Ancient deeds and other writs in the Mackenzie-Wharncliffe charter-chest

MACKENZIE-WHARNCL1FFE DEEDS
author of the paper on the parish of Avoch refers thus to Rosehaugh :
' The property is said to have been so named from a small haugh con-
tiguous to the bank where a great many sweetbriars and wild roses
used to grow. The ground having been mostly brought into tillage
they are not now so numerous. On this haugh, along the bottom of
the wood, lies the road from Fortrose to Avoch ; and there can scarcely
be imagined a more delightful summer evening's walk than this —
when on one hand the western sun glitters through the trees, the
birches send forth their fragrance, and the singing-birds serenade you ;
and on the other hand you behold the beautiful basin before mentioned
with vessels and boats plying upon it with cheerful industry. It is
said that Sir George Mackenzie was so fond of this walk and of that
on Chanonry point, which stretches out a mile and a half into the
sea, covered with short close grass, as smooth and soft as a carpet, that
he used to call it rudeness and want of taste in any of his friends or
acquaintances to ride on horseback along them.'
The first estate in Forfarshire purchased by Sir George Mackenzie
was the barony of Newtyle and Kinpurnie together with the barony
of Auchtertyre and Balcraig ; the mill of Newtyle ; the lands of
Denend, Redford, Newbigging, and Boghead ; the lands of Burnmouth ;
the lands of Clynche ; the lands of Hillend or Templebank ; the kirk-
lands of Newtyle ; the fourth part of the lands of Balmaw and others.
These lands were purchased from David Hallyburton of Pitcur, and
were conveyed by him, with consent of his wife, Mrs. Agnes Wedder-
burn or Hallyburton, to Sir George Mackenzie by disposition bearing
date 16th June 1682. Sir George Mackenzie received a Crown charter
of these lands, dated at Windsor Castle the 15th August 1682. And
this charter was duly ratified by the King and Estates of Parliament
on the 16th June 1685.
The ancient writs connected with the estate of Newtyle, Kin-
purney, and others are of great interest and value, more especially
those which bear dates within the fourteenth century.
The following are especially interesting, viz. : —
(1) Charter by Robert Bruce, King of Scots, to William Oli-
faunt, Knight, of the lands of Newtyle and Kylprony, in
53