And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE, EAST HARDING STREET, FLEET STREET, E.C., and 32, ABINGDON STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W.; or JOHN MENZIES & Co., 12, HANOVER STREET, EDINBURGH, and 90, WEST NILE STREET, GLASGOW; or HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., LIMITED, 104, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN. [C.-7570.] Price 1s. 2d. REPORT ON THE MUNIMENTS OF HIS GRACE THE The noble and distinguished family of Roxburghe has held a pro- MSS. OF DUKE minent position in the borders of Scotland for upwards of five centuries. OF ROXBURGHE, Like other ancient Scottish families they have had many vicissitudes and changes. Beginning as Border lairds holding the lands of Altonburn and afterwards of Cessford, the Kers gradually attained to the peerages of Lord Roxburghe, Earl of Roxburghe, and Duke of Roxburghe. But these high honours were not all acquired in the direct male line of the Kers of Cessford. They continued to be commoners from the middle of the fourteenth to the end of the sixteenth century when Robert Ker of Cessford was created Lord Roxburghe in 1599. He was advanced in the peerage in 1616 with the title of Earl of Roxburghe. Up to that date the Kers of Cessford and the Lord and Earl of Roxburghe continued in the direct male line. But the first Earl of Roxburghe, having no surviving male issue and four daughters, made arrangements that the eldest daughter, Lady Jean Ker, should marry her cousin, William Drummond, of the family of the Earls of Perth, and inherit the title of Earl of Roxburghe. The Drummond Earls of Roxburghe continued in the direct male line till John, fifth Earl, was created Duke of Roxburghe. He was a prominent statesman, and held the important office of Secretary for Scotland at the time of the union between Scotland and England. The Drummond Dukes of Roxburghe continued till John the third Duke who died in the year 1804 unmarried. He was well known in the literary world and his name is commemorated in the Roxburghe Club. The titles and estates of Roxburghe then devolved on William, seventh Lord Bellenden, who was the direct heir male of William, second Earl of Roxburghe, whose fourth son John succeeded under a Crown resignation to the title and estates of his kinsman, William, first Lord Bellenden of Broughton, whose mother was Margaret Ker, sister of the first Earl of Roxburghe. William Lord Bellenden thus became the fourth Duke of Roxburghe. He did not live long after his succession, having died in the following year, 1805, leaving no surviving issue. After his death a competition arose for the titles of Duke and Earl of Roxburghe and the old family estates between Lady Essex Ker, daughter of the second Duke of Roxburghe, as heir of line, Sir James Norcliffe Innes, as heir male of the body of Margaret Ker, daughter of Harry Lord Ker, Major-General Walter Ker of Littledean, claiming as heir male of Robert Ker, first Earl of Roxburghe, and the Right Honourable William Drummond of Logiealmond, as heir male of the second or Drummond Earl of Roxburghe. This remarkable case occupied the attention of the Court of Session and the House of Lords for several years, and on 11th May 1812, the House of Lords, affirming the judgment of the Court of Session, decided in favour of Sir James. Norcliffe Innes Ker, who became fifth Duke of Roxburghe, and was the grandfather of the present Duke. The Roxburghe estates and peerages have thus been inherited successively by the families of Ker of Cessford, Drummond of Perth, y 78289. |