Early in 1426 an "inquisition" was made at "Etibredeschelis" (near the junction of Yarrow and Ettrick) regarding the lands of Elerig in upper Borthwick—a possession of the Scotts (later of Buccleuch); and on 27th February of that year John Turnbull of "Foultoune" and others witnessed a retour certifying Walter Scott as heir to his father in these lands. This laird of Fulton, who may have been the founder of this branch of the turbulent clan, was a man of considerable ability, and held the office of bailie of the regality of Sprouston. In that capacity he gave infeftment in 1432 of the lands of Primside to George of Rule and Margaret Ker, his wife. As bailif of the regality of Sprouston, "John Turnbulle of le Fultoun" continued to act for the Douglas in many important transactions, until at least 1438: See the Roxburghe Manuscripts (Hist. MSS. Comm.), pp. 9, 20.

By the end of the fifteenth century the Turnbulls had from slender beginnings become a prolific and powerful clan. But Leyden exaggerates their immunity in his reference to the river Rule:

"Where Turnbulls once, a race no power could awe, Lined the rough skirts of stormy Ruberslaw."

For in 1510 James IV, annoyed by their audacity and disregard of the law, invaded the vale by a night march from Jedburgh and compelled two hundred of the unruly tribe to meet him at the water of Rule, bearing in their hands the swords with which they had committed their offenses, "and having each around his neck the halter that he had well merited." A few received capital punishment: many were imprisoned or put in ward; and conceivably the laird of Fulton was amongst those who thus suffered the penalty of the law. Hostages were taken to ensure the good behaviour of the remainder, who were then dismissed to their homes. For the tradition (or perhaps rather legend) that associates these repressing executions with the Dead Haugh—or Deadman's Haugh—near Spittal-on-Rule, one may consult Tancred's "Rulewater;" pp. 226, 237. (The Treasurer's Accounts and the Exchequer Rolls show that the energetic monarch was then (Nov. 1510) holding a justiciary court in Jedburgh.)

Having been thus reduced to submission or order, the Turnbulls, assembling under the banner of Lord Home, possibly shared in the disaster of Flodden, as they certainly experienced that results of that defeat. For on May 15, 1515, the Southrons made a hostile invasion of the Rule valley, where with devastating hands they “did greit skaith under trust " (wrote Bishop Leslie), in defiance of a tripartite truce between Scotland, England and France. Thus the clan suffered from compatriot and foe alike; and their sad plight may well have been viewed with royal compassion; for in November, 1516, James V granted (under the privy seal) letters of remission to various Turnbulls, including Adam, George, and Andrew Turnbull in Fulton, as well as William Turnbull in Crag, for their alleged art, part, and assistance given to Alexander, Lord Home, and his brother in their treason. The Turnbulls had been but serving their feudal superior Lord Home,