Some DocuMENTS RELATING TO GLENCAIRN. POY 
Skene® admits that he knew nothing of the special juris- 
diction of these courts. He cites a passage from the Book of 
the Feus—* Si ministrales alicujus domini inter se guerram 
habuerint, comes sive judex, in cujus regimine ean fecerint, 
per leges et judicia ex ratione prosequatur ’’—and adds, 
‘“ quhilk forme of courtes being particular justice courtes, 
was prejudicial to the jurisdiction of the justice and his. 
deputes, and grievous to the lieges of this realme ‘s 
Sir George Mackenzie,™ in his observations on the statute, 
says of those courts that they seem to have been courts of 
neighbour-feud and riots. ‘*‘ Guerra’’ means “ war ”’ or 
‘* feud.’’248 and is sometimes spelled ‘‘ querra;’’?> and of this 
‘“quera ’’ may be a mis-spelled form. 
On 2nd April, 1517, Drumlanrig complained that Lord 
Crichton had broken lawburrows by setting upon Drum- 
lanrig’s servants, debarring Craigdarroch and Fergus Fer- 
gusson of the Neiss from the parish church, and by the 
slaughter of one of Drumlanrig’s servants. Crichton was 
acquitted, save as to the last count, which was remitted to 
the next justice Ayre. 
On ioth July, 1518, Lord Crichton was summoned by 
Drumlanrig to hear and see him and Thomas Fergusson of 
Craigdarroch, his kinsmen, servants, and partakers exempted 
from his lordship’s jurisdiction on account of the mortal 
enmity occasioned by the slaughter of Thomas Fergusson’s 
father.% 
At a later date Ninian Crichton of Bellibocht, tutor26* of 
Robert, Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, and sheriff wardour of 
Dumfriesshire, seems to have taken up the quarrel. In 1524 
2 De verb. significatione, s.v. Gverra. 
24 Works, Edinburgh, 1714, i., 217. 
24a In a question as to a right to teinds between the abbeys of 
Melrose and Kelso we read of ‘‘ dissensiones et querras inter dictos 
abbates’’ (Liber Sancte Marie de Melros, 11., 577). 
25 See Ducange, s.v., ‘“Guerra,’”’ ‘‘ Querra.”’ 
25a Act. Dom. Conc., xxix., fol. 187. 
% Act. Dom. Conc., xxxi., fol. 128. 
%a Tb., xxxiv., fol. 84. 
