Bannatyne Club > Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, e pluribus codicibus consarcinatum approximately A.D. MCCCC [i.e. 1400]

obtained the verdiet of an assize finding that the three men claimed by him were
native and liege men of the Bishop and Church of Moray. f
ridge op Of merely local antiquities this volume has not much to boast. It records the
existence of a very ancient bridge over Spey, the exact date of which is unknown ;
but its existence and support in the beginning of the thirteenth century mark a
greater advancement than we are prepared to expect in that district. E
i.d marches. Among the local antiquities, some descriptions of marches which occur not indeed
in the register itself, but among the eharters appended to it, give rise to interesting
speculation. One of these in describing the boundaries of the lands of Burgie as
fixed by perambulation, gives a number of Gaelic places which, fortunately for the
antiquary, are translated into Scotch, upon a parchment attached to the charter. h All
of these are curious, but one is peculiarly interesting. Beginning at the great Oak
marked with a cross, the boundary ran by a place or object named Rune Pictorum,
which is translated " the Carne of the Pethis, or the Pechts feildis." This is perhaps
the only allusion to the Pictish people to be foand in any Scotch charter ; and if it
shall be found upon tracing the boundary, that the expression has reference to the
sculptured pillar situate at the east end of the town of Forres, an authority so ancient
as the time of Alexander II., for ascribing that extraordinary monument to the
ancient Pictish inhabitants, must be regarded as an important element in a very
curious inquiry.'
' N. 143. the age of tlie translations appended to this
s It appears to have been situate at the pas- charter Ap. 4.
sage of the Spey, still called the Boat of Brigg, ' One local custom perhaps requires expla-
where a new bridge has been lately erected. nation. In the process of perambulation of
The hospital of St Nicholas, ereeted close to the Abirkerdour, an oath is taken " upon the firtir
bridge, and endowed for the reception of tra- " of Sanct Mernane," and afterwards " copite
vellers, is now probably no longer to be traced. " Sancti Marnani presenle." — N. 203. This
It is said that some remains of the foundations was the same Saintly person in whose honour
of the ancient bridge were lately visible. The a chapelry was endowed on the banks of the
superstructure was probably of wood. — S/iaw, Dovem (N. 218), and to whom the church of
nnd N. 10G-13. Abirkerdour where he was buried, was dedi-
u « Peryameno assuto." These charters of cated. The " firtir" (Jtretrwni) was the shrine
Kinloss are printed from copies of the accurate in whieh the Sainfs head was treasured, which
Macfarlane. Unfortunately he does not men- was washed with much solemnity each Sunday,
tion where the original charters are, and the and the water used in the ablution, being drank,
efforts to find them have been unsuccess- operated as a miraculous and sovereign remedy
ful. It is of course impossible to ascertain for all diseases (Breriar. Aberdon. 1 Mar.)