i608-1620.] PAISLEY. 361 



Douglas, eldest daughter of James, 3rd Earl of Morton— having 

 been amongst the most zealous partisans of Mary, Queen of 

 Scots, obtained from her son, King James, July 29, 1587, a 

 grant of the whole barony of Paisley, with the dignity of 

 Baron Paisley. His brother John was created Marquis of 

 Hamilton, April 17, 1599. Lord Paisley married Margaret, 

 only daughter of George, Lord Leyton, and had issue James, 

 Earl of Abercorn, Sir Claud, Sir George, and Frederick. 

 Lord Paisley died in 1621, and was succeeded by his grand- 

 son, James, 2nd Earl of Abercorn. 



" It has been seen that horse-racing was, from an 

 early time, practised as a public amusement at various 

 places in Scotland. One of these not for- igos— 1620. 

 merly noticed was Paisley. A silver bell Paisley. 



• 1 1 • /- o May. 



of four ounces weight was made in 1600 to 

 serve as a prize for the Paisley race. Such was in 

 those days the accustomed prize at a race, giving rise 

 to the proverbial expression, ' He bore off the bell.' 

 It may be remarked, however, that a winner of a silver 

 bell at a race did not obtain it as a permanent property, 

 but only for a year's keeping, as it is customary the 

 silver arrows and silver clubs now played for by 

 archery and golfing societies. 



" At the date noted, the Town Council of Paisley, 

 under the guidance of their provost, the Earl of Aber- 

 corn, ^'^^ arranp^ed that their annual horse-race ,„„^ 



' =» 1620. 



should be run on the 6th of May, ' to be 

 start at the gray stane called St. Connel's Stane, and 

 frae that the king's highway to the Wall-neuk of Ren- 

 frew, and frae that the king's highway to the Wall-neuk 

 of Paisley ; and what horse first comes over the score 

 at . . . Renfrew, sail have ane double angel ; and the 



