PAISLEY REPOSITORY. 
 No. XIV. 
 
 A Guide to Inscriptions sculptured on Tomb- 
 stones, SfC, before the year 1710, in the pa- ' 
 rishes of Paisley. 
 
 PROLEGOMENA. 
 
 j KESE Inscriptions are arranged, in this Publica- 
 tion, according to their respective dates. By this me- 
 thod the attentive reader, of the real Inscriptions 
 themselves, will be able to mark the progress of the 
 different variations, 
 
 I. On the form of the letters, from the old An- 
 glo saxoH. character, to the present Roman form. 
 
 II. On the Orthography. When our forefathers us- 
 ed the qv, or <-/;/, for our «i; and made little or no 
 distinction between the /'.sand jf's, it's and they us- 
 ed a y where we use an /, sometimes a 7 instead of our 
 th, especially where it begins a word as £dtf, yal, ye. 
 yi, 7/2,), yov, iov they, that, the, thy, this, thou, often v 
 for and z for y and i, SfC. §€. 
 
 III. On the Contractions. Our ancestors used very 
 plentifully both contracted words and letters. Their 
 contracted words were expressed by a curve put over 
 the word; but instead of a curve, we put a full poin; 
 at the end of the letters of the contracted word, am- 
 this I am obliged to do myself, in the following Jisr 
 of contracted words which occur in these Inscriptions, 
 on the account that Printers novv-a-davs do not u«t 
 these curves. 
 
9, 
 
 Aia. anima, soul. 
 An. or ano. anno, year. 
 Dm. domini) lord. 
 L in. 
 
 Jacob. Jacnbu.s, James. 
 Kalen. fcalcn d ia>, kal ends 
 Ki t b y n k t. KUbymeti > 
 
 Kiiblrnie. 
 Lachr. lackrimee. tears. 
 
 Mesis. mentis, month. 
 Monastii. monasterit, 
 
 monastery. 
 P. pro, for. 
 
 Poss. posse, to be able. 
 O. qui, who. 
 QLK. quhilk, which. 
 Sal. salcatori, saviour. 
 Vmoll. umquhill, the late. 
 
 We still write some of our contracted words 
 
 in the same way of theirs, for instance, M° for 
 
 Milesimo, tfonage 0 for Nohagesimo, and v.>/ for 
 
 with* 
 
 We may say that we use no contracted letters, ex- 
 cept the and even .\ is more in disuse than former- 
 ly; bur if we look the Inscriptions themselves, Nos. 
 2» 4 and 22, we will see examples of two and three 
 letters being- joined into one, having some particular 
 stroke, or pari of them, common to all the contracted 
 letters., as JE, the Latin diphthong-. 
 
 IV. On the Language. The tomb stones nearly all 
 begin with a ffeir lyes, or if the deceased was a man 
 of great note, lie has, perhaps, a latin Inscription 
 beginning with a Hicjacct. What difference has ta- 
 ken place since, may be easily seen by examining the 
 grave stones of any burying place. I will give three 
 examples which the reader may contrast with these 
 ancient tomb stone Inscriptions. 
 
 I. In the Abbey Church yard near the Quire. 
 In memory of John Orr, who was one ox the Paisley 
 Militia,, and fell at the Battle of Falkirk, 13th of Ja- 
 nuary 1746'. 
 
 II. In the High Churchyard of Paisley. 
 The property of the Hammermen Society 'in Paisler. 
 
 MDCCXCVI. 
 To help the poor is our design 
 
 In this our hue Erection 
 This shall a Testimony he 
 Of this outf ffoocJ Intention 
 
III. Copied from a Grave Stone in Johsstone Chan- 
 el yard. 
 
 ( On the one side.) 
 This Burying place is the property 
 of James Craig Vintner in Quarrelton 
 and Mary Black his Sp ouse and their 
 Children. This is Likewise to the memory 
 of James Hatrick interred here. 
 
 Motto 
 
 Vive Deo ut Vivas 
 ThisSimple Stone Which few Vain Marbl(.) s 
 Can. May Truly Say here Lyes an honest 
 Man. 
 
 Look the Other Side 
 ( On the other side J 
 Who Departed this Life July 2Sth 1802 
 By particular Desire of Margaret Grant 
 his Widow and Consent of James Craig 
 The Proprietor 
 
 As It would occupy too much room to criticise on 
 every part of these ancient Inscriptions, we shall next 
 take a view of their terminations Orate, Orate pro anirha 
 ejus and Pray jor his Salvation. Our ancestors appear 
 to have had two ends in view in erecting their tomb 
 stones. 1. To perpetuate the memory of the deceas- 
 ed, and 2. To point out the spots where the deceased 
 persons wure interred, in order that they might receive 
 the benefit of the prayers of the godly, to release their 
 souls more speedily out of purgatory. 
 
 V. On the Sculpture. All these Inscriptions are in 
 basso relievo except Nos. 3 and 25 which are cut in the 
 stone. These Inscriptions in general begin at the one 
 corner of the stone, go round the edge of it, and ter- 
 minate in the centre. At other times the centre is fill- 
 ed up with a coat of arms, on the left hand side is the 
 
4 
 
 initial of the person's christian name, and on the right 
 hand side of the arms is the initial of the person's sir- 
 name, and sometimes a sentence from scripture, of 
 the nature of a prayer, is around the coat of arms. 
 
 By an intelligent reader, of the real Inscriptions 
 themselves, paying a proper attention to what is men- 
 tioned in the preceding five particulars, he will be at 
 no loss if he should happen to meet with any old In- 
 scriptions without dates, such as Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 
 13, to come within a few years of the true dates. 
 
 These tomb stones are all in the form of a paralello- 
 gram. Parts of some of them which contained reading 
 are broken off, (as Nos, 3, 4, 6, &c.) or under ground, 
 (as No. 5.) these parts are signified by a long dash. 
 Obliterated parts are marked with asterisks. Those 
 Italic words printed in the Inscriptions are supplied 
 from what we considered must have been on the 
 stone. 
 
 INSCRIPTIONS. 
 
 I. On the entry to the Abbey Church by 
 the north door, on the left hand side of the 
 yGTch as you go in. 
 
 3$ar * ******* 
 
 fjn.s fitting tmmagtn. virtue 
 
 mt$i$* 3[amiartt ano. Urn. 8po« tcccc, 
 
 rrrtii * tit fieri sua tfettugtura 
 
 The word Pax in the first line is dimlv seen. It is 
 reported, that Mr. Millar, who was one of the Mini- 
 sters of the Abbey Church, between the years 1710 
 and 1752, caused the first line of the preceding In- 
 scription, and the fifth line of No. II. to be erazed, 
 observing, that such papistical sentiments were unfit 
 to remain in a protectant church. We think that has 
 relates to something in the first line, and kujus to 
 the second line. The first word after XXXIII in the 
 fourth line wc could make nothing of but rit. The 
 next /f'-'W, signifies something to be done. Stfa, a©3" 
 
5 
 
 wers for his, hers, theirs, its, and the last word, seittis* 
 tura, we could make nothing of, we rather think, 
 that we have mistaken some of the letters. Upon the 
 whole, we think that this Inscription points out the 
 date, when some building or rspairs were made upon 
 the Monastery. 
 
 II. On the front of the corner house of 
 J^awn and Inkle streets. 
 
 $at calltt £c afooot geotgc of gcfmto 
 3Li out aftimp gatt make jug toato 
 3Ln tfjouisanue fourc fjuntiret!) i§zt x 
 C-tgljtp ana foure tfjc tiate cut toctr 
 Pray for his salvacioun, 
 $3 at mtttte tTjus ttofotl funuactomu ' 
 
 Mr. Semple in his history of Rentrew-shlrc, says, 
 " The large stone which has George Shaw, abbot of 
 Paisley's Inscription on it, as mentioned by Mr. 
 Crawfurd, is placed in front of the north-most. house 
 on the east side of Lawn street, being a lintel to the 
 front door. This stone is reserved in such a manner, 
 that neither the Earl of Abercorn can take away the 
 stone from said house, nor can the proprietor use the 
 stone any other wav than in the front of the house. 
 However, some person, or persons, for self ends, has 
 defaced the fifth line of that so, viz. Pray for his sal ca- 
 cioun, that it is not now legible. Iam informed, the 
 line was razed out between the years 1710 and 17351" 
 An incorrect copy of the last Inscription is in the His- 
 tory of the Shire of Renfrew. 
 
 III. A little south from the east door, inside 
 of the Abbey Church. 
 
 Die met 3i*cuu: craufttrU uCtuUr L mct ' q. oliit rr 
 A. D. Mo. recce. JBouagro* ^* c< £^" tc P» aia * 
 
 " Translation. 
 Here lies James Crawfurd of Kilbirnic who died 
 the 20th — in the year of our Lord 1499. Pr&y ye for 
 
 On the centre are a sword, flag, Sit. 
 
6 
 
 ^ IV. On the south wall, inside of the Abbey 
 
 Church. 
 
 aiHtam ]'^vv\c decessit fir^t of Sum 
 pr ?etr of CTTot* #5o, WLu an* ir ?etr*. flDrarc 
 
 A part of this Inscription reads backward. 
 V. Oil the north wall, inside of th Abbey 
 C .iurch, nearly behind the pulpit. 
 Heir ///is Thomas Xngtfs Bail/e of Paslay qvha 
 
 decessit ye 15 of Aug sone to David 1559 
 
 Thomas Inglis sone to I hone for ye tyme 
 
 anti IssabelMvir Spovs And a coat of arms 
 
 in the centre. In the above Inscription, Old 
 English and Roman characters are mixed. 
 
 Vi ; On the east walL inside of the Abbey 
 Cnurch,^a little north from the east door. 
 
 Dm ane kdnorabill man catptane tooert 
 rraufurn frranter offaifegf* &z$nltyt of 3fame$ 
 €xmfnx% of sietiti gpt. Hereto fourt of funi 
 iz iitt cif crotJ 1575. 
 
 And round his coat of arms, which are in 
 the centre, there is something like the follow- 
 ing Inscription, but it is so much defaced, that 
 we could not make it out properly. 
 
 qulja nciur rajsefctt fwnorie, of ita mart antj 
 
 \yz$ ma to £o mmy tfjmtirg 
 VII. Further north, on the same side of the 
 Church., as you go up the north-east stair. 
 
 £ctr Iftjsj one TjonoraetH man Jantfi &ttf>a?i of 
 GarSOTiato stem tgwe capnanc of ge C art* of ©rot=-- 
 latta in franco qjtija timsstt gc XV Bag of Sfattiai: 
 ano. fcm. 1,384. 
 
 And round his coat of arms, whkh are in the 
 centre. 
 
 C i.ora % comcntj. mp gafcl info vl tjaufc.s oft. 
 
VIII. On the front of a house in the School 
 Wynd, which was formerly occupied as a 
 Grammar School. 
 
 " The Gramar. Scvil. 15867' and the Pais- 
 ley coat of arms. On the left side of the arms 
 is an £>, for Opidttm, and on the right hand 
 side is a p, for Pasleti. Ahove is cut in tin- 
 stone, " Disce puer aut abi* 1753." 
 
 IX. In the Earl of Abercorn's burying 
 place, or Sounding Aisle. 
 
 D. O. M. 
 
 Pice infantum Margaretce, Henrici, el Jt'c.v- 
 andri HamillouiorunK memorice ; Claudius Ila- 
 millonius Pasleli domwus, et Margarcto Scion 
 ejus uxor, proli charissime — Cum lachr. pass, 
 ohierc, Margareta An. Sal. 1577: X /calm. 
 Jan. Nata mensis tres, dies XXII Henrici 1585 
 Id Mar. Natus menses tres dies duos — Allejcan- 
 der ****** Kal. Decemb. 
 Natus menses octo dies tres. 
 
 Felices anima vobis suprema parentes 
 Solvunt vos illis solve * qucc decuit- 
 
 Translation. 
 
 God is the governor of the universe. 
 
 In memory of the infants, pious Margaret, 
 Henry and Alexander Hamiltons; the tfcosl 
 xlearly beloved children of Claud Hamilton ; 
 lord Paisley, and Margaret Seton his wife. 
 They died much lamented, Margaret, the c 23d 
 of December, in the year of our Saviour 1576, 
 aged three months and twenty two days; Hen- 
 ry the 15th of March, 1585, aged 'three months 
 and two days; Alexander, November * * * 
 aged eight months and three days. 
 
< 1 
 
 Blessed souls, to your death this is devoted 
 He that hath taken you, hath done what be' 
 seemeth him. 
 
 This last Inscription was published in Semple's His- 
 lory of Renfrew-shire; but as the translation was 
 thought incorrect, it was judged proper to insert it 
 here. 
 
 On the south outside of Elderslie garden 
 wall, near the east end of the garden, is a stone 
 with the following Inscription. 
 
 W 
 
 WW 
 
 RIST IS ONLIE 
 M V REDEMER* 
 
 A part of one of the corners of the stone is broken 
 off, which probably contained a W. By the lorm of 
 the letters on the stone we cannot allow it to be any 
 older than the latter half of the sixteenth century, 
 w-hen a William Wallace, a relation of,the brave 
 Sir William Wallace, was proprietor of Elderslie. 
 
 XI. On the outside wall of the Abbey 
 Church, near the east door. . 
 
 Misericordia et Pax. 
 Translation. — Mercy and Pe Pee. 
 
 XII. Nearly opposite, on th? v. '•, 
 Heir lyis Waltir Ros in K li i - . 
 
 XIII. In the Abbey Church yara. 
 
 Heir lyis lohne Alexander Bvrges of Paislav 
 and Bessie Carswall his spovs. 
 
9 
 
 XIV. In the Abbey Church yard. 
 Heir lyis ane honest man calht Willia:u 
 Cochrane in Schergen Lav of Fvlbar Mvir, 
 
 1611. 
 
 XV. On one part of the front wall of the 
 little steeple was this Inscription. 
 Qvha gives the pvir to God he lends, 
 And God agane mair grace him sends. 
 And on another part of it was this Inscription. 
 He that hes pitie on ye pvir 
 Of grace and mercie sal be svir. 
 XVI In the Abbey Church yard. 
 Heir lyis ane honest man callit Thomas Piter 
 Bailzie of Paslay, qvha deceissit ye 10 of Nov. 
 Anno 1609 and Ionet Vrie his spovs & Iohne 
 Piter thair sone & Margaret Craig his spovs 
 qvha deceissit ye 30 of Octob. Anno 1617. 
 XVII. In the Quire of the Abbey Church. 
 Heir lyes a faithfvll sister Marion Montgo- 
 merie, spovs to vmqll. Patrik" Peblis of Brvme- 
 lands Provest of Irveine, & mother in law tw 
 Thomas Inglis of Corsnet Baillie of Paislay, 
 qvha deceissit 28 Ian. 17'20 yeiris. 
 
 XVIII. On the back part of Cochran of 
 Craigmuir's house, Paisley, being the first 
 land\vest from the corner house, head of New 
 street; now the property of Mr. J. Thomson. 
 
 " Gcd is ye fovndcrofal good works/' 
 A little higher up the wall is an Mand S sculp- 
 tured nito each ottier, also an M. A. V. sculp- 
 tured into each other. 
 
 XIX. In the Abbey Church yard. 
 Heir lyis ane failhfwl brother, called Wiiliamc 
 Algeo, bvrges of Paislay, & Cirstiu Keibill 
 his spovs cvha deceisit ye zeir of God 1621, 
 
30 
 
 XX. This, and the next four are in the Quin 
 Heir lyis ane faithfvll brother Then:. . lo- 
 gins of Corsflat qvha deeisst the 27 of Mav 
 1625 Etatis sve 78. y 
 
 XXI. Here lyeth ane faithful brother call 
 ed Iobne Hutehesone Baiffi, of Paislay who 
 deceassed the 22 of Februar 1625. 
 
 XXII. Heir lyeth Robert Henderson and 
 Magdalen Hovstovne 1629. Thomas Hender- 
 son and Malie Cochrane, 
 
 XXIII. Heir lyis a Right Worthie Gentel 
 Man, Allan Lochart of Hindschelvod leat 
 Bade cf Paslay qvha deceisit the 10 of Apryl 
 Ano,. 16S5 Etat. 42. I have fovght a goodfight 
 and hmshedrny covrsc I have keped the fayth 
 2 Tim. 4. 7. 
 
 XXIV. Heir lyis Ionete Delop spovs to 
 David Maxwal, Merchand, Bvrges of Paislay 
 qvha decesed 1643. ' 
 
 XXV. Near the centre of the Abbey Church 
 yard, a stone stands on its end, about two feet 
 high, the east side of it contains a considerable 
 Inscription ; but it was very much filled up 
 with moss: however, we made out that it had 
 been the burying place of " George Matthie 
 Taylzovr." The west side contains, the date 
 1704, G. M. and his coat of arms, in bass re- 
 lief: which consists of a large pair of shears, 
 with their blades turned toward the top of the 
 stone, and half open, in the act of clipping a 
 louse in two, which is also cut out of the solid 
 stone, in bass relief, between the blades of tin 
 shears, with its face and breast turned toward 
 the spectators. Under the handles of the sh< ars 
 is a Tailor's Goose. 
 
11 
 
 The dealings of the Presbytery of Paisley tvith 
 the Guidwifc of Ferguslie. In 164#-1647« 
 Extracted jrjm the records of the Presbytery,, 
 
 June, 8th 164-3. The Guidwifc of Ferguslie 
 having been repeatedly summoned for not at- 
 tending worship in her Parish Church of Pais- 
 ley, and her husband reporting that she could 
 not for want of health ; the Presbytery ordain 
 the minister to go to Ferguslie, and in presence 
 of the Guidwife read and expound the Scrip- 
 tures, and sing psalms. He reports his having 
 done so ; they appoint him to examine iier up- 
 on oath, whither it be inability of booty or 
 scruples of conscience which prevent her at- 
 tendance. 
 
 June 22<-/. Report that he examined the 
 Guidwife on oath, who depones, that she was 
 for the present unable to come to Paisley, but 
 wad come if she was able : the Presbytery stop 
 procedure. 
 
 March, 27th 1646. The Guidwife of Fer- 
 gnslie, after being long dealt with, at last swears 
 and subscribes the Confession of Faith and Co- 
 venants, and renounces Popery, before the 
 two ministers of Paisley and the elders at Black- 
 stone. 
 
 June, 25th. The Guidwife again dilated 
 for not coming to church. She alledgcs inabi- 
 lity of body, ordered to produce a testimonial 
 from a Physician. 
 
 July, 30th. A testimonial produced; the 
 Presbytery find it satisfies their act: appoint the 
 ministers of Paisley to deal with her husband to 
 to provide ane chamber in Paisley for his wife, 
 
t 
 
 Iff 
 
 r 
 
 I 
 
 12 
 
 that_ she may reside there for her more easy 
 coming to the kirk. 
 
 Sept. M. Her husband declares that she 
 cannot be removed at all: ordered to brino- her 
 to Paisley that the ministers may have opportu- 
 nity of frequent converse with her, or to brincr 
 a testimonial that she cannot be removed. 
 
 Sept. 2VJi. He reports that he had not an 
 opportunity to see the Physician: the Presby- 
 try advise him before next meeting to bring his 
 wife from Blackstone, either bv land or water, 
 to Paisley,, to hear the word, and have confer- 
 ences with the ministers. 
 
 Dec. 17 th. She is advertised to come and 
 reside at Paisley between and February next. 
 
 . Apnk id 1647 Order her to be publickly 
 admonished for not coming to reside at Paisley 
 as the Presbytery had appointed. 
 
 April, 22d. Two members report that they* 
 had gone and visited the Guidwife of Ferguslie, 
 and had seen her infirm; and she still pretended 
 inability, they had gotten her promise to come 
 to the kirk of Paisley within 20 days; to give 
 content and satisfaction in that p.oint', albeit she 
 should be carried on her bed. 
 
 May, St/i. Mr. Henry Calvert * minister of 
 Paisley reports, that Margaret Hamilton. 
 Guidwife of Ferguslie, had come to the kirk of 
 Paisley carried on a bed. 
 
 * In the Acts of the Genera! Assemblv for 164&, 
 he is caaeci, " Henry Cohvart Miniver atPaislcv." 
 
 Printed h; Andrew r« ung^ at (he Cross.