Historical account of the noble family of Kennedy, Marquess of Ailsa and Earl of Cassilis

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cillor to Queen Mary ; a gentleman of the bedchamber to Henry
II., King of France, 10th February 1 558-9 ; appointed justiciary
of Carrick in 1565 ; was at the battle of Langsyde with Queen
Mary, for which he was forfeited in Parliament, but from which
he was subsequently reponed. He was afterwards appointed
one of the Privy Council to the King. On the 1st and 7th of
September 1570 he carried Allan Steuart, commendator of
Crossraguel, to the castle of Dunure, where he presented to him
for signature various deeds, conveying to the Earl the lands
belonging to the abbacy, which, when he refused to sign, the
Earl placed him over a large fire in the vault of Dunure, to
compel him to do so. Kennedy of Bargany came to the Com-
mendator's assistance, " and took the castle of Dunure.* The
The forest
of Buchan
lies in Kirk-
cudbright.
her life, the yearly rent of the two and one-half merk land of Craigmulloch, along
with 111 milk ewes, 77 yeild ewes, 108 wedders, 40 gimmers, and 40 dinmonts ;
as also, other 80 gimmers and dinmonts, to be received by her at the feast
of Belton then next, 1560, together with 11 old goats and 2 kids; as also,
114 head of nolt, pasturing upon the lands of Kerry Castle, in the forest of
Buchan, viz. 16 Nicol cows, and as many calves, 17 farow and 9 yeild cows,
5 three-year-old cows, 22 old oxen, 2 bulls, 6 three-year-old oxen, and 2 bulls,
5 two-year-old oxen, 3 two-year-old queys, 8 quey stirks, and 9 oxen stirks ;
which sheep, goats, and cattle, the Countess obliges herself, her heirs and execu-
tors, to leave on the ground of the lands respectively above mentioned at her
decease, or the like number, and of as great avail, for the use of the Earl and
his successors ; as also, he gives to the Countess, during her life, a silver bason
and a laver, a double gilt cup of silver raised work with a cover, two cases of
silver, the one gilt and the other ungilt, a gilt macer, two silver trenchers with
two little salt-fatts in their nooks, twelve silver spoons, a silver salt-fatt and
cover thereof ungilt, a black velvet bed with the curtains of black damask, and
four pieces of tapestry in Edinburgh, and four feather beds and their bolsters ;
all which silver work, tapestry, and bedding, the Countess obliges her and hers
aforesaid to leave to the Earl and his successors within the place of Cassillis at
her decease, or as much, and of the same avail. The Earl, being under age,
obliges himself to choose curators between and Martinmas then next to ratify the
contract. It is accordingly ratified on 5th November 1559 by Quintin, Abbot
of Crossraguel, Sir Hugh Kennedy of Girvan Mains, David Kennedy of Culzean,
and Mr Thomas Hay, parson of Spynie, the Earl's curators.
* Bargany seems to have had a personal interest to prevent the Abbot falling
into the hands of the Earl. On the 28th January 1569 the Abbot obtained letters