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MEMORIE OF
BEING
A HISTORY or THE
BARONIAL HOUSE OF SOMERVILLE.
BY
JAMES,
ELEVENTH LORD SOMERVILLE. J-i""^^^ ^

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

EDINBURGH:
Printed by James Ballantyne and Co.
FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANT, EDINBURGH !
AND LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN,
LONDON.

1815.

TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOHN, LORD SOMERVILLE,
THIS EDITION OF
C6e ^tmmt of ttje ^oinevuillis,
PUBLISHED FROM THE MS. OF HIS LORDSHlp's ANCESTOR,
IS INSCRIBED
BY THE EDITOR,
WITH THE MOST SINCERE GOOD WISHES
FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THE HONOURABLE FAMILY TO WHOM THE
WORK REFERS ; AND MOST PARTICULARLY FOR THAT
OF THE PRESENT REPRESENTATIVE.

PREFACE

TO THE

MEMORIE OF THE SOMERVILLS.

In the following Memoirs the reader is
neither to look for accuracy of historical
fact, nor for elegance of style. The author
appears to have compiled his family his
tory chiefly from the traditions he had re
ceived from his ancestors, with the slender
assistance derived from the labours of Gods-
croft and Drummond of Hawthornden ; and
his style is of such prolixity as has seldom
been equalled. The more ancient part of
his narrative is particularly deficient, and
some pains have been bestowed in correct
ing the more obvious errors, by comparing

Vlll PREFACE.
the Memoirs with other sources of evidence.
But with all these defects, and affording,
besides, many specimens of ei*ror and of
prejudice, these Memoirs have a claim up
on the investigators of ancient manners
and ancient history. The manners of for
mer times are at least as legitimate objects
of curiosity as the precise detail and dates
of historical events, and though a narrative
of this nature may be occasionally deficient
in point of accuracy, it seldom fails to pre
serve much curious detail beyond the
sphere of proper history. Traits of man
ners, and the personal anecdotes by which
they are exhibited, are indeed the natural
subjects of oral tradition, more particular
ly when they gratify the conscious pride
of ancestry in those by whom they have
been transmitted from father to son. To
this, among some dull and heavy details,
we are indebted for much that is lively
and diverting in the present narrative.

PREFACE. IX
The anecdotes of the spits and raxes, of
the infare, or marriage-feast at Cowthally
Castle, of the scene between Lord Somer
ville and the regent Morton, of the fatal
death of the one brother by the other's
hand, and many other passages in these
Memoirs, convey a curious and lively pic
ture of the Scottish manners at this early
period. The style, habits of thinking, even
the prejudices of the narrator, have their
effect in adding an air of naivete and origi
nality to his history. He has, indeed, per
mitted himself, in the ardour of his zeal for
his own family, to make some severe remarks
upon the conduct of others, which the Editor
has sometimes thought it necessary to no
tice, where they appeared to him founded in
misconception or animosity. But, generally
speaking, and allowing for the author's high
tory prejudices, and his irritating situation
as the representative of an ancient and ho
nourable family, rendered incapable for the
7

X PREFACE.
time of supporting the rank to which he was
justly entitled, his opinions upon men and
events are sufficiently liberal and impartial,
and form an accurate and original speci
men of those of an ancient Scottish baron
ofthe 17th century.
To such as are contented to trace, in the
history of an individual family, the effects
ofthe mutability of fortune, to which king
doms and empires are equally subject, the
Memorie of the Somervills will furnish
subject of observation and reflection. The
original division of the house of Somerville
into the English and Scottish branches pro
ved, after the lapse of many centuries, a
considerable means of restoring the for
tunes of the family to a pitch becoming
their dignity, when, upon the death of So
merville the poet, his English estates, the
remnants of the property acquired at the
Conquest, were vested in the thirteenth Lord
Somerville. Again, the breach between the

PREFACE. Xl
baronial house of Somerville and their too
powerful cadets, the Barons of Cambusne
than, tended at one time to separate from
the title their property in Mid-Lothian ;
and yet at length, by an extraordinary con-
tingence, threw not only that estate, but
the manor-place of Cambusnethen itself,
into the possession of the representative of
the family. And, without further tracing
particular occurrences, the whole Memoirs
present the picture of a family raised to a
high point of power and eminence, by a
succession of men of valour and patriotism,
then sinking into obscurity through ill-ad
vised prodigality and family dissensions,
and at length again elevated to the fortune
becoming their rank by the good fortune
and prudence of an individual representa
tive. These are events on which both the
prosperous and the unfortunate may dwell
with a wholesome sense of the vicissitudes
of human affairs, and a veneration for the

xn PREFACE.
decrees of Providence, distinguished as
mueh in the incidents affecting families
and individuals, as in the revolution of
nations. The present limited edition of the Me
moirs of the House of Somerville is pub
lished from the original, a closely-written
manuscript, in two folio volumes, the pro
perty of the present noble representative
of the family. By his lordship's liberality,
the work has been adorned with engravings,
from sketches by Mr Wilson, representing
the ancient monuments and edifices alluded
to or described in the manuscript.

THE
PREFACE OR INTRODUCTIONS
TO THE
MEMORIE OF THE SOMERVILLS j
BY WAT OF ANE EPISTLE TO MT SONES. ANNO 1679.

MT SONES,
It was my great happynes to be begotten and
borne of Christian parents, baptized in the Chris
tian faith, and brought up in the prdtestant pro-
fessiofie, under the church governement ofa mo-
derat episcopacie, with a due subordinatione of
presbiterie, warrantablie established from the
word of God, and by the power and authoritie
of king and parliament then in being, as it is at
this present confirmed and settled by his present
majestie, King Charles the Second, whom God
ever preserve and keep safe from all his enemies,
VOL. I. A

2 MEMORIE OF
that ther may never want a man of that name
and familie to sway the scepter of Brittaine and
Ireland, so Jong as sun and moon abides in the
firmament. Under whose royall predecessors and
governement, both in England and Scotland, the
sirname of the Somervills, (in the houses of
Whichenour, Lintoune, and Cowthally, the first
in England, in the countie of Staffordshyre, the
second in Scotland, in the shirrefdome of Clids-
daill, though at first setled at Lintoune and New-
bigging, the one in the shire of Roxburgh, the
other a toune within the barronie of Carnwath
in Clidsdaill, for these sex hundereth years and
upwards,) has now continued by the mercy and
goodnes of God to this day. Albeit they have
been subject, as all human occurrences are, to
severall changes and alterationes in their condi-
tiones, families, and habitationes, b^ng trans
mitted from one to another as ther fortunes bet
tered or diminished in the ages wherin they li-^
ved. The Hneall successione, notwithstanding,
still remaineing from father to sone, or from bro
ther to brother, in the severall generationes of
all the houses or families that represents them at
this day, as shall be made evident from the dis
course of ther Memories, which, without com
plementing the world, I have undertaken to sa-

THE SOMERVILLS. 3
tisfie myself and my posteritie more than stran-
gers, though it were to be wished that all the
ancient and noble families in Scotland wer first
able and then willing to give as true ane account
of ther progenitors as I have done of mine ; for
to speak the truth, most of them are litle be-
hold.en to our historians, and that because ofthe
ignorance of the ancient wrytters of our histo
ries, and the malice of the moderne, who wryte
as they affected aither men or parties, as is too
evident from the nakednes and defects of the
first, and the partialitie of the later, of whom, as
to the particulars of ray oune familie and name,
I have no great reasone to complean, seing both
wryte very honorably of them, as you may read
in the church and state histories of both king-
domes. That which prevailled most with me to follow
this designe in collecting the memories of my
predecessors, (which lyes partly in the before-
mentioned histories, but mostly in ther oune
charters and those of ther vassalls, which I have
penised with the writts and evidences of other
noble families, with whom the house of Cow
thally did match themselves,) was the apprehen-
sione and hopes I have that nothing prevailles
more with generous soules to perswad them to

4 MEMORIE OF
glory aaid virtue, then to know that they aither
represent ancient famihes themselves, or are de
scended from worthie parents, ead6tes of such
who, by some remarkable and memorable actione
for ther prince or countrey haveing signalized
themselves, therby acquyred honours and estates
which eftirward they transmitted to their poste
ritie, and the same continueingfor a long tract of
tyme, confirmed them in ther greatnes above
others. This being the conditione of your familie,
and these the reall ends of this my addresse, I
am confident, by reading the memories of your
predecessors, you will doe vertueously, and stu
dy to be imitators of ther ipraise-worthy actions.
Neither le;^ it trouble you what the maUce of
some may object, that few of your name and fa
milie attained to great places in the state, or wer
eminent above others in the court or camp, for
the alleadgeance is false, and it is ther ignorance
of tymes and persones that makes them speak
soe, for in both kingdomes our sirname attained
to great honours and places in the court and
camp; albeit they wer not natives of either of'
these kingdomes, but Normans by extractione.
The first that came into England being Sir Gual
ter de Somervill, a Norman knight, who, for as
sisting King Williara the Conqueror in his con-

THE SOMERVILLS. ,5
quels of England, for that service had the lord
ship of Whichenour, in the countie of Stafford
shyre, conferred upon him and his posterity,
which remained with them, besydes the acquisi-
tione of many other barronies and lands in the
same, and severall other counties in England, for
three hundered years, untill the twentie-nynth
year of Edward the Third's reigne, at which
tyme, upon the twentie- third of January, 1356,
dyed Sir Phihp de Somervill, shirref of Buckin-
game and Bedford counties, who, leaveing no
aires male to succeed him, his inheretance was
transmitted, by right of his two daughters, to the
families of Sir John Greifford, the Staffords, af
terwards Dukes of Buckingame, and to Edmond
Vernour, who marryed a grandchy Ide of Sir Phil
lips, Hkewayes ane heiress, dureing all which
space of tyme, from the reigne of Williara the
Conqueror to the twentie-nynth year of Edward
the Third, some one or other of that house, name,
or familie, wer imployed in ther princes or coun
tries service, and wer honourably rewarded for
the same.
As for ther preferment in Scotland, it was all-
most so soon as they set ther foot into it ; wit
ness Sir John Somervill's being knighted by
King Williara, sirnamed the Lyon, in the nynth

MEMORIE OF

year ofhis reigne, anno 1174, at which tyme
the sirname of Somervill setled themselves in
Scotland, by Sir John Somervill haveing the bar
ronie of Lintoune, in Roxburghshyre, conferred
upon him by that king's gift, for killing a ser
pent, (or a monstrous worme, as we have by tra-
ditione from the vulgar) which shall be declared
more fully in his memorie. From this noble gen
tleman. Sir John of Lintoune, as the fountain
and originali, are descended the whole name and
familie of the Somervills that at this present are
in Scotland. , What ther preferments in particu
lar wer in this kingdome is not so evident in the
publick records as they are in England, however
some we have certane, others upon conjectures.
Rodger Somervill, elder brother to Sir John of
Lintoune, being bred a schoUar in France, was
preferred to be Bishop of Saint Andrewes, and is
the twentie in the catalogue, though not ex
pressed by sirname, (as few or non of our bi
shops before the reign of King Robert the
Bruce.) This man, Rodger de Somervil, is sup
posed to have been Chancellor of Scotland, in
the twentie-fourth year of the reigne of King
William, sirnamed the Lyon, anno 11 89. Al
though it be true, that neither this man nor
Tousett, a man but of mean extractione, who

THE SOMERVILLS. Y
was the first Lord Chancellor of Scotland in the
reigne of Conranus, anno 535, nor yet Anglera-
mus, the fyfth Bishop of Glasgow, and second
Lord Chancellor ; Hugo the Third, and this
Rodger the Fourth, are mentioned in the cata
logue of the chancellors of this kingdome, for
they begin with William Melvisius, fhe nynth
Bishop of Glasgow, ajino 1198, and yet it is cer
tane, from our recordes, ther was chancellors
neer seven hundereth years before that tyme in
Scotland, but our historians are defective in ther
relatione in this, as in several other particulars,
relateing to antiquitie.
As in the church and state, soe in the camp,
wee find Sir Gualter Somervill of Newbigging,
and Sir David his sone, (both knighted by Alex
ander the Third) in the interregnum, were very
active in the behalf of their king and country,
and had the honour to command the' third bra-
gad of horse at the battell of Biggar, under the
conduct of that rairacle of valour, William Wal
lace,' as eftirward Sir John Somervill, Barrone

• For this exploit, as indeed for the battle of Biggar itself,
there is no other or better authority than that of Blind Havry,
whose order of battle is thus marshalled : —
The hall they left, and to a plain arp gane,
Wallace himself the vanguard he has tane ;

8 MEMORIE OF
of Lintoune and Carnwath, (second sone to Sir
Gualter, and brother to Sir David) commonlie
designed in these days Sir John of Clidsdaill, in
imitatione of his father and brother, magnani
mously listed himself a follower of King Robert
the Bruces, constantly adhereing to his and bis
sones interests, being in person with King Ro
bert at the battell of Meffin-wodd, neer to Perth,
where, with several others of those few barrones
that was there, it was his bad fortime to be ta
ken prisoner at that tyme. By any calculatione
I can make, he was scarce twentie-four years of
age ; as in this, soe in severall other encounters,
in favours of King Robert and his sone King
Davids interests, he so signahzed himself^ that
his manhood, as weill as his birth and fortune,
procured to him the eldest daughter of Sir Jaraes
Douglas of Loudoune-hill, with whom he gott

With him was Boyd and Auchinleck but dread.
With a thousand of worthy men in weed ;
As many syne in the midward put he,
Sir John the Grahame he gart their leader be ;
With him Adam, young Lord of Richardtoun,
And Somervel, a squire of great renown.
The third thousand in the i-ereward he dight.
To Walter gave, of Newbigging the knight ;
With him Tinto, that doughty was in deed,
And David, son of Sir Walter, to lead.

THE SOMERVILLS. Q
the lands of Carnwath, as being the only daugh.
ter of that gentleman's first marriage. Thir lands
of Carnwath was eftirward erected in a barronie
by King David Bruce. Without farder contend
ing about this matter, it was not upon a court
complement, but upon some speciall and parti
cular service, that this man's grand-chylde, John
Barrone of Lintoune and Carnwath, haveing re
ceaved summonds frora the king, was, as is be-
leived by some, nobilitat by Robert the Third,
at the first parliaraent holden at Perth, anno ,1396,
in which that king created his eldest sone Duke
of Rossay, and his oune brother, then Earle of
Fyfl^ Duke of Albanie : these being the first
dukes that wee had in Scotland, and the occa-
sione soe extraordinary, it is not to be doubted
but John, then made Lord Somervill, was a great
courtier, and deserved very weill at his majesties
hands, to be so highly dignified above any of his
predecessors, for honours then as now was not
mercenarie. It is true, this John Barrone of
Carnwarth took not the title of a Lord upon
him, but his sone Thomas, thairfore wee reek-
one him the first Lord Somervill.
And now, if wee take notice of later tymes
dureing the reignes ofthe fyve King James, ther
was few or non of the nobilitie in Scotland in

10 MEMORIE OF
greater favour, or more frequently honoured with
the personall presence of ther princes at ther
dwelling-houses, then the Lords Somervills wer ;
whose house of Cowthally, from the year 1400
to the year 1600, the space of two hundereth
years, intertained not only the kings and ther
traines, when they were pleased to divert them
selves with hunting and balking in those places,
but likeways such of the nobilitie and gentrie
that honoured thera with a visit at other tyraes.
If ther wer any that had, or intertained a preju
dice against that once noble familie, as I know
non, I could make them judges in this caice.
What familie in Scotland was more liberall in
ther intertainment ? or what house were they se
cond to for hospitalitie to persones of all rankes
and conditiones ? Let them name thera if they
can. That ther wer some men and families of
greater fortune, honour, high places, and follow
ing, I readily acknowledge, but it is nottour to
the greatest part of Scotland for liberalitie and
good intertainement j noe house of any subject,
of what degree soever, for hospitalitie carae neer
to Cowthally, and that for the space of two hun
dereth years. I shall, to make good this ascer-
tione, adduce noe meaner witnesses then the tes
timonie of three of our kings, viz. King James

THE SOMERVILLS. 1 1
the Third, Fourth, and Fyfth. The first of those
in the storie of the Speates and Raxes, asserted
the Lord Somervill's kitchen bred moe cookes
and better than any other nobleman's house he
knew within his kingdom. The second, because
of the great preparatione that was made for his
comeing to Cowthally, at the infare of Sir John
of Quathquam, spoke in lyke words.
For King James the Fyfth, from the eightene
year of his age to the threttie-two, he frequent
ed noe nobleman's house soe much as Cowthally.
It is true ther was a because ; the castle of Craw-
fuird was not far off, and it is weill enough
knoune • as this king was a gallant prince, soe
was he extremely amorous; but that which I
take notice of as to ray purpose is, that his ma
jestie very frequently, when occasione offered to
speak of house-keeping, asserted, that he was
sure to be weill and heartily intertained at Cow
thally by his mother' Maitland, for soe was the
king gratiously and familiarly pleased to designe
the Lady Somervill, then wife to Lord Heugh,
the first of that name. Albeit, ther needs noe
further testimonies, yet take this for a confirma
tion of ther great house-keeping, that it is uncon-
travertedly asserted they spent a cow every day

12 MEMORIE OF
in the year, for which cause it is supposed the
house was named Cow-dayly. I shall enlarge
myself noe further upon this subject ; every name
and famihe has its ryse, increase, hight, and de-
solutione, and soe had this house of Cowthally,
whose glory is now laid in the dust, and the
principal! habitatione of that noble familie a ru
inous heap, to the discourse of all that beholds
it, therby teaching great men that nether ther
honours nor estates, numerous attendance, nor
houses, are for ever entaiUed and assured to
them and ther posteritie ; but as all was once other
mens before it was thers or ther predecessors,
soe it will passe frora tiiem or ther posteritie to
other names and families, therby declareing the
mutabilitie and changeableness of all humane
occurrences on this syde of tyme.
And now, that I may close this preface or in-
troductione, I shall only mynde you, my sones,
of three things. The first is, that I am not much
concerned whether yow make these Memories
public or not, but leaves it wholly to your oune
advisement. The second is, that I designed
them principally for your encouragement to ver
tue, that haveing the advantage of ane worship-
full, I may say, without vanitie, honourable

THE SOMERVILLS. 13
birth and liberall educatione, yow may not only
be ornaments to your name, whereof you are
chieff, but also, by the blessing of the Almigh
tie God, prove happy instruments to raise the
familie, in sorae degree, to its former hight and
grander, all of yow being schoUars farr beyond
any of your predecessors that I find upon record,
save one.
The third and last is, that I first intertained
th& thoughts and set about this worke, when
your loveing mother, and my dearest wife, at
tended her respective parents at the place of
Corr-house dureing their long sicknes, which
gave the first ryse to that of her oune, and de-
pryved rae at lenth of that happynes I enjoyed
in her sweet societie above most of men ; and,
good God ! how could it otherwayes be, seing all
that could be wished for in any woman was emi
nently to be found in her. In birth worship-
full, being the second daughter of as ancient a
house and familie, as any within the shyre of ther
degree ; her parents not only honoured, but
much beloved of all for ther hospitalitie and ver
tue. It was truely said of Corr-house, that he was
the soonest and longest a man of any gentleman
in Scotland, and indeed he was company for a
8

14 MEMORIE OF
prince and greatest of our grandies ; and such
in publick for ordinary he conversed with, par
ticularly his grace, this present Lord Duke of
Hamilton, who loved him cordially, and respect
ed him as his oune brother ; for his mother, as
she was the daughter of ane ancient and wor
shipfuU house and prudent father, soe did she
evidence to the world, by her kH(Owledge in
most concernes, particularly in the governement
of her house, and charitablenes in distributing
to the poor, that she was come of that frugall
and judicious famihe of the Lie, * whose name
and interest at this present is great upon Clyde,
and may be much more soe if they imploy those
great soumes of money they have acquyred by
their honourable and worthy imployments, for a
further conqueist in those places, to whora I am
much obleidged upon that deserveing lady, my
mother-in-law's account, above all my predeces
sors, betwext whom and my grand-father, Lord
Hugh, and grand uncle. Lord Gilbert, in the last

* The ancient house of Lockhart of Lee, now represented
oy Sir Alexander Macdonald Lockhart, Bart.
f Conquest, i. e. in the meaning of the Scottish law, acqui
sitions by purchase.

THE SOMERVILLS. 15
centurie, ther was no good understanding, and it
never fared the better with them nor ther fama-
lie for that very cause, as I find by their privat
transactiones in that tyme.
And as my wife was happy in her parents, soe
had she much honour by her uncle Collonell
James Bannantyne, and her brother Sir William
Bannantyne, Hkewayes collonell in the Dutch ser
vice, two brave gentlemen, that gave place to
non in ther station e for conduct and valour, and
wer truely of great credit to ther natione and re
latives while they lived, as ther raemorie is to this
day, both of them unfortunately killed, the one
at the seidge of York, a^nno 164'4, in our late un
happy civil warre, the other at the seidge of
the Grave in Holland, anno 1674, in the last
Dutch warre with the French.
Now, by what I -have said of her neer rela-
tiones, her oune personall worth can hardly be
conceaved, far lesse expressed by soe unlearned
and dull a pen as myne, if not supphed by the
affectione of a kinde husband, and enlyvened by
the rememberance of soe excellent a wife. Con-
sidder her then in her parents, in her relationes,
her educatione, and as a mother, but, above all,
in her understanding and persone. For the first.

16 MEMORIE OF
she had so clear and piercing a witt in appre
hending any matter, religious or civill, that her
answears wer ready and pertinent, home to the
purpose proponed, without affectatione or wrang-
ling to hear herself speak, especially when ther
happened any debeat anent the present church
government,' (the common discourse and unhap
py differences in those tymes ;) whereunto she
submitted with all her heart, both out of know
ledge, conscience, and duety, and gave a large
testimonie thereto at her death, by only imploy
ing two of the orthodox clergie to be her com
forters in that agonie ; and as her oune princi
ples wer sound and firmly settled, soe had she
much charitie for all that differed from her in
opinion, and blamed those that wer of a con
trary mynde, still asserting, that wher charitie
was wanting ther was noe reall fear of God, let
ther professione be what it will.
For her knowledge in civill business I can

' That is, Scottish episcopacy, to whieh the writer of these
Memoirs appears to have been sincerely attached. Disputes
between the favourers of the presbyterian church discipline,
and the government by bishops established upon the Restora
tion, formed, probably, no small part of private conversation,
as they greatly embroiled public affairs at this period.

THE SOMERVILLS. 17
give her this testimonie from my oune experi'
ence, that never any was more happy to bring
the most intricate and desperat affaires in all
mens judgeraent to ane fortunate issue, then she.
When my estate was looked upon as quyte ruin
ed and undone, her prudence, conduct, and ver^
tue only preserved it ; for, to speak the truth, in
iny younger years, when I came first to the ma
nagement of my estate, notwithstanding of the
bad conditione I found it in, I mynded more my
halkes and dogs then business, which was weill
supplied by my wifes indefatigable pains as to my
concernes; nether did her dilligence abroad make
her neglect the care of her familie at home, by
her oune hands, at most tymes with a watchfull
eye over her servants, with whom she conversed
pleasantly and famiharly, which made them doe
more then all the rigiditie that a sullen or dog*
ged mistress can extort from them.
Forthe proportione of her bodie, pureness and
delicacie of her coraplexion e, the sweetnes of
her air, the best qf nieanes, with the statelynes of
her port, all concurring to frame and make up
ane excellent creature, gave her absolutely the
advantage of most ofthe women of her tyme, as
cannot nor will not be denyed by any that ever
had the happyness to see her, saye s}jch of her
B

Igt MEMORIE OF
oune sex as might have grudged and fretted at
the universall applause she receaved, and testi
monie of being the master piece of women kynde,
that the present or future age may readily behold ;
frora whose fruitfull worab four of yow my sones
sprang, before she attained to the twentie-fourth
year of her age, as exact modelles of her delicate
self, being all of yow nursed with the teates and
weaned upon the knees of a most indulgent mo
ther, who cared for yow in the womb, in the cradle,
upbringing and breeding in all sciences and be
fitting exercises, that might qualifie yow in your
generatione and statione to be serviceable to your
prince, country, and relationes, and before her
death was soe happy as to see yow setled in your
patrimonies according to your birth rights. Have
ing proceeded thus farr, I can add noe more ;
the sad rememberance of my unexpresseable losse
hes quyte dulled my inventione.
Yo'. affectionate father,
Sic subscribitur,
James Somervill.

THE SOMERVILLS. 19

Off the Jirst comeing of the Name of Somervill
unto the Isle of Brittaine,
AND
What theif 'were in England before they catne to
Scotland.

Ihe original and beginning of most nationes
and kingdomes being either fabulous, or conjec
tural! at the best, it were beyond all expressione
ridiculous for any sirname to search further then
publick and approven records of that natione
wherof they are natives, or the evidences belong
ing to the principal! families Of ther name, and,
in my opinione, those whose curiosities leads
them further, deserves to meet with the fate and
response of that Italian duke who transacted with
ane astronomer to search for his pedigree, and
thereftir to give him ane account, which he did
exactly to the fourth degree,but in the fyfth left

20 MEMORIE OF
him with ane Turks slave and ane oyll mans
daughter, marryed togither for the first founders
of his house and beginners of his familie. Thus
wee see some mens pride and ambitione turnes
to ther great disgrace, and really I cannot but
admire the vanitie of some gentlemen with whom
I have conversed, that boast ofthe antiquitie of
ther famihe, and ther long continuance, before
our having of letters to leave the same upon
record. It is very weill knoune, that those sirnames, who
indeed are the ancientest of this kingdome, and
at present are in greatest honour, (a few only
excepted,) had ther entrie and incomeing to this
natione in the reigne of Macolumbus Kenmure,
which was in the year of Christ 1057, since
which tyme untill this present year, 1680, ther
is sex hundereth years and upwards, a trace of
tyme sufficient to confirme the antiquitie of any
familie in Scotland ; and I doubt much, let some
men boast what they please, if any nobleraan or
gentleman in the low lands can produce any
charter or writt before that tyme, nay, scarce
from that kings reigne untill the reigne of King
David Bruce, from whom most of the charters
belonging to ancient families takes ther dates,
as I know for a certaintie ; but wavein^ this

THE SOMERVILLS. 21
discourse, I passe on to the memories of my
oune name and familie, and leaves it to others
to give ane account of thers with the same truth
and ingenuitie as I intend to doe of myne.
Seing it is not pretended that the sirname of
the Somervills originally wer either of British,
-Scotish, or Saxons extractione, wee need not
goe seek ther pedegree araongst the ancient re
cords of these nationes ; for, if men would speak
the truth, ther is litle certaintie to be had from
thera as to these tymes, the persones that lived
in them, or the publick affaires then transacted,
either amongst theraselves or with forraigne na
tiones, and if soe, what may be expected of pri
vate families and ther particular concernes.
Neither shall I be soe vain as to search eftir
our name out of the island of Brittaine, and be
yond the mountaines to fetch ther originali from
Italians, and the kingdom of Naples, out of the
noble familie of the Dukes of Somers ; nor yet,
in repassing the Alpes, take by the way the toune
and house of the Lord Somervill, all designed by
that name, in the province of Savoy ; for our ori
ginali, it is sufficient to know beyond all cavill,
that our name is of French extractione, and that
we came from the province of Normandie to
Great Brittane, in the qualitie not only of gen-

22 MEMORIE OF
tlemen, but knights, a dignitie of much more
credit in these dayes then at present, when ther
valour, not ther money, or court minions, procu
red thera that honour.
And now that the superstructure may stand
firme, and the edifice appear the better, I resolve
to lay a sure foundation, such as cannot be con-
traverted, unless men bring in question the mo
derne as weiU as the ancient histories and re
cords of Brittane, that which I shall particularly
pitch upon for to begin this narratione, is the
Historie of the English Barronage, or the anci
ent Worthies of England, and in this I think it
not fitt to use my oune words, but to give yow
the authors.

£l Edward III.]

1066. Of Sir Gaulter de Somervill, the first Barronie of
Whichenour, in the Countie of Stafford Shire.
Rodger the Fyfth, and PhiUp the First, nobili
tat and made Peers of England. — Of this fami
lie, though they were but two, and the last of

THE SOMERVILLS. 23
the male lyne who had summonds to the parlia
ment, yet wer they before that tyme men of emi
nent note and rank in ther days. The first of
them that carae into England was Sir Gaulter de
Soraervill, a Normane knight, who seated him
self at Whichenour, in the countie of Stafford
shyre, having that fair lordship, and Bartane
neer to it, by the gift of King William the Con
queror. This far the author of the Antiquities of Eng
land, by which wee understand both the tyme of
the sirname of the Somervills first comeing to
England, which was in the year 1066, as also
the qualitie they wer off, at that tyme being
knights, ane honour not so easily come by then
as in this present age ; for which see the Histo
rie ofthe Douglasses, page 33, that speaks truely
and fully to this purpose.*
Farther of this Sir Gualter I find not in any
of the histories of England, save only that he
was father to a second Gualter, his sone, that

* The author refers to Hume of Godscroft, who pronounces
a- long eulogium upon the dignity anciently conferred by the
honour of knighthood. The folio edition of IG** is that re
ferred to.

24 MEMORIE OF
succeeded to him in his estate ; for the parti-*
cular writs or evidences belonging to this fami
lie, if ther be any extant of this man, certainly
they must be in the hands of such as are possess
ors of his lands at present ; but as I am inform^
ed, writs belonging to privat famihes are neither
many nor have great antiquitie, by the custome
of England, to preserve ther memorie to pos
teritie.

Off Gualter the Second qf that Name, and Second
Baronne of Whichenour*
From Sir Gualter descended another Gualter,
of whom ther is noe farther mentione, but that
he marryed Cicilly Delunsie, by whom he had
issue Rodger de Somervill, that succeeded to him
in his estate.

Off Rodger the First of that Name, and Third
Barronne qf Whichenour.
All that t find of this man is, that he marryed
one EdelUe to his wife, daughter to Robert Bu-

THE SOMERVILLS, 25
ther of IngHshbie, and begott on her a sone,
naraed Rodger, who succeeded to him in his
fortune.

Off the Second Rodger, and Fourth Barrone qf
Whichenour.
Off this Rodger I find nothing written, but
that he was father to a third Rodger, of whom
wee are next to write*

Off Rodger the Third of that Name, and Fyft
Barronne of Whichenour.
Off this Rodger the histories of England
speakes nothing, untill the year 1303, which
was the fyfth year of the reigne of John, King
of England, and then the author of the antiqui
ties of that natione tells us, that this gentleman
obtained from King John, the fyfth year of his
reigne, a grant of the manour of Zears, * which

* Afterwards more con^ectly spelled Eyrwasi, of which Years
or Zears is the contraction.

26 MEMORIE OF
was one of the lordships of the kings ancient
demains, and joyneing to that of Whichenour
before-mentioned, to hold in few farme for the
old rent, and 100 shillings more increase. Thus
far the author of the English Antiquities, untill
the year 1214. He again informs us, that this
Rodger adhereing to the rebellious barrens,
about the later end of King John his reigne, by
reason wherof his manour of Stockton, in the
county of Wear, was given to Henry Deeduly,
and so writes noe more of this Rodger, nor yet
of his sone John, but only names him to be fa
ther to Robert, that was grandchilde to Rodger
the third of that name, of whom he had been
wrytting ; as he was then relateing the memorie
of Robert, the son of John, the which John, al
beit he be only named by this author, yet the fa
milie of the house of Whichenour, in England,
was continued in him, as that of Lintoune, in
Scotland, was begun by reasone his eldest bro
ther Rodger being a churchman, never marryed,
and these two gentlemen, Rodger and John, was
all the male successione that Rodger the third
(forfaulted by King John) ever had that we can
come to the knowledge of. However, it appeares
from what wee understand ofthe memorie ofthe
two sones, that ther father hes been very care-

THE SOMERVILLS. 27
fiill of ther educatione, for finding the nature and
inclinatione of his eldest sone bookish, and that
of the youngest to have more of the souldiers
and courtiers, he accordingly gave thera breeds
ing, the first at the universitie of France, sorae
of ther abbacies or monastries most famous for
learning, the universities of Oxfoord and Cam
bridge not being founded untill the reigne of
Edward the .*
The second being of a coraely countenance,
and active much above his age, haveing accom-
panyed his father to the north of England to see
his mothers relationes, it was his good fortune
to be first taken notice offj and then recommend
ed by some Scots courtiers to Malcolumbus the
Fourth, who was then King of Scotland, and
possessed at that tyme the counties of Northum
berland, Cumberland, Westmuirland, and the
earldorae of Huntingtoune, in England, his ma
jestie being then ordering his affaires in those
parts, when it was the happynes of this youth to
be receaved in his service, and that in the quah-
tie of ane ofthe pages of honour in regard of his

* This is a strange mistake, for the university of Oxford
was either founded or restored by Alfred, and Cambridge ei
ther founded or restored by the Abbot of Crowland, in 1 109.

28 mem6rie of
worshipfuU descent, which the king being in*
formed of at first by persones of the best quali
tie in these counties, and eftirward by his father
Rodgers comeing to kisse his royaU hands, and
to recommend his young sone to his majesties
favour and protectione, in a country where he
was but a stranger, and had nothing to trust to
but his royaU bountie. The king not only ac-'
cepted the sone because of his sprightly port,
but in regaird of his fathers soe frankly parting
with a sone of soe great hopes to him, a for
raigne prince, that might in tyme have procured
ane honourable imployment for him at home
from his oune king, or in the kingdome of FrancCj
a great part wherof the kings of England had in
possessione at this time. But this youth being
admitted to the service of this pious monarch,
it proved greatly to his oune honour, the ad
vancement of his eldest brother Rodger to the
principaU offices both of the church and state,
in the kingdome of Scotland, as yow shaU hear
eftirward. Rodger haveing setled his eldest son in France
for his educatione, and gotten soe honourable
ane imployment for his youngest sone in Scot
land, he returned home weill satisfied with his
oune good fortune, and the happy prospect he

THE somervills. 29
had of that of both his sones, which many yeares-
thereaftir came to pass.
What interest this gentleman had in the ma-
nadgement of the publick affaires of the state in
England, or yet concerneing the ordering of his
oune busines at home, from the year 1 164, which
was the year his sone John entered into the ser
vice of Malcolumbus Quartus, and carae to Scot
land, untiU the year 1203, being threttie and
nyne years, wee are autterly ignorant off, but
that in this year 1203, (being the fyfth of King
John his reign in England,) he was at that tyme
weiU staited in his princes favour, which is evi
dent from that grant of the manour of Zears, was
one of the lordships ofthe kings ancient demains,
conferred upon hira by this kipgs gift, which
continued with his posteritie eftir his grandsone
Robert was restored by Henry the Third of Eng
land tp his grand fathers fortune, untill the death
of Sir Philip de Somervill, the last air male of
that house of Whichenour in England.
All things hitherto succeeded weill with this
worthy and now aged gentleman, himself in
much favour with his oune prince (albeit one of
the worst that ever rang, if wee may believe the
histories of England,) his eldest sone Rodger not
only Bishop of Saint Andrewes, but likewayes

so memorie of
the first officer of state, being Lord High Chan-
cellor of Scotland,* in which office he continu
ed nyne years. This gentleman, Rodger Somer-
viU, elder brother to Sir John of Lintoune, be
ing bred in France, was preferred to be Bishop
of Saint Andrewes, (and is the twentieth in the
catalogue, though not expressed by sirname,) ef
tirward in the twentieth and fourth year of King
WiUiams reigne, sirnamed the Lyon, being in
anno 1189. The office of being lord chanceUor
was conferred upon him, although it be true,
neither this Rodger nor Tousett, the first lord
chancellor in the reigne of Conranus,! arawo 535,
nor Angleramus, the fyfth Bishop of Glasgow,

* This is another singular mistake. Roger, Bishop of St An
drews and Chancellor of Scotland in the end of the twelfth cen
tury, who is thus gratuitously adopted unto the house of Somer
ville, was in fact the third son of Robert de Bellemonte, sur
named Blanchemains, the 3d Earl of Leicester, by Fetronilla,
daughter of Hugh de Grantmesnil. Roger, according to the
Chronicle of Melrose, was consecrated, in 1198, Bishop of St
Andrews, but had been elected to the see ten years before-
" Rogerus filius Comites Leicestrice consecratus est in Episcopa
tum Sancte AndretB prima Dmninica QuadrugesimcB, 1 J 98." —
See Crawford's Lives of Officers of State, and Keith's Catalogue
of Scottish Bishops, with the authorities there quoted.
f Tousett and Conranus are equally imaginary personages ;
nor is it easy to conceive that a Regulus of Scotland had occa
sion for a chancellor in 5^.

THE somervills. 31
and second lord chancellor, nor yet Hugo the
Third, are mentioned in the catalogue of the
chancellors of this kingdome, for they began
with WilUam Melvisius, the nynth Bishop of
Glasgow, anno 1198. But it is certain there
were four chancellors before that tyme in Scot
land, whose names wee have not in ther cata
logue. Our historians are defective in ther re
latione in this as in other things ; for his young
est sone John he saw him not only continued in
his service, by the succeeding King of Scotland,
but likewayes preferred to severall places in the
state, and honoured with the title of knighthood,
conferred upon him by William King of Scots,
being aUwayes in much favour with his three
masters, Kings of Scotland, whora this young
gentleman had the honour to serve, and ther was
nothing rejoyced him more then to hear this his
sone had (upon his desyre and his oune brothers
entreaty) matched himseff with one ofthe wor
thiest families of the south of Scotland, whose
interest and following was much in that country,
and ther lands and barrony lying adjacent to that
ofhis sones.
By which marriage, and his princes favour, he
understood his sone had secured his interest, and
resolved his setlement in the kingdome of Scot-

32 memorie op
land, wherwith he was weill satisfied, for some
few years eftir King Johns comeing to the croune
of England, this aged gentleman foirsaw the
troubles that would ensue, albeit they broke not
out in open hostilitie untill three or four years
before this king's death, and the last of this gen-
tlemans oune ; what could have enduced him
they were breaking out, being soe weill staited
in his masters favour, and obleidged by soe large
a donatione as the demaine of Zears, was to join
himseff with the rebeUious barrons at such ane
age, when he could not act any in all human
probabilitie, and was as unfit for counsell, is a
thing to be admired but not understood and
knoune ; seing the author of the English Anti
quities is silent herein, and only tells us he joyn
ed with these barrons that wer in the rebellione,
for which his estate was forfaulted, and given to
such as adhered to the kings interest. Thus wee
*ee the unconstancie of mens conditione in this
world, for here is a gentleman of noe mean ex
tractione, whose predecessors for services done
to the croune of England, and more particularly
to the persone of William the Conqueror, from
whom he had the lordship of Whichenour, and
thereftir the benevolences and grants ofthe suc
ceeding Kings of England gave them opulent
12

THE SOMERVILLS. 33
fortunes in Severall counties of England, and for
any thing knoune from the histories of England,
this man, as all his predecessors was much in fa
vour with the kings untill this unhappy warr fell
out, wherin this unfortunat and aged gentleman,
some way or other, engaged himself to the utter
undoeing of his posteritie in the kingdome of
England, if Providence had not ordered it other
wayes. Eleven years preceeding thisj he had been try
sted* with the said dispensatione of his eldest
sone Rodgers death, who some four years before
he dyed, with his masters consent, had demitted
his place of being chancellor, in favour of Wil
liara Melvisius, that he might better attend his
ecclesiasticall function e, wherin he continued
but four years, and then Melvisius succeeded to
that also, anno 1202 ; for this worthy prelat, Rod
ger de Somervill, dying at Saint Andrewes, t was
buryed in the cathedrall church therof, by his

* i. e. appointed (by Providence) to meet with the disas
ter. \ Roger de Bellomont, who is here called Roger de So
merville, Bishop of St Andrews, died at Cambus Kenneth, in
July 1202, and was interred in the chapel of St Rule, at St
Andrews. His connection with the house of Somerville seems
quite apocryphal.

34) MEMORIE OF
brother Sir John of Lintoune ; his father Rod
ger not being then in Scotland, soe that from the
year of his eldest sones death, untiU the year
1213, that he engadged in the barrones warrs,
wee hear nothing of him from the EngUsh Anti
quities, but that the year eftir his sones death he
had that grant ofthe demainsof Zears, was from
King John, in anno 1203, and thereafter that he
engaged in the rebellione in the year 1213, for
which being forfaulted, he fled to Scotland, and
came to his sones Sir Johns house at Lintoune,
where his eyes was blessed with the sight of his
grand children, particularly with Robert and
William, the two eldest, then but youths, both
which eftirwards wer the heads of two noble and
honourable families, the one in England, and the
other in Scotland. For himself he lived not
many moneths eftir his comeing to Scotland,
but dyed in anno 1214!, being then neer the
nyntieth and fourth year of his age, at his sones
house in Lintoune tour : he was buryed with all
the ceremonies and funerall pomp in use at that
tyme, by his sone John and his ladyes relationes ;
he was laid in the quier of Lintoune church, and
was the second of that name of SomerviU that
lay in Scots ground, being father to Rodger,
Bishop of Saint Andrews, Lord High Chancel-

THE SOMERVILLS. 35
lor of Scotland ; and to John, the first barrone of
Lintoune, and grandfather to Robert the first of
that narae, the seventh lord or barrone of Which
enour, in England, including his father John, of
which Robert before wee wryte any thing, wee
must give ane account of his father Johns first
comeing to Scotland, and the occasione of his
setleing there.

Off John ihe First of that Name, and Sexth Bar
rone of Whichenour ; the First of Lintoune, in
Scotland, and the Sexthfrom Sir Gualter de So-
tnervill. Being now to bring the sirname of Somervill
to Scotland, eftir ther arryveal in England nyne-
tie years, wee must look back to the reigne of
Malcolumbus the Fourth, sirnamed the Maiden,
grand childe to King David the First, and eldest
sone to Prince Henry. This pious monarch was
King of Scotland in the year of Christ 1 153, and
possessor at that tyme of the counties of Nor--
thumberland, Cumberland, Westmuirland, and
Huntingtoune, in the kingdome of England;
this noble prince, amongst severaU others of the
gentlemen of these counties, was pleased to re-

36 MEMORIE OF
ceave and entertaine, as one of his pages of ho
nour, John Soraervill, second son to Rodger de
SoraerviU, the fyfth barrone of Whichenour, in
1164. ^''^^o 1164, being the eleventh year ofhis majes
ties reigne, and the fourteinth of this youths
age, who still continued in his m^esties service
during his reigne, which was not long, for he
.sickned and dyed at Jedburgh, the twelfth year
of his reigne, and was buried in Dumfermeling,
haveing before his death renued and enlarged
the charter of the abbacy of Jedburgh, founded
by his grandfather King David, in which char-
tor this youth, John Somervill, is a witnes. The
charter is dated at Jedburgh, in ajino 1 164 : sorae
few moneths before this the king dyed. This
charter of late was seen in the productione of a
proces betwixt the Earls of Roxburgh and Lo-^
thian, when they contended about the preherai-
nency of place, and who should be cheiff. It
was at that tyme read of many gentlemen, parti
cularly by Mr WiUiam Cheislie, present wiytter
in Edinburgh, the authors infoi-mer, soe that the
tyme wee fix upon for the sirname of Somervills
first comeing to Scotland being in this kings
reigne is evident, and clear beyond all cavill,
from this gentleman being a witness in the char-
tor granted by his majestie in favour of that ab-
bacie.

THE SOMERVILLS. 3/
Malcolumbus the Fourth, dying in anno 1165, 1165.
William, surnamed the Lyon, his brother, suc
ceeded to the croune of Scotland ; a prince of
many eminent vertues, who was soe far frora
discountenanceing those that wer in favour with
his predecessor, or in his service, that upon the
contrary they were highly esteeraed of hira, and
not only continued in ther service, but in tyme
preferred to severaU dignities, and amongst others
this young gentleman, John Somervill, being now
of the age of fyfteine, he began for his many ver
tues to have some interest in the court ; but that
which procured to him that honourable place of
being the kings fallconar, sorae nyne years eftir
he entered into his majesties service, and gave
him the lands and barronie of Lintoune, was a
very extraordinary and gallant action. How the
memorie of it comes to have been omitted by
the wrytters of our histories, I cannot under
stand, unless it proceeded frora the duUnesse and
ignorance of that age, that left the very principal!
and grand occurrences, both in the church and
state, and the persons that wer actors, unknoune
to the future generations, giving us nothing to
the purpose but the b^re names of our kings, and
the tyme of ther reigne. However, according
to the constant uncontraverted and generall tra-

38 MEMORIE OF
ditione of men untiU this present age, the storie
is this : —
In the parochen of Lintoune, within the sher-
rifdome of Roxburgh, ther happened to breed
ane hydeous monster in the forme of a worme,*
soe called and esteeraed by the country people,
(but in effect hes been a serpent, or sorae such
other creature,) in lenth three Scots yards, and
soraewhat bigger then ane ordinary man's leg,
with a head more proportionable to its lenth
then greatnes, in forme and cuUour to our com
mon muir edders. This creature, being a ter
rour to the country people, had its den in a hol
low piece of ground upon the syde of a hill south
east from Lintoune church, some more than a
myle, which unto this day is knoune by the name
of the Worme's Glen, where it used to rest and
shelter itself; but when it sought eftir prey, then
this creature would wander a myle or two from
its residence, and make prey of aU sort of bes-
tiaU that came in its way, which it easily did, be
cause of its lownesse, creeping amongst the bent,
heather, or grasse, wherein that place abounded
much, by reasone of the meadow ground, and a

* Orrae, or worme, is, in the ancient Norse, the generic name
for serpents.

THE SOMERVILLS. 39
large flow mosse, fit for the pasturage of many
catteU, (being naturallyof itseff of noe swfftmo-
tione,) it was not discerned before it was master
of its prey, instantly devouring the same, soe
that the whole country men thereabout wer for
ced to remove ther bestiaU, and transport them
selves three or four myles fi-om the place, leave
ing the country desolate ; neither durst any pas-
singer goe to the church or mercat upon that
rod for fear of this beast. Several attempts was
made to destroy it by shooting of arrowes, throw
ing of darts, non darring to approach soe neer
as to make use of a sword or lance, but all ther
labours was in vaine. These weapons did some
tymes sUghtly wound, but was never able to kill
this beast, soe that all men apprehended the
whole country should have been destroyed, and
that this monster was sent as a just judgement
from God to plague them for ther sins. Dure
ing this fear and terrour amongst the people,
John Somervill being in the south, and hearing
strange reports of this beast, was, as aU young
men are, curious to see it ; and, in order therto,
he comes to Jedburgh, where he found the whole
inhabitants in such a panick fear, that they were
ready to desert the toune. The country people,
that wer fled there for shelter, had told soe many

40 MEMORIE OF
Ues, as first, that it encreased every day, and was
beginning to get wings ; others pretended to have
seen it in the night, asserted it was fuU .of fyre,
and in tyme would throw it out, with a thousand
other ridicolous stories, which the timerous mul
titude are ready to invent on such ane.occasione,
though, to speak the truth, the like was never
knoune to have been seen in this natione before.
However, this gentleman continues his first re-
solutione of seeing this monster, befaU him what
will; therefore he goes directly to the place
about the dawning of the day, being informed
that for ordinary this sei-pent came out of her
den about the sun ryseing, or neer the sun set
ting, and wandered the feildes over to catch
some what. He was not long neer to the place
when he saw this strange beast craul furth of her
den ; who, observeing him at some distance, (be
ing on horse back,) it lifted up its head with half
of the bodie, and a long tyme stared him in the
face with open mouth, never offering to advance
or come to him ; whereupon he took courage,
and drew much neerer, that he might perfectly
see all its shapes, and try whether or not it would
darr to assault him, but the beast turneing all-
most in a half circle, returned to the den, never
offering him the least prejudice ; whereby he

THE SOMERVIj:.LS. 41
concludes this creature was not soe dangerous
as the report went, and that ther might be a way
found to destroy the same.
Being informed of the means that some men
had used for that end aUready, and that it was
not to be assaulted by sword or dagger, (the or
dinary armes, with the lance, at that tyme,) be
cause ofthe neer approach these weapons requy
red, if the beastwere venoraous, or should cast out
any such thing, he might be destroyed without
a revenge. Being apprehensive of this hazard,
for severall dayes he markes the outgoeing,
creeping, and entering pf this serpent into her
den, and fand, by her ordinar motione, that she
would not retire backward, nor turne but in
half a circle at least, and that ther was noe way
to kill her but by a sudden approach with some
long spear upon horse back, but then he feared,
if her bodie was not penetrable, he might ei^dan-
ger not only his horse's life, which he loved very
weiU, but also his oune, to noe purpose. To pre
vent which he falls upon this device, (having
observed that when this creature looked upon a
man, she allwayes stared him in the face with
open mouth,) in causeing make a spear neer
twice the ordinary length, ordaineing the same to
be pleated with irone, at least six quarter? fronj

42 MEMORIE OF
the poynt upward, that noe fyre upon a sudden
might cause it fall asunder; the which being
made according to his mynde, he takes his horse,
Weill acquainted with the lance, and for some
dayes did exercise him with a lighted peat on
the top of the lance, untill he was weill accus
tomed both with the smell, smoak, and light of
the fyre, and did not reftise to advance on the
spurr, although, it blew fiiU in his face. Have
ing his horse managed according to his mynde,
he caused make a litle slender wheell of irone,
and fix it soe within half a foot of the poynt of
his lance, that the wheell might turne round on
the least touch, without hazarding upon a sud
den breaking of the lance.
All things being fitted according to his mynde,
he gave advertisement to the gentlemen and
commons in that country that he would under
take to kill that monster or dye in the attempt,
prefixing a day for them to be spectators. Most
of them looked upon this promise as arodomen-
tado, others as ane act of madnes, flowing from
ane inconsiderat youth ; but he concerned not
himself with their discourses. The appoynted
day being come, somewhat before the dawnino-
ofthe day, he placed himself, with a stout and
resolute fellow, his servant, (whom he gained by

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THE SOMERVILLS. 43
a large reward to hazard with him in this at
tempt,) within haff ane arrow flight, or therby,
to the den's mouth, which was noe larger then
easily to admit the outgoeing and re-entering of
this serpent, whom now he watched with a vigi-
lent eye upon horse, back, haveing before pre
pared some long, small, and hard peats, bedab-
bed with pitch, reset, and brimstone, fixed with
smaU wyre upon the wheeU at the poynt of his
lance; these being touched with fyre, would
instantly break out into a flame. The proverb
holds good, that the fates assists bold men, for it
was truely verefied in him, fortune favouring the
hardy enterprize of this young man. The day
was not only fair, but extreme calm ; no wind
blowing but a breath of air, that served much to
his purpose.
About the sun ryseing, this serpent or worme
(as by traditione it is named) appeared with her
head, and some part of her bodie, without the
den ; whereupon the seryant, according to di-
rectione, set fyre to the peats upon the wheell
at the top of the lance, and instantly this reso
lute gentleman puts spurrs to his horse, advan
ced with a fuU gallop, the fyre still encreasing,
placed the same with the wheeU, and almost the
third part of his lance, directly in the serpent's

44 MEMORIE OF
mouth, which went doune her throat into her
beUie, which he left there, the lance breaking
by the rebound ofhis horse, giveing her a dead
ly wound, who, in the pangs of death, (some
part of her body being within the den,) soe great
was her strenth, that she raised up the whole
ground that was above her, and overturned the
same to the furthering of her ruin, being partly
smothered by the weight therof.
Thus was she brought to her death in the way
and manner rehearsed, by the bold undertaking
of this noble gentleman, who, besydes ane uni
versall applause, and the great rewards he re
ceaved from his gracious prince, deserved to
have this actione of his engraven on tables of
brasse, as a perpetuall memoriall of his worth.
What that unpolished age was capable to give
as a monument to future generationes he had, by
haveing his effigie, in the posture he performed
this actione, cutt out in stone, and placed above
the principaU church door of Lintoune kirk,
with his name and sirname, which nether length
of tyme, nor casuall misfortune, hes been able to
obliterate or demolish, but that it stands entire
and legible to this very day, with remembrance
of the place where this monster was kiUed, call
ed the Sei-pent's Den, or, as the country people
2

THE SOMERVILLS. 45
names it, the Worme's Glen,* whose bodie being
taken from under the rubbish, was exposed for
many dayes to the sight ofthe numerous multi
tude that came farr and neer from the country
to look upon the dead carcasse of this creature,
which was soe great a terrour to them while it
Uved, that the storie, being transmitted from fa
ther to sone, is yet fresh with most of the people
thereabout, albeit it is upward of fyve hundereth
years since this actione was performed.
For the young gentleraan hiraseff, he was 1174.
• The spot mentioned in the text is still called the Worm's
Glen, and the common people retain among them a traditional
account of the feat of Somerville, nearly as described in the
text. But the monument appealed to, which is still distinctly
visible in the wall of the old church, throws a great doubt on
thfe kind of monster which this valorotis kiiight destroyed. The
sculpture, of which we have given a vignette, presents a rude
representation ofa horseman in complete armour, bearing a fal
con on his arm, in allusion probably to Somerville's ofGce of
royal falconer. He is in the Set of charging his lance down the
throat of a large four-footed animal, probably a bear or wolf,
but which in no point resembles a serpent. There is an effaced
inscription, afterwards mentioned in these Memoirs, which the
common people (adapting it to their own tradition) pretend
run thus :
THE WODE LAIRD Ot LARISTONE
SLEW THE WORM OF WORMe's GLEN,
AND WAN ALL LINTON PAROCHINE.
The house of Somerville, in allusion to this exploit, and the
means employed by their ancestor upon this occasion, bear
for a crest, a wyvern (or heraldric dragon) vert, perched upon
a wheel or.

46 MEMORIE OF
much esteemed off by his royaU master King
WiUiam, by whom he was not only honoured
with knighthood, but also rewarded in haveing
the lands and barronie of Lintoune conferred
upon him for that particular service done to his
country. By the grant of these lands, and the
charters date, which was in the year of Christ
1174, being the nynth year of King WUUam's
reigne, wee conclude that the sirnarae of Somer
vill setled theraselves in Scotland, by haveing a
proprietie therin, wherby they became subjects
in that kingdome. From this house, and the
barronies of Lintoune, are descended the wholl
families and name of SomerviU now in Scotland,
and it is originaUy from this young gentleman
they have their beginning here, as these in Eng
land had thers from Sir Gualter de SomerviU,-
and the house of Whichenour, from which this
of Lintoune had its ryse, as is most evident from
the clear progresse of these memors aUready
mentioned. Sir John Somervill, now of Lintoune, by this
grant, and his majesties speciall favour, haveing
obtained and procured to himseff that honoura
ble place of being the king's principal! faUconar,
and some few years thereafter he was constitut
sherriff- of Roxburgh-shyre, in which office he
continued dureing King WUliam's life, wbich

^ 'IT i

y

TllE SOMERVILLS. 47
was very long. Soe soon as he had been setled
in these imployments, and fand that the nobili
tie and barrones of Scotland had a respect for
him, because of his interest at court, he began
to considder himself as a subject of the King of
Scots ; therefore he resolves to make his resi
dence, and provide for his posteritie, in this
kingdome, notwithstanding of the opulent for
tune he was to enjoy in England efter the deceas
of his father Rodger de SomerviU, Lord or Bar
rone of Whichenour, whose eldest sone and ap
pearand air, Rodger SomerviU, being bred a
schoUar in France, had putt himself in orders,
and became a churchman, wher, by the constitu-
tione of the papaU government, he was become
incapable of haveing a legal successione, soe that
what inheritance he had by his birth-right was
to descend to his brother John, now Barrone of
Lintoune in Scotland, who, being in the twenti
eth and fourth year of his age, did Utle mynde to
putt himself in a marryed conditione. The plea
sures of the court, and his constant attendance
upon the king, with his recreatione, (ther being
a profound peace,) took up his wholl imploy
ment, so that albeit he was often importuned by
letters from his father, and not a few frora his
elder brother, to put himself in a marryed state.

48 MEMORIE OF
yet I find not that he was soe untiU some years
eftir his brother Rodger de Somervills comeing
to Scotland, who being by his oune merits and
his brothers interest at court, haveing aUready
(while he was in England) passed the sinaUest
dignities and offices of the church, and some
others in Scotland, to be first preferred Bishop
of Saint Andrewes, and is the twentieth in the
catalogue thereafter in anno 1189, being the
twentieth and fourth year of King WiUiara's
reigne, he is made Lord Chancellor of Scotland,
and is supposed to be the fourth chancellor that
had been of this natione. Tousett,' a man of
mean extractione, being the first in the reigne
of Conranus, anno 535; Angleramus, the fyfth Bi
shop of Glasgow, being the second, and Hugo, the
eighthBishop of Glasgow, andnyneteinth of Saint
Andrewes, being the third, in anno 1178.* It is
true, in the catalogue of our chancellors, they are
pleased to begin with William Melvisius, the
nynth Bishop of Glasgow, in anno 1198, but by
ther favour I presume, under correctione, they
make not ther coUectione right, as is evident
from severall testimonies, particularly frora the
catalogues of the Bishops of Scotland, who are
marked doune as haveing been chanceUors of

* We have already said that this is all visionary.

THE SOMERVILLS. 49
Scotland before WilUam Melvisius' tyme ; but I
passe this, as not wiUing to enter the Ust of our
moderne antiquitaries, some of whom hes allmost
as many errors as they have lynes, and it is no
great wonder, seing they have but dark lanternes
to shaddow furth a litle Ught of those tymes.
Let it sufiice for my purpose, that it pleased God
tiiat this noble gentleman, John Barrone of Lin
toune, whose memorie I now wryte, should not
only be the first of his name in a strange coun-
iay, but also a happy instrument to enlarge ther
possessiones, and bring his familie and neer re
lationes unto great dignitie, as he was the cause
ofhis elder brothers comeing to Scotland, wher
by he attained to these great honours allready
mentioned, and in which he continued nyne
years chanceUor, and then demitted in favours
of WiUiam Melvisius, haveing Uved but four
years eftir his demissione. WilUara Melvisius
succeeded likewise to his bishoprick, anno 1202.
Some few years eftir, Rodger de Somervill was
setled in his dignities of church and state, and
began to take upon him the manadgement of se
cular affaires. He prevaiUes upon his brother
Sir John to take a wife, therby to continue the
memorie of their famiUe ; which albeit he had no
great incUnatione for it himself, yet to gratifie

50 MEMORIE OE
his brother he now seeks eftir one, though then
neer the fourtieth year of his age. This is not
much to be wondered at, seing a successor ofhis,
and the fourteinth from him, was neer to the same
age before he marryed.* However, more out
of obedience to his brother's commands than his
oune inclinatione, he marryes Elizabeth OU
phant, daughter to Sir Robert Oliphant of Cesse-
foord, (the Kers, now of Cessefoord,t succeeded
to the Oliphants, but whether by forfaulture or
marriage I know not,) ane ancient baronne io
Tiviotdale, whose lands and barronie of Cesse-
foord lay next and adjacent to his oune barrony
of Lintoune. The watter of Kaill, that empties
itself in Tiviot, bounding or separating these two
barronies. With this Lady,*Elizabeth Oliphant,
Sir John Somervill of Lintoune lived very hap
pily for many years, haveing severall children,
whose remembrance wee have not, except Robert
and William, who succeeded to his oune and
predecessors estates both in Scotland and Eng-
* James Somervill of Drum marryed at the age of thertieth
and sex — Original Note. This was the author of the manu
script himself.
f Andrew Ker, according to genealogists the fifth of the
house of Roxburgh, obtained a grant ofthe lands of Cessford
in l^^e, which became the distinguishing title of that family
until it was ennobled.

THE SOMERVILLS. 51
land. His master. King WiUiam, about this
tyme goeing to England in anno 1200,* John
Barrone of Lintoune accompanies his majesty in
that journey, wherby he had opportunitie to vi
site his old father Rodger, Lord of Whichenour,
who then was in the retinue of John King of
England. Dureing the abode of this prince at
York, ther was a nobleman's childe of great beau-
tie, being air to great possessiones, that had a
disease uncureable, who by the only touch of
this godly King WiUiam was perfectly heaUed.t
This interview being over. King William re
turnes to Scotland, and continues his pious do
nations to many abbacies, and erected some bi-
shoprickes, such as Argyle and severall others,
and founded the toune of Perth, granting therto
severall priviledges. The kingdome still conti-
nueing in peace dureing his reigne, which was
fourtieth and nyne years ; about which tyme, or
the year preceeding, 1213, the barrones warrs
faile out in England ; King John and his barrones

* For the purpose of performing homage to King John for
his English possessions, which he did at Lincoln, 22d Nov.
1200, " saboojure suo."
\ This farce was probably played off to put himself on a level
with the Kings of England, who claimed this healing virtue in
right of Edward the Confessor.

52 MEMORIE OF
quarreU ; the first for his prerogative royall and
the privUedge ofthe croune, (wherein, to speak the
truth, he had but a slender right, Arthur Duke
of Brittane, sone to Godfray, the eldest brother*s
right, was preferable to his,) and the later, for
the same immunities and freedomes eftirward
contained in ther Magna Charta, granted to them
by his sone Hendry the Third, the nynth year
of his reigne, which they alleadged was violated
by his impositiones and taxes imposed upon tbem
without ther oune consents, which was contra
ry, as they alleadged, to the knoune and esta
bUshed lawes of England. This warr continued
with various successe dureing King John's reigne,
and some part of the minoritie of King, Hendry
the Third, before it was fully setled ; and it was
the misfortune of Rodger de SomervUl, Lord of
Whichenour, when his age might have excused
him frora being either of counseU or actione
with any of the parties, to be one of these who
syded with the rebeUious barrones. When that
factione had contended long to litle purpose, but
to the hazard of enslaving ther natione, and fur
thering of their oune ruine, being beaten by the
king's forces, most of them was necessitat to seek
ther relief in France and elsewhere. Amongst
others, Rodger Lord of Whichenour came into

THE SOMERVILLS. 53
Scotland, and remained at Lintoune with his
sone Sir John. Some few moneths eftir his ar-
ryveall he dyed, and was buryed in the quier of
Lintoune church, as is allready declared in his
memorie. Rodger being dead, John, now Lord of Whiche
nour, (his elder brother Rodger, in the year 1202,
being also deceased,), haveing, some moneths
before his royall master King WilUam dyed, pro
cured from him a letter of recoramendatione to
King John, he goes to England, being then in
the sextieth and fourth year of his age, to re
ceave his father's forfault estate there, and makes
appUcatione both to the king and court, but all
to noe purpose. Ther was other men in posses
sione thereof by the king's gift, that his majestie
would hear noe addresse made to him in favours
of this worthie gentleman, and that because of
his father's ingratitude, upon whom, some few
years eftir his comeing to the croune, he had
conferred the manour of Eyrs, which was one of
the lordships of his oune ancient domains, and
adjacent to that of Whichenour. All hope of
prevailling with King John for any interest this
gentleman could make at court, things then be
ing quyte out of order, both within and without
the kingdome that belonged to England dui-eiag

54 MEMORIE OF
the reigne of this ungratious king ; therefore, he
returnes home to Scotland, where all was in
peace, by the justice and valour of that exceUent
prince Alexander the Second, who now swayed
the scepter of Scotland, with a resolutione not
to seek eftir his estate in England untiU the
tymes wer better, and another king then John
should sit upon the throne of England.
1214. This gentleman being returned to Scotland, he
gave an account of his negotiatione to his now
royall master, Alexander the Second, who suc
ceeded to his father William in the year of Christ
1214, who, being a good and a valiant prince,
and severe justiciar, had a speciaU regard unto
all these that had been in favour with his father
King William, and, amongst others, he was plea
sed to ratifie by a new confirmatione his father's
grant of the lands and barronie of Lintoune to
Sir John Somervill, and withall he gave him noe
sraall hopes, that if this gentleman lived to see
the present troubles of England setled, to pro
cure to him, from King Hendry of England, his
father's estate there ; wherein he was as good as
his promise, for his majestie having marryed the
sister of that king, and retained the counties of
Northumberland, Westmuirland, Cumberland,
and Huntingtoune, and the king's two sisters

THE SOMERVILLS. 55
being marryed to two great princes of England,
by his royaU master Alexander the Second his
intercessione, and the aUyance he had now
made with England, with the gredt favour Rod
ger de Somerey his cussin was in with Hen
dry the Tliirdj as being one of these who had still
syded with King John, as he did with Hendry
in his minoritie against the rebellious barrones :
upon these recommendationes, and his cussin
German's great interest at court, he recovered
that great estate in England, which his father
Rodger had forfaulted by his adhereing to the
rebeUious barrones ; but whither he cairie to the
peaceable possessione therof, the chronicle gives
noe account, naming him only as father to Ro
bert, but wherin that historie is silent as to the
father's concerns. They supplie that defect
abundantly by a large narratione of his son's ac-
tiones dureing twentieth yeares of Edward the
First his reigne, as shall be spocken to in its
place. For this gentleman, of whom wee now
wryte, haveing left the court because of his age,
he lived with much reputatione amongst his
neighbours in the country, haveing seen the
reigne of three kings, all of whom he had ser
ved, to witt, Malcolumbus the Fourth, WiUiam,
sirnamed the LyOn, and to the' sexteinth year of

56 MEMORIE OF
the reigne of Alexander the Second; about which
tyme be contracted his eldest sone, being then
but ofthe age of seventeine years, upon IsobeUa,
one ofthe daughters and co-heirs of Rodger de
Merley, a great barrone in Northumberland, by
which he came to have a farr greater interest in
England then formerly. It was because of this
marriage, and his sones comeing to the posses*
sione ofthe lordship of Whichenour, ther ancient
inheritance in England, that made hira, with his
sone Robert's consent, setle the barronie of Lin
toune upon his second sone William, who, by
grant from his father and brother, made now a
distinct famiUe from that of Whichenour in
England. John, King of England, haveing raigned se-
venteinth or eighteinth years, his kingdome be*
ing aU in combustione sorae years before his
death, and himseff rejected by his subjects, and
Lewis, the dolphine of France, sone to Philip
Augustus, the fourtieth and two King of France,
being elected by the English for ther king, was
as quickly rejected by them upon King John his
death, and Hendry the Third, sone to King
John, receaved, and Lewis, ther late king, re
turned back to France. These occurrences be
ing so fully spocken to, both in the English and

THE SOMERVILLS. 57
French histories, I passe them over in a word,
as not being my concerne to medle with the his
tories of these nationes or my oune, but in so far
as they inay give some Ught to the progresse of
these Memories I have in hand ; seing our sir-
name has been and is concerned in all the three
kingdomes of France, England, and Scotland, I
cannot aUtogither passe over these tymes in si
lence, but wiU be necessitat to wryte some thing
now and then of the publick affaires as occasione
offers,, which I shall doe with all brevitie imagi*
nable. The particular year of this worthie gentleman's
death, and his exact age, wee can give noe cer
taintie, but, aUowing him to have been ofthe age
of fyfteinth when he entered into the service of
Macolumbus the Fourth, and of the age of twen
tieth and four when he performed that memora
ble actione of kiUing the monster, wee conclude,
from these forgoeing circumstances, that he
could be noe lesse then of the age of eightie.
He dyed at the tour of Lintoune, which he buUt,,
and lyea buryed in the quier of that church, hard
hy his. fiither Rodger Lord of Whichenour.

1230.

58 MEMORIE OF

Off Robert, the seventh Lord or Barrone of
Whichenour, elder Brother to William^ second
Barrone of Lintoune.
Before wee come to wryte of the younger bro
ther, William, the second Barrone of Lintoune,
order requyres wee should treat of his eldest
brother, Robert Lord of Whichenour, who, with
out doubt, was in the peaceable possessione of
his grandfather s estate in England before his
father John's death, otherwayes it is not to be
thought that either be himseff, albeit but young,
or that honourable familie that he was to match
with, would have suffered him to have parted
with a certane fi)rtune in Scotland for a doubt-
full expectatione of enjoying his predecessors
lands in England, from which his grandfather
Rodger being forfaulted was dispossessed, and
his father John, for any thing wee know, was ne
ver actuaUy possessed therof. However, this no
ble gentleman, that was borne in Lintoune, and
brought up in Scotland, his father being restored
to his predecessores ancient inheritance in Eng
land, by the favour of Hendrie the Third, carae
to the possessione therof eftir his father's death ;

THE SOMERVILLS. 5Q
and it is upon record, that, eftir his raarriage in
the north of England, he procured from Edward
the First, not only a ratificatione to his ancient
estate, and that great fortune that came to him
in Northumberland by his wife, but hkewayes
severall grants of new priviledges within the
lordship of Whichenour, and his other lands else
where in England, as is evident from the author
of the English Antiquities, who wrytes of this
worthie gentleman as to the grace and many fa
vours he had from his prince, and of his death,
which I conceave fitt to give yow in the author's
oune words : —
*' From which Rodger (speaking of his grand
father) descended Robert de SomerviU, his grand
sone, (sone of John ; this is all that the EngUsh
wrytter speakes of this worthie gentleraan, the
father of Robert,) who, haveing marryed Isobel-
la, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Rodger
de Merlie, a great barrone in Northumberland,
in the fyfteinth year of the reigne of Edward the
First, payed fyftie pounds for relief of the non-
entrie of the barronie of the said Rodger de
Merlie, and in the eighteine year of Edward the
First obtained the king's licence for free war
rants in all his demains and lands lyand within
the lordship of Whichenour, TuncasteU, New-

60 ' MEMORIE OF
bolte, Brideshouse, Sir Scotcurburgh, and Ed-
linghaU, in the countie of Staffordshire ; Witune,
Wingates, Horsley, and Scheilds, in the countie
of Northumberland, and Stoctu, in the countie of
Ware: as also for a market every week upon
Tuesday, at his manour of Eyrswase, in tbe
countie of Staffordshire, and a fair yearly on the
eve-day and morrow of Saint Laurence, and two
^ayes following. He dyed the twentieth and
fyfth year of the reigne of Edward the First,
leaveing issue Rodger, his sone and heir." Soe
far the author of the English Antiquities, unto
whom wee have been hitherto, as wee are for
two generationes following, for the most j^rt
obleidged. As to the light wee have of these
Memories allready written, save now and then
some knowledge from the date ofa few ancient
charters in favours of abbacies and priories, wher.
in, as witnes the names, sirnames, and designa-
tiones of such persones as are included; and
as they are likewayes in all evidences that I have
of my oune, and seen belonging to other men,
from all which I have truely and ingenuously ex
tracted the wholl of these preceeding Memories.
Haveing now finished this man's life, and with
it the peace of two nationes, that for three or
four hundreth years, at least, had lived, if not in

THE SOMERVILLS. 61
perfect amitie, yet they wer without hostill in-
vasione untiU the year 1296, at which tyme the
bloodyest and longest warr that ever was betwixt
two nationes feU out, and continued two hun
dreth and sextie years, to the undoeing and ru-
ineing of many noble famiUes, with the slaugh
ter of a mUUon of men, amongst whom wee shall
see two cousin-germans act ther parts upon
this bloodie theatre ; they being in oppositione
because of ther severaU kings and countries in
terest, which engadged them in honour to be
enemies, notwithstanding of ther neer relatione
by name and kindred.

Off William, the First of that Name, and second
Barrone qf Lintoune, younger Brother to Ro
bert, Lord of Whichenour in England, both qf
them the Seventh from Sir GuMter de Somervill,
The house of Whichenour in England, and 1230.
that of Lintoune in Scotland, became now two
distinct famiUes by the death of John, the first
Barrone of Lintoune, that had right to both
these estates. To that in England, by his father
Rodger de SomerviU, and to that in Scotlandjt
by the gift and donatione of his bountiful lord

62 MEMORIE OF
and master King WiUiam, sirnamed the Lyon.
They becarae again devyded by Robert de So
mervUl, his eldest sone and heir, possesseing and
peaceably enjoying all his father's, or rather
his grandfather Rodger de SomerviU his lands
in England, as now his younger brother WilUam,
by the father's donatione and the eldest brother's
consent, did the barronie of Lintoune in Scot
land, for his patriraonie. Of what age this gen
tleman was at his father's death is uncertaine;
his eldest brother being but a stripling, it is not
to be supposed that he was capable to manadge
that considerable fortune left him by his father,
therefore it is not to be doubted, that both the
custodie ofhis persone, and the governement of
his estate, was in the hands of his mother's rela
tiones, ther being non of his father's now in Scot
land, and therefore of his minoritie we can give
noe account.
The kingdome of Scotland continueing in
peace soe long as Alexander the Second Uved,
and the minoritie of Alexander the Third, ther
was litle occasione given for any man to signa
lize himself upon the pubUc account, every man
liveing under his oune vine, and under his oune
fig-tree, untill the rebeUione of the Earles of
Monteith, AthoU, and Buchan, but of this eftir«

THE SOMERVILLS. 63
ward; for WiUiara, Barrone of Lintoune, soe
soon as he became a man, he attended the court ;
knowing by what meanes his father John had
»aised his fortune, he resolves to make sorae in-i
terest there, which shortly he did by his father's
memorie, his oune vertue, and his mother's rela
tiones, that in a few moneths eftir he came to
court he was honoured with the same place his
father had, of being the king's principaU faUco
nar. I know very weiU ther is not a few inhabit
ants in the south that attributes to this gentle
man what was performed by his father, albeit
they have nothing for them but two or three
lynes of a rood ryrae, which, when any treats of
this matter, they repeat ; I am allmost out of
countenance to put them in writt, they are soe
dull and without sense ; however, they are these,
such as they are, for I give them in the words
they wer repeated to me by severall men inha
biting the toune of Gallow-Schields,* and others
in the parochen of Lintoune. The ryrae foUowes :
Wood Willie Somervill
filled the worm of Wormandaill,

* A market-town near the conflux of the Gala with the
Tweed in Selkirkshire. The present Lord Somerville has a
beautiful' fishing-seat within two miles of this place.

64 MEMORIE OF
For whilk he had all die lands of Lintoune,
And six mylles them about.*
This they have by traditione, but by a mistake
of the name, for it was the father and not the
sone that performed that actione, as is clear
from what wee have allready written ; it is true,
this gentleman, by his constant attendance at
the court, and his majesties favour, with the
great additione he made to his estate by marry
ing Margaret Newbigging, daughter to Walter
of Newbigging, made his name more recent in
the memorie ofthe people in that peaceable age;
and it is probable the name WilUe, sounding
better in the ryme than that of John, hes made
them place the one for the other : but passing
this, the first evidence or writ wee have of this
gentleman, is the contract he makes with Wal
ter of Newbigging when he marryed his only
daughter. The contract, bond, or what else it
may be naraed, is without either date or wit
nesses, or soe much as ther names subscrybeing,
bearing only at the close of fourtie lynes, which
is not very legible, these words : " In witnes
wherof, wee hing to our sealles at Peebles in

* This seeras to be a various edition of the popular rhyme af
firmed to haye been inscribed above the representation of the
knight and monster on Linton church.

THE Somervills* 65
l^weeddale ;" and indeed for the sealles themr
selves wee should have been as little the wiser,
in regard the impressione of the armes is quite
worne out, soe that this evidence should have
served for nothing as to any Ught wee could have
had from it, ff the same had not in the bodie
therof borne both ther naraes and designationes
Very distinctly, and that which is most legible in
tliis contract, which at present is in the custo
die of the Kerrs of Lintoune, and is weill keept
by them, being one ofthe eldest evidences with
in the shyre of Roxburgh, or probably on this
syde ofthe watter of Forth, of that nature.
The niarriage of this lady brought the sirname
of Somervill first to ClidsdaiU, and got the bar
rones of Lintoune the right of proppertie on
that shyre, she being heires of the villages and
lands of Newbigging, the which, at that tyme.
Was neither a barronie of itself, nor yet included
within that of Carnwath, the same not being
erected into one, as to the best of my informa-
tione, untiU the later end of the reigne of King
Robert the Bruce. But now it may be enquyred
what sirname this gentlewoman was of, with
whom WiUiam, Barrone of Lintoune, marryed ?
for seing in contract they are only named Wal
ter of Newbigging, and Margaret, daughter and

66 MEMORIE OF
appearand heir to Walter of Newbigging, by
which designation wee are yet to seek for ther
true sirnames, unless wee beUeve they wer New-
biggings to ther name, which undoubtedly was
true ; but ther is some objects against this, and
gives these reasones for it ; First, that in aU writs
and evidents extant at this day, wherin parties
and witnesses are insert, if ther name, house, and
lands, bear the same name, they are ever de
signed in that writt or evidence of that ilk, which
forme of wrytting continues untill this very day.
The second reason is, they aUeadge ther is non
of the sirname of Newbigging knoune at this
present tyme, which makes them doubt whether
or not ther hes been any such of that name, for
it is certane ther is noe sirname that ever was in
Scotland soe extinguished, but that ther is some
of high or low degree to be found of the same
sirname, with a litle variatione, as could be in
stanced in several sirnames now in Scotland.
The third and last reasone wherby they would
allmost perswad us that ther was never any such
sirname is, that, notwithstanding aU the bookes
of herauldrie belonging to the Lyon King of
Armes hes been searched, they have not found
the name or armes of Newbigging, albeit it be
certane that all the ancient armes of any sirname
in Scotland is to be found there.

THE SOMERVILLS. 67
These reasones, in my opinione, are of noe
motneht ; the first being frivolous, that the orais-
sione of a wrytter or nottar, in the poynt of a
designatione, should have any weight as to a
man's not being ofthe same name with his house
or lands. And as for the second reasone, it is a
grosse mistake, ther being yet of the sirname of
the Newbiggings existant at this very day. For
the third reasone, which appeares soe convince-
ing, wee have late experience ofthe fallacie ther
of in the book of herauldrie, written by Sir
George M'Kenzie, wherin is omitted severall sir-
names that are of great antiquitie in this king-
dome, such as Gillchrists, Lennox, Lome, HaUi-
days, Weirs, Warrock, Herrings, Libbertounes,
Penniecookes, Fairlies, Falles, Telphers, and the
sirname of SomerviU, and very many others, which
certanely are known not only to be of great an
tiquitie, but severaUs of them to have been noble
families in Scotland, and ther sirnames existing
at this present ; now wer it not ridicolus for any
man to aUeadge that ther is not, nor wer not any
such sirname, because Sir George M'Kenzie hes
omitted, or out of prejudice hes neglected to
give these sirnames a place in his book of he
rauldrie ? But whatever may be in this, of the be
ing or not being ofthe sirname of Newbigging, I

68 m£m<3r1e of
shaU not farther contend, but take it for granted,
as it is certane they have been persones in that
age of good qualitie and respect, that this gentle
man marryed with him, and that his sone in the
foUowing generatione was better knoune by the
designatione of Newbigging then Lintoune.
But now ther comes a questione of greater
difficultie to resolve : How the toune and lands
of Newbigging returned to that sirname again ?
as wee find they wer by charter granted by The-
mas SomerviU, Barrone of Carnwath, and the
first Lord SomervUl, to and in favours of Wil
liam Newbigging, designed his cussing, by which
we understand the proppertie of that land at the
tyme to belong to the Newbiggings, and from
them, in the next age, to be in the hand of the
Livingstones of Jerviswood, and the next gene
ratione after that, the third of the proppertie of
the same land to belong to Hugh Lord Somer
viU, first of that name, who left them, with seve
rall lands, to Hugh SoraerviU of Spittell, his
youngest sone; all these severall convoyances
wee are utterly ignorant of, and therfore can
give noe account of the same, either from our
owne papers, or any other evidences belonging
to other gentlemen that wee have yet seen, and
therfore I leave it to a farther discovery, and re-

THE SOMERVILLS. 69
turn to the gentleman whose memorie I have in
hand, who, being still at court, and in the same
imployraent his father had in the service of
this king, liveing in much reputatione in the
countrie, haveing the favour of his prince, Alex
ander the Second, and was honoured to be one
of his retinue when he went to France, and re
newed the ancient band, that nether of the
princes should receive the enemies of the others
realmes, nor marry with any stranger, the one
not making the other privie therto.
Much about this tyme dyed Jean Queen of ^239,
Scotland, without any successione ; therfore, the
next year the king marryes with Mary, daugh-
ter to Inglaram Earle of Cowsie, a lady of great
beauty, whom his majestie receaved at his castle
of Roxburgh, haveing most of the nobUitie and
barrones in the south attending upon him ;
amongst others, WUliam, Barrone of Lintoune,
was remarkeable, because of his dexteritie in
tilting and exercise, much in use in that age, be
cause of the usefuUness of that weapon in the
tyme of warr.
Alexander the Second dying, his son Alexan- 1249.
der the Third succeeded in the year of Christ
1249, being at his coronatione but nyne years
of age. Some sex years eftir that, the Kings of

MEMORIE OF

England and Scotland, with ther barrones, con-
veened in York, where King Hendrie the Third
of England's daughter, named Margaret, was
marryed to King Alexander, being but in the
sexteinth year of his age. WiUiam, Barrone of
Lintoune, because of his place, was one of that
1256. honourable company that attended his majestie,
and was present at that great solemnitie, as be
ing a gentleman whose predecessors for several
generationes had been of English extractione ;
and at that very tyme his cussing, Rodger de So
merey, was a great favoritie of King Hendrie's,
and his oune elder brother, of eminent rank, pos
sessing many barronies and lordships, both in
the south, west, and north of England, left to
him partly by his predecessors, but exceedingly
increased by his marrying IsobeUa de Merley,
the daughter and co-heir of Sir Rodger de Mer
ley, a great barrone in Northumberland, in
whose right he possessed a great inheritance
there. This solemnitie being over, and his ma
jestie returned, wUling to execute justice, he
summoned the Earle of Monteith, AthoU, and
Buchan, with the Lord of Strabogie, which wer
then all of the sirname of Cummings. These
noblemen, not compearing, wer denounced re
belles ; wherupon they, with ther assistances,

THE SOMERVILLS. 71
surprized the king, and imprisones him in Stir
Ung, a certane space from which ; at lenth his
majestie being releaved, whether by pactione or
force it is uncertane, for the authors of our his
tories are silent herein. The king was engad
ged in a more dangerous warr by Ancho King of
Norrowayes comeing into the isles with many
Daines, against whom King Alexander marches
with a great armie ; and, eftir a long and cruell
battell, obtained at lenth a famous victorie, leave
ing twentieth and four thousand of his enemies
dead upon the place : this was the last expedi-
tione and service wherin WiUiam, Barrone of
Lintoune, accompanied his royall master, being
then, as may be supposed, about the sextieth
year of his age, if wee calculate from his father's
death, and his own entrie to the estate in the
year 1230.
As to the year of this gentleman's death, nor 1280.
the age he was of at the tyme, wee conclude no
thing, nor ofhis particular actings have wee any
certanety, more nor what is related, only it may
be supposed he was dead before the year 1280,
because wee find him not mentioned at that
tyme in the transactione that was betwixt his
sone Sir Walter de SomerviU and Sir David
Barclay, whose sister he marryed ; what children

72 MEMORIE OF
he had with his Lady Margaret Newljigging, be*
syde his eldest son Sir Walter mentioned in Wah
lace his book, and WilUam, to whom he gave a
ten merk land within the barronie of Lintoune,
is altogither unknoune, for Sir Walter, his eldest
sone, succeeded to his father and his fortune,
both in the south and west : as for this worthie
gentleman, he dyed some fyfteinth or sexteinth
years before his eldest brother Robert, Lord
of Whichenour, and lyes buryed at Lintoune
church, which was the ordinary buriaU place for
the Barrones of Lintoune, untiU the buUding of
the coUegiat church of Carnwath, by Thomas,
the first Lord Somervill, in or about the year
of Christ 1424, which became then, and eftirr
ward, the ordinary buriaU place of the Lords So
mervills untill the year 1602.

Off Rodger, the fourth of that Name, the eight
Barrone or Lord qf Whichenour in England.
Haveing finished the memories of the two
brethren, Robert and WilUam, the elder whereof
out-lived the younger sexteinth years, wee corae
now to write of his sone Rodger, the fourth of
that name, and eight Barrone or Lord of Whiche-

THE SOMERVILLS. 73
nour ; but because I have non of the evidences
of that house in my custody, I have keeped ex
actly with the author of the English Antiquities,
and given you ther words in the wholl narratione
of the foirgoeing memories relating to the house
of Whichenour, as any may observe that will be
pleased to peruse that author.
Rodger, sone to Robert, in the twentieth and
third year of Edward the First, was in the Scot
tish warrs ; wherupon, in the parliament held the
next ensueing year, he petitioned to have allow
ance for his service done in that expeditione,
haveing then been in the retinue of Hendrie de
Peircie, and marched from Carlile to Berwicke
by the command of Prince Edward.
In the eight year of Edward the Second, he
receaved comraand to goe to Newcastle-upon-
Tyne upon the festival of the blessed Virgin's as-
sumptione, weill fitted with horses and armes to
resist the incursione of the Scots ; and in the
sexteinth year of Edward the Second he was
constitute sherreff" of Yorkshyre, and governour
of the castle of York. This Rodger left issue,
Rodger, his son and heir, whose memorie wee
shall give eftir that wee have written of his cus
sing, Sir Walter of Newbigging and Lintoune.

74 MEMORIE OF

1280. Off Sir Gualter de Somervill, tlw third of that
Name, the third Barrone of Lintoune, the first
qf Newbigging, the eight from Sir Gualter de
Somervill of Whichenour in England.
Alexander the Third being in the threttieth or
threttieth and one year of his reigne, and the
country in perfect peace, the nobiUtie and
gentrie offen frequented the court; amongst
others Sir Walter of Newbigging and Lintoune,
being a brave and noble young gentleman, for
the most part, both before and eftir his father's
death, attended the same, being in favour with
Alexander the Third, by whom he was knight
ed, at the tyme when his sone. Prince Alexan
der, was marryed upon the Earle of Flanders
daughter att Roxburgh castle. The solemnitie
of that marriage being over. Sir Walter returnes
to the tour of Lintoune, then his ordinary resi
dence, untill the king's goeing north, and then
attended his majestie in that progresse, wherby
he had the acquaintance of Sir David Barclay,
whose sister, Effie Barclay, he the same year
marryed in anno 1282; as maybe conjectured
from a band of mandrey* (for a contract of mar-
* A band of manrent was an engagement to rise in arms at

THE SOMERVILLS. 75
riage, or any other evidence relating to this af.
fair, wee have non extant) betwext Sir Walter
and Sir David, wherin, besydes ther ordinarie
designatione of Newbigging and Towie, they are
caUed brethren in law. It is frora the mutuaU
band, or contract, of mandrey, that we have any
light, either of the person to whom, or the tyme
about which Sir Walter of Newbigging was mar
ryed, therefore I think it not amisse to insert the
same in this gentleman's memorie, because of its
antiquitie. The band foUowes : —
" Be it kend till all men be thir present letters, 1281
me. Sir Walter of Newbigging, and me. Sir Da
vid of Towie, for all the dayes of our lyves fo be
obleidged and bound be the faith of our bodies
and thir present letters in mandred, and sworne
counsell as brothers in law, to be with one an
other in all actiones, causes, and quarrills per-
taineing to us, both in peace and in warr, against
aU that lyves and dyes, excepting our alleadge
ance to our soveraigne lord the king. In witnes
of the whilk thing, and of ther present letters,
wee have hung to our sealles att Aberdean, the
twentieth day of Apryle,:the year of God, 1281,
the call of the person to whom it was granted. These obliga
tions were very comm m in Scotland. The word is variously
ppelled, inanrentf manred, manreden, and moraden.

76 MEMORIE OF
before ther witnesses, WUUam SomerviU, our
brother, and John Somervill and Thomas Stel-
feir." To this band of mandrey is appended two
sealles, very legible and knowne, for tbe Somer
vills and Barclayes differed nothing from what
they are at present, save a little in the placeing
of the armes. What this John SomerviU, here
mentioned as a witness, was, I find not, nor can
not understand, unles he hes been either a law-
full begotten or natural sone of WiUiam, Bar
rone of Lintoune, or his father's, for at this tyme
ther was noe others of that sirname in Scotland.
What this gentleman's particular actings wer
dureing the reigne of Alexander the Third and
eftir, untill the tyme that that unhappie warr
fell out which involved our natione in a chaos of
confusione, and aUmost extinguished the memo
ries of these tymes, persones, and circumstances,
whereby wee might have had any knowledge of
ther actiones for the future, soe ther is nothing
of this gentleman upon record but what is aU
ready related, untill the peace of the country
was at first interrupted in the year 1286, or, as
some authors have it, 1285. By Alexander the
Third's being pitiefuUy taken away by a faU from
his horse over the west craig of Kinghorne, with
out any issue of his bodie alyve, in him the

THE SOMERVILLS. 77
whoU posteritie of his father, Alexander the Se
cond, and grandfather, WiUiam, sirnamed the
Lyon, being extinguished, the right ofthe croune
fell to the heirs of David, Earle of Huntingtoune
and Carrick, youngest brother to William the
Lyon, as you may read at lenth in our chroni
cles.* The seven years governments of the sex re- 1292.
gents being out, and BalioU, by a private com
pact with King Edward the First of England,
estabUshed upon the throne of Scotland in anno
1291, or rather in amio 1292, which is more pro
bable, if wee make our calculationes right ac
cording to some forgoeing circumstances ob-
serveable in the wrytters of these tymes, which
bring BalioU either a year too sone, or a year
too late, to the croune, as you may observe in
the author of the Abridgement of the Scots
Chronicles, who places him not untill the year

* Upon the death of Alexander was composed the rude-
dirge,— When Alexander our king was dead,
Who Scotland led in luve and le,
Awa was sonce of ale and bread,
Of wine and wace, of gam and gle ;
Christ born into virginity,
Succour pour Scotland, and remesr
That stad is in perplexitie.

78 MEMORIE OF
1293, which is, as I understand, a year too long ;
for its knowne the peace of our natione was
quyte broke in the year 1296, and that author
makes BaUoU to reigne four years, and then to
be expelled by Edward the First, and sent into
France, where he dyed long eftir in exile.*
1296. BalioU being removed, Edward King of Eng
land, by the strong hand, takes possessione of
the kingdome of Scotland, and is crouned at
Scoon, having many of the greatest noblemen
in Scotland vassalles and feudaries to him for
many lands which they held in England, partly
for great service done to him and his father .Hen
drie the Third, partly also by interchange of
marriages and successione betwext the two na
tiones, which for a long tyme had lived in per
fect amitie and peace, as it had been one king-
dome, but became now brocken by King Ed
ward's cruell oppressiones, and destroying the
wholl ancient monuments of our natione, dure
ing all which broyles ther happened great alter
ationes both in the general state of this king-
dome, and in the overthrow of and advance-

* Our author is here right in his conjecture. John Baliol
was crowned at Scone on St Andrew's day, 30th Nov. 1292,
(W. Hemingford, I. 37-) and did homage to Edward for his
kingdom at Newcastle, upon the 26th of December following.

THE SOMERVILLS. 79
ment of particular families : the first for betray
ing, the second for maintaineing ther countries
freedome and wellfare, amongst which number.
Sir Walter of Newbigging and his two sones, Sir
David and Sir John. The first of these gentle
men was knighted by Alexander the Third, and
the last by King Robert the Bruce, eftir he came
to the croune of Scotland ; all of them wer no
ble assertors of ther countries libertie, and con
stant adherers to the Brucean partie, as is evi
dent from the histories of these tymes, particu
larly that of Wallace and King Robert the
Bruce's Bookes ; we find Sir Gualter of Newbig
ging, with his sone Sir David, had the honour
to command the third bragad of horse at the bat
tell of Biggar, which was fought in the later end
of May, 1297, wherin both the father and the
sone behaved themselves very worthilie. This
battell being the first of any moment that Wal
lace gained^ wherin Edward King of England
the First being present himseff, receaved a not-
table overthrow, and Wallace soe much honour,
that at a counsell held at the kirk of Foresse, he
was choysen warden of Scotland, wherin he be
haved himself very worthilie by his conduct and
valour, with very small assistance acting won
ders, to the admiratione of that age, and to all
1

so MEMORIE OF
succeeding generationes. He continued in that
imployment, with great honour and advantage
to his countrie, untiU the envy and emulatione
of the BalioU and Cumming factione stirred up
the generaUtie of the nobUitie against him, which
made him resigne his wardenship at Saint John-
stoune ; these passages I passe over with my ac-
customat brevitie, seing they are soe fully spock
en to by all our authors.
Eftir the battell of Biggar, wherin Sir Walter
of Newbigging and his sone Sir David was ho
noured with soe great command, and therin act
ed for ther countries freedome, notwithstanding
they knew very weill that they themselves was
lately of EngUsh extractione, and in that very
battell ther cussing-german, Rodger, Lord of
Whichenour, stood in oppositione against them,
being then honoured by King Edward the First
with the command of a regiment in the English
armie that fought against them that day, as ef
tirwards shall appear when we give his memorie.
We find nothing of Sir Walter, and his sone Sir
David, more in any author upon record, nor yet
is ther any privat evidence remaining that I know
to informe us of ther particular actings farther
nor what is aUready related, neither can wee
come to the knowledge whether Sir Walter or his

THE SOMERVILLS. 81
sone, Sir David, dyed first, and to which of the
two, father or sone, John, Barrone of Lintoun6
and Newbigging, and the first of Carnwath, se
cond sone to this Sir Walter, entered heir. All
these severall circumstances, the exact yeai's of
ther deaths, and the particular place of ther bu-
riaUs, through the confusione and iniquitie of
that tyme, hes buryed all in perpetuall oblivione,
only we find that, counting from the band of
mandrey betwext Sir Walter and Sir David Bar
clay in anno 1280, untill the battell of Biggar,
1297, ther is sextienth years in which this gen
tleman was in actione, and certanely, if wee had
missed these two foregoeing circumstances, wee
should hardly been able to have given any ac
count of this worthie gentleman's memorie,
which haveing now finished, before we come to
speak of his second sone, Sir John, the fourth
Barrone of Lintoune and Newbigging, and first
of Carnwath, wee will observe our ordinary me
thode in relating the lffe of Sir Rodger Somer
vUl, the fyfth of that narae, the nynth Lord or
Barrone of Whichenour in England, grand-childe
to Robert, who was grand-uncle to John, Bar
rone of Carnwath.

82 MEMORIE OF
Of Rodger, the fyfth ofthatName, the nynth Lord
or Barrone of Whichenour in England.
Before wee give the raemorie of Sir John, de
signed of Clidsdale, the first Barrone of Carnwath,
and fourth of Lintoune, it's fitt wee observe our
ordinary progresse dureing the continuance of
the heirs male ofthe house of Whichenour ; ha
ving already written the memorie of Rodger, the
fourth of that name, and eight Lord of Which
enour, wee come to treat of his sone Rodger, the
fyfth of that name, and nynth Lord of Whiche
nour ; and herein also I shall observe my former
methode, and give you what is to be said of this
noble gentleman in the authors oune words.
This Rodger (speaking of Rodger the fourth)
left issue, Rodger his sone and heir, who being a
knight in the first year of King Edward the Third,
was in the warrs of Scotland that year, and of the
retinue of Thomas Lord Wrake of Liddell, soe
likewayes in the seventh year of Edward the
Third, but all that I can farther say of him is,
that he gave the admissione of the church pf
Staingtoune tothe monkes of Newmonster, juxta
Morpeth, in the countie of Northumberland. And
haveingbeen summoned to the parhament, to witt,

THE SOMERVILLS. 83
nobiUtat, and made ane peer of England amongst
the barrones of this realme in the first year of
Edward the Third, but no more. Departed this
life the fyfteinth of the calends of February, in
the tenth year ofthe reigne of Edward the Third,
and was buryed at Burtoune, in the countie of
Eber, leaving Sir Philip de Somervill, Knight, his
brother and heir, fyftieth years of age, who there
upon doeing his homage had levery of his lands.

Of John, the second of that Name, the fourth Bar
rone qf Lintoune and Newbigging, the first
Barrone qf Carnwath, and the nynth from Sir
Gualter de Somervill, Lord qf Whichenour in
England. Sir Gualter and Sir David his eldest sone being 1 306.
dead some tyme before King Robert the Bruce
was crouned at Scoon, the barronie of Lintoune
and lands of Newbigging falls to John, second
sone to Sir Walter and brother to Sir David;
which ofthe two, father or sone, dyed first, and to
whom of them John Barrone of Carnwath enter
ed heir, his father or brother, wee cannot teU, ther
being nothing from the year 1296 to the year
1314, but slaughter, burneing and ruineing the

84 MEMORIE OF
principaU houses and famUies of both parties.
The Ballon and Brucean factiones still contend
ing, and the Kings of England takeing ther ad
vantages to destroy both, and secure the king-
dome of Scotiand to themselves, which they often
attempted dureing the space of eighteinth or
nyneteinth years, sometymes with good, and at
other tymes with bad successe, as may be knowne
from the histories of that age, who tell us plainly,
that ther was not one familie in all Scotland that
suffered not more or lesse in that universall de-
ludge that sweept away many families and names
that now wee have not, and of uthers left us no
thing to the purpose but the bare remembrance
of ther being, and some pettie circurastances
scarce worthie the nameing ; for so great was the
malice of Edward the First, that his endeavours
tended to noe lesse then to extinguish the very
memorie of our being a natione. What raay then
be expected from the year 1296 to the year 1300,
or rather unto the year 1366, some ten years
before King David Bruce dyed, as to the know
ledge of these tymes, I leave it to any rationaU
man to conjecture. However, as in the darkest and
cloudyest nights ther appeares now and then the
twinklings of a star wherby a man may direct his
course to some airth, soe in this blacknes of our

THE SOMERVILLS. 85
countries affUctione wee are not altogither left
without the reraerabrance of sorae mens memo
ries who acted in the behaff of ther king and
countryes interest, wherof John Barrone of Lin
toune and Carnwath made one. This gentleman
was neer to mans state much about the tyme
ofhis father Sir Walter's death, who had not been
wanting to informe him of the miserable condi
tione of his native country, through the op-
pressione of English, and the difference anent the
successione to the croune, which gave the first
occasione and opportunitie for them soe to en
slave the natione. He shewed him that BalioU
being fallen from the croune (as weill as from
the favour ofhis subjects) by his un worthie trans
actione with Edward the First, the right of suc
cessione remained in Robert the Bruce ; there
fore, as soon as God should give opportunitie, he
charged his sone, as he tendered the honour and
favour of his prince, the peace and freedome of
his country, the happynes and prosperitie of his
oune familie, and that estate whereunto he had
fallen in Clidsdale by his grand-mother, that he
should with the first attend the kings comeing
to Scotland, and proffer his service, life, and for
tune to his majestie, as a faithfuU and duetyfuU
subject was obleidged to doe. This coraraand of

86 MEMORIE OF
his father he punctuaUy observed, for noe sooner
did King Robert appear (WaUace being betray
ed by Sir John Monteith and martyred at Lon
don, in anno 1306,) but immediately he joyned
with the king, as is evident from the first and se
cond pages of the histories of that king's reigne,
and was still with him untill the batteU at Meth-
vin-wood neer St Johnstoune,' where, with other

' Barbour enumerates Somerville among the other patriot
nobles who adhered to Bruce's standard when it was first dis
played : — The King Robert wyst he wer thair,
And quhat kyn chyftanys with him war.
And assemblyt all his mengye ;
He had feyle off full gret bounte,
Bot thair fayis wer mar than thai,
Be fifteen hundred, as I've hard say.
The quhene he had thair, at that ned.
Full feiU that war douchty of deid ;
And barownys that was bauld as bar ;
Twa Erles alsua with hym war.
Of Lenyvax and Atholl war thai;
Eduuard the Brwyse was thar alsa,
Thomas Randall, and Hew de le Hay,
And Schyr David the Berclay,
Fresale, Sumininvile, and Inchmertyn ;
James of Dowglas thair wis syne,
That yheyit than wis bot litill of mycht :
And other fele folk forsye in fycht,
Bot I cannot tell quhat thai hycht. Booke IL line 225.

THE SOMERVILLS. 87
persones of qualitie, it was his misfortune to be
taken prisoner, and obleidged to the wUl and
pleasure ofthe victores for saveing his life to pro
mise fealty with the rest of the prisoners to the ,
King of England, in which conditione he reraain
ed untill the king's better fortune freed him and
others from this extorted engadgement. Ther is
one thing I raust take notice of as propper in
the place, that during his abode at Methvin, he
had the acquaintance and was familiar with the
keeper of Methvin- woods daughter, who bore to
hira a natural sone named John, whose»posteritie
remains there as fosters of that wood untiU this
day, haveing no other inheretance but a house
and two aikers of land as ther aUowance for that
service. The year 1314 being come in which, upon the 1314.
twentieth and one day of June, King Edward the

Somerville is again mentioned amongst the prisoners made
by the English, after the Bruce was defeated at JMethvin : —
Schyr Thomas Randall thair wis tane,
That then wis a young bacheler ;
And Schyr Alexander Fraseyr ;
And Schyr David the Breklay,
Inchmertyne, and Hew'de le Hay,
And Somirweil, and othyr ma. B. IL I. 405.

88 MEMORIE OF
Second was encountered at Bannockburne by
King Robert the Bruce, and eftir long and hard
fighting his great armie was put to the rout, him
self with a small company fleeing into Dumbar,
was sent by the Earle of March into England in
a fisher boat, leaveing many of his nobles and
gentlemen killed and taken by the Scots.
1317. This victory freed Scotland from the EngUsh
bondage, and gave them not only opportunitie to
make divers incursiones upon the English to re-
quyte the harmes receaved firom them before, but
also leasure to look eftir ther privat affaires, which
had been quyte out of order and litle mynded
for threttieth years preceeding, but now every
man began to setle himself and his fortune ac
cording as he was able by his Industrie or interest
at court, wherein John, Barrone of Lintoune, as
forward and fortunat as the best, haveing about
this tyme marryed Elizabeth Douglas, daughter
to James Douglas of LoudonhiU, Kinnoull, Carn
wath, and Calderclear, with whom he receaved
in tocher, the toune and lands of Carnwath, eftir
ward with the laads of Newbigging erected into
a barronie, to hold ward by King Robert the
1320. Bruce, in anno 1320, eftir which, and his father-
in-laws death, for the most part he made his re
sidence in Clidsdale, haveing built the double

THE SOMERVILLS. 89

tour in Carnwath toune, (the residence now of
the present Earles of Carnwath,) where he dwelt,
CowthaUy castle then, as most of the pettie
strengths in Scotland wer fbr the raost part burnt
or demolished by the iniquitie of the tymes.
Sir John, being now father to four sones, James, 1329.
Walter, David, and John, and two daughters,
which Lady Elizabeth Douglas had borne to him,
he lived in peace untiU the year 1329, and the
year 1331, in which the two dyed, both King
Robert the Bruce and Thomas Randell, Earle
of Murray, Governour of Scotland, eftir whom
Patrick, Earle of March, and David, Earle of
Murray, being choysen governours, the civiU
warrs was renued by Edward BalioU, sone to
John BalioU, umquUl King of Scotland, being
assisted with the forces of Edward the Third
King of England, of a sudden he prevaiUes soe
far that, haveing taken the toune of Perth, he is
crouned there in the year 1332. Wherupon en
sued as great warrs and as destructive as ever.
The kingdome, nobilitie and gentrie, being again
devyded betwext the Bruceon and BaUion par
ties dureing the minoritie of King David Bruce,
which continued untiU the year 1 338, and some
tyme eftir, with various successe, sometyme the
one partie prevaiUing, and then the other, untUl

90 MEMORIE OF
at lenth the BaUion factione was subdued, and
hiraself taken out of the kingdome by Edward
the Third, and shortly thereftir David, King of
Scotland, in anno 1342, with his queen, returnes
out of France, holds a parliament, and gratifies
these of the nobilitie, barrones, and gentiemen
that had adhered to his oune and his fathers in
terest ; but his royall bountie was fatal to non
but Alexander Ramsay of Dalhoussie, who. ha
ving done many exployts in faA'^ours of his prince
and country, especiaUy his takeing the castle of
Roxburgh, in Tiviotdale, which the king confer
red upon Ramsay as keeper, and withaU the
shirefship of Tiviotdale, which soe incensed WU
Uam Douglas, Lord of LidisdaiU, that within
three months efter Ramsay's instaUment, the
Lord LidisdaiU surprizes him in Hawick exer-
ciseing his office of shirefship, killes tliree ofhis
men, wounds himseff when he was looking for
noe such thing, and being his prisoner, puts hira
in the Hermetage, where he was sterved to death,
ane actione aUtogither unworthie of the doer and
receaver of that injurie ; but what wiU not re
venge, and some few punctiUoes of slighted ho
nour and supposed great deservings, prompt even
gaUant men unto ? for such undoubtedly was this
WiUiam Douglas, Lord of Lidesdale, caUed in
10

THE SOMERVILLS. 91
that age the Flower of ChevaUry. But passing
this and the materiall oecurrances of that tyme,
wherein the histories of the Douglasses is copious
enough as to every punctUio and circumstance
that might advance the glory of the Douglasses,
which undoubtedly both then and untiU the reign
of King James the Second deserve very weiU at
the hands both of ther princes and country, for
the many noble exploytes by them performed,
especiaUy dureing the tyme of this king's mino
ritie, and eftirward, as you may read at large in
the historie of that familie. Amongst others that
was partakers of the kings favour. Sir John So
mervUl, Barrone of Lintoune, obtaines a ratifica
tione of the lands of Carnwath, which he had
gotten by his lady. This interest gave ground
and occasione to that designatione he hes in se
veraU papers which I have seen, to be caUed Sir
John of CUdsdale, being at that tyme (abstract
ing from the Douglasses) one of the principaU
men in that country, next to Sir Andrew Murray,
that was twice governor of Scotland, on whom
Sir John SomerviU depended, and was with him
in the most of his expeditiones. This Sir Andrew
Murray' had a great intercist upon Clyde, but

» Sir Andrew Murray of Bothwell was for some tirae war-
den of Scotland, and gallantly supported the cause of David

92 MEMORIE OF
where these lands lay in that shyre I find not
upon record, but' the barronie of BothweU, which
eftirward the Douglasses gott by marrying the
daughter of this Sir Andrew Murray, that was
twice governor of Scotland. Ther was also one
Magnus Mowbray, designed Lord of CUdesdale,
who commanded the fourth squadrone at the
seidge of Saint Johnstoune, in anno 1339. But
what this man was, or where his estate lay upon
Clyde, I find not in any author, being only named
in the historie of the Douglasses.
In the year 1 346, upon the seventienth day of
October, was WiUiam, the tenth Barrone or Lord
of Douglas, created Earle,' some few hours before
that unfortunat batteU of Durehamewas foughten.

Bruce. Winton records him as the best knight in Scotland
after the death of Robert the Bruce.
Schjrre Andrew of Murraye gud and wicht,
That was a bald and a stowt knycht,
That nane better was in his day
Fra the gud Kyng Robert wes away.
' i. e. le out, except.
'¦ This is an error, which occasions Lord Hailes's observation,
that the Scots are reformed from popery, but not from the fa
bles of Hector Boece. Lord Douglas, son of the celebrated
Tineman, was at this time in France, and did not return till
1,*348. William Douglas, the celebrated knight of Liddesdale,
was one of the Scottish leaders at the battle of Durham, and
was there made prisoner.

THE SOMERVILLS. 93
wherein the king with severaU of his nobilitie was
taken prisoners and many kUled of eminent rank,
amongst which James, eldest sone and appearand
heir to John, Barrone of Carnwath, being then
in the twentieth and sixth year of his age, was
one of that number ; this sad stroake made his
father the same year contract Walter, now his
eldest sone, upon Janet Preston, daughter to Sir
Thomas Preston, eldest sone and appearand heir
to Sir Laurence Preston, laird of Craig MiUer.
This gentleman. Sir Thomas Preston, with seve
raU other persones of quaUtie, was kiUed at the
stormeing and takeing of the toune of Berwick ;
Sir WiUiara Douglas, and Sir David Ramsay of
Dalhousie, in the year ensuing, 1 347.' Being that
year wherein this worthie gentleman dyed, he
setles his other two sones, David and John, in the
west. To David he gave the lands of Black-
castle, neer to Biggar, and to John the third of
Newbigging, which efter this John dispones in fa
vours of his eldest brother, Sir Walter, upon his
marrying one Katharine HaUiday, the heiresse of
Mophit, or some lands neer by it. His eldest

' The capture of the town of Berwick is dated by Lord
Hailes, after Fordun, in 1355.

94 MEMORIE OF
daughter was marryed to Sir John Sandelands of
Calder, who was father to Sir James, that marry
ed Uterin, or, as our wrytters caUes her, Eleonora
Defries, haff sister to WUUam, the first Earie of
Douglas, who gave her, as sayes the history of
Douglas, noe lesse then the barronie of West
Calder, for her and her heirs whatsomever ; for
his youngest daughter she was marryed upon Sir
Laurence Baird, of Posso in Tweeddale; thus
wee see this noble gentleman to have provyded
aU his sones with competent fortunes, and to have
marryed his daughters honourably ; for himseff
dureing aU the dayes of his lffe he was a constant
foUower of King Robert the Bruce, and ane ad
herer to his sone King David's interest when it
was in the most desperate condition. Witnes his
casting up a quantitie of earth of his lands upon
the south-west of Carnwath toune, which makeing
a litle hill, 'tis caUed yet omnis terra. This was
the custome of these tymes, by which homage
they that held the King of Scotland supreme un
der God wer distinguished from the Balion party,
or such as owed any homage to the King of Eng
land." By this worthie gentlemans stUl adhereing

' Of such a custom I believe we will find no other trace than
the averment in the text. The little mound is still visible at

THE SOMERVILLS. §5
to the Brucean interest, he purchased much ho
nour to himseff and posteritie, secureing to them
a great estate in Roxburghshyre and CUdesdale,
which other men lost by endeavouring to uphold
and maintaine the BaUion factione. As this gen
tleman was bome much about the tyme that the
warrs first begun betwext Scotland and England,
soe he dyed before ther was any expectatione
that they would cease ; King David being stUl
prisoner in England, in the year 1 347, ofhis oune
age sextieth and fyve or therby, for any calcula
tione wee can make from his first appearing with
King Robert the Bruce at the batteU at Methvin-
wood, in anno ] 306. He lyes buryed in the quier
of Lintoune church with his predecessors.

the west end of the village of Carnwath. It seems to have been
designed for a. vault, having an opening on the top as if to de
scend by a stair-case, but it is now choked up with rubbish.
It is surrounded by a ditch and mound, and was probably de
signed as a cemetery. The name of omnis terra is borrowed
fi-om the mote-hill at Scone, which is fabled to have been com
posed at the period of the introduction of the feudal law into
Scotland, by each baron bringing thither a handful of the earth
of his lands in token of his surrendering them to the king to
receive a feudal investiture.

96 MEMORIE OF
Of Sir Philip de Somervill, the tenth Lord of
Whichenour, the last of the Male Lyne of that
House and Familie in England.
Being now to wryte of the last of the heirs
male of the house of Whichenom-, I shaU not
transgresse my former method, but proceed in
the words of my author, and relate what is to be
said of this nobleman, being the last male of this
famUie except the house of Rodger de Somerey,
who was nephew to Rodger, the fyfth barrone of
Whichenour, but I proceed to Sir PhiUps rae
morie, the last male of the house of Whichenour.
Sir PhiUp at his age of fyftieth years succeed
ed to his brother, Sir Rodger de SomervUl, upon
the fyfteinth ofthe calends of February, 1337,
being the tenth year of the reigne of King Ed
ward the Third, King of England ; of which Sir
PhUip I find he was shirreff of the countie of
Buckingame and Bedfoord in the first of Edward
the Third, and held the manures of Whichenour,
Suseet, Reidware, Nethertoune, ConlencaU, (in
the countie of Staffordshyre,) of the Earle of
Longcaster, (then lord ofthe honour of Testory,)
by these memorable services, which I have thought
fitt here to expresse at large from ane ancient roll

THE SOMERVILLS. QJ
of parchement written in the time of King Hen
drie the Seventh, it being then a translatione put
in English from the lyke roll in France, in the
tyme of King Edward the Third, viz. by two
small fies, that is to say, when other tennents pay
for reUeff ane whoU knights fie, ane hundreth
shnUngs, he the said Sir PhiUp shall pay but fyf
tieth shUUngs, and when
Throughout the land or
for to make the eldest sone of the lord knight,
or for to marry the eldest daughter of the lord,
the said Sir PhiUp shaU pay but the
of it that others shaU pay, nevertheles the said Sir
PhiUp shaU find, maintaine, andsustaine, ane ba
con slyke' hinging in his haU at Whichenour,
ready arrayed all tymes of fhe year, but in Len-
trone, to be given to every man or woman marry
ed eftir the day and year of the marriage be pass
ed, and to be given to every man of religione,
archbishop, bishop, prior, or other religious per
sone, and to every priest, eftir the year and day
of ther professione finished, or of ther digmtie, in
forme foUowing, whensoever that any such be-
forenamed wiU come to enquyre for the bacon in

• This word has been inserted by another hfmd.
G

98 MEMORIE OF ^
ther oune persone, or by any other -for. liiein.
They shaU come to the bailzie, or to the porter
of the lordship of Whichenour, and shaU say to
them in the manner as foUoweth :
« BaUzie, or porter, I doe you to know that I am
eome for myself (or, ifhe come for another, shew-
iiig' for whom) to demand one bacon slyke, hlfig-
ing in the haU of the Lord of Whichenour, eftir
the forme therunto belonging."
Eftir which relatione the bailzie, or porter, shall
assigne a day to him upon promise by his seith
to returne, and with him to bring tween of his
nightbours, and in the mean tyme the bailzie
shaU take with him tween of his freeholders of
the lordship of Whichenour, and they three shaU
goe to the manour of Rodlaw, belonging to Ro
bert Knightlay, and they shaU summon the said
Knightlay, or his baUzie, commanding him to be
ready at Whichenour the day appoynted at pryme
of the day with his carriage, that is to say, a horse
and a saddle, a seek and a prick, to convoy and
carry the said bacon and corne a jeumy out of
the Gtfunty of Staffoordshyre at his costage^.and
then the said bailzie shaU with the said'fi^eeffmd-
ers summonds aU the tennents of the said ma
nour to be ready at the day appoynted at JVluche-
nour, to doe and performe the servi6e~ which
they ow to the bacon ; and at the day appoynted

THE SOMERVILLS. 99
aU such as ow service to tbeibacon..sh§iU b^ ready
at the gate of the manour of 'Whichenoar fto^
the sun rys.eingL.to .the hodn, attending and wait*
ing for the cdmeing Of hiin that fetcheth the ba
con, jai|d.«ih(^h^vis come in ther shall be d^^
veredito him and his feUowes chaplets, and to- all
these that shall be there to doe ther service du^
to the bacon, and they shaU lead the said demand^
ant with trumpets and and other marh-
her pf jmusicaU seyes to the hall door,' where he
shaU find the Lord of Whichenour or his steward
ready to delyver the bacon in this manner.
He shall enquyre of hira which demands the
bacon, if he hes brought twyne of his nightbours
with him, which must answer. They be here ready j
and then the steward shall cause these two night
bours to swear ff the said demandant be a woded
man or have a man woded, and ff since his mar
riage ane year and day passed, and ff he be a free
man or a viUane, and ff his said nightbours make
oath that he hath for him all these three poyntes
.rehearsed, then shaU the bacon be taken doune
and brought to the haU door, and shall there be
laid upon ane half quarter of wheat, and upon
another of rye, and he that demandeth the bacon
gjiallkneell upon his knee, and shall hold his right
liapd'Upon a book, which book shall be laid above

100 MEMORIE OF
the bacon and the corne, and shaU make oath in
this manner:
'" Hearye, Sir Philip de SomerviU ofWhichenour,
mentainer and giver of this bacon, that I answear,
since I was weded be my wffe, and since I had
her in my keeping and at my wiU by a year and
day eftir our marriage, I would not have changed
for non other, fairer nor fouUer, nor richer nor
poorer, nor for non other descended of greater
lineage, sleeping nor wakeing at noe tyme, and
if the said before wer soil and seeU, I would take
her to be my wffe before all the women of the
world, of what conditione soever they be, good
or evUl, as help me God and his saints, and this
flesh and all fleshes;" and his nightbours shall make
oath that they trust verily that he hes said truely ;
and ff it be found by his nightbours aforenamed
that he be a freeman, then shall be delyvered to
him half a quarter of wheat and a cheese, and if
he be a villane, he shall have haff a quarter of
rye without cheese, and then shall Knightlay,
Lord of Rodlaw, be called to carry all these things
before rehearsed, and the said corn shaU be laid
upon ane horse and the bacon above it, and he
to whom the bacon appertaineth shall ascend
upon his horse, and shall take the cheese before
him, if he have a horse, and ff he have non, the

THE SOMERVILLS. 101
Lord of Whichenour shall let him have ane horse
and a sadle at such tyme as he be passed his lord
ship, and so they shaU depart the manour of
Whichenour with the and the bacon before
him that hath win it, with trumpets to
and other and all the free tennents of
Whichenour shaU conduct him till he be passed
the lordship of Whichenour, and then shall all
they returne except him to whom it appertaineth
to make the carriage and journey without the
countie of Staffoordshyre, at the castle ofhis Lord
ofWhichenour ; and if the said Robert Knightlay
doe not cause the bacon and corne to be convoy
ed as is rehearsed, the Lord of Whichenour shall
doe it be carryed, and shaU distrinzie the said
Robert Knightlay for ane hundred shillings in
his manour of Rodlaw for his default, and shall
keep the distresse so taken.
Moreover the said Sir Philip holds of his lord
the Earle, the man.our of BrideshaU, by these ser
vices, that such tyme his said lord holdeth his
Christmasse at Tuburty, upon Ghristmasse even,
the said Sir PhiUp shall come to Tuburty, by the
marshaU of the earles house, and upon Christ
masse day he hiraseff, or some other knighf his
deputy, shall goe to the dresser, and shall shew
to his lords messinger, and then shaU he serve the

102 MEMORIE OF
same meat to his said lord, and this service shaU
he doe as weUl at supper.as at dmner ; and when
hisjjoid hea eaten, the said Sh PhUip. ^aU sit
dQun#m:tiie same place where his lord sat, and
§haU be served at his tdble by the sani^isteward
•jpf the earles house upon Saint Stephkiisr day ;
•when he hath dyned he shaU takie leave of the
lord and shall kisse hhn, and for his service he
shaU nothing take nor nothing shaU give, and aU
these services eftir rehearsed the said Sir PhUip
to doe by the space of eightein years and his ante-
cessores before him to his Lords Earles of Long-
caster. Item, The said Sir Philip holdeth of his said
lord the earle his manours of TatemhaU and Dry-
icot, in perchandry, by these services, that the
said Sir Philip, or his actumy for him, shall come
to the castle of Tutbury, upon Saint Peters day
in August, which is caUed Lambasse, and shaU
show the steward or receaver that he is come thi
ther to hunt and to catch his lordsgeese at the cost-
age ofhis lord, wherupon the steward or receaver
shaU cause a horse and sadle to be delyvered to
the said Sir PhUip, at the pryce of fyftieth shil
lings, or fyftieth shUUngs in money and ane hun-
dereth, and sbajl^pay to the said Sir Philip every
day from the saidrday of SainI? Peter to Holyrood

THE SOMERVELLS. 103
day, f^ .himseff two" shiUings and sexpennies a
da.y,nana every day for his service andhis,bercel-
let' dureing the said tyme twelve pence, and all
the wood-masters of the forrest of Needwood and
DuffeUd, with aU the parkers and forresters that
shaU belong to the lords lander, commanding
them to convey it to the earles of Larden and
Akding, at Tutbury, and with the remanent the
said Sir/Phiiip-shaU doie his pleasure; and upon
Holyrood day the said Sir Philip shall returne to
the castle of Tutbury upon the said horse, with
his bercellet to the steward or receaver, and shall
kisse the porter and depart.
This Sir PhUip Somervill gave the church of
Betton, in the jcounty of Northuimberland, with
certdnerlkvSis ih that parish, to BalioU CoUedge
of Oxfoord, for the perpetuall mentinance of sex
schoUars, there to be elected out of the tonnes
neighbom-ing therto, but farther nor what is here
expressed. I have not seen any thing memorable of him
but his death, which happened on the twentieth
and third day of January, and the twentieth and
nynth year of Edward the Thhd's reigne, he be
ing then seased of the manour of Burcon An-
nih^iu CumherJanS:; Eber StoeKoone, in Cum
berland, neer Wh^c^nour j BrideshaU, TanstaU,

104 MEMORIE OF
Alrewas, and Newbold, in the county of Staffoord
shyre, as also ofthe manour of TatunhaU, in the
same county, in right of Margaret his wffe ; like
wayes ofthe manours of TurneswaU, Plesselyes,
Shoton, Benton Magna, and the moety of the
toune Staingtoune, in the county of Northumber
land, and of the moety ofthe manour of Drety,
in the county of Livi,' haveing Jean, the wffe of
Sir KUesse of Greith, knight, one of his daugh
ters, and Maude the wife of John Staffoord, by
EUzabeth his wife the other daughter, then' marry
ed to Edmond, the sone of John Vernone his
next heir.
Soe for the author of the English Barronage,
to whom both the ancient and noble famihes of
England and some few in Scotland hes been
more obleidged then to all the historians that
wryte formerly ; for these takeing in hand the af
fairs of church and state, in generaU conceaved
themselves noe further interessed than to minde
and leave to posterity the more pubUct transac
tiones of these tymes, and the principaU persones
that wer actors therin, without takeing notice of
other men and ther families of as good quaUtie
and opulent fortunes as these in place by the fa-
' Sic in orig. ? i. e. afterwards.

THE SOMERVILLS. 105
vour of the court, wherin they wer often imploy
ed, nether to the honour of themselves nor adv.ui-
tage of ther posteritie, as is obser\'eabIe from the
histories of these tymes ; as for this author of th\!
English Barronage, he undertook a worke of
greater difficultie and more laborious, which wai
impossible for him to make any progresse in with
out the search of every privat nobleman or gen
tleman's evidences as weill as the ancient scroUes
and records of antiquitie, wherby his indefatiaa-
ble paines and industry, he hes brought to light
the memories of all the noble families of England,
ther originaU ryse, progresse, greatness, continu
ance, and dissolutione of such of them as are not
now in being, and that with the greatest faithfull
nes and ingenuity imaginable, for which he de-
sei-ves the perpetuaU thankes of all the ancient
families in England and some in Scotland, wher
of wee ought to contribute our share as much as
any from the foirgoeing memories, which now w ea
have continued frora the knowledge wee have
had from that worthie author, from our sirnames
first aryveaU in Brittane, 1066, to the year 1356,
being the space of two hundereth and nynetieth
years, had now its end in this nobleman, as to
the male lyne, but was transmitted by the mar
riage of his daughter to two noble families, that
6

106 MEMORIE OP
ofthe Staffords and Vemon, both of them raised
to ther greatness by the additione.. of Sir Philip
de Somervill's estate. The ihst ©f these' famUies,
to witt, the Stafford^, became Dukes of Buckin-
game, and'suffered much in ther honour, persones,
and fortunes, in the bloody controversies betwext
the houses of York and Longcaster, as did Sir
Richard Vernon, grandchilde to Sir PhiUp de
Somervill by his youngest daughter. The which
Sh Richard was execute by Hendry the Fourth,
for adhereing tO' Richard the Second,, King, of -
England, sone to Edward the Black Prince, un
justly putt from his throne by the foimamed
Hendry, designed of BaUingbrook, the sone of
John Duke of Longcaster, the fourth sone of King
Edward the Third, as raay be read in the English
chronicles. Tlie house of Whichenour being now extinct,
and with it the sirname of the SomerviUs, out of
England, for any thing wee know or hes upon re
cord, unless the familie of Rodger de Somerey
be yet in being, which was the only cadite I find
of the house of AVliichenour in England, and
therfore, before I finish tins discourse,^! shall- only
make two observations ; the firat b^ing,^Mt jiure-
ing two hundereth, and nynetie .y^rs, the house
of Wliichenour continued, both laefore an eftir

THE SOMERVILLS. 107
they wer transmitted to Scotiand, and readmitted
back again to England, by the good fortune of
Robert, Lord of Whichenour, I find not upon
record so much as one branch or cadite of that
famiUe in England, save one aUready made men
tione o^ and yet the house of Lintoune and Cow
thally in a far shorter tyme produced severaU, as
may be seen in the foirgoeing progresse of these
houses ; my observe is, that it pleased the Almigh
ty God by his good providence, much about the
same tyme or some few years before that the
house of Whichenour perished in England for
want of an heir male, to raise the house of Lin
toune and CowthaUy, in Scotland, of the same
noble stock, both to great honours and a great
estate, by the valour and industry of Sir John So
mervUl, the fourth barrone of Lintoune, who
dyed but nyne years before this Sir PhiUp de So
mervill, Lord ofWhichenour, whose memorie and
famiUe being now extinct, wee are obleidged to
confyne our discom'se to the house of Lintoune
and CowthaUy, and such as are descended from
ihem at present in the kingdome of Scotland.

108

MEMORIE OF

Of Sir Walter, the fourth of that Name, tiiefjfth
Barrone of Lintoune, the second of Carnwath,
and the tenth from Sir Gaulter de SomerviU,
Lord of Whichenour, in England.^
The warrs stiU continuing from the year 1346
to the year 1358, dureing all the tyme of King
David's captivitie, wherin ther is frequent men
tione made by our historians of aU or the most

' Douglas places this Sir Waiter Somerville as successor to
Thomas, about the year 1300. This, however, will not accord
with tjie remarkable events which preceded his marriage with
Giles Heryng of Gilmertoune. There may indeed have been
two Sir Walters, and the circumstance may have led to the
author's mistake concerning Walter of Newbigging, whom, in
the case supposed, he may have confused with the first Sir
Walter Somerville, and so placed the succession of the latter
at too early a period. But there seeras to be further proof of
a misnomer as to the Sir Walter of the text ; for certainly the
estate was about this time possessed by Sir Thomas Somerville, a
person, it would seera, of no sraall importance, as is proved by
the following circurastances :
First. Among the heirs of the principal nobles of Scotland,
who, in 1354, were delivered into England as hostages for pay
ment of the ransom of David II. we have Le Filz et Hoir [de]
Monsieur Thomas Somervile. — Rymer's Fcedera, v. p. 792.
Second. In letters of safe conduct from the King of England
to the Bishop of St Andrews, William of Douglas, and other

THE SOMERVILLS. 109
part of the principal! noblemen and barrones that
stood fbr the countries interest, and defended ther
Uberties with ther lyves and fortunes, recovering
the same at lenth out of the English hands in de-

Scottishmen of rank, dated 1362, we find the name of Thomas
Somervyl de Scotia. — Ibidem, p. 395.
Third. In 1363, we find a similar safe Conduct, which shall
be given at length.
Pro Quibusdam de Scotia ob devotionera in Angliam Venturis.
Rex, &c. Salutem. Ann. D. 1363. An. 37. E. 3.
Sciatis quod, Scot. 37. E. 3. m. 7.
Cum Thomas Somervill de Scotia Chivaler, ob Devotionem,
quam ad gloriosum Martirem Sanctum Thomam, dudum Ar-
chiepiscopum Cantuariensem, habet, Limina ejusdem Sancti
Martiris peregrfe visitare intendat, et ea de causa in Regnum
nostrum Angliae de Licentia nostra sit venturus. ,
Suscepimus, &c. ut in similis de Conductu Uteris.
DumtamenEquos alios, quam quos secum in Anglia duxerunt,
extra idem regnum non educant quovis modo.
tn cujus, &c. usque ad Festum Sancti Michaelis, proximo
futurum, duraturas.
Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, vicesimo sexto die
Aprilis. Per Concilium.
Consimiles Literas Regis de Protectione habent subscript!, '
per idem tempus duraturas, sub eadem data ; videlicet,
Johann e de Ros de Scotia, cum Duabis Personis Equitibus.
Hugo de Egelyngton de Scotia Chivaler, cum Tribus Personis
Equitibus. Duncanus Waleys de Scotia Miles, cum Dicobus Valettis et
Tribus Eguis, usque ad Festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis
Baptistce, proximb futurum, duraturas.
Patricius de Hibburn de Scotia, cuin Sex Sociis Equitibus,
usque ad Festum Paschce, proximo futurum, duraturas.

IIO MEMORIE OF
spyte of aU the interest that Edward BaUion could
make in his two attempts for the croune, with the
assistance of his friends and followers and the
help of England, wherm King Edward the Third
now and then served him in his oune persone,
but for his oune ends, as his grandfather did, John
BaUion, the father of this Edward, to make the
kingdome of Scotland his oune by conqueis.
These contendings and cydeings* within the
kingdome stiU continueing, and the invasiones of
England, ther is noe mentione made of Sir Wal
ter SomervUl, barrone of Lintoune and Carnwath,
by any author that yet I have seen, which makes
me believe he hes had noe incUnatione to be ane
actor in the warrs, but hes been content to

Alexander Episcopus Aberdenensis in Scotia, cum Duodecim
Personis Equitibus, usque ad Festum Natalis Domini, proximb
futurum, duraturas.
WiUielmtis de Rothum de Scotia, cum Sex Equitibus, ¦usque
ad Festum Paschce, proximb Juturum, duraturas.
Fourth. There is yet another safe conduct in 1666, for Tho'-
mas de Somervyle Miles cum quatuor socijs equitibus.-7-/i^zcf.
p. 498.
These repeated visits to England were probably of a polnical
as well as devotional tendency, ough the ostensible motive
was a pilgrimage to St Thomas of Canterbury. ""
Walter, who married Egidia Heryng, was probably the son
and heir of this Thomas.
' Sidingsfii,^..(actior\s.

THE SOMERVILLS. Ill
live at home in peace, -as -the troublesomenes of
that tyme would aUow him, raakeing it his main
busines to mannadge to the best advantage that
considerable estate his father left him both in the
south and in the west, haveing the barronie of
Lintoune in the one and that of Carnwath in the
other, wherin truely both his industry and good
fortune faUled liim not in the great additione he
made therto, somewhat by purchases, but mostly
by his marriages, dureing the reigne of King
David and King Robert the Second, the first of
the race of the Stewarts, all which appears fi:om
the writts and evidences yet extant particularly
relateing to this gentleman, wherby it is wee give
the narratione of his memorie, seing ther is no
thing in the public records of him to direct us.
The king being retumed from his captivitie,
1358, for fyve years made it his busines to setle 1358-
and compose such disorders as wer amongst his
subjects, fyneing some, forfaulting others, re
warding his freinds and followers according as
they had deserved or caryed dureing his absence.
In the year 1363, he keeped a parliament,
where he proponed to the estates that they would
give way to uniteing the two kingdomes of
Scotland and England, seing himself had noe
chUdren, that Edward King of England, or his

] 12 MEMORIE OF
sone, might be his successor ; this motione was
soe iU taken by aU the nobUitie and barrones,
that with one voyce they distasted the proposaU,
protesting that soe long as they were able to bear
armes they would never give ther consent ther
unto,' whereupon the king for the present seem-
ed to be dissatisfied with his parhament, and m-
tertaine for some few years a grudge against the
most eminent of them, but afterwards was weill
enough satisfied by that confirmatione of ther
loyaltie to him and his successor ; it was from
these fyve preceeding years and that foUowed to
the end of his reigne, (being peaceable) that gave
opportunitie to the nobiUtie and gentrie to look
eftir ther privat affaires, which had been quyte
out of order and aU forme for fourscore years
preceeding ; the best titles wherby any man pos
sessed his estate was by the lenth of Ins arme,
and the sharpeness of his sword ; but now the
strenth of the one being abated, and the edge of
the other blunted, by the laws haveing the fuU

' There never was a raore unanimous response to a sove
reign from his great council : — " Cui breviter, et sine ulteriore
deliberatione aut retractione, responsum fuit per universaliter
singulos et singulariter universos de tribus statibus, Nunquam
se velle consentire AngUcum sutler se regnare." — Fordun, Lib.
xvi. cap. 25.

THE SOMERVILLS. 1 1 g
force, constrained both the nobilitie and gentrie
to secure the right they had to ther estates and
possessiones by charters or instruments from ther
immediate superior, fearing, as they had good rea
sone, they or ther successors might be brought
in questiOne for what at present they were in pos
sessione of, seing, for the most part, it had been
other men's inheretances and lands, who had been
forefaulted for adhereing to the Balliol factione,
wherunto they or ther fathers had gotten from
the present king, or his predecessors, a donatione
without any other title than a naked grant for
service done to them and the croune of Scotland.
Wherby it comes to passe that at this day (if men
would be ingenuous and acknowledge the truth)
that most, if not aU, the ancient charters of con
firmatione, instruments, evidences or writs, the
eldest of our nobiUtie and gentrie have, beare
dait from this king's reigne, either after he re
turned out of France, 1 342, or after his releisment
from captivitie out of England, 1 358 ; and if ther
be any others that pretend to have charters of
ancienter daites, they will allow me to be Thomas
in the caice, not to believe them tiU they be
brought to Ught. It's true ther is sorae ancient
evidences granted by abbots and priors to these
that held land or fewes ofthe church, wherof ther
H

114 MEMORIE OP
are some yet remaining of a raore ancient dait;
but these daits are but conjecturaU at the best,
seing they have not for the greatest part of them
the year of God insert, to know their antiquitie
by, but only it may be guessed at by the desig
natione ofthe popes, abbots, and priors, that Uved
in the tyme ofthe granting and the witnesses in
sert in the bodie of the writt, wherof I have seen
some bearing dait about the twentieth year of
David the First his reigne, and the tenth of Mil-
Columbus Quartus his reigne, and severaU others
in the reigne of WilUam, sirnamed the Lyon, and
soe douneward to the later end of the reigne of
Alexander the Third; these being indeed the
most ancient evidences that are to be found in
Scotland, remaining in the hands of the bar
rones and gentlemen that wer feudaries to the
church, wherof a very mean man, of the sirname
of SomervUl, has ane ancient feu in the toune of
Kelso, holding of that abbacie, which shaU be
spoken to in its place.'

' In this digression, the author ofthe Memoirs speaks like a
sensible and sound antiquary. It may be presumed that the
destruction of writings, as well as the rapid transference of pro
perty during the wars of Bruce and Baliol, had annihilated the
evidence of the land-rights of most great families. Smaller pos
sessions were as yet held chiefly by occupancy.

THE SOMERVILLS. 115
For this gentieman of whom we now wrjrte, he i365.
has ane instrument containeing two charters ^^®^*
granted to lum by King David Bruce ; the one
in anno 1 365, and the other in anno 1 369, in both
which his majestie cohfirraes and ratifies all forra
er rights and charters granted by himself or his
father, of blessed meraorie, to and in favours of
Sir Walter de Soraervill, sone and heir to his fa
ther Sir John, of the barronie of Lintoune and
Carnwath, to hold ward of hira and his successors :
ther are witnesses in both the charters, Robert
Stewart, eftirward king, WUUam Earle of Doug-
lasse, Adam Bishop of Breichen, ChanceUour of
Scotland, with several others whose names and de
signationes are not soe distinct that wee can give
perfyte knowledge of thera, because the instru
ment hes been spoyled with rain. Both the char
ters are in one parchment, the first included ini
the later; a custome, as it would seera, then in use,
as raay appear from other charters of the same
tyme ofthe barronie of Cambusnethan, wherof ane
account shaU be given when that estate falles
unto the house of Lintoune and Carnwath, which
it did the age ensueing.
King David dying in anno 1370, the nobles 1370.
and barrones conveine at Lythgow, for the elec
tione of a king, as if the right of Robert Stewart

Il5 MEMORIE OF
had been questionable, being nephew to the late
king, and grandchilde to King Robert the Bruce,
by his eldest daughter Marjorie, marryed to Wal
ter the Great Steward of Scotiand, father to this
Robert, to whom the right of the croune now
belonged. But this demurre was occasioned by
WiUiam Earle of Douglasse, that clamed the
croune, by right of the BaUiol blood, from David
Earle of Huntingtoune, from whom Robert the
First had likewayes deryved his right to the
croune of Scotland, against John BalioU, that con
tended with him then, as now the Earle of Doug
lasse did with his grandchilde Robert the Second,
the first king of the name of Stewart. This mist
was soon cleared up notwithstanding of the force
the earle thought to have backed his pretentiones
with, and that partly by his oune confessione eftir
he had advysed with his friends, but mostly be
cause he found the generalitie of the barrones
against him in his pretentione, in the prosecu-
tione wherof at first he had engadged his kindred,
freinds, and vassaUs, and conveened them in or
der to his clame. Amongst others ofhis neigh
bours he invited Sir Walter, barrone of Carnwath,
as his allya, being grandchilde to James Doug
lasse of Loudoune-hill, by his daughter EUzabeth
Douglasse, heiresse of the toune and lands of

THE SOMERVILLS. 1 ] ^
Carnwath. This proposaU Sir Walter flatly refu
sed, remembering his father^ grandfather, and
uncle, had constantly adhered to the Brucean
partie, and wer, by the favour of the two preceed
ing kings of that race, both honoured and reward
ed ; ' what effects this denyall had, good or bad,
is unknowne, or that the Earles of Douglasse
ever receaved the same I find not upon record ;
but it's certane the house of CowthaUy nether
before nor eftirwards held any land of that fami
lie, nor had any maner of dependencie upon them
for aU their greatnes ; it's true indeed, at the same
tyme and many years eftirward, the Earles of
Douglasse had barrones of as good quaUtie and
as opulent fortunes foUowers on them, as the bar
rones of Lintoune and Carnwath, as you may read
in the preface of the author of the Douglasses in
generall, where he enumerats many noble fami
Ues that wer ther foUowers, but that the house of
CowthaUy did soe (notwithstanding of their neer
neighbourhead to that familie) noe man will averre.
The famiUe of Cambusnethan haveing matched

' Other families connected with the Douglasses by relation
ship or dependence, also declined to back their pretensions to
the crown. The pretensions of the Baliol family, which had so
nearly proved fatal to the independence of Scotland, were ar)
unpopular foundation for this ambitious claim.

118 MEMORIE OF
with them long efter, in anno 1480, became stout
asserters of the house of Atigus ther quarreUs,
and was lyke to have suffered for the same, both
in ther persones and estates, as shall be made
knoune when we come to Avryte of these tymes.
1371. Much about the beginning of this king's reigne,
ther happened a sad accident in the famiUe of
Sir John Herring, laird of Edmondstoune in
CUdesdale, and of GiUmertoune in Mid Lothian,
This gentleman haveing two beautifuU daughters,
the eldest named Margaret, and the youngest
GeiUes, both in expectatione to be sharers in a
great part of ther father's estate, because he had
no male children of his oune bodie, but a bro
ther's sone named Patrick, whom he designed to
have marryed upon his eldest daughter, and giveli
him the greatest part ofhis lands eftir his death;
but the miscarriage of his eldest daughter, which
had a tragicall end, frustrated aU his hope and
expectatione that way. For this young lady, as she
was beautifuU, inclyneing to melancholUe, appear-
ed to be very devote, in observeing strictly all
rites and ceremonies of reUgione then in use,
wherby it came to passe, frequenting much the
abbacie of Newbotle, she became acquainted
with a young monk of the Sistertian order, or the
refyned Benedicts, belonging to that abbacie, who

THE SOMERVILLS. 1 19
haveing insinuated himself much ih her favour
under ane specious pretext of holynes, did often
converse with this lady in her most private reteire-
ments both in the abbacie, and at her father's
house in GiUmertoune, without the least suspi-
tione that he intended any villainie; but this ras
cal, by his divellish rhetorick and aUurements, soe
far preyaiUed upon the sirapUcitie of this gentle
woman, that at lenth he deboshed her ; and, be
cause he thought nether the abbacie nor her fa
ther's house to be safe fOr their intrigues of love,
they agreed their meeting should be at a Utle ferme
belonging to John Herring, called the Grange, a
quarter of a myle or therby from GiUmertoune,
neer by the road that leads to Newbotle. The mis
tress of this country house being a young and a
lascivious widow, sorae tyrae before had been en
snared and played thie wanton with his coraerad ;
this house was therfore thought the most conve
nient for thera to meet at, which they often did,
to the great scandall of the monkes professione,
and dishonour of the women, especiaUy of the
youiig ladie, which occasioned all ther mines in
the end. For notwithstanding of the secresie of
this affair and circumspectione for appoynting fitt
hours for their deeds of darkenes, yet ther was
some suspitione from the too tnuch familiaritie be-

120 MEMORIE OF
twext Sir John's daughter and this woman soe
far below her qualitie ; ther often being togither,
and the frequenting of her house, gave occasione
of scandaU to aU, which comeing to Sir John's
ears, being a forward and furious man, he threat
ened his daughter with noe lesse than death, if
ever it came to his knowledge that she went to
the Grange, or frequented that woman's compa
nie eftirwards. This she promised to her father to
observe, but with noe intentione to keep the same ;
for noe sooner was the darkenes of the ensueing
night come, but at her accustomed hours she goes
out at the back entry that leads to the Grange,
where the two brothers in iniquitie had aryved
some tyme before, to whom eftir ther daUiance
she imparts her father's suspitione and terrible
threatnings against her, which these gaUants Utle
regarded, protesting that they would make her
father doe pennance for that very suspitione, litle
dreameing that they themselves was soe neer de-
structione, for that very night all of them was
brought to their end by a crueU revenge ; for Sir
John, missing his daughter out of her chamber,
concluded where she was, and went presently to
the place with two of his domesticks, where find
ing the doors of the house shut, and noe answear
made to his demands, nor the doors opened not-

THE SOMERVILLS. 121
withstanding of his threatnings, in a rage he sets
fyre to the thatch with a' his servant caryed,
which immediatly (the wind being somewhat
high) set the wholl onsteed in a fyre, and burned
it doune to the ground.* Ther perished in the
flame and ruines above eight or nine persones,
for which crueU act, as it was highly aggravated
in aU the horrible circumstances by the church
men then in being, this poor gentleman was for
ced to flee the country for a tyme, his estate be
ing forefaulted by the king. Dureing his retire
ment, he corresponds with none soe much as with
Sir Walter, barrone of Carnwath, of whom he held
the lands of Carsewall as a part of that barronie.
The neer neighbourhead of Edmondstoune in
CUdesdale and Carnwath, with some relatione of
kindred betwext these two families, had, before
this unhappie accident fell out, made them very
intimate, soe that they communicated most of
ther affaires one to another, and advysed togither
how to prosecute the same.
Sir John being now a banished man, and his 1372.
' The blank in the MS. may be supplied by " torch," or other
wise at the reader's pleasure.
' Gilmerton-Grange, where this tragedy was acted, is near
the village of Gilmprton, about four miles from Edinburgh. It
is still called by the old people Burntdole, from that singular and
melancholy event, which is well remembered in the vicinage.

122 MEMORIE OF
estate forefaulted, craves both the counseU and
help of his friends and superiors, how to behave
in this busines, and wbat was the readyest way
to reconcile himself, first to the church and then
to the king, against whom and the lawes he had
grievously offended ; for the friends or relationes
of these persones that perished in the fyre being
but of mean quaUtie, he was not very apprehen
sive of much opposition from them in order to
his reconciliatione, seing a litle money might take
them off. This advertisement being given by ane
expresse to Walter of Carnwath, he speedily re
turnes the bearer, with fuU assurance to Sir John
Herring, that he would undertake his busines, and
act therin as if it wer his oune concerne, by im
ploying all his interest and freindship, both in the
church and court to doe him service, wherin he
was as good as his word ; for comeing first to the
abbacie of Newbotle, he deaUes effectuaUy with
the abbot and others of the principaUs of that
abbacie ; representing to him and them how scan
dalous the lyves of these two monks had been a
long tyme before ther acquaintance with that mi
serable lady, and yet then forraer viUanies and that
also was keeped up from the abbot's knowledge,
to the great reproach of ther holy professione and
prejudice of that abbacie, which men abhorred

THE SOMERVILLS. 123
now as the sink of aU abominatione ; women shun
ning the sight of the monkes and friers therto be
longing, as they would doe that of a baziUsk,
which ther oune experience by Sight and reports
fi-Ora other persones, might better confirme to
them then all the informatione he was able to
give. And, to perswad them the more easUie, he
insinuats farther, that the nobiUtie and gentrie
took great indignatione for the affront put upon
Sir John Herring's famUie, by his eldest daughter
and appearing heir being abused by men of ther
professione, under a pretext of devotione, to her
utter undoeing, wherin they conceaved aU of
them wer concerned, not knowing how soon it
might be their oune caice ; therefore they spoke
big, threatening to petitione the king, that all the
monkes and friers might be for ever confyned to
the abbacies and cloysters, as they wer by the or
der and first institution obleiged to. These, with
sorae other reasones, used by Sir Walter of Carn-
wathj with the reraerabrance of the monkes ther
monstruous fact, prevaUled with the abbot and
fratemitie to hearken to ane accomodatione, pro-
vydeing he would move the Bishop of Saint An
drews to procure the churches absolutione, seing
Sir John Herring was excommunicat. Being satis
fied with this answear from the abbot for the tyme.

124 MEMORIE OF
his next business was with the king, to whom he
goes, and is presented by Patrick, Bishop of
Breichen, Chancellor of Scotiand, for the tyme,
1 372, to whom he had spoken first, and made him
Sir John's friend. The chanceUor informes the
king, being then at his castle at Dundonald, what
great remorse Sh John Herring had for imbrue-
ing his hands in the blood of sacred persones,
and transgresseing soe hyneously against his ma
jestie and the knoune lawes of the kingdome ;
for expiatione of which crime, he was most will
ing and ready to undergoe any pennance the
church will impose upon him, and submit to
what punishment his majestie should inflict, per-
sonaU or penall, his life and the memorie of his
poor familie being preserved.
The king was very glad to hear this from a
churchman, because his majestie was apprehen
sive that himself and these of his professione
would be the gentleman's greatest enemies, as
most concerned in the murder, being churchmen ;
but now finding the bishop a solicitor instead of
ane accuser, he makes the busines of pardoneing
and restoreing of Sir John to his inheretance
somewhat strange at first, of purpose to engadge
the chancellor to solicit more earnestly in his be
half, for the king had some kyndenes for the gen-

THE SOMERVILLS. 125
tleman hiraself upon his oune account, but most
ly for his father's, John Herring, who had behaved
himself soe worthily in the reigne of King David
Bruce, being among the first of these barrones
that declared for the interest of that king to the
croune,' soe that his present majestie was but
waitting for a fitt opportunitie to restore Sir John
Herring both to life, honour, and iestate, (for he
was legally dead,) without offending the church.
Therefore his majestie now embraces this occa
sione, and recommends to the chancellor that he
should see to the satisfactione Sir John Herring
was to make to the abbacie of Newbotle, and
upon his reconcUiation and absolutione, to draw
his pardone ; soe affrayed and scrupolous was kings
then to give the least offence to the church and
churchmen. Carnwath, haveing what he came
fi)r, kisses his majesties hands in'aU humiUtie, and
gives thankes in his freind's narae, to whora, being.

' This John Heryng appears, from Wintoun's Chronicle, to
have been a constant adherett and companion of the gallant
Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalwolsey, at a time when, although
driven to lurk in the caverns at Gorton and Hawthornden, he
used to harass the English even as far as the borders of N'orth-
umberland, by unceasing inroads. In particular, Heryng was
present and behaved manfully at a sharp battle near Norham,
in which Ramsay defeated the English, A.D. 1355 — See
Wiktoun's Chronicle, book viii. chapters 29. 38.
5

126 MEMORIE OP
returned from court, he gives ane account of all
that passed, adviseing him speedily to returne to
the country, and setle himself quyetUe at his house
of Cowthally, some part ofthe ruines wherof he
had lately fepahed, untill both the penaltie and
pennance the church wiU impose upon him wer
knowne, and his pardone sealled by the king.
This Sir John readily condescends to, passing to
the country in disguise, untUl he arryved at Cow
thaUy house, where he was welcomed, but with
much privacy, by his neighbour and freind, Sir
Walter of Carnwath, who now more fully made
him understand his own afiaires and what farther
was to be done in order to his freedome and in.,
largement. It was dureing Sh John Herring's be-;
ing at Cowthally Castle, that Sh Walter Somer
vill, being a widow at the tyme, was much taken
with the amiable countenance and courtly dei
portment of GeiUes Herring, Sh John's only
childe, with whom he falles in love, resolveing to
seek her in marriage. He comts her with all sub-
missione and respect due to her qualitie, that at
lenth by his opportunitie, haveing ane opulent
fortune, and not much above fourtieth and eight
years of age, he gaines her affectione and consent
to marrie him, provydeing her father wer wiUing.
This was no difficult thing for him to procure, con-

THE SOMERVILLS. 127
sidering the obligationes Sir John Herring lay
imder to his friend and superior, and in regard of
the use he yet had for his interest to the making
up of his peace, which was but in agitatione both
with the church and court. That consideratione
and remembrance of former obligationes made
Sir John give his consent, notwithstanding some
ineqiialitie of years, Sir Walter being past four
tieth and eight, and his estate alheady heired,
and his oune daughter scarce eightienth, ' of ad
mirable beautie, that might have procured her a
great match of equaU quality and years to her
self, notwithstanding of her father's conditione
and her sister's miscarriage, which might be sup
posed to be the only hinderance and lett to her
good fortune ; but this was non to him that by
some tymes converce knew her personall worth
and the state of her father's affaires. Therefore
this bargane was soon agreed betwext him and Sir
John, wherby the half of the lands of GUlmer-
toune, in Mid Louthian, was given to him and
the heirs of that marriage, or any other marriage
past or to come, irredeemably for ever. This may
be thought a very odd clause or conditione for Sir

' This mode of forming a numerical adjective is a peculiari
ty of our author's style.

128 MEMORIE Of
John to consent to, and such as would be hissed
at in this generatione ; but who considers this
equaUie needs not think it soe strange, for in
effect, it hes been a sort of venditione, as ap
pears from the subsequent conditiones which wer
obligatory upon Sir Walter's part, wherin he was
obleiged, first to procure his majesties remissione
to Sh John, and his restitutione to the rest of his
estate, for the payment only of two hundreth
markes Scots ; and further, upon Sir John's dis^
poneing the lands of Grange to the abbacie of
Newbotle, and dreeing' such bodily pennance as
the chm'ch should impose, he was to procure his
absolutione and re-entry unto the chmxh, com*
munion, &c.
It would appear Sir Walter SomerviU hes been
very confident of the king's favour, and chui'ches
goodnes, that he tyed himself to these conditiones;
but what he had understood from the king and
chanceUor, made him the more confident and as
sured in the performance, soe that eftir the date
ofhis contract of marriage, which is subscryved
with severall hands, but non legible, save the not
tar' s, the defect of the subscriptiones is supplied
by ther seaUes in red wax appended to the parch
ment, wherupon this contract and dispositione is
' To dree was to undergo.

ME SOMERVILLS, 129
written. It bears date at Covrthally, the tenth day
of June, 1372.
Sir Walter SomervUl haveing setled the termes
of his marriage and consumraated the sarae, goes
to the court being then at Stirling, with his young
lady, where, efth he had advysed with the chan
cellor and sorae other of Sir John Herring's weill
wishers, he makes his addresse to the king, who
.of himself was wilUng to remitt Sir John Herring's
offences, and grant him present pardone ; but the
default lay in the church ther satisfactione, which
by the chanceUors interest in himself was at lenth
agreed upon in ther termes : That Sir John Her
ring should make over for him and his the marke
land of Grange, (where the murder was commitr
ted,) to and in favours of the abbacie of New
botle, clameing noe right therin neither in pro
pertie, superioritie, nor vassaUage, in all tyrap
coraeinge ; and farther, that the said Sir John
should, bare headed and bare legged, in a sack-
cloath, crave absolutione at the bishop and abbot's
hands, and stand in the same maner at the prin
cipaU door of Saint Katharins chappell every
sabbath and holyday for ane year, and paying
fourtie pennies at every tyme to the poor of the
parish, and ane hundreth markes Scots to the
munkes of Newbotle, to pray for the soules of
1

130 MEMORIE OF
those that dyed through his transgressione. Ther
conditiones wer accepted and performed by Sir
John, wherupon he had his pardone firom the
king, was restored to his estate, and had absolu
tione from the church.
It was from this marriage, and the causes be
fore rehearsed, that the house of CowthaUy and
Lintoune had ther first interest in Mid Louthian,
by getting the half of GiUmertoune from Sir John
Herring, the lands of Drum and Gutters, and the
other litle viUages about it, being but parts and
pendicles therof. Sir John Herring lived not long
eftir his daughters marriage and his oune restau-
ratione. Before his death, he disponed his lands
of Edmondstoune and those of Carsewall, that he
held of the house of CowthaUy, with the other
half of his lands in GiUmertoune, to his nephew,
Patrick Herring, whose great-grand chUde, Sir
Gilbert Herring, by frequenting the court, and
being a great spendthrift, made ane end of aU, by
selling the lands of GiUmertoune to one WiUiam
Ramsay, a brother of the house of CaulUchope,
and his lands of CarsewaU to John Lord Somer
viU ; for his lands of Edmondstoune, I find not to
whom he disponed them.
In October the same year, 1372, John, eldest
sone and appearing heir to Walter, barrone of

THE SOMERVILLS. 131
Carnwath, being at court with his father, ther
was non more taken notice of then this young
gentleman ; being of a comely personage, affable
and courteous, he gained the affectione of all he
conversed with ; but that Which contributed raost
to the young gentleraan's advantage, was his ac
quaintance with Sir John Edmondstoune, donator
to the forfaulture of Sir Robert Baird, whose gift
of forfaulture this gentleman. Sir John Edmond
stoune, had obtained frora King David Bruce, in
anno 1 345, and by vertue thereof possessed at
this tyrae the barronie of Cambusnethan. It was
with this old gentieman. Sir John Edmondstoune,
that young Lintoune bare company both at the
court and in the country, because of the pleasant-
nes ofhis humour, and in regard he was in much
favor with the king, as he had been with his prede
cessor King David. But that which engadged
this young gentleman intirely, was the great af
fectione he bare to the beautifull daughter of Sh
John Edmondstoune, who, being her father's only
childe, was appearing hehes of a faire estate, and
that lying within the same shyre where the great
est part of his father's estate lay, which held all
ward of the king, whereas the barronie of Cum-
busnethan held blensche ofthe croune for a pair

132 MEMORIE OF
of gilded spurfes, which is the reddendo of the
charter bf that barronie-
This lady, what for her beauty and great estate,
had many suitors of as good qualitie and fortune
as this gentieman ; but he played his game soe
weill, by .engadgeing the ladyes affectione (who
was then in the twentieth and fourth year of her
age, which was much about tbat of his oune) and
being obsequious to old Sir John in all he was
pleased to command him, that at lenth he obtain
ed his consent to let him have his dayghter, and
with her the barronie of Cambusnethan. This
bussines was brought to a tryst ' at Lanerk the
same moneth, and in November thereftir the
marriage was solemnized, to the great satisfaction
of the parties themselves and all ther honorable
relationes.
13-5. For Sir Walter de SomerviU, rftir his oune mar
riage and that of his sones, (who remained at
Cambusnethan with his father-in-law) for the most
part Uved at home with his young lady at Cow
thaUy, which eftir this man became the sole re
sidence ofthe Lord SomervUl. He was the first
of the barrones of Lintoune and Carnwath that

A formal or {^pointed meeting.

THE SOMERVILLS. 133
repaired any part of the ruines therof, and enclo
sed the same within a barrakine waU' of stone
some four yards high ; at the east corner wherof,
without the gate, he built a square tower three
storie high, vaulted out at the top, with an aisler
battlement about the same. The ruines of this
tower is yet to be seen, two story wherof was
standing within these few years. What children
Sir Walter's young lady bare to him I know not,
for I find them not distinguished from the rest ;
but it's probable, nay certaine, if ther had been
any they would have succeeded at least to the
lands of GUlmertoune that came by ther mother,
but, on the contrary, I find Thomas Lord Somer
vill served heir to the deceast Thomas Somervill
of GiUmertoune ; and it's certane this Thomas
was a sone of his first marriage, named eftir his
grandfather, the young laird" of Craigmilier, kiU
ed at the takeing of the toune of Berwick.

• The barmkin, or barbican, was the outer inclosure or fortj-
fied court-yard" of an ancient castle. By an act of tlw Scottish
parliament, I2th June, 1536, " For bigging of Strengthis on the
Borderis," every landed man possessed of a hundred pund
land of new extent, is directed to build thereon a barmkin of
lime and stone, threescore feet square, one ell thick, and six
ells high, for defence of himself, his tenants and goods, in trou
blesome times, with a tower within the same for himself, ifhe
thinks it expedient.

134 MEMORIE -OF
1378. The last evidence of any moment that I have
relating to this gentleman, is a charter of con-
firmatione granted to Patrick Herring, nephew
and heh to Sh John Herring, laird of Edmond
stoune, which is dated at Carnwath, the first
day of Apryle, 1380, in which year Sir Walter
SomerviU, barrone of Lintoune and Carnwath,
dyed, haveing then alyve fyve children, two sones
and three daughters. His eldest sone John suc
ceeded to the barronies of Lintoune and Carn
wath by his father, and to that of Cambusnethan
by his father-in-law. To his second sone Thomas
he leaves the lands of GUlmertoune, who have
ing marryed Katharine Stratone, the laird g£
Stratone's (the predecessor of the now laird of
Lowristoune in the north, of the same famiUe and
sirname) second daughter, with her he had noe
children, soe that the lands of GUlmertoune, efth
this gentleraan's decease, feU in to his nephew
Thomas Lord SomerviU ; for his eldest daughter
Janet,' long before his death, was marryed upon
NeUl or either Duncan CampbeU, the first Earle
of Argyle, made by Robert the Second, the first

* Douglas and Crawford, I observe, name this lady Elizabeth,
and wed her with Archibald, son and heir of Sir Duncan Camp
bell of Lochern. This Archibald, according to these genealo
gists, died before his father, leaving issue. Sir Colin Campbell,
first Earl of Argyle, so created by James II. in 14-57.

THE SOMERVILLS. 135
of the Stewarts ; the second, named EUzabeth,
in the year 1374 was marryed to Sir William
Moubray of Barnebougill ; the third to Sir Alex
ander Penniecook of that ilk. For this gentle
man' I find he dyed at Kelso, in his way to Lin
toune, in the house of WiUiam SomervUl, a natu
ral sone of his oune, for whom he had procured
a feu from the abbots of that abbacie in favours
of this young gentleman. He had lived from the
year ofhis father's death, at which tyme he was
in a marryed state, to that of his oune, threttieth
and three years compleat. His corpes, by his
two sones, John and Thomas, and his naturaU
sone WUliam, with other relationes, was trans
ported from Kelso to Lintoune, and buryed in
the queh of that church. By discharges granted
to Thoraas Lord SomervUl, I find his lady, GeiUes
Herring, marryed to Sir WilUam Fairlie of Brade,
whose sone of that marriage comraenced along
plea against Thomas Lord SomerviU and Patrick
Herring, for the lands of GUlmertoune, which at
length was taken away by marriages betwext
these famiUes.

' i. e. Sir Walter Somerville.

130 MEMORIE OF

Of Sir John, the Sexth J^arrone of Lintoune^ ihe
Third of Carnwath, the First of Cambusnethafii
the Eleventh from Sir Gualter de Somervill Lord
qf Whichenour, and the Fourth of that Name.
1380. Walter being dead in the year 1S80> and Sir
John Edmondstoune some years before, John^
now barrone of Lintoune, is served heir to his
father Walter in the barronie of Carnwath, at
Lanerk, before Robert Stewart of Evandale, upon
the 24th day of September, 1380 ; and upon the
I38i. 10th day of Apryley 138]j he is served heir to
his father inthe barronie of Lintoune^ before Ro
bert Kerr of Cessfoord,' in the town of Jedburgh.
Upon these services, and the charter of resigna-
tione made by his father-in-law to him to the
barronie of Cambusnethan, ther passes a confiri
matione granted by King Robert the Second^
dated at Stirling the 14th day of July, 1381, wher
in ther is insert as witnesses, John Lyon Lord
Glames, ChanceUor of Scotland, WiUiam Landels,
Bishop of Saint Andrewes, Walter Wardlaw, Bi-
' The same, I presume, whom genealogists rank as the fourth
ofthe Cessford family, ancestors ofthe Dukes of Roxburgh.

THE SOMERVILLS. 13/
shop of Glasgow, and Cardinall Robert, Earle of
Fyff, George and John^ Earles of March, WiUiam,
Earle of Douglas, Robert Fleyming of Curaber-
nald. This charter has a seall of white append^
ed to it, with the ancient arraes of the Kings of
Scotland curiously engraven upon the one syde,
bearing a horse with his ryder richly raantled,
with a shield upon the man's arme, haveing the
lyon rampand with the flower de luce; upon
the other syde it beares the repreSentatione of
the king sitting upon his throne, holding out his
two arraes, frora which descends a scheUd frora
every hand, haveing the same armes as upon the
other syde. Some of the letters are wanting and
others not very legible, soe that I cannot be po
sitive they are the same wee now have.
This gentleman haveing procured from his
majestie this confirmatione, reteires from court,
and takes up his dweUing at Cambusnethan
with hes young lady, where he continues dure
ing the peace with England ; but the truce ex-
pyreing which had been agreed upon betwext
France and England, wherin Scotland was inclu
ded for four years, the admirall of France, John
De Vienne, Earle of Wallensheo, arryveing in
Scotland, and bringing with him 2000 men, it
was resolved at court to make a road into Eng-

138 MEMORIE OF
land, which they did, spoyleing the country be
twext Berwick and Newcastie, takeing in the
casties of Warke and ComewaU. But these things
I passe over with few words, being so copiousUe
written aUready by our historians, particularly
by the author of the Douglasses history. That
faraiUe, from the reigneof King Robert the Bruce,
and his coronatione in the year 1306, untiU the
restauratione of King James the First frora his
captivitie out of England, in anno 1424, had suc-
cessefuUy been the leaders and principaU actors
in aU the warres and bickerings betwext the two
nationes, wherby they not only acquyred erainent
tities, but also greater estates by farr then any
other subjects in Scotland, and that not only to
themselves, but likewayes to the cadits of ther fa
milies, and the foUowers of ther fortune, soe that
at lenth they became jealous to soveraignietie it
self, which in the next centurie ended in that
fearfuU catastrophe of the finall ruine of this flou
rishing famiUe in the year 1483, as you raay read
at lenth in the history of the Douglasses. But
I returne from whence I have a Utle digressed,
James Earle of Douglas and the AdrairaU of
France haveing entered England with a very
great armie, were opposed by a farr greater of
the English, which made the Scots returne with-

THE SOMERVILLS. 139
out doeing anything save the wasteing of North
umberland and the adjacent counties neer 14
myles. In this expedition John barrone of Lin
toune and Carnwath was one, who, in the reteire-
ing with others, whose interest lay neer that
place, advysed the Earles of Fyff and Douglas
to beseidge the castle of Roxburgh, then in the
EngUsh hands, whose garrisone, by ther perpetual
excursiones, harassed the whoU country. This
the Earle of Douglas perswaded them to doe,
but to Utle purpose, because of the disorders of
the armie, particularly the unreasonable demands
of the French for craveing the castle to be thers
when it should be winn, thus verefieing the old
proverbe, to contend for the beares skin when it
was yet on his back. Within eight dayes the seidge
is deserted with Utle prejudice to the castle, but
much to the country, by the plundering of the
French, which soe insensed both the Scots armie
and the wholl people, that the French was lyke to
pay dear for it, if the Earle of Douglas and some
other grandees had not interposed for ther safetie,
by procureing ther speedie returne to ther oune
kingdome. This being the first apprentisship of
John barrone of Lintoune and Carnwath, where
in albeit ther was litle occasione given for ac
tione, yet it testified his wiUingnes to serve his

1386. 1387.

140 MEMORIE OF'
prince and country. This invasione of England
happened to be in the year 1386.'
The year following, 1387, the king being now
aged, and his eldest sone John, eftirward king
by the name Robert the Third, unfitt for the
warres, the nobilitie have ther recourse to the
Earle of Fyff, the king's second sone, of whom,
as was supposed, the lands of GiUmertoune in
Mid Louthian held, as Earl of Monteith, which
eftirward cost the successors of this gentleman
very dear ; these lands holding of the Earle of
Stratheame, and not of Monteith, wherof, upward
of 100 years thereftir. Sir John SomervUl of
Quathquan made good use to his oune behoove,
in prejudice of his pupiU, John Lord Somervill,

' A very lively account ofthe dissentions between the Scots
and their French auxiliaries is given by Froissart, who con
cludes with the evil report which these unpopular auxiliaries
brought upon their allies. " Than dyvers knyghts and squyers
had depassages, and so retourned, some into Flanders, and as
wynde and weder wolde drive them, without horse and harnesse,
right poore and feble, cursyng the day that ever they came in
Scotlande, sayeng howe there were neuer men had soe harde a
voyage ; wyshing that the French kyng had peace with Eng
lande one yere or two, and soe both k)mges togider to goe into
Scotlande, vtterly to destroy that realm for ever ; for they said
they never sawe so yvell people, nor so false traytours, nor
more folysshe people in feates of warre." — Lord Beeners*
Froissart, Lond. 1812, 4to, vol. II. p. 32.

THE SOMERVILLS. 141
the fyfth from this worthie gentleman of whom
wee now treat. The Earle of Fyff being prevail
ed upon with James Earle of Douglas, the earles
uncle, they entered England with ane armie of
3000 men, soe suddenly, that the country have
ing noe leasure, for want of inteUigence, to con
voy ther goods out of the way, the counties
of Westmerland, Curaberland, and Northumber
land, through which they passed, receaved great
losse. This armie returning with their bootie
to Scotland without any encounter, with severall
other inroads of the lyke nature by the Earles of
Fyff and Douglas, made the King of England send
ane armie into Scotland, which aUmost ruined
the wholl Merse, and gave the first occasione to
that notable battell of Otterburne, where James
Earle of Douglas, being conqueror, was killed.
The particulars of this fight ye have in the Doug
lasses historie. That author, in designeing some
of the persones, precipitates their titles, as in that
of the Constable ErroUs, in naraeing him Earle
at that engadgement, whereas it's very weill
knowne he was not nobilitat, at least not made
earle, untiU the reigne of King James the Second.
But that author is lyable to grosser raistakes then
this, as is alleadged, for which sorae blaraes him
much ; but for myself, I believe he hes written

142 MEMORIE OF
the truth in most things, and noe more nor what
the house and name of Douglas very weUl de-
serves : but herein indeed he is to be blamed, that
he often obscures, at the least minishes the repu
tatione of others that merited very weiU at the
hands of ther king and country in that age. Let
others speak where they are concerned, I shall
only instance in the behalf of the house of Cam
busnethan, that deserved a fuller and more am
ple descriptione, with a better charactei: in his
history, then he hes been pleased to aUow them,
considering the neer interest, by aUya, the house
of Cambusnethan had to the house of Angus, and
for the severall good offices that familie did unto
the Earles of Angus and Douglas, by hazarding
ther life and fortune in ther quarrelles, as shall
be spoken to in its plaCe. But to returne. This
invasione, which we formerly mentioned, happen-
1388. ed in JuUy, in the year 1388, was not soe closely
gone about as intended ; but that the EngUsh
had advertisement therof before hand, and ac
cordingly provyded for ther defence, which made
the Scottish commanders resolve upon the de-
vydeing of ther armie in two parts, the more to
amaze the enemie and make them uncertane
where to place ther cheiff strenth, as not know
ing where the armie of the enemie might march j

THE SOMERVILLS. 143
thairfore the English concluded it was best only
by tiie nobiUtie to give advertisement to the gen-
Irie and commons to be ready upon caU, without
appoynting either day or place for their rendez-
vouz. England being in this readynes, the Scots
armie devydes in two, the Earle of Douglas with
the Earle of March, father and sone, with seve
raU other noblemen, had the comraand of the
one half. This part, coramanded by Douglas and
the Earle of March, was that which fought at
Otterburne, allready mentioned ; for the other
part ofthe armie, led by Robert Earle of Fyff and
Monteith, they marched CarlUe road, and wee
read of noe encounter nor engadgement they had
with any enemie at this tyme, soe that it was the
good or bad fortune, as yow please to esteem it,
of the barrone of Lintoune and Carnwath, in two
severaU expeditions, to want opportunitie to give
evidence of his valour and manhood, as aU his
predecessors had done in behalf of ther prince
and country.
Robert the Second dying at his castle of Dun
donald upon the nyneteinth day of Apryle, 1390, 1390.
before his death ther was a peace made betwext
England and France forthe space of seven years,
wherin Scotland was also comprehended. This
peace gave opportunitie to the gentlemen that

144 MEMORIE OP
had ther estates lying upon the border to seek
eftir soe much of ther rent as could be recovered
in these broken tymes, wherin for the most part
the country thereabout was harassed by the Eng
Ush and Scots, it being the common road for both,
when they intended any invasione upon the midle
marches, John Barrone of Carnwath, being at this
tyrae ordering his affaires in the barronie of Lin
toune, was invited over, by his cussing Sh Ro
bert Kerr of Cessefoord, to the castie of Cesse-
foord,' then his residence, distant from the tower
of Lintoune, upon the other syde of the watter
of Kaill, some two myles or thereby. When at
dinner, they had the fhst newes of King Robert
the Second his death, by ane expresse that had
come from Clidsdale to John Barrone of Carn
wath, sent from his lady, to give him advertise
ment of her oune sickness, and how desyreous
she was of his speedy returne. As for the king's
death, being of a great age, and haveing some
years before he dyed held a parhament at Perth,
wherin he made his second sone, Robert Earle
of Fyff, Governour of Scotland, because of the

* The ruins of this ancient baronial castle are still extant,
and are considerable. It was long the chief seat ofthe Rox
burgh family, and is situated in the parish of Eckford.
6

THE SOMERVILLS. 14S
unfitnes ofhis eldest sone that waste succeed to
the croune. Soe that the report of the king's
death was not soe surprizeing to thir gentlemen
as the fears and apprehensions for the state of the
country in the future, because of the weaknes of
the next successor.
The recept of this letter hastened the barrone
of Carnwath's returne to Cambusnethen, where
being come he found his lady in a very weak con
ditione, a violent feaver haveing seazed upon her,
which brought her neer unto death ; however,
it pleased the Lord to recover her out of that
sicknes, for the good and advantage of that fa
mily, whereof she was a great ornament, both by
her pietie, vertue, and beautie. Soe soon as she
was perfectly recovered of her health her husband
resolved to attend the court, (it being now a
tyme of peaCCj and he never as yet had seen the
king since his coronatione ;) and that in order
to dignifle himself by sorae title of honor, wher
of men about this tyme wer beginning to be ara
bitious, and he himself as much as any other,
from the greatnes of his fortune, haveing then in
his possessione three great barronies of land, be
syde the prospect or expectatione he had ofthe
lands of GiUmertoune to himself or his succes
sors, eftir the death ofhis brother Thomas, who
K

146 MEMORIE OF
had noe children by his lady, and was now past
hope of ever haveing any. Robert Earie of Fyff
and Monteith, the king's brother, with Gilbert
Greenlaw, Bishop of Aberdeen, ChanceUor of
Scotland, governed aU affaires of state. Upon
them he resolves to depend, the first being his
brother's supposed superior of the lands in Lou
thian ; and the chanceUor hes ladyes neer rela
tione, by the mother's syde. Dureing his sex
years attendance upon the Earle of Fyff and the
chancellor, and his frequenting the court, wee
find noe additione he made to his estate, albeit
he added somewhat to the honour of his famihe.
Upon this occasione, a parliament being caUed
by Robert the Third, to sitt at Perth, in anno
1396. 1396, he attended the same, being summoned as
one of the barrones of Scotiand ; and assisted at
the ceremonie of David the Prince his being
created Duke of Rossie, and Robert Earle of
Fyff and Monteith, his great patrone, being made
Duke of Albanie; who, in the year 1406, was
Governour of Scotland. These being the first
dukes that was in this kingdome, made the so
lemnitie the greater by the concurse of the great
est part of nobilitie and ancient barrones of Scot
land, who were obleidged by ane old law to at
tend the king in parliament. It was dureing the

THE SOMERVILLS. 147
sitting of this parliament and the conferring of
these great titles upon the prince and his uncle,
that his majestie was pleased to dignifie John
barrone of Carnwath, and Thoraas, now his eldest
sone, (John the eldest being dead sorae years
preceeding,) with the honour of knighthood. I
know it is aUeadged from this gentleman's re-
ceaveing summonds to this parliament, that he
was the first lord, being then nobilitat from his
sitting in that parliament ; but ther is no ground
nor probabiUtie for this assertione. Men then, as
they are at this present, wer vaine enough of ther
titles of honour ; and certanely, if ther had been
any truth in that, this gentleman would have de
signed himself by that title. But I find not that
he did soe, noe nor yet his sone eftir his death,
untill the beginning of the reigne of King James
the Fhst, in anno 1424.
The parhament, 1396, being broken, and the
country reraaining in peace for sorae years. Sir
John reteires from court, and makes his residence
mostly at Cowthally ; all his chUdren being at this
tyme corae to the state of raen and woraen, he
made it his busines to setle them according to
ther qualities. His eldest daughter, naraed eftir
her mother Margaret, in anno 1 391, he marryes 1397.
upon Robert DieU of that Uk. The year ensue-

148 MEMORIE OF
1 398. ing, 1 398, he marryes his second daughter, named
Janet eftir his oune mother, upon Sir Simon
Glendinning, In the year 1400, on the sexth of
Apryle, his youngest daughter was marryed upon
Sh Lewis Stewart of Minto. In August the same
year, his vertueous lady Margaret Edmondstoune
dyes, haveing Uved with her husband 28th years,,
dureing which tyme she had borne to her hus
band nyne children, fyve wherof survived herself,
two sones and three daughters. She had the bap-.
pynes to see her three daughters honourably
marryed, and her two sones as gallant and hope
ful youths as was within the natione. Before her
death, she desyred her husband to bury her be
syde her father in the quyer of Cambusnethen
church ; which accordingly was done by her, husr
band and two sones, and three sones in law, with
all the solemnitie then in use. She was a lady
of many eminent vertues, and was the third of
the females that made a great additione to the
barrones of Lintoune, ther estate in Scotiand.
1400. Eftir the year 1400, I find not anything of Sir
John SomerviU, barrone of Carnwath, in the his
tories either of the church or state, notwithstand
ing these tymes gave occasione to some actione,
in regaird of the difference betwext the Earles of
March and Douglas, anent the marrying of DaviiJ,
8

THE SOMERVILLS. 149
Duke of Rossey, the king's eldest sone, upon
Marjorie Douglas^ daughter to the earle, where
as he had been before contracted upon Ehzabeth
Dunbar, daughter to George Earle of March,
These two great men, upon this occasione, fall
ing out, became to quarrell and to bring the
country into factiones, which was much troubled,
especiaUy by the Earle of March, who being
worsted, engadged the English in his quarreU,
who wer ready enough of themselves to lay hold
upon any opportunitie to doe our natione a mis-
cheiff. In aU these occurrences and other pub
Uct transactiones of that tyme, either in peace or
Warre, dureing the remaitteder of King Robert
the Thirdes reigne, I find not that Sir John, bar
rone of Carnwath, did concerne himself, haveing,
eftir his ladyes death, confyned himself, for the
most part, to his dwelling att Cambusnethen ;
the pleasantnes of the place inviteing hira therto
allbeif at fhe tyrae ther was noe other house
upon it (except some laigh office houses) but the
Band tower, a building some 20 foot square and
four storie high, which was stiU standing in the
sarae forrtte and fashion, untiU the year 166"1,
that it was demoUshed by Sh John Harper, when
he rebuilt the house of Cambusnethen.
In the year 1405* ther had been some discourse ^^o^-

150 MEMORIE OF
of marrying his eldest sone Sir Thomas upon
Mary Sinclaire, sister to Sir WUliam Sinclaire^
Earie of Orknay and Laird of Roslayn ; but it
took noe effect untiU eftir his death, which hap
pened the same year, the ii. of October. Before
his death, he setled upon his second sone Walter,
the toune and lands of Overtoune, of Cambusne
then, Paider and Paiderhall, Gairin and Gairin-
gill, with the coaUheaugh, in the barronie of Cam
busnethen, and the ten merk land of Litletoune,
in the barronie of Lintoune. Undoubtedly, have
ing soe opulent a fortune, he would have left his
second sone a greater estate, but that he expect
ed his sone Walter sould have succeeded to the
land in Louthian eftir his brother Thomas his
decease ; but that gentleman, at his death, con
ferred his whoU estate upon his names-sone and
nephew. Sir Thomas SomerviU of Carnwath,
eldest sone to this Sir John, who succeeded both
to his father and to his uncle and ther whoU
estates, except what was given to this Walter,
which eftirward fell into Thomas Lord Soraer
vill. Before his death, some few dayes before
Sir John dyed, his sones and sones in law en
quyred at him if they should bury him vrith his
predecessors in Lintoune church ; he answeared,
" No, butinCambusnethenquierbesydehiswife,"

THE SOMERVILLS. 151
which accordingly was done. He was a gentle
man of great vertue, and added both to the ho
nour and greatnes of the house of Lintoune and
Carnwath, by his marriage and frugalitie. He
Uved fyftieth and sex years ;' wherof in a marry
ed state twentieth and eight, and a widow fyve ;
and was the first of his name and faraiUe buryed
in Cambusnethen church.

Of Sir Thomas, the seventh Barrone qfLintounCf
the fourth qf Carnwath, the second of Cambusne
then, the first Lord SomerviU, and the twelth
from Sir Gualter de Somervill, Lord qf Whiche
nour in England.
To Sir John Somervill, Barrone of Lintoune
and Carnwath, succeeded his eldest sone Sir Tho
mas,* who is served air to him the succeeding
year, by a breiff out of the ChanceUarie, the fhst

* Douglas, in his Peerage, altogether omits this Sir John So
merville. According to his genealogical deduction, the father
of Sir Thomas Somerville was Sir William Somerville, who, ac
cording to him, represented the family from 1370 to 1403.
* This was one ofthe most distinguished persons of this an
cient and honourable family. If the writer of the Memoirs had
before him the retour of the inquest upon his service, it seems
impossible he could mistake his father's name. Yet it would

152 MEMORIE QF
of March, 1406, before Sh WiUiam Prestoune of
1406. CraigmiUer. Ther is upon this service Sh Simon
Glendinning, Sir WiUiam Sinclair of Hermis-
toune. Sir John Forrester of Corstorphin, Sir
John Sandelands of Calder, Ralph Weir of Blaick-
wood, Sir Lewis Stewart of Minto, Robert DieU
of that ilk, John Mowat of Stennis, John Car-
michaeU of that iUi, John Towers of Enderleith,
WUliam Lawsone of Humbie, WiUiam Bannatyne
of Corhall, Thomas SomervUl of GiUmertoune,
WilUam Otterburne, WilUam SomervUl in Kelso*
AU these barrones and gentlemen hes ther sealles
at this service, the armes visible, and ther names
legible to this day.
Whether this young gentleman, Sir Thomas
SomerviU, deryved his nobUitie from his father
or acquyred it himself, is a thing very question
able, as I have alheady hinted at ; for undoubt'^
edly his father Sir John, summoned to the parha
ment by King Robert the Thhd, in anno 139&,_
gave him the dignitie and title of a Lord of Par
liament, which in effect is all that our ancient
lords hes for ther being peers of this realme ;
patents from the king for being lords was given

appear he certainly was so, since in several charters quoted by^
Douglas, Sir Thomas is described as the son not of a Sir John
iut ofa Sir William Somerville.

THE SOMERVILLS. 153
but of late, as is nottour to all that knowes any
thing of antiquitie ; for this nobleraan's father
and himself being designed Sir John and Sir
Thomas in severall writts that I have seen, it
sayes nothing. Men then wer ambitious of that
title of honour, being given mostly upon ane mi-
litarie account, which raade thera rather retaine
it then any other title of honour conferred upon
them by ther prince ; for which see the historie
of the Douglasses upon the subject, anent the
dignitie of good Sh James, the fhst raiser of that
noble famiUe to ther greatnes, who took no other
designatione then that of Sir James, albeit be and
his predecessors had been lords &f parliament for
some ages preceeding. However, in this I shaU
not be contentious, but folow the receaved opi
nione, that this nobleman, Sh Thomas SomerviU
of Lintoune and Carnwath, receaved that digni
tie frora King James the Fhst, in his first paarUa-
meM holden at Edinburgh in ann&
King Robert the Third hearing that his eldest
sone. Prince David, was dead in Falklandi, by pro.
curement of Robert Duke of Albanie (who aspy-
red to the croune) and James his second sone ta
ken prisoner in his voyage to France by the
Englishmen, the king dyed of displeasure within
three dayes eftir he receaved these newes, when

154 MEMORIE OF
he had reigned sexteinth years, being buryed in
Paslay, where hes queen had formerly been in
terred. Eftir whose death, Robert Duke of Al
banie, Earle of Fyff and Monteith, governed Scot
land. This nobleman and hes successors pretend
ed to be superiors unto all the lands of GUlmer
toune, anciently belonging to the Herrings ; but
long eftir, in the reigne of King James the Fourth,
these lands wer found to be holden of David
Earle of Strathearne, King Robert the. Second
his eldest sone, borne to him of Euphan, daugh-
ter to Hugh Earle of Rosse. However, this gen
tleman knowing that Robert Duke of Albanie
had been his father's great patrone, and had
much kyndenes for himself, on him he constant
ly depends both in the court and countiy, and
was with him in aU the expeditiones he made in
the tyme of warr, which was but upon grand oc-
casiones. Much, if not aU the militarie actiones
in that age, was committed to one or other of the
house or name of the Douglasses, ther foUowers
and dependers, as may be knowne from the tract
of our histories ; for in the year 1402, upon the
fyfth of May, (some three years before John bar
rone of Lintoune and Carnwath dyed, and this no
bleraan came to his estate,) was fought by Archi
bald, the fourth Earie of Douglas, that unfortunat

THE SOMERVILLS, 155
batteU of Homildone, neer MiUfeild in England,
wherin several lords and many barrones wer kill
ed, and others taken prisoners, with the earle
hiraself; as, in the year preceeding the flour of
the youth of Louthian had been lost, with ther
captain, Patrick Hepburne of Heiles, at West
Nisbett, in the Merse, by ane encounter with the
EngUshes, upon the twentieth and two day of
June, 1401, wherin the Earle of March his
sone did great disservice to his native country,
by comeing in to the EngUsh assistance with ane
hundereth fresh horse, which gave them the vic
torie, and the Scots that great losse. These two
instances I have given, to evince that successe is
not aUwayes intaiUed to naraes and farailies, or
the electione of leaders, let ther valor and con
duct be never so rauch, but that some one man
or other of raean extractione, whose narae and
faraiUe hes never been heard ofj may outvy them
in all ther glorie in militarie actiones. I need
not to be particiUar : both ancient and moderne
histories gives ane thousand examples, OUver
CrumweU, in our oune tymes, a very remarkeable
one to our sad regrate. But to returne to this
gentleraan. Sir Thoraas, In the year 1407, he 1407.
renewes his sute to Marie Sinclair, second daugh
ter to Henrie Sinclair, the third earle, and sister

156 MEMORIE OP
to WUUam, the fourth Earie of Orknay, who had
marryed Elizabeth Douglas, daughter to Archi
bald, the fourth Earie of Douglas, and the first
Duke of Turraine in France. See the tities be
longing to this Earle of Orknay and his predeces
sors in the historie of the Douglasses, which, as
that author observes, are enough to wearie a Spa
niard. With this lady of eminent vertue and high
qualitie (being second to noe subject in Scotland)
did Sir Thomas SomervUl of Carnwath match,'
and thereby did greatly innoble his blood and
incresse the honors ofhis famiUe, with whom he
lived very happUie, and in great honour, for the
space of twentieth and seven years, notwithstand-

' This, however roundly affirmed, is unquestionably a mistake.
Or at least, if Sir Thomas did marry the lady mentioned in the
text, she must have been his second wife : For during his fa
ther's life time, Robert II. grants a charter of the lands of Cam
busnethan to Thomas Somerville, son and apparent heir of Sir
William Somerville, and to Janet Stewart his spouse, and the
longest liver of them, « which lands of Cambusnethan are
stated to have belonged to Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnlie
father of the said Janet Stewart, and must be considered as
being her dowery." Thns the author has erred, both as to the
time and manner in which his family acquired the estate of
Cambusnethan. The charter is dated July, 1392.
On the other hand, Douglas himself, under the article ofthe
Earls of Orkney, quotes a marriage between Mary, second
daughter of Henry first Earl of Orkney, and this Sir Thomas
Somerville. She must therefore bave been hb second wife.

THE SOMERVILLS. 157
ing of all the reellings and alterations that hap
pened dureing the government of Robert Duke
of Albanie, Fyff and Monteith, and the four years
governement ofhis sone, Duke Murdoch, Earle
of Fyff and Monteith, from whom it would ap-
pear this gentleman's confyneing himself wholly
to the administratione of his domestick affaires,
he hes withdrawen his attendance upon sorae dis-
lyke against the governour, Robert Duke of Al
banie, formerly his great protector and patrone ;
but now in aU probabUitie estranged from him
when he became convinced that the duke had ac-
-eessione to that unnaturaU murder of Prince
David Duke of Rossay, sterved to death in Falk
land, by the instigatione and practice of his
crueU uncle the Duke of Albanie, who being
hated of the nobilitie for this very occasione,
made most of these that had formerly much fa
vour for him, withdraw ther attendance, as did
Sir Thomas SomerviU eftir his marriage, and re
tire himself to his castle at CowthaUy, being
sufficiently secured frora the envy of the court,
by being now allyad with two of the most noble
and powerfuU famiUes in Scotland, of his ladyes
neeir relatione and kindred by father and raother.
In anno 1412, Thomas Somervill of GiUmer
toune dying, he leaves the lands of GiUmertoune, 1412.

158 MEMORIE OF
Drum, and Gutters, to his nephew Sir Thomas
of Carnwath, reserveing the life-rent of aU these
lands to his lady Katharine Straton, which I find
«he enjoyed not long ; for Sir Thomas came to
the possessione therof in the year 1415, which
is evident from tacks sett by him that year and
,the year ensueing. In which year this gentleman
both enlarged, by the additione of some new
buildings, and strengthened the castle of Cow
thaUy with a double ditch, broad and deep. The
ground, because ofthe neer neighbourhood ofa
great mosse, affoorded much watter for the filhng
up of these ditches. But seing the greatest build
ing of this house was by Hugh, the fhst Lord
SomerviU of that name, I shaU wave the descrip
tion therof untill wee come to wryte of him. As
for this noble gentieman being more strongly
-aUyed, and haveing a far raore opulent fortune
by far then any of his predecessors, he lived in
peace at home, without concerneing himself with
the pubUct transactions of that tyrae, or sydeing
with any of the grandies that mannadged the af
faires of state, dureing King Jaraes the Fhst his
captivitie or restraint in England.
The kingdorae of Scotland being for eighteinth
1424. years without a king, James the First being re-

THE SOMERVILLS. 159
turned from his captivitie,' made it his busines
to set in order the disorders of a country wherin
every great man had played the pettie tyrrant.
The conditione of England, being then under a
minor king, gave him opportunitie, with his oune
aUyance, to fear noe warr from thence. Ther
fore, being entered upon his government, he
caUes to accompt the former governours, father
and sone, who being guUty of some misdema-
nours which is not very expresse in our histories,
he strykes off ther heads, with Duncan Stewart
Earle of Lennox.* The Earle of Douglas. he ira-
prisones with raost of his freinds, followers, and
dependers. Frora this beginning did first aryse
the doune faU of that noble faraiUe, whether by
ther oune procureraent or not, I leave it to others

' In forwarding this desirable event our author's ancestor
had a share, of which his descendant seems to have been igno
rant; for it appears from Rymer's Faedera, vol, x. p. 301, that
Thomas Somervyle, Lord of Carnwath, was one of the embas
sadors who, in 1423, were permitted to come to London to
treat for the ransom and deliverance of their sovereign. Tho
mas Dominus de Somerville is also a warden of the Border in
1424. * The author of the Memoirs appears to have been ignorant
that his ancestor, Thomas Somervile of that ilk, sat as one of
the assize by whom Murdoch Duke of Albany was attainted
of high treason.

l60 MEMORIE OF "
to judge that hes read the histories of these tymes.
The best of subjects may some tymes fail in ther
duty ; and it is ordinarie for princes to have ther
oune feares and jealousies, when one subject out
topes the rest, both in fortune and foUowers, as
this familie did by far all others in Scotland in
that age. The Earles of March, more ancient in
digmtie, being ther only competitors, found the
sarae or worse measure ; for, in the first parlia
ment holden at Perth by this king, the Earle of
March was disinherited, and his famUie for ever
put out of Scotland, notwithstanding of severaU
attempts raade by thera eftirward for ther restau
ratione. The other great branch of that name,
being the Earle of Murray, becarae likewayes
extinct, in a daughter, who marryed a brother of
the house of Douglas, which made ane end of
aU the greatnes and honour of the sirname of
Dunbar, which had continued from the reigne of
MUcolumbus Canmuir, untUl this very age where
of wee now treat. Neither did the weight ofthe
king's displeasure faU upon these two farailies
alone ; but many of ther friends suffered upon
ther account, as yow may read at lenth in the
historie of the Douglasses. That which I shall
take notice off and observe, as to my purpose,
concerneing those tymes of ignorance, before the

THE SOMERVILLS. 16 1
reigne- of Mikolumbus the Third, is the three
grand revolutions in the kingdorae of Scotland
as to shnaraes and faraiUes. The first, that which
happened in the reigne of this king before men
tioned, MUcolumbus Canmuir, wherin, for the
most part, ther was not only a change of the an
cient titles and designationes of the noblemen,
but also a subversione or alteratione of the great
est part of the shnaraes then in Scotland, besyde
the additione of many new ones that came in and
began at that same tyrae. The sirname of Cum
ming, whether originallie of this natione, or from
sorae other where, I wiU not take upon me to de
termine ; but this is certane and knoune from our
historians, that noe name in Scotland, from the
year 1000 to the year 1306, wliich I make the
second period of tyme, floorished soe much as
did the name of Cumming ; and that both in ho
nour, riches and nuraber ; who, of theraselves,
being fyve earles and threttieth barrones or free
holders, wer able to raise ane armie to defeat
Alexander the Thhd, took him prisoner, and
keeped him in Stirling castle untiU they made
ther oune conditiones ; and aU this by their oune
strenth, and without the assistance of any other
within or without the kingdome that wee hear
off. I would fain know whether the lyke has been
¦ 2

162 MEMORIE OP
practised in any natione, or what historie relatea
that a particular sirname prevaiUed soe much
against ther prince and country, and made such
mad worke therin, not only in King Alexander's
reigne, but dureing the wholl interregnum, and
untiU the restauratione of King David Bruce
from his captivitie, and his father King Robert
the Bruce, as did this sirname of Cummings.
However, at lenth, in this king's reigne (the se
cond revolutione being in King Robert the
Bruce's and his sone's reigne,) they are brought
under ane perpetuaU eclipse ; upon whose ruine
the Dunbars, (albeit nobUitat before) the Doug
lasses and Fleymings, with severall other faraUies,
raised ther fortunes, by King David's gifts ;
greatnes and honours being conferred upon
them, much about the same tyme, by the doune-
faU of the Cummings. The third grand revolu
tione and change of fortunes and sirnames in
Scotiand, though not soe universall as in the two
former, happened in this king's reigne. King
James the First, by blackeneing the credite and
reputatione of the Douglasses, which they in a
manner had intaUed to ther oune familie, for ane
hundereth years and upward, and by the ruine
ing the Earles of March, the Humes aryses out
of ther ashes, as did the great estate and honour

THE SOMERVILLS. 163
of the Hepbumes, the court favour of the Crech-
tounes and Livingstounes with the king, aU of
whora, by his raajesties discountenanceing the
Douglasses and banishing the Dunbars, raised
ther oune fortunes and credit within the king-
dome ; which, notwithstanding, continued but
a few generations, as is evident from the histo
ries of that tyrae ; thereby teaching great men
that it is beyond ther foresight and Industrie soe
to setle ther greatnes and honours as to intaiUe
them for ever to ther posteritie ; but that a word
mistaken or look unbeseeming may destroy in a
moraent what raany ages hes been rearing, up,
yea, albeit ther be noe default or misgoverne-.
ment in the partie to whom that raisfortune may
happen, as is evident from many instances that
may be given, besyde those which I have men
tioned. Soe soon as his majestie aryved in Scotland,
Sir Thoraas failled not to give his attendance,
with others of the barrones of Scotland, to con
gratulate his majesties happie aryveal, where his
acceptance was answearable to his expectatione ;
for a pariiament being called to sitt at Edinburgh,
the Sir Thomas SomervUl
of Carnwath is suramoned as one of the ancient
barrones of Scotland, to give his attendance.

164 MEMORIE Ot
wherby it is evident that from the sitting of that
parhament, and eftir the dissolveing therof, that
Sir Thoraas of Carnwath is designed Lord So
mervill ;' and albeit he was weill enough staUed
in his majesties favour, and secure enough by his
allya, yet he understood weill enough in what fa
vour and esteera himself and his father Sir John

* There is something remarkable in the manner in which he
is designed in the nomination of Wardens of the Border in
1424. The names are first given, and then are classified ac
cording to the rank of those who bore them. But Thomas,
though designed Dominus de Somerville, is neither enumerated
among the lords or the knights. The classification follows :
" Pro Parte dicti Henrici Regis, Humfridus Dux Qlouces-
trice, Sfc. Thomas Dux Exonice, Edmundtis Comes Marchioe,
Riccardus Comes Warre'voici, Henricus Comes Northumbrice,
Radulphus Comes Westmerlandice, Robertus Dominus de Wylugh-
hy, Omnes Admiralli Maris pradicti Regis Henrici, Custodes
Marchiarum AnglicB versus Scotiam, Robertus Umfraville, et
Walterus Hunge^rford, Milites.
" Pro Parte vero prsefati Regis Jacobi, Murdacus Dux Al-
lanice, Walterus Comes Atholice, Alexander Comes de Mar,
Archibaldus Comes de Wygeton, Georgius Comes Marchia,
Dominus Willielmus Constabularius Scotiee, Johannes Dominus
de Seton, Thomas Dominus de Somervile, Jacobus Domirms de
Dallceth, Johannes Forster, Custodes Marchiarum Scotice versus
Angliam, " Qui quidem, Humfridus, Thomas, Duces ; Edmundus,
Riccardus, Henricus, Radulphus, Comites ; Robertus, Dominus ;
Robertus, et Walterus, Milites.
^ " Murdacus, Dux ; Walterus, Alexander, Archibaldus, Geor.^
gius, Comites ; Johannes, Dominus ; Jacobus, et Johannes."

THE SOMERVILLS. 165
had been in with the two former governors, fa
ther and sone, which now fell under the king's
displeasure, and brought to the ground with them
most of ther followers and dependers. He there
fore reteires from court, whiU these stroakes were
a giveing,' haveing as much honour as he desyred,
and ane estate much beyond many of the sarae
qualitie and degree : and as he was the first by
my calculatione that nobilitat the faraUie and
name of Somervill, in the house of Cowthally,
aoe did he far exceed in greatnes of fortune all
the preceeding barrones of Lintoune and Carn
wath, by acquyreing the barronie of Pkin in the
shirreffdorae of Stirling, either by conqueist or
excarabione ; for it is certaine he made over the
right of a barronie of land which lay in the north
to the Lord Gordon, which at this present be-
longes to the Marques of HuntUe ; but where
that barronie lay, or the designatione of it, I can
give noe account. The young gentleman, from
whom I should haye had my informatione, John
Leslie by name, that was raaster of the ancient
writtes and charters of this land, being unfortUr
natlie kiUed before I had opportunitie to see

* A singular mistake, since he was actually one of the jurors
on the trial of Murdoch Duke of Albany, as already noticed,

166 MEMORIE OF
these papers ; whereby it comes that I can give
noe better account of this affair.
It was dureing his reteirement from the court
that the pietie of his lady perswaded hira, in imi
tatione of others (who wer very bussie about this
tyme, in ther blind zeall, to gratifie and enrich
the church) to rebuild (which was then much
ruinous) the coUegiat church of Carnwath, with
the yle therof, the which they dedicate to Saint
Marie, and endued the same with the sourae of
ten merks yearly, to be payed out of the barronie
of Carnwath, which, as a mortificatione, is conti
nued untill this day. For the particular year of
its foundatione I cannot be positive, seing the
year of God hes been omitted. However, by
other circumstances agreeing with that very tyme,
wee may conclude it hes been built betwext the
year 1425 and the year 1430 ; for in this year
ther is mention made of the coUegiat church of
Carnwath in severall writtes and evidences that
I have seen. For the founder, the author of the
additione to Spotswood's Historie, is positive that
the coUegiat church of Carnwath was built by
Thomas Lord Somervill ; for which see his book,
page twentieth and seventh. The yle itself is
but litle, however neatly and conveniently built,
opposite to the midle of the church : aU aisler.

THE SOMERVILLS. 167
both within and without, haveing pinickles upon
aU the corners, wherin are engraven, besydes
other imagerie, the armes of the SomerviUs and
the Sinclaires, very discerneable to the occular
aspectione, albeit it be two hundereth and fyftie-
eight years since they wer placed there.'
In anno 1426i Thoraas Lord Soraervill goes to 1426.
the south to setle his affaires at Lintoune, the
borders being now in sorae quyetnes because of
the peace betwext the two kingdoras. His father
Sir John had but seldorae visited that place, and
himself but at starts, before King Jaraes his re
turne to Scotland ; but now, haveing continued
there some space, he caused repaire the church
and queir of Lintoune, with the ancient monu
ment ofhis first predecessor in Scotland, and the
tower of Lintoune ; aU which, by lenth of tyme,
and the perpetuall excursiones and burnings of
the English, in former ages, wer much decayed.
His predecessores, that reaped but smaU benefite
frora tiiat barronie of Lintoune, in tyme of warr
betwext the two kingdomes, became carelesse of
ther concernes in that part of tiie country, which

' The church of Carnwath is in a handsome style of Gothic
architecture, and is one of the few churches of countiy parishgi
in Scotland which are so.

16^3 MEMORIE OF
may be the reasone that John Lord SomervUl,
this lord's great grand childe, with the consent
of his tutors. Sir John of Quathquan, three score
years eftir, they sold it to the Kerrs now of Lin*
toiine.'
1427. Being returned from the south, he carae to
Mid Louthian, and orders his affaires in GUlraer-
toune, frora which lands he reaped as much be^
nefite, both in reall and casuall rent, as he did
from any other ofhis barronies within the natione,
haveing both coalles and lyrae-stone in abund
ance, with a constant and setled rent, being all
of itin Acker-dale land (except the Drum and
Gutters,') duely payed, because ofthe neer neigh
bourhead ofthe toune of Edinburgh. Being now
come to the west, he sets himself wholly to the
mannadgement and iraproveingof his great estate,
the country being then in peace as to any warr
with England.
This noble man being blessed with severall
children, wherof fyve being alyve, wer now come
to the state of men and women ; his eldestdaugh-
ter, named Marie eftir her mother, this year 1 427,
he marryes upon Sir WUUam Hay of Yester j

' The property has since passed to the Pringles of Clifton.
' Or Goodtrees, now called Moredun.

THE SOMERVILLS. 169
and with her gave in portione the lands of Auch-
termyre, caUed the out barronie of Cambusne
then, being within the parish therof. Thir lands
belonging to the church the Lord Somervill held
them of the abbacie of Kelso or Melrose ; for I
ara not certain to which of thera they doe belong,
but that the house of Yester retaines thera untUl
this day, the same, of late, by this lord or the late
Earle of Yester, being fewed out to severall here-
tours, wherof the laird of AlUtoune,' of the sir-
name of Stewart, is the most considerable. His
second daughter, named GeiUes eftir his ladyes
mother, he marryes upon Sir Robert Logan, laird
of RestaUrig, who had in portione with her the
lands of Finningtoune, Becry-hill and Heathry-
hiU, aU lying within the barronie of Cambusne
then, and parishen therof. Many years thereftir
I find thir lands resigned by the successor ofthe
laird of RestaUrig in favours of Sir John of Quath
quan, the first lahd of Cambusnethen, frora the
tyrae that it becarae in a distinct familie from the
house of CowthaUy, of whom he held thera. His

* AUantoun. Some remarks afterwards escape frora the au
thor's pen unjustly derogatory to this ancient branch of the
Jjouse of Stewart, to whicli he was himself allied by the marriage
of Janet Stewart of Darnle with his ancestor Sir Thomas.

170 MEMORIE OP
youngest daughter, named Margaret eftir his oune
mother, he marryes upon the lard of Closseburne
in Niddisdale, of the sirname of KiUpatrick,
whose sone Thoraas, naraed eftir his grand-father
the Lord SoraerviU, wee wiU have occasione to
speak of in the memorie of his cussing the first
lord John. What portione in land or money this
lady had from her father I find not ; but it ap
pears the house of Closseburne hes been very
weill satisfied with this match, by their gratitude
and thankfuUnes to the house of CowthaUy for
severaU generationes thereftir.' Thus wee see this
noble man happy and fortunate in his oune match,
and in the matching of his daughters, being aU
in his. oune lifetyrae marryed to gentlemen of
eminent qualitie, two of them cheif of ther naraes
and families. His sones, being two, William and
Thomas, wer hopefuU young gentlemen as any
within the kingdome. Upon them he bestowed
such breeding (the best being rude enough) as

* Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburne, who married Margaret,
daughter of Thomas first Lord Somerville, had by her two
sons, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburne, knight, (who was
made keeper of Lochmaben castle in thp year 1481,) and
Alexander Kirkpatrick of Kirkmichael, who received the ba
rony of Kirkmichael from the king, as a reward for having ta
ken prisoner James, the 9th and last Earl of Douglas, at the
battle of Burnswark, A. D. 1484.

THE SOMERVILLS. 171
that age was capable to give. As for his eldest
sone, he was knighted by King James the First
upon this occasione.*
King Jaraes the Fhst's hard deaUing, as was 1430.
supposed (the first sex years of his reigne,) with
the principaU of his nobiUtie, by executing sorae,
banishing and imprisoning others ; this terrified
many, and startled all men of any account or emi-
nencie frora attending the court ; wherby others
of minor ranke and qualitie had opportunitie first

' " He also sat as a peer in the parliament held at Edinburgh,
anno 1429, and was by his majesty appointed justice-genera!
of Scotland besouth the river of Forth, which appears by an
authentic decreet pronounced by him, wherein he is designed
justiciarius domini nostri Regis, ex parte australi aqua de Forth*
He passed sentence against the delinquents at Stirling, the 4th
day of November, in the year of God 1430. The decreet con
cludes thus : In cujus rei testimonium, sigillum officii nostri ju-
diciarii est appensum, anno die mensis, et loco superscript.
" Immediately thereafter, Thomas Dominus Somerville was
appointed one of the wardens of the marches towards England
in December 1430.
" He married Janet, daughter of Alexander Stewart Lord
Darnly, ancestor of King Jaraes VI. with whom he got thg
lands and barony of Cambusnethan, which is confirmed by a
charter from King Robert III. Thoma de Somerville, filio et
haredi apparenti Willielmi de Somerville, militis, et Janetce Se-
nescal sponsa sua, et eorum viventi, omnes terras baronia de
Cambusnethan, 8fc. jacen. in Vicecom. de Lanark, qua fuerunt
dilecti consanguinei nostri Alexandri Senescalli de Darnly, mit
litis, S^c. dated in July 1392.'' — Douglas's Peerage, p. 626,

172 MEMORIE OF
to be knoune, and then to insinuat themselves in
the king's favour. Amongst which number,
William Crichtoune and Alexander Livingstoune
gained soe much ofthe king's affectione that they
became his only minions ; all court favours pass
ing by them or ther creatures ; untill at lenth,
in the year 1430, the king's displeasure and in
dignatione against these noblemen, whom he had
incarcerat, being now appeased, he releaved them
ftom prisone, and coraraands ther attendance at
court, where shortly thereftir they appear in
greater splendor then usuaUy was seen in the
Scottish court ; and that because ofthe extraor
dinary occasione that theq offered itself, thebapr
tisme of two young princes the king's sones, be
ing twinnes, at which solemnitie great part ofthe
nobilitie was present, and, amongst others, Tho
mas Lord Somervill, who, being a nobleman ofa
peaceable dispositione and noe wayes factious,
had never faUen under the king's displeasure. To
grace this solemnitie the more, the king was plea
sed to make fyftieth knights. Of tins number
was WiUiam, eldest sone and appearing heir to
Thomas Lord Somei-vill ; WiUiam, eldest sone to
Archibald Earl of Douglas, being the first that
was honoured with that dignhie of knichthoo^
from the king.

THE SOMERVILLS. 173
The Lord Somervill haveing remained some
tyme at court, and haveing kissed his majestie's
hands, returnes to Cambusnethen, where, for the
tyme, his famihe resided, with a resolutione for
the foture to be seen as seldome at court as pos
sible, finding, by the Utle stay he made there, that
the ancient nobUitie and barrones was rather sus
pected of factione then favoured of the king and
court. Alexander Livingstoune and WUUam
Crichtoune, both smaU barrones, and not of the
ancient nobUitie, as the author of the historie of
the Douglasses assertes (how truely I shall not
say nor enquyre eftir, being non of ray concernes)
had now the guiding of the king. AU matters of
any moment passed by ther hands, to the great
indignatione of such of the nobilitie as thought it
ther place, both in respect of ther qualitie and
birth, to have a greater share in the mannadge
ment of state affaires then was allowed to them ;
being never or seldome called to counseU dure
ing this king's reign. However, I find in the year 1434,
1434, his majestie was pleased to ratifie and con
firme Sir Thomas, now Lord Somervill, in aU his
barronies of Lintoune, Carnwath, and Cambusne
then, with the superioritie of the toune and ter-
ritorie of GUlmertoune ; all which barronies held
immediatiy of the croune, except the lands of

1Y4 MEMORIE OF
Auchtermuir in the barronie of Cambusnethen,
and the lands of Inglisberry-grange in the bar
ronie of Carnwath, which held of the kirk, and
these of GUlmertoune, which held formerly ofthe
Earle of Strathearne, now likewayes fallen in the
king's hands, by that carle's forfaulture. This
confirmatione is dated at
the tenth day of November, 1434. Eftir this I
find not the Lord Somervill present at court dure
ing this king's reigne, which was three years eftir
this nobleman's death, who now Uved at home
and looked eftir his private affaires. For his eld
est sone Sir William, he abode for the most part
with his uncle the Earle of Orkney, when he re
mained either at Roslain or in Edinburgh, in
corapany of Sir WiUiara Sinclair his cussing, eftir
ward great chancellor of Scotland. Some years
before his death he had setled his eldest sone in
the barronie of Plain ; for, by severall writts that
I have seen, and others that are in my custodie,
I find him designed Sir WiUiam SoraerviU of
Plain, appearing heir to Thoraas Lord Soraervill.
It appears this setlement hes been made to Sir
William when his marriage was first divulged,
upon the bearing of his eldest sone John, eftir
ward Lord Somervill ; for this geiitleman had
marryed secretly in the year 1428 or 1429, the

THE SOMERVILLS. 175
daughter of Sir John Mowat of Stennis, because
he could not procure the consent of hes father
nor mother to that match, albeit the young lady
was to be one ofthe co-heirs of her father's estate,
and of herself deserved very weiU ; but the Lord
Somervill and his lady designed a farr greater
match for ther sone, especially his lady mother,
who, being a lady of great birth, had a spirit an
swearable thereto.
To Thoraas his youngest sone he gives the
lands of Racklay, within the barronie of Carn
wath. Of this gentleman, Thomas, sone to Tho
mas Lord SomervUl, to the best of my-inquirie,
are descended the SomerviUs now of Gladstones.
But more of this in the life ofthe first Lord Hugh,
where occasione wiU be given to treat more am-
plie of that familie. The last evidence that I find
of this nobleman is a charter granted be lum to
and in favours of WilUam, chancellor of Scheill-
hill, wherin he confirraes to hira the lands of
Scheill-hiU and Quathquan. This charter is da
ted at the month of
1432, and is the eldest evidence that that gentle
man hes of his lands. As for this nobleman, Tho
mas Lord Somervill, he was most fortunat and
successefull in all his affaires both pubUct and
privat, haveing disposed of his children, and set-

176- MEMORIE OF
led his busines before his death, in the order all-
ready rehearsed. He sickned in August, and
dyed ofa flux in December thereftir, 1434, being
then in the fyftieth and nynth year of his age.
Ther was not any ofthe name of Soraervill, either
in England or Scotland, had raore honour or a
greater estate then this nobleraan, nor was ther
any that marryed ther daughters better and raore
honourably then he did. Haveing left a hopefuU
successione of two sones and three daughters, he
rested from his laboures and was buryed within
the yle of Carnwath, built by himself, wherin eftir
ward his lady, darae Marie Sinclaer, was interred:'

* This aisle is still standing, and after Cuthally passed frora
the faraily of Somerville, was used as a burial place for the
Dalzells, Earls of Carnwarth, and since for the Lockharts of
Lee. It is a Gothic building of some architectural merit. The
church itself, as appears from the following record, was founded
in 1386, and endowed by this Lord Somerville in 1424, with
some lands which the relict of one of his successors in vain
endeavoured to resume.
A. D. 1495, xix Octobris, — " In presens of ye lordis of con-
sale, Marioun Laidy Someruale protestit that sen Sir Johne
Inglis chapellane, wes requirit be our souerane lordis letrez, to
bring with liira ye letrez of mortification and gift yat he haid
of ye kingis hienes of a part of ye landis of Cambusnethane,
assignit to Sanct Michaelis chapell at Cambusnethain, and yat
he beand personally present and producit na charter nor mor-
tificatioun of ye kingis hienes of ye saidis landis, yat yarfore'
echo raight broik ye saidis landis as hir coniunct feftraent but
vexatioun of ye said chapellain, as efferis of justice."

'T'''^^:3»iP«;

(DMm^wmm (cmmm:iL

2o,^,m&dii,X<mfnmaii:rt&-B^jMir:i&S-

THE SOMERVILLS. 17/
a lady of high qualitie and eminent vertue, as
was also her mother-in-law, Margaret Edmond
stoune, both of thera contributeing much for the
honour and greatnes of the house of CowthaUy.

Of William, the Second of that Name, the Eight
Barrone of Lintoune, the Fyfth qf Carnwath,
the Third of Camhcinethen, the Second Lord
Somervill, and the Therteinth from Sir Gualter
de Somervill, I^ord ofWIiiolienour.
Thomas Lord SomerviU dying in December, in
the year 1434, Sir William, Barrone of Plain, was
served heir to him in the barronies of Carnwath,
Lintoune and Cambusnethen, and the lands of
GUlmertoune, by a breiff out ofthe chancellarie

" In presens of ye lordis Sir Johne Inglis chapellain producit
certane instruraentis transumptis and charteris anent ye foun-
datioun of a chapellanry of Sanct Michalis chapell of Cambus-
kinnethane, ane of ye ferd day of Julii, in ye yere of God
i'oiii'lxxxvi yeris. Item a charter maid be William Someruale
Lord of Carnewath, of ye dait of yc xx. day of Aprilc, in ye
zere of God, i"iiii'xxiiii. yeris, and alss producit a sentence
dilHnitue gevin be ye officiale of Glasgw, aganis Marioun Laidy
Someruale in ye said matter." — Records, p. 461.
M

178 MEMORIE OF
the tenth day of June, 1435,' before Sir Hendrif
Prestoune of CraigmUler, shertif principaU and
provest of the toune of Edinburgh. Upon this
inqUeist, ther was tbese gentle men whose names
follow : WilUam BaiUzie of Lamingtoune, John
Gerdoune of Aplegirth, Henrie Weir elder of
Blaickwood, John Lauder of Hatton, Robert
Logane of RestaUrig, Sir John Edmondstoune
of Edmondstoune, Sir WUliam Borthuick of Bor-
thuick, William Fairlie of Braid, James Fallsyde
of that ilk. Sir William Moubray of Barnebougill,
Sir Alexander Damahoy of that ilk, Wilham
Lindsay of Cavingtoune, and Roger KUlpatrick
of Closseburne. Thir gentlemen being barrones,
hes ther sealles appended to this retour, upon red
wax, enclosed in white, as the custome then was.
This service being over, William Lord Somervill
bringes his young lady from her fathers house of
the Stannas, where she had still remained with
her father, untill the death of Thomas Lord So
mervUl, her father-in-law ; but now carae to live
at Cambusnethen, her mother-in-law keeping her
constant residence in the castle of Cowthaily^

' The death ofthe first Lord, and the succession ofthe se
cond, are placed by Douglas ten years later. But the writer of
the Meraoirs quotes from the service lying before hira.

THE SOMERVILLS. 179
with whom she was hot yet reconeealled, nor yet
with her sone for ther disorderly marriage. How
ever, the year eftir her husband's death, by the
mediatione of freinds, particularlie by her three
sones-in-law and her youngest sone, she was
brought to hearken to the proposaUs made by
Sir John Mowat of Stannas, in order to a settie
ment of the fourth part of his estate in portione
vrith his daughter Janet MoWat, which according
ly was now done, neer ten years eftir her raarriage
with Williara, now Lord SomerviU. In this con
tract Dam Marie Sinclair Lady Somervill, is a
partie consenter. By this marriage, and the con
tract so long eftir did the Lord SomerviUs get
right to the fourth part of the barronie of Stan
nas, wherinto I find this Lord William's sone.
Lord John, served heir to his father, eftir his
death. William Lord Somerv'ill, being noW agreed
with his mother arid secured in the fourth part i436i
of his father-in-law his estate, by right of his lady,
in imitatione of his father was not very curious
in makeing any interest at court, his father have
ing left him ane opulent fortune without any
burding or trouble ; but the liferent of his mou
ther, who liferented the wholl barionie of Carn
wath, except soe much therof as her youngest

180 MEMORIE OF
sone Thomas bad in proppertie for his patrirao
nie. It was in this year, upon the twentieth arid
one or twentieth and two dayes of February, 1436,
sayes Drummond ; but others in the year 1437,
that King James the First was kiUed in the Black-
friers, in the toune of Saint Johnstoune,: by Pa
trick Grahame and Robert Stewart, at the insti
gatione of Walter Stewart Earl of Atholl, this
king's father's brother by the Earle of Rosses
daughter, who pretended to be rightfuU heir to
the croune, and alleadged he was wronged and
defrauded by the sone of Elizabeth Muir, who
was only a concubine as he aUeadged.
This fatall stroak being given, when all or most
of the nobilitie was absent from court, and some
pf the most eminent out of the country, such as
Archibald, fyfth Earl of Douglas, and severall
others with hira, so that the Earle of AthoU had
opportunitie, first to contryve and then to execute
his divellish treasone, against the persone of his
soveraigne, who was murdered in his oune bed
chamber, by the bloodie hands of these miscre
ants before named, all of whom thereftir suffered
condigne punishment suiteable to tile heinousnes
of ther execrable cryme, as is at lenth related by
our historians. Ane moneth or therby eftir the
king's death, his sone Jaraes the Second was

THE SOMERVILLS. 181
crouned at Edinburgh, the tenth of March, 1437,
at whose coronatione, with others of the nobilitie,
WiUiam Lord Somervill appeares, and was the
more gracious to the court, who now intended
the calling of a parliament for secureing ther
oune interest, and setleing the governraent upon
themselves dureing the king's minoritie, which
made thera carasse such of the nobilitie as had
either favoured them in the late king's reigne, or
stooden neutrall and indifferent who governed,
they or that factione of the nobilitie that at this
tyme soared high in ther pretentiones, more (as
was supposed) then was fitting for subjects ; ' the
Lord SomerviU being one of those that adhered
to noe syde, had the more favour, and stood in
good tearraes both with Livingstoune and Crich
toune, who, by this parliament and the court fac
tione, wer made the one governour and the other
chancellor of Scotland, which highted exceeding-
lie the envy of such ofthe nobilitie that had still

' In 1449, he is appointed one of the Scottish conservators
of the truce between England and Scotland then concluded.
Rymer, xi. p. 254. In 1451, he is one ofthe ambassadors of
Scotland, nominated in a royal safe-conduct, and in the same
year we find him once more a conservator of the peace, which
he had probably a share in the establishing — Ibid. p. 286. 300.

182 MEMORIE OF
opposed them, especially the Earle of Douglas,
who, by reteiring from the court, and confyne
ing all actiones civUl and criminaU to his oune
regalitie courts, wbich wer endued with large
priviledges, granted to the house of Douglas of
old by former kings to the diminishing rauch of
ther oune authoritie, and such as governed under
them, as in the present caice of Livingstoune and
Chrichtoune, whose authoritie was contemned
notwithstanding of ther high places, the executive
part ofthe law being frustrat as haveing noe force
to compell obedience to justice, when requyred
by them ; and that allmost in noe part of the
kingdome, but more particularly Aimandale men,
accustomed to thift and robberie, begane to vex
the neighbouring shyres with dry veing away ther
goods by open force and violence as from ene
mies. This the governours could not redresse
nor punish. The eviU still increassed to the ruine
of the country, the blame wherof the governour
and chancellor shifted from themselves, and laid
the fault upon the discontented nobilitie, and
especially upon the Earle of Douglas, who, to
speak the truth, was only able to restraine these
viUanies, in that part of the country, as being of
greatest authoritie and comraand there.

THE SOMERVILLS. 183
But, as if the natione had not suffered enough
by tiifise robberies, the governour and chancellor
at lenth falles at variance, sending out contrary
(edicts and proclamationes, each contradicting
what the other commanded, and both pretend
ing the king's autlioritie. Soe that considering
the mmoritie of fhe king, the discontent of the
nobiUtie and difference betwext the governours,
with the nakednes and brocken conditione of the
cuntry, the whoU kingdorae might easUie have
been preyed on by the EngUsh. A fitter oppor
tunitie never offered itself since the reigne of
John BalioU, then at this tymg ; but it was the
good fortune of our natione to have noe warr
with them dureing the king's minoritie. All thgse
occurrences are soe fiUly spocken to and soe
largely represented upon the governour and chan
cellor's part, by the author of the historie of the
Douglasses, that I passe thera in a word ; for if
all be true that he wrytes Ooncermng Living
stoune and Crichtoune, they have been divelles
rather then raen, and that not only in the death
of the Earle of Douglas and his brother unjustly
executed in the castle of Edinburgh, when it
might rationally be supposed he could not be
guiltie of any great cryme (if being a great sub
ject was not one) seing he had scarcelie attained

1 84 MEMORIE OF
to the sexteinth year ofhis age,' a tiagedie foolie
acted, and never enough to be lamented : for
which these gentleraen eftirward suffered both in
ther persones and in ther estates. And, as if this
had not been enough and too much, the author
makes the wholl surcease of ther governements a
mountebankes play, which they acted with the
greatest fraudes imaginable, towards all raen and
to one another, when open force could not doe
ther turne. And, indeed, laying asyde the pre
judice that that author might justly haye against
them, upon the account of the Douglasses, ther
actiones are not justifieable even in the judgeraent
of these that lived in that age, as any may observe
by peruseing our histories, where they shall find
much of the disorders of the tymes imputed to
ther pride.* But this being noe part cf my bussi-

' The curious and ancient Chronicle of the reign of James
II. states him to be eighteen years old. Arabition has rarejy
had a more short career.
* " There was a confederation made betwixt thir earls and
their friends, [viz. the Earl of Douglas, and the Earls of Craw
ford, Ross and Murray,] vvith a solemn oath, that the injuries
done to any of thera, or the soberest of them, or their adhe
rents, should be equal quarrel to thern all, contrary whatsome-
ever men in or forth of this realm ; and to spend their lives,
lands and gear, to the revenge of the same.
" Through this covenant the Earl of Douglas grew so proud

THE SOMERVILLS. 1 85
nes to examine, that which I take notice of is,
that the Lord Lome and his brother Sir Jaraes
Stewart, who had marryed the queen mother, be
ing imprisoned, and the queen herself confyned

and insolent, that they boastedin all parts wherever they came,
to have the rule and guiding of the realm against all men's will,
and to have their enemies utterly exterminate. But this am
bitious and vain vaunting was not pleasant in the sight of God :
For vain pride and ambitiousness cometh never of God, but
allenarly of the devil, who is the master of pride.
" In the meantime the king began of new to hate the house
of Douglas because of their ambitiousness. Another cause
there was ; because some thieves of Douglasdaie had berried
all the lands pertaining to John Heres, a .nobleman and faith
ful subject to the king's majesty at all times ; whereof, when
this Heres had oft and diverse times complained and souglit
redress thereof from the Earl of Douglas, and could never get
remeid, he took purpose to recompence the same wrong be
cause he got no justice. But this attempt succeeded very un
happily ; for in the herying of Anandale, he was taken with
his complices and brought to the Earl of Douglas, where he
was casten in irons, and thereafter hanged^ shamefully, as ^f lie
had been a thief, notwithstanding the king's commandment in
the contrary and other messages sent to that effect.
" The king took very heavy wilh this high contempt, but
suppressed it for the time. Attour the poor people were so
overcome and burdened with importable charges, that there
was no life for thera ; and yet notwithstanding they durst not
plainzie nor lament ther own misery in thir troubleous times,
and therefore day by day, mischief began more to encrease.
Other noblemen that were full of substance had no will of dis
cord, but abhorred all utterly thir civil wars rising among them
selves, and lamented quietly thir dangers and calamities whicii
lay not within tlieir power to quench. This mischief daily in-

1 86 MEMORIE OF
to her chamber in StirUng castie, under a pretext
forsooth that they keeped intelligence with the
enemies of the state ; and these wer the Doug
lasses as they would have perswaded the natione.

creased so much that all men took suspicion, that thir Ear}? of
Douglas, Crawford, Murray and Ross, with their assisters, which
was the greatest part of the re^lm, shoul4 hastily depose tbe
king out ofhis authority. Which suspicion being shewn to thp
king, he took gre^t fear thereof; for he knew well that thejr
faction was as potent (if they were not more potent) th^Qihun-
fieif. " At this time the Earl of Douglas cast himself tp be stark
against tbe king ; and therefore sought and perswaded all mep
under his opinion and servitude, and in special the gentleman
pf Galloway, with Coile, Carrickj and C^ningha^v, and 9II
ether parts that were near adjacent unto hira, desiring th^^
<laily to rise and go with him as his own house-hold men and
servants, and to assist him in all things whatspever he had
ado, whether it was right or wrong, with the king or against
him. But some other wise raen seeing the dapger appear
ing o£ the Earl of Douglas's proceedings contrary to the
king and his authority, therefore would not assist hijqg, npr
take part with him, nor ride nor gang with hin), ijpr b? J)ls
roan. Araong the rest of thir there was one Maclellw, wlio
was tutor of Bomby for the time, and sister's son tp Sir Patrick
iGray, who was master of Gray and principal servitor to the
king and captain ofhis guard. This Maclellan, for love hp bpre
to the king's grace and to the ministration of justice, would on
no ways serve and ride with the Earl of Douglas, contrary the
king or his authority, nor yet to oppress the commonwealth pf
the country, but kept him quietly within his bounds, doing ijo
man wrong. The Earl of Douglas seeing this, tliat this nian
would not serve him, came quietly unto hjs house with a great
nunjber of men, and sieged it, and wan it, and took hira put pf

THE SOMERVILLS. IS/
To setle this affair, and set the queen at libertie,
ther is a conventione of the lords called the third
of August, 1439. To this conventione comes 1439.
William Lord SoraerviU of purpose to doe the

thp sarae, apd ha4 him to thg eastlp of Dowglas, and cast him
there in strait prison. His fri^ndjs seeing this, passed to the
court to Sir Patrick Gray, to show him the manner thereof how
jt stood with bis sister's son. The which when Sir Patrick Gray
heard the novels, he was heavily displeased at the matter, !in4
passed hastily to the king, and shewed him tlie manner how it
stood with his sister's son, desiring the king's grace for to de-
lirer him his sister's son which the Earl of Douglas had in cap
tivity an4 prison for the time. The king granted very thank*-
fully the same, and paused write a sweet letter of supplication
to the Earl of Douglas for to deliver the tutor of Bomby to Sir
Patrick Gray, his eame.
'^ This writing being subscribed and signaled with the king's
sign«t, thereafter delivered to Sir Patrick Gray, to use the san^
as be thought cause ; who passed away hastily with the said
writing and supplication of the king to the Earl of Douglas,
wlifl was then in the castle of Douglas at the time sitting at his
dinner; and hearing told that Sir Patrick Gray, the king's fa
miliar servant, was lighted at the gate, the eari marveUed much
at the matter what that could mean, and caused incontinent
draw the gates, and rose and met the said Sir Patrick with great
reverence and humility, because he was the king's principal cap
tain, and secret servant and familiar to his grace ; therefore the
e^l received him with more thanks : But all was under colour
ani deceit, for the eari had no favour to the king, nor to any
ofhis familiars; yet he enquired at the said Patrick if he had
dined. Who answered he had not. Then the Earl of Douglas
said, there was no talk between a full man and a fasting ; th^re-
jbrp you shall dine, and we shall talk together at length.

188 MEMORIE OE

queen service. He understood weUl enough the
juglings betwext the governour and the chancel
lor in this matter, as in all other affaires of state,
but he forboor to take notice therof; and only

" In this meantime Sir Patrick Gray sat down to his dinner,
and the earl treated him and made him good chear, whereof
Sir Patrick Gray was well contented, believing all things to
succeed well thereafter. But the Earl of Douglas on the other
part took a suspicion and conjecture what Sir Patrick's com
mission was, and dreading his desire should be for his friend the
tutor of Bomby ; therefore in the meantime, when they were at
the dinner talking of merry matters, the earl caused quietly take
forth the master of Bomby out of prison and have hira to the
green, and there struck oiF his head, and took the same away
from hira, and syne covered a fair cloath on his body that no
thing might be seen of that treasonable act that was done.
" In this meantirae, when dinner was done. Sir Patrick Gray
presented the king's writing unto the earl, who reverently re
ceived it ; and when he had read it, and considered the effect
thereof, he gave great thanks to Sir Patrick Gray, saying, hfe
was beholden to him, that brought so familiar a writing from
his prince to him, considering how it stood between them at
tbat time : and as to the desire and supplication, it should be
thankfully granted to the king ; and the rather for Sir Patrick's
sake. And took him by the hand and led him forth to the green
where the gentleman was lying dead, and shewed him the man
ner, and said. Sir Patrick, you are coma a little too late ; but
yonder is your sister's son lying, but that he wants the head :
Take his body and do with it what you will. Sir Patrick an
swered him again with a sore heart, My lord, if ye have taken
from hira his head, dispone upon the body as ye please. And
with that called for his horse and leaped thereon ; and when he
was on horseback he said to the earl on this raanner, My lord,

THE SOMERVILLS. 189
dealles with the chanceUor, with whora he had
some interest upon his ladyes account of freind
ship' and his oune neighbourhead in Mid-Lou-
thian, to become a mediator for the queen, which
at lenth he did with others ; and so her majestie
was set at libertie ; haveing given Sir Alexander
Seatoune (who was the first Earle of Huntly)
cautioner, that she sould pay four thousand
merkes to the governour.* This, Avith other sup-

if 1 live you shall be rewarded for your labours that you have
used at this time, according to your demerits.
" At this saying, the earl was highly offended and cried for
his horse. Sir Patrick seeing the earl's fury, spurred his horse ;
but he was chased near to Edinburgh ere they left him; and
had it not been his lead horse was so tried and good he had
been taken. But when thir news carae to the king he was hea
vily discontented therewith, both of the slaughter, then of the
chasing ofhis servant. To that effect the king called his secret
tounsel to advise hereupon what was the best to be done for
to danton this wicked man, that could no ways be stanched from
reif, oppression, and slaughter both of great men and small."  .
PlTSCOTTIE, p. 37-
• Owing to the connection andfriendship between the houses
of llosline and Crichtoun.
* M,CCCC,XXXIX. That samyn year, the lord Kalendar
Schir Alexander Levingstoun, that tyme beand in the castell of
Sterling with the quene, tuke the quene and put hir in ane
chalmer, and kepit hir stratlye tharin, till scho was lowsit by
the thre estatis, at the counsail haldin at Strivling that samyn
y^ear, the last day of August. And that samyn tyme he tuke
Schir James Stewart, the Lord of Lornis brother, and William
Stewart, and put tham in pittis, and boUit thamc. At that samyn

igO MEMORIE OE
posed cryraes eftirward was bighly aggravated
against the governour and chancellor, when they
fell under the king's displeasure.
The tymes still growing worse dureing the
king's minoritie. Lord SomerviU keeped himself
1441,. at home, without declareing for any interest,
seing his raajesties persone was not in danger nor
his authoritie questioned in the persone of hm
ministers, or such as had power by ther oflSce, by
any partie ; pride and ambitione in the nobilitie,
covetousenes and arbitrable command and over-
ruleing in the governour and the chancellor was
the main groundes of the quarrellings and the
confusiones that followed therupon, wherin the
Lord Somervill conceaved himself not concerned,
as haveing no dependance upon either factiones,
but in soe far as they mynded the honour and
safetie of the king, the peace of the natione, and
the Weill fare ofthe country. In the year 1444,
the king takes the government upon himself.
Upon which the Lord Somervill gives his attend
ance at court ; and was present at the receptione

counsail Schir James was borrowit be the Lord Gordoun, Schir
Alexander Setoune, Lord of the Ylis, Schir William of Crech-
toun that tyme chanceller, under the pane of three thousand." — ¦
A short Chronicle qfthe Reign qf James II. p. 33.

THE SOMERVILLS. IQI
of WiUiaih Earle of Douglas, sone and heir to
grosse Jaraes Earle of Douglas, and cussing to
WiUiam, execute in Edinburgh castle. This no-
blettian, by reasone of his great estate, the house
of Douglas hitherto being still upon the growing
hand, and the large fortune that came to him by
marrying his oune cussing Beatrix Douglas, Called
the Fair Maiden of Galloway, was, for opulencie
of state, strenth of allyaes, in consanguinitie and
affinitie, many vassalles and dependers, with a
numerous traine of follower, being far greater in
all these then any of his predecessores, made him
not only the envy of his equalles in dignitie, but
also the terror of his oune prince and country,
which at lenth ruined this noble faraUie, in the
persones of this sarae earle and his successor..
Howbeit, at this tyme he had a kynde receptione
from the king, haveing acknowledged his error,
and promised all subjectione and obedience for
the future to his majesties commands. The
Earle of Douglas haveing now accesse, and in
favour with the king, presently proceeds against
Livingstoune and Crichtoune, accuseing thera of
diverse cryraes, as raalversation in ther particular
offices ; but raore especially for the death of his
cussing and Maleome Eleyming of Comernald,
wrongously slain by the governour and chancel-

192 •¦ MEMORIE OF
lor in Edinburgh castie. Thir two gentlemen be
ing summoned to a certane day, they durst not
compear personaUy, but answears by procurators,
that they wer ready to give ane account of ther
government and all things else before equaU
judges ; but, for the present, when all accesse
was closed up with armed men, the king behoo
ved to pardone them. Upon this refuiseaU, a se
cond citatione being given, and then not com
pearing, they were denunced rebelles in a con
ventione of states keeped at Stirling the fourth
of Noveraber, and all ther goods confiscat and or
dered to be brought in for the king's use.'
Dureing the prosecutione of this affair, ther is
a parliament called to be held at Perth, but sat
1445. at Edinburgh in the beginning of February 1 445.
The castle of Edinburgh being at this tyme be-
seidged, the king was at lenth surrendered by

' " There was ane counsail generall haldin at Strivling, the
ferd day of November, in the bender end of the quhilk coun
sail they blewe out on Schir William of Crechtoun, and Schir
George of Crechtoun, and thar advertence. Incontinent efter the
outblawing, Sir George and Sir William tuke away Schir Jhon
Fosteris gudis, that is to say, scliepe and nolt. And syne Schir
George tuke the Eril of Douglas horse, and brynt his grangis
of Abircorne and Strabrok, and uthir five placis, and brynt the
samyn tyme the Blaknestis.'' — Short Chronicle of James IL p.
36.

THE SOMERVILLS. 193
Crichtoune and himself pardoned, as our histo
rians wrytes of his supposed cryraes. To the ra
tificatione of this pardone and remissione by the
king and parliament, WUliam Lord Somervill is
witness, and his seall append therto ; but it fared
much worse with the late governour and his sones,
James and Robert Livingstounes, ther cussing
David, and fiiend Robert Bruce, and the two
Dundasses, being aU summoned to this parlia
ment, wer convict, found guUtie, and had ther
sentence ; the father and the two Dundasses to
perpetual imprisonment, the two sones, with
David Livingstone and David Bruce, to lose ther
heads. It was at this parliament that WiUiam
Lord SomervUl became intiraate with Adara
Hepburne Lord Hailles, who was now growing
in this king's favour, as his sone and grandchilde
Patrick Earle of BothweU did in that of his three
next successors, untill ther pride and arabitione,
attended with courtlynes, ruined them in the
reigne of Queen Marie to ther everlesting igno
minie. However, in this king's reigne and by his
favour they wer first nobiUtat and eftirward en
riched with a great part of the Earles of March
ther estate, and then with that of Chancellor
Crichtounes, whose castle of Crichtoune, when
he was made Earl of Bothwell, by King James

19 i ME3I0RIE OF
the Fourth, he made his principaU residence, as
ther buUdings doe yet testifie." It was with this
nobleman's eldest daughter HeUen Hepburne,
that WilUam Lord SoraerviU contracts his eldest
sone and heh John Barrone of Carnwath, to whom
he gave the barronie of Lintoune ; which was all
the land his father infeft hira in before his oune
death. This marriage being agreed upon, as the
contract beares, upon the twentieth of February,
1445, the conditions being that John Somervill,
sone and appearing heir to Williara Lord Soraer
vill, should raarrie and take to his lawfull wife,
HeUen Hepburne, eldest lawfull daughter to
Adam Hepburne Lord Hailles, and that betwext
and the last of JuUy in the next year following.
In satisfactione of which raarriage, and upon the

' The buildings, now ruinous, still show the ancient splen
dour of the house of Bothwell. They form a large quadran
gular court surrounded by buildings of various ages, from the
small square tower which may have been the dwelling of the
Criclitons, while yet lesser barons, to a suite of apartments di
vided between the splendour of a palace and the dignity ofa
eastle, and occupying the eastern side of the square. These
were probably built, either by the profligate lover of Queen
Mary, or by his father. The stile of architecture has a mix
ture of elegance not to be usually met with in the Scottish feu
dal castles, though frequently occurring in those of England
during the 16th century.

THE SOMERVILLS. 195
acccraplishment of the same, William Lord So
mervill, father to the said John, should receave
the sourae of three thousand raerkes passing rao
ney in Scotland, to be paid at four severall tiraes
eftir the day of the raarriage. This contract hes
noe inscriptione of hands ; but only the parties
and witnesses designed hes sex seaUes appended
therto, which are the Hepburnes, the Hayes,
Sinclaires, Prestounes, Baillzies, and SoraerviUs.
The marriage was solenmized at the castle of
Hailles the tenth of JuUy, 1446, which they 1446.
reckoned and began the year, as wee doe now.
It was more nor a year and a half eftir the con
tract ; but I rather beleive that they began ther
year with the first of March ; and soe ther inter-
veened but four monthes betwext the contract
and the marriage.
This marriage being over, the Lord SomervUl
returnes horae weill satisfied with the choyse he
had raade for his sone, and that both in respect
of the qualitie and vertue of the young lady, as
also in regaird of the security he promised him
self from the court factione in that reeling tyme,
wherin the wholl country for many years eftir
was StiU in a combustione, occasioned principal-
lie by the king and courtiers jealousies of the
Earle of Douglas, who now haveing dashed the

196 MEMORIE OF
chancellor and governour, some of Livingstounes
execute, others imprisoned and forfaulted, with
Bishop Kennedie's persone and goods, by ther
secret assisters exposed as a prey to them that
was pleased to take them ; and severall other oc
currences that feU out at that tyme, created the
Earle of Douglas many enemies, albeit he was
yet in the king's favour, notwithstanding of
Crichtoune's renued courtship in being imployed
as ambassador for to bring home the Queen Marie,
the Duke of Quildirt's daughter,' which he per
formed to the satisfactione of the king and coun
try ; and yet it is to be observed that in the year
1447,* he was forfaulted by vertue of ane act he
was instrumentall to make hiraself, viz. the keep
ing out of a house or castle being suramoned by
ane herauld of armes, was declared treasonable.
This is supposed to have reached himself and
the Livingstones the first of any men within this
kingdome ; for the chancellor being summoned
to delyver up his castle of Crichtoune, upon the

' Mary, daughter of the Duke of Gueldres, landed in Scot
land, 17th June, 1449.
* This is a mistaken date. Douglas was at this period in high
power and favour, and held the lieutenancy of the kingdom.

THE SOMERVILLS. 197
refuisall that very act did railitat against hira
self The sarae year, 1447," I find ane charter of 14!*7.
new infeftraent, granted by Williara Lord Soraer
vill, designed of New Bigging, in favours of
Walter Ogilvie of that ilk, to a sex oxgate of
land within the toune of Quathquan, belonging
forraerly to John Auchinleck of that ilk. The
charter is dated at Edinburgh, the
day of 1447' Likewayes in the
sarae year, the first of October, the Lord Soraer
viU contracts his eldest daughter Marie, eftir
his oune raother, upon Ralph Weir, and gives
in portione with her two thousand merkes, pay-'
able at four termes ; for the payraent of this
sourae, he binds hiraself, his eldest sone, John
Ban-one of Carnwath, John Lockhart of Clog-
horne, and John ChanceUor of Scheill-hiU. Three
years thereftir, he raarryes his youngest daugh
ter Janet upon Jaraes CleUland, sone and heir to
Williara CleUland of that ilk. The portione is
ane thousand and fyve hundereth raerkes, pay
able at three terraes, and twentieth milk kyne
with ther followers.
It was happy for the country that during these
intestine broyles and the king's minoritie, ther
was noe forraigne war from the year 1423 to the

198 MEMORIE OF
year 1448 ; in all which tyme, being the whoU
reigne of King Jaraes the First, to the eleventh
year of King Jaraes the Second, ther had been
noe warr with England. But this year, 1448,
Durafreis was burnt by the Earle of SaUsbury,
and Durabar spoyled by the Earie of Northura
beriand. In recompence whereof, James Doug
las, brother to WilUam Earle of Douglas, burnes
the toune of An week' in England. This was the
beginning and preparative to a great battell that
followed that same year ; for the seven year's
truce being first brocken by the English, the
Scots therupon took occasione to waste all Cum
berland, and, in a manner, depopulates the sarae.
The newes therof being carryed quickly to Lon
don, ther is ane arraie of fourtieth thousand men
ordered to march for Scotland, under the com
mand of the Earle of Northumberland, and one
Magnus, a gentleraan borne in England, who,
being a souldier abroad, had, upon several occa-

' Alnwick. In a second foray Douglas burned Warkworth,
another principal castle ofthe rival house of Percy ; and in re
turning homeward a skirmish ensued, in which it was remark
ed that the son of Collingwood, a Northumbrian baron, made
prisoner the Lord of Glendonwyne, who died of his wounds;
while Glendenwyne's son took captive the Baron of Colling
wood.

THE SOMERVILLS. 199
sions, given good proof of his valour and con
duct. This gentleraan, because of his long red
beard, was named Magnus Red Beard by the
English ; but the Scots, in derisione, named him
Magnus with the Red Mean.' King James, hear
ing of these great preparationes in England to
invade his kingdome, quickly raised ane armie,
over whora, as generall, he coramissionat Hugh
Douglas, another brother of William Earle of
Douglas, who haveing randezvouzed his forces,
presently marched with the arraie towards the
eneraie, who was aUready entered Scotland. All
the chcum stances and sequell of this battell,
with the slaughter of Magnus Red Beard, you
have at lenth in the histories of the Douglasses,
with the names of some few of these gentleraen
that comraanded the Scots forces. However,
this author forbears or forgetes to mentione the
Cliddisdale horse, commanded by John Barrone
of Carnwath, eldest sone to Williara Lord Somer
vUl, who had the right hand of the cavUlry, and
was wounded by a lance in his right thigh at this

' Or mane. This seeras to be all a nonsensical fabrication
of Boece. Redmain was at this time a common name on the
English frontiers, and occurs frequently in Froissart's Account
of the Border Wars.

200 MEMORIE OF
same engadgement, of which wound he was cured
at his cussing's house, John Somervill of Mophet,
not being able to reach Cliddisdale. The author
of the Douglasses Historie, in his relatione of this
batteU, barely sayes, (without mentioneing the
name of this young noble man, or any else of
other shyres, except Johnstoune and Maxwell,)
with many inland gentlemen; because, sayes he,
they had noe confidence in the Annandale men,
being more sett upon spoyle then victorie ; and
indeed they had reasone, the winning of this
battell being chiefly attributed to the Cliddis
dale horse, and the foot of Carrick and Kyle,
comraanded by Williara Wallace of Craigie, who
shortly thereftir dyed of the wounds he receaved
in this battell.' I know ther are many intelli-

' The short chronicle of the reign of James If. does more
justice to the master of Somerville. " The samin yer, the xxiii
day of October, was the battell of Lochmabane stane, within
the perrische of .lanet Patrik. Quhare Hew of Douglas, Eril
of Ormand, was chiftane on the Scottis syd, and with hira Schir
Ihon Wallace of Cragg, the Lord of Ihonstoun, the Lord So-
merwellis sone and air, David Stewart of Castell Mylk, the
schyref of Air, with uthir syndry gentillis of the westland, and
thair raen was callit iiii". And on the Ynglis syde, the youngar
Persye, Schir Ihon of Pennyntoune, Schir Ihon Herntoun,
war chiftanis, and with thaira sex thousand of Ynglis men, quhar
thar chiftanis war tane, and X V^ men with thaira slane, drownit
V<=. And on the Scottis syde XX"VI. slane and tane, bot na,
10

THE SOMERVILLS. 201
gent gentlemen in this age, and great antiquita
ries, that questiones the truth of severall particu
lars contained in the historie of the Douglasses,
as though that author, to raagnifie above aU raea
sure these of whora he writes, doeth obscure, or,
at the least, minches the reputatione of others,
particiUarly in this action, as in severall others
that occurred, in the tymes of these raeraories he
writes off. Indeed it seeras strange that the place
the master of Somervill held at this very en
gadgement, and the seazing upon the persone of
King James the Third in his minoritie at the pre
tended hunting in anno 1466, in favours ofthe
Boyds, by the Lord SomerviU, the same of whom
wee are now speaking, being at this batteU,
Barrone of Carnwath, (the designatione of mas
ter was not given to a lord's eldest sone untill
raany years eftir this,) should have escaped that
author ; as he raakes not the least mentione
therof, notwithstanding both Buchaiinan and
Drumraond hes the wholl storie at lenth ; arid
soe much the more I think strange of it, ab
stracting from the house of Couthally, former
matcheing with the Douglasses, ther late allya

man of reputacioun war tane nor slane, bot Schir Ihon Wallace
deit efter that he come hame, throu misgovernance." — P. 40.

202 MEMORIE OE
with the Earle of Orknayes daughter, whose mo
ther, Egidia Douglas, was daughter to WilUam
Lord of Niddisdale, that marryed GeiUes, (or
Egidia,) one ofthe daughters of Robert the Se
cond, the first of the Stewarts, by which the
house of Cowthally had a neer relatione, by con
sanguinitie, both to the Earles of Douglas and
Angus. But the truth is, this author, finding the
house of Cowthally, frora the very originaU, (not
withstanding of ther neer neighbourhead to the
principaU residence of the Douglasses,) to have
noe dependance upon the Earles of Douglas, he
raentiones the Lord Somervill but once, and the
name but four tymes in all his historie. Whether
out of prejudice or want of informatione, I can
not say myself, being ignorant in what termes
the gentleman stood in with the name when he
wrote the Historie of the House of Douglas and
Angus. But waveing this, it suffices that other
authors, both Scots and EngUsh, the confirma
tions and other grants of the kings of Scotland
and England to the houses of Whichenour, Lin
toune, Cowthally, and Cambusnethen, with ther
oune ancient evidences and other noble famiUes
with whom they have matched themselves and
ther daughters, makes out abundantly what that
author has been pleased to omit.
14.50. From the year 1450 to the year 1456, which

THE SOMERVILLS. 203
was the year wherin he dyed, I find not that this
nobleraan had frequented the court, notwith
standing that his cussing gerraan, Williara Sin
clair, Earle of Orknay, was made chancellor in
the year 1453, and continued in that statione
untiU three years eftir King James the Second's
death. The reasone may be partly his infirmitie,
being guttish ; for, at this tyme, he was of noe
great age. But I rather believe the overturne-
ings he saw in the court and country, things
groAving from eviU to worse; for, in the year
1450, ther falles out ane unluckie accident,
which altered the king's affectione and favour
frora the Earle of Douglas, because of his killing
Richard CoUvine of Ochiltrie, and all the raales
of his faraiUe, in regaird the said Richard have
ing deadly feed against John Auchinleck of that
ilk, killed lum as he journeyed to Douglas castle
to wait upon the earle. This gentieman had for
merly been a vassall to the Lord Somervill in
some lands of Quathquan, that he had in prop
pertie, and was at this tyrae a depender upon the
Earle of Douglas, which provoked him to this
revenge, wherof shortly thereftir he greatiy re
pented ; and, to expiate the same, haveing pro
cured a license from the king, he goes to Rorae,
being the year of juballie, and takes severall

204 MEMORIE OF
noble men with him, whereof the Lord Hamil
ton was one, sayes the author ofthe Douglasses,
who anticipats (as he did the constable ArroUs)
this noble man's title, for he receaved not that
dignitie untill eftir the Earle of Douglas his
death in anrio 1455. The particulars of this
journey, the earl's coraeing back by England,
what happened to his chamberlane Semintone
dureing his absence, with the earles regorous
proceedings against the Lord Herreis and the
tutor of Bumby, his last and worst act, in joyne
ing in league with the Earles of Craufuird and
Ross, his oune slaughter by the king's hand in
Sterling Castle, and that which followed ther
upon, are soe fully spocken to by all our authors
that it would be labour in vain to repeat every
circurastance relateing to these affaires, especi
aUy seeing that in all these occurrences William
Lord Soraervill lay by and mynded his private
concerne, as is evident from what foUowes.
1451. The same year wherin the natione was in that
consternatione, ther is ane instrument taken by
him in the hands of John Geddes, pubUct nottar
of Glasgow, wherin is contained and insert three
ancient charters, granted by King David the
Second, in favours of Sir John Edmondstoune,
this nobleman's aine grandfather, to the lands

THE SOMERVILLS. 205
and barronie of Cambusnethen, which formerly
for a long tyrae belonged to the narae of Baird,
who was heretor of that barronie before the for
faulture. The charters beares date the seven-
teinth year of that king's reigne, which was in
the year of God 1451. Ther are many noble
men witnesses in the forenaraed charters, such
as John Randall, Earle of Murray, WiUiara Earle
of Douglas. This was the first earle of the fa
milie, Thomas Bruce, Earle of Carrick, Malcotne
Fleyraing, Earle of Wigtoune, Patrick Dunbar,
Earle of March, Patrick, Bishop of Breichen,
ChanceUor of Scotland. Ther is likewayes ex¦^
tant a right made to this nobleman of the ten
merk land within the barronie of Brughtoune, in
the sherefdome of Peebles, by Hendrie Weir,
brother and heir to Ralph Weir, Laird of Blaick
wood, who was sone-in-law to WUliara Lord So
merviU, and dyed about this tyme, with his lady,
and left noe successione. This right is dated at
Cowthally, the tenth of Septeraber, 1452. The 1452.
charters upon this dispositione are dated att Edin
burgh, the twentieth and fourth of JuUy, 1454. 1^54,.
The year 1455, he dispones the lands and 1455,
barronie of Plain to his youngest sone, William
SoraerviU, upon his marrying of Margaret Ha-

206 MEMORIE OF
mihon, eldest lawful daughter of WiUiam Ha
milton of Prestoune ; and this began the house
of Plain, being the first cadite in the qualitie of
a barrorie of the House of Cowthally,' which
continued in the lyne of this gentle man for neer
two hundereth years ; and was at lenth sold by
Alexander Soraervill of Plain to Sir Thoraas
Nicolsone of Carnock, much about the year
1642. Ther remain yet of the descent of that
familie a youth now sexteinth years of age.

' We find a Thomas Somerville of Plaine, the son probably
of William, engaged in a law-suit with the Abbot of Cambus-
kenneth in 14.73, for annuity payable to that religious house
out of his estate of Plaine. Vltimo Julio, 14<73. " In the ac-
tioune and causs persewit be a venerable fadir, Henry Abbot
of Cambuskynneth and his convent on ye ta part, againe Tho
mas Somervile on ye toyir part ayent ye wrangwiss detentioun
and withhaldui fra hira of V li. of ye rest of ane zerelly annuell
of V li. aucht of certane termes bigane to ye said abbot and
conuent of ye half of ye landis of ye Plane. Bath ye said partiis
beand personall present, and yair euidentis richtis resouns and
allegatiouns at lenth sene, herd, and vnderstandin, the lordis
decretis and deliueris, yat becauss ye said Thomas made im
pediment to ye saidis abbot and conuent, and yar officiatis in
ye distrenzeing for ye said annuell, and tuke ye pandis fra
yaim, considering yat ye said annuell of V li. is aucht of ye
saide landis of ye Plane, yat yarfor he sail conset, restor, and
pay to ye said abbot and conuent ye said soume of V li. restand
awand as said is, and yat letres be writin to distrenze him, his
landis, and gudis yarfor." — Records qfthe Parliament qf Scot
land.

THE SOMERVILLS. 207
named James SomervUl, sone to Alexander So
mervill of Plain; This gentleman, Major Somer
viU, the estate being sold by his father, he takes
himself to the warres, wherin he gained much
reputatione both in Scotland and Ireland, dure
ing the tyrae of our civill warres; which being
over, and the king's interest and party being
ruined at Wolster fight, he goes to Fflanders, and
served under His Royall Highnes the Duke of
Albanie and York, whom, at the battell of Grove
ling, being engadged by the eneraie, and allmost
taken prisoner, this generous gentleman, by his
personall gaUantry, releaved and brought safe off
in despight of all the eneraies endeavours to the
contrary; for which speciall service, upon his
majesties happy restouratione in the year 1660,
this gentleman was preferred by his royaU high
nes to be eldest brigadier to his oune troup of
guaird ; in which imployment he continued for
neer two years ; and was at lenth unfortunately
kUled at a duell, being second to another gentle
man, who being worsted and disarmed by the
partie with whora he fought, both the principaU
and the second who was in the debeat with So
mervUl faUes upon him, and at lenth kiUes him
by a wound in his beUie, under pretext that he
would not give up his armes now when he saw

208 MEMORIE OF
his principaU disarmed ; ' for which fact, eftir
diligent search and inquirie was made for them

• In addition to the cruel and absurd custom of seconds en
gaging as well as the principals of a duel, the rule in ancient
times was, that when one of the combatants was dispatched or
disarmed, his antagonist assisted his companion in overpower
ing the other. A great part of Beaumont and Fletcher's play,
called " The Little French Lawyer," turns upon this custom.
Neither was it accounted dishonourable to overwhelm a gen
tleman with such unreasonable odds. Brantome, giving an ac
count of a duel in which the celebrated Mareschal Biron fought
with a Sieur de Carancy with two seconds on each side : " La
fortune fut si bonne pour Monsieur le Baron et ses deux con
fidants, que chascun tua bravement son homme, et I'estendit
mort par la terre. Aucuns dirent que Monsieur de Biron plus
vaillant, prompt et soudain de la main, (ainsi qu'en tons arts
aussi-bien qu'en celuy de Mars, il y a des artisans plus prompts
et diligens a faire leur besoigne que les autres,) despecha son
homrae le premier, et alia ayder aux autres: en quoy il fit
tr^s-bien, et monstra qu'avec sa valeur, il avoit du jugement et
de prevoyance, bien qu'il fust encore fort jeune, et n'avoit point
encore fait tant d'expetises d'armes comme il en a fait depuis,
qui I'ont rendu I'undes plus grands, et vaillans capitaines de la
Chrestiente, ainsi que je le descris dans mon Livre des grands
Capitaines Frangois et Espagnols que j'ay fait.
" Cette susdite privoyance luy faisoit sa legon, pour ne se
fier trop en ce Dieu Mars, qui est le plus ambigu et le plus
doubteux Dieu des tons les autres. Que si on se laisse par trop
aller d sa fiance, et ne fasse-t-on cas de I'advantage qu'il vous a
donn6 une fois, il le vous oste bien par arapr^s, et le vous fait
cher coustfer; ainsi que possible raal est pris, ou 4 Monsieur de
Biron, ou a ses corapaignons, s'il les eust veu et laiss6 faire, et
ne les eust assistez. Aussi festoit-il trop courageux, pour ne
jpuer la partie qu' a demy, et en avoir le passe-temps, Ainsi

THE SOMERVILLS. g09
by his royall highnes, thir two gentlemen wer
for ever banished England.
Efter the year 1456, I find not any thing of 1456.
WilUam Lord Somerville, but that he lived to see
his eldest sone the second tyme marryed upon
Marie BaiUzie, daughter to WiUiam BaiUzie of
Lammingtoune. He died suddenly upon the
twentieth of August, 1456, of a surfith of fruit
that carae from Cambusnethen to Cowthally, as
was supposed ; for, haveing eaten plentifully of
thir fruit at dinner, he dyed before sex at night,
being then but in the fyftieth or fourtieth and
nynth year of his age. His vertuous lady, Janet
Mowat, took so ill the sudden death of her hus
band, that she contracted a consumptione, and
dyed within two years eftir her husband. As for
hiraself, he was a nobleraan of much busines in
the countreyes where he had interests, takeing
away many feeds and quarrells amongst his neer
neighboures to ther great satisfactione ; as is
evident from severall subraissiones to hira yet
extant, by persones of good ranke and qualitie.

doit fair tout coeur genereux, et soustenir son compaignon
jusques a la derniere goutte de son sang, si n'estoit que le
camp fust este conditionne."— OewrM de Brantome, Paris,
1787-8, tome VIIL p. 79. o

210 MEMORIE OF
He raade it his great busines to mentaine and
better his oune fortune more by his care and in
dustry then by the court, notwithstanding of
the interest he might have had there, by his
great friends and relationes, the chancellor being
his cussingrgerman, preferred to that high office
three years before this nobleman's death; and
that he himself had much of his prince's favour
and presence, as is evident from his being witnes
to many of the grants given by King James the
Second.' He lyes buryed in the yle of Carnwath,
with his father. Lord Thomas, and Dara Marie
Sinclaire, his mother, wherin also his oune lady
was interred.

' Particularly to the confirmation of the various grants made
by the ancestors of Jaraes II. to the abbacy of Dunfermline,
to three charters of that prince in the chartulary of Murray,
and to one in the chartulary of Newbottle, granted to William
(le Liddell.

THE SOMERVILLS. 2 1 1

Off John Lord Somervill, the fourth of that Name,
the nynth Barrone of Lintoune, the sexth; of
Carnwath, the third Lord Somervill, and the
fourteinth from Sir Gualter de Somervill, Lord
ofWhichenour in England.
To WilUam Lord Somervill succeeded his
eldest sone and heir, John Lord SomerviU, in
the year 1456, as his retour testifies, being served
heir to his father att Edinburgh, before James,
the first Lord Hamilton, then sherriff principaU
of Lanerk, upon the twentieth and second day
of October, to the lands and barronie of Carn
wath, the Barronie of Carabusnethen, and the
fourth part of the barronie of Stenhouse. Like
wayes, the sarae year, he is served heir to his
father in the hah' of the lands of Gillraertoune,
holding waird of the king as Earle of Strathearne
by ane inqueist, att Edinburgh, the twentieth
of Deceraber, 1456, before Thomas Prestoune,
sherriff-deput of Edinburgh. In March preceed
ing, 1456, John Lord SomerviU being a widow,
by the death of his lady. Dame HeUen Hep
burne, daughter to the Lord Hailles, he marryes
Marie BaiUzie, daughter to WilUam BaiUzie of

212 MEMORIE OP
Lammingtoune, who beares to hira the year en-
1*57. suing, 1457, in the moneth of Apryle, a sone
naraed John, eftirward designed Sir John of
Quathquan, the first Barrone of Cambusnethen
of the name of SomerviU, efter it was separat
from the house of Cowthally, and became a dis
tinct faraUie of itself. Off this gentieraan, Sir
John of Quathquan, wee wiU have occasione to
wryte frequently in his father's Ufe, his brother
WUliara's, and his two nephewes, to whom he
was both tutor and curator for neer twentieth
years. This nobleraan, John Lord SoraerviU, haveing
given good prooff of his conduct and va.lour in
his ffather's lifetyrae, when he was master of So
merviU, or barrone of Carnwath, (as the custome
was then to designe the eldest sone of a lord,)
att the battell of Sark, neer to the bruik of Gul-
loway, in the year 1 448, wherin that great cham
pion was slain, named Magnus with the Red
Beard. Soe did this young nobleman remaine for
the most part att court, in the retinue and com
panie of WilUam Earle of Orknay, then chan
cellor of Scotland, the same that built the col-
legiat church of Rosseline, soe famous for its
structure and diversitie of workemanship, justly
esteemed one of the most rare and curious fa-

THE SOMERVILLS. 213
bricks within the isle of Brittane. This noble
man being his cousine-gennan once reraoved, he
continued with hira. But when in actione for
the king against the Earle of Douglas, dureing
the coramotiones that succeeded the death of
WUUam Earle of Douglas, killed by the king in
Stirling castle, upon the therteinth day of Fe
bruary, 1452 ; for whose death not only the great
est part of the Douglasses, but several other no
blemen and great clanes, was influenced and took
armes ; such as the Earles of Craufuird, the Earle
of Rosse, and the Earle of Murray, brother-ger-
man to the Earle of Douglas, who conveened
great forces, by themselves, freinds, and allyaes.
Soe that if ther dilligence and foirsight had been
answearable to ther force, they had a fair oppor
tunitie to have ruined the king and all his wholl
interest. The very feares and apprehensiones
therof had once possest his majestie with some
thoughts of going out ofthe countrey; but that
he was perswaded to the contrary by Bishop
Kennedie, then Arch-bishop of Saint Andrewes,
whose counsell at that tyrae and eftirward, in
most things, he foUowed, which at lenth proved
to his majesties great advantage ; for the Dou
glasses and ther adherers being frustrat of ther
second atterapt against the castle of StirUng,

214 MEMORIE OF
wherin the king himself was in persone, and
thereftir the earle himself being baffelled before
the castie of Dalkehh, which was stoutly defend-
ed by Patrick Cockburne and the laird of Clerk-
ingtoune, that the earle, eftir great travile, mutch
watching, and many wounds, was forced to leave
the seidge and depart. This afiront, with the
Earle of Craufuird's being defeat by the Earle of
Huntiey,' and eftirward makeing his peace with
the king, and his declyneing to fight the king's
forces, when he went to raise the seidge of Aber-
corne, when he was advysed therto by Jaraes
HamUton of Cadzeou, (eftirward made Lord Ha
milton,) who, from his brother's death, had been
a faithful! counsellor and a stout asserter of this
earle's interest untill that veiy day.* But now

' In the battle of Brechin, fought 18th May, 1451, in which
there fell on the Earl of Crauford's side, his brother and near
ly threescore gentlemen of rank bearing coat-armour, besides
inferior persons. The Earl of Huntley's brother, William
Seton, was also slain, with a few other persons of distinction.
' * The averment of our historians, who, in this dark period,
are indeed the bhnd leading the blind, unanimously bears, that
Douglas advanced at the head of a large army to raise the siege
of Abercorn : But the better authority of the Short Chronicle
so often quoted, leads us to doubt this statement, and to believe
that it was not Douglas's hesitation to fight with the king, but
his remaining so long in England, that induced the Knight of
Cadzow to desert his cause, and blighted the courage of his

THE SOMERVILLS. 215
finding the earie to neglect that opportunitie,
wherein he was fair to have casten the dyce for

other adherents  " The yer of God M.CCCC.LV. in the be-
gynning of Merche, Jaraes the Secund kest doune the castell
of Inveravyne, and sine incontinent past till Glasgw, and gader-
it the westland men, with part ofthe Areschery, and passit to
Lanerik and to Douglas, and syne brynt all Douglasdaie, and
all Avendale, and all the Lord Haramiltonnes landis, and heriit
thera clerlye, and syne passit till Edinburgh, and fra thin till
the forest, with ane ost of lawland men. And all that wald nocht
cum tiU him furthwith, he tuke thair gudis and brynt thair
placis, and tuke faith of all the. gentillis clerlie. And all this
tyme the Lord Hamiltoun was in Yngland till have gottyn
suple, and couth get nane, bot gif the Douglas and he wald
have bene Ynglis men, and maid the aith. And incontinent
efter, the king passit in proper persoun, and put ane sege till
Abercorn. And within vii dayes Lord Hararailtoun corae till
him till Abercorne, and put him, lyf, landes, and gudis, in the
kingis will purelye and sempillye, throw the menis of his eme
James of Levingstoun, that tyme chalmerlane of Scotland. And
the king resavit him till grace, and send him on incontinent
with the Eril of Orknay, that t3mie chancellar of Scotland, till
remane in ward in the castle of Roslyne, at. the kingis will.
And thus he left the Eril of Douglas all begylit, as men said.
And men wist not grathlie quhar the Douglas was. All this
tyme the .king remanit still at the sege. And thar was mony
hurt and nane slane, till Sanct Georgis day, outtane Allane
Pantour, that was that tyme the most ingenious man that was
in Scotland, and most subtell in mony divers thingis, and was
slane with ane ganye, throu misgovernyng of hiraself, and was
richt raekle menyt be the king, and mony uthir lordis. Thus
the king remanit still at the sege, and gart strak mony of the
touris doune, with the gret gun, the quhilk a Franche raan
schot richt wele, and falyeit na shot within a faldome quhar it
was chargit him to hit," — Short Chronicle, p. 53.
•7

216 MEMORIE OE
the croune, he leaves him, and goes to the king,
off whom he was kindely receaved and accepted,
notwithstanding of his former practices against
hira, in behalf of the Earle of Douglas. The
king, by Harailton, understanding that a great
part of the Earle of Douglasses armie was dis
content with his lingering, and the great motive
that keeped them now together was ther doubt
ing of pardone for ther former offences ; wher
upon the king presently emitted a proclamationCj
promiseing a pardone and remissione to aU that
would leave the Earle of Douglas, and come in
to him within fourtieth and eight hours. This
being published, the most part ofhis arraie leaves
hira by the next morning. Wherupon he quytes
the fields, and leaves the castle of Abercorne un-
releaved, which was taken by the king, demo-
lished, and those within execute as traitors.
Eftir this, the earle was constrained to flee into
England in the year 1455. The same earle re
turnes into Scotland, and gets together a small
company of raen, where he was encountered by
the king's forces and defeat, the Earle of Mur
ray, his brother, slain in the feild, his other bro
ther, the Earle of Ormond, hurt, and eftirward
execute. The earle, eftir this defeat, being
abandoned by aU, betakes himself to Donald of

THE SOMERVILLS. 21/
the Isles, whom he perswades to reneue his
clame to the isles. Wherupon Donald takes
armes, wastes Argyle, Arrane, Lockaber, and
takes the castle of Invernes, burnes the toune,
and proclames hiraself king ; but at lenth hear
ing the Earle of Douglas, who had gone from
him some tyme before, was defeat, and with him
Henrie Percie, Earle of Northumberland, in the
Merse, the newes wherof soe frighted Donald,
that he sent and submitted hiraself to the king.
In all this tyme, which was the space of fyve
years, John Barrone of Lintoune was either at
court or in the host when they wer in the feilds,
for which he might have suffered much by the
forces of the Douglasses in his lands and bar
ronies upon Clyde, that lay neerest to that ene
mies greatest interest ; but that it was his good
fortune that dureing these broyles, wherin ther
was soe much devastatione and ruining of in
terests, as they wer concerned for the one or
other partie, that his father. Lord WiUiam, was
alyve, who being noe medler of himself, and not
called furth by his prince, in respect of his sone's
constant attendance, preserved, by his prudence,
his vassalles and tennents lands and goods. from
being preyed upon or destroyed by the Dou
glasses and these that adhered to them. But, at

218 MEMORIE OE
lenth, these comraotiones being over, much abOiit
the tyme or a litie before his father's death, by
the king's getting the victory over all these that
opposed him and disquyeted his kingdome, John
Lord Soraervill setles hiraself att his castle of
Cowthally, in order to the attending of his pri
vate affaires, haveing followed the court and the
carap frora the year 1448 to the year 1457.'
1458. The first evidence that I find of this noble
man eftir his father's death is, that, upon the first
day of November, 1458, Walter Hallyburtoune
of Kinmossy grantes a charter for new infeft-
meht to George Chorsewood, Bishop of Brichen,
then chancellor of Scotland, for new infeftraent
in the lands of Quathquan, holding of John Lord
SoraervUl ; and upon the third of Noveraber, the
year following 1459, John Hallyburtotine of
GlassefiUine, sone and heir to Walter Hallybur
toune, ratifies, by a new charter, his father's
former rights, in favour of Thomas Chorsewood,
brother-german to George Bishop of Brichen.
Upon which two charters ther is resignatione

> The author, who had no access to the mass of original his
torical docuraents since arranged and published by Ryraer, was
ignorant that, in 1457, John Lord Somerville appears as one
ofthe conservators of peace with England,— Rymek, xi. p. 397.

THE SOMERVILLS. g 1 9
made in the hands of John Lord Somervill by
George Bishop of Brichen and Thoraas Chorse
wood, his brother-gerraan, for new infeftraent.
Wherupon John Lord Somervill grantes a char
ter of confirmatione to the lands of Quathquan,
in favours of the chancellor, dated att Edin
burgh, the sexth day of Noveraber, 1459. The
fourth of May preceding, Patrick Ogilvie and
IsabeU Fentoune his spouse, with consent of
ther superior, resignes ther interest in the lands
of Quathquan, in favours of David Crichtoune,
John Chorsewood, Mr Adara Lyle, Jaraes Dum
bar, and George Wallace. Wherupon ther is a
charter granted by John Lord Somervill of the
date foirsaid.
This nobleraan, by an inqueist att Peebles, 1459.
before John Hay, Thoraas Hay, and Archibald
Lyle, sherriff-deputs of Peebles, is served heir to
his father the fyfth of June, 1459, unto a ten
merk land within the barronie of Brughtoune
and sherifdome of Tweddel. The same year he
grantes a presentatione in favours of Mr Wil
Uam Blair to the church of Lintoune. This pre
sentatione is dated att Cowthally, the twentieth
and first day of May, 1459.'
' In this year John Lord Somerville is again named one of
the conservators of the peace with England. — Rymek, xi.
p. 434.

220 MEMORIE OP
1460. This fataU year being come, King James the
Second takes great indignatione that the castle
of Roxburgh should be in EngUsh men's hands,
when aU other strenthes in his kingdome had,
many years preceeding, in his father's Ufe and
his oune minoritie, been taken from thera, and
that castle only remained of all ther former con
queis in this natione, by the two Edwards, the
First and the Third of England. The king, in
order to this designe, raises a great armie, con
sisting of threttieth thousand men, in JuUy, 1460,
with which he beleiggers the castie of Roxburgh,
haveing encamped and entrenched his armie up
on both sydes of Tweed and Tiviott, thereby to
hinder the beseidged from excursiones and for-
reageing the countrey for victuaU to themselves
and ther horses, it now being the harvest tyme.
The seidge continued from the first of August
untill neer the later end of September without
any disturbance from England ; the dissentiones
of the houses of Lancaster and Yorke had soe
devyded and distracted that natione, that they
wer not in a conditione to raise or send ane
armie to Scotland for the releiff of the castle of
Roxburgh, the seidge wherof still continued, be
ing both weill defended by the garrisone and
strong of it self, by reasone of the situatione,

THE SOMERVILLS. Q2l
which is betwext two great rivers, Tweed and
Tiviotti built upon ane high erainency or hUl,
strongly w&Ued with double i-ampers and ditches,
according to the fortificationes in use at that
tyme, of a great circumference ; soe that it ap
peares, by the ruines, to have been rather a cit-
tiedale then a castle. The descriptione of the
fortificationes of this castle, the raaner of the
seidge itself, with the approaches of the arraie
thereto, the planting of ther batteries, and all
the severaU attaches made therupon dureing the
continuance of the seidge, are quyte omitted by
our authores, wliich speakes either ther want of
informatione, or ther want of skiU in iniUtar
termes to delyver the memorie of this seidge to
posteritie, which certanely hes been very famous,
both as to the raaner and forrae observed therin ;
and also for the actione of particular raen, which,
through the ignorance or omissione of our his
torians, is quyte lost. However, it proved very
fataU in the end, by the death of our king, who,
deUghting to see the gunnes fyred frora the bat-
terie upon this syde of Tweed, stood too neer a
peece of ordinance, which, being overcharged,
breakes all in peeces : A wadge therof unhappi
ly kiUes the king, and hurtes George Earle of
Angus, without kilUng or hurting any man else

222i MEMORIE OF
upon the place." This was a fataU blow to the
armie, but much more to the natione, in being
depryved of soe vertuous and gallant a prince,
in tiie very flower of his age, being then in the
threttieth year therof. Advertisement being^gi-
ven to the queen, she hastens thither with her
young sone, the prince, then seven years of age,
continued the seidge, and, lyke ane other Araa-
sone, by her own example encourages the soul
diers to be valorous, and to unnest from that
hold the ancient eneraies of ther countrey, which
had keeped that part of it soe mueh under sub
jectione and slavery. At lenth, many of the
buUwarkes of the castle being battered, and
breaches made in severall places of the walles,
the armie was ready to storme upon all quarters :
Wherupon the garrisone, knowing ther oune dan
ger, and dispairing of any releiff frora England,
gave it over to the queen, who iraraediately razed
it to the ground, that ther is litle at this day to
be seen, save a few vaults beneath the ground,
^nd some smaU parseU of the waU standing herQ

' A bush, within the domain of the Duke of Roxburgh's
park of Fleurs, still marks the place where James fell. The
unlucky cannon was one of the hooped pieces of artillery used
in the infancy ofthe art of gunnery.

THE SOMERVILLS. 223
and there.' From the beginning to the end of
this seidge, John Lord Somervill was present,

' The Dulse of Somerset, Protector of England, made an
entrenched carap upon the site of Roxburgh castle, in liis re
turn southwards after the battle of Pinkie. — See Patten's
Narrative, propefnem. «' The plot and syte whearof hath bene
in tyme paste a castell, and standeth naturally very strong vpon
a hyll east and west, of an eyght score in lenth, and iii score in
bredth, drawynge to narrownes at the easte ende ; the whole
ground wherof the old walles doo yet enuyron. Besyde the
heyth and hardines to cum to, it is strongly fenced on eyther
syde with the course of ii great rivers, Tivet on the north and
Twede on the sowth ; both which joyning sum what nie to-
gyther at the west ende of it, Tyuet, by a large cumpas abowte
the feldes wee laye in, at Kelsey dooth fall into this Twede,
which, with great deapth and swiftnes, runneth thence east
ward into the sea at Berwyk, and is notable and famous for ii
commodities specially, salmons and whetstones. Ouer this, be-
twyxte Kelsey and Rokesborowe, hath thear bene a great stone
bridge with arches, the which the Scottes in tyme paste haue
all tp broken, bycaus we shoold not that wei cum to them.
Soon after ray lords graces survey of the plot and deterraina-
cion to doo as rauch indeede for makynge it defencyble, as
shortnes of the tyrae and season of the yere could sufiPer,'(which
was that one great trench of twenty foot brode, with deapth
according, and a wall of lyke breadth and heyth, shoold be
made a cros within the castle from the tone sidewall to toother,
and a xl foot from the west ende ; and that a like trench and
wall shoold likewise be cast a travers within, about a quoyts
cast from the east ende, and hereto that the castel walls on
either syde, whear neede was, shoold be mended with turfe,
and made with loop-holes, as well for shooting directly foorth-
ward, as for flankying at hand ; the woork of which deuise did
paake, that bisyde the sauegard of these trenches and walles,

224 MEMORIE OP
being very serviceable to both ther majesties and
the arraie, in causeing dayly provisione come in
from his oune barronie of Lintoune and the ad
jacent countrey about, being neerly aUyed to
the Kers of Cessefoord and Faimiehirs't, that had
the greatest comraand and estates in that part
of the countrey. The seidge being brocken up,
upon the surrender of the castle, and the armie
dismissed, the Lord SomerviU haveing kissed the
queen's hand, and the young prince, now king,
he reteires to his tower of Lintoune to order his
affaires in that barronie, the same being at a
great distance from the main ofhis estate, which,
at this tyme, lay within the sherifdome of CUdse-
dale. The Lord SomervUl haveing setled his affaires
in the south, he comes to Edinburgh, where,
haveing visited the queen mother, and the young
king her sone, reseiding then in the castle of
Edinburgh, he found, by discourse, her majestie
resolved to coraraitt the tutorie of her sone the

the keepers shoold also be much fenced by both the ende
walles of the castel,) the pioners wer set a woork, and diligent
ly applied in the same." — Patten's Expedicion into Scotland,
npud Dalyell's Fragments qf Scottish History, Edin. 1798,
4to, p. 86.

THE SOMERVILLS. 225
king to non but herself; albeit her majestie was
advysed and solicite to the contrary by severall
ofthe nobilitie, who even then was beginning to
draw in factiones about this very matter ; albeit
the busines broke not furth untill the ensueing
year, i46L The Lord Somervill, about this
tyrae, became very intimate and inward with
George Earle of Angus and Douglas; for this
nobleman had the titles of both, since the for
faulture of James Earle of Douglas, in the year
1457, in which year a great part of the estate
and title was conferred upon Angus by King
James the Second, notwithstanding that the
Earle of Douglas was yet alyve, as he was for
many years eftir this. With these noble raen,
that stood in oppositione to the queen and her
factione, did the Lord Soraervill joyne himself;
and he is the first of the house of Lintoune and
Carnwath that I find entered in any combina-
tione, familiaritie, or freindship with them, not
withstanding of ther greatnes, neer neighbour-
head, and that they had once matched with the
house of Loudenhill, that was then Douglas, in
whose right they had the barronie of Carnwath ;
and that his oune grandmother, by his mother,
was a daughter of that famiUe of Angus, being
daughter to GeiUes Douglas, who was only
p

226 MEMORIE OE
daughter to WUliam Lord of Liddesdale, that
marryed GeiUes, or Egida, daughter to King
Robert the Second, the first king of the name of
Stewart ; and that the same lord, dureing King
James the Second's reigne, and the life of his
oune father, Lord William, was a declared ene
mie to that familie : But this may be supposed
to be upon noe other ground but because they
wer at variance with ther prince, to whom this
young nobleman still adhered, as in duety and
allegiance it became him ; the name of Douglas
being at variance amongst themselves, and de
vyded upon this very account ; for ther was not
a greater enemie to the Earle of Douglas then
this George Earle of Angus, with whom the
Lord SomervUl joyned in freindship upon the
publict account, which was a presage of that
neer affinitie that should be betwext ther farai
lies the next generatione.
1461. This bussines of the factiones not being yet
come to any maturity or outbreakeing, the Lord
SomerviU goes west to his house of CowthaUy,
where, understanding that his cousine and neigh
bour. Sir Gilbert Herring of Edmondstoune, in
Cliddesdale, being non of the frugalist, was dila
pidating and makeing away much of his estate
by wadsetts, and some by absolute venditione, a

THE SOMERVILLS. 227
thing unusuaU in that age, for a man to part with
his father's inheretance ; and, in effect, in that
and the preceeding, it was not in use to sell
lands : The only way of coraeing to them was
one of these four wayes, by foirfaulture, mar
riages, donationes, and excarabione ; and it is
'beyond all controversy, most ofthe great estates
of Scotiand, before the year 1500, carae that
way. Howbeit, it wiU appear, frora evidences in
my custody, and that I have seen of others, that
the buying or selling of lands was beginning tO
be in use about the year 1400 ; for excarabione
of land, and great mens giveing of lands for
services done, and to be done, was ordinaiy and
frequent upon the account of keeping up ther
feedes/ Yea, marriages themselves was made up

' Feuds. It may be remarked, that as alraost all the lands
granted by the great barons to their vassals were held by mili
tary service, and were frequently granted to them only for
their own lives, the field of battle was often the place where
the vassals demanded that their sons should be secured in their
father's possessions by the feudal superior, a reraarkable in
stance of whieh occurred in the battle of Brechin. " The Earl
of Crawford assembled a great army ofhis allies, kindred, and
friends, with the whole folks of Angus ; and thereafter, when
the Earl of Huntley was marching towards Angus, the Earl of
Crawford camped his folks beside the town of Brechin ; where
both the armies coming in others sight, rushed forward in ar?
rayed battle upon other. It was long foughten with great

228 MEMORIE OF
upon that consideratione, and bands of man
drey granted, as is evident from this nobleman's

cruelty and uncertain victory, till that a company of fresh men
carae to renew the battle, taking the advantage of the know-
side, who came so fiercely on the Earl of Huntley's vanguard,,
that they were compelled to settle a little back ; the which
when the Angus men perceived that they were put back, and
having advantage, they carae more fiercely upon thera than
before, and, naraely, upon the place sorest charged. But in the
meantirae a captain of the Earl of Crawford's, to wit, John
CoUess of Bonyraoon, who had in governance three hundred
able men, well armed, and bore battle-axes and halberts, with
other short weapons, this John CoUess fled from the Earl of
Crawford traitorously, and caused others to flee with him,
where through he tint the field : And because the laird desired
llis son to be put in fie of his lands, who were holden of the
Earl of Crawford, with other commodity and gains, that this
laird desired at the Earl of Crawford's hands ; who answered
him and said, the tirae was short, but bade hira do well that
day with hira, and prove a valiant raan, and he should have all
his desire and raore : But the Laird of Bonyraoon, not con
tented with this answer, passed frora him with a grief, and ar
rayed his men and put them in order, as he would have fought
en most furiously ; but when he saw his time come that he
should have rescued the Earl of Crawford, who was fighting
then cruelly, the said captain drew hiraself aside cowardly, and
made no support to the said earl, who, seeing his men depart
ing from him treasonably, by command and convoy of this cap
tain, he was constrained to flee for safety of his life." —
Pitscottie, p. 42.
From the same naive historian we learn that a sirailar in
stance of ill-tiraed parsiraony facUitated the destruction of the
religious house called the Chartreaux, in Perth, at the begin
ning of the Reformation. " John Knox having preached open-

THE SOMERVILLS. 229
practice* which shall be spocken to eftirward.
The Lord SoraerviU finding it fitt and propper
for himself to make a purchase of the lands of
CarsewaU, that lay within his barronie of Carn
wath, and. held of hiraself, upon the twentieth
and second day of February, 1461, he enters
into a contract with Sir Gilbert Herring of Ed
mondstoune, wherin the said Sir Gilbert, with
consent of his wife, Darae Elizabeth Ramsay,
wodsettes to John Lord SoraervUl, his heires or
assignayes, the lands of Carsewall, with the per

ly after dinner, they destroyed all the idols in the town. There
after assembling on the bridge, they caused John Knox to con
ceive a prayer to God Almighty, to direct them to do that
which might serve most for the glory of God and good- of his
kirke. Then they concluded to pass and demolish the Charter
house. But the prior, suspecting their purpose, had brought
down his tenants of the highlands of Athole to defend the
place. They, knowing their hazard, desired the prior to put
their wives and eldest sons in tlieer tacks, which, if he would
do, they promised to hazard their lives in his defence ; but the
prior refused this. Then they desired the prior to give them
wine, and of his best drink, to encourage them ; which was also
refused, and nothing given to them but salt-salmond and sraall
drink ; whereby they had no courage when they had most ado.
The congregation sent the Laird of Moncrief, being the prior's
kinsman, to Counsel him to leave idoletry, and serve God ac
cording to his word: But he refused to obey their desire;
whereupon the congregation passed to the Charter-house, took
forth the prior, spoiled the place, and gave the spoil to the
poor.— /foe?, p. 203.

230 MEMORIE OF
tinents, lying within the barronie of Carnwathi
for the sourae of twelve score of merkes Scots,
four score wherof to be payed to himself, and
eight scorse of merkes therof to be payed to
Robert Ramsay of CoUurehope. In this con
tract the Lord SoraerviU is obleidged to give
ane leice of reversion e in favours of the said Sir
Gilbert and his hehes, with ane obleidgeraent,
that upon the payment of the twelve score
merks, the said Sir Gilbert, or his heires, should
be reponed to the lands of Carsewall. Preceed
ing this indenture, I find Sir Gilbert Herring
had disponed the very same lands of Carsewall
irredeemably to Thoraas Soraervill of Batla, with
consent of Dame Elizabeth Ramsay, and that
upon the thertteinth day of March, 146I, wher
upon ther foUowes charter and seasing, dated the
fyfteinth day of September the sarae year ; ther
being as witnesses in both, Thomas SomerviU of
Cambo, and William Somervill of Newbigging.
1462. In the year 1462, falles out the dissentiones
amongst the states, anent the electione of a go
vernour and protector for the young king, James
the Thhd.' The greatest part of the nobilitie

' All this pretended dispute seems to be fabulous. Our au
thor followed Buchanan and Godscroft. — See PiNKETiroN's
History, vol. I. p. 247.

THE SOMERVILLS, 231
withstood the queen ; and such as joyned with
her, a conventione being caUed, the queen, by
her oune factione, gettes herself declared tutrix;
wherupon the nobilitie upon the other syde, be
ing headed by George Earle of Angus, and James
Kennedy, Bishop of Saint Andrewes, comes to
the cross of Edinburgh, where the bischope made
a speech to the people, intiraateing that their in-
tentiones was nothing else but to observe the an
cient custome, in maintaineing the old law and
priviledges of the natione, which was for the
nobUitie to choyse a persone, one or more, as
should be thought fitt for soe great a trust.
This speech being ended, as they wer reteire-
ingj some informed that these in the castle, be
ing the queen's party, wer coraeing to assalt
thera. Wherupon the Earle of Angus wotdd
needs fight thera, albeit nether hiraself nor these
nobleraen with him wer armed, expecting noe
such thing, but was advysed to the contrary by
John Lord Somervill and John Lord Kennedy,
the Bishops of Glasgow, Galloway, and Dun
keld. In the mean tyrae, mediating betwext the
parties, the busines was composed, and assu
rances given for a moneth, att the expyreing
wherof both parties being mett peaceably, they
agreed that four should be choysen, two of each

232 MEMORIE or
syde ; for the queen's, WUUam Lord Grahame,
and Robert Lord Boyd, then chanceUor, sayes
the author of the Historie of the Douglasses;.
but, by his favour, he is mistaken; George Chorse
wood, Bishop of Brichen, still officiat in the qua
litie of chanceUor, untill the year eftir this elec
tione, as is evident from the publict catalogue of
our chancellors, and many privat evidences yet,
extant, wherof ther is some in my oune custodie.
But these mistakes are ordinary of wrytters,
advert not weill to the tymes of publict rainisters
incomeing and outgoeing from ther places of
publict trust. The nobiUtie, upon the other
syde, choysed Robert Earle of Orknay. This
nobleman, in the third degree, was cousine to
John Lord Somervill ; the other was John Lord
Kennedy, related to the royaU famUie by his
grand raother. Some tyme before this electione,
George Earle of Angus and Douglas dyed. His
sone Archibald, the sexth Earle of Angus, being
a childj succeeded to him. This noble man eftir
ward was coraraonly called Bell the Catt, upon
the answear he gave unto the counsell held at
Lauder Bridge long thereftir. This electione
being over, and the four regents established by
the repreSentatione ofthe natione in ther autho
ritie, the nobilitie upon both sydes returnes to
6

THE SOMERVILLS. 233
ther respective dwellings, as did the Lord Soraer
vill to CowthaUy : Where I find, araonst other of
his private concernes, he takes a band of raan-
drey of his cousine, the Lahd of Closseburne,
the tyrae of the king's minoritie beginning to
grow gloomy, and that because of the insolency
of the Boydes, (as the great men pretended,)
who now manadged all under the queen, sel
dorae or never consulting or advyseing with the
other three. Angus being now dead, his sone
young, Bishope Kennedy old, altogither unfitt,
or at least unable^ to attend the counseU, a
storrae was expected ; thairfore every man of
qualitie provyded as weill as they could for ther
oune safety and strenthening of ther party, by
bands of mandrey, or bands of protectione, from
persones of greater qualitie and following in the
same country where they lived theraselves, or
elsewhere, as ther affectione or interest led thera,
as did this Lord SomerviU from the Laird of
Closseburne, which I wiU transcribe here, that
the tenor and forme of a band of mandrey, then
in use, may be knowne and remaine for the fu
ture, seing most of thera are but short and easily
lost, if they be not the better looked to araongst
the multitude of papers that for ordinary most

234 MEMORIE OE
of the nobUitie and famiUes of any antiquitie hes
in ther charter chists.
The Tenor of the Band of Mandrey followes.^
« Be it kend till aU men be thir present let
ters, me, Thomas of KUlpatrick, Laird of Closse
burne, and
sydesman to ane honourable lord, John Lord
SomervUl, for all the dayes of my life ; and ob-
leidges and binds me to the said lord, be the
faith of my body, and be thir my present letters
in manred and sworne counsell ; and to be with
him as freely in all actiones, and causes, and

^ These bands of manred, or manrent, did by no means ne
cessarily infer the constant or habitual dependence of the party
granting upon the party receiving them. They were tempo
rary arrangements of alliance, in which particular family cir
cumstances, or large benefits received, induced chieftains,
otherwise independent, to unite themselves for a time under a
common head or protector. The ancient and distinguished
family of Kirkpatrick was at this time nearly connected with
that of Lord Somervill. Thoraas Kirkpatrick was either his
brother-in-law or his nephew, by the mother's side ; and he was
also brother-in-law to the Laird of Sanquhar, as appears from
a charter, 29th Noveraber, 1509, by which Robert Lord Cregh-
ton of Sanquhair grants " to an honourable man and his bro
ther-in-law, Thomas Kirkpatricke of Closeburne, Knight," the
ward of the lands of Robertmure.

THE SOMERVILLS. 235
quarrells pertaineing tiU him, baith in peace and
in warre, against aU that lives and dyes may ex
cept and my alleadgeance to our soveraigne lord
the kmg, and to my and my service to SirRobert
of Crichtoune, the Laird of Sanquhair, for the
tyme of three years next eftir following the date
of thir present letters. In witnes of the quhilk
thing, I have set to my seall att Cowthally, the
twentieth and fourth day of the moneth of Oc
tober, the year of God 1462 years. Before thir
witnesses, Thomas Soraervill of the Latla, Sir
John of Carnwath, Chaplane Thoraas Tellfer,
Patrick of Nisbett, and Mr John of Craufuhd,
nottar pubUct."
Mary Dowager of Scotland, and raother to the 1466.
present king, a lady of erainent virtue and sin
gular pietie, haveing founded the Trinitie Col-
ledge Church and Hospitall of Edinburgh, and
endued the same with competent revenues, sick
ned in the year 1466, and, eftir some short lan-
. guishing, dyed the sarae year, and was buried,
with all the solemnitie and ffuneraU rites usuall
in that tyme, in the church built by herself. It
was in this year, upon the tenth of JuUy, that
John Lord SomerviU, by being accessery and

236 MEMORIE OF
upon the plott of surprizeing of the king, and
carrying him to Edinburgh, eftirward upon the
change ofthe court, and the faU ofthe Boydes,
went neer to have foirfaulted both his life and
fortune, ifhe had not been secured more by the
king's particular favour then that act of parha
ment wherupon the Boydes soe much relyed.
Drummond of Hathernedean, being full in this
particular, I conceave it more propper in this
place to give his relatione then mine oune, as to
the wholl of that affair.
*' The king," says this author, " as he in-
creassed in years, increassed in strenth and abi
litie for exercise, aither of recreatione or valour.
By the regents he is given to a brother of the
Lord Boydes, to be bred in all knightly pro-
wesse, a man singular for his educatione abroad
and demanour at home. The Kennedies war
now aged, and became tyred to give such assi
duous attendance att court as they war wont, and
the tyraes requyred; the Lord Boyd, by the
weaknes of his co-partners, governed the state
alone, as Sir Alexander, his brother, did the.
young king, to whose naturall incUnatione he
did soe comply and conforme himself, that he
had the wholl trust of his affaires ; and the king
had noe tiiought but his. Soe soon as the king

THE SOMERVILLS. 237
began to know hiraselfi he turned irapatient of
being subject to the lawes of minoritie ; and
that he hiraself should be restrained by that au
thoritie which did deryve it's right frora hira, he
began to loath the superintendency and govern
ment of others, and to affect ane unseasonable
priviledge— to be at his oune disposaU and the
governing of himself: many things are done
without the advyce and consent of the govern
ours, and occasione is sought to be disburdened
of ther authoritie. The Lord Boyd and his bro
ther Sir Alexander, in a litle tyme increassing in
greatnes, and haveing ane intentione to trans-
ferre the power of the state and glory of the
court to ther famiUe, faiUed not to find opportu
nitie to free the king from the severity and rigour
of the governour's schooUing ; and, to frame hira
ane escape, whilst the king reraained at Linlith
gow, the Lord Hales, the Lord SomervUl, Sir
Alexander Ker of Cessefoord, and Sir Alexander
Boyde, agree upon a match of hunting, and will
have the king umpire of the game. Airly in the
morning foUowing, the noble men and gentle
men who wer upon the plott failled not in ther
attendance. The king, being a myle off the
toune, and holding the way towards Edinburgh,
the Lord Kennedy, whose quarter it was then to

238 MEMORIE OP
attend, and who had leasurely followed, suspect
ing this hunting to be a game of state, the king
continueing his progresse, laying his hands upon
the reines of his bridle, requested him to turn
again to Linlithgow, for that he perceaved the
tyme was not convenient for him to goe further ;
nether was it a convenient match in absence of
his best deserveing followers. Sir Alexander
Boyde, impatient that the king should have been
thus stayed, eftir injurious words, stroke the re
verend governor with a hunting staff upon the
head; and took the king alongst with him to
Edinburgh, where, at a frequent meeting of the
states, the Kennedies urged to have the king
continued under minoritie ; the Boydes urged
that he might take the governement in his oune
persone. Eftir long contestatione, wisdom be
ing overcome by boldnes, the authoritie of the
better partie was forced to give place and yeeld
to the wiU of the greater. Thus the factione of
the Boydes prevailed."
1467. Notwithstanding of this advantage the Boydes
and ther partie gott over the Kennedies and ther
factione, in having the king's persone with them
att Edinburgh, who, now takeing the governe
ment upon himself, was wholly counseUed by
them, yet began they to be apprehensive of ther

THE SOMERVILLS. 239
oune danger in bringing the young king, by ther
private contryveance, without the consent or
approbatione of the other governours, to Edin
burgh, for the assumeing the governement in his
minoritie. Thairfore, the Lord Boyd being much
pressed by John Lord SomervUl, Adam Hep
burne, Lord Hales, Robert Ker of Cessefoord,
and others of the factione, but by the three for
mer mostly, being neerer related in kindred by
affinitie and consanguinitie, and being principaU
contryvers and actors with them in that state-
hunting ; thairfore, for ther oune securitie, and
those that joyned with them, they craved an ap
probatione of ther innocency, and, to warrand
them from this danger, that the kings majestie
in parhament might declare publictly, as he did,
that the Boydes and ther adherers were not the
autheres nor projectores of that bussiness, but
only the assisters of him and his followers, being
not the formall, but instrumentall causes of his
coraeing to the helrae of the state himself. That
these wer soe far from being obnoxious to any
blame or reproach for this deed, that they de
served immortall thankes and ane honourable
gourdian in all tyme to corae, haveing obeyed
hira in that which was raost just, honest, and ex
pedient for the weiU of the kingdome. Upon

240 MEMORIE OF
this declaratione, the Lord Boyde and these
other lords that were partakers with him in that
actione, requyred the declaratione might be re-
gistered araongst the acts of parhament, for ther
vindicatione and future securitie, which they ob
tained. However, as to the Boydes, it had not
that successe and effect they hoped for, but was
to thera as a reed of Egypt in ther greatest ne
cessitie.
14,68. In this year, 1468, upon the twentieth and
fourth day of November, ther is ane inqueist
held att Carnwath, before John Lord Somervill,
wherin John Livingstoune is served heir to James
Livingstoune, his father, to the third of the lands
of Newbigging; and upon the third of January
1469. thereftir, 1469, John Lord SomerviU grantes a
seasing to a husband land, within the toune of
Quathquan, in favours of Thomas Chorsewood,
sone and heir to Thomas Chorsewood, nephew
to umquhile Bishop of Brichen, Chanceller of
Scotland. Ffrom the year 1466 to the year 1474,
I find not the Lord SomerviU concerned in the
publict transactiones of the state, nor private in-
tertainements or attendance of the court, untill
1474. JuUy, 1474,' at which tyme the king being dis-

' The very curious story which follows must be taken on
the authority of tradition. The embodying it with so many

THE SOMERVILLS. 2f I ;
posed to take 'his pleasure at tiie poutting in
Calder and Carnwath Muires, he acquaintes the
Lord; SomerviU. with his resolutione* who, by ac-;
cident, was then at court; his majestie being
pleased withall. to shew him he. was resolved for
some dayes to be his guest.' Wherupon the Lord
Somervill immediatly dispatches; ane, expresse
to Cowthally (who knew nothing of the king's
journey,) with. a letter to his lady. Dame Marie
BaiUzie, wherin, according to. his. ordinary cus
tome when ,any persones of. qualitie wer to be
with him, he used to wryte in the postscript of.
his letters, Speates and Raxes;' and in this let
ter he had jedoubled the same wprds, because
of the extraordinary occasione and worthynes of
his guest. This letter heing delyvered, and the
messenger withall telling his lord was very press
ing, that it might be speedily and securely put
in her ladyship's hands. ; wherupon she hastily
breakes it up, coraraanding the.stewart to read
the sarae, because she 4Jould read non herself.

circumstances was undoubtedly the work of the author himself,
who in this, as well as other passages, seems to be ignorant that
an affectation of extreme minuteness and pre cisio gives no
small cause for suspicion in such cases.
¦ Spits and Ranges i the latter being the appendage to the
kitchen grate, on. which the spits turn.

242 MEMORIE OF
This gentieman being but lately entered to his
service, and unacquainted with his lord's hand
and custome of wrytting, when he comes to the
postscript of the letter, he reades Speares and
Jacks,' instead of Speates and Raxes : wherupon,
my lady all amazed, without considering her
husband's ordinary forme of wrytting, falles a
weeping, supposeing her lord had fallen at vari
ance with some about the court, the king begin-
ning about this tyme to discountenance his an^
cient nobilitie, and they again to withdraw both
ther affectiones and due aUeadgeance from him.
Eftir the reading of the letter, James IngUs of
Eistscheill was presently sent for, and com-
mandement given to hira and the officers, that
all the vassalles, with the able tennents that wer
within the two barronies of Carnwath, Carabus
nethen, and baillzierie of Carstaires, should be
ready with ther horse and armes to wait upon
WUliamCleiUandof that ilk be eight in the morn
ing the ensueing day, and that in order to ther
going for Edinburgh. This comraand being
punctually observed by the vassaUes and the

' Spears and Jacks; the latter were doublets of leather, quilt
ed with plates of iron, the common armour ofthe irregular ca
valry of the period.

THE SOMERVILLS. £43
substantiall tennents' that wer in use, and ob
leidged to ryde, by ther holdings and tackes, up
on such occasiones, they conveened to the num
ber of two hundred, with the laird of CleUland,
and WiUiam Chancellor of Quathquan, with the
BaUlzie upon ther heads.* By eleven a clock
they wer advanced in ther journey for Edinburgh
to the syde of that hill that is somewhat bewest
the Corsetthill, His majestie haveing breakfast
ed by nyne in the morning, had taken horse, and
was corae the lenth of that little watter a myle
on this syde of the Corsetthill, bussie, even then,
at his sport upon the rode, when the first of all
the little company that was with him observed
the advance of a troope of men with ther lances,
within a myle of him, or thereby. Wherupon,
aU astonished, he calles hastily for the Lord So
mervill, who, being at some distance, carae upon
the spurre. The king being of ane hastie nature,
in great fury demanded what the matter mean-
ed, and if he had a mynde to betray him and
seize upon his persone the second tyme by ane

* In the last leases of Jedwood forest that were let by the
late Duke of Douglas, the tenants were bound to attend him
with two well-armed horsemen at least for each farm.
' i. e. at their head,

244 MEMORIE DF
other treacherous hunting ; and withall swear
ing his head should pay for it if he himself esca
ped the hands of these traitors, who could be noe
other but his vassalles and followers, brought to
gither off purpose for some iU designe. The
Lord SoraervUl, without making any reply, im
mediatly castes himself from his horse to the
ground, and falles upon his knees, protesting,
with many solemn oaths, that he understood not
what the matter meaned, nor what the company
was, nor the cause of ther being in yonder place,
thairfore he humblie begged of his majestie that
he would, allow hira to goe see what they wer,
friends or foes; and, for securitie, he had with
hira his eldest sone and heir WiUiara, Barrone of
Carnwath ^ iff all was not weiU, and his majestie
safe, frora aU hazard, he desyred that his sone's
head raay be strucken off upon the place. Ibis
the king acceptes, and coramands him to ryde
up and discover what they wer, and the intent
of ther being ther ; and, according as he found
occasione, to returne or give a signe for his re
teiring. In the mean tyme, his majestie, with his
traine, being about twentieth horse, placed them
selves upon the hight of the muir, to marke the
Lord SomervUl's goeing, and the carriage of
the horsemen they beheld, who now made ane

THE SOMERVILLS. 245
halt, when they first observed the" king's com
pany, not knowing what they wer ; but seeing
them draw togither they apprehended they wer
noe freinds : thairfore they resolved to, advance
noe further, seeing a horseman, comeing up to
them with aU the speed he could make, untill
they knew for what intent he carae. The Lord
SoraerviU was yet at sorae distance, when he was
presentiy knoune by severall of the. corapany to
be ther lord and raaster, wherupon the laird of
CleiUand, and WUUam Chancellor of Quathquan,
gaUoped out to meet him. He was not a litle
surprized when he saw them, and demanded the
occasione that had brought thera togither in tbat
posture and number. To which they answeared,
Itwasby his lordship's directione and his ladye's
comraand : that they wer coraeing to Edinburgh
to waitt upon hira, fearing he had fallen at vari
ance and feed with sorae one or other about the
court. He desyred to see the letter. They told
him the baUlzie had it. By this tyme they wer
joyned. to the company, where, calUng for the
letter, he. made the sarae to be read, where, ther
was noe such directione nor. orders given as they
pretended. He enquired who read the letter to
his lady: they: answered his new Stewart, who
being present, was coramanded to read it again.

246 MEMORIE OF
which he did, and comeing to the postscript,
reades Speares and Jacks, insteed of Speates and
Raxes ; and herein lay the mistake, that the Lord
SomervUl knew not whither to laugh or be an
gry at the feUow. But myndeing the fear he left
the king in, and what apprehensiones and jea
lousies his majestie might intertaine upon his
long communing with them, he commanded that
they should depart every man to ther respective
dwellings ; and he hiraself, with the laird of CleU.!
land, and severall other gentlemen, returned to
the king, who remained stiU upon the same place
where he had parted from him, unto whom be
ing come he relates the wholl story, whereat the
king laughed heartily, caUes for a sight of the
letter, and reades it himself, swearing it was noe
great mistake, for he might have been guUtie of
that error himself. His majestie haveing given
back the letter, it went from hand to hand
araongst these few courtiers that was there, as
they proceeded in ther journey, the letter itself
containeing noe matter of any consequence but
a naked complement the Lord SomerviU had
written to his lady. This is that story of the
Speates and Raxes soe much discoursed of then,
as It is to this day araongst persons of qualitie ;
for of late the Duke of Lauderdale, when he was

THE SOMERVILLS. 247
coramissioner, at a full table of the greatest part
of the nobiUtie in Scotland, then dyneing with
him, related the wholl story allmost in the sarae
termes that I have set it doune.
The king being come to Cowthally, he had his
intertainement great and his weUcorae heartie,
albeit my Lady SomervUl was sorae what out oi'
contenance, aU the discourse being anent the
^jeares and Jackes, which the king could not
forget, thinking it both a good sport and ane
easy mistake, because of the neer spelUng and
sounding of the words ; and, withall, his majes
tie was pleased highly to coraraend the Lady So
mervill's love and respect to her husband, in be
ing so active and dUligent to conveen soe quick
ly her husband's friends and foUowers, in caice
ther had been any necessitie for thera, telling my
lady that he hoped she would use the same care
and diUigence to conveen her lord's followers
when he should call him and thera to his service.
It being noysed abroad that the king was at
CowthaUy, aU the gentry, for the most part, in the
countrey, came to wait upon his majestie, which,
with the curiosity ofthe countrey folke comeing
to see the king, raade a great confluence of peo
ple, soe that at least three or four hundered had
dinner there every day, which gave the first oc
casione and publict report of the Lord Soraer-

248 ' MEMORIE OF
vill's great house keeping,' and that they spent a
cow every day, which' might be true at this tyme,
for tiiey were not within three or four"
a day, besydes many sheep, dureing the king's
abode ; and how long that was I find not, only
it may be supposed that it could not be lesse then
sc week, seing his majestie carae only furth for his
recreatione and sport of balking, it being the
only fitt seasone for h, and noe place in Scot
land could affoord him better poutting then the
muires of Carnwath, being then ane wildernesse
of heather be what they are in this- agCj for a
great part of them are now in corne lands.
The king haveing spent some dayes at balk
ing, reraoves from Cowthally towards the pa
lace of Linlethgow, haveing, before his goeing,
thanked the Lady Somervill for his plentifuU
fare and kynde intertainement, telling her that
•her speates and raxes had been weill imployed
since he came to her house; and, withall, his
majestie desyred her eldest sone John, who was
then ane handsome boy, might be sent to court,
and he should take care of his breeding and pre
ferrement. Soe fortunate was this youth, that
even yet whill he wa'S a young boy the king had
a lykeing to him, for at this tyme he was noe
* There is a blank here in the MS.

THE SOMERVILLS. 249
tnore but fourteinth years of age ; but what his
present majestie: carae short off in perforraeing
ofhis proraise, because of the many troubles he
created to himself dureing his reigne, by mis
trusting his nobUitie and imploying mean per
sones in the greatest; affaires of state, his sone,
King James the Fourth, made good abundantly
by honouring and enriching this young gentle
man, wherof we will have occasione to discourse
eftirward. The Lord SomerviU attended his majestie to
Linlethgow, and from thence to StirUng, where,
takeing his leave, he was dismissed with soe large
a testimonie of the king's kyndenes and favour,
that, notwithstanding that he and Archibald
Earle of Angus, nick-named Bell the Catt, was
intimate enough and great friends, yet he could
never be perswaded by hira, nor any other of the
nobilitie, to enter into any combinatione against
the king, albeit he dislyked his raajestie's wayes
and dealUng with his nobilitie as rauch as any of
them did, holding this for a sure maxime, that
both the persone and government of a prince are
sacred, and are not to be medled withall ; noe
miscarriage of the one, nor raismanadgement of
the other, can warrant a rebellione : and such is
all ryseing inarmes, or combinationes of the sub-

S50 MEMORIE OF
jects, against ther prince, let them vernish never
soe weUl ther specious pretexts with religione,
the safety ofthe state, ther oune previledges, or
proppertie of ther estates. The king and the no
bUitie being in thir termes, the Lord Soraervill
mynded his affaires at home.' His eldest sone

* One of these affairs seemes to have been a lawsuit with
some of his neighbours on the borders, for alleged injustice
done upon an inquest touching the lands of Blacklaw, in Rox
burghshire, not very far from Lintoun. — " Anno 1476, XX°
Julii. In ye actione and cause, persewit be Johne Lord Sy-
mervale againis Andro Ormestoun of yat ilk ; John Amyslie of
Dolphinstoune ; Greorge Ruyirfurd; Thomas Ker of Ferny-
hirst ; William Dowglass ; William Kirktone ; James Dowglass ;
William PringiU ; William Dowglass, brodir to George of Dow
glass of Bonegedworth ; Thomas Madur; Arnald Gourlay;
Henry Amisle ; Alexander Ramsay ; Johne Tumebidl of Phirth ;
and William Dalglesch, anent ye wrangwiss determinatioun
and deliverance of ye saidis persouns in ye seruyng of a brefe
purchest be ye said William ye ye decess of vmqhile Thomas
Symervale, his faidir, of ye landis of Blacklaw, lyand within ye
baronery of Lyntoun, ye said William beand present, be his
procuratouris and ye said Johne of Amysly, William of Kirk
tone, Johne Turnebull, Thomas Madur, and William Pringill,
be yar procuratouris, and ye oyir persouns of ye inquest above
writtin, beand lauchfully summond oftymes, callit, and nocht
comperit, ye lordis auditouris of causs and complaintts ordanis
yat ye said persouns of ye inquest yat are nocht comperit be
summond, agane to comper before ye lordis ye ferd day of Oc
tober nixt to cum, with continuatione of dais, to answer in ye
said matter, efter ye forme of ye said summondis, vndir ye pain
of rebellione, and letres to be writtin yar uppone, and at ye
said Johne of Amyslye, William of Kerktone, John Turnebull,

THE SOMERVILLS. 25

)

WiUiam, Barrone of Carnwath, as he is designed
in all the evidences that I have, being now twen
tieth and two or twentieth and three yeares of
age, his father resolves he should marry ; and, in
order to this, he procures a very honourable
match for him, Marjorie Montgomerie, eldest
daughter to Hugh Lord Montgomerie, eftirward
Earle of Eglintoune. The contract is dated at
Glasgow, the first of Apryle, 1476; the condi
tiones being upon the Lord SoraerviU's part, that
he should infeft his sone in the barronie of Carn
wath and barronie of Lintoune, and the lands of
LoudoUne, within a moneth eftir the date of the
contract : the tocher, four thousand raerkes, pay
able at four termes eftir the solemnizeing of the
marriage, which was performed at the house of
EgUntoune the thretteinth day of June, 1476.
The Lord SoraervUl haveing setled his eldest 1476.
sone in the year 1476, and gotten hira confirmed
in his estate by a charter under the great seaU,,
was content to sitt still as ane spectator to be
hold the many tragedies that was acted dureing

Thomas Madir, and William Pringill, comper ye said day per-
sonaly, or be yar procuratouris at yar will to ansuer in ye said
mater, and letres to be writin to warne yaim yarto.'^ — Records
qf Parliament, p. 215.

Q52 ' MEMORIE OF
this king's reigne, and the last worst of aU ; for,
from the death of John Earie of Marr, the king's
youngest brother, who first began the dance,
and shortly thereftir dyed of a plurisie arid too
much letting of blood,' to the king's oune death,.

¦ Pitscottie, with his usual naivete, draws a striking picture
of the three royal brothers, and the difference of their manners
and dispositions : — " The prince had two brether, the eldest
called Alexander Duke of Albany and Earl of March, was very
wise and manly, and loving nothing so well as able men and
good horse, and made great cost and expences thereon ; and
for his singular wisdom and manhood he was esteemed in ^1
countries above- his brother the king's grace; for he was so
hardy and manly with all the lords and barrons of Scotland,
that he was holden so in estimation that they durst never rebeH
against the king so long as he rang in peace and rest with his
brother the king's grace for his manhood. This Alexander was
of mid stature, broad shouldered, and well proportioned in all
his members, and especially in his face, that is to say, broad
faced, red nosed, great eared, and of very awful countenance
when he pleased to shew himself to his unfriends. But the king's
grace, his brother, was far different from his qualities and com
plexions ; for he was one that loved solitarieness and desert, and
never to hear of wars, nor the fame thereof, but delighted more
in musick and the policies of bigging, than he did in the go
vernance ofhis realm. He was also wondrous covetous m con-
quessing of money, rather than the hearts of his barons ; and
he delighted more in singing and playing upon instruments,
than he did in the defence of the borders or administration of
justice, the which, at length, caused him to come to ruin, as ye
shall hear hereafter following. But we return to the third hro
ther, John Earl of Mar,, who was young, fair, and lusty, and
one of high stature ; fair and pleasant faced ; gentle in all his

THE SOMERVILLS. 253
ther was nothing but combinationes, plottings,
and conspiracies amongst the turbulent and fac
tious nobilitie, as would have incensed themyld-
est and meekest of princes, and disturbed the
best of governments. All the severaU circum
stances and particular actings of these tymes, is
soe. faithfully and fully related by the excellent
pen of that truly worthy gentleraan William
Drummond, Laird of Hathornedeane, who, in
his Historie of the Fyve King Jameses, hes given
the world a better account of these tymes, and
the persones that was most active in them, then
aU that ever wrote, before hira. Soe that whosoe
will be pleased to search out recordes, publict
or privat, relateing to these tyraes, will find that
nothing of any raoraent hes escaped him that was
fitt to committ to historie, or to acquaint the suc
ceeding ages with. As for the Lord SomervUl
he raentiones hira not from the tyme of the
king's takeing upon him the governement in his
oune persone, wherin the Lord Soraervill had a

behaviours and manners ; and knew nothing but nobility, using
much hawking and hunting, with other gentlemanny pastime
and exercises, with knightly games, as entertaining of great
horses and mares, wherof the offspring might flourish, so that
he might be stoked in time of war."  P. 72.

254 MEMORIE OF
hand at the tyme, when the king, upon the ac
count of the pretended hunting, was brought
from LinUthgow to Edinburgh castle, which
makes me apt to beleive that the Lord SomerviU
hes been wholly averse from the actings of the
nobUitie, both at Lauder-Bridge, and eftirward
to the very end of this king's reigne : thairfore,
what remaines of this lord's memorie relates to
his private affaires, wherin I shall be alse breiff as
H78. possible.' In the year 1478, the Lord SomerviU
sends his eldest sone of his second marriage, na
med John, to court, being now of the age of
eighteinth, where he was kyndely receaved he

' About this time Lord Somerville was engaged in a lawsuit
with Janet Lady CraigmiUer, the widow of William Somerville,
from whom, it seems, he had detained her third part of move
ables, including goblets, silver spoons, and money, the property
of her late husband.—" Anno 1478, XX' Martii. The lordes
auditouris decretis and deliuiris yat Johne Lord Somervile sail
content and pay to Janet Lady of Cragraillar, ye thrid part of
ye IX"^ of demyis ; ye thrid part of thre chaldir of atis ; ye thrid
part of xi siluer peces and v gobblatis ; ye thrid part of sex siluer
spwnys ; ye thrid part of xl ky and oxin, and zong nolt perte-
ning to ye said Janet, be ye decess of vmquhile William So
mervile, hir late spouss, becauss ye said Johne Lord Somer
vile oiftymes callit and nocht comperit failzeit in his pruf ye
day assignit to him yarfor, and ordanis letres to be writtin to
detrenze his landis and gudis herfor." — Records, ut supra, p.
249.

THE SOMERVILLS. ^55
the Lord Evandell, then chanceUor of Scotland,'
and within few dayes by hira presented to the
king, who reraerabered him very weiU since his
being att Cowthally, and the desyre he then had
of haveing this young gentleman at court. Thair>-
fore he commands his stay : now, according to
his former proraise, he will shortly see to his pre
ferrement. However, I find not that he attain
ed to any dureing his two yeares stay at court,
and it was happy for him that it was soe ; for the
bussines of Lauder Bridge* foUowed shortly ther
eftir, wherin this gentieraan might have suffered
as weill as others in the lyke conditione, which
his prudent father foirseeing, recalles his sone
from court in the year 1480; and, to setle hira 1480.
at home, conferres upon him the toune of Quath
quan the same year ; unto which right of the fa
ther, I find this gentleman's eldest brother,
WiUiam Barrone of Carnwath, consentes, who

' Andrew Stuart, Lord Evandale, the natural son of Sir
James Stuart, and grandson of the Duke of Albany, held the
office of Chancellor of Scotland from 1460 to 1482.
* Where James Earl of Angus, and the other nobles, seized
on the favourites of James III. and hanged them over the
bridge at Lauder. John Ramsay of Balmain was spared on ac
count ofhis youth, and perhaps from some remnant of respect
to the king, to whose person lie clung in the hour of danger.

256 MEMORIE OF
was standing in the fie of that whoU barronie by
vertue of his contract of marriage, these being
the first lands that Sir John SomervUl, efthward
Barrone of Cambusnethen, had from his father
Lord John. He for ordinary, notwithstanding of
his haveing of Carabusnethen, designed hiraself
Sir John of Quathquan. That this gentie man
might not want iraployment, and to divert hira
from the thoughts of returneing to court, wherin
there was nothing but jealousies, feares, and ha
zard of being ruined,' upon the fyfteinth day of
October, 1480, his father grants him ane factorie
and right of baUlzierie, to. the fourth part ofthe
barronie of Stenhouse, which was then in his pos
sessione, as heretor therof. Fyve years eftir this
he grantes a seasing to him of the lands of
Breuchallburne, within the barronie of Cambus
nethen, which he ratifies and renues upon the
i486, tenth of May the succeeding year, 1486. Thir
lands of BreuchaUburne, with CrindeUdyke and
Feramingtoune, did belong to Robert Logane of
RestaUrig, and wer given to his predecessores by
Thoraas Lord Somervill, when he marryed his
daughter ; but, as it appeares, these lands hes
been reconqueist by this Lord John, and confer
red upon his eldest sone of his second marriage,
as aU the rest of the barronie of Cambusnethan

THE SOMERVILLS. 257
was, upon his marrying EUzabeth Carmichaell,
daughter to a younger brother of the Captain of
Craufuird, and half sister to Archibald Earle of
Angus, nicknamed Bell-the-Catt. The same
year, in JuUy 1486, his brother WiUiara, Bar
rone of Carnwath, Lord John's eldest sone, dyes,
and leaves only two infants, John and Hugh, to
his father's care and his brother John of Quath
quan, the which how he perforraed will eftirward
appear. This year was reraarkeable in Scotland
for the death of Queen Margaret, a good and
vertuous lady, who dyed and was buryed att
Cambuskenoull the twentieth and nynth of Fe
bruary, 1486 ; andin England, for that Hendrie
Earle of Richmond came with some companies
out of France, (off which that famous warrier
Bernard Stewart, Lord Oubany,' brother to the
Lord Darnley in Scotland, had the leading,)
which, by the resort ofhis countreymen, turned
into ane armie, and encountered Richard, then
king, att Bazworth, where he was killed, and
Hendrie proclairaed King of England. To which
victorie it was uncertaine whither vertue or for
tune did more contribute.

Aubigne. R

258 MEMORIE OF
1487. In the moneth of October, 1487, King James
the Third, being at peace with all his neighbours,
and particularly with England, a parhament was
caUed, which was the last that John Lord Somer-
viU sat in, being now of the age of seventy-sex.'
In this parliament many acts were made against
s ; justices
wer appoynted to passe through the wholl king-
dome, and see malefactors deservedly punished.
Acts wer made that noe conventione of friends
should be suffered for the accompanying and de
fence of criminaU persones, but that every one
attaintet should appear at most with sex procu
rators ; that if found guilty they should not he
reft from justice by strong hand. Such of the
nobilitie who feared, and consequently hated, the
king, finding how he had acquyred the love of
his people by his pietie in the observance of re
ligione, and his severitie in executing justice,
were driven to new meditationes how to prevent
ther oune supposed ruine, by suspecting that ere

' His name occurs in the rolls of parliament 25th February,
1485, but not in that of 1487.
' The blank ought to be filled up with some allusion to the
statute against slaughter, theft, reef, heirschip, and other vio
lent trespasses.

THE SOMERVILLS. 259
long he would be avanged upon all whom he
either knew wer accessory or suspected to have
been upon the plott of Lauder Bridge, or his
committing in the castle of Edinburgh.
But these things faUing out the succeeding year,
I returne to the privat affaires of this nobleman,
who, upon the seventh day of May, 1487, grantes
ane obleidgeraent to his sone John, wherin he
binds himself and his heires under three thousand
punds, Scots money, one thousand therof to be
payed tothe cathedraU of Glasgow, and another
thousand punds to be payed to the coUedge yle
of Carnwath, and the last thousand punds to be
payed to the said Sir John and his heires, in caice
hiraself, his heires or successores, shall raake any
disturbance to him, or his successores, in the en
joying and possessing peaceably these lands he
had formerly disponed to him and his heires
within the barronie of Carnwath ; by which it
appeares Lord John was apprehensive that his
former grants made in favours of his sone Sir
John might be brought in questione by his
grand children, WiUiara's sones, whose father
was in the fie when most of these lands was dis
poned, and all of thera lying within the barronie
of Carnwath, and holding of the same : thairfore
he endeavoures to secure them to this his belo-

260 MEMORIE OF
ved sone by a penalty soe exorbitant and unusu-'
all in that age, wherin money was soe scarce,
that, unlesse I had found this obleidgeraent,
which is now in my custody, I would hardly have
beUeved it ; and it is sad to remember what con-
traversies and deadly feed fell betwext the families
of Cowthally and Cambusnethen, some threttieth
years thereftir, principaUy upon the account of
these lands, that the house of Cambusnethen
held of the Lord SomervUl within the barronie
of Carnwath, which shaU be declared as I pro
ceed in my relatione ; for from this lord's death
to the death of Gilbert Lord Somervill, who was
the last, I must wryte joyntly of the two houses
for neer ane hundered and fourty years, in all
which tyme ther was never a firrae fi'eindship be
twext the families, notwithstanding of ther neer
relatione and kindred. But, passing this, I will
assert from clear evidences, that John Lord So
mervill's second marriage with a daughter of La-
mingtounes, went neer to have ruined the estate
of Cowthally, by the large provisione he gave
his only sone of this marriage, being neer the
half, if not the better half of his wholl estate ; for
Sir John had not only the barronie of Cambus
nethen intire, being a fourtie pund land of old
extent, but also the fourth part of the barronie

THE SOMERVILLS. 261
of Stenhouse, being a ten pund land, and a ten
mtrke land in the barronie of Brughtoune,
within the sherrifdorae of Peebles ; and, as all
this had not been enough for the provisione of
the sone of this marriage, he gives him, con
trary to all prudence and foirsight. to the weill
of his representative, a fourty pund land out of
the barronie of Carnwath, it being in all but ane
hundered and threttie three punds sex shilling
eight pennies, Scots, of old extent. Soe that in
effect he left to his eldest sone's children nothing
but the rest of that baiTonie and the barronie of
Lintoune in Roxburgh Shyre, with the half of
the lands of GUlmertoune, which ther uncle Sir
John of Quathquan, alias of Cambusnethen, be
ing ther tutor, suffered them not long to enjoy,
although eftirwards it was recovered from the
lairds of Cambusnethen by the last Lord Hugh,
great grand chUde to WilUara Barrone of Carn
wath, and Master of SoraervUl, when it had been
neer four score years in the possessione of the
house of Cambusnethen. By all which, it ap
peares that Lord John hes been absolutely go
verned by his sone Sir John, as is evident from
many instances that might be given, but more
particularly from that obleidgeraent alheady re
lated.

262 MEMORIE OF
1488. The year 1 488 being come, wherin King Jaraes
the Third had peace with all the worid, yet could
he not enjoy that happines at home, from his fac
tious and rebellious nobles, I can terme them no
better, let some of our partiaU wrytters, parti
cularly the author of the Douglasses Historie,
never soe much vindicat ther proceedings from
the spetious pretext of self-preservatione, for if
they had not been conscious to ther oune guilt,
ther was no necessity to fear punishment ; but
the truth is, they had soe accustomed themselves
to frequent rebellione dureing this king's reigne,
that they could not conceave themselves secure
soe long as he breathed. And, indeed, that which
gave ground and ryse to ther last act was a meer
pretext to shadow their crime ; ffor the king have
ing founded a coUedge for divine service, with
the name of the Chappell Royall, the king en
dued this foundatione with constant rents and
ane ample revenue. The priorie of Coldinghame
being then vacant and fallen in the king's hands,
he annexes the same to his chappell royall, and
procured ane act of parliament that non of the
leidges should attempt to doe contrary to this
unione and annexatione. The priorie of this
convent haveing been many years in the name
of Hume, it was by the gentlemen of that name

THE SOMERVILLS. 263
surmized that they should be wronged in ther
estates, by reasone of the tyes and other casuali-
ties pertaineing to this benefice, if a prior of any
other sirnarae wer promoted to this place. Have
ing petitioned the king that ther might be noe
alteratione in the custome of electione, nor the
prior removed from ther name, nor the revenues
otherwayes bestowed then of old, the king con
tinueing in his resolutione of annexing it to his
chappell, the name of Hume, a proud factione,
fiitt for the most dangerous interprizes, they re
solve to overtume the king's intentione, and di
vert his purpose. In order to this, they joyne
theraselves with the Lord Hales, and others of
the sirname of Hume ; they enter in combina
tione with the discontented lords, who, knowing
these two sirnames ofthe Humes and Hepburnes
to be numerous and powerfuU, they lay hold up
on this opportunitie from ther particular to make
the cause generall. From this small beginning
did a great mischeiff aryse, which ended not un
till this unfortunat king was killed the eleventh
day of June, 1488, being murdered in cold blood,
in a mylne, eftir he had escaped frora the battell,
by the Lord Gray, Robert Sterling of Keirie,
and Andrew Borthwick, a preist. The whoU of
this narratione, and all the circumstances, is re-

S64 MEMORIE OF
lated by Drummond.' That which I take notice
of is, that Sir John of Quathquan, being upon

' The author was probably a stranger to the more pictu
resque account given by Pitscottie. — " The king being in or
der, passed forward in arrayed battle. The word came to hin^
that his eneraies were in sight. Then the king cried for his
horse, and lap upon the horse that the Lord David had given,
and rode to see and know the manner of their coming. The
king beheld them in three battles, to the number of six thou
sand men in every battle ; the Humes and the Hepburns ha
ving the vanguard, with the Merse and Teviotdale, with the
East Lothian : and next them in battle Liddesdale and Apanr
dale, and many of Galloway : and then came all the whole lords
that conspired against the king, and brought with them in com
pany the prince, to be their backler and safeguard, and hasted
fast forward with great courage, because they- knew (he king's
qualities, that he was never hardy nor yet constant in battle.
Then the king seeing his enemies coming forward with his own
banner displayed, and his son against him, he remembered the
words that the witch spoke to him before, ' That he should be
destroyed and put down by the nearest of his kin,' which he
saw apparently for to come to pass at that time ; and, by the
words of the foresaid witch, illusion and enticement of the de
vil, he took a vain suspicion in his mind that he hastily took
purpose to flee.
" In this meantime, the lords seeing the king tyne courage,
desired him to pass by the host till they had foughten the bat
tle ; but by this the Humes and the Hepburns came so fast upon
the king's vanguard, and on the other side they shot them so
fast with arrows, that they hurt and slew many of the horses,
and put them a-back : But at the last, the thieves of Anandale
carae in shouting and crying, and feared the king so (having uo
and thought tp win thp town of Stirl ing ; but he spurred his horse
practice in war,) that he took purpose to flee, and ran his way,
at the flight-speed. Coming through the town of Bannockburn,

THE SOMERVILLS. 265

the king's syde at this battell, as sent by his fa-
ther to serve his majestie, was here taken pri-

a woman seeing a man coraing fast upon his horse, she stand
ing in a slonk bringing horae water, she ran fast away, and left
the pig behind her. So the king's horse, seeing this, lap over
the burn, and slonk of free will, but the king was evil sitting,
and fell off his horse at the mill-door of Bannockburn, and was
so bruised with his fall and weight of his harness, that he fell
in a swoon ; and the miller and his wife haled hira out of it into
the mill, not l$nowing what he was, but cast him into a nuik
and covered him with a cloth. While, at the last, the king's
host knowing that the king was gone and fled, debated them
selves manfully ; and knowing that they were borderers and
thieves that dealt with thera, therefore they had the raore cou
rage for to defend themselves. At last they returned and fled
in good order till they got the Torwood, and there debated a
long tirae while night came, and then raany of the said army
passed to Stirling, and, other enemies following them, many
were taken and hurt on both sides, but few slain,
" But at last, when all the host was passing by, and the ene
mies returned again, the king overcame lying in the mill, and
cried if there was any priest to make his confession. The mill
er and his wife hearing thir words, required of him what man
he was, and what his narae was. He happened out unluckily,
and said, ' I was your king this day at morn.' Then the miller's
wife clapt her hands, and ran forth, and cried for a priest to
the king. In the meantime a priest was coming by (some said
it was the Lord Gray's servant,) and he answered, ' Here am
I, a priest ; where is the king ?' Then the miller's wife took the
priest by the hand, and led him into the mill, where the king
lay. As soon as the priest saw the king, he knew him incon
tinently, and kneeled down upon his knee, and speired at the
king's grace, - Ifhe might live ifhe had good leitching.' Who
answered him and said, ' He trowed he might, but desired a
priest to take his advice and give him his sacrament.' The

266 MEMORIE OF
soner, and obleidged to the Earle of Angus for
his safety and liberty, whose half sister he was in
suite of the succeeding year, 1489, and therby
procured unto himself great courtship and favour
during the wholl reign of King James the Fourth.
The Lord Somervill, eftir the returne of his
sone from the battell of Saughburne, wherat
the king's forces was defeat, as is aUreaddy re
lated, did not at all concerne himself in pub
lict or privat affaires, being very aged. He com
mitted the mannadgement of all his oune and
his grand children's bussines to the care of this
his sone and ther uncle Neither doe I find any
evidences or wryttes relateing to this noble man
but two ; the first being a ratificatione of the
rights made to the lands and barronie of Cam-

priest answered and said, ' That I shall do hastily ;' and pulled
out a whinger, and gave hira four or five strokes even into the
heart, and then got hira on his back and went away. But no
man wist what he did with hira, or where he yearded him ; for
no wit was gotten of him or of his dead, nor yet who slew hira,
a month after. Notwithstanding the battles were dissevered,
in manner as I have shewn, the king's battle fled to Stirling, and
the other passed that night to their tents, and on the morn to
Lithgow. I cannot hear of no man of reputation that was slain
at that time ; but there were many earls, lords, and barons that
were taken and ransomed. This unhappy battle was stricken
the month of June, the eighteenth day, one thousand four hun
dred and eighty-eight years." — P. 89.

THE SOMERVILLS. 267
busnethen, upon his sone's marrying with the
house of Angus, which is dated att Cowthally
the last of October, 1489. The second is a sub- 1489.
missione betwext him and Sir William Ken-
nouUes, Lord of Saint Johns, to Robert Deill of
that ilk, and Sir Stephan Lockhart of Cleghorne,
knight, wherin he submittes all contraversies be
twext hira and the said Sir WUUam, anent the
right of the Lord Saint John's tennents privi
ledge of grasseing ther goods within the pastur
ages of the nether toune of Cambusnethen, to
the tryall of ane inqueist before these gentiemen
appoynted and sitting as baillzies for that day.
This subraissione, or act of court, is dated att
Cambusnethen the nyneteinth day of Apryle,
the year of God 1489, and hes afiixt to it the
.sealles of the Lockharts and DeiUes.' This con^

The Dalzells, pronounced Diyell. Lord Somerville seems
to have been engaged in more than one controversy with this
Sir Williara Dalzell ; at least we find that he came off loser in
one respecting the rents of the lands of Kittemuir  " Anno
1478, XI° Martii. The lordis auditouris decretis, that V/illiam
of Dalzell has done na wrang in ye taking of ye malis of ye
landis of Kittemur, beand in ward sett and assignit to him be
Johne Lord Somervile, and yat ye said John Somervile sail re
store and deliuir agane to Gawane Hararailtoun and yar bre-
dir ye twa horss quilk he gert tak for ye said malis fra yaim,
cind yat he grantjt to do in presens of ye lordis without preiu-

268 MEMORIE OF
traversie being setied,. the Lord SomerviU re
turnes to CowthaUy, from which I find not that
he made any progresse untiU tbe day of his death,
which happened the ensueing year, in Novem
ber, 1491, in which moneth he dyed, and was
honourably buryed with great splendour, and
pompe by his sone Sir John, and his two sones
in law, Sir John Gerdoune of Aplegirth, and
Sir Stephan Lockhart of Cleghorne, in the col-
legiat yle of Carnwath, hard by his father Lord
WiUiam. He had issue by his two ladyes four
ehildren, two of each marriage ; first, WiUiam
Barrone of Carnwath, and HeUen, named eftir
her mother, marryed upon Sir John Gerdoune
of Aplegirth ; and of the second marriage. Sir
John of Quathquan, alias of Camnethen, and
Marie, marryed to Sir Stephan Lockhart of Cleg
horne. He was a noble man, brave and active
both in publict and privat ; mannadgeing of his
wholl affaires with much discratione in ane age
wherin ther happened soe many revolutiones and
dounefallings of many of the most eminent fa
milies in Scotland, dureing the reigne of the four
King Jameses ; the reigne ofthe first three he had

dice of ony clame j'at he has to ony uyir persons anent ye said
malis.'' — Records qfParliam£ni, p. 238.

THE SOMERVILLS. ^69
compleatiy seen, and three years of the fourth.'
In what conditione he left his estate will appear
in the memorie of his grande childe Lord John,
that succeeded to him.

Off William, the ihird of that Name, Barrone of
Carnwath, Master of Somervill, the tenth qf
Lintoune, the seventh of Carnwath, the fyfteinth
from Sir Gualter de Somervill.
Before that wee wryte any thing of the sone
Lord John that succeeded to his father WiUiam,
or rather to his grandfather Lord John, that out
lived his sone, wee must give, in short, the me
morie of the father WiUiam Barrone of Carn
wath, as he is designed in all the evidences that
I have of him. He was eldest sone and appeare-
and heir to John Lord Somervill, by HeUen Hep
burne, his first lady, daughter to Adam Hep
burne, the first Lord Hales.* This young noble-

' We may add to the sketch of John Lord Somerville, that
he had either a natural disposition for litigation, or at least was
frequently involved in it, since we have been enabled, in some
degree, to illustrate the events of his life from the frequent 0C7
currence of his law-suits before the king and council.
The paramour, as is stated by our historians, of Mary oi

270 MEMORIE OF
man, at the age of twentieth and sex, or therby,
was marryed to Maijorie Montgomerie, eldest
daughter to Hugh Lord Montgomerie, upon the
thretteinth day of June, 1476, with whom he
had two sones, John and Hugh : both of them
succeeded to him and ther grandfather Lord
John, and came to be Lord SomervUls.' Upon
his marriage, he was infeft by his father in the
barronies of Carnwath and Lintoune, and in the
half of the lands of GiUmertoune, by ane precept
direct out of the chanceUarie, upon the fyfth
day of June, 1476. He was confirmed in all
these lands by King James the Third, and that

Gueldres, though Lord Hailes has laboured hard to wipe away
the scandal. Mr Pinkerton quotes a fatal passage from Wyr-
cestre, wherein the historian charges her with an amour with
Somerset, and adds, that being incensed at his vanity in expo
sing her frailty to Louis XI. (who, by the way, was a great in
vestigator of scandalous mysteries, ) the queen employed her
new lover, the Lord of Hailes, to assassinate his indiscreet pre
decessor in her affections. The old play- Wright's reflection na
turally occurs :
He that attempts a prince's lawless love
Must have broad hands, close heart, with Argus eyes.
And back of Hercules, or else he dies  Marston.
* He was afterwards contracted to Janet Douglas, a daugh
ter of W^illiam Douglas of Druralanrig. As her portion of 1003
merks became afterwards subject of a law-suit before the king's
council, it seems doubtful whether the marriage ever took
place. See a subsequent note.

THE SOMERVILLS. 271
by a charter under the great seall, dated att
Edinburgh, the second day of May, 1477; ther
being witnesses to this charter, John Layng Bi
shope of Glasgow ; Williara Bishope of Orknay ;
Andrew Stewart, Lord Evandell, Great Chan
cellor of Scotland ; the Earles of Argyle, Crau
fuird, Carlyle, and Jaraes the First Lord Hamil
ton, with severall others. Here I cannot but ad
mire that this young nobleman, being infeft and
confirmed by the king in the lands of GUlmer
toune, in the before-mentioned charter, what
should have moved him much about the sarae
tyrae to take these lands of GUlmertoune, hold
en of Malcolme Graharae, Earle of Monteith,
as superior; for I find two seasings, dated the
last of October, 1477, taken by WUUam Barrone
of Carnwath, upon a charter granted be the same
Malcolme Grahame, dated the twentieth and
nynth of October, 1477, for certanely neither he
hiraself, nor his father Lord John, who outlived
him fiyve years, could be ignorant what hazard
they run, by disclaraeing ther superior the king,
of whom, as Earles of Strathearne, they held
these lands of GiUmertoune ; and the truth is,
William's heires was losers fbr it eftirward, it be
ing upon this very ground and mistake, that

272 MEMORIE OP
ther uncle, tutor, and curator. Sir John of Quath
quan, Barrone of Carabusnethen, obtained the
lands of GiUmertoune, Drum, and Gutters, be
ing then but pertenents of Gillraertoune, by a
gift of recognitione from King James the Fourth,
which shaU be spocken to when I come to wryte
of John Lord SomervUl, the eldest sone and heir
of this William Barrone of Carnwath ; and as
this was a grosse mistake, and exceedingly pre
judiciall to his successores, soe did he committ a
far greater error, that being himself in the fie of
all the barronie of Carnwath, that he should have
consented to his ffather's deed in putting his
brother John, of a second marriage, in soe much
or any part of that barronie of Carnwath, seing
his father was but a naked liferenter, and could
not dispose of any part of the proppertie to his
prejudice, especially considering that his brother
had the barronie of Cambusnethen, and severaU
other lands for his patriraonie. Let the raotives
be what they will wherupon this young noble
man consented to this deed of his father's in be
half of his brother, I find noe shadow of reasone
for it, but that it either testified much sirapUci
tie, or, in the favourable constructlone, too good
a nature in him to be so far to his oune and his
7

THE SOMERVILLS. 273
hehes prejudice outwitted in this by his brother
Sir John of Quathquan.' However, I find this
obleidgeraent with the charter therupon, dated
att Carabusnethen the twentieth of March, 1480,
sorae sex years before he dyed. Severall other
wryttes relateing to this young nobleraan, Wil
Uara, Master of SoraervdU, I have by me, wherin
his father Lord John and his brother Sir John
of Quathquan, are most concerned ; thairfore I
wiU remitt thera to the remaining part of the, fa
ther's memorie, and his brother's life, and only
make knoune that this Williara Barrone of Carn
wath, or Master of Soraervill, dyed in the tower
of Carnwath toune, where he dwelt, much about

* There is great room to think that William, apparent heir
of .lohn Lord Somerville, did not voluntarily consent to the
alienation of so large a portion ofthe family estate in favour of
his brother of the second marriage ; for it appears, from the
following passage in the Scottish records, that he had commen
ced an action, against his father, probably on account of this
very settlement, although the action was dropped from some
cause which we may now look for in vain. — " Before the lordis
auditouris comperit Johne Somervale, procuratour for Johne
Lord Somervale, and protestit yat William Somervale, his sone
and apperand are gart summond him at his instance, and wald
nocht compere to folpw him, he beand oft tymes callit yar to,
that yarfore ye said William be nocht hard in jugement in
yat mater, quhill he haue pait ye costis expenss of ye said lord,
and new summondis be maid on hira." — P. 341.

274 MEMORIE OP
the threttieth and fyfth year of his age, in anno
1488, and lyes buryed in tbe yle ofthe coUegiat
church of Carnwath. His vertuous lady, Mar
jorie Montgomerie, outlived him but a few years,
and lyes buryed in the same yle.

Off John Lord SomerviU, ttiefyft of that Name,
the eleventh Barrone of Lintoune, the eighth Of
Carnwath, the fourth Lord Somervill, and the
sexteinth from Sir Gualter de Somervill, Lord
of Whichenour in EnglUnd.
i486. John Lord SoraerviU, and his brother Hugh,.
1491. '^'^^ l^f"- infants, both by ther father WiUiam
Barrone of Carnwath, and ther grandfather Lord
John, the eldest not being fully four, and Hugh
scarce two years of age, to the care and tutorie
of ther uncle Sir John of Quathquan, the first
Barrone of Carabusnethen ofthe name of Somer
viU, albeit the sarae did belong to the house of
Cowthally, since the marriage of John SomerviU
with Margaret Edmondstone, daughter to Sh
John Edmondstone, in the year 1378, neer ane
hundered years before it was a distinct faraUie
by itself, wherof now I wUl have frequent occa
sione to wryte as I proceed in relateing the

THE SOMERVILLS. 9,15
lyves of the remaining Lord Somervills unto the
year 1620.
Sir John Somervill of Quathquan being sole
tutor to his two nephewes, had both ther per-
sonaU and reall estate at his disposeing. In what
conditione the same was left at the grandfather's
death it is hard to know, but in all probabiUtie
it could not be good, especially considering the
large portione Sh John had gotten himself, and
the joynter of his mother^ Dame Mary BaiUzie,
relict of John Lord SomervUl; but whatever
may be in this, as to the bad conditione of the
estate, and the minoritie of the chUdren, that
was not the only misfortune of the faraiUe of
Cowthally, for the representatione' therof. Lord
John, proved a simpletoune, altogither unfitt to
mannadge or direct his own privat affaires ; soe
that this his tutor. Sir John of Quathquan, had
a fair prospect for the Lordship of Soraervill, if
Hugh, Lord John's only brother, had been re
moved. However, as Sir John did some iU of
fice to the house of Cowthally, soe did he a spe-
eiaU good one ; for the barronie of Carnwath

' Kepresentative.

276 MEMORIE OF ¦
holding black waird' before this, he, by his court
ship* and favour with King James the Fourth,
the great interest he had there, by his brother-
in-law Archibald Earie of Angus, being chan
ceUor, he gott the holding changed from waird
to blenche, the reddendo being
with the additione of ane new fair and weekly
market upon the Sabbath, which continued un
till the Reformatione. ,
1491. But that I may come more particularly to Sir
John's actings in. his pupills affaires, the first pa
per I find is ane inqueist holden by Sir John, in
Lord John's name, att Carnwath, the sexteinth
day of December, 1491, which was a raoneth, or
therby, eftir his grandfather's death, Lord John :
this service related to some lands in Newbigging.'

' The military tenures in Scotland were called Ward-hold
ings, from the care of the estate devolving upon the superior
during the minority of the^vassal. When a vassal held a fee ward
of a subject, who again held it by the sarae tenure of the crown,
it was called a Black-ward-holding, and was the most rigorous
in the Scottish law, for the subvassal had not only to fight the
battles of both superiors, but he was also liable to be excluded
from the estate by the higher superior, during the minority of
the subject superior.
' i. e. interest at court.
' There is notice of a subsequent family transaction in the

THE SOMERVILLS. 277
The second evidence is, that one Hendrie Dou
glas, clameing right to certaine lands in Quath
quan, had procured a breiff out of the chancel-
lary for infefting hiraself in these lands. Wher
upon Sir John of Quathquan, as tutor to the
Lord Soraervill, gives in a coraplaint to the king
and counsell, supplicating in his pupill's behalf,

records ofthe council, naraely, an action for recovery of 1000
merks, the marriage portion of Janet, daughter of Douglas
of Druralanrig, betrothed or married to the deceased Wil
liam, Master of Somerville  " 1491, xiiii Februarii. The ac-
tioun and cause persewit be Marioun Laidy Somervale, Schir
William Bailze of Lamrayntown, Johne Somervale, and Tho
mas Someruale, executouris and assignais of vmquhile Johne
Lord Someruale, aganis Jaraes Dowglas, sone and are of vraqu-
hile William Dowglas of Drumlanark, Robert Lord Crechtoun
of Sanchquhare, Schir Robert Crechtoun, son and are to vra-
quhile Robert Crechtoun of Kynnovle, Edward Crechtoun of
Kirpatrick, and Robert Maitland of Qwenybery, for ye wrang-
wis withhaldin fi-a yarae ye sourae of ane thowsand markis for
contract of mariage corapletit betuix William Somervale, ye
sone and air of ye said vmquhile Johne, and .Janet dochtir to
ye said William Dowglas, is be ye lordis of consale and audi
touris of causs contenewit to ye xviii day of Junii nixt to cum,
with continuatioun of dais in ye sammyn forme and eifect as it
now is, but preludice of partii, and all ye partiis ar summond
apud acta, and becaus ye saidis Robert Lord Crechtoun, Schir
Robert Crechtoun, Edward Crechtoun, and Robert Maitland,
allegiit that James of Dowglas suld warrand yaim, the lordis
yarfore assignis to yaim ye said day with continuatioun of dais
to call yat forsaid warrend." — Records ofthe Parliament of
Scotland.

278 MEMORIE OF
as being superior to these lands. Wherupon the
king grantes a warrand, directed to John Nisbett
of Dallzell, John SomerviU, Thomas SomerviU,
WUUam SomerviU, and George of Cottes, as
shirreffs in that part, to charge the said Hendrie
Douglas that he instantiy requyre the tutor of
the said Lord Soraervill, to give him state and
seasing of that portione of Quathquan that he
claimed in heretage, the which seasing he should
receave under the highest pain and perriU. This
order, or letters, is given under the signet, the
fyfth day of November, the seventh year of King
James the Fourth's reigne, which was in anno
1195. 1495. Thir letters wer execute by tbe shirrefs
unto whom they wer directed, upon the twen-
1496. tieth day of June, 1496. Four years eftir this,
1500. upon the eight day of Apryle, 1500, at Edin
burgh, he caused serve John Lord Somervill,
heir to his father WiUiam Barrone of Carnwath,
to the lands of Gillraertoune, with the pertinents,
Patrick Hepburne, Lord Hales, the first Earle
of Bothwell of that name, being sherreff princi
paU of Mid-Louthan, and Mr James Henderson,
procurator for the Lord SomerviU. The instru
ment extracted upon the service is dated the
twentieth and eight day of Apryle the same
year. This service, with that of the father's, was

THE SOMERVILLS. 279
the ground that these lands of Gillmertoun re-
cognost; for, in anno 1502, the king persewes 1502.
crirainally all the gentlemen that was upon the in
queist, for haveing wrongously served Lord John
heir to his father WiUiam, who had, by his service
and infeftraent in these lands, disclaimed his su
perior the king, of whom, as Earle of Strathearne,
he held the same, and had taken them holden of
the Earle of Monteith, the pretended superior.'
This was a sore beginning for Sir John of Quath
quan to encroach upon his pupill's estate ; but
that which contribut raost for carrying of thir
lands frora Lord John to himself and his poste
ritie, was a decreit the king obtained against the
wholl lands of GUlmertoune for four score merkes
yearly, as due to him and his predecessores for
sextieth years preceeding, out of these lands.
This actione was persewed against John Lord
Somervill, James Rarasay, and Patrick Herring,
ther predecessores and authores upward to the
year 1440, and decreited against all of them

* The vassal, who, whether from ignorance, or wilfully, dis
owned his lawful superior, by taking out rights from another,
committed the feudal delinquency, termed in the Scottish law
Disclamation, the penalty of whicli was the forfeiture of the
fee.— Regiam Majestatem, Lib. 2. cap. 63. § 4, 6, 9.

£80 MEMORIE OF
conforme to ther severaU possessiones. This de
creit is dated att Edinburgh, the eight day of
November, 1503, written in parchement, and
hes the great seaU appended therto. Three years
preceeding this. Sir John, as tutor, had persew-
ed Simeon Prestoune of that Uk, son to the
Laird of CraigmUler, and severall others for ther
wrongous labouring and possessing the lands of
GiUmertoune and Gutters from the year 1500,
and some years preceeding. The right Craig
miUer pretended was be ane assignatione from
his father WUliam, with whom John Lord So
mervill and Williara his sone, the father and
grandfather of this present lord, had transacted
and made some bargane anent these lands of
GiUmertoune and Gutters, but what it was I find
not, further then by the decreit obtained against
them, it would appear to have been either a leish
for some years, or a forrae of wodset ' then in

' The wad-sett, or empledging of lands in security of money
advanced, was originally always followed by possession on part
ofthe creditor, who held the lands and drew the rents, and acted
in every respect as proprietor, until the money advanced was
repaid. This was a mode of evading the laws against exaction
of interest. Afterwards improper wadsets were introduced, so
called as being less strictly according to legal principle. In this
latter class, the creditor, or wadsetter, was obliged to account
ibr the rents if he received any thing beyond the legal interest.

THE SOMERVILLS. 281
use, redeemable by ther possessione ; but what
ever might have been the right they brooked by,
they were all outed of ther possessione, and or
dained to pay a considerable soume of money by
the lords of counsell ther decreit, the last of
March, 1502.
What Sir John of Quathquan did in this af
fair, or any other relateing to the lands of Lou
thian, accressed to his oune particular benefite ;
for, in the year 1498, upon the eight day of
September, he procures from King Jaraes the
Fourth, not only a gift of the nonentry' of the
lands of GiUmertoune, containeing a right to all
the bygone maiUes aUd duties, and these to corae
dureing the nonentry of -the righteous heires of
the Lord SomerviU, that was last infeft by the
king in these lands, but also ane right to the re
cognitione,* wherby he claimed the proppertie.

' By the feudal law, the fief reverted to the superior, or over
lord, in case the heir of the vassal did not enter with his lord,
i. e. procure the renewal of the investiture in his own person.
The faraily of Somerville were subjected to this casualty or pe
nalty of non-entry in consequence of having taken out an in
vestiture from the Earls of Menteith, instead ofthe crown, their
legal superior,
•Another penalty of the feudal law, which, like all others,
turned on the main principle, that the fief, being the free^^
of the superior, reverted to him on any deed which publicly

282 MEMORIE OF
in caice it should be found they had declyned
ther superior. This was the thing he designed ;
for he understood weUl enough what his elder
brother had done with the Earle of Menteith in
order to these lands ; and he himself bad caused
his pupiU Lord John enter heir to his father up
on that very service, by which, now he was to
carry away tbe proppertie of tbese lands to him
self and his heires for ever, by the right of re
cognitione and the king's gift, if a wonderfuU
providence (by the chancellor's care, then George
Gourdoune, Earle of Huntley) had not prevent
ed it, who, observeing the fraud, insert four or
fyve words in favour of the Lord Somervill and
his successores, which eftirward did cause these
lands returne to the righteous heir, when they
had been possessed by vertue of this gift neer
four score years by the house of Carabusnethen.
And seing this grant was that whereby the lairds
of Cambusnethen possessed the lands of GiU
mertoune, and that lykewayes wherby the Lord
Somervill recovered them again, I think it not

testified the desertion or ingratitude of the vassal. Recogni
tion took place in the stricter feudal times upon the non-entry
of the heir, but was afterwards limited to those cases when the
vassal presumed to dispose of the fief to a stranger without
consent of the liege lord.

THE SOMERVILLS. 283
impertinent to insert the gift, as it was granted
by King James the Fourth, in this lords me
raorie. " James, by the grace of God, King of Scots :
TiU all and sundry our ofiicers, leidges, and sub
jects whora it effeir^s, till whose knowledge thir
our letters shall corae, greetiug. Witt ye us that
fforsuaraeikleas wee are sickeriy informed that
the half of the lands of GUlmertoune with the
pertinents, to quhilke our cousine John Lord
SoraerviU and aUeadged to be
holden of the Earle of March,' are holden of us
as Earle of Stratherne, be our said cousine and
his predecessores iraraediately, and hes been ofa
long tyrae in our predecessores hands and ours
as superiors therof, through the nonentry of the
righteous heires therto be us, and therfore for
the good and thankfull service done to us be our
lovit cousine, John SomerviU of Carabusnethen,
Knight, we have given and assigned, and be thir
our letters, gives and assignes fo hira, all mailles,
profites, and duties of aU and haiU the half of the
saids lands of Gillraertoune, with the pertinents
for all the tyrae that they have been in our pre-

Menteith.

284 MEMORIE OF
decessores hands and ours, and shaU happen to
be by reasone foresaid, and ay and whiU the
righteous heir or heires therof be lawfuUy en
tered therto be us, faUen in o' hands by reasone
above written.' With power to the said John to
raise and uplift the mailles and profites of the
saids lands of all tymes bygaine, or to occupy
the samen, or sett them to tennents to his maist
utUitie and profite, and as he shaU think maist
expedient in tyme to come, whiU the entrie of
the righteous heires, as said is, freely, quyetly,
weiU and in peace, but any revocatione or againe
calling whatsomever ; and attour, giff it beis
found that the said umquhile John Lord Somer
viU, or any others his predecessores or his suc
cessores, heires of the saids lands, hes taken
pretended therto of any
other pretended over lord, but of us and our
predecessores, and that they have forfaulted the
saids lands therthrough. Wee give and grant the
samen likewayes to the said John and his heires,
being in our hands by reasone of the said fbr-

' Upon this clause lay the claim of the lords Somerville,
afterwards successfully enforced, since the grant to Sir John of
Quathquan, or Cambusnethan, was qualified in its endurance un
til the heir ofthe family should take investitures from the crown.

THE SOMERVILLS. 285
faulture, and shall raake hira and his heires to
have heretable infeftment therof be charters and
seasings, in due forrae as effeires, alse freely as
they wer holden of the Earle of Stratherne, or
any others our predecessores before the said for
faulture ; wherfore wee charge straitiy and cora
mands you all and sundry our officers, leidges,
and subjects forsaid, that non of you. take on
hand to make any molestatione, trouble, or ira-
pediment to the said John SomervUl, in the
peaceable raiseing and uplifting of aU the raailles
and profites of the saids lands of all tyraes by
gaine, or in the peaceable brookeing and raise
ing therof in time to come, ay and whill the en
trie of the righteous heir or heires therto as said
is, or to doe or attempt any thing contrair this
our gift in any wayes under all the highest pain
and charge that eftir may follow. Given under
our privie seall att Stirling, the eight day of Sep
tember, the year of God 1498, and ofhis majes
ties reigne the tenth year."
It was by this unhappie gift that Sir John of
Quathquan possessed himself of the lands of
Mid-Louthian to the prejudice ofhis pupill; and
his successores for two generationes had no bet
ter title (save possessione) then what this gift
gave them, which was soe easily reduceable in

286 MEMORIE OF
itself, if the least notice had been taken therto ;
and hs strange to thinke that the first Lord
Hugh, being soe intelUgent and active in aU his
concernes, when he came to the possessione of
his brother's estate, and entered himself heir
both to that and to his title, that nether be dure
ing his life, noe, nor yet his son. Lord James,
should have challenged the house of Carabus
nethen, who peaceably, without ever being quar
relled, enjoyed the lands of Drum, GiUmertoune,
and the Gutters for three score and twelve years,
untill a wonderfuU providence brought it to
Ught, which efthward shaU be declared, when I
come to wryte the meraorie of Jaraes Lord So
mervill, by which it wUl appear that the only
reasone why the Lahds of Carabusnethen's right
was not quarreUed hes been, by keeping up the
gift from the knowledge of the house of Cow
thally ; for, soe soon as it came to be discover
ed, the iniquitie and wrong of ther possessione
of these lands was soon found out, and accord
ingly decreited in favours of the Lord Somervill.
However, Sir John haveing procured the gift
in anno 1498, thereftir in anno 1499, upon the
tenth day of May, he holds court att GUlmer
toune, as baiUzie to the Earle of Menteith, pre
tended superior of that barronie. What might

THE SOMERVILLS. 287
have been his reasone in takeing such a warrand
or right frora the Earle of Menteith I cannot
understand, unles it hes been to fortifie or se
cond the king's gift, in caice it should be chal
lenged by the Earles of Menteith, whose prede
cessores clamed right as superiors of the barronie
of GUlmertoune,. by virtue of Patrick Graharae,
a younger brother of the Lord Grahames, ther
predecessor, who marryed the only daughter of
David Stewart, Earle of Stratherne, uncle to
King James the First. But this doeing of Sir
John of Quathqiians being a mistery, I cannot
understand, thairfore I leave it, and only informe
that at this court, amongst Others that possessed
the lands of GUlmertoune, he conveined John
of Prestoune, soe designed. What this gentleraan
was I cannot corae to the knowledge of; but it
appeares he hes been a brother of the house of
CraigmiUer ; for eftirward WilUam and Simeon
Prestoune wer persewed by this Sir John of
Quathquan, for ther wrongous possessing the
lands of GiUmertouhe, and decreit obtained
against them, as is allready related.
The time of Sir John's tutory arid curatry 150S.
(for he was both) expyreing in the year 1506,
he was not wanting to secure himself and his
successores from aU hazard they might incurre.

288 MEMORIE OF
for his intromissione with the pupiUs estate or
acting in his affaires, and that by ane araple dis
charge and declaratione approveing all that ever
he had done dureing the long tyrae of hi^ tutorie
and curatorie. This declaratione is drawen by
way of instruraent, before Thoraas Greenly and
George Wood, coramissars of Edinburgh, and
James Hendersone of FordeU, then Justice Clerk.
It is subscryved by Lord John himself, with his
hand at the pen, by two nottars, with two sealles
appended therto, the one bearing the Lord So
mervill's armes, and the other the comraissar's
seall of Edinburgh. The instrument is written
in parchement, and dated att Edinburgh, the
1510. eleventh day of August, 1510. This is the first
and the last tyrae that ever I find this lord corae
to Edinburgh, or any place else in publict, from
his oune house of Cowthally ; but this was a sin
gular caice which his good tutor could not dis
pense with, being one ofthe neerest
in his tyme. Eftir the year 1510, I find not that
Sir John of Quathquan, for I may still designe
him soe, albeit he was Laird of Cambusnethen,
at this tyme concerned himself in the Lord, So
mervill's affaires ; for his only brother, Hugh,
being now past his minoritie, and in man's
estate a pregnant witt that
6

THE SOMERVILLS. 289
the weakness and siraphcitie of his brother. Lord
John, had made him a prey to all that acted in
his affiiires ; and that in many things he had been
abused by his tuter and curator, Thairfore he
takes upon hira to act in aU his brother's busi
nesses, knowing that hiraself was to succeed to
that estate att or before his brother's death,
seeing that he was altogither uncapable to go
verne the sarae, albeit for the tyrae he was borne
up by the raoyen and interest that Sir John of
Quathquan had att court, and the great influence
he had upon other freinds and relationes of the
house of Cowthally, he hiraself being the pre-
suraptive heir of that familie, the two brothers
being reraoved. And now, ther being litle more
to be said as to this lord's meraorie, albeit he
lived untiU the year 1524, but what either Sir
John of Quathquan, his sone Red-bag, or his
oune brother Hugh was concerned in, I shall
referre what is further to be spocken of him to
ther raeraories ; and seing Sir John of Quath
quan stands in ray way, I shall begin first with
hira, as being the greatest cadit that ever came
of the house of CowthaUy.

290 MEMORIE OF

Off Sir John of Quathquan, the first Barrone of
Cambusnethen of the Name of Somervill, since
it became a distinct Familie fom Cowthally.
Sir John Somervill of Quathquan, Barrone of
Carabusnethen, and proprietar of many lands
besyde, was borne att Cambusnethen in anno
1457, the only sone of his father's second mar
riage, by a daughter of the Laird of Laming^
tonnes. He was only four years younger then
his eldest brother William, of the first marriage ;
and with him was brought up att schooUes and
such manly exercises as was in use at that tyme;
Ther was never two brothers of soe contrary hu
mors and inclinationes as these two wer ; for, as
William was siraple and of ane easy nature to be
persuaded to any thing, albeit to his disadvan
tage, which is evident from what we have of
him, soe his brother John was of a quyte con
trary humour, being warry and circuraspect in
all his actiones, which he manadged stiU to his
best advantage. In his very youth he promised
much, being a darring sphit, and still desyreous
of imployments, which made his father. Lord
John, love him from his very infancy ; and soe

THE SOMERVILLS. 291
soon as he came to be a raan, he intrusted him
in aU his privat affahes; made him baiUzie of
his barronie at the age of twentieth, in which
employment he gave ample testimony of his witt
and courtesie, by ane obleidgeing carriage to all
that had ther addresse to his father for bussines
wherin he was to be concerned as his father's
baUlzie, soe tbat absolutely he gained the favour
and good will of his father's vassalles and ten
nents, who then wer not a few, in the shiref-
domes of CUdsedale, Mid-Louthian, and Rox
burgh. But being now of the age of twentieth
and three, or therby, a compleat gentleraan both
in persone and parts, his stirring thoughts wer
not to be confyned to his father's house and
privat affaires. The court was in his eye, ther
being noe use for the campe. King James the
Third haveing made peace with Hendrie the
Sexth of England. The principaU governement
of affaires was then in the hands of Andrew
Stewart, Lord Evandell, Chancellor of Scotland,
who was the first that took notice of him, being
weiU acquainted with his father. Lord John,
since the pretended hunting and the king's
bringing off from LinUthgow to Edinburgh cas
tle ; att which tyme he took the governement
upon hiraself, at the instigatione of the Boydes,

292 MEMORIE OF
and these that adhered to them in that designe,
wherof the Lord SomerviU was one. The king
then keeped court att Stirling, and few of the
nobUitie resorted thairto, the Cochrans and
men of mean extractione
about this tyme wer beginning to have the king's
ear ; soe that persones of qualitie disdained to
have or accept of favours by ther meanes. How
ever, this young gentleman remained att court
neer two years in the retinue of the chanceUor,
who, besyde a particular kyndenes and freind
ship he boor to the Lord Somervill, had, by his
mother, a neer relatione to the house of Cow
thally ; and the truth is, if this gentleman had
continued att court a litle longer, by the king's
favour and the chancellor's kyndenes, he might
have made a considerable figure. Thairfore the
king's majestie being informed by the chancellor
what he was, took particular notice of him, and
seeing his persone handsome and his addresse
courtly, commanded his stay att court ; which,
if he had done, undoubtedly it would either have
been to his great honour and advantage, or else
he had perished as weill as others, if his birth
and qualitie had not preserved it from that
storme which sank most ofthe king's favourites
-dureing his reigne, yea, and at his death too.

THE SOMERVILLS. 293
But, to prevent any such raisfortune to the sone,
the father comes to ye court, the king being att
Linlithgow, where he understands the discon
tent of the nobilitie, and what was lyke to fol
low. The plot of Lauder Bridge was about this
tyme contryveing, which took effect some two
years eftir, to the rmne and destructione of the
king's raost intimate favourites ; which this no
bleman forseeing, and unwilling that his sone
should spleit upon the rockes pf court favours,
noe intreatie of the chancellors could perswade
him to let his sone remaine any longer there,
pretending himself was now infirme, by reasone
of his age, his eldest sone sicklie, and under
such decay as, in aU human probabilitie, he
could not live long. Albeit ther was truth, it
was but a pretext ; for this lord foirsaw the
storme, and thairfore resolved to reteire his sone
both frora the envy of the nobilitie and the ha
zard he raight incurre therby. Besyde this, he
was fondly affectioned toward hira, and seldome
could dispence with his absence from his oune
persone, which was the reasone that, dureing his
father's life, he gott noe great things done at
court. Being now returned home, he sett him
self wholly to humor his father, which he did
soe weill, that he bestowed upon him the toune

294 MEMORIE OF
and lands of Quathquan, the proppertie wherof
sorae years preceeding had been purchased from
Thoraas Chorsewood, nephew to George Chorse
wood, Bishope of Brichen, sorae tyme Chancel
lor of Scotiand. This being the first land that
ever Sir John was infeft in, he stiU designes him
self by thera.
Archibald Earle of Angus being one of the
discontented, fbr the raost part had his residence
att Douglas castle. The Lord Soraervill now and
then payed bim a visite, and reciprocaUy recea
ved the lyke from his lordship ; at these inter-
vieues this young gentleman was ever present
with his father, which occasioned the earle to
converse much with hira, whereby he found his
inward induements answearable to the hand-
somenes of his persone. He resolved to be the
more intimate with him, therby for the future to
obleidge him to his service. The father observe
ing this, gave privat warneing and coramands to
his sone not to engadge soe much as by promise
to the earle ; for the courses the nobUitie was then
takeing, and wherof Angus was the cheiffe, to
restraine the king in the choyce of his minions,
did not at all please this nobleman. The Earle
of Angus craved the young gentleman might re
maine some tyrae with hira, where he should be

THE SOMERVILLS, 295
respected according to his quaUtie; but Lord
John excused both himself and his sone in a
handsome way, by teUing the earle that being
neer nighboures they might converse weekly,
and that if his lordship's occasiones requyred
either counsell or assistance, not only of his sone,
but all his oune foUowers should be ready to
serve him. This being in effect but a naked com
plement, the earle resolves not to rest upon it,
but determines both to tye the father and sone
to his interest by afiinitie. In order to this de
signe, by some ofhis confidents, he raade tryall
what fortune John raight expect from his father
as being the eldest sone of a second marriage ;
and they informed, that William Barrone of
Carnwath, his eldest brother, was only infeft in
the barronie of Lintoune : three parts of the bar
ronie of Carnwath, and in the lands of Mid-Lou
thian ; the whoU barronie of Cambusnethen ; a
fourtieth pund-land ofthe barronie of Carnwath ;
the fourth part of the barronie of Stenhouse ; a
ten merk land within the barronie of Burthen, in
the shirrefdome of Peebles, wer all yet at the
disposeing of the father. The Earle of Angus
being fully informed of the Lord Somervill's af
faires, he caused propone marriage to the father
and sone, haveing at this tyme to his half sister

296 MEMORIE OF
a noble and vertuous lady, Elizabeth Carmichael,
daughter to a younger brother of the Captaine
of Craufuirds, who had marryed Elizabeth Sib
bald, or Sibbard, daughter to Sibbald of Balgo-
nie, sometyme Thesaurer of Scotiand, descend
ed of the ancient Earies of Northumberiand.
This lady was the relict of George the first Earle
of Angus, eftir whose death she marryed a
younger brother of the Captaine of Craufuirds,
and procured frora her sone, as is supposed, the
lands of Ballmoodie in Ffyffe. This was the ex
traction of the young lady, and his oune half
sister, which Archibald Earle of Angus, com
monly called Bell-the-Catt,' proposed in mar
riage to the Lord Somervill and his sone, which,
albeit it was kindely intertained, yet it took noe
effect untill eftir the death of King James the
Third at the battle of Saugheburne, whereat this
young gentleman is raade prisoner, and had both

' He obtained this nickname from his memorable answer to
an apologue related by the Lord Gray to the assembled nobles
at Lauder, while they were deliberating upon the raode of se
parating the king frora his favourites. The fable was of the rats,
who had resolved to tie a bell about the cat's neck, that they
might be aware of all her motions, which passed for good coun
sel until it was found that none of the rats durst adventure his
person in fastening it on their enemy. " I will bell the cat,"
was the earl's answer; and hence his well-known soubriquet.

THE SOMERVILLS. 297
his life preserved and his libertie by the Earle of
Angus his procurement : wherupon, the succeed
ing year 1489, the conditione of the marriage i489.
was concluded upon, and the same solemnized
att Edinburgh the third of JuUy, 1489, the old
Countes of Angus resideing there for the tyrae.
In September following, his father being yet
alyve, he bringes home his young lady to Cow
thally, where the infare' was honoured with noe
meaner guest then the king's majestie James the
Fourth, being then in the second year of his
reigne, and in the eighteinth year of his age.
The king, neer to Inglestoune Bridges, had
been met with by Sir John of Quathquan, with
some fyftieth gentleraen of his oune narae and
his father's vassalles, who waited upon his raa-
jestie unto Cowthally house. John Lord Somer
vill, by reasone of his age, was not able to meet
the king at any distance. However, being sup
ported by WiUiara Soraervill, younger of Plaine,
and WiUiam CleiUand of that ilk, both his ne
phewes, he receaved the king at the west end of
the calsay that leades from Carnwath toune to
Cowthally house, where his majestie was pleased

' The entertainment made for the reception of a bride in
the bridegroom's house. 10

298 MEMORIE OF
to light from his horse, as did his whoU retinue,
and walked upon foot from thence to CowthaUy,
being neer a quarter- Of a myle of excellent way.
At the outter gate Dame Marie BaUlzie, then
Lady SoraerviU, being at this tyme not above
the fourtieth and sexth year of her age, with her
daughter-in-law Elizabeth CarraichaeU, Sir John
of Quathquan's lady, the Lady Aplegirth, the
Lady Cleghorne, the Lady Carmichaell, and the
Captaine of Craufuird's' lady, with a great many
others, that both by affinitie and consanguinitie
wer related to- the house of ¦ Cowthally, with
severall other ladyes, wer ther present to weU
corae his majestie to the infare, and make the
intertainement more splendid. What ther fare
was needs not to be discoursed upon ; it is enough
to know it was in CowthaUy house, where three
of his majestie's predecessores had been inter
tained before, and his successor King James the
Fyfth often. How long his raajestie continued
in Cowthally I cannot be positive, but by the
charaberlane's and steward's accompts, I find

' Crawford-Castle, situated in Crawford-moor, in the upper
ward of Clydesdale, was at this tirae a royal fortress. The keep
ers, or governors, of such royal castles were called Captains ia
the language ofthe times.

THE SOMERVILLS. 299
ther was noe fewer beastes killed then fyftietii
kyne, two hundered sheep, fourtieth bolles of
malt, andof meall sexteinth, of butter twentieth
stone, spent at this infare, besyde fishes, tame
and wilde foull in such abundance, that both the
king and the nobiUtie declared they had not
seen the lyke in any house within the kingdome ;
and yett this intertainment was short by neer a
third as to that the first Hugh Lord Somervill
gave to King James the Fyfth^ at the marriage
of his eldest daughter Lady CookpooUes.'
This feast being over, the king, with his traine,
makes for Stirling, and was waitted upon by the
principaU of the nobiUtie, who wer now at con
cord, aU ther quarrelles sometymes before this
being setled by the providence of this young
prince, who was of a calmer and mylder dis
positione then the late king his father, whose
untractablenes was the great
if not the only cause ofhis ruine, as is supposed.
His raajestie was waitted upon by Jaraes Lord
Hamilton, and the gentlemen of both the wairdes

' From the rude hospitality of Cowthally-Castle, there arose
a pun on the name, which is still current araong the common
people, as expressing the traditional remembrance of the good
cheer it once afforded. — Cowthally, quasi Cow-daily, because
a cow was killed every day of the week.

300 MEMORIE OF
of CUdsedale to Stiriing, where, haveing remain
ed some few dayes, the Lord Hamilton and his
brother-in-law the lord chamberlane took ther
leave of his majestie, and returned to Hamilton,
bringing with them Sir John SomervUl of Quath
quan, who had gained soe much upon the affec
tione ofhis young master the king, as made these
two noblemen bear a singular respect to this gen
tleman, which both of them gave promise of in
granting of a band of protectione to him dure
ing his abode att Hamilton : and because I have
aUready given yow the forme of a band of man
drey in the memorie of John Lord Somervill,
the father of this gentleman, I thinke it not
amysse in this place to give yow that of a band
of protectione, these two formes of bands as to
the tenores differing. The band foUowes : —
" Be it kend till all men be thir present let
ters, me, James Lord of Hamilton, and Alexan
der Home, Great Chamberlane of Scotland, to
have receaved and taken, and be the tenor of
thir present letters, receaves and takes our weill
beloved cousine and famUiar servant, John So
mervill of Quathquan, sone to John Lord of So
mervill, for his true service till us, done and to
be done to our simple mantenance and defence,
and obleidges us both conjunctlie and severaUie

THE SOMERVILLS. 301
therto, be the faith of our bodies that wee shall
defend hira in aU his actiones, causes, and quar
relles, leifefuU and lawfull, for all the dayes of
his life, without fraud or guyle, and specially in
brooking and joying of the lands quhilke his fa
ther hes given him in heretage, and contrary to
all that Uve and raay live, exceptand our al
leadgeance to our soveraigne lord the king allen-
nerly.' In witnes of the quhilke thing, and be
cause wee the said Jaraes Lord Harailton hes
nae seall present of our oune, wee have affixt in
stantly the seall of our cousine James Hamilton
of to thir presents, att Hamil
ton, the thretteinth day of Septeraber, the year
of God 1489, before thir witnesses, John Nisbett
of Dallzell, Williara Harailton of Calder, David
Hamilton, Parsone of Carstaires, Robert HamU
ton, Parsone of Arskirkpatrick of Harailton,
and Rodger CleiUand, with others ; and wee the
said Alexander Home, for wee have sett to our
seaU to thir presents, with the subscriptione of
both our hands, the forsaid day and place, before
the forsaid witnesses." This is that band of pro-

' The Knight of Quathquan having obtained such a large
portion of the family estate to the prejudice of his elder bro
thers of the first marriage, probably sought the protection of
these powerful barons to maintain hira in possession of it.

302 MEMORIE OF
tectione granted by these noblemen to Sir John
of Quathquan, wherunto both ther seaUes are
affixed, and ther superscriptiones both unlegible,
the character being without all forme for any
man to know the name or sirname of these no
blemen designed in the band of protectione.
Sir John of Quathquan haveing thus secured
himself by his marriage and protectione, his fa-
1491. ther the Lord Somervill being dead in anno 1491,
he transports, himself and his familie to Carabus
nethen, the barronie wherin he was infeft upon
his marriage, the house of Cambusnethan at that
tyrae being only a large squair tower, four sto
rie high, called the Baird's Tower, which name
was still retained untill the year 1661, that the
same was demolished by Sir John Harper, pre
sent possessor of that barronie, who, modelUng
the house eftir a new forrae, razed to the foun
datione the greatest part of the old building.
However, to this tower of the Baird's, Sir John
of Quathquan built a great house, ane hundered
foot and upward of lenth, and threttieth of
breadth within the walles, all excellent aisler
worke both within and without, standing upon
fyve spatious vaults, being only three storie high,
with a large turnepyke betwext the old tower
and the bodie of this house, which serves both.

THE SOMERVILLS. 303
I have often adraired soe fair a frontispiece and
excellent workeraanship of soe large bulke, that
promises soe much, to have not above fyve roomes
besyde the vaults, and these nothing to com
mend them but ther largenes. This I suppose is
to be imputed unto these tymes, wherin, indeed,
they built weill, but contryved ill, as may be
seen in all the ancient houses of Scotland : ne
ther are the workemen altogither to be con
demned in this, seing the noblemen and gentle
men built more for their safetie then convenien-
cie in that age.'
Archibald Earle of Angus being now made
chancellor in anno 1493, Sir John of Quathquan 149S.
goes to court, it being the fyfth year of King
James the Fourth's reigne, where he continued
neer four years, dureing which tyme he was
knighted and gratified by the king with severaU
benefices, particularly with that gift of nonentrie
and recognitione of the lands of GiUmertoune,
aUready mentioned in his nephewe's memorie.

The old Scottish castles were ill provided with lodging
apartments. The numerous retainers were indeed feasted in
the hall, but retired at night to the village or hamlet which ad
joined to the castle, unless when they remained to garrison it,
upon which occasions their accoraraodations were probably
very indifferent.

304 MEMORIE OF
And now that posterity might not blame hira,
being soe great att court, that he did all for hira
self and nothing for his pupill, in anno 1500,
George Gordoune Earle of Huntley being chan
cellor, he obtaines frora the king, in favours of
his pupill, a charter of new infeftments fbr hold
ing of the barronies of Carnwath and Lintoune
blenche, which formerly held black waird of the
croune. This was the only benefite that his pu
pill. Lord John, reaped by his tutorie, or that
which the house of Cowthally had reasone to
thanke him for eftirward ; but whether or not
the barronie of Lintoune in Roxburgh shire was
sold about this tyme, is that which I cannot re
solve ; but this I know for a certane, that the
Kerrs of Lintoune, possessores of this barronie
at this present, ther originaU right is from Lord
John Somervill, and ther hes not been ane of
that name since Sir John of Quathquan his tu
torie. But passing that, I returne to Sir John of
Quathquan, who, haveing raised his house by the
king's favour, his father's bountie, and his oune
marriage, continued the same by sure and firrae
freindship with all his nighboures, soe he re
solved to establish his familie for the future by
as honourable ane aUya as was within the na
tione.

THE SOMERVILLS. 305
The Lord Mugdock, the Earle of Montroses
eldest sone, being rauch given to the sport of
balking and hunting wanted
the company of non soe much as young Cam
busnethen,' a briske young raan rauch about his
oune age, and excessive in these sports wherto
the Lord Mugdock was inclyned. This gentle
raan, frequently at his balking or hunting,, used
to wear at his syde a letherne bag, covered with
scarlet satine, for holding of his halkes raeat,
which gave the first ryse and occasione to that
nicknarae wherby he was called, Sir John zvith
the read bag, and continues soe to be designed
by all that speakes of him untill this day. The
frequent meetings the Lord Grahame and young
Cambusnethen had togither, upon the account
of ther sport, occasioned ther often stay at others
houses, where young Montrose first saw Mary
Soraervill, eldest daughter to Sir John of Quath
quan, who intertained this young nobleman with
that respect due to his qualitie, and favour an
swearable to the dear freindship that Avas be-

' That is, in ancient Scottish phraseology, the son and heir
of the existing, proprietor, who, if his father lived to the age of
old Parr or Jenkins, and he himself to the verge of ordinary
huraan existence, was always designated the Young Laird.
U

306 MEMORIE OF
twext him and her brother, whom she loved for
his many vertues and kyndenes he had to see
her honourably matched. The Lord Grahame,
upon the first sight of this lady, had a lykeing
for her ; but haveing conversed a Utle, he found
by her discourse the inward qualificationes of
her mynde was answearable to the outward per-
fectiones of her bodie, which wer exceUent every
way ; and it wer folly for me to praise this lady,
remembering of what famiUe she was, which,
for four succeeding generationes, brought furth
daughters that was second to non in the king-
dome for vertue, beutie, and breading, such as
that age allowed. Nor was ther any (albeit of
greater qualitie) raore honourably marryed then
they wer, soe that at this day the most eminent
families in Scotland hes, by affinitie or consan
guinitie, a relatione to the house of Cambusne
then.' Dureing the tyme of the Lord Grahames

' Our genealogists agree that William, second Earle of
Montrose, raarried Janet Keith, daughter of Williara Earl
Mareshal ; but, as is afterward mentioned, Sir John Somer
ville of Quathquan certainly marriedMargaret, sister of the Earl
of Montrose : what authority the author had for making out a
cross alliance does not appear. Perhaps Mary Somerville had
died without issue, a circumstance which often induces genea-
ogists to pass over an unfruitful spouse, as unworthy of a place
in the pedigrees they compile.

fHE SOMERVILLS. 307
courting of this lady, Read Bag, for soe I must
still designe young Cambusnethen, although bis
true name was John, falles in love with a second
daughter ofthe Earle of Montroses, naraed Mar
garet, whora eftirwards he raarryed.' Haveing
the favour of the young lady, the assistance of
the brother, the consent of the old earle was
soon obtained, ther being noe long deraurre. A
double marriage is agreed upon betwext the
earle and Sir John of Quathquan. The contracts
are dated att Glasgow, the tenth of JuUy, 1510, 1510.
and both the marriages foUowes in September
thereftir. Sir John of Quathquans tutorie and curatorie
four years before this tyrae expyreing, he begane
to observe the erainent vertue that appeared in
the tender years of his nephew Hugh, only bro
ther to Lord John, who now being about the age
of twentieth and one, corapleanes to his rela
tiones, that both his brother and himself, with
ther estate, had been too long under the man
nadgement of ther uncle, litle to ther advantage,
and lesse to ther credit, either of which his eldest
brother was incapable to discerne, know, or re-

I She had been previously married to William, Master of
Lennox-.

308 MEMORIE OF "
meed ; but for hiraself, he would continue noe
longer under that subjectione, nor yet suffer his
brother to be abused, nor his fortune ruined, as,
in aU likelyhood it could not otherwayes be, if his
uncle had the mannadgement therof, as should
be found by what Sir John had aUready done in
the tyrae of his tutory and curatory to ther pre
judice. Sir John of Quathquan being advertised
of this, makes it his bussines to place such about
the Lord Somervill as should give him tymeous
advertisement of all transactiones, or privat wryt-
tings that might passe betwext the brethren, in
trusting these confidents of his likewayes with
the intromissione with the rents, which they
compted for still with him, albeit eftir the year
1506, the discharges was still granted by John
Lord Somervill to the tennents ; and thus for
four years he continued ; but finding this pro-
cedor of his in prejudice of Hugh, who was to
succeed to the estate, to be Ul taken by raost of
the freinds of the house of Cowthally, and par
ticularly by Patrick Earle of Bothwell, who was
then beginning to be in great favour with King
Jaraes the Fourth, he resolves to give over all
direct medleing with the Lord SomerviUs estate ;
but that he himself, nor his successores, might
not be called in questione for his intromissione,

THE SOMERVILLS. 309
he bringes Lord John to Edinburgh, and pro
cures that ample declaratione and discharge all-
ready mentioned in Lord John's meraorie ; it is
dated the eleventh of August, 1510; eftir which
Cambusnethen concerned himself not in the
Lord Soraervilles affaires. He outUved this tyme
but three years, before King James the Fourth,
haveing, in anno 1513, resolved to raake warre 1513.
upon England, by the instigatione of the French
ambassador, and Bernard Stewart, that famous
warriour under Charles the Eight of France ; but
that which hightened and exasperated the brother
kings was the death of Robert Ker, Warden of
the Borders by three Englishes, Heirone, Starhed,
and LUlburne ; as also the killing of Andrew Bar-
thon, who, upon ane old quarrell begune in the
reigne of King James the Thhd, had purchased
letters of reprysall against the Portingailles, by
Thomas Haward, the English admirall is slain.
These, with severall other pettie injuries, has-
tenes King Jaraes the Fourth to his ruine, not
withstanding the interest of state, the teares of •
his queen, the perswasione of his nobUitie, and
the sad predictiones that foirtold his fatalitie,
which is fully related by Hathorneden. With
the conjectures about this king's death, whether
killed in the batteU or eftir murdered by the

310 MEMORIE OF
Homes, it makes to my purpose to show that as
Sir John of Quathquan lived in the favour ofhis
royal master, soe he dyed with him, being in
the retinue of .George, Master of Angus, his
ladyes cousine-germane, and Sir WilUam Doug
las of Glenbervie, aU of whom, with two hun
dered gentleraen of ther relationes, wer kUled at
this unfortunate engadgement of Floudon, anno
1513. And thus lived and dyed Sir John of
Quathquan, with whom I should never have
ended, if all his particular actiones and transac
tiones with persones of all rankes and qualities
wer here insert. Let it suffice, that before his
death, he had, and brought togither, the greatest
number of wryttes that was in any private man's
hands not relateing to the publict in Scotland ;
and, to be ingenuous, what I have written ofthe
memory of the house of Cowthally and ther ca
dits, are from his charter chist ; and I am apt to
believe the present Earles of Carnwath hes few
or noe evidences beyond the year 1500, at which
tyme the holding was changed in favours ofthe
last Lord John. Wliat children Sir John had
besyde his eldest sone, who succeeded to him,
and William of Trabra and two daughters, the
Lady Montrose, and Elizabeth, marryed upon
the Laird of DieU, I know not. As for himself.

THE SOMERVILLS. 311
he was a gentleman borne to actione, of a noble
and generous spirit. He understood how to en
gadge by his assiduitie and services the greatest
families of Scotland to his freindship, knowing
that albeit he was weill enough staited in his
prince's favour, yet it was hard to stand against
envy, especially of the great ones. Dureing the
fyftieth and four years that he lived, he gave
evidence by his actings that he carae short of
non of his predecessores for worth and vertue.
Doubties if it had beer> his fortune to have been
the eldest brother, or if his two nephewes had
dyed, whereby he might have succeeded and
been Lord SoraervUl, he had raised the house of
CowthaUy to a higher degree of honour and
greater estate then any of the name that was
before him in Scotland. His lady outlived him
but some few years, and lyes buryed in the quier
of the old church of Cambusnethen, now with
out a roof, ther being a new one erected and
built of the sarae name at a place called the
It was impossible for me to wryte lesse of this
noble gentleman, seing his merites craves noe
lesse, haveing left a charter chist that many
sheets of paper would have but served to inven-

312 MEMORIE OP
tar the wryttes therin, 148 years eftir his death.
It came to my hands when it had remained neer
seven years in the Laird of CleiUand's house,
and been piUaged by every man, Sir James So
mervill, the last laird of that familie, had sent to
it. I shaU noe further of this worthie gentle
man, but informe that he was the second cadite
in the qualitie of a barrone that went of the
house of Cowthally, the Laird of Plaine being
the first, but much short of Carabusnethen both
for honour and estate ; nether was ther any of
the narae of Soraervill in Scotland that attained
to the qualitie of barrones but these two that I
can find, thoughe there was many landed gen
tleraen, both before and eftir this tyrae, cadites
of the house of Cowthally, off whora I shall take
notice, and give ane account as I proceed in the
memories of the four succeeding lords ; but se
ing Lord John stands yet in my way, who out
lived his uncle eleven years, in aU which tyme
he acted nothing by himself, thairfore I shall
referre what was done in his affaires dureing
that space to the meraory of his brother Hugh.
However, I think it not impertinent, before I
begin that relatione, to acquaint you that Lord
John dyed in Cowthally castle, about the age of

THE SOMERVILLS. 313
threttieth and nyne, in the year 1524,' and lyes
buryed in the yle of Carnwath church, being as
incapable of marriage as he was of doeing any
bussines. Thairfore both his honour and estate
fell to his only brother, Hugh, off whom I ain
next to treat.

Off Hugh, Lord Somervill, the twelth Barrone of
Lintoune, the nynth of Carnwath, the sexth
''Lord Somervill, and sexteinth from Sir Gualter
de Somervill ; and of Read-bag, ihe second Bar
rone of Cambusnethen.
Hugh Lord Somervill, sone to William Bar
rone of Carnwath, and only brother to Lord
John, succeeded to hira in all his fortune and
honours in the year 1524, and of his oune age 1524.
threttieth and four or therby, haveing now been
the second tyrae marryed, a gentleman much
borne doune in his youth ; for noe sooner began
he to appear to the world eftir his minoritie was

• There seems to be some mistake in this date. From pro
ceedings in parliament, to be hereafter noticed, it would ap
pear that Hugh Lord Soraerville possessed the honours and
estate in 1523.

314 MEMORIE OF
past, but his uncle, Sir John of Quathquan, who
had been sole tutor and curator, and absolute
intromitter with his oune and his brother's es
tate, took speciall and particular notice of him,
fearing if eftirwards this gentleman should suc
ceed to the estate of CowthaUy, he might call
him to ane accompt, both for his intromissiones
and actings ; but that which he doubted most,
his nephew being of a pregnant spirit, that he
should make sorae interest at court, taking ex
ample from himself, should follow that methode
which had brought him to soe rauch honour and
greatnes : And indeed in this he was not mis
taken, for his minoritie being out in the year
1506, he begane not only to consider his oune
affaires, but to concerne himself with these of
his brothers. Lord John, which made his uncle,
Sir John of Quathquan, to crosse him all he
could, both at court and any interest he could
make with his brother or other freinds related to
the house of Cowthally ; notwithstanding wher
of he went foirward vigorously, and resolved not
to suffer his brother's simplicity, nor yet his un
cle's great interest and fi-eindship att court, to
destroy that estate. He begane now to look up
on it as his oune. In order to this he labours
first to secure these of his relationes to his inte-

THE SOMERVILLS. 3 15
rest, which he did effectuat ; but at lenth found
that it did but litle advance his affaires, or put
any restraint upon his brother, who wes preyed
upon by every bodie that had any medleing in
his affahes. Thairfore as his uncle, by macheing
with the Douglasses, had engadged one of the
noblest faraUies and greatest in narae of any in
Scotland to his oune interest, soe he resolved to
be nothing short of him in aUyance. The house
of Hamilton, by marriage to King Jaraes the
Third's sister, who had been the wife of Thomas
Lord Boyde, from whora she was divorced and
marryed upon James, the first Lord Hamilton,
by reasone wherof this familie was now at a great
hight both for honour and estate, and the name
universaUy the most thriveing of any in Scot
land ; and amongst thera all non raore about this
tyme then a young gentleman, James Harailton,
naturaU sone to Jaraes, the second Lord Hamil
ton, and first Earle of Arrane, begotten on a
daughter of the Lord Boydes. This gentleraan,
by his father's donatione, had the lands of Fin-
hard given him in patrimony, by which he was
ever designed, although eftirwards, by his inte
rest att court and great trust and favour he had
of King James the Fyfth, being his thesaurer, he
purchased in a short tyrae a vast fortune in lands.

316 MEMORIE OF
equal to, if not much beyond the house of Ha
milton itself, as was supposed ; and for strong
and stately houses, being the king's master of
worke, and the principaU arcbitector of that
age, ther was non did equall him for the royall
houses, that was the palace of j^HoUyrudehous,
Linlithgow, Falkland, and some part of the foir-
worke of the castle of Stirling. A great part of
these staitly buildings was either built or much
repaired by him, in which conditione they con-
tinued till our tyme, except Falkland and Holly-
rudehouse, that was brunt by the Englishes ;
the later being now rebuUt and made one of the
regularest palaces in Brittane.
It was with this gentleman Hugh Lord Soraer
vill begane to be intimate long before his great
nes att court, or Lord Hughe's oune comeing to
the estate of Cowthally. That which moved him
heirunto was the eminent place this gentleraan's
father, the Earle of Arrane, held with the king,
and the consideratione how steedable he raight
be to hira. He understood too weill by what he
mett with frora his uncle Sir John, who albeit
directly by hiraself he appeared not to medle
much with his nephew Lord John's affaires eftir
the year 1506, yet had he still with him such of
his oune creatures as absolutely governed him,
and made him doe what he advj^sed, which I

THE SOMERVILLS, 3l7
could instance in many particulars, but being of
pettie concerne I passe thera over : Sir John's
maine bussines was to have an eye upon this
young gentleman att court, wherof he was sure
enough soe long as King James the Fourth li
ved ; albeit Lord Hugh, in the quaUtie and con
ditione he was in then, was not wanting to raake
severall addresses to his majestie, both by himr
self and the mediatione of sorae grandies for re
dresse of these disorders that happened dayly by
his brother's raismannadgeraent, to the inevita
ble ruine of the faraUie and house of Cowthally,
if not prevented by sorae restrictione putt upon
his brother. He, thairfore, craved that warrand
raight be granted by his raajestie and counsell
to hira, or such as they should be pleased to ap
poynt, for the government and oversight of that
estate that it perished not ; but all this was to
noe purpose, for these that favoured Sir John of
Quathquan, alias Cambusnethen, perswaded the
king, then James the Fourth, ther was noe ha
zard that ther would be any thing done amisse
in the Lord Soraervilles affaires soe long as his
uncle lived. Hugh haveing raett with this of
tener then once or twice, resolved to presse it
noe further, but attend a raore favourable oppor
tunitie. Next to James Stuart, Arch-Bishope of

3 1 8 MEMORIE OF
Saint Andrewes, and ChanceUor of Scotland, the
Earies of Erroll and Argyle, ther was non soe
great att court, nor more in favour with the king,
then BothweU Hepburne, who, being cousine-
germane, once removed with the two brothers,
made severall journeyes to Cowthally to advyse
Lord John to take himself to ane honourable
mantenance, and aUow his brother Hugh the
government of the estate, which he was not able
to mannadge of himself. But noe intreaty nor
perswasion could prevaill with hira ; for to have
used reasones had been lost labour to one who
Was not capable of reasone and extreraely will-
fuU. The Earle of Bothwell, finding he could
not prevaill, told Sir John the uncle, in some
passione, who purposely had been sent for to
Cowthally, that he might continue his tutorie soe
long as his nephew lived, for certanely he stood
in need of one, and it was fitt he should be that
rather then any other, seing his only brother
Hugh was denyed all trust, he had the greatest
interest, and deserved it as weill as any other,
being most concerned. This tryste being brock
en up, Hugh accompanies the Earl of Bothwell
to Edinburgh, where it was resolved ther should
be a supplicatione drawen and given to the king
and counsell, which was aU the judicatorie the

THE SOMERVILLS. 319
natione had. at that tyme for civill actiones, both
for bringing Sir John of Quathquan to a compt
and reckoning for his twentieth years intromis
siones; and that some of the Lord Somerville's
neerest relationes raight be appoynted to intro-
raett with the rentes, and oversee Lord John's
wholl affaires. This petitione was given in to
the counsell upon the twentieth and fourth of
JuUy* 1510. What returne it had I find not, for
there is noe delyverance neither upon the back
therofi nor yet at the foot of the wrytting, which
makes me apt to beleive it is but a double which
I have seen, and that Hugh Somervill is sub-
scryveing the petitione. However, Sir John of
Quathquan was soe startled and affrighted with
this petitione, that upon the twentieth of Au
gust thereftir he bringes in his nephew. Lord
John, being then in the twentieth and eight
year of his age, to Edinburgh, which was the
first and last tyme that ever he was there, and
caused hira grant that discharge and declara
tione wherin he approved and allowed all that
his uncle had done dureing his long tutory.
Hugh being at Edinburgh with his step-grand-
raother, who was the second tyrae a widow, by
the death of her second husband the Laird of
Lusse, was resolved to goe abroad, but could

S20 MEMORIE OF
obtaine non of his freinds consent, particularly
his step-grandmother, who was very kynde to
hira, even in oppositione to her oune sone. Sir
John of Quathquan, diswaded hira from that re
solutione ; yea, his uncle, as he thought, have
ing secured hiraself in law, by that ample dis
charge and declaratione aUready mentioned in
Lord John's raeraory, wrote a very kynd letter
to hira to forbear that resolutione of goeing
abroad ; and he proraised to give up all the trust
he had from his brother, and put him in posses
sione of the whole estate, allowing only ane ho
nourable mantenance to Lord John Soraervill,
conforme to his ranke and qualitie ; and in this
Sir John of Quathquan was as good as his word ;
for upon the eleventh of October, 1510, a great
many of the name of SomerviU mett att Cow
thally, in order to the composeing of all differ
ences betwext the uncle and the nephewes.
These that raett wer William SomerviU of Plaine,
WilUam Somervill of Cambo, David Somervill
of Batla, James SomervUl designed of Maphett,
and John SomervUl his sone. Most of these gen
tlemen wer of the judgement that Lord John
should instantly make over his birth-right to his
brother Hugh, and put him in possessione of
the estate of Cowthally upon such termes as the

THE SOMERVILLS. 321
freinds there present should setle upon to both
ther credites and advantage. This proposaU was
withstood by James Soraervill of Maphett, and
his Sone John, both raainly by young Carabus
nethen Red Bag, who hoped to succeed his fa
ther. Sir John of Quathquan, in the trust and
mannadgement of the estate of Cowthally, as he
did eftirwards, though the sarae continued but
a short space. This meeting, through disagree
ment of freinds, succeeding noe better, Hugh
confirraes his forraer resolutione to make interest
att court by some honourable marriage. Anna
Hamilton, naturall daughter to James, the first
Earle of Arrane, and full sister to Sir Jaraes
Harailton of Finhard, by being begotten upon
that same mother, the Lord Boyde's daughter.
This marriage was solemnized att the castle of
Hamilton, upon the twentieth day of December,
1510. The earle being then a widow, or at least
soe esteemed by his divorce from Elizabeth
Home, sister to Alexander Lord Home,' Great

' This divorce was of a very doubtful character, and long
after its validity was called in question by the lords of King
James's party, with a view of flinging the imputation of bastardy
on the Duke of Chatelherault.

322 MEMORIE OF
Chamberlane of Scotland. The seasing of Hugh
Lord SomerviU is of a date posterior to this mar
riage, and is at present in the hands of the now
Lord Duke of Hamilton.
Being now setled, he resolved to dwell at the
tower of Carnwath toune, where his father
WUham had lived, and wherin he dyed. In
order to this, the house being somewhat ruin
ous, he caused repair the sarae ; and in May he
brought his lady frora the castle of Harailton to
Carnwath, being accompanyed with most of her
relationes, and the gentlemen of the nether
ward, in which infare he gave the first evidence
how great a housekeeper he would prove. Some
two years he Uved quyetUe, without concerneing
himself rauch in his brother Lord John's bussi
nes ; but the face of affaires being now changed
by the death of King Jaraes the Fourth, who was
killed at the batteU of Floudoune, in anno 1513,
in which battell Sir John of Quathquan, his un
cle, (one ofthe king's favourites,) also feU, with
his great patrone, his ladyes nephew, George
master of Angus, sone and heir appearand to
Archibald Earie of Angus, nick-named Bell-the-
Cati. Eftir the death of Sir John of Quathquan, who

THE SOMERVILLS. S23
was kiUed att Floudoune, Hugh, his nephew,
begane to move in his afiaires to purpose ; ' and
in January, 1515, he raises ane breiff of idiotrie, 1515.
out of the king's chappell, against his brother.
Lord John, directed to the shirrefs of Lanerk, or
ther deputes. But on Tuesday, the twentieth
and fourth of January, Red Bag, now Cambus
nethen, eftir his father's death begane to have a
great interest and raedleing with Lord John's
affaires. Wherefore, soe soon as he had intelli
gence that Hugh had purchased this breiff, he
comes to Edinburgh, and petitiones the coun-

* At first, however, without effect, since it appears that the
relict of Sir John of Quathquan retained the raanageraent of
Lord John, and excluded Hugh from his brother's presence,
and frora the castle of Cowthally ; and that Hugh in vain at
tempted to obtain the tutory of his brother by application to
the king and council. " Anno 1513, XXIII. Novembris,
Anent the sumraondis rasit at ye instance of Hew Soraervell,
bruyer and apperand air to Johne Lord Soraervell, apoun
Elizabeth Carmichell, ye spous of vmquhil Johne Somervel of
Camnethan, Knycht, that quhar ye said Lord Soraervell is
nocht of perfyte wisdome and knawlaige to haue ye reule and
gouernance, and was debarrit yarfra be ye said vmquhil Sir
Johne, and now inlykwiss the said Elizabeth withhaldis ye said
Johne Lord Somervell in ye house of Cuthele, and will not de
liuer him to ye said Hew, houbeit he lias requirit hir yarto, as
at mar lenth is contenit in ye said summondis, baith ye saidis
partiis being personall present. The lordis of conseil assolzeis
ye said Elizabeth fra the petition of ye said Hew, as it is li*
belled, &c. — Records, ut supra, p. 534.

324 MEMORIE OF
seU in behalf of his cousine Lord John, that both
the persones and place of the inqueist might be
changed, which he obtaines by this ther grant,
the tenor wherof foUowes :
" James, be the grace of God King of Scots,
to our lovites Duncan Riche, GUbert Ruther-
fuird, Jaraes Bizett, John Adarasone, and John
Davidson, messingers ; William SomerviU, James
KeUoch, John SomerviU in Moffett, and John
Somervill in GreenfeUd, our shirrefs in that part,
conjunctiy and severally, speciaUy constitut greet
ing. Forsuameikle as it is humblie meaned and
showen to us be our cousine John Lord Somer
vill, tiiat wher his brother, Hugh Somervill, hes
raised ane breif of idiotrie out of our chappell
upon our said cousine, direct to our shirrefs of
Lanerk and ther deputes, quhilke complaint is
to be suit in our tolbuith of Lanerk before our
said shirreffs of the samen, or ther deputes, on
Thursday, the twentieth and fourth day of Ja
nuary instant, notwithstanding that the matter is
great, and that ther is but few freeholders within
our said shirrefdome that are of substance or un
derstanding to passe upon the inqueist for serve-
ing of the said breiff, and our said cousine should
be judged be his.
*' Our will is heirfore, and wee charge you

THE SOMERVILLS. S25
straitiy, and commands that incontinent ther our
letters seen, because our said cousine is ane lord
of parliament, and that sick breif of idiotry are
not usit, nor seusurt to be suit in the shirref
court, ye passe and suraraond and warne the
lords and barrones best and worthiest, and least
suspect of our said shirrefdorae of Lanerk, and
of the four halfes thereabout, to compear before
our said shinref of Lanerk and his deputes to our
tolbuith att Edinburgh, the said day
to passe upon the inqueist for the
due serveing of the samen. With the qlk place
and tolbuith of Edinburgh wee dispence, be
thir our letters, and admittes the samen to be as
lauful as the said tolbuith of Lanerk for the
serveing of the said breiff; and that yee warne
our said sherrifs of Lanerk to compear the said
day and place, with his officiars and macers of
court, for the serveing of the said breif, where
part ofthe lords of our counsell may be present
to see that justice be adrainistrat ; and that yee
warne the said Hugh of the said day and place,
soe that he may cause the saids lords, barrones,
and freeholders, to ane sufficient number, to be
suramoned in due tyme. The quhilk to doe wee
committ to yow, conjunctly and severally, our
fuU power be thir our letters delyvering them be

326 MEMORIE OF
yow duely execute and indorsat again to the
bearer. Given under our signett at Edinburgh,
the eleventh day of January, and of our reigne
the first year. " Ex deliberatio7ie Dominorum consilij."
But notwithstanding of thir letters purchased
from the king's counsell, this actione lay dor-
ment for neer two years, as appeares by that
procuratory granted by Lord John in anno 1516,
in the moneth of March, to Cambusnethen, to
compear for him to gainesay and object against
the said breif of idiotry, or any other actione his
brother Hugh might have against him. This
procuratory, with the king's letters, I have here
insert, that the style in those tymes may be seen,
because they are not knowen to many, nor yet
to be found in every bodies bands. The procu
ratory foUowes :
" Be it kend tiU all men be thir present letters,
wee, John Lord Somervill, till have made con
stitut and ordainet, and, be the tenor of thir
present letter.s, makes, constitutes, and ordaines,
the right worshipfuU men and my trustie fi-einds
John Somervill of Cambusnethen, Master Adam
Otterburne, Master Francis Bothwell, Master
Robert Galbraith, and John Nisbett, Barrone of
DaUzeU, and ilk ane of ^hem conjunctly and se-

THE SOMERVILLS, 327
verally my very laufull and undoubted procura-
tores, actores, factOres, and speciaU earand bear
ers, giveand, grantand, and committand to my
foresaid procuratores, and to ilk ane of them
conjunctiy and severaUy, my very full, free, and
plaine power, expresse bidding, coraraand, and
charge for me, in ray name and upon ray behalf,
till corapear before ane honourable man, Patrick
Barrone of the Spittellfeild, or any other per
sones, shirrefs of Lanerk in that part, be our
soveraigne lords coraraissione direct therupon in
the tolbuith of Edinburgh, the twentieth and
fourth day of the moneth of March instant, or
any whatsoever other day, tyrae, or place ; and
there, for rae and in my name, tUl object against
and gainsay ane breif of idiotry,- purchased be
Hugh SomeryUl against me ; and in the forsaid
cause, gif need be, bestow instruments, to make
exceptiones and till answear be all terraes and proces
as law effeires ; and gif need be, till aUeadge and
propone against the judges and ministers of the
said court, and the day and place protestationes
to make, instruments to raise, and all and sundry
other things to doe, exerce, and use, that to the
office of procuratory in sick caices is knoune to
appertaine, or that I myself might doe if I wer
5

328 MEMORIE OF
present in propper persone, firme and stable,
haldand and for to bald aU and whatsoever things
my saids procuratores, or any ane of tbem, con
junctly and severally in the premisses, in my
name, right easily leades to be done,
of all and sundry my goods, moveable and
imoveable, present and for to come. In witnes
of the quhilk to thir present letters, I have fixt
my seall at Cowthally, twentieth and ane ofthe
moneth of March, the year of God 1516, be
fore thir witnesses, William Boyd of Ladein-
hathe, William Somervill, David SomervUl, Al
lan Lockhart, Gilbert Boyd, and Sir Hugh Crau
fuird, chaplane, with others.'' To this right of
procuratory the Lord SomerviU affixes only his
seall, without subscry veing, which is three mul
lets or starres, with sex corslets, all of thera
somewhat differently placed upon the scheild be
what the successor of this lord had them, who
added a double crosse to the armes. What his
reasone hes been I understand not, unlesse that
haveing done it when he was second brother,
continued them soe when he came to be lord
himself. The successe of this affair was at least answear
able to Hugh's designe as to the maine, notwith
standing of thes procuratory, and Cambusne-

THE SOMERVILLS. 329
tiien's.endeavGur to the prosecutione ofthe same,
by all the interest he could make with the Dou
glasses power,' who, in a maner, then governed
all by ther cheifes marrying of the queen ; for
albeit legally he gott npt his brother by the se
cond inqueist declared ane idiote, yet by an in-
terloquitor from king and counsell, he was im
powered to intromett with the wholl rentes be
longing to the lordship, the raaines of CowthaUy
and Larapts being appoynted for his brother's
raantenance, and the title and entrie of vassalles
was reserved to him dureing his life. Thomas
Somervill of Blackcastle,* and David Soraervill

' At this time the country was torn to pieces by factions,
particularly those of the Douglasses and Harailtons, headed by
their chiefs, Angus and Arran. The Knight of Cambusnethan
was connected by marriage with the first of these earls, as his
cousin, Hugh Somervillie, was with the secpnd ; and, besides
that Angus and Arran strenuously endeavoured each to place
his own ally as guardian of the imbecile Lord John, it seems
probable that the strong castle of Cowthally \^'a3 an object of"
desirable occupation to both parties. That Angus, by favour
pf the Knight of Cambusnethan, occupied the castle occasion
ally, is eyident frora a plan forraed to besiege him in it, which
was proposed by Hamilton to Home, the Lord Chamberlain,
and rejected by hira. — Pinkerton's History, vol. II. p. 126,
note. ^ This person, an adherent doubtless and relation of the So
merville faraily, figures in a law-suit betwixt thera and Sir John
B-op of Montgrenan — " Anno 1491, xviii Mali. In ye acteoun

330 MEMORIE OF
in GreenfeUd, wer ordained to place trustie ser
vants with Lord John, both for the care of his

and causs persewit be Johne ye Ross of Montgrenain, Knycht,
aganis Williara Someruale, sone and apperand are to John Lord
Someruale, William Inglis, duelland in ye Est Schile, and Johne
Someruale in the Blak Castell ; yat is to say, ye said Williame
Someruale for ye wrangwis interruptioun and perturbatioun
maid to ye said Johne ye Ross, of ye sesing and possessioun
geven be ye said William Someruale, his propir landis, to ye
said Johne ye Ross, of ye landis of ye Erdhous and Huntschele-
wod, pretending him to interrup and brek ye said sesing and
possessioun efter ye gevin of ye sammyn, and to here ye said
pretendit interruptioun decernit of nane avale, force, nor effect,
and to give ane testiraoniale vndir his sell of ye said sesing yat
he gef, and als apoun ye occupatioun and manurin of ye mid-
dill thrid parte of ye said landis of ye Erdhouse, and of ye thrid
parte of ye landis of Huntschelewod, pertening to ye said .lohne
ye Ross, but tak or assedatioun of him and ye saidis William
Inglis and Johne Someruale to here ye takis yat yai haid of j'e
saidis landis decernit and declairit of nane avale, becaus yai haf
put saidis landis in ye handis of ye said William Someruale, and
maid him occupiare of ye saidis landis, but licence or autorite
of ye said Johne, quhilk William is owre lord of ye saidis landis,
and dois preiudice to ye said Johne ye Ross be ye said inter
ruptioun, and becauss he is of gretare conditioUn and estate na
yaim self, or yat yai said mak subtennentis to yaim, and for ye
said causs to here ye saidis takis forfalt and declarit of nane
avale, and of ye wrangwis withhaldin of ye Martiraes raale last
bipast of ye saidis landis extending to twa li. pertening to him
as assignay to Patrick Hume of Fastcastell, and for costis and
scaithis sustenit be ye said John yarthrow, all ye saidis partiis
beand present be yarself and yar procuratouris yar ressonis
and allegatiounis and vnderstandin, ye lordis auditouris decrettis
and deliueris yat ye said William has done wrang in ye makin
of ye said interruptioun and perturbatioun to ye said Johne in
te geving of ye said sesing and possessioun, and pretending

THE SOMERVILLS. 331
persone, and the bringing in the rentes of these
lands for the use of his house, which he still
keept att Cowthally soe long as he lived. This
bussines being setled to the content of all the
name, Cambusnethen only excepted, who storm
ed extreraely that he was disappoynted of his

him to brek the said lesing effer ye gevin of ye sammyn, and
yarfore decernis and declaris ye said pretendit interruptioun
and brekin of ye said sesing of nain avale, force, nor effect in
tyme to cum. And also decretis and deliueris yat ye said Wil
liam sail gif ane testiraoniale vndir his sele to ye said Johne ye
Ross of ye gevin of ye said sesing, and yat he does wrang in
ye occupatioun of ye said thrid parte of ye landis of Hunt
schelewod, and yarfore ordinis him to decist and cess yarfra in
tyme to cum, becauss ye occupatioun wes grantit be ye pro
curatouris of ye said William, and na richt schewin for him
why he occupiit ye sammyn bot allegiit to be assignay to Wil
liam Someruale, howbeit he mycht nocht be assignay, becauss
he wes owr lord of ye sammyn na schew na assignatioun yarof,
and alss decrettis and deliueris that ye said William dois wrang
in ye occupatioun and manurin of ye said raiddilthrid of ye
Erdhouss, and yarfore ordinis him to decist and cess yarfra in
tjrme to cura to be broikit be ye said Johun, eftir ye forme of
his infeftraent gevin to him yarapoun, and alls yat ye said Wil
liam sail content and pay to ye said Johne ye Ross, as assig
nay forsaid ye said xl s of ye said Martiraes male, and ordinis
our souerane lordis letrez be direct hereupoun for ye puttin of
yis decrett to executioun, and because ye said William Inglis
grantit ye occupatioun of a part of ye saidis landis. The lordis
yarfore, of ye consent of ye said Johne, ordinis him to remaine
with ye tak of ye saidis landis, at ye will of ye said Johne, he
payand raalez and dewities to him yarfore as efferis." — Records
of Parliament, p. 4'13.

332 MEMORIE OF
expectatione in haveing the same interest that
his father for a long tyme had in the estate of
CowthaUy, The first thing Hugh did, haveing his resi
dence att Carnwath, and the estate of Somervill
secured to him, was to buUd the cross, which yet
remaines there, and beares his oune and ladyes
name upon it, with the armes ; the year of God
it hes not ; however, I find it built in the moneth
of JuUy, 1516. Nether was ther any crosse att
Cari)wath before that tyme, nor within the bar
ronie, save that of Newbigging, built by Sir
Gualter of Newbigging, or some of his predeces
sores ; for that crosse to know it by hes nether
letters nor other armes, save a double cross, re-
sembleing that which the crosse doUers beares at
present. This gentleman, getting possessione of
his brother's estate, and the mannadgement of
the wholl affaires relateing therto, was not soe
pleasing to him as in any measure to compense
a sad dispensatione the Lord was pleased to tryst
him with, about the later end of this year, 1516;
for his lady, Anna Hamilton, and two of her
sones dying of the smaU-pox within lesse then a
quarter of a year of each other. Any may judge
this was a heart-afflicting greiff, to lose soe ex
cellent a young lady and her children, who, ber

THE SOMERVILLS. 333
syde the tender affectione of a husband and pa
rent, had great hopes, by ther interest, to secure
what he was allready in possessione off, and in
expectatione to raise his fortune to ane higher
pitch, which now he lookes upon allraost as des
perate, in regaird Red-Bag's interest with the
Douglasses, being the sister sone of Bell-the-Catt,
and cousine-germane to the present Earle of An
gus and Douglasse, that had marryed the queen's
daughter of Scotland, and sister to Hendrie the
Eight of England. This marriage, ther great
power, and the king's minoritie, made the Dou
glasses inhance the wholl governraent of Scot
land in ther hands, soe that this gentleraan look
ed upon his interest with the Hamiltones as lost,
because of his lady and children's death, they
being soe neer related to the Hamiltones, who
wer of greatest power to crush or crub the in-
solencies of the Douglasses, being neerest to the
croune if the king should have dyed. But alace !
his feai-es was soon removed, in regard that in a
very short tyme ther was noe good understand
ing betwext the queen and her husband, the
Earle of Douglas, which at lenth occasioned her
divorce from the earle. John Duke of Albanie
/eturneing from France, and takeing on hira the

334 MEMORIE OF
regency and governement of the realme, with
the tutorie of the young king, sent the Dou
glasses out of the country, which, from the year
1513 to the year 1522, had still been in broyles,
by the contentiones ofthe nobilitie, wherin every
man syded as his affectione and interest led him.
Cambusnethen, ouneing that of the Douglasses,
and his cousine Hugh that of the Hamiltones,
which, as this did incresse ther animosities, soe
it altered ther fortunes twice in a few years. Be
fore this came to passe, in anno 1511, Hugh
marryes for his second. Lady Janet Maitlane,
daughter to William Maitlane of Leidingtoune,
kiUed att the battell of Floudoune, and sister to
Sir Richard Maitlane, being one of these two
famous brothers, WiUiam and John, the first se
cretary to Queen Mary, and the other chanceUor
to King James the Sexth, of whose pubUct act
ings I shall not presume to wryte any thing, se
ing they make a great part ofthe historie of these
tymes wherin they lived, as any may see that wUl
be pleased to peruse Spotswood for the church,
and Buchannan for the state. This marriage
being in JuUy, it was the later end of September
before he brought home his young lady to Carn
wath, who, haveing travelled noe further before

THE SOMERVILLS. 335
that tyrae then betwext Leidingtoune ' and Edin
burgh, beleived it to be a greater journey for her
then sorae of our ladyes now thinkes it to goe to
London. But that w^hich she adraired raost in
her journey was the hUles upon her right hand,
haveing gone the Bridge-house way, and the
barenesse of the tower of Carnwath, haveing noe
planting, yea, not soe rauch then as a kaiU-yaird.
There being nothing under her view frora the
house north-west but a great raosse, she fancied
the order and progresse of the Israelites journey
was inverted by hers, haveing left the land of
Canaan to fix her habitatione in a wildernesse.
But these thoughts did not long perplex her ;
for the table being covered and supper served
up, she quyetlie enquyred at her husband, if
ther was any great raarket toune neer by that
he had all that provisione frora. He told her,
with a srayle, yes, he had two or three that was
obleidged to yeald hira raore nor what she ob
served upon his table every day, and that upon
noe other account but because it was his pleasure

' Ledlngtoune is situated in a rich part of East Lothian;
Carnwath in a very upland and moorish part of the district of
Lanerkshire.

SS'e MEMORIE or
to recreate himself some tyme in them. This she
could not understand ; but with a kisse he as
sured her, that within three or four dayes she
should be ane eye witnes to the truth of what he
told her. The weather being seasonable, he was
as good as his word ; for many gentlemen being
invited to Carnwath, in order to the infare, and,
amongst others, his cousine-german, Carabusne
then, albeit ther was noe good understanding
betwixt them, with his lady, the Earle of Mon
troses daughter, the Laird of Dalzell, the Bar
rone of DieU, then Nisbett to his sirname, the
Laird of CleiUand, with severall other gentlemen
of the nether ward, all of whom wellcomed this
young lady to the countrey ; and this was not
the least part of her wonder to see soe many
ladyes and gentlemen in so short a tyrae con-
veinne, and yet, soe farr as her sight could reach,
she could discerne nothing but raoores, and some
few cottages scattered here and there : But this
noble company, and the great fare, made her
leave these thoughts, and intertaine her guests
with a grace that was naturall to her, especially
at meat, which made King James the Fyfth, who
was often her guest, say, he nether had such well
come nor soe great fare in any of his subjects
houses as he receaved at Cowthally from his May

THE SOMERVILLS. 33^
Maitlane, a nicknarae his raajestie was pleased
to give her, which she retained untUl her death,
the import of the word being in effect Mother
Maitlane,' which she deserved very weill, have
ing a nuraerous faraUie to oversee and provyde
for, besyde her dayly charitie to these that need
ed, which she extended so largely and soe uni
versaUy, that the rememberance therof reraained
more then ane hundered years eftir her death.
But I passe this, seing frequent occasiones eftir
ward wiU offer to mentione her name in the fre
quent intertainements her royall master was
pleased to receave at her house. Dinner being
ended, she witnessed some desyre to goe abroad,
wherin the Lady Carabusnethen did second her,
and this did suit weill with all ther inclinationes,
especially her husband's, who had ordered sup
per and most of ther lodgeings att Cowthally, his
brother Lord John's familie makeing use only
but of one of the towres therof. Ther progresse
was first to the river syde, alongst the Lamepets
haughes ; a fairer piece of ground, nor raore prp-

' This is rather inaccurate, for the phrase is usually, though
not exclusively, applied to maidens. But it is probably derived
from the French mie for amie, or mistress. See Jamieson's
Scottish Dictionary, ad verbum.

.338 MEMORIE OF
fitable in ane out countrey is not within the na
tione, where they beheld two hundered cowes,
young and old, grassing along the bankes of the
river of Clyde, besydes large meadowes reserved
for ther winter ground betwext that and the viUages of
Carnwath being ded with sheep ; aU this being
under ther prospect, as they stood upon that
green hiU, that eftirward John Earle of Marre
designed to buUd the house of
Cowthally on. At this place Hugh came up to
his lady, and asked how she lyked that sight.
She answered, nothing better nor more pleasing
could be seen then these meadowes and that
levine ground, with ther furniture. " But how
farr," sayes she, '* is it to the toune ye promised
to let me see ?" Whereat he laughed heartih,
and told the Lady Cambusnethen and the rest
of the company the discourse that past betwixt
him and his wife the first night att supper. When
she came to Carnwath, rydeing doune the river
syde, they turned at the march of Carstares bar
ronie, then wholly, or for the greatest part, as
to the propperty, possessed by the church, the
baiUzierie and comraand being the Lord So-
mervUle's for many years before and eftirward.
At lenth they carae to Cowthally Loch, wheron

THE SOMERVILLS. 339
ther was a boat, which served for drawing the
nets for fishes, wherin it abounds of aU sorts,
such as in use to be in any fresh- watter loch :'
and, besyde this, ther is to be seen, throughout
the greatest part ofthe year, many watter-fouUes,
very usefiUl for houses keeping ; soe that it may
be warrantably asserted, this loch furnished ther
tables both with fishes and foulles ; and, at pre
sent, if it wer rightly raannadged, by the use of
a Coy duke,' as they have in Holland, consider
ing theseat of the loch, and the nature of the
wholl countrey thereabout, it raight yeeld a con
siderable' revenue to'theouner therof. The boat
upon the loch could admitt but of sex persones,
thairfore the company resolved to take ther re
creatione upon the watter by turnes, four ladyes
and two gentlemen at a tyme. The first that en
tered was the Lady Cambusnethen, she being
accustomed with the watter, by the frequent oc
casione she had to crosse Clyde at her oune
dweUing. The Lady Somervill was timerous, as
never being upon the watter before, to goe en
ter the boat ; but the confidence of the Ladyes

' Tliis lake is about a mile in circumference : no fish are now
found in it save small perches.
* Decoy.

340 MEMORIE OF
CarraichaeU and Westerhall, who passed before,
made her venter with the rest. The loch was
sraooth, the weather being now calme and very
pleasant. They: rowed the whoU lenth and
breadth of the loch, the Ladyes Carabusnethen
and Carmichaell sometymes applying the oares,
to make knoune ther skiU, and give confidence
to the Lady SomerviU, who now quytting her
feares, was as forward as any of thern, which she
eftirwards testified, being often present in the
boat at the drawing of the nets. This loch not
being farr frora the house of CowthaUy, (have
ing wearyed themselves at this recreatione, and
the sun neer setting,) landing at the north-west
end ofthe loch, and seeing the houses neer by,
they would not take ther horses again, but walk
ed upon foot, the gentiemen accompanying them
alongst the top of the
or rig of dry hiUes that leades directly
frora the loch of CowthaUy, where, passing two
litle bridges of stone, wherof one yet stands,
they entered the first closse, which was only
office-houses, unto the second gate upon the
right-hand, where stood that great tower wherin
Lord John then dwelt. I shall leave the de
scriptione of this house untill I corae to wryte
of Lord Hughe's buildings ; and then it shall be
7

THE SOMERVILLS. 341
done according to the best informatione I have
frora these yet alyve, that saw it in it's best con
ditione. Lord John, besyde his infirmitie at this tyrae,
was contracting that disease wherof, seven years
eftirwards, he dyed, and was the very sarae that
removed his father, WiUiam, master of Somer
vill, in the midst ofhis dayes. However, aU the
company, as they passed, rendered him a visite ;
and his sister-in-law, a raost respective and sub-
raissive one, and which she ever observed to hira
dureing his life. He thanked all the corapany
in the best terraes he could ; and they, not wiU
ing to be. farther troublesorae, tooke leave and
went to supper, where ther fare was beyond all
that the young lady had seen, wholl sheep and
legges of cowes being served up in tiraber platers,
or rather in troches of ane awell ' forme, made
out of the trunkes of
black and firme in the tiraber, as if they had
been ibony or brizell, sorae of which remained
untill my tyme. This was a vanitie and unthriftie
custome they observed at ther treates in these
dayes, for it was in the great quantitie of these>
• Oval.

342 MEMORIE OF
and abundance of tame and wylde fouU, that
they gloryed most. The fashione of kickshoes
and desertes was not rauch knoune, nor served
upon great raen's tables, before Queen Marie's
reigne. Araongst other discourses att supper,
Hugh told his lady she had seen two of the
tounes, and to-morrow the third shoiUd be dis
covered to her that supplyed his table soe plen-
tifuUy. By this she understood he meaned the
Lampits, the loch, and the moores of Carnwath,
for wilde fouU. Supper being ended, most of the
company remained att Cowthally, and the rest
that could not be lodged there, went to Carn
wath tower, the distance not being farr, but aU
retumed the morrow and dynned att CowthaUy ;
and thus they continued for some dayes, being
feasted some tymes at the one house, and then
again at the other, untill Saturnesday morning
eftir brealdast, Cambusnethen, his lady, and all
the nether waird gentlemen took ther leave, and
receaved the complement of being convoyed the
lenth of Cleghorne by his cousine Hugh and his
lady, where they parted with great deraonstra-
tiones of kyndenes, and assurance given to con
tinue for the future ih firme freindship. But
myne and thyne devydes all the world, as h did,

THE SOMERVILLS. 343
within a few years, these neer relationes upon
this occasione.
John Duke of Albanie haveing receaved the
governement, the first thing of any iraportance
he did, as most reraarkable in our histories^ was
to stryke off the heads of Alexander Lord Home
and WiUiam his brother, and confiscated ther
goods, and forfaulted ther lands. Being thus
rid of the charaberlane, he did much fear that
others of the great men would disturbe the peace
ofthe countrey^ Being resolved to goe to France,
he makes the Earle of Angus governor in his ab*
sence ; but withaU joyned with him the Earles
of Arrane and Argyle, the Arch-bishopes of
Saint Andrewes and Glasgow. Dureing this
tyme ther faUs out great troubles betwext the
Earle of Angus and the Earle, of Arrane, the
questione being for the baillzieship and right of
keeping court in Jedburgh forrest, the Earle of
Angus his lands ; but in which Andrew Ker of
Fairniehirst challenged a right and priviledge of
doeing justice, and punishing of malefactores as
heretable baUlzie. In this contraversy Arrane
syded with Fairniehirst, in oppositione to the
Earle of Angus. He sendes his base sone JameS
HamUton. As he was on his way towards Fair
niehirst to assist him, John SomerviU of Cam-

344 MEMORIE OF
busnethen, nick-named Red-Bag, settes upon
him, kiUes fyve or sex of his corapany, took
threttieth raen and horses, and persewed hiraseff
soe neer that he was forced to run into Home
castie for his safety.' This fact was imputed to
Angus, on whom the Laird of Carabusnethen did
for the raost part depend, as being his nephewes
men, thinking that this was done by bis direc
tione ; but it is WeUl knoune, besydes this quar
rel, and his relatione to the earle, that Cambus-
nethen at this tyme had a particular feed with
the HaraUtons, which he evinced by a second
attempt ; for a conventione being appoynted att
Edinburgh, where Archibald Douglas of Kill-
spindie, the Earle of Angus uncle, or cousine-
german rather, being provest, the Hamiltones

' Sub idem fere tempus, semina discordiarum jacta sunt
inter coraitera Angusise, et Andreara Carum Farnihestium, ob
jurisdictionera agri quidem comitis, sed in quo jus conventuum
habendorum Andreas sibi esse aifirmaret. Reliqua Carorum
familia comiti, Andrese vero Hamiltonii favebant, magis ob
Duglassii odium, quam quod certum jus esse Caro arbitraren-
tur. Igitur, cum, sub diem conventus, in majoris, quam pro re
de qua contendebatur, aleam certaminis sese utrique pararent,
Joannes Somervallius, Duglassianae factionis, juvenis nobilis et
magni animi, Jacobum, Araniae Comitis filium nothum, in iti-
nere aggressus, quinque comitum ejus occidit, reliquos fugavit,
supra triginta equos cepit." — Buchanani Historia, apud Opera,
Edin. 1715, foi. p. 261.

THE SOMERVILLS. 345
refuised to come thither, alleadgeing that they
could not thinke themselves assured of their lyves
in the toune where he was provest^ The gentle
man, to cutt of this excuse, layes doune his office,
and in his rourae was choysen Robert Logane,
burges of Edinburgh. The HamUtones ther
upon comes to the toune, and finding the Earle
of Angus but meanly attended, his freinds not
being yet corae, they assembled togither ther
factione in the Arch-bishope Beatones house,
then chancellor, in the Black Frier Wynde, and
there resolves by all meanes to apprehend Angus.
The occasione was fair at this tyrae, considering
his singlenes and ther raultitude. Soe soon as
Angus heard of ther consultationes, he sent to
thera his uncle, the Bishope of Dunkeld, de-
syreing that if they had any greivanee or just
quarrell against him, they would complean ther
of to the conventione, to whose censure he would
submitt himself, and make such satisfactione as
it should please them to ordaine, and to this pur
pose Dunkeld spocke to Glasgow, the chancel
lor, to move the rest to accept of this offer, and
that he would not be ane instruraent of civill
dissentione. But he had faire perswading of hira.
Noe raan was deeper in it then he, who was ring
leader to the rest, and very episcopally had putt

846 MEMORIE OF
on arraour to be present at it, and to assist them
hiraself in persone ; yet he sought to excuse him
self, and laid all the blarae upon the Earie of
Arrane, who said he was highly offended with
the Earle of Angus for many occasiones, but
cheifly for the affi:ont done to his sone by So
mervUl. Soe far the author of the historie of the
Douglasses gives us ane account of Cambusne
then : But in his relateing of ther actings that
day, he ascryves it wholly to the conduct and
valour of the Earle of Angus, whereas it's cer
tane that whatever hand the Earle of Angus
might have, being the principaU nobleman and
most concerned, yet Cambusnethen was the prin
cipaU actor of that bussines, as is evident from
the act of parhament relateing to the Laird of
Carabusnethen's forfalture, which eftirwards shall
be spocken to. The matter in efiect being this.
Carabusnethen, haveing brought David Horae of
Wedderburne, his brother, and severall others
that favoured the Douglasses, to the street of
Edinburgh, in oppositione to the HaraUtones
and the chancellor,' upon Munday, the last of

" These gentlemen, with their followers, forced the Nether-
bow-port, a gate which divided the city from the suburb called
the Canongate, and thus appeared at the critical moment when

THE SOMERVILLS. 347
Apryle, 1520, att ten hours, assaltedthe persones
and followers of the chancellor and .the Earle of
Arrane upon the High-Street of Edinburgh, as
they wer goeing to the tolbuithfor adrainistra-
tione of justice as they pretended.) Prevailling
in this, he expeUed ^ them and alfther foUowers
furth ofthe toune ; and when,, upon the first of
May, haveing incressed ther number, they de
signed to returne to the toune, Cambusnethen
charged them again upon the Barrow Muir,
forceing them with losse to reteire ; for all which
actes of hostUitie against the chanceUor and Ar
rane, being regents for the tyme, in the parlia
ment holden att Edinburgh, the seventh day of
Apryle, 1522,. by John Duke of Albanie, the
Laird of Cambusnethen was forfaulted, and the
gift therof given to James Earle of Arrane, Hugh
Lord Somervill,; and Sir James HamUton of Fin-
hard. Upon this grant and forfaulture the Lord
SomerviU' puts hiraself in possessione of the

Angus was likely to be overpowered by the multitude of his
enemies. The skirmish was long remembered by the popular
epithet of " Cleanse the causeway."
' Not John Lord Somerville, but his brother Hugh, acting
perhaps in his name. As the two brothers adhered to different
factions, it becomes difficult to trace the various incidents af
fecting the family.

348 MEMORIE OF
fourty pund land that lay within the barronie of
Carnwath, belonging to Cambusnethen in prop
perty, but holding] of the Lord SomervUl. Sir
James Hamilton of Finhard possesses himself of
the barronie of Cambusnethen.' What feU to the
Earle of Arrane's share I find not in wrytt ; but
that Cambusnethen at this tyme had the fourth
part of the barronie of Stenhouse, Drum, GiU
mertoune, and Gutters in Mid-Louthiany with
severall uther lands, both in Peebles and. in Gal
loway, is certane, from wryttes and evidences
yet reraaining.
Dureing the tyme of Carabusnethen's banish-
raent and forfaulture, which was three years. Sir
1S25. Jaraes Hamilton buUt much at Cambusnethen,
for he brought a great buUding in forme of. a
court from the south west quarter of the Bairds
ther tower, and joyned it to the east quarter of

' It is probably this forcible possession of Cambusnethen
which is alluded to in an original letter from Sir Philip Dacre
to Lord Dacre, 25th July, 1522, by which we are informed,
" that, by Albany's comraand, Arran had taken Somerville*'*
house, who was a partizan of Angus and Home, and turned his
wife out of doors, though she was delivered but the day before."
— Pinkerton's History, vol. II. p. 203.
Note. The Somerville here mentioned must have been Sir
John of Quathquan, the ally of Angus, and mortal foe of
Arran.

THE SOMERVILLS. 349
that great bodie of the house of aisler worke,
built by Sir John of Quathquan. This additionall
building consisted of three quarters three storie
high, and had in all twentieth and four roumes,
which were still named the Harailtone's Worke,
I haveing seen this rayself in the very forme it
had. I have often adraired soe excellent a raan,
and soe rauch admired both for his publict and
privat workes, should have contrived soe ridi
colous a building as this was, haveing nothing
to commend it but a nuraber of rouraes, and
staires twelve or thretteinth foot squair, one
light and one sinking privie, ane rourae for a
bedsfeed in each of the chambers, soe that it
resembled ane hospitaU, and rather diminished
then added either beautie or convenience to the
great house.
Some two years eftir this John Lord Soraer
vill dyed, as is alheady related. His brother now
takes the title, and is designed Lord Somervill,
who, being in possession of these lands that be
longed to Carabusnethen, tennent steeded all the
roumes belonging to hira within the barronie of
Carnwath with his oune relationes, or such as
wholly depended upon the faraiUe of Cowthally.
Thairfore, in the year 1525, the eleventh of
JuUy, the parliament haveing restored the Laird

350 MEMORIE OF
of Cambusnethen to aU his lands, by takeing off
the forfaulture,' he requyred the Lord Somer-

* This restoration of fortune and blood took place on the
third of August, 1525, upon a reconciliation between the great
rivals Angus and Arran. The former doubtless stipulated for
indemnity to John Somerville of Cambusnethan, as being one
ofhis most attached and active adherents. The record of par
liament is as follows :
« Anno 1525. Tertio Augusti. Anent ye summondis rasit
at ye instance of Jhone Somervale, sumtyme of Cambusne
thane, aganis Maister Adam Ottirburn of Auldhame, aduocat
to our souerane lord, and aganis .James Erie of Arane, Hew
Lord Somervale, and James Hamiltoun of Fynnart, Knycht,
allegit donatouris to our said souerane lord and .Jhone Duke
of Albany, his tutour and gouernor ofhis realme for ye tyme,
in yat part of all and sundry landis, gudis, movable and vn-
movable, of ye said Jhone Somervalis, be resoun of ye dome
of forfaltour gevin aganis ye said Jhone, and ilkane of yame
for yar interess to heir and see ye said dome of forfaltour gevin
aganis ye said Jhone in ye parliament haldin at Edinburgh
apoun Monunday, ye vii day of ye moneth of Aprile, ye zer
of God i" V* and xxii zeris be ye said Jhone Duke of Albany,
&c. gouernour of yis realme for ye tyme, adiugeand and de-
cernand ye said Jhone Somervale to have committit and in-
currit ye crymes of lese maiestie in diuerss punctis contenit in
ye said dome of forfaltour. That is, in art and part of ye cruell
and treasonable inuasioun of ye persouns of ane maist reuerend
fadir in God, James, yan Archibischop of Glasgw, chancellar,
and of James Erie of Arane, Lord Hararailtoun, twa of ye re
gentis of yis realrae, in absence of ye said Jlione Duke of Al
bany, gouernour, yai beand passand fra yar house in ye said
toun of Edinburgh to ye tolbuith of ye sarain, for administra-
tioun of justice, apoun Monunday, ye last day of Aprile, in ye
zer of God, i™ v' and xx zeris, aganis quham ye said Jhone,
with his complicis, arrayit batell apoun ye public streit Ireson-

THE SOMERVILLS. 35 1
yUl to repossesse him in these of Carnwath,
which he refuised to doe. Carabusnethen ther-

ablie, with wapnis inuasiue. And for ye tresonable art and part
of ye expulsioun of ye saidis regentis, and ye laif of ye lordis
furth of ye said toun yai beand deput for administratioun of
justice. And . for ye tresonable resistance and irapediment
making to ye saidis regentis and lordis being with yaim, sa yat
yai njycht not do justice to our souerane lordis liegis, because
yai war be ye said Jhone and his complicis be way of armes
compellit furth of ye said toun. And for ye tresonable art and
part of ye said conuocatioun of certane tratouris and rebellis
of ye realme ; as David Hume of. Wedderbum, and his breyer,
with a multitude of thevis and vyer ill doaris, ye first day of
Mail, ye zer of God forsaid, arrayand batell in ye sicht of our
souerane lord, apoun ye borrowmur of Edinburgh. And for
ye tresonable assistance and favour gevin to ye said David
Hume of Wedderbum, and his complicis, tratouris, and rebellis
in ye taking of ye castellis of Hume and Wedderbum, and
furnissing of ye samin contrar ye said regentis and our souerane
lordis auctorite. And for ye tresonable conuocatioun of our
souerane lordis liegis passand be way of batale in our said'
souerane lordis sycht to ye townys of Linlithgw and Striveling,
notwithstanding ye said Jhone and his complicis war forbiddiu
to do ye samin be our souerane lordis lettrez, under ye pane
of tresoun, and at his returning in ye tresonable arraying of
batale aganis ye said Jaraes Erie of Arane, and inuasioun of
him, as inuasion of our souerane lordis persoun, he beand ane
of ye regentis of ye realme, and lieutenent of ye est marchis,
aganis Ingland and Lothane, slayand diuers of ye kingis liegis,
beand vnder his baner with ye ^said James Erie of Arane, de-
cernand yarfore ye said Jhone to haue forfaultit his life, and
all and sindry his heretagis, annuell rentis, possessiouns, su-
perioriteis, with yar pertinentis and offices, with all and sindry
his gudis, movable and vnmovable, to out s<3|ierane lordis vse
and his successouris, to be assignit and perpetualie applyit or

352 MEMORIE OF
upon persewes Thomas SoraerviU of Blackcastle,
David SomervUl of GreenfeUd, and severall uther

vyerwayis, at ye will of ye said Jhone Duke of Albany, protec-
tour and gouernour of ye realm for ye tyme, to be disponit as
in ye same dome of forfaltour is at mair lenth contenit, with all
yat followit yarupoun to be cassit, adnullit, retretit, decernit,
and declarit of na strenth, force, nor effect, fra ye beginnmg
and in tyrae to cura. And als to heir and see ye said Jhone
Somervale declarit be our souerane lord, with ye counsale and
avise of ye thre estatis of his realme to be restorit to ye faith
and pece of his hienes, and to all and sindry his landis, annuell
rentis, dominiouns, perpetuale and temporale offices, superiori-
ties, jurisdictiouns, fame, honour, and digniteis, and to all and
sindry his gudis, movable and vnmovable, and in ye samin state
and place yat he was in befor ye geving of ye said dome of for
faltour aganis him for diuerss resouns and causis contenit in
ye said sumraondis. Our souerane lord comperand in parlia
raent be Maister Adara Ottirburn, his aduocat. Hew Lord So
mervale being personally present ; James Erie of Arane, and
James Harailtoun of Fynnart, Knycht, lauchfully summoned to
yis actioun, oftimez callit, and nocht coraperit.. The rychtis,
resouns, and allegatiouns for our souerane lord being allegit
and schewin be ye said Maister Adame, the forsaid summondis
and punctis yarof, and yai yarwith being at lenth riplie auisit
all in ane voice without variance gaif yar sentence, and decreit
of parliament, resindand and retretand ye dome of forfaltour
gevin agane ye said Jhone Somervale at Edinburgh, ye day
and zer above writtin, and fand and deliverit yat ye sarain was
iniustlie and wrangously led aganis the said Jhone, becaus eftir
ye executioun of ye said sumraondis quhar upon ye said dome
was gevin, and before ye geving yarof, ye said Jhone was re-
mittit of all crymes contenit in ye said summondis and dome.
Likas his reraissioun gevin him yarupoun, schawin and producit
in face of parliament, proportit and bure, and yarfor rescindis,
retreti s, cassis , and adnullis ye said dome of forfaltour, led ani

THE SOMERVILLS. 353
tennents and possessores of his fourtie pund land
within Carnwath barronie, and that before the
comraissar court of Carnwath, it being a coUegiat
church, and this court a church judicatory, as
would appear, it had this priviledge at that tyrae,
for he gott them acted for payraent, which they
refuised, wer cursed by the church, therupon
supplicatione was given in to the king and coun
seU upon the twentieth and seventh of JuUy,
1526. Wherupon he procures ane speciaU war- 1526.
rand from the king, for to distreinzie all the
goods of these persones, untill he was payed,
conforme to the sentence passed in his favoures.
This Cambusnethen atterapting to doe, was de
forced and stopped by Hugh Lord SoraerviU,
and slaughter made upon the place. Wherupon
Carabusnethen reneues his petitione to the lords
of counseU ; and upon the twentieth and second
of August, 1527, he obtains an ample warrand

gevin aganis ye same Jhone Somervale, and decernis ye samin
of nane avale, force, nor effect, with all yat followit yarupon,
and reponis, reintegratis, and restoris ye said Jhone till his ho
nour, heretagis, landis, rentis, possessiouns, offices, actiouns,
and gudis, movable and vnmovable, siclik and in als araple
manere as he was before ye geving of ye said dome, and yat
letrez of publication be gevin heirapoun in dew forme as
efferis." — Records qfthe Parliament qf Scotland.

354 MEMORIE OF
from them to charge the Lord SomerviU, be
open proclaraatione, att the market crosse of
Lanerk, and his compUces, for eshewing future
slaughter betwext thera, to desist frora hinder
ing John Somervill of Cambusnethen to putt his
letters in executione against his tennents, with
certificatione of the highest nature, in caice of
disobedience. By this proceeding Cambusnethen
was payed, and had peaceable possessione of aU
his lands within the barronie of Carnwath.
This morsall being pluckt out ofthe Lord So
mervill's hands, he was content to live in peace,
makeing now (his brother Lord John being
dead) his residence att Cowthally house, which
stood within the mosse, and, before this lord's
tyrae, could be non of the convenientest, in re
gaird it consisted only of three great towers, not
one of them joyned to other. The first was that
upon the north next to the moss, directly four-
squair ; and, by what was standing of it vriien I
saw it, it appeared by the contryvance and rude-
nes of the workmanship, to be the first buUding
that ever had been there, and of long continu
ance. The second was that upon the east, look
ing to the toune of Carnwath, a perfect circle,
as the foundatione represents, which is all that
is standing of it. The third is that which was

THE SOMERVILLS. 355
buUt by WiUiam, the second barrone of Carn-
wath,^ of the name of SomerviU, and stands yet
upon the right-hand as ye enter the second gate,
looking to the south : it's four-squah, and tvrice
walled, and hes had a double battlement, the
first wherof hes gope of the levin of the second
vaults AU these towers wer joyned only by a
barakine wall, and each of them in breadth and
lenth had but one spacious rourae, one above
another.' It's likely, by what reraaines of two of

* This was the ancient mode of building castles in Scotland.
The most simple was a barmkin, or fencible court-yard wall,
with a tower within it. Nor do they seem to have had any idea
of variety, but merely added one tower to another, as a family
increased in wealth and importance. The following edict of
parliament throws light upon the architecture of the age :
" Anno 1535. 12°° Junii. Ffor bigging of strengthis on ye
bordouris. " Item, it is statut and ordanit for saiffing of men yare gudis
and gere vpoun ye bordouris in tyme of were, and all uyer
troblous tyme, that every landit man, duelland in ye inland or
vpoun ye bordouris, havand yare ane hundreth pund land of
new extent, sail big ane sufficient barmkyn apoun his heretage
and landis, in place maist conuenient, of stane and lyme, con-
tenand thre score futis of ye square, ane eine thik, and vi elnys
heicht, for ye resset and defenss of him, his tennentis, and yair
gudis in trublous tyme, with ane toure in ye samin for liimself
gif he thinkis it expedient. And yat all uyir landit men of
smaller rent and reuenew big pelis and gret strenthis as yai
pless, for saiffing of yare selfis, men, tennentis, and gudis. And

356 MEMORIE OF
them, they have been four storie high ; but how
they came to the uppermost roumes passes my
understanding.' This was the fabrick of the
house of Cowthally, when Hugh Lord Somer-
viU begane to build ; and I admire, considering
the baseness of the stance, the unwhoUsomenes
of the place, being double ditched, with stand
ing watter about it, and inconveniency of the
house itself, being impossible to raake it regular,
without razeing the wholl to the foundatione,
he should not have iraployed his money and
paines upon a better stance, seing ther was raany
pleasanter and convenienter stances for a house
within the barronie of Carnwath ; but, in all
probabilitie, the same reasones that necessitat
the first builders to place ther habitatione there,
moved him to continue his ; for countrey feedes
was yet in vigour, and banding amongst the no-

yat all ye saidis strenthis, barnikynnis, and pelis, be biggit and
corapletit within twa zeris vnder ye pane." — Records qfthe
Parliament of Scotland.
' In sorae of the most ancient towers there seeras to have
been no staircase, the inhabitants ascending from one story to
another by raeans of a ladder placed against a hole, or trap
door. And, in other cases, it is plain that the staircase has
been no part of the original building, but hollowed out after
wards from the thickness of the corner wall, or inclosed in a
turret of later date than the apartments to which the stair
leads.

THE SOMERVILLS. 357
biUtie and gentrie, soe that upon the least of
fence they wer in arraes ; and if by inequalitie
of nuraber wer really worstit, they wer neces
sitat to flee, the house itself and its situatione
was a sure retreat ; for ther was noe possibilitie
to approach the same but at two passes, which
a few men might easily defend j ' or because it
had been for a long tyme the principaU residence
of his predecessores, might prove the only mo
tive to perswade him to contryve it soe for the

' Besides the strength of the castle of Cowthally, surround
ed on all sides by an impassable raorass, and only capable of
approach by a narrow causeway, or tongue of land, tradition
alleges a superstitious reason for the choice of the situation.
It is said that the work was begun by the original founder upon
a sloping hill, near the morass in question ; but that in a dream
or vision, he beheld a spirit transport the foundation-stone of
his intended castle to the present site : . and finding, in the
morning, that the foundation-stone had actually been reraoved,
he accepted of the hint, and adopted the situation, which
seemed thus recommended by supernatural revelation. The
same story is told of Callaly castle, in Northuraberiand. As
the names are sirailar, the legend raay have been borrowed by
-the one from the other. To a modern eye, Cowthally requires
the miracle most for vindication of the architect. The Nor
thumbrian rhime runs nearly thus :
Callaly castle stands on a hight.
It's up in the day and down in the night ;
Build it up on the shepherd's shaw.
There it will stand and never fa'.

358 MEMORIE OF
futui-e. Thairfore, in anno 1524, he buildes one
quarter upward of ane hundered foot, standing
east and west, joyning to the north tower, soe
that one syde of it made a part of the syde wall
of this building. The tower itself being without
the house, had three parts of it only seen, the
fourth being for a part of the syde-wall of the
great house ; and had doores strucken through
for each storie. The west end of this great buUd
ing outstreatched the old tower twentieth foot ;
and upon the south corner had a great round
frora the foundatione, a part wherof yet standes,
and hes served for studies. The east end of this
sarae building carae to the old round tower upon
the east, which served that coiner, and raade it
conforme to the west tower ; but that this tower
was much bigger, and served for a charaber.
The wholl foundatione of this building, old and
new, stood upon sex vaults, and a litie one be
neath the south-west rounde. The staircase that
served this house was a large turnepyke, placed
upon the south, neer to the midle of the build
ing, the sheU being round for the most part, was
seen without that syde-wall wherupon it was
placed. AU this great building had in the se
cond storie but sex roumes, in the new building
a great hall, wherin the first contained of se^.

THE SOMERVILLS. 359
tieth foot ; a bed-charaber upon each end, twen
tieth and four foot square, for that was the
breadth of the house. Each of the old towers
had but one large rourae that went of the sarae
flooring ; the one of them hes gone ofthe broad
syde of the hall, and the other within the east
chamber. That chamber upon the west of the
hall had the benefite of a large studie from the
round upon the south-west corner of the house.
What roumes was in the third and fourth stories
may easUy be conjectured, for that space and
lenth above the great hall being devyded in
three, makes nyne roumes in every flooring.
This house being finished, three years thereftir,
in anno 1528, he drew a long building conforme
of a gallery, standing upon seven vaultes, frora
the south-side waU of the east pud of his new
house, the old round tower upon that quarter
being without all along the east quarter of the
tower, fronting the village of Carnwath, and
joyned it to that great squair tower upon the
south, and right-hand as ye enter the second
gate, which, when it was finished by his grand
child, the last Lord Hugh, for this lord raised
the same only two storie high, made two quar
ters compleat of the court, and of ane equall
hight. Before this tyme ther had been buUd
ings upon the west quarter of ane equall hight ;

360 MEMORIE OP
soe by this gallery the court had just three com-
pleat quarters, and was all open to the south,.
save by a thick wall about fyve elles high,
much wherof yet standes, which devyded be
twext the inner and outter court, thad had only
office houses. The foundationes only now are
to be seen ; and of the great house of the inner
court ther is only standing the west end of the
great haU.' The chimnay brace which beares
the SomervUles armes, with the inscriptione of
HughLordSomerviUe'sname, incircleing. Ther
is much likewayes standing of that old squair
tower that was upon the broad syde of this hall,
and hes been certanely the first building in that
place. There is likewayes a part of the small
round, and some of the schell ofthe turnepyke
yet standing, with a great part of the tower at
the second entry, which was buUt by WilUam,
the second Barrone of Carnwath ; for the whoU
of this building is standing within the syde of a
great mosse, upon a green parsell of ground in
forme of ane island somewhat longer, the breadth
not exceeding half ane aiker, or three quarters,
of ground at most, which allowed, to my under-

' Brought to Drum in 1698, and placed in the staire caice
built in the same year; and, in 1741, placed in Lord Somer
ville's tower.— 0?7'o-. Note.

'( %.ulLi i

THE SOMERVILLS. 361
standing, rourae neither for gairden or orchyaird.
Barren timber ther was, as sorae liveing assertes j'
but, to wryte the truth, the house, in it's best
conditione, hes neither been staitely nor conve
nient. Soraething of greatnes and strenth it had,
being double ditched about, and the walls ex-

' From the account of the ruins of Cowthally castle, given in
the statistical account of the parish, it would seem that though
the trees have been long since dead, the tradition concerning
their existence continues to flourish  " On the west side of
the large moss, to the north of the village, on a narrow point
of dry land that juts out a little into the moss, are the ruins
of Cowthalley, the seat of the ancient family of the Somraer-
villes, a branch of the Sommervilles of Whitchnor, in Eng
land, and which settled in this country about the raiddle of the
12th century. This faraily, the raost powerful and opulent in
this part of the country, were at one time possessed of the ba
ronies of Carnwath and Liberton in Clydesdale, and of Linton
in Tweeddale. Sir John Somraervilla of Carnwath and Linton
was a steady and faithful adherent of Robert Bruce, in the
violent and bloody contest he had to raaintain for the crown.
This castle had once been a place of great strength, surround
ed with an excellent deep ditch, arid large earthen mound, the
entry being by a drawbridge on the W. Tradition says, that
it got the name of Couthally (which signifies a warm sheltered
walk or avenue,) because at this tirae there was an avenue
from the castle all the way to the village of Carnwath, border
ed on each side by full-grown oaks ; and what seeras to give
weight and confirmation to this tradition is, that when this
moss is dug to the bottora, large' oaks are often found, some of
them in a surprising state of preservation, considering the
amazing depth at which they now lie." — Statistical Account of
Scotland, vol. IV. p. 335. The reverend author has mistaken
Linton in Roxburghshire, for Linton in Tweeddale, which
never belonged to the family.

362 MEMORIE OF
ceeding thick, as was the use in these tymes ;
and indeed this was all to commend it ; for ther
could not be a worse situatione pitched upon, in
my judgement, then this for a dweUing. But
all the defects of the place was abundantly sup
plyed by a noble lord and vertueous lady, who,
being raother to sex children, three sones and
three daughters, brought them up vertueously,
and saw all of them provyded for and honour
ably marryed in her oune tyme, as eftirwards
shall be declared.
King James the Fyfth, from his minoritie, had
been tossed lyke a tinnes ball, soraetyraes under
this factione, and then under that, as the power
and interest of the factiones of the queen, the
Duke of Albanie, and the nobilitie took place.
The first that challenged the guardianshipe and
tutelage of the king was the queen, to whora it
was given soe long as she continued a widow,
and followed the counsell and advyce of the
chancellor, and uther great counseUers of the
kingdorae. But in this her governement the peo
ple wer ever in motione, mutinous, and delight
ing in changes, did not long last ; for the wholl
countrey was in a manner under the comraand
of these four : Alexander Lord Gordoune in a
raanner ruled and commanded the countreyes

THE SOMERVILLS. 363
northward the river of Forth ; Alexander Lord
Home usurped allmost the royall authoritie over
the countreyes ofthe south ; the Earle of Angus,
by marrying of the queen, would needs be um-
peh, and have aU matters of state and church
disposed of and governed according to his plea
sure ; James Earle of Arrane, Lord Hamilton,
being neerest of blood to the king, could not
but with indignatione look upon the undeserved
greatnes of these usurpers. " Under the shadow
of this polygarchy," sayes Drumraond, " turbu
lent, eviU-disposed raen, abhorring quyetnes,
raised the countrey, and did what they pleased."
These contendings haveing at lenth, principally
by the continuance of Alexander Lord Horae,
then great charaberlane of Scotland, brought
home John Duke of Albanie, sone to Alexander
Duke of Albanie, and brother to King James
the Third, whose government being rauch mis
trusted, by these very factiones of the nobilitie
dureing his sex years regency, he at lenth
quyeted the same, and went to France, without
any more returning to Scotland. The Duke of
Albanie being now gone, the queen assumes the
governraent again with the persone of her sone,
leaves Stirling, and comes to Edinburgh, lodges
herself and the king within the castle, orders all

364 MEMORIE OF
things within the citty according to her oune
raynde ; and, to give the fairest lustre to her ac
tiones, a parliaraent is caUed att Edinburgh, that
what she did might consist with law. The day
on which this parliament should been held, two
factiones began again to strugle; that of the
queen's, wherin wer the Earie of Arrane, Mur
ray, Eglintoune, with many other nobleraen in
the west ; and that of the Earles of Angus, Len
nox, and Argyle, the Archbishop of Saint An
drewes, and others who joyned with them rather
out of fear then good will. This bussines was
lyke to come to blowes ; but at lenth some
churchmen interposing themselves, perswaded
the parties to a mediatione. Wherupon the par
liament sits doune, in which the authoritie ofthe
former governement, the Duke of Albanie, is
abrogated, and eight lords wer choysen to have
the custody of the king's persone quarterly,
every one his moneth successively ; and the
wholl to stand for the governement of the state ;
yet with limitatione that the kmg, by ther coun
sell, should not determine or ordaine any thing
in great affaires, to which the queen, as princes
dowager, gave not her free consent and appro
batione. The lords that wer choysen wer Saint
Andrewes, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dunkeld,

THE SOMERVILLS. 365
the Earles of Angus, Arrane, Lennox, and Ar
gyle. But the authoritie of these trusties con
tinued not long ; for the state begane of new to
be tossed by the troublesome factiones of the
queen and the Earle of Angus, untill at lenth
the Earle of Angus, notwithstanding that the
Archbishop of Saint Andrewes, the Earles of
Arrane, Argyle, and Murray, who wer of the
queen's factione, laid a plott to accuse Angus
upon high treasone. Ther accusationes
Angus made the king
and the other partie
offering to back ther charge with force, resolves
to repell force by force. Wherupon he marches
out of the toune of Edinburgh, and takes the
king alongst with him. Which when the leaders
of the queen's factione understood, they reteired
back again to Stirling, where they disbanded.
This factione discipated, the Earle of Angus re
mained more assured, and now he findeth noe
competitor. Thus, whill the king reraained a
shadow to the earle's governraent araidst soe
many distractiones, disorders, and jarres of the
grandies, ther wer severall attemptes made by
the king's instigatione to free him frora the
power of the Earle of Angus, first by the Laird
of Buccleugh, and then by the Earle of Lennox ;

366 MEMORIE OF
but both these being worsted in Open feild, and
the later killed upon the place, att the conflict
which happened betwext him and the Earles of
Arrane and Angus neer LinUthgow, in the moneth
of September, 1528. But at lenth what open
force could not doe, the king performed with
this stratagerae :
The king, araidst his foUowers, walkes in his
parke of Falkland, considering of what a tedious
train he was releived off, the Earle of Angus
being now gone from court to visite his oune
dwelling place, and to order sorae of his private
aflfaires, he considered how suddenly occasione
might turne her bald scalpe, if presently he took
not hold on her. Thairfore he resolves to ac
complish by stratagem what the affectiones of
his nobilitie could not performe by force. " It
is delightfull," sayes Drummond, " to under
stand every particular circumstance in the pro
gresse of the actiones of princes." Upon this
resolutione the king directed the foster of his
parke of Falkland to give advertisement to such
gentlemen about who keeped houndes, the next
morning to attend him, for he would airly have
his game. He supped sooner then his custorae
was, intertaineing the captaine of his guairds
with more then usuall ceremonies and representa-

THE SOMERVILLS. 367
tiones of the next morning's sport, withall in
viting hira to go to his rest. The night being
short, about the suraraer solstice, the waitters all
shifted, and the court husht, shooting his cham
ber door, in the apparell of one of his groomes
he passed
the guaird to the stable, where, with two who
attended him with spare horses, he posted to
Stirling, where, by the queen's inteUigence, he
was expected in the castle.'

• The following lively and interesting account of the king's
escape from the domination of Angus occurs in Pitscottie. —
" Bishop James Beaton called the Douglasses and the king to
the Pasch in St Andrews, and there made them great cheer
and merriness, and gave them great gifts of gold and silver,
with fair hackneys, and other gifts of tacks and steedings, that
they would desire of him, that he might pacify their wraths
therewith, and obtain their favours. So the king tarried there
a while quiet, and used hawking and hunting upon the water
of Edin ; till at last the Earl of Angus wearied in Fife, and
therefore he asked leave of the king to go to Lothian to see his
business, and left with the king Archibald, his father's brother,
and George, his own brother, and James Douglas of Park-
head, who was captain to a guard of raen that was about the
king. But within two days, Archibald Douglas, treasurer,
asked leave of the king to pass to Dundee, and do his business
there for one day or two ; (sorae say he had a gentlewoman
there whom he rode to visit ;) and in like manner George
Douglas rode east to St Andrews to the bishop to get his tack
performed and ended athis hands, as he had proraised him be
fore ; and left with the king's grace James Douglas of Park-

368 MEMORIE OF

1528. When the certanty of his escape was noysed
abroad, many noblemen repaired to StirUng,

head, with a hundred gentleraen with him to wait upon the
kino' wherever he past. But when George Douglas came to
St Andrews, and reraained there meikle ofthe day in dressing
ofhis business, in the meantirae the king passed to the park of
Falkland, there to have hounded a deer, and thought in his
own mind the time was convenient for him to make himself
free at liberty, considering the earl, and George, and Archi-
bald were all absent at that time out of his company. There
fore he unbethought him of a crafty mean to jeopard himself
in this manner as after follows : That is to say, he called upon
the Laird of Fairny, who was foster of the sarae wood, and
chamberlain of Fife at that time, and caused him to gar warn
all the whole tenants of the king's lands and gentlemen there
about that had speediest dogs, that they would come to Falk
land-wood on the morn, to meet him at seven hours, for he
was determinate that he would slay a fat buck or two for his
pleasure ; and to that effect gart warn the cooks and stewards
to raake his supper ready, that he might go to his bed the
sooner, and have his disjoin ready by four hours ; and com
manded Jaraes Douglas of Parkhead to pass the sooner to his
bed, and caused to bring his collation, and drank to James
Douglas, saying to hira, that he should have good hunting the
morn, and bade hira be timeous ; and syne the king went to his
¦ Led. Then James Douglas, seeing the king in his bed, wint
that all had been sicker enough, and past in like manner to his
bed. " When the watch was set, and all things in quietness, the
king called on a yeoman of the guard, and desired one of his
abuilziements, hose, cloke, coat, and bonnet, and put upon
him, and slipt forth as a yeoraan of the stable ; and was un
perceived of the watches till he had past to the stable, and
caused saddle a horse for hiraself, and one led, and took two
1

THE SOMERVILLS. 369
some by letters sent to thera, wherof the Lord
SoraervUl was one ; others carae upon the ru-

servants with him, to wit, Jockie Hart, a yeoraan of the sta
ble, with another secret charaber-boy, and lap on horse, and
spurred hastily his journey to Stirling, and wan there by the
breaking of day over the bridge, and syne gart streik it be
hind hira, that no man should win that passage but license.
Syne past to the castle, and was received there by the captain,
who was very glad of his coming, and prepared the castle with
all needful things for his coming. Syne gart he steik the gates,
and drew down the portcullies, and put the king in his bed to
sleep, because he had ridden all that night.
" We will let him sleep in his bed, and return to George
Douglas, who came to Falkland at eleven hours at even, who
required at the porters what the king was doing. They an
swered and said, that the king was sleeping in his bed in the
secret chamber ; and so said the watchmen of the guard that
watched hira ; and George hearing this, past to his charaber to
his bed, till on the raorn that the sun was up. Syne carae the
baily of Abernethy, to wit, Peter Carmichael, and knocked at
George's chamber-dor, and wakened him, and speired where
the king was. George answered and said, " He is in his cham
ber sleeping." The bailie said, " No, he is past the bridge of
Stirling.'' Then George got up hastily, and put on his clothes,
and went to the guard, and to the porters, and speired for the
king. They answered and said, he was in his chamber in his
bed. Then George went to his chamber and knocked; but
none would answer him, for the door was locked, which he
danged up, and found no man therein. Then he cried, Fy,
treason, the king was gone they knew not where. Some said
he was past to Bambrigh to a gentlewoman. Another said he
was ridden to Stirling. Then George lap on horse to ride to
Bambrigh ; but within two miles he met the Earl of Rothes,
and shewd him the king was not there.
" Then they past to Falkland again, and took consultation
2 A

370 MEMORIE OF
mor of his evasione ; that in a litle tyrae the
king found hiraself safe, and far from any dan
ger again to be surprized by the Earle of Angus,
or over-ruled by his factious nobilitie. This hap
pened in the moneth of JuUy, in anno 1528.
The king being now in the eighteinth year of
his age, takes the governement upon himself,
and from henceforth mannadged all affaires, both
in church and state, according to his oune plea
sure, and a select number of counsellors, all of
his oune choyseing. Thir things being of pub
lict concerneraent, I have passed over with as
much brevitie as was possible, seing they are all-
ready spocken to in the life of this king, written
by Drummond of Hathorneden. It was in this
year that Hugh Lord Somervill became more
particularly acquainted with his majestie, by his

what was best to be done ; and sent a hasty post to the Earl of
Angus, to advertise and shew him the matter, and how it stood.
By this Archibald Douglas carae out of Dundee; and then
they foregathered all together, viz. the earl, George, and
Archibald, and rode altogether to Stirling to the king. But
when the king got word of their coraing, he sent a herauld of
arras to the market-cross, and there, by sound of trumpet, cora
manded the Earl of Angus, George Douglas, Archibald Dou
glas, treasurer, with all the rest of their kin, friends, and allies,
that none of them should come near the king, within the space
of six miles, under the pain of treason." — P. l^l.

THE SOMERVILLS. 3/1
frequent attending upon the court, which he
continued still, by waiting upon his raajestie, in
the moneth of June, to execute justice upon all
persones, theives and outlawes, particularly in
Ewsedale, fourtieth and eight notorious ryders
wer hung on growing trees, the most famous of
which was John Armestrong. Others he brought
with hira to Edinburgh for more pubUct execu
tione and exaraple, as WiUiam Cockburne of
Henderland,' Adam Scott of Tuschellaw, named
King of Theives.
The year 1530, the king instituted the Col- ]S30,
ledge of Justice. Before it was arabulatory, re
moveing from place to place by circuites j and
suites of law wer peremptorly decyded by baill
zies, shirrefes, and other judges. When any great
and noble cause offered itself, it was adjudged
soveraignely by the king's counsell, which gave
free audience to aU subjects. The king now
haveing established this judicatory, and setled the
countrey in peace, haveing noe warre abroad, he
was pleased to travell through many places of his

' If the tradition of the country may be trusted, Cockburne
of Henderland was hanged over his own gateway. His chris
tian name, as appears from his gravestone, was not William,
bat Peres.

372 MEMORIE OF
countrey, and setled any differences that might
be araongst his subjects ; and, araongst others,
he brought to a subraissione Hugh Lord Soraer
viU and John SoraerviU, Barrone of Carabusne
then, wherin aU differences whatsoever was re
mitted unto his majesties self, to determine ac
cording as he thought fitting. This subraissione
is dated att Linlithgow, the threttieth of May,
1532. In JuUy thereftir Hugh Lord SoraerviU
marryes his eldest daughter, named Janet eftir
her mother, upon the Laird of CookpooU in An
nandale, whose sirname then was Murray, and
predecessor to the late Earle of Annandale of
that name. To this marriage the king being in
vited, was pleased to honour that solemnitie
with his royall presence four or fyve dayes, as
may be seen by the book of accompts yet ex
tant. The divertisement his raajestie had with
out doores was balking ; being now in the midle
of JuUy, the pontes ' wer for flight, wherof they
kiUed many ; these feilds not being soe much
laboured then as now, yeelded great store, which
was the cause the king resorted thither eftirward
when he mynded his sport : But the recreatione

* The young brood of muir-game.

THE SOMERVILLS. 373
he receaved in the feilds gave him noe such
content as what he had within doores with the
ladyes, who, seeing the young king amorously
inclyned, allowed hira aU the liberty that in ho
nour he could requyre, or ther modesty per
mitt. Araongst all the ladyes that was there, he fan-
eyed non soe much as Katharine Carmichael],
the captaine of Craufuird's daughter, a young
lady rauch about sexteinth years of age, adraired
for her beautie, handsoraenes of persone, and
vivacity of spirit, whereby she attracted all eyes
that beheld her, but soe strongly the king's, that
raost of his discourse was with her, and he took
it ill when he was interrupted, soe that all the
ladyes and nobleraen that was present took no
tice therof, and gave way to his majestie's court
ing. I know ther was sorae raalitious tongues
then, as there is not a few to this day, afiirraes
that it was at this tyrae, and in Cowthally-house,
that the king first procured this ladye's private
favoures ; but, by ther leave, it is a great mis
take, and a most raalitious caluranie ; for, albeit
it be true it was at this wedding he first saw this
young lady, and did affect her extreraely, be
ginning then his intrigues of love, yet had he
noe opportunity allowed him to obtaine that

374 MEMORIE OF
which he eftirward receaved att the castle of
Crawfuird, her father's house. The Lady So
raerviU being both vertueous and wise, observe
ing the king's passione, coraraanded two of Cara
busnethen's daughters, and as many of her oune,
being then girles about eleven years of age, in
whora the king took likewayes delight to dis
course with, never to leave the rourae, unles
Mistres Katharine Carmichaell came with thera,
the which they particularly observed. But to
put this beyond all cavill, this sarae lady being
efterward marryed upon young Cambusnethen,
acknowledged to her mother-in-law, that it was
neer a year eftir she saw the king att CowthaUy
before his majestie obtained any favour from her,
but what in civilitie she might have given to any
persone of honour ; and doubtlesse, if it had
been otherwayes, the Lady Carabusnethen would
have divulged quickly the same to the prejudice
of my Lord Somerville's familie, to which she
had noe great lykeing, notwithstanding of ther
late subraissione to the king, and the civilitie
they payed to each other, because of ther neer
relatione. This marriage being over, the king went for
StirUng, being waited upon by the Lord Somer
vill there some tew dayes ; and now being to re-

THE SOMERVILLS. 375
turne to his oune house, he coraes to kisse his
majesties hand. The king told him, with a kynde
and pleasant countenance, the great intertaine
ment and fair company he left att Cowthally made
him resolve ere long for another visite, hopeing
he should be wellcome. Haveing said this, and
raiseing hira from his knee, the Lord Somervill
replyed, what he had at present was by his majes
tie's favour and the bounty of bis royall prede
cessores, conferred upon him and his foirbearers,
of which he was ever rayndefuU, and therfore
was obleidged, as a duetyfuU subject, to attend
his majesties pleasure in all things, haveing been
soe highly honoured by his royaU presence at his
daughter's marriage that was beyond all expres
sione of thankes. Upon this he reteired, have
ing receaved the particular thankes of all these
nobleraen and gentlemen that attended the king
dureing his residence att CowthaUy. Being re
turned, he lived at home untiU the later end of
September. Upon Saturnesday at night the king
lighted att his house with Robert Bartone, who
was in speciall favour with hira, and eftirwards
made thesaurer, James HaraUton of Finhard,
who hkewayes before his death was thesaurer,
and likewayes master ofthe king's works, OUver

376 MEMORIE OF
Sinclair, a brother of the house of Rosseline, Sir
David Lindsay of the Mount, Hendrie Kemps,
Robert Gibb, raaster ofthe king's stables, George
SteiU, John Monteith, Thoraas Foulis, and James
Aikenhead, keeper of the king's coffers and his
gold, and John Tennent, (eftirward Laird of
Cairness,) a domestick and wairdropper to the
king, who personated (four years eftir this) his
majestie, as he travelled incognito through
France in suite of his queen.' These, with other

• Most of these ofiicers of the king's household are mention
ed in the poems of Lindsay and Dunbar. Concerning Jaraes's
journey to France incognito, we have sorae curious, though
libellous particulars, in the letters of John Penman, a retainer
of the Earle of Angus, then banished and in disgrace. He also
mentions most of his attendants. — " As for tydyngs I here
to be trew, notwythstanding, as I am informed, the
king wyll not have the duke's daughter. He is yit up at Lyons,
or els at Rowane, a yissid [as is said], I here say he is sumwhat
a erased. He is the werst spoken of man, namely, ofhis owen,
both menyons and gentlemen, wher the dar speke it, that is
in the universall world. He hath beggert all Scotland, as they
saye, or he cum out of it. And nowe beyng here, orderyng
hymselfe so folyshelie, with aservannd or ii, runnyng up and
downe the streats of Paris, hying every tryffell hymselfe ; he
wenynge no man know hym, wherfor that every carter poyntyd
with ther fynger, saying, yondre goyes la Roy de Escoisse.
Sum saye he wyll desyre the kyng of Fraunce's doughter;
other sum sayes he wyll desyre nocht els but Dunbarr, a
schepp, and ii or iii horsses. He baith sent Rychyt Carme-
chell into Scotland, with wryttyngs and tokens to the Laird of

THE SOMERVILLS. 377
seven, wer only his majestie's retinue when he
came to Cowthally. This surprizeall raight have
startled any other albeit good housekeepers, but
was all one to this lord that keeped soe plenti
fuU a table, and had soe provident a lady, that
upon all occasiones gave evidence of an excel
lent house-wife. The Lord Somervill told the
king, he was only sorry he had not advertise
ment of his majestie's coraeing, that hiraself and
his freinds raight have waitted upon him ; but
he was soon made to understand the king's
coraeing incognito, and would adraitt of noe
more corapany save himself and other two be
syde these that carae with hira. By this and
sorae other circurastances, he guessed some part
of the king's earand, who dureing supper asked
severall questiones at the Lord Somervill (stand-

Lawghtleven's wyfe ; wharfore other sum sayes he wyll have
her. Every man is wery with him ; they wissh him under the
grounde ; the swere he can not contynew. No raan can tell
how sone he cumys be post, to put his fute in a shepp, or taryes
all thys wynter. Ther ys with hym Olyuer Sinckler, Robert
Gibs, Andrew Wood, John Talland, and James Maxwell of
Rowen, and Monsieur Esturmaill, the steward ofthe Duck of
Vand(K-n's house. George Stele and his chapell is in Rowen ;
John Drumond, Henry Kempt, with all the resydew, ys in the
New Haven.— Pinkerton's History of Scotland, Lond. 1797,
vol. II. p. 490.

31& • MEMORIE OP
ing behind his chair) anent the captaine of Crau
fuird, his qualitie, conditione, and what he might
have in estate and by his office. Wherin being
resolved soe far as ray lord knew, the king took
occasione first to regrate the raeannesse of his
fortune, and the sraallnesse of his sallary ; and
eftir some spaces, began to praise his daughter's
breeding and beautie w^th some transport, at
lenth insinuate as much by his discourse that he
would see to the bettering of the father's estate,
and advancement of the daughter. Eftir supper
the king held a long discourse with the Lady
Somervill in his oune bed-chamber, which was
named eftir him soe long as the house reraained
in it's integrity.' What the import of ther dis
course was these that wer present did but guesse,
for they stood at some distance ; however, it ap
peared the king was very pressing to obtaine
some proraise of her, which, with much civilitie,
she begged his raajestie pardone ; and at lenth,
somewhat loud, of purpose to be heard, and to
be free from the king's importunity, spocke
thus : " Sir, her father's house is much fitter,
where your majestie raay expect kynde well-

i. e. Preserved in the same state in which he used it-

THE SOMERVILLS. 379
corae, being proprietar of the same, in honour
ing that familie with your royall presence."
Upon which the king called the Lady Carmi
chaell, that was next to thera, and said, " Your
nighbour here, the Lady Somervill, is the most
courteous, or rather most scrupolous, persone
under heaven for another concerne ; but I will
have my revenge in being often her guest, to eat
up all the beef and pudding too of this [coun
try.]" Airly upon the sabbath the king caused the
Lord Somervill send a horseraan to Craufuird
castle, to advertise the captaine he would be
there against night ; and withall forbade to raake
any great provisione, seing his train would not
exceed a duzone. This advertisement was soe
unexpected and short, that the captaine knew
not what to thinke of it ; however, he caused
putt all things in the best order that raight be,
and prepared for the king's coraeing. But ther
was non soe rauch surprized with the newes as
the young lady, the captaine's daughter, who,
suspecting the king's earrand frora what she had
mett with frora hira at the raarriage in Cow
thally, she could have wished herself not only
out of her father's house, but out of the world.
Soe rauch terrour and affrightment did seize up-

380 MEMORIE OF
on her persone, that she knew not what to re
solve on. Some tymes she thought it fitt to ac
quaint her father and mother with her feares ;
and then againe, without acquainting them with
her thoughts, to slip doune to Lamingtoune-
house, or the toune of Douglasse. But as mo
desty tyed up her tongue from the first, soe the
shortnesse of tyme, and [the want of] ane hand
some pretext, hindered the later ; for it was not
possible to have keeped the knowledge of her
reraoveall that day frora the king, which might
have incensed him exceedingly against her fa
ther, the greatest part of whose fortune was
mostly at that tyme at the king's disposeing, as
heretable keeper ofthe castle of Craufuird. Thus,
unresolved what to doe, or how to carry towards
the king, in great trouble of spirit, poor lady,
she reraained in a carelesse dresse untill his ma
jestie's arryveall.
The king, haveing breakfasted and heard messe
att the coUedge church of Carnwath, raade foir
ward on his journey to the castle of Craufuird,
being accompanyed with non but the Lord So
mervill and these t'e'w he brought frora Edin
burgh with him. He was mett by the captaine
of Craufuird with some horsemen, sorae few
myles on this syde of the castle, with whom he

THE SOMERVILLS. 381
discoursed famUiarly untill ther arryveall at the
house, where his majestie was receaved at the
gate by the lady and two of her daughters. What
intertaineraent his raajestie receaved from the
captaine and his lady, and kyndenesse from ther
beautifull daughter upon his amorous addresse
to her, is noe part of that which I have in hand ;
yet I ara apt to believe, frora severall circum
stances and papers that I have seen, that this
interview proceeded noe farther then to useher
the way and give opportunitie to these more
particular and privat favoures his raajestie re
ceaved efthward frora this lady in the same
house. Whatever wer the intyseing motives
that prevailled over her vertue, and brought her
to the king's imbracement, was best knoune to
herself; and although noe act of this nature be
warrantable before God, yet much may be said
to take off" the reproach, and justifie her to the
world. It was her king, not a subject, that made
love to her ; a gallant young prince, for persone
and parts the world then had not the better;
laying asyde his dignitie and that supreme orbe
wherin he raoved. One of meaner degree, with
half of these qualificationes wherwith this royall
king was indued, might have prevailled much
upon the budding affectiones of a tender virgin.

S82 MEMORIE OF
unacquainted with the blandishment of great
ones, and the intertainements of a royall court,
wherinto your court ladyes are soe accustomed
to addresses of persones of erainency, that they
can putt off or conferre ther privat favores as
ther interest or inclinatione leades them ; and
yet if they trip, you shall not know it, or if you
doe, you must not divulge it, unlesse you be
desperately resolved to forfault both your life
and fortune to the fury of ther amoures. Be
sydes these inducements and her father's inte
rest, she might have before her eyes the exam
ple of Elizabeth Moore, RowaUane's daughter,
who bare to King Robert the Second three sones,
long before her marriage ; and at lenth, notwith
standing of the king's haveing two sones in mar
riage by the Earle of Rosse's daughter, she dy
ing, and herself taken to be his queen, her sones
was reputed and declared righteous successores
to the croune, and that by consent of parlia
ment. These reasones, with the splendent aspect of
royall majestie, backed with a soveraigne power,
might prevaill much upon this innocent lady,
and inclyne her to a complyance, as not weill
knowing how to refuise the kynde offeres of soe
obleidgeing a prince, the eflTects wherof, in four

THE SOMERVILLS. 383
yeares tyrae, raade her raother of two boyes and
ane daughter to the king, both of them eftirward,
in Queen Marye's reigne and King Jaraese's,
made earles, the one of Orknay ' and the other
of Bothwell ; and for the daughter, she was
nobly marryed to the Earle of Argyle, being
ever in great favour with Queen Mary dureing
her reigne.
The king haveing continued att the castle of
Crawfuird untill Tuesday, he goes unto Biggar,
and from thence he comes to Peebles, accom
panyed only with these that had waitted from
Edinburgh upon him, and these that attended
the Lord Somervill, who was still with his ma
jestie dureing the tyme the king resided att
Peebles, which was two dayes. Haveing there
appoynted a Justice Air for the tryall of some
malefactores, here his majestie's being in the
countrey was first divulged and publictly made
knoune, wherupon a great confluence both of

' This is a mistake. Robert, Prior of Holyrood-house, after
wards Earl of Orkney, was natural son of James V. by Euphe
mia, daughter of Lord Elphinstone, By Katharine Carmichael
the king had, as is mentioned in the text, John, Prior of Cold
ingham, who, by marrying the heiress, and by the favour of
the crown, obtained the honours and estate of Bothwell ; as
also Janet, married to the Earl of Argyle.

384 MEMORIE OP
nobilitie and gentrie comes to waitt upon him.
Then the king, with demonstrationes of great
favour, dismissed the Lord SomerviU, that his
privat progresse which he had made might be
the lesse knoune or suspected, who being re
turned to CowthaUy, settes himself about the
ordering of his privat affaires. Ther being now,
eftir some litle stirrings betwext England and
Scotland, mainly upon the Earle of Angus' ac
compt, who was then banished, a peace con
cluded betwext the two realmes, dureing the
two princes lyves, and ane year eftir the decease
of him who shoiUd first depart this Ufe ; by rea
sone wherof, and the peaceable reigne of this
king, untill the very last year therof, ther had
not been any tyme wherin might have proven
ther privat fortunes more then from the year
1530, untill the year 1542, which was the year
of this king's death. But albeit the state was in
1 333. P^ace, yet, about this tyme, ther begane a warre
in the church, which continued untill this day ;
for in this year, in the isleand of Brittane begane
the sectaries of the ecclesiasticall doctrine and
authoritie to be laid open to the view of the
world, the poUitick governement of kingdomes
begane to suffer in the alteratione and discovery,
which being obvious to all that wiU peruse the

THE SOMERVILLS. 385
histories of the severall nationes of Europe, and
particularly that of our oune, in soe far as con
cernes the church and state affaires, written by
that learned prelate Bishope Spotswood, who is
soe full and copious in all the concernes and
transactiones of these tymes, that ther cannot
be a farther discovery made ; and it wer great
impertinency and vanitie in me to resume any
thing that is written by that author, who am but
recording the memories of a privat famUie.
In the later end of the year 1536, the Lord 1536.
Somervill haveing three years before setled his
eldest daughter, raarryes now his second, named
Maijorie, eftir his mother, upon the Laird of
Drumraelzeor, the cheif of the Tweedies, as
eminent a barrone, and of as great command as
any in Tweddale. To this marriage his majestie
in a manner invited hiraself. Being now re
solved to repaire the reputatione of his beloved
mistres, and provyde for her future liveing and
honour, himself at this tyme designeing to match
with the house of France. Wherefore being
come to Cowthally the thretteinth day of No
vember, 1536, dureing the tyme of this marriage
his mistres Katharine Carmichaell being there,
and now in the twentieth and second year of her
2 B

i}86 MEMORIE OF
age, the king profferes severall marriages to ber
of these that wer his wairdes at the tyme, but
she rejected them all, haveing allready placed
her affectione upon young Cambusnethen, then
present att this marriage, ane eminent barrone,
both for qualitie and estate, honourably descend
ed, being a grand childe of the house of Mon
trose, and the second great branche of the house
of Cowthally, inferior to non at that tyme upon
Clyde for respect and worship. What course
the king took to accomplish this marriage, or
what portione Cambusnethen receaved with her,
I know not, but it is certane, as this lady was
fortunate, soe was young Cambusnethen most
happy in this marriage. Never two lived more
contentedly then they did ; and ther was all the
reasone in the world fbr it, laying aside her beau
ty, then in the prime, being in the twentieth and
second year of her age. Her virtue and raodestie
was so conspicuous to all, that in a few years she
became a paterne to all her nighboures ladyes
for thrift and good house wife ; and albeit ther
was many invitationes given her to appear att
court, dureing this king's reigne, for her hus
band's advancement and her oune honour, beino-
the mother of two sones and one daughter to the

THE SOMERVILLS. 387
king, yet lent she ane deaff' ear therto, and was
offended with any that was urgent in her goeing
to court upon these grounds, asserting she had
honour enough in being Carabusnethen's lady,
and her husband a sufficient estate to maintaine
him in the ranke and qualitie he was in then.
Neither doe I find that ever the king saw this
lady eftir his oune and her marriage but once,
and that was at the baptisme of her eldest sone,.
at Carabusnethen, whose name his majestie was
pleased to take to himself, by calling him James,
all preceeding of that familie being named John;
and this occasione fell out more then a year and
a half eftir her marriage. Severall other children,
in thretteinth years tyrae that she lived with
Carabusnethen, she bore to hira, but ther naraes
1 find not, except of two sones and one daughter.
Her eldest sone being Jaraes, was nicknaraed
the Laird with the Velvit Eye, the other Robert.
Her daughter, falling under the hands of a step-
raother, was meanly marryed to Gawin Hamil
ton of the Nether Hilles. Thus far I have di
gressed in vindicatione of this excellent lady,
that it may appear it was nether her choyse nor
any vitious habite that prevailled over her chas-
titie, but ane ineviteable fate that the strongest

388 MEMORIE OF
resistance could hardly withstand.' Her Testa
ment I have by me, dated tbe tenth of March,
1550, which was the year she dyed in, and de
clares her to be also much a good Christian, as
it confirmed all that was said of ber vertue and
frugalitie. The king being gone to France, in order to
his marriage, wherin severall of the nobiUtie did
accompany hira, the Lord SomervUl reraained
att Cowthally, and continued bis wonted hospi
tality to all coraers ; but haveing heard of the
king's being at sea, and that his raajestie was
shortly expected' in Scotland with his young
queen, he came with others to attend his landing
at Leith. Before this the king had sent and de
syred the lords of his secret counsell to advertise
such of the nobilitie as mynded to waitt upon
the queen, or visite the court at first, to putt
themselves and servants in better equipage then
was in use in that age, and withall to conforme
themselves somewhat both to the fashiones and
customes of more civillized nationes. These di-

' This is anticipating the indulgent maxim of Prior ;
'' That when weak women go astray,
" Their stars are more in fault than they."

THE SOMERVILLS. 389
rectiones of the king's most of the nobilitie ob
served ; but ther was non soe punctuaU of his
majesties coraraands, and exceeded in suraptu-
ous cloathing, then Hugh Lord Soraervill ; al
beit he did it upon designe, yet hiraself, his
posteritie, yea, and this present Earle of Carn
wath, or whosoever shall be proprietar of the
lands and barronie of Carnwath, sufiered for this
froUicke, in being lyable for ane yearly annuitie
of three score punds Scots out of that barronie
to the world's end, the sarae being mortified" by
% to the
Magdalen Chappell.' I was once ofthe opinione,
that this had been done upon some religious ac
compt, by one of the barrones or lords of the
house of Cowthally, untiU I saw the mortifica
tione; and then I understood this Lord Hugh
had borrowed money from and given him a propper

<4>'
• Granted in mort-main.
• The clothes and livery must have been sufliciently sump
tuous, when an annual grant of this extent was only adequate
.to their value. This was with a vengeance
" a bond entered into
" For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day."
Shakspeare.

390 MEMORIE OF
wodsett, which he eftirward mortifieing to the
said chappell, Lord Hugh ratifies the same by
his consent to remaine for ever, and soe it con
tinues till this day.
1537. The king and queen being arryved att Leith
upon the twentieth and nynth of May, in the
year 1537, it is reported that eftir the queen
putt her foot upon the shoar, upon her knees she
kissed the ground, praying for all happinesse to
the countrey and people. Never a queen, in soe
short a tyme, was soe beloved of her husband,
nor sooner made conqueist of the hearts of her
subjects ; but she lived not many weekes eftir
her arryveall in Scotland, when of a fever she
contracted in June, and departed this life in
JuUy thereftir." She was bmyed, sayes Drum-

' " And when the queen came in Scottish ground, she bowed
and inclined herself to the earth, and took the muilds thereof
and kissed ; syne thanked God that he had brought her safely
through the sea with her husband to their own country; syne
past to the abbay of Holyrood-house, to the king's palace, there
to reraain till her triumph of entress was made, which began to
provide in all parts of Scotland ; and specially in Edinburgh,
Leith, Dundee, Breichin, Montrose, .Aberdeen, St Johnstoun,
Stirling, Glasgow, Air, Lithgow, St Andrews, and Cowpar in
Fife. Thir worthy and principal towns that were commanded
to make provision and triumph for the king's coming and his
receipt ; but nevertheless their joy was soon altered, and mer
riness turned to sadness and mourning, for displeasure of the

THE SOMERVILLS. 391
mond, with the greatest mourning Scotland ever,
till that tyme, was participant of, in the church
of HoUyrude-house, neer King James the Se
cond. However this great change of the court
from mirth to mourning, yet had all the nobiU
tie complyed with his majesties desyre in being
sumptuous in ther apparel when they appeared
att court. The Lord Soraervill made noe great
haste to waitt upon the king, of purpose that he
might be more particularly taken notice off and
observed by his majestie, which accordingly suc
ceeded ; for as he passed the great portch, which
is now the Duke of Harailtone's lodgeing, to en
ter the palace of HoUyrude-house, the king by
accident (being then ten in the raorning) stand
ing at that great light in his oune bed-chamber,
directly opposite to that entry, when the Lord
Soraervill was comeing to kisse his hands, the
king, at first not knowing hira, admired whom it

queen; for she departed that same day forty days that she
landed, being the fifth of July ; and therefore all ther great
blythness and joy of her coraing was turned in great raourn-
ing ; and all the play that should have been made was all turn
ed in soul-masses and dirigies ; where through there zeid such
mourning through the country and lamentation, that it was
great pity for to see ; and also the king's heavy moan that he
made for her was greater than all the rest." — Pitscottie,
p. 159.

392 MEMORIE OF
could be soe brave in his cloathes, and had noe
attendance at his back save two pages in rich
livery ; the king called the Earles of Argyle and
Huntley, and enquyred at them if they knew
who it was, but they could not resolve him.
Wherupon Sir James Hamilton advanced, and
looking out, informed that his majestie was weill
enough acquainted with that persone, and would
quickly know him when he made his addresse.
By this tyme the Lord Somervill was entered
the chamber of presence which the king had re
teired to, and now coraeing to kisse his majes
ties hands, the king prevented him before he
had gotten one word spocken, in raiseing hira
up said, " My lord, you are very brave ; ' but
where are all your men and usuall attendance ?"
The Lord Somervill, in kneelling again to kisse
his hands, quickly answeared, " If it please your
majestie, here they are," poynting to every lace
that was on his oune and his pages' cloathes.
Insinuating as much therby as if he had been
necessitat to sell them all to the merchants for
that rich suite. Whereat the king laughed hear
tily, and then viewed them exactly, which, when

Scottice fer gallant in apparel.

THE SOMERVILLS. 3^3
he had done, he bad away with thera all, and let
us have your raen againe. AU the noblemen
was glad of this occasione, and raade good com
pany with the Lord Somervill, giving him thankes
that ther brave cloathes had gotten ther leave,
for undoubtedly the effects would have been what
he had presaged to the king. This very suite of
ray Lord Somervill's, which occasioned all this
sport, was keeped by his sone. Lord James, his
grand-childe. Lord Hugh, and his great-grand-
childe, Hugh Somervill of Drum, untill by ac
cident the house was brunt, wherewith his steell
coat, his head-peace, gantlet, gloves, and all
other furniture used in warre in those dayes was
brunt. I find not much more of this nobleman untill 1540.
the year 1540, in which he marryed his eldest
sone James, master of Somervill, upon Agnes
Hamiltoun, daughter to Sir James Harailtoun of
Finhard and Evendale, thesaurer of Scotland,
then in great favour with the king, who was
pleased to honour this raarriage with his royall
presence, att the castle of Craignethen, where
the marriage was solemnized, as he did sorae
few monthes eftir the infare att Cowthally-house,
it being now the third tyme that I find, by the

394 MEMORIE OF
baUlzie and master houshold's compt-bookes,
that his majestie upon such solemne occasiones
had been intertained att Cowthally-house, be
sydes his comeing more privatly, upon the ac
count of his sport. This marriage being made
mostly upon court interest, continued not long ;
for Sir James Hamiitone of Finhard, who be
sydes and before this interest had allwayes, from
his very youth, been a constant freind to the fa
milie of the Lord SomervUles, unhappily fell
vmder the king's displeasure ; and, in the year
1541, being suspected of some practise as al
leadged against the king's life, was execute and
foirfaulte, and the gh't therof, soe farre as con
cerned the fourtieth pund land of Libbertoune,
given to the Lord Somervill, which he retained
but some few years, the sone of Sir James being
restored by the Earle of Arrane, in the tyme of
his governement,
S*!. Cardinall Beatone ruleing now ail affaires both
of church and state, as did Oliver Sinclaire, a
brother of the house of Rosseline, and relatione
of the house of Cowthally. The king's privat
favourite, being his great minion, guyded all
things at court, which discontented most of the
nobiUtie, and made them backward to all the

THE SOMERVILLS. 395
king's designes, which occasioned that speech of
his majesties in caUing thera his mobilitie.^ What
this word raay iraport I am yet to learne. How
ever, the expeditione against England being now
on foot, some of the nobilitie ingadged, wherin,
amongst others, Jaraes, master of Somervill, made
one. I know both the English and Scots wrytters
designes him Lord Somervill, but this is only a
mistake in the title, by giveing that to the sone
which was yet the father's ; for albeit he outlived
this actione eight years, yet it is not probable he
could be there, being then in the sextieth year
ofhis age ; and ifhe was, which I am not apt to
beleive, it testifies a strong desyre he had to com
ply with his prince's designe, and give exact
obedience to all his coraraands, in exposing his
old age to the hazard of a dangerous warre. ^

' Alluding, it would seem, to the fickle and inconstant de
meanour of the Scottish nobles.
* There is no room for doubt upon this subject, Hugh Lord
Somerville certainly was made prisoner at Solway Moss. He
was entertained in an honourable captivity in the house of the
lord chancellor, according to the hospitable custom of those
tiraes ; and from the list of the captives and their pledges, pub
lished in Lodge's Illustrations, we learn that his ransom was
rated at 4000 merks, for which he lodged pledges with the.
Earl of Warwick  See vol. I. p. 37- In the subsequent treaty
his ransom was lowered to 1000 merks. But when Lord Somer
ville was dismissed, he was forced to leave his eldest son in

396 MEMORIE OF
Whither father or sone, haveing given my
thoughts, I will not contend, seing the wrytters
of both kingdomes are positive that tbe Lord
SoraerviU was prisoner att SuUoway ; but this I
ara sure ofi", he was detained prisoner' three
years, for adhereing to the French interest, when
all the rest of the noblemen that was prisoners
for accepting the match with England was set at
libertie by Hendrie the Eight.* This sarae year

pledge for his return, as appears from a passage in Sadler.
This circumstance probably occasioned the mistake in the
text. ' Lord Hugh was this prisoner.
* The battle of Solway Moss was fought 24th October, 1542 ;
and upon the 20th March following we find Lord Somerville
was returned to Scotland with the other nobility. He was
therefore certainly not detained three years in England ; and
that be was not more restive than his companions in embracing
the proposal for the English match, between the infant Mary
and Edward Prince of Wales, will appear from the following
conversation, narrated by Sadler, the English ambassador : —
" After supper, came to me to my lodging my Lord Somer-
vail, and told rae, ' That things had not succeeded in all points
as be thought, and would they had; but yet there was no doubt
but all should well be.' I prayed him to tell me how, and in
what sort, he, with the rest of the lords and others that were
with your majesty, had proceeded since their horae coraing.
He told rae, ' That they were not all of one sort ; for the Earl
of Bothwel was slipt from them, and calleth them English pri
soners, and the Lord Fleming not all the best ; but the Earl of
Angus, though he be too much led and directed by his brother
George, was perfect good and assured, with also the Earls of

THE SOMERVILLS. 391
I have seen a charter of confirmatione granted
by Hugh Lord Somervill and Dame Janet Mait
lane, which confirraes me that it could not be
the father, but the sone, that was at SuUoway,*
in favoures of a young gentleraan, James Somer-

Cassils and Glencairn, the Lords Maxwel and Gray. The rest,'
he said, ' were but mean personages ; and before they came
home,' he said, ' there was a governor chosen, which some
what changed their case.'
" And now,' he said, ' the ambassadors were despatched to
go to your majesty with ample power to conclude the raarriage
and the peace; which done, all shall be well.' I asked him
whether they had also concluded that the child should be
brought into your raajesty's hands ? He answered, ' that he
and they which stand on your raajesty's part, would fain have
had it so, but the rest of the great lords (which were a great
number) would not agree to it ; but he trusted that some raean
would be devised therein for the tirae to please your majesty,
and the rest would also succeed in time.' I asked hira how
they would conclude a peace with your majesty, that might
ever stand valeable to both their realms, when by their league
with France they are bound to the contrary, without reserva
tion or exception of France ? Quoth he, ' We will utterly leave
them, and go with you against France, which we raay do with
out ofi'ence of the league, for they have broken with us many
tiraes, as we be able to prove. And,' quoth he, • I would wish
to God that the marriage were once contracted, for that shall
bring all the rest of the king's purposes to pass, which cannot
otherwise be accomplished without great cumber; and,' he
said, * all the lords of your raajesty's part were of the sarae opi
nion.' This was coraraunicated in effect." — Sadler's Letters,
vol. I. p. 72, quarto, Edin. 1809.
3 The author was not aware that Hugh Lord Somerville was
dismissed into Scotland, and his son substituted as a pledge in
his room, who most probably remained there for two or three
years.

398 MEMORIE OF
viU, who haveing raarryed the relict ofthe Laird
of Gladstones, that had left only a daughter as
the heires of his estate, upon whom James, the
sone of Thomas, was marryed ; and thereby the
estate and land of Gladstanes came to the name
of Somervill, and continued soe untiU this pre
sent in a very hopefuU conditione.
King Hendrie the Eight being incensed with
his nephew. King James the Fyfth, for not meet
ing with him according to ther mutuaU promises,
caused make pryzeall of some Scots ships, before
ther was any laufull warre proclaimed ; and fur
ther gave orders to Sir Robert Bowes, the Earle
of Angus, and Sir George Douglas, in hostUe
maner to invade Scotland. These, to the num
ber of three thousand, ravage the countrey near
the debeatable boundes. The Earle of Huntley,
having the king's commissione, assembles the
borderers, and falles upon the English and these
Scots that wer with them, att a place named
Haddenrig, beats them and puts them to flight,
and takes ther generall. Sir Robert Bowes, Sir
Wilham Murray, James Douglas of Parkhead,
with a naturall sone of the Earle of Anguses, was
taken prisoners, the Earle himself escaping by
the swiftnesse of his horse. This skirmish fell
out the fourteinth day of August, 1541. King
Hendrie hearing of the defeat, sendes the old

THE SOMERVILLS. 399
Earle of Northfolke, whom he named Rod ofthe
Scots, to invade Scotland with ane armie, whom
the Earle of Huntley, upon advantages of places,
resisted the best he could, when they essayed ta
crosse Tweed. In the mean tyme he advertises
the king, who quickly raised from all quarters of
his kingdome threttieth thousand men, and mus
tered them upon Soutrasyde, and then encampes
them upon FaUa muire, where he receaves intel
ligence the duke designes his march for Edin
burgh. AVherupon the king sends the Lords
Home, Seaton, Areskine, with a detatchment of
ten thousand men, to reinforce the Earle of
Huntley's forces ; but with expresse orders not
to fight, but to attend the duke's motione, him
self expecting the artillarie and other furniture
of warre, remained with the bodie of his armie
in the campe att FaUa. Dureing this tyrae the
discontented lords plotted a reformatione of the
court, according to the exaraple formerly prac
tized att Lauder Bridge against King James the
Third; but because they could not agree araongst
themselves, the king's favourites escaped the
danger. The Duke of Northfolke haveing intelligence 1542.
of such that favoured King Hendrie in the Scot
tish campe, that the king had a mynde to meet
him in open feild, reteires offthe Scottish ground.

400 MEMORIE OF
and keepes his fforces in ther oune marches, fear
ing the valour and resolutione of this young king
might perhapes bereave him of his former pur-
chased laurelles. When the king understood the
duke had repassed Tweed, he encouraged his
army to follow him. The common souldiers wer
willing ; the noblemen refuised to fight except
upon Scots ground ; ane old pretext used by ther
predecessores, when they wer discontented with
ther king and his governement, which in effect
was frivolous, and lost them many fair opportu
nity, as it did at this tyme. It is true, they gave
other reasones for ther refuisall, which you may
see at lenth in Drummond. However, the king
returnes to Edinburgh, disbandes his armie, but
forgettes not the secret plott against his favour
ites, nor the open refuisall of his nobles to fight
in English ground. This bred ill huraores in the
king towards his nobles, which to moUifie and
discusse, the Lord Maxwell offereth giveing him
ten thousand men to invade England att SuUo
way, afiirmeing the staite and fortune of these
who assaU to be better then thers who are still
putt to ther defence. The king thanked him for
his offer, appointed a rendezvouze at the west
marches. Noe proclamationes are divulged for
lives of men, but closse letters sent to the Earles
of Cassilles and Glencairne ; the Lords Fleym-

THE SOMERVILLS. 401
ing, SomerviU, and Areskine ; Barrones Ay-
toune, Langtoune, Ormestoune, and Wauch-
toune. Many other, accompanyed with the king's
domesticks, rode to the west borders. In the
mean tyme the cardinall and the Earle of Arrane,
the one a churchman of a mynde above many
nobles, the other a nobleman of humilitie under
any churchraan, (sayes Drumraond,) to amuze
the English, and give false perspectives to these
proceedings, by sound of trurapet and beatting
of druraes, raises raen openly, marches towards
Heddingtoune and the east borders. The great
expectatione the long had of the Lord Max-
welles undertakeing made the king hiraself come
to Lochmaben to attend the event of this incur
sione. The Scots borderers haveing passed the
watter Eske, burnes certane villages on the
marches. Wherupon Sir Thoraas Warringtoune,'
wairden, was not a litle troubled at such a fre
quent asserably of the Scottish riders. He raises
the power of the countrey, and placed them by
a litle hill in good order, where he might take a
view of the enemies forces. The Scottish lords
beholding the English in soe good order, desyres

Wharton. S c

40^ MEMORIE OF
to know the king's lievetennent-generaU, for now
he was to marshaU ther companies, and putt them
in battalhe, that every man might know his par
ticular charge. Wherupon OUver Sinclaire, upon
crosse pickes, mounted the king's banner dis
played, the commissione read, in which he is
made Uevetennent, and aU coramanded in the
king's name to obey and follow him. Upon this
a tumult and confused clamour and shouldering
of malcontents arose ; ther rankes wer brocken,
the militarie order turned into a confusione, non
soe repyneing as the Lord MaxweU, who being
the first mover of this expeditione, considered
himself hereby affronted.
The English, who wer ready now for the
fight, observeing this disorder, took the advan
tage, and breakes forward with a mUitary shout ;
whill the Scots are in doubt whither to flee or
fight. Here is a general surprize ; most part
willingly rendered themselves to the English
without any shew of defence, or the slaughter of
any persone upon either syde. The certainty of
this voluntary defeat comeing to the king at
Lochmaben, soe astonished all the oowers ofhis
mynde, that he nether had counsell nor resolu
tione what to follow. Comeing to Edinburgh,
he passed to Fyffe, and from Hallyairds to Falk-

THE SOMERVILLS. 403
land, where he gave hiraself over to sorrow. Noe
man had accesse unto him, noe, not his oune
domesticks. Long watching, cares and passione,
abstinency from food and recreatione, had soe
extenuate his bodie, he remained fixt to his bed
untill the thretteinth day of December, 1542.
He left this world in the threttieth and third year
of his age, and threttieth and second of his
reigne. See his character in Drummond. All
that I have to say is, that ther was never any
subject had more of his prince's favour and lesse
ofhis benefites, then the Lord Soraervill had of
this king, notwithstanding that he had been fre
quently intertained by hira as his guest. It is
true, the honour was great in haveing his raajes
tie witnes to the raarriage of three of his child
ren, and that he took upon himself to be a me
diator and composer of all differences and con
traversies that was betwext this lord and the
laird of Cambusnethen, as may be seen in the
subraissione to this king, and his majestie's de
creit arbitrall in anno 1532. Which decreit was
eftirward made use of by the lairds of Carabus
nethen in ther defence against the Lord Somer
vill, when he persewed for the rederaptione of
the lands in Louthian.
James, raaster of Soraervill, being returned 1545.

404 MEMORIE OF
frora his captivitie out of England this year, 1545,
his father, to congratulate his sone's returne, in
June marryes his youngest daughter, who in
Apryle preceeding had been contracted upon
the Laird of CarraichaeU, governour of the bor
ders, in king James the Sexth his minoritie, and
dureing some part of his reigne, in which im
ployment he continued untiU his death.' It was

' The author either was ignorant of, or suppressed, his an
cestor's share in the intrigues for bringing about the match
with England. Sadler, an excellent judge of mankind, seems
to have entertained the highest opinion of Lord Somerville's
talents, and frequently advised with him during the course of
his intricate negociation. He always represents him as faithful
to the English interest. The following observations conclude
a conversation which Sadler held with the Earl of Cassilis and
Lord Soraerville. — " For our part, quoth they, we be resolved
to raeet here altogether, at such time as we think we shall hear
word again from the ambassadors. And then if we perceive
that the king's majesty stands upon any reasonable point that
we have promised, we shall do that lies in our powers to satisfy
his majesty, and let him be reproved that shall fail his proraise.
This, I assure your majesty, the Earl of Cassils spake very
frankly, and the Lord Somervail affirmed the sarae. I take
thera both to be very plain and true gentleraen to your raajes
ty ; but I fear their power, as I can perceive, accordeth not
with theirVgood wills. Once, they will serve your majesty to
the uttermost they can against all nations, as they have affirm
ed unto me. And the Lord Somervail, as he was going from
me, whispered in raine ear, ' That if your majesty did stand
fast upon your promise, there was no doubt you should obtain
it, for they were not able to maintain the wars against your

THE SOMERVILLS. 405
at this marriage that Hugh Soraervill, youngest
sone to Hugh Lord Soraervill, gained the affec-

majesty." — Sadler's State Papers, Edin. 1809, 4to. vol, I.
p. 97.
Neither did this attachment to the English cause go unre
warded, for Lord Somerville was gratified with no less a sum
than two hundred merks out of the money distributed by Sad
ler among those nobles who had embraced his master's inte
rest. In return for this donation, he obliged the ambassador
with his advice on the best mode of invading Scotland by sea
and land. — Sadler, vol. I. p. 178. When the Earl of Lennox,
then in the French interest, garrisoned the castle of Dumbar
ton against the governor, Somerville attended the army which
was assembled for the reduction of that iraportant fortress.
Even after the governor had revolted from the English interest,
Somerville, with Angus, Glencairn, Cassilis, and Maxwell, en
tered into a bond to abide by each other, and signified to Sad
ler their determination to see the treaty with England per
formed, or otherwise to serve Henry according to their pro
mise, to the utterraost of their power. And at a raeeting of
these associated barons, held at the castle of Douglas, in Oc
tober, 1543, they resolved to dispatch Lord Soraerville to Eng
land, to treat with Henry on their behalf. But in atterapting
this journey he was raade prisoner by the opposite party, and
confined first in Edinburgh castle, and then in that of Black
ness, upon a charge of having accepted a coraraission frora the
confederated lords to the court of England, treating of treason
able raatters. To the honour of Lord Soraerville it should be
mentioned, that his letters having given him credence for what
he was to state verbally, no threat of the governor, though the
torture was spoken of, could raake hira betray the trust reposed
in him, so far as it did not appear from the papers seized on
his person — See Sadler, vol. I. p. 201, 289, 297, 327. Lord
Somerville was probably released from confinement when An
gus, Maxwell, and the other lords ofthe English faction, who

406 MEMORIE OF
tione ofa daughter of Drummelzeor's, who had
accompanyed her sister-in-law to this wedding,
upon whom, with the consent of aU her fremds,
he was aftirwards marryed, and had from his
father, as his patrimony, the SpitteU Maynes,
the third of Newbigging, four oxengate of land
in Ranstiuther, with severaU other roumes with-
in the barronie of Carnwath. This gentieraan
was the first of the house of Spittell, whose sone
marryed a daughter of tiie Earie of Monteithe's,
and his grandchilde a daughter of the house of
Stainbyres. It continues in the male lyne untiU
this day, the gentieman who is now possessor
therof being the fyfth from Hugh, the youngest
sone of Hugh Lord SoraerviU, not compting two
other brothers, the one wherof, naraed WilUara,
that was killed by the Livingstounes of New
bigging, and left noe raale successione ; and the
other, Wihiara, the uncle of him who now is,
that was never marryed.
I have htle more to say of this nobleman, but
that in the later end of his dayes he saw the

had also been seized by the governor, were set at liberty,
after the violent proceedings of Henry, and the burning of
Leith by his army under Hertford, had united the Scottish no
bility of all parties in opposition to his views.

THE SOMERVILLS. 407
house of Cambusnethen in its meridian, by ther
oune and ther daughter's marriages, of whom I
will have occasione to speak raore in his sone,
Lord Jaraes his raemorie. All his children being
now marryed and setled in ther oune houses,
except his second sone John, of whom I have
noe certanty to wryte ; for that conjecture of
his being marryed in England with a very an
cient faraUie, and that it was he who, in anno
1571,' being instigated by one HaU, a serainarie
preist, atterapted to raurder Queen Elizabeth,
for which being iraprisoned in the Tower, he
was found dead the day before he should have
been execute. It is true, ther was a gentleraan
of that narae and sirname that the English
wrytters makes mentione ofi atterapted against
the life ofthe queen ; but whether he was of the
ancient English extractione or Scottish, I will
not take upon me to determine.* Neither will I

' Note by the late Lord Somerville — It was the ancestor of
William Somerville of Warwickshire, the remains of whose for
feiture was the estate of the said William Somerville, who died
in the year 1742.
^ Note by the late Lord Somerville. — Of the English ex
traction, and that early after their coming into England, by
writings belonging to that family in Lord Somerville's posses
sion. 1

408 MEMORIE OF
be positive to assert the contrary, but that the
same gentleraan raight be John SomerviU, se
cond sone to Hugh Lord Soraervill, for he was
bred and brought up a zealous Roman catho
licke ; and at this very tyme which the English
wrytters condescends upon was about the thret
tieth and third year of his age ; and it's very pro
bable if this gentleman, sone to the Lord Somer
vill, had continued in Scotland, I should bave
seen some evidences and wryttes wherin his
name would have been mentioned ; but I bave
heard nor seen non, except that charter of con-
fhmatione granted to the Laird of Gladstones
by Hugh Lord Soraervill, wherein this gentleman
is designed John Somervill, also our sone. What
other children the Lord SoraerviU and darae
Janet Maitlane, his lady, had besyde these,
James, John, and Hugh, and three daughters,
the Lady Cookpool, the Lady Drumraelzeor,
and the Lady Carmichaell, I know not. Ther
is some afiirraes ther was a sone and daughter
more, one Richard, named eftir his uncle. Sir
Richard Maitlane of Leidingtoune, and a young
er daughter, marryed upon Sir James Lindsay
of Pittardie ; but I have noe evidence of these
to confirme the truth of the assertione. Whither
Hugh Lord Somervill, or his lady dame Janet
Maitiane, dyed first, I cannot be certane ; but that

^,if^,^s.

in lUiie old CJiiajpel of C'<;iijnniwafli

-Z;3'.i,g*aJ^^/^,'^;/^^_/,Vv///,wJ5i^i;-^^

THE SOMERVILLS. 409
they both dyed about, or in the year 1550, is
evident from wryttes yet extant. They lye in
terred within the collegiate church of Carnwath,
under a handsome monument supporting ther
effigies.

Off James Lord Somervill, the Thretteinth Barrone
of Lintoune, the tenth of Carnwath, the seventh
Lord Somervill, the Seventeinthfrom Sir Gaul
ter, and qf Red- Bag, the Second Barrone of
Cambusnethen. James, now Lord SomerviU, succeeded his fa- 1550.
ther. Lord Hugh, in the year 1550. The estate
at this tyme was in a declyneing conditione, be
cause ofthe great expences and charges the fa
ther of this nobleraan had been at for his houses
keeping ; but that which drew the greatest bur
den upon it was his brethren's patriraonies, and
the great portiones given to his sisters, all which
had made his father contract debts which he left
upon the estate, as did this young nobleman
himself dureing his three years iraprisoneraent
in England. Soe soon as he returned frora
that captivitie, in coraplyance with his father's
coramands and his oune inclinatione, he adhered

410 MEMORIE OF
to the queen's factione, Mary Dowager of Scot
land, who, by the governour Hamiltones diraitt-
ing in her favoures, was regent and governesse
of Scotland, who, with the assistance of the car
dinall her counsellor, ordered all affaires in church
and state^ in oppositione to the Earl of Angus,
who, efter King James his death, had returned
into Scotland, as did Matthew Earle of Lennox
out of France, to be a competitor and counter-
poser to the house of Hamiitone. He came
home, being put in hope by the queen dowager
to be made governour ; but when he saw hiraself
deluded, and Beatone preferred to the govern
ment, he began to raake a strong partie against
the cardinall and governour, who had not yet di
ra itted in the queen's favoures ; but at lenth, by
the cardinalls wylles, he was drawen to a parley,
where, finding they had a mynde to intrape him,
he flies in the night first to Glasgow, then to
Dumbarton, and at last to England ; where he
was receaved and intertained by King Hendrie
the Eight, who gave him his sister daughter by
the Earle of Angus to wife. On her he begott
Hendrie Lord Darnley, who eftirward was mar
ryed to Queen Mary of Scotland, on whom he
begott King James the Sexth. These occur
rences, with the Earle of Angus his returne, ther

THE SOMERVILLS. 4 1 1
agreement with the Hamiltones, and the seve
raU factiones of that tyme with the civill broylles
that proceeded therupon, are soe fully spocken
to by our historians, and the author of the histo
rie ofthe Douglasses, that I passe them all, but
where this nobleman whose memoir I now wryte
Was particularly concerned ; for, as his father,
dureing the eight years he lived eftir King James
the Fyfths death, had still been of the queen's
factione, soe he all the tvme of his life .still ad-
hered to the queen mother the dowager, and her
daughter, against the lords of the combinatione,'
and that meerly out of a principle of obedience
and loyaltie, (the supreme right being in ther
¦persones) then because of ther religione, albeit
it be true he lived and dyed a Roman Catho
licke, and was the last of the family of Cowthal
ly of that professione.
This Lord James service and retour I have 155
not, nor one paper in my custody makeing men
tione ofhis name, soe that but within these few

How much the author is mistaken concerning the politics
of Hugh Lord Somerville, appears frora our former notes upon
these Memoirs. But it would seem he was right in supposing
that his successor Jaraes adhered to the party of Queen Mary
of Lorraine, since we find him employed as an agent between
that princess, when regent, and the Duke of Chatelherault,

412 MEMORIE OF
years, I was of the opinione, that all the last
three lords preceding Lord Gilbert, bad been of
the name of Hugh, tiU I was convinced of the
contrary by the evidences and wryttes of these
gentlemen that held ther lands of the Lord So
merviU, particularly by a charter granted to
James Somervill of Gladstones, by bis father
Lord Hugh, wherin, being a witnes, he is de
signed " James Somervill, son and appearing heir
to me the said Lord SomerviU :" And in the year
1555, in a charter granted by hiraself to James
Deunie of Westfald, he is designed " James Lord
Somervill." But I need not insist upon this, se
ing it is putt beyond all doubt, by the present
Earle of Carnwath's progresse upward to the last
Lord John, this lord's uncle, in whose favoures
the new infeftment was granted, and the waird
holding changed to blenche, by King James the
Fourth, in anno 150O, wherin this Lord Jaraes is
reckoned the third from him.
Being marryed very young upon Agnes Ha
miitone, daughter to Sir James HamUton of
Finhard, in the year 1540, being then himself
about the age of twentieth or twentieth and one,
dureing his father's life he had stiU lived in the
tower of Carnwath ; but he being dead he rerao
ved to Cowthally House. Some three years ef-

THE SOMERVILL.S. 4 1 tj
tir this, John Somervill, the second laird of Cara
busnethen, nicknaraed the Laird with the Red-
bag, dyed. This gentleraan had lived from his
father's death, Sir John of Quathquan, to his oune,
allmost in a perpetual feed with the house of
Cowthally, and that by reasone of these lands
they held of the Lord Somervill within the bar
ronie of Carnwath ; and this feed becarae eftir
hira hereditary, both upon that head and an
other of greater moraent, which shall be spocken
to eftirwards. However, this gentleraan over-
carae all the troubles of his youth, lived honour
ably, haveing the happynes to see his sone twice
raarryed, his eldest daughter honourably matcht,
first upon the Lord Fleyming, whose estate this
lady heirs, eftirward in her widowhead she raar
ryes the Earle of Rothes, to whora she bore se
verall children. Her eldest daughter being re
raarkeable for her beautie, was marryed upon the
laird of Lochleven, unto whom she bore seven
daughters, who being grandchildren to this lady,
wer the wonder of the age wherin they lived,
both for vertue and beautie, and ofher commend
able qualities requisite in that sex. Ther worth
and exceUent perfectione made them admired of
all, and sought in by the greatest, being daugh
ters to the laird of Lochleven, ane eminent bar-

414 MEMORIE OF
rone, predecessor to the present Earle of Mor-
toune, grand chUdren to the Earle of Rothes,
and great grand children to Cambusnethen. The
eldest of these ladyes was marryed to the Lord
Lindsay, the second to the Earle of Argyle, the
third to the Earle of ErroU, the fourth to the
Earle of Orknay, the fyfth to the Earle of Atholl
Stewart. On whom the other two was marryed
I know not ; but that there was seven of them is
certaine ; fbr they are yet named the Seven Fair
Porches of Lochleven. By the former and suc
ceeding marriages the house of Cambusnethen
became very reraarkeable and strong in friend
ship, wherby they outwent by farre in friendship
and aUyance the faraiUe of CowthaUy. And now
that I may finish all that I have to say of Read-
bag and his successione, his s°cond daughter was
marryed upon the laird of Cleghorne, Lockhart,
whose posterity remaines till this day : His
youngest daughter marryed the Laird of West-
raw, being mother to James Johnstoune of West
erhall, that stout asserter of his chiefes interest,
and the Laird of Mainnesses, in whose just quar
relles and his oune defence he committed many
slaughters, being one of the famousest border
nders in his tyme, of whom I shaU discourse fur
ther in the succeeding age. This gentleman

THE SOMERVILLS. 415^
Red-bag left a second sone, named William, to
whom he gave a fourtie shilling land in the ne
ther toune of Cambusnethen, of whose succes
sione I can say nothing. Thus farre I have di
gressed to give a full account of the faraiUe of
Cambusnethen, so farre as concerned Red-bag,
who, dying in the later end ofthe year 1553, his
sone, named the Laird with the Plaides, was ser
ved heir to his father att Edinburgh, the fyfteinth
day of January, 1554.
Having given this account of the familie of 1558.
Cambusnethen, I returne to James Lord Soraer
vill, who saw rauch of Read-bag's life, and ofhis
sones, the Laird with the Plaides, with whora,
notwithstanding of the fathers animosities and
quarrells, he keeped a good correspondency un
till a notable accident, neer the later end of ther
dayes, brocke all friendship till both of them was
in a maner extinct as to ther fortunes and ho-
noures, which shall be declared in its place. In
the year 1 558, the Lord Soraervill was much af
flicted with the bad report that he heard of his
cousine Alexander Soraervill of Trabrax, who
haveing dUapidated most of his fortune, wodselt
the rourae' of Trabrax to one Thoraas French,
' Portion of land.

4 1 6 MEMORIE OF
The Laird of Carabusnethen being superior, as
he held the sarae ofthe Earie of Douglasse, that
rourae being a part of the barronie of Dunsyre,
Caranethen for a time withstood that right ; but
by the mediatione of James Lord Somervill, all
differences was composed att CowthaUy, the twen
tieth and third of September, 1556; about which
tyrae this gentleman, Alexander SoraerviU, by
the Lord Somervilles interest with the Bishope
of Saint Andrewes,' obtaines that service, beUe-

' James Harailton, natural brother to the Earl of Arran, arch
bishop of St Andrews. In 1558, he apprehended and tried
Walter Milne, an aged priest, for heretical opinions, and ha
ving conderaned hira in his spiritual court, delivered hira over
for execution to the teraporal arm.
" After this, the bishop condemned him of heresy, and kept
him two days ; because they could not get a criminal judge to
condemn him to death. Then the bishop sent for the provost
ofthe town, being, for the time, bailie ofthe regality, and de
sired him to execute hira to death, as being condemned of he
resy. * I will (said the provost) do any thing that pertains to
my office, according to justice, at your lordship's command:
But for the innocent servants of God, and preachers of his
word, I will not raeddle with them.' The bishop said, ' Provost,
you are bailie of my regalitj', and ought to judge all such as
transgress within my bounds.' — ' Yes, (replied the provost) and
if your lordship please, I will take him, and give him a fair as
size of teraporal raen, who perhaps will absolve him.' ' I am
content (said the bishop) you do so, and make me quit of him
any way you please.' But some wise men, who were friends to
the provost, shewed him that it was perilous to absolve a man
conderaned of heresy by the clergy already. The provost, con-

THE SOMERVILLS. 417
ving it might be a mean to preserve the remain
der ofhis brocken fortune ; but that unhappy act
of condemneing Walter MUne as ane heretick to
the fyre, he hiraself being noe teraporall judge
for the tyme, but ofiiciouslie intrudeing himself
in that office, to ingratiate himself raore in his
masters favour, lost quyte his oune reputatione
in the countrey, the good will of all his friends,
particularly his chieffe, the Lord Somervill, who
although ther was non raore zealous that way,
yet he abhorred that rigiditie, and all persecu-
tione upon the account of opinione, especially in
him who had no caU therto, nor was concerned
as a judge in that proces against Walter Milne,
who was the last in Scotland that suffered upon

sidering this, desired the biship to give him leisure to advise
till the morn ; which having obtained, the next day, early in
the morning, he departed ofi^ the town.
" The bishop, being frustrated in this manner, sought up and
down a long time for one to be judge, and could find none; till
at length he took one of his own court, named Alexander So
mervel, a man void of all honesty, religion, or fear of God ; who
sat in judgement and condemned him to the death. But the
merchants, for the love of this poor servant of God, had hid all
the tows, and all other things which raight serve for his execu
tion. He was burnt on the north side of the Abbey-kirk." — .
Pitscottie' s History, foi. p. 200.
' On the subject of Walter Milne's execution, the learned
2D

418 MEMORIE OF
that account.' However, this gentieraan Alex
ander SomerviU continued in his service aU the
tyme of the queen regent's gouernment, untiU
the year 1560 ; dureing which time he had gain
ed some money, wherby he redeemed his estate
and lived at home in peace, but without any cre-
dh or respect either frora his oune friends or
strangers. The grand chUde of this gentleman
having marryed Margaret SomerviU, only chUde
to Jaraes SoraervUl of SpitteU, who had been un
fortunately kiUed by some of the Livingstounes
in Newbigging, at the opening ofhis oune gaitt,
for which two of them was hanged by the last
Hugh Lord Soraervill, this accident faUing out
in his tyrae. The grand childe of this Alexan
der Somervill of Trabrax, being none of the
wysest, contracted much debt in a few years,
and then dyed, leaveing his wife a young widow,

and accurate biogi-apher of John Knox has observed : — " This
barbarous and illegal execution produced effects ofthe great
est importance. It raised the horror ofthe nation to an incre
dible pitch ; and as it was believed, at that tirae, that the re
gent was not accessory to the deed, their indignation was di
rected wholly against the clergy. Throwing aside all fear, and
those restraints which prudence, or a regard to established or
der, had hitherto imposed on them, the people now assembled
openly to join in the reformed worship, and avowed their de
termination to adhere to it at all hazards."— L?/e of Jolm Knox.

THE SOMERVILLS. 4 1 9
who eftirwards marryed one James Dean, who,
by his wife's joynture, and buying some of these
debts that was upon the estate, acquyred the
propperty to hiraself and his heirs : How it re-
turned to the house of Cambusnethen I know
not ; but of late years it was sold by Sir Jaraes
SoraerviU to the Laird of Cleghorne, and left by
him to his eldest sone of a second marriage, with
the house of Correhouse.' This gentleraan's or
dinarie designatione was either of Trabrax or
HerperfeUd, but raore frequently knoune and
designed by Comraissioner Lockhart.
All the kingdorae being in ane consternatione,
church and state overturned by popular turault.s,
the queen regent with the French forces and
such ofthe nobiUtie as ouned her interest, raade
head against the lords ofthe congregatione ; and,
to faciUtat the way, the queen and court erait-
ted furth a proclaraatione, accuseing thera of
cryraes of the highest nature. But the lords
was not behind hand with the queen in this mat
ter ; for, both by letters to the queen, and open
proclaraatione to the people, they vindicate thera-

' In the Supplement to Douglas's Baronage, George, Laird
»f Trabrax, is stated to be the fourth son of Allan Lockhart of
Cleghorn, by his marriage with Elizabeth, sister to Lord Ross.

420 MEMORIE OF
selves, how truely I shall not judge ; but this may
be asserted from the experience of this countrey,
and our late troubles, they did cast the coppie
which our presbiterean reformers foUowed exact
ly. Ther being soe much of this abroad allrea
dy, it wer needlesse for me to light a candle att
the twelth hour of the day ; they that runnes
may read ; for these that are blinded by
opinion or interest, the clearest sun
shine will serve them in noe steed. This busi
nes at lenth comeing to a tryst, ther was appoynt
ed to meet at Prestoune for the queen, the Duke'
of Huntley, Areskine, SomerviU, and the Abbot
of Kilwinning; for the congressione, Argyle,
Glencairne, Ruthven, Boyd, and Ohiltree, the
Lairds of Doune and Pittardie. This tryst
brocke up at that tyme, and ther was nothing
done, both parties standing upon ther defence.
However, shortly thereftir, upon the queens
comeing to Edinburgh and recovering the cas
tle, the former propositione was aggreed unto,
and soe remained untiU the year 1560. The
Lord Soraervill receaved advertiseraent to attend
the ensueing parliaraent that was to sitt in Au-
U'LlSt.

' It should be the Earl of Huntley.

THE SOMERVILLS. 421
This year, 1560, being corae, and the parlia- l^^^.
ment to sitt for establishing the protestant reli
gione, the Lord SoraerviU resolved to keep the
dyet, albeit he was fuUie deterrained to dissent
from the lords of the congressione, as to what
concerned any alteratione in religione, and ac
cordingly did soe ; for the confessione of faith
being read in open parliament, he, with the Earle
of Atholl and Lord Borthwick, dissented from
that act, saying, they would only believe as ther
fathers before them had believed."
In the year 1567, James Lord Somervill, as a 1567.
constant adherer to the queen mother, dureing
the tyme of her governraent, soe now her daugh
ter Mary being upon the throne, he was still of
her party in oppositione to all thera that disturb
ed her governeraent ; for haveing receaved a let
ter frora the asserablie of the church, that was
to sitt upon the twentieth of JuUy, 1567, wherin
he was desyred to give his personall presence att
Edinburgh the forsaid day, for giveing his ad
vyce, councell, and concurrance, in raatters there
to be proponed, especially for purgeing ther re
ligione frora popery, the establishing of the po
lice of the church, and restoreing the patriraonie
' See Knox's History, p. 253.

422 MEMORIE OF
therof to the just possessores. These generall
letters, with the instruction es given to the cora
missioner that was divided to the lords of the
queen's factione, and what expectatione they
had is at large to be seen in Spotswood. For
the Lord SoraerviU, he gave a flatt denyaU, po
sitively refuseing to meet at the assemblie, or to
countenance any of ther proceedings in church
or state, soe long as his soveraigne was under re
straint ; and accordingly he lived att home un-
1568. tiU the next year, 1568, upon the third of May
that he receaved a letter from the Lord Seatoune,
to whose daughter Helenor Seatoune he had late
ly marryed his eldest sone Hugh, Master of So
merviU. The contents of the letter wer, that the
queen was escaped from Lochleven, and was now
with him at his castle of Nidderie, in West Lou
thian, her intentione was for Hamiltoune, where
her majestie mynded to remaine untill these of
her partie conveened. His requeist in his letter
to the Lord Soraervill was, that as heretofore, soe
now his lordship would not be wanting to wit
nesse his loyalty to the queen. Haveing recea
ved this advertiseraent from the Lord Seatoune,
wherof he was exceeding glad, the Lord Soraer
vill made all the haste that was possible to con
veen his vassaUes, followers, and such ofhis ten-

THE SOMERVILLS. 423
nents as was able to bear arraes, provyding
them in the best maner he could, for the most
part horse men, ther armes was only sword, dag
ger, and lance, pistoUes then not being much in
use. With this companie upward of three hun
dered marched upon the tenth of May, 1568, to
Hamiltoune, and joined his troupe to the rest of
the queen's cavaUrie, which, when he had done,
he went and kissed her majesties hands, by whora
he was graciouslie receaved and kyndeUe well-
coraed by this prinoesse, who gained the hearts
of all her subjects who had the honour to con
verse with her,' but these only that frora the be
ginning, upon the pretext of her differing in re-

' In the following list of the barons whose forces composed
Queen Mary's army, at the battle of Langside, he is called
Hew Lord Somerville: — " The nobillraen that come to the
field with the queene were these ; Archbald Earle of Argyle,
lieutennent ; Hew Earle of Eglintoune, Archbald Earle of Cas
silis, Andro Earle of Rothus, my Lord Glamis, George Lord
Seatoun, Johnne Lord Heres, Hew Lord Somerveill, John
Lord Flemyng, Thomas Lord Boyd, my Lord Ross, the She
riffe of Aire, and Sir James Hamiltoune of Craufuird, Johne
Knygthe, to the number of six thousand men or thairby — The
nobles and gentillmen on the regents pairt were James Earle
of Mortoune, Alexander Lord Home, Johnne Lord Lindesay,
Robert Lord Sempill, Williame Lord Ruthven, Johnne Lord
Grahame, Secretarie Lethingtoun, to the number of thrie thou
sand or sum maire," — History and Life qf King James the
Sext, p. 412.

424 MEMORIE OF
ligione from them, had a designe both upon her
hfe and croune, as was evident and conspicuous
to all that was not possessed with prejudiciaU
thoughts of that excellent princesse, by ther
who, under speci
ous pretexts for religione and libertie, banded
the greatest part of her subjects against her, then
conveened att Glasgow, under the command of
a royall bastard,' who, drawing these of his par-
tie, as the queen did her armie, to Langsyde, three
dayes eftir the Lord Soraervill coraeing to Ha-
railtoune the battle was fought, upon the thret
teinth day of May 1568, and the queen's ar
mie wholly defeat, three hundred kiUed upon the
place and many taken prisoners. Her majestie
seeing all lost, hastened to the west against the
counsell of all her best friends, and shipped att
Kirkcudbrugh for England, which in effect at
lenth proved her oune ruine, and went neer to
have undone all these of her partie ; but that they
both for ther number and qualitie wer such as
the Regent Murray durst not proceed against,
especially eftir he had receaved ane advertise
ment from the Queen of England. Upon this

' The celebrated Jaraes Stewart, Earl of Murray, created rd,
gent by the king's party.

THE SOMERVILLS. 425
defeat of the royall partie att Langsyde, and the
queens quitting of the kingdome, the Lord So
merviU haveing escaped frora the fight sore wound
ed in the face by a dagger, and in the thigh by
a lance, he reteired home to Cowthally-house,
and lived thereftir in peace, notwithstanding that
for the most part ther was yet in a maner a ci-
vUl warre in the countrey betwext the factiones,
untill the second year of Mortounes regency, and
the delyverie up of the castle of Edinburgh by
Grange to the Queen of England's generall, up
on the twentieth and nynth of May, 1573, which
was three yeares eftir this Lord James Somer-
viUes death. Haveing given ane account of him
in soe farre as he was concerned in the publict,
I shall now, before I finish his memory, speake
to his private concernes.
From the year 1568 to the year 1570, I find
nothing of any moraent in the Lord SoraerviUes
private affaires, save that noble discovery made
by Katharine Murray, Lady Cambusnethen, the
maner wherof was this. John Somervill, nick
named the Laird with the Plaides, the third Laird
of Cambusnethen, being marryed upon Katha
rine Murray, the Laird of Philliphaughes' daugh-
• This active dame was the daughter of Patrick Murray, of

4£6 MEMORIE OF
ter, she being his second lady, as Katharine Car
michaell, the Captaine of Craufuird's daughter,
was his first, as formerly I have written in Lord
Hugh's meraory : This lady finding the barronie
of Cambusnethen, and most of her husband's
other lands allready heired by a son of his fhst
marriage, named James, and nick-named the
Laird with the Velvet-eye,' of whom I will have
occasione to speake much eftirward. This gen
tleman being to succeed to all, or most, of his fa
ther's fortune, did extreraely vex his mother-in-
law, and soe much the more that she was mother
to many children, wherof ther was four sones ;
John Patrick, named eftir the Earle of Bothwell ;
WiUiam, named eftir the Laird of Philliphaugh,
his grand father ; and Thomas, with four daugh
ters. The provisione of their children, by what
meanes soever, was all her care, especiaUy John
her eldest sone, whom she designed, in the spight
of all oppositione, to have Laird of Cambusne
then. In order therto, she endeavoured to

Falahill and Philiphaugh, the ninth baron, it is said, of that an
cient faraily. Her raother was a daughter of Lord Fleming.
— Doughs' Baronage, p. 105.
' Because he had lost an eye by a musket-shot, as afterwards
appears, which was covered with a patch of black velvet.

THE SOMERVILLS. 42/
weaken her step sones esteera with his father,
and thereftir caused her husband not only with
draw his countenance from his eldest son and
appearing heir, but also aU support suitable to
his qualitie, yea even necessaries for his body ;
and it was alleadged by sorae, ther was a designe
against his life ; for this gentlemans eye being
strucken out by a shott from Caranethen house,
it was never yet knoune from what hand it came,
however this lady bore the blame therof, and
was judged by most to have occasione therto:
And really her proceedings and actings eftir
ward gave too great ground to confirrae that
suspitione. Upon her marriage in January, 1552, at the
castle of Creichtoune, where she had reraained
with her uncle the Earle of Bothwell, from the
death of King James the Fyfth, whose concubine
she had likewayes been, and now raarryed upon
Caranethen, she was infeft in all his lands of
Louthian, Drum, GUlmertoune, and Gutters,'
as her joynter. These lands being then in the
possessione of the house of f!ambusnethen, as
they had been for three score and ten yeares

' Or raore properly Good-trees, now called Mardun. This
e&tate would bave borne immense value in the present time.

42S MEMORIE OF
preceeding. Some few yeares eftir this, I find
her sone John was put in the fie of these, her
sone Patrick had a rourae called the Green, att
the east end of the nether toune of Carabusne
then. What provisione her other sones had I
find not ; and, as if all the lands of Louthian had
not been a sufficient provisione fbr her sone John,
she retaines her resolutione to make hira Laird
of Cambusnethen, in prejudice ofhis eldest bro
ther of the first marriage. Haveing missed the
aUyance of the HaraUtones, which she thought
was the raost phesible way to effectuate her de
signes, being prevented in this by her step sone,
who had marryed Margaret Hamiitone, only
daughter and heir to Archibald of Raploche,
wherby this gentleman had secured that name
and familie for his interest, his father-in-law be
ing a great favourite of the Duke of Chattel-
broyes, and haveing the Abbot of Kilwinning
for his brother, who was a great courtier, and
uncle to the lady that he had marryed ; this
match failling, the Lady Cambusnethen her next
care was to secure all the name of SoraervUl for
her and her sones interest ; and she knew ther
was noe better way to effectuate this then by
marrying her sone upon ther chieffes daughter.
Haveing fixt upon this resolutione, she had the
7

THE SOMERVILLS. 429
confidence to goe to Cowthally, and propone her
sone John's marriage with my lord's second
daughter, a young lady then about the sexteinth
year of her age, who was eftirward marryed to
her cousine the Laird of Plain. The reasones
upon which this raarriage was offered, albeit de
lyvered by her ladyship in expressiones hand
some enough, (being a bred courtier from her
youth) was rauch surprizeing to the Lord So
merviU, who, haveing heard her out, desyred to
know if she had any warrand from her husband
for the offeres made by her, and these she re
quyred of him. To this her ladyship answeared,
she understood her husband's mynde, and came
not there to make any such proposalles without
his expresse bidding and comraand. Upon which
confident assertione, the Lord Somervill takes
asyde Master John Maitlaine his cousine, se
cond sone to Sir Richard Maitlane of Leidding-
toune, and brother to the secretary : This gen
tleraan was but lately returned from his studies
and travelles abroad, and haveing as yet attain
ed to noe publict imployraent for three or four
years eftir, had much of his residence with his
cousine James Lord Somervill att Cowthally
house.' The tymes being very troublesorae, and
* The author is correct in the fact, though he errs in the in-

430 MEMORIE OF
the wholl natione aUraost in a perpetuaU con
sternatione, h was to this gentieman, that was

duction. Sir John Maitland, afterwards the chancellor of
James I., and created by him Lord Thirlestane, had already
made sorae figure in public affairs, having held the office of Lord
Privy Seal, until he was deprived by the predominant faction,
who conferred it upon the celebrated George Buchanan. Ha
ving adhered to Queen Mary's party, Maitland threw himself
into the castle of Edinburgh, which was held out against the Re
gent Morton, by the gallant Kircaldy of Grange until 1573.
At the surrender of the fortress, Maitland was first confined in
TantaJlon Castle, and afterwards had the house of Cowthally
assigned to him as a sort of prison at large, as appears from the
following entry from the Acts of Council : —
" Apud Holyrudhouse, 15th of February, 1573.
" Forasraikill as ray lord regentis grace has granted libertie
to John Maitland, suratyrae Prior of Coldinghara, furth of his
present ward to reraain with Hew Lord Somervell at his house
at Couthalie, and twa mylis thereabout, during the will of his
soveraign lord and his said regent : therefore George Craufurd
of Lochnoris, Francis Douglas of Borg, John Edraonston of
that ilk, John Cockburn of Clarkington, younger, are become
oblist, and by the tenor hereof binds and oblisses them con-
junctUe and severalie, that the said John Maitland sail remain
in the company of the said Hew Lord Soraervell in his house
and within the bounds above written, ey and while he be freed
and relievit by our said soveraign lord and his said regent.
And also that the said John in the mein tyme, and while his
said releif, sail behave himself deutifullie, and sail do nor at
tempt na thing directly nor indirectlie in hurt of our soveraign
lord and regentis authoritie and comraon weill of the realra ;
nor sail send letters furth of the realm, or receive letters fra
any personis, strangers, or utheris, now being within the same,
without he raake my lord regentis grace privie thereto, incon
tinent upon the sending or recaving. And in like manner the

THE SOMERVILLS. 43 I
even then beginning to give evident tockens of
his great abilities, that the Lord Somervill im
parted the Lady Carabusnethen's errand, keep
ing nothing back of what she had delyvered, and
then requyred his advyce. This gentleraan have
ing considered a litle upon the bussinesse, told
his cousine the raatch indeed was creditable, but
the conditione she requyred most dishonourable
for hira to grant, seing the wronging of a righte
ous heir was the raaine thing designed by that
marriage, and to raake his lordship, by his power
and interest, the principaU author and actor
therin, which eftirwards might bring a curse
upon the raarriage, and certane ruine to both

said cautioners sail enter and present the said John Maitland
before the said regent and privy council when they sail be re-
queirit upon fiveteen days warning, under the pain of ten thou
sand poundis."
** Mr Maitland continued under his confinement till the fall
of the Earl of Morton, who had ever been his enemy, that his
confinement was taken off, and an act of councill made there
upon, declaring hira ' relivit ofhis ward, and thereby allowed
to resort to any place of the realm at his plesore.' After this
lie betook himself to the court again, and being a gentleman of
excellent parts, and a good proportion of learning, became soon
very acceptable to his majesty, insomuch as he was quickly
thereafter preferred to be one of the senators of the coUedge
of justice, the 26th of April, 1581." — Cbawfurd's Lives of
the Officers ofthe Crown and Stale qf Scotland, Edin. 1726,
foi. vol. L p. 142.

432 MEMORIE OF
the families. However, it was his opinione that
ther should be noe absolute refuiseaU for the
tyme given to the ladye, but rather sorae hope
that that businesse might take effect ; and, to
confirme her in this beleiff; it was desyred that
the next tyrae her ladyship raynded to crave
about this affair, that aU the papers of her hus
band's estate, especially these concerneing the
lands of Mid Louthian, might be brought and
viewed, that a way for her sones further security
might be considered upon in poynt of law.
With this answear the Lady Camnethen went
home weiU pleased, supposeing that she had
gained her poynt, seing the Lord Somervill had
hearkened to a treatie within twentieth dayes
thereftir. She returned with raost part of her
husbands charters and evidences, and raore par
ticularly these relateing to the lands of Drura,
Gillraertoune, and Gutters, raakeing her accorapt
that if her sone raissed the barronie of Cambus
nethen, ther was non to contend with him for
these ; but the proverbe holds true : " It's fair
heght that fooUes proraises." The searcheing of
these papers being wholly remitted by the Lord
Somervill to the care and inspectione of Master
John Maitlane his cousine, this gentleman was
two dayes in looking them over, many of them

THE SOMllRVILLS. 43S
being papers of great antiquitie, relateing to
raany lands in severall shirrefdomes, forraerly
belonging to the Lord Soraervill. However,
this gentleraan, when he had inventared so raany
of the principaU papers as he beUeved raight be
necessary as to the affair in hand, by providence
he falles upon that gift of nonentry granted to
Sir John of Quathquan, the first Laird of Cambus
nethen, by King James the Fourth, in anno 1498,
particiUarly rehearsed allready to a word in that
gentleman's memory. Therefore at this tyme
it shall suffice to raentione the clause wherupon
James Lord SomerviU, and eftir hira Hugh Lord
Soraervill his sone, founded ther suraraonds of
rederaptione. The words are these following
the grant, (and " ay and whill ' the righteous
heires or heir therof be lawfully entered" therto
be us, gif they be in our hands by reasone above
written.) This is twice repeated, once in the
gift of nonentry, and next in the grant of the.
absolute right of proppertie, in caice the king as
superior had been declyned. Master John Mait
lane haveing found this gift, being but short, he
takes a double therof, and then turned in the

i. e. untill.
2 E

434 MEMORIE OF
principaU to the rest of the papers, wherof he
had seen and considered the principaU of them
all, and found that, abstracting from conscience,
noe law could carry any considerable part ofthe
Laird of Camnethen's estate from the sone of the
first marriage. These being his own thoughts,
he acquaintes his cousine therwith. They both
resolve to putt offthe Lady Cambusnethen with
a complement for the tyme, by telling her, that
now haveing perused the papers, they would con
sult with ther lawyers, and take ther advyce how
the estate legally might be convoyed to her sone ;
and, in the mean tyme, the Lord Somervill to tell
her ladyships that she might rest assured that he
would comply with her desyre, soe farre as ho
nour arid conscience would allow him.
The Lady Cambusnethen could not object
much against this answear of the Lord Soraer
viUes, though at first she expected better suc^
cesse, and a more quick resolutione as to her
sones marriage, then now she looked for from
that demurre. Eftir dinner the Lady Cambus
nethen haveing clok-baged up again all her pa
pers, takes her leave with many fair promises
that her husband would to the outmost of his
power condescend to aU things that in reasone
^ould be requyred of him relateing to the match :

THE SOMERVILLS. 435
Which complement being returned by the Lord
SomerviU, they all take horses, he with his cou
sine Master Maitlane gave the convoy to my
lady for some four raylles, and eftir went to hunt
ing. Dureing ther sport Master Maitlane have
ing conceaUed what he had discovered amongst
the papers, soe long as the Lady Carabusnethen
was present,, be takes now occasione to enquyre
at his cousine, if his lordships predecessores had
ever any interest in Mid Louthian, and if he
knew how they parted with the sarae. He an
sweared they had ; and, to the best of his know
ledge, the house of Cambusnethen had these
araongst many other lands they jreceaved from
his great grand father Lord John, who, upon
the account of his sone ofthe second marriage,
went neer to have ruined his famUie, by reasone
ofthe great fortune he left unto the sone of that
marriage. By this answear Master Maitlane un
derstood that his cousine Lord James was alto
gither ignorant of the way and raaner of the
conveyance of Drum, GiUmertoune, and Gut
ters, frora his faraiUe to that of Carabusnethens,
and therfore, in a drolling way, he asked his
cousine what he would bestow upon that persone
that should putt hira in a way to recover these
lands. My lord smyleing, said, Cousine, the bar-
5

436 MEMORIE OF
gane should soon be made if once I saw the man
that made the offer. Wherupon Master Mait
lane, pulling out the paper, which was the dou
ble of King James the Fourth's gift, and dely-
vers it to my lord, saying, There it is that will
effectuat and doe that bussinesse, and seing I am
the man that hes made the discovery, I crave noe
more but your lordshipes whyte gelding. Hear
ing this discourse and haveing read the note, the
Lord Somervill imraediately lights from his horse,
and takeing his cousine all in his armes. Here is
not only my gelding, but take this, which, in these
troublesome tymes, I have still keeped upon me,
not knowing what might befall, haveing, as was
ray duety, syded and taken part with that just in
terest of ray princes, which hes had but bad suc
cesse in the world. That which the Lord So
mervUl gave with his gelding to his cousine, was
a purse, sewed be his mother darae Janet Mait
lane, with silke and silver, containeing twentieth
of old pieces of gold ; and, indeed, it could not
¦he better bestowed then upon her nephew, a
brave gentleman, Avhose great abilities and per
sonall worth eftirward brought hira to be the
principaU officer of state in Scotiand.
The Lord SomervUl and his cousine leaveing
that sport, returnes to Cowthally house, where

THE SOMERVILLS. 437
haveiilg refreshed themselves and changed ther
horses, the dayes being then long, they immedi
atly posted to Edinburgh ; and the next day ef
tir ther arryveall, they caused search the regis
ters, for that gift- granted be King Jaraes the
Fourth to the Laird of Carabusnethen, which at
lenth, within a few dayes, was found in the regis-
trationes of the exchecquer bookes, wherof the
Lord Soraervill took ane authentick double un
der the clerks hand of that office, and then con*
suites, his summonds raised and execute against
John Somervill, as appearing heir by progresse
to Sir John SomervUl of Quathquan his grand
father, as also against James Soraervill, sone and
appearing heir to the said Sir John, and also
against Katharine Murray, wife to the said John
Somervill of Cambusnethen, and John Soraervill,
her eldest sone. Both of thera wer standing
seazed in the lands of Drura, Gillraertoune, and
Gutters. This begane that tedious and expen
sive plea betwext the houses of Cowthally and
that of Cambusnethen, for the lands of Louthian,
which continued seven years before the deci-
sione, and cost the defender and pursuer more
money than these lands wer worth at that tyrae,
besyde the rancor and feed it bred betwext the
families for neer fourtie years thereftir.

itSS MEMORIE OF
1570. This plea begane in the very first year of Len
nox regency ; for the summonds w as execute in
the later end of JuUy, 1560 ; ' and this nobleman,
being the king's grandfather, eftir the death of
Murray, was choysen regent, by a convention of
states holden att Stirling, upon the thretteinth
day of JuUy, 1570; about which very tirae the
lords of the queen's factione, wherof James Lord
Somervill was stUl one, had appoynted a parlia
ment to sitt att Linlithgow in August thereftir.
Soe that the contendings of the nobilitie and
principal barrons being divided betwext the
queen and the king her sone, keeped the coun
trey in perpetuall combustione, ther being no
thing dureing the remainder of this nobleman's
life, wbich was but some few monethes, and for
three years thereftir, but slaughter, burneing, and
ruining of houses upon all hands;* some tymes

' If the writer is here accurate, the discovery he alludes to
must have taken place three years before Cowthally was assign
ed to Maitland as a place of confinement at large. But he
raight be on a visit to so near a relation, previous to his com
pulsory abode in his castle.
* During this horrible dvil conflict, the conquerors on either
side shewed no mercy to the vanquished, who were either slain
upon their surrendering themselves, or executed next day in
cold blood. « And this forra of dealing," says a contemporary
historian, " was called the Douglas wars." — Historie qfjame
VL, Edin. 1804, p. 168.

THE SOMERVILLS. 439
the queen's factione, and then these that pre
tended to be for the kings interest, prevailing, as
their power or pollicie gave thera fitting, that
ther was noe certanety nor leasure for following
furth of justice ; and tiierfore this nobleraan left
this actione to be prosecuted by his sone Lord
Hugh, hiraself sickning in the year 1570, dyed
in the sarae, leaveing only, to the best of my ip-
forraatione, but two sones and two daughters,
the eldest of whora being hypocondricke eftir
her father's death, lived allwayes in Edinburgh,
and had ane allowance from the fan)ilie by her
father's appoyntment. The other daughter was
marryed upon the Laird of Plain, a gentleman of
her oune narne, and the first cadite of the house
of CowthaUy in the qualitie of a barrone. This
lady bore four sones to the Laird of Plain, whose
successione remaines to this day as to the males,
albeit the lands passed from them in the third
generatione from this lady. For his sones, the
eldest being named Hugh eftir his grandfather,
succeeded to the lordship ; the other sone, being
named James eftir his father, had some roumes
in Carnwath-muir given him for his patrimony.
He was a handsome gentleman, but, as it ap
peares, he hes been non of the frugallist ; for he

440 MEMORIE OF
sold his inheretance to his brother Lord Hugh,
or to sorae other persone, I ara not certane. He
marryed a daughter of the Laird of Coving-
tounes, of the sirnarae of Lindsay, who, besyde
other gentlemen, bore to this gentleman Master
John SomerviU, minister of Ednome, in Tiviot
dale, whose eldest son, Jaraes, eftir his father and
grandfather Lord James, was naraed a propper
youth. Being at the coUedge of Edinburgh, he
perished in the watter of Leith as he was sweera-
ing. His second sone Robert lives at this pre
sent in a good conditione, upon lands purchased
by his father Master John in Tiviotdale ; this
gentieman Robert SoraerviU, faUzieing of heirs
male ofthe house of Drum, is next heir male to
the house of CowthaUy, as being grandchUde to
Jaraes, and the only brother of the last Lord
Hugh. Jaraes Lord SomerviU dying, as is all-
ready said, in anno 1570, and of his age about
fiftieth and three, he was buryed in the coUedge
yle of Carnwath, within the vault beneath his fa
ther and mother's tomb. He was the last lord
that was buiyed there. His two successores,
sone and grandchilde, being both of them bury
ed in the quier of Carnwath church. This no
bleman's lady, Agnes Hamiitone, lived many

THE SOMERVILLS. 441
years eftir her husband's death, and then dying
was buryed in the Same sepulchre with her hus^
band.

Off Hugh, Lord Somervill, the eight Lord Sorrier'
villi and the eighteinth from Sir Gualter.
Hugh Lord Soraervill succeeded to his father
Jaraes in the year 1 570, or, if wee compt from
his being served heir to him, in anno 1571. The
gentleraen ofthe inqueist being these, viz. James
Lockhart of Lie, William Livingstoune of Jervis
wood, John Whytefoord of that ilk, James Chan
ceUor of Crichtoune, Thomas Weir of West
NeWtoiine, Thomas Weir of Halkslandj George
Weir of Stonebytes, Stephan Lockhart of Wee-
kidshaw, Robert AllaUe of Corfersrie, James
Weir, tutor of Hallrig, Thomas Ingles of East
ScheUl, Charies M'EweU of Delvie, and Nicoll
M'Ewell, burges of Lenerk. This Lord Hugh,
long before his father's death, had been marryed
to dame Helenor Seatone, daughter or sister,
for I am not certane which of thera,' to Alex-

' She is stated by the genealogists, and by our author hira
self a little higher, to have been daughter of George, sixth

442 MEMORIE OF
ander Lord Seatone, with whom he had many
children, sexteinth in aU, as is reported. Wher-
of ther came eight to men and women, fyve
sones and three daughters, off whora eftirward I
treat in order, as I proceed in ther father's me
raorie. The proces against the Laird of Carabusnethen
for the recoverie ofthe lands of Louthian, have
ing been but slowly prosecuted by Lord James,
in regaird of the often interruptione the lords of
session had, as the queen's partie carae to any
head. They at lenth possessing theraselves of
the toune of Edinburgh, the Earle of Lennox,
then regent, (who had been choysen eftir the
death of the Earle of Marr,) upon the twentieth
1571. of May, 1571, haveing removed frora Leith,
where he then lay, towards StirUng, commanded
the lords of session to follow and sitt there, for
admistratione of justice to the people. This and
the affectione Lord James ever had to that fac
tione, made him unwilling to be obleidged to
' them for any favour, which was the only reasone

Lord Seton ; the brother therefore raust have been Robert
Lord Seton. There was no Alexander in that faraily at the
period ; but a third son of Lord Robert bore that name, and
succeeded to the honours of Eglinton.

THE SOMERVILLS. 443
that he raade noe progresse in that persute dure
ing the three years that he lived, eftir his intent-
ing this lectione. But his sone Lord Hugh, as
he differed frora his father in religione, (being
the fii-st of the faraiUe of Cowthally that was pro
testant,) soe strook he in with the other factione
sorae few years before his father's death, which
displeased him much. However, before his death,
he was reconeealled to him, and wished that he
and all these noblemen that pretended soe
highlie for the prince, might be as faithfuU and
loyaU to him when king, as they had been un-
duetifull and disrespective to his royall mother,
whose partie he had ever ouned and foUowed
dureing the terme of his Ufe, and now repented
it nothing at his death.'
Lennox being killed att the infall of Stirling,
and Mortoune elected regent, the castle of
Edinburgh taken, the queen's factione was never
able thereftir to make head. These things being
of publict concerne, and soe fully spocken to by
all our historians both of church and state, I

' There was long preserved in the house of Drum, in Mid-
Lothian, an antique chess-hoard and set of men, presented by
Queen Mary to this Lord Somerville, which has unfortunately
heen lost or stolen.

444 MEMORIE OF
passe them in nameing them, only with this ob
serve, that Jaraes Lord Somervill, the father of
this nobleman, saw before his death tiie extin
guishing and dissolutione of that partie he had
ever ouned. Mortoune, who had been a prin
cipaU actor in all these resolutiones, and ever a
great enemie to the queen, now being regent,
ruled all at his pleasure ; and to his great com-
mendatione, eftir soe many stormes, fairlie setied
the countrey in peace, and made the session sitt
in its ordinar place, and keep ther termes. Hugh
Lord SomervUl, dureing this calling, was not
idle, but played his law suit to purpose, notwith
standing he mett with strong oppositiones from
Cambusnethen, who being weill freindsted by
his families great aUyance ; besydes the actione
itself was very extraordinary and unusuall, the
lyke seldome occurring or in use to come before
the lords, and that both for the lenth of tyme
that the defender had .been in uninterrupted pos
sessione of these lands, his right therto haveing
never been questioned before the year 1570,
and the nature of the summonds founded upon
some few words of a gift in favoures of ane heir,
which heir is again excluded in caice his prede
cessores had disclaimed ther superiors by take
ing the sarae lands holden of ane other lord.

THE SOMERVILLS. 445
However, Hugh Lord Somervill haveing renued
the suraraonds in his oune narae, persewes as
heir by progresse to John Lord SoraerviU, elder
brother to Hugh Lord SoraerviU, his grandfather,
the Laird of Cambusnethen, Katharine Murray,
his spouse, John Somervill, ther eldest sone, who
was infeft in all the lands of Louthian, and Jaraes
SomerviU, sone and heir of the first raarriage by
Katharine .CarraichaeU, this gentleman, John
Somervill, now of Cambusnethen, who was heir
by progresse to Sir John Somervill of Quathquan,
alias of Carabusnethen, his grandfather, in whose
favours the gift was granted by King Jaraes the
Fourth in anno 1498. It is to be observed, in
this suraraonds Lord Hugh passes by his father
Lord Jaraes, and his grandfather Lord Hugh,
and fixes only upon his grand-uncle, Lord John,
and that because it was he that stood last infeft
by the king, as heir to his father, Williara, Bar^
rone of Carnwath, in the lands of Drura, GiU
mertoune, and Gutters.
This actione haveing continued from the year
1570 to the year 1577, dureing all that tyme,
as it was persewed with fnuch vehemencie by the
Lord Somervill, soe was it defended by the lyke
obstinacie by Cambusnethen, who employing all
jlis allyaes, which wer not a few, and his lady {ill

446 MEMORIE OF
her freinds, which were raany, being of the sir-
name of Murray, and PhiUiphaughe's eldest
daughter, who ouned his sone-in-law much in
the persuite of this actione. It's true, her cou
sine by the mother syde, the Earle of BothweU,
some two years before this persuite begane, was
foirfaulted, fled tbe countrey, and quyte ruined,
notwithstanding ther was many of that relatione
of the sirname of Hepburne ouned her interest
besydes these of the fathers, this lady herself
being brought up as she was maryed out of her
uncle's house, the castle of Crichtoune, when
that familie was in its meridiane for greatnesse
and honour, in the year 1552, Patrick, then
Earle of Bothwell, being as much coramended
for his noble quaUties as his sone Earle James
was hated by all men for his nottorious vices and
unlimitat arabitione, which at lenth reduced him
to the hight of misery, and brought him to end
his dayes in a languishing imprisonement. This
lady, his cousine, being nobly descended, and
one of King James the Fyfth's mistresses, it was
the Laird of Carabusnethen's good or bad for
tune, as yow please to construct it, to have two
of them to his wifes, who did not a litle illustrate '

That is, render illustrious, though the propriety of apply
ing the phrase may be doubted.

THE SOMERVILLS. 447
that familie by ther successione, especially this
last Lady Katharine Murray, whose breeding
and eloquence was equal to her beautie and
handsomenesse, and whose beautie had but few
matches in that age, within the natione, if it had
not been stained- by the calumny of some maU-
tious tongues, that brought her honour in ques
tione even eftir she maryed Cambusnethen, upon
noe other ground but because of her freedorae
of speech and courtly carriage to all persones
that honoured her with a visite, or to whom she
was pleased to make her addresse, being bred a
courtier, and haveing ever frequented the com
pany of persones ofthe greatest qualitie. Whill
in her uncle's house she was accustomed to al
low herself greater libertie then suited with the
custome of the place where she now was, or yet
with the huraores of her nighboures, araongst
whom she then dwelt, especially in that uncivil-
lized age ; and who to this day considers the
nature of that people, as to the generalitie of the
commones in particular, ther is not a shyre in
Scotland soe much guilty of detractione as they,
or hes lesse christiane charitie for others, if they
differ from thera in the least punctiUo of cus
tome or opinione as to ther church governe-

448 MEMORIE OF
ment ; ' and, which truely is hatefuU, tbey are
not only medlers in other men's matters, both
civiU and religious, but would conforme aU raen's
practices and opiniones to the standart of ther
whirasies ; and, which is ridicolous, they are
pleased to assume names and titles to themselves
as they fancy, only to differ them from others,
which is propper and peculiar to all beleivers
within the catholick and universall church. But,
waveing this, I returne to the vindicatione of
this lady, off whora, by her four daughters, ther
is soe raany honourable families descended,
whose worth in haveing soe vertuous a mother,
that provyded soe weUl for them, requyred noe
lesse at my hands then what I have written, al
beit it be true this very lady proved the saddest
sight, since the second marriage of John Lord
Somervill with the house of Lamingtoune, that
ever the house of Cowthally saw ; for she in-

' It must be remembered that aur author wrote in the days
of James II. when disputes ran to extremity between those of
the established episcopal church, to which he seems to have
been sincerely attached, and the presbyterians, whose doctrine
was much more popular in Lanarkshire, and generally through
the west of Scotland. This tnay account for his severe diatribe
against the love of detraction, whicl^ he ascribes to the shire
inhabited by his forefathers.

THE SOMERVILLS. 449
gadged my Lord SoraerviUe's faraUie in ane ex
pensive and tedious plea, which gave the first
ryse to all ther troubles ; and noe lesse fatall was
she to the house of Carabusnethen ; for besyde
the debt contracted for raentaineing that very
plea against the Lord Somervill, the provisione
of her four sones and four daughters went neer
to have ruined her step-sone, James Somervill,
the laird with the velvet eye, his estate, which he
was to succeed to. And yet, notwithstanding
this lady left these raany sones behind her, the
meraory of her eldest sone John only remaines,
who being putt from the lands of Louthian by
the Lord SoraerviU his decreit, had in lieu ther
fore the lands of PederhoU, aud a rourae in the
overtoune of Carabusnethen, given hira for his
patriraony. The fourth from this gentleman is
now Master John Somervill, minister of the gos-
pell att Cramond, in Mid-Louthian.
The Lord SomerviU had often importuned the 1577.
lords of session for a hearing in the inner house,
but was still postponed by the moyane and in
terest of the Laird of Cambusnethen and the
lady. At lenth he was advysed to use this pol-
licy, by one who knew the temper and avarice
of Mortoune, then regent. This gentleman's ad
vice was, that the Lord Soraervill should have his
2 F

450 MEMORIE OF
advocats in readynesse, and his proces in foi'rae^
against the next day, tymeUe in the morning ;
that he might not be prevented by other solici-
tores, he should waitt upon the regent in his oune
bed-chamber, and informe hira that his bussinesse
was allready fully debeated and concluded ; that
only Carabusnethen had given in a petitione of
new to the lords craveing that his bussiness might
be heard again in presentia, before ther decerni-
ture, which hitherto, notwithstanding of his bill,
he had hindered himself; therefore his desyre
should be, that his royal highnesse should be
pleased to cause call his actione against Cam
busnethen, that soe long had been depending
before them. And whatever answear he should
receave from the regent, he desyred my Lord
Soraervill not to be much concerned ; but upon
his takeing leave, he should draw out his purse,
and make as though he intended to give the
waitting servants some raoney, and therupon slip
doune his purse, with the gold therin, upon the
table, and thereftir make quickly doune staires
without takeing notice of any cry that might
come eftir him. The Lord Somervill punctually
observed this gentleman's directione and advyce'
in aU poyntes ; for haveing advysed his busi
nesse the night before with his advocats, and
commanded his agents to have all his papers to-

THE SOMERVILLS, 451
gither against the morrow; for he hoped to bring
his bussinesse to a close, being prepared tyme
Ue the next morning with his principaU advo
cate, he was with the regent, and inforraed hira
fuUy of- his affair ; he gave a signe to his advo
cat to reraove, as though he had something to
speak to the regent in private, which, when he
observed his advocat to be gone, he takes his
leave of the regent, ther being, by good fortune^
non in the rourae but themselves, two of the re
gent's pageSj and the door-keeper within. It
being the custome for nobleraen and gentleraen
at that tyme aUwayes to keep ther raoney in
purses, .this the Lord Soraervill drawes out as
it wer to take out a piece of raoney to give the
door-keeper, and leaves it negligently iipon the
table. He went quickly doune staires, and took
noe notice of the regent's still crying eftir hira,
" My lordj you have forgott your purse," but
went still on untill he carae the lenth of the
outter porche, now the Duke of Harailtone's
lodgeing, when a gentleman that attended the
regent came up, and told him that it was the
regent's earnest desyre that his lordship would
be pleased to returne and breakfast with him,
which accordingly the Lord Soraervill did, know-

452 MEMORIE OF
ing weiU that his project had taken effect.' About
ten a clock the regent went to the house, which
was the sarae which is now the Tolbuith church,
in coach. Ther was non with him but the
Lord Boyd and the Lord Soraervill. This was
the second coach that came to Scotiand, the
first being brought by Alexander Lord Seatone,
when Queen Mary came from France. Cara
busnethen, by accident, as the coach passed,
was standing att Nidderies Wynde head, and
haveing inquyred who was in it with the regent,
he was answeared, non but the Lord SomerviU
and the Lord Boyd, upon which he strocke his
breast and said, " This day ray cause is lost ;"
and indeed it proved soe ; for about eleven
hours, the eighteinth day of December, 1577,

* Morton's character was stained by the vices of lust and
avarice, which renders this story not improbable. He is said,
in a contemporary chronicle, to have hastened the execution
of one CuUen, his prisoner, that he might raore freely enjoy
the favour of his fair wife  Historie qf James the Sext, p. 138.
And the partial historian of the house of Douglas adraits " that
many of his publick measures were rather pretexts for extort
ing money than for any other good use or end. His attend
ants," continues the same author, " were not altogether void
of envie for their great wealth, nor of hatred in regard of the
way men thought they got it, which was by receiving and
taking bribes from such as had suites to him, for obtaining
accesse to him, or his favour, by their raeans, and some such
indirect wayes."— Godscroft, edit. IG**, p. 335.

THE SOMERVILLS. 45S
this actione was caUed and debeated untiU twelve
most contentiously by the advocats upon both
sydes. The principaU for the Lord SomerviU
was Master John Russell ; and for Cambusne-
thene's advocate and his lady, Master John
Sharp. AU the defences Cambusnethene's ad
vocats brought in or raade use of against the
Lord SoraerviUe's suraraonds of reductione wer
only these which the decreitt containes, too te
dious here to be insert. However, eftir the de-
beat was closed, the interloquitor passed in my
Lord SoraerviUe's favours, who haveing extract
ed his decreit the 26th ofthe same moneth, 1577,
he raised letters before the counsell upon three
dayes eftir the charge against Cambusnethen,
his ladye's sone, and all others contained in the
decreit, and that under the paine of rebellione
and imprisoneing ther persones in the castle of
Edinburgh, they should resigne all titles and
rights they had to these lands of Drum, and Gill*
mertoune, and Gutters any manner of way, in
his favoures, quitt ther possessione, and delyver
up all the wryttes and charters to him as his
oune propper evidences in all tyrae comeing.
The signett being discharged to passe a suspen-
sione in any of ther favoures against whom the
charges was directed. And indeed thir letters

454 MEMORIE OF
are the severest, being upon noe publict accompt,
that ever I did see. The Lord Somervill, that
he might lose noe tyme, within two dayes eftir
the charge he raises a reraoveing, dated the
28th of Deceraber, 1577- Upon all which pro
ceedings I still find Master John Sharp, advocat
for Caranethen, corapearing before the lords of
counseU. And, upon the 22ld of January, 1578,
gives in ane araple renuntiatione conforrae to
the charge subscryved be Carabusnethen, his
lady, and ther sones, in favoures of Hugh Lord
Soraervill, his heirs and assignayes. This renun-
ciatione had been dated att Edinburgh and Cara-
1578. busnethen the 18th and 20th of January, 1578.
In May thereftir he procures a charter frora the
Exchecquer, for infefting himself in Drura, GUl
mertoune, and Gutters ; and accordingly it's
granted by King James the Sexth, upon the
eleventh of May, 1578, wherupon Hugh Lord
SomerviU is infeft in the same moneth. Thus
ended that expensive plea betwext the houses of
Cowthally and Cambusnethen, eftir seven or
eight years debeatt, and these lands of Louthian
returned again to the Lord SoraerviUes, when
they had been four score years" compleat in the
possessione ofthe famUie of Cambusne.then, viz.
from the year 1498 to the year 1578, wherin the

THE SOMERVILLS. 455
Lord Somervill had againe the peaceable posses
sione. And now I must be aUowed to have sorae
observationes upon the wholl progress^ of this
affair frora the beginning.
It was the eldest sone of a second marriage,
whill he was wholl tutor and curator to two in
fants, that by the favour of his prince and the
moyane of his brother-in-law, Archibald Earle of
Angus, took the advantage of a decreit King
James the Fourth had purchased against his
pupilles, relateing to these lands of Louthian,
whereunto he procures a right, and establishes
the same in favours of himself and his heirs for
ever, iraagineing he had been secured enough,
notwithstanding of these few words contained
in the gift, relateing to the present Lord Soraer
vill and his heirs, then his pupill, because of the
subsequent grant ; for he knew very Weill Wil
liara, Barrone of Carnwath, his eldest brother,
had coraraitted a grosse errour in disclameing
his superior, by takeing these lands holding of
the Earle of Monteith, when they held of the
king as Earle of Stratherne, whereby he for-
faultes the right of proppertie to the king's ma
jestie, in whose power it was to conferre them
upon whom he pleased, as he did to Sir John of
Quathquan and Capibusncthen, with the former

456 MEMORIE OF
clause imbodyed in the same grant, which was
purposely done by George Gordoune, Earle of
Huntiey, the great chancellor of Scotiand, that
the right raight be eftirwards quarrelled by the
Lord Somervill when he was major ; for he sus
pected Carabusnethen's designe in the drawing
of the gift, but had noe will directUe to oppose
it for the tyme, Carabusnethen being then much
in the king's favoures.
This unhappy gift being the fountaine, and
this gentleman the procurer of it to himself and
his heirs, instead of his nephew, to whom in right
it belonged, that occasioned soe much raischeif
and trouble to both the farailies. My next ob
serve from this proceeding shall be, that it was
the lady of a second raarriage, and a king's mis
tress, that in prejudice of the righteous heir of
the first marriage gave the discovery and meanes
to the true heirs of that Lord John who was
highly prejudged by this gift, to get back ther
antient inheretance eftir soe long a tract of tyrae,
when ther was nothing lesse in her thoughts
then that either these lands, or any part of Cam-
busnethenes estate, should belong either to the
Lord SoraerviU, or the undoubted heir of her
husband. God makes here the instrument to
bring back these lands of Louthian to the house

THE SOMERVILLS. 457
of CowthaUy, and her step-sone Jaraes, the Laird
with the Velvet Eye, to be absolutely secured in
the barronie of Cambusnethen, because of the
losse of the former, Avherwith she mynded to sa
tisfie the sone ofthe first marriage, and establish
her oune issue in the barronie of Cambusnethen.
Thus wee see men and women proposes, but
God disposes of present and future continuance
according to his pleasure ; for if this accident
had not occurred by a remarkeable providence,
ther had not of these two famUies, I account
thera both as one, reraained a coatt house, or
rig of land, that ever belonged to the Lord So
raervill, or the Lairds of Cambusnethen, in prop
pertie or superioritie ofthe cadites that carae off
since the year 1500, but Spittell aUenerly, who
was the next of a landed gentleraan eftir Cam
busnethen.' Hugh Lord SomerviU haveing gained what he
desyred in the poynt of law, his next care was to
put hiraself in possessione ; and in order there
unto, the fhst of JuUy, 1578, he holdes a court

' At the time when the author lived, these lands,of Drum
were all that remained of the large estates possessed by the
baronial house of Somerville, and their powerful descendants
and competitors the Lairds of Cambusnethen.

45 s MEMORIE OF
at GiUmertoune, and makes aU the tennents of
Drum, GiUmertoune, and Gutters, give up ther
old tackes, which they had of the Laird of Cam
busnethen, and take tackes of hiraself, which ac
cordingly the tennents did ; and this was the
first court holden in the Lord Soraervilles narae,
since the year 1499, that Sir John of Quathquan
did his nephew and pupil that honour, that al
beit he had secured the proppertie of these lands
to himself and his heirs, yet he was pleased to
fence the court in his nephewes name, John
Lord Somervill.
1584.. The Earle of Gowrie, in the moneth of Apryle,
1 584, being brought in questione for surprizeing
of the king, and detaineing his person at Rivan,
the twentieth and third of August, 1582, his
judgement was found relevant by the persones of
jurie, wherof Hugh Lord Soraervill was one,'

' He was executed for his concern in doing violence to
tbe king's person, by seizing upon hira at the enterprize called
the Raid of Ruthven. The persons of the jury were " Colen
Earl of Argyle, David Earl of Crawford, John Earl of Mon-
tross, James Earl of Glencarn, Hugh Earl of Eglington, James
Earl of Arran, George Earl of Marshal, Alexander Earl of
Seaton, Hugh Lord Sommervil, Hugh Lord Down, William
Lord Levingston, Patrick Earl of Drummond, Jaraes Lord
Ogilvy, Alexander Master of Oliphant, and John Murray of
Tullibardin. They retiring theraselves, as the custom is, and

THE SOMERVILLS. 459
being then with the king att StirUng, with whora
he returned to Edinburgh, and was present att
the parliament conveened the twentieth and se
cond day of May, 1584, wherin his majesties au
thoritie over all persones in all causes whatsoever
was confirmed, with severall other acts in favoures
both of the king's majestie and his counsellors,
which are mentioned at lenth by Bishope Spots-
wood. The parliament being brocken up, the
Lord Somervill coraes to the DrUra, accorapany-
ed with his father or his brother-in-law, (for I

reluming within a short space pronounced him guilty, where
upon sentence was given that he should be taken to the mar
ket-cross, have his head cut off and be dismembered as a trait
or. The last part thereof was dispensed, and he in the even
ing beheaded. His servants were perraitted to take the head
with the body and bury it. This was the end of that noble
man, who in his life was much honoured and employed in the
chief offices of court : a man wise, but said to have been too
curious, and to have consulted with wizzards touching the
state of things in future times ; yet he was not charged with
this; nor seemed he to be touched therewith in his death,
which to the judgement of the beholders was very peaceable
and quiet. He was heard to make that comraon regret which
many great raen have done in such cases. That if he had ser
ved God as faithfully as he had done the king, he had not
come to that end, but otherwise died patiently, with a con
tempt of the world, and assurance of mercy at the hands of
God." — Spottiswood's History qfthe Church qf Scotland,
London, 1677, foi. p. 332.

460 MEMORIE OF
am not certane which of the two he was to him,)
Alexander' Lord Seatone, and John Millne, the
kings master meassone.'' Haveing pitched upon
the place for situatione, they agree with hira for
building a house, the lenth, breadth, and hight,
being condescended upon. The wholl contry
veance, with the price, was, by the Lord Soraer
viU and Master Millne, reraitted to tbe Lord Sea
toune, he being one of the greatest buUders in
that age ; ^ and at that very tyrae had the king's
master of worke at Seatoune, building that large
quarter ofhis palace toMJ^ards the north-east. The

* Robert Lord Seton. See a preceding note.
This family of Milne were for six generations master ma
sons, or architects, to the kings of Scotland. This reraarkable
circumstance is recorded upon the tomb of John Milne, the
great grandson of the person mentioned in the text. The mo
nument is still extant in the Grey Friars church-yard, Edin
burgh, and has these lines towards the bottom, besides another
inscription in prose and verse :
" Reader, John Milne, who maketh the fourth John,
And by descent from father unto son.
Sixth master-mason to a royal race.
Of seven successive kings, sleeps in this place.
This John Milne died in 1667. In the Abbey burial-ground
at Holyrood-House, is buried Robert Milne, the father, I
presume, of this John, A. D. 1633.
3 Robert Milne built the old college of Edinburgh, and se
veral other public buildings, in the reign of James VI.

THE SOMERVILLS. 461
place of Drura was begune in June, 1584, and
finished in October, 1585, in the sarae forme it
is in at present, but one story laigher ; it being
some years thereftir by ane casuall fyre brunt
doune, Hugh SomerviU, youngest sone, but then
second sone by the death of his brethren, to this
Lord Hugh, rebuilt the sarae, and raised it one
storie higher. The roumes are few, but fair and
large ; the entrie and stair-caice extremely ill
placed, neither is the outward forrae modish, be
ing built all in lenth in forme of a church. It
was finished the second tyme, being againe brunt
by accident in anno 1629 ; and soe remaines un
till this day in the possessione of the first build
er's posteritie.
This nobleman, in imitatione of his father-in-
law, repaired much of Cowthally house, and
made it some what more light, most of the
rouraes before this being very darke. He like
wayes took offthe roof from the long gallery, and
raised it in hight equall to the two towers wher
unto the same gallerj' joyned, and sclait it all
with sclaites. This worke he finished in the year
1586. The building ofthe house of Drum, and
the repairing of the castle of Cowthally, occa
sioned this lord to contract more debt then what
formerly he had putt himself into, by his pleaing

462 MEMORIE OF
with the house of Cambusnethen. Therefore^
in the year 1587, he borrowes from one Gilberts,
a goldsmith and jeweUer to the queen^ ane thou
sand punds Scots, and wodsett to him the lands
of Gutters under rederaptione. In May, the
same year, eftir this wodset is begun, an actione
which tended to his oune, his ladyes and chUd-
ren's disgrace, and was the foirrunner and prog-
nostick of the dissentione that would follow in
his familie, to the certane ruine therof, as eftir
ward fell out, what might be the occasione of
that unhappy difference betwext him and his
lady, eftir twentieth years cohabitatione, could
never certanely be knowne ; for he himself ne
ver made it appear by any judiciall procedoure
or publict act against his lady, farther then by
a wiUfuU desertione, conderaned by his neerest
relationes, and all the world, his sones only ex
cepted, who, as is judged, was not soe cordiall to
reraove the mistakes that was betwext ther pa
rents, as in nature and conscience they ought to
have done ; but, upon the contrary, did too much
countenance ther father in this imprudent act
against ther mother, because ther fortunes de
pended wholly upon his pleasure, which God in
his justice at lenth aUmost, if not aUtogither,
blasted by the sad calamitie in that familie,

THB SOMERVILLS. 463
which happened efter this unhappy difference
fell out. Farther then meer conjecture, by the
relatione of these that wer liveing within these
few years, (for in writt there is nothing to be
found,) could I ever learne what was the true
cause of that unhappy separatione, but a simple
storie not worth the relateing. However, his
lady, dame Hellenor Seatoune, persewes her
lord for adherance before the commissioners of
Edinburgh ; and upon that depending actione
raised ane other before the lords of counsell and
session, for an aUment conforme to her contract
of marriage, which at lenth she obtaines ; and
the lords by ther decreit ordaines her fourtie
shilling each day, untUl the decisione of the ac
tione of adherance, or the cohabitatione, from
the seventh day of September, ] 587, and in all
tyrae comeing.' This decreet was extracted the

' The following traces of this action of aliment appear
upon the record of the consistorial court : — " 23d Feb. 1587^
Anent the supplication given in be Deame Helenor Seytoun,
agains Hew Lord Somervell, bearand that the sd deame Hele
nor is repudiat be the sd lord, hir spous, furth of his cumpanie,
and yr foir hes intentit actionis of adherence befoir the said
coraras. ; and it is of weritie, that at na tyrae sen her expul
sion, scho hes had ony expcnsis to sustene hir self upoun for
hir intertenment conforme to her qualitie and estait, and for
sustening of hir expenss and chairgis in the said pursute, con-

464 MEMORIE OF
twelth of August, 1588, and in Septeraber ther
eftir, she serves ane inhibitione upon her hus
band, arreisted aU his rentes in the tennents
hands, and did all other legaU diUigence to se
cure herself in law, and compeU her lord to pay
that modificatione allowed to her by the sen
tence of the counsell. Thus God, in his secret
judgement, haveing a contraversie with the fa
mUie of Cowthally, as mynding shortly to de-
pryve it of all its honoures and greatnesse, suf
fered this breach betwext the husband and the
wife ; and as the thing itself was hateful!, soe
could it not but draw raany inconveniences up-

forme to the sd lord's rentall gevin in be hir in the said caus,
subscryvit be his umql. father and frends, as at mair lenth is
contenit in the sd supplication ; qlk being sene and considde-
rit be the sd comms., they haif ordanit the sd Hew Lord So
mervell to content and pay to the said dearae Helenor, the
sowme of ane hundreth punds money, modifiet be them per
modum pensionis, for her expenss and chairgis in the sd caus
of adherence persewit be the sd dearae Helenor agains the sd
Lord Hew hir spous,"

" llth June, 1588. The coraras. decernis and ordanis Hew
Lord Soraervell to content and pay to dearae Helenor Sey
toun Lady Somervell, the sowrae of ane hundreth pounds mo
ney, modefiet be thera per modum pensionis, as for hir ex
penss in the action and cause of adherence persewit be the
said lady against the sd lord." — From the Record qf the Com
missary Court qf Edinburgh.

THE SOMERVILLS. 465
on hira, as to the governeraent of his house, the
breeding of his children, the indignatione of his
ladyes freinds, who were persones of great ho
nour and of erainent ranke araongst the first of
the nobilitie, besides the great expences of plea,
which could not but increase his burding ex
ceedingly to what he had contracted by that te
dious actione with the house of Carabusnethen,
in redeeming the lands of Louthian frora them ;
the consideratione of all which, with the scan-
dell that refiected most upon himself and child
ren, should have detained hira frora any such
practice. But what should I say, when God has
a raynde to hurable any faraiUe and lay ther
glory in the dust, he hes many wayes to doe it
by contemptable instruments in humane appear
ance. A matter of mere moonshine, as is re
ported, had occasioned all this difference be
twext the Lord Somervill and his lady.
The popish lords, wherof the Earles of Hunt- 1589.
ley, Crawfuird, and Errol, being the principaU,
haveing raade an insurrectione in the north,
these three takeing armes, assembled ther forces
in the beginning of Apryle, and came to Aber
deen, where they emitted a proclaraatione, inti-
raating the king was held captive, and forced
2g

466 MEMORIE OF
against his incUnatione to use his nobles rigor
ously, therefore they requyred aU good subjects
to concurre with thera to sett his persone att U-
bertie. Thus rebeUione wiU not want specious
pretextes, civiU or religious, to cover ther black
est designes. Upon tbe king's approach this bu
siness was soon over, Huntley and Craufuird de
clyned to fight for fear the king might be in dan
ger, therefore they dispersed ther forces, and
submitted to the king's mercy, which his majes
ty accepted, without granting any other condi
tiones but that they should present themselves
to justice, which accordingly they did, upon the
twentieth and fourth of May, 1589, and wer
found all guiltie of the severall indytements,
Hugh Lord SoraerviU being one of assyze.' Not
withstanding of this iraprisoneraent, they were
all restored to the king's favour.
This year, 1589, in the moneth of JuUy, ther
faUes out a sad accident, as a further warneing
that God was displeased with the famiUe. The

' " Of noblemen and others charged to pass upon their as
size, there were present the Lord Harailton, the Earls of An
gus, Morton, Athol, Marre, and Marshall, the Lords Seatoun,
Soraervil, Dingwell, and Cathcart, the Lairds of Pittarrow,
Closburn, Lagg, and the constable of Dundy." — Spottis-
wooD, p. 376.

THE SOMERVILLS. 467
Lord SomervUl haveing come from Cowthally
earlie in the morning, in regaird the weather was
hott, he had ridden hard to be at the Drum be
ten a clock, which haveing done, he laid him
doune to rest. The servant, with his two sones,
WUliam Master of SomerviU, and John his bro
ther, went with the horses to ane shott of land,
called the Prety Shott, directly opposite to the
front of the house, where ther was some meadow
ground for grassing the horses, and willowes to
shaddow theraselves from the heat. They had
not long continued in this place, when the Mas
ter of SomervUl, eftir some litle rest, awakeing
from his sleep, and finding his pistoUes that lay
hard by him wett with the dew, he began to rub
and dry them, when unhappily one of them went
off the ratch,' being lying upon his knee, and
the rauzell turned syde-wayes, the ball strocke
his brother John directly in the head, and killed
hira outright, soe that his sorrowful brother ne
ver had one word frora him, albeit he begged it
with many teares. A laraentable caice, and rauch
to be pittied, two brave young gentleraen soe
nearly related, and dearly loveing one another.

Ratch, i, e. Lock.

468 MEMORIE OF
Avho besydes ther being brethren by birth, wer
intirely soe in affectione, coramunicating all ther
affaires and designes one to the other, wherin
they wer never knoune to differ in the least.
Soe soon as they wer raen, and came to under
stand themselves, they constantly attended ther
father and advysed him in raany things. In this
journey they wer very hopefuU to reconceall
ther parents, and bring thera to cohabite togi
ther, ther father being raost indulgent and much
counselled by thera, though he was by nature of
a hastie dispositione, and very passionat ; but it
appeares that it was not the will of heaven ; for
this unlucky accident marred ther good inten-
tiones. Ther father hearing the shott, leapt frora his
(being then in the chamber of dice,^) to the
south light, and seing his sone and servants all
in a cluster, ^called aloud to know the matter,
but receaveing no answear, he suspected some
mischeiff, and thereupon flew hastily doune the
stair, and went directly towards the place where
they wer, which the gentleraen observeing, they
advysed the Master to take him to his horse, un-

' That is, the state chamber, so called from the di'us, or state
canopy, displayed in it.

THE SOMERVILLS. 469
till his father's pasSione and furie should be over,
which, at lenth, upon their earnest intreaty, he
did, takeing his direct way for Seatoune, where
his lady mother then lived by Smeitoune foord.
The father being corae upon the place, first
beares the lamentatione of the servants, and then
sees the sad spectacle of his sone all bloody and
breathlesse, with his head laid upon a cloack ;
wheron he faUes hiraself, and cryes aloud, " My
sone, my sone, dead or alyve ? dead or alyve ?"
imbracing him aU the tyme, which he continued
for sorae space, and thereby giveing opportunity
for his eldest sone to escape. Att lenth finding
noe motione in his dear sone, all in a furie he
aryses, and cryes aloud, " Where is that murder
er ? who hes done the deed ?" stalling wyldelie
about, missing the Master, he cryes out, " Oh,
heavens, and is it he ? must I be bereft of two
sones in one day ? Yes, it must be soe, and he
shaU have noe other judge nor executioner but
myself and these hands." And with that imrae-
diatly raountes his horse, coramanding two of
his servants to attend him, makeing protestatione
in the mean tyme, that they should both goe to
the grave togither ; but God was more mercifull,
for by this tyme the Master was passed Smeitoune
foord, and before his father came that lenth he

470 MEMORIE OF
was at Fallsyde House, out of aU danger, being
within two mylles of Seatoune. His father come
ing to the watter-syde, and hearing his sone had
passed by the road he had taken, he understood
his sone intended for Seatoune palace,' where he
was sure to be before it was possible to overtake
him : finding, therefore, his forther pursuit fruit-
lesse, comeing now a litle to himself, he begane
much to condemne this unwarrantable atterapt
ofhis, upon second, thoughts. Before he carae
back, the sad object of his sorrow was reraoved
to the place of Drura, and the corps desently
handled by the ladyes of Edraonstoune, WooU-
mett, and Shireff-haU, neer neighboures;* for

' Situated in East-Lothian, near the sea coast.
* There is a very striking scene in Webster's fine old play
of Villeria Corombona, in which is described the mourning of
relations over the corpse of one, who, like this unfortunate
young gentleman, had fallen by the hand of his brother.
" Enter Francisco de Medicis.
How now ? thou art sad.
Francisco de Medicis. I met even now with the most piteous
sight.
Flamineo, Thou meet'st another here, a pitiful degraded
courtier.
Francisco de Medicis. Your reverend mother
Is grown a very old woraan in two hours.
I found them winding of Marcello's corse;
And there is such a solemn melody,

THE SOMERVILLS. 47 1
in lesse then ane houre the report went all over
the countrey. Yea, before the king rose frora
dinner he had notice of it, being then in HoUy-
rude House, with the circumstance of the fa
ther's foUowing the other sone with intentione
to kill him ; for which the king, within three
dayes thereftir (the Lord SomervUl comeing to
waitt upon his raajestie) reproved hira by saying
he was a raad-man ; that haveing lost one sone
by soe sudden ane accident, should needs will-

'Tween doleful songs, tears, and sad elegies ;
Such as old grandames, watching by the dead.
Were wont to outweare the nights with ; that believe me,
They were so o'ercharged with water—
Flamineo. I will see them.
Brachiano. 'Twere much uncharity in you : for your sight
Will add unto their tears.
Flamineo. I will see them.
They are behind the traverse. I'll discover
Their superstitious howling.
Cornelia, the Moor, and three other Ladies discovered winding
Marcello's corse. A Song.
Cornelia. This rosemary is wither'd, pray get fresh ;
I would have these herbs grow up in his grave,
When I am dead and rotten. Reach the bays,
I'll tie a garland here about his head :
'Twill keep my boy from lightning. This sheet
I have kept this twenty years, and every day
Hallowed it with my prayers ; I did not think
He would have wore it." — The White Devil, act V.

472 MEMORIE OF
fully destroy another Jiiraself, in whom, as he
was certanely informed, ther was nether malice
nor designe, but a great raisfortune, occasioned
by unwarry handleing ofthe pistoU, which should
rather have been a raatter of regrate and sorrow
to hira, that the lyke had happened in his fairai-
lie, then that he should have sought eftir re
venge. Thairefore he coramanded him to send
for his eldest sone, and be reconeealled with
him, for he knew he was a sober youth, and the
very thoughts of his misfortune would afiUct him
enough, albeit he wer not discountenanced by
hira. Upon this christian advyce that his raajestie
was pleased to give, sorae few dayes thereftir the
Master was written for, and admitted to waitt
upon his father as formerly, and orders taken
judicially to clear him of that slaughter by ane
jurie, before whom and justiciares criminaU, all
the gentieraen and servants that attended upon
the Lord Soraervill wer sworne, who positively
declared upon ther great oath, that neither before
nor at the tirae the slaughter fell out they knew
any difference betwext the two brethren, but
upon the contrary, the greatest love iraaginable,
and soe intire friendship that what the one did
in ther oune or ther father's affaires, was stUl

THE SOMERVILLS. 473
approved off by the other ; and further, they
made knoune to the judges and assyzers the
wholl manner and circumstances of that sorrow-
full bussinesse. Upon all which the Master was
assoilzied, the kiUing of his brother John being
found homicidium casuale, as the lawyers terme
it, which is when one is kiUed casually, without
either the fault or designe ofthe killer.'
The affair being over, the Master goes west 1590.
with much sorrow^ both in heart and lookes, for
bearing to raedle in any bussinesse ; and now as
forraerly, by his affable and obleidgeing carriage
he had procured the epithete of the good Master
of SoraervUl, soe from hencefnrth he might have
been called the Sad and SorrowfuU Brother ; for
it was observed from the very raoraent of that
unhappy accident untiU his death, which fell out
about three years thereftir, he never enjoyed a
corafortable hour, but was still sad and raelan-
choUy. The father returneing home and ob^
serving his sone's carriage, was much greived
therwith ; he used all meanes, both by his ad-

• There was a remission granted to this unfortunate gentle
man under the great seal, dated in 1587,. though, ifhe was
cleared by the verdict of an assize, it seeras to have been un
necessary.

474 MEMORIE OF
vyce and fatheriy induUgence, to divert him
from the remeraberance of what was passed, and
could not be remeeded. And for his forther
encourageraent, then proraised that he would
shortly setie his estate upon hira, and provyde
hira ane honourable marriage, the which as to
the first he did ; but his sone's death prevented
the accoraplishraent of the second. However, in
prosecutione of tbese affaires, the Lord Soraer
vill, with the Master, comes to Edinburgh in the
moneth of January, 1590, and enters in a con
tract with his sone WiUiam, Master of SoraerviU,
dated att Edinburgh, the second day of Febru
ary, 1590, wherin Hugh Lord Soraervill faith
fully binds and obleidges hiraself to infeft and
sease the said Master of Somervill, and his heirs
male lawfully begotten in aU his lordship and
barronies of Carnwath^ Lintoune, Englishberry,
Grainge, and all others his lands writh the perti
nents, with full power of redeemeing all wood-
setts within the said lOrdship. This contract was
subscryved both by the father and sone, day and
place before named, and was registrat the four
teinth day of January, the year foUowing, 1591.
It was this contract which eftirward brought
Gilbert, then Master of SomervUl, to the estate,
much contrary to his father's incUnatione and

THE SOMERVILLS. 475
designe, who even at that tyme had noe favour
for him, as foirseeing by the bad qualitie he ob
served in this young gentleman, Gilbert, that he
would prove the disgrace of his faraiUe, and the
ruiner of his house.
The king's majestie, with his royall consert
the queen, eftir ther marriage and some stay in
Denmarke, returnes home, arryveing att Leith
the twentieth of May, 1590, where, to congratu
late his safo and happy arryveall, ther was a
great concourse of all rankes and qualities of
people, unto whora the king was very gracious ;
and, upon his comeing from church, gave thankes
to the nobleraen and counsell for the care they
had taken in adrainistratione of affaires and men
taineing the countrey in quyetnesse. In August
thereftir, the same year, upon the fourth day,
the Generall Assemblie conveines, wherunto the
Lord Somervill is cited for holding a market att
Carnwath upon the Sabbath. He corapeares, and
alleadges ane ancient custorae and priviledge,
grajpted to him and his predecessores by the
kings of Scotland, and confirmed by James the
Fourth and Fyfth. Notwithstanding whereof,
being threatened with the censure of the church,
he condescended that noe market should be
holden there ariy more on the Sabbath. Whether

476 MEMORIE OF
this was ane weekly market, or one of the two
faires that is yearUe, I am not certane, but I in
clyne to beleive it was a weekly one that was
aboUshed ; and if soe, it had continued ever
since the lands was erected in ane barronie, neer
three hundred years.
3^1. Lord Hugh now growing old, and his affaires
in great disorder, by reasone of the difference
betwixt him and his lady, he was therefore ear
nest to have his sone marryed and setied before
his death. In order to this he pressed the Mas
ter much to search eftir a match both suiteable
to his qualitie and honour, and one by whom
they might have interest and money to pay off
sorae burdings the estate was lying under, and
redeem these lands he had wodsett. In obedi
ence to his father's desyre more nor his oune in
clinatione, the Master goes, weill attended, in
the moneth of Noveraber, in suife of the laird of
Druralandricke's ' daughter, (a rich and erainent

' The representative ofthe house of Druralanrick, ancestors
of the ducal fartiily of Queensberry, was Sir Jaraes Douglas,
who succeeded to his father in 1578, and died in 1615. He
had two daughters, Janet, afterwards married to Williara Li
vingston of Toweswood, and Helen to John Menzies of Castle-
hill. It does not appear which of these ladies was the object of
the Master of Somerville's suit.

THE SOMERVILLS. 477
barrone in the south, of great comraand,) where
himself and his followers was weill intertained,
and the motione kyndelie receaved both by the
young lady and her parents, who then promised
shortiy to be att Edinburgh, and bring the daugh
ter with them, where that affair should be more
fully treated by freinds of both sydes, they hoped
to the contentment of all parties. This answear
satisfying for the tyme, the Master of Somervill
haveing reraained with his raistres sorae few
dayes att Druralendricke, he takes leave, and re
turnes to CowthaUy, and gives his father ane
accorapt of his negotiatione, and what hope ther
was his proposealles would take effect, because,
for any thing he could observe, they wer thank
fully accepted by the parents and freinds of the
young lady. His father was extreraely joyfull at
this report, and promised ther should nothing be
wanting upon his part to forther the match, but
that in all things he would concurre, and grant
what conditiones in reasone they should requyre.
In the moneth of January, 1591, Druralendrick
coraes to toune with his lady and daughter ; and
shortly eftir thera arryves Hugh Lord Soraer
vill, WilUam, Master of SomervUl, and Hugh, his
youngest brother, a handsome youth, then about
the eighteinth year of his age, who haveing putt

478 MEMORIE OF
themselves in order, and gotten notice where
Drumlendrick lodged, the Master went to renew
his respects to his mistres, and pay her lady mo
ther a visite. They wer civilly intertained by
the mother, and modestly receaved by the daugh
ter. From that tyme furth the Master continued
his courting, intirely gaineing her affectione, as
he did the favour of all her relationes without
any difiiculty. And it was noe marvell, for this
young nobleman was most accomplished both
in body and mynde. I have heard it reported,
that Sir James Bannatyne of Newhall, one of the
senatores of the coUedge of justice, asserted ther
was not a propperer youth trode the streets of
Edinburgh, nor one of whom ther was greater
expectatione then of William, Master of Somer
vill ; but when God designes to ruine a familie,
all supportes are removed, that the fall may be
the more sudden, as happened in this young
nobleman's caice, who efter he was contracted
in the later end of February, and should have
been marryed in Apryle, 1.591, that very moneth
he took a feaver which keeped hira long, and soe
wakened his body that he never recovered, but
continued still under a languishing sicknesse for
more nor ten monthes. It was supposed the
thoughts of his oune great misfortune in kiUing
7

THE SOMERVILLS. 479
of his brother, the disagreement of his parents,
the incumberances that was upon the estate, and
the prospect he had of ane irapudent brother
that was to succeed hira, which he could not
now remedy in the conditione he was in, hasten
ed his death, sorae ten raoneths eftir his sick
nesse. He dyed att Cowthally in the raoneth of
January, 1592, about the twentieth and seventh
year of his age, and was buryed in the yle of
Carnwath. He left a naturall sone, begotten
upon a young woman in the toune of GUlmer
toune named eftir hiraself, WiUiara, whose pos
terity reraaines there untill this day. Thus lived
and dyed WiUiara, the good Master of Soraer
vill ; and with him perished all the hope and ex
pectatione of the house of Cowthally. It was
noe lesse truely then prophetically spocken in
ane homely expressione by a devote gentleman,
WUliam Ingles of East ScheUl, who was himself,
as weill as all his predecessores, great lovers and
followers of the Lord Sommervilles, imployed
by them for the most pairt as ther baiUzie in the
barronie of Carnwath, — this aged gentleraan, as
the corps passed the outter gate of Cowthally,
strocke upon his breast and cryed out to the
hearing of raany, " This day the head is as clean
taken off the house of Cowthally, as you would

4§0 MEMORIE OF
strike off the head of a sybba ;" ' and indeed it
proved soe, for from that day furth all things went
crosse ; the familie was divyded against itseu.
What the consequences therof would prove, the
oracle of truth hes left it upon record ; for bere
the husband was against the wife in the defen-
cive, and the wife against the husband in persew-
ing fbr ane aUment again. The father was against
the sone, endeavouring to disinherit him ; and
the sone against the father, mentaineing the
rights now established in his persone by the
death of his elder brother ; and if this had not
been enough, and too much, yow might have
seen two brothers contending for a half-ruined
and sinking estate, both infeft therin by ther
father's resignatione, with the reservatione of his
oune liferent. A meer BabeU of confusione, the
lyke hardly to be found in the memories of any
familie in Scotland, as to all the circumstances
that concurred to the undoeing of this ; soe that
the preservatione of the sarae would have been
somewhat of a miracle. But I proceed.
1592. Gilbert, now Master of Somervill, keepes fair
with his father for some few weekes eftir his bro
ther's death, and prevailled soe farre by the in-
» Cibolle. A leek.

THE SOMERVILLS. 481
tercessione of friends, that his father Lord Hugh,
confirraes, by a new obligatione in his favours,
the former contract made to his brother Wil
ham, with this expresse conditione, that if the
subraissione passed betwext him and his two
sones should take noe effect, the sarae obliga
tione should be of noe force, as to any purpose
or intent whatsoever. This band of corrobora-
tione is dated att Carnwath, the twentieth and
second of March, 1592, and was that which the
father, eftirward seeking to reduce, therby to es
tabUsh the wholl estate of Cowthally in the per-
sone of Hugh SomervUl of Drum, then his se
cond sone, all his other sones being now dead ;
and it was from this fountaine that flowed all the
rancor and hatred that was betwext the two bre
thren eftirwards ; for Gilbert, finding that he had
losed his father by his many wild prankes and
imprudent carriage, observeing withaU the course
his father was takeing to secure all to bis brother
Hugh, by makeing over to him the whoU right
of proppertie by charter and seazing, notwith*
standing of the two former contracts, wherupon
as yet ther had been noe inhibitione served ; but
only a base infeftment upon the fathers resigna
tione in favoures of WiUiam Master of SomervUl 5
2H

482 MEMORIE OF
and it was upon this consideratione that both
Lord Hugh and his second sone thought to have
debarred Gilbert from the estate of Somervill ;
but it would not doe ; for Gilbert now seeing
ther was no way for him to through his businesse
but by marrying with some powerful! famiUe that
would mentaine him in his right, he resolves to
do soe ; and knowing that he had all the narae
of SoraervUl his eneraies but the companiones
ofhis extravagancies, he judged it fitt to devyde
thera, and secure his interest with the narae soe
farre as was possible. In order to this designe,
he goes in suite of Margaret Soraervill, eldest
daughter to James Soraervill, the fourth Laird
of Carabusnethen, nicknamed the Laird with the
Velvet Eye, upon whora he was raarryed in the
moneth of Apryle, 1592, ther being litle or no
trysting in the businesse, that famiUe knowing
very weiU that, besydes the contracts formerly
spocken off, the right of successione was in bis
persone. The consummeating of this marriage
hightened his father's displeasure exceedingly,
because of the constant and continued animosi
ties that was betwext the house of Cowthally and
that of Cambusnethen, in regaird of these lands
they possessed in the barronie of Carnwath, and
that of Louthian lately recovered from them.

THE SOMERVILXS. 4 S3
However, Gilbert gained that he mainly intend
ed, and devyded the name of SomerviU; for
now one might see the one half banding against
the other, and syding as ther affectiones and in
terest led thera. The SoraerviUes of Cambusne
then being of late strongly allyed to the HamU
tones, by ther meanes Gilbert was not only sup
ported in his law suites, but otherwayes in many
forcible arguments. Yet, at that tymCj albeit
even then King Jaraes the Sexth and his couii-
sell was takeing all the wayes iraaginable to abo
lish that barbarous custorae Which shortly eftir
took effect in the Lowlands, by the free execu
tione of the lawes, without hazard of inforce-
raents or bloody slaughters, too frequently cora
mitted betwext disagreeing families, or such as
wer devyded amongst themselves, as here that of
CowthaUy and Carabusnethen wer ; who, eftir
many mischiefes, outrages, and slaughters upon
both sydes coramitted, notwithstanding of all
the legall restrictiones and hazard of punishment
they might incurre by breaking of the peace,
wherunto all of them were strictly tyed by the
ordinary law borrowes, the counsells, orders, and
his majesties expresse command, yet did they
not forbear ther quarreUings untill both parties
was allmost ruined, and then they hearkened to

484 MEMORIE OF
a subraissione, whieh appeares to be ofthe sarae
date with the contract of corroboration, granted
in favoures of Gilbert, Master of SomervUl, or
else there is ane raistake in the transurapt that I
have seen ; for the subraissione beares date att
Carnwath, the twentieth and second of March,
1592, and the contract was of the sarae date.
The subraissione was ane year thereftir, accept
ed by the gentleraens subscryveing att Carnwath,
the twentieth and sexth of March, 1593; the de
creit arbitrall upon this subraissione being pro-
nunced att Edinburgh, the nyneteinth day of
Apryle, 1593, and registrat the fourteinth day
of June the same year. And now, because this
subraissione, and the decreit pronunced ther
upon, nott only widned the difference amongst
the parties, but had contrary effects as to the
main designe for which it was intended, there
fore I conceave it not amisse to insert both in
this relatione, for the satisfaction of sorae gen
tlemen of the narae, in whose hands these nar-
rationes may corae, that cannot have a sight of
the principaU ; the tenor of both foUowes con
forme to the registrat extract.
1593. Att Edinburgh, the nyneteinth day of Apryle,
the year of God 15 93, Wee, Alexander Somer
viU of Plain, and James SomerviU of Humbie,

THE SOMERVILLS. 485
elder, James SomerviU, younger of Humbie, and
WilUam Somervill in Blackpool, judges, arbitra
tors, and amicable composers, equaUy and com
monly choysen by the honourable persons fol
lowing, viz. Ane noble and potent lord, Hugh
Lord SomerviU, on the ane part, and Gilbert
Master of SomerviU, brother and heir of umqu
hile WiUiam Master of SomerviU, with advyce
and consent of Master Alexander Seatoune, Lord
Urquhard, one ofthe senatores ofthe coUedge of
justice, Sh John Seatoune, of Barnes, knight. Sir
John Carmichael of that ilk, knight, Sir James
Lindsay of Pittardie, knight, and James Somer
vil], brother germane to the said Hugh Lord
SomerviU, on the second part, and Hugh Somer
viU, brother germane to the said Gilbert Master
of SomerviU, with advyce and consent ofthe said
Hugh Lord Somervill his father, Robert Lord
Seatoune, John Lord Thirlestaine, chanceller
of this realrae, and John Cockburne of Clerking-
toune, to whom the said Hugh was interdyted,
on the third part ; submitting themselves to us
ther said judges, by vertue of ane subraissione,
upon the back of ane blanke, anent certane ac
tiones debeatable amongst the saids parties,
touching the right and titie acclaraed be the said
Hugh SomerviU tp the lands and liveing of Cow»

486 MEMORIE OF
thaUy, and what compositione and satisfactione
should be given to the said Hugh SomerviU for
his renunceing and overgiveing in favoures of
the said Gilbert Master of SomerviU, and his
heirs male, of all right, title, interest, clame of
right, actione, and instance qlk the said Hugh
hes or otherwayes may have or clame, either be
infeftment or otherwayes, to the lands, lordship,
and barronies of Carnwath, Lintoune, Inglish-
berry Grainge, the Eyslat, the ten pund land
in Stonefranck, tackes of lands, donationes of
kirkes and benefices, with certane other actione
specified in the said subraissione, referred be the
saids parties to us the saids judges to decyde and
decerne therintiU, and that for the weill standing
of the house and liveing of Cowthally to the pos
teritie to come, excepting and reserveing the
lands of Louthian, with the reversiones of the
samen to the said Hugh Lord SomerviU; and
wee the saids judges being often conveened, by
vertue of the said subraissione, and our accepta-
tione therof, and foirseeing the weUl and stand
ing of the said house and liveing of Cowthally to
the posterities to corae ; and eftir good delibe
ratione and advyseraent taken be us theranent,
and the rights, reasones, and alleadgeances of all
the said parties, and claraes given in be them to

THE SOMERVILLS. 487
us therupon being heard, seen, and considered
be us, and wee at lenth therewith rightly advy
sed ; haveing God and a good conscience before
our eyes, and for intertaineing of araity araongst
the saids parties, being soe tender of blood, in
all tyme comeing ; wee aU, in one voyce, with
out varyance, with advyce and consent of aU the
saids parties, decernes and ordaines as foUowes ;
in the first wee decerne and ordaine the said Gil
bert Master of SomerviU to infeft, with advyce
and consent of the said Hugh Lord Somervill
his father, the said Hugh SomervUl his brother
above-naraed in life-rent, for all the dayes of his
life-tyrae, in all and haill ane anwelhent of fyve
hundereth markes usuall money of this realme,
to be taken up yearly, at two terraes in the year,
Whitsunday and Mertines, in winter, be equall
portiones, furth of all and haill the lands of Lara-
pels, the lands Woolfuirds, and the lands of
Greenaltoune, and every part of the saids lands,
with partes and pendicles thereof, lying within
the barronie of Carnwath and shirrefdorae of La
nerk ; to be holden of the said Gilbert Master
of SoraerviU, and his heirs male in f;-ee blench,
for the payment of ane penpy at Whitsunday,
upon the ground ofthe lands, gif it be asked ah
lennerly, with sufficient warrandice to be con-

488 MEMORIE OF
tained therin as effeires, dureing the said Hugh
Somervill his life tyme allennerly ; and further,
wee decerne and ordaine the said Gilbert Mas
ter of SomervUl, his heirs and assignayes, to con
tent and pay to the heirs male, laufuUy to be
procreat of the said Hugh SomervUl, eftir his
decease, and the decease of the said Hugh Lord
SomerviU his father, the soume of two thousand
merkes Scots money, and that in full satisfac
tione and contentatione of all and haill the right,
title, and interest, the said Hugh Somervill may
aske, clame, or crave, either be infeftments,
tackes, contractes, or otherwayes, in and to the
saids lands, and lordship, and barronies of Carn
wath, Lintoune, Inglishberry Grange, Eyslat,
the ten pund land in Strafrouk, tackes of teynds,
assignationes of reversiones, advocationes and
donationes of kirkes and benefices ofthe samen ;
for the quhilkes causes and compositione for
said, wee decerne and ordaine the said Hugh
Somervill to renunce and overgive in favoures
of the said Gilbert Master of Soraervill, and his
heirs male, all right, title, interest, clame of right,
and instance, quhilkes the said Hugh SomerviU
hes or any wayes may clame or have be infeft
ments, contracts, or otherwayes, in and to the
saids lands, lordships, barronies, tackes of teyndes,

THE SOMERVILLS. 489
donationes of kirkes, and benefices above writ
ten, or any part therof, and to make sicke secu
rities to the said Gilbert Master of Somervill, and
his heirs male, of the samen, as law will appoynt,
and as can be devysed be the advyce and judge
ment of men of law ; allwayes but hurt and pre
judice of the said Hugh Lord SoraerviU his Ufe-
rent right therof, specially reserved in the said
subraissione ; and likewayes wee decerne and
ordaine the saids Hugh Lord SomervUl, and Gil
bert Master of SoraerviU, for intertaineing of
unity betwext them, and standing of the house
and liveing of Cowthally, to observe, keep, and
fuUfill to others, but process of law, the contract
made betwext the Said Lord Somervill and um-
quhUe WilUam Master of SoraerviU, now trans
ferred in the persone of the said Gilbert Master
of Soraervill, quilk contract is of the date att
Edinburgh, the second day of February, 1590,
acted and registrat in the bookes of counsell, and
decerned to have the strenth of ane decreit of
the lords therof, upon the fourteinth day of Ja
nuary, the year of God 1591 ; and another con
tract made betwext the said Hugh Lord Somer
vUl on the ane part, and the said GUbert Master
of SomerviU on the other part, of the date att

490 MEMORIE OF
Carnwath, the twentieth and second day of
March, anno 1592, in aU and sundry poyntes,
clauses, and conditiones thereof, contained in
the saids two contracts, except in soe farre as
the second contract derogates the first ; and in
speciall, wee decerne and ordaine the said Hugh
Lord Soraervill to infeft the said Gilbert Master
of Somervill, and his heirs male, in aU and haill
his auld heretage of the lordship of Somervill ef
tir specified, viz. In all and haill the lands, lordr
ship, and barronie of Carnwath, lying within the
shirrefdome of Lanerk, and in all and haill the
lands and barronie of Lintoune, lying within the
shirrefdome of Roxburgh, with castles, toures,
fortalices, orchyairds, yairds, rayUnes, annexes,
connexes, parts, pendicles, outsettes, tennentes,
and tennandries, service of free tennentes, advo
cationes, donationes, and right of patronage of
kirkes and chaplanries of the samen, and aU ther
pertinents, to be holden off our soveraigne lord
and his successores, in fie and heretage, sicklyke
and as freely, and in the same manner as the
said lord and his predecessores, haves and holdes
the samen of before ; and sicklyke in all and
haill the eight pund land of auld extent of Ing-
hshberry and Grange, quilke the said Lord So-

THE SOMERVILLS. 491
merviU hes in few and heretage, holden of the
commendator of Dryburgh and his successores,
lying within the said shirrefdome of Lanerk ;
and in four oxengate of land of Libbertoune,
holden of the parsone of Libbertoune and his
successores, to be holden of the immediat supe
rior therof as freelie and in the same manner as
the said Lord Somervill haves and holdes the
samen of before, be resignatione or confirmatione
or otherwayes, in the best and most sure maner
can be devysed upon be the said Gilbert, Master
of SomerviU, his expences, bearing reservatione
ofthe said Lord SoraerviUe's liferent ofthe sarae,
in lands, lordship, barronies and others forsaid s,
and that betwext the date heirof, and the twen
tieth and fourth day of January next to corae, in
this instant year of God 1593, conforrae to the
tenor of, and obligatione made be, the said Lord
Somervill to the said Gilbert, Master of Somer
viU, ofthe date att Carnweth, the twentieth and
second day of March, 1593 years, to that effect j
and sicklyke, wee decerne and ordaine the said
Hugh Lord Somervill to make and constitut the
§aid Gilbert, Master of SomervUl, and his heirs
male, his cessioners and assignayes, in and to
whatsomever reversiones, bands and promises of
reversiones raade and granted to the said Hugh

492 MEMORIE OF
Lord SoraerviU, or his predecessores, for rederap
tione of whatsomever of any ofthe forsaids lands,
mUlnes, and others above written, or any part
thereof or anwellrents furth ofthe samen, in sick
sure manner as the said Master of Somervill
shall devyse, and that betwext and the said twen
tieth and fourth of June next to come as said is ;
and decernes the said Lord SomerviU to delyver
the authentick coppies of the saids reversiones
to the said Gilbert, Master of Somervill, and to
make the same principaU reversiones furthcome-
ing to hira and his heirs male, at what tyme they
please cause lawfull rederaptione, be vertue ther
of, but any excuse or delay ; and further forsua-
meickle as be the said subraissione it is referred
to us the said judges to take good order anent
the releiff of the anwellrents aughtand and al
lotted furth of the saids lands and others above
written, as weill of years bygaine unpayed, as
in tyme coraing dureing the not rederaptione
therof; wee, aftir good deliberatione, bad ther
intiU, with consent of all the saids parties, sub
mitters, decernes, and ordains the saids Lord and
Master of Soraervill to suffer the profites, cora
modities, and casualities of the teyndes and
kirkes of Carnwath, Libbertoune, and Quath
quan, as weiU personage as viccarage of the

THE SOMERVILLS. 493
samen kirkes, swa farre as pertaines therof to
the said Hugh Lord SomerviU yearly, to be up
lifted and intrometted with be Robert Denhame
of West ScheUles, WilUara Soraervill of Glad
stanes, and WUliara Soraervill in the PooU, con
junctiy, of ther oune free wiU, be themselves,
ther servants, substituts, and others in ther
names, whom for they shall answear, sell, and
dispone therupon yearly to the outter availl ; and
therewith to releave and pay yearly the said
anweUrents, furth of the saids lands and others
forsaids to them haveand right therto, as shall
be given to them in inventar ; and the saids per
sones introraitters forsaids to be coraptable year
ly to the said Hugh Lord Soraervill, and Gilbert
Master of Soraervill, therfore ; and in caice ther
remaine any mair in ther hands nor satisfies the
saids anwellrents, wee decerne the superplus
therof to be taken and delyvered for payraent of
the by rune anweUrents, aughtand furth of the
saids lands, and that yearly, ay and whill the
said haill bygaine anwellrents be satisfyed and
payed ; and eftir the satisfactione therof, the
superplus yearly to be payed to the said Lord
SoraerviU ; and in caice the forsaid kirkes and
teyndes, swa farre therof as pertaines to the said
lord, wiU not satisfie the yearly anwellrents and

494 MEMORIE OF
byrunes therof, we decerne and ordaine the said
Lord SoraerviU, off the readyest of his hveing to
suffer the forsaids persones to introraett with as
meikle therof as wiU fuUfiU and compleatly pay
the samen anwellrents ; and for better perforrae
ing of the premisses, we decerne and ordaine
the said lord to make his tackes and other rights
and securities that he hes to the saids kirkes and
teynds furthcomeing to the forsaids persones, to
the effect that they may raise inhibitiones ther-
upouj and better to lett the forsaids teynds and
duties of the samen kirkes, baith personage and
viccarage therof, for perforraeing of the pre
mises ; and this our decreit arbitrall to all and
sundry whora it effeires, wee make knoune be
thir presents, and for the mair securitie, wee
decerne the samen decreit and subraissione to
be registrat in the bookes of counsell, and have
the strenth of ane decreit of the lords interponed
therto; and that horning be direct upon ane
siraple charge of sex dayes allennerly ; and for
the registrating therof constitutes our undoubt
ed procuratores.
Subscryved be us, day,- year, and place for
said, before thir witnesses, Master Alexander
King, advocat, John Dicksone, his servant, and
Jaraes Borthuick, wrytter ; sic subscribitur.

ink SOMERVILLS. 495
Hugh Lord Soraervill, Gilbert, Master of So-
mervill, Hugh Somervill his brother, Alexander
Somervill of Plaine, James Somervill of Humbiei,
James Soraervill younger his sone, WiUiam So-
mferviU in the PooU, with my hand at the pen,
led be the nottar under written, Ita est Jacobus
Borthwick, notarius publicus, in premissis requi-
situs testantibus his raeis signo et subscriptione
manualibiis, Alexander Seatoune Lord Urchard,
Sir John Seatoune of Barnes, Sir John Carmi
chaell of Garmiobaell, Sir James Lindsay, James
SomervUl, Robert Lord Seatoune, John Lord
Thirlestaine, John Cockburne of Clerkingtoune*
The decreit arbitrall being conceaved in the
termes above rehearsed, displeased exceedingly
the Lord Soraervill and his sone Hugh, who de
clared the same by protesting against ther pro
cedure, takeing instruments, they had gone be
yond what was submitted to them ; therefore
they protested againe for reraedie in law. Much
about this tyme, and dureing the continuance of
thes unnaturall and unchristiane differences in
the house of Cowthally, dyed James Somervill,
third Barrone of Carabusnethen, nicknamed the
Laird with the Plaides, a gentleraan much short
ofhis father and grandfather for actione, either
in civiU or militarie performances, however for-

496 MEMORIE OF
tunate in the mannadgement of his privat for
tune and estate, and the marriage ofhis children,
especially his daughters of the second marriage,
whom he bestowed honourably, the eldest being
marryed upon Sir John Skeine of Currie-hill,
clerk register, the second upon the Laird of
Dunlap, the third upon the Laird of MiUtoune,
of the sirname of Whytefoord, the fourth upon
the Lord Blantyre Stewart. For the sones of
this marriage they wer four, John, Goodman' of

' Good-man came about the seventeenth century to be ap
plied only to farmers, every landed proprietor assuming the
title of Laird, which, at an earlier period, was only applied to
barons and great vassals of the crown, under the rank of no
blemen. When I was born at Middleyard weight.
There was no word of lord or knight :
The greatest styles of honour then
Was to be titled the good-man.
But changing time hath changed the case.
And puts a laird in th' goodman's place.
For why ? my gossip good-man John,
And honest James whom I think on,
When we did meet whiles at the hawking.
We used no cringes but hand shaking,
No bowing, should'ring, gambo-scraping.
No French whistling or Dutch gaping,
We had no garments in our land
But what were spun by th' goodwife's hand.
The Speech ofa Fife Laird, apud Watson's Col*
lection qf Scots Poems, Edin. 1706, /. 28.

THE SOMERVILLS. 497
PetherhoU, Patrick designed of Green, WUliam,
and Thomas the youngest, who in his traveUes
turneing Roman catholicke, became a church
man, and admitted to orders, was at lenth Car
dinall of Padua in Italic. For this gentleman's
chUdren ofthe first marriage they wer only three,
James, who succeeded to the estate, and Robert,
designed Hatton Robert, off whora we wiU have
occasione to discourse more eftirward, in the
memorie of GUbert Master of Somervill, to whora
he becarae a grand tutor, as being his ladye's
uncle. For the daughter of this marriage, she
was marryed upon Nether Hellies, a fewar or
rentaller of the Lord HaraUtones, the gentle
man hiraself being of the sarae narae. Haveing
given this account of the house of Carabusne
then, I returne to that of Cowthalleys.

END OF VOLUME I.

Edinburgh :
Printed by James Ballantyne & Co.

DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING ENGRAVINGS,

VOL. I.

Frontispiece.
The Right Honourable John Lord Somerville, Lord of
the Bed-chamber to his Majesty King George III., Colonel of
the West Somerset Regiment of Yeomen Cavalry, President
of the Board of Agriculture, &c. &c. &c.
Page 45.
Rude sculpture over the porch or entrance of the Kirk of
Linton, illustrative of the event which gave rise to the crest
borne by the family of Somerville. Page 47.
Linton Kirk, in the county of Roxburgh, being the parish
church belonging to the original estate held by the Somerville
family in Scotland. Page 63.
View upon the Tweed, looking down the river towards the
Carrowell and the Noirs, two celebrated salmon casts in the
river Tweed, with the woods and farm-house of Langlee, be-
a

IV

tween the towns of Galashiels and Melrose, the property of the
Right Hon. Lord Somerville. The rock in the centre of the
river in the fore-ground was the cause of a sad loss of lives :
About 80 years ago, the ferry-boat, full of people going to
Melrose fair, broke from its moorings, and was split to pieces
on it. Twenty people were said to have been carried away by
the current and drowned ; ten saved themselves by hanging to
the mane of a horse : this powerful animal landed them all in
safety. Page 176.
Carnwath Chapel, in the county of Lanark.
Page 361.
The ruins ofthe Castle of Cowthally, anciently the baronial
seat of the house of Somerville, in the shire of Lanark.
Page 409.
Ancient Monument in fhe old Chapel of Carnwath, being
probably that of Hugh Lord Somerville and his lady, Dame
Janet Maitland, who died in or about the year 1550.

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