338 NOTE ON PLATE OF DUNS CASTLE 



It is deserving of mention tliat in the course of some 

 alterations made on the dining room of the Randolph 

 Tower, some years ago, a round-headed opening, built up, 

 was discovered in the east wall, which had evidently com- 

 municated, probably by means of a staircase in the thickness 

 of the wall, with the vaults or cellarage beneath. 



Quite recently, the original Charter by James IV., in 

 favour of George Hume of Ayton, and John Hume, his son 

 and heir, whereby Dans was erected into a Burgh of 

 Barony, was recovered from the representatives of the late 

 Mr Charles Watson, Duns, and is now preserved, along with 

 the other estate muniments, in the Castle. Mr Hay has 

 kindly presented copies of an excellent photographic repro- 

 duction of the Charter to the Burgh Commissioners and the 

 Council of Feuars, and the latter body have had their copy 

 framed and placed in the Town Hall for exhibition. The 

 difficulty in regard to the date of the Charter, referred to 

 in the "Notes on Duns and Duns Castle," disappears when 

 it is kept in view that prior to 1600 the year in Scotland 

 was reckoned as beginning on the 25th of March, instead 

 of the 1st of January. The date given in the Charter 

 (23rd February 1489) is thus the 23rd of February 1490, 

 according to the present computation, and falls within the 

 second regnal year of James IV. 



The Charters and other ancient documents at Duns Castle 

 are being reported on for the Historical Manuscripts' 

 Commission by Mr Henry Paton, Edinburgh, and his 

 Heport, embracing a calendar of the papers, is expected 

 to be issued shortly. 



