Historical memoir of the family of Eglinton and Winton

NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 145
coasts. Subsequently, the Clyde islands became the
property of the illustrious family of Stewart ; and
thence, from time to time, were they largely par-
celled out amongst their adherents and dependents,
conformably to the feudal usages of those times.
Still the strongholds of Brodick and Rothesay con-
tinued favourite resorts of the family even long after
their succession to the sovereignty. James the
Fifth is supposed to have made improvements at
Rothesay, but if so, most probably he was the last
of the race who jiaid any particular attention to the
locality. On the erection of the Principality of
Scotland by Robert the Third, in 1 404, these islands
were included in its domains, consequently they still
continue to hold of the Prince and Steward, as heir-
apparent of the crown.
The " Little Isle," as the Lesser Crumbrae is
usually denominated in the locality, consists exclu-
sively of trap rock, resting on the universal old red
sandstone of the surrounding neighbourhood. It
lies in length from north to south, and may extend
in all to about eight hundred imperial acres of sur-
face ; but of which only but little patches here and
there along its narrow steppes, are in any way fitted
for aration . All around, the shore is steep and rocky,
there being but two or three places at all proper for
the accommodation of boats. The general outline
is well defined and picturesque, the trap ranging in
regular order, steppe over steppe, from the water's
edge to the summit of the island, which near its
centre rises to an altitude of perhaps about five