TRANSACTIONS. 271 
Ardwell and Cardoness estates. At least one of the interments 
recorded, it is cnrious 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 “1.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 in puritie of life, 
In Christ I died, and endit al my stryfe ; 
For in my saule Christ heir did dwel by grace ; 
Now dwelis my saule in glorie of his face. 
Thair foir my bodie sal not heir remaine, 
Bot to ful glorie sal suirlie ryse againe. 
Mariovne Mure, goodwife of Cullindach, departed this life anno 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, sensles statue of some painted stones, 
What means thy boast? Th y captive is but clay ; 
Thow gaines nothing but some few lifles bones. 
Hir choysest pairt, hir soule, triumphis for ay, 
Then, gazeng friendis, do not hir death deplore ; 
Yow lose a while; she gains for evermore. 
Margrat Makclellane, goodwife of Ardwel, departed this life 2 Apprile, 
162—, xtatis 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‘Cullochs 3 as was also the 
estate of Cardoness; but John Gordon acquired the latter by 
purchase from his kinsman, William MCulloch, 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 the death 
of the lady. 
Ye gaizers on this trophee of the tombe, 
Send out one grone for want of hir whoise lyfe, 
