Records of the Pringles of the Scottish Border, by Alex Pringle

Chapter 1

THAT ILK OR TORSANCE

THE SURNAME

THE surname Hoppringill or Pringle, dating, as it does, from the reign of Alexander III is one of the oldest on the Scottish Border. It is a place-name, that is, is derived from the name of a place. This place is situated in the Parish of Stow, on the left side of Gala water, about ten miles above Galashiels. It lies about half a mile up from the bank of the river, on the southern slope of a ridge that separates the valleys of the Armet and Todhole burns. This ridge with its level crest -at present well wooded- abuts at its western extremity on the Gala in a remarkably rounded knob some 300 feet above the level of the river, which winds round its base in the form of a semicircle. It is this round or ring-like boss, no doubt, that gave the place its name of Hoppringhill, as we occasionally find it written in the older records.

The first syllable in the name, hope, hopp, op, or up, derived from the same root as the O1d Norse hop, a haven, denoting a small enclosed valley branching off a larger, is found abundantly in place-names in the south-east of Scotland and the north-east of England, and as far south as Hereford. It occurs as a prefix in Hopprew, Hopkailzie, and Hopcarton in Peeblesshire, Hopkirk in Roxburghshire, Hoprig, Hopefoot in Haddingtonshire: but it is best known as a suffix; some three dozen place names, it is said, ending in hope in Selkirkshire, and some six dozen in Northumberland, as Kirkhope, Stanhope, Rattlinghope, etc. As to the other two syllables in Hoppringill we find ring, or rink, which is the same word, as the name of a hill in Wrinklaw in the Lammermoors, and Rink Hill in Selkirkshire. It will be noted that these names are always descriptive. Thus Hoppringill means simply the hope of the ring or round hill. The rotundity of this hill is well seen from the carriage windows of the trains that pass below, and is well A brought out by the contour lines on sheet 25 of the 6-inch maps of the Ordnance Survey. As a surname Hoppringill, like Hopkailzie (now Kailzie), could readily afford, as a trisyllable with its accent on the second syllable, to drop its scarcely audible prefix, but it continued to be by far the dominant form for three hundred years. Indeed the chiefs of the clan never gave up its use and the last of them in his Will, dated 1737 speaks of himself as "John Hoppringle of that Ilk". About 1590, however, Pringill (a "p" being retained through its affinity for "r"), which had appeared only occasionally before, begins in the records to take its place, and becomes the dominant form till about 1650: when it in turn begins to give way to Pringle, following in this the example set by such words as tempill, singill which became temple, single. Throughout these changes, however, the pronunciation remained the same: it always was, and is still, in Scottish Hopp-ring-ill, Pring-ill: there never was any gill sound in the name; that only appears when we speak in the modern or book fashion.

As regards the spelling of Hoppringill and Pringill in the old records, we soon find that that depended "upon the fancy of the speller". What with the dropping of this "p" or that "l", with or without the favourite substitute of a "y", and occasionally of an "e" or an "a" for this or that "i", the forms resulting are numerous enough; but they need not be here recapitulated, as they will duly appear in the narrative.

The first of the name to be found in the records is ROBERT DE HOPPRYNGIL. He appears in a charter contained in the Chartulary of Soltre, published by the Bannatyne Club in 1861: in which charter Edward de Alba Fonte (Quhytwell) grants to the House of Soltre and its brethren certain lands in Quhytwell, Swaynistoun, Temple and Bothclyd, for the services of a brother to pray three times a week for his soul and the souls of his predecessors and successors, some such purpose being usually given for such grants in those times. The witnesses to the sealing of the charter are "Adam de Gulyne, archdeacon of the Lothians, Sir William de St Clair, Sheriff of Edynburgh, Sir Alan de Ormystoun, William and Adam, Chaplains, Robert de Hertished, Robert de Hoppryngil, et alii." Unfortunately the charter, like so many others of that time, is without a date; hence we must have recourse to the other witnesses. We find from the Chartularies that William de St Clair appears in some seven charters dated between 1261 and 1292, Alan de Ormiston in a charter with William Wishart, bishop of St Andrews 1272 to 1279, and in a charter dated 1279. But for our purpose Adam de Gulyne (Gullane) is the best witness: as Thomas de Carnoto was archdeacon of the Lothians in 1267, Robert Wishart in 1270, and William de Frer in 1281, his archdeaconsy must have fallen either before 1267, or between 1270 and 1281. Thus, whatever be the date of this Soltre (Soutra) charter, whether about 1265 or 1275, it is evident that Robert de Hoppryngil was contemporary with Alexander III, whose happy reign has been commemorated in our oldest specimen of Scottish verse: -

Quhen Alysandyr our king was dede

That Scotland led in love and le,

Away was sons of ale and brede,

Of wyne and wax, of gamyn and gle.

The Monastery or Hospital of Soutra, founded by Malcolm IV in 1164 for the entertainment of pilgrims travelling over the hills by '' Malcolm's road '' to and from the Border abbeys, and richly endowed, stood on a crest of the Lammermoors overlooking the Lothians. It was three miles distant from Hertished (Hartside), and four and a half from Hoppringill, which lay to the south.

ELIAS

The second and only other Hoppringill to be met with in this century is Elys de Obrinkel, presumably son or heir of the above Robert. The spelling is similar to Obendrit and Obbaris for Hopebendrit and Hopebarris in Shropshire of the same period, while rink for ring is only the less guttural form. He appears in the famous Ragman Roll, in which are inscribed the names of all the landholders of Scotland, some 2000 in number, who, rattler than lose their lands, submitted to the would-be usurper Edward I of England. Elys, and thirteen others, including Robert and Thomas de Burnhouse, his immediate neighbours, all tenants of the bishop of St Andrews ("tenantz le evesque de Seint Andreu '') in Midlothian (which includes Stow), had their names entered at Berwick on the 28th August 1296. In those days, when the art of writing was almost exclusively confined to clerics, subscriptions to and attestations of documents were effected by bless of wax, affixed in a peculiar way, and stamped with a seal on which was engraved the name of its owner preceded by S. for Sigillum (seal). Among the "Seals connected with Scotland unattached, or only to fragments,'' of the thirteenth or fourteenth century, enumerated in the Calendar of Documents, vol. ii. we find No. 188 described as " Oval; a hunting horn, S. Helias de Hoprigkil.'' There is a crack across the wax (Chronicles and Memorials, Scotland; or Calendar of Documents re Scotland, vol. ii.).

To one familiar with the contractions constantly practised in the Latin of the old Registers the omission of the N in the seal will be quite regular, its absence being indicated by a stroke above its place. If this was not the above Elias then it must have been a successor in the first half of the fourteenth century.

THOMAS AND ADAM

For the next hundred years the history of the Hoppringills is the history of the Earls of Douglas 1357 to 1455; as in turn the history of the Douglases is for the time the history of Scotland, so prominent was the part they took in public affairs (D. B.) The next Hoppringills we come to are two, Thomas and Adam. Thomas was squire (scutifer) to William 1st Earl of Douglas, and Adam, both to him and to his son James the 2nd Earl, the hero of Otterburn. Sir William Douglas, son of the regent Archibald who was killed at Halidon, and nephew of the Good Sir James, succeeded to the lordship of Douglas, the Forests of Ettrick, Selkirk and Traquair, Lauderdale, the Forest of Jedburgh, etc., in 1342, on the resignation of his uncle Hugh, a churchman, and returned from France about 1347, probably on attaining his majority. David II, captured at the battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, was then a prisoner in England, and remained so till 1357, when he was set free by the treaty of Berwick; and at the end of the year Sir William, who had distinguished himself by his exploits, especially in again driving the English out of Teviotdale and the Forest, was created Earl of Douglas. Between January 1358 and 1361 the Earl made frequent journeys into England, having probably to report himself as one of the six principal hostages. In all his expeditions, and on all important occasions, he would be constantly attended by a retinue of knights and squires, whose names we find in the charters. On 10th January 1359 Thomas de Hoppringill witnesses, along with Sir Archibald de Douglas (afterwards 3rd Earl), Sir William de Gledstanyis, William de Dischington, and others, a, charter in which the Earl grants to John de Towers the farm of Rutherglen; while about the same date Adam de Hoppringill witnesses, along with the Earl, Sir Archibald de Douglas, and others, a charter granted by John of Erth of certain lands in the barony of Haltoun. In 1363 the Earl, along with the Steward and the Earl of March, was in arms against King David; but at the end of the year he and the King, who was secretly plotting to get a son of Edward III appointed his successor, were at the English Court together, when the Earl took occasion to visit the tomb of Thomas à Becket at Canterbury; and on 15th December we find King Edward granting safe conducts in a list reading, " Thomas Hoppringill, Johannes de Douglas, Willielmus de Douglas, Adam de Hoppringill, Andreas de Vallance, Willielmus de Calabre, Johannes Whit, Willielmus de Gledstanis, Sir Hugo de Eglynton, Jacobus de Douglas, Johannes Abbas de Dymfermelyng,'' each with six mounted companions, and to thirteen others with fewer companions each, to enter England and to remain there a year. On 20th June 1366 Thomas de Hoppryngel de Scotia has again a similar letter of safe conduct, probably in connection with King David's ransom, which was being paid by annual instruments (R. S., R. F.). In February, in the 39th year of his reign, King David confirms a charter granted by Lindsay de Ormiston of his lands to his daughter and heiress, on the occasion of her marriage to Alexander de Cockburn, the witnesses to which were the Abbots of Holyrood and Newbattle, Sir Archibald and Sir James of Douglas, Sir Walter and Sir Alexander of Haliburton, Sir Patrick Hepburn, Thomas of Oppringyl (spelt Hopprynghil in a duplicate copy in a different hand) and others. In March 1368, in a charter dated at Cavers, Thomas de Balliol resigns to William, Earl of Douglas, certain lands including Yarlsyde, Singlee, and Penchryse, the witnesses being Sir Duncan Wallace, William de Lindsay, Simon de Glendinning, Thomas de Cranston, Adam de Hoppringill, and five others. In a charter before 1369, granted by John de Gordon of that Ilk of his half of the lands of Ligertwood to Thomas de Borthwick, the witnesses are the Bishop of St Andrews, the Abbots of Kelso and Dryburgh, the Earls of Douglas, Moray, and March, Sir Walter and Sir Alexander de Haliburton, Thomas de Hoppryngill, and others. In an undated charter by Sir Alexander de Dalwolsey the witnesses are William, Earl of Douglas, Sir James of Douglas of Dalkeith and his brother Sir Henry, Thomas of Hoppryngill and four others.

David II died in February 1370-71, and was succeeded by Robert II, grandson of Robert the Bruce and first of the House of Stewart. Earl William was made Warden of the East Marches, and Justiciary south of the Forth. In June, at Tantallon Castle, he grants a charter to Melrose Abbey of the patronage of Cavers Church, to which the witnesses are James, his son, Sir Henry de Douglas, Sir John de Edmondston, Sir John de Towers, knights, and William de Creichton, Alan de Lauder, and Adam de Hoppryngill, squires (scutiferi). In 1377 the death of Edward III left England in the hands of Richard II, or rather of his guardians. Border troubles and disputes arose. Earl William and Sir Archibald Douglas defeated an English force at Melrose, and captured its leader. In the first half of 1380 he raided Cumberland and Westmorland, bringing away 40,000 head of animals of various sorts, and the English retaliated. The fourteen years truce expiring in February 1384, two days afterwards he and the other two Scottish Wardens captured Lochmaben Castle, which had been in possession of the English since 1346, and razed it to the ground. Between this and May following he once more drove the English out of Teviotdale, Jedburgh and Roxburgh Castles excepted. This was his last exploit; he died in the beginning of the month.

Earl William was succeeded by his son James as 2nd Earl of Douglas, who in 1373 at the early age of 15, had married Isabel daughter of the king, Robert II. Some French knights having arrived Earl James raided Northumberland along with them, while the Percies in turn raided Scotland as far as Edinburgh. In 1385 Jean de Vienne, Admiral of France, arrived with 2000 men, 1400 complete suits of armour and money. A Scottish army advanced to the Borders to meet the huge army advancing under Richard, and when the English ravaged the whole east of Scotland, including Melrose, Haddington, and Newbattle Abbeys, and Edinburgh, in what was long afterwards remembered as "Burnt Candlemas,'' the Scots endeavoured to make good by harrying Cumberland. Some time between 1384 and 1388 while an opportunity for a counterstroke was being watched, we find Earl James confirming by charter to William, with reversion to Archibald (his natural son), the lands already given to him of Drumlanrig, the witnesses to which are Sir Archibald of Douglas, Lord of Galloway, Sir James of Douglas, Lord of Dalkeith, Sir James of Lindsay, Lord of Crawford, Sir William of Lindsay, Sir Robert Colville, Sir William of Borthwick, Adam Forester, Adam of Hoppringill, and Alan Lauder. The battle of Otterburn, fought on the 15th August 1388, and the ballads that celebrate it, are known to every schoolboy. Never was there nobler fight than this of Otterburn, says Froissart. " How is it with you? '' asked one of Earl James's followers who came up. " Ill; but few of my fathers have died in their beds. Raise my banner '' - with its bearer it had fallen - "Cry ' Douglas,' and tell not where I am to friend or foe."

" My wound is deep - I fain would sleep –

Take thou the vanguard of the three,

And bury me by the bracken bush,

That grows on yonder lily lee."

Earl James was buried, beneath his tattered banner, in Melrose Abbey. In this battle apparently fell also Adam Hoppringill the Earl's squire (The Douglas Book, 4 vols., Sir William Fraser).

WILLIAM

We come now to William, who was contemporary with Adam, and is the only other Hoppringill in this century mentioned in the records. In the Great Chamberlain's Account

for the year ending March 1391, we read: "et per solucionem factam quondam Willelmo Hoppringill, pro feodo sue, per literas regis de precepto, et ipsius quondam Willelmi, £15 '' ; that is, William Hoppringill was dead., but he had received his fee of £15 granted by the King, as shown by the receipt of the late William himself. This fee was a big one for the time. Immediately following is a somewhat similar fee paid to the Constable of Edinburgh Castle, while just before and after are the sums disbursed for the funeral expenses of the late King, and for the maintenance of the new King, Robert III., at Linlithgow, and his coronation in August at Scone. Thus whatever office William Hoppringill held it was an important one, and was too well known to require mention. As we shall see presently, he was the first Hoppringill designated of That Ilk.

Thus from the above charters we see that Thomas Hoppringill acted as squire to William, 1st Earl of Douglas, for some ten years, and Adam to him and Earl James for some thirty. But, as for ten years after William's return from France the south of Scotland was practically in possession of England, and the granting and confirmation of charters in abeyance owing to the captivity of King David in England, Thomas may have been associated with Earl William from his first appearance in 1347. Thus it is as likely as not that Thomas was the son or grandson, of Elias, and that he was the father of William of that Ilk, and of Adam who succeeded to, or had been granted by the Earls, lands in Lauderdale, as Pilmuir, Kirktonhill, and Glengelt.

ADAM 1

The hero of Otterburn was succeeded as 3rd Earl of Douglas by Sir Archibald the "Grim" of Galloway, natural son of the Good Sir James, then over sixty years of age. Warden of the West Marches in 1364, and Lord of Galloway in 1369, he had, since 1357, distinguished himself as a warrior, and in affairs of State, not less than Earl William himself; and we have seen that he was often associated with Thomas and Adam Hoppringill in witnessing charters. The Earl Marshal of England shortly afterwards approaching the Border with a force, Earl Archibald, notwithstanding his age, challenged him to fight him in single combat.

Peace ensued between the two countries for some ten years, till 1399, when Henry IV fruitlessly invaded Scotland, and besieged Edinburgh Castle; and at the end of the year the Earl died at his Castle of Thrieve.

He was succeeded as 4th Earl of Douglas, Lord of Galloway, Annandale, Ettrick, Lauderdale, etc., by his son, Archibald, surnamed "Tineman '' (loser of battles), then about twenty-eight years of age. Robert III during the whole of his reign had only the name of king, as owing to his poor health his brother, the Earl of Fife, had acted as Guardian most of the time. On the King's death in 1406, his son James I having been captured at sea by the English at the age of twelve, and detained in England for eighteen years, till 1424, the Earl of Fife, now Duke of Albany, was appointed Governor of the kingdom, and held the office till his death in 1420, Earl Archibald was married to a sister of the Governor, and Sir Walter Haliburton of Dirleton to a daughter. This introduces us to the following charter:-" Know all that I, Walter Haliburton of that Ilk have given, conceded, and by this my charter confirmed to Adam de Hoppringle, son of the late William de Hoppringle of that Ilk, all my lands of Fawnys (Fans) with pertinents lying within the earldom of March, to be held by the said Adam and his heirs or assignees, paying to me and my heirs a pair of gilt spurs annually at Whitsunday in name of blench, if asked only, in place of a11 other services or demands which by me or my heirs could be exacted of said lands '' : the witnesses are Sir John Seton, Sir William de Hay, Sir Walter de Bikirton, Alexander, George, Fergus, and John de Haliburton, and William de Spens. The charter is undated. The lands were called Yerlsyde ; and we have quoted the charter in which they were conveyed to William Earl Douglas in 1367, to which his squire Adam de Hoppringill was witness. Whatever was the date of the charter, whether granted years before, or shortly before, it was confirmed by Governor Albany at Falkland Palace on the 9th May 1407 in a charter in which he speaks of Sir Walter de Haliburton as "noster filius'' (our son) (G. S.). These lands of Yerlside (Earlside) or the fourth part of Fans, Lauderdale, continued ever afterwards to be the property of the Hoppringills of that Ilk.

Adam had issue :

1. Thomas, who in 1461 resigned lands in Philiphaugh, Selkirkshire, of which John Murray of Falahill received a charter from the King, his descendants thus becoming cc-proprietors with the Turnbulls who had received lands therein from Robert Bruce.

2. Archibald, who in 1461 with thirteen Lauderdale lairds sat at Lauder under Cranston of Corsbie Sheriff-depute of Berwickshire, and retoured William, son of the late Lord Abernethy in the lands of Lyleston and Oxton (MSS. C. Reg. House). The seals remain nearly entire, including Archibald's, which is described as, "On a bend two escallops, legend, ( S. Archibaldi de Pringil ' (M. S.).'' In 1479 Elisabeth Hoppringle, relict of the late Archibald, claimed as against Sir William Borthwick the tack of Pirnaiton and Viewshiels, and the Lords Auditors appointed a day for hearing the case; while they declare that Lord Borthwick and his son William had done no wrong in putting Adam Hoppringill's goods out of the same.

3. Sir Andrew Hoppringill, chaplain, who in 1457 acted as attorney for John de Gordon at his sasine in Stitchill. In 1471 the Lords Auditors order the restoration to Sir Andrew and John Spottiswood of the specified wool, lambs, and cheese of the teinds of the kirk of Stow of which they were tacksmen.

MARIOTTE OF THAT ILK

was a daughter of Margaret Turnbull Lady Hoppringill, relict apparently of the late Adam's son Thomas. Left a ward of the king he granted in 1458 the casualty of her marriage to William, first Lord Borthwick ; to whom, having conceded her lands of Glengelt, he nine years afterwards granted them to his son James Borthwick for his services (G. S.). Mariotte's mother having married as her second husband one Hog, she and her son William Hog occupied, by agreement with her daughter Mariotte, two-thirds of Hoppringill as the equivalent of her terce of the remanent lands ; but in 1480 the Lords of Council cancelled the agreement in favour of Adam of that Ilk, who had already asserted his rights to the said two-thirds and the mails thereof.

In 1473 the Lords Auditors confirmed Mariotte and her spouse John Mowbray in the lands of Kirktonhill and Muir House, against Robin Hoppringill who claimed the lands, and in 1486 her son William Mowbray, with her consent, sold the lands to Andrew Mowbray, Burgess of Edinburgh (G. S.).

ADAM 2 (ROYAL GUARDSMAN)

Adam Hoppringill, grandson of Adam I, and apparently son of Archibald, appears first in 1467, as a witness to the charter above-mentioned in which Lord Borthwick granted to his son James the lands of Glengelt. In 1471 the Lords Auditors order Rutherfurd of that llk to restore to Adam the complete stand of harness he had borrowed from him, as good as he received it, or else pay him £20 ; also in 1473 they ordered the five persons wrongfully occupying his lands of Yerlsyde, Fans, to quit the same incontinently. In 1474 the King (James III.) granted to Adam Pringill de Burnhouse, " familiaris armiger suus '' (Household Guards), the lands of Caverton, Roxburghshire, forfeited by Robert, Lord Boyd (G. S.). In 1476 the pay of Adam as one of the Guards is mentioned as £50 (L. A.). In October 1479 the Lords Auditors declare that, having seen their tack from the Archbishop, Lord Borthwick and his son William had done no wrong in putting Adam's goods out of Pirntaiton and Shiels ; and in November they order him to restore at, once the six cattle he had taken out of Pirntaiton and poinded. In 1480, as noted above, Adam recovered the two-thirds of Hoppringill, as apart, from lady Hoppringill's third. In 1483 the Lords declare the Colonel's summons against him void.

Thus Adam's life as one of the Guards of James III is reflected in the history of the reign. He saw the rapid rise and fall of the Boyds, the King's marriage with Margaret of Norway, the treason of the Duke of Albany, the King's brother, the hanging of the King's favourites at Lauder bridge, the temporary restoration of Albany to favour in 1483, but how much more we do not know. There is no further mention of him till 1494, six years after the death of the King in 1488 at Sauchieburn, when he is referred to as " the late Adam Hoppringill of that Ilk '' (L. A.). Adam had issue :

1. Alexander, his heir.

2. .Elizabeth, marr. William Spottiswood of that Ilk - killed at Flodden.

3. Margaret, marr. apparently Patrick Crichton of Lugton.

4. Isabella, Prioress of Coldstream,

ALEXANDER

In December 1494 the Lords Auditors found - as regards the summons raised by Alexander Hoppringill, son and heir of Adam of that Ilk, against Master Thomas Borthwick and John Borthwick of Crookston, anent the destruction and downcasting of the tower-house and place of Burnhouse - that he should show by what right the said house, lands, and goods belonged to him, but that the Borthwicks were justly called upon to answer to the charge ; and Alexander, Lord Home, became surety that Alexander "should never come in contrair of the summons" on account of non-age, under pain of the sums contained therein and 200 merks expenses (L. A.). Four days afterwards the action of Alexander and Ms mother and sisters against the said Borthwicks is excepted from those to be postponed. In 1504 Alexander de Burnhouse witnesses at Haddington the charter granted by William Cockburn of Langton to his brother Christopher of the lands of Choicelee, Duns (G. S. 1603). In 1526 Alexander and his sons, John, James, and George, with James Hoppringill in Newbattle, are respited for art and part in a slaughter (P. S.). In April 1529, along with his eldest son, he witnesses a sasine of the Prioress of Coldstream (q.v)..

Alexander died before 20th May 1530. He had issue :-

1. John, his heir.

2. James, of Tynnes (q.v).. keeper of the " goods '' (farm stock) of James V.

3. George, household servant of James V. (T. A.).

4. William, household servant of James V. (T. A.).

5. Robert, prebendar of Arniston-issue Robert and James. Died 1568.

6. Margaret, marr. Christopher Cockburn of Choicelee, Duns. See George of that Ilk below.

7. Agnes, marr. John Houston of that Ilk.

8. . Jonet, Prioress of Coldstream.

9. Isabella, marr. George Preston of that Ilk, and was mother of Simon Preston, Provost of Edinburgh, in whose house Queen Mary was lodged on the night of her surrender to the Lords at Carberry (P. B., H. 1555).

THE COURT OF JAMES IV.

In 1473 Wille Pringill is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls as an official in the household of James III.

Sauchieburn was fought on 11th June 1488, and in the following month James IV., now King, granted to Thomas Pringill, Trumpeter, for his services, the £10, lands of Ballencrieff in fee, with power of occupying or letting them to tenants, and in 1498 confirmed the grant when in camp in Kintyre (G. S.). Between 1502 and 1508 Thomas was allowed to export annually, free of duty, certain quantities of wool, hides, and salmon (T. A.). In 1506 he got the escheat of the goods of Sir William Lindsay-now pertaining to the King through his treason (P. S.). In January 1507 the King issued this edict: " We have for certain reasons, and for the good rule of our Port of Grace (Newhaven), constituted our lovit familiar servitour, Thomas Hoppringill, Baillie of our said port, as well of sea as of land, and to use the office of Justiciary within the bounds of the same ". It was here that the King built his famous ship, the Saint Michael, the greatest of the age, with sides of oak 10 feet thick, and carrying, besides the crew, 1000 men-at-arms. On 9th September 1513 at Flodden, Thomas, as principal Trumpeter by his master's side, would sound the charge, as by his master's side he died.

“ …their tread alone,

At times one warning trumpet blown,

At times a stifled hum,

Told England from his mountain throne

King James did rushing come.''

On the death of Thomas in 1513 Ballincrieff was transferred to John Drummond, the principal Gunner, for his pay ; but the lands continued to be referred to as the late Thomas Hoppringill's up to 1552, as did those he held in Newhaven, up to 1533.

Another of the five Trumpeters of James IV was John Hoppringill, apparently Thomas's brother. There are numerous entries in the Exchequer Rolls relating to these Pringills. In 1488 £10 is given to Pringill and his marrows for the composition of an unlaw in Peebles when the King was there in November; in 1489 given to Pringill to make him a banner, £2 10s. ; in 1491 given to Pryngill, King of bene, i.e, as finder of the bean inserted in the Twelfth-day Cake in the evening's festivities, 36s. The liveries of the Trumpeters were striking affairs ; in 1489 dressed lambskin for a gown for Pringill ; in 1491 gowns of English red for Pringill and Carrick ; in 1494 tan Rouen cloth and satin for John Pringill, and English red hose, when he went to Flanders with Sir Andrew Wood of Largo, the famous sea-captain ; for Pringill and Carrick when the King revisited the Isles in May , red and white silk for loose coats and taffeta for doublets ; in 1503 liveries of Bruges satin for Thomas and John Hoppringill ; in 1507, two black, two white and two scarlet bonnets for Thomas Hoppringill, bought by the King himself. On festal anniversaries as Yule, New Year, and Pasche, the Trumpeters regularly received money gifts (T. A.).

John Pringill is also mentioned as accompanying the King on a pilgrimage to Whithorn Monastery, and as going on special errands for him. He appears for the last time in 1504.

Thomas Pringill, younger, son of the above Thomas, appears first in the Rolls in January 1502, and after several of the usual appearances for livery and gifts there is this entry, "Jan. 1508 to Thomas Hoppringill's son and one man to pass into France, 4 French crowns.'' There is also this entry, " 1512 to Besse Hoppringill, 3 crowns of wecht '' (T. A.).

THE COURT OF JAMES V.

George Hoppringill, son of Alexander of that Ilk, is mentioned in the E. R and Lord High Treasurer's Accounts a dozen times between 1529 and 1540. As Master Cook or Yeoman of the Pantry he had a livery, 35s. for the keep of a horse, etc. In 1535 he had an outfit on going into England to buy horses for the King, In September 1540 he and Andrew Whyte received between them £20 for shearing the King's sheep and work connected therewith, also £129 for their expenses anent the shearing, the storage of the wool in the town of Selkirk, and its carriage to the port of Leith, etc. For George's wardship of the lordship of Burleigh, see under James of Tynnes, his brother.

William Hoppringill, another son of Alexander of that Ilk, was also attached to the Pantry in the household of James V. He appears as a witness to the King's confirmation of some eight charters. He died in December 1547, and his testament was registered as late as 1574 by Archibald Hoppringill, burgess of Edinburgh; he left in money £250.

JOHN 1

In 1530 John Hoppringill of that Ilk gets a gift of the non-entry of the quarter lands of Fans (Yerlside), also in 1539 of that of Caverton ; and in 1540 the King confirmed to him the charter of the lands of Caverton as granted by his father, James IV., to John's grandfather Adam Pringill (G. S.). At Whitsunday 1541 John got from the Archbishop a 5-years' tack of Torsonce, Torsonce Mill, and Crunzian, paying a grassed of £65 ; while his mother gets a similar tack of Cordlain, paying a grassum of £40 (R. A.). At Whitsunday 1544 Walter Ker of Cessford pays a grassum to the Cardinal for the feu of Torsonce, Crunzian, Plenploth, and Stow mill (R A.). During the devastation of the Scottish Border perpetrated at this time by Henry VIII., John Carr of Wark Castle, in 1544, raided Legerwood and took away 50 cattle and 100 merks worth of household furnishing, and burned Fans ; in 1546 Carr raided Fans a second time (H. L.). On 8th October 1548 John took part with the Assured Scots and the English in invading., burning, and plundering the lands of the Scotts (S. B.). In May 1549, John appeared before the Lords of Council, stating that his neighbours were encroaching on his lands of Hoppringill, Burnhouse, Langmuir, and Kittyflat, which were his by heritage and had belonged to his predecessors past memory-knowing that the evidents of his bounds were burnt and destroyed by the English army in Edinburgh after the battle of Pinkie : the Lords order the sub-Prior of St Andrews Priory, where the said evidents were registered, to give John an authentic copy at his expense. In 1551 and 1552 John, with William Cockburn of Choicelee, was present as a witness at Coldstream Priory, q.v.

John's Will was registered on 14th June 1555. He had issue :-

1. Thomas, his heir.

2. .Michael.

3. .James, in the Bow ; Tutor.

4. Archibald of Torquhan.

5. Elizabeth, Prioress of Coldstream.

6. Margaret, marr. Clement Mauchan of Pilton, Cramond.

THOMAS

In 1555 a dispensation of marriage was granted in favour of Thomas Hoppringill and Isabella Hoppringill daughter of George of Torwoodlee within the fourth degree of consanguinity, " propter hoc ab alique non rapto fueris '' (T. W.). On 19th October 1555 at Edinburgh in virtue of a contract whereby Walter Ker of Cessford alienates to him the lands of Torsonce, Crunzian, Cordlain, the mill of Stow, and free entry to the commons of Stow and Muirhouse, used and wont, John signs and delivers a Bond of Manrent, in which he binds himself and his heirs " to be lele and true men and servarndis '' to the said Walter and his heirs, " our allegiances to our Sovereign Lady only excepted,'' witnesses, the Clerk Registrar and Andrew Ker of Fawdonsyde ; seal attached, on the shield a bend charged with 3 escallops, legend round the circumference S. THOME HOPPRYNGILL (C. I.).

" On 21st Sept. 1558 at even a messenger starts from Edinburgh with letters to charge the laird of Traquair, Patrick Murray of Hangingshaw, and the whole of the Hoppringills and Scotts to be in Melrose on the 24th inst. for resisting our auld enemies of England '' (T, A.). "

In Jan. 1562 a messenger is sent from Edinburgh, with a charge of the Queen's Grace (Mary of Loraine) to Thomas Hoppringill of Torsonce and his servandis to bring and present Ellot and Crosser before the Justices within 3 days'' (T. A.). Have we here the reason for the murder by the Elliots six years afterwards of Lady Torsonce's father, George Hoppringill of Torwoodlee?

In 1564 Thomas, along with David Spottiswood of that Ilk acts as an arbitrator between Walter Ker of Cessford and James Ormiston of that Ilk anent certain lands (S. B.). In July 1566 he borrows £1000 from Adam French of Thorny- dykes, whose second son, Robert, is to hold Yerlsyde and Hoppringill in security till repayment (A. D.). For the charter of certain lands granted to the late Thomas on 23rd December 1566, and afterwards declared null and of no avail, see below.

Thomas died in the last quarter of 1566. By his spouse Elizabeth of Torwoodlee he had issue: -

1. James, his heir.

2. George.

JAMES

In 1567 sasine, proceeding on a precept of Clare Constat granted by the Archbishop of St Andrews and directed to Robert Hoppringill prebendary in the College of Crichton, is given to James Hoppringill, son and heir of the late Thomas of that Ilk, in the lands of Hoppringill, Langmuir, Burnhouse, and Kittyflat, also of Bow and Cathie, in the Regality of St Andrews; reddendo for Hoppringill and Langmuir l stone of wax, if asked, for Burnhouse and Kittyflat 7 shillings Scots in name of blench, and for Bow and Cathie 16 merks yearly in name of feu; reserving the usufruct of Burnhouse and Kittyflat to Isabel Hoppringill, the said James's mother, for life; witnesses to sasine the said Robert Hoppringill, James Sandilands in Nettlyflat, Robert Douglas in Hoppringill (L. C., 824).

At James's instance, when he was fourteen, his paternal and maternal uncles appear before the Lords in February 1573 and desire that his Curators till the age of twenty-one should be William Ker of Cessford, William Lauder of Halton, Patrick Crichton of Lugton, James Hoppringill of Whytbank, and Robert Lawson of Humble (A. D.). In May 1575 James and his uncle and Tutor James in the Bow, are two of the twelve Hoppringills summoned to appear re the Hoppringill-Elliot feud ( See Torwoodlee). In 1575 James is called upon by the Lords to produce the charter of certain lands round Coldstream granted by the Prioress to "the late Thomas,'' his father, and Sir Walter Kerr of Littledean to produce the charter in which James granted the said lands to his father, the late Sir Andrew Ker of Hirsel, who again granted them to him: the Lords declare the said charters null and void (A. D.).

In December 1580 James, as heir of Adam Hoppringill, his abavus (great-great-grandfather), is retoured in Yerlsyde and Spencerland, or the quarter of Fans, and on sasine pays £845 to the Exchequer through the lands having been in the hands of the King for eighty-four and a quarter years at £10 feufarm, also two pairs gilt spurs (E. R.). In May 1581 James contracts to marry Elizabeth Edmonston, relict of Nicol Elphinston and daughter of Eupham Wauchope, Lady Edmonston, he first to get himself infefted in his heritable lands, and her specially in Hoppringill, the Fans lands, and the mill of Stow, which shall be worth to her annually respectively f200, 40 merks mail, 50 bolls heir, and 50 capons, and 40 bolls heaped meal; the marriage to be in holy kirk; cautioner for James, George Hoppringill of Newhall (A. D.).

In November 1582 James, being now twenty years of age or thereby, registers an Interdiction prohibiting himself, for the space of nineteen years to come, from entering into any bond or obligation affecting his lands, tacks, feints, or goods, without the consent of Sir James Edmonston of that Ilk, John Ker of Littledean, James Hoppringill of Whytbank, and John Hoppringill of Buckholm, or any two of them, Sir James or John Ker being one: the 5-years tack of half Hoppringill to James Hoppringill and his spouse Elizabeth Douglas to remain in full strength for reasons known to the surname : subscribed " James Hoppringill of that Ilk '': Hoppringill witnesses, Malcolm of Cortleferry, George, brother to Whytbank, George of Newhall, and James in Bow (A. D.). In July 1591 the Hoppringills of that Ilk, Buckholm, and Whytbank appear among other Border lairds before the King and Council at Kelso, and give their oaths faithfully to serve the Wardens of East and Middle Marches, and Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm, especially in pursuit of Francis, Earl of Bothwell (P. C.). In November 1591 the Hopprinngles, viz., James of that Ilk, James of Whytbank, Blindlee, George of Newhall, and caution for one another in various sums, according to the general band, to keep the King's peace. In 1597 James subscribes the Mutual Bond of Manrent of the Hoppringles (see Smailholm).

James died in June 1606. His inventory made in 1617 by his daughter Eupham specifies the live stock and crops on Torsonce, teinds and feu duties owing by him, also £36 for the rent of Torquhan and Plenploth, leaving free gear £918 (T. E.) By his spouse Elizabeth Edmonston, James had issue:

1. John, his heir.

2. Robert.

3. Eupham, marr. in 1599 George, son and heir of Patrick Brown of Coalston (G. S., 1614). John of Buckholm, George of Thomas of Trinlyknowe become

In 1608 Eupham, as her father's executrix, summons George, son of the late James, in half Hoppringill, alleging that his father at his death in 1603 owed twenty-one years rent at £44, and that he himself had paid nothing since. George produced an acquitance dated June 1603; and the Lords order him to pay to Eupham the rents since amounting to £264, with £20 expenses. Following thereon, caution is found in sums varying from £1000 down to 100 merks, not to harm Elizabeth, relict of James of that Ilk, by the Pringills in Heriotmill, Buckholm, Mitchelston, and Tynnes, and Alexander Dickson in Airhouse; while Elizabeth on her part finds caution not to harm George Pringill in Hoppringill (A. D.) The said Elizabeth died in January 1618 at her daughter Eupham's house of Coalston. Eupham was alive in December 1649.

JOHN 2

In September 1606 Robert Pringill, John's brother, is one of twenty Pringills finding caution not to harm Sir Robert Stewart of Shillinglaw (see Buckholm). In May 1607 John, as heir to his father James, gets sasine, according to the ceremony practised on such occasions, in the lands of Torsonce, Cordlean, Crunzian, with pasturage and entry in the commons of Stow and Muirhouse, Stow mill with its lands and astricted multures, and the lands and mill of Plenploth with pasturage in Lugate common - all held blench of Lord Roxburgh, the superior, and of the Archbishop of St. Andrews for payment of £40 feu duty and attendance at his three principal courts in Stow. Similarly John gets from the Archbishop, of whom they are held in chief, sasine of the lands of Hoppringill, Langmuir, Burnhouse, Kittyflat, Bow) Cathie, and Torquhan; paying for Hoppringill and Langmuir a stone of wax, if asked only, for Burnhouse and Kittyflat seven shillings Scots in name of blench only, and for Bow and Cathie 16 merks, and Torquhan £6 Scots, feu duty, and attending the three principal courts held in Stow (Secy's Reg.). In 1614 John gets a royal fen charter of his Fans lands, called Spencerfield and Yerlsyde (G. S.).

Anna Heriot, John's first wife, died in December 1614, and as father of their bairns, James and Elspeth, he registered the farm stock, corn, etc., as worth £ 1920, and, among items owing, £50 as the fees of George Pringill "the laird's gentleman,'' (uncle).

In March 1620 John Hoppringle of that Ilk, William Borthwick of Crookston, and the tenants in Gala Water, are summoned by " the keeper of the haill waters besouth the Forth," who had put them to the horn at a court held at Lauder, for alleged slaying of red and black fish, smolts and fry of salmon, art and part receipt thereof, and contravening the Act of Parliament; but the said keeper not compelling the Lords annull the horning (A. D.).

In 1625 John is gazetted a J.P. for the shire of Edinburgh; also on a charter from the Archbishop he is infefted anew, with his son James, in the above-mentioned lands and rights (G. S.).

In November 1627 a threat of horning is issued against certain persons in some eighteen parishes in the shire of Edinburgh, including John Pringill of Torsonce for the parishes of Stow and Heriot, unless they inform themselves of all the fencible persons within their parishes, and make a perfect report thereof in writing, and compear personally with it before the Lords at Holyrood House (P. C.). In 1627 John takes part in assessing the parish for 300 merks to repair the church of Stow, and in 1631 is authorised "to build an aisle at the back of his own seat in the kirk '' (C. B.). From an action in 1628 it appears that John had a residence in Edinburgh on the north side of the High Street (A. D.). In 1630 John Chisholm sues John Pringill of Torsonce, and William and John Pringill in Cathie, because the latter had put him to the horn and apprised his sheep at Stow instead of the market cross of Edinburgh or of Kirkliston, the head burghs of the county, and of the regality; defenders having shown that it had been the custom for thirty years past to make all apprisings at the Kelloch yett in Stow, the Lords assoilzied them (A. D.).

In May 1631 a contract of marriage is made between James, John's eldest son and heir, and Margaret, daughter of Sir George Ramsay of Wylliecleuch - brother of John Ramsay who, for his defence of James VI against the conspirators in Gowrie House, was created successively Viscount Haddington, Lord Melrose, and Earl of Holderness (S. P.). Before May 1632 Elizabeth, John's daughter, married Sir Walter Murray, some- time of Colmslie Hill and later of Livingston, third son of Sir Gideon, first of' Elibank (S. P.). In April 1633 Eupham, another daughter, is infefted, as the future spouse of George, eldest son of James Pringill of Muirhouse, in the lands of Pirn, half Mitchelston, Muirhouse and Caldrope.

John died on 27th August 1626. His Testament, registered by his widow, Margaret Pringill, gives as the inventory £3536, and as owing to Robert Pringill, brother, and ten other servants, etc., £578, leaving free gear £2958 (T. E.).

John had issue by Anna Heriot (who died in 1614);

1. James, his heir.

2. Elizabeth, marr. Sir Walter Murray of Livingstone, before May 1632.

And by Margaret Pringill of Whytbank

3.Thomas, apprenticed in 1642 with George Wauchope, merchant, Edinburgh.

4. William.

5. John, in Watherston, issue - Janet born 1664, James born 1665, William born 1672.

6. Eupham, marr. George Pringill, younger, of Muirhouse, in 1633.

7. Jonet.

8. Jeane, marr. (1st) William Scott in Linton, (2nd) Walter Scott of Satchells (A. D., 1667).

9. Margaret, marr. George Keir in Hatton Mains in 1635.Her daughter, Katherine (Mrs Johnston in Ravelston), was retoured her heir in 1698.

JAMES 2

In July 1634 James had disponed to him for certain sums of money, and for acting cautioner for great sums of money, by Sir George Ramsey, the 12 husbandlands of Wylliecleuch, excepting the alienation made by him of the said lands in January preceding for 5000 merks to John Trotter, burgess of Edinburgh, to the reversion of which, granted him by the said John, he made the said James assignee (S. E.). In 1645 the said lands, now belonging to John Ramsay of Bewick, Sir George's grandson, were apprised by James for 9130 merks, and assigned by him to Patrick Brown of Coalston. Litigation on the matter took place between the parties also in 1654 (A. D., Scott).

In 1639 a bond for 3000 merks, granted to the late John by Sir David Crichton of Lugton in 1631, was claimed by the assignee of a bond of the same amount granted by the said John (to buy up the teinds of his lands) to his near kinsman Andrew Ker, son of the late Sir John of Littledean in 1636; but James Pringill of Buckholm declaring that the latter bond was undoubtedly intended by the late John, who was too ill to make a will, for the benefit of his widow and children, the Lords assigned the bond to James (A. D., Scott.). Also in 1639 James gives his wife, Margaret Ramsay, who had a tocher of 4000 merks, sasine of the Hoppringill, Bow, Torquhan and Fans lands (S. E.).

In 1648 James was appointed a commissioner for war for Edinburgh and Berwickshire (A. P.).

In these times when there were no banks, landholders who wanted money for tochers for their daughters, or other purposes, obtained it by granting bonds to lenders on the security of their lands. They often got into difficulties thereby, and not infrequently got warded in the Edinburgh Tolbooth till they paid up. In this way we find James excusing his non-compearance in an action because "he was lying sick under the doctor's hands," being prisoner in the Tolbooth from February 1657 to March 1658. At this time his son, Captain George, was abroad soldiering in Prussia.

"In July 1659 George Pringle, fear of Torsonce, now at home, subscribes a contract with the right worthy James Hoppringle of that Ilk, his father, in which, in consideration of his father having disponed to him all his lands and teinds of Gala Water, and certain great sums owing to him by certain debtors, he undertakes to keep his father skaithless at the hands of his creditors, to wit, Wm. Mure, 5500 merks, Jn. Edmonston, minister, 1500 merks, George Pringle; brother to the said James, 1000 merks, Andrew Pringle, Nenthorn, 600 merks, and certain others specified, and all sums owing by him up to date, as also skaithless of all impositions civil and military on the lands, under a penalty of 20,000 merks; reserving always to his father the lands of Fans, Hoppringle, Langmuir and Kittyflat, and the right to cut the woods of Torsonce, Bow, and Torquhan, at his pleasure; and further in June 1661 George binds himself to pay his sister Margaret 6000 merks, his sister Elizabeth 4000 merks, his brother John 6000 merks, and his brother William 1500 merks, or the ordinary rents of the same from Martinmas next: the contract to be executed by 1st October next under a penalty of 20,000 merks to be paid by the failer to the observer '' (R. D.).

In January 1664 James moves for suspension of a horning against him, because, it was obtained at a sheriff court when he was a prisoner in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh from November 1662 to February 1663, and could not attend (A. D., Durie.).

James died in 1669. His farm stock was estimated at £1320, and he left a bond for 800 merks granted to him by his son George (T. L.).

James had issue by his first wife Margaret Ramsay of Wylliecleuch: -

1.George, his heir, who marr. in 1654, Agnes, daughter of William Borthwick, 3rd of Soutra (S. P.).

2 William, born 1637

3. James of Rowchester, born 1639.

4. John, factor to the Earl of Lauderdale.

5. Margaret, marr. George Keir, tenant in Hatton Mains, late in Ravelston.

6. Elisabeth, born 1641, marr. George Pringle of Halltree,

By his second wife, Elisabeth Scott, marr. 1658, James had no issue.

GEORGE

George Hoppringle, during his father's lifetime, was a Captain under the Chancellor, the Earl of Loudon, who took an active part in levying men for the Royalist, Scots, who marched into England and were defeated at Worcester in 1651, and who afterwards in 1653 joined the Earl of Glencairn's army that held out for Charles II in the Highlands. Scotland having quietened down for a time under the rule of General Monk, many young Royalists went abroad and took part in continental wars; and we next hear of George in the following entry in the Calendar of Deeds: - "On 24th April 1657 at Thorn in Prussia, Anthony Haig of Bemerside grants him to be indebted to George and James Hamilton under the command of Captain Wm. Ramsey in the regiment of Wm., Lord Cranston, in the sum of £13 sterling for meat, drink, clothing, and other necessaries, which he as principal and Captain George Pringle fear of Torsonce as cautioner, bind themselves conjunctly and severally to repay by Whitsunday 1658, with £4 sterling liquidation expenses : he further binds himself to keep skaithless the said Captain George, and as he is far distant from the kingdom of Scotland where his tutors and governors dwell and cannot receive their consent, and is near his majority, and solemnly sworn, he further binds himself and them never to quarrel or impugn this his bond, and to have it registered in the books of Council and Session '' (R. D.).

William, and Lord Cranston, here referred to, took part as an " Engager '' in the battle of Preston in 1648, also in that of Worcester in 1651, when he was captured and lodged in the Tower of London. In 1656 he got a licence from the Protector Cromwell to levy 1000 men for service under Gustavus Adolphus in Poland, and in April a regiment of six companies landed at Stade, in northern Germany, and another followed in August.

In April 1657, after many of his men had deserted for other services for want of pay, Lord Cranston received orders " to lie in Thorn with ten companies.'' Thorn on the Vistula was occupied by the Swedes from 1655 till 1658, when after a desperate defence it was captured by the Polish and Austrian forces, the garrison at the time consisting of 2500 men. Lord Cranston returned home after the Restoration in 1661. He was esteemed the best swordsman of his day (S. P.).

In 1667 George gets from Marion, spouse of Lord Cranston, sasine of four husbandlands in the East Third of Smailholm (S. E.).

In September 1664 at Edinburgh a Birth-Brief is granted to Edmond E Cockburn, son of Daniel, son of Adam of the Scottish Body Guard of the King of France, son of William, son of Christopher Cockburn of Choicelee by Margaret, daughter of Alexander Hoppringill of that Ilk (G, S.).

As an example of a farm lease of the time, we have the following: -" 1671. It is agreed between George Pringle (now) of Torsonce and Robert Forsyth tenant in Torsonce Chapel; and he lets to him his lands and steadings of Torsonce, Bow and Crunzian, arable and outfield, and commonties as now possessed by him, together with teinds, for three years from Whitsunday next; George to have for his own use the hails house of Torsonce, high and low, under and above, within the yetts, with the parks and bounds thereof, with liberty to quarry any place of the ground he pleases for winning and leading stone) together with the feeding of 20 ewes, 20 gimmers, and 2 cows along with said (Robert's own beasts : Robert to pay yearly £830 Scots, half at Whit. and half at Mart. with one dozen kayne fowls, half hens and half capons, to till the ground within the packs yearly with his ploughs and beasts, to lead peats, slate, and lime with the rest of the tenants, and to help to "ca'' the water with them (for salmon).''

In 1675 George is ordained by the Lords to pay the 2240 merks borrowed by him in 1664 at an annual rent of £ 89 to be uplifted from Cathie; also the bond for 1000 merks granted by his grandfather in 1635 to his daughter Margaret, now spouse of George Keir, Hatton Mains (A, D., Durie).

In May 1676 George Hoppringle of Torsonce is appointed Lieut-colonel of the Militia Regiment of Foot whereof the Duke of Monmouth (and Buccleuch) is colonel, in place of Sir Francis Scott of Thirlestane (State Papers). In January 1681 the Duke, his Lieutenant George and other Militia officers are ordered to give in lists of heritors who absented themselves from the army (at the battle of Bothwell Brig in 1679) (P. S.).

In 1683 the Lords order George to pay to his brother John the annual rents, £240, left unpaid since his investment in 1672.

George died in October 1684. His executor, George Pringle of Halltree, his brother-in-law, gave in the inventory of his goods as £346, and as owing by him two bonds, for which the said George was cautioner, amounting to £1833 (T. E.).

George and his wife, Agnes, daughter of William Borthwick, 3rd of Soutra (S. P.), had issue:

1. John, his heir.

2. James, in Fans, and later in Yair.

ROWCHESTER

In 1659 James Pringle, 3rd son of James Hoppringle of that llk and Torsonce, married Agnes, second of the four daughters, heirs-portioners of the late Robert Trotter; and in 1660 Helen, the eldest daughter, gave him sasine of the half of the lands of Rowchesterrig and Cowrig, Berwickshire, to descend, failing children, to any his heirs; also he got from the other two sisters-in-law sasine of the other half of the lands for payment to each of them of 240 merks annual rent (S. Berwick). In 1684 at the Merse Circuit he was fined for a contravention of his office as Sheriff-Substitute of Berwickshire (P. C.). In 1685 and 1704 he appears as a commissioner of supply for the county.

James died in August 1705. His sister Elisabeth, wife of George Pringle of Halltree, gave in the inventory of his goods as £266, and as owing to him a bond for £1119 granted by the Earl of Home to George Pringle, Bailie of Kelso, and assigned to him, and other bonds, totalling £2717 (T. Lauder).

James and his wife Agnes Trotter left no issue. In 1707 James's nephew, John Hoppringle of that Ilk, was served his heir general, and heir special in Rowchester, Cowrig, and Bankhead (S. H.).

JOHN 3

In September 1681 a contract of marriage was made between John Hoppringle, younger, of Torsonce and Grissell, eldest daughter of Hugh Scott of Galashiels, who was to be infefted in an annual rent of 1800 merks furth of his lands ; witnesses, Patrick, Master of Polwarth, John Pringle, younger of Stitchill, Francis Scott of Mangerton, Mr Walter James, the young laird's brother, and others (S. E.). Hugh Scott, who was a grandson of Sir James Pringle of Smailholm, was prominent among the Scots who planned the rising under the Earl of Argyll in 1685 against James VII prior to his expulsion from the throne in 168 : Hugh had, besides John, another son-in-law, Walter Scott of Raeburn who was killed in a duel with Mark Pringle of Crichton at Selkirk in 1707.

In 1696 in an action before the Lords between John and younger, of Stitchill, Pringle, advocate, Mr James Borthwick who claimed immunity, proved that the whole barony was thirled and astricted to the mill of Stow, and that the right thereto had been disponed to his ancestor in 1543 by Andrew Ker of Cessford who was the immediate vassal of the Bishop of St Andrews (L. D.).

In July 1698 John was appointed a commissioner of supply for Edinburgh and Berwick shires (A. P.). In September his father-in-law, Hugh Scott having acquired certain adjudicated lands disponed them to him; and John, now in possession of the whole, received a new Royal charter of them, paying the feu duties to King William instead of the Archbishop; and in December he and his spouse got sasine of the same with delivery of earth and stone (S. E.).

In December 1712 John Hoppringle of that Ilk nominates as Curators of Margaret, his only daughter, during her minority, Sir John Pringle of Stitchell, bart, Sir Walter Pringle and Mr Robert Pringle, advocates, Thomas Pringle, W.S., George Pringle of Greenknow, and Thomas Scott, brother of Sir James of Gala, her uncle; with a commission by the said John to the said Curators to sell his whole lands and estate, and after payment of his debts to apply the surplus for the benefit of his said daughter (S. W.). Between 1693 and 1704 John had had eight children, all of whom were dead except Margaret, with whom, as his heiress, the long descended Hoppringles of that Ilk would come to an end-a fate that had already befallen the Pringles of Smailholm, Blindlee, and Buckholm. In August 1732 an instrument of sasine having been made in favour of the creditors of John Hoppringle in his lands, on trust disposition by him, with the rental; and articles and minutes of roup, they were sold to Thomas Pringle, W.S., advocate, for £800, about twenty-two years purchase. In September 1733 a contract of marriage was made between Gilbert Pringle, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (brother of the said Thomas and Robert of Stitchill), and Margaret Hoppringle (S. W.),

John died in Edinburgh on 21st December 1737. His testament and the inventory of his goods, gear, debts and moneys, made by himself in December 1712, was given up in February following by Gilbert Pringle on behalf of his spouse Margaret Hoppringle, only daughter to the deceased, appointed his sole executrix and legatrix, the inventory being an exhaustive account of everything in the house of Torsonce, in the easter and wester lower and the easter and wester upper rooms, the high stair room, the garret, the kitchen, the milk house, the brew house, the old Tower, the stable with three blouses, the barn, etc., of the total value of £437 ; debts owing to deceased £3285, including £2129 in the hands of Mr. Walter Pringle, advocate, recovered by him from James Davidson, the purchaser of Halltree, as the proceeds of a debt due by Pringle of Halltree (T, E.).

In Walter Scott of Satchell's Metrical History of the Scotts and Elliotts there is a poem dedicated "To the very honourable and right worshipful generous gentleman John Hoppringil, laird of Torsonce'' beginning-

" Since Providence has given you wit in store,

Live as your worthy father did live you before-''

MARGARET (DAUGHTER)

Only daughter of John Hoppringle of that Ilk survived him only three months and died at Torsonce in March 1738, aged forty-two years. Her testament was given up by her husband Gilbert Pringle, to whom in December 1737 she disponed and assigned all debts and moneys that pertained to her father or herself, the debts owing to them amounting to £ 6243; Mr Andrew Marjoribanks, and her cousins James Pringle, wright in Edinburgh, and his sisters Janet and Margaret, consenting and confirming Gilbert as only executor in and to the said debt (T. E., 1740).

Gilbert Pringle survived Margaret many years, and died at his seat of Torsonce on 3rd September 1765. He left a daughter Frances, to whom his brother Sir Robert of Stitchill, his sole executor and legatee, was to pay £300 sterling (T. E., 1766).

JAMES (BROTHER)

James Pringle, brother german of John Hoppringle of that Ilk, who appears first in Fans and later in Yair, died before April 1728. By his spouse Christian Pringle he had issue-

1. Thomas, his heir.

2. James, wright, burgess of Edinburgh.

3. Margaret, born at Fans in July 1703; marr. Mr David Duncan, minister of Stow.

4. Janet, marr. James Hunter, merchant in Queensferry.

Christian Pringle, James's widow, died in April 1755. She left legacies of 2000 merks Scots each to the Charity Work- house, the Orphan Hospital, the Merchant Maiden Hospital, and the Royal Infirmary, all in Edinburgh, to be paid the first Whitsunday after her decease-the surplus of her estate, if any, to belong to James Pringle, one of the Principal Clerks of Session, brother of George of Torwoodlee (T. E., 1756).

The testament dative and inventory of James Pringle, wright, burgess of Edinburgh, was also registered and given up by the said James Pringle of the Court of Session in June 1756, according to which he inherited the £ 2731 annual rents due to his mother, Christian, and a bond for 5000 merks that had been granted to his brother Thomas in 1718 (T. E.).

The testament of Margaret Pringle, wife of the minister of Stow, was registered in January 1749 by the husband of her sister Janet, her only executor dative as nearest of kin, and according to her marriage contract of 1739 her husband, there being no children, had to return to her heirs one-third of her tocher (T. E.).

NOTE

Reference must be made to the early genealogists, Mackenzie, Nesbit, Douglas, and Robertson. Most of their fictitious statements with regard to the early Hoppringills have been discarded; but their identification of Roger Pyngle of Whitsome and Adam Pyngle of Aberdeen with the Hoppringills has been accepted up to the present day. Their method was simple.

Totally ignoring the fact that in the numerous occurrences of the names in the ancient records no Hoppringill had ever been found spell Pyngle, nor a Pyngle spelt Hoppringill, they altered the spelling of Hoppringill into Hop-Pringle, and of Pyngle into Pringle, when, presto, the identification was complete! Hence the long procession of semi-decapitated Hop-Pringles in Douglas's " Baronage'' and the wholly decapitated Hop Pringle of " The Outlaw Murray.''

The fact is that English surnames are constantly to be met with in Scotland during the reigns of Robert and David Bruce. Englishmen had flocked into the country under the Norman knights, and among them came this Roger Pyngille or Pyngel. King Robert divided Whitsome between him and Nicholas Fouler; but he afterwards forfeited these lands, along with those of Bonjedworth, under King David (G. S., R. S., Robertsons Index). Contemporary with Roger was William Pyngill, mentioned as an official in 1329 in the royal household (E. R.): while in the Percy Chartulary we read that on the 7th January 1332 " Earl Percy, with the Earl of Cornwall and Lord Neville, overtook at a ford and slew Thomas Pyngel, who with 200 horsemen had been pillaging Redesdale,'' " quidam proditor,'' a certain traitor, the English chronicler calls him. - We to and come now Adam Pyngle. He was practically contemporary with our Adam Hoppringill, squire to William James, the first Earls of Douglas, and was a prominent figure from 1360 till 1386, before when he died. The same or not as the Adam Pyngle of the Percy Chartulary who held lands in Northumberland and the Adam Pyngle of the Coldingham Chartulary who held fishings on Tweed, Adam appears some two dozen times in the Exchequer Rolls between 1360 and 1384 as " Custumar,'' or customs officer, of Aberdeen, collector of contributions for King David's ransom, bailie of Formartin, and Tutor of the heirs of William Scott. In the Great Seal he appears as a holder of lands in the shires of Aberdeen, Kincardine and Perth, and as a witness. On the 18th September 1363 Adam Pyngle, " mercator de Aberdene,'' has a, safe conduct to enter England with his goods and merchandise, with 4 companions, on horseback, and trade there for a year, taking back only the same horses that he brought (Rotuli Scotiae).

From the Registrum Episcopatus Aberdomensis we see his transactions in lands, and his foundation of a chaplaincy under the bishop of Aberdeen; and it is interesting to find him present at a bishop's court on the 24th October 1321 along with William Earl Douglas himself, who had succeeded his brother-in-law in the earldom of Mar in 1374 and consequently was often north in Aberdeenshire; also that he had been a fellow-witness with Archdeacon Barbour, author of The Bruce, and that he had an Anniversary celebrated in the cathedral church of Aberdeen on the 14th of July. From " The Acts of Parliament '' we learn that, along with John Mercer-whose " inestimable wealth '' the English Walsingham speaks of - and other burgesses, he was specially called to the Parliament of Perth, 13th January 1364, to consider King David's ransom; and again on 18th February 1369 to consider contradicted judgments, questions, and quarrels. Adam Pyngle married, before May 1861, Marjorie de Blackwater, daughter and heiress of William, called Ingramisman of Kincardineshire - not a daughter of the Earl Marischal, as recent authorities still keep repeating (G. S.). He had at least one son, Adam, who was alive in 1380 (E. R.). From The Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff we find that his two daughters, his heirs, with consent of their husbands, wadset their respective halves of Blackwater, Katrina in 1400, and Isabella in 1402. In the Townhall of Aberdeen there can be seen an old undated plan of the city showing " Edie Pingle's Croft " still marked at Gerard-street. The statement that this Adam Pyngle, merchant, and customs officer for twenty years of Aberdeen, was the same as our Adam Hoppringill, squire to the Earls of Douglas, is thus absurd.

Finally, we find from the English Close Rolls, and the Subsidy Records of Sussex, Suffolk, and Yorkshire, that Pyngle or Pingel was a widely spread English surname when the first Hopprlngill appeared.. We note Robert Pingel, Hants, 28th February 1274; William Pingel, Hants, 1275; Gilbert Pyngel, Norfolk, 1275; John and Alexander Pingel, Yorkshire, 1297 and 1302 ; John Pyngle, Hants, 1305 ; Thomas Pyngel, Worcester, 1309; Simon Pyngil, Derbyshire, 1311; Alan Pyngel, Hants, 1325; Petronilla Pingel, Suffolk, 1327 ; William Pyngel, Suffolk, 1340, who, along with John Moigne and others, is apprehended for imprisoning the Archdeacon of Essex-reminding us of the above Adam Pyngle and his contemporary, Sir Walter de Moigne, sheriff of Aberdeenshire ; William Pyngel, Gloucestershire, 1348 ; William Pyngull, Worcester, 1401 ; and Richard Pyngill, vicar of Edlingham, Northumberland-possibly of the same stock as the Scottish Pyngles-1418.