John de Raynton, first of Lamherton. By William 

 Maddan, M. Inst, Bankers, [Scot.], Berwick-upon- 

 Tweed. 



Plates I., II., III., IV., V., VI. 



Mr Campbell-Renton having kindly permitted access to 

 his large collection of family papers, a hurried inspection has 

 resulted in bringing to light a number of very interesting 

 ancient charters in favour of his ancestor, John de Eaynton, 

 and has enabled a few notes to be thrown together on the 

 career of that Border worthy. The six charters, which are 

 the excuse for this short paper, are in excellent preservation, 

 but all are minus the seals except two ; even these are 

 incomplete in this respect, as they should have two seals 

 each, but only one seal remains to each. An expert in 

 these matters says he never saw more beautiful or better 

 preserved charters of the period — early 14th century. It is 

 to be hoped that a more critical and exhaustive examina- 

 tion of Mr Campbell-Renton's collection may result in 

 further discoveries of equally, or even more, interesting 

 records of the past. 



Before dealing with John de Raynton, it may be as well 

 to give a few notes as to the previous history of the barony 

 of Mordington. Without discussing who the original Mording 

 or Morthing was who settled on the land, and gave his 

 name to the tun or town he built — when the mist of the 

 middle ages drifts aside for a year here and there — William 

 de Mordington makes his appearance as a vassal of the 

 Prior of Durham soon after the year 1200. In the statutes 

 of Thomas, Prior of Durham, anno 1235, the Prior reserves 

 to himself the feudal dues and marriage-permits of the great 

 vassals of Ciddinghamshire, and " William of Morthinton 

 and his heirs for part of the village of Lamberton " appear 

 second in the list. All the smaller free tenants of that shire 



