126 Transactions. 



Communications. 

 I. Some Old Note-takers and their Notes. By Mr Peter Gray. 



In his paper Mr Gray succinctly analysed the contents of three 

 booklets, describing respectively the countries and peoples of 

 England, Holland, and Scotland. The book is ascribed to James 

 Howell, the author of the celebrated "Letters" (1596-1666). 



II. Holyu-ood Abbey. By George F. Black, Ph.D. 



The date of the foundation of the Abbey of Holywood is un- 

 certain, but it seems to have been before the year 1180. 

 Previous to this, however, there seems to have been a cell 

 occupied by a monk named Congall, hence the name Dercongall, 

 meaning " the oak wood of Congall." Congall, or S. Congall, is 

 commemorated in the calender of Adam King, published in Paris 

 in 1588, under May 12th:— "S. Congall, abot of haliwode and 

 conf. in Scotland vnder King Malcome 2. 1 13." In the Martyr- 

 ology of Aberdeen, quoted in Forbes' Kal. Scot. Sts., p. 130: — 

 " Vj Idus Maij. In Scocia Sancti Oongalli abbotis apud raonas- 

 terium de Drumcongal cuius merita longe lateque diffusa miiaculis 

 non desunt clarere impolluta mente calcanit et immerito qui 

 presentis vite infomiam et immundicie calumniam tanquan Christi 

 pauper paupertatis et paciencie posterum prebebat exemplum." 

 In Brockie's MS. (p. 8488) it is stated that in an ancient missal 

 belonging to Father Thomas Primrose, there was inserted with a 

 pen a collect of or to " S. Congal, Abbate Sacri Bosci." — Gordon, 

 Monasticon p. 318. See also Demp.ster, Hist. Ecc. Gent. Scot. i. 

 158-59. The Abbey was also known by the name Dercongal, 

 especially in Papal Bulls, and it was also called St. Bois, Sacro 

 Bosco Nemus Sacrum, and Monasterium sacris nemoris, "Monas- 

 tery of the sacred grove." A large part of the grove remained 

 in the time of Charles I. (Description of Nithsdale in Bleau's 

 Atlas, 55.) Many roots of ancient oak trees were dug up by the 

 Rev. Dr Bryce (Johnston's Statistical Accoiont, i., p. 18). A 

 drawing of the stone circle at Holywood is given by Grose in his 

 Antiquities, vol. i., p. 169. The foundation of the Abbey of 

 Holywood could not have been much earlier than 1180, as the 

 monks belonged to the Premonstratensian order, which was 



