Pre-Reformation Ministers of Sanquhar. 139 



stations excavated exhibit uniformity of the main lines of the 

 plan, and now it is discovered that the same rule applies also to 

 their less important works. It is a new fact. 



The late Dr Brown, in his description of the parish of 

 Eskdalemuir contained in the Statistical Account of 1841, claims 

 Raeburnfoot Camp as the " Overbie " suggested by the Roman 

 stations of Netherbie and Middlebie, but as these are important 

 stations, while Raeburnfoot is a work of a different and less 

 important kind, this seems unlikely. Overbie has still to be 

 discovered. Looking in the direction indicated by Netherbie 

 and Middlebie, and the relative distance, the large camp at Tor- 

 woodmuir, near Lockerbie, which Roy describes as a temporary 

 camp, is a not unlikely place to find the lost station, and some 

 examination of it might in any case yield important results. It 

 may be of some significance that at all the places in the district 

 the names of which have the termination "bie," there should 

 be important remains of Roman works, as Netherbie, Middlebie, 

 Canonbie, and Lockerbie. 



Pre-Reformation Ministers of Sanquhar. By Mr W. 



M'MlLLAN. 



The first minister of the parish of Sanquhar of whom we 

 have any record is Robert de Cotingham, who was appointed by 

 Edward I. of England on 6th July, 1298. The record of his 

 appointment is still preserved in the archives of the Privy 

 Council, and is as follows: — 



" Edwardus etc. dilecto clarico et fideli suo Johanni de 

 Lagetone Cancelario suo velejus locum tenentibus salutem man- 

 datum delectum clericum nostrum Robertum de Cotingham ad 

 ecclesiam de Senewhare Glasguensis diocesis vacantem et ad 

 nostram donacionem spectantem per litteras sub magno sigillo 

 nostro in forma debita presentitis Datum sub privato sigillo nostro 

 apud Brade vj die July anno regni nostre vicesimo sixto." 



Edward was at this time engaged in the invasion of Scotland. 

 He had summoned the Barons and other military tenants of Eng- 

 land to assemble with their powers at York on the Feast of Pen- 

 tecost. At the head of a large army he crossed the border and 

 advanced through Berwickshire and thence to Edinburgh without 



