13G On Armorial Bearings, &c. By Walter Laidlaw. 



charter from Robert I. As might be expected from this ancient 

 origin and honourable distinction, there are many objects to 

 engage attention in Jedburgh. 



Several of these I should have liked to have mentioned, but 

 the subject of this paper suggested to me by a distinguished 

 member of the Club was ' ' The Armorial Bearings at Fernieherst 

 Castle." Although I intend to refer to other arms and inscrip- 

 tions, I agreed to make this form a part, and I trust the subject 

 will prove not uninteresting, as the ancient and noble family of 

 Kerr has filled such an influential place in our stirring Border 

 history and has had close relations with Jedburgh for upwards 

 of five hundred years. 



The Armorial Bearings at Fernieherst are much obliterated. I 

 know it is not for want of appreciation of them that they are in 

 their present state. They have been long covered with ivy, which 

 is much in keeping with old castles. It is only since the ivy was 

 destroyed by a severe frost in a recent winter that the two above 

 the main door to the tower have been seen. After examining 

 these carefully, I found one of them to be the armorial bearings 

 of Sir Andrew Kerr, and the other those of his wife, Dame Ann 

 Stewart, dated 1598. Sir Andrew Kerr was the first Lord Jed- 

 burgh, baron of Fernieherst, and one of the Lords of His Majesty's 

 Privy Council — his arms, a chevron charged with three mullets of 

 the field ; crest, a buck's head crossed ; supporters, two savages : 

 motto — "Forward in the name of God," above the crest: 

 beneath the shield is the motto, " Soli Deo." This latter motto 

 is only to be found on these armorial bearings on Fernieherst 

 Castle, and has since been dropped by the family. The armorial 

 bearings of Sir Andrew's wife, who was the daughter of Lord 

 Stewart of Ochiltree are — a lion rampant ; a saltier between four 

 roses ; crest, an unicorn's head ; supporters, two dragons ; motto, 

 " Forward." " Soli Deo " is also on her armorial bearings at 

 Fernieherst. Above the arch, which is close to the tower of the 

 old castle, are the arms of Andrew Lord Jedburgh ; on the shield 

 is the chevron charged with three mullets of the field, and above 

 the shield is the coronet, and also the initials "A^J." No date 

 is inscribed ; but there can be no doubt that the arms referred to 

 must have been placed above the arch after Sir Andrew Kerr was 

 created Lord Jedburgh, 2nd Feb. 1622. There is on the old 

 chapel close by a shield with a chevron and three mullets of the 

 ■held, above which are the initials "A S K," which stand for Sir 



