Page last updated: 1st May 2003 The History of the Tweedie or Tweedy Family Michael Forbes Tweedie. Published 1902. CHAPTER III AD 1500 It would seem as if we chronicled nothing but the misdeeds of the family, but the truth is that the only available records are those of the crimes of the period, and hence the character which pervades the story. It is indeed an illustration of :- "The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones." and so we will hope it was with the Tweedies, and putting the most charitable construction on the matter, let us trust that their unrecorded good deeds at least equalled the evil doings of which we find so continuous a history. AD1502 On the 4th February 1502, Gilbert Tweedie and others were arraigned for the slaughter of Edward Hunter of Polmood. John Tweedie of Drummelzier, Walter Tweedie of Hawmyre, and William Tweedie became sureties for the appearance of Gilbert Tweedie at the next Justice Aire at Peebles, under a considerable penalty; but what the outcome of it all was we do not know. AD1505 On the 15th May 1505, the lands of Clifton, in Roxburghshire were confirmed to James Tweedie, son and apparent heir to John Tweedie of Drummelzier. These lands are stated to have been mortgaged by Walter Tweedie of Drummelzier, and redeemed by this James Tweedie, his son. AD1507 Amongst the original Drummelzier writs, we find a receipt by Patrick Earl of Bothwell, to John Tweedie of Drummelzier, dated 25th June 1507, with the signature of the Earl intact. AD1511 It is curious, remembering the slaughter of Edward Hunter of Polmood by the Tweedies in 1502 that in 1511 the Horne-Huntaris Lands in the Barony of Innerleithen, which belonged originally to the Hunter family , were granted by James IV to John Tweedie, who is described in the Charter as "the Lord of Thanes (Tinnies) Castle, in Drummelzier;" the reddendo being "two flatus (viz., blastis) unius cornu ad excitandum Regem et ejus venatores cum contingerent eos esse in venatione in le Kingis-Hall-Wallis", that is to say "two blasts on one horn to arouse the king and his hunters, when they happened to be engaged in hunting in the lands of Kingis-Halls-Wallis." Polmood, the residence of the Hunters, being held of a subject superior, the Charters did not enter the Great Seal Register, and consequently the opportunity is lost of tracing the originating germ of the fanciful Charter quoted by Pennecuik, under which Malcolm Canmore is represented as granting the lands to an ancestral Hunter. Interesting particulars as to the Hunters of Polmood and their estate, and also a view of Willie Wastle's abode, "the spot they ca'd Linkumdoddie" will be found in Chamber's history of Peebleshire. AD1512 In the year 1512, John Tweedie of Drummelzier, Richard Brown of Coultermains and James Lockhart of Lee, became sureties for John Symintoun of Symintoun, who was arraigned on a charge of treason for forging false money, and as Symintoun did not appear, they were "amerceated in the sum of 1000 merkes". AD1513 In the year 1513, Walter Tweedie was appointed to the office of Parish Clerkship of the Church of Stobo, vacant by the death of Thomas Tweedie. It is on record that Walter was distinguished for his clerical character, and was otherwise considered to be suitable for the appointment from both a spiritual and temporal point of view. In the same year, John Tweedie is mentioned in a footnote to the Charter granted at Edinburgh on the 17th August, as being the owner of lands adjoining those mentioned in the charter. This year of 1513 was that of the fatal battle of Flodden, and seeing the intimate relations which the Tweedies had with the other powerful Barons of the district, it is not surprising that a long gap takes place before we hear very much more of them. No doubt most of them and their available followers fell with many others of the flower of Scotland in that fight. AD1522 "Cristiane of Tweedies" apparently gave consent to an arrangement under which James Noble was made tenant of "Ane Ox Gang Land" in Stobo, on the 12th April 1522. AD1523 John Tweedie appears as witness to a charter on the 4th September 1523 to William Elphinstoun, a Burgess of Edinburgh. 11 AD1524 The year 1524 brings us to the story of the feud between the Tweedies and the Flemings. The cause is not very accurately known, but it seems to have arisen over the disposal in marriage of Catherine Fraser, the heiress of Fruid in Tweedsmuir. Catherine was a descendent of the old family that had held large estates in the upper part of Tweeddale for many years, and was connected with the Flemings by the marriage of Patrick Fleming of Biggar with one of the heiresses of Sir Simon Fraser in the 12th or 13th Century. The Flemings with their connections the Hays of Yester claimed some control or superiority over the lands of Fruid; while it will no doubt be remembered that one of the grand-daughters of this Sir Simon Fraser had married a Tweedie. John Lord Fleming desired Catherine to marry Malcolm, not his heir of that name, but another, and probably an illegitimate son; and indeed it is doubtful whether she had not been actually married to him. If so, it had been done by stealth. The Tweedies, on the other hand, were determined that she should marry James Tweedie, the nephew of John Tweedie of Drummelzier. Ascertaining that Lord Fleming, accompanied by his heir Malcolm and a small retinue of domestics, intended to go hawking over his lands near Drummelzier, about forty or fifty of the Tweedies assembled and waylaid the hunting party among the hills. A hot altercation ensued, ending in a fight, in the course of which Thomas Tweedie of Drummelzier slew Lord Fleming. Miss Agnes Strickland, in her "Lives of the Queens of Scotland" says that it was "Douglas Lord of Drummelzier" who attacked and murdered Lord Fleming, and that this was done on the threshold of St Giles Church in Edinburgh. She does not cite her authority for these statements, which are not borne out by the records of justiciary, the documents of the Wigtown Charter Register, nor the assertions of the old historians. Not a word is said in any of these authorities which in any way implicates any Douglas in this transaction, nor was a Douglas the Lord of Drummelzier, and Lindsay of Pitscottie expressly says that Lord Fleming was slain when enjoying the sport of hawking. The Tweedies carried off young Malcolm, now Lord Fleming, and kept him in confinement at the "Place of Drummelzier" until they extorted from him a promise to confer on them the ward and marriage of the heiress of Fruid. As a pledge for the fulfilment of this promise, young Lord Fleming's brother and some other persons were given into the custody of the Tweedies, and were for some time prisoners at Drummelzier. On regaining his liberty, Fleming sent Catherine Fraser to Drummelzier with her title deeds, but being anxious to recede from his promise, put it on record that he did so solely for the purpose of obtaining the release of his friends and from a dread of the vindictive character of the Tweedies. Other legal documents still preserved assert that Catherine had gone to Drummelzier against her inclination, and solely for the purpose of liberating the prisoners, and that whatever she might say or do on that occasion could not legally be used to the prejudice of herself, her estates or her marriage. These documents are dated 17th and 25th November 1524. The Civil Authorities lost no great time in making efforts to bring the Tweedies and their accomplices to justice. In the course of fourteen days after the death of Lord Fleming, it appears that a number of them had been seized or bound down to "thole an assize", for at that time a respite of one year was granted to James Tweedie, the nephew of John Tweedie of Drummelzier, and other persons for the "cruel slaughter" of Lord John Fleming, and the treasonable taking and preserving of Malcolm, the Maser of Fleming, his son and for the "reif of certain gudis fro yame and yer seruandis ye samyn tyme". From an indenture made at Edinburgh on the 23rd November 1524, and still preserved, it appears that by some influence or other it was arranged between Malcolm Lord Fleming, and James the nephew of John Tweedie of Drummelzier, "that a reconciliation shall take place and all previous wrongs shall be forgiven." This document intimates that James Tweedie and his men went to the market cross of Peebles "in their lynning claithes, viz sark alane and there offered their naked swords to Malcolm Fleming, his kin and friends; bound themselves to be his servants, and gave him a bond of man-rent. Whereupon, Lord Fleming, on the part of himself and friends received James Tweedie and his men "in their faithful troth and kindness" and forgave them the injury which they had inflicted, and in token of his sincerity, extended to them the right hand of fellowship, and agreed to support and defend them in all their actions lawful and honest. Tweedie and his followers agreed to make the three great pilgrimages of Scotland, namely; St Ninian's in Galloway, St Duthus in Ross, and St Andrews in Fife, at each of these places to make offering and call mass to be said for the welfare of Lord Fleming's soul; and they were to infeft a Chaplain to say mass at the high altar of Biggar Kirk, for the same purpose. It was finally agreed that James Tweedie, the nephew of Walter Tweedie, should be married to one of Lord Fleming's sisters, and that an honest and competent livelihood should, at the sight of friends, be bestowed on the young couple by Tweedie, and that Tweedie was also to receive the ward and marriage of the heiress of Fruid. AD1525 It appears from several documents still extant that the terms of this agreement were not strictly adhered to, and that the vengeance of the law still pursued the Tweedies and their followers, for in 1525 the lands of Easter Drummelzier, with the place of Tinnes, Hopcalzie, and others belonging to John Tweedie of Drummelzier, and of Wester Drummelzier with the places thereto belonging to James Tweedie of Glenbrak, and others belonging to both father and son, were all confirmed to Lord Fleming by a Crown Charter, dated 12th August, but were declared to be redeemable by the Tweedies within seven years on payment of certain fixed sums. The writs whereby the Tweedies were reinstated do not occur in the register; but that such restitution took place is shewn by the fact that they subsequently dealt with and occupied the properties as their own; while amongst the original documents of the family is a decree of the Lords of Council, dated 27th September, 1526, at the instance of Malcolm Lord Fleming against John Tweedie of Drummelzier and others for delivery of the lands and fortalice of Drummelzier, which it would seem must have been successfully resisted. On the 6th June in the following year, however, a respite was granted for nineteen years for James Tweedie of Drummelzier, James Tweedie of Kirkhal, and twelve others, for the crime of murdering Lord Fleming. On the 18th August a petition in connection with this transaction was presented to the Lords of Council by George Geddes of Kirkurd, by which one William Tweedie states himself to be a scholar, that he had nothing whatever to do with the slaughter of Lord Fleming, and that at the time the crime was committed he was in the school in Edinburgh. The petition was admitted and the name of William Tweedie was erased from the Books of Adjournal. From the Register of the Great Seal it would appear, under an entry of the 10th November 1537, that a Janet Tweedie was the wife of George Ross of Hanyng at this time. AD1528 Amongst the manuscripts of the Earl of Home is to be found a contract dated the 9th October 1528, under which King James V undertook to grant a release to Lord Home, his kin, and friends dependent upon him for all crimes bigane; the Tweedies and all others who had been at the slaughter of the late Lord Fleming being especially exempted from this pardon. On the 22nd October 1528, the Tweedies were declared to be fugitives from the law, and were put to the horn and their lands forfeited and conferred as a gift upon Malcolm Lord Fleming. AD1529 In the spring of 1529 the case was still unsettled, as it appears that at that time John Tweedie of Drummelzier, John Tweedie dwelling with him, Thomas Tweedie of Oliver Castle, James Tweedie of Kilbucho, and James Tweedie of Wrae, were compelled to find security to appear at Peebles and answer for their part in the cruel slaughter of John Lord Fleming, John Hay of Yester going security for their appearance. With them were also summoned James Tweedie of Drummelzier, and ten others, who offered Sir Walter Scott of Branxholme as their cautioner to answer at the same time and place for the above crime. On the 18th September, the King's Messenger-at-Arms had been despatched with the King's writings to summon an assize to convene at Peebles on the 13th day of October, betwixt the Laird of Drummelzier and John Fleming of Biggar. This assize, however, did not give a deliverance on the merits of the slaughter and disputes, but referred the whole case for arbitration by the Lords of Council. On the 2nd March 1529, we find John Tweedie of Drummelzier as one of the witnesses to a precept issued by George, the Bishop of Dunkeld, and on the 7th December in the same year a reference to Tweedie is found in the Register of the Great Seal in connection with matters relating to the Barony of Stenhouse in the County of Lanark. AD1530 On the 4th March 1530, the whole matter of the slaughter of Lord Fleming at last came up before the Lords of Council, when they pronounced a decree by which John Tweedie of Drummelzier was ordered to found a Chaplainry in the church of Biggar, and to endow it with a yearly stipend to make provision for prayers for the soul of the late John Lord Fleming. It was further ordained that James Tweedie heir apparent of Drummelzier and the other chief persons concerned in the slaughter of Lord Fleming should go out of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England within three months and remain abroad three years, or during His Majesty's pleasure, and that the parties in dispute should, in the presence of the King's Council, take each other by the hands and bind themselves for the orderly behaviour of themselves, their kin and followers. AD1531 This decree was confirmed by James V, on the 22nd March 1531, and the marriage of Catherine Fraser to James Tweedie was part of the bargain, and the King also, in this same year, granted a charter of the lands of Fruid to Catherine Fraser "and her spouse James Tweedie, the nephew (nepos) of John Tweedie of Drummelzier". All this shows that the Tweedies gained their point with the full sanction of the King and the Lords of Council, and we are tempted to think that perhaps after all they had been as much sinned against as sinning. Young James Tweedie and Catherine Fraser were possibly in love with and pledged to each other from the first, and Tweedie had determined to marry her in spite of Lord Fleming's declared intention of providing for his illegitimate son by a marriage with the heiress. Under such circumstances one need not wonder at the hot words and the personal conflict which ended in the death of Lord Fleming, or at the persistence of young Tweedie in his purpose, which he eventually gained, of marrying his love. And it may not be unreasonable to surmise that, whilst the Lords of Council could not overlook the killing of Lord Fleming, in which the Tweedies were undoubtedly wrong, yet they took into account the provocation that had been given and recognised the rights of the Tweedies in the quarrel, or they would never have countenanced, much less sanctioned, the marriage of the young couple. It must have probably been about this period that the event took place which has been the subject of a curious tradition in Tweedale. For many years a small property known as Duckpool was held by a family of the name of Bertram. Its extent was no more that a Scottish acre, and the origin of the ownership was accounted for in the following legend: - "King James V, who occasionally during the hunting season spent a few days at Polmood, and who was also somewhat fond of masquerading amongst his subjects in humble guise, was one day returning either from hunting or some other expedition in disguise when he came upon an old man named Bertram, who was tending his cows and amusing himself with a tune on the bagpipe. The monarch accepted an invitation to the cottage of his new acquaintance and was there entertained hospitably, but with homely fare by Bertram and his wife. In the morning the King disclosed to his host who he was, and promised him a grant of lands in view of his house, with a pool in the centre in memory of the tunes played on the bagpipe the evening before, and as much ground at the foot of Holmes Water as would keep a mare and foal, with a brood sow and nine pigs, with a free passage for them to and from his house. The were to be driven at no higher rate `than a woman could walk knitting a sock or spinning with a distaff' and Bertram was also to have five `soums' of sheep on Holmes Common. "Thereafter the King, accompanied by Bertram, who had offered to be his guide, set forth on his journey, in the course of which he soon came as some say, to the Castle of Drummelzier, and others, that of Tinnies, but in any event, one of the strongholds of the head of the Tweedie family, a Chieftain who was in the habit of exacting homage and levying tribute from all passers by. The King and Bertram passed by without yielding the accustomed homage, when Tweedie, who had ever at his call men-at-arms and horses ready, immediately pursued and fell upon them with his armed followers. The King however, taking a bugle from his side, sounded it and in the course of a few minutes twenty-four belted knights with their retainers appeared to his assistance. The King revealed himself, to the discomfiture of the Borderers and demanded from Tweedie the homage which even in the midst of his fastness that Chieftain could not refuse, especially in view of the overwhelming force around him. Throwing himself on his knees he implored the clemency of his sovereign, from whom he received a gracious pardon coupled with a few befitting admonitions, and the condition that he should convey to Bertram an acre of land in the centre of his possessions to be held for ever in memory of the services rendered to the King." The fact that the Tweedies exacted homage from all who passed their stronghold is no doubt true, for it is borne witness to by many writers, and as for the above legend, so late as the present century even, William Bertram of Bertram Land, owned this acre. The title of John Bertram and Agnes Seaton, his spouse, is recorded in the Sasine Register of the 12th December 1793; and the property was recently acquired from their successor by Tweedie of Quarter in the year 1850. The titles shew that Bertram did not hold direct of the Crown but of a subject superior, and this accounts for the absence of Charters in the Great Seal Register. Further research in the Sasine Register or amongst the Title Deeds would be necessary to elucidate the actual facts. In Douglas's Peerage of Scotland we find the record of the marriage of Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of John, the second Lord Hay of Yester, by Elizabeth Chreighton, to James Tweedie of Drummelzier, somewhere between the years 1530 and 1540. The date of her parents marriage would appear to have been about 1511, and the lady must have, therefore, been between 20 and 25 years of age at the time of her marriage. On the 29th April 1531, the King confirmed a Charter to John Tweedie of Drummelzier, amongst the witnesses being another John Tweedie. In the same year, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Tweedie of Drummelzier married William Murray of Romanno, the grandson of the "Outlaw Murray". On the 19th October 1531 we find amongst the original Tweedie Charters and Writs, a seizin on precept from Chancery to James Tweedie as heir to his father the late John Tweedie of Drummelzier. On the 2nd December in the same year, the King confirmed a Charter dated 10th August 1531 to John Tweedie of Drummelzier, under which the latter was to surrender to Sir Andrew Brown, Chaplain of the Altar in Biggar church and to his successors an annual rent of £10 furth of the Lands and Barony of Drummelzier. This penance was also no doubt a further compensation by the Tweedies for the attack on Lord Fleming; and the ancient document tells us that the annual endowment was provided to "infeft ane Chaplaine perpetuallie to say Mass in ye Kirk of Biggar at ye hye altar of ye same "for the soul of John Lord Fleming, whom Tweedie had slain. AD1532 There would appear to have been some trouble in the town of Peebles regarding the applications of Sir John Ker and Sir John Tweedie for the Chaplainry of the Altar of St Mary the Virgin in the church there, about the year 1532. There was continuous litigation and trouble over this matter for many years, and Sir John Tweedie would appear to have been rejected notwithstanding that he had the support of his powerful cousins, the Tweedies of Drummelzier, because he was found unlearned in Church Song by the greater part of the Council of the Burgh and the Dean and Choristers of the Church, whilst Sir John Ker was found fit not only in reading, but also in chant. But it would seem notwithstanding that Sir John Tweedie eventually carried the day, and retained the Chaplainry until a few years after the Reformation, when he resigned in favour of Gilbert Tweedie, another Chaplain. The records of all these ecclesiastical troubles are of considerable length and the curious in such matters are referred to the originals for the details of a remarkable struggle. King James V himself seems to have supported Sir John Ker, for he wrote a letter dated 6th August 1532, from Edinburgh to the Bailies of Peebles, requiring them to defend Sir John Ker, and commanding John Tweedie of Drummelzier, and William Tweedie, and their accomplices to desist and cease from molesting and troubling Sir John Ker in the peaceable "joising of his said alterage", all of which, however, would appear to have been of no avail. AD1533 On the 17th December 1533, we find in the Register of the Great Seal the record that the King at Coupar confirmed a Charter by which John Tweedie of Drummelzier granted the lands of Hopcailzie to his grandson John Tweedie, the son of James Tweedie and Agnes Somerville, the daughter of Hugh Lord Somerville. AD1534 The rental book of the old Barony of Stobo tells us that on the 18th June 1534, Thomas Russel was the son of Jonat Tweedie "his modyr", and that James Tweedie held four ox gangs in the Hill House of Stobo. AD1536 John Tweedie of Drummelzier throughout all this period appears at different times as witness to various Charters recorded in the Registers, and notwithstanding all that had passed, James Tweedie of Drummelzier seems to have been high in the royal favour shortly afterwards, for in the year 1536 we find that he married Marjorie (Mariota), the daughter of Lord Somerville, a sister of the Queen herself, and that King James V invited himself to the marriage, Tweedie being described as "the Laird of Drummelzier, chief of the Tweedies, as eminent a Baron, and as of great command as any in Tweedale." AD1537 On the 3rd October 1537, the King confirmed James Tweedie of Drummelzier in the Horne Hunter Lands, to be held by him under the same curious tenure as mentioned in the Charter of 1511, already referred to. Catherine the daughter of John Bethune of Balfour appears to have married a Tweedie of Drummelzier between the years 1540 and 1550. John Tweedie became seized of the lands of Whitslaid and Glenkirk in the year 1540, as would appear from the Exchequer Rolls. AD1540 In 1540, James Tweedie of Drummelzier resigned in favour of himself and "Mariota" Stuart, his spouse (the "Marjorie" already mentioned) his lands lying on the west side of the Burn of Drummelzier with the Tower thereof and a Crown Charter was granted in their favour on the 5th June in that year, and another Crown Charter was granted to them on the 26th February 1541 of the Lands of Drummelzier occupied by James Tweedie and others with the Fulling Mill lying on the west side of the said Burn, in the Barony of Drummelzier. The names of Walter Tweedie, John Tweedie, Henry Tweedie and Margaret Tweedie appear in the Exchequer Rolls during the year 1540 in reference to the lands of Fareholme and Glenbeth. AD1545 The rental book of the old Barony of Stobo gives, on the 28th January 1545 an extract shewing that Adam Tweedie dealt with the four ox gangs of land called the Hyllhousse with the consent of James Tweedie and of Margaret Tweedie, "his modyr" at that time. The troubles with the Flemings seem hardly yet over, for we find in the Acts of Parliament of Scotland at this time, under date the 3rd October 1545, a complaint by Malcolm Lord Fleming to the Lords in Council stating that as they were already aware, they had caused him to give assurance to George Douglas and James Tweedie of Drummelzier for good behaviour, and that in like manner George Douglas and James Tweedie of Drummelzier should have given the same to him, but had not done so; and that he was informed a bill had been given to the Queen's Grace and the Council by the young Laird of Drummelzier "proportand that he, Lord Fleming, was both traitor, thief and inbringer of Englishmen and resettar of thift, and caused all the whole country to be harried, which if so be, he ought to be punished." AD1546 Shortly after, Queen Mary and Murray, the Regent, gave assurance to George Douglas and the young Laird of Drummelzier, their kin, friends and servants that they should be unhurt, whilst in the following year, 1546, on the 11th June, there is another entry in the Register of the Privy Council relieving James Tweedie of Drummelzier from the process of the horn for non-compliance with the order for him to come forward and underlie the laws for certain crimes imputed to him; William Tweedie, his son, promised to cause the father to answer for the summons, and David Hamilton of Preston went surety to the same effect. The process of the horn, so often referred to in the records of Scotland, had reference to a process of being denounced rebel by the blast of the horn in the marketplace or some other public place in the district in which the delinquent resided. AD1548 In the year 1548, on the 12th June, James Tweedie of Drummelzier is again found figuring in the records of the Acts of Parliament of Scotland under an accusation of treason and lese-majeste. The details of the crime are stated to have been given "at mair lenth" in the summons; the summons itself, however is not forthcoming, and we do not know what it actually was that James Tweedie had done. Under date "yet Wedynsday the xix. of Februarie, 1549," a warrant is issued from the Privy Council of England "for £28 to Edmund Twedy, Captain of Haddington, by way of reward." AD1549 On the 21st February, 1549, there is an entry in the Exchequer Rolls to the effect that Walter Tweedie was concerned in the lands of Whitslaid at that time, and had dealings therewith of sufficient importance to be entered upon the public records of the period. AD1550 On the 31st July 1550, William Tweedie was served heir to his brother James Tweedie in the lands of Whitslaid and of Glenkirk in the Barony of Glenquhome. This William Tweedie married Christian Dalzell, and was of Gannoch, as we find afterwards when he and his wife took a charter of the lands of Carrokiore in the parish of Mochrum in the County of Wigton. Reference again to this William Tweedie is found in the year 1556 in the Register of the Great Seal, when his name is mentioned in the footnote of Charter No. 1127 as amongst those of assize summoned at that time, and also in the year 1570, when Christian Dalzell, then his widow, had dealings with James Tweedie, the son and heir of her late husband William, and his trustees, on the 18th December in that year. In the Register of the Great Seal under the date of the 7th February, 1551-52, appears a notice of a Charter granted by the Queen to James Tweedie of Drummelzier in connection with his marriage with Mariota Stuart, the Queen's own sister, and a certain arrangement with their son John Tweedie, apparently all having reference to some transaction carried out on the 30th August 1542, at Drummelzier, of which one John Tweedie of Innerleithen had been a witness. The Rental Book of the Old Barony of Stobo contains a reference to a James Tweedie as the son of the late Andrew Tweedie, under date of the 6th July 1553, whereby he was confirmed in "Twa oxen gang" of land in Stobo called Nether Hillhouse, vacant by the decease of his father. An entry on the Exchequer Rolls under date 1554 gives us a curious form of the name as "Twidy" in connection with certain dealings with the lands in the Barony of Stenhous, but there is nothing to show to which of the Tweedies the matter actually had regard. AD1556 A curious reference to a long-ago transaction of but little importance is preserved in a jotting made on the lower margin of Folio 101 on the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland for the year 1556 to the following effect: - "Memorandum that I send word to James Tweedie to len Thome Spottiswod ane dosane of sparris quha promyst to deliver 2 Septembris Anno 1556." In the same year there is another reference on the Exchequer Rolls to the occupation of Horn Hunteris Lands by James Tweedie and the quaint service of four blasts of a horn to rouse the Queen's Majesty and her hunters whenever she should come hunting "apud Kinghall Wellis" the date being the 9th November in that year. The Tweedies were at this time still allied with the Kers of Cesford, and with the Douglases, as Janet, the third daughter of Sir James Douglas, married firstly James Tweedie of Drummelzier, and secondly, Sir William Ker of Cesford, who was the ancestor of the Dukes of Roxborough. James Tweedie of Drummelzier must have died some time previous to 1562, as in that year the marriage with William Ker of Cesford took place. A charter granted by James Tweedie of Drummelzier in favour of Janet Douglas is to be found in the Register of the Great Seal under date 8th November 1557, by which James Tweedie of Drummelzier, on the occasion of the marriage, conveyed to her in life rent and the heirs of the marriage, an interest in certain lands on the East side of the Burn at Drummelzier, the grant being confirmed by the Crown immediately afterwards, the witness being recorded as James Tweedie of Fruid. AD1557 In the same year, 1557, a reference is found on the 25th May in the Exchequer Rolls to further dealings by James Tweedie in respect of the lands and barony of Drummelzier and of Halmyre, of which he was evidently also possessed at the time. Further dealings are also referred to a little later on in respect of the same lands on the 27th September whilst dealings with the lands of Clifton are found under the date 12th May 1561, James Tweedie being therein referred to as lately deceased; as is also the case in the record of further dealings with the lands of Clifton, the words being "warde per Spatium unius anni immediate sequentio decessum quondam Jacobi Tweedie de Drummelzier avi Willemi Tweedie et ..... per decessum quondam Jacobi Tweedie senioris fratris dicti Willelmi Tweedie." William Tweedie is also referred to in the following year in reference to the lands of Horne Hunteris Lands, which we have already had occasion to speak of as being held under the curious tenure of service of a certain number of blasts of the horn when the Queen's Majesty came hunting in the district. The indexing and printing of the Exchequer Rolls does not at present (1900) extend beyond the year 1557, further than which it is not possible to follow them at present without great difficulty and delay. Amongst the original writs and Charters of the Tweedie family we find, under date 27th April 1557, that James Tweedie was returned heir to his grandfather, the late James Tweedie of Drummelzier, by special service in the lands in the Barony of Drummelzier, his minority being dispensed with. Some time prior to this date a member of the Drummelzier family, George Twedye, apparently migrated to Essex in England for in the "Herald's visitations of Essex", published by the Harleian Society, we find, recorded under the dates 1558 and 1612, the arms of George Twedye, "who came out of Scotland from the house called Drummelzier", but so far nothing more has been discovered of him. From him is descended the family of Tweedy so long resident in Essex, and later on at Bromley Kent, represented in the nineteenth century by Colonel George Tweedy HEICS, and afterwards by Arthur Hearne Tweedy, of Widmore Lodge, Widmore, Bromley, Kent. AD1559 The next year, 1559, brings us to the first mention of the bloody feud which ran for so many years between the Tweedies and the family of Geddes. On the 13th December there is a respite under the Privy Seal for nineteen years to James Tweedie of Drummelzier, James Tweedie of Fruid, Patrick, William and John his brothers, and Thomas Tweedie alias Long Tom, for the cruel slaughter of the late William Geddes, the son and apparent heir of Charles Geddes of Cuthill Hall. This feud continued for many years, and was evidently the cause of the Tweedies being embroiled also with the Nasmyths of Posso; we find numerous references to it within the next fifty years and there is no doubt that there was much trouble besides between the two families, of which no detailed record was made. 62 Notwithstanding all the misdeeds of the family, we find Tweedie of Drummelzier mentioned as Member of Parliament in the year 1560; and amongst the original writs and charters of the family, we find a deed of Gift by Mary, Queen of Scots, with the sign-manual of the Queen attached, in connection with the marriage of William Tweedie of Drummelzier with Margaret Ker, under date at Edinburgh, 14th February 1561; this William Tweedie being returned heir under special service to the late James Tweedie of Drummelzier, his brother german, in the lands of the Barony of Drummelzier on the 21st October in the same year. AD1562 In December 1562, James Tweedie of Fruid, most likely the son of the individual who had married Catherine Fraser formerly referred to, was attacked when seated before the fire in the house of William Tweedie, Burgess of Edinburgh, and mortally wounded before he could raise himself up or parry the blows aimed at him. Patrick Hunter, John Hunter, John Burn, George Patterson and William Glen were tried for this murder, and they were all acquitted. AD1563 In the Borough records of Peebles, under date 23rd June 1563, is found a description of the opening of an old chest, or almery, at the Castle of Neidpath, which was found to contain "ane posset cop with ane fute of the selfe of esche ane littill bikker callit and salt fat with ane fute of esche ane lame can and thre paperis of armes of umquhill Archibald Earle of Argus and na utheris thingis." This was done in the presence of a Notary Public, William Lord Hay of Yester, and others, amongst whom we find William Tweedie of Drummelzier; but for what purpose the opening was made in so formal a manner does not appear , except that the Lady of Yester seems to have laid claim to the chest. Robert Walker, a carpenter was the man employed to open it, and there is another note that Robert Walker was also caused to open another chest called "a Stule Almery", which had nothing therein except worm-webs. AD1565 Adam Tweedie of Drava would appear to have been a man of violent and ungovernable temper. There is reference amongst others of his misdeeds on record, to one under date 25th January 1565, in a complaint against him that he had committed the crime of "cutting off Robert Rammage's luggis (ears) and dismembering him thereof." The crime was not denied but Adam Tweedie pleaded the King's and Queen's remission, 30th November, 1565, and he was accordingly absolved, William Tweedie of Drummelzier engaging to satisfy the Rammages, who, in all probability never received any sort of redress. The murder of Rizzio, the favourite of Mary Queen of Scots, is a story with which everyone who knows anything of the history of Scotland is well acquainted. It does not surprise us to find that two of the Tweedies were concerned in this crime and were amongst the body of armed men who, headed by Darnley, Morton, Ruthven, and others, on the night of the 9th March 1566, rushed into the Palace at Holyrood and in the Queen's presence assassinated David Rizzio, her foreign Secretary and favourite musician. This outrage naturally caused great terror in the Palace. The attendants on the Queen were quite taken by surprise, and on finding themselves utterly unable to contend against the attacking force they escaped by the back windows and some of them did not stop till they reached the Castle of Crichton. William Tweedie of Drummelzier and Adam Tweedie of Drava, of whom we have heard before, were implicated in this conspiracy, and along with the other conspirators were summoned on the 19th March following to appear personally before the King and Queen and the Lords of the Secret Council to answer for the crime; the Register of the Privy Council being headed as "in the Reign of Henry and Mary". It is curious, however, that their names, although appearing in the summons, do not figure in the list of those who were put to the horn and to escheat for their participation in the outrage. The Register of the Privy Council, however, gives their names as amongst those who were "dilatid of the slauchter of David Riccio", and denounces them as rebels. There is a statement in Burke's Landed Gentry that William Tweedie of Oliver Castle had a "feu Charter" dated 11th December 1565 of the lands of Oliver, but the source whence Burke obtained this information is not given. In the records of ministers and exhorters with their stipends, in 1567, printed by the Maitland Club appears amongst others Walter Tweedie as the exhorter for Broughton and Dawick at a stipend of £26 13s 4d per annum; while he seems as well to have been the reader at Glenholm and Broughton in 1574, Kilbucho being also placed under his charge in 1591. James Tweedie appears to have owned the supremacy of King James VI during the Regency of Murray by a Deed recorded in the Register of the Privy Council, in which he concurred with many other persons. Sir Walter Scott has immortalized the story of the escape of Mary Queen of Scots from the Castle of Loch Leven. She was imprisoned in a rude and inconvenient Tower on a small island where there was scarcely room to walk fifty yards, and not even the intercession of Queen Elizabeth could procure any mitigation of her captivity. Sir William Douglas, the Laird of Loch Leven, discharged with severe fidelity the task of Mary's jailor, but his younger brother George Douglas, overcome by the Queen's distress and perhaps also by her beauty, laid a plot for her deliverance. The plot was discovered and he was expelled from the island in consequence, but he kept up a correspondence with a kinsman, William Douglas, called Little Douglas, who had relations in the Castle. On Sunday the 2nd May, 1568, this William contrived to steal the keys of the Castle while the family were at supper, and let Mary and her attendant out of the Tower when all had gone to rest. He then locked the gates of the Castle to prevent pursuit, placed the Queen and her waiting-maid in a little skiff and rowed to the shore, throwing the keys to the Castle into the lake in the course of their passage. Lord Seton and a party of his adherents were waiting as the landing place with horses, and the Queen instantly mounted and hurried off to Niddrie Castle in Mid-Lothian, whence she proceeded next day to Hamilton. In the narration of this romantic story in "The Abbott" history and tradition are somewhat confused, and the success of the escape is conferred on George Douglas, while the merit of it belongs, in reality to the boy called William or Little Douglas, either from his youth or his slight stature. In the novel, the part of this Little Douglas has been assigned to Roland Graeme. The news of Mary's escape flew like lightening throughout the country and spread enthusiasm everywhere. The people remembered her gentleness, grace and beauty, and if they reflected on her errors they no doubt thought she had been punished for them with great severity. On Sunday, Mary was a sad and helpless captive in the lonely tower of Loch Leven; on the Saturday following she was at the head of a powerful confederacy by which nine Earls, nine Bishops, eighteen Barons and many gentlemen of rank engaged to defend her person and restore her to power. Buckingham, in his memoirs of Mary Stuart says "No sooner had the captive lady escaped from her prison and raised the banner of loyalty in that secluded part of her kingdom than a band of the brightest and ablest spirits of the nation flocked joyously to her standard and a Bond of Association was raised in her favour and signed by nearly 150 of the members of the Nobility, Clergy and Gentry". It is somewhat curious, having regard to the part played by the family in the only too recent murder of Rizzio, to find the Tweedies now concerned on Mary's behalf in this rising; but amongst the Barons is recorded Tweedie of Drummelzier, who was actually one of the signatories to this bond which was dated 8th May 1568, for the defence of the Queen of Scots. It is perhaps not uninteresting to quote from Sir Walter Scott's description of the morning after Mary' escape, when describing her feelings on awakening, he puts words into her mouth which call the scene vividly before our eyes:- "'Rise, rise Catherine' cried the enraptured Princess, 'arise and come hither! - here are swords and spears in true hands and glittering armour on loyal breasts. Here are banners, my girl, floating in the wind as lightly as summer clouds. Great God! what pleasure to my weary eyes to trace their devices - thine own brave father's - the princely Hamilton's - the faithful Flemings - See! see! they have caught a glimpse of me, and throng towards the window. '" The account of the battle that followed is as melancholy as the foregoing gathering was enthusiastic. On the 13th May 1568, the Regent, Murray, occupied the village of Langside, which lay full in the march of the Queen's army, and after a most obstinate encounter, the battle was eventually decided against the Queen, who beheld the final and fatal defeat of her forces from the Castle called Cruikstain, from whence she fled to Galloway, and eventually reaching England, surrendered herself to the mercy of Elizabeth, and to an imprisonment which only ended with her death in Fotheringay Castle. AD1570 On the 13th September 1570, the reign being given as that of James VI in the public records, thus marking the fact that the authorities had accepted Mary's flight from Scotland as her abdication, we find an entry stating that James Cockburn of Skraling, William Tweedie of Drummelzier, and Adam Tweedie of Drava were called upon to make good their bond given in security of certain persons who did not come forward to answer the charges laid against them; and on the 27th June 1572, we find amongst the index of names excluded from the text that of Adam Tweedie of Drava, who had been cited, but for what purpose, we do not know. In the Records of the Burgh of Peebles we find on the 31st March 1572, the names of James Tweedie and Thomas Tweedie as Quartermasters of the Watch and on the 19th May in the same year in the Burgh record of the "vesying of the wappynnis" are mentioned "James Tweedie armit, Gilbert Tweedie armit, Thomas Tweedie armit, and James Tweedie armit", James Tweedie, Gilbert Tweedie and Thomas Tweedie all being again mentioned in the Burgh Records under dates the 28th May 1572, and the 19th June 1572, as Members of the Council of the Burgh. From some cause unknown, a bad feeling had grown up in the town of Peebles against John Dickyson of Winkstoun, the Provost of the Burgh, and he was at length barbarously murdered on the 5th July 1572. Of this even the records take no notice, except in a casual way, but on the day following the murder, William Dickyson of Winkstoun and his kinsmen promised to live peaceably in time to come, and the baillies and community in like manner undertake not to molest him or his friends; but though only incidentally referred to at this time and elsewhere in the records, the fact of the slaughter is undoubted, for it was the subject of a judicial enquiry. On the 19th July in the same year, James Tweedie, John Wychtman, Martin Hay and John Bullo, all of Peebles, and Thomas Johnstone, were tried in the High Court of Justiciary for the "cruel slaughter of the late John Dickisone of Wynkstone", but the assize acquitted them with only one dissentient. According to tradition which lingered in the town till within very recent years, the murder was committed in the High Street near Deane Gutter. From the following we learn that the Tweedies did not disdain to act the part of freebooters when occasion offered. On the 13th September 1572, complaint was made to the Privy Council at Stirling by Duncan Weir of Staneburne that William Tweedie, with Roger his brother, his sons Symon Tweedie and Adam Tweedie, John Tweedie the Tutor of Drummelzier, and others, had assaulted the House of Staneburne and raided it of cattle, horses and various articles, amongst which were two Jeddart staves, a species of battle-axe or partisan called after the town of Jedburgh, the citizens of that town being distinguished for the use of that particular weapon. William Tweedie alleged that he had obtained a gift of what he had taken away, and therefore had done no wrong to Duncan Weir. The Regent and Council referred the matter to the Lords of the Cession "to do justice therein according to the Laws of the Realm", and we hear nothing whatever as to whether Duncan Weir ever obtained his rights or not, or even whether he had any. AD1573 On the 15th December 1573, Sir Walter Scott of Branxholme and John Tweedie, the tutor of Drummelzier, entered into recognisances that Margaret Turnbull, the widow of David Elliot, and Walter Scott her son, should answer for certain things laid to their charge, and should not molest Gawin, or Jean Scott, his wife. According to an entry in the Register of the Great Seal made at Holyrood House on the 8th February 1573, it would appear that one John Tweedie of what place is not mentioned, had a wife whose maiden name had been Dunsyre; and that shortly afterwards James Brown of Logan made complaint to the Lord Regent and the Lords of the Secret Council in regard to the securityship for the entry of Walter Henderson, servant to William Tweedie of Wrae, and letters were ordained to be directed charging Patrick Tweedie of Drummelzier to appear. In the same year John Tweedie of Drummelzier is mentioned in the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland as Commissioner for Musters in Peebleshire. The feud with the Geddes family seems to have been pursued, for on the 11th March 1574, William Baillie of Lamyngton became surety for George and James Geddes that they should not give annoyance to John Tweedie, tutor of Drummelzier, Patrick Tweedie his uncle, Adam Tweedie of Drava, James Tweedie of Fruid and others. AD1574 On the 6th December 1574, Thomas Cant of Sanct Gillegrange becomes surety for Adam Tweedie of Drava, that he shall appear before the Lord Regent and the Lords of Secret Council in February that is next to come, and abide by such orders as shall be made for the quietness of the country and also that he, his kin, brothers, servants and friends, and all others with whom he may have anything to do, shall in no way invade or pursue Charles Geddes of Rachan and James Geddes his father, his brother, his kin and others, except by regular process of law, under bond of £2,000, and Adam Tweedie binds himself to relieve Thomas Cant of the bond. This surety by Thomas Cant must either have been insufficient or withdrawn, for on the following day, the 7th December, William Lauder of Halton undertakes the same obligation concerning Tweedie and his relations, while at the same time James Tweedie of Frude, John Tweedie of Drummelzier, and Patrick his uncle all had to enter into sureties for good behaviour, no doubt in connection with these disturbances. AD1579 A Tweedie is mentioned in the Register of the Great Seal under date 16th February 1579, in regard to a certain Charter confirmed by the King in favour of John Hamilton of Stanehous. 88 In 1579 John Tweedie, the Tutor of Drummelzier, seems to have been at daggers-drawn with Sir Alexander Jardine of Apilgirth, for he lodges a complaint against him in that Sir Alexander had forcibly entered in his lands and seized the rents; and for once in a way, Tweedie appears to have been in the right, for he boldly appeared before the Privy Council and proved his case. Sir Alexander Jardine not having appeared, he was denounced a rebel and put to the horn with its attendant consequences. We find that Gilbert Tweedie is mentioned as being in Parliament as the Member and Commissioner for Peebles in the year 1579. John Tweedie, the tutor of Drummelzier, appears among the names of assize on the Register of the Great Seal for the year 1580 at Edinburgh on the 13th May. Under the old ecclesiastical system, Dawick was a vicarage dependent on Stobo, but after the Reformation it became an independent parish. The church lands, then under reservation of a glebe, were feued out, and under a Charter granted on the 15th June 1580, by Robert Douglas, designed as Parish Vicar of Stobo, with consent of the Archbishop, Dean and Chapter of Glasgow, in favour of John Tweedie the tutor of Drummelzier, the feu duty payable was fixed at five merkes yearly; and the grant was confirmed by a Crown Charter dated the 20th March 1581-2. AD1581 John Lindsay in 1581 gave caution in 2000 merkes that he would not harm one Janet Tweedie, a widow. William Dickyson of Fowledye and James Dickyson of Wynkstoun, possibly some relations of the John Dickyson whose murder has already been mentioned, sold to Adam Tweedie of Drava and Jean his wife, certain lands, of which transaction one Walter Tweedie, a minister at Broughton was a witness. Sir John Tweedie, the Chaplain of the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Peebles, is referred to as consenting to a Charter granted by the King in favour of John Bullo, the Chaplain of the Altar of St Martin in the parish Church of St Andrews of Peebles. On December 26th 1581, William Tweedie was concerned as Procurator for one George Grenilaw, who had been cited before the Privy Council in 1581. AD1582 On the 2nd July 1582, James Tweedie, son and heir of the late William Tweedie of Drummelzier, is granted a dispensation by King James VI. (the original of which yet remains amongst the Writs and Charters of the Tweedie family) to enter into possession of his heritage notwithstanding his minority. This document bears the signatures of the King, Gowry, and Blantyre, and is dated from Holyrood House. AD1584 Amongst the Scottish "complaints" in the Calendar of Border Papers there is one lodged in regard to "the taking of young James Stuart, the Laird of Fruid (a Tweedie), William Tweedie of Wrae and other gentlemen of Tweeddale by an ambush of the Grahams laid for them twenty three miles within Scotland." This complaint is dated 5th July 1584, and no doubt has reference to the unsettled state of the Borders and the constant warfare which was carried on between those dwelling on either side of the boundary between England and Scotland. The prisoners appear to have obtained their freedom, however, almost immediately. John Creichton of Quarter, John Tweedie in Drava, John Tweedie in Stanhope, Hob Tweedie in Howgait, James Tweedie in Drummelzier, James Tweedie of Fruid, Adam Tweedie in Drava, James Tweedie the younger there, John Tweedie in Henderlethane, and Alexander Portous of Glenkirk, were required , under a charge dated 10th November 1584, to appear personally before the King's majesty and the Lords of the Secret Council as being accused of certain treasonable and capital crimes, of which they alleged they were altogether innocent. The 2nd December was assigned as the day for the hearing of the charges of which no details are preserved, and in the meantime, the alleged offenders were ordered to lodge their persons in ward within twenty four hours in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, all upon their own expense, an order it is highly improbable they obeyed voluntarily. On the same page in the Register is found an entry of caution by James Tweedie of Drummelzier for John Creichton of Quarter, John Tweedie in Stanhope, and James Tweedie in Henderlethane; and of a caution by Adam Tweedie of Drava for John Tweedie and James Tweedie, his sons, to the amount of 2000 merkes; and a little later on, on the 16th November 1584, there is an entry stating that William Cokburn, Burgess of Edinburgh became surety for James Tweedie of Drummelzier, and William Sinclair of Roslin for Adam Tweedie of Drava and Alexander Portous of Glenkirk; from which it appears that James Tweedie, Adam Tweedie and Alexander Portous were for the time being actually in prison in Linlithgow. AD1585 Whether these various parties did enter their persons in the tollbooth in Edinburgh, or left their sureties to settle as best they might, is not mentioned; and it is somewhat curious to find that the accused persons themselves were allowed to become surety for each other. From the next reference to this matter we have a glimpse of its true meaning. It was a family quarrel of the Tweedies, as is apparent from the decision that Tweedie of Fruid was in danger of his life from the vindictive assaults of Tweedie of Drummelzier and his associates, and security was exacted for good behaviour as we find on March 22nd 1585, that William Foullartoun of Arde becomes security for James Tweedie of Drummelzier and for Andrew Haswell; that James Tweedie of Fruid, his tenants and servants, shall be "skaythlis in their bodies gudes and geir be the saids James Tweedie and David Haswell: James Tweedie under pain of 1,000 merkes, and David Haswell under pain of 300 merkes, half to the King and half to the party grevit". And David, Earl of Crawford obliged himself to relieve the said William Foullartoun of the above, and James Tweedie of Drummelzier to relieve the said Earl of the "premises". AD1586 Among the original Writs of the family under date 7th April in the 19th year of the Reign (1586), is a precept by King James for infefting James Tweedie of Drummelzier in the lands and Barony thereof under the Quarter Seal. AD1587 On the 10th January 1587, the King confirmed a Charter by William Murray of Romanno in favour of John Murray, his eldest legitimate son and heir-apparent, and Margaret Tweedie, the wife of the latter. Disputes having arisen between the Scots of Branxholme and the Tweedies, a Privy Council was held by the King at Neidpath on the 8th November 1587, when Walter Scott of Branxholme, for himself and his friends on the one side, and James Tweedie of Drummelzier, for himself and his friends on the other, agreed to abide by the decision of the King and his Council regarding all past actions and quarrels, criminal and civil, competent to either party against the other. Whatever settlement may have been made at this time, however, fresh disturbances arose between the parties a few years after, in regard to cattle-lifting on a large scale, to which we will presently refer. AD1588 From an entry in the Register of the Privy Council, Adam Tweedie of Dreva, notwithstanding his turbulent character, appears to have been Collector of the Taxation of the Shire of Peebles about this time. In the year 1588 there is an entry showing that he was ordained to pay out of the same £200 to one James Stuart. The Castle of Edinburgh seems to have been kept in repair by special taxation of the lesser landowners, for there is an entry of an Act assigning the second terms of payment of the tax of the small Barons for the repair of Edinburgh Castle noted on the Register of the Privy Council in 1588, under which it seems that His Majesty had called for a sum of £40,000 for this purpose. Among the contributories is given the name of Adam "Twdy" of Dreva (we quote the name as it appears in the original owing to the peculiar spelling, of which another instance does not appear). In a subsequent entry of an act anent the third terms of payment of the same, Tweedie's name again appears, but spelled on this occasion "Twedy". Among the Retours of Heirs for Peebleshire appears on the 6th March 1588, James Tweedie as the heir of William Tweedie of Drummelzier, his father, in the lands and Barony of Drummelzier, the lands of Halmyre, and the Horne Hunteris Land (the spelling of William Tweedie's surname being given as "Tweddie", which we quote on account of its unusual form); and in the next entry of the same appears the name of James Tweedie of Drummelzier as the heir of John Tweedie of Drummelzier, his grandfather in the lands of Hopkelzo-Wester on the same date, the original of which is still to be found among the original writs and charters of the family. On the 17th December 1588, the King granted to John Tweedie, tutor of Drummelzier, in feu farm the lands of Nether Stirkfield extending to a mark land which was part of the Vicarage land of Stobo, belonging to the Archbishop of Glasgow in the Barony of Broughton, paying therefor 30/- and 2/- of augmentation. In the Act for regulating the election of the Commissioners of the Shire for the coming Parliament we find James Tweedie of Drummelzier commissioned by the Barons for the Shire of Peebles; whilst a little later we find a registration by John Halliday, advocate, and James Tweedie of Drummelzier for William Hamilton, subscribed at Edinburgh before Adam Tweedie (the name being spelt "Tueday" on the Register) of Dreva and Alexander Tweedie of Mot. AD1589 Amongst the original Writs and Charters of the family under date 16th May 1589 is to be found a seizin on breve from Chancery in favour of James Tweedie as heir to his father, the late William Tweedie, of the lands of Drummelzier. John Hay of Smithfield, who was Sheriff Depute of Peebles at that time appears to have given the seizin; whilst on the following day the same James Tweedie had seizin as heir to his father, the late William Tweedie of Drummelzier, in the lands of Horne Hunteris Land and others, the original of which is also still in existence. We now come to the story of the quarrel with the Nasmyths. On the 15th September 1589, a caution was entered in £500 that William Tweedie the eldest lawful son of John Tweedie (sometime tutor of Drummelzier) by his wife Magdalene Lawson should be harmless to Thomas Nasmyth of Posso, Charles Geddes of Rachan being the surety; similar security being given by John Tweedie, merchant Burgess of Edinburgh and others, on the 24th September 1589, to the effect that Thomas Nasmyth of Posso, his tenants and servants should be harmless from James Tweedie of Drummelzier under pain of 4,000 merkes. On the 4th October 1589, we find John Lord Fleming giving caution in 5000 merkes for John Tweedie, brother german of James Tweedie of Drummelzier, and in 5,000 merkes for James Tweedie of Drummelzier, that certain of the Nasmyths shall be harmless; James Tweedie of Drummelzier at the same time entered into a caution of 1,000 merkes for James Johnstone to a like effect. Again we find James Hamilton of Libberton also becoming surety for James Tweedie of Drummelzier to the extent of 5,000 merkes for the security of Michael Nasmyth and his son, and the like on the 4th June 1590 by William Cockburn, burgess of Edinburgh, who becomes surety for John Tweedie of Drummelzier that Thomas Nasmyth of Posso should be harmless, under pain of £1,000. What had happened is not very clear, but it would seem that there had been an assault upon the house of Stirkfield belonging to the Nasmyths, which apparently had been "douncast" or destroyed, and that these sureties had been entered into in order to relieve John Tweedie from his imprisonment within the Tolbooth of Edinburgh. In the renewal of Acts against the Jesuits and Seminary Priests for the reconstitution of the Commission for putting the Acts in force, we find the name of William Tweedie of Drummelzier noted among the names of noblemen and gentlemen appointed Commissioners for the execution of the Acts thenceforward. AD1590 In the Roll of Landlords, recorded on the Register of the Privy Council for the year 1590, we find the name of William Tweedie of Wrae. In the year 1590 arose the troubles with the Veitches of Dawick. What the origin was we do not know, and probably the feud had been of long standing, but on the 16th June in that year Patrick Veitch of Dawick went on business into Peebles, and while there was "perceived" by James Tweedie of Drummelzier, John Tweedie his brother, Adam Tweedie of Dreva, John Tweedie, tutor of Drummelzier, Charles Tweedie, the bastard, William Tweedie of Wrae, and others of their following, all of whom appear to have entertained a deadly hatred of Veitch. They, therefore, rode out of Peebles in advance, divided themselves into two companies, one of which concealed itself at a particular place on the road behind Neidpath. Veitch quitted the town unsuspicious of his danger, and was followed at a distance by the other party, and at a given signal the whole closed upon the unfortunate man and "with swordis and pistolettes cruellie and unmercifullie" slew him. The complaint lodged in respect of this matter upon the Register of the Privy Council states solemnly that this deed was done without respect for the late proclamations as to the keeping of order according to His Majesty's godly and good intentions anent the reformation of abuses and disorders, nor yet with having regard to the present time of the strangers being with his majesty, in respect whereof, proceeds the complaint of the Privy Council, not only is His Majesty touched in honour, but his authority highly condemned and occasion given to wicked persons to do the like, and a declaration follows that this slaughter, being the first that has been committed since His Majesty's home-coming, shall not remain unpunished. The accused parties not appearing to answer the charge were denounced rebels, and by some unusually active means were shortly afterwards placed in prison in Edinburgh. The case was referred to the Circuit Court at Peebles, but before this took place it had become complicated by reprisals. On the 16th July 1590, Sir William Cokburn of Stirling, Patrick Cokburn of Lamyngton, and John Cokburn of Newholme were present at the assize, and gave security for their friends and relatives James Tweedie of Drummelzier and the others, who were all accused of being art and part in the slaughter of Patrick Veitch, son of William Veitch of Dawick. But on the 20th of the month two relations of the slain man, John Veitch the younger of North Synton, and Andrew Veitch, brother of the Laird of Courhope, set upon John Tweedie, tutor of Drummelzier, as he walked in the streets of Edinburgh and killed him there. Thus were the alleged murderers punished through a relative, probably the uncle, of the man who was killed, and for some time there is a tiresome repetition of entries in the Privy Council records concerning sureties given on both sides under heavy penalties, nothing of course being done to punish the murderers on either side. Possibly the excessive laxity of justice at this crisis is due to the fact that James VI had just arrived in Scotland with his newly married Queen of Denmark, and although scandalized by the outrages having taken place whilst distinguished strangers were in the country, was disposed to let the matter rest, and among other cases of consolation granted an order for the liberation of the Veitches. This indulgence, however, met with no grateful return. The feud of the Tweedies and the Veitches was of too long standing to be easily extinguished. Alexander Lord Hume and Somervillle of Plane gave caution in £20,000 for James Tweedie of Drummelzier and the other persons accused of the slaughter of Patrick Veitch, and caution was also entered in £5,000 for William Veitch of Dawick and his sons in regard to further possible attacks on the Tweedies. At the same time, the Nasmyths' quarrel seems to have been still flourishing, for in the year 1590 caution was entered in £1,000 for John Tweedie, sometime tutor of Drummelzier, in protection of Thomas Nasmyth of Posso, and in £1,000 for William Veitch of Dawick, and Michael Nasmyth of Posso and Thomas Nasmyth of Posso, as sureties for the safety of James Tweedie of Drummelzier, Adam Tweedie of Dreva, John Tweedie sometime tutor of Drummelzier, William Tweedie of Wrae and others. This was followed by other cautious entered for the same purpose. In regard to this feud between the Tweedies and the Veitches, there is a legend mentioned by Scott in his historical introduction to "The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border" where he speaks of the quarrel and tells the following tradition:- "Veitch of Dawick, a man of great strength and bravery, was on bad terms with his neighbour Tweedie of Drummelzier. By some accident a flock of Dawick's sheep had strayed over into Drummelzier's ground at a time when Dickie of the glen, a Liddesdale outlaw, happened to have made a raid in Tweedale. Seeing this flock of sheep, he drove it off without ceremony. Next morning, Veitch perceiving his loss, summoned his servants and retainers, led a bloodhound upon the traces of the robber by which they were guided for many miles, till on the Liddel it stopped by a very large haystack. The pursuers were a good deal surprised at the obstinate stay of the bloodhound, till Veitch pulled down some of the hay and discovered a large excavation containing the robbers and their spoil. He instantly flew at Dickie and was about to stab him, when the freebooter protested that he would never have touched a hoof of them had he not taken them for Tweedie's property. This dexterous appeal to Veitch saves the life of the mosstrooper." Sometime about the year 1590 it would seem that an Act of Parliament had been passed in regard to the troubles on the Border, under which an order was issued to the Border Lairds and Heads of Families to find caution for the good conduct of their dependents. In the Register of the Privy Council we find and entry to the effect that, in conformity with this Act, certain persons had been ordered to find sureties, among whom is given the name of James Tweedie of Drummelzier. In the course of disputes which existed at this time in the family of Cockburn, the Register of Deeds in the Scottish Office refers to Dame Jean Herries, Lady Skirling, who on 16th December 1590 agreed to decreet arbitral and submission, by which she resigned to her son her life rent and interest in the New Maynes of Skirling. On this occasion her son was perhaps urged on by his wife, Helen Carmichael, who afterwards married James Tweedie of Drummelzier as her second husband, and with him persecuted Lady Skirling to such an extent that she had to seek redress and protection from the Lords of the Council. More is heard of her troubles later on for on the 25th January 1603, she appeared personally before the Lords of Council and preferred her complaint stating that although she was possessed of certain lands to which she referred, and had ever since the decease of her husband been in possession of them, yet Helen Carmichael, relict of William Cockburn of Skirling, with James Tweedie of Drummelzier, now her spouse, having masterfully uplifted from the tenants "the maills and fermes" for the crops of 1601 and 1602 and threatened to bereave them of their lives if they did not comply. The more "to utter his bangstrie and oppressioun" the said James Tweedie had compelled the tenants to oblige themselves on the Sheriff's books at Haddington to pay him the profit of these lands, so that being subjected to double payments, they were constrained to leave the lands waste; and further that, about Martinmas last, the said James Tweedie and his servants reft from the complainer's tenants two oxen belonging to her. "She is ane ageit gentilwoman, destitute of her husband and freindis quha ar dwelling far frome hir, hence this oppressioun." This James Tweedie of Drummelzier was in the end the ruin of his family. He regarded no law, human or divine, was guilty of the most atrocious crimes, and surpassed, perhaps, the wildest and most savage of his redoubtable ancestors the formidable Lords of Thanes Castle. Having digressed somewhat in order to refer to this particular trouble of the Lady Skirling, we will return and again take up the events in order of date as they happen. AD1591 The troubles in Peebles still seem to have continued for in 1591 we find a complaint by John Hay and Adam Matthisoun recorded on the Register of the Privy Council, to the effect that while they were "gangand upon the Hie Street" of Peebles in a peaceable and quiet manner, James Tweedie, the half-brother of one Stevin Lyne, with about twelve persons or more, all armed, set upon Hay and Matthisoun. James Tweedie and the others mentioned in this charge do not seem to have appeared, and the order was made on the 29th April to denounce them rebels. The troubles with the Nasmyths were to the fore, as we find a complaint by Thomas Nasmyth in regard to injuries sustained by him at the hands of James Tweedie of Drummelzier and his friends. He does not appear to have obtained any redress further than that of the registration of a bond of caution in £100 by James Tweedie of Drummelzier and Sir Steven Alexander, which follows on the records; and another in 1,000 merkes by James Tweedie of Drummelzier alone; while within a few days afterwards William Hume and James Tweedie of Drummelzier, for failing to appear to answer charges lodged against them for the disturbances of the quietness, peace and justice of the country, are denounced rebels, Adam Tweedie of Dreva and James his eldest son, giving sureties. About this time, an incident is recorded of the Murrays of Romanno, in which we find the name of Margaret Tweedie as the spouse of John Murray the younger of Romanno. This was in connection with the murder of John Hamilton of Coitquoitt, a place afterwards known as Coldcoat, and now named Macbie Hill. At this period Romanno was in possession of the Murrays, who had obtained the estate by marriage with an heiress, Janat Romanno of that Ilk. In 1591, there were three ladies connected with Romanno, respectively the wives of the father, the son and the grandson. For their accommodation, there were two dwellings; the old fortalice and what was called the Temple House, a name probably derived from the lands which at one time belonged to the Knights Templar. These ladies came to trouble on account of their husbands being charged with the slaughter of their neighbour Hamilton, the alleged murderers having absconded and taken refuge with friends and abettors, and they were denounced as rebels and four "men of Weir" were quartered on the ladies by the authorities at Romanno and directed to be maintained and paid a monthly sum as well. The three Murrays, Helen Henderson, Margaret Tweedie and Agnes Nisbet complained to the Government about this oppressive measure. They were at first unsuccessful in getting relief, but in March 1592, they were at last exempted from the maintenance of these men on giving security that their husbands should not find refuge within Romanno House. Like dutiful subjects, they of course gave the required security, but like dutiful wives they also found that the authority of their husbands was more pleasing to obey than the Royal mandate, and so the Murrays soon afterwards returned to their own homes, and nothing further was heard of the affair. There were some subsequent proceedings, such as entering into securities that there should be no mutual molestation, but so feeble was justice and so weak the Royal authority that the scandal of Hamilton's murder blew over, and as we have already said, the Murrays resumed their residence at Romanno as if nothing had happened. Something however appears to have happened very shortly afterwards, for in 1592, there is an entry upon the Register of the Privy Council of a caution by various persons that they will not harm Margaret Tweedie, the relict of John Murray of Romanno. From this it would seem that someone must have taken justice into his own hands and put an end to John Murray of Romanno for ever; while a little later a complaint is lodged by Jonas Hamilton of Coitquoit, William Hamilton his brother and William Brown in Bordland, in regard to letters obtained by Margaret Tweedie, the relict of John Murray of Romanno, charging them to deliver up the place of Romanno, of which it seems they were holding possession. On the 1st August in the same year, there is an entry which shows that James Tweedie of Drummelzier had taken up his kinswoman's quarrel in regard to her claim to have the fortalice of Romanno and the house called Temple House delivered up; and later still in the record, is an entry from which it would seem that Margaret Tweedie had become the nominal purchaser of the properties and claimed as such to have them handed back to her. This appears to be the end of the troubles which arose from the slaughter of John Hamilton. We now return to the year 1591. Chambers in his "History of Peebleshire" makes the somewhat dry remark that "strangely enough the Tweedies were either not concerned in Bothwell's treason or had the address, by aiding the King in his emergency, to escape the visitation with which many of their neighbours were afflicted." In 1592, they actually appear in the new quality of complainers instead of being complained against. They had been injured in one of the raids of the Clan of Scott, which shows us what a wide sweep of country was exposed to such depredations. The Register states the nature of their complaint to be that, although Sir John Edmestoun of that Ilk had become surety some short time previous for Walter Scott of Branxholme, and he had been bound over to keep the peace, yet on the 15th December, 1592, Scott, with about two hundred followers attacked the Tweedies unexpectedly and harried the lands of Drummelzier and Dreva, from which were driven off 4000 sheep, 200 oxen and cows, 40 horses and mares and moveable goods to the value of £2,000, all belonging to James Tweedie of Drummelzier and Adam Tweedie of Dreva and their tenants. Sir John Edmestoun was warned to appear before the King and Council and answer for the "spuilzie" thus committed upon James Tweedie of Drummelzier and Adam Tweedie of Dreva, and he was ordered as well to pay to James Tweedie and Adam Tweedie the full amount of the damage they had sustained. A James Tweedie is referred to in the Register of the Great Seal, under date the 20th May 1591, in regard to a Charter confirmed at Holyrood House by the King to George Trowis of Birsto, to which this James Tweedie was witness; and about the same time, on the 21st December in another Charter, John Tweedie and Katherine Stuart, his wife are also referred to. AD1592 On the records of the Privy Council there is a registration under date the year 1592 by John Crawmouth, as Procurator for sureties, of a caution by James Tweedie of Drummelzier for Adam Tweedie of Dreva, James Tweedie, his son and apparent heir, and William Tweedie of Wrae, in £1,000 each, and for "Mr" John Tweedie and Thomas Tweedie, sons of the said James Tweedie, Thomas Tweedie of Innerleithen, Thomas Tweedie in Peebles and John Tweedie his son, in 500 merkes each; and of a caution in 2000 merkes by Adam Tweedie of Dreva for James Tweedie of Drummelzier; the bond being subscribed before one John Tweedie a Notary Public. It is amusing to find James Tweedie of Drummelzier appearing as the cautioner for Adam Tweedie of Dreva, and Adam Tweedie of Dreva as the cautioner for James Tweedie of Drummelzier. Another complaint follows by David Cochran of Pitfour, asking that John Tweedie, the present keeper of a certain house should be ordered to deliver it up, and for directions to be issued to the officers of arms to see that this should be carried out. A little later in the Register appears an entry of caution by Harry Lindsey, for himself, John Tweedie and nine servants not to harm Peter Cochran. At the close of 1592, however, the feud with the Geddes family blazes up again. It is perhaps best to give the story as it appears on the records in the quaint language of the times. The complaint runs as follows. "Complaint by Marie Vetche relict and Charles Geddes of Rachane, brother, with the bairns, other brothers and kin and friends of the late James Geddes of Glenheyden. It is not unknown how many shamefull and unworthy murthouris and slauchtaris have been committed on their kin by James Tweedy of Drumelyair and his friends who hes evir sicht and seikis thair utter wrak and extermination in spite of any assurances passed between them they evir takand thair advantage of the saidis complenairs at sic tymes quhenas thair is na thing lest then ony evill luiked for at their handis as is manifest in the hail bipast slauchtaris quhilkis they have committit opoun the said Complenairs friendis and in the lait shamefull and barbarous murthour of the said umquhill James quha being with the burgh of Edinburgh the space of aucht days togidder hanting and repairing to and fra oppinlie and publicklie within the said burgh he mett almaisit daylie with the said Laird (of Drummelzier) upoun the Hie street and the said Laird feiring to sett upon him knawing that he wuld gitt na advantage by ane oppin persute albeit the said umquhill James was evir single and allane he had espyis and moyinaris lying at await for him .. upoun the XXIX day of December last ... the said Laird being advertisit be his espyis and moyenaris immediatelie dividit his haill friends and servants in twa Companyis and directit Johnne and Robert Twedyis his brethir germane [quha wer laitlie pardonit be his Majestie for the slauchter of the Laird of Dawyk's sonne], Patrik Porteous of Holkshaw, Johnne Creichton of Quarter, Charlis Twedy household servant to the said James and Hob Jardane to conis clois being direct opposit to the said Davis Lindsay's buith and he himself accumpanyed with Mr. Johnne and Adam Twedyis sonis to the gudeman of Dreva past to the Kirkwynd ... they rushit oute of the saidis cloissis and shamefullie cruellie and unhonestlie with schoitis of pistolletis murdered and slew him behind his bak ..... not appearing ... the order is to denounce the defaulters rebels." It would appear that this murder of James Geddes by the Tweedies of Drummelzier was in fact by way of revenge for the attacks made upon them by the Veitches, James Geddes, who was brother-in-law to a gentleman of that family, having no doubt, been concerned in the reprisals made upon the Tweedies of Drummelzier. AD1593 A bond of caution was entered upon the Register by Thomas Willson on behalf of Charles Geddes of Rachan and his brother George Geddes that they should not harm "James Tweedie of Drummelzier, William Tweedie his half brother, Gawin Williame and Walter Tweedies his half brothers, William Tweedie of Wra, Williame, Adam and James Tweedies his sons, Adame Tweedie of Drava, James, Mr. Johnne, Adame, Thomas and Williame Tweedies his sons; Alexander Tweedie of the Mott; James and Thomas Tweedies his brothers; Johnne Tweedie of Innerleithane, James Tweedie his brother, Johnne Tweedie of Frude, Adam Tweedie of Kingilduris, Walter, Williame, Thomas and Johnne Tweedies his brothers; Patrik Tweedie of Cloch, Johne and Walter Tweedies, burgessis of Edinburgh; Johnne Tweedie in Howgait, Johnne Tweedie of Southwode, Thomas Tweedie in Peblis, Johnne and James Tweedie his sons, James Tweedie, burgess of Peblis; James and Williame Tweedies, brothers in Stobo; James Tweedie their brother's son" This bond was subscribed at Boghall on the 14th February 1593. On the Register of the Great Seal we find under date the 20th January 1593, the name of John Tweedie of Southwode and his heirs mentioned, and on the 5th May, in the same year is found a caution by James Tweedie of Drummelzier for James Johnstone. From this it would appear that James Tweedie of Drummelzier was at large again, and had probably disposed in some way or another of the charges which had been brought against him by the Veitches and the Geddes family. Some clue to this is found in the Calendar of the Border Papers, in which, under date of the 10th June 1593, is given a long letter from Thomas Lord Scroop, a warden of the West March, to Burleigh, the English statesman, referring amongst other things, to a correspondence which Scroop had had with Lord Maxwell in regard to the escape of the Laird of Drummelzier, who had broken prison and fled with James Johnstone. It is a matter of regret that this actual correspondence is not forthcoming. It would seem that Tweedie was at large and that he and Johnstone were adopting the old tactics of becoming sureties each for the other in order to satisfy the requirements of the authorities. This James Johnstone had apparently been concerned with the Tweedies in their feuds with the Geddes family and the Veitches, as a caution is added by Charles Geddes in £10,000 on behalf of Geddes of Rachan that another of the surname of Geddes should not trouble James Johnstone of that Ilk, James Tweedie of Drummelzier, or their tenants or servants. That Tweedie had been in prison quite recently is evident in that a caution had been entered in 10,000 merkes by Sir Michael Balfour of Burley that on being liberated from Edinburgh Castle, Tweedie should within forty-eight hours enter himself in ward in Fife, and there to remain during his Majesty's pleasure. On the day following the usual counter caution appears in the registration of surety for James Tweedie of Drummelzier that he shall not harm any of the surname of Geddes; Walter Tweedie, the brother of the Laird of Drummelzier being amongst the witnesses. Another surety is shortly afterwards lodged on behalf of Thomas Geddes not to harm the Tweedies who are all (thirty nine in number) again referred to by name at length as mentioned in the original complaint in respect of the murder of James Geddes. In 1593 also, James Tweedie of Drummelzier had registered a bond of caution on behalf of John Crichtoun and Patrick Porteous on the complaint of Margaret Veitch relict; Charles Geddes of Rachan, brother, with the bairns and other brothers, kin and friends of the late James Geddes in respect of the "shamefull and cruel slauchter of the said James Geddes". This bond was subscribed at Drummelzier on the 30th December, William Tweedie of Wrae and Walter Tweedie, brother of the said James Tweedie being witnesses. AD1594 A little later on the 14th February 1594, the Geddes family showed to the Lords of Council that John Crichtoun and Patrick Porteous had not appeared, and the Lords denounced them rebels and ordered them to be put to the horn, and also that James Tweedie of Drummelzier, the cautioner for their appearance should be prosecuted for the penalty. The Tweedies appear to have retaliated on the Geddes by compelling them to give surety; Charles Geddes of Rachan becomes cautioner for George Geddes, his brother, and for certain of his friends, upon it being required by James Tweedie of Drummelzier. Walter Scott also becomes surety for John Veitch that he shall not harm James Tweedie of Drummelzier, Adam Tweedie of Dreva, John Tweedie "sometime" tutor of Drummelzier, and William Tweedie of the Wrae. AD1594 Notwithstanding what Chambers in his "History of Peebleshire" has remarked, it is curious to find that on the 30th September 1594, Sir William Cockburn of Skirling and Patrick Cockburn, tutor of Lamyngton, became sureties for James Tweedie and John Tweedie tutor of Drummelzier, who were accused of having given countenance to the "unnatural and odious rebellioune of Francis, sumtime Erle of Bothwill, manifested to the haill world in his manifest contempt of ouer Soveraine Lordis authorite". At this time men of inferior position had short trial and were hanged without mercy "for enterteyning of the said Francis". Others like my Lord Home, who had made repentance in the New Kirk "befoir the assemblie on hys knees" had to find two securities for their future conduct. Trouble was still going on in the town of Peebles, as John Stoddart and Thomas Tweedie, a burgess of Edinburgh were called upon to give surety in the year 1594 in £500 not to harm the inhabitants of that Burgh. The King now appears to have come to the conclusion that some strong measures were necessary in regard to the troubles on the Border; and the Register of the Privy Council gives the decision His Majesty arrived at, as follows :- "His Majesty now thinking uponn his awne estate and the estate of the Commonwelth altogidder disordourit and shaikin louse be resonn of the deidlie feidis and contraversis standing aurangis his Heines subjects of all degrees" ...... accordingly order is given "to charge the persons underwritten among whom there is at present deadly feud to appear under pain of rebellion each accumpained with no more of his special friends than is hereinafter regulated before the King and Council at Haliruidhous upon the days specified" ..... Amongst the persons cited we find James Tweedie of Drummelzier, who was called upon to appear with a retinue of not more than 24 persons upon 10th March, 1596. What came of this we do not know except that shortly afterwards there follows an entry of a caution given in £10,000 by James Tweedie of Drummelzier, subscribed before Adam Tweedie and James Tweedie servitor to the Laird of Drummelzier. There is on record a contract of marriage dated the 5th August 1596, entered into between George Haddon of that Ilk and Nicole Tweedie, lawful daughter of the late Adam Tweedie of Dreva, which was confirmed by a Charter of James VI on the 27th August 1606, and also by another Charter of the 19th February 1618, whereby George Haddon gave to his wife a life interest in certain lands in the Barony of Broughton, to which the witnesses were Mr Archibald Douglas, Archdeacon of Glasgow, and William Tweedie of Wrae. AD1596 Although William Cockburn of Henderland, a burgess of Edinburgh City, had been security in 1584 for James Tweedie of Drummelzier and Adam Tweedie of Drava, he declined with his father in 1596 to again find law burrows for James Tweedie, from which we are tempted to think that perhaps on the first occasion the Tweedies may have left their sureties to settle as best they might with the authorities. From an entry in the Register of the Privy Council it seems that on the 1st December 1596, John Tweedie of what place is not mentioned was put to the horn along with others, that is outlawed, at the instance of the bairns of the late James Stewart, who must have been wronged in some way, if not actually killed by them; in the same entry proclamation is ordered discharging all the lieges of "all resetting" these persons during the time of their rebellion and John Tweedie was called before the Council of the Burgh of Edinburgh at the same time. Later on James Tweedie of Drummelzier is recorded as being put under terms not to harm James Hamilton, whilst James Tweedie himself went surety at the same time for Sir James Johnnestown to the amount of £10,000. AD1597 The troubles with the Veitches still broke out at times. On the Register of the Privy Council Patrick Tweedie in the Lyn (i.e. Lyne) and Robert Tweedie of "Olipheir" Castle were bound over in 1597 in £500 not to harm William Veitch of Kingsyde, whilst Alexander Cockburn became surety in 1,000 merks for William Veitch and in £500 each for James Veitch, Andrew Veitch and Alexander Veitch not to harm Patrick Tweedie. About the same time it seems that Sir Patrick Murray is registered of a bond of Caution in £20,000 by James Tweedie apparent of Drava, but on what account is not mentioned. Next year John Tweedie of Winkston becomes surety for James Hamilton, and James Tweedie of Drummelzier again becomes surety for Sir James Johnnestown. William Tweedie of Wrae also went surety for Archibald Douglas, the Archdeacon of Glasgow in £2,000 that he (the Archdeacon) should not harm John Govan of Cardrona and Robert Scott in Esshesheilles, a most extraordinary affair surely, but what the Archdeacon had been doing, or how Tweedie of Wrae came to befriend a member of the church is not explained. On the 18th April 1599, the King granted to John Lord Yester a charter of certain lands then lately occupied by Thomas Tweedie in the parish of Peebles. William Cockburn of Henderland was summoned on the 9th June 1599 with his father and his sister's husband James Scott for not finding burrows for James Tweedie of Drummelzier. There is no doubt but that on the Borders even the appointed officers of the Crown hesitated to carry out their duties to the full extent either in consequence of their near relationship with the offenders or the determined front shown by the evil doers, or possibly even because they sympathised with the system of rough and ready justice from which sprang the terrible blood feuds which were the chief cause of disturbance. An instance of this is shown in the following proclamation dated 19th July 1599 recorded on the Register of the Privy Council: - "By divers laws and Acts of Parliament, Sheriffs, stewards and their judges are required to know and understand the laws of this realme and to execute the same without delay .... Yet the following Sheriffs have been altogidder cairles and unmindful of the deutifull discharge of thair Officeis, to wit: 1     James Douglas 2     Sir George Home 3     Patrick Murray 4     James Lord Hay of Yester, Sheriff of Pebles This Sheriff has not attempted to apprehend the rebels underwritten registered in the Sheriff Court Books of the said Shire . . . . James Tuedy of Drummelyeare denounced upon 3rd August 1598 at the instance of Walter, Prior of Blantyre, for not paying him certain sums as one of the cautioners for the Laird of Johnnestoun, William Cockburn younger of Henderland, and Simone Scott ... for not finding law burrows to William Vetche .... and David Scott son natural of Walter Scott of Gouldillandis ... for not finding law burrows to Janet Tuedy of Drummelyeare" This proclamation is followed up by another on the 19th July 1599 calling on various landlords to find caution that they and those they are obliged to answer for, shall observe the King's peace and redress parties "skaithed" under certain specified penalties among whom is found mentioned Tweedie of Fruid in 2,000 merkes for himself and for Simon Scott his tenant in Fruid in the same sum. An entry on the register dated the 9th August 1599 throws perhaps some light on this matter in which the Archdeacon of Glasgow was concerned. Uthreid McDowell of Mondurk became surety on that date for the Provost and baillies of the town of Peebles, and for Archibald Douglas, the parson there, perhaps the same person formerly referred to as the Archdeacon of Glasgow, and for (amongst others) Thomas Tweedie, James Tweedie, Allan Tweedie, Edward Tweedie and John Tweedie all burgesses of Peebles, not to harm William Horsbrough in Edderstown. On the 8th September 1599, James Tweedie of Drummelzier received a charter from the King of certain lands, the list of which is given, and in the same year, 1599, under the heading "miscellaneous" in the Privy Council papers is found an entry of a Tweedie as a witness with the unusual Christian name of Mungo, with which the records of the sixteenth century come to an end so far as the Tweedies are concerned. With the kind permission of his descendants, this information is reproduced from the book privately published in 1902 by Michael Forbes Tweedie. This highly regarded book includes many references to the original sources of the information, extracts from parish registers and some detailed family trees. Copies of the book are known to be in the British Library, Edinburgh Central Library and the New York Public Library. Information on this site is subject to copyright but may be reproduced for personal use. It may not be sold under any circumstances.