Laird of Duntreath, and his two brothers, out of a grudge for his having obtained the Stewartry of Mentieth, which was formerly in their family, 1547, and his son, James, was created Lord Downe, anno 1581,* whose son, James, married Elizabeth, Countess of Moray, and from them the present family is descended.

It was this Earl who was murdered at Dunibristle, in the year 1592. He was succeeded by his son, James, who died in 1633. His son, James, survived till 1652, and was succeeded by his son, Alexander, who survived his first-born son, Alexander, Lord Downe, who, being the father of two beautiful daughters, the spouses of their happy husbands, Brigadier General Grant of Grant, and Mr Fraser of Strichen, their uncle, Charles, the second son, succeeded his father, Earl Alexander, who, being removed in 1735, was succeeded by his brother, Francis, the third son of Earl Alexander, who left his rank and fortune to his eldest son, James. He was succeeded by his son Francis, the father of Francis, who now supports the highest respectability of this distinguished family, and is the father of a numerous offspring.

Arms of Randolph, Earl of Moray-Or, three Cushions pendent by the corners within the royal tressure, Gules.

Arms of Dunbar, Earl of Moray-Quarterly, first and fourth, the arms of Randolph, Earl of Moray, above blazoned. Second and third, Gules, a Lyon rampant within a border, Argent, charged with eight Roses of the Field.

• The form of creating Lord Downe a Peer, is by an Act of Parliament, 7th of James VI., anno 1581, bearing, that the lands of Downe, &c., were feued by Queen Mary, to Sir James Stewart of Downe, Knight, his heirs, &c., and the said Sir James being descended of the Royal Blood :-" Therefore, his Highness, with the advice of his Three Estates, erects, creates, and incorporates, all the foresaid lands, offices, &c., in an Lordship, to be called the Lordship of Downe, who shall have the dignity and place of a Lord of Parliament, with his arms effeiring thereto." This was an usual form (possibly for the greater solemnity, the King being under age), in imitation of the old form of creating an Earl, by creating his lands into a county. (Essay on BRIT. ANTIQ.)

Arms of Douglas, Earl of Moray-Quarterly, first and fourth, the arms of Randolph, Earl of Moray, above blazoned. Second and third, Argent, a Man's Heart ensigned with an Imperial Crown, proper, on a chief Azure, three Stars of the Field.

Arms of James, Earl of Moray, natural son of King James IV.— Quarterly, first and fourth, the Imperial arms of Scotland bruised with a Baton Sinister, counter charged of the field and charge. Second and third, the arms of Randolph, Earl of Moray, above blazoned.

Arms of James, Earl of Moray, Regent of Scotland in Queen Mary's time. The same as the last.

Arms of the present Earl of Moray-Quarterly, first and fourth, the Imperial arms of Scotland within a border gorbonated, Azure and Argent. Second, Or, a Fess checkie Azure and Argent. Third, the arms of Randolph, Earl of Moray, above blazoned.

Above the Shield is placed his Lordship's Coronet, over which is set an Helmet befitting his quality, with a Mantling, Gules, the doubling Ermine. On a wreath of his Liveries is set for a Crest, a Pelican feeding her young. Or, in a Nest Vert. In an Escroll above the Crest, this Motto, SALUS PER CHRISTUM REDEMPTOREM. And, on a compartment below the Shield, are placed for supporters, two Grey Hounds, Argent, Collared, Gules.

I shall now give some account of

THE FAMILY OF BRODIE.

This name is manifestly local, taken from the lands of Brodie. In ancient writings, it is called Brothie, softened into Brodie. In the old Irish, Broth signifies a Ditch or Mire,—the same as Dyke in Saxon, and Digue in French. And the Mire Trench, or Ditch, that runneth from the village of Dyke to the north of Brodie-House,

seemeth to have given this place the name of Brodie. Be this as it will-the antiquity of this name appeareth from this, that no history, record, or tradition, (that I know of) doth so much as hint, that any other family or name possessed the lands of Brodie before them, or that they came as strangers from another country. I incline much to think, that they were originally of the ancient Moravienses, and were one of those loyal tribes, to whom King Malcolm IV. gave lands, about the year 1160, when he transplanted the Moray rebels. At that time sirnames were fixed; and the Macintoshes, Innesses, Rosses, then assumed their names; and, probably, so did the Brodies. And their arms being the same with those of the Morays, showeth that they were originally the same people.

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The old writs of this family were either carried away by Lord Gordon, when he burnt Brodie-House, in 1645, or were destroyed in that burning; and yet the descents of the family may be traced about 500 years. (1) Malcolm was Thane of Brodie in the reign of King Alexander III. (2) Michael filius Malcomi, Thanus de Brothie and Dyke, had a charter from King Robert Bruce, about 1311, (Hist. of Kilr. and Sir G. Mk. MS.) (3) Joannes de Brothie, accompanied the Earl of Mar, Lord Lieutenant, about the year 1376, (Hist. of Kilr. and Macintosh.) (4) John of Brodie, assisted the Mackenzies against the Macdonalds, in the conflict, at Park, anno 1466, (Hist. of Suther. &c.) (5) John of Brodie, witness in an indenture between the Thane of Calder and the Baron of Kilravock, anno 1482, (Pen. Cald.) (Here two or three descents are wanting, which I could not find out.)

Alexander of Brodie, father. of (9) David, who died anno 1627, leaving six sons,-viz. David, who succeeded him; Alexander, who purchased the lands of Lethin, Kinloss, and Pitgavenie; Mr John, who was Dean of Moray, and whose son, William Brodie of Whitewreath, was father of Mr William Brodie, Advocate, who died, a bachelor, in 1741; Mr Joseph, the fourth son, was Minister of Forres,