his youth, but about 1317 he had developed into a bold outlaw at the head of a band of robbers. He was not afraid to strike at high game, for that year he attacked the Bishop-elect of Durham on the way to be consecrated. The dignitary had two of the Pope's nuncios in his train, who had letters from his Holiness to the King of Scotland enjoining a two years' truce with England. Middleton, with a companion named Selby, relieved them of all their money, and allowed the nuncios to go on their way, detaining the Bishop for further profit in the shape of ransom. Nor was he easily satisfied in his demands. The plate and jewels of the cathedral had to be sold to effect the Bishop's ransom.

For the next century the history of the family is unrecorded. Coming down to 1430, William of Middleton had that year a charter of the lands of Innerkany; and in 1460 there is evidence that Gilbert of Middleton was one of an inquest concerning lands of the Arbroath Abbey.

Soon after the latter date, the noble family of Gray appears in close relation to the Middleton family and estate. Laurence of Middleton is designed laird in an instrument of sasine to Andrew, third Lord Gray, in 1481. Lord Gray was the son of Annabella Forbes, supposed to be the mother, by a second marriage, of the laird of the barony of Scotston and Powburn. He may have been related to Laurence of Middleton; and it was probably in his time that a portion of the Middleton estate was resigned in favour of the Gray family. His first wife was a granddaughter of the first Earl Marischal, and he held the office of Sheriff of the county of Forfar. He died in March 1513-14.

Gilbert of Middleton was one of the inquest on the service of Patrick, fourth Lord Gray, as heir to his father in the estates and the office of Sheriff. It appears that the following year the office was resigned in his favour, as Gilbert of Middleton is declared to have been Sheriff of Angus in 1516. He married Marjory Wishart of Pittarrow, whose brother's estates were forfeited in 1499. In the "Acta auditorum" of 1493 there is a decree respecting the settlement of her dowry. Along with his second wife, Agnes Lauder, he is mentioned in connection with the Temple lands of Middleton,-a name suggestive of ecclesiastical possession, as is that also of Chapel Knap which has survived to the present day.

John Middleton is the next proprietor whose name appears. He may have been the son, but more probably was the grandson, of the Sheriff. He was the last of the family in possession of Middleton. His first wife was Isobel Falconer, who was of the Haulkerton family, and is supposed to have been the daughter of David Falconer, who acquired from her husband a portion of the lands of Middleton in exchange for the lands of Kilnhill, or Netherseat of Haulkerton, and two-thirds of the lands of Bent. In 1539-40, the lands of Middleton, Husbandtown of Middleton, and Drumquharbir were conveyed by John Middleton to David Falconer. The Middleton family will be further traced in connection with Kilnhill, the probability being, as already indicated, that the remainder of the estate of Middleton had previously passed into the hands of the family of Lord Gray.

Isabel Gray and her second husband, Sir John

Campbell of Lundie, "had a charter of the dominical lands of Middletoun, in the county of Kincardine, 8th November 1539." Isabel Gray was the second daughter of Patrick, fourth Lord Gray, and aunt of Elizabeth Keith, wife of the fourth Earl Marischal who was the last Earl in possession of Johnston. The Campbells of Lundie were descended from Thomas, second son of the first Earl of Argyll; and Sir John, who acquired this interest in the parish of Conveth, was at the time High Treasurer of Scotland. The probability is, that during the next half-century this portion of the estate continued in possession of one or other of the branches of the Gray family, while the remainder was still annexed to Haulkerton.

The lands of Middleton were again united in the possession of Sir Alexander Falconer, David's grandson, who married Isabel Gray, fourth daughter of the sixth Lord Gray, and relict of David Strachan of Carmylie. The barony of Middleton was conveyed to him and his son by charter in 1593.

The whole lands of Middleton formed a part of the Haulkerton barony from that date until 19th June 1695, when there was a disposition by Alexander, second Lord Falconer of Haulkerton, to Sir Alexander Falconer of Glenfarquhar, of "all and haill the town and lands of Middleton, including Whitesaugh, as also the town and lands of Henston, the town and lands of Barnhill of Garvock, as well sun as shadow half thereof, as for principes and the lands and barony of Haulkerton in special warrandice." From this extract it appears that during the separation of the lands the portion conveyed to the Haulkerton estate had taken the name of Whitesauch, while the orig

inal name of Middleton had designated the other possession. From 1675 to 1724, when they reverted to Haulkerton, the lands of Middleton, like the barony of Scotston and Powburn and the lands. of Haddo, formed part of the estate of Glenfarquhar.

DRUMFORBER.

The earliest notice of Drumforber is its conveyance, along with part of Middleton, to David Falconer in 1539-40. Drumquharbir had probably consisted then of the lands on the present farm, with the "onssett called Waineyford" (Wineford), and the muir called Luthermuir, or Muir of Drumquharbir, now Laurencemuir. It had probably been part of the original Mernez, owned by the Berkeleys; but nothing is known as to when it came into the possession of the Middletons. Since passing from their hands it has continued to be a part of the Haulkerton estate.

CHAPTER VII.

KILNHILL AND BENT.

Next to the Mains, the Mill-lands, and Hills of Haulkerton, a portion of the lands of Bent has been the longest of any in continuous possession of the Falconers. When the exchange was made with John Middleton, one third of Bent was retained.

There is no authentic record of how or when the two possessions were acquired by the laird of Haulkerton. They had probably been Royal lands, and conferred to mark the Royal sense of special service done by one of the hereditary keepers of his Majesty's hawks. Their history, so far as known, begins with their temporary alienation from the family's possession in 1539-40.

John Middleton, on entering on his new possession, adopted the territorial name; and the designation of the family for more than half a century was "Middleton of Kilhill." Along with his wife, Isobel Falconer, he received in 1552 a charter of the lands of New Tibber and Davidston, in Forfarshire. It may be regarded as in some degree confirming the relationship which, it has been said, existed between the Middleton and Gray families, that Gilbert Gray, a son of Patrick, sixth Lord Gray, afterwards (in 1591) obtained possession of Davidston and the neighbouring estate of Couston. Isobel Falconer died before 1557, and he married as his second wife Catherine Strathauchin (Strachan), a daughter of Strachan of Thornton, who was associated with him in a charter of Bent and Netherseat of Halkerton (Kilnhill), dated March 1557-58. He had two sons, both by the first wife, the younger of whom, Alexander, is noticed in connection with lands and fishings on Donside.

John Middleton, the elder son, had a charter of Kilnhill and Bent in March 1564-65, which reserved the liferent of his father and step-mother. The name of this laird appears in Calderwood's list of those "that subscribed the band anent the