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from the grant of that celebrated king almost the whole of Lauderdale. The
church, through many a changeful age, was appurtenant to the manor ; and
when the munificent Hugh died in 1162, his estates and office of constable
descended to his son Richard, who died in 1189 ; and from him coming to
his son William, who died in 1196 ; Lauderdale, the kirk-town and office,
descended to his sister Elena. All that belonged to the opulent family of the
Morvilles she carried to her husband Alan, the lord of Galloway, who died
without male heirs in 1234. His three daughters, Elena, Christian, and
Dervorgille, inherited his estates, as parceners of the whole that he possessed.
Christian died without issue in 1246; and when the two surviving sisters
divided the whole between them, Lauder, with its churches and chapels, fell
to the share of the liberal Dervorgille, who had married John Baliol of
Bernards-castle, Yorkshire; and Dervorgille and her husband resigned to the
canons of Dryburgh the advowson of the church of Lauder, and the seat of the
chapel belonging to it (p) ; and the church of Lauder, with its rights, which
were thus acquired, remained with the canons of Dryburgh till the "Reformation
introduced a new regimen. The whole was afterward acquired by the family
of Lauderdale, who now enjoy it (q). In the memorable year 1296, William
Fitzaleyn " le clerc de Laweder," swore fealty to Edward at Berwick, with
greater men, who obeyed necessity (r). It was in the old church of Lauder
where the scandalous meeting was held in July 1482, which ended in the murder
of the king's menials on Lauder-bridge, and the imprisonment of James III. in
Edinburgh castle (s). This ancient church stood at the northern end of the
town, opposite to Lauder-fort. It was relinquished in 1617, when a new church
was erected on the south-east quarter of the town (t). The Reformation, no
doubt, introduced here a very different regimen. [The parish church erected
in 1673, has been frequently repaired till 1820. Communicants, 692; stipend,
�397. A Free church has 151 members, and a U. P. church has 240.]
(p) Chart. Dryb., 6-7. On the 19th of June 1268, John Baliol completed this gift by formally re-
signing into the hands of Gamelin, the bisbop of St. Andrews, the advowson of the church of Lauder
and the chapelry belonging to it. Ib., 3 ; and the next day the bishop confirmed the piety of Baliol.
Ib., 4. To make surety more sure, the whole transfer of those church rights was confirmed by John
the prior, with the chapter of St. Andrews. Ib., 5.
(q) Alexander Lauder, the son of Sir John Lauder of Halton, and the brother of the bishop of
Glasgow, was promoted, in May 1440, from the rectory of Ratho to the see of Dunkeld; but dying on
the 11th of October in the same year, he was buried " in ecclesia parochiali de Lawedre, loco sepul-
turse parentelae." Fordun, 1. xvi., c. 26.                                 (r) Prynne, in., 658.
(s) The minister records the disgraceful circumstance " that the house in which the king was seized
is still standing," to the reproach of that ancient town. Stat. .Aco., i., 75.
(/) On the 28th of June 1617, there passed an Act of Parliament " for changing the kirk of Lauder."
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