Nearly eight hundred years ago the first authentic record of the Graeme is found, when William appears as witness to the Charter of Foundation of the Abbey of Holyrood, which was founded in A.D. 1125-8 by King David I of Scotland.

William de Graeme stands out, from the tradition surrounding that period, as a historic personality; for we not only find him a witness to the Holyrood Charter, but to that of the Priory of Durham in 1139, and also acquiring many and broad lands, including those of Charleton and Burrowfield, near Glasgow; and the lordship of Kinaber, Co. Kincardine; together with the lands of Abercorn and Dalkeith, all granted to him by King David. He gave to the monks of Haddington the lands of Clerken Town when Adda, Countess of Northumberland, laid the foundation of that convent.

No facts of William’s ancestery have reached us; tradition alone records that he sprung from a renowned "Graym", who was the father in law of Fergus II, King of the Scots, and had come over with that monarch from Denmark, and their offspring became the wife of Fergus. He also commanded the King’s army, during which period he attached and demolished the wall of Antoninus, built across Scotland from the Firth of Forth to that of the Clyde, which marked the northern limit of the country conquered by the Romans.

After the death of King Fergus "Graym" became guardian to the young King Eugene (his grandson), and when he had restored religion, law and order to the State he resigned his guardianship and placed the government of the kingdom in Eugene’s hands so soon as that monarch reached full age.

Whether every descendant of the Montrose family accepts this tradition we must leave to their own decision, but it would seem that the characteristics and records of the family point rather to the Scandinavian than normal descent, which is the other alternative of William de Graeme’s origin.

For those who accept the former, a very interesting account of the building of the wall of Antoninus, showing its date and progress, may be found in Mr Gillespie’s edition of the "History of Stirlingshire", to which volume I am indebted for the following:-

When Falkirk parish Church (which had been built by Malcolm Canmore) was razed to the ground in 1011 a white marble slab was discovered amongst the foundations, about one foot square in size. It bears two inscriptions – one relating to the foundation of the monastery 1057, and the other to the memory of the Thane who broke down the great wall. The latter runs as follows:-

FVNERATVS HIC DESN ROB GRAHAM

ILLE EVERVS VALL SEVERVS

A.C.D. 15 FERGVSIVS II R. SCO.

From the existence of this slab it seems that the tradition must have been accepted as fact in the year 1057. That the remains of this wall in that district are called to this day "Graham’s Dyke" cannot be disputed.

Mr James Brown’s assertion that the whole tradition is "absurd fiction" is scarcely argument, and certainly not proof, especially as he appears unable to give any reason for the name the Dyke bears; the etymology of which he says "has confounded antiquarians and puzzled philologists", while he throws great doubt on its being derived from "Grym," which signifies strength, in the British and Welsh languages of the period.

In an old black-letter book in the library at Innerpeffray, Perthshire (the title page of which is very quaintly ornamented and bears the date 1577 as the year of printing), is the most detailed account of "Grym" that I have hitherto come across.

It is a history of Scotland, dedicated to the Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Lycester, Baron of Denbigh, Knight of the Garter, etc. etc.; the author is one Raphael Holmshead.

The following are one or two extracts:-

"The Scots and Picts being informed (of the building of the wall) they assembled together, and under the leading of a noble man called Graym, they set upon the Brytagnes (who were building the Dyke from Abercorn to Dumbarton by order of the Romans, making it of ‘turfe’, sustained with certain posts of timber passing athwart the border) as they were busie in working about the same, and slue not only a great number of labours and souldiours, which were set to labour to defend the work, but also entering into the British borders fetched from thence a great bootie of cattaile and other riches, etc.

"This Graym, who as I sayde was chief of the enterprys, was borne in Denmark (as some holde opinion) in the tyme of the Scottish men’s banishment, and had a Scottish man to his father descended of a noble house, and a Danish lady to his mother; he himself also married a noblewoman of that nation, and had by hir a daughter, whom Fergus by the perswasione of the King of Denmark took to wife, and had issue by hir (before his coming into Scotland) three sons, Eugumius, Dongarus and Constantuos, of whom hereafter mention shall be made.

"Others affryme that this Grayme was a Briton born, and that thro’ hate of the Romanes for their cruel government he fledde forth of his native country, and continued ever after amongst the Scottes, first in Denmark and then in Albion."

The author goes on to relate that whilst the Britons were busy sending "Ambassors" to Rome to consult about their defences the Picts and Scots advanced under the leadership of "Graym". He was chief in repulsing the "Bretagnes, and razed down the wall of Abercorn, not leaving one pieve thereon, so that only a few tokens are left to this day of that huge and wonderful work; it is called now in these days Grams dyke, because that Grayme ye have heard was not only chief in repulsing the Bretagnes from the same, but also at this time in the razing of it he was the greatest doer".

Mr Gillespie’s "History of Stirlingshire" tells us this wall runs along from Castle Cary parallel with Bonny water; after clearing Seabog wood it passes on to Chapel Hill, where a small Castellum stood on the north side of the ditch. It is between this point and Elf Hill that the wall bears the local name of "Graham’s Dyke", from the tradition that it was at this spot "Graym" broke through the military cordon defending it.

For my purpose the years 1125-39, with their indisputable proof of the tenure of the Graemes on Scotch soil, are sufficient. Certainly at this period, William de Grame was a person of assured position and wealth and established (as many of his descendants were to be also) in the confidence and friendship of his king.

It was his second son, John de Grame, who was destined to continue the line of the Earldom and Dukedom of Montrose.

He witnessed a charter of the Newbattle Monastery in 1170, and was present at the Court held by King Alexander at Alyth in 1200, when all claims to certain lands of the Church of Glasgow were resigned by William Comyn.

There is a curious coat represented in Mr Stodart’s "Scottish Arms" which was borne by John’s nephew at the siege of Caerla rock. This Henry de Grame was in Curia Regis at Edinburgh in 1189-96.

John de Grame was succeeded by his son William as third in line, the only special mention of him that I have met with is a charter of Alexander of Seton, confirmed by William II, surnamed the Lion, in 1200, to which his seal is appended.

His son David, fourth in line, was the first to hold lands near Montrose. To him also descended the lands of Kynabar, obtained by his great grandfather, William de Grame – the first of our line – the grant of these lands were conferred on him as David of Grame pater (senior) Knight of Kynaber, Charlton and Borrowfield, in shire of Forfar, together with the fishing of the water of Northesk, in free Barony, for the service of a bowman in the King’s Army, and a suit of Court dress, and granted under the Great Seal by William the Lion at the King’s head Court of Forfar.

He also obtained a grant of lands in Midlothian from his cousin Henry of Dalkeith. Four sons were born to him – David, Sir Patrick (who witnessed a charter by Alexander II to Newbottle Monastery in 1248) Sir Thomas and Sir William.

The eldest son succeeded as fifth in line, and was known as Sir David of Dundaff, having obtained a charter of Dundaff and Strath-carron (formerly the King’s forest) from the Earl of Dunbar; the charter of confirmation is dated at Scone, 1237, by Alexander II to David of Graeme for his homage and service the whole "waste lands" of Dundaff and Strath-carron.

We find David’s name as witness in a charter of the lands of Dunipace, by Adam of Morham, to St Mary’s Church, of Cambus; and soon after he became one of the guarantees in a treaty with Henry III, A.D. 1244. He died, leaving by his wife, Agnes, a son.

Sir David Graeme of Dundaff and Kincardine, sixth in line, was sheriff of the county of Berwick, and in 1242 had become husband of Annabella, daughter of Robert, fourth Earl of Strathearn. By this time the broad acres, secured by his predecessors, had been enlarged and strengthened, for we find the lands of Strathblane in Stirling and Mugdoc in Lennox (granted by Maldurin, "Earl of Lenos") added to those of Dundaff and the lands before mentioned, and secured by charter under the Great Seal of Alexander III.

Through David of Kincardine’s marriage with Annabella, he obtained further lands, being granted by her brother, Malise, Earl of Strathearn, charters of the lands of Kincardine, Coule, Clune, Foscayle, Perny and Bardrals, in feu and heritage, for the payment yearly of one penny in name of Blench farm.

The date of this charter is circa 1260, and it is witnessed by Robert, Bishop of Dunclane, Sir Stephen of Moran, and Sir Nicholas, Rector of Crieff. In the charter of confirmation of these lands granted to David’s son Patrick by Alexander III, at Scone, 1285, it is stipulated that , if these lands should fall to the King, three suits are to be rendered at Perth annually at the three head plea.

The "Perny" mentioned in the above charter, forms part of the Barony of Aberuthven, which became the portion of the first Laird of Inchbrakie and Aberuthven as son of William, first Earl of Montrose; and to this day the burial ground of that barony is held by the eleventh Laird of Inchbrakie, descended for 770 years from father to son.

David and Annabella had three sons, Patrick, John and David (all men of more than common note). We will for the moment pass over the eldest, and turn to Sir John Graeme of Dundaff, their second son, the beloved friend and companion of Scotland’s chief flower of chivalry, Sir William Wallace! There is not a more touching page in the annals of the Graemes than that which records through the muse of "Blind Harry" Wallace’s lament for his comrade in arms –

"My dearest brother that I ever had

My only friend when I was hard bestead;

My hope, my health! O man of honour great,

My faithful aid and strength in every strait!

Thy matchless wisdom cannot here be told

Thy noble manhood, truth, and courage bold,

Wisely thou knew to rule and to govern;

A bounteous hand, a heart as true as steel,

A steady mind most curteous and genteel."

Sir John’s strong patriotism and valour made him a brilliant personage of his century, and he stands out conspicuously to us from amidst the shadowland in which we seem to grope when garnering history of the period in which he lived.

He appears to have been born previous to Kincardine (acquired by his father from Malise, Earl of Strathearn) becoming the residence of the family, for tradition fixes his birthplace at Graham’s Castle, which stood near the source of the Carron, and close to which was a chapel, with burial place, called Kirk of Muir.

Wallace, we find, often rested at this castle between his arduous campaigns, and we can fancy the two heroes in earnest consultation as to the best means for releasing their beloved country from the miseries of civil war.

On the 21st July 1298, Wallace, accompanied by Graeme, arranged his troops in fighting order at the Field of Falkirk, and charged them in the following words –

and when, on the 22nd Sir John fell on the disastrous field, Wallace, half broken-hearted for his friend and the reverse, traced (it is said with his sword) the inscription, still to be read on Sir John’s tomb at Falkirk in Latin and which, roughly translated, runs thus –

The original plain slab was erected by Sir W. Wallace himself, a second slab with a renewed inscription was added, and the uppermost stone placed, by Sir William Graham of Airth in 1772. This is believed to have been inscribed from the original, and bears the words composed by Wallace himself –

Mente manuque potens, et Valloe fidus Achates,

Conditur hic Graemus bello interfeclus ab Anglis.

Xxii Julii 1298

The swords are handed down by the family as those of Sir John de Graeme; the short single-handed sword in the possession of the Duke of Montrose, bearing on its blade the following inscription –

" Sir John the Graeme very wicht and wise

and of the chiefs relievit Scotland thryse,

Fought with ys sword, and ner thout schame,

Commandit nane to Beir it Bot his name."

On the hilt are initials, " S.J.G." date 1406.

The other sword is a long two-handled one. It was for some time in the possession of the Orchill branch of the Graemes, but was presented towards the close of the eighteenth century, by the late William Graeme of Orchill to the Masonic Lodge at Auchterarder (of which he was at that time Grand Master), where it is now preserved.

The handle or hilt measures 3 feet across, and the length of it is 1 foot 4 inches. The blade is 4 feet long, and tapers in width from 2¼ and 1¾ inches. Originally the blade was 9 inches longer, but for some reason was cut, so that the full original length of the sword was 6 feet 1 inch. These two handled swords were usually borne by the leader’s men at arms.

Whether the lines on the first of these swords were engraved by Wallace’s desire, and expressed a wish of Sir John’s known to him, or whether they are the work of the owner in 1406, who records thus the tradition of Sir John’s wishes, does not appear, but they go to prove how the hero loved his sword, and how it has been the keeper of his fame!

The younger brother of Sir John, and youngest son of Sir David, sixth in line, was named after his father David. He, however, took the other side, and was a nominee of Balliol, when he claimed the Scottish Crown.

He married, previously to 1268, Muriel, the daughter and co-heiress (with her two sisters) of Byset of Lovat, in Inverness. Muriel’s grandfather had founded Beauly Priory in Ross-shire.

David had been taken prisoner by the English, but was released from prison by Edward I in 1297 on condition that he served in the wars against France. There is a seal of his in the Chapter House, Westminster (seme of crosses fitchee three escallops). They had a son called Patrick.

Patrick (the eldest brother of Sir John and David) carried on the line as seventh in succession, under the title of Sir Patrick of Kincardine, and took an active and leading part in the events of his time. He negotiated the marriage of Prince Alexander (son of Alexander III) with Margaret, daughter of Guy, Earl of Flanders, in 1281.

Previously he had, in 1272, been witness with Robert, Bishop of Dunblane, and others, to a charter granting lands by Alexander, Lord of Strieveling, to the Church of St Servan of Alveth for ever.

On the Eve of St Luke, 17th October, 1282 he is, with the abbot and convent of Cambuskenneth and Robert, Bishop of Dunblane, assembled in full Court, under the title of Domini Patrick de Graym, vicecomitatus (sheriff) of Strieveling, and present at the witnessing of a charter given by William of Kymonde (son and heir of Anne, daughter of deceased William of Ketilistowne) of the whole lands of Badinath to the Abbot and convent of Cambuskenneth. Again, about the year 1285, we find him granted a charter by Sir Thomas of Monymusk of the lands of Cuyle, in Strathearn, with Domini Johanne Abbate de Cambus Kenneth as his principal witness.

The same year Patrick Graym of Kincardine receives at Scone, in November the confirmation of his charter of the lands of Fosshall, in Strathearn, from Malise, Earl of Strathearn. It is a charter of donation, and is confirmed by Alexander III.

The year before had found him sitting in Parliament at Scone, when the "maiden of Norway" was acknowledged heir to the Crown of Scotland.

On the 12th July 1292 he swore fealty to Edward I, accepting with many other of his peers, a money gratuity. He was present when Balliol paid homage to Edward later in that year; but when Edward summoned Sir Patrick to attend him into France in 1294, Patrick, disgusted with Edward’s treatment of Balliol, and also with the King’s cruelty towards the inhabitants of Berwick, joined the Scottish army and died (as so many of his line have done) fighting for his country at Dunbar, 28th April 1296, lamented by the English as one of the "wisest and noblest of the Scottish barons". Some records state he had a son, Sir Nicol, who obtained the lands of Esk by marriage with the heiress of Robert D’Avenel, and was thus the root of Abercorn.

His successor and eldest son, David, first of Montrose and eighth in line, was, on his father’s death, taken prisoner to England, but was released in 1297 on condition that he served Edward in his foreign wars.

He obtained the grants of many lands, given him by Robert the Bruce for faithful services, and exchanged those of Cardross, in Dumbarton, with His Majesty for Montrose, in Forfar. He died shortly afterwards, and was succeeded by his son, Sir David of Kincardine and Auld Montrose, as ninth in line.

In 1320 Sir David of Kincardine signed the famous "Letter of Independence" to the Pope, to which his seal (but in an imperfect condition) is still appended in the General Register House, Edinburgh. This letter was discovered and betrayed by the Countess of Strathearn, the wife of Sir David’s kinsman, which betrayal caused her to to be imprisoned for life. In the trial regarding this letter the name of a Sir Patrick de Graym appears. He must, I think, have been an uncle of Sir David’s. He was, however, acquitted with the others, and is probably the Sir Patrick de Graym in the list given by Dalrymple as slain at Halidon, July 10 1333.

Sir David of Kincardine appears as a guarantor of a treaty with England in 1322, and dying, was succeeded by his son, Sir David of Kincardine and auld Montrose, as tenth in line, and took a very prominent part in the days which proved that might must support right.

For the first time in the Cambuskenneth charters the spelling of the name is written Graham in 1361. Hitherto, both in these charters and the various seals, it has been spelt Grame or Graym, and this spelling was adhered to in the charter of Robert the Bruce, when in exchange for the lands of Sokach and Earldom of Garrick, the islands of Inchkillach and Inchfode, in the Earldom of Lennox, Sir David receives further lands in Charlton and Kynabar, their confirmation being dated Edinburgh, January 11th, 1359.

We find his name appended to no less than five of the Cambuskenneth Charters –

(1) A charter by Robert Erskine of that ilk and the Brony of Kinnoul, granting to the Covent of Cambuskenneth the patronage of the Church of Kinnoul, dated at Stirling, 27th January 1361.

(2) A charter by King David II confirming the above, dated Edinburgh 7th April, 1361.

(3) A charter by David II from "motives of piety" for the welfare of the souls of himself and his Queen Margaret of Scotland, to the Church of St Mary of Cambuskenneth of an annual rent of ten pounds of silver due to the King from the lands of Plane (Pleane), Stirlingshire, dated at Perth on 13th August 1364.

(4) Charters from King David II confirming the said grant to St Mary’s Church (notwithstanding the revocation of all the King’s grants made by a Parliament held at Scone), dated at Edinburgh, 25th February 1366.

(5) Sir David witnesses the Bull of Pope Urban V. confirming the Charter at Perth, and dated at Mount Flasco, 15th June 1369.

Sir David was one of the Scottish Barons employed to negotiate the ransom of David II, King of Scotland, and sat in the Scottish Parliament in 1367. He appears to have enjoyed a long life for those troublous times, for we find him taking oath of homage and swearing fealty to Robert II, King of Scots, at Scone on 27th March 1371.

On April 4th 1373, he is witnessing the second act of Settlement of the Crown of Scotland, and the last time his name appears is in March 1374, when a decreit of Parliament of Robert II, held at Scone, confirms Sir David’s claims to the lands of Auld Montrose, "notwithstanding anything shewn on behalf of Sir John Lindsay of Thurston"; but it is 1404 before his son and successor, Sir Patrick, eleventh in line makes his appearance as having succeeded to his father; he had previously acted as hostage for the release of King David.

There is an anecdote of previous years regarding a Scottish Knight, by name St Patrick Graym, who, returning from abroad, took part in the jousts which were held in the intervals of attack, between the Scottish and English armies then lying before Berwick. The story runs as follows, and is most probably an exploit of the boyish days of Sir Patrick Graeme, of Kincardine, Lord of Dundaff.

The English and Scottish armies were lying before Berwick wearied with the inactivity engendered by the truce of the summer of 1336, and to vary the monotony Henry of Lancaster challenged the Knight of Liddesdale to combat in the lists.

During the joust the Scottish Knight was wounded by his own spear, which would have brought the entertainment to a speedy end had not Lancaster requested Alan Ramsay to bring up twenty Scottish gentlemen of arms to meet the same number of English.

Two English had been slain, and William de Ramsay and John Hay had already shared the same fate, when at this juncture Patrick Graym arrived from abroad, an English Baron, Richard Talbot, requested to run the courses with him, and was wounded; had Talbot been armed according to the arrangements laid down for the joust, he would have been killed on the spot; as it was, Graym’s lance pierced through the two breastplates which Talbot wore, and sunk an inch into his breast.

At the supper held afterwards, an English Knight, whose name is not given, challenged Graym to fight. As Patrick responded he added pleasantly, "Brother, prepare for death and confess yourself", and so it fell out, for Graym transfixed him with a spear and left him dead upon the field.

There are at least two charters extant in which Sir Patrick is mentioned:

By Sir Patrick’s first wife, Matilda, he had a son and heir William, and one daughter, Matilda, who married Sir John Drummond, Knight of Concraig. We do not know the surname of this first wife Matilda; it is just possible she may have been a sister of the above-mentioned Simon of Moravia.

By Sir Patrick’s second wife, Euphame, daughter of Sir John Stewart of Rolston, he had four younger sons.

The second charter I have alluded to is dated at Perth the 10th of March, the date of the year is worn away, but it proves Sir Patrick’s second marriage. It is a Charter of Impignoration by Walter Stewart of Raylistown, to Sir Patrick Grame, Lord of Kincardine, of the lands of Cultchermeny and Bodraym, to be held by him and his heirs by the Lady Euphania, his spouse, the sister of the granter; whom failing, then by the true and lawful heirs of the said Sir Patrick for the rendering of the services due and wont to the lord and superior of the said lands.

Patrick, the eldest son of Sir Patrick and Euphania Stewart, his second wife, married Euphame, the only heir of the Earl of Strathearn by Euphemia Ross, his countess. They had a son Malise, who exchanged the lands of the Earldom of Strathearn for various lands, all given under one charter as the Earldom of Menteith; now said to be extinct. Of the three sons of this Malise, the eldest succeeded him in the Earldom; the second, Sir John of Kilbride; the third, Walter, founded the family of Graham of Buchquhaple. With regard to the remaining sons of Sir Patrick and Euphame Stewart we can learn but little, except in the case of Robert, who appears to have been a very prominent personage in the reign of James I of Scotland, and to have become instrumental in the conspiracy which ended in taking the life of that benevolent and energetic monarch who, in his conscientious endeavours to restore law and order to the nation, had, however, acted unjustly towards the individual.

In Sir Robert’s earlier years, circa 1399, his fther and Sir John Oliphant of Aberdalgie had drawn up an indenture, in which they proposed "God willand", that Marion Oliphant whould wed Robin de Graeme their respective son and daughter.

This indenture was apparently never carried out, and "Robin’s" eldest and half brother appears to have married Mariotta.

The "exchange" of the Earldom of Strathearn by Robert’s nephew Malise, to which we have alluded above, had been in reality a seizure by James I of the whole of the earls lands in Strathearn. Malise was absent in England at that time, but his uncle Robert greatly resented this confiscation. Robert also was, like many other of the Scottish nobles strongly attached to the House of Albany, which attachment had been in no way lessened by one of the first acts of James I in imprisoning Robert as an adherent of that house.

Such an indignity to the person of a Graeme, and inflicted by a Soverign, was not one to be lightly held or forgotten, and it aroused in Robert the strong instinct of feudal revenge, which he permitted to burn hotly to the last hour of his life.

The story is a matter of history, and well known, and those who wish to renew acquaintance with it must brace themselves to read of bitter and cruel deeds. Two bright spots of relief in the tragedy cannot be passed over without allusion: the heroic act of Catherine Douglas in using her fair white arm as the bolt of the door, until the arm was broken by the pressure without; and the defence of the Queen by the young son of Robert Graeme who thereby saved the life of Her Majesty.

Robert’s life ended as the lives of all those who are traitors to the king deserve that they should end, but to the last he declared that he had long ago renounced his allegiance under "hand and seal", and defied the King as his mortal enemy, that it became lawful for him to slay him should they meet, or opportunity occur.

The old chronicle adds of Sir Robert –

"He was a man of great heart and manhood and full

discreet, and a great scholar of laws positive,

cannon, and civil, both; and yet he was condemned!"

We now return to his father, Sir Patrick, whom we find witness to a chrter, 6th May 1400, by Robert III, between David Flemying Lord of Bygar, and Lenze and his "beloved and special friend Sir John of Dalyck". Sir Patrick must have died a few years after this, and been succeeded by his eldest son, Sir William Graeme, Knight of Kincardine, the twelfth in line, who held a Charter of Entail from Robert, Duke of Albany, of the lands of Auld Montrose, dated February 1407.

Like his father, he married twice; his first wife being Mariotta Oliphant, - the young lady who had been previously destined to be the bride of his half-brother Robin. She bore Sir William two sons, Alexander and John. After her death he married (about 1400) the Lady Mary Stewart, daughter of King Robert III, and had by her five sons, all of whose descendants are entitled to wear the double tressure on their coats, signifying their royal descent; they were –

These five sons of Lord Graham were all nephews of James I).

I have been unable to find any charter or circumstance of importance in which Sir William took part. His eldest son Alexander having predeceased him, leaving two sons, named Patrick and Alexander, Sir William on his death, circa 1444, was succeeded by his grandson, Patrick, the fourteenth in line, and the first Lord Graeme.

Patrick was one of the Lords of the Regency during the minority of James II and was created a Lord of Parliament in 1445, with the title of First Lord Graeme. It was just about this time that he succeeded his grandfather, for he was given sasine at Kincardine by Andrew Mercer (then owner of Inchbrakie) the King’s Bailie, of the Arony of Kincardine.

Mercer issued letters patent, under "the rede wax and the quhite" stating he had given sasine of the lands and Barony of Kincardine in the shire of Perth to a noble and worthy man, Patrick the Graeme; according to the charter of new infeftment made thereon.

This was executed at Kincardine and sealed with the seal of Andrew Mercer, King’s Bailie, together with those of Sir John Haldane of Gleneagles Knight, Edmund, the Har of the Leys, and Patrick Morai (of Abercairny), as witnesses.

The old yew tree at Kincardine, under which the courts of the Graemes were held and their charters signed, is still standing in excellent condition. It and the ruins of the old Castle are carefully preserved by Mrs Johnson-Browne of Kincardine, in whose family that property has been for some time.

In 1459, Patrick, First Lord Graeme, obtained from James II, a warrant to build creeves on the water of Allan, near Stirling, also to dam and stank over said water on the King’s lands, and to apply the profit of the said creeves to his own use. This is dated at Stirling, 27th March 1459.

Landed proprietors were already deeming it necessary to obtain and guard their rights to the salmon fisheries, the results of which, at that date, were one of the chief means of supplying the table of the upper classes.

Just one more charter we find Patrick Lord Graeme connected with.

On January 13th, 1460, he and his eldest boy join in an indenture on the one hand, with Robert Graham of Fintry their uncle and his son David, on the other, to bind themselves by payment respectively of 1000 merks to the King, and 2000 merks by the party failing the other; that Patrick Lord Graeme, and his son William, shall not impugn the rights to the lands of Fintry and Bucklyvie in Lordship of Menteith; and that Robert Grame of Fintry and his son David shall not impugn the rights of Patrick and his son to the lands of old Montrose, Kynaber, and Charleton, nor to the fishings of the waters of Northesk and Southesk.

Sir Patrick had two children by his wife Elizabeth. His only daughter Katherine married Sir Humphrey Morai of Abercairny, most probably son and successor of the Sir Patrick Morai who witnessed the Sasine (previously mentioned) of the lands of Kincardine given by the King’s Bailie. His only son succeeded in 1465 at his father’s death, and was William, second Lord Grame, fifteenth in line. He married Lady Ann Douglas, daughter of the Earl of Angus, and had two sons – William, first Earl of Montrose, and George (from whom sprung the Grahams of Callendar) both of whom were destined to fall at Flodden. His daughters were Jean, married to John Ogilvy, Lord Airlie; a daughter, Cristian, married to James Halden of Gleneagles, second to Sir Thomas Maule of Panmure.

We know that the second Lord Graham was a man who traveled, for a safe conduct pass was granted to him on 23 November 1466 to enable him to travel in England, or to pass through that country on his way abroad; but we know little beside, for his tenure of the honours and lands was short. Seven years after his father’s death his own is recorded in 1472, and he is succeeded by his son, William, the first Earl of Montrose, and sixteenth in line, who married three times. His first wife was Annabella, daughter of the Lord John Drummond, and she died leaving an only son, who was to carry on the line.

On the death of Annabella, Lord William Graeme married, for the second time, his wife Janet, daughter of Sir A. Edmonstowne. She became the mother of three daughters –

Lady Margaret, married to William, eldest son of the second Earl of Lennox

Lady Elizabeth married in 1513 to Walter, the Master of Dummond;

Lady Nicola married in 1539 to John Moray of Abercairny, her first cousin.

In 1501 William added to his many lands the estate of Inchbrakie which had already been possessed by two or three different families in succession, those just previous to the Grames being the Mercers of Innerpeffray.

Robert, the first Mercer who held Inchbrakie, had a younger son, Andrew Mercer, who had married Margaret Murray of Tullibardine, and he obtained the appointment of Chamberlain to the Earldom of Strathearn from the King.

Meanwhile his father and elder brother were both dead, and Innerpeffray and Inchbrakie were in possession of his nephew, Robert Mercer, third laird.

About 1440 Robert the laird appears to have been pressed for money for in that year his uncle Andrew obtained a mortgage over the lands of Inchbrakie, which he foreclosed; and thus the King’s Bailie became the owner of the estate whose castle was burnt down and left a ruin by Cromwell 160 years later.

We have already alluded to this Andrew Mercer of Inchbrakie as having in 1444-5 given Sasine "under the reade wax and the quhite" to William’s father (the first Lord Graeme) of the Barony of Kincardine under charter of new infeftment.

During Andrew Mercer’s lifetime, in 1471-2, on February 24th, his son Peter had obtained a royal charter of the lands of Inchbrakie, on his mother, Margaret Murray’s, resignation of them.

Mr Fittis suggests that this resignation was probably owing to the fact that her dowry had been employed for their mortgage.

Andrew Mercer died shortly afterwards in 1473, and his son Peter, the Laird of Inchbrakie went as ambassador to Denmark in 1494.

Whether his absence abroad or the expenses his position as ambassador entailed induced to the sale of Inchbrakie it is impossible to say, but on 4th December 1501 (five years subsequent to his appointment) Inchbrakie is sold by him to William, second Lord Grame, the future Earl, who in 1502 obtains the royal charter to the barony, which (eleven years later he settles on his second son (Patrick, first Graeme of Inchbrakie) just before the Earl and its late owner Andrew Mercer, lay down their lives at Flodden.

The charter is confirmed at Stirling 20th January 1504. It states that Inchbrakie, with the lands pertaining, are sold and alientated by King James IV to William, Lord Grame, his heirs and assignees, he to pay annually to the King one silver penny in name of blanche ferme. This charter is witnessed by M. Alex Muncreyf, rector of Menmure; John Graham, Patrick Graham; D. Andro Graham, vicar of Creyf, D. Will.Johneson, chaplains; and D. John Brown, chaplain and notary public, at the toun of Kincardine 4th Dec. 1501.

How strange are the turns of Fortune’s wheel! If these men could have looked down the long vista of 317 years they would have seen the descendant of Andrew Mercer become the owner of Braco in Stirlingshire, which estate is sold by a descendant of Patrick Graeme.

Three years after his purchase of Inchbrakie, Lord Grame was created the first Earl of Montrose. He was a gallant soldier, and his title was accorded him as reward for his brilliant action at the battle of Sauchieburn in 1488 which, however, had failed to save the life of his royal master, James III.

One of the Earl’s first actions after his creation was to settle lands on his Countess, for there is a warrant by James III for a charter under the Great Seal on 3 March 1504 in favour of Janet Edmonstone, wife of William, first Earl of Montrose, of lands and Barony of Aberuthven, excepting lands of Inchbrakie and Pitencleroch, to be held of the King, for services us