C a m b u s - k e n -
K K T H i
St e r l in g ,
elegant. Am now again in a portion of Perthshire, pj
half a mile out of the road, to viiit the antient abby of
Cambus-Kennetb, or rather its remains, nothing being leff
the rude hand of reformation, excepting a vaft fquare tJ
.and an arched door-way, between which is a fine view o f l
ling, on its Hoping rock. This houfe was founded by
in 1 147, for canons-regular of St. Augufiine, brought from M
near Arras; but the fuperiors were often called abbots of S t M
Keith fays, that it now belongs to St. Cowan’s, hofpital, in tW
city. James III. and his queen were buried in this place.
After a ihort ride, reach the bridge of Sterling, now of itol
in the days of Sir William Wallace, of wood. On this fide, *
hero obtained the glorious viitory over the Englijh, comma J
by the Earl of Surry, and impeded their retreat by fawin», hi
fore the fight, the polls of the bridge, which fell by the « i f
o f fugitives.
Enter S t e r l i n g , a town, fays Boethius, which gave namlto
Jlerlmg money, becaufe OJhert, a Saxon prince, after the oil
throw of the Scots, eilablifhed here a mint *. It was alloi
tiently called Striveling-, as is faid, from the frequency of Itrl
or confines in the neighbourhood : and from this old A M
prefent feems to have been formed.
The town contains about four thoufand inhabitants ; J i
manufacture of tartanes and ihalloons, and employs about thiS
looms in that of carpets. The great ftreet is very broad; i f
is the tolbooth, where is kept the ftandard for the wet mealJij
* h b . x. p. 206. Sterling money is derived from the merchants of thA M
itngs.
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