Thomas Newcomen Archibald Grove

“ BOYD, WILLIAM, fourth Earl of Kilmarnock (1704–1746) , belonged to a family which derives its descent from Simon, third son of Alan, lord high chancellor of Scotland, and brother of Walter, the first high steward of Scotland. Simon's grandson Robert was awarded a grant of lands in Cunninghame by Alexander III, as a reward for his bravery at the battle of Largs, 1263. ”

“ His family were staunch supporters of the Lancastrian cause. His brother, William, was slain at the battle of Bosworth gallantly defending the standard of Henry VII. A contemporary manuscript speaks of Sir Thomas as having 'greatly favoured and followed the party of Henry, earl of Richmond.' He married Anne, daughter of John Fiennes, Lord Dacre, and widow of the Marquis of Berkeley. ”

“ A large share of Sir William's attention while ambassador at the Hague was taken up with the religious controversy at that time raging between the Gomarists and the 'remonstrants.' In this matter, for political reasons, he adopted the policy of Sir Dudley Carleton, and supported Prince Maurice and the Gomarists against Barneveldt and the 'remonstrants,' who advocated the more liberal doctrines of Arminius. ”

“ When he finally joined the rebels he was received by Prince Charles with great marks of distinction and esteem, and was made by him a privy councillor, colonel of the guards, and subsequently general. ”

“ John Pits, a contemporary of his, speaks of him as being 'most diligent in gathering fruit into the granary of Christ,' and the same writer, alluding to his literary acquirements, says that he was 'no less familiar with literature than learned in Greek and Hebrew.' Dodd, writing of him a century later, says 'he was in great esteem among his brethren, an assistant to the archpriest, a canon of the chapter, and vicar-general to Dr. ”

“ M'Kay's History of Kilmarnock, 1864; Doran's London in the Jacobite Times, 1871 ; Moore's Compleat Account of the Lives of the two Rebel Lords, 1746; Ford's Life of William Boyd, Earl of Kilmarnock, 1746; Foster's Account of the Behaviour of William Boyd, Earl of Kilmarnock, 1746; Observations and Eemarks on the two Accounts lately published by J. Ford and J. Foster, 1746; Gent. Mag. xvi.; Scots Mag. viii. ; Howell's State Trials, xviii. ”

“ As a writer he was dull, painstaking, laborious, inaccurate, and credulous to a degree rare even for the age in which he lived. Among his principal works are: 1. 'A New Manual of Old Catholic Meditations,' 1617. 2. 'The Judgment of the Apostles,' Douay, 1632, dedicated to Queen Marie, wife of Charles I. These two works are published under the initials 'R. B.' The letter elicited an indignant pamphlet from one 'P. H.,' entitled 'A Detection or Discovery of a Notable Fraud committed by R. B., a Seminarie Priest,' in which Broughton's manner of treating Nos. ”

“ He was licensed by the presbytery of Stirling in 1791, was presented to the parish of Eskdalemuir by the Duke of Buccleuch in 1792, and fulfilled there the duties of minister for forty-three ears, ln 1797 he married Margaret Moffat, by whom he had three children. ”