The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;.

Old Earls of LENNOX.

THE Irish antiquaries claim the honour of the origin of this noble family,* 1.1 and assert, that their first ancestor came from Ire∣land.

Some Scotch authors alledge, that they are descended from Alexander, second son of Ken∣neth thane of Lochaber,* 1.2 and immediate young∣er brother of Bancho, predecessor of the Scotch royal family.

But the following narration will make it plainly appear, that they came from Eng∣land.

Although upon the great victory obtained by William duke of Normandy (afterwards called the Conqueror) over Harold king of England, at Hastings, in October 1066, all the southern provinces of England submitted quietly to the government of the victor; yet several earls, great lords, and powerful ba∣rons, in the northern provinces, much attach∣ed to their old race of kings, and impatient of servitude, stood up valiantly in defence of their liberties, and the independency of their country; and having carried on a bloody, but unsuccessful, war against the Conqueror, whom they looked upon as an usurper, were at last compelled to leave their country, abandon their estates, and save their lives by flying to Scotland, where they were kindly received by king Malcolm III. as will be shown here∣after.

The most eminent of these families was, the ancestor of the Dunbars earls of March, who are treated of under that title, page 437 of this work.

The next was the progenitor of the old earls of Lennox, of whom we are now to give an account.

The first of them we can fix upon, with any certainty, is

1. AYKFRITH, or EGFRITH, an English Saxon lord, who was possessed of a great e∣state in Northumberland,* 1.3 which, with Cum∣berland and Westmorland, belonged to the Scots for several generations: it is therefore probable, that he was of Scotch extract. He had also the lordships of Dent and Sadbergh,* 1.4 in York-shire, and was cotemporary with the kings Canute and Edward the Confessor.

He made a great addition to his paternal estate, by the marriage of Ecksrida, a rich York-shire heiress,* 1.5 with whom he got vast possessions, viz. the lands and baronies of Askrig, Holteby, Marrig, Burgh, Ilkton, New∣ton, Taulield, Wath, Melmorby, Normanby, with several others, all in the same county.

He died about the year 1064, and left is∣sue a son,

II. ARKYLL, or ARKILL, who succeeded him,* 1.6 and, in old records, is designed Arkill chevalier, the son of Egfrith, &c.

He was possessor not only of all the above baronies in York-shire, but also of the lands of Hakeford,* 1.7 Hornebye, Layburn, Brumpton, Carthorp, &c. in the same county.

He had likeways a great estate in Nor∣thumberland, which appears from a cotempo∣rary author, who mentions him as one of the most powerful men in that country,* 1.8 accord∣ing to these remarkable words:

"Arkyllus Nordankymbrorum potentissimus, cum rege concordiam fecit, eique filium suum obsidem tradidit, &c."

He married Sigrida, daughter to a power∣ful baron in York-shire, viz. Kilvert filius Li∣gulfi, by Ekfrida his wife, daughter of Aldu∣nus bishop of Durham, by which it appears,* 1.9 that the celibacy of the clergy had not then obtained in England. By her he had a son,

Cospatrick, who marrying the daughter of Dolphin, the son of Torphin, had a son, Cospatrick, cotemporary with Simon of Dur∣ham; a descendant of which Cospatrick,* 1.10 by an heir-female, was Adam de Steavolay, who succeeded to his York-shire estate.

Arkyll being a great sticklet for the old Saxon race, bore a principal share in all the insurrections against William the Conqueror; and being defeated by him, anno 1067, was obliged to give his son Cospatrick an hostage for his fidelity, who being too young to have been concerned in his father's conspiracies,* 1.11 got a good share of his York-shire estate.

Another dangerous insurrection having been raised against the Conqueror, by the Northern counties, in the year 1068, Arkyll joined heartily in it; and being again defeat∣ed, was forfeited, and obliged to leave Eng∣land,* 1.12 according to these words of the said author,

"Eodem tamen anno Arkyllus fuit in∣ter rebelles Eboracenses; quibus profligatis, a conquestore in exilium actus est, &c."

Arkyll fled to Scotland to king Malcolm C••nmore, who having married Margaret, si∣ster to Edgar Atheling, the true and lineal heir of the English crown, received all the Saxon exiles with open arms, gave them e∣states in Scotland, and other rewards suitable

to their birth, merit, and the losses they had sustained in England, on account of their loyalty

Arkyll obtained from that king a large tract of land in the shires of Dunbarton and Stirling, which was afterwards erected into the earldom of Lennox, in favours of Alwin Mac Arkyll his grand-son.

From this Arkyll his descendents, the old earls of Lennox, are denominated by the Gae∣lic bards and senachies, Siol Arkyll, i. e. the posterity of Arkyll.

It is said he married a Scotch lady to his second wife, by whom he had a son of his own name, who succeeded him in his estate in Scotland.

III. ARKYLL,* 1.13 second of that name, in old writs is always designed Arkyllus filius Arkyll, &c.

It does not appear that he survived his fa∣ther long; and we have little of him on re∣cord, only that he was father of

IV. ALWYN, according to the Saxon, or Alwin according to the Celtic, who succeed∣ed him, and is always designed MacArkill or the son of Arkill.

We find him mentioned in our records in the beginning of the reign of king David I. who succeeded to the crown of Scotland, an∣no 1124.

He is witness to a charter of confirmation, by that monarch, to the abbacy of Dunferm∣line,* 1.14 together with Constantine earl of Fise, who died anno 1127.

He appears to have been much about the court of this king David,* 1.15 being witness to most of that good prince's charters and dona∣tions to the religious, which were very nu∣merous.

He was also witness to a general confirma∣tion to the abbacy of Dunfermline, by king Malcolm IV.* 1.16 who succeeded king David, an∣no 1153.

He was possessed of a vast estate, and be∣ing also in great favour with the said king Malcolm, was by that prince raised to the dignity of earl of Lennox,* 1.17 in the beginning of his reign.

He mortified to the church of Kilpatrick, in the earldom of Lennox, the lands of Cock∣nach, Edinvernan, Baccun, Finbealuch, Drum∣creve, Craigintulloch,* 1.18 Monach, Kinnern, Drum∣glenan, Cultbuth, and Dalmannach.

He left issue two sons.

1. Alwin, his heir to the earldom of Len∣nox.

2. Ethus, or Eth, who is designed son to the earl of Lennox, in a charter granted to the monastery of Melross, by Duncan, the son of Gilbert,* 1.19 the son of Fergus, created af∣terwards earl of Carrick, of the lands of Maybothle-Beg, or Little Maybole, in Air∣shire, in 1193; but we know nothing of his posterity, unless Dovenald Lefitz, Michae More de Levenax, mentioned in Prynne's collections, anno 1296, is descended of him.

Though we cannot fix upon the precise time of this earl's death, yet we are sure it happened in the reign of king Malcolm, who died anno 1165.

The earl was succeeded in his whole estates and dignities in Scotland, by his eldest son,

V. ALUIN, second earl of Lennox, who being very young at his father's death, king William (who succeeded king Malcolm) as superior of the earldom of Lennox, gave the ward thereof, during earl Alwin's minority, to his own brother, David earl of Hunting∣ton and Garioch, which appears from an in∣quisition taken by the abbot and convent of Paisley, concerning the lands of Monach-Kenneran, now supposed to be Balchonran,* 1.20 upon the river Clyde, anno 1233, when se∣veral of the witnesses declare, that the above lands belonged to the monastery, at the time that David earl of Huntington held and pos∣sessed the earldom of Lennox, according to these words in the chartulary of Paisley,

"Eo tempore quo David comes, frater regis Willielmi, habuit et possedit comitatum de Levenax, &c."

This earl confirmed his father's donation of the above lands to the church of Kirkpa∣trick, and added of his own free gift,* 1.21 accord∣ing to the record, the lands of Cateconar, &c.

He gave also the church of Camsie, in the earldom of Lennox, to Walter bishop of Glas∣gow, and his successors in that see, ad oran∣dum pro animabus regis David, et comitis Hen∣rici, et regis Malcolmi, et pro salute domini sui Willi••lmi regis, et dominae Emergardae regi∣nae, &c.* 1.22 And in the original record he is de∣signed Alwin earl of Lenno••, son of Alwin earl of Lennox.

He gave likeways to Maldovinus,* 1.23 decanus de Lennox. the lands of Luss in that earldom.

He married Eva, daughter of Gilchrist earl of Menteith, by whom he had eight sons, and one daughter, who all came to maturity.

1. Maldwin, his heir in the earldom.

2. Dugald,* 1.24 or Dufgalus, who was rector of the church of Kirkpatrick, and died with∣out issue.

3. Malcolm, who obtained for his patri∣mony the lands of Camsie, in the earldom of Lennox. His only son Finlay frequently, from his father's lands, designed Finlaus de

Camsie, and Finlaus filius Malcohni, had three daughters his co-heiresses, viz. 1. Mary, mar∣ried to John Wardrobe, a gentleman of a con∣siderable estate in the west country. 2. Ele∣na, married to Bernard Erth of that ilk, in Stirling-shire, whose third share of the lands of Camsy are called the lands of Craigbernard to this day. 3. Forveleth, married to Nori∣nus Monorgund of that ilk, in Perth-shire. These ladies are afterwards found nearest heirs to their grand-uncle Dougal, rector of Kirkpatrick,* 1.25 by an inquisition, dated in the year 1271.

4. Gilchrist, who is a frequent witness in the chartularies of Paisley and Lennox. He obtained from his brother earl Maldwin, for his patrimony, the lands and barony of Ar∣rochar,* 1.26 in the upper part of that earldom, which has been ever since possessed by his po∣sterity, of whom Walter MacFarlane, now of that ilk, is the representative, in a direct male-line, as will be hereafter observed.

5. Amelic, who, in old writs, is called Hamelyn, or Havel. He got from his brother earl Maldwin, the lands of Roseneath in the Lennox, the church whereof he gave to the monastery of Paisley, in puram, liberam, et perpetuam eleemosynam,* 1.27 &c. He had two sons, Duncan and Amelic, both designed filii Ame∣lic, &c. whose posterity, in the male line, failed in their children, and the barony of Roseneath went to the earl of Menteith by an heir-female; for we find Maria comitissa de Menteith•• in possession of these lands, in the beginning of the reign of king David Bruce.

6. Duncan, who is witness in a charter grant∣ed by his brother earl Maldwin,* 1.28 to Humfri∣dus de Kilpatrick, whose posterity assumed the sirname of Colquhoun.

7. Henry, who is witness in a charter of confirmation, granted by his brother earl Maldwin, to Gilmore, the son of Maldwin, decanus de Lennox, above mentioned, of the lands and barony of Luss, whose posterity ••ook on the sirname of Luss, and continued in the male-line till the reign of king Robert II. or III. that Godfridus de Luss, having on∣ly one daughter, his sole heiress, she married Humphry Colquhoun of that ilk, who, with her,* 1.29 got the estate.

8. Christinus, who is a frequent witness in his brother earl Maldwin's charters, parti∣cularly in one granted by him to Maurice, the son of Galbreath,* 1.30 ancestor of the ancient sirname of Galbreath. Of these three last brothers there are no descendents.

His daughter Eva got from her brother earl Maldwin, the barony of Kilsyth,* 1.31 then in the earldom of Lennox, which she conveyed to her husband Malcolm, son of Duncan Thane of Calendar, in the shire of Stirling, and had a son Alwin, Thane of Calendar, an∣cestor of those of that sirname.

Earl Alwin died about the year 1224, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

VI. MALDWIN, third earl of Lennox, who granted to Ansilan Macbeath, ancestor of the Buchanans of that ilk, a charter of the isle of Clarinis in Lochlomond, wherein his brother Gilchrist is a witness,* 1.32 anno 1225; and this is the first time we find him menti∣oned as earl.

He confirmed all the donations made by his predecessors to the church of Kilpatrick, which he afterwards gave, with all its lands and privileges, to the abbacy of Paisley; as also, the lands of Drumochar and Duntegle∣nan, after the death of Ralph the king's cha∣plain, together with the annuity which he paid out of them to the earl, viz. three merks of silver, one chalder of meal, another of malt,* 1.33 &c. which is confirmed by king Alexander II. anno 1228.

He gave also to the said abbacy the lands of Drumdinans,* 1.34 Kultinsuth, Reinford, &c.

When the differences betwixt king Alex∣ander II. of Scotland, and Henry III. of Eng∣land were accommodated, Maldwin earl of Lennox was one of the guarantees on the part of king Alexander,* 1.35 anno 1237.

He afterwards confirmed to the see of Glasgow the church of Camsie, and to the monastery of Paisley all the donations made by his predecessors to that abbacy,* 1.36 to which Malcolm his son and apparent heir was a wit∣ness, 3d March 1238.

He made also considerable donations to the religious at Arbroath, and several other places;* 1.37 which is a sufficient proof of his great piety, and the largeness of the estate he was possessed of.

Nor was his loyalty and regard for his so∣vereign less remarkable; so••, understanding that king Alexander II. had a great inclinati∣on to have into his own possession the castle of Dunbarton, a place very strong both by nature and art, and then the principal messu∣age of the earldom of Lennox; also a large extent of territory called Morach, with its harbour and fishing contiguous thereto. The earl immediately made a surrender of the whole earldom into the king's hands, and thereup∣on obtained a new charter, dated in 1238, in which neither the castle nor territory were contained, according to these remarkable words in the charter:* 1.38 quae (says the king) ex consensu et bona voluntate ipsius Maldovini comitis in manu nostra retinuimus, &c.

The castle has ever since continued a royal

fort, and the town of Dunbarton was im∣mediately erected by the king on the terri∣tory of Morach.* 1.39

He married Elizabeth, daughter of Walter, son of Alan, hereditary lord high steward of Scotland, ancestor of the royal family of Stew∣art, by Beatrix his wife,* 1.40 daughter of Gilchrist earl of Angus. By her he had a son,

Malcolm, lord of Lennox,—and a daugh∣ter,

Ada, married to Malcolm Drummond, an∣cestor of the great and ancient family of the Drummonds earls of Perth.

The last mention we find made of this earl in any public deed, is a general confirmation granted by him to the monks of Paisley, dat∣ed anno 1250, to which Walter Cumin earl of Menteith,* 1.41 Gilchrist, Amelic, and Duncan, the earl's brothers, are witnesses.

He died soon thereafter, in the beginning of the reign of king Alexander III.

VII. MALCOLM, lord of Lennox, only son and apparent heir of earl Maldwin, is menti∣oned in many writs in the chartularies of Len∣nox and Paisley,&c.* 1.42 and is always designed filius et haeres apparens Maldvini comitis, &c. But he never came to be earl, as he died be∣fore his father, anno 1248, leaving issue a son,

VIII. MALCOLM, second of that name, who succeeding his grandfather earl Maldwin, was fourth earl of Lennox.

King Alexander III. erected a large tract of land of the earldom of Lennox into a free forestry, with all the privileges and emolu∣ments which any mortal could justly claim or enjoy on account of any free forestry what∣ever,* 1.43 in favours of this earl, dated at Kintore, 6th July 1272.

He confirmed all the donations made by his predecessors to the religious at Paisley,* 1.44 in 1273.

He was a man of singular worth and me∣rit, and a true lover of his country.

He was one of the Scotch nobles that bound themselves to stand by, and support the title of, princess Margaret, daughter of the king of Norway, to the crown of Scotland, failing heirs-male of king Alexander III.'s body,* 1.45 anno 1284.

After king Alexander's death, he was one of the magnates Scotiae who agreed to the marriage of the king of Norway's daughter (then queen Margaret) with Edward prince of England,* 1.46 anno 1290.

He confirmed the barony of Arrochar to his cousin Duncan, the son of his grand-uncle Gilchrist, ancestor of the laird of MacFarlane. &c. which was afterwards confirmed by a charter under the great seal,* 1.47 from king James I. at a parliament held at Perth, anno 1430.

He died betwixt the years 1290 and 1292, leaving issue only one son,

IX. MALCOLM, third of that name, who succeeded him, and was fifth earl of Lennox.

We find him designed Malcolmus comes de Lennox,* 1.48 filius et haeres quondam Malcolmi co∣mitis de Lennox, anno 1292; and that same year he was chosen one of the arbiters on the part of Robert Bruce,* 1.49 in his competition for the crown with John Baliol; yet he, with many others of the Scotch nobility, was for∣ced to submit to, and acknowledge the supe∣rior power of king Edward I. of England, when he had over-run Scotland,* 1.50 anno 1294.

He was a worthy patriot, and firmly attach∣ed to the interest of his country; for the liber∣ty and independency whereof he fought all his life, and was at last slain in defence of it.

In the year 1297,* 1.51 he, in conjunction with the earls of Buchan, Menteith, Strathearn, Ross, Athole, and Marr, at the head of a Scotch army, invaded, ravaged, and laid waste, all the north of England.

As soon as Robert earl of Carrick (after∣wards the valiant and victorious king Robert Bruce) began to assert his just right to the crown of Scotland, he was the first of the nobility who joined him, was present with him in most of his battles and distresses,* 1.52 and, during all his life, adhered firmly to the best of sovereigns in the worst of times.

He obtained from that great prince many charters, under the great seal, of different lands,* 1.53 lordships, and baronies, and got from him the hereditary sheriff-ship of the county of Clackmannan, anno 1310.

The king also confirmed to him the she∣riff-ship and lord lieutenancy of the earldom of Lennox,* 1.54 which had been long enjoyed by his predecessors.

He was one of the Scotch nobles who signed that famous letter to the pope,* 1.55 assert∣ing the independency of Scotland, anno 1320.

He got also from that same prince a char∣ter under the great seal, dilecto et fideli suo Malcolmo comiti de Levenax, of the lands of Lecky, lying near Buchanan, in recompence of some lands in the territory of Cardross, which the earl had yielded to the king. This charter has no date; but appears to have been near the end of king Robert's reign,* 1.56 an∣te 1329.

This earl gave a full and ample confirma∣tion of all the lands and privileges granted by his predecessors to the abbot and convent of Paisley,* 1.57 dated in November 1330.

King Edward III. of England having be∣sieged

the town of Berwick, Archibald lord of Douglas, then governor of Scotland, in or∣der to raise the siege, gathered together a numerous army, and was joined amongst o∣thers by Malcolm earl of Lennox, with all his friends and followers. The two armies came to an engagement, at a place called Ha∣lidonhill, near Berwick; the Scots were ut∣terly overthrown, and losta great number of brave men, who all died fighting valiantly in defence of their country, amongst whom were the governor himself, the earls of Len∣nox, Str••thearn, Sutherland, Carrick, &c. This battle was fought upon the 22d day of July 1333.* 1.58

Into what family this heroic earl marri∣ed, we cannot, with any degree of certainty, affirm; but, if tradition can be credited, it was to a sister or daughter of Donald earl of Marr, and certain it is he had issue two sons, who survived him.

1. Donald, his heir.

2. Murdoch, who obtained in patrimony, from his brother, the lands of Duntreath, &c. in the parish o•• Strathblane, in the earl∣dom of Lennox, which,* 1.59 upon his death with∣out succession, returned again to the family.

X. DONALD, sixth earl of Lennox, suc∣ceeded his father in 1333, and was one of the earls and great men of Scotland, who granted commission to several plenipotentia∣ries to treat with the English about the re∣demption of king David II.* 1.60 26th September 1357.

He was also one of the magnates Scotiae, who, in a parliament held at Scoon, 27th March 1371, unanimously acknowledge and declare, that John earl of Carrick (afterwards king Robert III.) was eldest lawful son of,* 1.61 and undoubted heir and successor, to king Ro∣bert II.

To this famous deed earl Donald's seal was appended,* 1.62 though now, by the injury of time, it is lost; but the tag to which it was af∣fixed still remains, with his name at it.

In the year 1372, king Robert II. gave to his son Alexander, lord Badenoch, afterwards earl of Buchan, the relevium or compositum money, due to the king out of the estate of Lennox at the entry of the next heir, to which he succeeded upon this earl's death,* 1.63 anno 1373.

Earl Donald left issue only one daughter,

Margaret, his sole heiress, of whom after∣wards.

He dying without sons, in him ended the male-line of Maldwin, eldest son of Alwin second earl of Lennox. The representation, therefore, sell to Malcolm MacFarlane of Ar∣rochar, the next heir-male, being grandson's grandson of Gilchrist, fourth son of the said second earl, of whom the present Walter MacFarlane of that ilk is the lineal represen∣tative, and is the only branch of that illustri∣ous and once flourishing family, now subsist∣ing, in a direct male-line.

XI. MARGARET, only child of earl Do∣nald, succeeded to the estate of Lennox by her father's destination, but not to the ho∣nours, which he could not give, and neither she nor her husband ever assumed them.

She married Walter of Faslane, son of A∣lan of Faslane, the first of this family we find upon record, who obtained the lands of Fa∣slane from Malcolm fifth earl of Lennox; and his son Donald the sixth and last of the old earls of Lennox, gives a charter of confirma∣tion to Walter of Faslane, the son of the said Alan, of the lands of Faslane, Keppach, Cul∣grayn, Kirkmichael, Glenfrone, Ballernock, Letter-duald Moyleig, &c. dated at Bellach, in festo omnium sanctorum, anno 1351, where∣in mention is made of the original donation by earl Malcolm to Alan of Faslane,* 1.64 before observed.

Though this family used no other sirname but that of Faslane,* 1.65 yet a late author derives their descent from Walter third lord high steward of Scotland; and this seems to be in some measure confirmed by a charter of Alan of Faslane, to which his seal was appended, having thereon a fess cheque of three tracts,* 1.66 with some other mark of distinction. But be this as it will, it is certain that Walter of Faslane, soon after his marriage with Marga∣ret the heiress, relinquished his own paternal coat, and assumed the armorial bearing of this family, and his posterity took on the sirname of Lennox, whereof the eldest son was to get the estate of Lennox, which came by his mo∣ther, and his second was to get his own pa∣ternal estate of Faslane, &c.

He was at last designed dominus de Lennox, which appears by a charter, Waltero de Fa∣slane, domino de Lennox, et haeredibus suis co∣mitibus de Lennox, &c. anno 1384.* 1.67 And in November 1385, this Walter of Faslane in person, and Margaret the heiress his wise, by letters patent, resigned their right to the e∣state of Lennox into the king's hands for new in••estment to sir Duncan Lennox knight, their eldest son, and his heirs, reserving the liserent of the whole to themselves, and the longest liver,* 1.68 during their respective lives, &c.

They had issue several sons.

1. Sir Duncan, afterwards earl of Lennox.

2. Alexander.

3. Alan.

4. Walter.

These three last mentioned are all witnes∣ses, and designed brothers of Duncan earl of Lennox, in a charter granted by him to Mur∣doch, the son of Malcolm, the son of Duncan, ancestor of the Leckies of that ilk, of the lands of Drumfad-Easter,* 1.69 &c.

What became of these three brothers, or whether any of them succeeded to the estate of Faslane, we can give no further account; but Walter of Faslane, and Margaret the heir∣ess, were succeeded in the territory of Lennox by their eldest son,

XII. Sir DUNCAN LENNOX, knight, grand∣son of Donald the sixth earl, and heir of line of the family, who having the prospect of a great estate, and Malcolm MacFarlane, ancest∣or of the laird of MacFarlane, the undoubted heir-male of the old earls, declining to accept a dignity which he thought he had not estate sufficient to support, king Robert II. out of a grateful remembrance of the many and emi∣nent services performed to the kings his pre∣decessors by the family of Lennox, conferred, de novo,* 1.70 upon the said sir Duncan, and his heirs, the dignity of earl of Lennox, after it had lain dormant for the space of eight or ten years, ever since the death of earl Donald in 1373.

There are a great many charters still ex∣tant, relating to Duncan earl of Lennox; but by none of them can we discover into what family he married;* 1.71 only we are sure he had three daughters.

1. Isabel.

2. Margaret.

3. Elizabeth, of whom more particularly hereafter.

The earl entered into an indenture with Robert earl of Fise and Men••eith, afterwards duke of Albany, and governor of Scotland, during the minority of king James I. where∣by it was agreed, that sir Murdoch Stewart, son and heir to the said earl of Fife, shall have to wife Isabel, eldest daughter to the said earl of Lennox, and that the earl shall resign his haill earldom of Lennox in the king's hands for new in••estment thereof, to himself and the heirs-male lawfully to be begotten of his bo∣dy; which failing, to the saids sir Murdoch and Isabel, and the heirs to be procreate be∣twixt them; which failing, to return to the said earl and his heirs, &c. Item, it is agreed, that the said earl of Lennox, or his heirs-male, if he any has,* 1.72 shall pay to the said sir Mur∣doch, for the marriage of his daughter, two thousand merks sterling, at reasonable times, as the terms happen, &c. This indenture is dated at Inchmu••in, the earl of Lennox's seat, the 17th day of February 1391-2.

The earl of Lennox, soon after the con∣summation of the marriage, executed a deed of settlement of his estate, in terms of the said indenture, by resigning his whole earl∣dom in king Robert III.'s hands, who recon∣veyed it, dicto comiti Duncano, et haeredibus suis masculis legitime procreatis seu procrean∣dis; quibus forte deficientibus, Mordaco senes∣cailo consanguineo nostro carissimo, et Isabellae fi∣liae dicti comitis, et eorum diutius viventi, et haeredibus inter ipsos legitime procreandis; qui∣bus forte deficientibus,* 1.73 veris legitimis et pro∣pinquioribus haeredibus dicti Duncani quibus∣cunque, de nobis et haeredibus nostris, &c. dated November 8th 1392.

He again renewed this entail, anno 1411, to the same series of heirs;* 1.74 whereby it is e∣vident the heirs of line could never succeed to the earldom of Lennox, while there were any lawful heirs-male of the earl's body sub∣sisting.

Some time after king James I. returned from England, Duncan earl of Lennox was arrested at the king's instance, was incarce∣rate in the castle of Edinburgh, and from thence carried to the castle of Stirling, where he was accused, not of treason, but of high crimes and misdemeanors; of which, by the verdict of an assize, he was found guilty, and condemned to lose his head; which sentence was executed upon him at Stirling,* 1.75 in May 1425, when he was about eighty years old.

That his estate was not forfeited, will af∣terwards appear. He, with his son-in law Murdoch duke of Albany, and his two grand∣sons Walter and Alexander Stewarts,* 1.76 who suffered at the same time, were buried in the Black-friars church at Stirling, on the south side of the great altar, figuris et armis eorun∣dem d••pictis, &c.

Earl Duncan's three daughters and their posterity succeeded according to the destinati∣on in the above entail, viz.

XIII. ISABFL, the eldest, married to Mur∣doch duke of Albany, who succeeded his fa∣ther duke Robert, the king's uncle, in 1420; but as there is a full account of him, his chil∣dren, and death, inserted in the title duke of Albany, page 16th and 17th of this work, we shall here only briefly mention his four sons, viz. 1. Robert, who died before him∣self, unmarried. 2. Sir Walter. 3. Sir Alex∣ander, who both suffered with their father. 4. Sir James, who, upon his father's, grand∣father's, and brother's imprisonment, broke out into open rebellion, burnt the town of Dunbarton, and, among others, killed sir John

Stewart of Dundonald, governor of the castle there, &c. for which he was outlawed, and immediately obliged to fly to Ireland, where he died without lawful issue, before the month of May, in the year 1451; but he had seve∣ral natural sons, who afterwards came over to Scotland,* 1.77 and were preferred to great ho∣nours; three whereof were legitimated by king James III. anno 1479.

After the entail in 1392, before narrated, all the vassals of the earldom of Lennox thought it absolutely necessary to have the charters, granted by earl Duncan, confirmed to them by his eldest daughter and undoubted heiress Isabel; of this we have many instances in the records, &c. particularly a charter granted to William lord Graham, ancestor to the duke of Montrose, anno 1423, of the lands of Errachy, Gartcarron, Strahblane, Balgrochyr, and many others, wherein she is designed Isabella Stewart, ducissa Albaniae, co∣mitissa de Fife, et de Menteith, ac haeres co∣mitatus de Lennox, &c. and confirms cum con∣sensu Mordaci ducis Albaniae, &c. ac regni Sco∣tia gubernatoris,* 1.78 et filii sui et haeredis Walteri Stewart de Fife, de Lennox, de Menteith, &c.

After her father's death, and the melancho∣ly catastrophe of her family, which s••e long survived, and bore with great equanimity, firmness,* 1.79 and resolution, she still continued to possess the earldom of Lennox, and to grant charters to the vassals; in some of which she is designed countess of Lennox, particularly in one of the lands of Balgro••hyr,* 1.80 held of her in capite, anno 1444, which will be here∣after mentioned.

In the year 1450, she founded a sumptuous collegiate church at Dunbarton,* 1.81 for a provost and several prebends, dedicated to St. Patrick the apostle of Ireland, who was born in Len∣nox, to which she mortified some lands in Strathblane; as also the lands of Stue-Roger, Forkinch, Balerniebeg, and Knockdowrie-Bar∣ber, &c.* 1.82 as also three churches in Lennox, viz. Fintray, Strathblane, and Bonhill.

She also mortified her lands of Balylogan, in the parish of Kilmaronock, and earldom of Lennox, to the prior and convent of the Do∣minicans or Black-friars at Glasgow, cum con∣sensu et assensu dilecti 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sororis nostrae ger∣manae Margaretae (the other sister Elizabeth being then probably dead) uxoris quondam do∣mini de Ru••ky, &c. pro salute animae nostrae et pro salute quondam recolendae memoriae dilectis∣simi sponsi nostri domini Murdaci,* 1.83 dudum ducis Albaniae, necnon pro anima quondam domini Duncani comitis de Lennox, progenitoris nostri, ac pro animabus Walteri, Jacobi, et Alexan∣dri, quondam filiorum nostrorum, &c. In this charter, to which her own and her sister Mar∣garet's seal are appended, she is expressly de∣signed dutchess of Albany and countess of Lennox, and it is dated apud manerium no∣strum de Inchmerin, 18th day of May, in the year 1451.

She died about the end of that year, or be∣ginning of 1452;* 1.84 for the earldom of Len∣nox then fell into the king's hands, as the next heirs did not for some time make up their titles.

XIII. ELIZABETH, second daughter of Duncan earl of Lennox, was married to sir John Stewart of Darnly, whose great actions and death are inserted under the next title. Their eldest son sir Alan Stewart of Darnly, fa∣ther of John, afterwards lord Darnly and earl of Lennox, obliges himself in his son John's con∣tract of marriage with Margaret, daughter of Alexander lord Montgomery, to infeft her in a forty merk land of the lands of Dreghorn and Darnly; and in case the said Alan hap∣pen to recover the estate of Lennox,* 1.85 to in∣feft her in as much more as will make up her jointure to a hunder merk land of old extent, dated 15th May 1438.

This John, on 16th December 1460, took instruments upon his requiring Andrew lord Evandale, chancellor of Scotland, to grant him brieves furth of the chancellary, direct∣ed to the sheriffs of Stirling and Dunbarton, for serving him one of the heirs portioners of the deceast Duncan earl of Lennox, father of Elizabeth of Lennox, grand-mother to the said John,* 1.86 in all the lands in which the earl died last seized and infeft, and is afterwards actually served and retoured heir to him, in the half of the lands of the said earldom,* 1.87 and the principal messuage of the same, on 23d July 1473; and of this John the earls and dukes of Lennox are descended, as in the next title, Stewart duke of Lennox.

XIII. MARGARET, third daughter of earl Duncan (though by some authors said to be second) was married to Robert Menteith of Rusky,* 1.88 who insefts her in some of his lands, 25th July 1392. By her he had a son,

Murdoch Menteith of Rusky, who married Christian, daughter of sir David Murray of Tullibardine, ancestor of the duke of Athole, and had by her a son Patrick, who died with∣out succession. Murdoch had also two daugh∣ters. 1. Agnes, married to sir John Haldane of Gleneagles, in the shire of Perth. Their eld∣dest son,* 1.89 John Haldane of Rusky, was, in the year 1473, served heir in the fourth part of the earldom of Lennox, to his great-grand∣mother's father, Duncan earl of Lennox, qui obiit ultimo vestitus et sasitus, ut de feodo ad

fidem et pacem domini nostri regis, de comitatu de Levenax, &c. 2. Elizabeth, married to John Napier of Merchiston, ancestor of lord Napier. She is served heir to her great-grand-father at Dunbarton, 4to die Novembris 1473, before this inquest, viz. Alexander Cunninghame of Polmais, Duncan Napier of Kilmahew, Andrew MacFarlane of Arrochar, Walter Nobil of Ferme, Donald Lennox, &c. &c. qui jurati dicunt quod Duncanus comes de Levenax, proa∣vus Elizabethae Menteith latricis praesentium, obiit ultimo vestit. et sasit. ut de feodo ad pacem et fidem, &c. as above, Et quod dicta Elizabe∣tha est una legitima et pro••inquior haeres ejus∣dem quondam Duncani proa••i sui,* 1.90 de tota quar∣ta parte comitatus de Levenax, &c.

The above mentioned heirs portioners had a long contest amongst themselves, concern∣ing the division and succession to the earldom of Lennox, which was at last determined in favours of the family of D••nly, anno 1477, whereby that earldom came to the Stewarts; and, in consequnence of the above descent, the Stewarts of Darnly, and Haldanes of Glen∣eagles, quarter the arms of Lennox with their own; but the Napiers of Merchiston have e∣ver since assumed the arms of Lennox, in place of the old bearing of the Napiers.

By the preceeding narration it appears,* 1.91 that the earldom of Lennox, according to the above mentioned entail, went in a regular course of succession to the lawful heirs of line of that antient family, which is fully instruc∣ted by the above indisputable documents; and if earl Duncan had had a son lawfully born, he would have had a just and undoubted right to both the estate and title of earl of Lennox, in which case the female succession could ne∣ver have taken place.

Yet we must here observe, that the said earl Duncan had a son Donald, who, in an authentic charter of confirmation from the countess of Lennox, of the lands of Balgro∣chyr, is designed filius legitimus quondam Dun∣cani comitis de Lennox, &c. These lands of Balgrochyr ly in the parish of Camsie, and earldom of Lennox. The charter is granted by sir William Graham of Kincardine, ance∣stor of the duke of Montrose, in 1423, which lands he held of the laird of Craigbernard, and ••he of the family of Lennox: therefore Isabel, then designed dutchess of Albany,* 1.92 and countess of Lennox, as superior thereof, con∣firms the same to the said Donald, anno 1444; and of him William Lennox now of Wood∣head, Esq; the Lennoxes of Calzie, Plump∣toun, Barn••hogle, &c. are descended. But it does not appear that this Donald, or any of his posterity, ever laid claim to any part of the earldom of Lennox.

ARMS of the old earls of Lennox.

Argent a saltier engrailed, cantoned with four roses gules.

What crest, motto, or supporters, this fa∣mily used, we have not been able to discover.

CHIEF SEATS,

Were the castle of Dunbarton, until Mald∣win earl of Lennox made a present thereof to king Alexander II. anno 1238: after that they resided at ••nchmuryn, an island in Loch∣lomond; Bellach, on the water of Leven; and Catter, on the water of Enrick; all within the earldom of Lennox and shire of Dunbar∣ton.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doctor Kea∣tine, Peter Walsh, &c.
• * 1.2

  Mr. Simson's essays. Hist. of the Stew∣arts, &c.
• * 1.3

  Ordericus Vi∣tali••.
• * 1.4

  Thore••by du∣catus Loidien∣si••, p. 71.
• * 1.5

  Doomsday book in regi∣stro honoris de Richmond.
• * 1.6

  Ibidem.
• * 1.7

  Ibidem.
• * 1.8

  Ordericus Vi∣talis, ad ann. 1068. Histor. Normann. scriptores, p. 511.
• * 1.9

  Simon Dun∣elmensis, p. 80.
• * 1.10

  Doomsday book, ap∣pendix, p. 61.
• * 1.11

  Ibidem.
• * 1.12

  Ordericus Vi∣talis, p 513. etSimon Dun∣elmensis, p. 82.
• * 1.13

  Chartularies of Glasgow, Paisley, and Kelso.
• * 1.14

  Chartulary of Dunfermline.
• * 1.15

  Chartulary of Dunfermline, Kelso, and Glasgow, Da••••ymple's collect. &c.
• * 1.16

  Chartulary of Dunfermline.
• * 1.17

  Chartulary of Glasgow.
• * 1.18

  Chartularies of Paisley and Lennox.
• * 1.19

  Autogr. penes comitem de Morton; and chronicle of Melross.
• * 1.20

  Chartulary of Paisley, p. 102.
• * 1.21

  Ibidem.
• * 1.22

  Chartulary of Glasgow.
• * 1.23

  Charta penes dom. de Luss.
• * 1.24

  Chartulary of Paisley.
• * 1.25

  Chartulary of Paisley.
• * 1.26

  Chart. in pub. archiv. et Au∣togr. penes MacFarlane.
• * 1.27

  Chartularies of Lennox & Paisley.
• * 1.28

  Chartulary of Lennox, p. 22. and 92.
• * 1.29

  Ibid. p. 25.
• * 1.30

  Ibid. p. 65.
• * 1.31

  Chart. in ar∣chiv. familiae de Kilsyth.
• * 1.32

  Autogr. penes ducem de Montrose.
• * 1.33

  Chartulary of Paisley.
• * 1.34

  Ibidem.
• * 1.35

  Rymer, tom. I. p. 377.
• * 1.36

  Ibidem, and chartulary of Glasgow.
• * 1.37

  Chartulary of Arbroath, &c.
• * 1.38

  Chartulary of Lennox.
• * 1.39

  Chartulary of Glasgow.
• * 1.40

  Chartulary of Paisley, and history of the Stewarts.
• * 1.41

  Chartulary of Paisley.
• * 1.42

  Autogr. penes ducem de Montrose.
• * 1.43

  Chartulary of Lennox.
• * 1.44

  Ibidem, and chartulary of Paisley.
• * 1.45

  Rymer, tom. II. p. 266.
• * 1.46

  Ibid. p. 471.
• * 1.47

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.48

  Chartularies of Lennox & Paisley.
• * 1.49

  Rymer, tom. II. p. 644, ad ann. 1292.
• * 1.50

  Ibid. p. 644.
• * 1.51

  Walsingham, Matthew of Westminster, Hen. Knigh∣ton.
• * 1.52

  Fordun, vol. II. p. 323 Bu∣chanan, &c.
• * 1.53

  Chartulary of Lennox.
• * 1.54

  Ibidem.
• * 1.55

  Fordun, vol. II. p. 275.
• * 1.56

  Chart. in Ro∣tul. Rob. I.
• * 1.57

  Chartularies of Paisley and Lennox.
• * 1.58

  Henricus de Knighton, &c.
• * 1.59

  Charta penes dom. Napier.
• * 1.60

  Rymer, tom. VI. p. 43.
• * 1.61

  Autogr. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.62

  Hay's vindi∣cation of E••∣zabeth More. p. 120.
• * 1.63

  Chart. in ro∣••ul. Rob. II.
• * 1.64

  Autogr. pen•• MacFarlane.
• * 1.65

  Duncan Stu∣art in the history of the royal family.
• * 1.66

  Writs of A••∣dincaple.
• * 1.67

  Chartulary of Lennox p. 18.
• * 1.68

  Ibid. p. 2••
• * 1.69

  Ibidem.
• * 1.70

  Ibidem,
• * 1.71

  Chartularies of Lennox, Pasley, &c.
• * 1.72

  Autogr. penes comitem de Panmure, et penes ducem de Montrose.
• * 1.73

  Chart. in ro∣tul. Rob. III. et hartul. de Lennox.
• * 1.74

  Charta pene•• comitem de Panmure.
• * 1.75

  Fordan, vol. II. p. 483.
• * 1.76

  Extract ex Chron. Sco∣tiae in biblio∣theca jurid. p. 272.
• * 1.77

  Act of legiti∣mation in the public regist.
• * 1.78

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.79

  Abercromby.
• * 1.80

  Charta penes Willi••lmum Lennox de Woodhead.
• * 1.81

  Account of religious houses, and book of as∣sumption of benefices, M. S. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.82

  Keith's bi∣shops, &c.
• * 1.83

  Autogr. penes MacFarlane
• * 1.84

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.85

  Autogr. penes ducem de Montrose.
• * 1.86

  Ibidem.
• * 1.87

  Ibidem.
• * 1.88

  Ibidem.
• * 1.89

  Chart. in pub. archiv. et pe∣nes Rob Hal∣dane de Glen∣eagles.
• * 1.90

  Chart. penes Franciscum dom. Napier.
• * 1.91

  Nisbet. vol. I. p. 139.
• * 1.92

  Charta penes Willielmum Lennox de Woodhead.