nearness of the world unseen, _such as through God's mercy has never left me_."[28] And with this fragment of spiritual history our local record comes to a close. If the parish of Glendevon, nestling, like Burns' Peggy, "where braving angry winter's storm the lofty Ochils rise," and its clear winding river, occupy but a lowly place in Scottish story, they have something better even than archaeological treasures and stirring memories--the abiding presence of that spirit of beauty, which is above all change, and which ever haunts "The green valleys Where Devon, sweet Devon, meandering flows." [1] Much of the legendary history of the Devon is given in the extraordinary poem "Glenochel," by Mr James Kennedy. [2] See _Registrum Monasterii S. Marie De Cambuskenneth_, A.D. 1147-1535. Edinburgi: 1872; p. 122. [3] _History of the Reformation_, Vol. I., p. 233. [4] The parish was served by readers from 1568 to 1586, when the reader Symon Pawtoun was presented to the living, and, curiously enough, his successor, A. Marschell, after being minister for a year, was forced by the Presbytery to accept the lower position. [5] See _The Darker Superstitions of Scotland_. By John Graham Dalyell. Glasgow: 1835; p. 579. [6] Mr Wood Martin in his learned work, _Pagan Ireland_ (London: 1895); describes similar usages still prevailing in Ireland. [7] _Dalyell_, p. 671. [8] _History of the Rebellions in Scotland_. By Robert Chambers. Vol. II., p. 87. [9] _Statistical Account of 1794_, p. 234. [10] _Memoirs of the Marquis of Montrose_. By M. Napier. Vol. II., p. 537. [11] He was schoolmaster at Abernethy, and subsequently married the daughter of the parish minister. She died in 1708 at the age of 80. [12] See _Register of the Diocesan Synod of Dunblane_. Edited by John Wilson, D.D. Edinburgh: 1877; page 91. Before the passing of the Act of 1810 for augmenting parochial stipends in Scotland, the stipend was L21 17s 11d, the smallest in Scotland. 50 Geo. III., cap. 84. [13] _Diocesan Register_, p. 251. [14] _Diocesan Register_, p. 150. [15] _Historical Selections_. _From the MSS. of Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall_. Vol. I., p. 138. [16] Wodrow's _History of The Sufferings of The Church of Scotland_. II., p. 386. [17] Wodrow II., p. 386. [18] Graham Dunlop MSS., quoted in Story's _Carstares_, p. 80. [19] See Fountainhall, p. 138. [20] Story's _Carstares_, p. 82. [21] History, II., p. 531. [22] Fountainhall, p. 164. [23] That his spirit was in no way cowed is obvious from the report of what he said and did when he was brought before the Privy Council and informed that "Argile was tane," and urged to tell everything. "He laugh't at them, and with a very obstinate and unbelieving carriage said--'If ye have the principall, what neids ye ask these questions at me.'"--Fountainhall, p. 187. [24] _Fasti Ecclesia Scoticanae_. By Hew Scott, D.D. Vol. II., pp. 766-768.