coffin, containing two coarse earthenware urns. One
of these held burnt bones, and the other the bones of a head, having
the lower jaw-bone and teeth in marvellous preservation. In the stone
coffin was also found a stone hatchet about four inches long, bluish
coloured, and of triangular shape, which evidently belonged to an age
before iron was in use here. It is well known that the Romans had
camps at Ardoch, Strageath, and Dalginross. Evidences of their
presence in Monzievaird might, therefore, be expected, and they are not
awanting. A Roman burial-ground of some extent, full of large slabs of
stone, lies northeast of Clathick (hence perhaps the name), and is in a
line between the camp at Dalginross--a circular burial-place near
Victoria--and the Roman station on the Brae of Callander. In 1783
there was found in the plain of Monzievaird a bronze vessel resembling
a coffee-pot, and in 1805 the bronze head of a spear was found in
Ochtertyre Loch. In 1808 similar spear heads were found near the
church, erected in 1804, which now serves the united parishes. These
relics are pronounced by the best antiquarians to be undoubtedly Roman.

We now proceed to notice the first written account which history gives
of Monzievaird. If there be any truth in the old chroniclers, a battle
was fought here, and, after a long civil war, a contested succession to
the Crown was settled by the slaughter of the reigning sovereign of
Alban, a usurper who passes over the stage of history under the various
names of "Gryme," "Girgh Mackinat Macduff," and reigned eight years.
It may be worth while to give several references. John of Fordun's
chronicle tells how Malcolm, son of Kenneth, strengthened by the favour
of the people, and at the instigation of some of his chiefs, sent a
message to the King, giving him the alternatives of either vacating the
throne, or that they two should submit their cause to the just verdict
of God by fighting, either man to man or accompanied by their warrior
hosts. Gryme was very indignant at this defiance, while Malcolm, on
the other hand, boldly advanced to meet him with a small but picked
band, and reached a field called Auchnabard (the field of the bards),
styled "a meet place for a battle." Here the two armies fought out a
cruel engagement, till at length the King was mortally wounded, and,
being led out of the battle by his men, died the same night. Thus
Malcolm gained the victory and the kingdom. Th