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

APPENDIX. 175
In all this countrey there is not any Towncorporat, fiive one, viz. Mayboll, which is
nether a Burgh Royall, for it fends no Commiffioner to the Parliament, nor is it merely a
Burgh of Barony, fuch having only a power to keep mercats and a Magistracy fetled amongft
them, in dependence on the Baron of the place. But here it is quyte otherwayes, for they
have a Charter from the King, erecting them into a Burgh, with a Toune-Councell of Sixteen
perSbns, for manadging the common concerns of the Burgh, with power to them to elect from
amongft themfelves two Bailies, their Clerk, and Treafurer, and to keep Courts for main-
taining order amongft the inhabitants, and to admitt Burgeffes of their Corporation. It is
true, indeed, the Earle of Caffillis is the Superiour of all the land, whereupon the Town is
built ; but they deny him to be their Superiour, in their Constitution as a Burgh, and difpu-
ted their right with him. During the dependence of which action, he, as Baron, fett up a
Baron-Bailie, to exercife authority over the inhabitants, and to leflen the MagiStrats' autho-
rity ; but the people being poor and divided amongft themfelves, and the Earle being gott
into the Government, upon the Revolution, they were forced to fubmitt and yeild to his pre-
tenfions.
This Towne of Mayboll Stands upon an afcending ground, from Eaft to WeSt, and lyes
open to the South. It hath one principal! Street, declining towards the Eaft. It is pretty
well fenced from the North, by a higher ridge of hills, that lyes above it, at a fmall distance
Northward. It bath one principall Street, with houfes on both fydes, built of free-Stone ; and
it is beautifyed with the Situation of two Caftles, one at each end of this Street. That on
the Eaft belongs to the Earle of Caffillis ; beyond which Eaft ward, Stands a great new build-
ing, which be his granaries. On the Weft end is a Caftle, which belonged fometime to the
Laird of Blairquhan, which is now the Tolbuith, and is adorned with a pyramide, and a
row of ballefters round it, raifed upon the top of the ftaire-cafe, into which they have mount-
ed a fyne clock. There be four lanes which paffe from the principall Street ; one is called
the Bach- Venall, which is Steep, declining to the Southeast, and leads to a lower Street,
which is far longer then the High chiefeflreet, and it runs from the Kirkland to the Welltrees ;
in which, there have been many pretty buildings, belonging to the feverall Gentry of the
countrey, who were wont to refort hither in Winter, and divert themfelves in converfe toge-
ther at their owne houfes. 1 It was once the principall Street of the towne ; but many of thefe
1 Tradition has preserved the names of a few of the chief of these residences. These are, 1. The Castle,
belonging to the Earls of Cassillis. 2. The present Tolhooth was the town residence of the Lairds of
Blairquhan. 3. ' The Black House,' which belonged to the Kennedies of Knockdone. 4. A large Man-
sion-house, with a garden, which belonged to Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean; and was probably the
house to which he was returning when waylaid by Auchindrayne and his accomplices. It now belongs
to Mr Niven of Kirkbride. 5. A House in the Kirkwynd, which belonged to Kennedy of Ballimore.