ADDITIONAL NOTE TO BOOK FIFTH.
Wpon the morn to the Gilbank he went;—
For his deyr eyme, yong Auchinlek, duelt thar,
Brothyr he was to the schirreff off Ayr.—V. 467.
It bears the name of Gilbanke in Edit. 1594 and 1648. In the Sixth Book, v. 226, the same person is designed Awchinlek off Gilbank.
Macpherson mentions Gilbank, in his Geographical Illustrations, referring to Blind Harry; but he marks it as a place “the exact position” of which “is not known.”
But there is a property, distant only about half a mile from the Fall of Stonebyres, below Lanark, which still bears the name of Gillbank, as it is designed in Forrest’s Map of Lanarkshire. There is another place called Gill, belonging to Lockhart of Lee, on the north side of the Mouse, opposite to Jerviswood, about half a mile above Cartlane Craigs. Here are the remains of a very old castle, the walls of which are very thick. It is seated on a promontory betwixt two gullies. It has been suggested, that this might be the place referred to, as there are no vestiges of ancient building at Gillbank. But the claim undoubtedly belongs to the latter; as it not only retains the name, but in our old deeds, although with a change of orthography, is conjoined with a place called Auchinleck.—Terrae de Stanebyres, Auchinlek, Greinrig, Teathes, et Kilbank. Inquis. Retornat. Com. Lanark, (149,) A. 1625. It is given as the property of the Marquis of Hamilton. The same places are mentioned, with the addition of Over Auchinlek, ibid. (239.)
This place had been honoured to be the head-quarters of our hero, while he resided in this part of the country, at least before his open attacks on the English. For it is said;
In Laynrik oft till sport he maid repair.
Quhan that he went fra Gilbank to the toune,
And he fand men that was off that falss nacioune,
To Scotland thai dyde neuir grewance mar.—B. V. v. 567.
“Yong Auchinlek” could be eyme or uncle to Wallace, only on the supposition that his father had married Wallace’s maternal grandmother, the widow of Sir Reginald (or Hugh) Crauford. His chief property was in Ayrshire. The heirs male failing, James IV. gave the lands of Auchinleck to a younger son of Boswell of Balmuto. Thus the family of Boswell of Auchinleck is lineally descended from Auchinleck of that ilk. V. Nisbet, I. 60.
So late as the year 1617, there was a gentleman of this name who held half of the property of Tweedie, in the barony of Stonehouse, distant only a few miles from Gillbank.—Jacobus Auchinleck, haeres Jacobi Auchinleck de Twedie, avi,—in baronia de Stanchous. Inquis. ut sup. (117.) It is probable, from the vicinity, Stonehouse being only about six miles from Gillbank, that he might be a descendant from that Auchinleck who is celebrated by the Minstrel. Gillbank is now the property of a gentleman of the name of Thomson.