Publications of the Scottish History Society Volume 53 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ...English in the time of Langshanks and taken by VVallace who by burning a Kill drew the Garison out of the Castle for stopping of the fire, and then entred in with a Party that lay in ambush near it, and possessed it himself. But whether the Castle was burned by him at that time, is uncertain; this is certain that it is now overgrown with thickets. Here was also a Barony called Ahengashall, that did belong to a family of the name of Maitland, now extinct. Now the whole Parish, except a few small Heritages, belongs to the D. of Queensberry. the most considerable of which is the Lairdship of Eccles belonging to a Linage of the name of Maitland. The rest of the Heritages are but small Interests. In the bounds of this land of Eccles there is a Loch called the Dowloch, of old resorted unto with much superstition, as medicinal both for men and beasts and that with such ceremonies as are shrewdly suspected to have 224. been begun with Witchcraft; and increased afterward by magical directions for bringing of a Cloth or somewhat that did relate to the bodies of men and women and a Shackle or Teather belonging to a Cow or Horse; and these being cast into the Loch, if they did float, it was taken for a good Omen of recovery and a part of water carried to the Patient, though to remote places, without saluting or speaking to any they met by the way. But if they did sink, the recovery of the party was hopeless. This practice was of late much curbed and restrained: but since the discovery of many medicinal fountains near to the place, the vulgar holding that it may be as medicinal as these are, at this time begin to reassume their former practice. 6. Next to this Parish of Penpont lyeth the Parish of Tinron divided on the Northside of it from Penpont by...