186 Kenmure Castle. 



Such were the methods of the church in those days to strike 

 terror into the hearts of the people. 



A Friend of Queen Mary. 



James was succeeded by his son John. John was a great 

 favourite with Queen Mary. She appointed him Justiciar of the 

 .Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 9th February, 1555, which was 

 renewed by King James VI. on the 1st March, 1587. On 25th 

 September, 1556, he was also appointed Vice-Admiral in the 

 bounds of Galloway. In connection with this appointment I find 

 .two discharges dated 17th January, 1629 — (1) A discharge by the 

 Lord High Admiral to John Gordon of the tenth part of the prize 

 made by the " Gordonian Phonix," belonging to him, and (2) for 

 the twentieth part of the prizes made by the said ship. 



At this time the Gordons had a charter of feu-farm of Glen- 

 luce Abbey, because I find the following Notarial Instrument on 

 the removal of John Gordon of Lochinvar and his men from the 

 Abbey and yards of Glenluce, and delivery of the same with the 

 keys thereof, and all the goods therein, to Gilbert, Earl of 

 Cassillis, bailie thereof, in terms of decreet arbitral by James, 

 Commendator of the Priories of St. Andrews and Pittenweem, 

 reserving to the said John Gordon all old bye-run duties of the 

 Abbacy. Done at place of Glenluce at one o'clock afternoon on 

 17 Nov., 1561. 



William, son of Sir John Gordon, was Abbot in 1581. The 

 many marks of favour given him by the unfortunate Queen Mary 

 made him much inclined towards her cause. Strange to say, how- 

 ever, he sat on the jury which tried Both well, and also on the 

 jury-assize which tried the perpetrators of the raid of Ruthven. 

 After Queen Mary escaped from Loch Leven he, along with other 

 notable Gallovidians, entered into a bond to support the Queen. 

 He fought at the battle of Langside, and, after defeat, fled with 

 her and Lord Herries to the south. She is supposed to have 

 come down through Galloway, and rested at Kenmure Castle, 

 hence Queen Mary's tower, but this has been found to be ex- 

 tremely doubtful. All historical evidence goes to favour the 

 Dumfriesshire route. Ihe Regent Moray was so incensed at the 

 assistance given by Gordon to the unfortunate Queen that he 

 came down next year to chastise Gordon. He reached Dairy 

 on the 15th June, 1568, and demanded the instant surrender of 



