PRESBYTERY OF MELROSE, NOW SELKIRK p. 539

It was proposed to be erected by the General Assembly in April 1581. After the erection of Ersilton, however, in 1613, which was chiefly made up by its members, it was known as Melrose. A proposal for altering the seat of Presbytery was before the Assembly 27th Aug. 1639, and it was changed to Selkirk by that of 1640. The only Record of Melrose begins 6th Jan. 1607, and terminates 12th Jan. 1619; another beginning 1639, and ending in 1652, has been lost. Those of Selkirk commence l0th Feb. 1691, and are contained in eight volumes, with a few loose minutes from 8th Sept. 1785 to 8th Dec. 1791.

SELKIRK.

Previous to the Reformation, the church belonged to the Abbey of Kelso. It was supplied by Mr JOHN SCOTT, exhorter at Selkirk and St. Mary Lowes, from Nov. 1568, and GEORGE CUNYNGRAME, reader, from 1574 to 1580.

SHAW, of Lauriston.-[Douglas's Baronage.]

1580. MICHAEL CRANSTOUN, son of Mr Thomas C., min. of Liberton ; trans. to Liberton prior to 1585.-Test. Reg., Reg. Assig.]

1585. JOHN SMYTHE, A.M., studied at St. Leonard's College, and attained his degree at the Univ. of St. Andrews, 3d Dec. 1584; St. Mary's Kirk of the Lowes, Etterick, and Rankilburn were also under his care in 1585; continued 12th Oct. 1586, and was trans. to Mertoun about that time.-[Act. Rect. Univ. St. And., Reg. Assig., Calderwood's Hist.]

1589. JOHN WELSCHE, A.M., son of the laird of Collieston in Dunscore, born about 1570; when young he often played truant from school, and after he had finished his education, he left the house of his father, went to the border and joined thieves who lived by their plunder from both nations, till his clothes were worn to tatters, when like the prodigal " he began to be in want," and was ashamed of himself. He returned, and through an intercessor sought reconciliation with his offended parent. Having regained his favour he was sent to the Univ. of Edinburgh, where he was laureated in 1588, and was the first min. settled who had studied there. He was nominated by the Privy Council one of three for maintaining and preserving the true religion in the Forrest and Tweeddale, 6th March 1580. In 1590 he was paid from the parsonage and vicarage, according to an agreement made between him and Mr James Durham of Duntarvie. He continued 11th March 1594, and was trans. to Kirkcudbright.-[Reg. Laur. Univ. Edin., and Assig., Edin. Presb. Reg., Life (Sermons), Livingston's Charac., Select Biog., i., Wodrow Miscell., and MS: Biog., Edin. Chr. Inst. xxii., Life by Young, New St. Acc. iv., Chambers's Biog. Dict., &c.]

1596. PATRICK SCHAW, A.M., son of John S., and grandson of S. of Sauchie, graduated at the Univ. of Edinburgh 12th Aug. 1591, was on the Exercise there 24th July 1593, and pres. to the Vicarage of Greenock by James VI. in Nov. following, which he did not accept. He signed the Protestation for the Liberties of the Kirk, with fifty-four others, 27th June