Douglas book > Charters

1321.] ABSTRACT OF TEE DOUGLAS CHARTERS.
James and his heirs and his assignees, of the granter and his heirs,
Kings of Scotland, in free burgh, fee and heritage for ever, and in free
barony and free forestry, with courts and escheats belonging thereto, for
rendering a suit to the court of the shire of Eoxburgh, when it happened
only, for all other services. [Circa 1319], 10
1 3. Charter by King Eobert the Bruce to James, Lord of Douglas, knight, for
his homage and service, of the half of the whole barony of Watstyrker, in
Eskdale, with the pertinents, which belonged to the late William of
Soules, knight, and which he forfeited to the King : To be held by the
said James and his heirs, of the King and his heirs, in fee and heritage,
with fishings, fowlings, and huntings, etc., thereof ; rendering therefor
the service used and wont to be rendered for the said land in the time of
Alexander the Third. Berwick-on-Tweed, 2 0th April [1321], 10
1 4. Transumpt of a Precept by King Eobert the Bruce, directed to Bernard, Abbot
of Abirbrothoc, Chancellor of Scotland, narrating that in partial discharge
of 4400 merks sterling due by the King to James, Lord of Douglas, for
the redemption of three French knights and their servants, who had been
taken prisoners by the said Sir James at Byland in England, and had
been liberated by King Eobert at the instance of the King of France, the
King desired a charter to be granted to the said Sir James of the indict-
ments of robbers, and the full administration thereof, within the bounds
of the barony of Douglas, the King's forest of Selkirk, in which he was
officer, the constabulary of Lawder, the forest of Jedburgh, with Bonjed-
burgh, the barony of Bethocrulle, the baronies of Watstirker, Stabilgor-
toun, and Bomannoks, and within all the lands in Scotland which the
said James held in chief of the King, with power to him and his heirs to
liberate any of his men who might be indicted by the King's justiciars
within the foresaid lands ; reserving to the King and his heirs all other
articles pertaining to manslaughter and the crown : To be held by the
said James and his heirs, in fee and heritage, for ever, of the King and
his heirs, declaring that the said James, his heirs and their men
dwelling on the said lands in time to come, shall be free from suits of
court, wardings of castles, prisages, talliages, carriages, captions, etc. ;
reserving only common aid for the defence of the kingdom ; and that