180 FIELD MEETINGS. 
guilloch combined with the small shafts and corbels so common 
in Scottish architecture at that time. This is probably the most 
striking example of the adherence to the old keep plan, so re- 
markable in Scotland, while its external appearance is so entirely 
altered by the multiplicity of the turrets and ornaments piled up 
upon it as almost completely to conceal its origin.’’ 
The fireplaces both of the first and seccnd floor are flanked 
by pillars of Norman style, and of a character too ornamental 
to support the idea that the first floor formed servants’ quarters. 
The estate of Amisfield was in possession of the Charteris 
family from the twelfth century until quite recent times. It was 
sold by George Charteris, who died in 1861, to John Irving, a 
planter in Jamaica, and has since passed through several hands. 
The family has long also been established in the east of Scotland, 
and is now represented in the female line by the Earl of Wemyss, 
whose family name is Charteris Douglas, and whose seat near 
Haddington is named after the Dumfriesshire property Amisfield 
House. A Charteris of Amisfield was witness to a grant of lands 
in Annandale made to Robert the Bruce by William the Lion in 
1165. In 1298 a successor, Andrew Charteris, after having 
sworn fealty to King Edward, became suspect, and his “ Castle 
of Amisfield and land of Drumgrey ”’ were gifted by Longshanks 
to the Earl of Warwick, and landed estate in England belonging 
to him was also forfeited. It was not a long alienation, however, 
as he made his peace with the English King in 1304; and he 
managed to keep his estates notwithstanding that he joined Bruce 
in the enterprise inaugurated at Dumfries less than two years 
later. It was a family prominent in Border wars. The head of 
the house fought for James III. at Sauchieburn, and incurred 
another forfeiture, which, however, was annulled. The Sir John 
whose marriage stone is set in the front of the tower was 
associated with his father-in-law that was to be (Lord Herries) in 
a royal commission to establish order on the Borders after the 
clan battle of Dryfesands, in 1593. A Charteris of Amisfield 
frequently sat in the Scotch Parliaments of the seventeenth 
century, and Sir John was associated with Grier of Lagg in the 
persecution of the Covenanters. We don’t know whether it is to 
that period that the origin of the family ghost is referable. It 
takes in legend the form of a headless lady dressed in white ; 
