Bannatyne Club > Origines parochiales Scotiae > Volume 2, part 1

96 ORIGINES [craignish.
on the west a range of heath-clad hills averaging 400 or 500 feet, and on the east along Loch
Craignish a narrow level shore.^ It has numerous small lakes, and about twenty islands, between
one of which, named Garbhreisa, and the southern extremity of the peninsula is a strait called
Dorus Mor (the great door).-
In 1434 Sir Kobert the vicar of Cragginche is witness to a charter of Ewen Makeorquydill of
Maintelan (Phantolan).' The same charter is witnessed by Walter Bet secretary to Makeor-
quydill.'' In 1440 a charter by Isabella Duchess of Albany and Countess of Levenax is wit-
nessed by Walter Bet rector of Craginche.^ In 1442 the foundation charter of the coUegiate
church of Kilmwne is witnessed by Walter Bet rector of Craiginche, and by Eobert Deware the
vicar.^ In 1530 the rector of Craginche was Master Niel LeclieJ In 1542, 1543, 1546, and
1561, Master Gilbert Malcolm, Malcolmsoun, or Makolchallum, was rector.' In 1570 John
M'lllcchanzich was vicar of Craginche.' In 1574 Niel Campbell was rector of Craigneis and
Loyng.'" The chantry of the diocese, which in 1574 had been held by the parson of Kilmartine,
was in 1622 held by Colin Campbell parson of Craiginch.^^ In 1662, when the chapter of
Argyle was restored by King Charles 11., the minister at Kilmob-ew in Craignes was appointed
chanter.'- In 1695 Archibald Earl of Argyle was served heir to his father Earl Archibald in
the advowson, rectory, and vicarage of the church and parish of Kilmalrew.'^
The church, apparently dedicated to Saint Mary, stood at Kilmolrou or Kilmorie between the
castle of Craignish and the extremity of the peninsula called Ardcraignish.'* Its ruins still
remain, and its cemetery is the one chiefly in use.'' The ruins of another church or chapel
remain near the present church, which was erected in 1826 on a green in the eastern part of
the parish."'
By an ordinance of King John Balliol, dated in 1292, the lands of Dugall of Cragins were
included in the sherifl'dom of Lorn or Argyle." On the 16th of August 1361, at the church of
Saint Martin in Ardscodinis, Cristina, the daughter and heiress of the deceased Dugald of
Craginis, sold to her kinsman Colin Cambel, the son and heir of Gillaspic Cambel lord of Lochaw,
her part of the barony of the deceased Alexander M'Nachtane which belonged to her by
heritage, for a certain sum of money and cows paid to her beforehand in her very great necessity,
binding herself and heirs, if they should contravene the sale, to pay to the said Colin or his heirs
on one day at the castle of Ynischonnell 300 marks sterling upon a red mantle in name of
penalty, and to be considered infamous and perjured.'' On the Feast of Saint Martin (11
November) 1361, at the same church, the same Cristina of Craiginis granted to the same Colin
' New Stat. Ace. ^ New Stat. Ace. " Breadalbane Inventory.
^ Argyle Charters. '- Acta Pari. Scot., vol. vii. p. 390.
' Argyle Charters. In 1432 Walter Bet was secretary '^ Retonrs. " Blaeu and modern maps,
to Duncan Campell of Lochow. Paper at Taymouth. '* New Stat. Ace. " New Stat. Ace.
* Breadalbane Cliarters. '" Acta Pari. Scot., vol. i. p. 91. The impression of
^ Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. iv. no. 21. the seal appended to a charter by Dugall Campbell or
' Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xxv. no. 124. M'CouU of Coruarran, dated in 1528, and affirmed to
* Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xsviii.no. 458; lib. xxix. nn. 279, be of older date than the charter, bears the legend
417. Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. xx. fol. 57. Argyle Charters. S. Ddgalli de Creagginsh. Nisbet's Heraldrj-,
' Protocol Book of Gavin Hammiltoun at Taymouth. vol. i. p. 33. See Craignish and Kilchrenan,
'" Breadalbane Charters. '" Argyle Charters.