castle of deskford, 
B A N FFS HI R E. 
^pHESE eaftellated houfes, in the ffira of their grandeur, when the barons 
held their manors by a kind of feudal tenure from the crown, and exerci e 
^ e gal jurifdiftion throughout the circuit of land fo veiled in them, were not on y 
molt confpicuous objefts in the landfcape of the country, but behe Wita 
Iteration, as the tribunals of equity and juftice, the refidences of the piotectois o 
furrounding lands, the feats of hofpitality and honour. 
, J lle frequent contefts and bloodfhed, occafoned by the wild ambitions and 
ai ‘ n g enterprizes of the barons againfl one another, previous to the fifteenth cen- 
gave but too ferious caufe for eretting the ftrong holds in infulated fituations, 
^ ° n rocks ; where a dreadful fecurity could be the only motive for the choice o 
t ? l ' nc omfortable places of refidence. We happily Hand aftonifhed at the fight of 
- tle dwellings, placed on rocky mounts and precipices, having now but faint ideas 
turbulent ftate of fociety which rendered fortrelfes neceflfary to the fecuiity an 
J* °f every opulent family. 
t , u b after the fifteenth century, when the loyal barons more formally place 
ei ufelves under the ftandard of the crown, by royal authority licences weie granted 
ein for building cattles to prated their chartered lands; the fecurity and defence 
■ tIle fe became then a national care > and their right, were maintained by the 
lle nce and arms of the government. v 
"fore eligible fituations then were chofen for the feats of the Nobles, among t e 
c ^ e tt and moft centrical banks of the vallies, where the towers could comman tie 
^ r °fpe<5t of the moft extenfive trad of fertile country ; and they adopted a more 
f 0ni modious and elegant ftile of building, in proportion to the additional peace and 
CUrit y, which ading in union with the adminiftrations of the ftate afforded. 
c extenfive and fine valley of Deskford, for feveral miles inland, where the 
P aftle >s placed, opens to the eaft, not far from Cullen-Rouje, , the prefent feat of the 
ri arl °f Findlater and Seafield, and fpreads into a wide champaign, oppofite to the 
r *§ grounds, which fwell to the coaft, and conftitute the demefne of Findlater 
H file . 
tower of Defkford looks over the upper part of the valley, and the garrifon 
c tds other fortrefs could prated and defend the champaign; fo that thefe two eats 
p a ^ ttlar >ded an extenfive territory of very excellent lands, which ftill con ltute 
°f the eftate of the above nobleman. . 
WK - bxteen th century was here diftinguilhed by the intimate and power u un o 1 
Y , lch tQ ok place between the influence of arms and the inftitutions of Chn vanity. 
u' u,1 ’°n of law and religion, in jointly co-operating for the public peace ant 
had been long eftabliihed in Cahimia, under the Drmikal admin, ftranons 
N 2 
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