Agnews of Lochnaw

102 THE THIRD HEREDITARY SHERIFF. [1488.
directed their march to Stirling, where their arrival was hailed
by loud acclamations in the rebel camp.
Almost immediately they joined issue with the royal troops ;
our compatriots formed the second division. The first division
of Angus's army was repulsed by the king's Highlanders, when
the gallant men of Galloway charged home with wild huzzas,
and wielding their lances with deadly effect, bore down all oppo-
sition. James fled, was cruelly slain, and his son proclaimed
king ; and the Galloway chiefs, making over the title of rebels
to their late opponents, marched back as tried loyalists, rich in
glory and in plunder.
The affairs of the nation thus arranged to their entire satis-
faction, these restless gentlemen, from the Sheriff downwards,
occupied themselves in local feuds. 1
Within a few weeks of the affair at Stirling, the gallant
Sheriff, mustering his retainers, on some provocation unknown,
crossed the Piltanton near its source ; and passing over the ridges
of Craignaquarrock — leaving Garthland and Kilhilt respectively
on his right and left — he assailed Killeser, a stronghold of the
M'Cullochs, drove off a large booty of cattle, and plundered the
house ; then, either passing on to Drumore or turning back upon
Kilhilt, he laid Ms own brother-in-law, Adair, under contribu-
tion, and returned in triumph to Lochnaw.
The aggrieved parties appealed to the king for redress, who
referred it to the Lord Auditors, and they, on due inquiry, decreed
that " Quintin Agnew, the Sheriff of Wigtown, should restore to
William Adair of Kilhilt, and Archibald M'Culloeh of Ardwell,
twenty-eight oxen, eighty-eight sheep, and four horses ; and for
the goods he took from Killeser insicht of household, sixteen
merks. M 2
The Sheriff, however, was not quite satisfied with this bar-
1 In 1488, the Sheriff's sister-in-law, " Margaret Wauss, Lady of Corswell,
was authorised to make arrangements, through her procurator, relative to the
tocher to he given to James Campbell, her son." The context alludes to young
Camphell, yet a minor, having eloped with a lady of the house of Charteris. —
Act. Bom. Con. 2 Acta Auditorum.