poterint cum liberis forestarum curiis exitibus amerchiamentis eschaetis ac omnibus aliis baronie seu forestarum curiarum priuilegiis [etc.] INSUPER DAMUS et concedimus ac plenariam potestatem libertatem et priuilegium memorato Jacobo Morauie Comiti et heredibus suis prescriptis committimus / exscindendi et excolendi siluas et arbores crescentes infra bondas omnium terrarum prescriptarum vendendi et desuper ad eorum placitum disponendi ac etiam fundum earundem effodiendi et seminandi ad ipsorum voluntatem et proficuum prout eis videbitur expediens SOLUENDO inde annuatim memoratus Jacobus Morauie Comes et heredes sui prescripti nobis et nostris successoribus rotulatoribus camerariis assignatis seu factoribus nostris summam septuaginta nouem librarum octo solidorum et octo denariorum monete regni nostri tanquam firmas annuales in predicto rentali nostro specificatas ac summam viginti octo librarum et viginti vnius. denariorum tanquam pro integris areagiarum et careagiarum summis in eodem rentali contentis necnon summam septuaginta duarum librarum nouem solidorum et vnius denarii tanquam pro annuis gressumis predictarum terrarum eisdem connumeratis secundum ratam cuiuslibet quinquennalis locationis earundem ac etiam summam triginta solidorum tanquam pro pretio cuiuslibet dictarum quindecem martarum quarte partis et octaue partis marte contentarum in eodem rentali summam quinque solidorum tanquam pro pretio cuiuslibet dictorum sexaginta duorum mutonum in prefato rentali specificatorum quatuor denarios tanquam pro pretio cuiuslibet dictarum centum et septuaginta sex lie reik hennis contentarum in predicto rentali summam trium solidorum quatuor denariorum tanquam pro pretio cuiuslibet bolle dictarum duarum celdrarum quatuor bollarum et duarum ferlotarum auenarum in prefato rentali mentionatarum tanquam pro integris firmis areagiis careagiis gressumis pecuniarum summis martis mutonibus lie reik hennis et auenis supra specificatis in suprascripto nostro rentali contentis / vnacum trium librarum sex solidorum octo denariorum [summa] in annuam augmentationem eiusdem rentalis ad duos anni terminos Penthecostes et Sancti Martini in hyeme per equales portiones nomine feudifirme tantum necnon heredes masculi prefati Jacobi Morauie Comitis duplicando dictam firmam pecuniarum in prefato rentali contentam extendentem ad prenominatam summam septuaginta nouem librarum octo solidorum et octo denariorum primo anno cuiuslibet eorum introitus ad predictas terras et dominium prescriptum prout vsus est feudifirme

ac

etiam edificando et sustendando super easdem aulas cameras culinas caulas columbaria et alias politias fundo correspondentes secundum formam acti nostri parliamenti desuper confecti⚫ IN CUIUS REI testimonium huic presenti carte nostre magnum sigillum nostrum apponi precipimus Testibus reuerendissimo in Christo patre Joanne Archiepiscopo Sanctiandree dilectis nostris consanguineis Jacobo Comite de Mortoun domino de Dalkeith cancellario nostro Willelmo Comite Mariscalli domino Keith dilectis nostris familiaribus consiliariis Richardo Maitland de Lethingtoun equite aurato nostri secreti sigilli custode magistro Jacobo Makgill de Rankelour Nether nostrorum rotulorum registri ac consilii clerico / et Joanne Bellenden de Auchnoull milite nostre justiciarie clerico · Apud Halyrudehouss vicesimo secundo die mensis Decembris anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo sexagesimo quarto et regni nostri vicesimo tercio.

THE PRESBYTERY OF FORDYCE.

THE PARISH OF FORDYCE. I

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF FORDYCE. BY MR. WILLIAM OGILVY. A.D. M.DCC.XXIV.2

HE church standeth in a litle village called Fordyce, where ther's a good house belonging to the Earl of Findlater; and another to Glassah, with several other good houses, stands on a litle burn west from the village, which burn is called The Burn of Fordyce, hath in it plenty of trouts, and runneth straight to the sea.

North-east from the church one myle, and half way betwixt it and the sea, is the dwelling house of Abercrumby of Glassah.

[See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 644. "The parish of Fordyce seems to have comprehended originally the parishes of Ordiqubill, Deskford, and Cullen. When the disjunction of these took place cannot be positively ascertained; but from a decreet of stipend for Fordyce in the year 1618, it appears to have been subsequent to that period." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 183. Edinb. 1842.)]

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

3 ["The Kirktown of Fordyce was erected into a burgh of barony, at the instance of William Elphinstone bishop of Aberdeen, in the year 1499, with the privilege of a weekly market, and an annual fair appointed to be held in Festo Sancti Tallericani [30 Octob.] et per octavas ejusdem. Saint Tallerican, or Tarkin, seems to have been the patron saint of the parish; and a well is still called by his name. In a later charter, granted in 1592, to Menzies of Durn, the annual fair is appointed to be held ad Festum Omnium Sanctorum [1 Novemb.] vulgo All-Hallowmes per spatium octo dierum. (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iii., pp. 62, 63, 64, 59. Edinb. 1792.) On the ninth of January, 1683, Alexander Hay of Monktoune was served heir to Alexander Hay of Monktoune his father, "in mansione cum torrili quae ad clericos parochiales de Fordyce pertinuerunt; acris terrarum nuncupatis Clerks Croft, et ruda terrae vocata Ruid Rigg, cum decimis garbalibus, pastura, et libertate focalium in villa de Fordyce, in dominio de Fordyce et parochia ejusdem." (Inqvisitionvm ad capellam Domini Regis retornatarvm, qvae in pvblicis archivis Scotiae adhvc servantvr, Abbrevatio, inquisit. special. vicecomit. de Banff. n. 144. Printed by command of His Majesty King George III. 1811. fol.)]

The parish is bounded by the sea, from about a furlong from Cullen on the west, to the north and east, as far as to The Burn of Boyne, four myles.

From the town of Fordyce to the north-east, about two miles, on a rock at the sea, standeth the old castle of Findlater, ruinous.

From that to the south-west one myle, is the house of Birkenbogue, belonging to Sir James Abercromby, baronet. Below which, to the east, is some planting inclosed, belonging to the Earle of Findlater, called Bogue-park. About half a mile from which, to the north-east, is a sea towne, called Sand-end, belonging to the Earle of Findlater; and one myle east from that, is a house called Redhaven, belonging to the said Earle, on the sea.

To the north-east from that, one myle, is a sea port and burgh of barony, called Portsoy, belonging to the said Earle, with a safe harbour and bullwork, where there are severall good houses; and to the south-east, hard by the toune, is an old chappel, where now is a large meeting-house lately builded. Near to which is a dwelling, called Aird; and half a myle from it to the south-west, is the house of Durn, belonging to Sir James Dunbar, baronet, near to a hill call'd Hill of Durn.

"

1 ["The old Castle of Findlater stands on a peninsulated rock on the sea-shore; and still evidences that it had been a place of considerable importance. Leslie, Bishop of Ross, describes it as castrum, loci natura ita munitum, ut inexpugnabile videatur.' Its outer, or north wall, is so built as to correspond with the face of the rock; and its windows, which appear to have been chiefly on that side, would thus look into the sea. The lower apartments, some of which are partly excavated out of the solid rock, are strongly vaulted with stone arches; and the south side of the building, which was the only one exposed to danger, appears to have consisted of a large mass of dead wall, protected by a fosse and drawbridge. Beyond this, and at about the distance of a hundred yards, there had been another fosse and rampart, as an outwork to defend the castle." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., pp. 186, 187.)]

2 ["Portsoy was erected into a burgh of barony by a charter granted by Queen Mary in the year 1550." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 191.) The charter bears to be granted "pro poletia et edificatione habenda in villa de Portsoy / pertinente hereditarie Waltero Ogiluy de Boyne militi / jacente prope mare [in thanatu de Boyne] infra vicecomitatum nostrum de Banff ob receptationem et hospitationem liegiorum nostrorum ad dictam villam siue per mare siue per terram venientium ac pro communi vtilitate decore et poletia regni nostri · necnon pro bono fideli et gratuito seruicio nobis per dictum Walterum impenso"; and it confers the usual privileges "cum potestate insuper burgensibus et inhabitantibus dicti burgi in eodem pro perpetuo crucem foralem et forum singulis hebdomadibus die Mercurii cum liberis nundinis annuatim die Sancti Michaelis Archangeli et per octauas eiusdem habendi et tenendi”. (Municipal Corporations. (Scotland.) Local Reports from the commissioners, part iii., p. 144. Lond. 1836. fol. Presented to both houses of parliament by command of His Majesty.)]

And from The Hill of Durn to the north-east, is a dwelling house called Airnbath, formerly belonging to the name of Hay, now to the Earle of Findlater. Betwixt Hill of Durn and Arnbath, is a moss now exhausted.

From Portsoy to The Burn of Boyne, to the east, is one mile; which burn (wherein there is plenty of trouts and some salmond) divydeth the parish of Fordyce from Boyndy. The parish of Fordyce, from that burn at the sea unto the head thereof at Knockhill, will measure four long myles south and by west. The parish thence goeth about one mile south-west to a house called Tillienaught, belonging formerly to the name of Barclay, now to Dunbar, holding of the Earle of Findlater, having The Burn of Boyne about one furlong to the south.

One myle from Tillienaught, south-west, ther's a house called Brackenhills, belonging in old to the name of Abercromby, and now to Sir James Gordone of Park, holden feu of the Earle of Findlater. From that, south-west two myles, is a house called Muireaik, belonging to the name of Gordone, holden few of the said Earle, within a myle of Knockhill south west.

The parish goeth from that two myles to the borders of the parish of Deskfoord ; and betwixt the two parishes, are great mosses, and the whole parish has plenty of lymestone. North west from Muiraik, there is a moss and barren muir; and, from that to the north-east, ther's another moss near exhausted.

From it, north west, is a house called Badinteulle, belonging to Glassah, about one myle from Fordyce, to the north.

The church is six myles north-west from Banff, and two myles south-east from Cullen. 2

1["There is a triple fosse and rampart on the sides and top of The Hill of Durn, which seem to have quite surrounded it. The highest, which includes the large plain on the top of the hill, seems to have been strong, with a stone rampart or wall, especially at the entry or most accessible part, where it joins The Hill of Fordice. It commands an extensive view of the adjacent country; and probably was used as a retreat for the people, their families, and cattle." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iii., p. 56.) See also The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 185.]

2 [ Flint arrow-heads, called by the people elf arrow-heads, have been found in this parish. There are the remains of some Druidical temples, likewise barrows or tumuli. Three of the last have been opened within these few years. One very large, between Glassaugh and the sea, immediately above the bay of Sandend, consisted of a great circular accumulation of stones, fourteen feet high, and sixty feet broad, covered with earth or turf. Upon breaking in at the top, there were found a stone coffin of flag or flat stones, and in it the bones of a person lying in their natural order, and a deer's horn. The stones, of which sort there were few in the neighbourhood, seem principally to have been brought from the This barrow is now the site of a windmill. There had been another comparatively very small barrow at about a hundred yards distance from the largest. Another barrow was

sea.