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Note: 1 - May 1594 As a specimen of how nobles possessing castles acted towards meaner men who had fallen under their displeasure�James, Lord Hay of Yester, was charged before the Privy Council with having, on the day of June previous, gone to the house of Brown of Frosthill, and taken him forth thereof, and carried him to his �tplace of Neidpath,�u where �the put him in the pit thereof, and detenes him as captive, he being his majesty�us free subject.... having committit nae crime nor offence, and the said lord having nae power nor commission to tak him.�u The king had granted letters charging Lord Yester to liberate Brown, and that they should both come before him; and this had been of none effect. The matter being now before the Council, and a procurator having appeared for Brown to explain that he was still a prisoner at Neidpath, while Lord Yester made no appearance, officers were charged to go and denounce the latter as a rebel if he should refuse to obey the king�us command, Brown having meanwhile given surety to
2 - Oct 1595 James Lord Hay of Yester, brother and successor of the turbulent Master of Yester, kept state in Neidpath Castle, with his wife, but as yet unblessed with progeny. His presumptive heir was his second-cousin, Hay of Smithfield, ancestor of the present Sir Adam Hay of Haystoun. In these circumstances, occasion was given for a curious series of proceedings, involving the fighting of a regular passage of arms on a neighbouring plain beside the Tweed�a simple pastoral scene, where few could now dream that any such incident had ever taken place. Lord Yester had for his page one George Hepburn, brother of the parson of Oldhamstocks in East Lothian. His master-of-the-horse�for such officers were then retained in houses of this rank�was John Brown of Hartree. One day, Brown, in conversation with Hepburn, remarked: �tYour father had good knowledge of physic: I think you should have some also.�u �tWhat mean ye by that?�u said Hepburn. �tYou might have great advantage by something,�u answered Brown. On being further questioned, the latter stated that, seeing Lord Yester had no children, and Hay of Smithfield came next in the entail, it was only necessary to give the former a suitable dose in order to make the latter Lord Yester. �tIf you,!�u continued Brown, �tcould give him some poison, you should be nobly rewarded, you and yours.�u �tMethinks that were no good physic,�u quoth Hepburn drily, and soon after revealed the project to his lord. Brown, on being taxed with it, stood stoutly on his denial. Hepburn as strongly insisted that the proposal had Due authority being obtained, a regular and public combat was arranged to take place on Edston-haugh, near Neidpath. The two combatants were to fight in their doublets, mounted, with spears and swords. Some of the greatest men of the country took part in the affair, and honoured it with their presence. The Laird of Buccleuch appeared as judge for Brown; Hepburn had, on his part, the Laird of Cessford. The Lords Yester and Newbottle were amongst those officiating. When all was ready, the two combatants rode full tilt against each other with their spears; when Brown missed Hepburn, and was thrown from his horse with his adversary�us weapon through his body. Having grazed his thigh in the charge, Hepburn did not immediately follow up his advantage, but suffered Brown to lie unharmed on the ground. �tFy!�u cried one of the judges, �talight and take amends of thy enemy!�u He then advanced on foot with his sword in his hand to Brown, and commanded him to confess the truth. �tStay,�u cried Brown, �ttill I dra
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