Genealogical account of the Barclays of Urie

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whose name is found, both by old evidents,
and his own subscriptions, spelled as now,
viz. Barclay, by a Charter granted to him by
William, Earl Marishal, Sheriff-Principal,
and High Constable of the Shire of the
Mearns, wherein he terms him, Dilecio con-
sanguineo nostro, i.e.— to our beloved kins-
man, Alexander Barclay, of Mathers, and
Catharine his wife, (this was Catharine
Wishart) dated A. D. 1483; which Charter
is extant in the family. As he lived to old age,
so upon his son's marriage, he put him in
possession of the old estate, reserving Mathers
to himself during life. As he was reputed a
scholar, and something of a poet, so to him
are ascribed the Verses made by a laird of
Mathers, and given as advice to his son
and successors, which, as worthy, are here
inserted :
Giff thou desire thy house lang stand,
And thy successors bruik thy land;
Abive all things lief God in fear:
Intromit nought with wrangous gear;
Nor conquess nothing wrangously:
With thy neighbour keep charity.