Lennox

The Scots Peerage has the following article on the Celtic Earls of Lennox:

Lennox was not one of the so-called seven Provinces of Scotland, but as a district derived its name from the Gaelic rendering othe vale of the Leven, including the great lake of Loch 'Leven' now known as Lock Lomond. It was styled Levenauchen or Levenachs, softened into Levenax or Lennax, signifying 'the field of the smooth stream.' The district embraced under this name, and included in the earldom, contained the whole of the ancient sheriffdom of Dumbarton, the parishes of Arrochar, Baldernock, Balfron, Bonhill, Buchanan, Cardross, Drymen, Dumbarton, Fintry, Killearn, Kilmarnock, New Kilpatrick, Old Kilpatrick, Luss, Roseneath, Row, and Strathblane, with Campsie and Kilsyth being all within the bounds ruled over by the Earls of Lennox. This large territory was, it is said, erected by King Malcolm IV into an earldom in 1154 in favout of a certain Alwin, who is referred to in two later writs of date about 1200 as Alwin the elder, Earl of Lennox. The year of erection here assigned is probably too early. Dr. Skene expresses the opinion that Lennox was one of two earldoms created by King William the Lion in favour of his brother David, the other being Garloch, and that Lennox came to Alwin about the year 1193, or that David resigned it when he became Earl of Huntingdon in 1184. This view, however, must be qualified by other evidence. It is not clear that Garlock ever was an earldom, as it is usually described as a lordship, and it will be shown that Lennox was already an earldom when it was bestowed on Prince David. There can be little doubt that there were two Earls of Lennox of the name of Alwin, but their ancestry has hitherto been a matter of speculation. Two rival theories were put forward. The first, suggested by Crawfurd, elaborated by Douglas's Peerage (botn editions), and more recently accepted and expanded by Sir William Fraser, traced that descent from a certain Arkill or Archill, a Northumbrian magnat who was made an exile by William the Conqueror, and who is alleged, though there is no evidence on the point, to have come to Scotland in 1070 and to have received a grant of lands in the Lennox. This theory assumes that the first Alwin, Earl of Lennox. This theory assumes that the first Alwin, Earl of Lennox, was identical with Alwin Macarchill, a personage who appears frequently as a witness to charters of King David I., and also to a few of his successor's, down to 1154 or later.
    The other theory is that of a Celtic descent, put forward by Dr. Skene. In his work on The Highlanders of Scotland, first published in 1837, Mr. Skene's views on the parentage of the first Earl of Lennox were admittedly uncertain, and apparently on the authority of a passage in Lord Strathallan's Genealogy of the House of Drummond, he inclines to the theory that 'the Earl of Lennox, before they acquired that dignity, were hereditary seneschals of Stratherne and bailies of the Abthainrie of Dull in Atholl.' He also, in the same work, asserts that 'during the reign of Malcolm IV. and a part of that of William the Lion, their brother David, Earl of Huntingdon, appears as Earl of Lennox.' In his later work, Celtic Scotland, Dr. Skene modified his opinions considerably, and supplied evidence which fully justifies a Celtic descent being ascribed to the first Earl of Lennox, of whom we now treat.

I. Alwin, first Earl of Lennox, though he is disctinctly named in his son's charters as Alwin the elder, Earl of Lennox, is historically a very shadowy personage, but the combined evidence of a contemporary poet and of an ancient Celtic genealogy, without following the latter to its ancient and perhaps mythical beginning, makes it probable that his father was named Muredach, and his grandfather Maldouen. The latter, Mr. Skene goes so far as to suggest, was identical with Meldionneth, son of Machedeth, the 'good and discreet judge,' who, in 1128, aided in settling a dispute as to the bounds of Kirkness. Be this as it may, the evidence, so far as it goes, seems to suggest that the immediate ancestors of Alwin were not only Celtic chiefs but were Mormaors of their own district. So also probably was Alwin before he was made Earl. The date of his creation, if such a ceremony ever took place, can only be presumed, as the evidence is very meagre. One charter by King William the Lion granting the Lennox to his brother David is now accessible, and its date may be stated to be between 1178 and 1182. This writ was unknown to Mr. Skene, and it qualifies his view that David was Earl of Lennox during Malcolm's reign, as the charter conveys the earldom of Lennox ('comitatum de Leuenaus cum omnibus pertinenciis'), thus showing that the earldom had been already constituted and its limits defined before 1178. But there is evidence that Prince David may have had the earldom earlier, as he grants the churches of Campsie and Altermunin to the monks of Kelso, by a charter which is confirmed by King William about 1177, or perhaps so early as 1173. He may therefore have had an earlier grant of the earldom. It may be noted that Prince David is nowhere styled 'Earl' of Lennox, but his occupancy complicates the difficulty of fixing the date of Alwin's possession as Earl, though it is probable it was not quite so early as 1154, the date usually assigned, while, as stated, it may have been so late as 1185.
    There are no charters of the first Earl Alwin known to exist in any form, but there can be little doubt that he was Earl for a time, and did grant lands to the church of Kilpatrick, though the date is uncertain. The poem by Muredach Albanach, his contemporary, adds little of nothing to our knowledge of him, except that his chief sent was at Balloch, afterwards a residence of the Earls. it is not known when he died, but it must have been before 1199. He left issue, but the name of his wife is unknown:-
    1. Alwin, who succeeded.
    2. Eth, who is described as son of the Earl of Lennox, and is witness to a charter, dated about 1193, by Duncan, afterwards Earl of Carrick, granting the lands of Little Maybole to the monks of Melrose.
    Alwin the first may have had other offspring, as Earl Alwin the second also refers in one writ, before 1199, to 'Rodarc' or 'Rodard,' his nephew, and in another writ (1207-1214) to 'Gillescop Galbard,' his nephew, a person who appears later as the ancestor of the family of Galbraith. These were apparently brothers.

II. Alwin, second Earl of Lennox, styles himself 'son and heir of Alwin, Earl of Lennox,' and is styled by his son 'Alwin, younger, Earl of Lennox, son and heir of Alwin, elder, Earl of Lennox,' thus leaving no doubt of his parentage not that he was the second Earl of his name. The grant to Earl David of the earldom may have been made during his minority, as he would then be a ward of the Crown. When he was fully invested in his earldom is unknown, but the first notice of him is a charter by himself to the church of Kilpatrick of the lands of Cochnach and others. This charter is of uncertain date, and can be fixed only as between 1182 and 1199, the year when Jocelyn, Bishop of Glasgow, died, who was present at the granting. Maldouen and Malcolm, two of the granter's sons, are witnesses. Between 1208 and 1214 he, as son and heir of Alwin, Earl of Lennox, bestowed the church and the church lands of Campsie upon the church of Glasgow. He also, at some unknown date, granted to Maldouen, Dean of Lennox (perhaps a kinsman), the lands of Luss, which afterwards came by marriage into possession of, and still belong to, the ancient family of Colquhoun. It is not certain when the second Earl Alwin died, but it was apparently before 1217, when his son Maldouen seems to have been Earl. Alwin is said to have married Eva, daughter of Gilchrist, Earl of Menteith. He had issue:-

    1. Maldouen, who succeeded as Earl.
    2. Murdach, named by Earl Maldouen as first of his brothers, Dugald, Aulay, and Duncan being the others, in a charter of or before August 1217. It is probably he who is described as Muredach, son of the Mormaor of Lennox, and celebrated as victorious in a conflict in 1215.
    3. Dugald, rector of Kilpatrick, named first in a charter about 1217. He alienated the extensive possessions and emoulments of that benefice from the church to his own uses, and the Abbot and convent of Paisley, to whom the rectory belonged, accused him to the Pope. A commisson of inquiry was appointed, and after hearing witnesses, Dugald, finding the case going against him, threw himself upon his accuser's mercy and resigned the lands he had alienated, in favour of the Abbey of Paisley. He was allowed to retain his church for life with about fifty acres of land. In 1271 his three grand nieces were his heirs.
    4. Malcolm, who is named in the charter by his father to the church of Kilpatrick before 1199. He is also a witness to various charters by his brother. Earl Maldouen. The date of his death is uncertain. He had issue a daughter, married to Finlay de Campay, son of Robert of Reidheugh, by whom she had (1) Mary, wife of John de Wardroba, (2) Helen, wife of Bernard de Erth, ancestors of the Stirlings of Craigbernard and Glorat, and (3) Forveleth, wife of Norin of Monorgund. They were retorued, on 24 April 1271, as heirs of their grandfather Malcolm and grand-uncle Dugald.
    5. Aulay (a name which is very variously spelt), named in 1217, who had grants of hte lands of Faslane, and of Roseneath, Glenfruin, and others on the Gareloch, from his brother Earl Maldouen, confirmed by King Alexander II. 31 May 1226. He made liberal grants to the Abbey of Paisley, especially a large range of net fishing in the Gareloch, reserving to himself every fourth salmon taken. He was also a witness to various charters by his brother the Earl, and was sill alive in 1250. He had a son,
        Aulay, who is named with his father in a charter of uncertain date, and also in a charter by Earl Maldouen in 1250. He had a son,
            Duncan, who is referred to as Duncan, son of Aulay, in various writs, and attained the rank of knighthood. He is named as a juror in 1271; he was a knight in 1294, and he was still alive in 1306 and had joined Bruce, as a request was made to the English King for his lands. He had a son
                Aulay, styled Aulay or Allan de Faslane, on whom Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, bestowed the office of 'Tosheagor' or heritable baillie, given up apparently for the time by Patrick Lindsay of Bonhill. He was succeeded in the office by his son,
                    Walter de Faslane, who married Margaret, daughter of Donald, Earl of Lennox, and possessed the earldom in her right. A further notice of him is given below.

    6. Duncan, named in 1217 as a brother of Earl Maldouen, and also in other writs by the Earl, the last being in 1250.
    7. Gilchrist, named in 1217, who obtained from his brother Earl Maldouen the lands of Arrochar, and became the ancestor of the Clan Macfarlane. He appears frequently as a witness to his brother's charters, the latest being in 1250. It has also been suggested that he is the same as Christinus, who is named as a brother of the granter in a charter by Earl Maldouen to Maurice Galbraith.
    8. Henry, who appears in several charters of Earl Maldouen as his brother.
    9. Corc, who appears once, as a witness, among Earl Maldouen's brothers. He had a son, Murdoch, who had charters of the lands of Croy. His descendants in the time of King David II. had a charter of the lands of Leckie and assumed that surname.
    10. Ferchar, who is named once, in 1217, with Aulay, Duncan, and Gilchrist, as brothers of the Earl, in a charter to Eva, their sister, and her husband.
    11. Eva, to whom, in or about 1217, Earl Maldouen granted the lands of Glaskel or Glaswel in free marriage with Malcolm, son of Duncan, thane of Callendar. On 10 August in that year the Earl renewed the grant to her and her husband, and added part of Kilsyth, with the patronage of the church, then styled Moniabroc. They had issue Alwin, Thane of Callendar, ancestor of the family of that name.

III. Maldouen, third Earl of Lennox, who first appears on record in a charter by his father, Earl Alwin, to the church of Kilpatrick before 1199. Between 1208 and 1214 he granted the church of Campsie to the bishopric of Glasgow, and was then son and heir of his father. he succeeded before 10 August 1217, when he, as Earl, bestowed the lands and church of Kilsyth on his sister Eva and her husband. From this date on to 1250 he is frequently found granting charters, chiefly to the Abbey of Paisley. Other grants made by him were those to his brother Aulay of the lands of Faslane, to Gilchrist of the lands of Arrochar, and of the large territory of Colquhoun to Humphrey Kilpatrick. Followinf the example of King William the Lion, he was admitted into the fraternity of the Abbey of Arbroath, and in recognition of the fact he gave 'his brothers' an alms of four oxen each year, at Stirling, on St. John Baptist's Day, with a promise that, at his death, they were to have twenty oxen. His name and that of his brother Aulay were to be inscribed in the Abbey martyrology, 'that each year at our anniversary we may be absolved in their chapter.' This grant, which was continues yearly until 1317, when it was commuted into a yearly sum of two merks, to be paid at Cambuskenneth, was confirmed on 9 January 1231. He was present at the important treaty between Alexander II. and Henry III., affecting the northern countis of England, on 25 September 1237, and he was a surety for the same in 1244. In 1238 he had a charter from King Alexander II. of the earldom of Lennox, which his father Alwin held, except the Castle of Dumbarton, with the land of Murrach, with the whole part and the water and fishery of the River Leve, so far as the lands of Murrach extend, which the King retained in his own hands, with the Earl's consent. The last dated charter granted by the Earl was on 12 March 1250-51, containing a general confirmation of his benefactions to the monastery of Paisley. The date of this Earl's death is uncertain. His successor does not appear on record till about 1270. Earl Maldouen married a lady named Elizabeth, to whom he refers as his spouse in a charter of certain lands to the monks of Paisley, dated before 22 October 1228, when it was confirmed by King Alexander II. She is said to have been a daughter of Walter, the third High Stewart, and this is not improbable, as he not unfrequently is a witness to Earl Maldouen's charters, and seems to have taken an interest in the family affairs. The Earl had issue, so far as on record, two sons:-
    1. Malcolm, who is first named in a charter dated 1225, as son of the Earl, and again in a charterby Walter the High Stewart, dated before 16 November 1228, and others by him. Later, he is described as son and heir. In 1239 he had a dispute with the Abbey of Paisley about the possession of certain lands belonging to their church of Kilpatrick. To settle the matter, Walter the High Stewart and hte Earl arranged with the disputants that the Abbey should pay Malcolm sixty merks, while he quitclaimed the lands and confirmed the rights of the monks. Besides other writs in which Malcolm is named, the last transavtion recorded of him was a dispute between him and Sir David Graham. Earl Maldouen had granted to the latter half a carucate, or about fifty acres, of Strathblane. At Whitsundey 1248, however, Malcolm objected to the grant, and trouble began. At Lammas, however, the influence of his father and other friends led to a settlement. Malcolm duly granted a quitclaim to Sir David of certain money, and agreed to give a charter of the lands. His sudden death a few days later prevented this, and Earl Maldouen himself made the necessary grant, explaining the circumstances and the reason of delay. So far as known Malcolm had only one son,
        Malcolm, who succeeded his grandfather as fourth Earl.
    2. Duncan, who is named son of the Earl (Maldouen) in a charter by the latter to Stephen Blantyre, another witness being Walter the High Stewart.

IV. Malcolm, fourth Earl of Lennox. It is not known when he succeeded, but it seems probable that he was a minor at his father's death. He styles Earl Maldouen his grandfather in a charter by himself confirming that Earl's grant of Arrochar to Duncan, son of Gilchrist. Earl Malcolm does not appear on record until about 1270, when he presided over the court which tried the claim made by the grandnieces of Dugald, the rector of Kilpatrick. The claimants, on recieving 140 merks from the Abbey of Paisley, renounced their rights in favour of that monastery. On 6 July 1272 he received a grant of free forestry from King Alexander III., giving him exclusive rights of cutting timber or hunting over a considerable trace of land, though the boundaries stated are now not readily to be discovered. Like his predecessors, he was liberal to the Church, and conferred lands and some special privileges and immunities on the monks of Paisley. He took part also in public affairs, and was present in the Parliament of 1284, consenting to the right of the Princess Margaret to the Crown of Scotland. In 1290, at Birgham, he consented to her marriage with Prince Edward of England. He is said to have died between this and the year 1292, but there are reasons for believing that he survived until several years later, and that it was he who, in 1292, supported the elder Bruce in his claim to the Crown. He it was who had the long controversy with teh Abbot and monks of Paisley, who were summoned to the Earl's court on a question affecting their church lands of Kilpatrick. This they deeply resented, and appealed to the Bishop of Glasgow, who, in August 1294, directed the thunder of the Church and threats of excommunication against the recusant Earl, but, so far as appears, without much result, and the matter was still undecided in 1296.
    The Earl swore fealty to Edward I. on 14 March 1295-96, and again on 28 August 1296, and he had a letter from that King on 24 May 1297, requiring him to give obedience to Treasurer Cressingham during the King's absence in France. This Earl is said to have been a friend of Sir William Wallace, and to have entertained him in the Castle of Faslane, but this rests only on the authority of Blind Harry. This Earl grants a good many charters, but they are all without date. He probably died in or about 1303. In 1305 Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, petitioned King Edward I. that the 100 merks paid for his relief might be allowed in his ransom and the balance discharged, which suggests that he had then not long succeeded to the earldom, and was paying the usual casualty to the superior. Margaret, Countss of Lennox, in or about September 1303, wrote to the English King desiring aid against John Comun of Badenoch, then in arms against Edward. It is probable that, as she wrote in her own name, she was then a widow.
    The name of the foruth Earl's wife was Margaret, but her parentage has not been ascertained. He had issue, so far as known, one son,
    Malcolm, who succeeded.

V. Malcolm, fifth Earl of Lennox, who, as stated, appears to have succeded his father some little time before 1305, perhaps in 1303. It was probably he who, on 11 March 1303-4, received from King Edward I. a summons to attend Parliament, being required at the same time to guard the fords of the river Forth. Shortly afterwards, on 1 April 1304, he was ordered to forbid his people going or carrying provisions to the garrison of Stirling Castle. In or about the following year he made the application already cited as to the sum paid for relief of his lands. The King replied by postpoining an answer until an 'extent' or valuation of the Earl's lands had been made, a fact which corroborates the view that he had not long succeeded to the earldom.
    The Earl must have joined the party of Bruce at an early date, as on 1 June 1306, even before the battle of Methven, King Edward I. commanded to enter in the roll of grants the earldom of Lennox for Sir John Menteith, who had already, in 1305, or before it, been appointed Sheriff, and on 15 June he directed the Chamberlain and Chancellor of Scotland to grant charter and give sasine of the earldom to Sir John, with the custody of the Castle of Dumbarton. On 14 December 1307 Sir John Menteith is addressed by King Edward II. as Earl of Lennox, showing that he was then still in possession. These dates cover the period of the adventures of King Robert Bruce in the Lennox country in the company of the Earl and other adherents, and corroborate the narrative of Barbour that the Earl also was a fugitive at that date. He was, however, again taking part in affairs on 16 March 1308-9, when he joined with other nobles and barons in the letter from the Scots Estates to Philip of France. Record is silent concerning him for some years later, but on 18 March 1314-15 King Robert bestowed upon the church of Luss, in the Earl's domains, the privilege of girth of sanctuary for three miles on every side, both on land and water. On 27 October same year the King confirmed the Earl's grants to the monks of Paisley. King Robert also, on 14 July 1321, renewed the former grants of the earldom of Lennox, with the gift of free forestry already cited, and further, for the Earl's good deeds and services, restored to his keeping the Castle of Dumbarton, with the office of Sheriffship of the county. A special clause provided that if the Castle ws reclaimed by the Crown from the Earl or his heirs against their will, a sum of five hundred merks sterling should be paid yearly to the Earl until he and his heirs again obtained possession.
    Earl Malcolm was one of those who affixed their seals to the letter of 6 April 1320, directed to Pope John XXII., affirming the independence of Scotland. From that time till after the death of King Robert little or nothing is recorded of him, but like other patriotic Scotsmen he resented the domination by England which followed on Edward Baliol's victory at Dupplin. With the men of Lennox he followed Sir Archibald Douglas to the relief of the garrison of Berwick, and fell at the battle of Halidon Hill on 19 July 1333. The name of Earl Malcolm's wife has not been ascertained. He had issue, so far as known, three sons:-
    1. Donald, who succeeded.
    2. Murdoch, who appears as a witness to charters by his brother Donald, Earl of Lennox. He is said to have the lands of Duntreath, but to have died without issue.
    3. Malcolm, who is named in a charter by his father granting lands to Gilbert of Carrick.

VI. Donald, sixth Earl of Lennox, succeeded his father in 1333. Very little is recorded regarding him. He adhered to the cause if King David Bruce, and some of his lands in Lothian, including Easter Glencorse and others, were forfeited. His name, however, chiefly occurs in connection with charters granted by him, but these need not be specially enumerated, the rather as they are all without date. One charter mey be noted, the granting to Maurice Buchanan the lands of Buchanan and Sallechy, giving him jurisdircion over life and limb on these lands, provided those condemned were put to death on the Earl's own gallows at the Cathir. The reddendo of the lands was one cheese from each house where cheese was made, to be furnished to the King's common army when occasion required, and also six pennies of silver in name of blench farm, if asked, at Whitsunday and Martinmas. The Earl also had a charter from King David II., of date 2 May 1361, confirming the extensive grant of free forestry made by Alexander III. Earl Donald was present in Parliament at Edinburgh 26 September 1357, and with other magnates appointed certain plenipotentiaries to treat as to the ransom of King David. He died between May 1361 and November 1364, when his successor is styled Earl of Lennox. His wife is not known, but he had issue one daughter,
    Margaret, a notice of whom follows.
VII. Margaret, Countess of Lennox, succeeded, though she nowhere appears on record under that title, but is only referred to as the wife of her husband, Walter of Faslane [above], styled Lord of Lennox. They are said to have married about 1344, but not improbably their union was later. He was, as already stated, a direct descendant of Aulay, Allan or Alwin, the firth son of Alwin, second Earl of Lennox, and was the nearest heir-male of the earldom. Notwithstanding this, however, he is only once styled Earl of Lennox, apparently shortly after Earl Donald's death, and is thereafter usually described as Lord Lennox or Lord of the earldom of Lennox. He is named in record, apparently for the first time, in a charter of 1351, when a grant of lands which had been given to his father was continued to him, with the office of Forester of the woods of Lennox and the office called 'Toosachiorschip,' or heritable bailiary of the earldom. Later, 1360-1364, he had other lands bestowed upon him by Earl Donald, and he appears very frequently as a witness to charters by that Earl.
    After his succession to Earl Donald the Lord of Lennox took part in public affairs, and was present in the Parliament of Scone when King Robert II. was crowned on 16 March 1370-71, and he swore fealty on the following day. In August of 1373 he granted at his castle of Balloch a charter of the lands of Auchmarr to Walter, Laird of Buchanan. In 1384 he had a special charter from King Robert II. renewing to him a privilege conferred by King Robert Bruce upon Earl Malcolm, of holding the weaponshawings of the whole earldom, including the King's own lands there and of all other lands, whether held of the King in chief or of others. The King granted that neither the Earls of Lennox, nor any men abiding in the earldom, should appear before the King's sheriffs on their proving that the weaponshawing had taken place within the earldom. The King also granted the lands of Auchondonane and others in pure alms and regality, for rendering six merks sterling yearly to a chaplain praying for the King and his predecessors before the Holyrood altar in the parish church of Dumbarton. The same King granted that Walter, Lord of the earldom of Lennox, for himself and his heirs, should forever enjoy all the liberties within the earldom which he or his ancestors, Earls of Lennox, had justly used in the time of the granter or his predecessors, Kings of Scotland. It was also declared that any man arrested in the earldom by the King's sheriffs for anyaction which might be determined in the Earl's courts, should be delivered to be tried by the Earl's officers. In 1385 Walter and Margaret, his wife, resigned the whole earldom and lordship of Lennox within the sheriffdoms of Stirling and Dumbarton in the hands of King Robert II. at Stirling and Dumbarton in the hands of King Robert II. at Stirling in favour of their son, Sir Duncan of Lennox, Knight, was received a charter of the same on 8 May 1385, followed by a similar resignation and regrant on 19 August 1388, when their liferent rights were specially reserved. They were apparently both dead before 17 February 1391-92, when the marriage of their granddaughter was arranged. They had issue:-
    1. Sir Duncan, who succeeded.
    2. Alexander, who appears as a witness, with his father and his brother Alan, in a charter about 1385 or a little later. He is also named as a witness to several charters by his brother Earl Duncan between 1393 and 1396. Nothing further is certainly known of him. He was claimed as an ancestor of Alexander Alan Lennox, an officer of militia, who laid claim to the title of Lennox in 1769, but the evidence for the alleged relationship is said to have been very doubtful.     3. Alan, named with his father and brother Alexander in 1385, as stated. He also appears as a witness to a charter by his brother, Earl Duncan, about 1395.
    4. Walter, named, apparently once only, with his brothers Alexander and Alan in the writ of 1395 cited above.

VIII. Sir Duncan, eighth Earl of Lennox, is said to have been born in 1345, as in one MS. of Bower's Fordun he is, in 1425, described as 'octogenarius.' Little is recorded of him, the first notice of him being the dispensation for his marriage, granted on 30 March 1373, to be afterwards referred to. The next reference to him appears to be in 1385, by which time he had received the honour of knighthood, and in that year, as already stated, his parents resigned the earldom and lordship of Lennox in his favour. King Robert II. regranted them to be held to Duncan and his heirs of the King and his heirs for the ususal services. After this he appears as Earl of Lennox, and as such received from the same King in 1387 a grant of the weaponshawings of the earldom as formerly bestowed on his father. Another resignation in his favour and regrant to him and his heirs were made on 19 August 1388, while his father and mother were still alive.
    The Earl was apparently in full possession of his earldom on 17 February 1391-92, when he entered into a contract of marriage between his eldest daughter Isabel and Sir Murdach Steart, eldest son of Robert, Earl of Fife and Menteith. In terms of the provisions in this contract the Earl resigned his earldom in the hands of King Robert III., who, on 9 November 1392, regranted the same (1) to Earl Duncan and the heirs-male of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten; whom failing, to (2) Murdach Stewart and Isabella, daughter of the Earl, the longer liver of them and the heirs between them lawfully to be begotten; whom failing, to (3) the lawful and nearest heirs of Earl Duncan whomsoever. It is said that he renewed this entail in 1411, to the same series of heirs, but the corroborating evidence has not been found.
    This Earl seems to have taken little or no part in public affairs. His name occurs in no public record, though he was the granter of some charters dated between 1393 and 1398. On 6 March 1400-1, Robert, Earl of Fife and Menteith, granted to him and to the heirs of the above entail the office of 'Coronator' of the whole earldom of Lennox, an office which had belonged to the Laird of Drummond.
    The only public act recorded of Earl Duncan is his meeting King James I. at Durham on his return to Scotland from captivity in England. King James was crowned at Scone on 21 May 1424, when Earl Duncan's son-in-law, Murdach, now Duke of Albany, placed him on the throne. Little more than a year later, King James wreaked vengeance on the house of Albany, and Earl Duncan, aged as he is said to have been, and blameless so far as record states, was also arrested, and was beheaded at Stirling with his son-in-law and grandsons, on 25 May 1425. No motive for hte fate of Earl Duncan has been stated by historians, and his death forms one of the unsolved mysteries of the past, all the more so as his estates were not forfeited, while those of Albany were annexed to the Crown. Earl Duncan married, sometime before 30 March 1373, Ellen or Helen Campbell, daughter of Archibald or Gillespie Campbell of Lochawe. She was the widow of 'John of the Isles,' apparently the eldest son of John, first Lord of the Isles, by his first marriage with Amie, daughter of Ruari of Bute. John of the Isles died about 1369, leaving a son Angus, who died a youth. Between 1369 and 1373 his widow married Duncan, then styled son of Walter Macallan of Foslane. Her first marriage is referred to in a dispensation for which they applied on the ground that although they knew that John of the Isles, Helen's first husband, and Duncan were related in the third and fourth degrees of affinity, yet to pacify serious feuds and prevent murder and bloodhed among their kinsmen and friends, they had contracted marriage 'per verba de futuro,' and had issue, thus incurring the penalty of excommunication from which they petition to be relieved, and their marriage sanctioned. Earl Duncan's wife survived him, and was alive in 1434, but died before 1447. They had issue:-
    1. Isabella, Countss of Lennox, of whom later.
    2. Elizabeth, married, about 1406, to Sir John Stewart, son and heir of Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnley. They had issue, for whom see Stewart Earls and Dukes of Lennox. It has hitherto been assumed, for there was no definite proof, that Elizabeth was married to John Stewart in 1392, but it now appears that the dispensation for their marriage was not granted till 23 September 1406. He was, however, her second husband, as she was a widow in 1406, but her first husband's surname has unfortunately been dropped in the dispensation, and he is only named Alexander. It does not appear that they had any issue.
    3. Margaret, married, about 25 July 1392, to Robert Menteith of Rusky, by whom she had issue. Her eldest granddaughter, Agnes, was barried to John Haldane of Gleneagles, and he in her right disputed the succession to the earldom of Lennox with John Stewart, Lord Darnley, claiming that Margaret was the second daughter of Earl Duncan. On the other hand, her second granddaughter, Elizabeth, who married John Napier of Merchiston, claimed to be descended from the younger daughter of Earl Duncan, which supports the view that Margaret was younger than Elizabeth. Robert Menteith of Rusky died before 23 April 1411, when a marriage was proposed between his widow and John Colquhoun of Ludd, but the projected union did not take place. Margaret was still alive in 1451, but it is probable she was dead before May 1453. Her representative at the present day, and of the ancient family of Haldane of Gleneagles, is James Brodrick Chinnery Haldane, Esq.
    Earl Duncan had also four natural sons:-
    1. Malcolm; 2. Thomas, named with their father and brother Donald in a charter of 11 August 1423, and there styled natural sons of the Earl. Of them nothing more is known.
    3. Donald, named in same writ also as a natural son. He appears to have been legitimated in some way, as he is styled lawful son in a writ by his father Earl Duncan. He is said to have married Elizabeth Stewart, daughter and heiress of Sir John Stewart of Girthon and Cally, co. Kirkcudbright, and had issue. On 26 April 1768 William Lennox of Woodhead claimed the title of Lennox, as heir-male of Donald, and this claim was repeated and set forth in a case in 1813, for William's daughter Margaret Lennox of Woodhead, where the legitimacy of Fonald is maintained, notwithstanding the undoubted facts that he could not be the son of Earl Duncan's wife, who survived her husband, and also that had Donald been truly legitimate he would have been heir to the earldom in preference to his sister.
    4. Mr. William, referred to as her brother by Countess Isabel in a charter, dated 15 February 1445-46.

IX. Isabella, Countess of Lennox, is first referred to in her marriage-contract with Sir Murdach Stewart on 17 February 1391-92, as already cited. In the contract her sisters Elizabeth and Margaret are referred to, and provision was made for their marriage, also at the disposal of the Earl of Fife. In August 1423 she confirmed a charter granted by her father, and did so under the title of Isabella Stewart, Duchess of Albany, Countess of Fife and Menteith, and heriess of the earldom of Lennox. When her husband and father were arrested by King James I. she also was seized, while at Doune in menteith, carried to Dunbar, and afterwards imprisoned in Tantallon Castle. How long she remained there is uncertain, but at a later date she was permitted to assume and to enjoy the honours and earldom of Lennox, which, as stated, were not forfeited. She resided chiefly at her castle of Inchmurrin in Loch Lomond, where she granted various charters as Duchess of Albany and Countess of Lennox, but without the other titles of Fife and Menteith. One of these charters bound the grantee to provide stabling for her and her successors when they came to Drymen, and also lodging and fire for poor people as had been requied by former Lords of Lennox. Another writ provided for masses on behalf of King Robert Bruce and the Countess's own immediate kin, including her mother. Besides other pious gifts, the Countess endowed, or proposed to endow, a collegiate church at Dumbarton. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and to it the Countess granted land. The Countess died between 1456 and 1458, probably about the later date. Her issue by Murdach, Duke of Albany, have already been treated of under that title.

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