_Wpon the morn to the_ Gilbank _he went;_--
_For his deyr eyme, yong_ Auchinlek, _duelt thar,_
_Brothyr he was to the schirreff off Ayr._--V. 467.
It bears the name of _Gilbanke_ in Edit. 1594 and 1648. In the Sixth
Book, v. 226, the same person is designed _Awchinlek off Gilbank_.
Macpherson mentions Gilbank, in his Geographical Illustrations,
referring to Blind Harry; but he marks it as a place “the exact
position” of which “is not known.”
But there is a property, distant only about half a mile from the Fall
of Stonebyres, below Lanark, which still bears the name of _Gillbank_,
as it is designed in Forrest’s Map of Lanarkshire. There is another
place called _Gill_, belonging to Lockhart of Lee, on the north side
of the Mouse, opposite to Jerviswood, about half a mile above Cartlane
Craigs. Here are the remains of a very old castle, the walls of which
are very thick. It is seated on a promontory betwixt two gullies.
It has been suggested, that this might be the place referred to, as
there are no vestiges of ancient building at Gillbank. But the claim
undoubtedly belongs to the latter; as it not only retains the name, but
in our old deeds, although with a change of orthography, is conjoined
with a place called Auchinleck.--Terrae de Stanebyres, _Auchinlek_,
Greinrig, Teathes, et _Kilbank_. Inquis. Retornat. Com. Lanark, (149,)
A. 1625. It is given as the property of the Marquis of Hamilton. The
same places are mentioned, with the addition of _Over Auchinlek_, ibid.
(239.)
This place had been honoured to be the head-quarters of our hero,
while he resided in this part of the country, at least before his open
attacks on the English. For it is said;
In Laynrik oft till sport he maid repair.
_Quhan that he went fra Gilbank to the toune_,
And he fand men that was off that falss nacioune,
To Scotland thai dyde neuir grewance mar.--B. V. v. 567.
“Yong Auchinlek” could be _eyme_ or uncle to Wallace, only on the
supposition that his father had married Wallace’s maternal grandmother,
the widow of Sir Reginald (or Hugh) Crauford. His chief property was
in Ayrshire. The heirs male failing, James IV. gave the lands of
Auchinleck to a younger son of Boswell of Balmuto. Thus the family of
Boswell of Auchinleck is lineally descended from Auchinleck of that
ilk. V. Nisbet, I. 60.
So late as the year 1617, there was a gentleman of this name who
held half of the property of Tweedie, in the barony of Stonehouse,
distant only a few miles from Gillbank.--Jacobus Auchinleck, haeres
Jacobi Auchinleck de Twedie, avi,--in baronia de Stanchous. Inquis.
_ut sup._ (117.) It is probable, from the vicinity, Stonehouse being
only about six miles from Gillbank, that he might be a descendant from
that Auchinleck who is celebrated by the Minstrel. Gillbank is now the
property of a gentleman of the name of Thomson.