OS1/3/12/53

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 53

[Continued from page 52]
Court Hill Continued "On the lands of Hill of Beith, there is one of those Moothills on which our Ancestors received
"there reward of their judges. We have good evidence of such places being used as the seat
"of legislation as well as judicature, but when the custom ceased, it is difficult to say, for like many other customs, it
"disappeared gradually, and the change is not noticed by historians. The Moothill of Beith being in a barony belonging
"to the church, is of course the place of judgement from which the Abbot of Kilwinning administered justice to his
"Vassals and tenants. The hill itself is smaller than others in the district. There is a finer specimen at the
"town of Dalry, which is still denominated the Court Hill." New Stat. Acct. [Statistical Account]

" We had no written laws before the reign of Malcolm Canmore, who was proclaimed King in the year
"1057. Before this period our Kings as judges, sat on little Mounts, and heard and decided controversies; for
"which reason the place was commonly called the Mute Hill. An eminence of that denomination is still
"at Scone in the neighbourhood of Perth. Besides the King there were other judges, called brehons,
"who at certain times or terms, sat on such little artificial green hillocks, or mounts, each named
"tome-moid that is the Court hillock, many of which, being still remaining in Scotland."
Maitland's Hist. [History] of Scotland
Page 167