198 Elwyndale and its Three Towers. By J. Freer. 



may be observed, also belonged to Melrose Abbey. The Cairn- 

 crosses have utterly passed away from the district, and the ruins 

 of their ancient dwellings of Hillslap and Colmslie alone preserve 

 the memory of a once important and powerful family, who took 

 an active part in the stirring events that preceded the Union of 

 the Scottish and English Crowns. 



The first appearance of a Cairncross in the Eegister of the 

 Privy Council is in 1574, when "William Carncroce, sone and 

 air of umquhile Robert Carncroce of Colmislie pretendand him 

 to have rycht " to certain " teind schaves " at Duncanlaw, in the 

 barony of Yeistir and Constabularie of Haddingtoun. From 

 that time forward they appear very frequently. 



In 1582 caution in £100 was given by William Hume in 

 Bassendean as principal, and Nicol Carnecors of Oalfhill, James 

 Carnecors in and Hume of Carrelsyde, as sureties for 



him, that the said William shall not trouble Mary Fleming, 

 Lady Lethingtoun, or her tenants in the brouking of the west 

 side of the lands of Blythe. In 1583-84 there is registration by 

 George Lawder, procurator for Gilbert Lawder of Quhitslaid 

 (Whitslaid) as principal, and Sir Johnne Edmestoun, William 

 Carnecors of Cunmislie, etc., etc., as sureties for him, that 

 Alexander Lawder, jr. of Haltoun, and friends of his shall be 

 harmless in their persons, lands and goods of the said Gilbert 

 Lawder and his sons. The band is subscribed at Edinburgh 

 and other places before these witnesses, Nicoll Cairncroce of 

 Hillslap, etc. In 1584 caution is given in £2000, by PauU Dog 

 of Dunrobin, and Nicoll Carnecars of Calfhill, for Robert 

 Douglas of Caschogill, that he shall behave himself dutifully, 

 shall not reset or intercommune with the traitors and rebels, 

 and shall appear before the Council on fifteen days warning. 



In 1586 George Cranstoun in Cauldscheillis and various other 

 parties named are complained against by the Bailies, Council, 

 and Community of the Burgh of Lauder, that they " be thame- 

 selffis, thair complices, and uthiris in thair names, be way of 

 manifest oppressioun all bodin in feir of weir with jakkis, 

 steilbonnettis, langstafEs, pistolettis, and utheris waponis 

 invasive, prohibite be Actis of Parliament and Secreit Counsall 

 come to the said complenaris mylne, and thair wranguslie and 

 masterfuUie perforce and be way of deid enterit within the same 

 and houssis thairof, and thair violentlie and perforce dang oute 

 the said complenaris servandis tenentis and myllaris, thair wyffis 



