Transactions. 119 



use and wont in the field. In tlie records there are some peculiar 

 enactments regarding certain horses and nags, which have somehow 

 strayed from the English Border, nobody seems to know exactly 

 how, only their owners seem to have wished to re-acquire posses- 

 sion of them. Here is a curious official item, which seems to 

 point in that direction, the temporary custodian of " Kinmont 

 Liddell, Englishman's twa horse," having been without doubt the 

 father of " Maister John Welsh of Air and CoUistoun," the son-in- 

 law of John Knox : 



" Apxid Drumfries, the 2oth of October, 15S0. 

 " Thomas Brattane, John Wrycht, co-burgesses of Drumfries, appointifc 

 ordainit, &e. Alexander Cairlell, Protonatar for them in their behalf to 

 defend and purscw in the action and cause, wherein and whereby a fence 

 was laid by John Newall ujjon twa horse of Kinmont Liddel, Englishman 

 in the hands of Johne Welsche, of Burnfit, and accordingly recjuire an Act 

 to that purpose to be recorded, &c." 



The next entry as to " John Welsche " establishes his identity 

 under either of his two landed designations as " of Burn fit," or else 

 as " of CoUistoun." He was, of course, the Reformer's father, as 

 John Welsh of CoUistoun, the grandfather, would appear to have 

 died not many years after the Reformer's birth. 



" Apud Drumfries, 30th Nov., 15S0. 

 " Welche in Colliston. 

 "John Welche, in Burnfit, Andro Edgar, in Drumfries, and John 

 Jackson, in Killalong, bind and oblige themselves to pay to Edward Irving, 

 callit ' Lang Ritchie's Edward,' the sum of 88 merks Scots monie, &c." 



Apxul Drumfriex, loth Sepr., 1578. 

 " Robert Newal, Drumfries, enacts himself and becomes security for 

 Johne Velsche, son of John Velsche, sumtyme of CoUistoun, for twentie 

 shillings fenced in the hands of Robert Velsche, burgess of Drumfries, at 

 the instance of Thomas Hayning." 



As we said, there are numerous other similar entries in the 

 local records which represent " John Velshe, sumtyme of Colli.s- 

 toun " as an inhabitant of the town, if not during the whole yet 

 for no inconsiderable proportion of the whole year. " Sir John 

 Jamesoun, chaplain at Dumfries," the Reformer's ascertained first 

 tutor or preceptor, we find had probably been the son of a Dunscore 

 proprietor of land, who, about the year 1568, is designed in a local 

 instrument as "Laird John Jamesoun." As this " Schir John 

 Jamesoun " was a chaplain at Dumfries under Johne Velsche, 

 vicar of Dumfries, and was afterwards parish minister of Dunscore, 



