FOURTH PERIOD 44-6 TRAQUAIR HOUSE between the years 1171 and 1 178. The estate later on passed through the hands of William Watson of Cranyston to William de Moravia, and was forfeited by him about 1464, for that year, Sir Walter Scott tells us in the notes to the " Sang of the Outlaw Murray/' " A charter, proceeding upon his forfeiture, was granted by the Crown 'Williel'mo Douglas de Cluny.'" " It would seem," says Sir Walter, "that this grant was not made effectual by Douglas, for another charter from the Crown, dated 3d February 1478, conveys the estate of Traquair to James Stuart, Earl of Buchan, maternal uncle to James in.," in whose descendants it rested until the death of the late Lady Stuart, when the estate passed into the hands of the present proprietor, the Honourable H. C. Maxwell Stuart, under the will of the late Earl of Traquair. The outlaw Murray, who had set himself up as independent of the Sovereign, is represented as sending messages to warn his friends to rally round him when he learns that the King is advancing against him. and amongst others " To Sir James Murray of Traquair A message cam right speedilye 'What news? what news?' James Murray said, ' Man, frae thy master unto me ? '
- What neids I tell ? for weel ye ken
The king 's his mortal enemie ; And now he is cuming to Ettricke Foreste, And landless men ye a' will be.' ' And, by my trothe,' James Murray said, ' Wi' that Outlaw will I live and die ; The king has gifted my landis lang syne It cannot be nae warse wi' me.' " Sir Walter is of opinion that the Murrays may have continued to occupy Traquair long after the date of that charter. Hence, Sir James might have reason to say, as in the ballad, " The king has gifted my lands lang syne." DRUMLANRIG CASTLE, DUMFRIESSHIRE. This noble mansion, the seat of the Duke of Buccleuch in Dumfries- shire, is one of the finest examples in Scotland of the quadrangular mansion of the seventeenth century. It occupies the site of an older castle, and is situated on an elevated promontory of land rising steeply above the level haughs at the junction of the Marr Burn with the Nith. From this lofty position it commands a fine view down the Vale of Nith, and forms a conspicuous object in the landscape for miles around. The extensive park is studded with noble old trees, and the long straight avenue leading to the mansion from the north is lined with a double row
