Anniversary Address. 5 



the restoration of Melrose Abbey, burnt by the English. 

 James VI., on 26th May 1587, confirmed the charter by Andrew, 

 the Commendator of Jedburgh Abbey, to Joliii Hume of 

 Hutounhall, and his natural son, of the 20 shillings kirklands 

 of Stitechell for the rebuilding of his monastery, often levelled 

 to the ground by the Enjjlish.'^ A short time after tho 

 Eeformation many laymen who received grants of Monasteries 

 and their lands were styled Commendators. Sir Alexander 

 Home was Commendator of the Abbey or Priory of Eccles, as 

 appears in a charter of James VI., under the Great Seal, to Sir 

 (ieorge Home of Eccles of two husbandlands in Stitchell, with 

 right to pasturage for 22 head of cattle, paying 20s. as 

 reddendum for each husbandland, with 2s. of augmentation ; 

 all which had previously belonged to the Priory of Eccles. ^^ 

 The actual Latin Charter of this transaction is dated 27th June 

 1606, while the day, year, and place of signature of the same 

 Charter in English are left blank. ^^ This Crownright, with 

 its reddendum of gilt spurs, is mentioned in the Charter of 

 Confirmation by James VI. to John Belsches, advocate (13th 

 July 1621) when the lands and barony of Stitchell, the fort, 

 demesne, and mill were sold to him by Sir Eobert Gordon of 

 Lochinvar ;'" and at the sale of the estate on the 26th April 

 1628. to Robert Pringle of Bartingbush, and in the Charter of 

 Confirmation by Charles I. (SIst July 1628) of that sale by Sir 

 Jo. Gordon of Lochinvar and Jo. Belsches of Toftis, to the said 

 Kobert Pringle, the right of this annual payment to the Crown 

 is explicitly reserved.-" When James VI. granted his favourite, 

 Alexander the first Earl of Home, the teinds of Ednam, 

 Stitchell, Erseltoun, and Auld Cambes, he retained the right of 

 the Crown to present the parish ministers, which right was 

 only surrendered at the passing of the Patronage Act for 

 Scotland, by Parliament in 1873.^' So much for the History 

 of the Crown-rights over Stichill. - 



i« Reg. Mag. Sig., Vol. 1587- , p. 424, No. 1265. 



'' Historical Mannscript's Commission, Athole and Home Papers, p. 

 131. 



18 Reg. Mag. Sig., Vol. 1593-1608, p. 644, No. 1769. 



19 Do. Vol. 1620-33, p. 64, No. 202. 



20 Do. do. p. 447, No. 1304. 

 »i Do. do. p. 106. 



