Allardyce of Culquoich, Aberdeenshire, and bas issue-Edward Scott, 'born 6th Sept. 1892; Christian Mary, born 18th March 1895.

ST CUTHBERT’S or WEST KIRK.

[According to Dr Skene, Historiographer Royal, the first church erected on the site occupied by the present fabric, if it did not owe its existence to the personal efforts of St Cuthbert himself, was at least erected shortly after his decease in the latter part of the seventh century. In the early ages this was one of the wealthiest parishes in Scotland, but in 1128 it was, with all its endowments, transferred to the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, then founded by David I.]

1560 WILLIAM HARLAW, born at Edinburgh after 1500 and originally bred a tailor in the Canongate. Imbibing the doctrines of the Reformation, he took refuge in England, where he was ordained a deacon, became one of the King's chaplains, and remained some years. On the death of Edward VI. he returned to Edinburgh in 1553, and engaged in preaching in private houses in 1555; afterwards he did so publicly. He was reprimanded for preaching at Dumfries in 1558, summoned to appear before the Lord Justice at Stirling, 10th May 1559, and denounced a rebel for usurping the authority of the Church, " in taking into his own hand the ministry thereof, "within the burgh of Perth and places adjoining. Appointed to St Cuthbert's in 1560, he was a member of the first General Assembly, 20th Dec. An attempt to have him removed and another presented

was made 25th June 1566, by the patron (Robert, Commendator of Holyroodhouse), but being opposed by the parishioners, was ineffectual. Pres. to the vicarage by James VI. 6th Feb. 1572; died 1578. Though "not verie learnit, yitt his doctrine was plaine, sound, and worthie of commendatioun." His son, Nathaniel, was min. of Ormiston.-[Knox's Works, i., ii.; Scott's Reformers, Booke of the Kirk, Reg. Min. and Assig.; Keith's, Spottiswood's, Row's, and

Calderwood's Hists. ii.; Pitcairn's Cr. Trials, i.; Wodrow's Miscell., Biog. i., and MS. Biog.; Sime's West Kirk, Treasury Accounts.]

1578 ROBERT PONT [KYLPONT, KYNPONT], born at or near Culross 152.1 (Buchanan, De Scriptoribus Scotis Illustribus), son of John P. of Shyresmill, and Catherine Murray, said to be a daugh. of Murray of Tullibardine (Blackadder 318. Memoirs). [The statement of Dr Andrew Crichton that the father was a Venetian, who, having been banished for his adherence to the Protestant faith, arrived in Scotland in the train of Mary of Guise, is essentially improbable as well as inconsistent with well-known facts]; educated at Culross, and St Leonard's College, St Andrews; on completing his course there, is supposed to have studied law at a foreign university. Nothing is definitely known of his career until 1559, when he settled at St Andrews, where he acted as a member of the kirk-session. He was present at the first General Assembly, 20th Dec. 1560, and was one of twenty within the bounds of St Andrews declared to be qualified for ministering and teaching. He was one of the Committee who revised the Second Book of Discipline, 1561. In 1562 he was appointed preacher at Dunblane, and in Dec. of the same year he was removed to Dunkeld. The following year he was Commissioner of Moray, and minister at Elgin. He was Moderator of Assembly in 1570, an office to which he was five times afterwards elected. In Jan. 1571 he was Provost of Trinity College, Edinburgh, and accepted a senatorship in the College of Justice, at the express wish of the General Assembly, on 12th Jan. 1572. Following that, he was charged with dereliction of duty in failing to visit the churches in Moray, but pled lack of leisure in consequence of his judicial work. In Nov. 1573 he received a pension of 300 merks, on account of having no ecclesiastical stipend "quliairon he may commodiously leif." In Feb. 1574 he resigned the Commissionership of Moray, and was admitted collegiate (junior) min.