1876 THOMAS NINIAN DRUMMOND, born 11th July 1853, son of Thomas D., min. of Bolton; educated at High School, Edinburgh, and Univs. of Glasgow and Edinburgh; licen. by Presb. of Haddington Feb. 1876 ; assistant at Saltoun ; ord. 15th June 1876 ; died unmarr. 7th Aug. 1885.

1885 THOMAS ELLIOT SIMPSON CLARKE, born Lochmaben, 14th May 1860, son of John C., schoolmaster, and Mary Simpson; educated at Lochmaben School and Glasgow Univ.; M.A. (188:1), B.D. (1885); licen. by Presb. of Lochmaben May 1885; assistant at Crailing; ord. 8th Dec. 1885; clerk of Presb. Marr. l0th March 1891, Jane (died 11th Nov. 1910), daugh. of Charles Melville, min. of Maryculter, and had issue-John Elliot, born l0th April 1893; Charles Melville, born 2nd March 1897; Jessie Lillian, born 21st Jan. 1893. Publication-Joint author of Life of Bishop Burnet (Cambridge, 1909).

TRANENT AND SETON.

[Previous to the Reformation the church of Tranent belonged to the Abbey of Holyroodhouse. Seton Church, dedicated to the Holy Rood, and erected in the thirteenth century, was made collegiate by George, Lord Seton, 20th June 1493. At later dates members of the family made additions to the edifice, multiplied its ornaments, increased its wealth, and raised within it some sumptuous monuments. In 1544 the English invaders desecrated the church, and after removing the bells, organ, and other portable objects to their ships, burnt the beautiful timber wall within. The church was soon restored, and during the commotions of the Reformation had the good fortune to escape almost uninjured. It remained perfect till the troubles of 1715, when the Hanoverian troops defaced the interior of the building, broke the tombs, and tore up the pavement in search of hidden treasures, and for the lead that encased the bodies. While undamaged, it was a handsome cruciform structure with a central tower. The chapel is now used as a mausoleum for the Wemyss family. Seton was united to Tranent after 1580.]

1561 JOHN SHARP, M.A., mentioned as  min. 5th April 1561, along with Stephen Moffatt, sometime vicar of the same (Prot. Bk. Jas, Nicolson, f. 75a).

1562 THOMAS CRANSTOUN, min. in 1562;  was a member of Assembly 29th June of that year, and in that of June 1566, "when Robert, Commendator of Holyroodhouse, desired he might be transplanted, that his servitor, Alex. Foster, might be planted." This the Assembly refused on the urgent entreaty of the parishioners. He died in Dec. 1568. He mare. Katherine Greig, who survived him. -[booke of the kirk, Calderwood's M.S.  Hist.]

1568 ALEXANDER FORRESTER, min. of Liberton 1562, of Jedburgh 1566 ;trans. and adm. Feb. 1568; pres. to the vicarage by James VI. 2nd Dec. 1574, Seton and Aberlady being also in his charge. He was suspended by the Assembly of Oct. 1581, "for baptising ane bairne in ane privat house, against the good order of the kirk," and ordered to make public repentance in his own kick. He dem. 15th Aug. 1597 in favour of his son Andrew, min. of Corstorphine, who was pies. by James VI. 27th Sept.; the Presb., however, refused collation; died before 27th Dec. 1597. He marr. 17th Sept. 1564, Elizabeth Bothwell (A. and D,.lxxix., 38, 1579-80; Dunfermline Register), and had issue-Andrew, above mentioned; David (A. and D., l.xxvi, 367 ), apprenticed 8th April 1584 to Mark Ker, merchant, Edinburgh.-[Red. Assig.; Wodrow Miscell. and Bio., i.; Book of the lurk, Calderwood's Hist. and MS. Hist.; M'Crie's Melville, ii.; Edinburgh Apprentice Reg.]

1576 JAMES REID, reader.

1576 THOMAS RAITH, reader at Seton.

1596 ARCHIBALD OSWALD, M.A.; traps. from Smailholm, and adm. (assistant) 14th Sept. 1596 ; traps, to Pencaitland 19th April 1598.