The Jar dines of Applegirth, by C. T. Ramage, LL.D. 421 



Glasgow, namely, David Choningham, official of Glasgow, Thomas 

 Murhed, rector of Stobo, and others, and there alleged that the 

 said Alexander Jardin was cited for that day, to see and hear 

 himself acted (" actuari," fined ?) in .£300, on account of an obli- 

 gation granted by him, as more fully contained in the protocol of 

 the deceased, Mr James Dowglace, notary public, because he had 

 refused to perform the penance enjoined upon him for acts of 

 violence, done against the right reverend father Eobert, in his 

 own cemetery, and did not compear, though often cited ; and to 

 hear himself declared excommunicate, and that he had fallen 

 under sentence of excommunication for such nefarious proceed- 

 ing, or to allege as a reason why he ought not to be excommun- 

 icated, that he had been at that time in the service of our 

 sovereign lord the king ; for which John Weyr, in the name of 

 the said Alexander Jardin, took instruments &c. (Translated 

 from the " Protocol Book of the See of Glasgow," vol. ii., p. 45, 

 No. 61.— Grampian Club.) [C. T. E.] 



In Thomson's ' Acts of the Parliament of Scotland," there are 

 various references to the heads of this ancient family. In 1547, 

 the laird of Applegirth could conduct into the field 242 followers. 

 In the Act against Border reivers and broken clans, the John- 

 stones and Jardines are designated by an initial capital letter, as 

 if pre-eminent in evil courses, and unruly behaviour. The laird 

 of Applegirth is alternately forfeited and restored to his posses- 

 sions ; for complicity with factious leaders, and active participa- 

 tion in their plots. 



The story of Spedlin's Tower, as connected with the Jardine 

 family, is thus told by Sir Walter Scott, in the Introduction to 

 the " Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border." — 



"It is said that, in exercise of his territorial jurisdiction, one 

 of the ancient lairds had imprisoned in the Massy * ore, or dun- 

 geon of the castle, a person named Porteous. Being called 

 suddenly to Edinburgh, the laird discovered as he entered the 

 West Port, that he had brought along with him the key of the 

 dungeon. Struck with the utmost horror, he sent back his servant 

 to relieve the prisoner ; but it was too late. The wretched being 

 was found lying on the steps descending from the door of the 

 vault, starved to death. In the agonies of hunger, he had 

 gnawed the flesh from one of his arms. That his spectre should 

 haunt the castle was the natural consequence of such a tragedy. 

 Indeed its visits became so frequent, that a clergyman of em- 

 inence -was employed to exorcise it. After a contest of twenty 

 four hours, the man of art prevailed so far as to confine the 

 goblin to the Massy More of the castle, where its shrieks and 

 cries are still heard. A part at least of the spell, depends on the 

 preservation of the ancient black-lettered bible, employed by the 

 exorcist. It was some years ago, thought necessary to have this 



