by road or by rail would, when midway between
Crieff and Methven, dream that the bare, solitary column he sees in the
valley below could prove other than the gable-end of a disused barn?
Nay, did he approach and pass the remnant itself, he would probably
wonder to learn that the gloomy, forsaken pile alone marks a spot once
the centre of much holy rigour, educational zeal, and industrial
activity; that thence sallied forth, six hundred years ago, the monk
patriot, with whom the Scottish warriors knelt to pray upon the field
before engaging in the memorable conflict whose issue achieved for them
their country's independence. A ragged wall, an arched chamber, several
solid heaps of fallen mason-work are all that remain of Inchaffray Abbey.

Perthshire owes largely to the ancient Earldom of Strathearn. Little is
known concerning the line till Gilbert succeeded in 1171. Unlike his
immediate predecessors, he manifested no hostility to the inroad of
Norman and Saxon customs and usages. He was the first to adopt the wise
precaution of obtaining charters for his lands, and rivalled the most
ardent and obsequious followers of David I. in munificent gifts of these
to the Church. Although it would be hazardous to accept as altogether
faithful the statement of Fordun, the chronicler, that Earl Gilbert
apportioned his whole estates--which extended in length from Newburgh to
the west end of Balquhidder, and from the Ochils to the Grampians in
breadth--equally between the See of Dunblane, the Abbey of Inchaffray,
and himself with his heirs, we have yet sufficient reason to consider
that his liberality to ecclesiastical settlements was handsome. It
certainly reflects upon him high credit that, due to his pious devotion,
the family of Strathearn were the only Scottish subjects (excepting
possibly the Lords of Galloway) who established a bishopric and inherited
its patronage.

About 1189 the King made over to Gilbert the lands of Maderty with all
their feudal rights and privileges. In return, the Earl bound himself to
contribute half a knight's service, and to secure that no part of these
lands should ever be allowed to come again into the hands of their former
owner, Gilliecolm Marischall, or any of his heirs. This
Gilliecolm--elsewhere described as _arch-tyrannus et latronum
princeps_--had incurred his monarch's bitter displeasure by an act of
felony, having betrayed the sovereign Castle of Earn to his Majesty's
most mortal fo