Ref:

(1) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Lord Lindsay, Vol. I, p. 3; Domesday Book- 349b; Cal. of Docs. (France)- 223
(2) Reg. Epis. Glasguen- p. 7
(3) "Monasticon"- Dugdale, Vol.VI, p.829
(4) Liber Niger Scaccarii- Vol. I, p. 282; "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol. I, p. 18

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.1-2

2I. WILLIAM (WALTER 1)

William was a witness to several charters in the reign of David I. He granted two bovates of land at Ercildun (Earlstoun) "cum tofto et crofto et pastura" with consent of "Walter my son and heir" to Dryburgh Abbey.(1) He also granted lands in Caddyslea "sartum Alwini, ex illa parte aque versus Cadesley" to the Abbey of Dryburgh.(2)

"Gauterius de Lyndesey" granted the church of "Ercheldune" along with a carucate of land to Kelso Abbey, for the souls of King David and his son, Earl Henry, and for that of Walter de Lindsay and for the souls of himself and his wife and those of all his predecessors and successors (that about covers it!). "Et hospitale in eadem villa quietum erit ab omni redditu decimarum". (3)

Issue-

3I. WALTER-

Ref:

(1) Chartulary of Dryburgh- p. 83
(2) Ibid- p. 79
(3) Originals in the Treasury of Durham Cathedral- quoted in Raine's "History of North Durham"- app. p. 39
(4) "The Lord Lion King"- Sir David Lindsay, quoted in "The Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol. I, p. 20

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, p.2

3I. WALTER (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2)

Walter confirmed his father's grant to Dryburgh Abbey and also gave the church of Earlston to the Abbey of Kelso for the soul of his uncle Walter 'concedente Willelmo filio meo'.(1) He was a witness to the charters of King Malcolm IV as well as a witness to a convention at Ramsey.(2) He was Justiciar of Scotland in 1164.(3) In 1138 he was remitted 10/ in the accounts of the Sheriff of Huntingdon.(4)

Issue-

Ref:

(1) original deeds at the Durham Cathedral Chapter House
(2) Chart. of Soltre- p.7; Chart. of Ramsey- Vol.I, p.253
(3) Acta Parl. Scot.- Vol.I, p.364 ff
(4) Cal. Doc. Scot.- Vol.I, p.58

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, p.2

4I. WILLIAM (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3)

m.1. Marjory, daughter of Henry, Earl of Huntingdon (see Crinan)
2. ?ALIENORA, daughter of Gerard de Limesi and Amicia de Bidun

William gave the lands of Fauope to the Abbey of Melrose before 1179 for the souls of his father and mother. This charter was witnessed by Swan, son of Thor, and Arosinus de Lindsay.(1) The lands of Earlston and Crawford were first held by Swan, a south country magnate whose family acquired land in Perthshire and took the name of Ruthven. The mountain territory of Crawford remained in the family for centuries. The ruins of Crawford Castle or Tower Lindsay are now nothing more than a mound of earth. Gold and silver was discovered in the mountains of Crawford in the time of James V. So much was discovered that a new gold coin was issued called the bonnet piece.

Tower Lindsay

He witnessed charters of Malcolm the Maiden and William the Lion from 1161 to 1200.

William granted to Dryburgh Abbey the "terram que fuit Magistri Thome de Haregune in villa de Berwic, proxime cimiterio Sancte Trinitatis in australi parte herentem".(4)

William was one of the hostages for King William in 1174 and was described by Wyntoun as "the greatest that of our land were seen".(2)

William was in Parliament as Baron of Luffenac (Luffness) and witnessed many royal charters until 1200. After 1187 he was a Justiciar of Lothian.(5) The Justiciar of Lothian held paramount authority in all civil and criminal jurisdiction to the south of the two firths and was one of the highest offices in the kingdom and was always held by barons whose power enabled them to enforce the king's authority and the execution of the laws.

He confirmed a donation to the Church of Binning of half a carucate of land from Durandus his "antecessor" (ie. the prior owner of the property) and granted land at Binning to Cambuskenneth Abbey and in Crawford to Newbattle Abbey. The Crawford grant gives "quamdam partem terre mee de Crauford, illam scilicet que jacet ad Suth-West de Brothyralewyn, et ad aquilonem de Deiher". David, Earl of Huntingdon, the brother of King William the Lion, was a witness to it and to the confirmation.(3) Newbattle Abbey became a favorite of the Lindsays and the chain of charters granting gifts to the abbey gives evidence of the Lindsay's pedigree for many generations.

By his marriage to Marjory, their son David's descendant, Robert de Pinkeney, was a claimant to the Scottish throne in 1291.

Issue- first child by Marjory, last two by Alienora.

Ref:

(1) Chart. of Melrose- Vol.I, p.11
(2) Book VII, chapter 8, fol. 172b; Wyntoun's "Cronykil"- Vol. I, p. 326; Rymer's "Foedera"- Vol. I, p. 39
(3) Priory of St. Andrews Chart.- 180-1; Chart. of Cambuskenneth- p.44; Chart. of Newbattle- p. 102
(4) Chartulary of Dryburgh- p. 108
(5) Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis- Vol. I, p. 67; Chartulary of Kelso- p. 304; Chartulary of Melrose- pp. 15/ 116; Acts of Parliament- Vol. I, p. 81

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.2-3

5III. WILLIAM (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4)

d. 1236

William was seneschal to the Steward of Scotland which may account for the fess chequy borne on the coat of arms of his descendants. William received the barony of Luffness near Aberlady in Haddingtonshire from his father. William is referred to in the charters as "William son of William" to distinguish him from his nephew, William son of Walter, of Lamberton.

Issue-

Ref:

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.7-8

6I. DAVID (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5)

David was the lord of Breneville, Ayrshire and of Byres, Haddingtonshire. He had a charter to Garmilton from Gilbert, Earl of Pembroke in 1233.(1)

David founded a mass at Balmerinach for the welfare of the soul of Queen Ermengarde by granting 20/ yearly from his mill in Brenwevil in Ayrshire which was confirmed by King Alexander II 28 Mar. 1233.(2)

He granted to Newbattle Abbey "ut quieti sint perpetuis temporibus in portu de Luffenauch ab omni tolnagio et ab omni alia consuetudine que exigi vel evenire potest". The port of Luffness (now Aberlady) is the nearest to the town of Haddington.(7)

He witnessed a charter of King Alexander to Scone as "David de Lindsay patre, filio Wilhelmi" on 5 Feb. 1241.(3) David was Justiciar of the Lothians from 1243 until 1249.(6) He was one of the four barons involved with the treaty with England in 1244 who swore on the soul of their lord the King that the conditions entered into should be kept inviolate by him and his posterity.(4)

David or his son had a charter to Chirden in Tynedale from Margaret, Countess of Pembroke, sister of King Alexander II which was confirmed by Henry III in 1255.(5)

Issue-

Ref:

(1) Acts and Decreets- Vol.XIII
(2) Cart. of Balmerinach- pp.17-8
(3) Cart. of Scone- p.46
(4) Cal. of Docs.- Vol.I, p.1654; Rymer's "Foedera"- Vol. I, p. 426
(5) Cal. of Docs.- Vol. I, p. 1981
(6) Reg. Mag. Sig.- 10 Nov. 1243; Chartulary of Melrose- pp. 172, 236; Chartulary of Kelso- p. 309; Chartulary of Scone- No. 81; Chartulary Balmerinach- p. 10
(7) Chartulary of Newbattle

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, p.8

7I. DAVID (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6)

m. MARGARET LINDSAY
d. 1268 Egypt

David was one of the Regents of Scotland in 1255 and was Lord High Chamberlain in 1256.(1)

David granted a charter of freedom to the abbey of Aberbrothwick from toll and custom in all ports of his lands. This charter reads more like a letter rather than a legal grant: "Ominibus, &c. David de Lindsay salutem in Domino. Noveritis me... dedisse... Abbati et Conventui Sancti Thome Martyris de Aberbrothock, ut ipsi et eorum homines quieti sint et liberi a tholoneo et consuetitudine per totam terram et per omnes portus terre mee. Et in hujus rei testimonium presenti scripto sigillum meum apposui. Valete."(3)

He witnessed a confirmation charter of Alexander III to Balmerinach as "David de Lindesay, juniore".(2)

David joined the last Crusade of St. Louis and died in Egypt in 1268.(4)

Issue-

Ref:

(1) Acta Parl. Scot.- Vol.I, p.77; Rymer's "Foedera"- Vol. I, p. 566; "Scotichronicon"- Vol. II, p. 90
(2) Cart. of Balmerinach- p.21
(3) Chartulary of Aberbrothock- p. 97
(4) Dugdale's "Monasticon"- Vol. VI, p. 1155

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.8-9

8I. ALEXANDER (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6, DAVID 7)

m. ________, d. of Alexander STEWART

A papal dispensation was granted to his grandson James Lindsay to marry Egidia Stewart Apr. 1346. This document describes the spouses as being within the third and fourth degree on the father's side and in the fourth degree on the mother's.(1) This implies that Alexander's wife was the daughter of the Steward.

Alexander was served heir to his father in 1279 and was made a ward of John Comyn of Badenoch and Tynedale, whose mother was Alicia Lindsay.(2)

He was Lord High Chamberlain for several years under Alexander III (6) He was one of the barons at the convention at Scone in Feb. 1284 which acknowledged Margaret of Norway, as the heiress to the Scottish crown.(7)

Alexander was one of the barons present at the Parliament at Brigham in 1289 after the death of King Alexander.(3)

Alexander was knighted by Edward I, but was a follower of Robert the Bruce and a companion of Sir William Wallace. He paid homage to Edward on 28 Aug. 1296 and was summoned to serve in Flanders in Sept. 1297.(4) He must have refused to obey as he was ordered to be banished from Scotland for six months and all his lands were forfeited by Edward II.(5) In 1305 Alexander was one of the seven allies of Wallace who were excepted by King Edward from the general pardon offered to his countrymen as he had been more obstinate in his allegiance to Wallace and thus deserved more in the way of punishment in Edward's eyes. "Item, le Roy voudroit que Monsire Alexaundre de Lyndeseie eust ancune penance outre les condicions du comun, por la fuyte qu'il fit du Roy, qui chevalier li fist".(8) In obedience to which it is afterwards: "Ordene, que Monsire Alisandre de Lyndeseye demoerge hors d'Escoce par un demy an".(9) In 1307 along with Edward Bruce and "the good" Sir James Douglas he invaded Galloway.(10) He was at the Parliament on 16 Mar. 1308/9 when Robert the Bruce was acknowledged as rightful King of Scotland. Sir Alexander is ranked first after the great officers, Thomas Randolf and the good Sir James Douglas.(11)

The last charter of Sir Alexander is a grant of the lands of Little Pert near Montrose to the Dominican monks of Cupar in Angus which was confirmed by King Robert the Bruce 5 Oct. 1308.

Ref:

(1) Papal Letters- Vol.III, p.225
(2) Cal. of Docs.- Vol.II, p.54
(3) Acta Parl. Scot.- Vol.I, p.85
(4) Cal. of Docs.- Vol.III, p.258ff; Parliamentary Writs- Vol.I, p.284
(5) Ibid- p.162; Cal. of Docs.- Vol.III, p.258ff
(6) Chart. Dunfermline- p. 52; Raine's "History of North Durham"- app. No. 77; "Lives of Officers of State"- p. 265
(7) Acta Parl. Scotiae- Vol. I, p. 82
(8) indenture in Palgrave's "Documents"- p. 282
(9) Acts of Parliament- Vol. I, p. 163; Rot. Lit. Pat.- Vol. I, p. 213; Palgrave's "Writs"- Vol. I, p. 162
(10) Chron. Lanercost- p. 212
(11) Acta Parl. Scotiae- Vol. I, p. 99

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.9-10

9I. DAVID (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6, DAVID 7, ALEXANDER 8)

m. 1325 MARIA ABERNETHY (m.1. Andrew Leslie, d. before 19 Nov. 1355)
d. after 19 Nov. 1355 and before 13 Oct. 1357

David was taken prisoner at the battle of Bannockburn and was held at Devizes Castle from 1307 until 1314. He was exchanged along with his brothers Reginald and Alexander and Sir Andrew Moray.(1)

Battle of Bannochburn

David witnessed a royal charter 12 July 1318.(2) He was one of the nobles who signed the letter to Pope John XXII in Parliament 6 Apr. 1320 asserting the independence of Scotland stating that to Robert the Bruce "we will adhere as to our rightful king, the preserver of our people, and guardian of our liberties; but should he ever dream of subjecting us to England, then will we do our utmost to expel him from the throne as a traitor and our enemy; we will chuse another king to rule over us; for never, so long as one hundred Scots are alive will we be subject to the yoke of England. We fight not for glory, we strive not for riches or honour, but for that liberty which no good man will consent to lose but with his life. We are willing to do anything for peace, which may not compromise our freedom. If you Holiness disbelive us, and continue to favour the English, giving undue credit to their false aleegations, then be sure that God will impute to you all the calamities which our resistance to their injustice must necessarily produce. We commit the defence of our cause to God!"(3)

David and Maria obtained a dispensation from the Pope for their marriage 28 Nov. 1324 based on the fact that she and her previous husband were both related in the fourth degree to David de Lindsay of the diocese of Glasgow.(5) By his marriage to Maria, co-heiress of the Abernethies, David acquired many estates in Roxburgh, Fife and Angus.

David confirmed a charter to Newbattle Abbey from Sir Gerard de Lindsay Sept. 1327 and granted lands for the souls of himself and his wife. He granted to the monks for himself and his heirs a charter of free barony over all the lands thus bestowed upon them, with all its privileges and without any claim in requital, save the suffrages of their prayers. He also bestowed upon them more lands in Crawford on the tenure of their perpetually serving the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr, adjoining the Castle of Crawford, and that of St. Lawrence of the Byres and keeping them in repair, assigning moreover for the support of the priest at the former chapel, and ancient house called "the Lady's manor place" as a residence and land for making himself a garden, and pasture for a horse and for five cows and five calves, and two acres of meadow land together with fuel and the right of fishing in the Clyde. A similar provision was made for the priest at the Byres(6)

He was the custodian of Berwick in 1329 as we see from a payment "Johanni de Lessiduwyn pro feodo suo, de tempore quo David de Lyndes fuit custos ville Berewyci". (7) and was captured at the battle of Halidonhill in 1333 with his brother Alexander and Sir John Lindsay of Wauchopdale.(13)

He was constable of Edinburgh Castle in 1346(8) and in 1349 and 1351 he was a commissioner to negociate the ransom of King David II.(9)

David founded a mass at the abbey church of Lindores for his wife 19 Nov. 1355 she being buried there. He gave two marks a year out of the lands of Pitfour, near Cairnie for the maintenance of a wax light to be kept burning through all future time at Lady Maria's tomb and where he hoped to be laid beside her. (10) David granted an annuity of 20/ for the maintenance of Alicia de Lindsay, a nun at North Berwick.(11)

David had an annual rent of 100 marks from the customs of Dundee traceable for many generations in the Exchequer Rolls and which was originally bestowed on Sir David by King Robert the Bruce. (14)

Wyntoun said of him:

"Schir Davy the Lyndyssay,
That was true and of stedfast fay.
Intil his time with the countrie,
Na riot, na strife made he."(12)

Issue-

(1) "Foedera"- Vol.II, p.257; Rot. Scot.- Vol. I, p. 134
(2) Cart. of Balmerino- p.44
(3) Acta Parl. Scot.- Vol.I, p.114; Fordun's "Scotichron."- Vol. II, p. 275
(4) "Foedera"- Vol.II, p.522
(5) Papal Letters- Vol.II, p.241
(6) Cart. of Newbattle- p.114
(7) Exch. Rolls- Vol.I, p.213; Chamberlain Rolls- Vol. I, p. 99
(8) Extracta a Cron. Scot.- p.181
(9) Rot. Scot.- Vol.I, pp.727,741
(10) Cart. of Lindores- p.45; Reg. Mag. Sig.- folio vol. 36, 94
(11) Exch. Rolls- Vol.I, pp.613-4
(12) "Cronykil"- Vol.II, p.266
(13) Tytler's "History of Scotland"- Vol. II, p. 454
(14) Robertson's "Index"- p. 86; Chamberlain Rolls- Vol. II, p. 212, anno 1434

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.10-1

11III. ALEXANDER (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6, DAVID 7, ALEXANDER 8, DAVID 9)

m.1. int. 1358 CATHERINE STIRLING (d. before 1378)
2. before 19 Oct. 1378 Marjory Stewart of Ralstoun (m.2. before 19 May 1384 Sir Henry de Douglas of Langnetoun (d. before 1393), d. before 1442)
d. Oct. 1382 Candia, Crete

Alexander was a squire to his cousin Thomas Stewart, Earl of Angus. He released Thomas' heirs of the obligation to give him 40 marks of land upon becoming a knight.(1)

He inherited his mother's land in Angus and acquired some of the baronies allotted to his aunt Margaret Abernethy, Countess of Angus.(2) Due to his marriage to Catherine he obtained the lands of Glenesk. His marriage contract was confirmed by King David in 1358.

Edzell Castle- Passed from the Stirling family to Sir Alexander Lindsay

Alexander's principal residence was at Finhaven Castle, built on a high bank overlooking the Lemno and deriving its name "Fion-abhain" or "white river". It is situated at the entrance of the Strathmore valley, commanding the lowlands beneath the Grampian mountains. In the winter the Lindays moved to the "Palatium Comitis" or "Earl's Palace" also known as the "great lodging" or Earl's lodging" which was in Dundee and stood at the Nethergate, west of the High Street or market place and occupied the space between that street and the river. A chapel dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel was attached to the palace. Life was probably good for a family of such stature in the community and their time was occupied with business of the manors, martial exercises, the hunt, and banquets enlivened by songs by the minstrel and entertainment by the jester. The evening was spent in "the playing of the chess, at the tables, in reading of romans, in singing and piping, in harping, and in other honest solaces of great pleasance and disport".(9) Castle society consisted of the Earl and his immediate family, their guests, the ladies attendant on his wife and daughters, the pages, his domestic officers most of them gentlemen of quality, chaplains, the secretary, chamberlain, chief marischal, the squire, armour bearer who was hereditary, numerous attendant gentlemen, cadets of the younger branches of the family who attached themselves as "servitors" of feudal followers. At the hight of of their power the Earls of Crawford possessed over 20 baronies and lordships in Forfarshire, Angus, Perthshire, the Mearns, Fife, Aberdeenshire and sheriffdoms of Inverness, Banff, Lanark, Wigton, Dumfries, and the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Their possession in Forfarshire alone consisted of over two thirds of the county. They also had the revenues from the customs of Dundee, Montrose, Forfar, Crail, Aberdeen and Banff. His courts were allowed to try all civil and criminal cases and he appointed the judges and executive officers. He had a series of municipal systems, corporations with their municipal officers, markets, harbors and mills with their regulation of weights and measures, fishing privileges. He could build prisons and coin money. They also had a "concilium" or petty parliament made up of the important vassals of the Earldom.

Finhaven Castle

Alexander was involved with the truce with England in 1369.(3) He was High Justiciar of the North in 1378.(4)

Alexander had several hereditary pensions granted to him from the customs or burgh rents of Aberdeen, Crail, and Forfar.(5) Marjory assigned her terce of the Crail annuity to the Friars Minors of Dundee. He was also made hereditary forester of the Forest of Platane by charter with the barony of Finhaven by King Robert II in 1376.(8) The forest was mostly oak and extended for several miles and the Lindsays had a lodge there called Linday's Hall.

He had many safe-conducts from Edward III and Richard II and on 4 Dec. 1381 he obtained a passport entitling him to pass through England to the Holy Land on a pilgrimage. Before leaving home he rebuilt his parish church at Finhaven and assembled his family and friends to its consecration by the bishop.(7) He died in Crete the following year.(6)

Issue- first three children by Catherine, next three by Marjory.

Ref:

(1) Douglas Book- Vol.III, p.28
(2) Reg. Mag. Sig.- p.108
(3) "Foedera"- Vol.III, pt. II, p.877
(4) Exch. Rolls- Vol.II, p.620
(5) Reg. Mag. Sig.- folio vol., pp.110-1; original charter at Haigh
(6) Rot. Scot.- Vol.II, p.40
(7) Charter by Sir Alexander- Aug. 1380, engrossed in a Confirmation by Robert II- Corsindae Charter Chest
(8) Robertson's Index- p. 129
(9) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol. I, p. 113- quoted from a contemporary account of the death of King James I in 1437

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.12-4

12I. DAVID (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6, DAVID 7, ALEXANDER 8, DAVID 9, ALEXANDER 10)

b.c.1359
m.c.1385 CATHERINE STEWART
d. Feb. 1407 Finhaven Castle
bur. Grey Friars Church, Dundee

The feud with England renewed in 1383 and the English border barons entered Scotland soon after Easter and as Froissart says "giving the lands of the Earl of Douglas and the Lord of Lindsay to the flames, and sparing to burn nothing as far as Edinburgh. (Entrerent en Ecosse, et ardirent la tere au Comte de Douglas et celle au Seigneur de Lindsay, et ne deporterent (epargnerent) rien a ardoir jusques a Edinbourg)." (10)

Due to the feuding between the Percies and the Nevilles, the two most powerful families on the English borders, the Scots thought the time right for a foray into England. As Froissart says: "In order that their intentions might be known, they appointed a feast to be holden at Aberdeen, on the borders of the Highlands. The greater part of the barons attended, and it was then resolved that in the middle of August, 1388, they should assemble all their forces at a castle called Jedworth, situated among the deep forests, and on the borders of Cumberland. Having arranged everything concerning this business, they separated, but never mentioned one word of their intentions to the King, for they said among themselves he knew nothing about war." So on the appointed day the "Children of Lindsay", Sir James of Crawford, the "Sire de Lindsay", Sir David of Glenesk, Sir William of the Byres, Sir Alexander of Wauchopdale, and Sir John of Dunrod, came with their followers and met up with their kinsman the Earl of Douglas, with the Earls of Fife and Moray and other Scottish barons. They formed the largest assembly that had been seen in 60 years in Scotland. They agreed to meet again at Yetholm to finish their planning, however, the minstrels and heralds the English sent as spies informed their masters of the goings on. They sent a squire disguised as a groom to the church Yetholm where the chiefs were in council and he heard the whole proceedings, but, when he returned to get his horse he found it stolen and decided to set off on foot. A Scots knight said to his friend as they stood by the church door: " I have witnessed many wonderful things, but what I now see is equal to any; that man yonder has, I believe, lost his horse, and yet makes no enquiry after it; on my troth, I doubt much if he belongs to us; let us go after him, and see whether I am right or not." They overtook him and "he was alarmed, and wished himself anywhere else". He confessed and told them that the English were inferior in numbers and wished to avoid an encounter with the Scots and intended to invade Scotland while the Scots were headed for England. He told them: "Should you march to Cumberland they will take the road through Berwick to Dunbar, Dalkeith and Edinburgh; if you follow the other road, they will then march to Carlisle, and enter your country by these mountains". Froissart continues: "The barons of Scotland were in high spirits at this intelligence and considered their success as certain, now they new the disposition of the enemy. They held a council as to their mode of proceeding, and the wisest and most accustomed to arms, such as Sir Archibald Dougland, the Earl of Fife, Sir Alexander Ramsay, Sir John Sinclair, and Sir James Lindsay, were the speakers". They decided that the army should be divided. The first and largest of the divisions was to advance towardes Carlisle, the other was to proceed to Newcastle-on-Tyne, cross the river and enter Durham. In case they were pursued the two armies should unite and fight together. This tactic worked and the Scots defeated the English at the battle of Otterburn:

In 1390 David was at a banquet with Lord Welles, ambassasdor to Scotland from Richard II, and was telling of the prowess of his countrymen to which Lord Welles replied: "Let words have no place, if you know not the chivalry and valiant deeds of Englishman, assail ye me, day and place where ye list and ye shall soon have experience." To which David replied: "I will assail ye!" Lord Welles named London Bridge as the place and David gave the festival of St. George for the day, "be reason that he was some time ane valiant knight". Wyntoun implies that a "taillie" or agreement was drawn up and signed by both parties binding theym to the combat. This was not unusual and the conditions of the tourney were frequently specified in these documents. David obtained a safe conduct pass for himself and his 28 followers from King Richard and one for the ship "St. Mary" of Dundee frieghted with "unum integrum harnesium de guerra pro corpore David Lyndesey de Scotia, militis."(1)

David was received by King Richard and on the appointed day in the presence of the King and court, at the sound of the trumpets, the two lords charged at each other on their horses with their lances. Both spears were broken but, Lord Welles' spear was so shattered on David's helmet and visor and he did not move and inch that the spectators cried out that contrary to the law of arms he must have been bound to the saddle. David then dismounted his horse in full armour and lept back into the saddle without touching the stirrup. In the third round he threw Lord Welles out of the saddle after which a battle with daggers on foot took place. David stuck his dagger between the joints of Lord Welles' armour, lifted him off his feet and threw him to the ground. David then helped him up and led him by the hand and "presented him to the Queen as his gift, wishing, like a true knight, that mercy should proceed from woman." The Queen thanked him, and then gave liberty to Lord Welles. Sir David supported him in the lists "tenderly embracing him, that the people might understand he fought with na hatrent, allanerly (only) for the gloir of victory". King Richard presented David with a silver cup (2) and he was entertained for three months in England with Sir Ralph Dalzell and others in his retinue, "sporting and feasting among the nobles, highly praised of all estates for his noble port and great liberality". He returned to Scotland after giving a sumptuous farewell banquet to the Enlgish nobles. Boethius tells of one English knight tired of hearing the heralds extoll Sir Davy's prowess exclaimed "No wonder the Scots now excel all others in courage, since they have come of the blood of our English nobles, when Scotland was occupied by our arms some years since." To which Sir David replied "Beware, lest, in thus reproaching us, you confess yourselves the offspring of monks and father confessors, or at least of clowns and ploughmen, who, at the time that the English nobles (as ye allege) were becoming our ancestors, took advantage of their absence to become yours!"

In gratitude for his victory David founded a chantry of five priests in the church of St. Mary in Dundee to sing hymns to the dragon queller for ever as well as a chaplainry there by charter 10 Dec. 1406.(3)

A thousand, three hunder, and ninety year
Fra the birth of our Lord dear,
The good Lyndyssay, Sir Davie,
Of Glenesk the Lord mightie,
Honest, able, and avenand (handsome),
Pass'd on conduct in England,
With knights, squires, and other men
Of his awin retinue then;
Where he and all his company
Wes well arrayed and daintily,
And all purveyed at device;
There wes hi purpose to win prise.
Sa even upon the sixth day
Of that month that we call May,
Thai ild foresaid lordis twa,
The Lyndyssay and the Welles, thai
On horse ane agane other ran,
As their taillie had ordained than.
The Lyndyssay there, with manful force,
Strak quite the Welles fra his horse
Flatlings down upon the green;
There all his saddle toom (empty) was seen
All the people standand by
Of this deed had great ferly (marvel),
For in all England before than
The Welles wes a commendit man,
Manful, stout, and of guid pith,
And high of heart he was therewith.
And thereat mony Enlgishmen
Had baith despite and envy then;
Sa, for despite and great envie,
They to the King tauld privily
That then the Lyndyssay fast was tied.
That well was proved, the teller lied!
For fra (as soon as) the Lyndyssay gat witting
That it was tauld sa to the King,
Sittand on his horse, but bade (without delay),
Even on furth to the King he rade,
And off his horse deliverly (nimbly)
He lap down- that the King clearly
Kenned well that they falsely lied
That said the Lyndyssay before was tied.
Then said Lyndyssay reverently,
To the King kneeling courteously,
"Excellent prince! now may ye
Gif I was tied clearly see."
And when he had said that, than,
Withouten help of any man,
But be his awin agile force,
Again he lap upon his horse,
All the lave (rest) for to fulfil
That langed be the taillie theretil.
When all their courses on horse we done,
Togidder they mellayed on foot soon,
With all their weapons, as be the taillie
Obliged they were for til assaillie
Sa with their knives at the last
Ilk ane at other strak right fast
Sa, of this to tell you mair,
The Lyndyssay fastened his dagger
Intil Welles armours fine
Well lauche (low), and him lifted syne (afterwards)
Something fra the erde (earth) with pith;
And als, right manful virtue with,
Openly, before them all,
He gave the Welles a great fall,
And had him hailly (wholly) at his will,
Whatever he wald have done him til.
The King in his summer castelle
That all this journey (battle) seen had well,
Said, "Lyndyssay, cousin, good Lyndyssay!
Do furth that thou should do this day."
As to be said, Do furth thy debt,
There shall na man here mak thee let (hinder thee).
But the Lyndyssay nevertheless,
That in his deed all courteous wes,
Said to them that stood him by,
"Help, help now, for courtesy!"
The Welles he took than be the hand,
That on the green was there lyand,
"Rise, rise, Sir Knight, and stand on feet",
He said, "there should be done mair yet;
Yhit it is na time to leve."
So held he Welles be the neve (hand)
That up he helped him to rise.
Sir Davy the Lyndyssay on this wise
Fulfilled in London his journey
With honour and with honesty.
And to the Queen than of England
He gave this Welles in presand (present),
Thus quite wonnen all freely;
And she then of that courtey
Thanked him
And sa he,
With honour and with honesty,
Retourit syne in his land hame,
Great worship eked till his fame.

The Lyndyssay,
That in his deed all courteous wes!

In 1392 David was almost killed in a battle with the clan Donachie who, along with Duncan Stewart, son of the Wolf of Badenoch, were pilaging Glenisla in north-west Angus. The battle occured at Glenbrerith, north of Gaskclune. David ran one of the highlanders through with his spear and pinned him to the ground, but he the dying warrior writhed his body upwards on the spear and with a last dying effort struck David with his broadsword cutting through David's stirrup and steel boot:

While they were in that press fechtand (fighting),
The Lyndessay guid wes at their hand,
And of tha Scottis here and there
Some he slew, some woundit sair.
Sa, on his horse he sittand than
Through the body he strak a man
With his spear down to the erde;
That man hald fast his swin swerd
Intil his neve (hand), and up thrawand (writhing up)
He pressit him, nocht-again-standard (notwithstanding)
That he wes pressit to the erde;
And with a swake (sudden stroke) there of his swerd,
Through the stirrup leather and the boot,
Three ply or four above the foot,
He straik the Lyndessay to the bone,-
That man na straik gave but that ane,
For there he deit; yet nevertheless
That guid Lord there wounded wes,
And had deit there that day
Had not his men had him away;
Agane his will, out of that press.(4)

Upon the death of his cousin James in 1397, David succeeded to the lordship of Lindsay and the barony of Crawford. At the Parliament of Perth, 21 Apr. to 2 May 1398, he was made the Earl of Crawford by King Robert III with the barony of Crawford being made a regality conveying privileges analogous to the Earls Palatine of England.(5) The earldom of Crawford was the third created since the extinction of the Celtic dynasty (Moray was the first, Douglas the second).

Another of Wyntoun's interesting stories concerns a meeting at Haldanestank to which Sir Davy and his cousin Sir William of the Byres had been made commissioners to meet with John of Gaunt to prolong the truce and regulate the jurisdiction of the borders. The safe-conduct is dated 22 Sept. 1398.(12) David observed that Harry Percy was in full armour, notwithstanding the peaceful nature of the conference. "It is for fear of the English horsemen" said Hotspur, for he was already thinking about the insurection later immortalised by Shakespeare. "Ah, Sir Harry!" said Davy in allusion to the battle of Otterburn, "I have seen you more sorely bestad by Scottish footmen than by English horse!"

Sir Henry the Percy young at right,
Was armit all over in birny bright (burnished armour)
Sir Davy Lord than de Lyndesay
Said til him courteously that day,
"Sir Henry, what makes you to be
Sa weirlike as you now we see?"
Til him than answerit the Percy,
"I will that you wist, Sir Davy,
Of Scottishmen I dreid na force;
But this I do for English horse."
Than said the Lyndesay, Sir Davy,
"Thou kens righ weill yet, Sir Henry,
That oft has Scottismen with their force
Thee sairer greivit than English horse!"(11)

On 20 Dec. 1400 is a contract between Sir David, Earl of Crawford and Sir Thomas of Erskine of that ilk, by which Sir Robert Erskine, eldest son of Sir Thomas, is to marry Earl David's daughter (Elizabeth). Sir Thomas forgives Earl David 600 out of 1200 marks which was to be the lady's dowry and Earl David obliges himself, afte rthe decease of Isabelle, Countress of Mar, to support Sir Thomas and Dame Jean, his wife, will all his power and might in the recovery of the lands of Marr and Garioch (the earldom of Marr), from which the Erskines were so long arbitrarily excluded. Sir Thomas was the son of Beatrice Lindsay, sister to David of Crawford thereby making Sir Robert and Elizabeth second cousins once removed.(16)

On 3 Jan. 1401/2 David gave a letter of service and homage to Louis, Duke of Orleans. Louis was preparing for his contest with the Duke of Burgundy for the Governorship and Lieutenancy of France. The following May he accompanied the fleet to the coast of Carunna in Spain as a French partisan when the celebrated Norman adventurer, Jean de Bethencourt, stopped there on his voyage of discovery to the Canary Islands.(6) He was appointed Admiral of Scotland before Oct. 1403 when a number of requests were granted in a Roll addressed by him as Earl and Admiral to the Pope.(7)

By his absence at this time he probably escaped death or capture at the battle of Homildon Hill and the upheaval in Scotland upon the murder of the Duke of Rothesay and the capture of King James.

On 29 Dec. 1404 he was given a safe-conduct for himself and 100 of his followers to go to England as ambassador. On 2 Jan. 1405 he wrote to his cousin, King Henry IV, concerning a merchant ship from St. Andrews which had been seized and confiscated by the English in violation of the truce. This shows that the merchants and the town of St. Andrews were under his protection:

A tr�s excellent et tr�s puissant Henry, par la grace Dieu, Roy de Engleterre.

Excellent et tr�s puissant Prince!

Je me recomande � vostre tres-haut nobless tant come je puis, en desirant savoir bones nouvelles de vous et de vostre noble estat, lequel nostre Seigneur veulle maintenir come vous voudries et come je le desire!

Tr�s noble Prince! plaise vous assavoir que j'ay entendu par les marchans de la ville de Sanct Andreu que vne neff de Flandres venant devers Escoce, charg� de marchandise et des biens de ces mesmes marchans de la ville de Sanct Andreu, ont est� prins par escumeurs [pirates] d'Engleterre estans en vne arm�e barge, qu'est appell�e la Barge de Calace, sur le rivage d'Escoce, et amen�s en Engleterre au port de Halyeland, et l� ont fait distribucon de partie des diz marchandise, come Jehan Raa, porteur de cez presents, et ses compaignons, marchans de la ville de Sanct Andreu, � vostre tres-haut noblesse plain � plain saueront raconter. Et pour ce, tr�s excellent Prince! je vous requer, que puisque teillx [telles] chose sont attempt�e encontre la vertu des treucx ja pie�a [now for some time] prins, et ausi que les dis marchans et ville de Sanct Andreu m'apartenynt, qu'il plaise � vostre tr�s noble Seigneurie de faire restoracon des diz biens au devant diz marchans, l� o� il porront estre trouv�s dedans vostre roiaume ou seigneuries, lesquelx denr�es et marchandises sont estim�s et som�es par loialx marchans � la value de mille libres.

Tr�s excellent Prince, li Sanct Esprit vous ayt en sainte garde, et vous donne haver [havre- ie. bring you into port] et bon fin! Et s'il y a chose �s parties par de�a que je peusse faire � vostre tr�s noble plessance, comandez le moy et je le feray tr�s volentiers et de cuer.

Escript � Dond�, le second jour de Janeuer.

Vostre simple cousin,

DAVID LYNDESSAY, CONTE DE CRAUFFURDE.(8)

The nobility had groups of merchants in their employ who speculated on their account and under their protection. This ship had cargo valued at �1,000 which was a large amount of money at the time.

David was ambassador to England for the last time in Dec. 1406.(9)

Sir David gave money to the Cathedral of Aberdeen for the souls of his parents in 1400.(13) He endowed a chaplainry in the chapel of St. Beternan in the Cathedral of Brechin in 1405 to celebrate divine offices for the souls of his father and mother, and his grandfather, Sir John Stirling. St. Beternan is unknown to hagiologists. There is a St. Bercham and a St. Berethun, however, information on a lot of Scottish saints has been lost. In Dec. 1406 David granted a series of charters along with his son Alexander, endowing five priests in the parish church of Dundee to the honor of Our Lady of Victory and of St. George the Martyr and founded an additional altar to the memory of All Saints in the same church and appointed two more chaplains to officiate at it. He endowed the chantry and the altar with an annual stipend of 40 merks payable out of the Earl's lodging, his residence in Dundee. The other endowments were funded by 12 marks from the barony of Inverarity, 12 from Meigle, 12 from Meggineh, 12 from Downie as well as revenues of £83. 2s. 11 d. from the profits of certain houses and properties situated in different places in town and elsewhere. The gross income was £128. 9s. 7d.(14)

Sir Davy, as well as most of the family, were buried in the church of the Grey Friars north of Dundee, however, the convent and church was destroyed during the Reformation (after that time family members were buried at St. Mary's).

Grey Friars church- Dundee

Issue-

Ref:

(1) Rot. Scot.- Vol.II, pp.103-4
(2) Cal. of Docs.- Vol.IV, p.411; Wyntoun's "Cronykil"- Vol. II, p. 353
(3) Reg. Mag. Sig.- folio Vol., p.219
(4) Wyntoun's "Cronykil"- Vol.II, p.367
(5) Cal. of Docs.- Vol.IV, p.602
(6) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol.I, p.99
(7) Papal Petitions- Vol.I, p.630
(8) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol.I, p.106; original in the British Museum- Cottonia MSS- Vesp. F. vii. 48
(9) Rot. Scot.- Vol.II, p.181
(10) Froissart's "Chronicle"- Vol. IX, p. 20
(11) Wyntoun- Vol. II, p. 377
(12) Rot. Scot.- Vol. II, p. 142 (13) Regist.Episc. Aberdene- Vol. I, p. 203
(14) Robertson's Index- p. 161; Thomson's "History of Dundee"- p. 286
(15) Chronicle of Lindsay of Pitscottie- Vol. I, p. 17
(16) Inventory of the Marr Writs- MS- p. 218

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.15-7

13I. ALEXANDER (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6, DAVID 7, ALEXANDER 8, DAVID 9, ALEXANDER 10, DAVID 11)

m. MARJORY ______
d. before 8 Sept. 1439

Alexander was a hostage for the Earl of Douglas in 1406.(1) He witnessed a royal charter 6 Jan. 1407/8.(2)

On 20 Nov. 1407 he had a safe conduct from Henry IV to pass through England to Amiens and back, however what he did in France is unknown.(10)

From 1412 to 1417 Alexander presented petitions to the Pope for kinsmen who were considered illegitimate by ecclesiastical law, in particular Ingelram de Lindsay, vicar of Monkton, to have the church of Rathow in the diocese of St. Andrews. Ingelram was afterwards an acolyte to the Pope and Bishop of Aberdeen.(3)

In 1416 Alexander along with the Earls of Douglas and Mar had safe conducts to England to negociate the release of James I, but the negociations were suddenly broken off.(11) In 1421 the talks were renewed and the King returned in Feb. 1423 and was met at Durham and escorted to Scone by Alexander and seven others.(4) Alexander was knighted by the King at his coronation 21 May 1424.(5) Alexander was a hostage for the King from 1424 until 1427 along with his cousin John Lindsay of the Byres and 26 others. He took the oath of a hostage 25 Mar. 1424.(6) Alex was detained at the Tower of London, York Castle and Pontefract Castle. In the treaty for James' release Sir Alex was to receive 1,000 marks. He was held as a hostage until Nov. 1427.(12)

Prior to his departure for England Sir Alexander renewed the entail of the Crawford estates settling them on his male heirs forever "bearing the name and arms of Lindsay" under penalty of forfeiture and devolution on the next male heir.(13)

Alexander and Marjory founded a chaplainry at the altar of St. George and St. Leonard at St. Mary's church in Dundee 23 Apr. 1429 endowed with the sum of 12 marks yearly from the lands of Westerbrichty. The chaplain to say daily mass for the souls of himself, for his "most beloved spouse Mariota" and his children, ancestors, King James, Queen Johanna, all persons whom he might have injured without having made sufficient atonement and for all the faithful dead (that about covers it!).(8)

In 1438 Alex granted Kynneff to his cousin David de Ogilvy of Balmowto.(9) He was a commissioner of truce 31 Mar. 1438 and was involved in the capture of the assassins of James I.

Issue-

Ref:

(1) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol.I, p.104
(2) Reg. Mag. Sig.- p.252; Rot. Scot.- Vol.II, p.185
(3) Papal Petitions- Vol. I, pp.598-601, 604-6; Cal. of Docs.- Vol.IV, p.1073
(4) "Foedera"- Vol.X, pp.309, 327, 333, 335-6, 381; Rot. Scot.- Vol. II, p. 219
(5) Extracta e Cron. Scot.- p.227
(6) Cal. of Docs.- Vol. IV, p.953
(7) "Foedera"- Vol. X, p.446
(8) Brechin Chartulary- Vol.II, p.20; original in Fotheringham charter chest
(9) Haigh Charters
(10) Rot. Scot.- Vol. II, p. 185
(11) Ibid- p. 219; Rymer's "Foedera"- Vol. IX, p. 418
(12) Rot. Scot.- Vol. II, p. 261 (13) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol. I, p. 124; original in the Fotheringham charter chest

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.17-8

15I. DAVID (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6, DAVID 7, ALEXANDER 8, DAVID 9, ALEXANDER 10, DAVID 11, ALEXANDER 12)

m. MARJORY OGILVY (living in 1476)
killed at battle of Arbroath 27 Jan. 1445/6

David witnessed a royal charter on 1 Feb. 1439/0 and was at the Parliament in July 1442.(1) He was hereditary Sheriff of Aberdeenshire.

David Erle of Craufurde and Lorde the Lyndissay to Schir Alexander of Forbes, of that Ilk, knycht, oure deput of the shereffdome of Abirdene, greeting.

Forquhy that we ar infourmyt that oure soverene lorde the Kyng, with the avise of his counsail, has chargit yhou, as deput of the said sheriffdome, to ger [cause] restore agayne to oure cousin and alye, David Scrymgeoure, al his gudis that he was apolyheit of, as ye knaw; and als the gudis that Alexander Stewart tuke out of the landis of Pettfoure his maling [farm]- noghtagaynstanding, as we ar infourmyt, yhe haf done litle or nought to oure said soveren Lord's chargis, of the quhild we ferly [marvel] mikle, gyf it sa be, considerand the office that yhe bere:- Quharefor we charge yhou in oure saide soveren lorde the Kingis name, that, noghtwythstanding the delay bigane [bygone], yhe fulfil and serve oure saide soverene lordis lettres in al fourme and effect as thai proport in thaimself, langing [concerning] oure said alyis guds to be restoryt, and utheris things contenit in thaim, as yhe will answere to hy and his counsail thareupon,- for we have new charges thereupon of late. And forther we declare to yhou, that sin oure said cousin and alye has na wyte [blame] of the gret hereship [foray] made be the Lorde of Gordone upon yhou and yhoure frendis, as we ar... sekirly [surely] informyt, we desire and wald that his saide gudis war restoryt agayn, sa that it nedyt [needeth] us not to entromet [meddle] tharewith, sin he and yhoure frendis ar bath so nere to us.

Gevin under oure seele at Dunde, the viii day of Aprile, the yhere of God 1m iiiie and xlti iii.(4)

Earl Lindsay heard and curled his lip,
He knew the distant horn;
And there were din and hurry in
Finhaven's towers that morn;
The clasping of maily armour on,
And girding of glaive and sword;
The warders trode, the Lindsays rode
O'er dyke, and ditch, and ford.

Nevay

David entered into an alliance with the Earl of Douglas, Lieut. General of the Kingdom to try to draw the other great families into their party so they could rule the country. When Kennedy, Bishop of St. Andrews and Primate of Scotland, and Crichton, the Chancellor, found out about it they attempted to stop it. Because of this David along with Alexander Ogilvy of Inverquharity and their other allies invaded the Bishop's lands in Fife, burning his granges and tenements, and carried off a large amount of booty. Kennedy retaliated by excommunicating David for one year.

The Benedictines of the abbey of Arbroath had appointed David's son Alex their Chief Justiciar or Supreme Judge in civil affairs, but he was so expensive to the monks by his retinue of followers and manner of living that they dismissed him and appointed Alexander Ogilvy. Alex Jr. then took the town and abbey by force so a battle was imminent. Douglas sent 100 Clydesdale men to Alex Jr.'s aid and the Hamiltons also sent a force. The Ogilvys had an unexpected addition to their force in Sir Alexander Seton of Gordon, Earl of Huntly, who on his return from court happened to arrive the night before the battle at Ogilvy castle and although he was not personally interested in the dispute he was obliged to assist the Ogilvys by an ancient law of Scottish hospitality which binds the guest to take part in any quarrel or danger against his host so long as the food eaten under his roof remained in his stomach. Seton and the Ogilvys marched to Arbroath where they found the Lindsays in great force drawn up in battle array before the gates of the town. As the battle was about to begin David, in an effort to avoid bloodshed, gallopped onto the field, but before he could interfere one of Ogilvy's men wounded him with his spear through his neck. The Lindsays attacked and the Ogilvys were driven away with 500 killed. The Lindsays lost 100 men. David died after four days of lingering torture and his body lay for several days unburied as "no man durst earth him" until the Bishop sent a prior of St. Andrews to remove the excommunication. Ogilvy of Inverquharity who was also wounded was taken prisoner to Finhaven Castle where he died. According to tradition, David's wife Marjory, who was Ogilvy's first cousin, upon finding out that her husband had been killed went to the dungeon and smothered Ogilvy with a down pillow. The Lindsays afterwards ravaged the lands and houses of the Ogilvys and the feud between the two clans raged on for the next 150 years.(2) "Efter that a great time held the Ogilbies at great subjection, and tuik their guids and destroyit their places"(6) Marjory founded a mass for her husband with the Friars Minors at Dundee and Bishop Ingelram Lindsay of Aberdeen also founded an obit.(3)

He died in ane guid action, labourand to put Christian men to peace, albeit he was very insolent all the rest of his lifetime.(5)

Ref:

(1) Reg. of Panmure- p.190; Acta Parl. Scot.- Vol.II, p.59
(2) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol.I, pp.126, 130; "Exracta e variis Cronicis Scocie"- p. 242
(3) Reg. Mag. Sig.- 17 Nov. 1478; Aberdeen Chart.- Vol.V, p.264
(4) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol.I, p.126, original in possession of Lord Forbes
(5) Boethius- p. 365; "Lindsay of Pitscottie"- Vol. I, p. 53ff
(6) Auchinleck Chronicle- p. 38

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.18-21

16I. ALEXANDER (WALTER 1, WILLIAM 2, WALTER 3, WILLIAM 4, WILLIAM 5, DAVID 6, DAVID 7, ALEXANDER 8, DAVID 9, ALEXANDER 10, DAVID 11, ALEXANDER 12, DAVID 13)

m. MARGARET DUNBAR (m.2. Sir William Wallace, living in 1496)
d. 1454

Alexander, the victor of Arbroath, was called "the tiger" from the ferocity of his character or "Earl Beardie" from the length of his beard.

Alexander succeeded to the estate in 1446 and was Sheriff of Aberdeen. He was at Parliament in 1449.(1) As noted earlier he was the Justiciary of the abbey of Arbroath as well as of the abbey of Scone. He was one of the guarantees of a treaty of peace with England and ambassador in 1451 and a warden of the marches in 1453.(2)

Alex entered into a rebellious alliance with the Earl of Douglas and MacDonald of the Isles. Upon hearing of this James II ordered Douglas to Stirling Castle where he ordered him to break the alliance. Douglas refused and the King drew his dagger and stabbed him in the heart. Alex then assembled his forces at Brechin and met the Earl of Huntly with his army on his way to the King's assistance on 18 May 1452 at the Hair Cairn on the moor, about two miles north east of town. Huntly's forces far outnumbered Alexander's but, he probably would have won had John Collace of Balnamoon and his 300 men not deserted to the other side. John had requested that in the event of their victory that Alex would give his on the lands of Ferne which lay near his house. To which Alex replied: "The time is short, stand bravely by me today, and prove yourself a valiant man, and you shall have all and more than your desire."(4) Whether he was not satified with this answer or not in not known, however, his defection was fatal and Sir Alex's troops took flight in every direction with his brother, 60 gentlemen and numerous yeoman dead. Earl Beardie fled to Finhaven and upon arrival he called for a cup of wine and said he would willingly pass seven years in hell to gain the honor of such a victory as had that day fallen to Huntly. Or, as is the traditional version: "That he wad be content to hing seven years in hell by the breers o' the e'e [eyelashes]". The cup was carried off by a young son of Donald, Thane of Cawdor who became the ancestor of the Calders of Assuanlee. The Earl of Huntley in reward for his daring had a copy of the cup made and gave it to Calder to be kept in his family and successors under the penalty of paying a double duty on his lands. The historian of the Gordons stated: "and out of this cup have I of late drunk. It weighs 12 lib. 12 sh. sterling".(5) "The tiger" was denounced as a rebel and his life and property were forfeited to the king. The lordship of Brechin and the sheriffship of Aberdeen was given to Huntly and his arms was "scrapit out of the Book of Arms for ever."(6) Beardie's power was little weakened and as soon as he had recruited his forces he attacked all who had either refused to join his banner or had deserted him in the battle, ravaging their lands and destroying their castles and houses.(7) After the submission of the Douglases and being abandoned by many of his allies he appeared before the King in Apr. 1453. Bareheaded and barefooted and with tears in his eyes he made a speech in which he acknowledged his offence and craved mercy for his adherents being more concerned for their safety than for his own: "When the Earl had endit the noble and gentle men of Angus that came in his company to seek remission held up their hands to the king maist dolorously, crying; 'Mercy!' till their sobbing and sighing cuttit the words that almaist their prayers could not be understood." At the intervention of Huntly and Kennedy, Bishop of St. Andrews he was pardoned and afterwards entertained King James in his castle of Finhaven. Because the king had sworn to make the highest stone of Finhaven the lowest, he went up to the roof of the castle and threw down a stone which was lying loose on one of the battlements. The stone is still preserved at Finhave secured with an iron chain. A farm about a mile west of Finhave has since that time been known as Revel Green in memory of the festivities that took place on this occasion.

Boethius gives Alex's speech to the king:

I regard not my own person, in no manner of way, and therefore it is content to me to underlie what punishment you please, either to be hangit, to be riven with wild beasts, to be drowned, or cassen [cast] ower ane craig. For it is neither the fearful enduring [suffering] of my dearest spouse, nor the greeting [weeping] of my bairns, nor the lamentable sobbing of my friends, nor the hership [plundering] of my lands, that moves me sa meikle as the decay and falling of our House, and lamentable chance and fortune of the noblemen of Angus, with the rest of my adherents, whose lives, lands, and guids stands in danger for my cause and surname of Lindsay. Have compassion on the noblemen that concordit to my faction, that they, at the least, be not spoilzied [spoiled] of their lives and heritages for my office.

When the Earl had thus endit, the noble and gentle men of Angus, that came in his company to seek remission, held up their hands to the King maist dolorously, crying, 'Mercy!' while [till] their sobbing and sighing cuttit the words that almaist their prayers could not be understood; through the whilk there raise sic ruth and pity amang the company, that nane almaist could contain themselves from tears.

Earl Beardie became a loyal subject, he "gave over all kind of tyranny, and became ane faithful subject, and sicker targe [sure shield] to the King and his subjects. At the last, in this manner being reconciliet and set at quetness and rest, his friends and all others, as appeared, being also in great tranquillity, fortune, that suffers na thing to remain long stable, but all things subject to ruin and decay, leaning upon ane bruckle [brittle] staff, tholed [suffered] not the happy estate of this man long to continue; for in the sext month after his restitution he tuik the hot fever, and died in the year of God one thousand, four hundreth, fifty-four years, and wes buried with great triumph in the Grey Friars' of Dundee in his forebears' sepulchre".(8) During this time a Spanish chestnut tree nearly 43 feet in circumference grew in the court of Finhaven Castle. According to tradition a gillie or messenger boy cut a walking stick from it. The Earl was so enraged that he hung him from one of the branches and from that moment the tree began to decay and a storm in 1760 finally levelled it. The ghost of the gillie has ever since walked between Finhaven and Carriston under the name of Jock Barefoot.(3)

Tradition seems to have forgotten Earl Beardie's repentance and the Tiger Earl is thought to be still playing at "the de'il's buiks" in a mysterious chamber in Glamis Castle, of which nobody now knows the entrace, doomed to play there till the end of time. He was constantly losing when one of his friends advised him to give up the gave: "Never", he cried, "till the day of judgment!" The devil instantly appeared and both chamber and company vanished. No one has since discovered them, but on stormy nights, when the wind howls around the old castle, the stamps and curses of the doomed gamesters may still be heard... kind of cool that we have an ancestor who is a ghost! (9)

Glamis Castle

Honoured and feared he was, but little loved;
For e'en his bounty bore a shew of sterness,
And when his passions roused, he was a Sathan
For wrath and injury
I brought him a petition from our convent;
He granted straight- but in such tone and manner,
By my good saint! I thought myself scare safe
Till Tay rolled broad between us!

Sir Walter Scott

Margaret survived Earl Beardie by almost half a century. She married Sir William Wallace of Craigie in 1478 and was living in 1496.

Issue- first three children by Margaret

Ref:

(1) Acta Parl. Scot.- Vol.II, pp.68-71
(2) Rot. Scot.- Vol.II, pp.344-67
(3) "Lives of the Lindsays"- Vol.I, p.134
(4) Ibid- p. 136 quoting from "Lindsay of Pitscottie"
(5) Ibid- pp.137-8, quoting from the "History of the Family of Gordon"- Vol. I, p. 70
(6) "Lindsay of Pitscottie"- Vol. I, p. 108
(7) Ibid- p. 107
(8) Boethius- fol. 376ff
(9) Chamber's- "Picture of Scotland"- Vol. II, p. 231

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
"The Scots Peerage"- Vol.III, pp.21-2