114 TRANSACTIONS. 
generations in the consecutive hereditary occupation of the same 
parcels of land, &c., as tenants of the abbey 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 Roger 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 understandin that Roger Griersoun, of 
the Lag, hes divers triends 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 upone 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 
