime ab earum prestacione absoluerunt tali condicione. ecclesiarum suarum de Taruelund et de Miggauethe quas ex dono dicti Morgrundi comitis tenent et possident. huius occasione composicionis in nullo penitus ullo umquam tempore disturbentur vel minuantur · Prenominatus uero comes Duncanus et heredes sui prenominatis priori et conuentui et successoribus suis in recompensacionem dicte remissionis quiete clamacionis et absolucionis coram venerabili patre Radulfo Episcopo Aberdonensi solempniter facte singulis annis imperpetuum decem marcas argenti de camera sua persolueret scilicet quinque marcas ad Pentecosten et quinque marcas ad festum Sancti Martini Quousque per predictum comitem Duncanum vel heredes suos in tantumdem vel uberius [From the Liber Cartarum Prioratus Sancti Andree, pp. 332, 333.] in loco ydoneo et certo dictis canonicis prouideatur. Dictus autem Duncanus comes coram dicto domino Radulfo Episcopo Aberdonensi tactis sacrosanctis euuangeliis iuramento interposito subiecit se et heredes suos imperpetuum iurisdiccioni eiusdem domini Episcopi et successorum suorum . vt si cessatum fuerit aliquo tempore a solucione decem marcarum ad debitos terminos sublato omni iuris remedio Episcopus qui pro tempore fuerit per canonicam penam excommunicacionis scilicet in personas. et interdicti in terras possit detentores compellere vsque ad debitam satisfaccionem. Vt autem hec composicio rata sit et futuris temporibus inuiolabiliter obseruata permaneat parti huius scripti in modum cyrographi confecti penes dictum comitem Duncanum et heredes suos residenti vna cum sigillo venerabilis patris Radulfi Episcopi Aberdonensis apposita sunt sigilla dictorum iudicum delegatorum et sigillum commune capituli Sancti Andree Alteri uero parti penes dictos priorem et conuentum residenti . vnacum sigillis jam dicti venerabilis patris Radulfi. Episcopi Aberdonensis et supradictorum judicum apposita sunt sigilla dicti Duncani comitis et domini Willelmi filii sui. Testibus Sancti Andree et Aberdenie capitulis. Carta Willelmi comitis de Mar (A.D. 1268.) Omnibus Xpi fidelibus hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris Willelmus comes de Mar salutem in Domino. Nouerit vniuersitas vestra nos recepisse ad firmam a viris religiosis priore et conuentu Sancti Andree⚫ totam terram quam comes Morgrundus auus noster eisdem priori et conuentui · in parochia de Taruelone in puram et perpetuam elemosinam dedit et concessit cum omnibus libertatibus et iustis pertinencijs suis sicut carta eiusdem Morgrundi eis inde confecta plenius testatur exceptis quatuor acris ex parte orientali et australi eiusdem ecclesie ad vsus vicariorum assignatis. Reddendo inde eisdem canonicis et successoribus suis pro nobis et heredibus nostris quatuor marcas argenti medietatem ad festum Sancti Martini in yeme et aliam medietatem ad festum Pentecostes quousque eisdem per nos vel heredes nostros in consimili redditu vel maiori in terra uel in ecclesiastico beneficio fuerit prouisum. Volumus eciam et concedimus vt predicti prior et conuentus dictas IIII. marcas singulis annis percipiant in terra de Hachadgouan per manus firmarij eiusdem terre. Et hoc eis et 1 [From the Liber Cartarum Prioratus Sancti Andree, pp. 312, 313.] successoribus suis pro nobis et heredibus nostris fideliter promittimus et presenti scripto nos obligamus. In cuius rei testimonium presentibus sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi Testibus dominis Leone de Normanwile Thoma de Rettrif. W de Rotheuan Andrea Betune militibus. Douenaldo Dunecano filiis comitis eiusdem magistris Ricardo Veriment Thoma de Norham Nicholao de Sancto Andrea Ranulpho capellano dicti comitis et multis aliis Datum apud Falkeland xii kalendas Februarii anno gracie m° cc. lx°. Septimo . . Carta Willelmi comitis de Mar de ecclesiis de Taruelond et de Migueth (A.D. 1268.) . Willelmus Omnibus Xpi fidelibus hoc scriptum visuris uel audituris comes de Mar salutem in Domino sempiternam. Noueritis quod nos ratas et firmas habemus concessiones et donaciones quas dominus Morgrundus auus noster comes de Mar fecit priori et conuentui de Sancto Andrea de ecclesia de Taruelond cum terra et cum iustis pertinenciis suis. Et ratam et firmam habemus donacionem quam domina Agnes auia nostra quondam comitissa de Mar fecit eisdem priori et conuentui de ecclesia de Migueth cum terra et omnibus iustis pertinenciis suis. Et si quid minus legitime per easdem personas predictis priori et conuentui fuerit donatum vel confirmatum super eisdem ecclesiis et terris nos pro nobis et heredibus nostris quantum per nos et heredes nostros suppleri poterit supplemus [etc.] Damus eciam dicte ecclesie de Migueth unam acram terre prope eamdem ecclesiam ex parte australi iacente inter ecclesiam et castrum de Migueth ad mansum vicarij vel capellani in eadem ecclesia seruientis ita libere et quiete sicut terra eidem ecclesie prius data / donatur et confirmatur. Et quia dicti prior et conuentus nobis et heredibus nostris terram suam de Taruelone ad firmam concesserunt sicut in eorum carta plenius continetur nos ad peticionem dictorum prioris et conuentus quatuor acras terre dedimus et concessimus vicario qui pro tempore fuerit iacentes uersus partem australem et orientalem dicte ecclesie de Taruelone. In cuius rei testimonium presentibus sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi Testibus dominis Loeone de Normanuille Thoma de Rettrif Willelmo de Rotheuan Andrea de Betune militibus. Douenaldo Duncano filiis eiusdem comitis magistro Ricardo Veyrement Ranulpho capellano dicti comitis et multis aliis . . 1 [From the Liber Cartarum Prioratus Sancti Andree, pp. 311, 312.] Datum apud Falkelande . decimo kalendas Februarii anno gracie m cc. lx septimo . 1 Confirmacio carte Willelmi de Camera (A.D. 1362.) rasam etc omnibus probis hominibus etc. Sciatis nos inspexisse quamdam cartam Thome comitis de Marre non nec in aliquo viciatam Willelmo de Camera factam de terra de Estirrothnem in Cramarre cum pertinenciis. Tenendam et habendam dicto Willelmo et heredibus suis de dicto comite et heredibus suis libere etc. cum omnibus libertatibus etc. Faciendo tres sectas ad tria placita capitalia dicti comitis apud Mygvethe tenenda pro omni alio seruicio etc 1 Quam quidem terram idem comes habet warantizare et heredes sui predicto Willelmo et heredibus suis contra omnes homines et feminas Datum sub sigillo dicti comitis cum testibus vt in forma Quam quidem cartam in omnibus suis punctis et articulis approbamus ratificamus et pro nobis et heredibus nostris inperpetuum confirmamus saluo seruicio nostro. In cuius rei etc. Apud Striuelyne xxvjto die mensis Maij anno regnj nostrj xxxiijo. . THE PARISH OF COULL. 2 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PARIOCH OF COUL. (A.D. M.DCC.XXV.) OUL parioch has to the north, Lochell and Cushny; to the south, Aboyn and Glentanar; to the west, Towy and Tarland; and to the east, Kincarden O'Neil. The church stands two miles south from the river Dee, on the side of a loch, called The Loch of Strathmore, twentytwo miles west-north-west from Aberdeen; one and a half, west from Aboyn; two, east from Tarland; and four, northwest from Kincarden, its presbytery seat. 1 [From the Registrvm Magni Sigilli Regvm Scotorvm, p. 26.] 2 [See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 633.] 3 [From Macfarlane's Geographical Collections for Scotland, MSS. Adv. Bibl.] 4 [See the Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iii., pp. 198, 199; The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xlii., p. 958.] D Seats. Hills. Seats in this parioch are: an old ruinous castle, south from the church, called The Castle of Coul; and, two miles west from it, Wester Coul. Hills are Soccoch and Laddlelik, upon the north side of it. Its length, from The Bloody Burn, east, to Tindlae, west, is three miles. Its The 1 ["The most remarkable fragment of antiquity in this parish is The Castle of Coull. It is situated about one-fourth of an English mile south of the manse. Not many years ago, there was scarcely any thing to be seen at all, but a number of little green hills, and the remainder of an old wall, about thirty yards long, and ten or twelve feet thick. The ruins were buried in the ground, and might have continued hid from mortal view, had not a scarcity of manure induced people to dig about the old wall for rubbish : in doing this, they came upon the remains of four gates and five turrets, of very extraordinary dimensions. These last, as nearly as can be guessed, for it is impossible to measure them exactly, on account of their broken state, will be about eighteen or twenty feet in diameter. walls in those places which seem most entire are fifteen feet thick, built with lime and stone throughout. One of the gates, which is not so much demolished as the rest, is closed above, with a Gothic arch of free stone: this gate is nine feet wide, twelve feet high, and fifteen feet thick. The whole work, as far as it can now be traced, appears to have been a square, measuring about fifty yards on each side. It is only a very small portion of it that is yet opened up: three sides of it, in a great measure, are still under ground. Among the rubbish dug up were found several small pieces of silver coin, with this inscription : • Alexander Rex Scotorum.'" (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iii., p. 201. Edinb. 1792.) "Upon a rocky eminence, in the vicinity of the church, may still be seen the remains or rubbish of The Castle of Coull. It appears to have been a fortification of considerable extent and great strength, of square form, with large hexagonal towers at its angles. The fosse may still be distinctly seen. It was the seat of the Durwards, a family once of great influence in this district. It is a common saying still, that the kirk bell of Coull rings of its own accord when a Durward dies.'" (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xlii., p. 959. Edinb. 1843.) See also Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 86, note. "About a mile and a half west of the manse, are to be seen the remains of a Druidical temple. The place is called Tamnavrie, which signifies The Hill of Worship; but there is nothing to be seen but a few large stones, some of them standing upright, others fallen down, without any appearance of figures or inscription." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iii., p. 201.) "About half a mile south from the church of Tarland, and in the parish of Coull, there is a small hill or eminence, about one hundred and fifty feet in height above the level of the Tarland burn; its summit of conical form, about one hundred feet in circumference, consisting of solid rock. On this summit may be seen the distinct ruins of a Druidical temple, containing two circles, formed of large erect stones, at short intervals, from four to five feet in height, three broad, and two feet thick. The hill or eminence is known by the name of Tomnaverie," etc. (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xlii., p. 842.)] |