TuK Raiu ai l)i mi kiks on Lammas 1'I\ kx. U'.t 



bei:ind the said balzics lo liaf sittin diiK-rss tyincs upon bliidc 

 and to half atTirmit courtis tlicr\ pon. "•''^ I'liis inslriiinciit wc 

 ha\e already described. 



On the followini^- da\ Lord Cricliton protested that 

 nothings should be done to his injury in the case between him 

 and the Crown as he had not been cited and " this mater 

 was bot g"e\ in in zeslerday." 



Then Maister James Henderson, advocat for " or 

 souerane lortl askit ane Note that he offerit him to preif be 

 the lawis of the Realm tha.t the to\ ne of Drumfreis had a 

 ryt to sit on bludis wtin the tovne of Drumfreis, and that the 

 lord crechton had not ryt therto becass his infeftment was in 

 the King^is nonage. "^^ 



The reference is evidently to the confirmation charter of 

 20th August, 14S4, but why it shoukl not be valid because 

 it was granted b} James IIL, and during the minority of 

 James IV. is not apparent except upon the grounds that only 

 the reigning- King could do no wrong. 



The result of this incursion b\ the Crown was the further 

 postponement of the affair to the 10th of May, the prohibition 

 upon both parties not to hold courts being renewed. ^^ On 

 ALiy 5th nothing- appears, and although the Acts of the Lords 

 of Council have been searched on to the middle of 1514, 

 nothing further is heard of the matter. That we should not 

 be able to produce a definite decision is much to be regretted, 

 but what finally took place need not be in doubt. It is 

 obvious that the Crown supported the claims of the burgh, 

 and when the town obtained its next charter (from James \'L 

 in 162 1) we find included definitely within its rights, " In 

 remembrance of the cair and paines taken be the saids pro\ ost 

 and bailzies of the said burgh of Drumfress in repressing and 

 abandoning all kinds of theft reif and oppressione and other 

 crymes which usuallie fell out in these parts of old 

 to them and their successors for ever the heretable oHice of 

 Sherefship and cronnarie within the said burgh," the proxosl 



56 MS. Acta Doni.. Vol. XXIL, fol. 96 ef seq. 



5T Op. elf.. Vol. XXIL, fol. 99. -...,.r7«. 



6« Op. (if.. VoL. XXIL. fol. 100; vl<}< .Xppondix ^•|l . 



