breadth, where broadest, some 24. and where nar∣rowest, 16 miles. The countrey abounds with Coal, Peets, and Lime-stone; but what turns to the greatest account, are the Lead-mines, belonging to Hopton, not far from which after rains the country people find pie∣ces of gold, some of which are of a considerable bigness. I suppose 'tis the same place our Author has mentioned upon this account.
It is divided into two Wards, the Overward and Netherward: this hilly and full of heaths, and fit for pasturage; the other plain and proper for grain.
It is watered with the pleasant River of Clide, which gives name to the shire; it rises at Errick-hill, and running through the whole County, glideth by many pleasant seats of the nobility and gentry, and several considerable towns, till it fall into its own Firth at Dumbarton.
The great ornament of these parts is the Palace of Hamilton, the residence of the Dutchess of Hamilton; the Court whereof is on all sides adorned with very noble buildings. It has a magnificent Avenue, and a Frontispiece towards the East of excellent workman∣ship. On one hand of the Avenue is a hedge, on the other, fair large gardens, well furnished with fruit-trees and flowers. The Park (famous for its tall oaks) is six or seven miles round, and has the Brook Aven running through it. Near the Palace is the Church, the Vault whereof is the buryal-place of the Dukes of Hamilton.
Upon the East bank of Clyde stands Glasgow, in respect of largeness, buildings, trade and wealth, the chief City in the Kingdom next Edinburgh. The ri∣ver carries vessels of small burthen up to the very tower; but New-Glasgow, which stands on the mouth of Clyde, is a haven for vessels of the largest size.
Most part of the City stands on a plain, and is al∣most four-square. In the very middle of it (where is the Tolbooth, a very stately building of hewn-stone) four principal streets, crossing each other, divide the city as it were into four equal parts. In the higher part of it, stands the Cathedral Church, commonly called St. Mungo's; consisting indeed of two Churches, one whereof is over the other. The Architecture of the pillars and towers is said to be very exact and cu∣rious. Near the Church is the Archbishop's Castle, fenc'd with a wall of hewn stone: but its greatest or∣nament is the College, separated from the rest of the town by an exceeding high wall; the precincts where∣of are enlarged with some Acres of ground lately pur∣chased; and the buildings repaired and adorned by the care and prudent administration of the Principal, the Learned Doctor Fall.
Nor does this tract want some remains of Roman Antiquity. For from Errickstone in the one end, to Mauls Mire in the other, where it borders upon Rein∣fraw, there are evident footsteps of a Roman Causey or military way, called to this day the Watlin-street. This in some parts is visible for whole miles together; and the people have a tradition that another Roman Street went from Lanrick to the Roman Camp near Falkirk.
At Lismehago, a town in this shire, was a Priory and Convent of the Monks of the order Vallis Caulium, a sort of Cistercians, founded by Fergus, Lord of Gal∣loway, a Cell of Kelso.
[b] RANFREW or Reinfraw is the next branch of the Damnii, and is separated from the shire of Dum∣barton on the West by the River Clyde, which carries up ships of great burden for 10 miles. On the East 'tis joyned to the shire of Lanrick, and on the West and South to the Sheriffdom of Aire. It is in length twenty miles, and in breadth eight, but where broad∣est thirteen. That part which lyeth near Clyde is pleasant and fertil, without mountains, only has some small risings: but that to the South, South-west, and West, is more barren, hilly, and moorish. Our Au∣thor has observ'd this tract to be full of Nobility and Gentry; who almost keep up a constant relation by marriage one with another.
The convenience of the Frith of Clyde (the Coast whereof is all along very safe to ride in) has caused good improvements in these parts. At the West end of a fair Bay, stand Gumrock town and castle, where there is a good road and a harbour, lately contrived; and a village is now in building. More inward stands Greenock, a good road, and well built town, of best account on all this Coast. 'Tis the chief seat of the herring-fishing, and the Royal Company of Fishers have built a house at it, for the convenience of trade. Near this, is Crawfird-Dyke, where good houses are in building: and a little more to the South, New-work, where the town of Glasgow hath built a new port, and called it Port-Glasgow, with a large publick house. Here is the Custom-house for all this Coast; and the town of Glasgow hath obliged the Merchants to load and unload here.
But Pasly for antient Grandeur is the most consi∣derable. The Abbey and Church, with fair gardens and orchards, and a little Park for Fallow-deer, are all enclosed with a stone-wall about a mile in circuit. The Monastery here was of the Order of the Clunia∣censes, founded by Walter the second, great Steward of King Malcolm the fourth. The Chancel of the Church standeth yet, where lye buried Robert 2. and his mother. At this town there is a large Ro∣man Camp: the Praetorium is at the West end on a rising ground, upon the descent whereof the town of Pasly stands. This Praetorium is not large, but has been well fortified with three fosses and dykes of earth; of which so much is still remaining, that one on horse∣back cannot see over them. It seems to have inclos'd all that ground on which the town stands, and may have been about a mile in compass. When you tread upon the ground of the Praetorium, it gives a sound as if hollow; occasioned probably by some Vaults un∣derneath, such as are at Camelon and Airdoch, two o∣thers of their Camps.
About a quarter of a mile from this, are two other risings, one to the South, and the other to the West, which along with this make a triangular form. By the footsteps remaining they seem to have been little larger than the Praetorium of the first, without any fortifications, save a single Fosse and a Dyke of the same form. 'Tis probable enough that these might be the Stations for the outer guards.
At Langsyde also there is the appearance of an old Camp on the top of the hills. Here a battle was fought between Queen Mary and the Earl of Murray, call'd the field of Langsyde.
In the lands of New-yards, near Pasly, there is a remarkable spring, which is observed to ebb and flow with the tyde, tho' it be on a far higher ground than any place where the tide cometh.
The water of the River Whyte-Cart (upon which Paslay stands) is commended for its largeness, and the fineness of the Pearls that are frequently found here∣abouts, and three miles above. They fish for them mostly in summer-time, and meet with them at the bottom of the water in a fish-shell, much larger than the ordinary Muscle.
[c] LENNOX also (called likewise Dumbarton∣shire, from Dumbarton, a Burgh-royal and chief town in the shire) is made by our Author a part of the Damnii; tho' some learned men, according to the division of it into the High country and the Low, have thought it more convenient to make the latter, part of the Gadeni, and the former, the seat of the Vaco∣magi; the remains of which name they observe in a village upon Loch-lomund, called Blowvochie. 'Tis boun∣ded on the South with the River Clyde and its Firth; on the West it hath Logh-Lung, and a water of the same name which falleth into it; on the North it hath the Grampion-hills; and on the East the water of Blane divides it from Sterlingshire. Its length is about 24 miles, and its breadth about 20. The Lower part lyes to the East, and is very fertil in corn, especially to∣wards the Rivers. The Higher is hilly, moorish, and more fit for pasture, especially where the Grampion-mountains begin. The country is very well furnished with Gentlemens seats; and here is the Castle of Mur∣dock, the residence of the Marquis of Montross. They have Lochs both of salt and fresh water; the greatest of the fresh-water Lochs is Loch-Lomond, 24 miles in length, in breadth about eight miles where broad∣est,