350 Proceedings of the Society of Ii. a Note on the Subject of Protocol

Home , Lord Clerk Register, The Canongate, The Pleasance (street)

350 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF

II. A NOTE ON THE SUBJECT OF PROTOCOL BOOKS AS CONNECTED WITH PUBLIC RECORDS. By DAVID LAING, ESQ., F.S.A. SCOT. Ther well-knowa s ei n work Offic, e Notary-Public,a " f Th o e whicf "o e hth fourth edition, with many addition improvementsd san , appeare n 1792di t I . was originally publishe Edinburgt da 1740n hi , entitled, " Ars Notariatus;, or the Art and Office of a Notary-Publick as the same is practised in Scotland." anonymoue Th s autho gives ha r learnena d dissertation regarding the.Notaries r Tabellioneo wero wh es subjece Primiceriuth o t t s Notariorum amone gth Romans othed an , r persons exercisin office g th ancien n i e moderweln s i a t s a l n timese EmperoTh . f Germanyo r e Roma heas th a ,f do n States, claimea d jurisdiction ove l kingdomal r s whic beed hha n subjecte Romae th - o dt nEm pire. The Pope, in like manner, claimed a similar authority. Thus, in Scot- land, until the reign of King James the Third, Notaries had received their appointment jointly by Papal and Imperial authority. But, at the Parliament held at Edinburgh, the 20th November 1469, an act was passed bearing this title, " Of Notaris and Tabellionnis-making lie the King,—Ca. xxxviii." By this actcivie th , l jurisdictio Emperoe th f assumens o Kinge rwa th y .d b " Item, s thochi t I t expedient Soueranr ,ou than se te Lord hes full jurisdictioun, and free impyre within his Realme, that his Hienes may mak Notaris and Tabel- liounis, quhais instrumentis sallhaue full faith in all causis and contractis, civile within the Realme. And in tyme to cum that na Notar be maid, nor to be maid, be the Emperouris autoritie, haue faith in contractis civile within the Realme, les than he be examinit be the Ordinar, and appreuit be the Kingis hienes. thad tAn full fait Papalgeuie e hb th o nt l Notari tymen si s bygane cumo t d , an , in all thair instrumentis," &c. This act has often been mentioned as a proof of Scottish independence in re- fusing to recognise any such foreign authority as that claimed by the Emperor. Kine Parliamend th gt an Bu t being equally jealou Pope'e th f so s usurpatiod nan encroachment upo e prerogative-royalnth considereds wa t i , thiy ,b s act, that Apostolical or Ecclesiastical Notaries, in order to be qualified for executing their office in temporal matters, should also obtain license from the King. It may be observed, tha thit a t s period, scarcel personsy yan , excep clergye usualltth o wh , y completed their studies abroad, were qualifie thin i t s capacityac do t requiret i s a , d a knowledg civif eo l and cano ndegrea lawd learninan f , eo g whic otherw hfe s possessed. When such persons were competent to be employed in spiritual as well as temporal matters, their proper designation becam matteea importancf ro ; e ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND. 351 thein i d r an attestations they uniformly specif diocese yth whicn ei h they were licensed. In addition to their accustomed signatures, their practice was, along with a motto, to join the initials of their names in some elaborate and com- plex form monograma s a , whicf o ; hshalI l exhibi presene th o t t meeting seve- l earlra y specimens. By a subsequent act, Notaries were subjected to the authority of the bishops- ordinaries. After other changes bishope th , s powet abolisheds ac y wa r b d an , 79, Parl. 9, Queen Mary, 1563, it was enacted, " That no person shall take upon han o excercdt office a Notary th emannef o o en y b ,creatiof ro e b o nt mad timn i e comeo et , unde e pai rth deathf no , unless the e createe yb th y db Sovereign's special letters thereafted an , r examine admitted Lorde dan th y sdb of Session," &c. It is unnecessary to refer to the changes that have since taken e modplacth f admissiono en ei qualificationd an , s require exercisinr dfo e gth office of a Notary. e worTh d PKOTOCO s derivei L d fro e Greemth k irpaTo;, primus, x.a'hoa,d an membrum, becaus firse th t n instrument e t a drafuseei b f o do t t . Protocos i l a word common to various languages, English, French, Italian, Spanish, signi- fying, says Minshen, in 1619, " the first draft of a deed, contract, instrument, or evidenc shora f eo t register kep applies a t s Registethereof.i a t o i dt t Bu r" of Deeds, usually named Protocol Books, to which I beg to call the attention of the present meeting. The Emperor Maximilian, in his Constitution concern- ing Notaries, § 2, ordains, " That every Notary have a Protocol, and that he kee t carefullypi orden Acte i d handwritd t n th i san rl an ,ow n wit eal i , s hhi Instruments verbatim to which he was Notary." By various Acts of Parliament reigne th f n Queei so n Mar Kind yan g James VI. l Notarieal , s were ordained produco t e their Protocol Books befor e Lordth e f Sessioso markee b o nt r do considered. f Scotland, o "s Bell Dictionarw hi n La i , e "th saysf yo , "O admissioe nth n of a Notary, he receives from the Clerk-Register a book, marked by the clerk, calle Protocolda whicn i , e Notarth h directes yi - insero dt in e tth copiel al f so strument havy ma e e occasiosh executeo nt there b o et , preserve recordn i s da . These protocols were at one time attempted to be made serviceable as records of sasines ; but this, from many causes, failed, and their principal use was to supply the loss of any instrument, which they were allowed to do where the protocol had been regularly kept; but the protocol was seldom regularly kept, entirelw anno s ddisuse.i n y i . 789.(P ") Such Protocol Books, duly authenticated, being regarde publis da c recordst i , was deemed of importance that they should be carefully preserved. It was therefore ordained by Parliament, that the Clerk-Register should give satisfac- 2 35 PROCEEDING SOCIETE TH F F SO Y O

Protocoe th tio r nfo l Boot Notarief so s greae deceaseth t t numbe- bu d; ex d ran pense e irregularit wels th a ,s a l n yobtainini g possessio f suco n h booksy ma , have suggested the expediency of establishing a different system, which now has been in use for nearly two hundred and fifty years, in the form of the Register of Sasines. The clas Protocof so l Books, however whice on vers s hi i , y much overlooken di the course of antiquarian investigations. This is partly owing to the circumstance that the dispersee yar countrye l partth al f n dso i , that they for regulao mn r series presend an , t onl yrecora f deeddo s execute individuay db l practitioners. t I might therefor f considerablo e b e e utility wer n attempa e t mad colo t e - lect them havd an ,e them deposite n somi d e public repository- Ge ,e sucth s ha neral Register-House e numbeTh . r that still exist mus vere b t y considerable. I have, at distant intervals, examined many such volumes in various localities, such instancer fo , Dundees a , , Perth, Cupar-Fife, Aberdeen t AndrewsS , , Dun- fermline, Haddington, and North Berwick, but without keeping any separate note of the dates, the Notaries, or number of volumes. One volume at Dundee is the Protocol Book of Thomas Ireland, N. P. from 1535 to 1572. Mr Riddell informs me that there are several at Peebles, of an early date, and of some importanc relatins ea properto gt familied yan notf o s than ei t district. Protocoe Th l Book tlif so e following Notarie preservee sar Advocatese th dn i ' Library, mos r Jamethef o tSi mn i s Balfou Kinnaird'f o r s collectio f MSS.:no — James Androsoun, Sheriff-Cler Fifef ko , from 153 15485o t , folio. Edward Dickson thn i , e year 1537, 4to. John Kilgour, Newburgh, Fife, from 1584 to 1589, 4to. Stephen Patersoun, Falkland, from 1590 to 1612, 4 vols. folio. John Lytil Johne, formerly servitor of Stephen Patersoun, from 1615 to 1629, 2 vols. folio. John Philp, Lundores, from 1611 to 1626, folio. One or two stray volumes of a later date have been acquired for the College Library. Among the Archives of the City of Edinburgh, in addition to the regular serie f Registero s f Sasineo s , ther e stilear l preserved twenty-five volumef so Protocol Books, in small quarto, of the following Notaries-Public :— 1. John Foular, 4 vols., from the year 1500 to 1534. . Vincentiu2 s Strachan vols.4 , , from 150 15537o t . 3. Andrew Brounhill, 2 vols., from 1536 to 1544. 4. Alexander King vols.5 , , from 154 1563o 8t . 5. Alexander Guthrie, 5 vols., from 1557 to 1578. ANTIQUARIE3 35 SCOTLANDF SO .

6. William Stewart, senior, 4 vols., from 1558 to 1580. 7. William Stewart, younger, I vol., from 1572 to 1600. propee Th r Registe Sasinef borougre o th f o sEdinburgf ho h commencen i s the year 1556, when Alexander Guthrie was city-clerk. It is continued to the present time in a great many folio volumes. Another early and well preserved series which I have recently examined belong borouge th o st h Canongatee ofth - commenced an , Juln si y 1485 thif O s. series, one of our members, Thomas Thomson, Esq., W.S., has made copious extracts wild an ,l submi meetine th o t accoun n gvolumesa e th f o t , with tran- script f severao s l interestin ge Genera deedsth n I .l Register-House thers i e alread ya larg e collectio f sucno h Protocol Books, commencing wit e yeath h r 1512 t chiefllattee ,th bu f sixteentre y o par th f to h century; althoug t preha - sent therdetaileo n s ei d inventory specifyin e namenotariese gth th e f th so r o , localitie whico st h they relate. It would, however, be desirable that some efforts should be made either for collecting the Books themselves, or for obtaining accurate and detailed notices of their dates, the names of the Notaries, and where the volumes are deposited. I ma permittee yb addo dt , tha n generai t l such books are n mani , y instances, wholly valueles theio st r present custodiers, from their antiquated form f writo s - ingd froe deedan ,mth s bein whollw gno y superseded. Notwithstandings a , these Books, when duly certified, are held by law to be authentic records, they often prove very serviceable for identifying persons, no less than for tracing the tenur transmissioe th landf eo d san burgagf no e property. In concluding this brief notice, I beg to propose that the Society should ad- dress a communication to the Lord Clerk-Register, calling his Lordship's attention to such Books, as connected with public records, and suggesting the expe- diencLordshis hi f yo p authorizin gcirculaa r clerke letteth r magistrateo rst o s of boroughs othed an , r parties know havo nt e such book n theii s r custody- re , questing that any Protocol Books, prior to the year 1617, when the present General Register of Sasines was commenced, should be transmitted for preser- r Majesty'vatio He generad o nt an e sus l General Register House. Several of the members having made some remarks on the subject committea , s appointeewa preparo dt elettea addressee b o t r d e Rightoth t Hon Lore th . d Clerk-Register, callin Lordship's ghi s special attention to this series of records, and to report to the en- suing meeting. 354 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OP

III.

LIST OF THE PROTOCOL BOOKS, WITH SOME NOTICE OF THE OTHER RECORDS OF THE BOROUGH OF CANONGATE AND REGALITY AND BARON F BROCKTONYO , EDINBURGH. WITH EXTRACTS. COMMUNI- CATED BY THOMAS THOMSON, ESQ., W.S., F.S.A. SCOT.,

The Protocol Books in possession of the Clerk of the Borough of Canongate followinge th e ar , viz. :—

1.—Protocol Books of JAMES YODNG, N.P., originally 17 vols., of which 13 vols. in small quarto remain, viz.:—•

Vol. I. — July 1485 to 23d December 1488. . 30tII h December 148 24t8o t h March 1489. III. 31st March 149 10to 0t h October 1491. MarcIVh 5t . h 149 21s1o t t August 1493. V. 20th August 1493 to 31st August 1495. VI. Wanting. VII. 15th Novembe rMarch 1498t o 6t h 1497. VIII. Wanting. IX. 12th March 1499 to 2d December 1501. X. 10th January 150 llto 1t h April 1504. . 13tXI h 1506 y ApriMa . lh 1509t o 4t XII. 150llty 13to t 6h Ma h June 1509. XIII. Wanting. XIV. 21st February Decembe151h 9t 1o t r 1512. XV. 21st October 1512 to 17th March 1514. XVI. Wanting/ XVII. 24th May 1521 to 28th August 1522.

2.—Protocol Books of ALEXANDER MACNEILL, N.P., originally 1 vols., of which 3 remain, viz..-— Aprid 2 Voll .152 12to 5t h January 1530, Quarto. 24th October 1536 to 21st June 1539, Folio. 3d April 154 26to 2t h October 1543, „ ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND. 355

3.—Protocol Books of JOHN MACNEILL, N.P., originally 7 vols., now 4 vols, viz..—i Vol. 19th April 1549 to 15th April 1551, Folio. 18th April 1551 to 14th April 1552, 18th Augus 1553y Ma , t h 1555t o 2t „ 5th December 1553 to 14th March 1555, „

4.—Protocol Books of JAMES LOGAN, N.P., of which only vols.4 d a, an fragment remain, viz. — Vol. 19th March 1576 to 14th March 1580, Folio. 14th March 1580 to 24th December 1583, „ 27th March 1588 to 22d May 1591, „ 6th February 1598 to 31st December 1602, „ 1st January 1603 to 20th January 1603, a fragment. g.—Protocol Books f WALTEo R LOGAN .P.N , , originally vols.,6 of which only 1 vol. remains, viz.:— t Augus1s Vol. VI t. 162 163519ty o 9t hMa , Folio.

6.—Protocol Books of JAMES LOSAN, N.P., consisting vols.,5 f o viz:— Vol. I. 9th June 1635 to 19th March 1641, Folio. Aprih 6t . l AugusII 164h 6t 1o t t 1646, „ AugusIIIh 7t . t 164 20to 6t h January 1653, „ IV. 1st February 1653 to 10th September 1657, „ V. 7th September 1657 to llth November 1665, „

7.—Protocol Books of JAMES ROCHIED, N.P., consisting of*i vols., vie..-— Vol. I. 5th January 1666 to 31st May 1670, Folio. . 15tII h April 167 llt0o t h October 1677, III. llth October 167 15to 7t h June 1683, „ . 15tIV h June Jun h 1688t e3o t 1699 , „

8.—Protocol Book f JAMEo S HAMILTON. Vol. 8th June 1699 to 17th May 1711. 6 35 PROCEEDING SOCIETE TH F F SO Y O

e numbeTh f Protocoo r l Books existin yeae th rn g i 1570 appears froe mth following Minute taken froe Regalitth m f o Vol . yI . Court Book JAMEf o s S Loo AN :— ±th Octr. 1570. The quhilk day, Johnne Oswald Baillie Depute of the Regality & Barony of Brochtoun and John Schorte ane of the Baillies of the Burt of the Canongait, sittand in Judgement anent the Edict for recognoscing of the Prothegall Bukis of umqle James Young Alexander MacNeill Clerki f thio s s present Court Donald Foulartoun John Porteous Clerkis Depute of the samyn for the tyme and John MacNeil Commous al l n Cler f Touthie ko th s f Leit f no Couro d h an tw*i e th n baronie of Restalrig Compeirit James Logan now Clerk of this Court and Keipar

of the Prothogall Buikisaie th d f umqso le James Young, Alexander MacNeill Donald Foulartou John& n Porteou producid san samyne tth , qsaie or fth d James Youngis bukis contenit seventene in number the said Alexander MacNeillis

bukis contenit seven in number ane of Donald Fullartoun & ane uthir of John

e Porteou alsud an s a compeirit Grizell Wilson e sairelicth d f o umqt l John

MacNeil Kepa d Prothogals lan hi f ro l Buki producid san samie tth n contenand sevin in number. Quhilkis Bukis were recognoscit and the said umq' Jamele s Young Alexander MacNeill Donald Fnllartoun John Porteous & John MacNeill

recognosci s Notaria t s famou d lega an e certains b l e famous Witnesses, viz. Johne Johnstone Commissar Cler Bdinf ko r John Mossman Sheriff e Clerth f ko samyn Mr Gilbert Grew Writtar to Our Sovereigns Signet James King Maister James Kirkaldie James Young John Dunkesoun Robert Muir Alex" Auchinleck John Sprott & Francis Johnstoun Warnit of befoir to that eifect And thairfoir Bailliee th s above written decerni ordaini& t r thaifo t r common weil haile lth l Prothogall Bukis foresai saie th d f dumqo le James Young Alexr MacNeill Donald Foulartoun John Porteous & John MacNeill so far as the Instruments thairin ft contenit concern Regalitie sth Bure& t abovewritte extractie b o nt transumi& t t be the Commoun Clerk yrof now present and to cum and thair deputtis and sa Instrumeny on fas ra t contenit thairintill concerni saie sth d Tow Leitf no h within Baronie th f Restalrieo g foresai e extractib o dt transumi& t e commouth e b t n clerk of the said Town of Leith now present & that salhappen to be for the time & decerni seile tth f Caus lo this-burf eo appendie b o t evero t y instrumene b o t transumit contenit in ony of the foirmentioned Prothogall bukes and yairby the transump lik c authentis si eal f e strengtho b d o t can judgemenn i e d outan t- principale th f witi s ha e Instrument t lengt a beed t sha n pu h in maist ample forme unde sige subscriptiod rth n an saie th ueld n f umq'o l nma ? James Young Alexander MacNeill John Porteous Donald Fullartou Johd nan n MacNeiln i l thair lifetyme becaud an s partiea sn s compeiri contraie th n i t r havand interest ANTIQUARIE7 35 SCOTLANDF SO .

accordin certificatioe th o gt e sai th d f o nEdic t being execute upon Ix dayis wairnin e saigth d Baillies imp' silencl partieal o t e s havand interes tymn i t e coining. Quhairupo saie nth d James Loga Johd nan n Robesoun Cler Leitf ko h f Couraskio Instrumentis d t an ac tt . There is the following note appended to the last volume of James Young's Protocol Books:—" Quarto Octobris 157e hail0Th l numbe f Jameo r s Youngis bukis extending to xvij bukis now presentit in Jugement befoir the Juge sub- scrivaris heirof, JOHN OSWALD Baillie. JOHNNE SCHOKT Baillie."

These documents show that f Jameo , s Young's Protocols, four have been lost, viz.:— Vol. VI. from 1495 to 1496. Vol. VIII. from 1497 to 1499. Vol. XIII. from 1509 to 1511. Vol. XVI. from 1514 to 1521.

An f Alexandedo r MacNeill's, four hare been lost thred an ,f Joh eo n Mac- Neill's, besides the two volumes of the Depute-Clerks, John Porteous and Donald Fullarton. The original number of the books of the next Notary, James Logan, cannot be positively ascertained, but it is probable that he wrote nine or ten volumes, both fro e lonmth g period during whic e hel h office d th f Town-Clerk o e d an , from the dates of the volumes which remain. Walter Logan compiled six Protocol Books, of which only one now remains, which is titled Volume VI., and was evidently the last volume of his Protocols. Protocoe Th l seconBooke th f so d Jame successors shi Loganf o d ,an , James Rocheid, are complete. These Protocol Books form an interesting Record, depending for its extent and variety on the amount of business transactions of the Notaries by whom the different Books were kept. It is, therefore, of importance to notice some- thing of the personal history of the writers, so far as that can now be ascertained, from the Books themselves. The Notaries resided within the precincts of, or near to the Court of Holyrood, and many of the most remarkable men of the time maybe found named as witnesses, or as parties to their Instruments. This circumstanc einterese addearliee th th o st f o tr volumes. James Young, the writer of the earliest Books, was Clerk of the Borough of Canongate, and of the Regality and Barony of Brochton, from 1484 to 1522. 358 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF

He acted also as Notary or Agent for the Abbot and Convent of Holyrood house, in all the transactions and documents relating to their Church lands, or belonging to them as the superiors of the Regality and Barony, and for the numerous proprietors of land holding of the Abbey, as the Forresters of Cor- etorphine, Drylaw, and Bernetow e Wardlawth n; e f Riccartoo sth d an n; Monypennys of Pilrig. He likewise acted for Robert Logan of Restalrig ; W. Haliburto f Dyrltonno Preceptore th , f Torphichenso , David Lord Lind- say, Alexander Lord Kilraaurs r OliveSi , r Sinclai f Roslino r , John Earf o l Lennox, Lord Dernely, John Lord Kennedy, William Earl Mareschall, Lord George Seton of Tranent, Robert Ramsay of Cokpen, John Lord Carlill, John Sandilands of Calder, John Haldan of Glenaglash, Robert Hamilton of Fingal- ton, John Murray of Falahill, and many others. He resided within the Canon- gate, and had an office in Edinburgh, which he calls his " Camera" or " Botha" in several Instruments of Resignation. Like other Notaries, he went to the lands of which he gave Sasine; and there are Protocols of Sasines taken in several parts of Scotland, although those in the county of Edinburgh are the most numerous firse th t n volumI Protocols . hi f eo s ther some ear e very curious forms or styles of writs,—as a Letre of Slaines, Litera testimonialis pro pe- regrino Carta post forisfacturam, Litera Licencia ab abbate suo canonico ad per- sequendum suas terras redditus et bona hereditaria. The object of this letter of canone licencauthorizo t th s f tako o se t wa stepe e eth e on s necessar- ob o yt tain the property of his deceased father, who was a rich burgess of Edinburgh, and libitum. disposa o dt t i f eo Ther s alsi e ocommissioa favoun i n a f o r Earl t named,no holo t , d Justiciary Courts withi Barone nth f Broughtonyo . e followinTh g Instrument Jamen i s s Young's Protocol Book, Vol.e I.ar , specimen contente th Protocolss f shi o f so . They illustrat internae eth l manage-

ment and discipline of the Convent:—

a •xvi mensie di ° s Maii Anno Lxsxviii indiction0 e vi pontificatus Pape Inno- cencii octaui anno quarto personal]ter constitutus discretus et religiosus vir Domp- Adas nu m Bellantyne, prior monasterii Sancte Cruci Edinburge sd h exposuit e t declarauit quod omnes et singuli canonici sive totus conuentus dicti monasterii ibidem presentes ipso excepto remouerunt omnes et singulos officiarios ejusdem loc eorue id m officii t nouoe s s officiario eorun i s m loc manud oa s proprias impo- suerunt absque consensu avisamento seu mandate eorum abbatis et superioris quo iure dd e minime facere debuerunt vt asseruit t ide E habendud .o a m ipsum excusatum coram dicto suo abbate idem Dompnus Adam a me Notario Publico sibi fieri peciit presens publicum instrumentum. Acta erant hec in dicto monasterio in choro ejusdem hora quasi decima ante meridiem presentibus ibidem discretis et religiosis viris, viz.:—Dompnis Waltero Dauidsone, priore

ANTIQUARIE9 35 SCOTLANDP SO . de Pettinveme ; Johanne Crunzeane. Vicario de Vre, Willimo Craufurd Vicar'0 de Favvkyrk Robert& , o Hog, Vicari Tranente od , canonicis dicti monasterim cu i diuersis aliis testibus, &c. „ Eodem die et hora Dompni Georgeus Halcerstone, Jacobus Forman, Thos Scot, Johannes Wrycht, Jacobus Maluill, Georgeus Dvne, Laurencius Bigholme, Henricus Litstar, Willmus Falconar, Patricias Burne, Archibaldus Crauffurd, Georgeus Allerdes, Georgeus Forhous, Georgeus Home, Johannes Farfoull, Willmus Hudsone, Willmus Wilkyson, Alex1' Barbour, Jacobus Brovue, & Foular, canonic! et conuentus monasterii, Sancte Crucis de Edinburgh, vnanimi consens t assensue u exposuerun t recitauerune t t quod omnes offlciarios dicti monaster ipsor ype s tune nouiter electos bonfuio pr t o eiusdem loci t quoE . d unanimi consensu et assensu ipsos in defectu eorum abbatis et superioris ele- gerunt. Et quod Dompnus Adam Bellantyne, olim prior dicti monasterii stetit omnn tuni t ie tempore preterit contrariun oi m totalis conuentu t asseruev s - runt. Super quibus omnibus.et singulis prefatus Dompuus Georgeus Halker- stone, nomine propri t tociuoe s conuentus antedict Notarie m a i o Publico sibi fieri peciit hoc presens instrumentum, &c. Acta coram predictis testibus in choro dicti monasteri t dictuv i m est. xvii° die mensis Septembris anno Ixxxviij personaliter comparuerunt ve- 0 nerabilis in Christo pater Robertus permissione divina Abbas monasterii Sancti Crucis de Edinburgh Ordinis Sancti Augustini Sancti Andrese Diocesis et Conu- entus eiusdem capitulariter congregatus quiquidem Dns Abbas in presencia dict i Conuentusu i s interogaui a discrett t religiose e viro Dompno Georgeo Halcerstone priore dicti Monasterii vbi Dompnus Georgeus Home eius Canonicus eiusdem Monastery fuit quia ipsu mn dicti o Monasteri d certooa s dies elapsos presente vidin m t no asserui v t t ipse t e Dominus Georgeus Halcerstone prior publice respondendo dixit, quod ipse Dominus Georgeus Home extra dictu- mMo nasterium in die veneris xii° die instantis mensis Septembris recessit sine sua licenci t contrae a suum niandatu t mpreceptue m speciale quia ipse prior virtute sue potestatis inhibuit ipsi Dno Georgeo vt non recederet extra dictum Monaste- rium sine licencia dicti Dni Abbatis sub omni pena que in hac parte competere poterit hoc non obstante ipse Dompnus Georgeus Home extra suum niandatum in dicto die veneris recessit et ad hue ad dictum monasterium non est reuersus vt idem prior asseruit. Et vlterius ipse prior publice confessus fuit pro decla- racione veritatis quod ipse Dompnus Georgeus Home nunquam in quocunque tempore preterito peciit licenciam ab ipse priore quando antea ab ipso monasterio diuersis vicibus transire volebat. Super premissis idem Dompnus Abbas peciit instrumentum. Acta eran infrc he ta dictum monasteriu mvestibuln i e ejusdem hora quasi decima ante merediem presentibus ibidem Dompno Robertg Ho o 0 36 PROCEEDING SOCIETE TH F P SO Y O

Vicario de Tranent Dno Johaime Bathcat Capellano Matheo Forstar de Berne- tone Johanne Creichton Malcolmo KincaiGeorgeo Dn t de o Cotis Capellanc oa Notario Publico cum diuersis aliis. e otheTh r document n Young'i s s Protocol Book chiefle sar y Instrumentf so Sasine and Resignation of Lands, or Instruments of Annualrent payable out of property belonging to the Abbey in various parts of Scotland, or situated within their Borough of Canongate. The proportion of writs referring to properties within boroug vers hi y small therd e numerouan ;e ar s deed instrumentd an s s volumee th l al favou n si n i partief o r s apparently unconnected wit Monase hth - tery, who probably employed James Young as their private agent. secone Th d ClerBorouge th f ko h andRegalit ALEXANDEs ywa R MACNEILLo wh , is designed Clericus, before his appointment as successor to James Young. He was probably an ecclesiastic; he resided in the Pleasance, within the Regality, and had an office, "offlcium," in Edinburgh. The contents of his Protocols are very similar to those of his predecessor, and his business appears to have bee s extensivea n notoriou e e timth e live th f H eo n .i d s Abbot Cairncross, the last Abbot of Holyrood, and appears to have been an acquaintance and pro- ieg6 of this prelate. Two documents referrin Abbogo t t Cairncross may be take specimea s na s hi f no Protocols. The one being his investiture as Provost of the Collegiate Church of Corstorpbin othee th documend ra an e; t relatin appointmens hi - o gt Bi e th o t shopric of Ross. This ecclesiastic of the Roman Catholic Church was, say Keith and Brunton famile cadea , th f Balmashannerf o tyo . Accordin Buchanango t , he was "homo humili loco natu." However humble his origin was, there can be no doubt that he did much to enrich many of his family and friends, and succeeded in naming one to be his successor as Commendator of Fearn. He commenced his career in public life, as appears from the document afterwards en- grossed, as Provost of Corstorphine on 5th August 1527, then a stepping-stone o furthet r church preferment. Abou e samth t e mad s periowa ee Chaplaidh n to King James V., in whose favour he rapidly advanced, for, on 5th Septem- ber 1528, on the fall of the Douglases, he was appointed High Treasurer of the Kingdom e helH d. this a veroffic r yfo e short time, having been removed from it on suspicion of holding intercourse with the fallen Earl of Angus, his predecessor in office, in the beginning of the following year. Notwith- standing this disgrace greas ,hi t wealt yearw fe re-acquirho st a enable n i m dehi the royal favour, and he obtained various preferments, of great honour and emolumen aften i t rfirse f lifetheso Th t . e appear havo st e beee nth seaa n o t Judicial Bench, as he was made a Lord of Session on 17th October 1533. Buchanan relate anecdotn sa Cairncrossf eo , whiche readeth o thif t - ,o r sno ANTIQUAUIE1 36 SCOTLANDF SO .

tice, wil lkeepin n appeai e b o grt wit aftes hhi r conduc regar n Bishopi te th do t - ric of Ross. Having privately ascertained that William Douglas, Abbot of poinHolyroode th f deathn to o s laie ,h f dwa ,wagemonea o larg a m f ro ye su with the King, whose Chaplain he then was, that His Majesty would not present him to the office of Abbot on. the next vacancy. The King took the wager, shortld an y afterwards 1S28n i , , appointe thao t tm officedhi . This bribe eluded Churce rulee th th f so h against Simony t seemi d havo a an ,st o t e y openewa s dhi serie royaf so l favours soon afterwards Septembed 2 n O . r 1536 soughe ,h d an t obtained letters legitimating his three bastard children. On 29th May 1537, he wa seconsa d time made High Treasurer. From this office, howevers wa e h , again removed r Jame fo mako t ,y s ewa Kirkcald f Grangeyo 24tn o , h March 1538. He next applied for the Bishopric of Ross, the temporalities of which he succeeded in obtaining on 22d June 1539, and he was appointed Bishop in 1540. The means which he used to secure this preferment are fully explained in the very curious document of 12th November 1538, after inserted. And, lastly, he received from the King the Abbacy of Fearn in commendam, on the death of Abbot Denoon, on 9th February 1540. After the death of James V., the Parliament named Abbot Cairncross one of the Privy Council of the Regent Arran,—an evidence that at least he possessed great ability. He died on 30th November 1545, and was buried in the Chanonry of Ross ; and at his request on his deathbed, the Pope gifted the Abbac Fearf relativs yo hi o nt e James Cairncross,—in token, perhaps- ap f o , probation of his successful career, certainly not as a reward for any ecclesiasti- l virtueca . The first document above referred to is taken from Volume I. of the exist- Protocolg in Alexandef so r MacNeill instrumenn a s i d an , tInvesti e taketh n no - tur Roberf eo t Cairncross Provoss a , Corstorphinef o t , date Augush d5t t 1527- followss a s i t I , viz. :— Pro Dn° Roberta Carnecross. " Quint mensie odi s Augusti ann Millesemi oDn o quingentesimo vicesimo sep- timo Indictione decima quinta Pont Sanctissim Xn i i p t Dnie . nri. Dni. us to tris dementis Divina providentia Pape septimi anno quarto mec n I .ho i nod a ™t e

vocatorum et rogatorum, &c, personaliter constitutes venerabilis vir et circum-

e li spectus vir Dn s Thomas Wilkieston Prebendarius ecc Collegiate de Corstor- phin presedenc ea s capituli ejusd temporo pr . r venerabileepe m etiam virum Dnum Robertum Carnecross pr11"™ retroscriptum legitime requisitus eundem Dn™ Robertu mrealen i m actuale t mcorporalee quasu mse i possessionem pre- positurum dicte Ecclle Collegiat Corstorphie ed n retroscript secundum tenorem

B 2 VOL . PARII . T III. 362 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF

presentis collationis induxit et investuit stalum in chore et locum in capitulo re- cepto ab eodem juramento solito et consueto eid. assignavit adhibitis ad hoc so- lemnitatibus in talibus obsignavi consuetes presentesq collationes Lras Execu- tionis debite in singulis suis punctis seeundum illarum vim formam et tenorem demandavi t executissune t t supee e d tr quibus omnibu t singulise s memoratus Dna Robertus Carnecross a me Nro pubco snbscripto sibi fieri petiit unum Tel plura publicu publicu mse a Instrumentu t mInstrumente a Actan i eran c he t

dicta EccliaCollegiata de Corstorphin, in choro et capitula ejusd. hora undecima

c ante meridiem vel eo circa sub anno mense sic, &, c presentibus Ibidem, &, Alexandro Forster de Corstorphin milite Alex™ Wardlaw de Kilbaberton, Nicholayo Carnecors Burge Edinburghe nd . Alexro Wardlaw, Dno Alexr° Philip Thoma Thomson Joanne Howessoun Joanne Penny Georgio Swa t Georgie n o Malice Capnis Testibu premissd sa a vocatis, &c." secone Th d documen takes i t Volumnd 2 froProtocolss e hi mf th e o , viz.:—

supremoPro Dn" Bege AVbateet Monastery Sancti Crucis prope Edinr-

" Duodecim mensie odi s Novembris Ann Ii mo Dn v.cxx x viij Indictione duo-

i decima Pontincatus Pape Pauli terti i noquarto r publicme an j n oI t testiue i m subscriptorum pntia personaliter Comparuerunt providi viri David Wo Crae dd g Rotulator S.D.N. Regi t Oliveruse s Sincla Pitcarnie d r s familiares servatores S.D.N. Regi t Ejuse s nomine expart t Venerabilie a eun Christn i s o pate- rRo bertus permissions divina Abbas Mori Sancti Crucis prope Edinburgh exparte altera quequidem ptc suix se s certis scientii t spontaneise s voluntatibu hand a s c devenerunt concordiam ut sequitur in vulgari Thir Indentures maid at the Abbey of the Halie Croce besy d Edinburt the xii day of November the zeir of God Im. Vc and xxxviij zeirs quhilk conteins proporti berid san s lele witnessin thamgn i e self that it is appoyntit and finallie aggreit betuixt honorable persones that is to say David Wod of Crag Comptroller to the Kings Grace Oliver Sinclar of Pitcarni r SovereigO n i s n Lord sVenerable naman than e pard o e an an tt e fader in God Robert Abbot of the said Abbey on that uther part In manner as efter sair followO d y Soverainsa s thao t s i t e Lord sail writ s letterhi e f supo s - plicatio Halir ou eo nt fade Pape utherirth d Coure ean th Romf n so ti e quhamo t

the said venerabill fader will desyre his Graces Letters suppljcatoris to be directit

e promotios fohi r Bishoprie th o nt Rossf vacanko w ,no deceae db f umqso Jamel s Bisho Rosf po s last possesso quhilsamye e th th r f ro kn fo promotiou maie b o dnt in manner foirsaid the said Venerabill Fader sail send his lettres of Procura- torie in dew and lawful form as sail be divisit makand sic persounis as sail pleis e Kingth s Grac namo t e s Procuratorihi e r renouncinsfo d resigninan g d gan overgivin r HaliO n gi e fade e Pape'th r s hand Vics shi e Chancello utherid an r s ANTIQUARIE3 36 SCOTLANDF SO .

havand power thairto Abbacs hi , f Halirudhouyo persony gevie b on o o nst t s

o that pleises Kinge tth s Grac namo et e thathaird an t i nt promotious cashi f eo no t the said Bishoprick et non aliter neque alio modo or utherwise be his promotioun to the said Abbey to be decemit to vaik and to be gevin to quham the Kings Grace pleisis as said is, Reservand to the said Venerabill Fader the sum of five hundreth merks of pensioun to be upliftit and tane yearly of the fruits of the said Abbey Indurand his liftyme, And for sicker payment of the said pensioun yeirlie in manner as said is, the said David and Oliver sail bind yame conjunctlie and severallie and also sail caus Mongo Tenand and William Tod Burgesses of Edinr to be bunden with thame in likewis conjunctlie and severallie for payment samy e saie th dth f no Venerabilo t l Fade twt ra a zeiterme th r n Witsondasi d yan Martynme winten si equale rb l portioun quhild an sair y eo sa d Soverane Lord

provide him of benefice or pensioun of benefice extendand zeirlie to the said sum of v c merk said lsan delive tho rt e said Venerabill Fader thir letteris Obligatoris hereupoun and that the said Letteris of supplicationis and procuratorie sail be sent with all diligence at the Kings Graces plesor and in the meyn tyme quhill hame th e cumin saidie th f gso bulli saie sth d Venerabill fadek l brouta sa rd kan up the fruits of the said benefice and sail not be molestit troublit nor vexit nor stoppit in the up taking of all the fruits of the said Abbacy or debts awand to him quhatsumever and sail caus him to obtein letteris to be ansvverit throf as accords done anb eo dt upoun Instruments Atto saie rth d Davi Olived dan r ro sait ge l Soverane Lords writings that the said Venerabill fader sail stand in His Grace's favor and the personis underwritten sail not be molestit nor troublit in the brouk- thaif o g r in fewis landi stedingd san s qlk tha isai e havth d f Abbaeo y o that s i t say, Nicol Carncross, Walter Carncross, Charles Carncross, John Carncross, Andro Carncross his Cousings Walter Hoppringill, and Alexander MacNeill, Notar and to the observing keping and fulfilling of thir p Indentures and nt every point and part thairof lelely and trewlie to be observit keipit and fulfillet n mannei s abovi s a r e writte na thi r partie e bundear s n oblis d swornan t . Ilkaue to utheris be the faith and trewith in thir bodies the halie evangelis twichitt In witness hereof baith the said parties hes interchangably subscrivit thir Inden- tures with thir hands at day zeir and place foirsaid befoir thir witnes Maister James Foulis of Colyntoun Clerk of Register Mr Thomas Ballendene of Auch- nolinshill and Mr Henry Balnaves with divers utheris." perioA d intervened betwee e las th e datt f th nProtocoo e f Alexandeo l r MacNeill, and the first of John MacNeill, his successor in office, when two No- taries, Donald Fullarton and John Porteous, acted as his depute-clerks, probably durin long illness w aged ghi ol Ho .ther so y continue n officdi e cannot now be ascertained, as the two Protocol Books kept by them have been lost. 2 u2 364 PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY OP

JOHN MACNEIM Alexandef probablo s n wa , so e yth r MacNeill hele H d. the offices of Clerk to the Borough and Barony down to the period of the Reform- ation, when ther considerabla s ei e Wank from 155 1576o t 5 , during whico hn Protocols exist. His business was very similar to his father's, perhaps not quite so extensive contait books hi no s o mansa ,d o ns y document historicaf so l interest- He, unlike the previous clerks, resided in Edinburgh, and had his office there also. e MinutTh e before quoted, authenticatin e Protocolth g e foregointh f o s g clerks, prove miscellaneoue sth s natur theif eo r contents t onli s ya , authorises Extracts by the Common Clerks of the Burgh of Canongate and of Leith, in Instrumente th s a r fa "o s thairin contenit concern Regalitie sth Burd ean t above written.'1 These f morbooko e e ar svarie d contents f greateo d an ,r interest thae nth Protocol Books of the Logans and their successors, as they are the sole records of the period to which they relate, now preserved in the Canongate. They con- tain many writ favouvassaln s e i Abbey e th th f f o r s o heirs a , theif so r ancestors, anthue dar s valuabl pedigren ei e question perioa t sa y d date an prio f th eo o t r service existingw sno . JAMES LOOAN, who succeeded John MacNeill, was probably a son of the Lair Restalrigf do residee officinaCanongates e H .hi th d n i ha scriptoriad an , in Edinburgh. He was Clerk of the Burgh and Regality from 1561 to 1606, and wrote nine or ten Protocol books, besides compiling eight Act Books of the Burgh and Regality Courts, and relative Minute Book, and keeping the Book of Charters of the Commendators of Holyrood. His eight Act Books and Mi- nute Book stil booko ls Protocol tw existf hi Charters so d l al an , t s bu hav, e been lost, except four volume fragmenta d san . s sonHi , WALTER LOGAN , succeedeo N.P.wh , officn da himn Edind i e ha , - burgh, called in his Instruments, Camera or Offidna, Scriptoria. He held the office from 1606 to 1634, and wrote six Protocol Books, and nine Act Books, and remaindee th Minute th f ro e Book Bookt . Ac Seve s s hi hav f no e been preserved, and one volume of Protocols. nexe Th t Cler JAMEs kwa S LOSAN, so f Walteno r Logan inheriteo wh , d considerable property from his father. He succeeded him at the age of 22, and held office from June 1635 to November 1665. He wrote five Protocol Books, which still exist aboud an , t eigh t BookstAc whicf o , h five remain. JAMES ROCHEID, of the family of Inverleith, was appointed Clerk at the age of 81, and held the office from January 1666 to 1691, having James Irving as his depute-clerk, from August 1684. He wrote three volumes of Protocols, or rathe Sasina f ro e Record parfourtd a f an ,o t h volume, which still exist. These kept bookno te accordinsar dateo gt , like regular Protocol Books. ANTIQUARIE5 36 SCOTLANDF SO . s succeedewa e H JAMEy b d S CATHCAK f CarrestoTo 1691n ni , whose depute, James Hamilton dutieoffice e th th f ed s o dow ,di 1691o nt , whe demittee nh n di favours hi . JAMES HAMILTON was clerk from 1694 to 22d February 1704. The following is a list of the other Canongate Records now remaining :—

I. Books of Charters. Second Book of Charters by Commendators of Holyrood, 'from 12th May 1560 to 30th November 1579; with Index annexed Inded thira an ,f xo d volume, now lost Vol1 . . folio. Fourth Boo Charterf ko f Lordso Erectiof so Holyroodf no , from 26th Octo- be Januarh r 4t 158 o t 7 yIndexo 1593 N Vol1 .. . quarto. First Book of Charters, by the Magistrates of Edinburgh, superiors of tho Boroug Regalityd an h , from last June 164 10to t 0 h September 164 ; 7wit h tabl contentf eo s annexed Folios5 22 . . Second Book of Charters, by ditto, from 1st October 1647 to 27th November 1657. Fourth Boo Chartersf ko dittoy b , , fro Januarh m9t y 168 1711. y 16to 0t hMa .

II. Act or Regality Court Books. Containin e Proceedinggth f Borougo s Regalitd han y Court f Canongato s e and Broughton, as Decrees and Claims, and Retours of Service, Brieffs of Tu- tory, also sentences in criminal or Justiciary cases decided in the Regality Courts.

James Lagan's Books. Ther a volume s i e , commencin t Octobeg1s r 1561, consistin pages2 2 f go , which seem havo st e been discontinued filled witp ,an du h rentals, charters. &c , The regular series commences with— Vol. I. 4th May 1569 to 24th May 1574. II. 26th May 1574 to 15th May 1577. III. 6th June 1577 to 2d November 1580. Novembeh 9t . IV r 158 14to 0t h January 1583-4. V. 15th January 1583 to 30th June 1586. VI. 2d July 1586 to 22d November 1590. VII. 9th August 1592 to 15tb October 1600. VIII. 21st June 1600 to 21st February 1606. 6 36 PROCEEDING SOCIETE TH P P SO Y O

Walter Lagan's Books. Vol. I. 26th February 1606 to 21st May 1608. III. 5th December 1610 to llth December 1611. V. 23d December 1618 to 6th August 1620. VI. 9th August 1620 to 28th December 1622. VII. January 1623 to 15th November 1626. VIII. 18th January 1627 to 28th May 1631. Junh 4t e . 163IX . 20t1o t h February 1634. Minute-Book r Abstraco , foregoine th f o t t BooksgAc , from 156 16349o t .

James Logan, jun.'s Boohs. Vol. I. 26th February 1634 to 20th February 1636. II. 4th January 1637 to 31st December 1639. III. 25th January Jul d 164y23 0o 1642t . Januarh 7t . IV y 164 25t6o t h August 1647. V. 3d January 1657 to 3d February 1657. VI. 17th October 1663 to 6th February 1666.

James Hamilton's Act Book. Vol. 24th April 1694 to 9th March 1732.

Council Books Canongate.of Vol. I. Containing the Acts and Statutes of the Bailies of Canongate, ad- mission Burgessesf so , Treasurers' Accounts, &c., fro t Octom1s - ber Octobed 15623 1o t r 1588 pages0 35 . . . ContaininII gBailliee Actth f s o Cationgatef so , from 24th September 1623 to 8th March 1652 ; and Admissions of Burgesses by them, from 27th June 1622 to 27th September 1649; also, copies of Charters, from 155 61652o t Folios0 6 . . III. From 21st May 1652 to 5th September 1661, and copies of Char- ters, from 22d July 1652 to 18th May 1672. 93 Pages. . FroIV m 24th April Marc169h 9t 4o t h 1732, containin othen go r side copies of Charters, from 1st August 1695 to 20th May 1710.

Horning Inhibitionand Register Borough ofthe Regalityand Courts. Vol. I. 12th December 1597 to 6th July 1602. II. 23d July 1602 to 9th May 1612. III. January 161 20t3o t h June 1655. ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND. 367

Miscellaneous Volume, called Book of Privileges of the Canongate. Containing copies of Charters in favour of the Burgh, and Seals of Cause of the different Corporations in it—Rentals and Taxed Rolls of the Borough and Regality—Papers in Action between the Commendator of Holyrood and Ma- gistrate Edinburgf so h (printe Maitlane th n di d Club Miscellany)—Entries of Burgesses, and other similar documents.

It will be observed from the foregoing list that many blanks occur in the ex- isting Canongate Records, while severa booke th f so l that remain, particularly the Regality Court Books of Walter Logan and his son James, are torn and defective. These losse e sai ar shavo dt e been sustained partl Novemben yi r 1650 e perioth , d when Cromwell's arm quarteres y wa Canongatee th n di d an , when a part of the palace of Holyrood was accidentally burnt, but principally 1745n i , whe Highlandere nth s took possessio Court-Housee th - f nac o n a n I . tion befor Coure eth Sessionf to instance th t a , Andref eo w Gardene otherd ran s against the Magistrates of Canongate, in the year 1758, witnesses were ad- d seee Highlanha duceth n o tossinf dwh o t d book e ac soldierg th d e sth an n si papers from the windows of the Court-room into the street in front. We are inclined to think that the damage was done chiefly, if not altogether, at this time. Ther however, eis , evidence fro recorde mth s themselves that thera s ewa break or interruption during the occupation of Cromwell and his soldiers, as from the end of the year 1649 to September 1651 no entries occur in any of the soldiere booksth t sbu ; wer t theeno n quartere e Court-Houseth n di werd an ,e not allowed wantonly to destroy any property. Justiciare Th y Courte Regalitth f o s f Broughtoyo n were ancienn i , t times, held by a temporal Peer under a commission from the Abbot of Holyroodhouse, appears a s fro e oldesmth t Protocol Book. After 1560 Courtse ,th , both civil and criminal, were held by the Bailie of Regality, who generally sat along with the two Bailies of Canongate. In 1636, the magistrates of Edinburgh purchased the Burgh and Regality of Canongate, and, at the same time, the trustees of Heriot's Hospital acquired the Baron Broughtof yo landd nan s included therein magistratee Th . s afterwards obtaine dchartea r fro Crowmthe n erecting Canongate, North Leith, Coalhill, and Pleasance into a Royalty, and confirming " their right and privilege of a Regality, chapel, and chancery, within the burgh and other lands, with a right and privilege of serving breives, making retours, and administering justice in l causeal actionsd san , civi criminal,d an l . "&c These privileges were confirme Parliameny db e divisio 1661n th i t d f ,an no 8 36 PROCEEDING SOCIETE TH F F SO YO

the Baron Regalitd yan f Broughtoyo n betwee e Magistratenth Heriot'd san s Hospital complete ratifiedd dan . Unde Bailiee rth thi t Canongatf sac so e have Coure th continue Servicf n o ti t Bailieac s eRegalita e o dt th f so Holyroodf yo - house. From an early period this Court of Regality of Canongate or Holyroodhouse became a favourite tribunal for services of heirs and breives of tutory, not only of partie helo dswh propert r weryo e resident withi e Regalitynth t frobu ,m parties residen l partal Scotlandf n si o t . whole Th e procedur thesn i e e services wer t firsa e Bookt t entereAc e s th n di Towe ofth n Clerks from 1569 dow o 1732t n . After that period separato n , e record of services was kept till 1780, but the claims of service and procedure in them are, for the most part, preserved. From the year 1780, the services were recorded in a separate register, which consist eighteef so n volumes folio, from 178 1853o 0t . Few f anyi , thesf ,o e e speciaar l service landeo t s d property, which were always taken before th e sheriff counte ofth situateds whicn yi wa t hi , but, besides general servicef o s landed proprietor othersd san , these books contai servicew fe na title o st f so honourtherefore ar d an , e very interestin usefud gan genealogican i l l inquiries. greatee Th r portio thesf no e services were duly retoure chanceryo t d - re d an , cordeRegistee th n di f Retoursro . Since the foregoing notice was written, I have ascertained that there is deposited in the General Register Office, a volume of John MacNeill's Protocol Book of Infeftments connected with Leith, from 17th February 1555 to 18th April 1559 annexed Protocoa ,an t i o dt l Boo Johf ko n Robeson, Cler Leithf ko , from 3d December 1569 to 4th February 1572.