sexes, among whom are a great many tradesmen, such as wrights, smiths, shoemakers, etc. The manufactory carried on in the parish is the linen, in all its branches; but they have no public bleachfield, being supply'd with that at Huntly, which lies in their neighbourhood, and where they are sure of merchants for their yarn and cloth, as they are at Bamff and Portsoy for their meal and bear. Thus, the linen and their crop are their staple commodities. The people in general are sensible, industrious, and substantial, and seldom known to go to law with one another.

The principal burns are two, Forgue and Frendraught. The first consists of two branches: one of them rises in the parish of Kinoir, runs to the north-west of Drumblade, and divides that parish from Cowbardy, till it meet with the other branch at Knight's-mill, where there is a good stone bridge, of two arches: the other branch takes its rise in Foudland, near Drumdollo, and divides Drumblade (part of which lies like a triangle into the parish) on the east from Forgue, and runs north past Munelly, Cross, and the kirk of Drumblade, and from thence northeast and by north past Bogny and kirk of Forgue, where there is another stone bridge, of two arches; thence past the mill of Forgue, where it receives the burn of Frendraught, continues its course north past Haddo, mill and kirk of Inverkeithny, where it falls into the Doveran. At Inverkeithny there is another stone bridge, of one large arch. Its course is about eight miles. On the first branch stands mill of Cowbardy; on the second mill of Munelly; and on both the mill of Pitfancy, (and formerly Condland mill, which is now not used.) The burn of Frendraught takes its rise in Foudland, at a town of the parish called Cranloch, near Ythan Wells; runs north, past Frendraught, and mill thereof, where it is joined by Templand burn, which rises east-south-east from Frendraught, in the hills of Aucharny. From mill of Frendraught, it runs north, divides Inverkeithny from Forgue, till it come to mill of Forgue, where it falls into the the other burn above described. There is also a good bridge on this burn, at mill of Frendraught.

The small burns, such as Tarvis, Core, Riach, Gilligee, and others, all fall

at a Justice Ayre, held under the walls of the castle of Aberdeen, in the year 1300. (Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 340.)

A charter of Symon the thane of Aberchirder, granted between the years 1286 and 1289, is witnessed "Malcolmo de Ferrendrath Johanne de Ferrendrath. (Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, pp. 279, 280.)

"Michael de Ferendrach" appears as a witness to charters of King William the Lion, and Gillecryst earl of Marr, between the years 1203 and 1214. See above, pp. 190-192.]

1 [" According to Dr. Webster's report, the population in 1755 was 1802." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xii., pp. 281, 282. Edinb. 1794.)]

into one or other of the two large ones.

About three miles south-west from the kirk, in the hills of Foudland, the water of Ythan, which falls into the German ocean at the Newburgh, takes its rise, and, after a course of three-fourths of a mile, it runs past Glenmellen, and divides Auchterless in part from Forgue. Opposite to Glenmellen is to be seen the remains of a large intrenchment, where King Robert Bruce and his army remained, it is said, a considerable time; and near to it, in the Berry-hill, is shown the cave where that Prince lay ill of the small-pox. About two miles from Ythan Wells, the silver streams of Urie take their rise, and divide Forgue from Inch and Culsamond, and afterwards enter The Garioch. On it stands the mill of Auchintender, within the parish. The only other burn rises near Balgaveny, runs east, and divides another part of Forgue from Auchterless. On it stands the mill of Garrie's-ford.

In this parish are several mineral springs. That near Cranloch is reckoned as strong as Peterhead, and much frequented in summer; and, if some huts were built for accommodation, it would be still more used. The stream, or strin, with its banks and peebles, are all tinged with a crust of a dark brown like oker, the ground round it is mossy, and it undoubtedly is one of the steel spaws so frequent in Scotland.

About a century ago, the parish abounded with natural woods. The present roof of the church was made out of them; it is of oak. Little now remains, except about Frendraught, and on Forgue burn, the banks of which, for about two miles, is beautifully covered. There are several inclosures lately planted, and now thriving.

In this parish are four principal highways. The first, from Buchan, by Auchterless, to Huntly, crosses the parish from east to west, near Frendraught, towards Munelly and Drumblade; the second, from Banff to Garioch, by Inverkeithny and Hawkhill of Frendraught; the third, from Cullen to Portsoy, goes past Bognybrea, towards Knight's-mill, Drumblade, and the head of The Garioch and the fourth, from Keith, Rothemay, etc., past kirk of Forgue, towards Auchterless and Aberdeen. There are four principal inns for travellers, where there is good accommodation, videlicet, at the kirk of Forgue, Bognybrae, Hawkhill, and Munelly.

There are four annual markets held at Hawkhill, belonging to Bogny, videlicet,

1 [See General Roy's Military Antiquities of the Romans in Britain. London, 1793. fol. The fifty-first plate of his work is a "Plan of grounds in the parishes of Forg, Auchterless, and Culsamon, and county of Aberdeen, exhibiting the ancient camp of Redites near Glenmailen, on the south bank of Ythan, together with the military lines and intrenchments near Tillimurgan." Cf. Chalmers' Caledonia, vol. i., pp. 127, 128; Mr. Stuart's Caledonia Romana, pp. 215, 249. Edinb. 1845; Professor Stuart's Essays on Scottish Antiquities, pp. 87, 88. Aberd. 1846; The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xii., pp. 287, 288. Edinb. 1794.]

at Christmas, in April, July, and September; the last a considerable fair for cattle. The kirk town of Forgue is erected into a burgh of barony, with the privilege of a weekly market, but at present is in disuetude.

The farm houses and mills are generally built of stone and lime, the heretors bearing part of the expence. There are some lime quarries in the parish, but firing being at such a distance renders them useless. Marle is to be found along the Forgue burn. The stones are generally of the whin and blue slate kind, but too small for covering houses. I never heard of marble quarries in the parish, but there is some freestone. The burns abound with trout and eel, and the parish in general with wild fowl and game.

In sundry places, rows of long stones, from six to ten foot above ground, are to be seen, perpendicularly placed, some in an oblong, others in a circular form; those on the hill head north of Frendraught are the largest, but without inscriptions. About a quarter of a mile west of Frendraught, on the roadside, at Tarvis burn, is to be seen an old cairn, or heap of stones, the tradition about which is, that, at this place, the last Dunbar of Frendraught was murdered, in regard he refused to consent to his daughter's marriage with Crichton, and which was perpetrated by some of his followers; after which, he married the lady and took possession of the estate. A mile south-east of Frendraught, on the roadside, towards Glenmellen, is Murray's Cairn, at which place Murray of Cowbardy was murdered by the Crichtons, upon some slight quarrel. Half a mile north from Frendraught, on the top of the Riach hill, stood the gibbet, upon which many suffered, as appears by the remains of their graves; and, a little below the bridge of Forgue, are to be seen the graves of a gang of gypsies, who suffered death by drowning. The lords of Frendraught were severe justiciaries within. their own regality. Many other accounts of their severity might be here added. Bogny is now patron of the parish, which all holds immediately of the crown, except Corny-haugh, which holds of Bogny. The lands of Corny-haugh are at the north-end of the Foreman-hill, opposite to Mayen, upon Doveran side, and so low that for six weeks in winter the sun never rises nor sets on them.

The church stands in the north end of the parish, in latitude 57.' 27.0, longitude 2. 11. W., pleasantly situate on the burn of Forgue. It is a large parochial one, with two isles; that on the north is the burial place for the family of Bogny, and that on the south is pewed and desked for the congregation, and was the burial place of the Crichtons of Frendraught. The church is adorned with excellent painted seats, carved work, etc.

The house of Bogny is in a fruitful plain, with handsome office-houses, and

["The oldest date about the church is 1638. There are several inscriptions on the seats in it, such as 'GOD SEND GRACE WITHOUT FEAR'; 'PATIENCE OVERCUMMIS TIRANNY'; DEUS NOBISCUM QUIS CONTRA'; O PASSI GRAVIORA DABIT DEUS HIS QUO

stands in the middle of inclosures, planted and improven, of about two miles circumference. To Mr. Morison of Bogny also belong the houses of Castle Conzie (not inhabited), Frendraught, Haddo, and mill of Forgue, all within this parish.

Instrumentum super reuersione terrarum de Lityll Forg. (A.D. 1531.) In Dei nomine Amen per hoc presens publicum instrumentum cunctis pateat euidenter quod anno incarnationis Dominice millesimo quingentesimo trigesimo primo mensis vero Augusti die decimo [etc.] In nostrorum connotariorum publicorum et testium subscriptorum presentia personaliter constitutus discretus vir dominus Patricius Steuart capellanus / coram nobili domino Jacobo Crychtoun de Frendracht milite exposuit qualiter sibi contulit et dedit summam centum marcarum usualis monete Scotie de et super terris de Litill Forge jacentibus in baronia de Frendracht infra vicecomitatum de Aberden/ que terre alienate et impignorate fuerunt dicto domino Patricio pro eadem summa sub reuersione debita / que reuersio amissa et perdita fuit per dictum nobilem virum nichilominus idem nobilis vir optauit et desiderauit quadragenta marcas in augmentum maioris summe de et super huiusmodi terris de Lityll Forg sic ut in toto haberet summam centum quadragenta marcarum quam summam centum quadragenta marcarum idem dominus fatebatur se recepisse in pecunia numerata a dicto domino Patricio Steuart pro causis premissis una cum reuersione dictarum terrarum de Lytill Forg in se continentem illam predictam summam centum quadragenta marcarum quam reuersionem idem nobilis dominus Jacobus Crychtoun miles in omnibus suis clausulis affirmauit ratificauit et approbauit et illam primam reuersionem centum marcarum pro se et suis heredibus et assignatis quieteclamauit adnullauit et cassauit [etc.] et per presentes renuntiat quieteclamat et cassat / secundam vero reuersionem affirmat Insuper idem dominus Jacobus Crychtoun de Frendracht miles ex sua mera et propria. confessione declarauit quod ipsa reuersio centum quadragenta marcarum nullum locum facultatem aut potestatem habebit in redemptione dictarum terrarum de Lityll Forg cum pertinentiis usque post cursum et finem trium annorum imme

QUE FINEM'; CUM OMNIBUS PACEM ADVERSUS VITIA BELLUM.'" (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xii. p. 281.)]

1 [From the original in the Innes charter chest at Floors Castle.]

diate sequentium datam reuersionis dictarum terrarum de Litill Forg cum pertinentiis Super quibus [etc.] dictus dominus Patricius Steuart a nobis connotariis subscriptis petiit instrumentum [etc.] Presentibus ibidem Roberto Steuart de Latheris / Henrico Stewart / domino Willelmo Crukischank Alexandro Irwing de Tullocht/ Alexandro Auchlek / et magistro Jacobo Willok cum diuersis aliis [etc] Acta erant hec omnia in orto de Frendracht hora quasi tertia post meridiem vel eocirca sub anno die [etc.] quibus supra.

Et ego vero Willelmus Johnstoun presbiter Abbirdonensis diocesis publicus auctoritate appostolica notarius Quia premissis [etc.]

THE PARISH OF FYVIE.1

Quadraginta solidi de tercia parte terre de Rothebirsbane (A.D. 1458.) MNIBUS hanc cartam visuris vel audituris Jacobus Murray dominus tercie partis terrarum de Rothebirsbane Salutem in Domino sempiternam Noueritis me

in mea graui et vrgenti necessitate pro sustentacione et supportacione mei et vxoris mee et debitis nostris acquitandis et persoluendis / concessisse et pure et simpliciter vendidisse [etc.] dilecto consanguineo nostro Johanni Futhes de Rothybirsbane / unum annuum reddi

1 [See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 493-505; pp. 192-200.

A charter by King Alexander II., confirming the church of Buthelny (Meldrum) to the monks of St. Thomas at Arbroath, is dated at Fyvie (Fyuyn) on the twenty-second of February, 1221-2. (Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 561.) In the reign of King Alexander III. (1249-1286), the eels taken in the stanks and waters of Fyvie were matter of account in the King's exchequer: "Computum Reginaldi le Chene firmarij thanagii de Fermartin. . . . Item per terram de Kilmachone datam burgensibus de Fyuyne de illo anno x marce . . . Memorandum quod Henricus de Fyuin debet reddere computum de anguillis de Fyuyne de toto tempore quo tenuit stagna et aquas de Fyuyne." (The Chamberlain Rolls, vol. i. p. 33.) The account is probably of the year 1266. Cf. Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. 158.

The castle of Fyvie, "Fyuin chastel," was one of the stages in the progress of King Edward I. through Scotland in the year 1296. On Friday the twentieth of July he proceeded from Aberdeen to Kintore, "a Kyntorne manoir"; and would seem, on the next day, to have ridden to Lunfannan, and thence to Fyvie; a remarkable journey. On Sunday the