114 Transactions. 



generations in the consecutive hereditary occupation of the same 

 parcels of land, &c., as tenants of the abl^ey and barony. As the 

 document containing the recital of some of those facts and features 

 is here given for the first time, and is not without its own 

 characteristics, as mayhap even formulated at the dictation of King 

 James the Sixth himself, as it bears traces of his own peculiar 

 enunciation, we may make here some larger extracts. 



We may also explain that the Grierson barons called " of Lag " 

 were from, of oldest known time, the hereditary occupants of an 

 old Border castle, and its contiguous barony lands called " of Lag " 

 both, and which even in the fifteenth century are described as 

 " lying in the broken barony amid the Monklands of Nithsdale." 

 The Griers, or Griersons, of Lag, usually styled in the language of 

 the district " The Lairds of Lag," had fought and fallen at 

 Sauchieburn and in " the battle in Northumberland," afterwards 

 known as " Flodden Field," as their charters bear witness. They 

 held their lands direct from the Crown. We accordingly find 

 certain " Royal Lettres granted in favor of Koger Griersoun of 

 Lag, dated at Halirudhouse, the 12th of May, 1585," and in the 

 name and under the authority and subscription of King James the 

 Sixth of Scotland. To all and sundry our lieges of quhatsumever 

 estate, degree, or quality thai be of, and in special to the Baillie of 

 the Abay of Haliwod, &c. Forasmuch as we and the Lordis of Our 

 Secreit Counsaill perfytlie uuderstandin that Roger Griersoun, of 

 the Lag, lies divers friends and kinsmen, tenentis and induellaris 

 upon the threttie sax pound land, callit the Keir, of auld extent, 

 lyand within the barony of Haliwod and Sheriffdom of Drumfries, 

 quhilk in all tymes byegane haif bene onlie subject and haldand to 

 serve and attend upoue the saide Roger and his predesessauris 

 Lairdis of Lag, their Chief, alsweil in our weiris and raidis as in 

 their awin particularis affairs, naither were changit, alterit, nor 

 hichit, payand thankfullie the auld accustomit maill and dewtie 

 quhilk thair haif aye dune. Upone the quhilk consideration, and 

 that the quhilkis duellis neare our Bordoures quhair by at all 

 occasions thai behuiffit to ryis and ryid with thair said chief and 

 his predecessouris in thaire and oure predecessouris service. It 

 pleasit our deareste grantschire. King James the Feird [Fourth] 

 of worthie memorie, to direct his lettres and charges to the 

 Abbots and Baillies of the said Abay for the tyme, commanding 

 thaim to desist and ceis fra all vexatione and disobedience of the 

 said Roger and his predecessouris and kinsmen fra making ony 



