. ment: ‘ The K in o ,’ (fays the hiftorian *,) | came to Lithgow, v J
he happened to be at the time for the council, very fad and doll
‘ rous, making his devotion to God to fend him good chance anl
‘ fortune in his voyage. In this mean time, there came a man cla
in a blue gawn in at the Kirk-door, and belted about him in;
roll of linen-cloth ; a pair of botrikins on his feet, to tfiegrej
of his legs, with all other hofe and clofe conform thereto; but I
had no thing on his head, but fyde red yellow hair behind, ati
‘ on his haffits, which wan down to his Ihoulders ; but his foreheat
1 was bald and bare. He feemed to be a man of two and fife
‘ years, with a great pyke-ftaff in his hand, and came firft fol
‘ ward among the lords, crying and fpeiring for the K i n g , f a y i n j
‘ he defired to fpeak with him. While, at the laft, he came w h e r e tlr
‘ K i n g was fitting in the defk at his prayers : but when he fad
-c the King, he made him little reverence or falutation, but le a n e l
* down groflings on the defk before him, and faid to him in thif
manner, as after follows. S i r K i n g , my mother hath fentmitw
you, defiring you not to pafs,at this time, where thou art purpoftiM
for, if thou does, thou wilt not fare well in thy journey, nor now tint-
‘ pajfeth with thee. Further, jhe hade thee mell with.no woman, nor <4
‘ their cottnfel, nor let them touch thy body, nor thou theirs; for, if tlxili
‘ do it, thou wilt he confounded and brought to fioame.’
In one of the ibreets is lhewn the gallery from whence Hamilnm
of Bothwel-haugb, in 1 5 7 0 , with a blamelefs revenge Ihot t h e R e g e n t
Murray. Hamilton had embraced the party of his royal miftrefsl
Mary Stuart-. The Regent bellowed part of his eftate on one of" 1
p. ioti|
favourites J
■jourites, who, in a winter’s night, feized on his houfe, and turn-
tdhis wife naked into the open fields*; where, before morning,
flie became furioufly mad. Love and party rage co-operated fo
iftrono-ly, that he never refted till he executed his purpofé. He fol-
Ivred the-Regent from place to place, till the opportunity of a
I , mrch through a crowded ftreet reiidered his intent fuccefsful.
fce fled to France, and being there folicited to deftroy the admiral
mlgni, he replied, with a generous refentment, ‘ That notwithstanding
his injured -affection compelled him to commit one mur-
Ider, nothing fhould induce him to proftitute his fword in a bafe
■affaiiination.’
■Proceed along Strathbrock, watered by the Almond. To the right ire Bathgate hills, once noted for mines of lead-ore, fo rich as to
■be deemed filver mines. Dine at Kirklifton bridge ; and, about
i mile farther, crofs the Almond, and enter the fhire of
I This river runs into the Forth, about four miles from this place,
jln the eaftern bank o f its influx, is the village of Cramond, once a
man ftation and port. Many medals, infcriptions, and other
Antiquities -j-, have been difcovered here. Mr. Gordon fays, there is
jone, and Mr. Maitland, that there are three Roman roads leading to
■b but my time would not permit me to vifit the place.
I On the risht hand, at a fmall difbance from our road, are fome
* r
hide (tones. On one, called the Catftean, a compound of Celtic
pnd Saxon, Signifying the ftone of battle, is this jnfcription : In hoc
I * Robtrt/ox, I. 5 1 1 , t Gordon's Itin. 1 16 , 1 17 . Horfelj, p. 204.
pj h 2 tumulo
Hi