 he escaped the death: and, therefore, publicly did revoke all
things that were done in that extremity, and especially he revoked the
subscription of the three writings, to wit, of a fyve yeir tack and nineteen
year tack, and of a charter of feu. And so the house remained, and remains (till
this day, the 7th of February 1571) in the custody of the said Laird of Bargany
and of his servants. And so cruelty was disappointed of proffeit present, and
shall be eternallie punished, unless he earnestly repent. And this far for the
cruelty committed, to give occasion unto others, and to such as hate the
monstrous dealing of degenerate nobility, to look more diligently upon their
behaviours, and to paint them forth unto the world, that they themselves may be
ashamed of their own beastliness, and that the world may be advertised and
admonished to abhor, detest, and avoid the company of all sic tyrants, who are
not worthy of the society of men, but ought to be sent suddenly to the devil,
with whom they must burn without end, for their contempt of God, and cruelty
committed against his creatures. Let Cassilis and his brother be the first to be
the example unto others. Amen. Amen.«
 
This extract has been somewhat amended or modernised in orthography, to render
it more intelligible to the general reader. I have to add, that the Kennedies of
Bargany, who interfered in behalf of the oppressed Abbot, were themselves a
younger branch of the Cassilis family, but held different politics, and were
powerful enough in this, and other instances, to bid them defiance.
The ultimate issue of this affair does not appear; but as the house of Cassilis
are still in possession of the greater part of the feus and leases which
belonged to Crossraguel Abbey, it is probable the talons of the King of Carrick
were strong enough, in those disorderly times, to retain the prey which they had
so mercilessly fixed upon.
I may also add, that it appears, by some papers in my possession, that the
Officers or Country Keepers on the Border were accustomed to torment their
prisoners, by binding them to the iron bars of their chimneys, to extort
confession.
 
29 Henry's Hist., edit. 1805, vol. vii. p. 346.
 
30 I wish the Prior had also informed them when Niobe was sainted. Probably
during that enlightened period when
»Pan to Moses lent his pagan horn.« - L. T.
 
31 Surquedy and outrecuidance - insolence and presumption.
 
32 Mantelets were temporary and movable defences formed of
