FKOM THE EAKLIEST TIMES. li) 



days charge and constitutes thair^** &c. In 



witness yroff writtnd. by Alexr. Paterson, writer in Stranraer. 

 Baitli pties have subs, the said ii day yeir and place forsd. 



before these witnesses — viz. Hew Cathcart son to ye Laird of 

 Cairltoune; James Kennedy ^^ and the said Alexr 



Paterson. 



"Andrew A-jiuew.'^^ 



" A. Paterson, witness. 



" Hew Cathcart, loifness. 



" James Kennedy, witness." 



Forfm'sliire Lease, 1696. 



" I David Lyndesay of Edzell binds and oblidges me my airs 

 exrs. and successors of cfhomever, that John Low and James 

 Low, in Mickl TuUo, shall peaceablie possess and bruick their 

 possession ther, for the space of five years next to com, they 

 alwayes paying ther yearlie duties mys as formerlie used and 

 wonted ; in witt, I have subscrived this my obligation at Edzell 

 the sixt of Junn j.m.vi^ nyntie six years. — I). Lyndesay." 



" Notta that within ther taks jlk on of them are to pay a 

 wedder sheep." ^* 



Stiggestccl Alteration in Lease Clauses and the Lain affecting them. 



In the year following the last example, Dallas published his 

 " Styles," and although they formed the groundwork of modern 

 practice, yet it is readily seen that, especially regarding the 

 many improvements and introductions which followed, they 

 are necessarily incomplete. The limits of this report will not 

 allow an analysis of all the usual clauses of the modern lease, or 

 a lengthened reference to those restrictions which are found in 

 an increasing proportion of them. The prohilution of the tenant 

 from keeping a dog or gun, the forcing him to put away a 

 servant even without reason being assigned, the power to resume 

 cottages on demand, the irritation of the lease for non-residence, 

 shooting wild-fowl, or the slightest deviation from a prescribed 

 rotation, and many of similar import, are well known to the 

 writer, and require little comment. One thing, however, must 

 be said, that in the willing signature of such oppressive and 



1" Word differing, however, from ''. " Same word as '". 



^- Evidently the profession or residence, but not able to be deciphered. 



^^ Five short words following the signature of Sir Andrew, in which the mOn. 

 (French) is distinct. 



Considerable time and labour have by the agent of the present ow^^e^ (Sir A. 

 Agnew) and the writer been spent on the inteqiretation ; as, although the Aviiting 

 is well executed, the form of the letters and the contractions are very diti'erent 

 from those now in use. 



" Extracted from "Highland Society's Transactions," 4th series, vol. v., 

 p. 298. 



