Transactions. 29 



now, would be to draw me into historical matters which I 

 think it unnecessary to trouble you with, although the sub- 

 ject is very tempting, for, in fact, the whole of this interest- 

 ing district is one vast repository or storehouse of those pre- 

 cious monuments of antiquity, which are like so many price- 

 less jewels to the true Antiquarian, while they are of inestim- 

 able value to the student of ancient history. 



The meaning of the term " Lochmaben" is this : — A. Loch 

 or Lake of clean pure good w^ater at the foot of a ridge or at 

 the base of a hill. 



Those people always named things by contrast or com- 

 parison with other things of a cognate kind, or by some 

 striking peculiarity in the shape or form, such as " coomb 

 craig" (crooked rock), to distinguish it by its " crooked" shape 

 from all other rocks or craigs in the same locality. 



I have now explained, as faithfully as I can, several of the 

 terms or names of places and things in the neighbourhood, 

 and I hope I have not detained you too long. 



Notice of the Scottish Service Book of 1637. By 

 Jas. Starke, F.S.A. Scot. 



At a late meeting of the Society, some old books of value 

 were kindly exhibited by the Rev. Thos. Underwood, Minis- 

 ter of Irongray, and the Rev. Mr Weir of Greyfriars. 



The business of the evening prevented their being exam- 

 ined on that occasion ; but I took them with me, and I find 

 that among them are two books of Common Prayer of great 

 interest — one for the Church of England 1549, and the other 

 for the use of the Church of Scotland 1637. 



This last is what was termed Laud's Liturgy, and is of 

 especial interest. 



The title of the volume is " The Booke of Common Prayer 

 and Administration of the Sacraments and other parts of 

 Divine Service for the use of the Church of Scotland." 



