Records of the Pringles of the Scottish Border, by Alex Pringle

Chapter 27

EDINBURGH BURGESSES

IN 1482 Stephen Pryngyll, alias Loksmyth, and in 1486 William Hoppringill, alias Loksmyth, are mentioned. In 1486 George Pringille burgess witnesses the charter granted by William Mowbray, with consent of his mother Mariotte Pringill of that Ilk, to Andrew Mowbray burgess of the lands of Kirktonhill, Lauderdale (G. S.).

In 1546 George Hoppringill, Bailie, is appointed to deliver the wine lately come in. from Bordeaux to those who are both burgess and guild ; none other to be suffered to sell or vend it (Charters, Ed.).

JAMES (SON OF JOHN OF BLINDLEE)

In 1549 James is deputed by the Provost of the Church of the Holy Trinity to give, as his bailie, sasine of a tenement in Leith. In 1554 being financed by his marriage with Elizabeth Harvie (Mrs Ker) and now a burgess of Edinburgh, and having some time before borrowed 400 merks from Mr Andrew Home, rector of Lauder, and now having his booth broken into and robbed, James assigns to the said Andrew his goods now pasturing on the lands of Caddonhead, the said Mr Andrew to return the goods on being repaid a large part of the sum in money (P. B., Harlaw). In 1559 he is a surety for William Ker, parson of Old Roxburgh. In 1561 as Tutor to his nephew George of Blindlee he is a party to 'the contract of marriage between him and Marion of Whytbank (R. D.): also his wife Elizabeth is quoted as possessor of the teinds of Duddingston (A. D.). In 1565 at Kelso he witnessed the charter of the Commendator to Mark Ker of the lands of Clarilaw (G. S.). James died about this time, and his relict Elizabeth made the inventory of his effects, viz,, on his half lands of Caddonhead 7 score ewes and lambs, 7 score hoggs, and owing by tenants thereon and Blackhaugh £404, etc. His executors were his widow and Robert Ker, vicar of Lindean (T. E., 1567).

DAVID (SURGEON APOTHECARY TO THE COURT, BROTHER OF JOHN OF BUCKHOLM)

In 1565 David is one of 20 surgeons who examine William Borthwick and finding him qualified admit to their calling of Free Surgeon, when he pays £100 into the box (L. Ch.). In 1566 David having been put in ward at the instance of the kirk to which he was adjoined for marrying Catharine Crichton, daughter of Thomas Crichton, "our macer," according to the Papist fashion, was set at liberty on a peremptory letter from Queen Mary to the magistrates, " discharging you and others troubling, molesting or excommunicating the said David or his spouse, arresting, poinding, warding or intromitting with them, their lands, goods, and gear in any way, as ye shall answer to us thereupon,'' signed. " Marie, R., Henrie, R." (Charters, Edin.).

In 1573 David Hoppringill, apothecary, is granted the escheat of all goods that pertained to the late Thomas Crichton, who was at the horn for not finding surety, non-compearance, and the rebellious deeds done by him in 1571-72 (P. S,). In 1580 along with George and Archibald Hoppringill he witnesses a contract between Margaret Ker, Lady Wedderburn, and the widow of George Hume of Wedderburn anent certain jewels, gold, silver, and others (Milne Home).

In 1585 a grant is made to Thomas, David's son, for all the days of his life of the portion and pension of the Priory of Coldingham that pertained to the late Dean George Pilmuir, one of the monks thereof, with all lands, rents, and profits belonging thereto, house and yard. And further, the King for the true and thankful service done and to be done to him by the said David, apothecary, and his son, in 1591 commanded all teinds and duties unpaid since the first gift to be paid now and termly to the said Thomas during his lifetime, and directed the Lords of Session to grant letters at his instance that he might be assured of his yearly pension (P. S.). Further, in the following year a letter under the Privy Seal was made to David " exempting him for all the days of his life from all
raids, armies, and musters within or without the realm, and freeing him from all impositions made by the magistrates of Edinburgh, and from arrest of himself or his goods," dated, Falkland, 13th July 1586 (P. S.). Evidently David was a favourite of King James VI.

Also in 1586 David and his spouse Marion Maxwell got sasine of a bond for 3000 merks conceded by George Hoppringill of Buckholm with the lands in warrandice (S. E.). For the boarding of young James Hoppringill for his education with David, see under Smailholm, 1588.

David died in December 1593. He had issue, Thomas, who left Scotland by January 1594, David, and two daughters Jean and Isabel, his executors. His testament enumerates debts owing to him, £100 by Home of Manderston, £400 by the late Lord Maxwell's heirs, £173 by Turnbull of Barnhills, etc., total £827 (T. E.), In 1595 and 1598 actions by David, Jean, and Isabel against certain of them and their cautioners for payment were successful (A. D.).

WILLIAM (MASTER TAILOR TO THE COURT)

Domestic details relative to Queen Mary's household immediately after the Darnley marriage are recorded in The Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer, " The infatuation which she felt for that foolish youth is to some extent shown by the numerous expenses which were lavished on him. . . . His tailor, William Hoppringill, made clothes for him, of which the material consisted of black velvet, black satin, black taffety, and black silk, together with £73 worth of silver trimming. To attend him he had three pages of honour and two lackeys, all costumed in yellow stemming and crimson velvet, the royal colours." " Between 21st August 1565 and the end of April, by the Queen's Grace's commands orders were given to William Hoppringill, master tailor to the King's Grace, for clothing, amounting to some £1200, while in May extensive orders were given without the amounts being mentioned.'' In the following month was born James VI., by which time dissensions had broken out at Court which led shortly after- wards to the murder of Riccio and the dethronement of the Queen.

In 1569 William, tailor burgess, sues Robert commendator of Holyrood, who owed him " a great sum," also in 1575 twelve tenants in Ettrick Forest for the mails of 1570 of which £230 had been assigned to him and Alexander Hoppringill by the late Earl of Mar, Regent; and the Lords order them to pay within ten days or be escheated (P. C.).

On 2nd October 1582 the Crafts of Edinburgh, of which there were 14, being dissatisfied with the composition of the magistracy, 200 of them surrounded the Council chamber and 50 or 60 of them burst in; and on these being put out their deacons rose and left the chamber. On the two Bailies proceeding to fence the court in the nether Tolbooth the crafts- men broke in, using contumelious words, especially William Hoppringill, deacon of the tailors, who entered through the multitude and coming to the board head, with his hand at his side and on his wringer as it appeared, would have seized the Council books, writs, and registers there, crying with evil countenance and many injurious words to the clerks to give them to him, were nocht he was stayed.'' The matter was settled by arbitration, and henceforth the Council was to consist of the provost, bailies, dean of guild, treasurer, 10 merchants, and 8 craftsmen. In May 1583 the crafts met and chose deacons to represent them, William being chosen by she tailors (Charters, Edin.).

In the Calendar of Deeds are recorded numerous contracts and obligations between William and others, including the Master of Trinity College, the Master of Seton, Robert Logan of Restalrig, Sir James Scrymgeour, Constable of Dundee, John Macmorran, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, etc. ; also in the " Acts and Decreets '' various actions in connection with the same.

In June 1598 King James, who for jewels, clothing, ready money, and other necessaries, owed £145,000 Scots to 65 creditors, including £2000 to William, granted them £30,000 a year to satisfy their claims (A. P.).

William died in April 1606. By his spouse Margaret Robinson he had issue a son Abraham who was dead in 1593, and four daughters his heirs (A. D., Gibson, 1608)..

His brother Patrick, also a tailor burgess, who died in 1607, had a son William.

DAVID (MERCHANT)

On 30th November 1582 a Scottish ship called The James of Pittenweem coming from Bordeaux to Scotland, was taken by Englishmen 4 miles off the back of the Isle of Wight. After some resistance, some being slain and others hurt, they were compelled to surrender themselves as prisoners, and their ship and goods as a price to the pirates, who spoiled them of all their clothes, breeks and shoes, and so sent them plainly to the land, on condition of delivering within three or four days £200 sterling for their release. The ship that took them was one of 90 tons under Captain Vaughan, with two pinnacles. Besides many other Scotsmen in the ship were Gilbert Dick, the principal merchant, a bailie of Edinburgh, and David Hoppringill, one of the merchants, who was wounded in four places, while the master of the ship was slain. The loss amounted to 505 merks sterling. Queen Elizabeth promised redress as far as possible, restitution of so much as could be recovered, and a commission to see to the whole matter (State Papers, Thorpe, 1582).

In 1584 the Commendator of Coldingham Abbey having been charged to pay to the Treasurer the portions - of the 16 monks, and Alexander Hume of Huttonhall those of the nuns of Coldstream Abbey, who had died since 1560, David becomes cautioner for them that they will pay if it was found they should (E. R.).

In 1594 the Earl of Orkney, Forret of Fingask, and David Hoppringill, merchant burgess, were summoned before the Lords of Council by the procurators of seven Danzig merchants, whose ship, the Noah's Ark, when on its way to Spain in 1592 was driven ashore on the coast of Shetland, and when the crew had landed for provisions, the Earl's tenants, it was alleged, reft, pillaged, and took away the ship, her cargo, ropes, sails, and artillery: while the two latter had intromitted with the cargo, some of which, it was alleged, had since been shipped by Hoppringill to France. The Lords, after examining the shipping papers, absolved Hoppringill simpliciter from the charges (P. C.).

David also appears several times as a cautioner, and as a party to deeds. He died before June 1608. He was married first to Janet Aikman, second to Jean Kennedy, third to Jean Robertson who survived him. In 1610 his daughter Joneta Pringill was retoured his heir in two chambers in a tenement in Edinburgh (Retours).

WILLIAM (LITSTER)

In 1573 Thomas Hoppringill, litster or dyer, sometime indweller in Edinburgh, is ordained by the Lords to pay a certain £175 under his obligation of 1568 (A. D.).

In 1580 William Hoppringill, litster, and five others are commissioned by the Town Council to examine a piece of cloth about 20 ells long belonging to a merchant, suspected of being litted with false colours, and report thereon, the cloth being in the meantime arrested (Charters, Edin.). In October 1584 the Council chose 12 persons to be elders and 16, including William, to be deacons of the kirk of the burgh for the year to come, furth of the four parishes thereof (Charters, Edin.). In 1584 Adam Wallace, merchant, and William, litster, are cautioners for John Wallace of Craigie. In 1587 William receives from John Hoppringill of Muirhouse £500 for redemption of the lands of Cardrope and Pirn in the lordship of Stow ; done in his house before William Lauder of Balbardies (L, Ch.). In 1590 the Lords ordain Patrick Hume, litster in Haddington, to pay William his debt of £240, or be poinded (A. D.). In May 1597 William Leslie summons eight persons, a French, two Quhippos, a Hardie, two Haitlies, and James Hoppringill, William's son, for lying in wait at the instigation of Leslie of Balquhan and attempting to stay him while on his way to the King at Holyrood. Neill Montgomerie of Broomlands, Kelso, becomes cautioner that James Hoppringill will compear (P. C.).

In November 1598 William complained that upon the 3rd inst. George Hoppringill of Blindlee, accompanied by Robert Quhippo and Thomas Hardie his servants, all armed, came at night to his place at Mitchellston and the houses thereof occupied by his tenants, and there finding the doors closed called for fire, and the doors being suddenly opened, they entered, searched for complainer or some of his servants and had not failed to have slain them, against whom they unjustly pretend a quarrel, were not providentially they were absent for the time.

Complainer appearing personally, but neither Quhippo nor Hardie, the latter were denounced rebels. The Humes of North Berwick and Bassendean become cautioners for George Hoppringill of Blindlee that he will not harm William, litster, and will enter Quhippo and Hardie in December, or re-enter himself in Edinburgh Castle (P. C.). In February following, failing to re-enter the two rebels, George as cautioner has to pay £100 for each. In 1605 William secures payment for a bond of £100 from the Sheriff Clerk of Lauderdale (A. D.).

William and his wife Alison Wallace both died in the same month, November 1611. They had issue, James, Andrew and Catherine. William left free gear £1708 (T. E.).

JAMES (MERCHANT)

In 1602 James Pringill, merchant, charged to pay an obligation for certain merchandise from Flanders, is ordained to pay £6, 10s. per Flemish pound (A.. D.). In 1612 he is retoured heir of his father William, litster, in a tenement in Edinburgh. In 1612 at. James's instance the Lords order Patrick Somerville of Humbie, merchant, who married Catherine Pringill, James's sister in 1605, to invest according to the marriage contract, her tocher of 3000 merks and the 3000 added by the said Patrick's father, in land in conjunct fee, and to have the contract registered (A. D.). Catherine who died in 1610 left two sons William and James Somerville. In 1617 for not paying as cautioner a debt of Home of Cowdenknowes James has his house seized and his goods inventoried (P, C.). In 1619 the same thing recurred where Home of Carolside was debtor. In 1620 the six tenants of a tenement in the Cowgate yielding 130 merks annual rent, refusing to pay, the Lords order their goods to be distrained (A.. D., Scott).

James died before 1625, and was succeeded by his son John.

JAMES (FISH MERCHANT)

gets in 1605 the escheat of two persons put to the horn for not finding caution not to harm John Wallace of Craigie. James died in 1621. His inventory made by his widow and only executor Elizabeth Wallace, showed £800 and debts owing to him £5426, total £6226 (T. E.).

JAMES (WINE MERCHANT)

rarely appears in the records. On one occasion David Pringill, surgeon, was cautioner for him. According to his testament dative his inventory, consisting of wines, two herring boats at Dunbar each worth £200 Scots, cloth worth £445, tarred wood £2153, wainscot (9 pieces lying at Leith and 20 at Montrose) worth 290 merks, 152 sheepskins at 6s. 8d., clothes, silver buttons, etc., amounted to £5419 ; while there was owing to him for wines £765 ; total £13,150, besides £1786 afterwards admitted. James died on 1st July 1640, and. was survived by his wife Isabella Hunter (T. E.).

DAVID 1 (SURGEON)

On 17th June 1605 between 9 and 11 o'clock at night a fight took place at the Tron which made a great stir at the time. The principals on the two sides were the young laird of Edzell, and the young laird of Pitarrow, Forfarshire. Sundry were hurt, and a, servitor of Pitarrow's, " a pretty young man," slain. Lindsay was warded, but appealed, averring that Wishart's servitor was not slain but smothered in the throng : and the Lords sent for David Pringill that had handled him and examined his wounds, to learn whether they were deadly or not, and also directed a Bailie with two other surgeons to view the body (P. C.).

In 1619 David had a royal grant of certain waste land on the south side of the Canongate (via regia) hitherto occupied by no lawful possessor (G. S.). In 1620 he summons Jean Pringill relict of John Gibson, waiter, to repay the 1000 merks borrowed by her (A. D., Gibson). In 1621 he and his second son Robert get sasine of an annual rent of 200 merks furth of a house and garden in Newbattle, also of a mansion house and 4 1/2 acres of land in Saltpreston, irredeemable (S. E.). In 1628 he gets sasine of Sir James Pringill of Smailholm's Lauderdale lands for 6000 merks, repaid in the following year (S. E.). Also in 1628 a tailor was seized in the street by the surgeons of the city, including David, and warded in the tolbooth, on the ground that although an unfreeman he was using the barber craft. He was set free on finding caution not to exercise the calling in future (P. C.).

David had as apprentice John, third son of George Pringill of Torwoodlee, entered in 1615, Andrew, second son of Alexander Pringill in Nenthorn, entered in 1621, and George, son of George Pringill of Newhall, entered in 1629 (Apprentices).

David died before September 1631. He married first Geillis Smyth, second in 1606 Alison Merston, and had issue four sons : 1. James, apprenticed in 1627 with John George, merchant. 2. Robert, apprenticed in 1629 with John Niblo, merchant, 3. John. 4. David, and three daughters, Agnes, Jean and Jonet.

JOHN (SURGEON, 3rd SON OF GEORGE OF TORWOODLEE)

John appears in a case in 1628 - a servant complaining that her master had cut her head with a sword, out of which wound John Pringill, surgeon, had taken three bones, the master was lodged in the tolbooth and ordained to pay her 100 merks as compensation (P. C.). In 1636 he was deacon of the barbers, an allied craft. In 1637 as brother on the late Elisabeth, Margaret, and Anna Pringill, his sisters, he got sasine of the £5 lands of Catpair, in Stow (S. E.).

John died in 1640. By his wife Elspeth Sydserff, who predeceased him, he left a daughter Margaret, his only executor, a minor, to whom her uncle James of Torwoodlee was Tutor, and who in 1653 married John Haliburton, younger, of Muir- houselaw, Roxburghshire (T. E., 1642).

DAVID 2 (SURGEON, SON OF DAVID 1, SURGEON)

In 1629 David Pringill, younger, surgeon, married Janet Heriot. In 1631 with consent of his mother Alison Merston he got sasine of the house and acres in Saltpreston, and sold them to Mr John Murray, his brother James Pringill being a witness (S. E.). In 1636 a barber in the Canongate summoned certain barbers, including John Pringill, their Deacon, and David Pringill, surgeon, whose servants set upon his servant as he was going down the street, struck him with their whingers, and took from him his dressing materials, which they still keep (P. C.).

On 18th August 1640 David made his Will, " being of intention to go out in the public expedition in the exercise of my calling,'' appointing his spouse to be tutrix to his children, and in case of her marriage or decease, David Heriot, advocate, James Watson of Lang Sauchton, and John George, merchant. Two days afterwards the Covenanters under General Leslie crossed the Tweed to prevent the Royalists invading Scotland, and twelve days afterwards on 30th August David, who was lying in the castle of Dunglass along with the troops left in charge of the military stores there, was killed by the explosion of the gunpowder magazine, along with about 60 men, including the Earl of Haddington and several of his relations, and John Gaittis, minister of Buncle, while about 30 were seriously wounded (Balfour's Annals of Scot.).

Janet Heriot, David's widow, died in 1652. Inventory £200, bonds owing to her by Lord Elphinston for 5000 merks, with 900 merks byrun annual rents, by David Heriot, advocate, for 1500 merks, and by Alison Merston, her mother-in-law, for 375 merks, total £5925; owing by her for rent and service £126. She nominated David Heriot and William Hog, advocates, Mr John Pringill of Woodhead, Mr James Watson, Mr Alexander Dickson, Minister, and. David her eldest son, to be overseers to her four children, Margaret, Janet, John, and James (T. E.).

ROBERT (MERCHANT IN ROUEN)

In Rouen, Robert in 1638 draws a bill of exchange upon his brother James, merchant, Edinburgh, payable to a third party In 1652 Duncan Forbes of Culloden summons Robert and his brother William, merchant in Edinburgh, as heirs of the late James to pay a bond granted by him in 1637 and since assigned to him, and the two brothers refusing to enter heirs, the Commissioners ordain Forbes to have all that would have fallen to them as heirs. William Pringle died in 1662. In 1663-64 the Lords ordain six persons to pay Robert their debts, also the tenants of his two tenements in Aberdeen to pay him their rents.

In 1683 Lord Preston, envoy extraordinary to the Court of France, searching the records anent the exemption of Scottish ships from the French impost of 50 sous per ton, is recommended to consult Robert Pringle, a Scotsman, who might give him useful information (Hist. MSS. Com., Preston). In the Biblio. Cott. collection in the British Museum is a fragment of a letter from Robert to his " loving cusing Alexander Pringill in Scotland," in which he says he is going to Avignon in the company of Cardinal Joyeux, who is going on to Rome, and he will write to him from Avignon. The handwriting of the letter is very fine. It is signed " Robert Pringill.''

Robert was alive in 1695. By his spouse Mary, he had a son Thomas, also a son David born in Rouen and in 1689 naturalised as British, along with 40 French Huguenots.

DAVID 3 (SURGEON, SON OF DAVID 2, SURGEON)

In October 1659 David, surgeon burgess of Edinburgh, while in Rouen borrows from Robert Pringle, merchant there, £400 Scots, to help pay his charge there, and his passage home, and binds him and his heirs to repay it by 1st January next (R. D.).

Heriot's Hospital School having been for some time established with 60 boys as inmates, it was customary to hold the 1st of June as a holiday in honour of the founder, one part of the formalities being a procession of the magistrates to the Hospital at 9 in the morning to hear sermon. David Pringle, nearest of kin to the founder (grandson of Janet Heriot his niece), acted as surgeon and barber to the boys, these two crafts being somehow combined by our ancestors. To prepare the boys for appearance before the magistrates this morning it was necessary that they should be polled : accordingly about 7 in the morning Mr Pringle, the other servants being absent about his business, sent a boy to the Hospital, desiring him to take with him any person he could readily get to further the work-.The boy unluckily omitted to look for a barber free of the Corporation of Barbers Surgeons, and took with him one Wood who was only free of the suburban district of Portsburgh. The Corporation held a court, and caused Wood to be put in the tolbooth. Mr Pringle appealed to the Town Council for his liberation, and so further incensed the Corporation against himself. Using influence with the Council they obtained a warrant for his apprehension, by which he was necessitated for some time to keep his house, and durst not come abroad, they having officers both at the head and foot of the close to watch and catch him. Notwithstanding a petition to the Council they got Pringle put in gaol till he would give satisfaction to the calling, and while there the Corporation passed an ordinance depriving him of the benefits of his connection with them till he should acknowledge his offence in writing. After much altercation the affair came before the Privy Council, who employed the Earls of Argyle and Linlithgow to report upon it, and it was not till 1st January 1672 that the case was adjusted by Mr Pringle making an apology, and the Corporation reponing him in his privileges (P. C.).

David died in 1687 and was buried in Greyfriars. By his first wife Janet Cochrane, whom he married in 1665 and who died in 1673, he had a son David, and by his second wife Marion Maxwell of Kirkhouse, Dumfriesshire, whom he married in 1677 he had issue, William, James, Jean and Margaret, who with their mother in 1702 summon Robert Maxwell of Kirkhouse to pay them the annual rent of £106 in which they were infefted in 1681, and in 1710 also their aunt there, with whom they lived when minors, to give them certain rings and jewels of their mother's she had in keeping (Lauder's Decisions).

DAVID 4 (SURGEON, SON OF DAVID 3, SURGEON)

In 1687 a petition was received by the Trustees of Heriot's Hospital from David Pringle setting forth that his recently deceased father, grand-nephew of the founder, had held the appointment of surgeon and apothecary to the institution from the year 1660; that the petitioner, who designed to follow the same profession, had not yet attained the age of 21, and was on the eve of proceeding to France to get further insight in the Art of Surgery and Pharmacy; and craving that he might be nominated his father's successor with leave to employ John Baillie till he acquired further knowledge of the art and attained the age of majority. The prayer of Pringle's petition was unanimously granted (Records of the Hospital).

David was not a long liver. He was buried in Greyfriars on 12th November 1694. He left issue, a son William who was served heir to him in 1718, to whom again in 1750-59 a nephew James Parker was served heir (S. H.).