Notices of the Earl of Dunfermline

FAREWELL FO THE ROYAL FAMILY to Dunfermline.?In the month of March this
year King James VI. succeeded to the throne of England.  Shortly afterwards
he bade farewell to his Scottish residences, and repaired by slow marches
to London.  The Palace at Dunfermline was given in charge to Lord Seton,
and Henry Wardlaw, her Majesty's Chamberlain.  The Lord Seton, tutor to
Charles I., remained for some time in the Palace after the royal departure.
(Vide Histories of Scotland, &c.)

1605.?CREATION OF EARLDOM OF DUNFERMLINE.?Alexander Seton (a branch of the
Winton family), who was, previous to this date, Baron Urquhart, and also
Lord Fyvie, was, on March 4th, created "Earl of Dunfermline."  (Fernie's
Hist. Dunf; p. 81; Frag. Scot. Hist. vol. i. p. 63, &c.)  Birrell, in his
Diary, notes: "The 4 of Marche, Lord Fyvie, President [of the Court of
Session] an uthers, wer made Earles?viz., Lord Fyvie, Earl of Dumferling;
Lord Home, made Earl of Home ; and Lord Drummond, made Earl of Perth; and
alswa twelve Knyghts."


1606.?ALIENATION OF ABBEY LANDS,&C.?Charter granting to James Reid the
croft acres of Dunfermline; to Nichol Pollok the third-part of the lands,
and the mill of Lassodie; to Alexander, Earl of Dunfermline, the coal in
the Lordship of Dunfermline; to the same, the fourth-part of the land of
North Fod; to Robert Peirson, the lands of Nether Beith; to Robert Halket,
the mill of Pitliver.


  CONSTABLESHIP OF DUNFERMLINE PALACE.?The office of Constable or Keeper of
Dunfermline Palace, instituted by Queen Anne in 1596, and conferred on Lord
Urquhart, was the year ( 1606) confirmed by Act of Parliament to Alexander
Seton, Lord Urquhart and Earl of Dunfermline, and his heirs male for ever.
(Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 259.)


THE REPAIRING of the Nave of the Abbey was completed in 1607.  After the
Royal Family went to reside in London, the Earl of Dunfermline (Dominus de
Dunfermling) appears to have attended to the completion of the repairs.  On
the side of the south porch-door there is a stone, having on it the earl's
crest, and date 1607, which date is understood to indicate the completion
of the repairs.  (MS, Notes.)

1608.?ALIENATION OF ABBEY LANDS, &C.?A deed granted to John Durie and Janet
Majoribanks, his spouse, of "the 8th partes, with xxxii parte of the ville
of Muirhall, alias South quenesferrie;" to Alexander, Earl of Dunfermline,
the lands of "Lymekilliis;" "a tak' of the teind scheaves of Pittravie" to
Henry Wardlaw; to Robert Ged, the Mill of Geddismill; to Marion Crichtoune,
"a tak' of the teind scheaves of Clunie;" to John Stevenson, the lands of
"Stevensones Baith."  (Regist. Infeod. Et Alien.; Print. Regist. Dunf. pp.
496, 504.)

1609.?THE EARL OF DUNFERMLINE was this year admitted a member of the
English Privy Council.  (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 285.)

1611.?THE HERITABLE OFFICES of Bailie and Justiciary of the Regality of
Dunfermline conferred on the Earl of Dunfermline by Charter form Queen
Anne, with the consent of the King, her husband, proceeding on his own
resignation.  This Charter, among other subjects in the Earl's favour,
confers on him "the heritable offices of bailiary and justiciary of our
Lordship and Regality of Dunfermline, on both sides of the river and water
of Forth."  (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 257.)