Ochterlony's Account of the Shire of Forfar - Part One

   A very long post today, but an interesting.  I can say that without false modesty because the work is not mine, but one of the earliest descriptions of the county of Angus.  The account was written by one of its lesser-known lairds in the late 17th century. John Ouchterlony (or Ochterlony/Auchterlony/Auchterlonie) around 1678. He represented an old family who occupied the house and estate of Guynd at Carmyllie. The family name may come from the lands of Lownie in the parish of Dunnichen, which were in the possession of the family until around 1226-1239. They later occupied various places, including Kelly in Arbirlot, until gaining the estate of the Guynd in 1614. The current mansion was erected by the last of the main line of the family, who died in 1844 (though the family still occupy the place). The family member who wrote the account was served heir of his father, another John, in April 1676, in the lands of Guynd, with the teinds in the Lordship of Arbroath.

  This fascinating document has been printed several times, mostly in the 19th century.  Due to its length I have cut it into segments and will post the next chunk in several weeks' time.

The Guynd.

   THE Shyre of Forfar, so called from the head burgh thereof, is divided in fyve Presbetries, viz. Forfar, Dundie, Migill, Brechine, and Aberbrothock, and hath therein fyve Royal Burghs, viz.
Forfar, Dundie, Brechine, Montross, Aberbrothock ; Burghs of Regalitie two, Kerremuir and Couper ;
divers Burghs of Baronie, as Glammes, Edzielburgh, Easthaven of Panmure, &c. The judicatories thereof are the Sherref Court, whereof the Earls of Southesque are heretable Shirreffs; four Church Regalities, viz. Aberbrothock, Brechine, and Couper, whereof the Earls of Airlie are here-table bailzies; Rescobie, whereof the Earls of Crawfurd are heretable bailzies, the Archbishop
of St Andrews being Lord of the Regalitie, and the whole lands thereof hold of him. Some few some
waird, but the other thrie hold of the King feu, and are all oblidged as a pairt of the reddend of the charters, to give suit and presence at thrie head Courts in the yeir, at their respective burghs above written. Item, one temporall regalitie, Kerremuir, whereof the Marquis of Douglas is Lord of
Erectione, and directs his brieves for inquests out of his own Chancelorie, and hath a depute residing in the Shyre. The whole regalitie hold of him either waird or feu. The Bishop of Brechine hath his Commissariot Court at Brechine, his See, whore are divers other Courts of the King's Barons and Burghs Boyall within ther own bounds.


   The militia of the shyre is one regiment, consisting of one thousand foot, commanded by the Earle
of Strathmore, Colonell ; Laird of Edziell, Lieutenant-Colonell ; Laird of Pitcur, Major; two troups of
horse, consisting both of 103 horse, one thereof commanded by the Earle of Airlie, the other by the
Lord Carnegie. The length of the Shyre from east to west, viz. from the Burne of Innergowrie upon
the west, which divides the shyre of Perth, to the Water of Northesk on the east, which divides the
shyre from the shyre of Kincardine, is 28 myles, and from any place of the coast on the south syd to
Bramar on the north syd will be much about the same. The Hill of Glenquiech, it is thought, will be
the centre. It is an excellent countrie along the coast, which we call the length thereof, exceedingly
fruitfull of all kynd of graine. Thrie good harbours for shipping, as shall be spoken of in their own
place ; several fisher-towns, as Northferrie, Panbryd, Easthaven of Panmure, Auchmutie, Ulishaven,
Ferredene ; divers salmond fishings on the rivers of Tay, North and South Esk; divers gentle-men's
houses, cuningares, and dovcoats, as is in all the rest of the shyre, and shall be described in their
proper place, and are abundantly provided of peat and turf for feuell; great abundance of cattel,
sheep, and horse, especially the brae country, who have great breeds of cattle, sheep, goats,
and horse ; and in all the laigh countrey for the most part,except in some few places on the coast
here they are scarce of grass, all breed als many as sufficiently serve themselves, but the chief
breeds in the shyre are the Earles of Strathmore, Southesk, Panmure, and Edzell, Pourie,
Balnamoone, both for horses and cattle.

   The principal rivers of the shyre are Northesk, having its beginning at a great distance in the highlands, and falls into the sea four myles to the east Montrose. Southesk hes likwayes its beginning in the highlands, and runneth through a pairt of that excellent countrie called Strathmore by the towne of Brechine, and thence to Montross, where it maketh an excellent harbour, and falleth in the sea. The Water of Lounane hath its beginning in the mosses of Loure, and falleth in the sea at Reidcastle.
Alongst that river is that fyne little countrey called Strathbegg.  Begg an Irish word, signifies little and mor great, Brothock, having its beginning in the meadowes of the Leyes, and running by the walls of the yeards of Aberbrothock, falls in the sea. Dichtie, having its beginning in the Loch of Lundie, runneth through a very fine countrey called Strath-Dichtie-Martine, and falleth in the sea at
Monifieth, four myles east from Dundie. Gowrie, which hath its beginning in the hills of the Garse of Gowrie, and falleth in the river Tay at Innergowrie, four myles west be Dundie. Garbit, taking its beginning in the mosses of Dilta and Hyndcastle, runneth by the Gastle Glammis, and thence west till it join with ane other water called the Water of Dean, coming from the Loch of Forfar, and run both together westward, and is called Dean, untill they meet with ane other water coming from Glenyla, and all thrie running west together, are called the Water of Glenyla, until they fall in the river of Tay, six myles above Perth, and there Ioose ther name, and these, with many others, make the river of Tay the greatest river of Scotland, and is navigable to the toune of Perth, and falleth in the sea six myles from the toune of Dundie at a place called the Gae of Barrie.  There are several other small rivers, which I judge unnecessarie to speak off.


   There are two Abbeys, viz. Aberbrothock and Couper; one Priory, Restennet; with several other religious houses,all now ruinat and demolished. Several great lochs, abounding with several kinds of fresh water fishes, as pykes, pearches, and eels; all kinds of water-foul and swans breeding in some of them. The lochs are Lundie, Kinnordie, Glames, Forfar, Restennet, Rescobie, Balgays, Balmadies, Barrie. Abundance of parks and inclosures, which shall be spoken to in their own proper place; great plentie of wyld foul in all places of the countrey, especially in the high-lands, where there are great plenty of muirfoules and heath-foules and others, some heart and hynd, roebuck and does. In the low countrey, abundance of patridges, plivers, dottrills,  quailes, snips, and other small foules in great picntie, besides birds of prey, as hawkes of all kinds, ravens, crows, and such lyk; all kind of salt and fresh waterfoul, and one especially, kittiowauks, nothing inferior in tast to the solan geese of the Basse.

   The countrey aboundeth in quarries of freestone, excellent for hewing and cutting, especially one at the Castle of Glammes far exceeding all others in the shyre, of a blewish colour; excellent milne-stones; great abundance of sklait and lymestono in divers places ; ane excellent lead myne in Glenesk, belonging to the Laird of Edzell. All alongst the sea coast there is abundance of that we call ware, in Latin alga marina, cast up by the sea, and is gathered by the people and carried to ther land, which occasions a great increase of comes where it is laid. There are abundance of amphibious
creatures bred in the rocks betwixt Arbroath and Ethie, called sea-calves, who gender as other beasts doe; and bring furth their young ones in the dry caves, whereof there is abundance, and suck them there till they be of some bignesse and strength to swime in the water; the old ones are of a huge bignes, nigh to ane ordinare ox, but longer, have no leggs, but in place thereof four finnes, in shape much lyk to a man's hand, whereupon they goe but slowly. In the end of September, which is the time they go a land for calving, several in the town of Aberbrothock goe to the caves with boates, and with lighted candles search the caves, where, apprehending, they kill diverse of them, both young and old, whereof they make very good oyll. There is lykwayes of them in the river of Tay, but smaller, whereof none are taken, or any benefit made; there is lykwayes ane other creature in shape lyk to ane fish called a mareswine, and will be of twenty or four-and-twenty feet long, all alongst the coast, but especially in the river of Tay, where they are in great abundance, killing a great deal of salmond, and
doing a great deall of injurie to the fishings. In thir few years there were great numbers cast up dead all alongst the river of Tay, with great wounds and bylings upon ther bodyes, which gave occasion to conjecture that there had been some fight amongst them at sea.

PRESBETRIE OF FORFAR.

   The Presbetrie of Forfar is divided in twelve parishes, viz. Forfar, Glames, Kennetles, Innerarity, Methie, Dunichine, Aberlemno, Bescobie, Gortaquhie, Olovay, Tannadyce, Kerremuir. 

   Forfar is a large parish, both toune and landward; hath but one minister, called Mr Small; the toune are patrons of the church, and is in the Diocese of St Andrews. The toune of Forfar being a burgh royall, hath a Provest, two Bailzies, have commissioners at Parliament, Convention of Estates, and Burrowes; John Camegy, Provost, and Commissioner to the Parliament. It is a very antient toune, and we find in historic the first Parliament that was ryden in Scotland was kept there: also, King Malcome Canmore had a house, and lived frequentlie there. The mines of the house are yet to be seen in a place called the Castlehill. At little distance is ane other little mott where the Queen's lodgings were, called to this day Queen's manore. It is a considerable little toune, and hath some little trade of cremerie ware and linen cloath, and such lyke. It is prettie well built, many good stone houses sklaited therein, and are presently building a very stately cross; hath a large church and steeple well plenishod with bells; they have some public revenue, and a good deal of mortifications to their poor, doled by the bountie of some of their town's men, who going abroad became rich ; they have a good tolbuith, with a bell in it; they have four great faires yeirly, and a weekly mercat. The Shirref keeps his courts there; and all publick and private meetings of the shyre, both in tyme of peace and war, are kept there. They have been very famous for their loyaltie, especially in that base transaction when King Charles the First, of ever blessed memorie, was delyvered over by our Scots Parliament to the English at Newcastle. Strang, the then Provost of Forfar, did enter his protestation publickly against the same, and presently rose from the table and deserted the meeting, which this present King Charles the Second so much resented that he called for the person, and publickly spoke to his advantage, and added something to the priviledges and immunities of the place he represented.

   In the landward parish thereof there are severall gentlemen's houses, as Meikleloure, a good house, and well planted, with an excellent moss, good cornes, and well grassed, belonging to the Earle of Northesk. Balmashanner, an old familie, belonging to Patrick Caimcrosse ; Halkerstoune, Gray ; Tarbeg, Gray, with a good moss; the place is very ear, and lyes in that excellent countrey of Srathmore.  Kinnetles, Mr Taileor, minister, in the Diocese of St Andrews, Bishop of Edinburgh, patrone, hath in it the house of Bridgetoune, belonging to . . . Lyon, a grandchild of the House of Strathmore. A good house, well planted, excellent yard and orchard, very fruitfull in bear and oats, and abundance of grass. Kinnetles is ane excellent come place, a tolerable good house, belonging to Patrick Bowar, a burgess in Dundee. It lies upon the water of Carbit.

   Glames. — The Castle of Glames, Earl of Strathmore's speciall residence in the shyre— a great and excellent house, re-edified, and furnished most stately with everything necessare — with excellent gaites, avenues, courts, garden, bowling-greens, parks, inclosures, hay meadows, and planting, very beautifull and pleasant, lying upon the river Carbit at that place called the Water of Glames, where there are hard by the house two great bridges, one of stone of two arches, and another of timber, as large as the other. Be-east the house, and within the park, is another, called the Yeat Bridge, bywhich their whole peats are brought, and by which his Lordship is served from his mosses be-north the water in great abundance, and hath ane other little house there called Cossines.

   In a little distance to the Castle of Glames is the towne thereof, all belonging to the Earl. It is a burgh of barronie, hath two great faires in it yearly, and a weekly mecrcat. There is a cunnigare within the park, and dovecoat at; the bum — Mr Lyon, minister thereof. In the Diocese of St Andrews — the Earl, patrone. The Familie is very ancient and honourable, one of the Lords of Glames having married King Robert II's daughter, and got at that tyme from the King the thannadge of Tannadice, which he still enjoyes at this time. Two of the Familie have been Chancellours of Scotland, and a third Thesaurier. The present Earle is one of his Majesty's Privye Gounsell, and was one of the Thesaurie. He hath many considerable vassals in the shyre.

   Glen, belonging to the Laird of Claverhouse, Grahame, ane ancient gentleman of good extraction and great estate in the shyre — a pleasant place, a good house, and well planted, excellent quarrie of freestone and sklait, well furnished of peat and turfe, and in the hill thereof abundance of muirfoull. The sklait is carried to Dundie on horse-ack, and from thence by sea to all places within the river of Forth. Dunoone, belonging to George Innes ; the Earle of Strathmore superior.

   Inneraritie and Methie are now joyned in one parish, and have but one minister, viz. Mr Grahame. In the Diocese of St Andrews — the King's Majesty, patrone. Little- Loure is a good house, belonging to the Earl of Northesk, who is superior of the haill parish of Methie, well appointed of peat and turff for their own and the country's use about. Wester Methie, to Patrick Bower of Kinnetles; Easter Methie, to Alexander Bower of Kincaldrum. The kirk of Methie is ruinous and decayed. Barronie of Innerarity belongs to the Laird of Pourie, Fotheringhame, with a house of that same name, with a great park, and birkwood therein. Item, ane other excellent new built park called the park of Tarbra and Inverichtie, a good house, belonging to William Gray. Kingoldrum, to Alexander Bower, who hath a considerable interest in the parish, purchased by his grandfather, a burgess of Dundie. This parish lies on both sydes of the water of Carbit.

   Dunichine, baronie of Ouchterlony, which formerly belonged to the Lairds of Ouchterlony of that Ilk, but hath no house on it, is a considerable thing, and a pleasant place, belonging to the Earl of Southesk. Barronie of Tulcorse, belonging to John Ouchterlony of Guynd, only representative of the forsaid familie of Ouchterlony of that Ilk. Dumbarrow. Arret. The parish lies on both sydes of the Water of Lounane, which at that place is called Evenie: the minister called Mr Lindsay. In the Diocese of Brechine ; Earl of Panmure, patrone thereof.

   Aberlemno. — The chief heritor thereto is the Laird of Auldbar, Young, chief of his name, ane excellent and great house, good yards and planting, built by one of the Earls of Kinghorne, and twice given to the second sons of the House, which for want of heirs returned to the Family again, and was lastly sold to one Sinclair, from whom this present Laird coft [bought] the same. Melgund, belonging to tho heirs of Alexander Murray, son to Sir Robert Murray, late Provost of Edinburgh, ane excellent house, good yards, and two fyne parks, and much planting; ane excellent outer court before the gait, with excellent stone walls about it: the house built by Cardinall Beatone, and the parks by the Marquis of Huntlie, and some addition made to all by Henry Maule, late laird thereof. It is a very sweet and pleasant place, fruitfull in cornes, well grassed, and abundantly provided of turf, as is also Auldbar, and the rest of the parish, from the Muir of Montroymont. Garsgoume, belonging  Alexander Campbel. Tilliequhadline, belonging to the ancient name of Thorntoune of that Ilk. Balgayes, anciently belonging to the familie of Ouchterlony of that Ilk, now to Mr John Wiseheart, Advocat and Gommissar of Edinburgh, representative of the familie of Logic- Wiseheart, chief of his name. Mr Ouchterlony, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrewes ; the King's Majestic and the Earle of Perth, patrons, who present per vices.

  Rescobie. — There are severall gentlemen's houses therein, as Pitscandlie Lindsay, a good house, and well planted. The old Priorie of Restennet, whereof the church walls and steeple are yet extant, with the loch formerly spoken, the Earle of Strathmore, Pryor ; Dod, Hunter ; Garsbank, Guthrie; Wester Garse, a pleasant place, well planted, belonging to Sir Patrick Lyon, Advocat. Drummio, Nisbit ; Balmadie, formerlie belonging to the Lairds of Ouchterlony of that Ilk, and was the manner house of tho family, and their buriall was at the kirk of Rescobie, until they purchased the lands of Kellie, where, after having built ane house, they changed both dwelling-place and burial; withaneloch abounding with pykes, pearches, and eels, but all kinds of fresh water fowls, as all the other lochs thereabout are. And further, in the loch of Bestennet do swans yearly bring furth their young ones; there are severall eyl-arks on these lochs, viz. Balmadies, Balgayes, Bestennet, Guthrie, Pitmoues. Mr Lyon, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews ; Earl Strathmore, patrone.

  Tannadyce. — Most part of the parish belongs to the Earl of Strathmore, called the Thannadge of Tannadyce, and was by King Robert the II. given to the Lord Glames, in tocher with his daughter. There are severall gentlemen's houses in the parochine besyd, as Kinnatie, Ogilvy; Inshewane, Ogilvy; Caime, Lindsay; Easter and Wester Ogils, Lyons; Whytwall, Lyon ; Balgillie, Lyon ; Murthill, Lyell,ane ancient familie and cheiff his name, a pleasant place lying upon the water of South Esk ; Memus, Livingstoune ; Memus, Guthrie. Mr Lyon, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrewes ; New Colledge thereof, patrons to the church. 

   Cortaquhie and Clovay. — Cortaquhie, the Earl of Airlie's speciall residence, is a good house, well planted, lies pleasantly on the water of South Esk. The whole parish belongs to the Earl. Clovay belonging to Sir David Ogilvy, brother to the Earle, is a fyne highland countrey, abounding in cattle and sheep, some comes, abundance of grass and hay, as all the highland countreys of the shyre are. It hath a chappel, and some benefice for a vicar that reads there every Sabbath, and preaches there. The family is very ancient and honourable, and have ever been very famous for their loyaltie, espeiallie in the times of our Civill Warrs. The late and present Earl of Airlie, with his brethren Sir Thomas, who died in his Prince's service, and Sir David, now living, have, with diverse others of their name, given such evident testimonie of their loyalty to their Prince that will make them famous to all succeeding generationes, which doubtless you will get account of, to be recorded to their everlasting honour. Mr Small, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine ; the Earl, patrone.

   Kerremuir. — A Burgh of Regalitie, holden for the most part of the Laird of Pourie, Fotheringhame, who holds the same, with the miln of Kerremyir, of the Marquis of Douglas; the rest of the Laird of Inneraritie, who holds it the same way — a very ancient and honorable familie of the name of Ogilvy, who have been lykwayes very remarkable for their loyaltie, Sir Thomas, young Laird thereof, being executed at Glasgow for his concurrence in his Majestie's service with his Commissioner, the Marquis of Montross ; and his second brother Sir David, father to this present Laird, suffered very much by imprisonment, being taken prisoner at Worcester, where he lay long, was fyned, and his estate sequestrated for a long tyme by the rebells. It is a great estate, a good old house, fyne yards, and much planting ; it lyeth pleasantlie upon the waters of South Esk and Garritie. Glenpressine, a fyne highland interest belonging to the Laird of Bandoch in Perthshyre. It lyes at a great distance from Kerremuir, and therfore hath a curate who reads in the chapell every Sabbath-day. Logic, Ogilvy, a cadet of the House of Balfour ; a good house, well grassed, with excellent meadows and mosses. Ballinshoe, belonging to Robert Fletcher, a pleasant place, good mosses, lying within the forest of Plattone, where the Earle of Strathmore has a very considerable interest, which, with a great deall more lands therabout, belonged to the great and famous House of Crawfoord. Glesswall, Lundie. Much of the parish hold of the Marquis of Douglas, as doeth all the Begalitie, ether waird or feu. He hes his Begalitie Court in the toune of Kerremuir, where his Depute-Clerk and other officers, put in by himself, do reside. It hath thrie great faires, and a weekly mercat of all kinds of commodities the countrey affords, but especially of timber, brought from the highlands in great abundance.

PRESBETRIE OF DUNDIE.

   The Presbetrie of Dundie is divided in eleven parishes within the shyre of Forfar, the rest within the shyre of Perth, viz. Dundie, Moniefieth, Monikie, Murroes, Maines, Tealing, Ouchterhouse, Liff, Strathmartine, Lundie, Benvie. Dundee hath a great landward parish besyd the towne, which is a large and great towne, very populous, and of a great trade, and hath many good ships. The buildings are large and great, of thrie or four stories high ; a large merkat place, with a very fyne tolbuith and cross ; two great churches, with a very high steeple well furnished of bells, as is also the tolbuith. They have thrie nunisters, whereof the towne presents two, and the Constable of Dundie one ; their Magistrates are a Provost, four Bailies, Dean of Gild, and others are shirreffs within their own bounds : they are joyned in nothing to the shyre except the militia, whereunto they furnish 150 foot. It lyeth upon the water of Tay very pleasantlie, and hath good yards and meadowes about it. They have four great fairs yearly, two niercat days everie week, and a great fish mercat dayly. There is a great consumption there of all kynd of victualls ; the excyse of malt there being little short of the whole excyse of the shyre and burghs, besyd a great victuall mercat twice a week for service of the towne, besydes great quantities of all kinds of grain, coft by the merchants, and transported, by which retumes they import all kynd of commoditie from Holland, Norway, Denmark, and the east countrey. They export lykwayes all other our native commodities, and import other things necessary for the service of the countrey, which serves above 20 myles round about their towne. Their trade is very great, as is evident by the books of Custome. They have dependance in many things upon the Constables, who have been of the name of Scrimgeour, heritors of Dudope, and Standard-Bearers of Scotland, ane ancient, loyall, and honorable familie, and of late were made Earls of Dundie ;^ but the estate falling in his Majestie's hands as ultimus heres, the Lord Haltoune, now Earl of Lauderdaill, was constitute the King^s donator, and has the same privilege and superioritie, with the haill estate of the late Constable and Earle of Dundie.

   The toune has a good shore, well built with hewen stone, with a key on both sydes, whereof they load and unload their ships, with a great house on the shore called the Pack-house, where they lay up their merchant goods ; ane large hospitall, with diverse easement and a good vent. The land-wart parish thereof are first Dudope, ane extraordinare pleasant and sweet place, a good house, excellent yards, much planting, and fyne parks. It lyes  pleasantly on the syde of the hill of Dundie, overlooks the town, and as of purpose built there to command the place. Dundie Law is at the back thereof, ane exceeding high mott hill. The Bonnet Hill of Dundie, a large towne, all feuars of the House of Dudope. Claypots, belonging to the Laird of Glaverhouse; Blackness, Wadderbum, a good house, with a considerable estate in acres about the toune ; Duntroone, Grahame, a pleasant place, with fyne parks and meadowes about it ; Pitkerro, belonging to Durhame, a good house, extraordinary well planted, good yards and orchards, a very pleasant place ; Baldovie and Drumgeicht to Clayhills of Innergowrie. Craigie, Kid, excellent land, a good house, with a little new park ; Balgey, Davidsone, a good house, and good land. Mr Scrimgeour, Mr Gruthrie, Mr Rait, ministers; MrBanken, catechist. In the Diocese of Brechine.

   Moniefieth. — Laird of Balumbie, brother to the Earl of Panmure, hath the kirktowne thereof, with the salmon fish-ings in the river of Tay, with a considerable estate in the parish besydes. Grange, Durhame, ane ancient family and chief of his name, a good house, yards, and planting, with salmond fishings in the river of Tay ; Ardounie, a good house, yards, and much planting, with dovecoats there and at Grainge, both belonging to him ; Balgillo, Hunter, with a salmond fishing upon Tay, and a great cuningaire ; Omachie,* Durham, with a house and dovecoat ; Kingdunie, Broughtie Castle, with a great salmond fishing belonging to the Laird of Pourie, Fotheringhame, who has lykewayes ane other interest in the parish. Mr Dempster, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews ; Earl of Panmure, patrone.

   Monikie. — Most part of all the parish, with- the castles of Dunie and Monikie, belong properly to the Earl of Panmure, and is called the Barony of Dunie, wherein is that sweet and excellent place Ardcstrie, with excellent yards, hay meadows, and a park. The whole Baronie is excellent land, and hath severall dovecoats therein ; there is lykwayes a fine park at Monikie belonging to the said Earl. Auchinlek of that Ilk, a very ancient farailie, which has continued in that name these many generations, ane old high tower house, which is seene at a great distance at sea, and is used for a landmark by those that come in the river of Tay. Mr Bait, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine ; Earl of Panmure, patrone.

   Murroes. — Balumbie, the Earl of Panmure''s second brother's designatione, ane old ruinous demolished house, but is a very pleasant place. The Laird of Pourie, Fothringhame, a very honourable and ancient familie, of a great and flourishing fortune. He has lykwayes the Murroes in that parish. Both are good houses, sweet and pleasant places, excellent yards, well planted parks, and hay meadows and dovecoats extraordinary good ; and a little from the house of Pourie, toward the south, a fine little wood of fir and birk, with a stone dyke ; and is chief of his name. Easter Pourie, Wedderburne, formerly belonging to the Lairds of Pourie. Ogilvy, who were repute chief of that great and ancient name of Ogilvy ; it is a very good house, with good yeards and parks about it ; and at the foot of the castle- wall runs a litle rivulet, which going to Balumbie, and from thence to Pitkerro, falls in the river of Dichtie, is a very pleasant place, and he is chief of his name, whose predecessors have been clerks of Dundie for these many generations. Westhall, with a dovecoat ; as also one at Easter Pourie, belonging to Mr Archibald Peirson. Mr Edward,^ minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews ; Earl of Panmure, patrone.

   Maines. — The Maines of Fintrie, belonging to the Laird of Fintrie, Grahame, ane ancient and honourable familie, whose predecessor was eldest son of a second marriage of the Lord Grahame; severall considerable persones cadets of his House. It is a good hous; excellent yards, with a great deal of good planting, with parks and dovecoats.  Claiverhouse, Laird of Claiverhouse's  speciall residence, and Little Kirktowne, Scrimgeour, laitly purchased by a merchant of Dundie of that name. The Laird of Pourie, Fotheringhame, has ane interest  lykwayes in that parish. It is all extraordinarie good land, and lyes upon the water of Dichtie. Mr Strachan, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews; Earl Panmure, patrone.

   Tealing. — The house of Tealing, Maxwell, is a good house, well planted, and good yards. The Earl of Strathmore, Lairds of Pourie and Claiverhouse, have interest in the parish. It is excellent good land, well accomodate in grass and fir, and lyes betwix Dundie and the hills of Sidlaw.  Mr M'Gill, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld ; the King's Majestie, patrone.

   Ouchterhouse belongs for the most part to the Earl of Strathmore ; a fyne house, good yards, and excellent parks and meadows, with a dovecoat. It formerly belonged to the Earl of Buchane. Mr Robertsone, minister. Within the Diocese of Dunkeld ; Earl Strathmore, patrone.
Liff, Logie, and Innergowrie, three churches joined in one. The lands in the parish are extraordinare good, as Newbigging and Innergowrie, belonging to Robert Clayhills; ane excellent house, good yeards, much planting, a great park and dovecoat. Dryburgh, Zeaman, hath a good estate 

there, where, at a place belonging to him called Patalpe, that great battail betwixt the Scots and Picts was fought, and Alpinus" head struck off, called from thencefurth Basalpine, and now Patalpie. Nether Liff, belonging to the Lord Gray, who have been formerly most ancient and honourable, being still the first Lord of the kingdome, and of whom are descended many considerable persons. Mr Cristisone, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews ; the King's Majestic, patrone.

   Strathmartine. — The Laird of Strathmartine, a good house, well accomodate with comes and grass, and chief of the name of Wyntoune. Baldovane, Nairne, a very ancient name in the shyre of Fyffe, whose predecessors were Lairds of Sanfoord, Nairne, on the south syd of the Water of Tay, over against Dundie, and is chief of his name. Mr Fergusone, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrewes; Archbishop thereof, patrone.

   Lundie. — Earl Strathmore has ane interest there. The greatest part of the rest of the parish belongs to ane Duneane, a merchant's son in Dundie. It is a big old house, hath a great loch, abounding in pykes, pearches, and eels, with abundance of fresh water foul. Mr Campbell last minister; now vacant. In the Diocese of St Andrews; and in respect the kirk is joyned in one with the kirk of Foules; the patronage is debaitable betwixt the Lord Gray, Laird of Auchtertyre, heritor of Foules, and some other pretenders.

   Benvie. — The whole parish belonged formerly to the Earl Dundie, and now to the Earl of Lauderdaill. By that same right he holds the rest of the Earl Dundie's estate. It holds of the Earl of Panmure as superior, and was anciently a pairt of the Barronie of Panmure ; a very sweet place, good ground, and borders with the shyre of Perth. Mr Scrymgeour, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews; Earl Lauderdaill, patrone.

PRESBETRIE OF MEIGLE.

   The Presbetrie of Meigle is divided in twelve parishes in the shyre of Forfar, the rest are in Perth, viz. — Keatens, Newtyld, Eassie, Nether Glenyla,Over Glenyla, Blacklounans, Nether Airlie, Lentrathene, Kingoldrum, Couper, Ruthvene.

   Keatens, wherein is the house of Pitcur, belonging to the Laird of Pitcur, Halyburtoune ; it is a great old house, with much fyne planting. It is ane ancient, great, and honourable familie, whereof there are many persones of good quality descended, and they have been allyed to many honourable families in the kingdome. Most part of the parish belongs properlie to him, and the rest most of them his vassals, or otherways depends upon him. Fotherance, whose grandfather, the Lord Fotherance, a Senator of the Colledge of Justice, was a nephew of the House of Pitcur. In the Diocese of Dunkeld ; but the minister's name and patrone are unknown to the informer.

   Newtyld. — The house of Newtyld, with the most part of the whole parish belonging formerlie in propertie, and the rest of the parish in superioritie, to the Laird of Pitcur, and lately sold by him to Sir George M'Kenzio of Roshaugh, his Majesty's Advocat, is a very good house, much planting. Ane excellent countrey, fertill in cornes, abounding in grass for pastur, and meadows for hay, not inferior to any part of the shyre. Abundance of excellent moss, and extraordinare good pasturage for multitudes of sheep on the hills of Kilpumie. Mr Black, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld; Earl of Panmure, patrone.

   Eassie and Nevoy, two small parishes served with one minister, and have preaching in them every other Sabbath-day. Both the parishes are extraordinary good land, and well served of grass and fir. The heirs of the late Lord Couper have a. considerable interest there. The Laird of Nevoy of that Ilk, ane ancient gentleman, and chief of his name. The Lord Nevoy, late Senator of the Colledge of Justice, who also assumes the title of Nevoy. Earl of Strathmore hath ane interest in that  parochine. Mr John Laminie of Dunkennie, a pleasant place. Kirktoun of Essie belonging to the Laird of Balthyock in Perthshyre. All thir parochins lye in Strathmore. Mr Lammie, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews.

   Couper. — The precinct of the abbey built by Malcolm IV., King of Scotland, and some rent belonging thereto, is only in the shyre of Forfar, and pertaines to the heirs of the late Lord Couper. It has been a very sweet place, and lyes in a very pleasant countrey, but now nothing but rubbish. Mr Hay, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld; Lord Balmerinoch, patrone.

   Ruthvine. — A little parish belonging altogether to a gentleman of the name of Crightoune, ane ancient familie; a good house, well planted, and lyes pleasantly upon the water of Dean, and a prettie oak wood. He hath ane estate equivalent thereto in Nether Glenyla ; it and the former lye in Strathmore. Mr Fife, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld; Earl Panmure, patrone.

   Over and Nether Glenyla are joined in one parish, and have severall small heritors therein holding of the Abbey of Couper. They are highland countreys, have some comes, abundance of cattle, sheep, goat, and much hay. They live most on butter, cheese, and milk ; they kill much venison and wyld foull. The summer they goe to the far distant glens which border upon Braemar, and there live grassing their cattle in little houses which they build upon their coming, and throw down when they come away, called sheels. Their dyet is only milk and whey, and a very little nieatt, and what vennison or wyld foull they can apprehend. The Earl of Airlie hes a good interest in that parish called Forther, with two great woods called Crundirth and Craigiefrisch. He has a large glen for grassing, with abundance of hay meadows, with a free forrestrie, which in those places they reckone much worth. The nature of the people and these of Blacklounans, a highland place in the parish of Alithe, consisting of divers small heritors holding of the Laird of Ashintillie, Spalding, all one with the other highlandmen, that you will get described to you in other places, except that the Irish is not their native language, for none speak Irish there except strangers that come from other parts; notwithstanding, that in Glenshie and Strathairdle, their next neighbours, the minister always preaches in the afternoon in the Irish tongue. Mr Nevoy, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld ; Earle Airlie, patrone.

   Nether Airlie. — The Baronie of Baickie,pertaining to the Earle Strathmore, a great interest and excellent land, and als good comes, and a great deal more ear [i. e. early] than upon the coast; the house of Airlie brunt in the tyme of the rebellion, becaus of his loyal tie, and never re-edified. The Laird of Balfour, Ogilvy, has lykwayes a considerable estate in it; it lyes in Strathmore. Minister, Mr Lyon. Within the Diocese of Dunkeld ; Earl Strathmore, patrone.

   Lentrathene. — Most part of the parochine belongs to the Earl Airlie ; there are some heritors besyd. Peell, Ogilvy. Shannalie, anciently belonging to the Lairds of Ouchterlony of that Ilk, now to Patrick Hay. Glenquharitie, Ogilvy. Mr Ogilvy, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld; Earl Airlie, patrone.

   Kingoldrum. — The Laird of Balfour, Ogilvy, hath the greatest interest there, ane ancient gentleman, and a great estate; it hath a great house built by Cardinall Beatone, and much planting. Persie, Ogilvy; Persy, Lindsay; Baldovie, Hunter.  The Earl Airlie hath ane interest there. Earl of Panmure hath a considerable feu-duetie paid out of that parish. Kingoldrum and Lentrathene are two brae parishes, but have abundance of come, grassland fures, and lye pleasantly on the south syd of the hills. Lentrathene hes lykwayes a great loch abounding with such fish and foull, as the other loches of the shyre are. Mr Bait, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld ; Earl Panmure, patrone.

PRESBETRIE OF BRECHINE.

  The Presbetrie of Brechine is divided in eighteen kirks, viz. — Oathlaw, Feame, Carraldstoune, Menmuir, Navar, Brechine, Strickathroe, Peart, Logic, Dun, Montross, Inchbraick, Marietoune, Einnaird, Famell, Edzell, Lethnet,and Lochlie.

   Oathlaw. — The whole parish formerly belonged to the Lord Spynie, but now to the Laird of Finhaven, a second sone of the House of Northesk. It was a great old house, but now by the Industrie of this present Laird is made a most excellent house ; fine roomes and good furniture, good yards, excellent planting, and inclosures, and avenues. It lyes, as all the Presbetrie of Brechine doe, except the brae countrey, in Strathmore, and the water of Southesk runs pleasantly by the foot of the Castle of Finhaven, and has some bushes of wood upon the water; it is ane excellent corne countrey, and well grassed. Mr Straitone, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine ; Laird of Finhaven, patrone.

   Fearne. — The parish belongs totallie to the Earl of Southesk, and hath a very good house therein called the Waird, well planted, good yards; the house presently repaired by him, and well furnished within ; it hath ane excellent iyne large great park called the Waird of Feame. It is a very fine brae countrey, much com, and abundance of bestiall; plentie of muirfouU in the braes thereof. Mr Gramond, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld ; Earl Southesk, patrone.

   Carraldstone belongs totallie to the Laird of Balnamoone, Camegy, whose grandfather was a son of the House of Southesk ; a great and most delicat house, well built, brave lights^and of a most excellent contrivance, without debait the best geiitleman's house in the shyre; cxtraordinare much planting, delicate yards and gardens with stone walls, ane excellent avenue with ane range of ash-trees on every syde, ane excellent arbour, for length and breadth none in the countrey lyke it. The house built by Sir Harry Lindsay of Kinfaines after [wards] Earl of Grawfourd, which great and ancient Familie is now altogether extinct. It was formerly within the parochine of Brechine, and being at so great a distance from the towne of Brechine, Sir Alexander Gamegy, grandfather to this Balnamoone, built a very fyne little church, and a fyne minister's manse, upon his own expenses, and doted a stipend, and gave a gleib thereto out of his own estate. It lyes on the north syd of the Water of Southesk. Mr Murray, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine. Laird of Balnamoone, patrone.

   Menmuir. — The half of the parish belongs to the Laird of Balnamoone, with the house well planted, good yards, ane excellent come countrey, well accomodate of grass, hay, and fir. Baljordie, ane ancient familie, and chief of the name of Synuner. Balhall, Lyell ; Barroun, Livingstoune ; a pleasant sweet stance, good yards, and well planted. Mr Gampbel, minister. In the Diocese of Dunkeld ; Balhall, patrone.

   Navar. — Most part thereof being a little highland parish, belongs to the Earl of Panmure and Balnamoon. Its a part of the Earl of Panmure's title of honour. Balnamoon has a house in it called Tilliebirnie, well accomodate in grass park, and meadows. Mr Sympsone, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine; the King's Majestic, patrone.

   Edzell, Lethnet, and Lochlie, being three parishes, have only two ministers, one in Edzell, and one for Lethnet and Lochlie, and have a curate, who hath a benefice, and reads at the chappel of Lochlie; belong all propertie to David Lindsay, Laird of Edzell, ane ancient and honourable familie, and only representative of the famous familie and house of Grawfoord-Lindsay. It is ane excellent dwelling, a great house delicate gardens with walls, sumptously built of hewn stone polished, with pictures and coats of armes in the walls, with a fyne summer-house, with a house for a bath on the south comers thereof, far exceeding any new work of thir times, excellent kitchine-garden, and orcheards with diverse kynds of most excellent fruit and most delicate; new park with falow-deer. Built by the present Laird ; it lyes closs to the hills, betwixt the water called the West Water and water of Northesk, which joyning together, make, as it were, a demi-island thereof; it hath an excellent outer court, so large and levell, that of old, when they used that sport, they used to play at the football there, and there are still four great growing trees which were the debts. It is ane most extraordinare warm and early place, so that the fruits will be readie there a fourtnight sooner than in any place of the shyre, and hath a greater increase of bear and other graine than can be expected elsewhere.

   West from Edzell lyes Lethnet, and northwest from Lethnet lyes Lochlie, both highland countries, but pay a great rent in moe, besydes casualities of cowes, wederis, lambs, butter, cheese, wool, &c. There is abundance of vennison, muir and heath-foules; in the forrest thereof great plentie of wood. In Lochlie is the great and strong castle of Innermark, upon the water of Northesk. It is very well peopled ; and upon any incursions of the Highland katranes, for so those Highland robbers are called, the Laird can, -  upon very short advertisment, raise a good number of weill armed prettie men, who seldom suffer any prey to goe out of their bounds unrecovered. Mr Iryyne, minister of Edzell ;  Mr Norie, minister of Lethnet and Lochlie. In the Diocese of Brechine; Laird Edzell, patrone to all.

   Brechine is a Royall Burgh. The Bishopp is Provost thereof; hath the electione of a Bailie. Earl Panmure hath the electione of the eldest Bailie, and the toune [has] one. It lyes very pleasantlie upon the north syde of the water of Southesk, which runneth by the walls thereof. The yards thereof, to the south end of the Tenements thereof, where there is a large well built stone bridge of two arches, and where Earl Panmure hath a considerable salmond fishing, and lykwayes croves under the castle walls, which lyes pleasantly on the water, and is a delicat house, fyne yards, and planting, which, with a great estate thereabout, belonged formerly to the Earl Marr, and now to the Earl Panmure, and is called the Castle of Brechine.

   The toune is tollerablie well built, and hath a considerable trade, by reason of their vicinity to Montross, being fyve [eight English] myles distant from it ; but that which most enriches the place is their frequent faires and mercats, which occasion a great concourse of people from all places of the countrey, having a great fair of cattle, horse, and sheep, the whole week after Whytsunday, and the Tuesday thereafter a great mercat in the toune ; they have a weekly mercat every Tuesday throughout the yeare, where there is a great resort of highland men with timber, peats, and heather, and abundance of muirfoull, and extraordinarie good wool in its seasone. Item, A great weekly mercat of cattle, from the first of October to the first of Januare, called the Crofts Mercat.  Item, A great horse mercat weekly throughout all Lent. Item, A great horse fair, called Palm Sunday's Fair.i It is a very pleasant place, and extraordinare good land about it. Earl of Southesk has a great interest lykwayes in the parish. Ballnabriech, belonging to the Laird of Balnamoone, a good house, and a considerable thing. Cookstoune, belonging to John Camegy, lyeth very pleasantly at the North Port of Brechine, and is good land. The Laird of Findourie hath a considerable interest there, the most of it in acres about the toune ; a good house, and well planted. Arret, belonging to the Viscount of Arbuthnot, is a fine little house, lying upon the north syd of Southesk, with a fishing. Auldbar hath lykwayes an interest there. Pitforthie, Bait ; Keathock, Edgar ; with a good new house, built by this present Laird. Mr Skinner, minister.

   Strickathroe. — A great pairt of the parish belongs to Sir  David Falconer, Lord President of the Colledge of Justice, and lyes on the south syd of North Esk, and is called the Baronie of Dunlappie. Strickathroe, Turnbull, hath a good estate in it, as also the Earl of Southesk. Mr Gouttis, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine ; Earl of Southesk and Lord President, patrons, and [they] preaent per mees. Peart — Is ane excellent sweet place, lyeth on the south syde of the North Esk, excellent good land, and belongeih equallie to Sir John Falconer of Galraw and James Scott of Logic, where there is a large stone bridge of two great arches over the water of North Esk, built by one of the Lairds of Dun; but not being altogether finished, there were raills put upon the same of very good hewen stone, amounting to a great expence, by this present Laird of Dun. Mr Guild, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine ; Heretors, patrons. The ministers there are chanters of Brechine.