180 Anderson's Protocol Book. 



was worn in the early middle ages by ecclesiastics and lay 

 persons of high degree. Apparently, in later days it had 

 won its way into the female wardrobe. The deed was executed 

 in 1541 in the house of Thomas Wilson of Croglin, a kinsman, 

 doubtless, of the donor; and it may not be without interest to 

 note that the said Thomas, on his marriage with Agnes, 

 widow of Gordon of Blacket, and daughter of Gilbert Grier- 

 son of Dalton, the representative of a junior branch of the 

 Lag family, settled upon himself and his wife and their 

 prospective issue, two tenements in Dumfries, thus providing 

 himself, if the inference be permissible, with a town house, 

 according to the common custom of country magnates. (See 

 Nos. 69 and 84.) In many instances, the proprietor of a 

 landed estate transferred to his heir apparent, on the latter's 

 attainment of majority, or on his approaching marriage, the 

 family property, or a substantial part of it, under reservation 

 of a liferent to himself, and of his widow's terce. This prac- 

 tice is exemplified in Nos. 71, 73, and 92; and it seems as if 

 the prejudice to her rights apprehended by Isabella, daughter 

 of Cuthbert Fergusson (see No. 51) originated in similar 

 action on the part of John Grierson of Dalmacurane. The 

 place occupied by the High Altar of the Parish Church in 

 ordinary business transactions appears from Nos. 3 and 45. 

 (See also Nos. 6 and 9.) No, 12 reminds us of the common 

 usage of paying rents in kind — in this case, in meal by 

 measure of Nith ; and No. 82 indicates the relative value 

 of the gold coins in circulation at the time. Perhaps the most 

 curious of all the instruments is No. 47, which tells us of the 

 fate of William Asloan. He had been condemned to death 

 by an assize for his misdeeds, and especially for his theft of 

 Patrick Scott's " corne and claiths "; and, when on the 

 gallows, he sent for a notary, in whose presence, and in that 

 of the assembled witnesses, he solemnly swore before 

 Almighty God that he had falsely accused William Makmoran 

 of being art and part in his crime, and begged the said 

 William's forgiveness. Even were I sufficiently acquainted 

 with the facts, it would occupy more space than is at my dis- 

 posal to identify the different persons mentioned, and to enter 

 upon questions of family history. But, it remains to say 



