The Laird of Philipstoun and Francis Durham of Duntarvie were involved in a bitter feud in 1632 and were both warned by the Privy Council of Scotland to keep the peace. Durham complained that David Dundas had ploughed part of the common moor of Abercorn and that, when he had gone there to "understand the true state of the case" David Dundas had "spiered him how he durst come upon that field and then name in upon him with and drawin whinger (knife) of purpose to have slain him" and had pursued him with armed men.
A counter complaint by David Dundas alleged that Francis Durham of Duntarvie and James Whitehead had "Causelessly conceaved a deadly hatred against him" had spied on him and assaulted him "within a pair of butts of his own house" when he had gone out to oversee his husbandry. Francis Durham had "a blew bonnet on his head and his cloak cast about his mouth" and David Dundas did not recognize him until he and Whitehead were upon him. The latter had given him "ane great strike with the sword upon the head, to the great effusion of his blood" and Francis Durham had cut off his little finger and left him for dead.
Durham admitted the assault and was delivered to Andrew Whyte, keeper of the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, to be detained "until they release him".