Note 109 — ADVERTISEMENT.
Reading edition
In MS. G, "Balgone, Durie;" in MS. 1566, "Bawgane, Druye."—Supra page 7, Knox alluding to the ravages committed by the French on the coast of Fife, in the beginning of 1560, says, they did not spare even their own friends, the Lairds of Senfield, Wemyss, Balmuto, and Balweary. In reference to the statement in the text, Sir Ralph Sadler, in a letter dated 4th February 1559-60, says, "In Fife, all suche gentlemen as were of any power or creditt, that tooke ony parte with the Franches, as the Lorde of Wymes, the Lorde Bawerye, Syfeld, Bagonye, and other, have promised their fidelitie, and given pledgis never to stand against the Congregation. This hath bene the Lord James's action since the Franches cam their way." (State Papers, vol. i. p. 701.)
The persons mentioned by Knox, (using Lord for Laird,) I suppose, were, (1) Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss, the ancestor of Lord Wemyss; (2) George Moutray of Seafield, the ruins of whose castle or tower stands close upon the sea, to the west of Kinghorn; (3) Andrew or Robert Lundie or Lundin of Balgonie, in the parish of Markinch, a property that gives a second title of the Earl of Leven and Melville; and (4) David Durie of Durie, in the parish of Scoonie. This property was afterwards acquired by the father of the eminent lawyer, Sir John Gibson of Durie.