2-48 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Particular meution may be made of the " John Knox" Yew-tree, 

 which was removed from the wall of the mansion seven years ago 

 and replanted some little distance to the west. It is still in a 

 healtiiy condition, A very large Turkey Oak {Querciis Cerris, L.) 

 grows to the west of the house. Although somewhat damaged 

 through the loss of a large limb, it is quite healthy, and showed 

 a good increase in girth since last measurement was taken. A 

 very large Spanish Chestnut {Castanea sativa, Mill., var. helero- 

 phylla), situated to the east of the house, attracted attention on 

 account of the terminal leaves being almost linear in form. 

 There is a park called "Paradise" to the east of the house, 

 containing three Yew-trees of great age and size. The famous 

 avenue of Lime-trees was also inspected. At Finlayston House 

 the party were met by the proprietor, Mr. G. J. Kidston, who 

 kindly entertained them with refreshments, and afterwards 

 conducted them through the gardens and greenhouses, and invited 

 them to inspect the mansion itself. A fine collection of ancient 

 weapons and armour in the hall was much admired. 



Finlayston is of some historic interest. It was long the chief 

 residence of the Earls of Glencairn, having passed by marriage, 

 about the end of the fourteenth century, to Sir William 

 Cuninghame of Kilmaurs, ancestor of that noble family. It 

 continued in their possession until the death of John, the fifteenth 

 and last Earl, in 1796, when the estate devolved upon Mr. Robert 

 Graham of Gartmore. Over thirty-five years ago it was bought 

 by Colonel Buchanan of Drumpellier, and is now the property of 

 Mr. Kidston. The mansion has been much altered from time to 

 time, but the main part is between 400 and 500 years old. 



Two Earls of Glencairn are worthy of special notice as 

 connected with the literary history of our country. 



Alexander, the fifth, who is often referred to as " the good 

 Earl," succeeded to the estate in 1547 and died in the year 1574. 

 He was among the first of the Scottish nobility to embrace the 

 principles of the Reformation. In 1556 John Knox dispensed 

 the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to this Earl, his family, and 

 some fi'iends, at Pinlayston, under the venerable Yew-tree already 

 referred to. An old chronicler states that "There were no cups 

 of the proper sort for holding the sacramental wine, and in the 

 emergency the hollow soles of two silver candle-sticks were used. 



