Our next charter refers to lands that were held with Bamff for a time in a later century. It gives the root of title of the lands of Couttie near Coupar-Angus in the shape of a grant by the Abbot of Dunfermline, to which abbey the lands previously belonged, of course by Royal charter. Whether our deed belongs to the time of Gilbert I or to that of his successor, I cannot say. I print it in its order in point of time.

9

PRECEPT OF SASINE by William, Abbot of Dunfermline, for infefting John Cumming, son of Richard Cumming, Knight, in the lands of Cuparmaculty (Couttie near Coupar-Angus): 15th May 1415. Parchment.

"WILLELMUS permissione divina Abbas monasterii de Dunfermelyne, Patricio Dw, ballivo regalitatis nostre de Dunfermelyne, salutem. Quia predecessor noster Dominus Johannes de Torry, Abbas quondam de Dunfermelyne, dari fecit Domino Ricardo Cumyne, militi, saysinam liberi tenementi terrarum de Cupermaculty et annui redditus de Foidwy quinque marcarum, ac etiam de feodo earundem terrarum cum annuo redditu predicto de Foidwy fecit idem Dominus Abbas predecessor noster dare saysinam David Cumyne filio suo naturali et Christiane sponse sue filie Malizei Dawson et eorum diutius viventi, non obstantibus hiis (?) vobis precipimus et mandamus quatenus saysinam corporalem feodi earundem terrarum cum annuo redditu predicto visis presentibus tradatis Johanni Cumyne filio naturali dicti Domini Ricardi Cumyne, prout in quadam carta inde confecta plenius continetur, salvo jure cujuslibet. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum capelle nostre presentibus est appensum, apud Dunf[ermelyne] xv dye mensis Maii anno Domini mo. cccco. xv."

(8) THOMAS RAMSAY

(JAMES I, KING OF SCOTLAND 1406-1437)

Gilbert I was succeeded by Thomas, said to be his son,' but again without apparent proof. Thomas is styled 'of Balwharg', from which one is tempted to suggest that Balwharg rather than Bamff may have been his chief place of residence. At any rate our charter No. 10 shows that not only Balwharg but also Balbreky, Ballinkirk, and Latethan were still held by the family. The charter bears no date; but it must have been executed before the 3rd September 1420, when Robert, Duke of Albany, the grantor, died, and was succeeded by his son Murdoch. Thomas Ramsay is said to have died not long after the date of this charter.' Among the witnesses are the Duke's son Murdoch, and William Lindsay, Knights, and John Stewart of Lorn. An Inventory of Bamff charters and papers made out in the year 17183 records a charter, now lost, which clearly belonged to the time of our Thomas, being dated 20th February 1417, by which Alexander, Earl of Crawford, evidently the second Earl, granted the Wester third of the lands of Auchteralyth to Neil Ramsay of Bamff, his armour-bearer. The natural suggestion seems to be that already made, viz. that this Neil was brother to Thomas and younger son of Gilbert I. Anyhow we shall find the property descending to Thomas's son Finlay.

1 Douglas.

2 Id.

3 No. 463 in the MS. General Inventory of Bamff Charters and Papers drawn up in 1914.

10

CHARTER BY ROBERT, DUKE OF ALBANY, to Thomas Ramsay of Balwharg of the lands of Balbrekie, etc., in Fife: circa 1420.

Parchment.

"ROBERTUS, Dux Albanie, Comes de Fiffe et de Mentetht, universis et singulis ad quorum noticiam presentes litere pervenerint, salutem in Domino. Noverit universitas vestra nos dedisse concessisse et hoc presenti scripto nostro confirmasse dilecto nostro scutifero Thome de Ramsai de Balqharg omnes et singulas terras de Balbreky Balnekerk de Antiqua Aula et de Luthelde cum molendino, in manibus nostris quondam resignatas causa cujusdam convencionis talliate inter predictum Thomam de Ramsai et Dominum Johannem de Remorgeny militem, prolocute set minime perimplete; quas quidem terras cum pertinentiis predicto Thome et suis heredibus legittime procreatis cum omnibus justis suis pertinentiis tam subtus terra quam supra spectantibus, de nobis et nostris dictas terras tenentibus, salvis nobis et nostris wardis et releviis et tribus curiis capitalibus cum suis sectis; et predictas terras cum suis justis pertinenciis predicto Thome et suis heredibus contra omnes mortales warantizabimus et imperpetuum defendemus. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum apud Fawkilland presentibus est appensum, coram hiis testibus, Murdaco Stewart, herede nostro, Willelmo Lyndesai, militibus, Johanne Stewart de Lorn, Willelmo de Arnot, Henrico de Bykirton, scutiferis, et multis aliis in testimonium requisitis premissorum." (No seal.)

(9) FINLAY

(JAMES I, JAMES II, AND JAMES III, KINGS OF SCOTLAND 1406-1488)

As son and successor of Thomas we have Finlay Ramsay, who is said to have succeeded not long after the year 1420. Of his time we have five charters. The first two, Nos. 11 and 12 (30th April and 17th November 1472), deal with an annual rent or rentcharge issuing out of the lands of Couttie that were granted by arbitrators to the Cummings, by our No. 9. No. 11 is of special interest to the Bamff family as it brings forward representatives of five families, among the oldest connexions and neighbours of Bamff, namely, the Fothringhams of Powrie, Mercers of Aldie, Blairs of Balthyock, Blairs of Ardblair, and especially the Rattrays of Rattray and Craighall, whose lands have marched for centuries with those of Bamff.

On the 12th August 1478 Finlay was appointed on an assize to settle the marches at the Cairnies between James [Livingston], Bishop of Dunkeld, and Walter Stewart of Cluny, laird of the Cairnies. The other arbiters and judges', as they are described, were William of Ruthven of that Ilk; Robert of Abercomby of that Ilk, Knight and Sheriff of Perth; William Blair of Ardblair; Duncan of Cardney of that Ilk; John Chawmir (Chambers) of Drumlochy; with three canons. A copy of the Decreet Arbitral pronounced on the occasion is preserved at Blair Castle. Returning to our own charters, No. 13, dated 10th April 1482, is the contract of marriage between Gilbert Ramsay, son of Alexander Ramsay of Woodwrae, and grandson of Finlay Ramsay of Bamff, on the one hand, and Margaret, daughter of James Ogilvy of Airlie, Knight, afterwards 1st Lord Ogilvy of Airlie, on the other hand. The

contract takes the form of an agreement between the parents, James Ogilvy and Alexander Ramsay, with consent of Alexander's father, Finlay. The young people are not in it. The provisions seem very curious. For his daughter's portion "Scher James " binds himself to pay to Alexander Ramsay in St. Ringan's chapel in the Kirkyard of Alyth nine score and ten marks" of ouswaill mone (usual money) of Scotland". Of this sum fifty marks (£33 6s. 8d.) are to be applied in paying off a mortgage on the Mawes; Ogilvy will also bestow twenty marks (£13 6s. 8d.) on the young couple, for their "suportacion" and use. Alexander will give them as much, while he and his father Finlay pledge themselves to infeft them in the lands of Mawes, when cleared of debt, together with land to the value of five marks a year (£3 68. 8d.), either in Bamff or Woodwrae. Lastly, "Scher James " agrees to board the spouses for a year, and also to clothe them suitably for the same time. Nos. 14 and 15 are ancillary documents; the last being the notarial record of the due infeffment of Margaret in the stipulated lands in the presence of her three brothers, Thomas, Archibald, and John. With respect to the sums of money passing under this contract, reference to the Table of Scottish and English coinages printed below will show that the former about this time would only be worth about one-fourth of the English money of the time.

Gilbert died before his father, leaving three sons, Neis II (who succeeded his grandfather), John, and Archibald (No. 32 below). In 1472 Finlay married, obviously as his second wife, Christian Oliphant; a Papal dispensation for the union had to be obtained; it was granted 31st January 1472.1 Finlay was still living at the date of our No. 14 charter, 10th April 1483. He had passed away by the 10th October 1487, when, as we learn by a list of titledeeds, a precept of Clare Constat was issued by Alexander 1 Papal Letters; communicated by Mr. Maitland Thomson. 2 MS. Inventory of Bamff Charters and Papers, No. 463.