David Erskine, Commendator of Dryburgh

In 1556 his uncle, the Earl of Mar, installed him as Commendator of Dryburgh Abbey and Inchmahome Priory, positions securing him a large income.

The occasion of making the inventory was that his uncle, now Earl of Mar, resigned responsibility for the castle to James Balfour of Pittendreich.

In a formal ceremony, Erskine, with John Cunningham of Drumquhassil, Alexander Erskine of Gogar, Alexander Forrester of Garden, and Archibald Haldane, Constable of Edinburgh Castle, gave the castle keys to James Cockburn of Skraling.

[2] In May 1585 his wife, Margaret Haldane, was held at Kildrummy Castle in the custody of the Master of Elphinstone.

[3] Francis Walsingham, at the instance of her brother, wrote to Edward Wotton, an English diplomat in Edinburgh, to ask that she be moved to more congenial location.