Historical memoir of the family of Eglinton and Winton

XU PREFACE.
shields laid on the effigy is that which more partic-
ularly relates to the individual commemorated, and
which, though now greatly wasted and decayed, is
still quite satisfactorily to be traeed and understood.
The cross lines forming it into four quarters are dis-
tinct enough, and the round figures of the charge,
especially those, in the second and fourth divisions,
are sufficiently distinct — the other two of course,
according to the rules of Heraldry, must have con-
formed to them. Such a cognizance is perhaps
rather uncommon — the old and distinguished earls
of Lennox, however, would appear to have borne
their arms somewhat similarly arranged, the shield
being thus cantoned by a saltier instead of the or-
dinary cross.
The history and migrations of the ancient parish
kirk of Ardrossan are not a little singular and re-
markable. Its original site was in close proximity
to the castle, a little northward on the flat summit
of the hill, aud no doubt arose here under the spe-
cial patronage of the baronial establishment. It
was dedicated to the Holy Virgin and St. Peter, and
was probably of a somewhat superior order of arch-
itecture. Pont speaks of it as " a goodly parochiall
church." The public burying ground was enclosed
around it and though the walls have all long since