Transactions. 23 



granted a seisin, following upon the evidence of a precept also 

 granted in favour of Sir Thomas Maclellane of Bombie, who, as 

 we take it, was the builder of " Maclellane's House," in 1572, now 

 still familiar under its later designation of " The Castle of Kirk- 

 cudbright," containing a right in the grantee's favour of the 

 ecclesiastical lands known as the three mark land of old extent of 

 Barloquo (Barlocco, in the parish of Eerrick, that now is). The 

 spouse of this Sir Thomas was Marion Kennedy. 



The following document, which in all probability was, in the 

 original, drawn up at Dumfries, under the hand of King James 

 the Sixth himself, as the Privy Seal Records bears to have been 

 signed by his Majesty's own hand on the fourth day of April, 

 1587, only a couple of days after the commission of the slaughter 

 therein mentioned, refers to John Maxwell of Newlaw, in the 

 parish of Dundrennan. Sir John Maxwell of NewlaAv was a near 

 relation of Queen Mary's " John Lord Hereis," and figures 

 occasionally in the Records there as a well-known Provost of 

 Dumfries. As we also know, to unite the turbulent Borders of 

 both realms into an Utopian " Myddle Shyres of Great Britain " 

 was long, as a favourite scheme, the ardent desire of King- James 

 the Sixth, as Sovereign of both the realms of England and Scot- 

 land. We have not seen this document elsewhere noticed in the 

 history of the Maxwell family, who seem to have retained 

 Newlaw and Balmangan, in the parish of Rerrick and Stewartry 

 of Kirkcudbright, for some succeeding century or more, forming 

 marriage alliances with the Gordons of Rusco, the Maclellanes, 

 and others. 



Proclamatio7i against the Alurtherours of John Maxwell, i^Sy A.D. 

 Privy Seal Register. 



James, be the grace of God King of Scots, &c., Forsamekill as 

 umquhile John Maxwell of Newlaw, brother-german to our traist 

 Cousing and Counsailor William Lord Heries, being- a gentleman 

 ansuerabill in all good qualities to his said progenie and birth, bot 

 speciallie remarkit for the singular good zeal and affectioun quhilk 

 he buir allwayis to Our service, and for that cans standing richt 

 heichlie in Our favour, being for the special curre quhilk we reposit 

 in his subtilitie and treuth employet be us upon the second of this 

 instant, upon a special piece of service, accompanyeit with the 

 Lieutenant (Sir William Cranstoun) and others of Our Guards, 



