service to his country, and acquired a conside∣rable
estate to himself in the mercantile way.
He went often to Holland, where he carri∣ed
on a very advantageous trade, and then
married Jacque de Tott, a French lady, whom
he brought with him to Scotland, and by her
had a son,
IV. Sir THOMAS HOPE, designed of Crai∣giehall,
a man of great parts and learning, who,
being bred to the law, became so eminent in
that profession, that even when a young man,
he was pitched upon to plead the cause of the
presbyterian ministers, who were indicted for
denying the king's authority in matters eccle∣siastical,
anno 1606.
He acquitted himself so much to the satis∣faction
of the clergy, that he was ever after ad∣vised
in all their councils, and was the oracle
of their party.
He got charters, under the great seal, magistro
Thomae Hope advocato, et Johanni Hope, ejus filio,
terrarum dominicalium de Edmonstoun, baroniae de
Prestongrange, &c. &c. inter 1608 et 1615.
Also charters of the lands of Kinninmonth,
Ladeddys easter and wester, the lands of Ar∣nydie,
the lands of Kinkell, with the office of bai∣lliary
of the provostry of Kirkhaugh, the church
lands of Ceres, with the whole lands and ba∣ronies
of Craigiehall, Grantham, and many o∣thers,
too numerous to be here inserted, inter
1616 et 1624.
In the end of the reign of king James VI.
he was appointed joint king's advocate with
sir William Oliphant, who dying soon there∣after,
he was made sole advocate by king
Charles I. anno 1627, and created knight and
baronet by the same Prince.
He got a new charter of confirmation from
king Charles I. domino Thomae Hope, of all the
above named lands and baronies; also char∣ters
of many others, together with all mines,
minerals, coals, &c. upon his whole estates,
inter 1627 et 1642.
Upon the breaking out of the civil war,
he attached himself entirely to the parliament's
side, and was by them appointed a privy coun∣cillor,
and advocate for life, anno 1641, also
planter of kirks, &c.
But it seems the king did not suspect him
of disloyalty, for he appointed him high com∣missioner
to the general assembly, anno 1643,
then an office of high trust and estimation;
and to which dignity no commoner hath at∣tained
since.
In 1635, he was made one of the commis∣sioners
of exchequer. He died in the end of
the year 1646, and left considerable estates to
all his sons, three of whom being lords of the
session, while their father sir Thomas was king's
advocate, it was thought indecent that he
should plead uncovered before them; which
was the origin of the privilege the king's ad∣vocates
have ever since enjoyed, of pleading
with their hats on if they please.
Sir Thomas was a man of very great abili∣ties,
and his works extant are still highly e∣steemed,
and sufficiently show his extensive
knowledge of our laws.
By Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of John
Bennet of Wallingford, Esq; he lest issue four
sons and two daughters.
1. Sir John Hope of Craigiehall, who suc∣ceded
him, and carried on the line of that fa∣mily,
which is now represented by sir John
Bruce Hope of Kinross, baronet, and of which
Thomas Hope of Rankillor, Esq &c. are de∣scended.
2. Sir Thomas Hope of Kerse, baronet, an∣cestor
of the Hopes of Kerse, &c.
3. Sir Alexander Hope of Grantham, who
was cup-bearer to king Charles I.
4. Sir James Hope of Hopeton, ancestor of
this noble family; to whom, and his issue,
we shall consine these memoirs, and give an
account of the descendents of the other bro∣thers
in the second volume of this work.
1st daughter, Mary, married to sir Charles
Erskine of Alva.
2. Anne, married to David lord Cardross,
ancestor of the earl of Buchan.
V. Sir JAMES HOPE of Hopeton, fourth
son of sir Thomas Hope of Craigiehall, was a
man of good parts, and being bred to the law,
was likeways a great proficient in that study.
He was also a good alchymist, and the first
who brought the art of mining to any degree
of perfection in Scotland.
He was made governor of the mint, anno
1641, by king Charles I.
He was afterwards, by the parliament, ap∣pointed
one of the general commissaries of the
committee for public accounts, one of the re∣visers
of the laws, one of the senators of the
college of justice, with power to hold courts
in the mint-house, and one of the last commit∣tee
of estates, anno 1649.
He was also, by Oliver Cromwell, consti∣tuted
one of the commissioners for the sale of
the forfeited estates in Scotland, anno 1654.
He married, 1st, Anne, daughter of John
Foulis of Leadhills, Esq; in Lanarkshire, by
whom he had many children, but none surviv∣ed
him except
John, his heir,—and a daughter,
Rachael, married to David Bethune of Bal∣sour,
Esq; an ancient family in the county of
Fife.
He married, 2dly, lady Mary Keith, eldest