865
Earl's courts, as well as the courts of the Earl's vassals (c). The castle of
Catter has been razed, but the Moot-hill remains an object of antiquarian
curiosity. Kilmaronock Castle on the Endrick, and Boturich Castle on the
southern bank of Loch-Loinond, appear to have been formerly large buildings,
but both have long been in ruins. The castle of Kirkintilloch on the Kelvin
appears to have been a place of considerable strength in the end of the thirteenth
century, when it belonged to John Cornyn, who lost it and the barony of
Kirkintilloch by forfeiture, on the accession of Robert Bruce. This castle has
been long since demolished. The castle of Cumbernauld was a stronghold of
the Flemings, earls of Wigton during the fourteenth century, and afterwards
of the Flemings of Bigger and Cumbernauld, who became earls of Wigton.
This castle has given place to a modern mansion, which forms a more commodious
habitation in more peaceable times. At Dunglas on the Clyde there was a
castle of some strength, which having become ruinous was repaired and fortified
by Cromwell, but it was blown up by the treachery of an English boy. The
ruins of some of the buildings are still extant. In this shire there were other
strong houses of less importance, some of which have been razed, while the
ruins of others remain as memorials of the turbulent and lawless ages that
required fortified habitations.
§ v. Of its Establishment as a Shire.] The epoch of this establishment
is obscure. Neither is it certain that it was settled as early as the reign of
David I. It appears, however, to have been a sheriffdom during the reign of
William the Lion, before the end of the twelfth century (d). William Byset
appears to have been the sheriff of Dumbarton in the reign of Alexander II (e).
Walter Stewart the Earl of Monteith held the same office in 1271 (g). His
(c) Chart. Lennox, i. 15. In the reign of David II. Maurice Buchanan obtained from his
superior, Donald Earl of Lennox, a charter of confirmation of the lands of Buchanan and
others, with the power of jurisdiction over life and members ; but all persons who should be
condemned to death in the court of Maurice and his heirs, were to be executed on the Earl's
Gallows at Cathyr. This charter was confirmed by David II. on the 26th of January 1870-1.
Regist. Mag. Sig., b. i. 275.
(d) King William addressed a precept to his sheriffs and bailiffs of Galloway and Carrick and
Levenax. Chart. Glasg., 213. There appears to have been a judge or justice of Levenax in the
reigns of William the Lion and Alexander II. Chart. Lennox, ii. 34-37 ; Chart. Paisley, No. 278-
281 ; Chart. Kelso, No. 221.
(e) In 1237 Alexander II. addressed a precept, " Willielmo Bysett, Vicccontiti, et Ballivis suis de
Dunbretan." Chart. Lennox, ii. 75 ; Chart. Paisley, No. 315.
(g) Chart. Paisley, No. 293 ; Chart. Lennox, ii. 51. The precept and retour which are recorded in
these chartularies have been printed in the App. to Erskine's Institutes, No. G ; and in Lord Hailes's
Sutherland Case, ch. i., p. 6.