“IN the hands of Mr. R. S. McNicol, Glasgow, is a transcript, apparently vouched for by a well-known W.S., of a transumpt or notarial copy of a highly interesting historical charter. Mr. McNicol fears the original document, extant in 1885, is now lost, but possibly this notice may lead to definite information of its whereabouts. The document bears that on 12 September 1453 Robert Lord Boid produced before the notary and witnesses a charter of Robert Bruse by the grace of God late King of Scots in favour of the late potent lord, Robert Boid, written on parchment and sealed with the King’s seal in white wax. Its terms are then recited as follows:-
Robertus Dei gracia rex Scottorum omnibus probis hominibus suis tocius terre sue salutem, Sciatis nos dedisse concessisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse Roberto Boid militi dilecto et fideli nostro pro homagio et servicio suo omnes terras de Kylmernoc de Bondingtoun et de Herteschav, que fuerunt Johannis de Balliolo in dominico, totam terram de Kylbride et totam terram de Ardnele, que fuerunt Godfridi de Ros filii quondam Reginaldi de Ros, et totam terram que fuit Villelmi de Mora in tenemento de Dalry cum illis septem acris terre que fuerunt quondam Roberti de Ros in tenemento de Ardnele cum pertinenciis, una cum dimidio terrarum de Blare de Petecon de Dalry de Dogetlande et de Velscheton, et cum liberetenentibus dictarum terrarum et serviciis eorundem liberetenencium una cum liberetenentibus terrarum infra-scriptarum et eorundem serviciis videlicet terre de Meneforde, terre Ricardi Brune, terre Johannis de Kylmernoc, terre Villelmi de Cobynschent, terre Jacobi de Tempilton de Achindalosk, terre Roberti Scot in Raliston, terre Laurencii de Mora in tenemento de Dalry, et terre de Inglisardnel, Tenendas et habendas eidem Roberto Boid et heredibus suis de nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et hereditate per omnes rectas metas et divisas suas in unam integram et liberam baroniam quiete libere plenarie et honorifice in boscis planis viis semitis moris maresiis pratis pascuis et pasturis in aquis stagnis vivariis molendinis et multuris in aucupacionibus piscacionibus et venacionibus cum furca et fossa soc et sak thol et them et infangandthef et cum omnibus aliis libertatibus comoditatibus aisiamentis et iustis pertinenciis suis tam non nominatis quam nominatis; Preterea concessimus prefato Roberto Boid ut ipse et heredes sui habeant teneant et possideant predictam terram de Herteschav per omnes rectas metas et divisas suas tantum in liberam forestam firmiter prohibentes ne quis sine licencia dicti Roberti et heredum suorum speciali infra dictam terram de Herteschav secet aucupet aut venetur super nostram plenariam forisfacturam; Faciendo nobis et heredibus nostris dictus Robertus et heredes sui pro omnibus terris supradictis servicium unius militis in excercitu nostro et unam sectam ad curiam nostram de Are ad singula placita nostra ibidem tenenda. In cuius rei testimonium presenti carte nostre sigillum nostrum precepimus apponi, Testibus Bernardo abbate de Abirbrotht cancellario nostro, Thoma Ranulphi comite moravie nepote nostro, Valtero senescallo Scocie, Johanne de Meneteth, Jacobo domino de Duglas, et Roberto de Keth Militibus. Datum apud Are tercio die mensis maii anno regni nostri decimo.
[Robert is the grace of God king of Scots, to all good men of his whole land, greeting, Know ye that we have given, granted, and by this our present charter have confirmed, to Robert Boid the soldiers, our dear friend and the faithful our God, for his homage and service, to all the lands of Kylmernoc of the Bondingtoun, and out of Herteschav, which belonged to John of the Bailleul in their whole territory of Kylbride the entire land of Ardnele, which were Godfrey of Rosh children once Reginald of Eos, the whole land which was of William de Mora in holding the Dalry with these seven acres of land which were formerly Robert de Ros in holding the Ardnele with appurtenances, with half of the blare de Petecon the Dalry of Dogetlande and Velscheton and being free of the said lands and services of the same release with free world subscripts of these services at the earth from Meneforde, soiled Richard Brown, land John Kylmernoc, land of William the Cobynschent, soiled James Tempilton the Achindalosk, land Robert Scott to Raliston, Lawrence about the delay in the holding of Dalry and land Inglisardnel, and to hold said Robert Boid heirs of us and our fee and heritage by all the right metes and bounds toward one whole and free barony, quiet, freely, fully, and honorably, in a woodland that the planes of the ways, paths, moors, marshes, meadows, and pastures in the waters of the pools, ponds, mills, and multures in the hawking fisheries, and a hunting with a fork, and a ditch soc and sac toll and them, and infangandthef, and with all the other liberties, commodities of the easements, and just as well not named as named, with their appurtenances; Moreover we have granted to the said Robert Boid so that he and his heirs shall have, hold and possess, to the said land of Herteschav by all the right goals and the boundaries of their own only in free, the forest is firmly prohibiting every one, without the leave of the said Robert and his heirs in a special field within the said land out of the Herteschav cuts is feeding, or to hunt down a our full forfeiture; In testimony charter ordered our seal to be affixed to witnesses, Bernard, Abbot of Abirbroth chancellor, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, our son, Walter, Steward of Scotland, John Menteith, James Lord of Douglas and Robert Keith soldiers. Are Given in the third day of the month of May in the year of our reign.]
The notarial act of reading, copying, &c., was done “in castro de Kylmernoc” by Robert Kerde, a priest of the Glasgow diocese notary public by imperial authority, and the witnesses were Sir Alexander Boyd knight, William Boid “brother of the said lord of Kylmernoc,” Alexander Hamylton and Thomas Rede, with many others not named.
The original charter of King Robert the Bruce is entered in the Register of the Great Seal, which, as usual at that time, omits the date. There are besides some transpositions and other differences, chief of which is that the entry in the Great Seal Register does not mention the lands of Blair, Petecon, Dalry, Dogetlande, or Velscheton. Ayrshire antiquaries will probably find the value in this copy of the foundation charter of the barony in 1315.”