Agnews of Lochnaw

524 A GUARD OF HONOUR. [1725.
Courts in person, the clerks and notaries of the place should
mount and escort him on his return for full five miles to the
ford of Bladenoch : and there having seen the Sheriff safe over
in the ferry-boat, they adjourned to a noted "Change House"
on the hill above, and drank largely in honour of the expedi-
tion. The same old gentleman whose memory carried him
so far back used to add, that it was invariably observed that the
escort in returning were somewhat tortuous and unsteady in
their movements.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff was riding homewards attended by the
learned contingent from Stranraer ; and traditions also survive of
the ways of these gentlemen, as well as of their Wigtown brethren.
It was the custom of these practitioners to dine on Court
days at Glenluce, and afterwards to refresh themselves at an in-
termediate drinking-house as well. Once having dined as usual,
but having drunk an unusual quantity of whisky toddy at
Glenluce, it was agreed that they should not touch another
drop that day ; and all engaged, in the fulfilment of their vow, to
encourage one another in breaking through the time-honoured
precedent of halting at the half-way house.
On nearing the alehouse, they endeavoured to sustain their
rapidly ebbing resolution by increasing the pace ; and this to
the no small astonishment of mine host, who was standing in his
doorway waiting to receive them. On they came ; the leader
of the party having spurred his horse into a gallop. Just as they
were abreast of the sign, however, his knowing steed bolted up
to the accustomed door, when stopping suddenly short, in went
the "fore- speaker" sprawling in the passage, — the rest of the party,
in spite of themselves, brought up all of a heap on the threshold.
Boniface, who was a great wag, quietly raised the fallen man,
and depositing him safely in the bar, he dryly remarked,
with a glance at his companions, "What kin' o' rider ye ar,
I dinna ken ; but, man ! ye hae a maist expedeetious way
0' coming aff."
There is a Portpatrick tradition of this date, that Mr. Boyd
(the first minister appointed to Portpatrick after the Eevolu-