Red and white book of Menzies

no THE "RED & WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1434-1435.
which, Sir David consenting, he received back his Highland possessions. The king
granted him a charter of exchange, which reads thus : — " Charter by King James
the First to David Menzies, Knight, of the lands of Rawor, Glassy, Terlmore, and
Fergyr, lying in the " Abthnia " of Dull in the shire of Perth, in excambion of the
barony of Vogry in the shire of Edinburgh, which belonged to the said David
by right of inheritance. Dated at Stirling, 14th April, 30th year of the king's
reign," 1435. — From Castle Menzies Charters, No. 19. This was followed up by
another instrument from the queen, wherein she gives up any right to the lands
of Dull she may have obtained, dated 20th day of April 1435, as follows : —
" Charter by Jean, Queen of King James I. — Jehan, be ye grace of God,
Qwein of Scotland, to all and sindre to qwas knawlegis thir present letters sal
cum greting. Witt ye that nochtwythstanding that my lord ye kyng, wyth the
assent of his thre estates, has grantid to vs the landis of the Abthane of Dull,
lyand wythin shiredom of Perth, in owr dowery of the qwilkis as ye [knaw] we
haf takyn nowther estat no sesing ; wythin the quilk lands my said lord has enfeft
owr wel-belufit David Menzeis of Weme, knight, in landis of Trelemor, Fergir,
Glassy, Rawer, in fre barony, the quilk enfeftment in als fer as belangis, or may
belang vs, we ratefi and aprovis, and will that the said landis wyth thair appertin-
entis of the quilk the said David is infeft be nocht comprehendit in owr said
dowery, na that the stat no sesine that we sail tak tharof turn the said David no
his ayris to ony hurt or preiudice in ony maner in tyme to cum. In witness of the
[which] thing to thir presintis we haf made put owr sell, at Perth, the xxth day of
the month of Aprill, the yer of grace ane thowsand four hunder thretty and fyf
yeris, and of the reing of the said my Lord xxxth yer." — Transumpt of 1439,
from Charter Room of Castle Menzies, No. 20.
This act of consideration on the part of the Queen to Sir David Menzies
is a proof of the high esteem in which he was held at Court, by the restoration
of Dull, with full power of lordship being restored to himself and heirs. The
following is also a precept from King James I. to Sir David the Menzies : —
" Precept of Sasine under the Great Seal by King James the First, enjoining
his bailie, David de Menzies of Weme, knight, to give sasine to Jean, the king's
' most beloved consort,' of the lands of the Abthanage of Dull, excepting the lands
of Frelemor, Felegir, Glasse, and Rawer, which he himself held by letters from the
king. Dated at Stirling, 24th April, 30th year of the king's reign" [1435]. —
Also a Transumpt of 1439, from the Charter Room of Castle Menzies, No. 21.
It will be observed that King James designates Sir David as " his bailie." He
would thereby act for the king in all matters of justice in the district of the Abthane
of Dull, as Abbot and Thane, thereby acknowledging him as the Abthane, thus
vesting him with the power of justice in all matters, even to that of life and death.
The village of Dull stands in the vale, or Appin na Meinerich, about 4 miles