Charter by James Haswell, abbot of Newbotle, confirming a charter by John Hamilton of Haggs concerning a grant of the lands of Riding and Riding mure to Isabella Elphinstone, After 2nd July 1550

Charter by James [Haswell], abbot of Newbotle, confirming a charter (dated at Edinburgh, 25th June 1550) by John Hamilton of Haggs, in terms of a contract between himself on one part, and Robert, Lord Elphinstone, and Dame Katherine Erskine, his mother, on the other part, for a marriage between James Hamilton, the granter's son and heir-apparent, and Isabella Elphinstone, daughter of Dame Katherine and sister of Lord Robert, granting to the said Isabella in her virginity in liferent the lands, of Riding and Riding mure, extending to ten merks of land, in the barony of Monkland and shire of Lanark, between the lands of Drumgray on the east, Gayne, as far as the 'aqueductum', on the west, Rouchsolis and Bradenhill on the south, Blairlyn and the burn thereof on the north: To be held to the said Isabella Elphinstone for her life, of the abbot and convent of Newbotle, for 13 merks 6s. 8d. yearly in name of feu-farm. Witnesses to charter, John Thomson, Gavin Hamiltoun, Sir David Cristesoun, vicar of Innerkip, John Mosman and Alexander Young, notaries public. Charter of confirmation given at the monastery of Newbotle, date not stated; c. 1550. Signed, 'Jacobus Abbas'; also by John Liddeill, William Harlaw, Thomas Megat, John Bannatyn, John Carmychaell, George Rechertsoun, George Turnbull, and Thomas Reyd. Seal attached, partly broken - the Virgin with the Child in her arms, seated under a canopied niche in upper part of seal; below a saint with ragged staff in right hand. On each side of centre niche is a shield of arms; that on dexter side is defaced, but the shield on sinister bears a boar's head, and on a chief indented three mullets. The arms described are those of Haswell, and that is probably the true surname of this abbot, which has been hitherto doubtful.