Transactions. 271 



Ardwell and Cardoness estates. At least one of the interments 

 recorded, it is curious to note, is of earlier date than the church, 

 and this circumstance would seem to indicate that there had been 

 an earlier place of worship. The three boars' heads of the Gordon 

 arms are sculptured on a circular top stone, which bears also the 

 initials " I.G.," and the armorial device is repeated on other parts 

 of the monument, quartered in one instance with three sheaves 

 and three stars. The inscriptions are elaborate, of rude verse but 

 pious sentiment. The first in order of time is that which appears 

 on the north end of the stone, viz. : 



Walking with God iu puritie of life, 

 lu Christ I died, and eiulit al my stryfe ; 

 For in my saule Christ heir did dwel by grace ; 

 Now dwelis my saule iu glorie of his face. 

 Thair foir my bodie sal not heir remaiue, 

 Bot to ful glorie sal suirlie ryse agaiue. 

 Mariovue Mure, goodwife of Cullindach, departed this life aiiuo 1612. 



This lady was the daughter of the laird of Torhousemuir, Wig- 

 town, afterwards of Cassencary, Kirkmabreck ; and her husband 

 was William Gordon of Cullendoch. Two wives of their son, John 

 Gordon (by whom in all probability the monument was erected), 

 are the subjects of the other inscriptions. 



Dumbe, seusles statue of some painted stones. 

 What means thy boast I Thy captive is but clay ; 

 Thow gaines nothing but some few lifles bones. 

 Hir choysest pairt, hir soule, triumpliLs for ay. 

 Then, gazeng friendis, do not hir death deplore ; 

 Yow lose a while ; she gains for evermore. 

 Margrat Makclellaue, goodwife of Ardwel, departed this life 2 Apprile, 

 162 — , ;etatis suae 31. 



The title Ardwell here employed is understood to have been de- 

 rived from the farm of Over Ardwell. Nether Ardwell was at 

 that period in possession of the M'CuUochs; as was also the 

 estate of Cardoness ; but John Gordon acquired the latter by 

 purchase from his kinsman, William M'Culloch, and it will be 

 seen that in the epitaph of his second wife the title is changed 

 from Ardwell to Cardoness. The second union must have sub- 

 sisted only for a short time, when it was interrupted by tlie death 

 of the ladJ^ 



Ye gaizer.s on tliis trophee of the tombe. 



Send out one groue for want of hir wliuise lyfe. 



