Dk Archibald's " CukiosiI'ies of Dumfkies." 55 



Here is also in this county St. Ruth's Church, called 

 Ruth well, where lies a monument broken in two pieces, which 

 was a pillar quadrangle of stone reaching from the bottom of the 

 church unto the I'oof, and in it cut the portraiture of Our Saviour 

 with beams encircling His head, and beneath His feet, •• Supra 

 serpentem et draconem conculcabo" [I will trample the serpent 

 and dragon under foot], and underneath is the efRgie of Peter 

 and Paul, beneath whom is " Petrus et Paulus fregerunt panem 

 in deserto" [Peter and Paul broke bread in the wilderness]. 

 Many other draughts and letters, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, 

 have been there, but time and ill-using hath abrased them. 



At this place the people have a way of making salt from the 

 sea sand, which they gather up in summer and prepare in winter. 

 If the Doctor desires to know the way they prepare it I shall give 

 him an account. 



Upon the top of a great height is a Tower called the House 

 of Repentance, some eig-lit miles from the King's Castle and fifteen 

 from the English border, where beacons being placed the Castle 

 had immediately an alarm. This was seen by most of the whole 

 country and much of Nidesdale and some of Galloway, putting 

 them to their sudden posture of defence. • 



As for wells, the three shires abound with many unto which 

 people resort, more famous from Fable than Fates ; yet several of 

 them resemble Moffat wells in colour, taste, and smell. 



As for the nature of the soil and the houses, with woods and 

 lochs, yourself knows and hath seen them. 



As to Galloway, I have remitted it (conform to your last) 

 unto Mr William Ewart, the Provost of Kirkcudbright, who will 

 give account of what is observable and memorable, where are the 

 most ancient monuments of this country, and many old abbaceis, 

 as New Abbey. Dundrennan, Whithorn, Glenluce, Tungland, all 

 very considerable ; and with us are only Holy wood and the 

 church of the College whereof j'ourself can as well inform as I. 



FISHES. 



In that Castle Loch of Lochmaben are various fishes 

 besides those two formerly mentioned — pikes, greenbacks, 

 breams, vetches, pearches, with some others. 



I will give you an account of our sea fishes with the 

 next, being" now hastened. 



