Comments in refutation of pretensions advanced for the first time, and statements in a recent work "The Stirlings of Keir and their family papers"

WITH DRUMPELLIER'S EXPOSITION, &c. 135
notice, neither in reference made to it in the text, nor does the editor him-
self make any observations about it. It resolves, therefore, into another
absolute make-weight.
Another irrelevant document, which is prominently brought forward in
facsimile, while the more material are withheld, is a precept of sasiue by perform-"^
Walter Halyburton, 21st October 1437, to AVilliam Strivelyne, the Cadder^ 212/ '''
ancestor in the tennandry of Regorton, with his seal appended (but poorly
executed),^ and far inferior every way to that of Gadder, while of no import- p. 221!
ance or value to the work, rendering its addition the more irrelevant, if not
unaccountable.
There may be greater reason for giving a facsimile of a procuratory of
resignation by Lucas de Strivelyne to George, Lord Leslie in 1448, of the
lands of Bouchquhumgre (a designation well exchanged by his family for
that of Keii'), to which is appended a seal ; and this is the frst proved strange
instance we have of the Keir family bearing arms. A facsimile is here sistent way
given both of the procuratory and of the seal, and very properly so, as the evidence in
information conveyed is both new and interesting, but it also renders Perform-
•' _ ^ anoe.
more striking the non-adduction in the text of the Gadder procuratory in
1492. It would almost seem as though the seal in the latter instance
had been brought forward merely to afford Keir an opportunity of con- ti'spLra to
joining the Gadder crest with his own,^ — a step not more irregular and foi4 '
indefensible than it may be hazardous and dangerous from wliat may be
afterwards stated.
Moreover, in the Keir Performance, the Gadder writs and investitures, ab
initio — besides corroborative ones of other properties to the same effect, with
some quite foreign — are fully given in the said chartulary from an early period,
viz. — from the demise of Sir John Stirling, "Domini de Gaddare," in 1408,
down to 1505 inclusive, in the persons of William of Gadder, his son ; Sir
William of Gadder, his grandson ; William of Gadder, his great-grandson ;
and William of Gadder, his great-great-grandson, who respectively and suc-
cessively were proved Sir John's heirs and representatives, the last of
whom succeeded in 1505. After this date, the eligible practice of adducing
a continuous chain of evidence strikingly ceases. Andrew Stirling of Gadder,
who succeeded the last-mentioned William in the family property and repre-
sentation, was, in his turn, succeeded by Janet, his only child and heiress at
common law ; but in neither of these cases are the titles and investitures
rmance.