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

174 APPENDIX.
When the river of Stincher has paft this hill, it receives the Water of Tiff, about whofe
influxe into it, are the remains of an old Church, called Innertig or Kirhudbright, the an-
cient parifli Church of Ballantrae. Below which influxe _there is a pleafant haugh of low
grounds, till the falling into the Sea, which of late has been quyte ruined and fpoyled, by the
river's forcing its courfe out of its ancient channel, and breaking in upon the fame, that it is
neither fitt for grafs nor corns. At the foot of this water Hands the Towne of Balantrae, on
the North fyde, on a pleafant foreland, which fome years agoe has been much reforted to, by
reafon of an Herring-fifliing, about the Chriftmaffe tyme ; but that has ceafed above 30 yeare
paft. In this Towne is the parijh Church ; andinitan Ifle (Aisle), the Buriall-place of 'the Lord
Bargeny. Oppofite to which, on the other fyde, there is a rich Conney-ware -, 1 and in the
mouth of the River the beft Salmond fifhing m Carrick; all which belong to the Lord
Bargeny.
As to the Civill Jurisdiction of this Cuntrey, 2 it is a Bailliarie, and belongs heretablie
to the Earl of CaJJillis, who exercifes his power by a depute ; and has the priviledge to ap-
poynt his owne Clerk, without dependence either upon the Secretary or Regifter. The
ordinary feat of the Courts of Justice, is at the Towne of May boll, on Thurfday ; though
the meeting of their Head-Court be at a little hillock or know, called Knochqfliin, in the
bounds defigned for the Newtoivne of Girvan? All the inhabitants of this countrey anfwer
to this Court, both for civill debts and crymes ; except thefe who live within the precinct of
the two fpiritualities, viz. the Regality of Croffe-Raguel, and tJie Regality of the Moncland,
depending on Melrofe, above mentioned. But now, thofe being all united in the perfon of
the Earle of CaJJillis, there are no feperate Courts held, upon that account, nor any privi-
ledge pleaded for them, in prejudice of the Baillie Court.
The Offices of Depute or Clerk, are advantagious polls to any the Earle beftowes them
upon; for by the plenty of wood and water in this countrey, which tempt men to fiih and
cutt ftob or wattles for neceflary ufes, they find a way yearly to levy fines, for cutting of
green wood, and killing fry or fiih in prohibite tyme, that makes a revenue to thefe offices,
and is a conftant taxe upon the people.
1 A rabbit-warren, or cuningair; cunicularius. 2 The same author, at the close of his Table of
Distances, which follows this article of the Appendix, makes the following remarks, under the title,
" Jurisdictions in the Shire of Air. The Shire of Air hes in it three Jurisdictions, Koyle, CdnyNG-
hajie, and Carrick ; all subject to the Sheriffs Court, which holds at Ail - , the head Brugh of the Shire.
The Valuation of the Shire is Twa hundred thousand lib. There are very many Noblemen and Gen-
tlemen's famelies here of richt good Estates and old standing. Severiall very remarkable Antiquities in this
Shire might be noticed j but I leave it to a better hand. Only take what is before, from my own proper
knowledge." — MacFarlaris MS. Geogr. CoU. Adv. Library. 3 See p. 172.