Biggar and the House of Fleming

EARLY CONTERMINOUS PROPRIETORS. 595
Seton, and with her received the barony of Lamington. It
was iu this way, they assert, that the Baillies formed their
connexion both with Wallace and the estate of Lamington,
and certainly the historical proofs in its favour are more con-
clusive than they are in regard to the story told by Blind
Harry. His account of the intercourse of Wallace with Miss
Bradfute is chargeable with such glaring inconsistencies as very
much to shake our faith in his testimony.
The first Baillie of Lamington was taken prisoner at the
battle of Durham. After his release David II. raised him to
the rank of knight, and, on the 27th of January 1367-8, con-
ferred on him a charter in the following terms, " David, by the
grace of God, King of Scots, know all men that I have given,
conceded, and, by this charter, confirm to our beloved and
faithful servant, Sir William Baillie, the whole barony of
Lambiston."
Sir William Baillie left two sons, William and Alexander.
Alexander is supposed to be the founder of the family of
Baillie of Carphin. William, the heir of Lamington, is designed
in a charter, dated 4th Feb. 1395, also proprietor of Hoprig ;
and it thus seems that these two estates were for some time
possessed by the same individual. He gave his son William
as a hostage in exchange for David Lesly of that Ilk, in 1432;
and this son is mentioned in a document, dated 1466, as still
the possessor of the estates of Hoprig and Lamington. He
was in 1481 appointed by Parliament captain of 100 men,
who were to be stationed in Hermitage Castle, and were to be
ready to support both the middle and west borders in time of
need. He was appointed by his country one of the conserva-
tors of peace ; and in this capacity he took part in the nego-
tiations at Nottingham that led to the conclusion of a treaty
of peace with England in 1484. His daughter, Mary, was
married to Lord Sommerville of Carnwath ; and in 1485, he
witnessed a charter of the lands of Cambusnethan, granted by
that baron to his son.
Sir William Baillie left a son, William, who was his succes-
sor, and who married Marion, a daughter of Patrick Home of
Polwarth, Comptroller of Scotland in the reign of James IV.
He obtained a charter of his lands, under the Great Seal, in
1492 ; and left two sons, William, his heir, and John, the