SCOTTISH GARDENS 



towards the abbot under 2000 Scots, equal to 

 177 13s. 4d. sterling. 



This gentle episode was but one in a long series 

 of ghastly outrages arson, murder, mutilation, 

 and the like perpetrated by rival septs of the 

 Kennedys upon each other and upon their neigh- 

 bours. In the year preceding the union of the 

 Crowns John, fifth Earl of Cassilis, Lord Treasurer 

 of Scotland, set his hand to the following document, 

 which is preserved in the charter chest at Barn- 

 barroch, and is remarkable even according to the 

 practice of those violent times as being uttered by 

 a Minister of the Crown. 



"WE, Johnne erle of Cassillis, lord Kennedy, &c., biudis 

 and oblissis ws that, howsovnne [so soon as] our broder Hew 

 Kennedy of Brounstone, with his complices, taikis the laird 

 of Auchindraneis lyf that we sail maik guid and thankfull 

 payment to him and thame of the sowme of tuelff hundreth 

 merkis 1 yeirly, togidder with corne to sex horsis, ay and 

 quhill [so long as] we ressave thame in houshald with our 

 self, beginning the first payment immediatlie efber thair 

 committing of the said deid. 



ATTOUR, howsovnne we ressave thame in houshald, we sail 

 pay to the twa serving gentillmen the feis yeirlie as our awin 

 [own] houshald gentillmen, and heirto we obliss ws vpone our 

 honour. 



Subscryvit with our hand AT Maybole the ferd [third] day 

 of September 1602. JOHNE ERLE OF CASSILLIS." 



With such echoes of an age not very remote 

 ringing in one's ears, it is difficult to realise that 



1 Equal to 800 Scots or 66 13s. 4d. sterling. 

 170 



