Mellerstain and the Haitlies thereof. 129 



pctrt, regarding the decreet of the Lords of Council obtained 

 by William against John, also regarding all other tjuestions, 

 quarrels, debates, and other actions whatsoever that either 

 had against the other, it was decreed that "John Haitlie 

 of Melterstane sail pay to the said William Lynlythgow 600 

 merks ; and also ordains either of the saids parties to stand 

 be thamself, thair kin, freinds, seruands, allias, and all that 

 thai may compel or solist thereto in amite content and 

 freyndschip to otheris in all tyme coming ; and als decrettis 

 the said Johnne Haitlie not onlie to stand in amite to the 

 said William in tyrae coming, bot als to cans all his freynds, 

 kin, and allias quha has or has had entertained evil will 

 or malice to the said William threw the occasion maid 

 betwix him and the said Jhone of befoir, and specialie to 

 solist and do his exact and uter diligens to cause Sir Andro 

 Ker of Hirsell, knight, to aggre with the said William, 

 amicabille anent any clames of gudos, uioney, or lands, or 

 other quarrels debatabill betwix the said Sir Andro and 

 William afore the dait heirof, and to stand his freynd 

 heirefter." John Haitlie seems to liave been slow in coming 

 forward with the money payable under the decreet arbitral, 

 for we find, in February of the following year, his servants, John 

 Haitlie in Faunys, and Thomas Hog compearing at Drygiange, 

 and, of John's authority, offering to " William of Lythgow 

 pennieworthis for sheep, nowt, horse, etc., for ane hundred 

 merks," but which William refused. Moreover, they desired 

 him "to tak the tayne halff in pennieworthis, and he should 

 within XX days haiff money for the tother halff. Whereupon 

 William Lithquo said it was passt some days he promyst 

 him payment, and he sees nane heirfor he wald byed at his 

 contract quhat it been and not ells." On the 14th September 

 1554, however, we find William Lynlythgow of Drygrange 

 granting a receipt to John for the four hundred merks, and the 

 last act in the feud between the families was accomplished.* 



* In the summer of 1894 the writer was, as a guest, travelling 

 towards Gordon Station with members of the Club, on their way to 

 Mellerstain, he keen on seeing a place, the old possessors of which, 

 his forefathers had cause to remember. At St. Boswell's junction, a 

 gentleman entered the carriage. "How are you, Mr Heatley ? " said 

 one of the Club, "We don't often see you?" The new arrival 

 replied, "I've come to visit my ancestral home, Mellerstain!" The 



