Publications of the Clan Lindsay Society - Electric Scotland

212 THE LINDSAYS OF WAUCIIOPE AND BARCLOY.
to be made of the estate, say at the time of the
forfeiture of 1506, or again just before the fortunes of
the family began to decline, towaids the end of the
seventeenth century. By such it will appear that
these Lindsays ranked among the most considerable
of those of the landed gentry who were not actually of
the peei-age. And the prestige given tlieni by their
possessions was augmented in their early days by the
personal distinction of the heads of the house. In
later times, however, none of the family attained to
eminence, and such consideration as they enjoyed
flowed from their position as substantial landowners.
In their actions and in their circumstances as known
to us, except it be in their attachment to the losing
cause of the old faith, there is nothing that colours the
decay of their house with the glow of romance. Yet
if we were to become better acquainted with their
later history we might well find that their down-
fall was not wholly destitute of heroism. Meantime,
in the absence of direct evidence as to the cause of the
failure of their fortunes, we may not definitely ascribe
it to a decline in the character of the men.
The author has specially to thank W. A. Lindsay, Esq., K.C.,
WindsiH- Heiakl, fur a very careful revision of the manuscript,
and fur additional information derived mainly from notes
collected from the unpuhlislied records, at the instance and
at the cost of the late Earl of Crawford. The author is also
indebt