The Church of Kilmaurs, situated near the village of that name about two
and a half miles north-west from Kilmarnock, was formerly collegiate,
having a provost and six prebendaries. It has been rebuilt, and the
[Illustration: FIG. 1554.--The Glencairn Monument, Kilmaurs.]
burial aisle of the Earls of Glencairn, which no doubt was formerly
attached to it, now stands apart. The aisle was erected by the seventh
Earl in 1600, and contains the fine monument (Fig. 1554) of William,
ninth Earl, who was Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. He died in 1664,
and was buried in St. Giles’, Edinburgh.
The monument is of a classic design, somewhat resembling some others in
the south of Scotland, such as that of the Kennedies at Ballantrae and
M‘Lellan at Kirkcudbright,[240] having shafts at each side, and an
entablature crowned with a panel containing the family arms.
Within the frame formed by the pillars and entablature are half-length
figures of the Earl and his lady, with open books in front of them, and
a panel between which contained a long inscription, now illegible. A row
of small figures beneath doubtless represents the family of the
deceased.