Auchlochan, and of late at Moffminnan. Though Lefmahagow, and the adjacent country on all hands, belonged to the Picts before the extinction of their monarchy; yet it feems to have been in habitated originally by the Britons; for two or three places in the upper diftrict of the parith are named Cumberhead, probably from the Cumbri, the appellation, according to Buchanan, which the Welch, the progeny of the ancient Britons, af fumed to themfelves. And this likewife appears from the names of other habitations and farm-houses in different parts of the parish; such as, Auch inbeg, Auch ren, Auch-lochan, Auch-tool, Auch-meddin, Auch-inlett, Auch-tifardle, Auch-tegemil, Auch-noteroch, or Auch-oteroch, Auch-tekirnel, Auch-rabert, and Knock-in. The last of thefe names fignifies a little hill. Auch imports field; Auch-lochan, the field near the loch or lake; Auch-ren, the field of fearns; Auch-tool, the field of blood; Anch-middin, the field of the meadow; Auch-inlect, the field of the large fmooth ftones; Auch-noterock, or Auch-oteroch, the field of the dung-hills; Auch-rabert, the field of Robert; and Auch-inbeg, the little or inconfiderable field. All which hold with great propriety in the language of the old Britons, as well as in the Gaelic; betwixt which there feems to be a very near and close affinity, and fome are of opinion they are only different dialects of one and the fame tongue.

But not to infift on thefe antiquities and curiofities, I proceed to others of a more modern date, which therefore may be fuppofed to be better attefted.

The church, called St Mary's church of Lefmahagow, is in the centre of the parish, diftant from its feveral boundaries and extremities five or fix miles. The main entry to it is from the weft, below a large, high, fquare fteeple. On the north fide of it without, are three coats of arms. One of them, which is the lowell, appertained to a family of the firname of Wishirt; another, above it, to a family of the Carrs, probably of the Carrs of Cefsford, ancestors of the Dukes of Roxfburgh; the third is fo much defaced, that I could not difcern the figures. Thefe families have been principal benefactors to the church, and contributed largely to the building of it. The church has four • Dr Macpherson's antiquities. Dr Robert Henry's hiftory. Buch. hift. p. 34. Edinb. 1715.

ifles adjoining to it, two on the fouth, and two on the north. The ifle to the north, and next to the fteeple, belongs to Weir of Blackwood. It was built in the year 1595, and the arms of the family are yet to be feen on it. The ifle oppofite to it, on the fouth, called Durham's ifle, was built, I imagine, much about the fame time, by Durham of Duntarvet, who refided at that period in the neighbourhood, at Drumbeck's-hill, now an old ruin, and poffeffed the whole tithes of the parish. The other ifle to the south, belongs to the proprietor of Corhoufe. And the other ifle to the north, belongs to the family of Weir of Stonebyres, built, or rather rebuilt, in the year 1725.

On the fouth fide of the church, ftood the ancient priory, called alfo the monaftery or abbey, which was joined to the fteeple. Here there were many magnificent buildings, and feveral elegant gardens. A few remains of which are yet to be obferved. It had a fpacious green on the weft, from whence the village of Abbeygreen derives its name; and the water of Nethan, and a moft delightful wood, two miles in length, confifting moftly of birch, to the east. In this wood there is an heap of rubbish, termed St Fox's cafle, from one Fox, who was a man eminent for piety and good works, and on that account long remembered by those who refided in the priory.

The priory or monaftery belonged to the Tyronenfes, an order of monks, who had their name from their firft abbey, called Tyronium, Tyron, in the diocefe of Chartres; and not from the Latin word Tyro, as fome would have it, by which they would point out their novitiate. It was a cell of Kelfo, and fhared confiderably of its revenues. — It was founded by King David I. in the year 1140, and dedicated to St Machute, Bifhop and Confeffor, who died in 553 His feftival was celebrated every year the 15th of November†. There is a fair at Lefmahagow, which ftill goes under the name of St Machute's fair, or, as the common people exprefs it, St Maggus's fair, or Maggus fair. And from him the church and parish is called in Latin Cella Machuti.

Henry Abbot of Kelfo, and his chapter, grant unto Sir William Douglas, who has the title of Miles, or Knight, their Spottiswoode on religious houfes. + Keith's hiftory of the bishops.

landa

lands of Pollenell, in the barony of Lefmahagow, Tetam terram noftram de Pollenell, in tenemento de Lefmahagow, pro fideli confilia, et auxilio, et patrocinio. These lands were granted unto him, pro toto tempore viteju, upon condition of paying yearly to the priory or monaftery of Lefmahagow, duas libras cera, in feflo Sancti Martini in hyeme, nomine firme et recognitionis. The charter is dated in craftino Purificationis Beata Maria Virginis, apud Glasgow, in plena curia Justiciarii, anno gratiæ 1270. King Robert the Bruce grants Sanéto Machuto, et monachis apud Lefmahagow Domino servientibus, ad luminare circa tumbam Sancti Machuti perpetuo fuftinendum, decem mercas Sterlingorum annui redditus de redditibus molendinorum fuorum de Maldeflay, liberas et quietas ab omnibus exactionibus, et demandis, in liberam, puram, et perpetuam eleemofynam. The above fum was to be paid, iifdem religiofis, vel eorum acternato, fingulis annis, infra villam de Lanrik, per manus vicecomitis fui, qui pro tempore fuerit, ad duos anni termines, viz. quinque mercas ad feflum Pentecoftes, et alias quinque mercas ad feftum Sancti Martini in hyeme, fine contradictione, vel ftrepitu aliquali*. And Thomas Somerveile, the firft Lord Somerveile, made a donation to the priory or monaftery of Lefmahagow, to which William Somerveile his brother was a witnefs, in the year 1421, which was afterwards confirmed by King James I. 1427. And he made another mortification, out of his lands of Manuel in the county of Stirling, for a chaplain to the fame priory or monaftery, with confent of William Somerveile, his son, and heirapparent, pro falute animæ fuæ, c. dated June 3. 1424, which was confirmed by King James that very year, on the 5th of June t.

Thefe and many other lands were beftowed on the priory or monaftery of Lefmahagow. It was not, indeed, the richest and moft opulent in the country, but ftill it had very confiderable revenues, independent of Keifo, no less than 12141. in money, 15 chalders 8 bolls 1 firlot and 2 pecks of bear, 41 chalders 8 bolls and 3 firlots of meal, and 4 chalders and 3 bulls of oats, as is evident from a diftinct rental drawn up in 1556, in the Latin tongue. It might well then fupport fourteen clergymen, who continually reted, befides others, who were prefent only at certain times, as they had parti

cular charges fomewhere affigned themt in the parish; for inftance, he that miniflered at Chapelhill, above the priory or monaftery; he that ferved the cure at a place called Chapel in the barony of Blackwood, &c.

The laft prior of Lefmahagow was James Cuningham, third fon of Alexander Earl of Glencairn, commonly called the Good Earl, on account of the active hand he had in the Reformation*. From him, or fome of his predeceffors, Priorhill, on the western boundary of the parish, has its appellation. There is a place above the priory or monaftery, which is named Monks-table, and another below it, Prieft-holm: and this fhews how much the parish was frequented of old by the clergy.

The church here fuffered a most difinal difafter; I tremble to relate it! in the year 1336. John Plantagenet, brother of Edward III. King of England, firnamed of Ellham, and by others, as more fuitable to his character, of Hell-came, burnt it to the ground, when a thousand innocent and hamlefs perfons had fled into it, and thought themfelves fecure from danger in that fanctuary. He had been guilty of the grofleft inhumanities and barbarities: this is but one inftance, and who can hear it without the frongest indignation! one inftance, I say, of a great number that might be produced.

When we confider the complexion and genius of the age, we may conclude it was not long before it was rebuilt, and perhaps in a more grand manner than at first. But this did not preferve it from the fate of other religious houfes at the Reformation, the high church of Glafgow excepted. The reformers, who were not under the direction of law, but guided by an outrageous and taftelefs mob, pulled down the priory and church, deftroyed the images and ftatues, and burnt the relicks of the faints and martyrs, which had been kept there in the moit careful and facred manner for many generations. Before the Reformation, the church was certainly higher, and confequently more fplendid and magnificent than at prefent, as ap➡ pears from the traces of the old roof upon the east fide of the fteeple.

To other antiquities and curiofities in Lefmahagow, I may add Craignethan • Crawford's peerage, p. 169.

+ Spottiswoode on religious houfes; Abercromby's martial atchievements, vol. 2. Spottiswoode on religious honfs. A 2

cafle,

mofities, and much bloodshed and devaltation. And for many ages, intermarriages, the closest and most intimate connections, and the mediations of friends, could not entirely put an end to them, but, like embers covered up, they often broke out with redoubled fury. The prefent lineal male reprefentative of this brave family, is Captain John Weir.

At Stonebyres, the feat of the family, and from whence it derives its title, there is a remarkable cataract, or fall of water, and a fpacious wood, bounded on one fide by the pleasant river Clyde, confifting of different kinds of timber, which yields above 100l. Sterling per ann.

Not far from Stonebyres, and within the precincts of its barony, is Gilbank, much frequented by that celebrated hero and patriot Sir William Wallace of El lerie. This he made his head-quarters, when he reforted to Cartlanecraigs, and whilft he had divers bloody rencounters with the English at Lanerk *. Here Auch-inlect of that Ilk, his faithful attendant, and who had been so serviceable to him on many occafions, had his refidence. And from a farm-house named Auch-inlect, in the neighbourhood, it is fail, he took his firname and title, where are fill to be feen a pair of very large aaken ceils or rafters, which, according to common report and tradition, were erected by his great and renowned friend Sir William Wallace.

At fome distance from the barony of Stonebyres, and in the fouth-eaftern boundary of the parish, there is a very romantic cave in a rock, which ftill bears the name of Wallace's cave, frequently vifited by the curious.

Befides the baronies of Blackwood and Stonebyres, in the parish of Lefmahagow, there are the baronies of Corhoufe, and Catlehill, or Fockerton.

The barony of Corhoufe, of old beloaged to the Banatynes, an ancient fain, of late to the Somervilles, the le cal male reprefentatives of the Somerles of Cambufnethan, and at prefent to a gentleman of the firname of Dickfon. Hard by Corhoufe are two cataracts, ertalls of water. One of which is of great height, and very ftupendous. It is heard at a great diftance; and from the fe it makes, country-people form their Prognoftications of the weather. The lhoufe of Corhouse stood so near it,

Hiftory of Sir William Wallace, by Blind Try, Edin. 1:58.

that often the tables, and every thing upon them, were made to shake.

The barony of Castlehill, or Fockerton, appertained anciently to the Menzieses, next to the Kennedies of Auchtefardle, and laft of all to the family of Douglas, who ftill poffefs it.

There were two other heritors of confiderable rank and fortune, though their poffeffions never obtained the denomination of baronies, viz. Lockhart of Birkhill, a cadet of Lockhart of Lee; and Hamilton of Hill, who was for many years commiffary of Lanerk, defcended of Raplech, and, after the demise of the late Major Hamilton of Raploch, the lineal male representative of that ancient family. Their lands are now inherited by others, who ftood not in any relation to them, nor had the leaft connection with them.

This change of proprietors in Lefmahagow, brings readily to our remembrance what Horace fays in the perfon of Ofellus, lib. 2. fat. 2. lin. 129. & feqq.

Nam propria telluris herum natura neque illum, Nec me, nec quenquam ftatuit.

Nunc

Dictus, erit nulli proprius; fed cedet in ufum ager Umbreni fub nomine, nuper Ofelli Nunc mihi, nunc alii.

And let it be obferved, that as the parifh of Lefmahagow is large and extenfive, fo it is populous, containing near three thousand examinable perfons; and of all that number, there are not above a dozen of fectaries, or nonconformists. The firft minifter here after the Reformation was Mr Robert Leflie. He had only an hundred merks per ann. He died before the year 1571. To him fucceeded Mr David Cuningham, who had his ftipend, whatever it was, paid him by the Earl of Glencairn formerly mentioned, but on what account I know not. Befides, he had forty merks allowed him yearly for the fervice he performed at Lanerk*. The cure was ferved by two minifters long before the Reftoration. In what manner they had their ftipends paid, I have not been informed. But fince the Revolution, the fecond minister had a ftipend fettled upon him by the bounty of Anne Duchefs of Hamilton, commonly called the Good Duchefs, eldeft daughter of James first Duke of Hamilton. This is but one in

• Register of the minifters ftipends before the year 1574, a manufcript in the advo cates library, Edinburgh.

ftance

and generofity. It would be impoffible to enumerate them all. On this account her memory will be revered, not only in Lefmahagow, where he was fo well known, but by all acquainted with her character, as long as a fenfe of virtue and religion remain in the world.

SIR,

January 2. 1773.

I AM forry to fee fome of your correfpondents spend their time in ftraining at wit concerning womens curiofity, &c. which, at beft, may ferve to give a hearty laugh to fome rifible girls, without making them one bit the wifer; whereas a few admonitions how to conduct themfelves fo as to be accomplished and delightful wives, would be much more useful; or if to remain unmarried, that they would attain fuch qualifications as to make them agreeable members of any family where they may happen to refide, and by a proper attention to œconomy, might, in the poffeffion of a small fortune, fecure that independency, which all endued with a juft way of thinking would be ambitious to procure. Thefe matters properly canvaffed might be of fingular ufe; and although an extenfive fubject, might be introduced by degrees, for the good of the fair fex, who ftand in need of a monitor of fenfe, complacence, and of fpirit, to expofe the reigning foibles, and, if poffible, bring back to rational reflection the most amiable part of the creation. The ladies having it fo unqueftionably in their power to sweeten human life, can there be greater felicity to any man that loves domeftic tranquil lity, than the certain poffeflion of a woman of merit for his wife, who ftudies his intereft, and promotes his happiness; who, by her neatness in person, and in family-order, her exertion and knowledge in houfekeeping, makes his life comfortable, and every year adds increase to his funds? Some hints upon this fubject, and fome models of amiable characters specified; also, some reasons alledged why fome women fail in making diftinguished wives, proceeding from referve in the hufband as to the fituation of his finances, &c.; befides, in how far boarding-fchool education tends to pervert the mind of many young ladies, and by giving them a turn to drefs, fecrecy, and public entertainments, renders them devoid of fentiment, and gives an unhappy bias, that, in moft inftances, proves

SIR,

R. S.

January 18.

You would moft naturally expect, that

The

I fhould have communicated the cause of our sudden departure from town at this feafon of the year. It was not want of confidence; our long_friendship intitles you to know every interefting circumftance that belongs to me. continual hurry I was kept in, was the chief caufe of my feeming neglect. You know the principal reafon that made me refide fo long in Edinburgh, was to obtain a liberal education for my daughters, whofe portions I confidered as abundantly genteel to fupport very expence this expedition might occafion: and I rather chuted to conduct this myself, than to fend them, as in common with many of our neighbours, into boarding-schools; becaufe I have always dreaded having my children fubjected to fo ftrict rules as might lead them into arts and contrivance, in order to elude those rules ha ving their full effect. Befides that, in the very best of these houses, young ladies learn nothing of housewifery; their hours are all devoted to French, dancing, mufic and a few trivial ornaments, gumflowers, or embroidery; their manner is reduced to a system of common-place civility, beyond which they cannot go; they are all upon one plan as to filence, although of ever fo talkative a strain; they learn no fort so sentiment; when they are invited abroad upon a vifit, they are for mof part almoft mutes. But in all this, one cannot determine their real character; there is a veil which is not taken off, until they are fome time free of this re

ftraint;