J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 1

THE SCOTTISH BORDER. 105
The Lah'd of the Corchead, S-jc. — P. 95. v. 1.
This is a place at the head of Moffat-water, possessed of old
by the family of Halliday.
To Andrew Murray of Cockpool. — P. 98. v. 1.
This family were ancestors of the Murrays, Earls of Annan-
dale ; but the name of the representative, in the time of James
IV. was William, not Andrew. Glenriddel's IMS. reads, " the
" country-keeper."
To Sir James Murray of Tracjitair. — P. 96. v. 3.
Before the Barony of Traquair became the property of the
Stewarts, it belonged to a family of Murrays, afterwards Mur-
rays of Black-barony, and ancestors of Lord Elibank. The old
castle was situated on the Tweed. The lands of Traquair
were forfeited by Willielmus de Moravia, previous to 1464;
for, in that year, a charter, proceeding upon his forfeiture, was
granted by the crown " Willielmo Douglas de Cluny." Sir
James was, perhaps, the heir of William MuiTay. It would
farther seem, that the grant in 1464 was not made effectual
by Douglas ; for, another charter from the crown, dated the
3d February, 1478, conveys the estate of Traquair to James
Stewart, Earl of Buchan, son of the Black Knight of Lome,
and maternal uncle to James III., from whom is descended
the present Earl of Traquair. The first royal grant not being
followed by possession, it is very possible that the Murrays
may have continued to occupy Traquair long after the date of
that charter. Hence, Sir James might have reason to say, as
in the ballad, " The King has gifted my lands lang syne."
James Hop Pringle of Torsonse.—V. 99. v. 1.
The honourable name of Pringle, or Hoppringle, is of great
antiquity in Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire. The old tower
of Torsonse is situated upon the banks of the Gala. I believe
the Pringles of Torsonse are now represented by Sir John
Pringle of Stitchell. There are three other ancient and dis-