Inquiring, if because of its name Eleiston it ever belonged to the Eleis’s of before.  Answered, that no:  also that the true name of it is not Eleiston but Hyliston.  Belonged to the Earles of Monteith, and was a part of their barronie of Kilpont.  Its some 300 acker of land paying about 6 firlots the acker; hes held at on rentall thesse 100 years.  The gentlemen that last had it ware Hamiltons, ever Catholicks.  K. James, because he had no house to bait at when he came to hunt in the moor, gave on of them 20,000 merks to build that house, wheirto he added 4 himselfe.[552] Its stronglic built as it had neid, being built in so windy a part.  We first enter in to a hall.  On our right hand as we enter is a kitchin and a sellar, both wouted.[553] On the left a fair chamber.  Then ye go upstairs and ye have a fine high hall, and of everie end a chamber hung both with arras hangings.  Then in the 3’d storie ye have a chamber and a larg loft.  On the top of a turret again above ther is a litle chamber wheir their preist stayed when the Hamiltons had it, who had divers secret passages to convey himselfe away if pershued.  Their was Marion Sandilands, Hilderstons daughter, with Margaret Scot his 2’d wyfe; item Sir John Scot of Scotstarvets picture.  In the timber of the most part of the windows is cut out the name of the gentleman that had it, with the year of God when it was built, 1613, 1614.  Mr. Jo.  Eleis hes put up his name and his ladies on the gate.

    [552] i. e. the proprietor added 4000 merks.

    [553] Vaulted, voutes.

Jo.  Bonar hes bought a place just on the other syde of the loch of Lithgow forgainst the palace, called Bonytoun, which he hes changed and called Bonarton.  Reidop, which belonged to on Drummond a Lord of the Sessionis, neir Lithgow, my Lord Lithgow hes bought it:  its but a small thing.  Yea manie of the Lords of Sessions purchess’s at that tyme ware but small, divars of them no 12 chalder of wictuall.  Neir to Binnie I saw Riccarton, Drummond.

Came home the same way that we went afield.[554]

    [554] The passage which follows, enclosed within brackets, is scored
        out.

[Illustration:  JANET RAMSAY. (First Wife of Lord Fountainhall.)]

[I was married 21 January 1669 in the Trone Church at 6 a cloack at night, being Thursday, by Mr. John Patersone.  On the 3d of December 1669 was my sone John born about on afternoone, and was baptized on the Sonday theirafter, being the 5th of December, in the Grayfriers, by Mr. David Stirling.

On the 8 day of Aprill 1671, being about halfe are hower past tuo in the morning, being on Friday night and Saturdsdayes moring,[555] was my wife delivered of a daughter, who was baptized on the 23 of April, being Sunday, in the by kirk by Mr. James Lundie, and called Jannet.

    [555] Sic.

On the 15 of September 1672, about halfe are hower past 5 in the morning, being Sundayes night or Mondayes morning, was my wife delivered of a daughter, who was baptized on the 30 or last day of September, being Monday, at 5 acloak in the afternoon, in the Tolbooth Church, by Mr. William Gairnes, and was called Isobell.

  See thir marked alibi.]