probably the fame reafon for thefe circum-ambulations; for as
they held the omniprefence of their God, it might be to inilruct
their difciples, that tyherefoever they turned their face, they were!
fure to meet the afpe<5t of the Deity *. The number of turns
was alfo religioufiy obferved in very antient days : thus the arch
enchantrefs, Medea, in all her charms attends to the facred T hree:
T e r fe convertit, ter iumtis flumine crinem
Irroravit a q a is ; ternÍ3 ulaladbus ora
Solvit, et in dura lubmiffo poplite terra,
N o x, ait, & c.
She turn’d her thrice around, and thrice ihe threw
■On her long trefles the noflurnal d ew ;
T hen yelling thrice a moil terrific found,
Her bare knee bended on the flinty ground.
The faint, the objedt of the veneration in queflion, was of moil
lingular fervice to Robert Brucé, infpiring his foldiery with uncom-j
mon courage at the battle of Bamockbourne -f, by a miracle wrought
the day before in his favor. His majefly’s chaplain was direited
to bring with him into the field, the arm of the faint, lodged in
a filver ihrine. The good man, fearing, in cafe of a defeat, that
the Englijh might become mafters of the precious limb, brought
only the empty cover: but, while the king was invoking the aid
of St. Filian, the lid of the ihrine, placed before him on the]
altar, opened and lhut of its own accord : on infpeftion, to the
wonder of the whole army, the arm was found reftored to its I
place; the foldiers accepted the omen, and, affured of viftory,;
* Borla/e’ s Antlq. Cornwal. 126. j Boethius, 302.
fought!
fought with an enthufiafm that enfured fuccefs. In gratitude for
the affiflance he received that day from the faint, he founded
here, in 13x4, a priory of canons regular, and confecrated it to
him. At the diifolution, this houfe, with all the revenues and
fuperiorities, jwere granted to an anceftor of the prefent pofieiTor
the Earl of Breadalbane * .'
- This part of the country is in the parifh of Killin, very remote
from the church. As the chapel here is deftitute of a refident
minifter, Lady Glenurchy, with diftinguiihed piety, has juft efla-
bliihed a fund for the fupport of one; has built a good houfe
for his accommodation, and Lord Breadalbane has added to the
glebe.
’This trait is at prefent almofl entirely flocked with fouth-
country iheep, which have in a manner expelled the breed of
black cattle. Sheep are found to turn more to the advantage of
the proprietors ; but whether to the benefit of the community, is
a doubt. The live flock of cattle of this kingdom decreafes : from
whence will our navy be viftualled ? or how will thofe, who may
be able to purchafe animal food, be fupplied, if the mere private
xnterefl of the farmer is fuffered univerfally to take place ? Millions
at this time look up to Legiflature for reftriaions, that will
once more reftore plenty to thefe kingdoms.
Pafinear the feat of Rob-roy, the celebrated free-booter mentioned
in the former volume;
-g° hY the fides of Loch-Dochart,
beautifully ornamented with trees. In a lofty ifland embofomed '
* K eith, 241*
D
Priortt,
C a t t l e *
G l en-D o c h a r t .