Publications of the Clan Lindsay Society - Electric Scotland

40 THE HOUSE OF DUN HOI).
He milkit the Laird o' Kelliu'y kye,
And a' tlie kye in Dunoon ;
And auld Dunrud gat far niair milk
Than wad niak a gabbart soiun. *
The cheese he made were numerous,
And wonerous to descry ;
For they kyth't as gin tliey had been grule, f
Or peats set up to dry.
The same witcli, Marie Lament, in her confession,
stated that she and others of her kind were wont to
assemble at times to raise stormy weather on the Firth
in order to hinder the fishing or damage the boats of
those against whom they had ill-will. Tradition,
associating "Auld Dunrod" with this company, says
that the credulous sea-faring folk were accustomed to
pay him blackmail that he might refrain from injuring
them himself, and prevent others from doing so. Yet,
notwithstanding his reputed powers, he lived a vaga-
bond life, taking shelter where he could, and dying at
last in the barn of one of his former tenants. J
The Dunrod Lands and Cadets.
Dunrod, Thornley, and the Kilbride lands were
held of the Prince of Scotland as High Steward.
Strictly speaking the owner of these lands was the
vassal of a subject-superior ; but, since so many of the
Princes succeeded to the throne while still in their
minority, virtually he was a crown vassal and of the
rank of a minor baron.
* Float a lighter.
t Appeared like moss dried in the sun.
I Scuttuh Juurnal, Vol. I., p. 276.
Ure's Hut. of Ruthcnjlcn and Ead Kilbride, p. 153.