An Hiftorical and Genealogical Account of the Α' defcendent from Balfour. RCHIBALD BETHUNE of Pitlochy and Coppeldrie or Capeldray in Fife, fifth fon of John Bethune fifth laird of Balfour of that firname, by Marjory third daughter of David Bofwel of Balmuto, chief of the Bofwels, who was of the tenth generation of the family (1.), was prefent, according (1) Archibald to the chartulary of Glasgow, with Cardinal Be- Bethune, the 1st thune at Dumfries, November 27. 1539, when a John Bethune, folemn protestation was made against his exercising fifth laird of the facred fuction, as Archbishop of St Andrews, within the diocese of Glasgow. He is mentioned as a witness of this proteftation along with Hugh Lord Somerveile, and his coufin Robert Bethune of Creich. "Coram his teftibus, nobili et potenti Domino Hugoni Domino de Somerveile, Roberto Betoun de Creich, Archibaldo Betoun de Capeldra." The folemnity of the proteftation, the grandeur and pomp of his nephew the Cardinal, and the multiplicity of his preferments, appear abundantly from the following words: "Joannes Turner," who acted as Public Notary on the occafion,-" advenit ad perfonalem præfentiam Rmi. in Chrifto Patris, et Domini Domini David miferatione divina tituli Sti. Stephani in Colio monte, S. R. E. prefbyteri Cardinalis, Sanctæ Andreæ Archiepifcopi, totius regni Scotia Primatis, et Apoftolicæ fedis legati nati, necnon Mirapitenfis ecclefiæ in Gallia administratoris, ac commendatarii perpetui monafterii de Aberbrothock." He An Hiftorical and Genealogical (L) Beter Bethune defcend He had a fon called Peter (1.), who being a fa ent of John 5th mous phyfician, was called to Argylefhire to pracJaird of Balfour. tife his kill there, and from thence received an invitation to the Ifle of Sky from the lairds of McDonald and McLeod. The Doctor, upon condition to fettle in the country, was promised as much land as he inclined to poffefs, rent free; but neither he, nor any of his pofterity, could get lands to purchafe heritably, nor to wadfet or be impignorated. The lairds give to their fons, except the heirs, only money for their patrimony, and a tack or leafe of fome of the beft poffeffions for rent, allowing in the payment of it the intereft of their money. It was alfo promised on the Doctor's fide, that one of his pofterity, particularly the eldest fon of the family, if he had a turn for it, fhould be educated as a physician, without any expence to him or his fucceffors, whilft any of them continued in that country and inclined to the study of phyfic or medicine. By these encouragements, he was prevailed (2) Manufcript on to take up his refidence in Sky (2.), which is Hiftory of the far from being a difagreeable place. It extends Inland of Sky. 42 miles in length, and from 20 to 4 in breadth. It is fruitful both in cattle and victual, and abounds with the best fishes of all kinds. Bethunes of the Whether he was Pitlochy's eldest fon, or not, is uncertain. He married a daughter of M'Donald laird of Moydart, captain of Clanronald, defcended of Reginald, fon of John Lord of the Ifles, who was of the feventh generation of the family. This Reginald, got from his father a confiderable eftate, in which the lands of Moydart were included, which was confirmed to him by a charter under the Great Seal," apud Arnelle, primo die Januarii 1370." (3.) There is nothing kept in record of the marriages of his pofterity for fome generations, and though, doubtlefs, (3.) Douglas's Peerage, page 360. Account of the BETHUNES, &c. S doubtless, they had daughters, yet there is no mention made of them. This Peter had a fon, Angus, Doctor of Medicine, (1.) (1.) Angus Bethune, 3d de John Bethune He was a prudent man and of good esteem in the fcendent from country, and tho' the M'Donalds and M'Leods, 5th laird of Balthe most powerful clans in that country, were often at variance, yet he was loved and much careffed by both fides. four. He had two fons, Ferquhard fenior, and Ferquhard junior. The latter profeffed Medecine, He was of a frank and chearful temper, and much loved and careffed by all, particularly his patients. He died. a young man unmarried, and the way and manner of his death was this: He had been fent for by the Earl of Sutherland, to attend his Countess in a dangerous illness. When he was returning home in a ten oared boat, after fhe was recovered, it happened to land in an island, which was not inhabited. Here the Doctor and his crew, propofed to stay a little and refresh themselves; but alas! the boat being not well fastned to the fhore, went off with their provisions aboard, and twenty days thereafter came into Dunrobin the Earl's feat, whole and entire. The Earl immediately fent out some able hands in queft of them; but before they could poffibly reach the ifland, all of them had died for want of food; and they found the Doctor lying on his breaft within an old chapel, with a book under his face, in which he had wrote (2) Manufcript an account of their dreadful difafter (2). History of the Bethunes of the (3.) Virg. Æn. lib. ii. lin. 6 et 7. a (4.) Ferquhard 4th, defcendent from John 5th He laird of Balfour. -Quis talia fando, Temperet a lacrymis? (3). His elder brother Ferquhard fenior (4), was grave judicious man, and of good skill in phyfic. 6 An Hiftorical and Genealogical He was faid to have the gravity of the Divine, as well as fkill of the Physician. defcendent from four. He had a fon called Angus, who likeways appeared as Doctor of Medicine. He was the fe(1.) The 2d cond Doctor Angus of the family (1). He got a Dr Angus, 5th liberal education, and wrote a fyftem of phyfic, John Bethune, entitled, The Lilly of Medicine, which he finished sth laird of Bal- at the foot of Montpelier, after he had studied phyfic twenty-eight years. The fyftem is yet extant in manufcript, and contains many curious difcoveries concerning the nature of diseases, and their cures. It is in the Irish character, and abounds with contractions. He defigned it wholly for the use of the Highlands. However it feems of no use in the prefent age. None of his pofterity fince the death of Mr John Bethune Minister of Braccadale, is able to read it. Nor could he indeed, without the aid of one from Ireland, who knew well the Irish character, and the contractions (2.) Manufcript belonging to it (2). History of the Bethunes of the Iland of Sky. This fecond Doctor Angus, the fifth defcendent in a male-line from John Bethune fifth laird of Balfour, and Marjory third daughter of David Bofwel of Balmuto, had fix fons. Ferquhard, John, Angus called the Strong, Ewan or Eugene, Neil, and Angus called the fair, all handfome stately men, more inclined to the military than to the gown, or the ftudy of phyfic, which none of them could be prevailed upon to pursue. And this the M'Donalds, and M'Leods took much amifs; they upbraided them as degenerated from their forefathers, particularly Doctor Peter their first predeceffor in that country, who, though, as they said he had an estate of his own in the fouth, yet for the good of mankind, efpecially the inha bitants |