U R n i R
lilli “i iipl i#i
1
the command of Cot ter el; but their operations were foon inti
rupted by M. Deffe, general of the French auxiliaries, who tod
the place, after a gallant defence on the part of the Englijh. T||
Scots kept poffeffion for fome years ; but at laft the fortification
were deftroyed by aft of parliament, to prevent it from being j
any ufe to the former*. The French gave it the name of L'ijk J
chevaux, from its property [of foon fattening horfes.
In 1497, by order of council-f-, all venereal patients in th]
neighborhood of the capital were tranfported there, ne quid itM
menti Refpublica caperet. It is remarkable that this diforder, whi|
was thought to have made its appearance in Europe only four yea
before, ihould make fo quick a progrefs. The horror of a (H
for which there was at that period no cure known, rnuft have
occafioned this attention to flop the contagion •, for even half a ceal
tury after, one of the firft monarchs in Europe, Francis I,
viftim to it.
About a mile from Kinghorn is the precipice fatal to Alexander III
who, in 1285, was killed by a fall from it, his horfe ruihing dowij
with him, when he was enjoying the pleafures of the chace, .1]
mile beyond this is the town of Brmt-ijland ; the belt harbour oij
the coaft, formed by a rocky ifle, eked out with piers, for J
are none on this fide the county entirely natural. This is dry al
low water. The church is fquare, with a fteeple riling in til
centre. The old caftle built by the Duries commanded both tow
and harbour. The place has a natural ftrength, which, with u"
Cony.eniency of a port oppofite to the capital, made it, during
Maitland II. 1008. Vide Appendix.
fits
loubles of 1560, a moll: defirable poll. The French, allies of
|ie qUeen regent, fortified it ftrongly. In 1715 it was furprized,
ind polfelfed by the rebels, who here formed the bold defign of
ling over a body of troops to the oppofite ihore; which was in
art executed under the conduft of brigadier Macintojh, notwith-
liding all the efforts of our men of war.
k little" farther is Aberdour, another fmall town. The Earl o f
tec» has a pleafant feat here. In old times it belonged to the
*; in 1126 was transferred to the Mortimers, by marriage;
nd afterwards to the Douglafes. William, Lord o f Liddefdale, fur-
lied the Flower of chivalry, in the reign of David II. by charter,
Iveyed it to James Douglas, anceftor of the prelent noble owner.
|fhe monks of Inch-colm had a grant for a burial place here, from
mn k Mortimer, m the reign of Alexander III. The nuns, ulually
ftyled the poor Clares, had a convent at this place.
■ had the pleafure of feeing, near Aberdour, a molt fel'eft collision
of piftures, made, by captain Stuart, who, with great polite-
obliged me with the fight of them. It is in vain to attempt
roe defcription of this elegant cabinet, as I may fay, one part or
per ufed to be always on the march. This gentleman indulges_
“ elegant and laudable paflion lb far as to form out of them utr
lw/prtatif, which is his amufement, on the road, in quarters ;
rnJBiort, the companions of all his motions. His houfe is very
BU: to get at his library I afcended a ladder, which reminded
B°f habitation of Mynhier Bifcop, at Rotterdam, the- richeit ■
* S iiia ld ’ s F ife , 122.
repofitory