PRESBYTERY OF KELSO p. 455

Proposed to be erected by the General Assembly April 1581. It was not in existence so early, however, for in 1593 the parishes of Kelso, Roxburgh, Sprouston, Linton, Yetholm, Makerston, Mow, and Morebattle were in the Presb. of Jedburgh, while those of Stitchel, Home, Ednam, and Nenthorn were in that of Dunse. It first appears 2d Feb. 1604. The Register begins 12th Oct. 1609, and is continued in eleven volumes. There are chasms from 12th Dec. 1648 to 1st May 1649; 2d April 1661 to 28th Oct. 1662; and 16th Oct. 1683 to 17th March 1691.

KELSO.

The church was dedicated to St Mary and St John, and previous to the Reformation belonged to the Abbey of Kelso. It was supplied by ADAM CLERK, exhorter, who entered to this charge and Nisbet at Lammas 1569.

1574. PAUL KNOX  A.M., probably son of  William K., merchant in Preston, and nephew of the Reformer, he having left him  a wodset of j^c li, upon the lands of Kinzean-cleucht. In 1574, Ednam, Makcarstoun, and Nanethern were also under his charge with j^c xxxiij li. vjs. viijd., £11, 2sh. 2^2/3 d. sterl. of stipend, with the Kirk lands; continued 1st May 1575.-[Reg. Assig., Wodrow Miscell., Knox's Works (Pref.) vi., M'Crie's Knox ii., Haig's Hist.]

1576. JOHN HOWIE, or HOWESOUN, probably son of a burgess of Glasgow; he had charge of Sprowstoun, Maxuell, and Lempetlaw, instead of the parishes under his predecessor. Continued 11th Oct. 1577, and was settled at Cambuslang prior to 1580.-[Reg. Assig., Test. Reg.]

1578. ALEXANDER THORNTOUN continued in 1580.-[Reg. Assig.]

1585. WILLIAM BALFOUR, continued and was appointed by the Privy Council 6th March 1589, one of the commissioners for the preservation of true religion in Roxburghshire; trans. to Maxwell, but returned 1591,when St James's was also under his charge; pres. to the Vicarage of Maxwell by James VI. 2d Feb. and 4th May 1604; died before 15th Nov. 1605, leaving a son John, who was served heir 12th July 1615.-[Reg. Assig., and Pres., Calderwood's Hist., Wodrow Miscell., Booke of the Kirk, Inq. Ret. Edinburgh 353.]

1605. JAMES KNOX, A.M., son of William K., min. of Cockpen, probably grand-nephew of the Reformer, and nephew of Mr. Paul K., mentioned above, promoted from Regent in the Univ. of Edinburgh, (Maxwellheuch being also in the charge, to the Vicarage of which he was pres. by James VI. 15th Nov. 1605), pres. to the Vicarage of Kelso 25th May 1609, and again to the stipend of both, by his Majesty, 22d April 1610. He was appointed constant Moderator of, Presb. by the Assembly at Linlithgow 1606, and the Presb. were charged by the Privy Council 17th Jan. thereafter to receive him as such within twenty-four hours under pain of rebellion. They had the boldness, however, to resist at their first meeting, but accepted his nomination after a second charge. He was a member of the Assemblies 1610, and 1618, demitted before 24th June, died in Aug. 1633, aged about 58, in 28th min. He had old vaults in the abbey which he used as 2, manse, one as a ball and kitchen, and another as a bedchamber and closet, though both were much below the level of the surrounding ground. He marr. Martha Borthwick, and had Robert, who succeeded to the cure, Martha, Elizabeth,