188 LOCHFERGUS. 



at Fergus Castle. Like his father, Uchtred was of a strong 

 religious turn of mind. He followed the footsteps of his father 

 by giving generous grants of land to the Church. To Holyrood 

 Abbey he gave the churches of St. Cuthbert of Denesmore (Kirk- 

 cudbright), St. Bridget of Blackhet (Tongland) ; Twenhame 

 (Twynholm) ; ,Keletun, alias Lochletun, now Kelton, and Kirke- 

 cormac, along with the chapel of Balnacross. The last four 

 belonged to the old Celtic religious faith, viz., the Monks of 

 lona. Again this shows that neither Fergus nor his family were 

 native Gallovidians, because their religious faith was antagonistic 

 to that of the natives. He also founded the St. Benedict Convent 

 of Cluden, and granted to it the lands of Crossmichael and Drum- 

 sleet, in the pari.sh of Troqueer. To the monks of Holm 

 Cultran, in Cumberland, he also granted the extensive tract of 

 land known as the Grange of Kirkwinning (Kirkgunzeon). In 

 addition to those in Galloway, he also granted Colmonell, in 

 Carrick, to Holyrood Abbey. It is no wonder then that this 

 opulent family received such assistance from the church. 

 Uchtred married Gurnelda, a daughter of Waldave, son of the 

 Earl of Gospatrick, and with her he received the lands of Torpen- 

 how, in Wigtownshire, as a dowry. 



Only three years after the succession of Uchtred, Galloway 

 was once more in arms. Malcolm, King of Scotland, died in 

 1165, and his brother William, better known as " William the 

 lion, ' ' succeeded to the throne. One of his first acts was to demand 

 the restitution of the southern part of Scotland, which had been 

 so unwisely granted to the King of England. Under Uchtred the 

 "Wild Scots of Galloway " rose to a man in favour of William, 

 and marched into England. By a series of forced marches, how- 

 ever, the English, with only a small company of 400 horsemen, 

 surprised the Scottish army, and captured the Scottish King. 

 The moment the Gallovidians saw that their King was a prisoner 

 they threw off their allegiance, and returned in confusion to their 

 homes in Galloway. It is said or thought that Gilbert and 

 Uchtred quarrelled at that engagement over the succession to the 

 Lordship of Galloway. Hence the confusion. It is also asserted 

 that Gilbert accused Uchtred of treachery at the battle. At 

 anyrate Uchtred had to fly home to Fergus Castle for protection. 

 An internecine rebellion in Gallowav was the result. Under 



