f&t^rt 
 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 University of California. 
 
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 Received 
 
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 ^Accessions No. f>~*f-2r3S~ CI* 
 
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No. 160 State Street, 
 Boston, Massachusetts, United States. 
 
 fe*r. 
 
 </d /Zj^ <A><^ 0>tLsy*Uis^ d? S%U_ 
 
 Bear Sir: 
 
 By this mail, per registered post. I have 
 much pleasure in forwarding you your copi/, 
 
 No. r^.^Z , of my privately printed work 
 
 il Notes on the surnames of Franeus, Franeeis, 
 French, etc., in Scotland, with an account of 
 the Frenches of Thorny dykes," and beg to 
 remain, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
NOTES 
 
 ON THE 
 
 SURNAMES OF FRANCUS, FRANCEIS, FRENCH, ETC., IN 
 
 SCOTLAND, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 FRENCHES OF THORNYDYKES 
 
 BY 
 
 A. D. WELD FRENCH 
 
 Author of the " Index Armorial," Fellow of the Society of Antiqttaries of Scotland, Member 
 
 of the Scottish History Society and of the Committee on Heraldry of the 
 
 New England Historic Genealogical Society 
 
 r rl 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED 
 
 1893 
 

 Only three hundred copies printed, of which this is No.,.^.7./.-. 
 
 GEORGE H. ELLIS. 
 
-'or xhi 
 
 TJ1TIVBE - 
 
 
 :f 
 
 EFAC 
 
 The authorities consulted in this work were the 
 abbey records, the principal antiquarian authorities, 
 and published and unpublished public records. 
 
 In regard to the early use of these surnames in 
 France and Scotland, some remarks seem appropriate 
 in this place. From the Latin word " Francus," with 
 the addition of the suffixes, we have the following 
 compound words, " Franc-ensis," " Franc-iscus," and 
 " Franci-gena." 
 
 The change of Francensis to the modern Les 
 Francais is not only interesting as regards the 
 changes of a word in the language of France, but 
 also of some value as bearing on the commencement 
 and continued use of these surnames. 
 
 The suffix ensis in Franc-ensis implies nationality 
 in Latin; and we observe, according to M. Brachet, 
 that by reducing the ns to s we have Francesis, then 
 Francisis in the seventh century, Franceis in the 
 tenth century, at its end ei becomes <?z, and we have 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 Frari9(5is, by the end of the twelfth century 6i be- 
 comes 6e ; and we have Francdes, then Francoes and 
 Les Francais. 
 
 We have also from Francus the French surnames 
 of Le Franc and Le Franceis ; * and at later periods, 
 owing to the changes in the orthography of the lan- 
 guage, Le Francois and finally Le Francais came 
 into existence. 
 
 The surname of Le Franc is more frequently found 
 in France, but it does not often occur in the records 
 of Great Britain. Its nearest approach, of which 
 there are numerous records, are Franc or Le Franc, 
 This mark of abbreviation indicates a contraction for 
 Francus or Le Franceis. 
 
 Surnames came into existence in France toward 
 the end of the tenth century. In the following cen- 
 tury are found the names of Gualterius Francus and 
 Hugo Franco. About the middle of the twelfth cen- 
 tury the records of the Cotentin show the names of 
 Rannulfus Francus and Ricardo Franco. 
 
 *This name passed through many orthographical changes in 
 Great Britain before the anglicization period. In Scotland the 
 Coldingham charters, of which abstracts are hereafter given, show 
 sufficient illustrations, of which the following maybe mentioned; 
 namely, Franceis, Fraunceis, Franceys, Fraunceys, etc. Some 
 illustrations of the early anglicized surname of French in Scotland 
 are found in the latter part of the fifteenth and earlier portion of 
 the sixteenth century in the records relating to the family of 
 Johannes France, Burgess of Linlithgow, where it appears in the 
 year 1487 under the form of France, in the year 1535 as Frans, 
 Franss, and Franche, while under the date of 1538-39 this surname 
 is found first in this family under the form of Frensch. 
 
PREFACE. 5 
 
 M. Pinckmeier and M. Bain translate Franciscus 
 as French. Their opinions have the confirmation of 
 M. Du Cange, who gives the following illustrations, 
 "Franciscus habitus, Cuspis Franciscus, Miles Fran- 
 ciscus, Franciscus mos, and Francisca lingua." 
 
 From Franciscus we have Francisco, which we find 
 synonymous with Le Franceis in the Coldingham 
 charters. In one of the charters of Robert de Brus, 
 circa 1218, we find William Franceis; and at the 
 same period, in another of his charters, apparently 
 the same individual has his surname latinized into 
 Willielmus Franciscus. 
 
 As regards Francigena and Franceis being synon- 
 ymous, we have the record of the parson of Coldebec, 
 in Cumberland, who is mentioned in 1231-33 as 
 John Francigena, and again in this same period as 
 John Le Franceis. M. Stapleton evidently took this 
 view, as his French translation of Walterus Franci- 
 gena, who is mentioned in the Norman Roll of 1203, 
 was Walter Le Franceis ; while Roger French is given 
 by the Rev. Eyton as the English translation of 
 Rogerus Francigena, who is mentioned in England 
 in the early part of the thirteenth century. 
 
 There remains now the pleasant duty of thanking 
 those who have aided in this work, without whose 
 co-operation and help it could not have been com- 
 pleted. My obligations are due to Dr. Thomas 
 Dickson, Curator of the Historical Department 
 H. M. General Register House at Edinburgh, who, 
 
6 PREFACE. 
 
 on learning of my wish, kindly placed at my disposal 
 for examination his valuable unpublished records ; 
 and I must specially acknowledge the interest he 
 showed in the work during its progress. To my 
 friend, Rev. Walter MacLeod, the antiquary, I must 
 express my gratitude for his interest, perseverance, 
 care, and the most satisfactory results of his examina- 
 tions of the archives and manuscripts of Scotland. 
 With the Norman charters, of which translations 
 are given, my special thanks are due M. Francois 
 Dolbet, the Registrar of the Archives of La Manche, 
 at Saint-Lo, France, who, on being informed of my 
 desire to have the abbey manuscript records of La 
 Manche examined, kindly offered to make a search 
 among these ancient archives. With great anti- 
 quarian zeal he completed the examination of these 
 records from their foundations down to the time that 
 King John of England by his feudal delinquency lost 
 the Duchy of Normandy. Some additional charters 
 are given by him, showing the continuance of this 
 surname in the Cotentin after its confiscation by 
 King Philippe of France. 
 
 The remaining Norman charters presented were 
 obtained from the published records. In conclusion 
 I must acknowledge the thanks due Mr. George H. 
 Ellis of this city for the typography of the work. 
 
 A. D. WELD FRENCH. 
 
 1 60 State Street, Boston, Mass., U.S., 
 December 15, 1893. 
 
PART FIRST. 
 
 NOTES 
 
 ON THE SURNAMES OF FRANCUS, FRANCEIS, 
 FRENCH IN SCOTLAND. 
 
o 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 The earliest vestiges in Scotland of the surname of 
 French are found in the records of the old monas- 
 teries, as well as in ancient individual charters, where 
 its prototypes will be observed under the forms 
 of Francus, Franciscus, Francigena, Franceis, and 
 Franke. These ancient surnames may be seen in 
 the Chartularies of Coldingham, Coldstream, Cam- 
 buskeneth, Kelso, Melrose, and Newbottle; in the 
 charters of Bruce, Normanville, and others. In my 
 preface to the " Index Armorial " in the part relating 
 to England, reference has been made to the Albe- 
 neios, Bruces, Foliots, and the Valoines, as originally 
 coming from the Cotentin in Normandy. In Scot- 
 land you find the Morvilles and Franceis as well as 
 the Bruces and Valoines, whose surnames all appear 
 in the records of the Cotentin in the early part of the 
 twelfth century. 
 
 The Bruces held Annandale in Scotland, the Mor- 
 villes held most of Lauderdale as well as large pos- 
 sessions in Teviotdale. These families, as well as 
 the Valoines, were among the early benefactors to 
 the Abbey of Melrose ; while Hugh Morville was at 
 
io NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 least a very early benefactor of Dryburgh Abbey, if 
 not the original founder. 
 
 The system of early colonization in Scotland is 
 well illustrated by " the charter of Thor-longus, who 
 settled there in the time of King Edgar. He had 
 a grant of Ednaham, which was then a waste, and 
 which he improved by his own money and people." 
 Chalmer, referring to the system of English coloniza- 
 tion in Scotland, " states that a baron obtained from 
 the king a grant of lands which he settled with his 
 followers, built a castle, a church, a mill, and a brew- 
 house, and thereby formed a hamlet, which in the 
 practice of the age was called the Ton of the Baron." 
 This, we judge, was not only the method of the 
 English, but about the same system pursued by the 
 Anglo-Norman colonists in the time of King David I. 
 
 We will now proceed to take up more specially the 
 records in connection with Scotland and Normandy ; 
 and as a preliminary, owing to the feudality existing 
 at a later period with the Bruces of Annandale, the 
 record in connection with Robert de Brus of York- 
 shire has more than usual significance. Reference 
 is here made to a charter of Alanus de Percy, the 
 son of Willielmus de Percy, which the Rev. J. C. 
 Atkinson states was certainly executed between the 
 years 1097 and 1101. In this document, as found 
 in the manuscript of the Cartularum Abbathiae de 
 Whiteby at the British Museum, it will be observed 
 that among the witnesses were " Robertus de Bruse 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. n 
 
 et tres de suis militibus Rogerus de Rosels, Wydo 
 de Lofthous et Robertus jfraunceys? * 
 
 This is the earliest record the writer has thus far 
 discovered of one of the name of Fraunceys bearing 
 a prcznomen, or baptismal name, in Great Britain, as 
 well as the first instance thus far coming under his 
 observation of one of this surname having feudal 
 relations with the Bruces. Here we have a name 
 first appearing about one-third of a century after the 
 conquest of England, with feudal relations with the 
 second Robert de Brus, who obtained possessions in 
 Scotland, the son of one of the companions of 
 William the Conqueror; and it is well authenticated 
 that the surnames of Brus and Franceis were both 
 identified with that part of the Cotentin of Normandy 
 called the district of Valognes, in which was located 
 Chateau d'Adam, the castle of Brix. Here, also, 
 was the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, which 
 was so well endowed by the Bruces. 
 
 The Franceis were specially identified with the Abbey 
 of Sai7it-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. Ranulphus Francus 
 held land of this abbey ; and Ricardus Francus once 
 appears as a witness on behalf of the monks, and 
 again as a witness to a charter in favor of this 
 abbey. 
 
 # In the printed cartularum of this abbey the orthography of 
 this surname was Francais, hence the reason for its insertion in 
 this latter form in the preface to my " Index Armorial " published 
 in 1892. 
 
12 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 Charter No. i, that of Rannulfus Francus, is ex- 
 ceedingly interesting, as locating a family. By it 
 it will be observed that he had sons, as well as a 
 daughter of marriageable age, to whom he gives the 
 land which he held in fee of this abbey. This seems 
 to imply that he had other possessions of which the 
 abbey were not overlords; and, as there is nothing 
 thus far discovered to the contrary, it is inferred 
 that he held his other possessions directly from King 
 Stephen of England. 
 
 Mr. Dolbet fixes the date of this charter of Ran- 
 nulfus Francus from 1147 to 1 153, at which period 
 Hugo was abbot 
 
 The remaining charters to this and other abbeys 
 of the Cotentin, where the surname of Franceis 
 appears, are arranged by abbeys chronologically. 
 Charters numbered two and three in favor of the 
 Abbey of Saint-Sauveur were made by members of 
 Anglo-Norman families who are particularly identi- 
 fied with what may be called the Valognes district 
 of the Cotentin. The records confirm that the early 
 Franceis of the Cotentin were from this district; 
 and there is nothing in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii 
 Norman niae to show that Willielmus Franceis and 
 Rogerus Franceis, with records respectively of the 
 years 11 80 and 1 195, were of any other location than 
 this district, the latter Christian names, as already 
 stated in the preface to my " Index Armorial," appear- 
 ing in Scotland after the confiscation of Normandy, 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 13 
 
 in 1204, by King Philippe II. of France. The charters 
 numbered six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven, found 
 among the records of the Abbeys Caesarisburgus and 
 Montebourg, as well as the archives of the Abbey 
 of Cerisy, specially show that this surname continued 
 in the Valognes district of the Cotentin after the 
 confiscation. 
 
 In charter No. 4 Hugo Francus is a witness, be- 
 tween the years 11 13 and 1 151, to a charter of Guido, 
 Lord of Lavalle, to the monks of Savigny. 
 
 In the charter numbered six, in favor of the Abbey 
 of Cherbourg, of the year 1234, will be found the 
 name of Willelmo Francesio, Canon of Cherbourg. 
 
 Charters Nos. 8 and 9 are both identified with the 
 viscounty of Valognes. The first of these charters is 
 in favor of Mathieu Le Franceis and Rose, his wife. 
 The other charter locates Johan Le Franc as belong- 
 ing to the parish of Cherbourg, and mentions his wife 
 Juliane. 
 
 Charter numbered ten is dated in the year 1316, 
 and is found among the archives of the Abbey of 
 Montebourg : in this Michiel Le Franc is the grantee 
 of a piece of land in the parish of Saint Floissel. 
 
 The charter numbered eleven is that of Alain Le 
 Frangois of the parish of Tessy, in favor of the Abbey 
 of Cerisy ; and in it he mentions his wife Thomasse. 
 
i4 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 Charter No. i . 
 
 Confirmation charter of the Abbey of Saint- 
 Sauveur-le-Vicomte, to a charter of Rannulfus Fran- 
 cus, made between the years 1146 and n 54. 
 
 To all persons, as well present as future. Know 
 that Rannulfus Francus, with the consent of his 
 sons, has granted to Gaufridus Britonus, with his 
 daughter, as a marriage portion, the land he held of 
 the abbey, reserving for said abbey one " mina " of 
 grain ; and the said Gaufridus shall hold it peace- 
 fully and freely, without any other service than giving 
 the grain. This donation is granted, sealed, and con- 
 firmed by Abbot Hugo, with the consent of his chap- 
 ter. Witnesses : Johannes, prior ; Petrus, subprior ; 
 Willelmus, capellanus; Paganus, presbiterus; Rog- 
 erus de Hulmus ; Robertus, son of Hamelinus ; and 
 many others. 
 
 Charter No. 2. 
 
 Charter of Robertus de Magnavilla* to the Abbey 
 of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, circa 11 36. 
 
 Robertus de Magnavilla and his wife Hadevisa and 
 his son Radulfus grant to the Abbey of Saint Sal- 
 vator ten acres of land in the ville of Radulfus 
 (Rauville-le-Bigot in the arrondissement of Valognes), 
 and " seipsos " after their death with everything they 
 
 # There is a commune of Mandeville in the arrondissement of 
 Valognes in the Cotentin. 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 15 
 
 possessed. His witnesses: Radulfo Sueno, Osmundo 
 de Brichebot, Ricardo Franco, and for the abbey's 
 part Radulfo de Blihou and Ricardo, son of Radulfus. 
 
 Charter No. 3. 
 
 The donation of the church of Saint- Jean- des- 
 Chenes by William de Vauville to Saint-Sauveur-le- 
 Vicomte, circa 1 1 55, namely, 
 
 May it be known to all, as well present as future, 
 that I, William de Vauville, have given to the Abbey 
 of Saint-Sauveur the church of Saint-Jean-des-Chenes, 
 which is situated in the Island of Jersey, with all tithes 
 and rents belonging to same. I have also given to 
 the said Abbey of Saint-Sauveur all that I had in 
 the church of Saint Pierre de Fonteneio, near the 
 ford, with all tithes and rents belonging to the same, 
 with the consent of my wife and my sons, Richard 
 and Leone. Witnesses for my part : Ricardo, presby- 
 ter of Vauville; Roberto de Pert; Balduino, son of 
 Adde; Philippo de Fonteneio; and, for the parts of 
 the monks, Malgero de Fonteneio, Ricardo Franco, 
 Petro, presbyter of Saint-Sauveur. 
 
 Charter No. 4. 
 
 Abbey of Savigny. 
 
 Charter of Guido de Lavalle to the donation of 
 Gaudinus Rahier, M. Dolbet attributes this charter 
 to Guy v de Laval, who lived from 1 1 1 3 to 1 1 5 1 . 
 
16 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 To all the sons of Holy Mother Church, Guido, 
 Lord of Lavalle, Greeting. 
 
 All of you know that Juhellus de Crapon, knight, 
 granted to God and the monks of Savigny the land 
 which Gaudinus Rahier had given them in perpetual 
 alms, freely and quietly, and that the said monks 
 therefor shall pay yearly 1 1 shillings (solidos Euron- 
 ensium) on the day of Saint John the Baptist. Given 
 in our presence, and in order that this charter may 
 always remain irrefutable we have appended our 
 seals. Witnesses: Willelmo de Clarisvallibus, Ful- 
 querando de Altenosra, Hugone Franco, Gaufrido de 
 Monte gaucheir, Guoslino de Cormeriis, Hugueto P., 
 decano de Sabolio, et pluribus aliis. 
 
 Additional Charters, Nos. 5, 7, 8, and 9, of the 
 Abbey of Cherbourg, from the work of M. Dubosc. 
 
 Charter No. 5. 
 
 Twelfth century. Sainte-Genevieve. Gatteville. 
 
 Charter of Amaury, son of Raoul. He grants to 
 the canons of Notre-Dame-du-Vceu all his land of 
 Guenestorp with house, and all the rents due him, 
 with all the lands he possessed in the parish of Arre- 
 ville and in the parish of Gatteville. The said dona- 
 tion is made for the welfare of the soul of Empress 
 Matilde, of pious memory, and for the welfare of the 
 soul of his father, mother, and ancestors. The 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. i 7 
 
 canons shall perpetually have in their society a canon 
 of his family, or another who may be designated, who 
 shall serve God in their house for his soul and those 
 of his ancestors. Witnesses: Petro, sacerdote de 
 Reiborne ; Alexandra Canuto ; Hugone, filio Richeri ; 
 Willelmo Drubec ; Roberto de Bosevilla ; Ricardo 
 Franc esio ; Godefrido, filio sacerdotis. 
 
 Charter No. 6. 
 
 Abbey of Cherbourgh. a.d. 1234. 
 
 May it be known to all, as well present as future, 
 that I, Richard Des Moutiers (de Monasteriis), son of 
 Robert Des Moutiers, have assigned and transferred 
 to the Abbot and Convent of Cherbourg (Caesaris 
 burgus) certain land in the parish of Saint Petrus de 
 Alumna, which is situated on the mountain near by 
 the place where the river descends from the hamlet of 
 Bosquelle (hamello Bosquelli) and the mill of Ketefri, 
 which land was measured out in the presence of 
 Ricardus de Kerquevilla, prior of La Taille, and 
 Willelmo Francesio, his companion, canons of the 
 said abbey, and in my presence with many others. 
 I have made this conveyance and assignation to the 
 said abbot and convent in exchange for certain land, 
 which they held by donations of my ancestors, sit- 
 uated on the bottom of the valley, near the said 
 mountain, which land the aforesaid abbot and con- 
 vent on my petition exchanged with me for the pur- 
 
18 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 pose of overflowing as a fishpond. But, if it should 
 be found that the aforesaid exchanged land in the 
 valley cannot be flooded with water, it shall be used 
 for pasturage, and be common as well for me as those 
 who hold land of the said abbot and convent, either 
 divided or in whole. And I and my heirs warrant 
 this exchange to the aforesaid abbot and convent in 
 perpetuity ; and, that the present charter may always 
 remain irrefutable, I have appended my seal, anno 
 Domini m. cc. xxx. quarto. 
 
 Charter No. 7. 
 
 Year 1252. Official charter of the archdeacon of 
 Paris, making known that before him Richard de 
 Cherbourg (Ricardus de Caroburgo), son of the late 
 Odon Le Franc, has given in pure and perpetual alms 
 to the abbey of Cherbourg all that he received as 
 successor of his father and mother, the anniversary of 
 which shall be held every year in the said abbey. 
 
 Charter No. 8. 
 
 Year 1298. Sainte-Genevieve. 
 
 Letter of the Viscount of Valognes, making known 
 that before Vincent Surel, clerk of the said viscounty, 
 was present Henri Godel, of the parish of Cantelouf, 
 who acknowledged that he had sold to Mathieu Le 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 19 
 
 Franceis and Rose, his wife, and their heirs, " diz 
 sous de tornois" yearly rent at the feast of Sainte 
 Perronele, with a loaf of bread and a hen at Christ- 
 mas, to be given as the homage from the hand of 
 Estyenne Quieret, besides two pieces of land sit- 
 uated in the parish of Sainte-Genevieve, the first 
 adjoining the land of Guillame Le Rous and the 
 manor which belonged to Nicole Durdenier. The 
 second is that of Cavees de Hotot, adjoining the 
 land of Unffrey Lengleis, the land of Guillame Le 
 Bel, extending to the land of Guillame Hubert and 
 the road to Barfleu. Price of this sale was " six livres 
 de tornois." Given in 1298, the Wednesday after the 
 feast of the Nativity of Sainte- Marie- Virge. 
 
 Charter No. 9. 
 
 Year 1309. Letter of Robert de Conflans, keeper 
 of the seal of the viscounty of Valognes, making 
 known that before Vincent Surel, clerk of the said 
 viscounty, were present Johan Le Franc, of the parish 
 of Cherbourg (Chieresbourc), and Juliane, his wife, 
 to whom he gave authority, as hereafter stated. 
 They acknowledged that of their own free will they 
 had exchanged, quitted, and delivered to the religious 
 persons, the abbot and convent of Notre-Dame-du 
 Vceu, near Cherbourg, a piece of land, situated in 
 the parish of Esqueudreville, near to Le Machon, 
 
20 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 adjoining the land of the said convent, for a yearly 
 rent * of a bushel of wheat, measure of Cherbourg, to 
 be delivered at Saint Michiel, a loaf of bread valued 
 at a denier and a hen at Christmas, to be paid yearly 
 to the said couple by the hand of the granetarius of 
 the said convent. 
 
 Charter No. 10. 
 
 Abbey of Montebourg. Year 1316. 
 
 To all who see or hear this letter Jehan de Baudian- 
 court, keeper of the seal of the Viscounty of Valognes, 
 Greeting. Know that before Vincent Surel, sworn 
 clerk of said viscounty, were present Richard de La 
 Lande of the parish of Montebourg, and Perronele, 
 his wife, to whom he gave authority as hereafter 
 stated, they freely and without being constrained 
 having sold, quitted, and transferred to Michiel Le 
 Franc all their right to a piece of land situated in the 
 parish of Saint Floissel, near the bridge of Colin du 
 Marest, adjoining the lands of Colin Poignant and 
 Richart Henry; and this exchange was made for 
 twelve shillings (soulz de tournois). This letter is 
 sealed with the seal of the said viscounty in the year 
 of our Lord 1316, the Saturday after the feast of 
 Saint Gregory. 
 
 * Year 1334. Sale of the above rent to the monks by Thomas 
 Le Franc for a price of " trente sous de tournois." 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 21 
 
 Charter No. 1 1. 
 
 Abbey of Cerisy. 
 
 To all, as well present as future, know that I, 
 Alain Le Francois, of the parish of Tessy, with the 
 consent and will of Thomasse, my wife, have sold, 
 conceded, and assigned to the ecclesiastical persons, 
 my lords, the abbot and convent of Cerisy, one " sex- 
 tier " of barley, measure of Tessy, to be taken every 
 year from my fief, which I hold of them, in whichever 
 place it may be, charging the said fief with the rent 
 aforesaid, secure and without any prejudice to other 
 revenue and boons, which the said ecclesiastical per- 
 sons shall have as aforesaid from the said fief, which 
 I, Alan aforesaid, and my heirs hold of them, and 
 which is to be assigned every year for holding and 
 enjoying it freely, quietly, and without being dis- 
 turbed by the said ecclesiastical persons; and there 
 will not be any trouble or disturbance on my part or 
 my heirs or my wife in any manner whatever. And 
 I am obliged to indemnify and guard from damage 
 the said ecclesiastical persons, and in their interest 
 have taken the oath of my wife. By this agreement 
 the said ecclesiastical persons have paid 70 shillings 
 (tournois argent), which is a good arrangement, be- 
 cause before I could not sell or alter the said heritage 
 without their consent. In order that this charter 
 may always remain irrefutable, I have appended my 
 seal. Given in the year of our Lord 1272 the Sun- 
 
22 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 day and feast of Saint James and Philip the Apostles 
 before all the people of the parish of Tessy. 
 
 Chalmer refers to " Robert de Brus obtaining the 
 grant of Annandale," and goes on to state, " As the 
 charters of King David established a tenure by 
 the sword, we may easily suppose that Bruce brought 
 with him into the Annandale knights and yeomen 
 from Yorkshire, as indeed might be shown by tracing 
 to their origin some respectable families of Dumfrie- 
 shire," so that it is not unreasonable to suppose that 
 this Robert Fraunceys or one of his sons may have 
 been an original settler with Bruce in the Annandale, 
 and particularly so as you find a feudality existing, to 
 which reference has already been made, according to 
 the Scotch Records circa 1218, wherein it is stated 
 "that Roger, son of William Franciscus, quit-claims 
 to Sir Robert de Brus, Lord of Annandale, land 
 which the grantee held of him in the territory of 
 Annan, towards Weremundebi, for the excambion of 
 land in the territory of Moffat, which William Fran- 
 ciscus, the grantee's father, formerly held* of Sir 
 Robert de Brus." 
 
 In this same epoch Roger French (Francisco) is a 
 witness to a grant of Robert de Brus, Lord of Annan- 
 dale, to William de Heneville. The grant is de- 
 scribed as thirty-five acres of the grantors demesne 
 in the ville of Moffet, lying between the land of Sir 
 
 *This implies an earlier date of William F.'s possessions in 
 Scotland. 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 23 
 
 Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, on one side, and the meadow 
 of Sir Humphry de Kirkepatric on the other. This 
 reference to the Earl of Dunbar recalls an agreement 
 made on the nth of November, 12 18, "between" (the 
 first) "P"(atrick), " Earl of Dunbar, and C "(hristina?), 
 "the Countess, and Sir R"(obert) "de Brus " (prob- 
 ably son of William de Brus), wherein the considera- 
 tion is that Sir Robert shall pay the money to the said 
 earl and his said mother, C, the countess. In another 
 charter, circa 12 18, there is a resignation made to 
 Robert de Brus where the name of William Franceis 
 appears among the witnesses. At this period there 
 is also a grant of the same Robert de Brus to Hum- 
 phrey, son of Simon, where you find again among the 
 witnesses William Franceis. The reference at this 
 period to the possessions of Earl Patrick of Dunbar 
 at Moffat in the Annandale and the relationship of 
 his countess to Robert de Brus may account for 
 the after feudal relations between the Dunbars and 
 Frenches ; and probably the first recorded mention of 
 the name, appearing as a witness to a charter made 
 by a member of the Dunbar family, was that of Will- 
 iam Franke de Pitcokyr* of which the following is an 
 abstract, found in the cartulary of the Abbey of Cold- 
 stream, edited by Rev. Charles Rogers. 
 
 *Pitcokyr gave at an earlier period the surname to a family 
 which were vassals of the earls of Dunbar, but the reference to 
 this place in this charter is the first instance the author has found 
 wherein it is identified with the surname of Franke. 
 
24 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 " Mariota, Lady of Hume, formerly spouse of Sir 
 Patrick Edeger, in her lawful widowhood, has granted 
 and quit-claimed all her right within the vill of Lay- 
 nail and without it, namely, of the ' Northtun,' with 
 all its pertinents, to God and the Blessed Mary of 
 Caldestrem, and the nuns there serving God, as 
 freely as any widow in the kingdom of Scotland in 
 her viduity could grant or give, for a certain sum of 
 money paid to her in her urgent necessity." Wit- 
 nesses : " Domino Villelmo, vicario de Assinden, tunc 
 magistro de Caldstrem ; Villelmo Franke de Petcokyr ; 
 Malcolmo de Haukyrstun; Villelmo de Ardros, ca- 
 pellano ; Thoma de Derchester ; Alano Vyte de Der- 
 chester ; et aliis." 
 
 Mariota, Lady of Hume, is recorded as the second 
 wife of William de Hume, great-grandson of Cospat- 
 rick, third of this name, Earl of Dunbar. He was a 
 son of William de Hume, who, after his lands, as- 
 sumed his surname. Mariota afterwards, prior to the 
 year 1284, married Sir Patrick Edgar. By the fore- 
 going charter it appears that Mariota was then the 
 widow of Sir Patrick Edgar; and, judging on the 
 basis of the chronological rotation of this abbey's 
 charters, it must have been made some time prior to 
 the year 1289, the date of the death of Patrick, Earl 
 of Dunbar, who is mentioned in the succeeding 
 charter. 
 
 This is earlier than existing records of the Frenches 
 of Thorny dy kes ; and, from the fact that the Lairds 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 25 
 
 of that place had possessions in Petcoks in after 
 years, it is suggestive that William Franke may have 
 been an early member of the same family tree. 
 
 On the 28th of August, 1 300-1, the records show 
 that William Fraunceys was a valet to Lord Patrick 
 (8th), Earl of March ; and on the 18th of September 
 of the same year Lord William le Fraunceys was a 
 knight of the son of the Earl of Dunbar. 
 
 After the battle of Bannockburn, which took place 
 on the 24th of June, 1314, King Edward II. took 
 shelter in the first place of strength that was friendly, 
 which was the castle of Dunbar, where its lord was 
 still on the side of England ; and it must have been 
 at this time that William Fraunceys rendered at 
 Dunbar the good service in King Edward's presence 
 for which he was rewarded by that monarch with 
 an annuity, as appears by a record on the 24th of 
 April, 1 31 5. 
 
 Retracing our steps, it is found that the prototypes 
 of this surname in Scotland are discovered in the 
 reign of King William the Lyon ; and probably the 
 first recorded early charter in Scotland in this king's 
 reign wherein the surname of Franceis is found as a 
 witness is that of Grim to the Abbey of Melrose, of 
 which the following is the translation: To all the 
 sons of the Holy Mother church as well present as 
 future. Grim son of Guido " caretarii de Roxburgh." 
 Greeting. Know that I for the welfare of my lord 
 Willielmus de Sumeruilla, and for my soul and for 
 
26 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 the souls of my father, mother, and all my ancestors, 
 have conceded and granted to God and the Holy 
 Mother church of Melrose and the monks serving 
 God there, the whole toft in Berwick, which I held 
 of the said Willielmus as stated in his charter to me. 
 And I have granted this land with all its appurte- 
 nances in the burgh and outside it, in free and per- 
 petual alms, as freely, quietly, and fully as any other 
 alms can be held, excepting only what is due lord 
 Willielmus de Sumeruilla and his heirs by me and 
 my heirs for the same land. And as I have no seal 
 of my own for confirming and testifying to this my 
 donation, Master Adam de Eccles has with my con- 
 sent appended his seal to this my present charter. 
 Witnesses : Magister Adam de Eccles ; . . . capel- 
 lanus; Ricardus de Dunst; Rogerus, fllius Henrici; 
 Randulphus de Cellario ; Reinald de Hoyland ; Wil- 
 lielmus clericus ; . . . clericus ; . . . Portman ; Gocelli- 
 nus Lunoc ; Willielmus Franceis ; Willielmus Albus ; 
 Johannes Niger; Willielmus Heem. 
 
 The next charter of interest in the " Liber Sancte 
 Marie de Melros " is that of William de Haucces- 
 testun, Richard, his brother, and others, conveying 
 land in the territory of Innerwick (in Haddington- 
 shire) to the church of St. Mary of Melrose. Here, 
 again, among the witnesses, apparently, is the name 
 of the same, William le Franceis. 
 
 Three other charters without dates are found in 
 the reign of this same king, in which the grantor was 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 27 
 
 Jocelin, Bishop of Glasgow. He was consecrated on 
 the 1st of June, 1 175, and died the 17th of March, 
 1 199. These charters were in favor of the churches 
 of Saint Mirini de Passelet and Saint Jacobus de 
 Passelet, and all were witnessed by " Wilelmus Fran- 
 cigena, capellanus Glasguensis." 
 
 Arnaldus Francigena is mentioned, circa 1200, in 
 a charter of Arnaldus, the son of Peter de Kelso, to 
 the church of St. Mary of Kelso. In describing the 
 gift in the ville of Berwick, it is stated that the land 
 is situated between that of Arnaldus Francigena and 
 that of William de Bernahme. 
 
 In a charter of Herbert, son of Herbert of Chal- 
 mers, conveying land at Donipace to the church of 
 St. Mary of Cambuskenneth,* in Clackmannanshire, 
 about one-half a mile from Stirling, executed about 
 the year 1200, Adam Franceis appears among the 
 witnesses. 
 
 In another charter made in favor of the church of 
 St. Mary of Melrose, circa 1200, by Hugh de Nor- 
 manville and Alina, his wife, among the witnesses is 
 the name of William le Franceis. 
 
 About the beginning of the reign of King Alexan- 
 der II., and not later than 1227, A. Francigena was 
 a witness to a charter of David Olyfard, to which his 
 wife is a party, conveying the mill and certain land at 
 Caders to the church and bishop of Glasgow. 
 
 * It was founded in 1145, an( * its canons came from Artois in 
 France. 
 
2 8 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 Circa 1232 Willielmus Francus {Franco) is one of 
 the witnesses whose name is attached to a charter of 
 John de Normanville, whereby he conveys to the 
 church of St. Mary of Melrose and to the monastery 
 in the same place all the lands, common of pasturage, 
 and other easements which it claimed within the 
 manor of Mackestoun under his father, Hugh de 
 Normanville. 
 
 In another charter of about the same period the 
 church and monastery of Melrose receive another 
 grant from John de Normanville, Willielmus Francus 
 appearing again among the witnesses. 
 
 Alan Franco is a witness to a grant by John de 
 Crawfurd to the church of Newbottle of a portion of 
 his land of Crawfurd, for the souls of his sovereign 
 lord Alexander, King of Scots, and William, Mal- 
 colm, and David, his predecessors, etc. Not dated, 
 but temp. Alexander II. (1214-49). 
 
 These charters are all in favor of abbeys and 
 churches; and, with the exception of the churches 
 of Glasgow and Passelet and the abbeys of Cambes- 
 kenneth and Newbottle, all are located in Tiviotdale, 
 on the river Tweed, about ten miles to the southward 
 of Thornydykes. 
 
 1 291. Among the citizens of Berwick who took 
 the oath of allegiance to King Edward I. on the 3d 
 of June, 1 29 1, was Henricus Franceys. 
 
 1294. Andrew Franses is a witness to a confirma- 
 tion by James, the High Steward of Scotland, to the 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 29 
 
 Abbey of Paisley in Renfrewshire, of a quarry in that 
 shire. The confirmation is dated at the Steward's 
 manor of Blackhall in Renfrewshire. The witnesses 
 are named in this order : Robert, Bishop of Glasgow ; 
 John Steward, the grantor's brother; Andrew Frans ; 
 John de Soylus ; Nicholas Campbell; Reginald de 
 Crawfurd; Arthur de Donnon; knights, etc. 
 
 The name of Sir William Fraunceys, knight, is 
 found several times about this period. One of this 
 name swore fealty in the year 1296. There is also 
 an agreement made in 1302 with Sir Rauf de Man- 
 tone, Sir Richard Siward, and the Council, in which 
 Sir William Fraunceys arranged to keep the castle 
 of Kirkintilloch until Christmas. Among his twenty- 
 eight men at arms he had Sir Henry de Pinckeney, 
 Thomas de Rameseye, and Gilbert de Menetethe. Be- 
 sides, he had sixty foot soldiers, with a chaplain, petty 
 officers, and artificers to repair the gate, drawbridge, 
 and other defences, and the services of the tenants of 
 the barony of Kirkintilloch on forays. He had his 
 pay advanced until Christmas ; and, whenever war 
 should commence, he was to provide the castle with 
 all necessaries. In 1304 he is mentioned as warden 
 of this castle, and constable in 1305, and is again 
 mentioned in 1306-7. 
 
 Roll of submission and fealty, in the year 1296, of 
 John de Balliol, King of Scotland, with the clergy, 
 nobles, and community of Scotland, to their liege 
 lord, King Edward I, of England, renouncing the 
 
3 o NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 league with the King of France. In this roll at 
 Forfarshire on July 4 appears the name of Sir Will- 
 iam Fraunceys, knight. Afterward, on August 28, in 
 this same year and roll, in the Parliament of Nobles 
 and Prelates of both realms, held at Berwick-on- 
 Tweed, the same nobles, prelates, knights, and others 
 who had done homage ut supra at an earlier date, 
 with those hereafter named, again renounced the 
 league with France and did homage. Among these 
 of the surname were the following : 
 
 John Fraunceys of Long Neuton, county of Roxburgh. 
 John Fraunceys of Benestun, county of Edinburgh. 
 William le Fraunceys, county of Edinburgh. 
 Symon F?-aunceys, county of Roxburgh. 
 William Franceys, county of Fife. 
 Aleyn Fraunceys, county of Roxburgh. 
 
 An order for restoration seems to have been issued 
 by King Edward I., in the twenty-fourth year of his 
 reign, of the lands of John Bailiol, formerly King of 
 Scotland, and that of other lords and under-tenants. 
 
 On Sept. 3, 1296, a writ was issued to the sheriff 
 of Roxburgh to restore the lands of Alan le Fraun- 
 ceys and John le Fraunceys of Long Neaton. 
 
 At this same date Symon de Fraunceys, tenant of 
 John Comyn of Badenagh, mentioned in the previous 
 roll, had his lands in county Roxburgh restored. 
 
 After the death of John Comyn there is still a 
 record of a Symon Franceys, whom we find in the 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 31 
 
 year 1 306-7 among the four esquires of Sir Thomas 
 de Multone, Lord of Egermund, in the barony of 
 Couplaunde in Cumberland, who were for twelve days 
 in the month of April of that year on an expedition 
 to Glentrool * in search of Robert de Brus. 
 
 1 3 1 1 -1 2. Richard Fraunceys and David Frauncis, 
 shield-bearers of Lord William de Kautone, knight, 
 coming from Ireland on the mandate of the king, his 
 lord, to the Scottish wars, with twenty-five men at 
 arms, etc. 
 
 In 1 31 2 King Edward II. of England, then at 
 -York, appointed the following plenipotentiaries to 
 treat of a peace with King Robert Bruce, which at 
 that time was not accomplished, namely: 
 
 William, Bishop of St. Andrews, 
 
 David, conte d'Asceles (Athole), 
 
 Patrick de Dunbar, conte de la Marche, 
 
 Alexander de Abernethy, 
 
 Adam de Gordon, 
 
 Gerard Salveyn, 
 and our dear clerks Meistre Robert de Pykeryng and 
 Meistre Johan Franceys, canons of the church of St. 
 Peter of York. 
 
 1 31 2-1 3, March 14. Taking of Edinburgh Castle. 
 
 " The castle of Edinburgh had for governor Piers 
 Leland, a knight of Gascony. Sir Thomas Ran- 
 dolph [nephew of King Robert Bruce] blockaded it 
 
 * A wild mountain lake in the upper part of Kirkcudbright. 
 
32 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 so closely that all communication with the adjacent 
 country was cut off. The garrison, suspecting the 
 fidelity of Leland, thrust him into prison, and chose 
 another commander in his stead. Matters were in 
 this state, when William Frank, a soldier, presented 
 himself to Randolph, his commander, and offered to 
 show him how the walls of the castle might be scaled. 
 The road, although amidst perilous precipices, had 
 become familiar to him. Randolph, with thirty men, 
 undertook the enterprise of scaling the castle at mid- 
 night. Frank was their guide, and the first who 
 ascended the scaling ladder. Barbour states that 
 1 Sir Andrew Gray followed him, and that Randulph 
 himself was the third that mounted the ladder.' Be- 
 fore the whole party could reach the summit of the 
 wall, an alarm was given, the garrison ran to arms, 
 and a desperate combat ensued ; but, their governor 
 having been slain, the English yielded." 
 
 1313-14. Royal mandate, dated at Westminster, 
 1 8th of March, 131 3-14, in regard the navy to be en- 
 gaged in the war with Scotland. 
 
 William Fraunceys appointed chief of the royal 
 vessel called "la Rodecogg." 
 
 1 31 7. Mario ta Fraunceys had her right of dower 
 in all lands at Paxton, near Berwick-on-Tweed, for- 
 feited by John de Cheseholme. 
 
 1306-29. James Fraunces, in the reign of King 
 Robert I., held some feudatory rights over the lands 
 of Burtries in the barony of Cunynghame and shire 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 33 
 
 of Ayr, which had been granted by charter to Roger 
 Blair. 
 
 King Robert Bruce (reign, 1306 to 1329) grants a 
 charter to William Franceis of the 20 1. land of 
 Sproustoun in Roxburghshire, which were in the 
 king's hands by forfeiture of William Rict, Henry 
 Drawer, Thomas Alkoats, John, Thomas, and William, 
 sons of Alan, Hugo Limpetlaw. And the same king 
 granted the barony of Sproustoun to his son, Robert 
 Bruce. After the decease of this natural son the 
 king granted the land of Sproustoun to William 
 Francis. This latter charter was in the sixteenth 
 year of his reign (1321-22). 
 
 1 32 1. Thursday next before the feast of Saint 
 Peter and Saint Paul. Inquest before the bailies 
 of Berwick for the right of the Abbey of New- 
 bottle to an annual rent of twenty shillings from 
 tenements in Berwick. Adam Frances is on the 
 inquest. 
 
 1329. Master Francisco had a donation from the 
 king, and his expenses paid from Berwick to Dun- 
 barton. 
 
 1335. Adam Frensh was among the Scotch 
 patriots who were pardoned by King Edward III., 
 at Berwick, on the 10th of October, 1335. 
 
 1335-36. Among the Scotch men at arms was 
 Johannes Frances. 
 
 1335-36. In the account of this year of John de 
 Stryvelyn, Viscount of Edinburgh, a yearly rent came 
 
34 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 from the land of William le Frenshe, of Craumond, in 
 the viscounty of Edinburgh. 
 
 1336-37. Among the men at arms in the garrison 
 of Edinburgh was John Fraunceys. 
 
 1337. Among the persons who contributed to 
 the bridge at Berwick-on-the-Tweed were Richard 
 Fraunceys and John Fraunceys, they giving both a 
 certain yearly rental from tenements in the ville of 
 Berwick. 
 
 Ay ton. 
 
 This place lies about twenty miles to the eastward 
 of Thornydykes and about nineteen miles from the 
 castle of Dunbar, and was included in the shire of 
 Coldingham, in which was located the priory of that 
 name " whose records commence at an earlier period 
 than those of any other monastery in Scotland." 
 Among the many donators to this priory, the old 
 Earls of March were particularly conspicuous, as it 
 is to be observed by the many charters made by them 
 in its favor; but David, the Baron of Quixwood, a 
 territory adjacent to Coldinghamshire, seems to have 
 outvied in his liberalities by charters most of the 
 other donators. In the three charters herein re- 
 corded, it is noticed that Adam Franceys was a wit- 
 ness to all. As this search in the records of this 
 priory is mainly confined to charters particularly 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 35 
 
 identified with the name of Franceys, whose posses- 
 sions were at Ayton, this portion of the work will 
 have the title of 
 
 Franceys of Ayton. 
 
 Adam Franceys name appears among the witnesses 
 to a charter of David, Baron of Quikiswde (Quixwood), 
 in favor of the church of Coldingham in Berwickshire, 
 wherein he grants land in the territory of Coldingham, 
 near to Stanlaulethe. As Bertram, prior of Colding- 
 ham, was also a witness, the date of this charter is 
 the latter part of the twelfth century, about the year 
 1 188, at which time he was prior. 
 
 Adam Fraunceys appears again as a witness to the 
 following charters, to wit : 
 
 Charter of Ricardus, son of Giliane de Lamberton, 
 to Stephanus, chaplain of Lamberton. 
 
 Charter of David de Quickesyd to the prior and 
 convent of Coldingham of land in the field of Cold- 
 ingham, near Benerig. 
 
 Charter of Patricius, son of Helye Dunning, to St. 
 Mary of Coldingham of land in the ville of Rening- 
 ton, etc. 
 
 With the last three charters many of the witnesses 
 appear in the first charter herein named of David, 
 Baron of Quixwood, and in a record of 1235. 
 
 Charter of Symon, son of Thomas, of land at Eyton 
 to the office of almoner. The first witness to this 
 charter is Thomas, prior of Coldingham, which evi- 
 
36 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 dently refers to Thomas Nisbet, who was prior from 
 1219 to 1239. 
 
 In the year 1235 we have a record of the services 
 due the prior of Dunelmum (Durham) from Colding- 
 hamshire ; and among the individuals in this shire by 
 whom such services should be rendered was Adam 
 le Fraunceys and his heirs, for their land at Upper 
 Ay ton. 
 
 In the four succeeding charters, Adam Fraunceys 
 is found again among the witnesses. 
 
 Charter of Willielmus de Lummesdene, with con- 
 sent of Ermiger, his wife, of land in the territory of 
 Coldingham to the monks in the same place. 
 
 Quitclaim given by Michael de Aldengrawe, son of 
 Edward, to the prior and convent of Coldingham of 
 land in the ville of Aldecambus. 
 
 Charter of David de Ouickiswde of land in Dune- 
 knol to the church of St. Mary of Coldingham. The 
 first witness to this charter was Lord Anketino, the 
 prior of Coldingham. This places the date of this 
 charter during the time he held this office ; and his 
 occupation, according to M. Raine, w r as in 1239. 
 The next prior seems to have been Richard, of 
 which we have the date of 1245. 
 
 Charter of Richard, son of Elie de Prendergest, to 
 Walter, his brother, of the husbandry of Leyroft. 
 
 With the preceding charters you find the orthog- 
 raphy of these names, Franceys, Fraunceys^ Fraun- 
 ceis, and Frances. 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 37 
 
 Adam Franciscus and Thomas, his son, are both 
 witnesses to a charter, in favor of Willielmus Frere- 
 man, of land in Coldingham, etc., granted by Mabilia, 
 daughter of Constantinus. 
 
 In another charter of this same Mabilia, who is 
 therein mentioned as a widow, land is given in 
 Flores, in the territory of Coldingham, to the monks 
 of Coldingham ; and among the witnesses the names 
 of the same individuals as are found in the pre- 
 ceding charter are given, as Adam Fraunceys and 
 Thomas, his son. 
 
 This is the last record among these charters 
 wherein the name of Adam Fraunceys appears ; but 
 in the year 1247 the name of his son, Thomas Fran- 
 ceys, only appears. This record, together with the 
 fact that Richard, prior of Coldingham, was the first 
 witness to this present charter, to whom M. Raine 
 assigns the date of 1245, places the date of this 
 charter at about that period. 
 
 Thomas Franceys. 
 
 Manumission in the year 1 247 of Reginaldus, pro- 
 positus of Adam de Prendirgest, with the consent of 
 Henricus, his son and heir. Among the witnesses 
 to this document is Thomas Franco. 
 
 Charter of Willielmus, son of Beatrix de Swinton, 
 wherein he granted to God, St. Ebbe, and the prior 
 and monastery of Coldingham all the land, with ap- 
 
38 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 purtenances, which Walter (son of Leolphus), his 
 grandfather, once held in the ville and territory of 
 Swynton. Given in the full court at Ayton the day 
 next after the feast of St. Martinus, anno gregori- 
 ense 1271. Witnesses: Dominus Henricus de Pren- 
 dergest; Dominus Petrus de Morthintona, milites; 
 Magister Hugo de Hertilpole ; Willielmus Bel, tunc 
 vicarius de Lamberton ; Gilbertus de Lumisden; 
 Thomas Frances; Alan de Swyntona; et alii. 
 
 Thomas and Richard Franceys of Ayton are wit- 
 nesses to the charter of Alanus de Swinton (of Kirke- 
 croft, in the territory of Swinton, wherein he men- 
 tions his wife Lucie) to the prior and monastery of 
 Coldingham. 
 
 Charter of Henricus de Prendergest of land in 
 Raynigton to the prior and convent of Coldingham, 
 in exchange for the land which they gave him in the 
 ville and territory of Prendergest. Dated at Ayton 
 in the prior's court the seventh day of March, anno 
 gregoriense 1275. Among the witnesses to this 
 charter were Richard Fraunc of Ayton and Thomas 
 Fraunc of Ayton. 
 
 Thomas Franceys of Ayton is a witness to a char- 
 ter of Thomas, son of Robert, son of Mathew de 
 Aldengrawe, granting land in the ville of Aldengrawe 
 to the prior and monks of Coldingham. Given at 
 the court of Ayton the day next before the feast of 
 St. Dennis, in the month of March, 1275. 
 
 Charter of Willielmus, son of Willielmus Cantor 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 39 
 
 (chantor), in which he grants one toft with croft, etc., 
 in Parva Ryston, to Alice, daughter of his sister 
 Agnete and Augustinus. To this charter Thomas 
 Francys of Ayton is among the witnesses. 
 
 Thomas Franceis of Ayton is among the witnesses 
 to the charter of Nicholas Lambe, of land and tene- 
 ment in Aldecambus : Know that I, Nicholas, son 
 of Thomas of Aldecambus, have given and quit- 
 claimed to God and the Holy Mary of St. Cuthbert, 
 and to the prior and convent of Coldingham, all the 
 land which I possess and will inherit in the ville and 
 territory of Aldecambus, with escheat. 
 
 Quitclaim of the ville of Esteriston by Johannes, 
 son of Bertramus of Esteriston, to the prior, etc., of 
 Coldingham, in the year 1281. With the free will 
 and consent of Robert, his son and heir, he quit- 
 claims and restores the ville of Esteriston, with the 
 lordship of same ville, etc., to the prior, etc. Thomas 
 Franc of Ayton in this document appears as a wit- 
 ness. 
 
 In the rental of the possession of the monastery of 
 Coldingham, which seems to have been empiled im- 
 mediately after the year 1298, it is found that in 
 Ayton Superior Thomas Fraunceys held two and 
 one-half ploughlands, assessed for 1005. Forfeited, 
 and in the prior's hands. 
 
4 o NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 Richard Franceys. 
 
 This name appears among the witnesses to the 
 charter of Nicholas, son of Thomas, son of Dun- 
 canus de Renington, in which he granted to Hen- 
 ricus de Prendergest, knight, all the land he possessed 
 in the ville of Renington. 
 
 Pleading between Melrose and Coldingham. Anno 
 gregoriense 1272, the day before Epiphany, was held 
 a pleading between the monks, prior, and convent 
 of Coldingham on one part, and the abbot and con- 
 vent of Melrose on the other part, concerning the 
 tithe to the fishery in Berwyc Stream, etc. Among 
 the witnesses to this document is Ricardo de Fran- 
 cisco of Ay ton. 
 
 Charter of Alice, formerly wife of Robertus, son of 
 Mauricius, of Ayton Superior, in which she granted 
 to Walterus, son of Robertus Purroc, and his heirs, 
 all the land in the ville and territory of Ayton Su- 
 perior which she had received as a dowry. Given at 
 the full court of the prior of Ayton the day before 
 the feast of Saint Mary, a.d. 1276. Here, again, you 
 find Ricardus Franc of Ayton as a witness. 
 
 Ricardus Franceys of Ayton is among the wit- 
 nesses to the charter of Emma, daughter of Elie 
 Dunning, to Alanus carpentarius : 
 
 Emma, daughter of the late Elye Dunnyng. 
 Greeting. To all people, know that I have given, 
 etc., to Alano carpentario and Mabille, his wife, my 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 41 
 
 niece etc., one toft and croft in the ville of Colding- 
 ham, near the wall of the monastery of Coldingham 
 to the south. Given at the court of Ayton the day of 
 March next after the feast of Saint Dennis, anno 
 gregoriense 1278. 
 
 Charter of Ade de Camera of land, with toft 
 in Ayton, to the prior and convent of Colding- 
 ham. Given at Ayton, the feast of Saint Gregory, 
 the Pope, in the month of March, anno gregoriense 
 1279. To this charter Ricardus Fraunceys is a 
 witness. 
 
 Charter of Robertus Hopp' (er) and Patricius, his 
 son, wherein they granted one acre of land in Cold- 
 ingham, called Stampardesaker, to Stephanus de 
 Hoveden, then sexton of the church of Coldingham, 
 in free, etc., alms, for the sustenance of the chapel of 
 St. Ebbe, on the mountain. Ricardus Fraunches is 
 a witness. The first witness to this charter was 
 Lord Henry de Horncastle, then prior of Colding- 
 ham, which fixes the date of this charter not later 
 than 1276-96. 
 
 Charter of Thomas, son of the late Robertus Sene- 
 scallus of Coldingham, wherein he granted to the 
 monastery of Coldingham land in the moor toward 
 Lummesden, which formerly had been occupied by 
 Godricus, son of Willielmus Cocus, and all his land 
 in the same moor called Stiwardflattis. Among the 
 witnesses is Ricardus Fraunceys. 
 
 Charter of Lord Ricardus Frauncays of Ayton 
 
42 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 Superior, wherein he granted his messuage with toft 
 and croft in Ayton Superior for his maintenance (pro 
 sustentacione sua) in the house of the monastery of 
 Coldingham. Witnesses Dominis Henrico de Pren- 
 dergest et Petro de eadem; Willielmo de Rokes- 
 burgh, tunc senescallo de Coldingham ; Johanne filio 
 Ade. Johanne Gray de Ayton ; et aliis. This 
 charter is most probably executed the latter part of 
 the thirteenth century. 
 
 In the Rental of the Possessions of the Monastery 
 of Coldingham, which seems to have been compiled 
 immediately after the year 1298, it is found that in 
 Ayton Superior Ricardus Fraunceys held six oxgangs 
 of land, valued to 8s. yearly, which are in the hands 
 of the prior. 
 
 Johannes Fraunceys. 
 
 Willielmus Ridel, Lord of Flemington, confirms 
 the charter in which is granted one oxgang of land, 
 with all that belongs to it, in the ville and territory 
 of Flemington to Willielmus Stobbe, burgess of Ber- 
 wick-upon-Tweede. Given at Flemington the fifth 
 day of May, a.d. 1307. The name of Johannes 
 Fraunceys appears among the witnesses. 
 
 Agreement of Johannes de Ayton with the monks 
 of Coldingham. Given at Coldingham the day after 
 the feast of Saint Laurence in the month of March, 
 a.d. 1327. Among the six names given as witnesses 
 attached to this charter was Johannes Frankes. 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 43 
 
 In 1350 Adam le Fraunceys* appears to have held 
 land under William de Scaresburgh, prior of Cold- 
 ingham. His widow Margaret at a later period gave 
 four and a half acres of land in Flores to the arm's 
 house of the priory. 
 
 On the 17th of August, 1403, King Henry IV. of 
 England grants Alexander Franche some tolls of Ber- 
 wick ; and in 1407 Alexander Franche and his re- 
 tainer Herteramus were both retainers of George, 
 Earl of Dunbar, while in England. This same Alex- 
 ander Franche is evidently referred to by King James 
 I. in a charter of the 18th of February, 1426, as the 
 grandfather of James Franche. In this charter the 
 king grants to James Franche the land at Ayton, in 
 the barony of Coldingham and county of Berwick 
 which his grandfather Alexander had forfeited, prob- 
 ably at the same time as the forfeiture of George, 
 Earl of March. 
 
 France oj Linlithgow. 
 
 Johannes France, according to " Redditus Altarium 
 Olim situat. infra Parochiam de Linlythgow," was a 
 fuller by profession. He also held the office of Bur- 
 gess oj the Burgh oj Linlithgow on the 2 2d of April, 
 
 * It is most probable this was the same person who is men- 
 tioned as Adam Francis on the inquest in the year 132 1, in regard 
 to tenements at Berwick, and again as Adam Frensh, who was 
 pardoned in the year 1335 by King Edward III. 
 
44 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 1487, as appears by the " Registrum Magni Sigilli 
 Regum Scotorum." The situation of some of his 
 tenements in this burgh are described in the " Red- 
 ditus " to be found at the Advocates' Library, one of 
 which is bounded on the north by the royal village, 
 on the east by the land of William Hill, and that of 
 Johannes Jak on the west. The inscription, formerly 
 in the north aisle of the church of Linlithgow, evi- 
 dently refers to this same individual : 
 
 Heir lyes Ihon Franch, fadder to Tomas, Master 
 
 Mason of Brig of Dee. Obiit anno Domini MCCCCLXXXIX. 
 
 Thomas Franche, the son, was the second Master 
 Mason to the Crown of Scotland. He was appointed 
 under the Privy Seal. The following is the grant 
 conferring upon him the office of Master Mason, 
 given by King James V. at Kelso on April 30, 1535 : 
 
 " Ane letter given to thomas franc he makand him 
 maister masoun to oure souverane lord for all the dais 
 of his lif wyth power to the said Thomas to vse and 
 exercise the said office in all and by all thingis as ony 
 vtheris vsit or exercit the samin in ony times bigane 
 And therefor to haue yeirlie induring his liftyme of 
 our said souerane lord the soume of ^"40 to be pait 
 yeirlie be our souerane lordis treasurer now present 
 and being for the tyme. 30th April 1535. 
 
 Per signaturam." 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 45 
 
 Rev. Robert Scott Mylne, in his work on the 
 "Master Masons to the Crown of Scotland," pub- 
 lished in 1893, gives the pedigree of this family of 
 Franch, with an account of Thomas Franche. The 
 pedigree shows that the first of this surname was 
 John Franche, who died in 1489; that Thomas 
 Franche, his son, was Master Mason to the Bishop 
 of Aberdeen for building the Bridge of Dee, and 
 Master Mason to King James V. in 1535. This 
 Thomas appears to have had three sons. 
 
 1st, Thomas, who died in 1530, and was buried in 
 Aberdeen cathedral, where is found his epitaph. 2d, 
 John, and, 3d, Robert, both masons, as appears by 
 John Scrymgeour's account of 1538-39, under the 
 heading of "Falkland" (the royal residence). This 
 same account also mentions George Frensch. 
 
 Thomas Franche, senior, "after the death of his son 
 Thomas, returned to his native town, and began to 
 work for the King on the Palace of Linlithgow." 
 
 On the 22d of April, 1535, the King issued a war- 
 rant to the Master of Works to pay him a gratuity of 
 ^20 Scots for the satisfaction given in his work for 
 the past year, to wit: "At Linlithgow, 2 2d April 
 1535. Master of our wark, for samekyll as Thomas 
 Franche maison hes beyne continuallye in our ser- 
 vice for the completing our Palis of Linlithquhow 
 sen Merche wes ane yeir and hes done us for his 
 part greit pleasour thairintyll quhilk we think de- 
 servis revard. Heirfor it is our will and als chargis 
 
46 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 you incontinent to deliver to the said Thomas 20 
 for his bontay and the samyn salbe weil allowit to 
 you in your comptis. Subscrivit be us at Linlith- 
 quhow, the xxij day of Aprile, and of our regne the 
 xxij yeir. James R." 
 
 On the 30th of April of this same year, as pre- 
 viously stated, he received the appointment of Master 
 Mason. 
 
 "Accounts of the Master of Works, 16 May 1535. 
 One pound Scots to the Master Mason, weekly, and 
 Masons 16 s . and 12 s . weekly." 
 
 "The compt of the masonis that wrocht at the 
 palis of Linlithgow as ef tir followis : The first day of 
 Februar the yeir of God j m v c xxxiiij yeris the entres of 
 Thomas Franss * masoun with ten masonis and four 
 barrowmen with him. And tha continewit to the xvj 
 day of Maij in the year of God j m v c xxxv yeris, the 
 quhilk is 15 vokkis. To the said Thomas Frans * 
 voklie 20 s , and, to four of his masonis ilkane of 
 thame 15 s vokle and to sax of his masonis ilkane of 
 thame 12 s voklie, and to ilkane of his barrowmen 
 vokle, 5 s Summa to the said Thomas Frans * and his 
 servandis vokle %: 16 s . Summa of thir personis 
 forsaidis vagis in the haill ^132." 
 
 "Item, to the said Thomas Frans * at the command 
 of our Soverane lordis precept ^20." 
 
 * This orthography is given in Mylne's " Master Masons," but 
 Frans (or Franss) is evidently a contraction for Franses. Records 
 show that Robert France of the Stane had his surname written 
 Franses and Francys. 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 47 
 
 " In 1537 work was recommenced on the Palace of 
 Falkland," and "at first Thomas Franche plays an 
 important part in the royal undertaking." In March, 
 1537-38, works were undertaken on the Garden 
 Dyke, by the King's command. 
 
 In the year 1538-39 you find a record of two of 
 his sons, in which the orthography of this surname is 
 Frensch. 
 
 Thomas Franche was living on the 31st of July, 
 1 55 1, and appears to have died the same year. 
 
 There appears to have been a John Franche identi- 
 fied with Falkland, the Royal Residence, most prob- 
 ably a relation. Under the date of the 7th of No- 
 vember, 1592, is the following entry: 
 
 " Gift to John Franche for his true and thankful 
 service done to the King, of the office of building and 
 upholding the park dykes and meadow dykes of 
 Falkland, for life." 
 
 George Frensch, to whom reference is made in this 
 present article, may have been the same person who 
 held land in or near Aberdeen on the 10th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1474-75- 
 
 Before closing these general remarks, reference 
 will be made to the following records of the border 
 counties of England, which historically are much in- 
 terwoven with Scottish history. 
 
 In December, 1231, John Francigena gives the K. 
 
48 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 20 marks, to have for life the close of the border 
 (costera) of Warnel, which the abbot of Holcoltram 
 enclosed and held in hand, and the ten acres of said 
 wood which the abbot assarted and cultivated by the 
 K.'s license, for half a mark to be paid to the K. 
 annually, as the abbot paid for the same, as fully con- 
 tained in his charter; and Thomas de Muleton is 
 commanded, after taking security, to give him seizin. 
 
 On Dec. 26, 1231, the K. grants to the church of 
 the Blessed Kentigern of Caldebec, and John Franci- 
 gena, parson thereof, and his successors, the close of 
 the " costera " of Warnel, which the abbot of Holm- 
 coltram, by the K.'s license, enclosed and held during 
 pleasure, paying half a mark to Exchequer annually. 
 
 Cumberland. Walter, Bishop of Carlisle (Thomas 
 fitz John for him), renders his account: John Franci- 
 gena accounts for 20 marks to have in perpetuity a 
 close of the " costera " of Warnelle, which the abbot 
 of Holcoltram enclosed and held in hand, and to 
 have ten acres of same wood which the said abbot 
 cleared and cultivated by the K.'s license, for half a 
 mark to be paid to the K. annually, as the said 
 abbot paid for these acres and close, as more fully 
 contained in the K.'s charters, and in his own charter 
 thereof, a transcript of which is attached to the 
 " Originale " of the 17th year, bearing that the said 
 close and ten acres of land shall forever remain with 
 the said John and his successors, parsons of the 
 church of the Blessed Kentegern of Kaldebec. He 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 49 
 
 has paid it into the treasury, and is quit. (Pipe, 16 
 Hen. III. [1231-32], Rot. 15, dorso.) 
 
 On the 10th of February, 1232-33, Thomas de 
 Muleton of Egremund is commanded to take in the 
 K.'s hand the ten acres of the border of the K.'s wood 
 of Warnel, and the close, which the abbot of Holcol- 
 tram held and the K. afterwards gave to John le Fran- 
 ceis, parson of Caldebec, by charter, and hold them till 
 further orders. Westminster. 
 
 Pleas at Westminster in the octaves of Saint 
 Michael, before Robert de Lexington and other jus- 
 tices. Westmoreland : John le Franceys appears ver- 
 sus Johanna de Veteripont in a plea that she should 
 restore him the custody of William de Pinkeny's land 
 and heir, whereof she unjustly deforced him. She is 
 absent. Judgment, let her be attached for the 
 octave of Saint Hilary. (Coram Rege, 26 and 27 
 Hen. III. No. 55, m. 6.) 
 
 Pleas at Westminster (in a month from Holy Trin- 
 ity). Westmoreland : John le Fraunceys appears by 
 attorney versus Robert de Veteripont in a plea that 
 the latter should acquit him of service which John de 
 Bayllot exacts from him for the freehold he holds of 
 Robert in Maldesmebrunne, whereof Robert as the 
 " medius " between them should acquit him. Robert 
 is absent. Attached to attend on the morrow of 
 Saint Martin. (Coram Rege, 34 Hen. III. No. 82, 
 m. 14, dorso.) 
 
 On the 30th of September, 125 1, in the pleas of 
 
So NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 the assizes of the county of York, it is found that 
 Robert, son of Ivo de Veteripont, acknowledged that 
 he had granted to John de Baylof * (Balliol) and his 
 heirs the homage and service of John le Fraunceys t 
 for Florliswrth in the county of Leicester, and like- 
 wise the homage and service of said John for the 
 moiety of the manor of Soureby \ in Fames in Gallo- 
 way (Galewaythe), as more fully contained in the writ- 
 ing made between them. 
 
 On the 2d of April, 1255, in the division made of 
 the possessions in Northumberland by the king's 
 escheator of the lands of Isabella de Forde, which 
 she had inherited from her grandfather Robert de 
 Muscamp, through his eldest daughter, Cecilia, it is 
 found that her heirs were her aunt Isabella, the wife 
 of William de Huntercumbe, and her two cousins, 
 Muriel and Margery, daughters of her aunt Margery, 
 who had married Malise, Earl of Stratherne. These 
 possessions were divided in two portions, the records 
 
 * He married Dervorgilla, youngest daughter of Alan, Lord of 
 Galloway. She was the mother of King John Baliol and Margory, 
 who married John Comyn of Badenach. 
 
 t John Le Fraunceis was the son of Hugh Le Fraunceis. He 
 held land in some of the northern English counties, one manor at 
 least under Robert de Veteripont. His name appears again in 
 the records of the county of Cumberland in the years 1253 and 
 1258. 
 
 $The church of Great Soureby was granted to Dryburgh 
 Abbey at the end of the twelfth century by Ivo de Veteripont, in 
 pure alms, and was confirmed to it by Roland, Lord of Galloway, 
 under whom Ivo de Veteripont held the land of Great Soureby. 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 51 
 
 of the first showing that Robert le Franceys held of 
 the said Isabella de Forde possessions in the burgh 
 of Wllouer (Wooler) in Northumberland. 
 
 Among the Cumberland records under the date of 
 the 26th of May, 1256, it is found that Nicholas le 
 Fraunceys was among the men of Alan de Moleton 
 (Muleton) and Alicia, his wife, daughter of Richard 
 de Lucy and Ada Moreville, who afterward married 
 Thomas de Multon, of Egermund. 
 
 On the 1 8th of August, 1268, Gilbert le Fraunceys 
 is among the belted knights who were, with others, 
 on the inquest held at the castle of Maidens in 
 the king's forest of Engilwode, before Roger de 
 Lancastre, then seneschal of the king's forests ultra 
 Trent, and William de Dacre, then sheriff of Cum- 
 berland, and others of the king's lieges, in regard to 
 certain rights of King Henry III. in Cumberland. 
 
 A Gilbert le Fraunceys is mentioned in the records 
 of Cumberland, in the year 1259, as the son of Richard 
 le Franceys. From the year 1273 to 1278 there are 
 records of Gilbertus le Franceys holding large posses- 
 sions in Chester, Cumberland, Derby, Leicester, and 
 Westmoreland. 
 
 As this account is so general on these surnames 
 in Scotland, with a special and long account of the 
 Frenches of Thornydykes, it seems only appropriate 
 that some additional allusion be made to two other 
 families, those of Francys of Stane and the Frenches 
 of Frenchland. The last of the line of Stane was 
 
52 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 Elizabeth, only daughter and sole heiress of Robert 
 Francys, or France, of Stane, or Stonanrig, in the 
 parish of Irvine, in Ayrshire, who married, in 1508, 
 William Montgomery of Greenfield. An interesting 
 account of this family is found in the " History of the 
 County of Ayr," by James Paterson. 
 
 In regard to the Frenches of Frenchland, in the 
 Annandale, those interested can easily refer to that 
 admirable work called "Alexander Nisbefs Heraldic 
 Plates" so successfully completed by Messrs. Ross and 
 Grant, members of the Lyon Office. 
 
 As a prelude to the introduction of the Frenches 
 of Thornydykes in Berwickshire, one of the border 
 counties of Scotland, it seems an appropriate occa- 
 sion to revive in our memories what Sir Walter Scott 
 says about this historic and picturesque region. His 
 name has a special interest to those of the surname 
 of French, from the fact that he had, as one of his 
 tutors, James French, 
 
 The border of Scotland, in which was the home of 
 the Frenches, is described most interestingly by Sir 
 Walter Scott : " The Scotch Border has charms to 
 fascinate all those who delight in romantic enter- 
 prise and poetic fancy. This boundary between two 
 warlike and long hostile kingdoms became naturally 
 the great theatre on which the achievement of the 
 feudal ages were performed. The habitual hostility, 
 too, with which the inhabitants of the opposite side 
 of the March view each other, gave rise to constant 
 
NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 53 
 
 scenes of minor exploits, which, though they could 
 not find a place in history, kept alive the habits of 
 activity, enterprise, and daring valour, which held 
 men's minds in a state of perpetual excitement. The 
 same causes which rendered the Borders the theatre 
 of war rendered it also a land of song ; for true and 
 native poetry is the result, not of monastic and stu- 
 dious seclusion, but of those eventful circumstances 
 which fire the imagination, and melt the heart." 
 
 A descriptive account of the Merse is given by Mr. 
 Browne in his " Glimpses in Lammermuir " : " Before 
 leaving the shelter of the old firs of Hardens Hill, 
 Willie gazed down into the Merse. There it lay 
 before him, with its long and broad sweep of farm- 
 land, dotted with villages, farm steadings, mansions, 
 and wood, and bounded on the far south by the grey 
 Cheviots, at whose feet, thirteen and fifteen miles 
 away, if his ear could have carried sound as his eye 
 did sight, he might have heard the Tweed roaring 
 through the bridges of Coldstream and Norham, and 
 then rushing between its banks at Ladykirk, and on- 
 wards to the sea, where the waves on the Berwick 
 beach rolled up as if in joy to meet it. If the dusk 
 had come suddenly down, Willie, in his statuesque 
 position, might have started at the appearance of a 
 flaring light far away on the Fame Isles, to caution 
 the watch at the forecastle of the labouring ship miles 
 away at sea, as he gazed forward into the dark and 
 heaving billows. But now, as he reached the highest 
 
54 NOTES ON THE SURNAMES. 
 
 point of the road, and as he left the lowland land- 
 scape behind him, another and not less striking 
 scene, but of a diverse character, burst upon his view. 
 Spread out before him, as if by the hand of an en- 
 chanter, was a wild and extensive piece of Highland 
 scenery, and, as he rounded the road and pressed 
 forward, its extent increased. The Lammermuirs, 
 in rolling billows of heather hill and pasture land, 
 stretched for many miles on three sides, and con- 
 spicuous in the distance on the left was the ancient 
 castle of Hume, and the three peaks of the Eildon 
 Hills due south-west, seventeen miles away." 
 
PART SECOND. 
 
 FRENCHES OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
FIRST LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Robert French , the first Laird of Thornydykes * 
 on record, received, according to Nisbet, a principal 
 charter from George D unbar, t Earl of March, Lord 
 of Annandale, "upon his resignation in the Earles 
 hands for a new infeftment to himself and his wife 
 Elizabeth in conjunct fie and the heirs of their bodie, 
 which failyeing to Adame French sone to Robert, 
 and his heirs male, which failyeing to airs whatsome- 
 ever." " In which charter the Earle designes the said 
 Robert French of Thorndyke Clarissimus consan- 
 guineus noster" 
 
 * Thornidicke, Thorne Dykes, Thornydyke, or Thorndie Castle 
 or Tower in the district of Thornydykes was a place of defence. 
 A later description gives it besides a manor house, gardens, 
 orchards, dovecots, with estates in tenancy and service of free- 
 holders, mills, mill lands, mill fees, etc. Its location was in the 
 Merse, near the foot of the Lammermoor Hills, in what is now 
 called the parish of Westruther ; of old, it was near the religious 
 houses of Wedderlie and Bassendean, in the extended parish of 
 Home; at the Reformation, which began in 1560, it became part 
 of the parish of Gordon. The site of this tower was to the south 
 of Spottiswood, on the northern side of the road leading from 
 Greenlaw to Lauder. 
 
 f The earldom of March was confirmed to him by King David 
 II. on the resignation of Patrick, ninth earl, July 25, 1368. 
 
SECOND LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 r 
 
 Adam French, second Laird of Thorny dykes, suc- 
 ceeded his father Robert in the reign of Robert III. 
 (19th April, 1390-4^ April, 1406); and Nisbet makes 
 the following allusion to the succession : " This ap- 
 pears by ane other charter upon resignatione of his 
 mother Elizabeth French [who is surnamed French 
 in this but not in the former] in favour of his 
 [Robert's] son and his spouse, Jonet Rule, of the 
 same contents with the former [charter] in the hands 
 of the foresaid George, Earl of March, and Lord 
 of Annandale and Man." 
 
 About this period Adam Gordon, * William Baird, 
 and Adam French became conspicuous among the 
 border chieftains; for at a meeting held in 1398 be- 
 tween the Commissioners of the Scotch and English 
 marches, appointed to arrange about border difficul- 
 ties, prisoners, etc., an exception was made to the 
 release of these persons. At that the Scotch Com- 
 missioners gave heavy bonds in the name of their 
 
 * The history of the Gordon family at this period shows only 
 one of this Christian name, that of Sir Adam Gordon, Lord of 
 Gordon and Huntly, who was killed at the battle of Homildone 
 Hill in Berwickshire, Sept. 14, 1402. 
 
SECOND LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 59 
 
 king for their appearance before the ensuing meet- 
 ing of the Lord Commissioners of both realms, and 
 agreed they should not violate the truce in the in- 
 terval. Evidently owing to the complications grow- 
 ing out of the frontier difficulties, in which the border 
 lords of both countries were generally equally respon- 
 sible, the ill feelings engendered by their constant 
 attacks on each other, often without even the provo- 
 cation of open warfare, and with the apparent in- 
 ability or indifference of the two kings to suppress at 
 times these local troubles, which often involved the 
 peace of both kingdoms, with these lawless but not 
 unusual state of affairs for these early days, and with 
 the apparent desire on the part of King Robert III. to 
 preserve peaceful relations with his formidable neigh- 
 bor, King Richard II., Adam French is presumed to 
 have been among those selected as an example ; for he 
 suffered the penalty of the forfeiture of his estates of 
 Thornydykes and Pitcoks. George, Earl of March, 
 the direct feudal lord of Adam French, renounced his 
 allegiance to King Robert III. in 1399; and it must 
 have been about this period, after the forfeiture of his 
 estates, that Adam French abandoned the Scottish 
 king. Earl George, Gaweyn, his son, and Adam 
 French about the same period became liegemen of 
 King Henry IV. of England ; and all received annu- 
 ities from him. It is not at all unlikely that Adam 
 French went to England in 1400 in the company of 
 his overlord, the Earl of March ; for on August 2 of 
 
60 ADAM FRENCH. 
 
 that year George of Dunbar, Earl of March, received 
 from the English king safe conduct and protection 
 for himself, his wife, and his children, with a retinue 
 of eighty persons coming to England. The exact 
 date of his becoming liegeman is not known ; but on 
 April 7, 1402, there is a record of Adam French of 
 Scotland, showing that he was then in the service 
 of the King of England, and that he had been 
 granted an annuity, and on the 17th of July, 1403, 
 he received from King Henry IV. a prest of his 
 annuity for his good service. There seems to be 
 nothing to show the exact date when Adam French 
 returned to Scotland ; but he evidently seceded from 
 England, and came back to his Scottish allegiance. 
 After the forfeiture of Adam French, Robert French, 
 his son, had a charter from King Robert III. of 
 Thornydykes and Pitcoks ; but Adam French, the 
 father, became repossessed of these estates, as appears 
 by a charter of confirmation of King James I., dated 
 at Edinburgh on the sixth day of January, 1433, and 
 he must have soon after died, as his son Robert suc- 
 ceeds him, as appears by the inquest held in the 
 latter part of January of that year. 
 
 Notes on individuals of this surname, etc. 
 
 Andrew French. In the time of Robert III. (1390-1406) is 
 a charter to Andrew French of the lands of Boudington, within 
 the barony of Cunynghame and shire of Ayr. 
 
 Gilbert Franche was a witness at Edinburgh on the 7th April, 
 1401, to an instrument of assignation by Thomas de Altoun of 
 a tenement at Musselburgh to Henry Bollow, burgess there. 
 
 Gilbert Franche is also among the witnesses to a public docu- 
 ment dated at Edinburgh on the 8th of January, 1437. 
 
THIRD LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Robert French, third Laird of Thornydykes, was 
 son of Adam French. He succeeded to the forfeited 
 estates of his father, as it appears by a charter to him 
 from King Robert III.,* of the lands of Thornydykes 
 in the shire of Berwick, and Petcokkis t in the shire 
 of Edinburgh. As Lord of Thornydykes, he appears 
 as a witness to the confirmation of a charter to the 
 church of Cavers, dated at the church of Makerston 
 (both located in the county of Roxburgh), on July 29, 
 1406. Allusion has been made to Adam French, his 
 father, temporarily gaining possession of these estates 
 in 1433; but Robert French came again in posses- 
 sion of the estates of Thornydykes and Pitcoks, as 
 appears by the following record of the inquest : 
 
 " Robert succeeds his father Adam, and is served 
 
 * In his reign owners of land were required to show their char- 
 ters for land held. 
 
 f Pitcokkes, Petcokyr, Petcoke, Pitcoks, or Pitcox, was located 
 near Dunbar Castle, in the barony of Bele and earldom of March, 
 and about seventeen miles from Thornydykes (now in Stenton 
 Parish). This estate, in the reign of King James VI., comprised 
 manor house, dovecots, workshops, breweries, mill land, mill fees, 
 game and fish preserves, peat bogs, coal, ponds, stream, woods, 
 meadows grazing, and pasture lands, stone quarries, and lime pits. 
 
62 ROBERT FRENCH. 
 
 and retoured to him the 29 of Januarie, 1433,* at 
 Dunbar." 
 
 His eldest son was Robert, who succeeded him; 
 but the Frenches of Frenchland record for him a 
 younger son, James, who is represented as their an- 
 cestor. 
 
 * Johannes de Fraunce. 
 
 About this period namely, in the years 1429 and 1431 safe 
 conduct and protection was granted by Henry VI. to Johannes de 
 Fraunce ; and in the second record he is mentioned as John 
 Fraunce. In both these documents, he is named as retainer of 
 Andrew Keith of Inverugie, on his way to England to see his 
 lord, who was one of the hostages for King James I. of Scotland. 
 
 A Johannes Fraunce is found in an account of John Maxwell, 
 Steward of Annandale, given at Perth the tenth day of July, 1459, 
 of all the income and expenses of his bailiwick from the twenty- 
 seventh day of June, 1458, to the day of this account. It is found 
 that Johannes Fraunce was fined for being absent from court. 
 
FOURTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Robert French, the fourth Laird of Thorny dykes. 
 On the 22d of October, 1478, "the Lordis decretis 
 that Johne Hume of Cralin, Robert Fransche of 
 Thornydikis, Johne of Quhitsum, Alexander Hume, 
 Patric Michel, James Fransche, and Jok Lawsoun, 
 sail restore and deliver againe to Dene William 
 Rothuen, chanoun of Driburgh, for twa horssis and 
 twa sadillis, that thai spulzeit fra the said chanoun 
 VIJ. lib and that thai sail for the contempcioune done 
 to the Kingis Hienes in the takin of the said horssis 
 and strikin of the said chanon, entir thair personis in 
 warde in the Castell of Blacknes and remayne thair 
 
 Notes on individuals of this surname, etc. 
 
 Lord Johannes Franche. In several charters of William 
 Striveling of Keir, in the viscounty of Perth, having the confirma- 
 tion of King James III., Johannes Franche, chaplain, is among 
 the witnesses. In the first two charters, dated at the manor 
 of Ker on the 28th of July, 1477, he is called Lord Johannes 
 Franche. In the charter of the 27th of September, 1477, dated at 
 the same manor, he is called Johannes Franche, chaplain. In 
 the two charters dated at Edinburgh on the 25th of June, 1479, 
 he is called Johannes Franche, chaplain. 
 
 Lord Nicholas Franche. Confirmation charter by King James 
 IV. to a charter of the late Thomas de Carmichell, vicar of the 
 parochial church of Stirling, in favor of Lord Nicholas Franche, 
 
64 ROBERT FRENCH. 
 
 on thair avin expenssis quhill thai be fred be the 
 king." 
 
 chaplain, and his successors, the chaplains, who shall serve God 
 at the altar of St. Michael the Archangel, in the parochial 
 church of S. Cross, in the burgh of Stirling. Dated at latter 
 place i st of April, 1471. 
 
 On the 15th of November, 1475, marriage was solemnized in 
 face of the kirk between Duncan Aquhonam and Agnes Makcal- 
 pyn, by Sir Nicholas Franch, curate of the parish church of Strive- 
 lin, within the parish church of the Holy Road of the burgh, the 
 parties giving oath as above : whereupon an honorable man, 
 William Stewart of Baldoran, and Malcolm M'Clery of Garten, 
 gave their corporal oaths that the said Duncan was of lawful age 
 to contract marriage with the foresaid Agnes M'Calpin. Done 
 in the said church the fifth hour before noon or thereby. 
 
 In the Records of the Royal Burgh of Stirling, under dates of 
 the 3d of March, 1476-77, and the 5th of May, 1477, ma y be 
 found the name of Sir Nicholas Franche, curate of Stirling. 
 
 William Franche. 1480, June 23. The Lords decern that 
 William Franche shall pay to Franskin Fersandris, procurator for 
 Merlin Puis, viij lib , due by his obligation, and ordain that letters 
 be written to distrain him for the said sum. 
 
 1480, June 30. The lords of council decern that William 
 Franche shall pay to copin Van Re, procurator for Peter Dens- 
 mond, the sum of iij 1,b , due by the said William Franche. 
 
 Sir Jhone Franche. 1484, July 27. In the actioun by Sir 
 Jhone Franche, chaplain, against Robert Noble of the Ferme, 
 for the spoliation of half of the lands of Ballioffra, etc., the lords 
 decern against the said Robert Noble, etc. 
 
 There appears to have been a Sir John Franche who is men- 
 tioned on the 22d of June, 1492, in the action pursued by Malcolm 
 Drummond and Mergaret Muschet, spouse of John the Graeme, 
 against James Muschet of Tolgart, etc. It was alleged for the 
 said James Muschet that the assignation under the sign of Sir 
 John Franche was given with an antedate after the said Mergaret 
 had discharged him of the sum of xxjj** merkes. 
 
FIFTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Robert French, fifth Laird of Thorny dykes. On 
 the 8th of March, 1490, in the action and cause pur- 
 sued on behalf of our soverign lord and Archibald 
 Boid in Smalem, against Thomas Rutherford, Robert 
 Franche of Thornydike, and others, the lords of 
 council decern and ordain, if it please the said Archi- 
 bald, that the inquest be changed to a new day. 
 
 Notes on individuals of this surname, etc. 
 
 George Franche. In a charter of Henry Munduail (Mund- 
 well) confirmed by the king, dated at Bigare, Lanark, on the 30th 
 of September, i486, the name of George Franche appears among 
 the witnesses. This charter conveys land in the ville of Mertoun, 
 in the viscounty of Berwick, to Johannes Hume of Quhutrig. 
 
 A George Franch is recorded in 1508-9, 5 February. Action 
 at the instance of Margaret Gordon, daughter to Alexander, 
 Earl of Huntlie, against Rolland Leirmontht, Robert Brone, 
 Alexander Wod, Patrick Wod, Alexander Wod, younger, Thomas 
 Alexander son, Patrick Home, George Franch, and Thomas 
 Huntle, for the wrongous occupation of her lands lying within the 
 lordship of Gordon. Continued till 4 March next. 
 
SIXTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Adam French, sixth Laird of Thomydykes, had 
 saisine of Thornydykes and Pitcox in 1494. 
 
 Another record appears of him on the 16th of 
 December, 1503, in the action and cause pursued on 
 behalf of the king against Adam Franch of Thorny- 
 dikes, and others serving upon a breive of inquest 
 impetrate by Walter Haliburnton by the decease of 
 William Haliburnton of Mertoun, upon ^20 worth of 
 land lying in the town of Merton and sheriffdom of 
 Berwick, for their wilful error and unjust deliverance 
 that the said lands were held in blenchferme. Their 
 decreet is therefor held as of no avail, force, or effect 
 in time to come. 
 
 A record appears again on the 19th of December, 
 1505, in an action and cause pursued at the instance 
 of the king, and of George, Master of Angus, against 
 James Aldincraw, Sheriff Depute of Berwick, Adam 
 Franch of Thornidikis, James Spottiswod of that Ilk, 
 and the remainder of the persons that were upon the 
 serving of a brief of inquest impetrate by George 
 Roule by the decease of George Roule, his father, of 
 the lands called Edmondis field, lying within the 
 sheriffdom of Berwick. 
 
SIXTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 67 
 
 There is a certain amount of suspicion that 
 this Adam French may have retired, and entered 
 the church; for in the year 1526, as hereafter 
 
 Notes on individuals of this surname, etc. 
 
 Thomas Franche, marshal. In the Exchequer Rolls of Scot- 
 land, David Hoppringle of Smailhame, ranger of (the warden) 
 the Tweed, renders his account from the 6th of July, i497> to the 
 4th of July, 1498, wherein a payment of 20 pounds is made to 
 Thomas Frainche, one of the marshals of the royal household. 
 In the account rendered in 1499 by Sir Duncan Forrester, knight, 
 Thomas Franche, marshal, again received compensation. The 
 account rendered at Stirling on the 12th of March, 1499-1500, by 
 Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth, knight, shows another payment 
 made to Thomas Franche, marshal. John Striveling of Crag- 
 bernarde shows, in his account of 1503, an entry of a payment 
 made to Thomas Franche, marshal. A similar payment was made 
 in 1508; and in the statement of Alexander, Lord of Hume, 
 chamberlain of the land of the barony of Haliburton, given at 
 Edinburgh on the nth of July, 1509, 10 marks in feod are given 
 to Thomas Frainche, marshal. There is still another account 
 which was rendered in the same year by Sir Duncan Forrester 
 of Garden, wherein it is recorded that 20 marks were allowed to 
 Thomas Franche, marshal. 
 
 William Frank. In 1502 Willielmus Frank has saisine of 
 Frankysland in Pebles. 
 
 Thomas Franche. Thomas Franche had a gift from King 
 James IV. on the 23d of December, 1506, of the movable goods, 
 etc., of the deceased John Setoun, alias Cuke. 
 
 Thomas Frank, chaplain. Among the records relating to the 
 High School of Edinburgh, which was located in the Vennel of 
 the church of St. Mary in the Fields, under the date of August, 
 1508, Magister Thomas Frank is among the witnesses, and again 
 a witness on the 23d of October, 15 12. By another docu- 
 ment, dated the 24th of January, 15 16, it is found that Johannes 
 Irland, bailiff, transferred a certain yearly rental to a discreet 
 man, Master Thomas Frank, chaplain, one of the prebendaries of 
 the said Collegiate Church of St. Mary in the Fields, for a mass 
 
68 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 stated, he was succeeded in the estates of Thorny- 
 dykes by Robert, the seventh Laird; and in this 
 same year you find Sir Adam Frenche * preb- 
 
 to be celebrated yearly on a certain day at the altar, founded by 
 Master David Vocat, for his soul and those of his parents. On 
 the 25th of September, 1526, Master Thomas Frank, chaplain, 
 is among the witnesses to a record relating to the aforesaid 
 High School of Edinburgh. 
 
 Megote Franche. The name of Megote Franche appears in 
 a charter of the 20th of May, 151 1, dated at Dumblane, in Perth- 
 shire, wherein it is stated she held some property in that city. 
 
 Sir William Franche. 12th of June, 1521. Election of Sir 
 David Yhong to the first prebend in the church of St. Giles at 
 Edinburgh, vacant by the death of Sir William Franche. 
 
 * Sir Adam Frenche. 12th of April, 1526. Sir Adam Frenche 
 is a witness to an act of the chapter of the Holy Trinity Col- 
 legiate Church. 
 
 1531, May 1. Sir Adam Franche is a witness to charter by 
 John Dingwall, provost of the Kirk of the S. Trinity, near Edin- 
 burgh, and clerk of the parish of Soltie. 
 
 King James V. confirmed a charter of Jonete Kennedy, Lady 
 of Bothuile, wherein she, with the consent of M. Richard Bothuile, 
 provost of the Collegiate Church of Blessed Virgin Mary in the 
 Fields, with its prebendaries and chapter, and King James and 
 Jacobus, archbishop of St. Andree, for the soul of her late hus- 
 band, etc., founded a prebend in the Collegiate Church under the 
 walls of Edinburgh, and granted for its maintenance the land 
 formerly a tenement of the late Hugo Bar, together with the land 
 and houses to the south of the royal village in le Nudryswynd, 
 etc. To this charter, dated at Striveling the 16th of May, 1531, 
 Adam Frenche, prebendary of the Collegiate Church of the Holy 
 Trinity, was among the witnesses. 
 
 Sir Adam Frenche, chaplain, 12th of February, 1543-44. 
 
 1544, Nov. 29. Adam Frenche signs grant with the other 
 clergy of the Collegiate Church of Trinity. 
 
 Charter by Adam Frensche, sacristan and prebendary of the 
 Collegiate Kirk of the Holy Trinity near Edinburgh, in favor of 
 
SIXTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 69 
 
 endary of the Collegiate Church of the Holy 
 Trinity. 
 
 Children of the Sixth Laird. 
 
 First, Robert French, who succeeds. 
 
 Second, John French, who is referred to in the 
 Regist. Secreti Sigilli as follows : " Ane lettre maid 
 to Johnne Franche, bruthir to vmquhile Robert 
 Franche of Thornydykis, his airis and assignais, 
 ane or ma of the gift of the Releif of the landis of 
 Thornydykis, and Petcokis with partis and pendiclis 
 thairof, and all thair pertinentis, and of all vthir 
 landis quhilkis pertenit to the said vmquhile Robert 
 aucht and pertening to our souerane Lady for sesing 
 gevin or to be gevin to Adam Franche, sone and air 
 of the said vmquhile Robert of the samyn. And 
 als of the gift of the manage of the said Adam, sone 
 and air foirsaid, and failzeing of him be deceis vn- 
 marut the manage of ony vthir air or airis, male or 
 female, of the said vmquhile Robert that sal happin 
 to succeid to him in his landis and heretage with all 
 proffittis of the said manage, with power, etc. At 
 
 Isabelle Cokburn, relict of John Wardlaw of Ricarton, and now 
 spouse to David Kincaid of Coates, of the lands of Hill in the 
 barony of Balerno and shire of Edinburgh. At the said college 
 the 2 1 st of February, 1545-46. 
 
 Sir Adam Franche appears as a witness to an act of the 
 chapter of the Holy Trinity Collegiate Church on the 17th 
 of March, 1548-49. 
 
7 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 Edinburgh the XXV. day of Januar, the yeir of God 
 one thousand five hundred and forty-eight. 
 
 Per signaturam." 
 
 John Franche was party to a marriage contract in 
 the year 1549. 
 
 Third, Alexander Frenche. At Edinburgh, on the 
 20th of February, 1539, the name of Alexander 
 Frenche appears among the witnesses to a charter of 
 Jacobus Striveling de Keir, which was confirmed by 
 the queen on the 18th of April, 1550. 
 
 Alexander Franche (and George Franche) are 
 among the witnesses to a charter of Jacobus Strive- 
 ling, son and heir of the late Johannes Striveling de 
 Kere, knight, in favor of David Huntar of Newtoun, 
 and Magaret Wod, his wife, of land of Balcarres with 
 tenancy and mill, etc., in the lordship and viscounty 
 of Fiffe, dated at Edinburgh on the 8th of June, 1540, 
 which the king confirmed at Falkland on the 14th 
 of August, 1 54 1. 
 
 Again the name is found as a party to a marriage 
 contract on May 18, 1549, which was recorded on 
 the 23d of June following. 
 
 Fourth, George Franche. His name appears as a 
 witness to the charter of the 8th of June, 1540. He 
 was on the side of the Kers in the feud existing be- 
 tween them and the Scotts, and was designed of 
 Thornydykes on Dec. 3, 1549, in a summons 
 at the instance of Walter Scott of Branxholme. 
 
SIXTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 71 
 
 This name occurs among the witnesses on the 3d of 
 November, 155 1, to a charter of William Lindesay, 
 son and heir of the late Robert Lindesay, burgess of 
 Edinburgh, in favor of Johannes Hammiltoun and his 
 heirs and assigns, of the land of Strikfeild, in the vis- 
 county of Peblis, this charter having the confirmation 
 of Queen Mary on the 18th of November following. 
 
 Note. Katrina Franche was one of the nuns who signed the 
 election of Jonet Hoppringill as prioress of Coldstream on Feb. 
 *3> ! 537-38. 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Robert French, seventh Laird of Thornydykes, 
 succeeded his father, Adam. "Came in possession 
 of the estates, according to Chancery Books, in 
 1526"; found among the barons and lairds of Ber- 
 wickshire in 1530; on May 20, 1538, he is on an 
 assize in apprising of lands in Graden, in Berwick- 
 shire; mentioned again on the 10th of April, 1546; 
 and appears to have died before the 25th of January, 
 1548. 
 
 Robert French married Anne Hume, a member of 
 the patriotic, poetical, and religious family living at 
 Polwarth, near by in the same shire. Her aunt, Mar- 
 garet Hume, was lady abbess of North Berwick. 
 Her brother, Patrick, the fifth baron of Polwarth, 
 " left specimens of poetry which seem to have been 
 popular in the court of James VI., to which he 
 was attached. He was a great promoter of Reforma- 
 tion, and on the breaking out of the Civil War 
 he sided with the young king." Adam Hume, a 
 younger brother, distinguished by his virtue and 
 probity, was the first Protestant rector of the church 
 of Polwarth, while Swinton in his privately printed 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 73 
 
 work on the " Men of the Merse " states that another 
 " brother, Alexander, was the author of a volume of 
 hymns and sacred songs breathing a spirit of piety 
 worthy of his calling as a minister of the gospel, 
 which he exercised for eleven years at Logie, near 
 Stirling," on the river Forth. Margaret Home, her 
 sister, married John Baillie of St. John's Kirk, in 
 county Lanark. 
 
 Her father was Patrick, fourth baron of Polwarth, 
 and her mother, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Patrick 
 Hepburn of Wauchtoun, in county Haddington. 
 
 Hue French, the son of Robert French, in his will 
 of 1574 mentions a half brother and sister, David and 
 Jonet Swinton. There are no indications that Anne 
 Home was a widow Swinton before she married 
 Robert French, or that he married a widow of this 
 surname ; but it is most probable that on the demise 
 of Robert French, whose death took place prior to 
 25th of January, 1548, that his wife, Anne Home, 
 married a Swinton, and had these children. 
 
 Notes on individuals of this surname, etc. 
 
 Robert Franche of Francheland. At Edinburgh, the 9th of 
 December, 1527, King James V. conceded to Johannes Marjory- 
 bankis in Moflet, for his service as warden of the royal tent, and 
 his heirs and assigns, 7 pounds 13 shillings of the lands of 
 Francheland, in the Stewardry of Annandie, which had been occu- 
 pied by Robert Franche of Francheland. 
 
 James Franche. James Franche is among the witnesses to a 
 charter of Jacobus Leirmonth of Levingstoun, in favor of Gawi- 
 nus Hammyltoun of Drumalbane, and his heirs and assigns, of 
 land of Levingstoun, in the viscounty of Linlithgow, dated at 
 
74 ROBERT FRENCH, 
 
 Children of the Seventh Laird, 
 
 First, Adam French, his heir who succeeded. 
 
 Second, Henry French, who evidently went to the 
 north of Scotland very early in life; for he is found 
 at Orkney on the 28th of October in the year 1544, 
 and then among the many witnesses to a charter of 
 Bishop Robert Reid to the cathedral church of Ork- 
 ney, where it was dated. 
 
 Bishop Robert Reid was evidently referred to in 
 the will of Henry French as " my lord of Orkney," 
 from whom he " gat ane coit of Franche blak," which 
 " he left to the abbot of Kinlos " * (who was at that 
 time Walter Reid, a nephew of Bishop Reid), " and 
 desirit his lordship to deliver the same to the Laird 
 of Thornydykis, with ane velvet cap." 
 
 The name of Henry French again appears as a 
 witness to the following charters, namely : 
 
 Linlithgow on the 7th of October, 1535, and confirmed by the 
 king at Striveling on the 8th of May, 1536. 
 
 James Frank. At Edinburgh, the 4th of September, 1546, 
 Queen Mary, with consent of James, Earl of Aranie, and Lord 
 of Hammiltoun, her tutor and gubernator, grants to James Frank, 
 son of a certain William Frank, and his heirs and assigns, " terras 
 Frankislandis nuncupatas" in the viscounty of Peblis, which 
 before had been enfeoffed to the said William, but in the trouble- 
 some times he was deprived of it. Reserving for the said William 
 6 capita and the half-part of the infeoffment. 
 
 * The monastery of Kinloss was founded by King David I. 
 by establishing in it a colony of his favorite Cistercians from 
 Melrose Abbey. 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 75 
 
 First, on the 18th of September, 1550, at Edin- 
 burgh, to a charter of John Stewart of Minto to the 
 parochial church of Aberdeen. 
 
 Second, to a charter of Patric Mowet, Lord of 
 Boquhellie and Freschwik, wherein he makes a grant 
 to M. Malcolmo Halcro, prebendary of the cathedral 
 church of Orkney, dated at Elgin on the 2 2d of Feb- 
 ruary, 1553. 
 
 Henry French appears to have acquired fishing 
 rights on the river Spey. He died in the month of 
 January, 1569; and by his will, given up on the 26th 
 of January of this same year, it appears he was a 
 brother of Adam French, the Laird of Thornydykes. 
 
 Among those named in his will were the execu- 
 tors of the Laird of Innes (William) and Patrick 
 Menzeis of Abirdene; and you find Sir Andro Currie 
 of Bassendean, James Wemis of Bowhouse, and Jonet 
 Morray mentioned among his legatees. 
 
 " He left his saule in the handis of Almychtie 
 God and his banes to be bureit in the muldis of Bas- 
 sinden." * 
 
 * Bassendean was located in the southern part of Westruther, 
 about two miles from Thornydykes. Previous to the Reformation 
 it belonged to the nuns of Coldstream. It was most probably the 
 burying-place of the Frenches, as it was at one time the resting- 
 place of their neighbors, the Edgars of Wedderlie. After the 
 Reformation Sir Andro Currie, the vicar, conveyed this place to 
 William Home, third son of Sir John Home of Coldenknows, in 
 Earlstone ; and King James VI. gave him a charter of it on 
 Janu. 11,^1573. 
 
j6 ROBERT FRENCH, 
 
 " Item the silver contenit in his purs to give thame 
 meit and drink that hes him to the erd." Sir Andro 
 Currie, the vicar of Bassendean, and Patrick French, 
 his brother, were both witnesses to this ancient docu- 
 ment. 
 
 Third, Patrick French. His name appears among 
 the witnesses to the marriage contract of the year 
 1549. He is mentioned again as a witness, with his 
 son, James French, to a charter dated at the burgh 
 of Haddington, on the 31st of March, 1568, of Pat- 
 rick Cockburn, prebendary of Petcokkis, belonging to 
 the Collegiate Church of Dunbar, wherein he grants 
 in gratitude and in free farm to Alexander Cockburn, 
 his own brother (sons of Cockburn of Langton, 
 county Berwick), and Alisone Vaus, his wife, one 
 acre of arable land in the said prebend, at Freirland, 
 in the western part of the territory of Dunbar, one 
 acre in the northern part of the prebend of Beltoun, 
 as well as other land, including common of pasturage 
 in the southern part of the village of Dunbar, in the 
 constabulary of Haddington, in the viscounty of Ed- 
 inburgh. 
 
 Besides James French, this Patrick French appears 
 to have had another son, George French. He is 
 mentioned in the will of Henry French immediately 
 after Patrick French, whom he calls his brother. 
 
 A George French is found as a witness to a docu- 
 ment dated 8th of December, 1569, in which the 
 contracting persons on the one part were Adam 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 77 
 
 French, eighth Laird of Thornydykes, Margaret, his 
 wife, and James, their second son. There is another 
 record of a George French, who is found on the 3d 
 of September, 1576, in the service of James Sande- 
 landis, eldar of Santmonanis. 
 
 " Patrick French is styled in the will of his brother, 
 Adam French, as Sir Patrick French." 
 
 The three following records are found of Sir Pat- 
 rick French, in relation to the vicarage of Linlith- 
 gow: 
 
 Oct. 26, 1574. Letters purchased at the in- 
 stance of Patrick Kenloche, minister at Linlithgow, 
 against Sir Patrick Frenche, pretended titular of the 
 vicarage of Linlithgow, and all and sundry parish- 
 ioners, charging them to make payment to him of the 
 teind sheaves for crop and year 1574. 
 
 13th of January, 1574-75. Action by Patrick 
 Frenche, titular of the vicarage of Linlithgow, against 
 Patrick Kenloche, minister of Linlithgow, in refer- 
 ence to the teinds of the said vicarage. 
 
 In the Register of the Privy Council, under the 
 date of Nov. 13, 1587, is a Complaint of Alex- 
 ander Dalmahoy of that Ilk, as follows : Sir Patrick 
 Frensche, having been provided to the vicarage of 
 Lynlythqu, set, during all the days of his lifetime, the 
 same in tack to the late Mr. Andro Hereott, son of 
 the late James Hereott of Trabroun, which tack the 
 said Mr. Andro assigned to the complainer, so that, 
 by virtue of the said assignation, the said complainer 
 
 *^T-2t 
 
 fo****J 
 
78 ROBERT FRENCH, 
 
 has possessed the duties of the vicarage without any 
 question. But now he is informed that Nicoll Corn- 
 wall of Ballinhard, "quha is debtbound in the maist 
 parte of the f ruitis of the said vicarage," has " movit 
 the said Sir Patrik to dimitt the said vicarage in his 
 Majesteis hands, and that, upoun the said dimissioun, 
 his Hienes hes presentit Patrik Kenlowy, minister 
 at Lynlythgow, thairto." In these circumstances the 
 complainer prays that the Keeper of the Privy Seal 
 shall be discharged from passing the said presenta- 
 tion till such time as the said Patrik, the presentee, 
 confirm the said tack and assignation thereof made 
 to the complainer, " and mak securitie that the said 
 dimissioun sail nawayes be hurtfull or prejudiciall 
 thairunto." 
 
 Sir Patrik Frenshe, Nicoll Cornwell, and Patrik 
 Kenlowy having been cited, and only the two last 
 appearing, while the complainer appears personally, 
 the Lords remit the matter to the Lords of Council 
 and Session, as only judges competent thereto. 
 
 Fourth, Peter French. On Nov. 13, 1552, "Queen 
 Mary pardons Adam French," eighth " Laird of 
 Thornydykes, James French,* and Peter French, 
 for the attacking and killing of William Halyburton 
 of Gogar." 
 
 *A James Franche was a witness at Corsby on the 4th of 
 September, 1556, to a charter wherein John Cranstoun grants to 
 his wife, Elizabeth Swyntoun, the land and barony of Bown, in 
 the viscounty of Berwick, and other land in the viscounty of 
 Edinburgh. 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 79 
 
 Peter Franche (French) was a legatee in the year 
 1569 of Henry Franche, in whose will he is designed 
 as Elder, a distinction from the following legatee: 
 " Peter Franche, my bruthir sone," evidently imply- 
 ing that he was the son of Peter French, " Elder." 
 
 Fifth, Hue French. About ten miles from Thorny- 
 dykes, the ancestral home of the Frenches, was the 
 Abbey of Dryburgh, which was particularly identified 
 with the family of Erskines. Three of this name 
 were here commendators, and probably John Erskine 
 (who afterwards became Lord Erskine) held the same 
 title. Hue French was in the service of this lord 
 prior to the year 1565 (when he became Earl of Mar), 
 during which period he had an annual income con- 
 ferred upon him by John Menteith of Kers and Al- 
 wath (with the consent of Robert Menteith, his 
 father), out of the lands and barony of Alwath, in 
 the county of Stirling. On the 19th of December, 
 1567, the chamberlain of Dryburgh Abbey reports 
 "that Hue French remained there sick after my 
 lord's departure." Apparently, he was a pensioner of 
 Dryburgh Abbey, as a reference is made to the pen- 
 sion due him for the year 1573. Soon after the 
 coronation of King James VI. it is supposed by the 
 influence of his patron, John Erskine, now Earl of 
 Mar, that he entered the royal service as " Controller 
 of his majesties Horse" ; and it is most probable that 
 he held this position at the time of his decease, for at 
 that time he was still in the service of King James. 
 
So ROBERT FRENCH, 
 
 Hue French died in the month of October of the 
 year 1574; and his will appears to have been given 
 up on the 25th of the preceding month, in the house 
 of John Gillespy, within the burgh of Stirling, in the 
 presence of John Gillespy, John Wilson, Patrick 
 Bauchap, and John French, his brother's son. It 
 confirms the royal patronage, refers to some nephews, 
 nieces, and a half brother and sister. By this will he 
 appoints Christopher Murray, Constable of Stirling 
 Castle, and Adam French, Laird of Thornydykes, as 
 his executors. 
 
 Sixth, Alexander French, who appears as a witness, 
 on July 2, 1567, to several tacks by John Lermonth, 
 vicar of the parish church of Gogar, of the diocese of 
 St. Andrews. 
 
 He is mentioned in the year 1569 as one of the ex- 
 ecutors of his brother Henry French, and is found 
 again as a witness as late as the year 1573. 
 
 Seventh, Robert French, who is called in the year 
 1569 brother german of Henry French, and is sup- 
 posed to have been the minister who lived at this time 
 in Berwickshire. There is a record of him at Eccles 
 in 1567, at Lammas in 1571 ; and after the death of 
 Sir Andrew Turnbull (of the Bedrule family) the vicar 
 of Greenlaw, King James conferred upon him on 
 April 23, 1573, that vicarage. In the Acts and De- 
 creets of the 6th of July of this same year were "Let- 
 ters purchased at the instance of Robert Frenche 
 against Alexander Brounfield in Eastfield and Ninian 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 81 
 
 Brounfield, and all others the parishioners of the 
 vicarage of Greenlaw, lying within the diocese of 
 St. Andrews and sheriffdom of Berwick, for payment 
 of the fruits and teinds thereof, the collection of 
 the same having been gifted by the king to the 
 said Robert. Decerned against the said defenders." 
 He was translated to Home about 1574, when Stit- 
 chell, Gordon, Eccles, and Greenlaw were also in his 
 charge. He is mentioned of Eccles on the 12th of 
 September, 1577, and again in 1583. In 1589-90 he 
 with David Hume and Johanne Clappertoun were 
 the ecclesiastical commissioners appointed for the 
 shire of Berwick to put an act of Parliament in force 
 against the Jesuits. Legerwood was conferred upon 
 him by the king on May 18, 1592. He returns to 
 Eccles in 1596, where he appears as late as 1601. 
 
 There is a record of a John French at Eccles in 
 1599, who may have been his son. 
 
 Eighth, Jonet French, who is mentioned in the wills 
 of her brothers Henry and Hue French. She mar- 
 ried first Robert Watson of Yiflie, in Westruther, 
 county Berwick, who appears to have died before 
 February 5, 1546. He left a son of the same name, 
 to whom his uncle Henry French refers as his sister's 
 son. 
 
 The record of the year 1546 shows "that she was 
 then married to Robert Cranstoun of Broxmouth," in 
 the parish of Dunbar, in Haddingtonshire. 
 
 On Sept. 25, 1550, Janet French renounces her 
 
82 ROBERT FRENCH, 
 
 right of conquest and life rent of the third part 
 of the lands of Iverlie, in the parish of Westruther, in 
 favor of her son Robert Watson. 
 
 Jonet French is mentioned as late as the year 
 
 1574. 
 
 Ninth, Margaret French, who married first George 
 Nesbit of Raclewcht (near Thornydykes). 
 
 The following is the agreement for the marriage : 
 
 The auchtene day of May, in the yeir of God 
 J ra V c fourty and nyne yeris, it is appoyntit aggreit 
 contrakkit and finalie endit betuix thir honourable 
 men and parteis, that ar to say Alexander Franche, 
 Johnne Franche, brethir to vmquhile Robert Franche, 
 lard of Thorniedikis, Robert Rankyn, Johnne Pacok, 
 Johne Boyd, Archibald Burnle, Johnne Bell, and 
 Margreit Franche on that ane part, and George Nes- 
 bit in the Raclewcht on that vther part, that the said 
 George Nesbit godwilland sail compleit and fulfill 
 the haly band of matrimony with the said Margreit 
 Franche, in maner effect and forme as efter followis : 
 That is for to say the saidis Alexander Franche and 
 Johne Franche for thair partis of the completing of 
 the said band of matrimony betuix the saidis George 
 Nesbit and the said Margreit Franche bindis and 
 oblissis thame thair airis executouris and assignayis 
 conjunctlie and severalie, be the fathis and trewthis 
 of thair bodeis and be the tennour of this present 
 writting bindis thame for to content and pay the 
 sowm of ane hundreth pundis of gud and vsuale 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 83 
 
 money of this realme of Scotland, and the saidis 
 sowmes of money to be payit betuix the dait of this 
 present contract and obligatioun and the feist of 
 Sanct androis day nixtocum ; and Robert Rankyne, 
 Johnne Pacok, Johnne Boyd, Archibald Brunle, and 
 Johnne Bell for thair partis bindis and oblissis thame 
 as said is conjunctlie and severalie ane as all and all 
 as ane thair airis executouris and assignais for to con- 
 tent and pay the sowm of ane hundreth merkis of gud 
 and vsuale money of Scotland. And the said sowm 
 to be payit within five yeris nixt efter the dait of this 
 present contract, and attour we the saidis Alexander 
 Franche, Johnne Franche, Robert Rankyn, Johnne 
 Pacok, Johne Boyd, Archibald Brunlie, and Johnne 
 Bell, we bind ws as said is for to fulfill content and 
 pay the sowmes abonewrittin in and to the said 
 George Nesbit his airis, executouris, and assignais, at 
 the dayis and termes abonewrittin, and attour for the 
 mair securite that the said contract salbe registrat in 
 the bukis of counsale on the said George Nesbittis 
 expenssis, within xv dais nixt efter the dait of this 
 present contract and obligatioun, and attour this 
 beand done ather of the saidis parteis bindis thame 
 that the said band of matrimony within xv dais 
 salbe compleittit and fulfillit or ellis the party brek- 
 and sail content and pay to the party kepand the 
 sowm of five hundreth merkis gud and vsuale money 
 of Scotland, the quhilk sowm salbe payit within the 
 space of ane yeir nixt efter the dait heirof, and attour 
 
84 ROBERT FRENCH, 
 
 in tyme to cum gif thair movis ony mater twiching 
 ony consanguinite or affinite of blud the party 
 movand the samyn sail bring hame gif neid beis dis- 
 pensatioun or dispensations on their awin expenssis 
 and forder all thir parteis abonewrittin bindis thame 
 as said is to fulfill all the poyntis and artikillis of the 
 said contract, and for the mair securite and verifica- 
 tioun of the samyn we haif subscrivit this our present 
 contract and obligatioun with our handis at the pen 
 the said day, tyme, and place abonewrittin befoir thir 
 witnesses Johnne Hume of Blacater, Adam Franche 
 of Thornydikis, Thomas Hume, Johnne Hoppringill, 
 and Patrik Franche with vtheris divers. Sic sub- 
 scribitur. 
 
 Alex r Franche w* my hand at ye pen. 
 
 Johnne Franche w* my hand at ye pen. 
 
 Robene Rankyn w* my hand at ye pen. 
 
 Johne Pacok w 1 my hand at ye pen. 
 
 Johne Boyd w* my hand at ye pen. 
 
 Archibald Burnle w* my hand at ye pen. 
 
 Johnne Bell w* my hand at ye pen. 
 
 Ita est Robertus Lyell presbyter eiusdem diocesis 
 ac notarius publicus omnibus et singulis premissis. 
 
 George Nesbit of (Nether) Racleuch, died before 
 Dec. i, 1564, at which date Margaret French, his 
 wife, is mentioned, as well as their sons John and 
 George Nesbit. 
 
 The second husband of Margaret French was an- 
 
SEVENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 85 
 
 other George Nesbit, as appears by a record as early 
 as the 2 2d of March, 1566-67. 
 
 John Nesbit, the son of Margaret, is mentioned the 
 26th of November, 1567. 
 
 Under date of the 21st of June, 1576, may be found 
 the name of John Nesbit, Margaret French, his 
 mother, and George Nesbit, spouse to the said Mar- 
 garet. 
 
 Margaret French is again recorded on the 27th of 
 May, 1583, as well as her son, Robert Nesbit. 
 
 Tenth, Elspeth French, who is mentioned as a 
 legatee, in the year 1574, in the will of her brother, 
 Hue French. 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Adam French, eighth Laird of Thornydykes, the 
 eldest son, was a minor on the death of his father. 
 John French, his uncle, had the gift of the relief 
 of the estates, as well as that of his marriage. He 
 succeeded to his inheritance before April, 1549. On 
 the 1 8th of May of that year he is mentioned as 
 Adam French of Thornydykes, and again on the 
 13th of November, 1552. On the 9th of December, 
 1552, the Register of Acts and Decreets shows that 
 he was summoned in an action as the son and heir 
 of his deceased father, Robert French. On the 8th 
 of February, 1555-56, Queen Mary grants a charter 
 to Adam Franche of Thornydikes, and Margaret 
 Hoppringill, his spouse, of the lands of Thornydikes, 
 with manor place, mills, etc., in Berwickshire, and of 
 a tenandry of the land in the toun of Petcokkis, in 
 the constabulary of Haddington, on the resignation 
 
 Note. On the 8th of January, 1556, a William Franche is 
 mentioned as occupier of a cottage and land in Whittinghane, 
 Haddingtonshire. 
 
 Christall Frenche is witness to a charter to Andrew Ker of 
 Hirsell, of the lands of Lessuden, dated at Dryburgh Abbey, 
 10th of April, 1567. 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 87 
 
 thereof by the said Adam, personally, in the hands of 
 the queen. 
 
 Abstract of a contract dated at Edinburgh, 27th of 
 August, 1563, between "Johnne Home of Coldane- 
 knawis and Williame Home, his sone, portionar of 
 Kelso, and the said Johnne Home acting for his son," 
 on the one part, " and Adame Franche in Thorne- 
 dykis, David Spottiswod of that ilk, Henry Wod in 
 Flas, Johne Wod in Flas, and Johnne Alexander in 
 Hekspeth," on the other part. "That is to say, ffor- 
 samekill as the said Williame Home, portioner foir- 
 said hawand assignit to him the bollis of meill vnder- 
 written for the teind schewis of the landis vnderspeci- 
 feit Hand within the parochin of Gordoun in part of 
 payment of his said pentioun quhilk he hes of the 
 said Abbace of Kelso," "the said Johnne Home of 
 Coldinknowis, Williame, his sone, and the said lard 
 takand the burding vpoun him for his said sone, hes 
 sauld assignit and disponit lik as thai be the tennour 
 heirof sellis assignis and disponis the foirsaid bollis 
 respective as followis : 
 
 " That is to say the said Adame Frenche of 
 Thornedykis, his said xviij bollis meill quhilk suld 
 be payit for his teindis of his saidis landis of Thorne- 
 dykis, and to the said David Spottiswod of that ilk 
 his said ten bollis meill quhilk suld be payit yeirlie 
 for the teindis of his landis of Spottiswod, to the 
 said Henry Wod four bollis of meill quhilk suld be 
 payit yeirlie for his teindis of Ywelie, and sewin fur- 
 
88 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 lettis meill for the teindis of the said Henryis part 
 of the wast syd of the Flas, and to the said Johnne 
 Wod sewin furlettis meill quhilk suld be payit for his 
 part of the wast syd of the Flas, and to the said 
 Johnne Alexander four bollis meill quhilk suld be 
 payit for the half of Hekspeth yeirlie and ilk yeirlie 
 sa lang as the said Williame Home hes rycht to the 
 saidis teindis and to vptak the same." 
 
 " The said Johnne Home and Williame, his sone, 
 bindis and oblissis thame and thair airis to warrand 
 acquiet and defend the foirsaidis personis and thair 
 airis of all the meill and prices thairof quhilk thai 
 sal happin to ressave fra thame for thair teindis of all 
 yeiris be vertew of this contract." 
 
 Witnessed by Maister Johnne Abircrummy, advo- 
 cat; Johnne Edzer of Wadderle; Alexander Banner- 
 feild; Johne Young, writter; and Williame McCart- 
 nay, notar, with vtheris divers. 
 
 Among the contemporaries of Adam French, in 
 Berwickshire, in the year 1565, were the following 
 persons : 
 
 John Home of Blacater. 
 
 David Home of Wedderburn. 
 
 John Lumisden of Blanerne. 
 
 George Home of Ayton. 
 
 Patrick Cockburn of Langtone. 
 
 John Swinton of that Ilk. 
 
 Alexander Cockburn of that Ilk. 
 
 John Rantoune of Billie. 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 89 
 
 Pat. Lleigh of Cumledge. 
 William Chyrnside of East Nesbitt. 
 John Sinclair of Longformacus 
 Thomas Ridpath of that Ilk. 
 John Haitlie of Mellerstaines. 
 James Ker of Mersington. 
 
 17th of July, 1567. Action by Adam Fransche of 
 Thornydykes, against Margaret Hepburn and George 
 Haliburtoun of Over Gogar, her spouse; Archibald 
 and James Hoppringle, sons to the said Margaret; 
 and William Hepburn, tutor and curator to the said 
 Archibald ; and Henry Frude, pretended occupier and 
 tenant of the lands of Petcokkis belonging to the pur- 
 suer, who had warned them to remove therefrom, but 
 they had refused. The lords now ordain them to flit 
 and remove from said lands. 
 
 Note. 1567, April 26. Charter of Robert Stewart of Or- 
 cadia, then perpetual commendator of Saint Crux, in which it 
 convenants and grants, in gratitude and in free farm, to John 
 Frenche, his servant, the inheritance of a garden with a house in 
 the same (newly built and taken in possession by the said John), 
 situated in the northern boundary of the monastic cemetery (near 
 the way to the monastery, the village of Leith, the royal garden, 
 and land occupied by David Levingstoun). Besides, he receives 
 another garden (formerly occupied by George Hannay) in the 
 regality and barony of Brochtoun, in the viscounty of Edinburgh. 
 Reserving annually for the monastery 3 shillings, 4 pennies, with 
 actual sasine to John Logane. Witnesses, M. Alexander Chalmer, 
 chamberlain of the said monastery, Magister David Makgill, Will- 
 iam Pennycuik, the rector of the monastery, Thoma Robesoun, 
 servant of the commendator. 
 
9 o ADAM FfiENCH, 
 
 21st of November, 1567. Margaret Hepburn and 
 Geo. Haliburton, her spouse, against Adam Franche 
 of Thornydykes, for suspension and summons of 
 removing the suspenders, having found caution that 
 they should remove from Petcokkys. 
 
 6th of December, 1567. Adam Fransche of 
 Thornydykes, against Stevin Bourhill, Alexander 
 Fairbairn, John Broune, John Burnett, James Mich- 
 ill, and others, pretended tenants of the pursuer's 
 lands of Fawnes, Langriggs, and Thornydykes in the 
 shire of Berwick, to remove therefrom. The lords 
 decern accordingly. 
 
 Octavo Decembris, anno Domini J* V c lxix In 
 presens of the lordis of counsale comperit personalie 
 Andro commendator of Jedburgh, and Matho Home 
 of Rowchlaw, and Jhone Couser, burges of Edin- 
 burgh, as cautioneris and sverteis for him on that ane 
 part, and Adam Frenche of Thornedikis for him 
 self and Margaret Hoppringle, his spous, on that 
 vther part, and gaif in this contract and appunct- 
 nament vnderwrittin subscrivit with thair handis and 
 desyrit the samin to be insert and registrat in the 
 bukis of counsale, to haif the strenth, force, and effect 
 of thair act and decreit in tyme tocum, and lettres 
 and executorialis to be direct apoun ayther of thame 
 partis and souerteis foirsaidis for fulfilling thairof in 
 all pointis in maner specifeit thairintill. The quhilk 
 desyre the saidis lordis thocht ressonable, and thair- 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 91 
 
 foir hes ordanit and ordanis the said contract and 
 appunctnament to be insert and registrat in the 
 saidis bukis, to haif the strenth, force, and effect of 
 thair act and decreit in tyme tocum, and hes inter- 
 ponit and interponis thair auctorite thairto, and 
 decernis and ordanis lettrez and executorialis to be 
 direct vpoun ather of the saidis partiis and thair 
 souerteis for fulfilling thairof in all pointis in maner 
 specifeit thairintill in form as efferis off the quhilk 
 the tenour followis: At Edinburgh, the sevint day 
 of December, the yeir of God J 1 ? V c lxix yeiris. It is 
 appunctit aggreit and finalie concludit betuix thir 
 honourable personis : To wit, ane venerable man, 
 Andro Commendator of the abbay of Jedburgh, 
 fewer of the landis vnderwrittin on that ane part, 
 and Adam Franche of Thornidikis, Margaret Hopp- 
 ryngle, his spous, and James Frenche, thair secund 
 sone, on the vthair part in maner following: that is 
 to say, fforsamekill as the said commendator be thir 
 presentis grantis hym selff to haif ressavit fra the 
 said Adame and his said spous partlie at this present 
 tyme and of befoir the sowme of threttie hundryth 
 merkis vsuale money of this realme quhairof he 
 haldis hym weill content satisfyit and payit and 
 exoneris quytclames and dischargeis the said Adame 
 and his said spous thair airis executouris and assign- 
 ayis thairof for ever be thir presentis. Thairfoir the 
 said commendator bindis and oblissis hym and his 
 airis to mak seill subscrive and delyver ane sufficient 
 
92 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 chartour and precept of sesing of alienatioun titulo 
 oneroso maid be hym to the said Adame and his said 
 spous the langer levir of thame twa in lyferent for all 
 the dayis of thair lyfetyme and to the said James 
 thair secund sone his airis and assignayis quhatsum- 
 ever heretable of all and haill ane annuelrent of sevin 
 score merkis and sextene vsuale money of this realme 
 yeirlie to be vpliftit at twa termeis in the yeir Wit- 
 soneday and Mertiemess in wynter be equall por- 
 sionis of all and syndre the said commendatoris few 
 landis vnderwrittin or ony part thairof. To witt of 
 all and haill the toun and landis of Vlstoun over 
 manis of Vlstoun the landis of Greithillis Pryour 
 medowis Chepmansyde with the wod of the samin 
 the landis of Spettelstanis the thre husband landis 
 in Nethir Craling Togidder with half ane husband 
 land in Over Nisbeth ane husband land in Nethir 
 Nysbeth the landis of Plowlandis the landis of Fyn- 
 lawis callit Newhall the landis of Haucheid and land 
 in Cesfurdburyne the landis of Justicielie with the 
 teyndis thairof the landis of Auld Jedburgh and 
 landis of Rowcastell ane pece land in Langnewtoun 
 the landis and toun of Abbotisrewle and landis 
 of Bowatsyde the landis of Grange with the mylne 
 of the samin the landis of Foderly the landis of 
 over Bunchester nethir Bunchester with the woddis 
 of the samin the landis of Maxsyde the landis of 
 Gathouscott with the woddis of the samin the landis 
 of Hartishauch the landis of Langraw with the 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 93 
 
 teyndis thairof the landis and toun of Rapperlaw the 
 landis of Firth with the teyndis and woddis of the 
 samin the landis of Westbarnis with the teyndis 
 thairof the landis callit the Brewlandis in Rapperlaw 
 the landis of Belcheis with the mylne of the samin 
 the landis and toun of over Ancrum with the mylne 
 and coittageis thairof the landis of Henhousfeild the 
 landis of Castelwod and Castelhill with the woddis 
 of the samin Togidder with the aikeris lyand besyde 
 the Freiris of Jedburgh and the Kirklandis of Spit- 
 tell callit crucur Spittell and manor place thairof 
 with mylnis teyndis and all vtheris thair pertinentis 
 lyand within the Sherefdome of Roxburgh All and 
 haill the tenement of land bak and foir with the per- 
 tinentis lyand within the burgh of Jedburgh on the 
 south syde of the Kingis streit thairof in the barronie 
 of Vlstoun within the Sherefdome of Roxburgh betuix 
 the tenement of umquhile James Ryddell and now 
 of Robert Rutherfurd on the south the watter of Jed- 
 burgh on the west syde the clos of the said abbacie 
 on the eist and the Kingis streit of the said burgh 
 on the north To be haldin of the said commendator 
 his airis and assignayis in fre blensche heretable and 
 in lyferent as said is for payment yeirlie of ane 
 pennie in name of blensche ferme gif it be askit with 
 sufficient claus of warrandice contenit thairintill 
 oblissand the said commendator his airis and assign- 
 ayis to warand acquyet and defend the foirsaid 
 annuelrent fre fra all wardis nonentress releifis for- 
 
94 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 faltouris recognitionis purprusionis alienationis con- 
 junctfeis ladyis terceis takis or vtheris inconvenientis 
 or perrellis quhatsumever bigane and to cum in the 
 maist sure forme as may be devysit be the law and 
 this infeftment to be maid seillit subscrivit and dely- 
 verit as said is with all diligence ffor the quhilk caus 
 the said Adame his said spous and James thair sone 
 sail mak seill subscrive and delyver to the said com- 
 mendator ane sufficient Lettre of Reversioun maid 
 be thame to hym his airis and assignayis contenand 
 the said sowme of xiij c merkis as said is for re- 
 demptioun of the said annuelrent to be payit in the 
 nethir Tolbuyth of Edinburgh vpone fourtie dayis 
 wairning as vse is with this provisioun to be contenit 
 thairintill That it sail nocht be leissum to the said 
 commendator his airis and assignayis to redeme the 
 said annuelrent be payment of the said sowme for 
 the space of thre yeiris nixt eftir the dait heirof and 
 that all byrun annuellis be fullelie payit with the 
 said principale sowme at the redemptioun thairof 
 befoir the samin be grantit lauchfulle redemit And 
 for the sure payment of the said annuelrent yeirlie 
 and termelie quhill the lauchfull redemptioun thairof 
 as said is the said commendator and Matho Home of 
 Rochlow and Johne Cosser burges of Edinburgh as 
 souerteis for hym be thir presentis bindis and oblissis 
 thame conjunctle and severale thair airis executouris 
 and assignayis to content pay and thankfulle delyvir 
 to the saidis Adame his spous the langer levir of 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 95 
 
 thame twa and to the said James his airis and as- 
 signayis the foirsaid annuelrent of sevin score xvj 
 merkis money foirsaid at the termes abonewrittin 
 unto the lauchfull redemptioun thairof begynnand 
 the first termeis payment of the samin at the feist 
 of Witsoneday nixttocum and the saidis commen- 
 dator and Matho oblissis thame conjunctlie and 
 severalie thair airis executouris and assignayis to 
 releif and keip skaythles the said Johne Cosser his 
 airis executouris and assignayis of the premissis at 
 the handis of the saidis personis abonewrittin And 
 for the mair securite heirof the said parteis and 
 souerteis foirsaidis ar content and consentis that this 
 present contract be actit and registrat in the buikis 
 of our soverane lordis counsale and decernit to haif 
 the strenth of ane decreit thairof with executoriallis 
 of hoirnyng or poynding to be direct thairupone in 
 forme as effeiris And to that effect makis constitutis 
 and ordanis Maister Johne Abircrumby and ilkane 
 of thame conjunctle and severalie thair verray lauch- 
 full and undowtit procuratouris committand power to 
 thame to compeir befoir the lordis of counsale quhat- 
 sumever day or dayis place or placeis lauchfull and 
 to consent to the registring of thir presentis pro- 
 mittentes de rato In witnes heirof the saidis parteis 
 hes subscrivit this present contract with thair handis 
 as efter followis day yeir and place foirsaidis Befoir 
 thir witnes George Cranstoun of Corsbie, Alexander 
 Carstairis, Barnard Haitlie, Thomas Trotter, George 
 
96 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 Frenche and Maister Williame Broun with vthairis 
 divers sic subscribitur. 
 
 Andro Commendator of Jedbur*. 
 
 Adame Frensche of Thornydykis w* my hand. 
 
 Matho Home of Rowchlaw. 
 
 Johne Cosser w' my hand. 
 
 Margarett Hoppryngle abonewrittin with my hand 
 at the pen led be the notar underwrittin. 
 
 Ita est Magister Georgius Freir notarius publicus 
 manu propria. 
 
 February 4, 1574-75. Action at the instance of 
 William Hume, son to the deceased John Hume 
 of Coldounknowis, knight, against Adam Frenche of 
 Thorniedykis, Ninian Spottiswod of that Ilk, son and 
 heir of the deceased David Spottiswod of that Ilk, 
 Henry Wod of Flas, John Wod there, and John Al- 
 exander, in Espeth, touching the spoliation of and 
 intromiting with the teind-sheaves of their lands 
 lying within the parish of Gordoun and sheriffdom 
 of Berwick. Continued till 12th of March next. 
 
 The will of Adam French is mentioned as being 
 dated at Thornydyke Castle on the 3d of October, 
 
 I570. 
 
 In the Register of Acts and Decreets reference is 
 made to " a contract between John Baillie and Adam 
 French, dated the 1st of April, 1576," so that Adam 
 French must have died soon after this date, as his 
 will is stated to have been recorded in February, 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 97 
 
 1578, and Margaret Hoppringle is called relict of 
 Adam French on the following 16th of Decem- 
 ber. 
 
 Under the date of the 23d of February, 1582-83, is 
 an action at the instance of Margaret Hoppringill, 
 relict of Adam Frenche of Thornedykis, and Robert 
 
 , son and apparent heir of the said deceased 
 
 Adam, and executors testamentars confirmed to him, 
 against Cuthbert Cranstoun of Thirlstanemains, 
 Thomas Cranstoun, in Rymmiltoun, his son, William 
 Nesbit in Bellielaw, George Young in Ledgirtwod, 
 and Robert Scot in Rymmiltounlaw, for the violent 
 spoliation from the lands of Jordanhill, mains of 
 Thornydykis and Langriggis, lying in the sheriffdom 
 of Berwick, pertaining to the pursuers, in 1569 and 
 1573 of diverse oxen, kye, horses, sheep, goods, and 
 gear. 
 
 23d of February, 1582-83. Action at the instance 
 of Margaret Hoppringill, relict of Adam Frenche of 
 Thornydykis, cessioner and assignee donatrix in and 
 to the ward lands of the mains of East Gordoun 
 and mill of the same, lying in the sheriffdom of Ber- 
 wick, against Cuthbert Cranstoun of Thirlstanemains, 
 Thomas Cranstoun in Rimmiltounlaw, his son, Pat- 
 rick Hallyday in Farnyngtoun, William Schort in Bel- 
 lielaw, George Johnstoun in East Gordoun, Thomas 
 Aymeir there, George Broun there, and William Mil- 
 lar in Bow, for the violent ejection of the said Mar- 
 garet and servants out of the said lands and mains of 
 
98 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 East Gordoun, mill thereof, and Bowhouse in Sep- 
 tember, 1 58 1. 
 
 " Lady Margaret Hoppringill, Lady Thornydykis, 
 relict of vmquhile Adame Frensche of Thornydykis 
 within the scheriffdome of Beruik," her brother was 
 Robert Hoppringill, and she was the daughter of the 
 Laird of Blindlie,* in Selkirkshire, a descendant from 
 John, whose father was James Hoppringle or Pringle 
 of Smailholme and Galashields. She died March 21, 
 1582. It seems quite evident, that Margaret Hop- 
 pringle was a widow French at the time she married 
 Adam French ; for in her will, before mentioning any 
 of their children, she specially makes the following 
 bequests to "hir dochters Bessie and Katherine 
 Frensche " : " Item thair wes awand be the said 
 vmquhle Margaret Hoppringill, Lady Thornedykis, 
 to Alexander Cauldcleuch in Horsupcleuch for the 
 rest of tocher gude promittit be the defunct to him 
 with Bessie Frensche, hir dochter, the soum of Twa 
 hundreth lxxx merkis. Item to Alexander Carrik in 
 Northberuik for the rest of his tocher gude promottit 
 be the defunct with Katherine Frensche, hir dochter, 
 the soume of twa hundreth and fiftie merkis." 
 
 In this will she mentions " James Frensche, my sec- 
 und sone, my onelie executour," " Robert Hoppringill 
 of Blindlie, bruther germane, and Johne Dicksoun 
 of Belchester" "lauchfull administratouris tutouris 
 
 * Blindlie was near Galashields. As late as 1878, it was spoken 
 of as "Blindlie Birks," but more commonly as "The Birks." 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 99 
 
 gydaris and governouris " of certain children. Fur- 
 ther, the aforesaid Margaret, Lady Thornydykis, " or- 
 dinis Andro " (Home), " Commendatar of Jedburgh, 
 ouirisman to the saidis haill barnes and to se the 
 equall destributioun of the gudis and geir abonemen- 
 tionat amangis thame and that na thing be done be 
 the saidis James Frensche executour foirsaid Robert 
 Hoppringill and Johne Diksoun without the speciall 
 licence and assent of the said Andro Commendatar 
 of Jedburgh had obtenit thairto Attoure I the said 
 Margaret levis and disponis my haill wering clathis 
 to be devidit and pairtit equalie betuix Margaret and 
 Cristiane Frensches alanerlie and siclyk levis and 
 disponis the haill plennesing and insycht to be 
 equalie and proportionalie devidit and pairtit betuix 
 the said James, Johne, Alexander, Margaret, and 
 Cristiane Frensches, and that at the sicht and discre- 
 tioun of the said Andro Commendatar of Jedburgh, 
 Robert Hoppringill of Blindlie, and Johne Diksoun 
 of Belchester ouerismen foirsaidis." 
 
 Children of the Eighth Laird. 
 
 First, Robert French, who succeeded. 
 
 Second, James French. He is mentioned in 1569 
 as the second son, and Hue French calls him in the 
 year 1574 his nephew. He was appointed by his 
 mother in 1582 as executor to her will. In 1583 he 
 instituted proceedings against Andrew Home, abbot 
 
ioo ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 of Jedburgh, and died s.p. soon after his brother 
 Robert. 
 
 Third, John French. He was a nephew of Hue 
 French, who was " Controller of Horse " for King 
 James VI. On the 25th of September, 1574, he was 
 present at Stirling at the making and giving up of 
 this uncle's will. His name is mentioned again by 
 his mother on the 19th of March, 1582 ; and possibly 
 he may have been the Royal Palefrenier of this name 
 who had the grants of escheats. One of these gifts 
 of the crown came as late as the year 1588-89. 
 
 After the decease of his brother James he became 
 tutor of Thornydykes. In 1598 William Lauder, the 
 royal bailiff of the burgh of Lauder, called Williame 
 of the West Port, in the king's residence of Lanark 
 was attacked and killed, and the royal residence 
 burnt by a party consisting of Alexander, Earl of 
 Home; Lord John Home of Huttone Hall, knight; 
 Master Samuel Home, his brother; Thomas Tyrie, 
 tutor of Drumkilbo; Alexander and John Frenches, 
 brothers of Robert French of Thornydykis; Joh 
 Home, in Kello ; Robert Home, in Huttone; Robert 
 Auchincraw, servant of the said earl of Home ; John 
 Cranstoun, son of John Cranstoun of Morestoun ; 
 Ninian Chirnesyde, servant of the said earl ; Walter 
 Trumble of Ramflat; Robert Home, son of William 
 Home of Aytoun; William, Ninian, and Archibald 
 Homes, sons of the late William Home of St. Leon- 
 ardis; and John Carutheris. But on the 17th of 
 
EIGHTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 101 
 
 November, 1607, King James pardons and forgives 
 them all for those crimes and offences. 
 
 He was served heir of his brother James on April 
 4, 1605, and on May 6 of the same year was one 
 of the jury on the service of Thomas Cranstoun of 
 Morristoun, in county Berwick. He died between 
 the years 1609 and 161 2. 
 
 Fourth, Alexander French, He succeeded as tutor 
 or guardian of Thornidykes on the death of his 
 brother John. He was a turbulent character, mixed 
 up with the political troubles of the Earl of Bothwell, 
 and committed other lawless acts, and finally came to 
 an untimely end on March 13, 16 12. 
 
 One of his sisters appears to have married 
 
 Wicht , and had a son, James Wicht. 
 
 Fifth, Thomas French. He is mentioned as early 
 as the year 1574. If judged by the many escheats 
 and other marks of royal favours conferred upon him 
 over a series of years, they would indicate he was a 
 favorite with his sovereign. On Nov. 4, 1595, he was 
 appointed to the " office of only keeper of his ma- 
 jesty's outher chamber door," with a yearly salary and 
 allowance for his livery, which position he appears to 
 have held for many years. He was in the king's ser- 
 vice in 1599, and a pension was granted him on No- 
 vember 2 2d of that year out of the lands of Hirsell, in 
 Berwickshire. He is recorded servitor of his majesty 
 on March 6, 1600, and is mentioned on the 19th of 
 September of the following year as the usher of his 
 
102 ADAM FRENCH. 
 
 majesty's outer chamber. There is a record of his 
 being in royal service in 1604, and on the 18th of 
 April of that year Alexander Livingston of Dony- 
 pace calls him his "guid freind." 
 
 Sixth, Margaret French, who is named in the will 
 of her mother, Lady Thornydykes. 
 
 Seventh, Christiane French, who is also mentioned 
 in the will of her mother. Her name is also found 
 on the nth of January, 1593, in the will of Margaret 
 Trumbell, the first wife of Robert French, ninth 
 Laird of Thornydykes, her brother. 
 
 Eighth, Jonet French, who is referred to on the 
 25th of September, 1574, in the will of her uncle, 
 Hue French. 
 
 Ninth, Euphan French, who is named by some 
 writers as being another daughter. 
 
NINTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Robert French, the ninth Laird of Thornydykes, 
 succeeded his father, Adam French, and is stated to 
 have entered heir after the death of his mother in 
 1583. He is referred to in the will of his uncle, 
 Hue French, who died in 1574, and mentioned again 
 as the son of the late Adam French on the 16th 
 of December, 1578. He is called Robert French of 
 Thornydykes, on Nov. 13, 1587; and in the will of 
 his mother, Margaret Hoppringill, who died the 21st 
 of March, 1582, she refers to him as her eldest son. 
 " He was juror on the service of Robert Lauder of 
 that Ilk, on the 7th of April, 1584." A feud sprang 
 up between the Spottiswoods and Frenches, which 
 resulted in the death of Ninian Spottiswood of that 
 Ilk, on the 15th of November, 1588, for which 
 Robert French of Thornydykes, James French and 
 John French, his brothers, and Robert Quhippo, his 
 servant, obtained a respite on the 19th of February, 
 
 1594-95. 
 
 This time was a period of much trouble in Scot- 
 land. The conditions of affairs were described by 
 King James when " he professes to be scandalised at 
 
104 ROBERT FRENCH, 
 
 the state of the commonweal altogether disorderit 
 and shaken louss by reason of the deidly feids and 
 controversies standing amongs his subjects of all de- 
 grees, and in order to help matters the Privy Council 
 ordainit letters to be sent charging the various parties 
 to make their appearance before the king on certain 
 days, each accompanied with a certain number of 
 friends who might assist with their advice, but the 
 whole party in each case to keep their lodging after 
 their coming, till they be specially sent for by his 
 majesty." According to these regulations of the 23d 
 of December, 1595, among the letters ordered to be 
 sent by the Privy Council were those to John, Earl 
 of Montrose, and Robert French of Thornydykes, 
 the latter being allowed 24 persons as his retinue. 
 
 Robert French died in 1603, and appears to have 
 been the last tenant of the king of the direct line of 
 the Frenches of Thornydykes. 
 
 He married prior to the 14th of June, 1589, as his 
 first wife, Margaret, only daughter and heiress of the 
 late William Turnbull, Lord of Bedreule, in the vis- 
 county of Roxburgh. Her mother was Margaret, 
 daughter of Sir John Home of Coldenknowes ; and 
 her uncle was James Home of Coldenknowes. She 
 died the 20th of June, 1593. In her will of the nth 
 of June of the same year it is found that her execu- 
 tors were " Robert Frensche of Thornidykis, hir 
 spous, Williame Home in Bassindene, and Mr. 
 Thomas Cranstoun of Morestoun." She refers also 
 
NINTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 105 
 
 to " my sone, his appeirand air," who must have soon 
 after died, and makes bequests to "Alexander, 
 Thomas, Barbara, Elizabethe, Agnes, and Issobell 
 Cranstounes sones and dochteris lauchfull to the 
 aforesaid Mr. Thomas Cranstoun." 
 
 The second wife of Robert French was Margaret, 
 daughter of Mark Home of Hardiesmylne, and sister 
 of William Home, of the same place. 
 
 His wife survived him, as appears by a record of 
 the 7th of February, 1605; and by this marriage he 
 had all his surviving children. 
 
 Children of the Ninth Laird. 
 
 First, Adam French, his heir. 
 
 Seco7id,Jean French, who married John Cranston, 
 brother of William, Lord Cranston, and succeeded 
 with her sisters as heirs portioners of her father and 
 her brother. 
 
 Third, Alison French, who married, first, Thomas 
 Cranston of Huntliewood, and, second, William Mar- 
 joribanks of Stainerig. 
 
 Fourth, Margaret French, who married Robert 
 Brownfield of Totrig, county Berwick. 
 
 
TENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 Adam French, tenth Laird of Thomydykes, son 
 of Robert French, the ninth Laird, and Margaret 
 Home, was born in the year 1599, and was baptized 
 on the 12th of November, 1601. On the death of his 
 father in 1603, being a minor, he became a ward of 
 the crown. His uncle, James, not being able to dis- 
 charge the administration of his nephew's affairs, 
 made choice of their mutual friend and kinsman, Sir 
 Johnne Home of North Berwick ; and " King James 
 VI. on the 3d of October, 1603, presented Sir John 
 Home of North Berwick, with the gift of the ward 
 and nonentry duties of the lands of Thornydikes, 
 manor place, houses, etc., and of the lands of Petcoks, 
 since the death of Robert Frenche of Thornydykes, 
 and until the entry of the rightful heir, with the gift 
 of the marriage of Adam Frensche, son and apparent 
 heir to the said Robert." It appears, however, that 
 Sir John Home held only nominally the position of 
 donator; but the active duties were performed by 
 James French until his decease, when he was suc- 
 ceeded by his brother, John French. After his de- 
 
TENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 107 
 
 mise Sir John Home assumed the active duties of 
 donator, as we ascertain by his sending Adam French 
 to the school at Haddington, to be placed under the 
 charge of William Bowrie, the schoolmaster of that 
 place. At the time of the forcible abduction and 
 marriage of Adam French, William Home of Har- 
 diesmylne, his uncle on the maternal side, took him 
 away from the house of William Bowrie, with the 
 plausible excuse of visiting Margaret Haitlie, his 
 "guidame and sisteris," but with the real intention 
 of marrying him, and that without the consent of 
 Sir John Home, the donator to the gift of his ward 
 and marriage. From Haddington this uncle carried 
 him to Rymmeltonelaw in the Merse, the dwelling- 
 house of Alexander Cranstoun of Moristoun. From 
 thence he was conveyed, by William Home, Alexan- 
 der Cranstoun, John Cranstoun, brother of William 
 Lord Cranstoun, and William Moffet, to the place of 
 East Nesbit, and therefrom out of the realm of Scot- 
 land to the town of Berwick, in England, where he 
 was secretly married, on Nov. 16, 161 5, to Jean, 
 daughter of Sir Patrick Chirnesyde of East Nisbet. 
 In consequence of this abduction and marriage a trial 
 ensued on Nov. 8, 16 16, of which Pitcairn gives a 
 long account. The parties interested were required 
 to keep the peace under heavy penalties, and the 
 marriage of Adam French to Jean Chirnesyde was 
 eventually gifted by the king ; but there was no issue 
 by it, and the young husband died in wardship in 
 
io8 ADAM FRENCH, 
 
 February, 1617, which brought to an end the ancient 
 direct male line of the Frenches of Thornydykes. 
 
 Soon after the demise of Adam French it appears 
 that the estates of Thornydyke and Petcoke reverted 
 to the crown because of feudal delinquency, of which 
 we have the following explanation from the Registry 
 of the Great Seal : 
 
 " The estates of Thornydyke and Petcoke belonged 
 of inheritance to Jane, Alice, and Margaret French, 
 daughters and heirs in common of the late Robert 
 Frenche of Thornydyke, or to the late Adam 
 French, their brother, or to the said the late Robert 
 
 French, their father, or to the late French of 
 
 , their grandfather, or to the late Frenche 
 
 of , their great-grandfather, or to certain other 
 
 of their ancestors, by them or some one or more of 
 them held directly from us and our illustrious progen- 
 itors per servitium warde et relevii [a feudal tenure] 
 and now belong to us and have fallen and come into 
 our hands and within our disposition by the privilege 
 of our crown and under the laws, and after the cus- 
 tom and practice of the said Kingdom of Scotland, 
 because of the alienation and disposition made by the 
 aforesaid Jane, Alice, and Margaret French, and by 
 the said their late brother, father, grandfather, great- 
 grandfather, or any other of their ancestors whomso- 
 ever to whatever person or persons of the lands, and 
 other property aforesaid with their appurtenances or 
 of the largest part thereof, or of the annual income of 
 
TENTH LAIRD OF THORNYDYKES. 109 
 
 said lands and other property aforesaid with the ap- 
 purtenances annually to be accrued." 
 
 "Which lands and the annual income thereof, 
 alienated and disposed of as is permitted, exceed the 
 largest part of the annual rent, profit, and produce of 
 the lands and other property respectively specified 
 above with their appurtenances, and this without our 
 consent, permission, or approval, or that of our pre- 
 decessors first before had and obtained." 
 
 " Wherefore, all and singular the estates and other 
 property aforesaid with their appurtenances now be- 
 long to us, and have fallen and come into our hands 
 by reason of the recognizance as aforesaid." 
 
 The estates of Thornydyke and Petcoke remained 
 in the hands of the crown until the 26th of January, 
 1 61 9, when they were given by a charter of King 
 James to Adam Frenche of Frenchland, in Dumfries- 
 shire, a very distant kinsman of Jeane, Alice, and 
 Margaret French, the pedigree of his family showing 
 he was a descendant of Robert French, third Laird 
 of Thornydyke, who died some time prior to the year 
 1478. This Adam French of Frenchland did not 
 long retain possession of the estates ; for in the year 
 1633 he conveyed them to George Brown (the second 
 son of the Laird of Colston), who is afterwards 
 called the Laird of Thornydyke, and the Frenches of 
 Frenchland thereafter only designed themselves as 
 lineal representatives of the Frenches of Thorny- 
 dyke. 
 
NOTES 
 
 SURNAMES OP EEANCUS, FRANCEIS, FRENCH, ETC., IN 
 
 SCOTLAND, WITH AN ACCOUNT OE THE 
 
 FRENCHES OF THORNYDYKES. 
 
 BY A. D. WELD FRENCH, F. S. A. SCOT. 
 
 (Boston : Privately Printed, 1893.) 
 
 SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS, 
 Both Foreign and American. 
 
 THE SCOTSMAN OF EDINBURGH. 
 
 Genealogy is not one of the despised sciences in New England, and in 
 Boston they are far from smiling at the claims of long descent. Proof 
 of this is furnished in the privately-printed volume on " The Frenches 
 of Scotland," by Mr. A. D. Weld French. It prosecutes with much 
 industry a side path in historical research which, besides its special 
 personal interest to the author, has local bearings which will be appre- 
 ciated by genealogists and antiquaries in this country, and particularly 
 by those who have looked into the family archives of the Merse. The 
 volume consists of two parts, of which the first contains notes gathered 
 from published and unpublished records in France, England, and 
 Scotland, on the occurrence of the surnames of Francus, Franceis, 
 French, and their congeners ; while the second part is an account of 
 the old family of the Frenches of Thorny dykes, in Berwickshire, which 
 came to an end in the person of the tenth laird early in the seventeenth 
 century. The notices on the mentions of the surname are necessarily 
 fragmentary, and but slightly connected ; but they are suggestive, as in 
 the case of so many other Norman families which acquired land and 
 power in the south of Scotland, of an origin in the Cotentin district of 
 Normandy, and of an early association with the Bruces. Afterwards 
 the Frenches seem to have been allies or vassals of the successive ruling- 
 houses on the Eastern Marches, Dunbars, Gordons, and Homes, and as 
 lairds of Thornydykes, in Berwickshire, and of Pitcox, in East Lothian, 
 to have played a stirring, if subsidiary, part in the Border and family 
 troubles of three centuries. 
 
Hi 
 
 THE DUNDEE ADVERTISER. 
 
 "Notes on the Surname of Franceis and French in Scotland," by 
 A. D. Weld French, is a volume belonging to a class of literature that 
 is of comparatively recent introduction. It is not strictly a genealogical 
 account of the family of Franceis or French, but rather contains memo- 
 randa as to the charters and documents wherein the name is to be 
 found. He is of opinion that the family came to this country from the 
 Cotentin of Normandy, and he has found the name associated with that 
 of Robert de Brus so early as 1097. As the name of Franceis is fre- 
 quently found on charters connected with the Bruces of Annandale, he 
 thinks it probable that the family had settled in that district early in the 
 twelfth century. The only branch that he has followed up consecutively 
 is that of French of Thornydykes, in Berwickshire, and the genealogical 
 information he has brought together will be of great service to members 
 of the family who desire to make out a pedigree. Mr. French has 
 explored very thoroughly all the places where it was likely that he 
 would find traces of any of the French family under the numerous 
 variations of the name. Though this book is primarily of interest to 
 bearers of his own name, Mr. French's method may be taken as an 
 excellent model for similar works. 
 
 THE DAILY FREE PRESS OF ABERDEEN. 
 
 Mr. Weld French of Boston has bestowed much labour on the produc- 
 tion of a monograph on the early history of the surname French (in its 
 various forms) in Scotland. For this purpose he has ransacked the 
 abbey records, the principal antiquarian authorities, and published and 
 unpublished public documents. This name goes back in Scotland to 
 the days of its Anglo-Norman colonisation under David I. The first 
 actual example of it which Mr. Weld French has lit upon occurs in 
 connection with " the second Robert de Brus, who obtained possessions 
 in Scotland, the son of one of the companions of William the Con- 
 queror; " and the name Brus, and that which was afterwards anglicised 
 as French, were, prior to this time, associated in the Cotentin in 
 Normandy. As bearing on this latter point, quotation is made from 
 several charters of the Abbey of St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte, " so well 
 endowed by the Bruces," as also of other abbeys of the Cotentin. The 
 original Robert Fraunceys, or one of his sons, seems not unlikely to 
 have been a settler with Bruce in Annandale, and certainly no long 
 time elapsed till the Fraunceys bore a feudal relation to the Bruce 
 lords of that district. Before Bannockburn, William le Fraunceys 
 appears as a knight of the Earl of March, and after that battle 
 Edward II. took shelter in Dunbar Castle, where " William Fraunceys " 
 rendered him service which was rewarded with an annuity. Several 
 Fraunceys, including Sir William, swore fealty to Edward I. in 1296; 
 and in this year Simon de Fraunceys, tenant of John Comyn of 
 Badenoch, had lands in Roxburgh restored to him. Adam French was 
 one of the Scottish patriots pardoned by Edward III. at Berwick in 
 1335. The family had possessions at Ayton, in Berwickshire, and in 
 
Linlithgow. An inscription, formerly in the north aisle of the Church 
 of Linlithgow, bore that " Heir lyes Ihon Franch, fadcler to Toraas, 
 master mason of Brig of Dee. Obiit Anno Domini M^pCCLXXXIX." 
 Thomas had been appointed master mason by King James V. at Kelso, 
 in 1535. Prior to this, he had been master mason to the Bishop of 
 Aberdeen for building the Bridge of Dee. While he was resident in 
 Aberdeen, in 1530,' his son Thomas died, and was buried in the Cathe- 
 dral. As King's mason, he executed works at the Palaces of Linlithgow 
 and Falkland, and he appears to have died in 1551. John French, 
 probably his son, seems to have succeeded to his functions in connec- 
 tion with the royal residences. George French held land in or near 
 Aberdeen in 1474-75, and a George French is mentioned with Thomas 
 and his sons, John and Robert, in the account of work done at 
 Falkland in 1538-39. About half the volume is occupied with the 
 Frenches who were lairds of Thorndykes, in Berwickshire, from the 
 fourteenth to the seventeenth century a family that played a not 
 unimportant part in their own district, and whose ramifications spread 
 far and wide. 
 
 BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT. 
 
 THE FUENCHES OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 The first work of the author of this volume that attracted attention 
 was his "Index Armorial;" his previous volume on the Williams 
 Armory, published several years since, still remains the chief authority 
 on their coats-of-arms. 
 
 The editor of the " Fenland Notes and Queries" of England, com- 
 menting on the "Index Armorial," states that "We have referred to 
 several works on heraldry, and in no instance have we found any entry 
 about these names that has been omitted." The charge by one writer 
 that the title was a misnomer, owing to the historical importance of its 
 preface, is equally applicable to the present volume ; for, disguised 
 under its title, we find the translations of several unpublished original 
 charters and records, which throw additional light on some of the 
 ancient customs and manners of Scotland and Normandy. The preface 
 of this work on the origin of the surnames is interesting, and a similar 
 effort in regard to other names would result in a much-needed modern 
 work on the subject. In the body of this volume, we find some early 
 prototypes of the surnames of the Baliols, Blacks, Bovilles, Bruces, 
 Stuarts, Viponts, Whites, etc. It is noticeable that several of the 
 surname of French held positions very close to the persons of several 
 of the Scottish sovereigns of the Stuart line. Thomas Frainche was 
 a marshal of the royal household in the reign of King James the 
 Fourth; another Thomas, the second master mason of the kingdom of 
 Scotland, was particularly identified in the building of the royal 
 palaces of King James the Fifth; while the more numerous of these 
 appointments appear during the reign of King James the Sixth. Soon 
 after his coronation, Hue French was made " Controller of his 
 majesty's horse;" later another of the name appears as the "only 
 
A. 1 
 isoJ 
 acco 
 rand 
 fan 
 
 of I 
 
 <|l|el 
 
 thin 
 
 b ti. 
 
 Infoi 
 of t 
 ex pi* 
 won] 
 varis 
 l>ear 
 
 ticm . 
 vario 
 abbe.' 
 
 unpu 
 
 the I 
 
 nrtua 
 
 conn 
 qnerc 
 
 Norm 
 
 sever 
 11(1. \ 
 oriirii 
 
 time 
 
 Fran 11 
 and i 
 Bade, 
 one 
 
 1886. 
 
 keeper of his majesty's outer chamber door; "while we find a Koyal 
 
 Palefrenier anions the hitter appointments of this king. Many of this 
 
 !..,niiir.l with the elergy; one of these, in the reign of 
 
 the la reign, was appointed as a Protestant ecclesiastical 
 
 commissioner for the -hire of Berwick. Setting aside the general 
 
 rical importance of these last two volumes, which are also very 
 
 .Me additions to the bibliography of the surname of French, for 
 
 a long time left vacant, they both show, on the part of the author, 
 
 great Industry, continuous research, and many years of study. 
 
 w . understand that Mr. French has already another historical work 
 of a similar nature in progress in connection with Old England; this, 
 Judge, is somewhat foreshadowed in the preface to his "Index 
 Armorial." where we find in the chronological records of the different 
 count -land that the nanus and dates are given only, without 
 
 the records, so that we infer that these records are to be included in 
 this next work. 
 
 scott i sir xot*:s axd qvbries. 
 
 This is not an every-day genealogical work, inasmuch as the author 
 brtngf t. it an unusual amount of scholarship and historical knowledge. 
 In a brief but valuable preface, Mr. French discusses the philology of 
 the name, and the chronology of its various forms and orthographical 
 changes, as It spread itself over the civilized world. Coming to Scot- 
 land, every page gives proof of thorough research and minute investi- 
 gation, the antique basis being largely the archives of the religious 
 houses both of Scotland and the Continent. In all this the author has 
 about his work as an expert. Among the various brief memorials 
 of the bearers of the patronymic, Mr. French (p. 45) refers to Thomas 
 Francne, Ifaatei Mason to the Bishop of Aberdeen for building the 
 Bridge <>f !)<. and whose eldest son, "who died in 1530, was buried 
 in Aberdeen Cathedral, where is found his epitaph." It may interest 
 the author if we transcribe the epitaph, which is now much worn: 
 
 * . . . r lyis tomas ye 
 son of tomas f ra- 
 nch master maco ..." 
 
 In the second part of the book the author gives an interesting account 
 of the Thornydyke branch of the family, dating from the time of Bruce, 
 in the middle of the fourteenth to the middle of the seventeenth 
 OStttnfy. As became a Border family, the Frenches took an active part 
 in many a fray. and. withal, maintained a dignified position. Several 
 representatives of the family held crown appointments. If anything, 
 the author has somewhat restrained himself in this department, as 
 there can DC little doubt that the charter-chest would yield a good deal 
 of Internal Oatwlth the purely genealogical. The book is, however, 
 ,y reliable, and a model of a family record; and its get-up is well 
 worth the thanks gracefully paid to the printer, inter-alia, by the 
 author in bil preface. An index would have been a useful adjunct. 
 
 Ed. 
 
& &4-7? 
 
 ivr36 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY