Survey of the activities of one of the most important cross-Border families, the ancestors of Robert the Bruce. Robert de Brus, the "conquisitor of Cleveland, Hartness and Annandale", who came into England among the followers of Henry I, was also a close companion and mentor of David I, king of Scots. The lands he acquired from bothkings were divided between his sons, from whom two lines descended: the lords of Skelton, influential Northerners who played an active part during the baronial troubles in the reigns of John and Henry III, and the prominent cross-Border lords of Annandale, co-heirs of the substantial Chester and Huntingdon estates and progenitors of King Robert Bruce. This study takes a fresh approach to the Brus family by assessing the achievements of the two lines in parallel while examining the extent of their power and the development of their lordships; it highlights the inter-relations between the barons of England and Scotland during two hundred years of comparative peace between the kingdoms. Of additional interest is the appendix of an extensive handlist of charters of the Brus family of both lines. It will be a welcome addition to the existing body of works on English baronial families and on Anglo-Scottish cross-Border lords of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

The tax lists were scrupulously copied from microfilm, but in many cases the handwriting was so poor, so blurred or so dim that achieving accuracy was difficult. When in doubt, the researcher should always refer to the microfilm. The marriage records are arranged by grooms name with a brides index. All entries in the original documents were hand written. Names were transcribed as they were spelled in the documents.

Abstracts in this volume are from County Court Minutes, [sometimes referred to as County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions], Circuit Court Minutes, Chancery Court Minutes and other records included in these minutes, such as Pleas and Judgments. They are f

PREFACE THE object of this volume is to try and lessen the number of dreadful pauses which so many hostesses have experienced with their guests when no one bad courage enough to propose a new game, or had foresight enough to come prepared with a mental list of games that have a right good swing to them. This collection will sufice as a background for working purposes, and while many of them may be familiar, at the same time one does not always think of them readily, and will welcome these as a friend in need. The games under the heading Competitions need preparing in advance, as they cannot be rushed at the last minute. It is as well to decide before sending out the invitations what is to be the principal game of the evening, and then write it on the invitation card. An Evening with Kate will arouse the curiosity of those who do not know the games, and make them all the more anxious to come and find out.................