Historical and genealogical account of the principal families of the name of Kennedy

78 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
And other feill ' of landit men about,
Mony yeid s in, bot na Scottis com out,
Off Wallace part, thai putt to that derff 3 deid,
Mony Craufurd fa endyt in that fteid.
Off Carrik men, Kennedyss flew thai alfe,
And kynd Campbellis, that neuir had beyne falfe.
Wallace, b. vii. 1. 201.
THIS WES DALRUMPILLIS CONQUEIST. P. 3.
Probably a clerical error for ' thus wes Dalrumpill conqueift,' which is the
form adopted by the author for concluding his history of each of the other con-
queijlis..
HIS GOSSOP. IBID.
The Laird of Dunnure made this Laird Macktaise godfather or sponsor for
his son. It is remarkable that the ancient Catholic custom of naming godfathers
and godmothers was observed, in Scotland, long after the period of the Reforma-
tion from Popery ; not only among those who adhered to Episcopacy, but among
Presbyterians. As formerly, the ' Christening' was observed as a high solemni-
ty; but it was succeeded by mirth and festivity, which even the rigid forms
adopted by the Presbyterian Reformers were insufficient to put down. The out-
ward ceremony of baptism was no doubt altered, and, as they supposed, the pri-
mitive form restored ; but the Kirk could not suppress the ancient customs and
feastings, which, in reality, were retained by the people, long after their meaning
and origin were forgotten. Gossop, or gossep, is derived from A. S. god-sib. In
modern language, ' gossip' is still used in this sense, but is applied to the female
sponsor. The office was formerly not one of mere form, but bound the god-
father and godchild by a religious tie, only to be equalled by blood-relationship.
of Scotland, pp. 144, 159, 160, ' vndir culour of familiarite, he gart hang, cruelly and disho-
nestly, to the nummer of sixten scoir of the maist nobillis of the cuntre, in faldomis of cordis,
tua and tua ouer ane balk.' And that this was done ' vndir culour of faitht and concord ;
qulia comperit at his instance, nocht heffand suspitione of his tresonabil consait.'
1 Many others. 2 Went. 3 ' Derff' implies swift and cruel.