Grevfriars' Convent oi- Dumfries. 321 



Geordie Law during all this time was strangely silent. In 

 1573, however, he secured the support of John, 7th or 8th 

 Lord Maxwell, and made a " protestation " to the Privy 

 Council. In this it is stated that Law received his pension of 

 7;^ 1 6 from the Comptroller " five or sex zers as the comptis of 

 the saids collectors for the tyme will testifie . . . Alswa 

 nochtheles Charlis Hume . . . hes intrometit wt the haill 

 frutis therof and maid compaction wt the provest bailzeis and 

 consale of or burght of Drumfreis and sett to tham the frutis 

 therof the ane half and mair wtin the availl [under value] as 

 the said george is Informit and swa meinis to debar hym fra 

 ony proffeit therof [he] being ane puir man and hes na vther 

 thing to leif vpon bot wald perrishe for fait of fude wer not or 

 cousing Johne Lord Maxwell gevis hym his sustentatione in 

 meit for goddes saik."^^ Xhe Privy Council summoned the 

 various parties before them. It would appear that Home 

 failed to answer the summons, for on the 24th of February, 

 1572-3, a letter under the Privy Seal signed by the Regent 

 Morton was sent to the provost and bailies of Dumfries, pre- 

 senting to them " the gift of the escheit of all gudis movabill 

 and vnmo\'abill . . qlkis perteint to Charlis home wardane 

 of the cordelors freiris of Dumfreis And now perteining to 

 oure souerane lord and fallin and becum in his hienes handis 

 be ressoun of escheit Throw being of the said charlis vpon the 

 nyntene day of februar instant ordourlie denonceit Rebell and 

 put to the home Be vertew of oure souerane Lordis lettres 

 raisit and imprecat at the instance of his hienes advocattis ffor 

 non finding sourtie that he suld compeir . . befoir oure 

 soueranes Justice or his deputtis in the tolbuit of Edinburt and 

 vnderlye the law ffor certane crymes of tressoun and lese- 

 maiestie. "^'' The Regent " ordaines this gift of escheit to be 

 employed to the grammer Scoule off Drumfreis." 



The Town Council on the 19th of June was alarmed by 

 word received from their agent in Edinburgh, Mr Edward 

 Henderson, and another " gude freynd," George Welsh, who 

 wrote that Robert Charteris of Kelwood had given " sinister 

 information " to the Privy Council, and that the day of the 

 summons had been " circumvened," by which Law had ob- 

 tained a decreet from the Pri\y Council " in grete hurt to the 



