The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that Kingdom. ... By George Crawfurd, Esq;.

LYLE, Lord Lyle.

SOme who have enquired into the Antiquity of Sirnames with much Curiosity, think that the first Ancestor of this Family was one of those Scots|men who fled from the Usurpation of Mackbeath into England, and returned with Edgar Atheling and his Sister the Princess Margaret, afterward Wife to King Malcolm Canmore, upon the Inva|sion by William the Conqueror, and got Possessions in the Isle of Bute, in the Western Parts of this Realm, from whence they took the Demonation of Le Isle, which they kept after they came to be settled upon the Continent at Duchal-Castle in Renfrew-shire. Tho I have not seen directly any Mention of them till King William's Time, that William de Isle is one of the Witnesses to that Deed, which Walterus Dapifer Regis made to the Monks of Paisley, when he founded that Convent of the Lands of Espindera 1.1. He is the same Person, as I take it, who is one of the Barons taken Prisoner with King William at the Battle of Alnwickb 1.2 on the 13th July 1174.

The next in order of Succession, if not his Son, to be taken notice of is Radulphus de Isle, who is a Witness to the Donation, which Baldwin de Bigris, Sheriff of Lanerk made to the Abbot and Convent of Paisley, and to the Monks serving GOD there, as the Gift bears, in pure Alms, Ecclesiam de Innerkip cum tota illa terra inter tumulos ubi Ecclesia est fundata, ita libere sicut di|cti Monachi possident reliquas Ecclesias de Strath-Grief, ex dono Walteri filii A|lani-Dapiferi Regis Scotiae.

The next of this Lineage is Alanus de Isle, who is a Witness to that Ex|cambion which Walter High Steward of Scotland made of the Lands of Ky|lingtoun for the Lands of Innerweek, the Tithes of which he made over to the Abbot of Paisley, for the Welfare of him|self and his Successors, both here and hereafterc 1.3. He is also to be found in the Confirmation which Alexander High Steward of Scotland made to the Monks of Paisley, of all the Donati|ons made by himself or his Ancestors down to that Period of Time, in the Year of our Lord 1151.

Radulphus de Isle, Insula, dominus de Duchal, probably the Son of the for|mer, is Witness to the Vendition of the Lands of Aldingstoun to the Abbot of Paisley, and his Title being added to the Sirname, is an undoubted Evidence that he was then a very remarkable Person; for I cannot but observe, that this is the very first time I have found any in the Western Parts adding a lo|cal Title to the Sirname.

In the grand Competition betwixt Bruce and Baliol for the Crown, Sir Walter Lyle was upon the Bruce's Side, as his Friend and Namesake; Sir Allan Lyle was upon the Baliol's af|terward, and adhered to the Inte|rest of Edward Baliol, in all the Turns of the Times: In Consideration whereof, upon his coming to the Crown, he made him Sheriff and Governor of Bute, and Lord High Chamberlain of Scotlanda 1.4. But whether this Sir Alan Lyle was the Head and Representative, or only a Branch of the Family, I do not know; however it is certain, that John Lyle of Duchal was in Favour with King David Bruce, in the 39th of whose Reign he had a Grant to himself and Margaret de Vauss his Wife, of the King's Lands of Buch|••••han, in the County of Stirling, and to their Heirsb 1.5: After which he obtained the Honour of Knight|hood; for I have found him designed Joannes de Lyle Dominus de Duchal M••+les, in a Charter of Confirmation by Alan Erskine of Baruchan to Sir Ro+bert Erskine, of the Lands of Duner|book and Achintorly, in the End of King David's Reign. He left a Son

John, whom I have found design'd Filio & haeredi apparents Joannis Lyle de Duchal, militis, in Charters of King Robert II. when Earl of Strath|ern, He married a Lady who was one of the Co-heirs of the Earldom of Mar, tho' I know not precisely who she was: But in her Right the Lord Lyle, in the Time of King James II. laid Claim to a Part of that Estate, and from thenceforth added the Coat of Mar to his Paternal Arms. This John was succeeded by his Son

Robert Lyle, stiled Chevalier de Du|chal, in the Letters of safe Conduct that were granted by the King of England, to a Number of great Men of Scotland, to come into his Domi|nions in the 1422, to wait on King James home, when he was relieved from his Captivity out of England. I find he was also one of the Hostages for the King's Ransomc 1.6. When the King possessed himself of the Earl|dom of Mar, upon the Death of Alexander Stewart Earl of Mar, who was not born in lawful Marriage he put in his Claim as one of the Heirs of that Earldom, to which he and the Lord Erskine should have succeeded by Right and Proximity of Blood, as Fordon's Continuator says, Anno 1438, Obiit Alexander Stewart Comes de Marr, & quia Ba|stardus erat, Rex illi successit, quam|vis jure haereditario Domini Erskine & Lyle successisse debuissent. 'Tis probable the King componed with Sir Robert Lyle about his Right, for in all the Disputes betwixt the King and the Lord Erskine about his Claim to the Half of the Earldom of Marr, there is no Mention made of his Title. He married . . . . Daughter of Sir William Stewart of Castlemilk,d 1.7 by whom he had Robert his Son and Heir, who in the Reign of King James II. was raised to the Peerage of this Realm, by the Title of Lord Lyle: For in a Charter of Lands by him to Sir John de Ross of Haulk|head, Anno 1445, he is designed Do|minus de Douchal; and in a Confirma|tion of the same Charter, under the Great Seal in the Year 1458, he is designed, Dilectus Consanguineus No|ster Robertus Dominus Lyle, which doth plainly show the Time he was rais'd to the Honour; after which he had sundry Grants from the Crown, particularly of the Royal Castle of Re••frew, with the Orch|ards and Meadows, for the Payment of a Tack-duty of Five Pounds yearly to the King's Exchequere 1.8. He founded a Hermitage at Syde, with|in the Barony of Duchal, and a Chan|try within the Abbey Church of Paisly, for celebrating Divine Service

for the Health of his Soul, the Souls of his Ancestors and Successors for ever, to which he gives the Fishing of Crockat-shot upon Clyde Anno 1452. He married first Elizabeth Daughter of Andrew Gray Lord of Fowlisa 1.9; and next Margaret, Daughter of . . . . Wallace of . . . . . by whom he had Robert Lord Lyle, and a Daughter Agnes married to Alan Lyle of Craig|bra••b 1.10.

Which Robert did very remark ably distinguish himself in his Service to his Country, in the time of James III. In the 1472, being then one of the King's Privy Council, he was joined in Commission with diverse Lords and Barons, to treat upon a Truce with the English; which being concluded, he was again named one of the Ambassadors on the Part of Scotland, to treat of a Marriage be|twixt the Prince of Scotland, and Anne Daughter of John Duke of Suffolk: At which times a Truce was agreed on between the two Nations, from the 29 September 1484, for the full Term of three Years thereafterc 1.11, he being named one of the Conser|vators thereof. Likewise in May 1488 he was one of the Commissioners sent into England, to treat with that State, anent the keeping of a firm and la|sting Peace betwixt the two Crowns. Before their return Home, the King being killed at the Battle of Stirling, his Lordship was by Act of Parlia|ment appointed one of the Privy Council to King James IV.d 1.12, and constituted Justice General by South the River of Forthe 1.13.

But notwithstanding of these Pro|motions, his Lordship being dissatis|fied with the Measures that had been taken in Reference to the late King, he together with Matthew Master of Lennox took up Arms, in order to re|venge his Death, but was defeated in the Attempt by the Lord Drummond, for which he was forfeited; But again restored upon the general Indemnity Anno 1491, and restored to be Justi|ciary by South the Water of Forthf 1.14. Which Office he discharged with Courage and Fidelity for several Years thereafter. He married first . . . . Daughter of John Seaton Son and Heir apparent of George Lord Seaton, and again Elizabeth Daughter of Archbald Earl of Angus, and had Issue, Robert his Successor, George Lyle of Langlebank, Margaret married to James Stewart of Blackhalg 1.15, Marion to Peter Houstoun Esqh 1.16 and Agnes to John Maxwel of Stainly.

Robert Lord Lyle his Son married Marion Daughter of . . . . Lindsay of Dunrod, and dying Anno 1511, left Issue, John his Son and Heir, and two Daughters, Agnes married to Alan Cathcart, at that time Son and Heir apparent of John Lord Cathcarti 1.17, and Katharine to Archibald Macklach|lane of that Ilk.

Which John, being under Age at the Death of his Father, the Ward and Be|nefit of his Marriage was assigned by his Majesty King James IV. to James Bishop of Glasgow, whose Niece Eli|zabeth, Daughter of Sir David Beaton of Crich, Lord High Treasurer of Scot|land; a very good Alliance, tho' she was only a Gentlewoman; (for the Countess of Arran and the Lady Buck|cleuch were Daughters of the same Family,) he had by her James, Ma|ster of Lyle, and a Daughter Jean mar|ried to Sir Neil Montgomery of Lain|shaw. This Lord upon the Death of King James V. was one of the Peers who entred into a solemn Association to maintain and defend the Infant Queen Mary against all Assaults either of Scots Men or English Men, who were in the Interest of England. The Ma|ster of Lyle being a profuse Man

and of no Expectation, the Father cau|sed first interdict him: But that Me|thode proving ineffectual, he resolved to dispose of his Estate to his Daugh|ter and her Heirs, and that he might more easily and securely convoy it to her and her Children, he disposed of a great many considerable Baronies in a short Time, and upon the Ma|ster's Death Sir Neil Montgomery came to be the Heir of this Ancient Noble Familya 1.18. And since the Right of Blood does not prescribe his Heirs may claim the Lord Lyle's Honours when they think fit.

ARMS.

Quarterly 1st and 4th, Azure a Bend betwixt six Cross Croslets, Or, a Frete Gules, 2d and 3d, Or, Supporters two Cats Sable. Crest, a Cock crowing. Motto, An I may.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Chartulary of Paisley.
• b 1.2

  Rymer's Foedera.
• c 1.3

  Chartulary of Paisley.
• a 1.4

  Sir James Balfour's List of Chamberlains.
• b 1.5

  Charta in Rotulis Dav. 11.
• c 1.6

  Rymer's foedera.
• d 1.7

  Charta in Publ. Archivis.
• e 1.8

  Charta penes D. Ross.
• a 1.9

  Charta penes D. Gray.
• b 1.10

  Charta in Publ. Archivis.
• c 1.11

  Rymer's foedera.
• d 1.12

  Black Acts of Parliament.
• e 1.13

  Charta in Publ. Arch.
• f 1.14

  Charta penes Jacobum Montgomery de Lain|shaw.
• g 1.15

  Charta in Publ. Arch.
• h 1.16

  Ibidem.
• i 1.17

  Ibidem.
• a 1.18

  N••tandum, I find, that upon the Death of John Lord Lyle, Jean Lyle his Daughter and Heir, with Consent of Sir Neil Montgomery of Lainshaw her Spouse, makes several Transactions with those who had acquired her Father's Estate, particularly with Sir Colin Campbel of Lundy, about the Barony of Lundy, the Instructions of which are still in the Hands of James Montgomery of Lainshaw his Heir of Line. This Sir Neil Montgomery by Jean Lyle his Wife, had Sir Neil his Successor, and two Daughters . . . . married to the Laird of Ardross, and Margaret to John Pollock of that Ilk. Which Neil as Heir to John Lord Lyle, and Jean Lyle his Mother, made an Agree|ment with William Porterfield of that Ilk, about his Right to the Mains and Forty Shillings Land of Duchal Anno 1599, which had been long in dispute betwixt them. His Wife was Elizabeth Daugh|ter of . . . Cuningham of Aiket he had Neil his Successor, John Montgomery of Cocklibee, and William Montgomery of Bridgend; of whom the Montgomeries of Bridgend, Belliskeoch, Clonies and Beoch are descended, and two Daughters . . . to . . . Graham of Grugar, and . . . to . . . John|stoun of Wamfr••y. Neil Montgomery next of Lainshaw married Marion Daughter of Sir William Muir of Rowalan, and had Neil his Successor, Jean married to William Buntin of Airdoch . . . to . . . Montgomery of Achinhood . . . to . . . Campbel of Skeldon . . . to . . . Houstoun of Park. Neil Montgomery next of Lainshaw married Margaret Daughter of . . . Lockhart of Barr, and had John his Son, who married Helen Daughter of Sir Lodovick Houstoun of that Ilk, but having no Issue they disponed their Estate to their Cousin and Heir-Male David Montgomery eldest Son of John Montgomery of Cocklibee: Which John married first . . . Cuningham Daughter to Cuninghame of chinharvie, and had a Daughter Jean married to William Caldwel of that Ilk. Secondly, Jean Daughter of Captain Daniel Forrester of the House of Carden, Envoy in King James V ••'s Time to Italy and Spain; by whom he had David Montgomery of Lainshaw, John Montgomery of Crivock, and four Daughters. Agnes married to Thomas Kennedy of Kirkmichael. Karharine to Fergus Macubin of Knockdolian. Barbara to William Montgomery of Belliskeoch. Margaret to Mr. Miller Minister at Neilstoun. David Montgomery of Lainshaw his Son married Marion Daugh|ter of James Dunlop of that Ilk, and had James Montgomery of Lainshaw, and a Daughter Jean married to the Reverend Mr. Laing Parson of Donachadee. Which James upon the Revolution, was made Clerk to the Justiciary during Life; which he at present enjoys, and is married with Barbara Daughter of John Kennedy of Craig, Heir and Representative of an ancient Family of the Kennedies of Barc••anachan in Air-shire.