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Preceptum Domini de Drummond pro saisina terrarum de Dunlugus (A.D. 1511.) Johannes dominus Drummond dilectis meis Jacobo Mortimer et Johanne Futhes ac eorum cuilibet coniunctim et diuisim balliuis meis [etc.] Quia dedi [etc.] reuerendo in Christo patri Willelmo Episcopo Abirdonensi cancellario Universitatis Abirdonensis totas et integras meas terras de Dunlugus et Meredene cum pertinentiis jacentes infra vicecomitatum de Banff ad sustentationem unius prebendarii in artibus magistri in theologia studentis et continuo residentis in nouo collegio Uniuersitatis predicte secundum formam et tenorem carte admortizationis et confirmationis per suppremum dominum nostrum Regem desuper conficiende pro quadam certa summa pecunie michi per dictum reuerendum patrem [etc.] persoluta de qua teneo me bene contentum [etc.] Vobis igitur et vestrum cuilibet precipio [etc.] quatinus [etc.] sasinam hereditariam [etc.] dictarum terrarum [etc.] prefato reuerendo patri [etc.] diliberetis [etc.] · In cuius rei testimonium sigillum meum proprium presentibus est appensum Apud Edinburgh vicesimo quarto die mensis Julii anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo undecimo coram hiis testibus videlicet. Andrea Elphinston de Selmys Johanne Drummond filio meo Waltero Drummond magistris Alexandro Spittale Waltero Drummond Grundestoun cum diuersis aliis testibus.

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1 [From the original in the possession of the Club.

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et Dauid

See Evidence taken by the Royal Commissioners on the Universities of Scotland, vol. iv., pp. 143, 144, 152. Lond. 1837. Presented to parliament by command of his Majesty.

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On the third of February 1488-9, there was an "accioune and cause persewit be Johne of Balfoure the sone and are of Dauid Balfoure of Carraldstoune and Elizabeth his spous aganis Robert of Gordoune the sone and are of vmquhile Robert of Gordoune of Dunlugus for the wrangwis detencioune and withhaldin fra them of certane gudis." (Acta Dominorum Concilii, p. 105.)]

THE PARISH OF INVERKETHNY.!

Carta medietatis terre de Coneuathe 2 (A.D. 1366.)

AUID Dei gracia . Rex Scottorum

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Omnibus [etc.]

salutem Sciatis nos dedisse concessisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse dilecto et fideli nostro . Johanni de Inuerpefire et Cristiane de Sancto Michaele sponse sue consanguinee nostre pro ipsius Johannis homagio et seruicio suo totam medietatem nostram terre de Coneuathe cum pertinenciis infra vicecomitatum de Banf ac totam medietatem nostram terrarum de duabus Logy Ardachis cum pertinenciis infra vicecomitatum de Abirdene Tenendas et habendas eisdem Johanni et Cristiane sponse sue et eorum alteri diucius viuenti heredibusque inter ipsos legitime procreatis vel procreandis de nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et hereditate per omnes rectas metas et diuisas suas cum omnibus et singulis libertatibus commodi

1 [See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 650, 652. "A large burn, which comes through the parishes of Drumblade and Forgue, falls into the river Deveron near the church, from which it is probable the parish derives the name of Inverkeithny. The parish formerly belonged to the synod of Moray and presbytery of Huntly." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xi., pp. 505, 506. Edinb. 1794.) See Extracts from the Presbytery Book of Strathbogie, A.D. M.DC.XXXI.-A.D. M.DC.LIV., p. 63. The church of Inuerketheny was erected into a prebend of the cathedral church of Murray, by Bishop Andrew de Moravia, in a synod of his clergy held at Elgin, in the church of Saint Giles the Abbot, on the fifth of May 1226: "tertia est ecclesia de Inuerketheny cum omnibus ad eam juste pertinentibus." (Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, pp. 73— 76.) By the constitutions of the same Bishop Andrew, the prebendary of Inverkethny was required to find a deacon to serve as his vicar in the cathedral church. (Id. pp. 94, 361, xvIII.) Sir Alexander Caunt or Kant was prebendary of Inuerkethny from the year 1487 to the year 1489. (Id., pp. 257-268.) John Lockart or Lockert was prebendary from 1534 to 1557; Hew Cragy, from 1560 to 1572. (Id., p. xxш.) In the year 1561, "the personage of Inverkethnye was sett in assedatioun to Alexander Dunbar of Kwynac for auchty pundis yeirlie." (Id., p. xxi.)]

2 [From the Registrvm Magni Sigilli Regvm Scotorvm, p. 43.

As to the thanage of Conwauth, see the Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, pp. 319, 320; or above, p. 217; and The Chamberlain Rolls of Scotland, vol. i., pp. 294, 295, 490. Edinb. 1836.

In the time of King Alexander III. (1249-1286), the thanage of Conuath was valued at four score merks, in the rental of the King's lands in the sheriffdom of Banff. (Registrum

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tatibus [etc.] ita libere quiete integre plenarie et honorifice in omnibus et per omnia sicut quondam Philipus de Melgdrum miles pater et quondam Andreas de Melgdrum frater predicte Cristiane dictas terras cum pertinenciis suis temporibus liberius quiecius plenius et honorificencius tenuerunt seu possiderunt quibus vero heredibus inter predictos Johannem et Cristianam forte deficientibus volumus quod dicte medietates predictarum terrarum cum pertinenciis ad nos et heredes nostros libere et integre reuertantur. Faciendo inde nobis et heredibus nostris dicti Johannes et Cristiana et eorum alter diucius viuens ac heredes sui supradicti tale seruicium quale dicti quondam Philipus et Andreas pro dictis terris fecerunt dum superstites exstiterunt. In cuius rei etc. Testibus etc. Apud Munros vltimo die Marcii anno regni nostri Tricesimo Sexto.

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Carta de Conwathe pro domino de Badenach (A.D. 1380.) Robertus [Dei gracia Rex Scottorum. Omnibus etc. Sciatis nos dedisse etc.] dilecto filio nostro Alexandro Senescalli militi domino de Badenach medietatem terrarum de Conwathe cum pertinenciis infra vicecomitatum de Banf et medietatem terrarum de Logyardache cum pertinenciis infra vicecomitatum de Abirdene quas terras cum pertinenciis Willelmus de Fordringhay miles non vi aut metu [ductus etc. nobis per fustem et baculum sursum reddidit pureque simpliciter resignauit etc.] Tenendas et habendas eidem Alexandro heredibus suis et suis assignatis de nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et hereditate etc. heredibus nostris [etc.] annuatim vnum denarium dene nomine albe firme etc. In cuius etc xviij die Octobris anno regni nostri ix.

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Reddendo inde nobis et argenti in villa de AbirTestibus etc apud Perthe

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Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i., pp. 55, 160.) In the year 1333, it was found by an inquest held at Aberdeen on the Saturday next after the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, by Sir Robert of Laweder chamberlain of Scotland, and Sir Ralph of Melton his treasurer, that, of the lordship of Conuath, one part was then in the hands of the Earl of Murray, another was in the hands of Sir Archibald of Douglas, and a third in the hands of Sir Walter of Ogylvile. (Id., vol. i., p. 58.)]

[From the Registrvm Magni Sigilli Regvm Scotorvm, p. 152.

In a roll of missing charters by King David II. are "Carta to William Fradrighay of the half of the lands of Conwathe in vicecomitatu de Banf;" "Carta to William Fodrighay of the lands of Conwathe in vicecomitatu de Banf, and Logyardoche in vicecomitatu de Aberdeen." (Robertson's Index to the Charters, pp. 31, 36.)]

THE PARISH OF FORGUE.'

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF FORGUE.2 (A.D. M.DCC.LXI.)

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F

ORGUE lyes in the north part of the county of Aberdeen,
about twenty-four miles from the head burgh, having part of
Rothemay and Inverkeithny parishes, Banffshire, to the north;
Inverkeithny and Auchterless, to the east; Auchterless and
Culsamond, to the south; Inch, Drumblade, and Kinnoir, or
Huntly, to the west.

It is of an irregular form, but among the largest and most populous in the county. From the ford of Auchentender, at the south or south-west, to the muir of Turtry, at the north, is six computed miles; and from the west of Auchterless, near the Lentchy, to Begg's Hill burn, four miles in breadth; the circumference of the whole, taking the course of its march with other parishes, being twenty-four miles.

It may be divided in two parts; that is, hilly, or what the country people term muir-tacks, and the low-land, or more improven grounds. The first consists of towns and farms, among, and upon the skirts of the Foudland hills, and the last, those in the north of the parish, and upon the burn sides.

There are not many high hills in the parish, although several small ones with glens or little valleys interspersed. The Fore or Fowrman hill,3 in the northwest, which separates Forgue from Kinnoir and Rothemay, is the most considerable, is seen from the German Ocean and Murray Frith, and, in many places, at the distance of thirty miles; its summit, or top, appearing almost like a riding saddle, from the east and west. The hills of Raich, Culyne, and Aschaloch, or Frendraught, run in a ridge betwixt the burns of Forgue and Frendraught, through the middle of the parish, from north-east to south-west. Those of Aucharnys, Auchabors, Cranloch, Glenmellin, etc., are all parts of the Foudland, though they are known by different names, as are the hills of Munelly and Drumdollo those of Bogny are part of the Foreman.

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1 [See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff,

pp. 519-525.]

2 [From the Edinburgh Magazine, vol. v., for the year 1761, pp. 11—13.]

3 [The unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, on her journey to the north [in 1562], passed over this hill on her way to Rothemay, by what goes still by the name of The Queen's Road." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxix., p. 599. Edinb. 1842.)]

The parish is reputed no part of the district of Garioch, Strathbogie, Buchan, or Foremartin. It, of old, belonged to the Dunbars, a branch of the Dunbars Earls of Murray. In King James the Second's time, a son of Crichton, chancellor of Scotland, by marrying the heiress, got the estate; in which family (afterwards dignified by the title of Viscount of Frendraught) part of the estate continued until the beginning of this century. and went always under the designation of the lordship and regality of Frendraught. The property of it now belongs to Mr Morison of Bogny, Mr Duff of Hatton, Messrs. Gordon of Cowbardy, Irvine of Corny-haugh, Leslie of Drumdollo, Phyne of Cross, and Innes of Munelly. Bogny has about one-half; Hatton and Cowbardy are the next considerable; the other four are of smaller properties.

Each of the proprietors have mansion-houses, except Hatton. Those belonging to Bogny and Cowbardy are the principal; the rest equal to ministers' manses, with gardens and office-houses.

The valued rent of the parish is three thousand nine hundred and thirty-six pounds, six shillings, and eight pence, Scots, and the real rent about two thousand pounds sterling. Of old, it was divided into eighty ploughs, and nine mills, besides crofts; at present, it is in more ploughs, but only eight mills. There is also a good dyster and waulk-mill, within half a mile of the church. The minister's stipend is about a thousand pounds [Scots], localled; and the schoolmaster has sixteen shillings ard eight pence Scots off each of the original ploughs, besides the school, and salary as session-clerk.

The parishioners are reckoned to be three thousand, old and young, of both

1 [In the year 1257, Pope Alexander IV. confirmed to the abbot and convent of the monastery of St. Thomas the Martyr at Arbroath, the grant which had been made to them, by Sir William of Ferendracht, knight, (without the consent of his diocesan) of the patronage of the church of Ferendracht (Ferindrach), in the diocese of Aberdeen, with right to apply the fruits of the benefice (estimated at thirty merks) to their own proper uses. In the year 1268, the church having become vacant by the death of Duncan, its last rector, the monks appointed a chaplain to serve in the cure of the parish, assigning to him for his salary, all the altarage, with the church land, and a manse; and reserving to themselves the great tithes of the whole parish, with eight merks yearly of the lesser tithes of wool or lambs. (Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 520-522.) By an error of the press, a notice of the neighbouring church of Forglynt, in the Chartulary of Aberdeen, under the year 1250, has been applied to the church of Ferendrach or Forgue. Cf. Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i., p. 23; above, p. 59.

"Dunkan de Ferndraghe (Fernyndroghe) chiualier (nobilis vir dominus Duncanus de Ferndraghe) del counte de Abredene" and "Eue qe fut la femme Maucolom de Fernyndraughe del counte de Abredene" swore fealty and homage to King Edward I. of England on his subjugation of Scotland in the year 1296. (The Ragman Rolls, pp. 96, 142, 132.) Sir Duncan of Ferendrach and Sir Henry his brother, knights, were present

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