OS1/3/20/129

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 129

Court Hill, from page 220 "In the vicinity of the town is an ancient mound called the
Court Hill. It is of a conical form , and is covered with the finest verdure. These mounds appear
to have been the places for dispensing justice. A Stone, which tradition asserts to have supported the
gallows, formerly stood a little east of the moat. A few years ago an attempt was made to level this interesting
Monument of antiquity, in order to fill up some hollows in the field where it is situated, but the hill proving
to have been formed of rubbish, the design was abandoned, not, however till its appearance was greatly
disfigured." New 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. 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, especially in the highlands. As
to the appellation of brehon, that is probably owing to their sitting on hills; for as bie or bre, in
the Gaelic signifies a hill. Brehon I take to import the Sitter on a hill"
Maitland's History of Scotland. page 167.