OS1/34/50/18

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 18

[continued from page 19, re Newyearfield]
The more modern house of Livingstone was pulled down by the present proprietor the Earl of
Roseberry soon after his purchasing the principal part of the barony. About half a mile
north-east of its site is the farm house of New Year Field here within these sixty years stood
the remains of a square tower said to have been a hunting seat of the Kings of Scotland &
frequented by them while Linlithgow was their stated residence not only for amuse-
ment, but for the benevolent exercise of their prerogative of touching for the Scrofula
for which disease the water of a Spring-well adjoining was considered a specific
when applied by a royal hand upon the morning of New Year's Day before sunrise.
As no cures are recorded may not we conjecture that the real benefit was inducing
both monarch and subjects to practise early rising and morning ablutions though assuredly
the substituting Midsummer for New Year would seem to be an improvement on
the plan. New Stat. Acct. [Statistical Account] of Co. [County] Linlithgow, page 117-8

The site of the town or hunting Lodge refered to above cannot be pointed
out with any degree of accuracy.

Transcriber's notes

This page may be a continuation from the one following, page 19.