Records of the Pringles of the Scottish Border, by Alex Pringle

Chapter 10

EAST TEVIOTDALE

WILLIAM (CONSTABLE OF CESSFORD CASTLE)

WILLIAM HOPRINGILL appears to have been a son of David of Smailholm, the first Ranger (Cursor) of the Ward of Tweed.

In April 1467 at Edinburgh, a charter was granted by King James III to his faithful Andrew Ker of Attonburn of the whole lands of Cessford, also of the 20-merk land acquired from James, Lord Hamilton; and in October following infeftment on a precept of sasine was given at the gate of the Castle, in the presence of William Pringill, constable of Cessford Castle, and others (MSS., Rox.). In May 1468 at Edinburgh, in the house of Thomas Folkert, a notarial instrument was taken that Henry Wardlaw of Torrey had received from George Twede in the name of Walter Ker, son and heir of Andrew Ker of Cessford, payment for the lands of Hounam; witnesses, Thomas Folkert, William Pringill, Alexander Pringill, and others (MSS., Rox.).

In 1476 William, Lord Somerville, the jury of Lipton, and only five of them, including William Hoppringill, challenged the finding of the jury that sat on his claim to the lands of Blakelaw parish having appeared by their procurators, the Lords Auditors order the others to compear along with them on 3rd October following, under pain of rebellion.

In 1484 William Hoppringle acts as bailie for Alexander Hume of Crailing and Hounam, nephew and heir of Alexander, Lord Hume for infefting Andrew Ker of Cessford in the lands of Hounam ; the Mains, Chatto, and another excepted. In 1486 William sat on the assize that retoured John, 4th Lord Maxwell, in the barony of Maxwell, Roxburghshire. In 1489 he made good his claim, before the Lords of Council, to the tack of Muirhouse, Stow, as granted to him by the Archbishop of St Andrews. In 1490 William Borthwick, Ralph Ker, and William Hoppringle acknowledge receipt of Patrick, Earl of Bothwell's pay as Warden of the East and Middle Marches, probably as Depute Wardens.

In 1491 the Lords Auditors order the Earl of Buchan and William Hoppringill to pay £10 each to the widow and executrix of Thomas Hay, or produce the letters they said they had from the King (James IV.) discharging the same. Also in 1491 William Hoppringill of Cessford, and Thomas and William Ker resign their lands in Rachan, Glenhighden, and Glenchoen, Peeblesshire, and the King granted a charter of them to Thomas Dikeson of Ormiston, giving one attendance in Parliaments and at Justice Ayres (G. S.).

In 1494 at the Justice Ayres, Jedburgh, a remission for the theft of farm stock from Lauderdale and a slaughter at the same time having been produced, William Pringill in Cessford and the laird of Hundalee become sureties for satisfying the parties.

In 1515 Dand (Andrew) Pringill was Constable of the Castle, and was apparently William's son and successor.

Within a year after Flodden the widowed Queen, Margaret of England, married the 'Earl of Angus, the chief of the Red Douglases ; and the Duke of Albany-son of the Duke, brother of James III., who on forfeiture for treason fled to France- was invited to Scotland as Governor during the minority of James V., but did not come till May 1516.

For some years after Flodden an uneasy peace between the two kingdoms was kept by a series of truces, between and during which, however, raiding continued on the Borders. In May 1514 Dacre, the English Warden, enumerates the valleys in the west that he had devastated, and boasts that where there were in them 550 ploughs the land now lay waste, and that on the east Border the Scots had not burned 20 houses, and for every cattle taken by them the English had taken and brought away 100, and for every sheep 200 (B. E.). In due time the Scottish Borderers retaliated, sacking Chillingham, Newtown, and Hexam. In October 1515, writes Dacre, " Mark Ker of Dolphinton, Lieut.-Warden of the Middle March, the Kers of Gateshaw and Graden, the young laird of Mow, Dand (Andrew) Pringill, Constable of Cessford Castle, and George Davidson of Foumertdean , with 400 men came to Millfield, whence they sent 160 horsemen who sacked the town of Holburn, took away 200 oxen and ky and 30 horses, made prisoners 40 of the principal men of the town, also 40 of the gentry of the country, and took them to Cessford Castle, where the Warden (Sir Andrew Ker) received them, set some at liberty and others to ransom, but would make no reply to his (Dacre's) remonstrances '' (H. L.). In the following month the same party burned the town of Hazelrig, took 30 prisoners, and drove away 80 ky and oxen, 30 horses, and the household goods (H. L.).

On the Duke of Albany's arrival in Scotland as Governor the country became the prey to two hostile factions, a French and an English one ; the latter of which, by espionage and the bribery of the venal nobility, was assiduously fomented by Henry VIII. of .England and his Warden Dacre. In December 1516 a gift was made with consent of the Governor to Elizabeth Lawson, relict of the late William Hoppringill of Torwoodlee and Clifton, and his sons, George his heir, Robert, parson of Morham, and Alexander, conjuncted and severally, of the ward and nonentries of the quarter lands of Clifton, now, through the decease of the said William, in the King's hands by reason of ward (P. C,).

In June 1517 the Governor retired to France to renew the old alliance. Durlng his absence his French friend De la Bastie, whom he had left as his deputy, was slain by the Homes of Wedderbum in revenge for the execution in the previous year of their chief, the Earl of Home, for treason.

In 1518 a gift of the ward and nonentries of all lands, etc., that pertained to the late William Ker of Yair, now in the King's hands, and of the marriage of Thomas Ker his nephew and heir, was made to John and William Hoppringill, who were apparently brothers of George of Torwoodlee and Clifton (P. S.). This Thomas Ker married Elisabeth Crichton (see also David of Slegden).

In December 1521 Governor Albany returned to Scotland., and war with England having broken out, and having made an abortive attempt on Carlisle, he retired in October 1522 to France for assistance.

In the summer of 1523 the Earl of Surrey ravaged the Scottish Border ; where, boasts Wolsey " there is left neither house, fortress, tree, corn, or other succour for man.'' On 22nd September he raided Jedburgh and fired the town. Next day Dacre reduced Fernihirst Castle and captured its noted chief Dand Ker ; and afterwards he sacked Kelso, and destroyed its beautiful Abbey. At this juncture the Governor arrived from France with 4000 French footmen, 500 men-at-arms, and a park of artillery. With these auxiliaries and a Scottish army he marched from Pringill bridge, Melrose, down the north bank of the Tweed, crossed it, fruitlessly besieged Wark Castle, and retired to Edinburgh. In May 1524, having lost all faith in the Scottish nobility he withdrew, disgusted, to France, never to return.

Henry VIII now let loose on Scotland the traitor Angus, his brother-in-law, who with Buccleuch on a November morning entered Edinburgh to coerce Parliament, which was sitting. In the beginning of 1626 a truce for 3 years between the two countries was being negotiated at Edinburgh, when Arran and the Borderers, who were opposed to it, marched against Angus with 5000 men, but dispersed on seeing the royal flag displayed by him. For a list of the 9 Hoppringills, including George of Torwoodlee and Clifton and his brothers James and David, and their pardon, see Smailholm. For the attempt by Buccleuch at Pringill's drawbridge, Melrose, in July, and later by the Earl of Lennox with 10,000 men, to free the young King from the Douglases, who kept him prisoner and ruled in his name, see Smailholm and Buckholm. It was not until June 1528 that the King, James V., escaped, and that by his own strategy.

Angus and his Douglas abettors were then forfeited, and fled into England.

In December 1527 the Earl of Northumberland was appointed Warden-General of the English Marches. " Tynedale had its share of Pringles, Reids, Halls, and Robsons, all or nearly all disaffected; while Lisles, Shaftoes, Erringtons, and Swinburns thought no shame of putting themselves of these ever-ready banditti, and harrying the castles and homesteads of their own country '' (H. P.). One Sunday as Northumberland was returning from Mass at Norham Castle, the Lisles, being ordered by Angus out of Teviotdale, met him with 15 of their band clad only in their shirts, and with halters round their necks (H. P.) In March 1528 Wolsey's orders were to execute William Lisle, Humphrey his son, John Ogle, William Shafto, and Thomas Fenwick, while Humphrey Lisle, a boy aged 13, was to be sent up to the Tower.

In June 1530 King James, after arresting the chiefs of the Scotts, Kers, Homes, Maxwells and Johnstones, whom he suspected of abetting the disorders rampant on the Borders, marched thither with a strong force and hanged not a few of the perpetrators.

In 1531 a gift under the Privy Seal was made to Alexander and William Hoppringill of all goods movable and immovable that pertained to two persons at the horn for a slaughter (P. S.). In 1532 an instrument of reckoning was made between George Hoppringill of Torwoodlee and Clifton and his brothers, James, Robert, and William (T. W.).

On 23rd August 1532 Northumberland wrote to King Henry that the Rutherfords, Kers, Davidsons, Pryngelles, Halls, Turnbulls, and others of Teviotdale and Jedworth Forest, 400 in number-300 tried horsemen and 100 footmen-on Monday the 19th inst. in the close night, came in at Bells (Deadwater), and on Tuesday at sunrise ran an open-day foray to Haltwhistle, seizing all manner of goods on the way. Certain Gentlemen of the country came to the rescue, and set upon them, wounding by appearance six score, killing one outright, and taking prisoners 12 (including a Pryngell), " all of whom, God willing, according to March law shall suffer execution on Sunday next '' (H. S.),

He wrote, later, that in this raid, one Carrock took two Scotsmen prisoners, a Turnbull and a Pringill, that Lord Dacre demanded their delivery to him as Liddesdale men, and Carrock having replied that they were Tevsotdale men, that Dacre adjured him not to deliver them to me but to let them escape, for if he did they would be executed, and he would concur in deadly feud with Teviotdale, seeing they were of the principals of the country. Upon which message the prisoners were let slip into Scotland. He had good reason to suspect certain Pringles and other persons resident in Tynedale of being in league with the enemy, and of leaving helped many to escape.

Should his suspicions be confirmed he shall not fail to put them to such execution as shall be a warning to all such offenders not to bring in the Scots hereafter. He adds, that while the country gentleman were at the assize in Newcastle, Dand Ker of Graden, March Deputy of Scotland, with 700 men, ran an open-day foray in Norhamshire, and took up the town of Felkington, whereupon the country rose and scrimmaged with the Scots, when there were taken divers of them and much of their goods, and three men after their taking were shamefully murdered and slain; but he, Northumberland, is going to let slip the Tynedale, Redesdale, and Liddesdale men, and trusts to act so secretly that the realm of Scotland shall have no small annoyance thereby (H. P.). In October 1532 Northumberland reported to King Henry that he had treated secretly with diverse Merse and Teviotdale men who wanted " Assurance," promising to give warning of a Scottish raid, and to remain quiet on an English one; yet in spite of him, Lance Ker, a Deputy Warden, on the 10th inst. with 300 Teviotdale men had burned his town of Alnham, with all the corn, hay, and household stuff, and on the day following had taken up Newstead, another of his towns, with 200 head of cattle and 26 prisoners (H. P.). King James had appointed the Earl of Moray Warden of the Scottish East and Middle March, and Mark Ker had openly promised him before the king that within five days he would burn a town of mine within three miles of my castle of Warkworth, and give me light to put on my clothes at midnight (H.L., H.P.). On Sunday the 13th inst., at night, 100 light horsemen came in and took up Lorbottle with 20 horses and all the household stuff; and on Thursday night last a party of 30 took up, a little village of his balled Whittel, but could not burn it, because they could get no light. He (Northumberland) had let slip 500 of the best horsemen in Glendale and a party from Berwick, who burned Coldingham with all the corn belonging thereto, worth £1000 sterling, also two steadings, taking 80 prisoners, 60 horses, and 200 head of cattle. Also he had planned with the Redesdale and Tynedale men to burn Kelso with all the corn in the town (H. P.). On 20th November King James complained in a letter to Henry VIII that Northumberland wrote openly to his Warden the Earl of Moray that he was inhibited from meeting him, and that his subordinates more cruelly than before-of very set purpose, he believed, to break the peace between the countries-had since committed most detestable and notorious crimes in burning and murdering his lieges under silence of night. In April 1533 Northumberland reported that Lance Ker, son of Andrew of Gateshaw, with 200 men, had again burned. Alnham, also Prendwick, but had returned without taking prisoners or goods, certain of the country having risen to the fray, while others ran a foray in Scotland, harried much country, and took many prisoners and cattle (H. L.). The desolation of the southern counties went on till May 1534, when a treaty of peace was arranged to last till the death of one of the Kings and a year longer.

In April 1538 Sir William Eure, Warden of the East March of England, and the Wardens of Teviotdale and the Merse drew up a statement of the proceedings at the days of truce held on the frontier for the redress of international offences, when the complaints or bills presented by either side were submitted to a jury consisting of 6 Scottish and 6 English gentlemen. If a bill was fyled (fouled) on a person he was delivered to the opposite warden, by whom he was imprisoned till he had paid treble the value of the goods mentioned in the bill. Meetings had been held about fortnightly since April 1536, the first half of them mostly at Riding Burn, the second all at Coldstream. In 1536 George Pringhill or Pringhell of the Tanlaw sat on the jury 5 times, William Pringhell of the Tofts was twice on the jury in 1536, and also tendered a bill for 52 " hold sheep '' which was delivered for, and in 1537 another against five Englishmen named Store which was quit by them. John Pringhell of Clifton in 1537 was a juryman once, and also tendered a bill which was respited. Sandy Pringhill in 1536 tendered a bill for 52 sheep, which was delivered for; while an English bill is referred. to the quittance of Curste Sande Prinhell (H. L.). English writers of this and other times stumble much over the aspirate " h '' ; hence in these dispatches such phrases as " hold orse '' for old horse, " Pringhill '' for Hoppringill, the aspirated press of which they almost always dropped

On New Year's day 1537 King James V. was married in the church of Notre Dame, Paris, to Madeleine, daughter of Francis I., in the presence of a brilliant assemblage, which included seven Cardinals. The royal pair landed in Scotland in May, and the young Queen, who was consumptive, died in July.

Within a year thereafter James married as his second wife Mary of Guise of Lorraine, widow of the Duke of Longueville, in St Andrews Cathedral. In May 1588 English officials on the Borders reported that a company was ready in Scotland to go by ship to France to bring home the Queen; six score of them were from Teviotdale and the Merse (Berwickshire), with Lord Maxwell and the Master of Kilmaurs as Captains, Another official reported that at Lochmaben Stane he had met Lord Maxwell who said that he and the Master of Kilmaurs, son of the Earl of Glencairn, with 300 of the best they can try, were going to France to bring home the Queen, and James Pringill, the King of Scots's servant, told him that he and twenty Pringills must go (H. L.) (see Buckholm).

In May 1538 Ninian Glendinning sold to George Hoppringill of Torwoodlee the £3 land, and to John (his brother) the 50s land of the £10 land (old extent) of Clifton, as occupied by them, and in 1540 the King confirmed to George and his spouse Margaret Crichton the said £10 land (G. S., 1623).

In 1542 the failure of Henry VIII to dominate his nephew King James led to war between the two kingdoms. On 24th August 1542 the English Warden of the East March and the banished Angus and Sir George Douglas, with 3000 horse- men, advancing from Norham to plunder Teviotdale, were met at Hadden Rig by the Earls of Huntly and Home and routed with the loss of many prisoners. On 21st October an English army under the Duke of Norfolk entered Scotland and burned Kelso and its Abbey and the places round about. King James assembled an army of 36,000 men, but the nobles hearing that Norfolk had retired, and refusing to invade England, James disbanded it.

On 24th November an attempt with 10,000 men to invade England by the western frontier ended disastrously at Solway Moss, the army being caught at a moment when dissension was rampant in it, and routed by a few English horsemen (see Buckholm). James retired slowly to Falkland Palace. Here on 14th December he died " of a broken heart if ever man did" leaving as his heir the infant Princess Mary, a week old.

" Henry VIII who had always been the most cruel intriguer against his nephew, a suborner of spies, rebels, and desperadoes,'' now set himself to hive " the child '' and his opponent Cardinal Beaton kidnapped and delivered into his hands along with the chief fortresses, Ms object being to secure the marriage of the Princess Mary to his son Edward, and the annexation of Scotland ; and he proclaimed that he would admit to his peace any Scottish Borderer who would help him in this.

Meanwhile Border raiding had continued, On 13th November 1542 the Earl of Hertford reported from Alnwick Castle that he was that night dispatching a force to burn Coldingham and the country round it ; and on the 19th he reports that the same force had since raided Bowmont Water and burned 21 places maintaining 140 ploughs, including the two Yetholms, Clifton, Primside, etc. : " they could not burn the corn still in the fields because it was wet with snow : had it not been that the Scots had intelligence of their coming they would have had the greatest booty in Scotland these 20 years '' (H. L,). On the 27th November Ralph Bulmer reported to Hertford that he and Sir Ralph Eure had fulfilled his urgent commands and burned Coldstream town and Abbey (see Coldstream Abbey).

On 6th December 1542 Lord Lisle reported that a hundred Teviotdale thieves (sic) had spoiled a village near Alnwick, but had been waylaid and 14 of them taken prisoners, including George Young, one of the chief setters on, William Davidson, and one of the Pringles, their guides having apparently been Englishmen (H. L.).

On 3rd May 1543 a messenger with letters from the Privy Council was sent charging the Kers and Hoppringills not to ride (raid) or make convocation of the lieges (T. A.). It thus appears that, after the Kers, the Hoppringills-descendants of William, Constable of Cessford Castle, and William of Torwoodlee and Clifton-were now the leading surname of East Teviotdale. A month later a treaty of peace was made by Governor Arran and the English faction with Henry VIII stipulating to deliver the Princess Mary when ten years old to his keeping till she was married to his son Edward, while by a secret treaty he was to obtain dominion of Scotland, south of the Forth. On the afternoon of the 26th July the peace was proclaimed at the Cross, Edinburgh, all the people, high and low, seemingly rejoicing at it. On the day following, Lord Parr, the English

Warden, reported from Warkworth that last night 200 Teviotdales and other Scots made a raid into England, but were set upon by the Constable of Etal and 24 of them were taken prisoners : he had sent some of the principals, one being the laird of Mow, another Jok a Pringill (Hoppringill) who took Parson Ogle at the Battle of Hadden Rig, and will put them in irons ; as infractors of the peace (!) taken within England, with a nag, they were by the laws of the Marches liable to the death.

On 31st July Parr reported further that although Mow and Pringill have been very rank riders they are so esteemed in Teviotdale that, though they deserve death, and their execution would be a terror to others, it is supposed that to save them all the Kers and Pringills would bind themselves to keep good rule and obey the King (Henry VIII) (H. L.). On 10th August the English Privy Council wrote to Parr that as Mow and Pringill, who were lately apprehended in Mark Kerr's raid, entered England by folly rather than upon malice, and Pringill had favoured divers on the King's subjects as parson Ogle declared, they and all the rest are to be saved except two or three that have been the most cankered against the King's subjects, who are to be at a Warden's court condemned and executed; the rest are to be dismissed, Mow and Pringill and ten of the best of them being reserved to be kept surely and honestly : Sandy Pringill, who made earnest labour for Pringill, offering, rather than he should suffer, that he and twelve of the best of his surname would become the King's subjects, was to be pricked forward to perform his promise (H. L.). To save his relative's life Sandy had become a renegade. See his further career under Fernacres, Northumberland.

By the time the ambassadors returned from England, Cardinal Beaton and. the French faction had gained the ascendancy. In 1543, assisted by the Border Homes, Scotts, and Kers they compelled Regent Arran and the Douglases to surrender the Princess Mary, conveyed her from Linlithgow Palace to Stirling Castle and crowned her. A Parliament was held, the treaty abrogated, and the alliance with France renewed with the French ambassadors, who had arrived bringing some assistance.

In May 1544, war between the two countries having broken out afresh, the Earl of Hertford sailed from Shields to Leith with an army, took Edinburgh, except the castle, burned the city, Holyrood, and the country round about, and after 15 days retreated by the east coast, burning Haddington, Dunbar, and other places on the way. On 12th June Hertford reported that he had burned Jedburgh and its Abbey, killing 160 of the inhabitants, and bringing away 500 households of spoil, and on returning, when they came to Kirk Yetholm, they saw the English villages of Heaton, Twizel, and Tillmouth on fire, whereupon Sir Ralph Eure with 500 men rode in haste towards the fire, on sight of whom the Scots fled (H. L.): the Captain of Norham took 78 prisoners, including William and Alexander Pringill, and the laird of Cornhill 19, including John Pringill (Hamilton Papers). In July 1544 the English burned 13 steadings on the Kale, took certain prisoners, 14 score cattle, 10 score sheep, and 40 horses. On 29th October 1544 Sir Ralph Eure, English Warden of the East March, received the hostages of 39 Teviotdale lairds who had agreed to serve at the King of England's command against all persons, Scottish or French, viz., the Kers of Fernihirst, Linton, Gateshaw, and Corbet, 4 Rutherfords, John Hoppringill of Clifton, Dand Hoppringill, Jok Hoppringill of Clifton, 2 Turnbulls, 5 Youngs, 4 Davidsons, 3 Burns, and 12 others. Pledges for 10 other persons, including George Pringill (of Torwoodlee), were also received. The Pledge for the Hoppringills was Dand Hoppringill, and for George, George Pringill. On 25th February 1545 Sir Ralph Eure commands his servant, " to call all the Pledges to him and keep them safe, especially George Pringill's", (H. L.).

In February 1545 Sir Ralph Eure and Sir Brian Layton advanced with an army of 5000 men and 600 of the " Assured Scots '' via Jedburgh to Melrose, which they burned along with its Abbey, in which they defaced the tombs of the Douglases. On the 27th February Regent Arran and the Earl of Angus, whose lands and honour were involved, gave the English battle at Ancrum Moor and routed thee, killing their two leaders and 800 men, and taking 1000 prisoners. For David Hoppringill's capture at the battle of the Captain of Bamborough Castle, see Slegden. On 1st March the keeper of Alnwick Castle wrote to the Earl of Shrewsbury asking, now that Eure was dead, what he was to do with the prisoners, viz., the Lairds of Bemersyde, Merton, and Philiphaugh (who were once "assured '' but had falsified their promises), and 4 others ; also 6 Pledges, including George Pringill (H. L., Stevenson's Selections, Maitland Club). These prisoners would, no doubt, be soon exchanged for Englishmen taken in the battle. In August 1545 the Regent Arran led an Army of 30,000 men with 3500 French auxiliaries into Northumberland, but it had to be withdrawn fruitlessly owing to the treachery of the Earl of Angus and his brother Sir George Douglas. In September 1545 Henry VIII., whose schemes anent the marriage of the Princess Mary and the assassination of his opponent Cardinal Beaton were having no success, once more sent an army to ravage the Scottish Border. On the 27th September Hertford sent to his master a " Book '' of the places by name he had plundered and burned between the 8th and 23rd September. n the Tweed 33, on the Teviot 36, on the Rule 12, on the Jed 13, on the Kale 45, on the Bowmont 19, in the Merse 57, in Duns parish 52, in Edrom parish 20, total 287-in monasteries and friars houses 7, in castles, towers, and peels 16, in market towns 5, in villages 243, in milks 13, in hospitals 3. Prynglestead on the Kale occurs. In 1546 a note of the raids made into the East Marches of Scotland since 12th June 1644 by the English garrisons and others gives the number of Scotsmen taken prisoners as 1654, and the slain as 888, of oxen and ky taken 1813, of horses 1884, and of sheep 13,087.

On 29th May 1546 Cardinal Beaton, the Scottish protagonist of Henry, was murdered in his castle of St Andrews.

In January 1547 died Henry VIII, whose title as a Hun is well attested at the present day by the ruins of Scotland's most beautiful abbeys. His heir being a minor, the Earl of Hertford, now Duke of Somerset, was appointed Regent. He followed the same disastrous policy of trying to force on the Scots I the godly marriage '' by the sword. On 10th September 1547 (Black Saturday) he destroyed at Pinkie a Scottish army, killing 10,000. After burning Leith, unroofing Holyrood Abbey, repairing and garrisoning Roxburgh Castle, he retired at the end of the month, leaving Lord Grey in command. At Roxburgh he was visited by many of the Border lairds, including George Hoppringill, who in their despair took an oath of fealty to Edward VI. In April 1548 Lord Grey ravaged the Merse and Lothians up to the gates of Edinburgh, took and fortified Haddington and Lauder, and having left in them strong garrisons, retired. On 16th June the Sieur d'Essé landed at Leith with 6000 French auxiliaries ; and in the ships that brought them Queen Mary, then in her sixth year, was conveyed to France, to be brought up by Henry II. as the affianced bride of his son and heir.

"In September 1548 the Lords of Council sent letters to Peebles intimating to the Kers and Hoppringills that they should have licence freely to pass and repass to come and say against the summons for treason if they any defence have."

The tide of success now turned in favour of the Scots and their French allies. The war became ferocious. Jedburgh, Fernihirst Castle, Hume Castle, Bellingham, and Inchkeith were recovered. De Thermes brought a reinforcement from France in June 1549, captured Haddington, and was on the point of taking Lauder, when news arrived that a treaty of peace between France and England, including Scotland, had been made at Boulogne. In April 1550 the peace, according to which the English after eight years' war withdrew entirely from Scotland, was proclaimed in Edinburgh. As to the Duke of Somerset, he fell before political rivals as merciless as himself, and was executed in January 1552.

James Hoppringill of Howden, in the parish of Maxwell, a son of William of the Tofts, who married Barbara, daughter of Andrew Haliburton of Merton, appears in the Records of this time. In 1550 he is ordered to pay up the teind sheaves of Howden ; in 1554 he is in custody of the English Warden for a bill, and the Council order persons his partners to pay their share for his relief (MSS., C.).

In May 1550 the Regent, being in Teviotdale, takes a Tait, a Middlemas, a Burn, a Davidson, a Young, a Pyle, a Hall and a William Hoppringill as Pledges, and at their departing to such places as were appointed by the Council they were each given a sum of money (T. A.)

In 1554 the Queen-Mother succeeded the Earl of Arran as Regent.

In 1557 war having broken out between France and Spain led to war between England and Scotland their allies. But while the Scots were willing to defend their country they ref used in the circumstances to invade England.

On 24th April 1558 Queen Mary of Scotland, aged 15, was married to the Dauphin of France in the cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris.

In 1558, things on the Borders going from bad to worse, the Queen Regent made repeated calls for men. An army was to muster at Lauder in April, another on Fala Moor in September. On 20th September payment is made " to four boys passing with close writings of the Queen's Grace to the Scotts and Hoppringills '' ; also on the 21st I. to a messenger passing with letters to charge the haill surnames of the Hoppringills and Scotts to be in Melrose on the 24th inst. for resisting our auld enemies of England '' (T. A.). In January 1559 a messenger was sent from Edinburgh charging all the inhabitants of Teviotdale and the Merse who took English prisoners pr standards on the 23rd inst. to bring them to the Queen's Grace; when William Hoppringill by her special command for winning a standard was given £6 (T. A.). In July 1560 a treaty of peace was made between France, England, and Scotland. Queen Mary of Scotland, having lost both her mother the Queen Regent, and her husband, King Francis of France, who had reigned only a year and a half, returned to Scotland on 19th August 1561.

In October 1561 John Hoppringill of the Bents was one of many Border lairds summoned to compear before the Council and give their advice concerning the weal of the Borders (P. C.).

In June 1565 Walter Ker of Cessford, Warden of the Middle March, having complained that certain barons and lairds, including the Hoppringills of Clifton, had failed to enter their men and tenants fyled of bills, he has been compelled to give his bonds and enter his own servants in England, Queen Mary sent letters charging them to relieve the Warden ' on pain of treason (MSS., Rox.).

In March 1567 Drury reported to the English Council that he had met Cessford thrice, but got no redress from him but only evasive answers: at a meeting, one Ralph Gray having sworn a bill against one Pringill, a Scot, he threatened and reproached him before the whole assembly contrary to the law and the truce. Cessford, who refused to interfere, had been summoned to Edinburgh, and he (Drury) had been informed that Jok of the Longbrand and other evildoers are to be punished, and four or five persons apprehended and delivered to him (S. P. E.)

In July 1567 Queen Mary was forced to resign the crown in favour of her son the infant Prince James, and her half- brother the Earl of Moray was appointed Regent. On 30th October, with the object of suppressing Border offenders, the Regent raided Hawick on a market day, seized 43 Liddesdale banditti, including 22 Elliots and 6 Croziers, hanged 11, drowned 7, and took a number of prisoners to Edinburgh. Martin Elliot of Braidlee crossed to England, and in July 1568 the Regent wrote to the English Warden not to allow him to be reset. On 27th December 1568, while the Regent was absent in England, the Elliots raided Torwoodlee and murdered George Hoppringil (see Torwoodlee). On 26th March 1569 the Regent with 2000 loot and 400 horse left Kelso for Jedburgh, and being joined next day at the Swyre Head by the English Warden with 300 horse, marched down the Liddell, burning and destroying, and skirmishing with the Liddesdale horsemen, 1000 to 1500 strong, who took 30 prisoners, including Pringills and Davidsons of Teviotdale, and killed 8 or 9 stragglers (MSS., S.). On 6th April, the chief men of Teviotdale, who as partisans of Queen Mary hated the Regent, were called upon to subscribe a Bond of obedience to the King and enmity to the thieves of Liddesdale, Eskdale and Ewesdale. On 20th September, in order to repair his previous failure, the Regent left Hawick with a force too strong to be resisted, and marched along the western Border, burning and destroying, while the English Warden prevented the escape of the prey into England, with the result that the district was reduced to obedience such as was never known before. He took to Edinburgh 72 persons as Pledges for the Surnames, and sent them for safe keeping to various places beyond the Forth (B. E.)

In January 1570 Regent Moray was assassinated at Linlithgow. Next day Buccleuch and Fernihirst with 300 men raided Northumberland as far as Morpeth. To avenge this and their support of the fugitive Earl of Westmorland and Queen Mary's faction, Queen Elizabeth sent an army across the Border that burned and ravaged their lands and those of their friends (B. E.).In May 1573 the Earl of Morton, now Regent, with the assistance of an English force under Drury, captured Edinburgh Castle with the leaders of Queen Mary's faction, and so brought the fierce civil war to an end.

In October 1573 it having been alleged at a Wardens' meeting that Sir Thomas Gray of Chillingham had seized 1000 sheep and much cattle belonging to the Pringills on Scottish ground, the Regent sent Sir John Carmichael to investigate the matter, when Sir Thomas showed him an agreement under the hands and seals of' the Pringills admitting the animals to have been taken on English ground, adding that for good neighbourhood he had given back all their cattle, except 20 wedders in name of poinding (S. P. E.). It was suggested that the boundary between the two countries should be staked out.

On 20th and 21st November 1576 at Jedburgh 29 persons of the Surnames of East Teviotdale subscribed a Bond to serve and obey Archibald 8th Earl of Angus their feudal Lord and take his part against all that live , their Sovereign Lord excepted, viz., 7 Hoppringills (John of the Bents, his son David " with my hand," Walter in Clifton, his son David, James in Hounam, his son David, and David in Linton), 6 Youngs, 6 Taits, 5 Davidsons, 4 Burns, and 1 Dalgliesh (D. B.).

In December 1579 Lord Hunsdon reported to the English Council that he could get no redress from the Scottish Warden but only frivolous answers, and complained of unredressed murders and outrages by the Youngs, Burns, and Pringills, for which only a notorious malefactor was delivered, a wretch of no account, whom they might have executed themselves (B. P.). In July 1583 in a Note of the Surnames and gentlemen of the Marches of England and Scotland, the Surnames of East Teviotdale are stated to be the Kers, Youngs, Pringles, Burns, Davidsons, and Taits, who are estimated at 3000 men. " For defence our forces on East March are able at all times in peace to keep in the Youngs, Taits, Pringles and other East Teviotdales, whensoever they begin to ridge, and drive them to forsake their houses of the two Yetholms, Hayhope, and Cherrytrees, as has lately been done '' (B. P.). In 1584 Thomas Pringle in Hadden is denounced rebel for not compearing before the Council as charged (P. C,); he was, later, delivered to the English at Berwick.

On 8th April 1588, 25 landlords and masters on the Borders were charged to appear personally before the King and Council at Jedburgh on the 17th inst. and present the persons named to them, fyled of English Bills within the Middle March; to be delivered to England for the relief of the King and his realm: included in the list was Walter Hoppringill of Clifton (P. C.).

In a list of Bills fyled on Scotland by the Commissioners at Berwick in February 1589, included among those in Teviotdale are 10 reifs amounting to 221 ky and oxen, 80 sheep, 7 horses, and £90 worth of household stuff, done by Pringles alone, or along with others, the Pringles being Dand of Hounam and his son Wat, Wat of Clifton and his son Hobb, David of Over Chatto and his son Wat, William of Chatto, John of Clifton, John of Kelso, Robert of Kelso, and John of Linburn (B. P.).

In 1590 James Hoppringle, brother of Andrew of Hounam, gets a charter of two husbandlands of the kirklands of Eckford, failing whom, to descend to his brother William, failing whom, to his brother Robert (P. S.).

In January 1592 William Hoppringle of Howden, parish of Maxwell, Roxburgh, is declared rebel for not having entered before the Council a servant art and part in the theft of 42 sheep from Redpath (P. C.). In December 1592 William Hoppringill, brother of David of Hounam, finds caution in £40 not, to intercommune with the Earl of Bothwell, and to answer to his past actions with him on 8 days' notice (P. C.). Bothwell with a few followers had got into Holyrood Palace by a secret passage, but had failed to capture the King.

In July 1596 Sir Robert Carey, writing from Berwick to Lord Burghley, says: " it being likely we shall have a waking winter by our unruly neighbours of Teviotdale and their unworthy officer Sir Robert Ker, I think it my duty to report the spoils since my coming." He then describes the slaughter of three Englishmen by the Kers and Burns, the theft of 14 ky and oxen from Learmonth by the Pringles and Davidsons, of 6 horses out of Berwick bounds by Dand Pringle of Hounam, and of a horse worth £10 sterling out of the same by Jock Pringle. He adds that three poor men of Wooler had been slain by Sir Robert Ker himself. The goods reft he gives as 296 kine, 43 horses, 1055 sheep (B. P.).

In 1596 a roll of Wrongs by Sir Robert Ker, Scottish Warden, 49 in number, included Robert Pringle in Hadden, son of Thomas in Hounam, slain in plain daylight, following his own goods on Scottish ground, by inhabitants of Wark, who left the said Thomas Pringle and a dozen persons in Hadden wounded in danger of their lives ; also 5 score ewes and 4 wedders stolen from Dand Pringle in Hounam, and James Pringle in Clifton, in daylight, by the Struthers (B. P.).

In September 1596 Sir Robert Carey reported that one night when out with some of the Berwick garrison they met the Burns driving stolen goods, and. killed three of them. He afterwards captured and hanged a fourth. Sir Robert Ker dearly loved the latter and is determined on revenge. The country has become almost slaves to the Scots. If the country people rise upon them when they are stealing in England, and kill one by chance, or deliver him to the officer for execution, if he be of a surname as a Davidson, a Young, a Pringle, or a Burn, then he that killed or took him is sure himself, and his friends, especially those of his name, dearly to pay for it, for they will have his life or two or three of his nearest kinsmen's in revenge (B. P.).

Towards the end of 1596 Commissioners were appointed to meet at Carlisle to determine all wrongs committed in either realm since last meeting at Berwick in 1589, and to give redress for Bills for which satisfaction had not yet been made. The English Bills fyled against Scotland numbered 210, the Scottish against England 125. Bills for small amounts were filed on Dand and David Pringle of Hounam, and George Pringle of Tanlaw. The Commissioners appointed that out of every Surname of thievish clans on either side, persons, chosen by the opposite officers, were to be delivered as PLEDGES for satisfying the Bills sustained against themselves and the rest of their surname-their delivery to be made before 1st July next (B. P.).

In a Note of Spoils dated September 1597 it is stated that George Ord of Newbigging had 8 cattle stolen thence, and his son the Mayor of Berwick 4 score sheep, by the Pringles and others, and that 30 Scottish horsemen came to Bamborough Castle and would have surprised Sir John Forster in his chamber, unless by good luck his lady had espied them coming and got the door put to and bolted (B. P.).

Cessford and Buccleuch, the Scottish Wardens, being unable for some times to effectuate the delivery of the Pledges, had to enter themselves prisoners at Berwick. Sir Robert Ker chose Sir Robert Carey as his keeper, from whom in March 1598 he was transferred to the Archbishop of York, shortly after which he was released and resumed his duties as Warden. On 22nd June 1598 Robert Redhead, Keeper of H.M.'s Castle of York, certifies that he has received from the Archbishop the 13 Pledges for Teviotdale, viz., Robert Frissell (Fraser), laird of Overton, James Young of the Cove, Thomas Ainslie of Cletehaugh, Richard Rutherford of Littlehaugh, William Tait of Cherrytrees, Dand Davidson of Bromfield, Ralph Moy of Mowhaugh, John Robson of Chosenhope, Ralph Hall of the Sykes, Ralph Burn of Cliftoncote, Dand Pringle of Hounam, Richard Young of Feltershaws, and William Hall of Heavyside (B. P.).

On 2^nd August 1598 occurred the " Redesdale Hunting '' affair. The Scots averred that they were not above 60 in number, unarmed, only with hunting weapons; that they began hunting on 1st August, unmolested, retiring to Scotland at night; next day they entered again to sport, and retired to dinner to Grindstonelaw in Scotland, and there they were attacked by 400 Englishmen led by Mr Fenwick and Mr Widdrington, and pursued to Plenderleith 4 miles within Scotland. On the other hand, the English asserted that the Scots numbered 200, were armed, and brought 100 men to cut wood and carry it away. By command Sir Robert Ker investigated the affair, and on 9th September reported to King James, that Robert Hoppringill, servant to the laird of Bonjeddart, and James Robson, servant to the laird of Greenhead, had been killed, that amongst the hurt a brother of the laird of Hundalee was expected to die, and that above a dozen persons had been taken prisoners. The two English officers were imprisoned for a time for the offence by their government. In a letter relating to the affair Widdrington accused Sir Robert of lieing, who consequently sent him a challenge-" I shall on Friday morning next, being the 7th September, be at the Hare Craigs on the march between England and Scotland by 8 hours in the morning, with a short sword and a whinger, with a steel bonnet and plate sleeves, without any more weapons offensive or defensive, where 1 wish some spark of courage may make thee appear in the same form. I shall have a boy 16 years of age to hold my horse, who shall have no weapon, without any other body living near me to my knowledge. Faith and honesty thereby I promise, and hope for the like. If thou pay thyself with penning and no performance I leave thee to the world to be judged of a prattling coward. At the Friars, the 5th of Sept., Sir Ro. Ker." The narrator adds " Sir Robert was at the place appointed, the other came not. Sir Robert was 29 years of age at the time (B. P.).

On 22nd September 1598 Sir Robert Carey reported that he had refused to meet Sir Robert Ker at Wark, in midstream (perhaps he could not swim!), but had met him at the Cocklaw on a high fell, not any man near by a long mile. What a bold man! " Ker had no means to maintain his authority as Warden but by his own friends, especially the Pledges in York Castle, and unless they are freed the rest of his friends will utterly refuse obedience. This man was never put to the extremity that he is now at. He is beloved by none of the Borderers except such as he maintains in doing mischief. He is hated by their chiefs '' (B. P.). Thus the statement that after Sir Robert's internment at Berwick, the enmity between him and the writer of this vituperative letter was converted into a sincere and lasting friendship, must be fiction.

On 13th March 1599 the Pledges in York Castle protested that the charge for their board and lodging of 10s. 4d. a week was too great, and that they could not redeem themselves. They then put into execution a plot to escape ; but were betrayed by an English spy who had been put to sleep in the same chamber as the Liddesdale Pledges. This spy deponed that after locking up, between 8 and 9 o'clock, Hall, Pringle, Young, and Rutherford burst their chamber wall, got into the gallery, unbolted the door where Fraser and 3 men lay, and then broke the chamber where young Elliot, Burn, Tait and Young were, and so they all got into the gallery; that there they broke the iron bars of the windows, threw out the straw from their beds to light upon, and that William Hall, Burn, Fraser, and Robert Young leapt down ; that other prisoners above them hearing the breaking of the iron bars cried out, whereupon Whitehaugh, Rutherford, Ainslie, the elder Elliot and Dandie Pringle ran and burst two doors and ran to the city walls, and all leapt over save the boy Elliot ; deponent ran to the postern with the keeper's man to apprehend those that got out first ; the others with the assistance of the people were captured at St George's Close at the York Gate-their rendezvous. On 20th March Carey writes to the Council, " It is Sir Robert Ker's own doing, to overthrow the Borders. If his thieves the prisoners fall, it is hi: fall '' (B. P.).

Fate of the Teviotdale Pledges:-Ralph Mowe died on the day he came to York Castle. Ralph Hall died before April 1600. According to a report to the Council two of the Pledges in a tempestuous night uncovered the slates of their garret, tied the sheets and coverlets together, and so slipt down and escaped; these were apparently Davidson and a Young. Robson had escaped by April 1600, and William Hall by September 1601, thereby freeing their Bills. In February 1602 Fraser, Rutherford, Ainslie and Tait were sent to Berwick and put in Haddock's Hole, " a loathsome place,'' and, on sickening, transferred to Alnwick in June, except Tait, for whom nobody appeared to do anything. Young, Pringle, and Burns remained prisoners at York, and when and how they were liberated does not appear. On 29th August 1602 Carey reported that Sir Robert Ker, now Lord Roxburgh, was presently coming in to England. In March 1603 King James succeeded Queen Elizabeth. Border raiding was taken in hand and gradually put an end to.

In the Cornhill Magazine of January 1907 Andrew Lang treats of the Bolder Ballads, saying that probably few of them were written, and that all but a handful had perished. " These deal chiefly with events of the reign of James VI., but so legendary and so untrue to the facts that they must have been composed, in some cases, no earlier than the peaceful generation of say 1610 to 1640.'' Mr Lang introduces us to " Simmy o' Whythaugh,'' a ballad never before published, consisting of 24 stanzas, in manuscript, in possession of a gentleman of Border extraction. This ballad has, like all the others, a basis in historical fact, curiously distorted by tradition. Simon Armstrong, as noted above, was one of the Liddesdale and Teviotdale Pledges who, according to the ballad, dealt with the Scottish Warden to set them free. Here are a few of the stanzas -

" Gar bring up my horses," Sir Robert, he said.,

" I bid you bring them by three and three,

And ane by ane at St George's Close

At York Gate gather your companie."

Ilka mounted man led a bridled mear,

I trow they had won on the English way;

Ilka belted man had a brace of swords,

To help their billies to fend the fray.

Oh, some rade like corn-cadger men,

And some like merchants o' linen and hose;

They slept by day and they rade by nicht,

Till they a' convened at St George's Close.

Then Simmy has heard a hoolet cry,

In the chamber sprang wi' never a licht;

" That's a hoolet I ken," did Simmy say, "

And I trow that Teviotdale's here the nicht."

William Hoppringill, first of Torwoodlee and Clifton, appears to have had eight sons, viz., George his heir, Mr Robert, Alexander, John, William, Andrew, James, and David, mentioned above under Raiders, under the dates 1516, 1518, 1520, 1526, 1528, 1531, 1532, 1537, 1538, 1543, 1544, and 1545, For the subsequent history of Robert, see Woodhead Pencaitland; for that of William, see Westhousebyre ; for that of Alexander, see Fernacres, Northumberland; and for that of David, see Slegden. For John see The Bents below.

HOUNAM

In 1544 Dand (Andrew) Hoppringill, son of George second of Torwoodlea and Clifton, was delivered to the English Warden as Pledge for his Surname, along with 39 Pledges for the other Surnames of East Teviotdale ; but no doubt they were all exchanged shortly afterwards for English prisoners captured at the battle of Ancrum Moor. In 1576 James Hoppringill of Hounam and his son Dand appear in the list of " Assured Scots.''

In 1587-8 David of Todsknow and his son Wattie are fyled of two English bills, in 1588 William of Chatto of one, and in

1588-9 Davie thereof of two (B. P.). In 1590 was confirmed a charter to James Hoppringill, brother of David of Hounam, of two husbandlands of the Kirklands of Eckford., failing whom and his children, to his other brothers William and Robert in succession (P. S.). In 1592 William Hoppringill, brother of David in Hounam, is mentioned. In 1595 David is ordered by the superior of Hounam to flit. In 1596 Thomas Hoppringill in Hounam is mentioned. In 1596 Dand is raided by the English. In 1597 Dand, younger, was Pledge for the Surname in York Castle (see above). In 1605 Dand, then senior . . ., of Hounam, great grandson of George second of Torwoodlee, was granted by George, 4th thereof, 5 1/2 merk lands of his quarter of Clifton, and other 5 1/2 merk lands there occupied by him ; both which lands he resigned in 1623, with consent of his wife Christina Davidson and eldest son Andrew, to Mark Pringill, first of Clifton (G. S., 1623). ln 1607 Alexander, Dand, called Little Dand, and David Pringill in Hounam are mentioned. In 1610 Alexander Pringill in Morebattle is mentioned as son and heir of the late Andrew or Dand Pringill. In 1611 David Pringill, younger, of Hounam is cautioner for William there. In 1622 Andrew alias Dand Pringill of Bonham is retoured as heir to George second of Torwoodlee, his great grandfather, of a 3-merk land in the east part of Clifton, and David thereof sits on the jury before the Border Commissioners at Jedburgh. In 1648 Alexander Pringill, son of the deceased Dand, renews a lost bond granted by him (R. M.). In 1649 a bond granted in 1622 by the late Andrew Pringill, portioner of Hounam, is transferred to Andrew his son and heir, and the Pringills of Nenthorn, Sharpitlaw, and Peel, heirs of his cautioners (A. D., Scott).

THE TOFTS

In 1536-38 William Hoppringill of the Tofts is twice a juryman and also presents two Scottish bills on days of Truce.

In 1605 Andrew (Dand) Pringill, son of the late John in Tofts, gets from George Pringill of Torwoodlee a charter of 3-merk lands of his quarter of Clifton (occupied by John Pringill, called Gauntlet), to be held by him and his wife Margaret Ker in conjunct fee of the King (G. S., 1622). In 1616 John Pringill of Tofts is retoured heir of William Hoppringill of the Tofts, his great grandfather, in 50s lands of the eastern quarter of Clifton, and on his death is succeeded in 1619 by his son John, who is quoted later, in 1628 and 1634.

THE BENTS, CLIFTON

In 1561 John Hoppringill of the Bents is summoned, with other Border lairds, before the Council to give advice concerning the weal of the Borders, and in 1576 subscribes, along with his son David, the bond of man-rent to Archibald, 7th Earl of Angus. In 1602 David Hoppringill of the Bents appears as in Lempitlaw (A. D., Hay). In 1605 John Hoppringill heir of the late John in Clifton, his grandfather, is granted by George Pringill of Torwoodlee a charter of a 50s land of his quarter of Clifton, as occupied by him; and in 1623 he resigns the same, together with the 50s land acquired by his grandfather John in 1538, to Mark Pringill (G. S., 1623).

In 1629 the King granted to James Pringill of Clifton, called of Bents, and to his son James in fee, 8-merk lands of the barony of Clifton, viz : the 5 mercates possessed by James Young, and the 3 by Robert Pringill in Caverton and his son William (G. S.). In 1636 James and his son resold to the said James's son the 5 mercates, who in turn sold them to Lancelot Pringill of Lees (G. S.). In 1665 a charter of the 20s land of the quarter of Clifton that belonged to James Hoppringill, and was disponed by his great grandson Thomas in Lempitlaw to James Pringill in Clifton, as also of the 2-merk lands of the same disponed by George Pringill of Torwoodlee to James Hoppringill, is granted to Robert Pringill, second of the barony of Clifton, to whom James and his son John, now in Clifton, resigned them (G. S., 1665). In 1683 the said Robert Pringill in his Will left the said James and his wife a certain pension and victual for life.

HOWDEN, PARISH OF MAXWELL

In 1549 Hoppringill of Howden sells provisions to the English Warden at Berwick. In 1550 at Kelso Monastery he is ordered under pain of excommunication to pay up the value of the teind sheaves of Howden for the years indicated. In 1554 the partners of James who were filed of an English bill for which he was interned in England are ordered to relieve him (P. C.), In 1592 William Hoppringill of Howden and two other lairds are denounced rebels for not having entered their tenants who had made a night raid on Redpath (P. C.). In 1596 William gets notice from the proprietor to flit from Howden.

THE TANLAW

In December 1510 at the Justice Ayre, Jedburgh, Andrew Hoppringill in the Tanlaw came into the King's Will for art and part in occupying Hounam Common without a lease from Andrew Ker of Gateshaw; surety, himself and David Hoppringill in Tynnes.

In 1536 George Pringhill of the Tanlaw was present on Days of Truce, as one of the six Scottish Jurymen, at seven meetings of the Wardens, held at Ridingburn and Kelso (H. L.). In 1535 George was granted a charter of remission under the Privy Seal for taking part with the rebels of the King (James V.). In December 1540 George Douglas of Parkhead, natural son of Sir George, brother of the Earl of Angus, was found guilty of conspiring with others to murder the King, and Parliament gave for doom the forfeiture of his life, lands, and goods. Re-entering Scotland along with an English invading army, which was overtaken and routed by the Earl of Huntly on the 23rd August 1542 at Hadden Rig with the loss of some 500 prisoners) he was taken along with them by James Hoppringill, son of George of the Tanlaw. After the battle, on the 30th, the King wrote to the Bailie of Melrose Abbey : " It is our will and we charge you that ye, incontinent after the sight hereof, put off the goods on the steading of Langlee pertaining to our said Abbey, and enter James Hoppringill son to George of Tanlaw, and keep and defend him therein as ye will answer at your utter charge under pain of the loss of your bailiary; for it is our will that he enjoy the said stead for his good and faithful service in the taking and bringing to us of James Douglas of Parkhead, our rebel, at the last raid made by the English upon our lieges, keeping this our writing, subscribed with our hand and under our signet, for your warrant, 30th day of August and of our reign the 29th. James R." (Liber de Melrose). In September it was reported to the English Council that this Douglas had told the King all the secrets he knew, and what Scots were well-wishers of England, and that the King had granted him his life (H. L,)

In 1550 George Hoppringill of Tanlaw was on the assize that sat on the apprising by William Rutherford for £3000 of the lands of Fairnington, that belonged to Patrick, Earl of Bothwell (G. S.). In 1551 Ker of Fernihirst is charged to enter Hoppringill of Tanlaw in ward in Edinburgh Castle for disobeying the Warden of the Middle March (T. A.).

In 1596 amongst the English bills for reifs given in to the Border Commissioners was one against George Pringle of Tanlaw, probably son of the above George (B. P.).