stands the Abbay, Newmilnes, Stevinsone, and Hermistone, all most pleasant places and weill planted; as also Morhame and Hailles, past the Almous[573] house within a mile of Dumbar.  Saw on our right hand Spot and the Bourhouscs, ware Happers now Muires; saw also Fuirstoun belonging to Andrew Whyte, once keiper of the Tolbuith; then saw Innerwick toune and church standing at a good distance from the house.  Saw Neutonlies, Eistbarnes, Thornetounloch, Scatteraw, Douglas, and Colbrandspath:  past thesse steip braes called the Pies.  Saw Butterdean toune and house acquired by Mr. William Hay, the Clerk, who also bought Aberlady, now belonging to Sir Androw Fletcher:  then saw Rentoun lying in a wild moir:  item, Blacarstoun of on our right hand also in a wild seat, yet seimed to be reasonably weill busked with planting:  item, Blaickburne in the moir:  then Fosterland:  then Bouncle, Preston, and Lintlands, belonging to the Marquise of Douglas and presently the Lady Stranavers jointer, worth 10,000 merks by year:  then Billie, Renton to his name, and then Billie, Myre; then Edencraw, then came to Idington, 36 miles from Edenbrugh, ware Idingtons to their name, hes no evidents of it but since the year 1490.  In this same condition are the most of the gentlemen of the Merse who ly most obnoxious to Englands invasions.

    [571] Sir John Lauder senior’s third wife was a daughter of Ramsay of
        Idington.

    [572] The Coalston pear was presented by the Warlock of Gifford to his
        daughter, who married Broun of Coalston, telling her that as long
        as it was preserved fortune would not desert the family.

    [573] Alms.

Saw the Maines, a roome lying betuixt Chirnesyde tour and Idington:  ware Homes.  On Patrick Mow, sone to the last Laird of Mow, maried the heritrix of it, and so hes the land.  They tell whow the Earle of Roxbrugh was the cause of the ruine of the said Laird of Mow.  Mow being on a tyme with some Englishmen took on a match for running upon a dog of my Lord Roxbrughs head[574] against their dogs, wheiron addressing himselfe to my Lord, he would not quite his dog unless Mow would give him a bond to pay him 8000 merks incaise he restored him not back the dog haill and sound:  which Mow, thinking their ware no hazard in it, did.  The day being come my Lords dog wins the race; but as soon as it was done my Lord had a man ther readie to shoot it:  who accordingly did so, and fled.  Then my Lord seiking the soume in the bond, and he unwilling to pay it, was at wast charges in defending, and at last succumbed, and so morgaged his estate to Adam Bell, who after got it.  His ladie was a daughter of West Nisbets, with whom the young man Patrick was brought up.

    [574] Upon the head of a dog of Lord Roxburgh’s, i.e. backing
        the dog.