HISTOEICAL EECOEDS
OF THE
FAMILY OF LESLIE
Printed by R. Clark,
FOR
EDMONSTON & DOUGLAS, EDINBURGH.
LONDON . . . HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO.
CAMBRIDGE . . MACMILLAN AND CO
DUBLIN . . . M'GLASHAN AND GILL.
GLASGOW . . . JAMES MACLEHOSE.
HISTORICAL RECORDS
OF THE
FAMILY OF LESLIE
FROM
1067 TO 1868-9
dollectetr from $ufcltc lUcorte antr authentic
$rtbate Sources
BY
COLONEL, LESLIE, K.H.
OF BALQUHAIN
VOL. I.
i.y
EDINBUKGH
EDMONSTON AND DOUGLAS
1869
resemed.}
'A l
Cs
PREFACE.
HITHERTO the history of the Family of Leslie has
been known chiefly through the medium of the
Laurus Leslceana, published at Gratz, in 1692,
by the Kev. William Leslie, younger son of Pat-
rick, Count Leslie, fifteenth Baron of Balquhain.
This work, though, compiled with great industry,
is yet not exempt from much deficiency and many
inaccuracies. It is found to be pretty correct as
far as relates to the Leslies of Balquhain and the
Counts Leslie in Germany; but with regard to
some of the generations of the original family of
Leslie, and the origin of the noble house of Eothes,
the Laurus is entirely wrong, as is proved by
authentic charters and other documents now
existing.
Crawford's, Douglas', and other Peerages, are
very deficient and erroneous in many particulars,
occasioned, no doubt, from the authors not having
had the advantage of access to the many valuable
public and private documents now brought to
light by the extensive research and the inquiring
spirit of modern antiquarians.
PREFACE.
VI
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
For the Historical Kecords of the Family of
Leslie now attempted, use has been carefully
made not only of those works of our various an-
tiquarian clubs, but, in addition, recourse has been
had to the valuable stores laid up, as well in the
repositories of the public records as in private
charter-rooms. By the materials thence collected
many errors contained in the Laurus Leslceana,
and in the various Peerages, have been corrected,
and many deficiencies have been supplied. Wher-
ever there has been occasion to differ from the
Laurus Leslceana and the Peerages, the authority
for the difference has been given.
Among the public works consulted, besides
the publications of the various antiquarian clubs,
may be particularised the Registrum Magni Si-
gilli, the Acta Dominorum Concilii, and Eobert-
son's Index of Missing Charters. The public
repositories which have been searched are the Ad-
vocates' Library and the General Eegister House,
Edinburgh. From unpublished charters many
valuable and interesting facts have been obtained.
Access has been had to private charter-rooms,
including those of Balquhain, the Earls of Eothes,
Pitcaple, and Leith-hall, which latter family is
now in possession of the ancient barony of Leslie.
From these various sources the present Historical
PREFACE. Vll
Kecords of the Family of Leslie have been compiled, PREFACE-
showing the descent of the family from 1067 to
1868. It is hoped that these records will be
found correct, as far as authentic information can
at present be obtained. Many errors and omis-
sions have been rectified and supplied. Still there
remain historical points to be ascertained, which
further research may elucidate.
The author does not profess to be a historian.
He presents this work to the public only as a col-
lection of the most^ authentic documents relating
to the history of the family of Leslie. He trusts
that some one more competent than himself may
be induced to write a history of the family.
The annals of great families, when divested of
fable, besides being interesting to the genealogist
and to those parties more immediately concerned,
frequently form not unimportant contributions to
general history. Some such benefit as this may
naturally be expected from the annals of the
Leslies, who have done the state some service in
their day, both in the senate and in the field ;
members of the family having been engaged in
almost all the important transactions of their
time, both at home and abroad, distinguishing
themselves as military heroes, eminent ecclesias-
tics, and renowned statesmen. Indeed, this family
Vlll
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
had the distinguished honour of producing a suc-
cession of great men, who, by their prudence,
valour, and learning, raised themselves to the
highest offices of honour in this and in foreign
countries. Five generals of the name of Leslie
commanded the armies of four different nations —
Scotland, Germany, Sweden, and Eussia — nearly
all at the same time. Count Walter and Count
James Leslie of the Balquhain family were Field-
Marshals in the Imperial service, and commanded
the Imperial armies on several occasions. Alex-
ander Leslie, Earl of Leven, descended from the
Kininvie branch of the Balquhain family, was a
Field-Marshal in the Swedish army under Gusta-
vus Adolphus, and afterwards commanded the
forces of the Covenanters in .Scotland. David
Leslie, Lord Newark, of the Eothes family, also
served in the Swedish army under Gustavus Adol-
phus, and was appointed Lieutenant-General of
the Scottish army sent by the Parliament to assist
the English Parliament against King Charles I.
He afterwards held the same rank under King
Charles II., who created him Lord Newark. Sir
.Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul, of the family of
Leslie of Crichie, a branch of the Balquhain family,
went to Eussia, where, after long and great services
rendered to the Duke of Muscovy, he became a
PREFACE.
IX
general, and was made Governor of Smolensko. PREFACE.
Besides these field-marshals and generals, there
were many colonels and officers of inferior rank
of the name of Leslie serving at home and
abroad.
The family has not been less distinguished in
more peaceable pursuits — witness John Leslie,
Bishop of Boss, the great statesman and historian,
and the devoted adherent of the unfortunate Mary
Queen of Scots ; John, Duke of Eothes, statesman
and ambassador in the reign of King Charles II. ; j
William Leslie, son of William Leslie, fifth Laird
of Warthill, who went to Germany and became j
Prince Bishop of Laybach, and a Privy Councillor
of the Empire ; the Eight Kev. Dr. Henry Leslie,
of the Eothes family, who was Protestant Bishop
of Down in 1635, and of Meath in 1650; the
Eight Eev. Dr. Eobert Leslie, also of the Eothes
family, who was successively Protestant Bishop of
Dromore, Eaphoe, and Clogher; the Eight Eev.
Dr. John Leslie, of the Wardis family, who was
Protestant Bishop of Orkney, of Dromore, of
Clogher, and of Eaphoe ; the Eight Eev. Dr.
John Leslie, nephew of the preceding, who was
Bishop of Dromore and of Clogher ; another Eight
Eev. Dr. John Leslie, also of the Wardis family,
who was Bishop of Dromore in 1812, and Bishop
VOL. i. b
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
of Elphin in 1830; Sir John Leslie, Professor
of Natural Philosophy in the University of
Edinburgh, who died 3d November 1832, and
who was known in this country and all over
Europe as one of the most eminent characters
of the age, having few rivals as a mathematician
and philosopher, as a profound and accomplished
scholar, and as a proficient in general litera-
ture and in history, and many other branches of
knowledge.
AUTHORITIES consulted by COLONEL CHARLES LESLIE, AUTHOR-
ED H., twenty-sixth Baron of Balquhain, when col-
lecting Records for the History of the Family of
Leslie, 1833-1868.
Laurus Leslaeana, by the Rev. William Leslie.
Gratz, 1692.
De Origine Moribus et Rebus Gestis Scotorum,
Authore Joanne Leslaeo, Episcopo Rossensi.
Romce, M.D.LXXVIII.
A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Anti-
quities concerning the most noble and re-
nowned English Nation, by the studie and
trauaile of Richard Verstegan. Antwerp,
1605.
Martin of Clermont's Genealogical Tables and
Collections. Advocates' Library, Edinburgh,
1712.
Macfarlane's Collections.
Crawford's Peerage. Edinburgh, 1716.
Douglas' Peerage.
Douglas' Baronage.
Playfair's Family Antiquities.
Burke's Peerage.
Burke's Extinct Peerage.
Burke's Landed Gentry.
Riddell on Scotch Peerage and Consistorial Law.
1842.
Riddell's Remarks on Scotch Peerage Law. 1833.
Dugdale's Monasticon.
Nisbet's Heraldry. Edinburgh, 1722.
Collin's Peerage.
Xll
AUTHOR-
ITIES.
AUTHORITIES.
Debret's Peerage.
Lodge's Peerage.
Chambers' Biographical Dictionary. Glasgow,
1835.
Bayley's Biographical Dictionary.
Northcote's Historical Dictionary.
Betham's Genealogical Tables. London, 1795.
Anderson's Genealogical Tables.
Hubner's Genealogical Tables. Ley den, 1729.
Tree of the Royal Family of Scotland. Edin-
burgh, 1793.
Buchanan's History of Scotland.
Tytler's History of Scotland.
Spottiswood's Collections.
Hume's History of the Douglas Family.
Andrew Stewart's History of the Stewarts.
Abercromby's Martial Achievements.
Genealogy of the Family of Forbes, from the
account of Mr. Mathew Lumsden of Tullie-
kerne, written in 1580. Published at Inver-
ness 1819.
Kennedy's Annals of Aberdeen.
Records of the County of Aberdeen, by John Grant
Leslie, Esq., Sheriff-clerk of Aberdeen.
Orem's History of Aberdeen.
Book of Bon-accord.
Theatre of Mortality, Aberdeen.
Rev. James Gordon's History.
Spalding's History of the Troubles in Scotland.
Old Statistical Account of Aberdeenshire.
New Statistical Account of Aberdeenshire.
Shaw's History of Moray. 1775 and 1827.
Sir Robert Sibbald's History of Fife.
Lives of Illustrious Scotchmen.
AUTHORITIES.
Crawford's Lives of State Officers.
The Complaint of Scotland.
Sir James Balfour of Denmylne's Historical Col-
lections. 1824.
Sir James Dalrymple's Collections.
Haddington Collections.
Sir George Mackenzie's Collections.
Lord Hailes' Annals.
Lord Lindsay's Lives of the Lindsays.
Keith's Historical Catalogue.
Einnuccini's Life of Father Archangel, the Scotch
Capuchin.
Sir Robert Gordon's History of the Sutherland
Family.
Eegistrum Magni Sigilli. 1306-1424.
Chamberlain's Eolls.
Robertson's Index of Missing Charters. Edin-
burgh, 1798.
Inquest of Retours Abbreviate.
Inquisitiones Generales.
Inquisitiones Speciales.
Acta Dominorum Concilii.
Notes of Charters in Library of Writers to the
Signet, Edinburgh.
The Ragman Rolls, 1291-1296. Bannatyne
Club.
Charters of Leslie of Leslie.
Charters of the Earls of Rothes.
Charters of Leslie, Barons of Balquhain.
Charters of Leslie, Barons of Pitcaple.
Charters of the Earls of Errol.
Charters of the Earls of Strathmore.
Charters of the Lords Panmure.
Charters of Rose of Kilravock.
Xlll
AUTHOR-
ITIES.
XIV
AUTHORITIES.
AUTHOR-
ITIES.
List of Tollable Persons in Aberdeenshire, 1696 ;
published 1844.
Proceedings for and against the Counts Leslie in
the Court of Session and House of Lords.
1739-1762.
Extracts from the Archives du Eoyaume. Paris.
Oliver's Biography of Scotch Jesuits. London, 1845.
Eegistrum Moraviense. Bannatyne Club.
Chartulary of Aberdeen.
Chartulary of Eoss.
Chartulary of Cupar.
Chartulary of St. Andrews.
Chartulary of Lindores.
Chartulary of Arbroath.
Colonel Mitchell's Life of Wallenstein.
Itinerarivm E. D. Thorn ae Carve Tripperariensis,
Sacellanimaioris in fortissima juxta et Nobilis-
sima Legione Strenuissimi Domini Colonelli
D. Walteri Deveroux sub Sac. Caesar. Maiestate
stipendia merentis, cum Historia facti Butleri,
Gordon, Lesly et Aliorum. Moguntiae, Anno
Christi 1639.
Account of Walter, Count Leslie, in Latin, by the
Eev. Paul Tafferner.
Eeciant's Book of Turkish Fashions. Vienna, 1672.
John Burbury's Account of Lord Henry Arundel's
Journey to Constantinople with Count Leslie.
A Eelation or Diary of the Siege of Vienna.
Written by John Peter a Valcaren, Judge-
Advocate of the Imperial Army. London, 1684.
Baden Historical Lexicon.
Iselin's Historical Lexicon. Basle, 1743.
Almanach de Gotha.
Austrian Army List. Vienna, 1841.
AUTHORITIES.
Rymer's Fcedera.
Andrew Wyntoun's Chronicles.
Hollinshead's Chronicles.
Pinkerton's Chronicles.
Fordoun's Chronicles.
Pitscotti's Chronicles.
Camden's Britannia.
Maitland's Historical Tales of Scotland.
Irvine's Lives of Scotch Writers. Edinburgh,
1824.
Spalding Club Publications.
xv
AUTHOR-
ITIES.
LIST of GENTLEMEN and LADIES who have afforded
Authentic Information to Colonel CHARLES LESLIE, K.H.,
of Balquhain, for the " HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE
FAMILY or LESLIE."
1. Mons. TEULET, Director of the Archives du Roy-
aume, Sbubise Palace, Paris, 1845.
2. Mr. ALEXANDER DEUCHAR, Genealogist, Edinburgh.
3. Mr. ALEXANDER MACDONALD, Register House,
Edinburgh.
4. Dr. JOSEPH ROBERTSON, Register House, Edinburgh.
5. COSMO INNES, Esq., Register House, Edinburgh.
6. JOHN STUART, Esq., LL.D., Register House, Edin-
burgh.
7. ROBERT CHAMBERS, Esq., Edinburgh.
8. HUGH CRICHTON, Esq., W.S., Edinburgh.
9. ALEXANDER SINCLAIR, Esq., Edinburgh.
10. Sir WILLIAM BETHAM, Ulster King-at-Arms,
Dublin.
11. Mr. THOMAS HORSBURGH, Town-Clerk, Cupar.
1 2. The Right Rev. Dr. KYLE
13. Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN.
14. Sir ROBERT ABERCROMBIE, Bart, of Birkenbog.
15. Colonel TYTLER.
1 6. JAMES TYTLER, Esq. of Woodhouselee.
17. The Rev. HAMILTON GREY, Bolsover.
18. FRANCIS SEYMOUR LESLIE, Esq., Home Office,
London.
19. Lord MURRAY.
CONTRI-
BUTORS.
XV111
CONTRI-
BUTORS.
CONTRIBUTORS.
20. Mr. JOHN GRANT LESLIE, Sheriff-clerk-depute,
Aberdeen.
21. EDWARD TUDOR SCARGILL, Esq., London.
22. Mr. LAING, Librarian to the Writers to the Signet,
Edinburgh.
1. The Countess of ROTHES.
2. LOUISA, Countess of EOTHES.
3. The Countess DE SALIS.
4. Lady GORDON HALIBURTON.
5. Mrs. GURDON, Daughter of Col. Charles Powell
Leslie of Glasslough.
6. Miss AGNES STRICKLAND.
CONTENTS OF VOL. L
CHAPTER I.
DYNASTA DE LESLIE ......
Notes to Chapter I
CHAPTER II.
LESLIES, Barons of Leslie ... . . .
CHAPTER III.
LESLIES, Earls and Countesses of Eoss
CHAPTER IV.
The Garioch ; Parish of Chapel of Garioch ; Balquhain
Castle ; Fetternear ; Parish of Leslie ; Leslie
Castle; Kothes
PAOE3
1-36
37-44
45-64
65-93
94-143
APPENDIX.
1. CHARTER of lands of LESLIE, etc., granted to Malcolm
the son of Bertolf, by David, Earl of Hunting-
don— 1171-1199 147
2. Charter to Abbey of Arbroath, by David, Earl of
Huntingdon, witnessed by Malcolm". . . 148
3. Charter of Lesselyn, etc., to Norman, the son of
Malcolm, by John, Earl of Huntingdon — 1219-
1237 . 148-149
4. Charter for erection of St. Peter's Hospital near
Aberdeen, by Bishop Kinninmount, witnessed by
Norman,the Constable of Inverurie — 1165-1 1 69 149-150
CONTENTS.
XX
CONTENTS.
CONTENTS.
5. Charter of Foundation of Lindores Church and PAGES
Abbey, witnessed by Norman, the Constable of
Inverurie — 1202-1206 ..... 150-152
6. Charter of Leslie in Free Forest, granted by Alex-
ander II. to Norino, son- of Norman — 1248 . 152
7. Discharge for .£200 sterling by Sir Andrew de
Leslie, the eighth Lord — 1376 . . . 153
8. Charter by Eobert III., in favour of Norman de
Leslie and Sir George Leslie of Kothes — 1390 . 153-154
9. Charter by Sir Andrew de Leslie, eighth Lord, to
David de Abercrombie and his wife Margaret de
Leslie — 1391 . ." . . . . 155
10. Charter by Kobert III., confirming a charter by
Norman de Leslie, knight, to Sir John Kamsay
of Culathy — 1392 • 156-157
11. ^Resignation of Brawkawche, etc., by George Leslie,
second Baron of that Ilk, in favour of Patrick
Gordon of Methlic — 1490-1500 . . . 157-158
12. Charter of half the lands of Edingarioch and
Chapeltown, granted by James IV. to George
Leslie, second Baron, and his wife — 1497 . 158-159
13. Confirmation by James IV. of a part of Chapel-
town in Garioch, to George Leslie, the second
Baron, and his wife — 1505 . . . . 159
1 4. Charter to Chaplains of Choir of Aberdeen Church,
by Alexander Leslie, fourth Baron of that Ilk,
and his wife — 1527 . '. . . 160
1 5. Instrument to Margaret Leslie, of John Leslie or
Master T. Mortymar as a fit husband for her —
1544 . . . .... . 161
1 6. Lease for nineteen years of teind-sheaves of Leslie,
etc., by the Abbot of Lindores, to John Leslie,
fifth of that Ilk, and his wife— 1546 , 162-163
CONTENTS.
xxi
17.
Feu-charter of Kirkland and Glebe of Vicarage of PAGES
CONTENTS.
Leslie, to John Leslie, fifth of that Ilk, by Sir
Thomas Eaith, Vicar of the Parish— 1561 . 163-164
18.
Lease for twice nineteen years of the Teinds of
Mains of Leslie, etc., by John Leslie, Vicar of
Pramott, to John Leslie, fifth of that Ek — 1579 165-166
19.
The Earldom of Eoss 166-176
20.
Charter of Tiry in Buchan, etc., by Walter Leslie,
Earl of Ross, to Eufemia de Sancto Claro —
1367 176
21.
Charter of Aberchirder, etc., by David II., to Sir
Walter de Leslie and his wife — 1369 . . 177
22.
Charter of Aberchirder and Kincardine, to Sir
Walter de Leslie, by David II., 1369 . . 178
23.
Charter by David II., of Earldom of Ross, Lord-
ship of Sky, etc., to William, Earl of Ross, etc. —
1370 179-180
24.
Complaint to Robert II., by William, Earl of Ross,
about the Earl's lands in Buchan, etc., having
been given to Sir Walter Leslie, and how the
said Sir Walter married the Earl's daughter
against her father's will — 1371 . . .181-183
25.
Charter by Walter Leslie, Earl of Ross, and his
wife, to Sir Alexander Eraser and his wife, of
the lands of Auchinschogle, etc. — 1375 . . 183-184
26.
Charter by Euphamia, Countess of Ross, confirm-
ing grant made to Andrew Mercer of the lands
of Faythley, etc. — 1382 .... 185-186
27.
Judgment pronounced by the Bishops of Moray
and Ross on the difference between Alexander
Stewart, Earl of Buchan, and his wife, Eufamia,
Countess of Ross — 1389 . . . 187-188
a" -A
CHAPTER I.
IBgnasta be
1. BAETHOLOMEW,
FOUNDER OF THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
ACCORDING both to tradition and to Bishop Leslie
in his De Rebus destis Scotorum, lib. vi. p. 200,
Komae, 1578, Bartholomew or Bartholf, a noble
Hungarian, the founder of the family of Leslie,
came to Scotland in the train of Margaret, after-
wards the queen of Malcolm Canmore, in 1067.
Edgar Etheling, the brother of this noble lady,
was the grandson of Edmund Ironside, King of
England, being the son of Prince Edward, sur-
named the Outlaw, by Agatha his wife, daughter
of Henry II., Emperor of Germany. Edgar thus
concentrated in his own person all the Anglo-
Saxon claims to the crown of England. Ex-
cluded from his just right of succession, first by
the usurpation of Harold, and afterwards by the
conquest of William the Norman, in order to
promote the happiness of the people, and, in
accordance with the advice of his uncles, Edwin
and Morcar, he abandoned his claims, and swore
fealty to the conqueror at Berkhamstead 25th
VOL. I. B
Bartholomew
Founder.
1067.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew
Founder.
1066.
December 1066*. Willi am, anxious from motives
of policy to conciliate the affections of his Anglo-
Saxon subjects, and more especially to honour one
whose claims might be dangerous to his power,
took Edgar into great favour, and bestowed upon
him an earldom with large possessions.
After completing his conquest, William found
it necessary to revisit his native duchy. He re-
turned to Normandy in 1067, in the spring of the
year, and, partly to deprive insurrection in Eng-
land of any chance of success, and partly to
impress on his Norman subjects the due value of
his success, he carried Edgar Etheling along with
him to grace the pageantry of his triumph.
The English, however, did take advantage of
William's absence to make some effort for free-
dom, and insurrections were made in various parts
of the country. The suspicions of William, caused
by these outbreaks, though veiled under the mask
of apparent friendship, did not escape the notice
of Edgar, who accordingly determined to flee the
dangerous precincts of the Norman Court. He
took shipping, in company with his mother
Agatha, and his sisters Margaret and Christina,
with the intention of returning to Hungary, the
land of their birth. Stress of weather, however,
drove their vessel into the Firth of Forth at St.
Margaret's Hope, Queensferry, where they were
graciously received by Malcolm, King of Scotland,
who was then residing in his palace at Dunferm-
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
line. This prince, struck with the beauty and
won by the accomplishments of the Princess
Margaret, offered her his hand, and the offer was
accepted. Having thus become the consort of an
unpolished king, and the queen of a rude and
barbarous people, Margaret so gained the esteem
and affection of her husband, and used her power
so well for the benefit of her adopted people, that
they in their gratitude invested her with the
qualities of a saint, by which appellation the good
queen is still known in Scottish history ; and in
memory of her welcome arrival in the country,
the place where she first set foot on Scottish
ground was named St. Margaret's Hope, and to
this day it retains the name of Queensferry.
Among the noblemen who accompanied the
Princess Agatha from Germany, and who, sharing
her unsettled fortunes, faithfully attended her and
her children until their arrival in Scotland, was a
Hungarian, named Bartolf or Bartholomew, who
was descended from an ancient and noble family
in Hungary. Bartholomew was a man of acute
genius and strong mind, very valiant, and pos-
sessed of great bodily strength — qualities which are
always valuable in a rude age, and which recom-
mended him to the favour of King Malcolm, who
appointed him Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh,
honoured him with the dignity of knighthood,
and bestowed on him large grants of land in Fife,
Angus, the Mearns, and Aberdeenshire. The cir-
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew
Founder.
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew
Fotmder.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
cumstances of this grant are recorded in the
following legend : —
Commencing his journey on horseback at
Dunfermline, and proceeding northward, Bartholo-
mew was promised by the king in hereditary
right, all the land for a mile round any point
where he should find it necessary to alight for the
purpose of baiting or feeding his horse. First, he
alighted at Fechil, now called Leslie, in Fife ;
next at Innerlessad, in Angus ; the third time at
Feskie, or Eskie, in the Mearns ; the fourth time
at Cushnie, in Mar. His horse at last failed him
at the place called Leslie in the Garioch. On his
return to court, the king asked him where he had
left his horse, and he replied, as some say—
" At the lesse ley beside the mair."
or, as others give it —
" Between a lesse ley and a mair,"
My horse it tyrd and stopped there."
The king, finding, it is said, that the place j
suited well with his surname, answered in the |
same metrical style —
" Lord Lesley shalt thou be,
And thy heirs after thee."
and he honourably fulfilled the terms of his promise.
Traditions generally arise in later times to account
for prior facts, and though they may alter the
accessories of events, yet the foundation on which
they rest is not unfrequently found to be accord-
ing to truth. All the places mentioned in this
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
tradition did, at later dates, belong to the family
of Leslie, as will be shown in the proper place.
It is also beyond doubt that Bartholomew did
obtain from fcthe king a grant of the lands of
Lesselyn in the Garioch, which long remained the
patrimony of his successors. Three charters, now
in possession of the Countess of Kothes, granted
to Malcolm son of Bartolf, Norman son of Malcolm,
and Norino son of Norman, place this fact beyond
the reach of cavil.
The parish of Leslie, in the district of the
Garioch and county of Aberdeen, was thus the
earliest possession of the family of Leslie in
Scotland. From it unquestionably the family
derived its patronymic. As is the case of most of
the old Scottish families, so here the family estate
gave the cognomen to the family, and, as will be
shown afterwards, not until the fifth generation
did this family bend to the custom then becoming
general, of assuming a surname, a fact which
would seem to clear up all doubt that may exist
as to the origin of the name of Leslie.
The present castle of Leslie, built, without
doubt, on the site of an earlier stronghold, is
situated on the banks of the river Gaudy, which
runs at the back, or north-west side of the
celebrated hill of Bennachie. In later times so
numerously did the Leslies cluster round this
their ancestral domain that the circumstance is
commemorated in a beautiful old song—
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew
Founder.
See App.
Nos. I. II.
III.
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew
Founder.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
" Thick sit the Leslies on Gaudy side,
On Gaudy side, on Gaudy side,
At the back of Bennachie."
Kobert Verstigan relates, in reference to Bar-
tholomew, that a duel took place between a Scottish
nobleman of the name of Leslie and a foreign
knight, in which the Scottish champion was
victorious, in memory of which the following
verses existed in Scotland :—
" Between the Lesseley and the mair,
He slew the knight, and left him there."
This story, however, seems to refer to Bar-
tholomew's descendant, Sir Walter Leslie, the
famous Earl of Boss.
It may be proper here to give a description of
the family arms. They are a field argent,
traversed with a belt or girdle azure, in which
are three buckles gules, supported on the dexter
and sinister side by two griffins proper. The
crest is a demi-griffin proper, having a scroll with
the motto "Grip Fast." The origin of these arms
is thus related by tradition : —
Bartholomew held the office of Lord Chamber-
lain to the Queen, and had the honour, according
to the primitive fashion of those times, of carrying
the Queen on his own horse when she travelled.
For ease a pad behind the Chamberlain was pro-
vided for the Queen, and, for safety, a belt buckled
round his waist, supplied her with a stay in case
of danger or uneasy motion. On one occasion,
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
when both thus mounted were crossing a river,
the Queen nearly fell from the horse. On this
the Chamberlain in great anxiety, called out,
"Grip fast," to which the Queen, doubtful of the
strength of the buckle, replied, " Gin the buckle
bide." To obviate the danger of the buckle
giving way in future, two more buckles were
forthwith added to the belt. And, in commemor-
ation of the event, says the legend, Bartholomew
got the above device for his family arms.
Bartholomew, the founder of the family of
Leslie in Scotland,, married, according to some
authorities, one of the ladies of honour to Queen
Margaret. According to others, King Malcolm
gave him to wife one of his own sisters, and this
account is fortified by the best authorities. The
Rev. William Betham, in his Genealogical Tables,
published in 1795, states that Bartholomew
married a sister of King Malcolm Canmore ; and
in the Genealogical Tree of the Royal Family of
Scotland, published 3d March 1792, by John
Brown, Genealogist in Scotland to the Prince of
Wales, and approved by the Lyon Office, we
find it stated that, " Beatrix, daughter of King
Duncan, and sister of Malcolm III. or Canmore,
married Bartholomew, of whom all the Leslies in
Scotland are descended."
From this marriage have sprung the many noble,
knightly, and gentle houses of the illustrious name
of Leslie. Many of these have risen to great
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew
Founder.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew
Founder.
splendour and rank, some deriving their dignities
and wealth from the well-merited gratitude of
royalty, for distinguished services, and others
from intermarriage with the noblest houses in this
and in other countries. In most parts of the
Continent, indeed, cadets of this ancient stock
have been found enjoying the highest reputation,
supporting the greatest dignities, and discharging
the most distinguished and honourable offices.
No Scottish surname has been more widely con-
spicuous abroad. And in Germany, Sweden,
Eussia, Poland, France, and Ireland, the name of
Leslie is known almost as familiarly as the names
of the great native houses of those countries.
The family of Leslie was also distinguished as
among the first to introduce a practical and im-
proved system of agriculture. The district now
inhabited by a united people speaking the same
tongue, was, at that remote period, occupied by
discordant tribes of Scots, Saxons, Danes, Nor-
mans, and Flemings, each using their own lan-
guage, and each following their peculiar customs.
Learned antiquarians inform us that it was chiefly
owing to the settlement of the house of Leslie
that these various races were gradually rendered
more civilised, and became incorporated into one
homogeneous body, and that much of the great
distinctive character of industry, perseverance,
and agricultural skill, for which the people of the
Garioch are now, as they had been early, celebrated,
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
is to be ascribed to Bartholomew and his suc-
cessors, the chiefs of the House of Leslie.
Bartholomew, the founder of the family of
Leslie, died at an advanced age, about 1121,
and was succeeded by his son Malcolm.
II. MALCOLM.
MALCOLM, son of Bartholomew, succeeded his
father as head of the house of Leslie about 1121,
as is authenticated by a charter still extant.
Imitating his father, Bartholomew, in bravery
and other noble qualities, Malcolm was accounted
by King William the Lion worthy of the honour of
knighthood.
The lordship of the Garioch in Aberdeenshire,
which had been erected into a regality, was at
this time held by the King's brother, David,
Earl of Huntingdon. From this prince, Malcolm
received a charter of confirmation of his lands of
Lessel, Hachennegart, and Mache, to be held by
the tenure of one knight's service. In this charter
he is styled Malcolm, the son of Bertolf. This is
the most ancient charter of any lands in Aberdeen-
shire, except church-lands, and must have been
granted after 1165, when "William the Lion suc-
ceeded to the throne of Scotland, and before 1197,
when Matthew, Bishop of Aberdeen, who is a
witness to the charter, died.
As Lord of the Garioch, David, Earl of
CHAP. I.
Bartholomew*
Pounder.
II2I.
Malcolm.
II2I.
See A pp.
No. 1.
10
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP.
Malcolm.
See App.
No. II.
1176.
Huntingdon, possessed a castle or stronghold at
Inverurie, the capital of the district, commanding
the passage of the river Don, which separates the
district of the Garioch from that of Mar. The
office of constable of this castle Earl David con-
ferred upon Malcolm, as appears from a charter
granted by the Earl to the abbey of Lindores."*
In these times the Constable of Inverurie was
a person of note, and for three generations at least
this was the only style by which the progenitors
of the noble house of Leslie were distinguished.
Indeed the " Constable of Inverurie " is a frequent
witness to the charters of Earl David and of his
successors in the lordship of the Garioch, John,
Earl of Huntington, and Isabella Bruce, his sister,
between 1147 and 1219.t
Malcolm, the son of Bartolf, is a witness to a
charter granted by David, Earl of Huntingdon,
Lord of the Garioch, to the abbey of Arbroath.
No record gives us the name of Malcolm's
wife, but by her it is certain that he had two sons —
I. NORMAN, his successor ;
II. MALCOLM, who was killed in the Crusades.
Malcolm, the son of Bartholomew, died about
1176, and was succeeded by his son Norman.
* See Balfour of Denmyln's Collections, p. 22, No. 40. MSS.
Advocates' Library, Edinburgh.
t Book of Bonaccord, p. 375.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
11
CHAP. I.
Norman.
1176.
1224.
See A pp.
III. NOKMAN.
NORMAN, the son of Malcolm, succeeded his father
about 1176.
About the year 1224 Norman obtained a
charter confirming to him, as Norman the son of
Malcolm, the lands of Lesselyn, Achnagart, and
Mile, and their pertinents, with the exception of
the church of Lesselyn, which the said Norman
had previously granted to the abbey and monks
of Lindores. By this charter Norman also received
a grant, for the first time that the family held
them, of the lands of Caskyben, now called Keith
Hall.
Norman appears to have succeeded his father
Malcolm in his office of Constable of Inverurie.
Under this title he is named as a witness in a
deed by which David, Earl of Huntingdon, re-
nounced, in favour of the Earl of Mar, all claim
to a serf called Gillecriste MacGillekuncongal, and
his four sons, the two Gillecristes, and Gillenem,
and Gillemartin.*
Norman, the Constable of Inverurie, also ap-
pears as a witness to a charter granted in the
reign of William the Lion, by Matthew Kinnin-
mount, Bishop of Aberdeen from 1165 to 1197,
* See Illustrations of Scottish History, pp. 23, 24, Glasgow,
1834 ; and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol.
iii. p. 402.
See App.
No. IV.
12
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Norman.
See App.
No. V.
Norino.
1248.
for the erection of St. Peter's Hospital in the
Spittal, near Aberdeen.
Norman, the son of Malcolm, and Constable
of Inverurie, is also one of the witnesses to the
charter of foundation granted to the Church and
abbey of Lindores, by David, Earl of Huntingdon,
between 1202 and 1206.
Norman, the son of Malcolm, married a
daughter of Stuart, Earl of Lorn, by whom he had —
I. NORINO, his successor ;
II. LEONARD, who, some say, succeeded his brother Norino ;
III. BARTHOLOMEW, who died young.
It has not been ascertained when Norman,
the third possessor of the lands of Leslie, died.
He was succeeded by his son Norino.
IV. NOEINO.
NORINO, the son of Norman by his wife, a
daughter of Stuart, Earl of Lorn, succeeded his
father as fourth possessor of the lands of Leslie.
This is proved by a charter granted in 1248
by King Alexander II. at the instance of Isobel
Bruce and Eobert Bruce her son ; Isobel Bruce,
on the death of John, Earl of Huntingdon, with-
out issue in 1237, having succeeded to the lord-
ship of the Garioch in right of her father, David,
Earl of Huntingdon. By this charter, in which
he is styled the son of Norman, Norino received
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
his lands of Leslie in free forest, and in it he is
likewise styled " The Constable," i.e. of Inverurie.
Hence this office of Constable of Inverurie would
Norino.
See App.
now seem to have been confirmed in hereditary
succession in the family.
Norino is a frequent witness to the charters
of his liege lady, Isobel de Bruce, of whose court
indeed he appears to have been a principal officer.
We find also that " Norino, the son of Norman,"
was witness to a charter granted by Fergus, Earl
of Buchan, to John, the son of Uthred.*
These facts indisputably prove that NORINO
was the name of the successor of Norman, the
third possessor of the lands of Leslie, although by
some authors he has been called ALFORNUS, and
by others LEONARD.
It is probable that Norino had a brother
Leonard, whom the author of the Laurus Leslce-
ana, has, by mistake, to the exclusion of Norino,
placed in the position of the head of the family,
and of whom he gives the following account :—
"Leonard was honoured with the dignity of
knighthood. He was a man of great courage,
and was held in great estimation by the kings
both of Scotland and of England. Clarcadus
makes mention of him in his work. He married
Catherine Mure, heiress of Tasseis in Fife, which
* See original Charter in Charter-room at Pitfour, and Char-
ter published in Collections for Shires of Aberdeen and Banff,
p. 409, Spalding Club.
13
CHAP. I.
14
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Norino.
1250.
property was added to the family possessions.
By her he had —
I. NORMAN, who succeeded ;
II. LEONARD, who went to the wars abroad ;
III. WILLIAM, Abbot of Cupar.
In the above account LEONARD is evidently a
mistake for NORINO. It is also doubtful whether
the author of the Laurus Leslceana has given the
proper name of the heiress of Taces. It is certain
that this property of Taces came about this time
into the possession of the family of Leslie by
marriage. In the charter-room of the Earls of
Eothes there is a charter granted by Malcolm,
Earl of Fife, to Alexander de Blar, of the lands of
Thases (Taces), Kinteaces, and Ballindurth, to be
holden of the said Earl and his heirs by the tenure
of one knight's service. This charter has the
Earl's seal appended, and bears no date, but it
must have been granted before the year 1250.
From this charter it would appear that Blar, not
Mure, must have been the name of the heiress
who shortly afterwards brought the property of
Taces into the possession of the family of Leslie.
While it is doubtful whether Norino had a
brother named Leonard, it is certain that the
succession of the family was carried on by Norman,
the son either of Norino or of Leonard, and who
was the first of the family who signed the sur-
name " de Leslie."
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
15
V. SIR NORMAN DE LESLIE,
DOMINUS DE LESLIE, OR DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
NORMAN succeeded Norino as fifth possessor of the
lands of Leslie. It appears that he was the first
of the family who was distinguished by the sur-
name of Leslie ; for while his predecessors had
only been known either by their patronymics, or
by the offices which they held, such as that of
Constable of Inverurte, he is styled in all public
documents "Norman de Lesley, dominus de Les-
ley," or " dominus ejusdem."
Norman de Leslie also received the honour of
knighthood. The Laurus Leslceana states that
Sir Norman de Leslie received from King Alex-
ander III. the gift of the forest of Leslie in the
king's forest, 4th December 1282. Douglas states
that he also got Fytekill, now called Leslie in
Fife, from the same king.
It is recorded in the "Ragman's Roll" that
King Edward I. of England arrived at Aberdeen
on Saturday, 14th July 1296, and that on the
morrow, the 15th, there swore fealty to him at
that place — Sir Norman de Lesselyn, Chevalier,
Sir Alexander Lamberton, and others ; and that
on Monday the 16th, and following days, Sir
Gilbert de la Haye, Sir Hugh de la Haye, Sir
William Innes, and on the 19th, Henry, Bishop
CHAP. I.
Sir Norman.
1296.
16
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Sir Norman,
I3H.
of Aberdeen, performed the like homage to the
English king.
Sir Norman de Leslie was also one of the
magnates of Scotland, who, 12th July 1296, in
compliance with the wishes of the oppressor of
their country, renounced the old Scottish league
with France.*
Sir Norman de Leslie was one of those sum-
moned by King Edward to attend the parliament
held at Berwick, 24th August 1296.t
Probably it was for compliances such as these,
of which it would be difficult to fix the adequate
blame, but which no patriot can consider excusable,
that King Edward appointed Sir Norman de Leslie
sheriff of his native country of Aberdeen in 1305.
Sir Norman de Leslie, however, availed him-
self of an early opportunity of returning to his
rightful allegiance. He sat in the parliament
which was held by King Eobert Bruce at Cam-
buskenneth, 6th December 1314, and signed the
decree of forfeiture issued by that parliament
against all those who refused to return to their
allegiance after the battle of Bannockburn. J
The Laurus Leslceana does not mention the
name of the wife of Sir Norman de Leslie. In
Douglas's Peerage, however, it is stated that he
married Elizabeth Leith, heiress of Edengarioch,
* See Ragman's Roll, pp. 92, 93, 100.
t Ibid. p. 142.
+ See Appendix to the Lord of the Isles, p. 347, note B. 2.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
17
in Aberdeenshire ; while Shaw, in his History of
Moray, on the other hand, says that " in the end
of the reign of Alexander III. (about 1280) Norman
Lesley, son of Lesley in the Garioch, married the
daughter and heiress, it is said, of Watson of
Kothes." Whichever of these accounts be correct,
it is at all events certain that Sir Norman de
Leslie had a son—
ANDREW, his successor.
Besides this son, however, the Laurus
Leslceana states that Sir Norman had another —
Walter, Earl of Koss»; but, as will be shown here-
after, in treating of that Earl, this statement is
inconsistent with correct chronology.
In Douglas's Peerage it is stated that Sir
Norman had also two daughters—
I. MARGARET, married to Sir John limes of Innes ;
II. ANN, married to Sir Alexander Dunbar of Westfield.
This statement appears to be correct, although
the Laurus Leslceana describes these ladies as
daughters of Sir Norman's son Andrew.
Sir Norman de Leslie is a contracting party
to the marriage-agreement of his son Sir Andrew
de Leslie with Mary Abernethy, in 1313.
Sir Norman de Leslie died before 1320, in
which year the name of his son, Sir Andrew de
Leslie, Dominus Ejusdem, appears in the list of
the greater barons of Scotland, who in that year
addressed their memorable letter of remonstrance
to the Pope.
VOL. T. c
CHAP. I.
SirNorman.
18
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrtfiv.
1320.
1312.
VI. SIK ANDEEW DE LESLIE,
DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE succeeded his father,
Sir Norman de Leslie, as VI. Dominus Ejusdem
before 1320.
Sir Andrew de Leslie married Mary Aber-
nethy, one of the daughters and co -heir esses of
Sir Alexander Abernethy, Lord of Abernethy,
who died about 1312.
With his wife, Mary Abernethy, Sir Andrew
de Leslie got the baronies of Ballinbreich in
Fifeshire, Cairney in Forfar, and various other
lands, and, it is said, Eothes in Elgin, but of this
no record has been found. He got charters of
Ballinbreich and Cairney from King Eobert I.,
and quartered the arms of Abernethy with his
own.
This marriage between Sir Andrew de Leslie
and Mary Abernethy is documented by an inden-
ture between Andrew de Leslie, son and heir of
Norman de Leslie, Chevalier, with the consent of
Mary, his wife, as heiress of the deceased Sir
Alexander Abernethy, on the one part, and Sir
William Lindsay, Eector of Ayr, and Chamberlain
of Scotland from 1312 to 1322, on the other part,
whereby the said Sir Andrew obliges himself to
infeft Sir William Lindsay in twenty-four merks
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
19
land in the tenement of Cairney, to be held of
CHAP. I.
the granter, dated 25th December 1316.*
Sir Aitdrsw,
By his marriage with Mary Abernethy, Sir
Andrew de Leslie had the following issue :—
I. ANDREW, who succeeded as VII. Dominus Ejusdein.
II. NORMAN, of whom presently.
III. LESLIE, ancestor of the Earls of Rothes, of
whom hereafter under " Records of the Earls of Rothes."
IV. WALTER, Earl of Ross, of whom hereafter.
V. GEORGE, 1st Baron of Balquhain, of whom hereafter.t
Norman de Leslie, Sir Andrew's second son, was
a man of great abilities, and was much employed in
the public transactions of his time. During the
reign of King David II. we find him mentioned
in the following extracts from public docu-
ments :—
" Et nihil hie per firmam Baronie de Comnay
(Kemnay) que est in manu magistri Normani de
Lesley ex concessione Eoberti senescalli Scotiae
locum tenentis Domini Eegis ratione warde super
quo consulatur Kex."
"Ex comp. Domini Alexandri Fraser, viceco-
mitis de Aberdeen" (1348).
Norman de Leslie, Domicellus de Scotia (and
not Dominus Ejusdem), is a witness to the com-
* See Chartulary of Melrose, vol. i. p. 348 ; Lindsay's Lives
of the Lindsays, vol. i. p. 61, note ; and Douglas's Peerage, vol. ii.
p. 424. See also Note A — Lordship of Abernethy.
t See Note B — Laurus Leslceana, account of Sir Andrew de
Leslie's marriage and issue.
20
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Sir Andreiv,
1356.
1356.
1358.
1358.
1358.
mission issued by the Steward of Scotland, 10th
May 1356, to treat for the liberation of David II.
when at Durham.
Norman Lesselyn et Wauter, son frere, Esquires
d'Ecosse, had a safe conduct to pass through Eng-
land on their way to Prussia, 20th August 1356.*
Norman de Lesseley had a safe conduct into
England, llth May 1358, and again, 24th March
1359, as one of the Scottish commissioners
appointed to treat with the English.f
Norman de Leslie was, in 1358, sent along
with Sir Eobert Erskine as ambassador to Eome,
to solicit the Pope for a grant of the tenth part of
the ecclesiastical revenues of Scotland, towards
payment of the ransom of David II., which they
obtained for three years.
It appears by the following extract that Nor-
man de Leslie was Deputy-Chamberlain to Thomas
Earl of Angus, Chamberlain of Scotland :—
" Et Ixvi. vi. viij. (£66:6:8) liberat Normano
de Lesley, tune locum tenenti camerarii Scocie
confident receptionem super compotum de quibus
respondent" (1358).
In the accounts of customs and money paid
by Aberdeen to government from 1328 to 1399,
we find the following charge : — " Compotum
Normani de Lesley, locum tenentis Thome Comitis
de Angus dudum camerarii Scocie reddit apud
Rotuli Scotice, vol. i. p. 797.
t Ibid. pp. 823, 837,
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
21
Dunde IXmo die Aprilis, Anno Domini Millio
ccc q'nqagcnono"~* (1359).
Norman de Leslie is styled by King David
II. " Armiger noster," i.e. King's armour-bearer,
in a commission dated at Edinburgh, 10th May
1359, whereby Sir Robert Erskine, Norman de
Leslie, and Sir John Grant were constituted
plenipotentiaries to treat with Charles, the Dauphin
of France, then Eegent of France, to renew the
old league thitherto inviolably observed between
the two kingdoms, in which mission they
succeeded, t
Norman de Leslie had a safe conduct to go
into England as one of the ambassadors sent to
treat in the affairs of King David II., then a
prisoner in England, 15th April 1362 ; and
again, 14th March 1363, for himself and eight
esquires. J
Norman de Leslie was a member of the
assembly held at Inchmurdoch, 14th May 1363,
when the Steward of Scotland entered into an
obligation to adhere to King David II.
It appears by Robertson's Index of Missing
Charters of David II. , No. 46, that Norman de
Leslie received " ane pension enduring the ward
of Balenbreich," between 1330 and 1370.
Norman de Leslie married Margaret Lamber-
* See Kennedy's Annals of Aberdeen, vol. i. p. 41.
+ See Abercromby's History, vol. ii. p. 124.
I Rotuli Scotia, vol. i. pp. 862, 872.
CHAP. i.
Sir Andrew
I359-
I359-
1363-
22
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrav.
1366.
ton, granddaughter and heiress of Alexander de
Lamberton, and with her he got a good fortune.
The marriage is documented by a charter granted
by Margaret de Leslie, relict of the deceased
Norman de Leslie, Knight, to her cousin, William
Cuppyld, and Norman his son, of all and whole of
the lands which formerly belonged to Alexander
de Lamberton, her grandfather — namely, Lum-
lathyn and Cragoe in the county of Forfar, and
Asdory in the county of Fife. This charter is
witnessed by " nobili viro Domino Waltero de
Lesley," who is styled her brother (in law). "Nobili
Domina Margarita Comitissa Angusie, nobili viro
Domino Alexandro de Lindsey, milite, Laurentio
Archidiacono Brehinensi, et multis aliis," and was
confirmed by David II., an. reg. 37, llth Feb-
ruary— i. e. A. D. 1366.*
This proves that Norman de Leslie died be-
fore llth February 1366. And he does not seem
to have had any children by his marriage with
Margaret Lamberton, since, according to the
above charter, that lady's property, apparently in
default of direct heirs, passed into the possession
of her cousin, William Cuppyld. t
Sir Andrew de Leslie, VI. Dominus Ejusdem,
was one of the great barons or Magnates Scotise,
who signed the memorable letter, dated at Ar-
brothawik, 6th April 1320, addressed to Pope John
See Robertson's Index of Missing Charters of David II., No. 251.
t See Note C — Errors regarding Norman de Leslie.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
23
XXII. , asserting the independence of Scotland in
CHAP. I.
opposition to the Pope's orders to excommunicate
Sir Andrew.
King Eobert Bruce and his followers on every
Sunday and festival throughout the year.'""
Sir Andrew de Leslie, VI. Dominus Ejusdem,
died before 1325, as in that year Mary Aber-
1325.
nethy, his wife, after her husband's death, married
Sir David Lindsay of Crawford, ancestor of the
Earls of Crawford, as is proved by a dispensation
from Pope John XXII., which dispensation was
found by Andrew Stewart in the Vatican, t
By Sir David Lindsay, Mary Abernethy had
issue —
I. Sir JAMES LINDSAY, Sir David's successor, who married
Lady Egidia Stewart in 1346, and died after 1357,
leaving a son —
I. Sir JAMES, who married Christian Keith, and
died 1397.
II. Sir ALEXANDER LINDSAY of Glenesk, who married Cath-
erine Stirling, and died 1382, leaving a son —
I. Sir DAVID, created Earl of Crawford, 1398.
III. Sir WILLIAM LINDSAY, of the Byres, who married Catherine
Muir, and died after 1375, leaving a son, Sir William,
who carried on that branch of the family.
Walter Leslie, Earl of Koss, in several charters,
styles Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk and Sir
William Lindsay of Byres "carissimi fratres,"
they being his uterine brothers.
* See Note D — Letter addressed by Barons to Pope John XXII.
t See Andrew Stewart's History of the Stewarts, p. 446.
24
CHAP. I.
Sir Andreiv.
1325-
'353-
Sir Andrew.
1353-
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
VII. SIB ANDREW DE LESLIE,
DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE, eldest son of Sir Andrew
de Leslie, by his wife Mary Abernethy, succeeded
his father as VII. Dominus Ejusdem, before 1325,
and appears to have died before 1353, leaving
issue—
I. ANDREW his successor ;
II. MARGARET married to David de Abercrombie, who in 1391
got a charter of Aquhortis, Blairdaff, etc., from Sir
Andrew de Leslie, VIII. Dominus Ejusdem, his brother-
in-law.
VIII. SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE,
DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE, son of Sir Andrew de
Leslie, VII. Dominus Ejusdem, succeeded his
father as VIII. Dominus Ejusdem before 1353.
There is a charter in the possession of the
Earl of Strathmore, by which Andrew de Leslie,
Dominus Ejusdem, confirms a charter from Walter
de Leslie, Dominus de Philorth, of all the lands
which the said Walter had in territorio de Moner-
good, to John Lyon de Terteviot. In this charter
Sir Andrew de Leslie calls Sir Walter de Leslie
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
25
his uncle — viz., "Sciatis nos vidisse cartam dilecti
patrui nostri Walteri de Lesley de Philorth, &c."
There is no date in this charter of confirmation,
but it must have been granted between 1365, the
year in which Sir Walter de Leslie married
Euphemia, daughter of the Earl of Boss, and
assumed the title of Lord of Philorth, and the
year 1372, when he became Earl of Eoss in right
of his wife, on the death of William, Earl of Eoss,
his father-in-law.
In a charter by Sir Andrew de Leslie of that
Ilk, in favour of Sir Hugh Barclay of Kilnaim,
Sir Andrew gives Sir Hugh 24 merks yearly out
of his barony of Ballinbreich. The witnesses are,
Alexander and Patrick, Bishops of Aberdeen and
Brechin ; Eoger and Patrick, Abbots of Lindores
and Balmerino ; " Waltero de Lesley, Domino de
Eoss, patruo suo ;" James de Lindsay ; William
de Eamsay de Colthithie ; John de Kinloch ; and
many others.
This charter must have been granted between
1373, when Sir Walter de Leslie became Earl of
Eoss, and 1381, when Alexander Kininmund,
Bishop of Aberdeen, died.
Sir Andrew de Leslie granted a charter of the
lands of Culmelly and Auld Culmelly, in the
barony of Cushney in Aberdeenshire, to Bernard
de Kergyle, which charter was confirmed by
King Eobert II., 8th January 1373.*
CHAP. I.
'ir Andrew,
1373-
1373-
See Reyistrum Mayni Sigili, p. 100, No. 26.
26
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Sir Andr.w
See App.
No. VII.
1376.
In the charter-room of the Earl of Errol there
is a discharge by Sir Andrew de Leslie, Dominus
Ejusdem, to Thomas de Haia, Lord of Errol, for
£200, good and lawful sterling, which the said
Thomas stood bound to pay to the said Andrew,
by reason of a contract of marriage between the
said Sir Andrew's son and Lord ErroFs daughter.
The discharge is dated at Dundee, 12th July 1376.
In a charter to his uncle Walter, Earl of Eoss,
Sir Andrew de Leslie, VIII. Dominus Ejusdem,
calls Sir James de Lindsay, Dominus de Crawford,
consanguineus suus (his cousin), and Sir Alex-
ander Lindsay of Glenesk, patruus suus (his uncle),
they being thus related through Mary Abernethy,
the grandmother of Sir Andrew de Leslie and Sir
James de Lindsay, and the mother of Sir Alexander
Lindsay of Glenesk.
Sir Andrew de Leslie, Dominus Ejusdem,
confirmed a charter granted by Andrew de
Garvyack, Dominus de Caskyben, anent the
devolution of his lands of Badachache, lying in
the barony of Eothienorman and shire of Aberdeen,
to Stephen Clerk, his son-in-law, and Margaret
his spouse, to be holden by them as freely and
quietly as the said Andrew and his predecessors
held the same of the said Sir Andrew de Leslie,
and doing therefor to the king, chief lord of the
said lands, the services used and wont, and giving
to the said Andrew de Garvyack a penny money
at the old manor-place of Kynbruyn yearly, for
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
27
the ward, relief, marriages, escheats, and all other
service for the said lands.
This charter is dated 14th April 1380, but the
charter of confirmation by Sir Andrew de Leslie
is without date/""
Sir Andrew de Leslie, VIII. Dominus Ejusdem,
married, but no record has been found of the
lady's name. By her he had a son, Norman, as
is proved by deeds and transactions hereafter
narrated.
It would appear that he had also another son,
John, but the only records found concerning him
are the following — viz. In some Peerages, under
the title of Earls of Errol, it is stated that Mar-
garet, second daughter of Sir Thomas Hay of
Errol, Constable of Scotland, married John, son
and heir of Sir Andrew de Leslie. This seems to
be the marriage referred to in the discharge already
mentioned, given, 12th July 1376, by Sir Andrew
de Leslie to Sir Thomas de Haia for £200, on
account of a contract of marriage between Sir
Andrew's son and Sir Thomas's daughter. As no
trace of this John, son and heir of Sir Andrew de
Leslie, has been found in any of the family char-
ters, it is probable that he died without issue at
an early age.
Sir Andrew de Leslie, for some reason, perhaps
from having arrived at an advanced age, about
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrew.
1380.
* Manuscript Notes of Leslie Charters.
28
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrew.
1389-
1389.
1390.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
1389 resigned great part of his estates to his son
Norman.
Norman married, but his wife's name and fanlily
are not recorded. By her he had a son, David,
who, it seems, had gone abroad to the holy war in
Palestine, and having been absent for several
years without any tidings of him having reached
home, he was supposed to be dead. Under this
impression, Norman, in consequence of his father's
resignation of the family estates to him, executed
a deed of entail, settling certain estates on his own
heirs-male, failing whom, on his consanguineus,
i.e. cousin, Sir George Leslie of Rothes. In exe-
cution of this settlement, Norman Leslie resigned
the barony of Ballinbreich in Fife, the barony of
Lowr and Dunlopie in Forfarshire, and the baronies
of Cushney and Rothienorman in Aberdeenshire,
into the hands of King Robert II. ; and at the last
council held by Robert II. at Linlithgow, 1389,
Norman received from the king a grant of the
said lands in favour of himself and the heirs-male
of his body, whom failing, of Sir George Leslie of
Rothes. Norman Leslie afterwards got a charter
from Robert III. dated at Scone, 18th August
1390, confirming to him the grant made by the
deceased King Robert II. of the foresaid lands, to
be holden by Norman, and the heirs-male of his
body, whom failing, by Sir George Leslie, knight,
and his heirs-male, whom failing, by the said Nor-
man's lawful heirs whomsoever, in fee and heritage;
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
29
reserving nevertheless to the said Norman Leslie's
father, Sir Andrew de Leslie, the free tenement
and liferent of the whole lands during all the
days of his life.
Sir Andrew de Leslie, Dominus Ejusdem, and
Norman de Leslie, his son and heir, entered into
an agreement with Dominus Andreas de Leslie de
Syde, the third Baron of Balquhain, whereby the
said Sir Andrew and his son Norman, of one con-
sent, give, grant, and confirm to the said Andrew
de Leslie of Syde, their consanguineus or cousin,
an annual rent of £13 : 6 : 8, to be paid out of the
rents of the barony of Leslie within the regality
of St. Andrews, or out of the lands and barony of
Cushney in the shire of Aberdeen, at the option of
the said Andrew de Leslie of Syde, to be received
by him, by the bailies of the said Norman de
Leslie, at the feasts of Whitsunday and Martinmas
by equal portions, for his service and keeping,
from the said Sir Andrew and Norman his son,
and the longest liver of them, to be holden by
the said Andrew de Leslie of Syde, for the whole
term of his life, as freely and quietly as any other
annual rent is held within the kingdom of Scot-
land. And the said Sir Andrew de Leslie and his
son Norman did give and grant that, should the
said Sir Andrew de Leslie of Syde want the
payment of the said annual rent fourteen days
after any term, he should be at liberty to poind
the goods upon the said baronies aye and while he
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrew,
See App.
No. VIII.
30
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrew.
1390.
See App.
No. IX.
was completely paid what was due. And tlie said
Sir Andrew and his son Norman oblige themselves
to procure the confirmation of George de Leslie,
Dominus de Kothes, upon the whole premises.
The agreement is dated at Leslie, 24th November
1390. *
Sir Andrew de Leslie, Dominus Ejusdem, with
the consent and assent of Norman de Leslie, his
son and heir, granted to David de Abercrombie
and Margaret de Leslie, his spouse, sister to the
said Sir Andrew, a charter of the lands of Aqu-
horties, Acquhorsk, and Blairdaff, to be held by
the said David and Margaret, and the longest
liver of them, and by the heirs of their bodies ;
whom failing, to revert to the said Sir Andrew
and his heirs whomsoever. The charter is dated
30th May 1391.
Norman Leslie died shortly after this, during
the lifetime of his father Sir Andrew ; and there
being still no account of Norman's son David, Sir
George Leslie of Eothes, the next substitute, on
the supposition that David was dead, was served
heir of entail to Norman, as is proved by a pre-
cept of Chancery, dated at Clerkingtown 7th
January anno regni 2do Koberti II., A.D. 1391-2,
proceeding upon the retour of George de Leslie,
knight, consanguineus or cousin of the deceased
Norman de Leslie, knight, as nearest and lawful
* See Retour of Charters, Signet Library, Edinburgh.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
31
heir of tailzie to the said Norman in the baronies
of Ballinbreich, Cushney, Kothienorman, etc., sav-
ing every one's right, and taking security for 200
merks as the relief of the said baronies, etc. But
Sir George Leslie did not obtain possession of
these lands during the lifetime of Sir Andrew de
Leslie, Norman's father, as is proved by the fol-
lowing extract from the Chamberlain's accounts,
rendered by Alexander Fraser, vicecomes de Aber-
dene, 1392:-
"Et memorandum quod computans non oner-
atur ad presens de relevis quadraginta librorum
debit., de baronia de Cushney, nee de viginta libris
relevii debitis de baronia de Eothienorman per
mortem Domini Normani de Lesley, domini
earundem, filii scilicet Domini Andreae de Lesley,
qui habet possessionem illarum terrarum in libero
tenemento, pro tempore vitae suae : quae quidem
relevia respectuanter quousque Dominus Georgius
de Lesley nunc habens feodum illarum terrarum
assecutus fuerit et adeptus liberum tenementum
illarum terrarum cum feodo, et precipitur vice-
comes quod tune compellat."
King Kobert III., 7th April 1392, granted a
charter confirming a charter granted by the then
deceased Norman de Leslie, knight, to Sir John
Eamsay of Culathy, dated at Ballinbreich, 15th
August 1390.
From these documents it is evident that Nor-
man Leslie died after the 30th May 1391, when,
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrew.
See App.
No. X.
32
CHAP. I.
Sir Andrew
1392.
1396.
David.
HISTORICAL BECORDS OF
with his consent, his father, Sir Andrew, granted
the charter of Aquhorties, etc., to David de Aber-
crombie, and before the 7th January 1392, the
date of the precept for serving Sir George Leslie
as his heir of entail.
It appears that Sir Andrew de Leslie possessed
other lands besides those which he assigned to his
son Norman, as there is a charter in the charter-
room of the Earls of Rothes, dated at Aberdeen,
24th October 1396, whereby Andrew de Leslie,
knight, Dominus Ejusdem, dispones to his dear
cousin, George de Leslie, knight, Dominus de
Eothes, all right or claim which he had or could
have, in any manner, in time coming, in the barony
of Cairney in Perthshire, and the superiority
thereof, without any gain-calling by him or his
heirs for ever, promising, upon his good faith and
under hypotheck of all his goods, to have the
evidents of the said lands given to the said Sir
George de Leslie and his heirs, whenever need
shall be or it shall seem expedient.
Sir Andrew de Leslie, VIII. Dominus Ejusdem,
died about 1398, and was succeeded by his
grandson, David de Leslie.
IX. DAVID DE LESLIE,
DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
DAVID DE LESLIE, son of Norman de Leslie, and
grandson of Sir Andrew de Leslie, VIII. Dominus
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
33
Ejusdem, succeeded his grandfather, as IX.
Dominus Ejusdem, about 1398, his father Norman
having died in 1391.
As has been related, David Leslie was abroad,
engaged in the holy wars, when his father died,
and being supposed dead, Sir George Leslie of
Kothes was served as heir of entail to David's father
Norman, 7th January 1391-2. It would appear
that two or three years after the death of Sir
Andrew de Leslie, VIII. Dominus Ejusdem, his
grandson returned to Scotland, and succeeded as
IX. Dominus Ejusdem, as is proved by an inquest
held before the Sheriff of Fyfe and a jury, by
which he was declared to be the next heir of
entail to his grandfather.
When he obtained possession of his patrimonial
estates, David de Leslie confirmed the deed of entail
made by his father Norman in 1389, in favour
of Sir George Leslie, Dominus de Fitekill. This
charter of confirmation, preserved in the charter-
room of the Earls of Eothes, is without date. It
has the seal of David de Leslie appended to it,
and has the labels for seven other seals, all which
are broken away, having been the seals of the
several witnesses, who are designed as follows :
Eobert, Duke of Albany, Earl of Fife and Monteith,
Kegent of Scotland ; John, Earl of Brechin ;
William de Haya, Constable of Scotland ; John
Stewart of Lorn, knight ; Alexander, Earl of
Crawford ; Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen ; and
CHAP. I.
David.
1398.
VOL. I.
D
34
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
David.
1423.
I432-
1438.
Henry, Bishop of St. Andrews. From the name
of the Duke of Albany being among these
witnesses, we learn that this charter of confirma-
tion must have been granted between 1406 and
1420, during which time he was Eegent of Scot-
land.
David de Leslie, Dominus Ejusdem, and Nor-
man Leslie of Fitekill, son of Sir George Leslie of
Eothes, were of the number of Scottish noblemen
who were sent into England as hostages for the
ransom of King James I. David de Leslie, Dominus
de Leslie, had a safe conduct to Durham to meet
the king, 13th December 1423.*
David de Leslie remained in England as a
hostage till 20th June 1432, when Sir William
Baillie of Hoprick was accepted as a substitute
for him.t
David de Leslie, on his return to Scotland after
his lengthened sojourn abroad, married Margaret,
daughter of Sir Eobert Davidson, chief magistrate
of Aberdeen, who was killed at the battle of
Harlaw, 24th July 1411. By her he had one
child, Margaret, married to Alexander Leslie, son
of Sir Andrew Leslie, third Baron of Balquhain.
In 1438, shortly before his death, David de
Leslie again confirmed the deed of entail of his
father Norman, entailing his principal estates on
Norman de Leslie of Fitekill, son of Sir George
* Rotuli Scotice, vol. ii. p. 17.
t lUd. p. 277.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
35
Leslie of Kothes, now deceased, as heir-male, and
he settled the barony of Leslie in the Garioch on
his daughter Margaret, whose husband, Alexander
Leslie, in her right took the title of Leslie of
Leslie, or of that Ilk.*
David de Leslie, IX. Dominus Ejusdem, died in
March 1439, at an advanced age, and was suc-
ceeded in his principal estates by Norman Leslie
of Kothes and Fitekill, as is proved by an inquest
ordered by Chancery to inquire what lands the
deceased David de Leslie, knight, Dominus Ejusdem,
consanguineus or cousin of Norman Leslie, the
bearer thereof, died vest and seized in, and if the
said Norman Leslie of Eothes and Fitekill was
nearest and lawful heir-male to the said David by
reason of the tailzie made in 1389. The brieve
of inquest is dated at Edinburgh, the 2d May
1439, the third year of the reign of James II.
The inquest was held at Cupar in Fife, 19th May
1439, before H. "Warden, sheriff-depute. The
jury unanimously agreed that the deceased David
de Leslie, knight, died vest in the barony of
Ballinbreich, and that Norman Leslie of Fitekill
was the nearest lawful heir-male to the said David,
his cousin, by reason of the tailzie aforesaid ; and
that the barony was worth 200 merks per annum;
and found that the said barony was in the king's
hands two months, because the heir of tailzie did
* See Note E. — Concerning child of David de Leslie by Mar-
garet Davidson.
CHAP. I.
David.
H39-
36
CHAP. I.
David.
HISTORICAL RECOUDS OF
not set forth his right or claim for that time after
the death of David de Leslie, in February or
March 1439.
With David de Leslie, IX. Domimis Ejusdem,
ended the direct line of the Dynasta de Leslie.
After his death the extensive possessions of the
family of Leslie were divided, and while the
Leslies of that Ilk, the descendants of his daughter
Margaret, became a minor branch of the family,
the Leslies of Balquhain and the Leslies of Eothes
became the principal branches. The splendour
and magnificence which had adorned the stem
now adorned these two great branches, Balquhain
and Eothes. All the families of the name of
Leslie now existing are cadets of these two
branches, and the greater number of these families
derive their origin from the family of Balquhain/''"
* See Note F. — Laurus Leslceana account of David de Leslie.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
37
NOTES TO CHAPTER I.
NOTE A. — LORDSHIP OF ABERNETHY.
THE great lordship of Abernethy, of which the barony
of Ballinbreich formed a part, was held by Orm, the son
of Hugh, in the reign of Malcolm IV., about 1160, and
also by grants from William the Lion, about 1190.
Orm's son, Lawrence, assumed the name of Abernethy
from his lands. He gave the Canons of the priory of
St. Andrews ten shillings yearly, payable out of Ballin-
breich, with the consent of Sir Patrick Abernethy, his
son and heir, about 1230. Sir Patrick's son, Hugh de
Abernethy, possessed great influence previous to and
during the reign of Alexander III., about 1260. Sir
Hugh de Abernethy died before 3d September 1296, as,
on that date, we find that King Edward I. of England
ordered the sheriff of Forfar to repone Maria, quse fuit
uxor Hugonis de Abernethy, in her lands. Sir Alex-
ander de Abernethy succeeded his father, Sir Hugh.
He swore fealty to Edward L, 10th July 1292, and
again 25th June 1296, and adhered to the English
interests. He was made warden of the country between
the Forth and the mountains by Edward II. in 1310.
He was one of the English plenipotentiaries appointed to
treat with King Eobert Bruce in 1312. He got a grant
from Edward II. of the manor of Wyleighten, 3d May
1313. On the death of Sir Alexander de Abernethy
the lordship of Abernethy was divided between his
CHAP. I.
Note A.
38
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Note A.
Note B,
daughters and coheiresses, Margaret, married to John
Stuart, Earl of Angus, and Mary, married to Sir Andrew
de Leslie, VI. Dominus Ejusdem,
NOTE B. — "LAURUS LESL^EANA" ACCOUNT OF SIR
ANDREW DE LESLIE'S MARRIAGE AND ISSUE.
THE Laurus Leslceana states that Sir Andrew de Leslie,
VI. Dominus Ejusdem, married Elizabeth Douglas,
daughter of Lord Douglas, whose successors became
Marquises of Douglas, and with whom he got as her
dowry the lands of Woodfield, now called Bomain,
which in those days were reserved for hunting, as lying
near the royal castles of Fettercairn and Kincairn, and
that he had by her —
I. JOHN, who succeeded him ;
II. GEORGE, to whom lie gave the baronies of Syde and Bal-
quhain, and who became the founder of that branch of
the family of Leslie ;
III. MARGARET, married to Sir John Innes of Innes ;
IV. ANN, married to Sir Alexander Dunbar of Westfield.
It has been shown that these two ladies were the
sisters, not the daughters, of Sir Andrew, being the
daughters of Sir Norman de Leslie, V. Dominus Ejusdem.
The Laurus is also decidedly wrong in giving the name
of Sir Andrew's wife as Elizabeth Douglas instead of
Mary Abernethy. That Sir Andrew de Leslie had a son
John, who succeeded him, and who, according to the
Laurus, married Lady Margaret Hay, daughter of Sir
Thomas Hay of Errol, by whom he had a son, David,
who succeeded him, and another son Norman, who
became the founder of the Eothes family, is unquestion-
ably a mistake, there being no mention of a John Leslie,
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
39
Domiims Ejusdem, in any of the public records or Peer-
ages, and these details, as given by the Laurus, do not
agree with the records of the time, and with known
historical facts. A John Leslie is certainly mentioned
in some Peerages as having married a daughter of Sir
Thomas Hay of Errol in 1376, but he, as has been
shown, was not the son, but the great-grandson of Sir
Andrew de Leslie, VI. Dominus Ejusdem.
NOTE C. — ERRORS REGARDING NORMAN DE LESLIE.
IT has been said that Norman de Leslie married Muriel
de Pollock, daughter ofcPetrus de Pollock, and who was
styled "Domina de Eothes ;" and there is a charter in
the chartulary of Arbroath, giving the succession of the
Eothes family, which says that Sir Norman Leslie,
brother of Walter Leslie, Earl of Eoss, was the father
of Sir George Leslie of Eothes. Others say that Norman
de Leslie, brother of Walter, Earl of Eoss, married the
heiress of Taces in Fife, named Blair, and by her had a
son, Sir George Leslie of Eothes. But these statements
are evidently incorrect, as it has been shown that
Norman de Leslie married Margaret Lamberton, who
survived him. It has also been said that Norman de
Leslie went with the Earl of Douglas to the Holy Land
with the heart of King Eobert Bruce in 1330.
NOTE D. — LETTER ADDRESSED BY SCOTTISH BARONS TO
POPE JOHN XXII.
TYTLER, in his History of Scotland, vol. i. p. 140, ed.
1864, gives the following account of the letter addressed
by the Scottish Barons to Pope John XXII. —
CHAP. I.
Note B.
Note C.
Note D.
40
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Note D.
"Some time after the final settlement of the truce
(between England and Scotland), the Archbishop of
York, with the Bishops of London and Carlisle, were
commanded — and the order is stated to have proceeded
on information communicated by Edward — to ex-
communicate Eobert and his accomplices on every
Sabbath and festival-day throughout the year. Con-
vinced by this conduct that their enemies had been busy
in misrepresenting, at the Eoman court, their causes of
quarrel with England, the Scottish nobility assembled in
parliament at Aberbrothock, and with consent of the
king, the barons, freeholders, and whole community of
Scotland, directed a letter or manifesto to the Pope in a
strain different from that servility of address to which
the spiritual sovereign had been accustomed. After an
exordium, in which they shortly allude to the then
commonly-believed traditions regarding the emigration
of the Scots from Scythia — their residence in Spain —
and subsequent conquest of the Pictish kingdom : to
their long line of a hundred and thirteen kings (many of
whom are undoubtedly fabulous), to their conversion to
Christianity by St. Andrew, and the privileges which
they had enjoyed at the hands of their spiritual father,
as the flock of the brother of St. Peter ; they describe, in
the following energetic terms, the unjust aggression of
Edward the First : —
" Under such free protection did we live, until
Edward, king of England and father of the present
monarch, covering his hostile designs under the specious
disguise of friendship and alliance, made an invasion of
our country at a moment when it was without a king,
and attacked an honest and unsuspicious people — then
but little experienced in war. The insults which this
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
prince has heaped upon us, the slaughters and devasta-
tions which he has committed, his imprisonments of pre-
lates, his burning of monasteries, his spoliations and
murder of priests, and other enormities of which he has
been guilty, can be rightly described or even conceived
by none but an eyewitness. From these innumerable
evils we have been freed, under the help of that God
who woundeth and who maketh whole, by our most
valiant prince and king Lord Eobert, who, like a second
Maccabseus or Joshua, hath cheerfully endured all
labour and weariness, and exposed himself to every
species of danger and privation, that he might rescue
from the hands of the* enemy his ancient people and
rightful inheritance, whom also Divine Providence and
the right of succession, according to those laws and
customs which we will maintain to the death, as well as
the common consent of all, have made our prince and
king. To him we are bound, both by his own merit and
by the law of the land, and to him, as the saviour of our
people and the guardian of our liberty, are we unani-
mously determined to adhere ; but if he should desist
from what he has begun, and should show an inclination
to subject us or our kingdom to the king of England or
to his people, then we declare that we will use our
utmost effort to expel him from the throne as our
enemy and the subverter of his own and of our right,
and we will choose another king to rule over us, who
will be able to defend us ; for as long as a hundred
Scotsmen are left alive we will never be subject to the
dominion of England. It is not for glory, riches, or
honour, that we fight, but for that liberty which no good
man will consent to lose but with his life. Wherefore,
most reverend Father, we humbly pray,. and from our
41
CHAP. I.
Note D.
42
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Note D.
hearts, beseech your Holiness to consider that you are the
vicegerent of Him with whom there is no respect of
persons, Jews or Greeks, Scots or English ; and turning
your paternal regard upon the tribulations brought upon
us and the Church of God by the English, to admonish
the king of England that he should be content with
what he possesses, seeing that England of old was
enough for seven or more kings, and not to disturb our
peace in this small country, lying on the utmost bound-
aries of the habitable earth, and whose inhabitants
desire nothing but what is their own."
The barons proceed to say that they are willing to do
everything for peace which may not compromise the
freedom of their constitution and government, and they
exhort the Pope to procure the peace of Christendom, in
order to the removal of all impediments in the way of a
crusade against the infidels, declaring the readiness with
which they and their king would undertake that sacred
warfare if the king of England would cease to disturb
them. Their conclusion is exceedingly spirited : —
" If," say they, " your Holiness do not sincerely be-
lieve these things, giving too implicit faith to the tales
of the English, and on this ground shall not cease to
favour them in their designs for our destruction, be well
assured that the Almighty will impute to you that loss
of life, that destruction of human souls, and all those
various calamities, which our inextinguishable hatred
against the English, and their warfare against us, must
necessarily produce. Confident that we now are, and
shall ever, as in duty bound, remain, obedient sons to
you, as God's vicegerent, we commit the defence of
our cause to that God, as the great King and Judge,
placing our confidence in Him ; and in the firm hope
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
that He will endow us with strength, and confound our
enemies ; and may the Almighty long preserve your
Holiness in health."
This memorable letter is dated at Aberbrothock, on
the 6th of April 1320, and it is signed by eight earls
and thirty-one barons, amongst whom we find the great
officers, the high steward, the seneschal, the constable,
and the marshall, with the barons, freeholders, and
whole community of Scotland.
NOTE E. — CONCERNING CHILD OF DAVID DE LESLIE
BY HIS WIFE MAKGAKET DAVIDSON.
ACCORDING to some accounts, David de Leslie had a son,
Alexander, by his wife Margaret Davidson. But this
does not appear probable, since, as has been related,
David de Leslie twice confirmed the deed of entail
executed by his father Norman, in virtue of which
Norman Leslie of Fitekill succeeded to the barony of
Ballinbreich, as nearest heir-male, which he would not
have been if David de Leslie had had a son.
NOTE F. — " LAURUS LESL^ANA " ACCOUNT OF DAVID
DE LESLIE.
THE Laurns Leslceana says that David de Leslie suc-
ceeded his father John as Dominus Ejusdem, and that
he married Elizabeth Leith of Edingarioch, and got with
her Earlyfield, Premnay, and other lands ; and that,
seeing he had no issue, and no reason to expect any, he
made over his estates to his brother Norman, on con-
dition that should he survive his wife and marry again
and have children, the estates should revert to him, and
43
CHAP. I.
Note D.
Note E.
Note F.
44
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. I.
Note F.
devolve on such children ; and that after this, although
in declining years, he went to Palestine, and served as
a volunteer in the holy wars against the Saracens, and
remained abroad seven years ; and that, on his return
home, finding that his wife was dead, he married, in the
eightieth year of his age, as his second wife, Margaret
Davidson, daughter of Sir Eobert Davidson, Provost of
Aberdeen, by whom he had a son, Alexander ; and that
he then wished to recover his estates, but his brother
Norman, having so long enjoyed them, was unwilling to
part with the whole ; and that it was at last finally
arranged that Alexander, David's son, should inherit
the barony of Leslie in the Garioch, and that Norman
should retain Fechill, Tasses, and other lands in Fife,
with the rest of the southern possessions. There is no
evidence to support these statements of the Laurus
Leslceana, and the history of David de Leslie, IX.
Dominus Ejusdem, given above, seems to be the true
one, and is corroborated by public records and docu-
ments.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
45
CHAPTEE II.
ALEXANDEE LESLIE,
FIRST BARON OF LESLIE, OR OF THAT ILK.
As has been related, David, IX. Domimis Ejusdem,
had a daughter Margaret, to whom, at his death in
March 1439, he left the barony of Leslie in the
Garioch, and other lands in Aberdeenshire ; while
Norman Leslie of Eothes and Fythkill, son of Sir
George Leslie of Eothes, succeeded to the barony
of Ballinbreich, Tacis, and others, as the nearest
heir-male under the deed of tailzie executed in
1389 by Norman Leslie, son of Andrew de Leslie,
VIII. Dominus Ejusdem, and father of David, IX.
Dominus Ejusdem.
Margaret Leslie married Alexander Leslie, son
of Sir Andrew Leslie, third Baron of Balquhain,
who in all public documents is styled Baron of
Leslie, or of that Ilk. Alexander Leslie de Eodem,
or of that Ilk, is a witness to a charter of half of
the lands of Westhall, granted by Alexander
Eamsay of Westhall to his brother Edward Earn-
say, dated at the chapel of the Virgin Mary in the
CHAP. II.
Alexander,
First Baron
of Leslie.
46
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
Alexander,
First Baron
of Leslie.
See App.
to William,
Fourth
Baron of
Balquhain.
Garioch, 26th May 1453.* Alexander de Leslie,
Dominus Ejusdem, granted a charter of the lands
of Braco, Cults, Milltown of Knockinlews, and
Drummies, with their pertinents, lying in the
barony of Leslie and regality of the Garioch,
to William Leslie, fourth Baron of Balquhain,
27th March 1460.
By his first wife, Margaret Leslie, Alexander
Leslie had issue —
I. JOHN, who, it was said, was poisoned by his stepmother ;
II. JOHANNA, married to Strachan, a brother of the Baron of
Thornton.
Alexander Leslie married, secondly, Janet
Mowat, a daughter of the Baron of Baldquhollie,
by whom he had issue—
L WILLIAM, born in 1430, who is documented by an obli-
gation dated at Leslie Castle in the Garioch, 10th July
1458, whereby Alexander Leslie of that Ilk obliged
himself to George, first Earl of Rothes, Lord Leslie upon
Leven, that if the marriage appointed betwixt William
Leslie, son and heir-apparent of the said Alexander, or
any other of the said Alexander's sons and apparent
heirs, and Lady Margaret Leslie, the daughter of the
said Earl of Rothes by Margaret Lundin, his spouse, or
any other of the said Earl's daughters, did not take
place through the default of the said Alexander Leslie,
or of his sons, then to pay to the said Earl the sum of
500 merks, besides costs, skaith, and expenses in re-
covering the same. It would appear that William
Leslie died during the lifetime of his father.
II. GEORGE, who succeeded as second Baron of that Ilk.
Alexander Leslie, first Baron of that Ilk, died
* See Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. 240.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
47
about 1470, and was succeeded by his eldest sur-
CHAP. II.
viving son, George Leslie, second Baron of that
Alexander,
Til
First Baron
Ilk.
of Leslie.
GEOEGE LESLIE,
George,
Second
Baron
SECOND BARON OF THAT ILK.
of Leslie.
GEORGE LESLIE, born in 1432, succeeded his
1432.
father Alexander Leslie, as second Baron of that
Ilk, about 1470.
George Leslie of that Ilk is witness to a
decree of Sir William Leslie, fourth Baron of Bal-
quhain, as bailie to our Sovereign Lady the Queen,
in the regality of the Garioch, giving possession
of half of the lands of Drumdurnoch to John
Winton, dated at Wardis, 23d May 1453 * He
was one of the jury in the service of Thomas,
Lord Erskine, in the half of the earldom of Mar,
5th November 145 7. t He was witness to a bond
of manrent between William, brother-german to
George, Earl of Eothes, and William, Earl of Errol,
dated 3d June 1490.J He sold the lands of Edin-
garioch and others to William Leith, second son
of Henry Leith of Barnes, and granted a charter
of the same to him, 31st January 1499.§ Be-
tween 1490 and 1500 he resigned the lands of
Braco, Middletown, Knockinlews, Drummies,
* See Collections on Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 141.
t Miscellanies of Spalding Club, vol. v. p. 271.
t Ibid. vol. ii. p. 260. § See Douglas' Baronage, p. 225.
48
CHAP. II.
George,
Second
Baron
of Leslie.
See App.
No. XI.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
Glaschawe, Mill of Glaschawe, and the wood of
Drumcontane, in the regality of the Garioch, into
the hands of the king, in favour of Patrick Gor-
don of Methlic. King James IV., by a charter
dated at Stirling 31st August 1505, erected these
lands into a free barony in favour of Patrick Gor-
don. George Leslie of that Ilk was one of the
jurors in an inquisition held at Aberdeen, 7th
January 1505, regarding the title of Elizabeth
Ouchtirarne to the lands of Ouchtirarne in the
earldom of Mar ;* and on the same day he was
on the assize for appraising the lands of Stoney-
wood. He was on another assize, held at Aber-
deen 12th January 1506, and on another, held at
Aberdeen 5th June 1507, anent the spoliation of
oxen from the lands of Fyvie. He also attended
the head court, held at Aberdeen 3d October 1508.
George Leslie married, first, Lady Christian
Leslie, daughter of George, first Earl of Kothes, as
is shown by an obligation, dated 20th May 1478,
whereby George Leslie of that Ilk, acknowledg-
ing the great kindness which the Earl of Eothes
had shown to him, in upholding him at great
expense, from his childhood till he was twenty-
one years of age, and had paid great sums of
money for his marriage with Lady Christian
Leslie, daughter of the said Earl of Eothes,
therefore he bound himself not to sell or wadsett
any of his lands, or any that he was heir to, and
* Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. ii. p. 11.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
that he would not alienate any part of his lands
from the heir to be procreate betwixt him and
the said Lady Christina Leslie. By this marriage
George Leslie had issue—
I. ALEXANDER, who succeeded as third Baron of that Ilk ;
II. GEORGE, who died without issue ;
III. BEATRIX, who died without issue.
George Leslie married, secondly, in 1497,
Violet Middleton. George Leslie of that Ilk, and
Violet Middleton his spouse, got a charter of half
of the lands of Edingarioch and half of the lands
of Chapeltown, from King James IV., 24th
November 1497. By Violet Middleton he had
issue—
I. HENRY, who married and had a son, William Leslie,
who had several sons and daughters ;
II. JOHN ;
III. JANET, married to James Davidson, with whom she went
to Copenhagen, and died there.
George Leslie married, thirdly, Margaret Fraser,
daughter of the Baron of Muchals. King James
IV. confirmed a charter to George Leslie of that
Ilk, and Margaret Fraser his spouse, of eight
mercates of the lands of Chapeltoune in the lord-
ship of the Garioch, 26th October 1505. By
Margaret Fraser George Leslie had issue —
I. THOMAS, who died a student at Edinburgh ;
II. WILLIAM, styled Goodman of Chapeltown. He married
Lucretia Innis, daughter of Innis of that Ilk, by whom
he had issue —
I. BARTHOLOMEW;
II. PATRICK.
49
CHAP. II.
George,
Second
Baron of
Leslie.
1497.
See App.
No. XII.
See App.
No. XIII.
I505-
VOL. I.
E
50
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
George Leslie, second Baron of that Ilk, died
George,
before 1513, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
Second
Baron of
Alexander Leslie, third baron of that Ilk.
Leslie.
Alexander,
ALEXANDEB LESLIE,
ThirdBaron
of Leslie.
THIRD BARON OF THAT ILK.
ALEXANDER LESLIE, eldest son of George Leslie,
second Baron of that Ilk, by Lady Christina
Leslie, his spouse, succeeded as third Baron of
I5I3-
that Ilk, on the death of his father before 1513.
Alexander Leslie of that Ilk, as superior of the
lands of Aquhorties, Aquhorsk, and Blairdaff,
granted a precept of sasine in favour of William
Mortimer of Craigievar, in the half of the said
lands, 28th September 1513.*
Alexander Leslie of that Ilk was one of the
Barons who joined William Leslie, seventh Baron
of Balquhain, in attacking the town of Aberdeen,
and slaying several of the citizens, 1st October
1525, as appears from the following extracts
from the Council Register of the Burgh of Aber-
1525-
deen, "2d October 1525.— The said day, the
pro west, bailies, and counsel 1, with consent and
assent of all the haill communite, thei beand cir-
cualie inquirit be the officiaris, na maner of person
opponand nor sayand in the contrar, maid, creat,
* Balquhain Charters, No. 255.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
and ordanit rycht honourable men, that is to say,
Thomas Menzes of Pitfoddellis, thar prowest for
the tyme, Gilbert Menzes of Fyndoun, Sir Johnne
Kutherford, Andro Cullan, and William Eolland,
thair veire lauchfull and undoutit commissaris, to
set and prolong all and syndrie their fischings
and takis, baitht to burgh and to land now
waikind and beand in thair handis, to burges and
induellars the said burgh now actuallie, and to
nane uthers, and to nae maner of person quhilks
wes art or part of the cruell murther, slauchter,
mutilatioun, and hunting of their nychtbours,
prowest, baillies, and officiaris, maid on thame
under silence of nycht be Alexr. Setoun of
Meldrum, Johnne Leslie of Wardors, Willzeame
Leslie of Bognhane, Alexr. Leslie of that Ilk,
thair sonns and ayris, complecis and pairt takaris,
to the nomer of iiii** speirs, or thereby, be solsta-
tion of Johnne Collison eldar, and his complesces,
with power to the saids commissaris to set the
said tacks and fisching for five years immediate
followand the vigill of Sanct Androw nixt to cum,
and thair commissoun to be maid under thair
commund seill to the said commissaris, in the
largest forme, to this effect." *
Alexander Leslie married Janet Leslie, daughter
of George Leslie, first Baron of New Leslie. Janet
Leslie, spouse of Alexander Leslie of that Ilk, got
51
CHAP. II.
Alexander,
ThirdBaroi
of Leslie.
* Extracts from the Burgh Records of Aberdeen.
52
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
a charter from King James V. 27th November
Alexander,
1526. By her Alexander Leslie had issue—
ThirdBaron
of Leslie.
I. CHRISTINA, who succeeded him in the barony of Leslie ;
II. MARGARET. On the 21st January 1544, Alexander
Leslie, fourth Baron of that Ilk, in his own name, and
in the name of John Leslie, his eldest son and heir,
went to the personal presence of Miss Margaret Leslie,
daughter of the deceased Alexander Leslie of that Ilk,
and offered to her John Leslie his brother-german, or
Mr. Thomas Mortimer, as a fit husband for her, whom-
soever of the two she might choose, and promised to
obtain a dispensation for the marriage if they were
within the forbidden degrees of kindred ; and if she
refused to marry either of these two, and married any
See App.
one else, the said Alexander Leslie would enter a legal
No. XV.
protest.
Besides these, Alexander Leslie had seven sons
and six daughters, who all died young.
Alexander Leslie, third Baron of that Ilk, was
succeeded by his eldest daughter Christina, married
to Alexander Leslie of Pitnamoon, who, in right
of his wife, became fourth Baron of Leslie, about
1520.
1520.
Alexander,
Fourth
ALEXANDEK LESLIE,
Bcwoft of
Leslie.
FOURTH BARON OF THAT ILK.
CHRISTINA LESLIE, eldest daughter of Alexander
Leslie, third Baron of that Ilk, succeeded her father
in the barony of Leslie. She married Alexander
Leslie, second son of George Leslie of Pitnamoon,
and he, in right of his wife, became fourth Baron of
Leslie. He also succeeded his nephew George in
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
53
the lands of Pitnamoon. The issue of this
marriage was —
I. JOHN, who succeeded as fifth Baron of Leslie ;
II. WALTER.
Alexander Leslie and Christina Leslie, his
spouse, fiars of the barony of Leslie, with the
consent of Janet Leslie, liferenter of the barony,
sold to John Awaill, Alexander Wrycht, Duncan
Eobertson, and David Barnys, and the other
chaplains of the choir of the Collegiate Church of
Aberdeen, and their successors, an annual rent of
forty shillings out of the manor of Leslie, and
gave in warrandice thereof the lands of the barony
of Pitnamoon, lying in the barony of Balmain
and shire of Kincardine, 9th August 1527. As
has been related, Alexander Leslie of that Ilk,
in his own name, and in the name of his son and
heir John, offered to his sister-in-law Margaret
Leslie, daughter of the deceased Alexander Leslie
of that Ilk, either his own brother-german John
Leslie, or Master Thomas Mortimer, as a suitable
husband for her, and if she refused to marry either
of these two, he entered a legal protest against
her marriage with any one else, 21st January
1544.
Alexander Leslie of that Ilk was one of the
assize of Lords and Barons convened at Aberdeen,
16th June 1548, by John Leslie, eighth Baron of
Balquhain, sheriff-depute of Aberdeen, in virtue of
a warrant from Queen Mary, to make a rate and
CHAP. II.
Alexander,
fourth
Baron of
Leslie.
See App.
No. XIV.
I527-
See App.
No. XV.
I544-
1548.
54
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
to tax all the lands within the shire of Aberdeen."''"
Alexander,
Fourth
Baron of
Leslie.
Alexander Leslie of that Ilk, superior of the sunny
half of the lands of Aquhorties, the sunny half
of Overtown, the sunny half of Netherbeggery,
the sunny half of Woodhill, the sunny half of
Blairdaff, and half of the mill thereof, granted a
charter of the said lands to John Leslie, eighth
1554-
Baron of Balquhain, 26th February 1554.t
Alexander Leslie, fourth Baron of that Ilk,
was succeeded by his eldest son, John Leslie, fifth
Baron of that Ilk.
John,
Fifth. Baron
of Leslie.
JOHN LESLIE,
FIFTH BARON OF THAT ILK.
JOHN LESLIE, eldest son of Alexander Leslie of
Pitnamoon, fifth Baron of Leslie, by his wife
Christina Leslie, succeeded as fifth Baron of Leslie
on the death of his father.
John, abbot of Lindores, with the consent of
See App.
No. XVI.
the monks, granted a lease for nineteen years of
the teind-sheaves of the Mains of Leslie, Auld
Leslie, and Curtastoun, to John Leslie of that Ilk,
and Elizabeth Dempster his spouse, for the sum
of £30 Scots, and a yearly rent of forty-two
inerks — to wit, nine merks for the teind-sheaves of
the Mains of Leslie, thirteen merks for the teind-
sheaves of Auld Leslie, and twenty merks for the
* Collections on Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 115.
t Balquhain Charters, No. 257.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
teind-sheaves of Curtaston, payable yearly at the
feast of St. Lawrence the martyr, or at the feast
of St. Bartholomew, 10th October 1546. John
Leslie of that Ilk granted a precept of clare
constat in favour of Gilbert Leith of Barnes, 10th
May 1548."* He also granted a precept to infeft
William Leslie younger, afterwards ninth Baron
of Balquhain, in the lands of Aquhorties,
Woodhill, Blairdaff, and others, 4th October
1560.t Sir Thomas Eaith, vicar of the parish
church of Leslie, with the consent of John, abbot
of Lindores, and <5f the monks of the same,
granted a feu-charter of the kirklands and glebe
of the vicarage of Leslie to John Leslie of that
Ilk, for a certain sum of money, and a yearly duty
of four merks, and also two shillings in augmenta-
tion of the rental, and ordered his bailies, Eobert
Leslie in Auchmair and Nicholas Murray, to
give sasine in the said lands to the said John
Leslie ; but reserving to himself and his successors
the manse of the said vicarage, and the sowing of
two bolls of barley in the east part of the croft of
Gostach, 1st May 1561. John Leslie of that Ilk,
with other barons, signed a bond to support Queen
Mary's authority under the Earl of Huntly, her
Lieutenant of the North, in 15684 John Leslie,
* Charter in possession of Mr. Grant Leslie, Sheriff-clerk
depute, Aberdeen.
t Balquhain Charters, No. 258.
+ Gordon Papers, Miscellany of Spalding Club, vol. iv. p. 157.
55
CHAP. II.
John,
Fifth Baron
of Leslie.
1548.
See App.
No. XVII.
1561.
56
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
John,
Fifth Baron
of Leslie.
See App.
No. XVIII.
I579-
1586.
1589.
1543-
vicar of Pramoth, granted to John Leslie of that
Ilk, a lease for twice nineteen years of the teinds
of the Mains of Leslie, and of the lands of
Edingarioch, in so far as lies within the parish of
Premnay — that is to say, teind-hay, teind-nolt,
teind-cheis, teind-lint, and all other emoluments
pertaining to the vicarage — for the annual rent of
forty shillings Scots, payable at the feast of Pasch,
27th January 1579. John Leslie of that Ilk
conveyed the kirklands and glebe of the vicarage
of Leslie to his grandson, John Leslie, son of
Patrick Leslie, by his wife Isabella, daughter of
John Leslie of that Ilk, in 1584. John Leslie of
that Ilk granted a precept of infeftment to George
Leith of Barnes, dated at Leslie Castle, 7th
November 1586. John Leslie of that Ilk got a
charter of the barony of Leslie from King James
VI., 30th May 1589."''
John Leslie, fifth Baron of that Ilk, married
Elizabeth Dempster, daughter of Dempster of
Muiresk. John Leslie of that Ilk, and Elizabeth
Dempster his spouse, got a charter of the barony
of Leslie from Queen Mary, 28th July 1543.t
By Elizabeth Dempster John Leslie had issue—
I. PATRICK, who succeeded as sixth Baron of Leslie ;
II. ISABELLA, who was married to Patrick Leslie, and had a
son, John.
He had also several other sons and daughters,
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, lib. xlv. No. 149.
t Ibid. lib. xxix. No. 154.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
57
who all died without issue. He was succeeded
by his son Patrick Leslie, sixth Baron of that Ilk.
CHAP. II.
John,
Fifth Baron
of Leslie.
PATKICK LESLIE,
Patrick,
Sixth Baron
SIXTH BARON OF THAT ILK.
of Leslie.
PATRICK LESLIE, son of John Leslie, fifth Baron
of that Ilk, by Elizabeth Dempster his wife,
succeeded as sixth Baron of that Ilk on the death
of his father.
Patrick Leslie married, first, Margaret Lumsden,
daughter of Eobert Lumsden, bailie of Aberdeen ;
she died 20th August 1575, as appears from the
1575-
following extract from the Chronicle of Aberdeen:
" Margrett Lumisden, lady of Lesly, and
doithar to Maister Eobert Lumsden, Bailye of
Aberdeen, departtit in the Garioche the xx. day
of Aguist, the yeir of God 1575 yeir8."'*
Patrick Leslie married, secondly, Sarah Keith,
as is proved by a deed whereby their son, George
Leslie, with the consent of his mother Sarah
Keith, disponed the lands and barony of Leslie to
John Forbes in 1618. By her he had issue—
1618.
I. JOHN, who succeeded as seventh Baron of Leslie ;
II. GEORGE, who succeeded his brother John as eighth
Baron of Leslie ;
III. ALEXANDER, who died before 19th August 1618,
when his brother George was served heir to him ;t
* Miscellanies, Spalding Club, vol. ii. p. 42.
t Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 393.
58
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
Patrick,
Sixth Baron
of Leslie.
1601.
John,
Seventh
Baron of
Leslie.
1 60 1.
1608.
IV. MARGARET, who was served heir-portioner to her father
Patrick Leslie of that Ilk, 14th February 1604 ;*
V. JANET, who with her sister Margaret, was served heir-
portioner to her father, Patrick Leslie of that Ilk, as
above, f
Patrick Leslie, sixth Baron of that Ilk, appears
to have died about 1601, and was succeeded by
his eldest son, John Leslie, seventh Baron of that
Ilk.
JOHN LESLIE,
SEVENTH BARON OF THAT ILK.
JOHN LESLIE, eldest son of Patrick Leslie, sixth
Baron of that Ilk, by Sarah Keith, his wife,
succeeded as seventh Baron of Leslie on the death
of his father, about 1601.
John Leslie of that Ilk, as superior of the lands
of Barnes, granted an instrument of sasine in
favour of Gilbert Leith in the lands of Barnes, 8th
May 1601.J
John Leslie, seventh Baron of that Ilk, died
without issue before 5th April 1608, when his
brother, George Leslie, eighth Baron of that Ilk,
was served heir to him.
* " Inquisitiones Generales," No. 156. t Ibid. No. 157.
t Charter in possession of Mr. Grant Leslie, Sheriff-clerk
depute, Aberdeen.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
59
CHAP. II.
GEOKGE LESLIE,
EIGHTH BARON OF THAT ILK.
George,
Eighth
Baron of
Leslie.
GEORGE LESLIE, second son of Patrick Leslie, sixth
Baron of that Ilk, by Sarah Keith, his wife,
succeeded his elder brother John as eighth Baron
of that Ilk, and was served heir to him, 5th April
1608, in the barony of Leslie, in the superiority
1608.
of the shady half of the town and lands of Aqu-
horsk, in the barony of Leslie ; in the lands of
Auld Leslie, Chappeltown, Towleyis, with the
mills ; the half of the lands of Edingarioch, and
the superiority of the other half; the superiority
of the half of the lands of Aquhorties, and mill ;
Auchquhorsk, Blairdaff, the superiority of the
lands of Erlisfeild, Newlandis, Bairnis, Cultis, New
Leslie, and in the patronage of the benefices in
the barony of Leslie.*
On the 19th August 1618 he was also served
1618.
heir to Alexander Leslie of that Ilk, his brother, f
to John Leslie of that Ilk, his grandfather, in the
kirklands and glebe of the vicarage of LeslieJ and
to Alexander Leslie of that Ilk, his great-grand-
father.
* " Inquisitiones Speciales Vicecomitatus Aberdonensis," No.
115. — Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Ban/, vol. iii. p. 387.
f " Inquisitiones Generates," No. 770.
+ " Inquisitiones Speciales, Abdn.," No. 158.
60
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
Eighth
Baron of
Leslie.
1616.
1610.
1614.
1615.
1617.
In 1608 George Leslie of that Ilk wadsett cer-
tain lands in the barony of Leslie to James
Leslie of Chapeltown, and in 1616 he brought an
action in the Court of Session for the redemption
of the said lands. The Court of Session, 8th
February 1616, sustained the reversion contained
in the contract of wadsett dated 1608, but not
registered until 1 6 1 6. * George Leslie of that Ilk,
as superior of half of the lands of Aquhorties,
Overtown, and Nethertown of Aquhorties, Blair-
daff, and Woodhill, granted a charter of the said
lands to John Leslie, fiar, afterwards eleventh
Baron of Balquhain, 21st March 1610, proceeding
on the resignation of John Leslie, tenth Baron of
Balquhain, 21st January 1610.
George Leslie of that Ilk and John Leslie of
Pitcaple involved themselves in certain liabilities
for James Leslie of Otterston. They became
cautioners and securities for him in a bond of
1000 marks to Thomas Machray of Leithhills, and
Agnes Grey his spouse, under a penalty of 300
merks failing payment, 15th June 1614. This
bond was assigned by Thomas Machray to Patrick
Leslie, burgess of Aberdeen, 29th May 1615, and
he assigned it to Thomas Eamsay of Borghouse,
15th December 1615, who again assigned it to
John Forbes of Enzean, second son of William
Forbes of Monymusk, 1st June 1617. It seems
* Decrees and Decisions, vols. xxxi. xxxii. p. 13,443.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
that George Leslie of that Ilk had become security
for a great many bonds granted by James Leslie
of Otterston, to various people, and these bonds
were concentrated by various acquisitions in the
person of Thomas Ramsay of Borghouse, who
executed a general assignation of the whole bonds
on the barony of Leslie in favour of John Forbes
of Enzean. Under this assignation John Forbes
obtained a decreet apprizing the barony of
Leslie, 2d May 1618. In consequence of this
decreet of apprizing, George Leslie, with the con-
sent of Sarah Keitk his mother, of Alexander
Leslie his brother, and of John Leslie of Auld
Leslie, executed a disposition of the barony of
Leslie in favour of John Forbes of Enzean, 18th
July 1618, and resigned the same into the King's
hands in favour of John Forbes, who got a charter
of the lands of Auchinleck and of the barony of
Leslie from King James VI., 22d January 1619.
John Forbes of Enzean thus became baron of
Leslie. It does not appear from the documents
which have been examined what sum of money
he paid for the barony. The contract of sale,
contained in the disposition granted by George
Leslie of that Ilk, with the consent of his mother
and brother, 18th July 1618, is only referred to
incidentally in a letter of inhibition and arrest-
ment, proceeding on the contract, at the instance
of John Forbes against George Leslie in 1620, to
implement the contract. It would seem that
61
CHAP. II.
George,
Eighth
Baron of
Leslie.
1618.
1619.
1620.
62
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. II.
George,
Eighth
Baron of
Leslie.
1622.
George Leslie, in reconsidering the transaction
had thought that he had made a bad bargain,
and had refused to implement it ; and that John
Forbes had raised an action against him, and had
gained his suit.
While George Leslie of that Ilk thus lost the
estates of his ancestors, he still retained the
superiority of the various lands which had be-
longed to him. As superior of the lands of
Barnes, he granted a precept of sasine in the lands
of Barnes in favour of George Leith, 26th January
1622. He pursued John Leslie of Pitcaple, who
held certain lands of him by service of ward and
relief, for the payment of the duties of all the
years of the ward, and of all the years during
the non-entry of the heir-apparent after the ex-
piry of the ward. The Court of Session found
that the superior of the said lands, George Leslie
of that Ilk, could not bring an action for the
duties of any year, during non-entry, before he
obtained a decreet finding the lands in non-entry,
23d March 1622.* George Leslie, as superior,
again pursued John Leslie of Pitcaple, his vassal,
for payment of the duties of his lands during the
time of the ward and non-entry of his lands fol-
lowing the ward. It was urged by Pitcaple that
during the non-entry after ward the superior had
no right to the duties of the lands, but only to
the old extent, or retour duty, because the su-
Decisions and Decrees, vols. xxi. xxii. p. 9289.
THE FAMILY OP LESLIE.
63
perior, before declaration, can claim no more.
The Court of Session, 22d July 1626, found the
defence relevant, seeing that the superior was not
in succession.""" George Leslie of that Ilk, as su-
perior of the half of the lands of Aquhorties,
obtained a decreet of recognition of the said lands
against John Leslie, eleventh Baron of Balquhain,
and John Leslie of Pitcaple, 7th July 1627, and
he assigned the decreet to James Leslie, second
son of the said John Leslie of Pitcaple, 10th July
1627 ; and, on the same day, he granted a charter
of the said lands to .the said James Leslie, t He
granted a precept of clare constat in favour of
John Leslie of Pitcaple, as heir to his father
Duncan Leslie of Pitcaple in the shady half of
the town and lands of Aquhorsk, lying in the
barony of Leslie, 10th July 16274 George
Leslie of that Ilk was served heir of Malcolm
Leslie, the great-great-great-great-grandfather of
the great-great-great-great-grandfather of his
father (tritavi tritavi patris), of Norman Leslie,
the great-great-great-great-grandfather of his
great-great-great-great-grandfather, and of Nor-
man Leslie, the great-great-great-great-grandfather
of his great-great-grandfather, 27th January 1632.§
* Decisions and Decrees, vols. xxi. xxii. p. 9304.
t Balquhain Charters, Nos. 307-309.
% Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 387.
§ " Inqiiisitiones Generates," Nos. 1863, 1864, 1865. — An-
tiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 393.
CHAP. II.
George,
Eighth
Baron of
Leslie.
1627.
1632.
64
CHAP. II.
George,
Eighth
Baron of
Leslie.
1624.
1646.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
George Leslie of that Ilk, as superior of the sunny
half of the lands of Aquhorties, granted a charter
of the same in favour of William Eobertson elder,
and William Eobertson younger. George Leslie
of that Ilk got a charter of the lands of New
Leslie, Brigs, Cults, and others, from King James
VI., 2d March 1624.*
George Leslie of that Ilk married Catherine
Henderson, by whom he had issue a son—
I. JOHN, who was served heir to his mother, Mrs. Catherine
Henderson, spouse of George Leslie of that Ilk, 26th
August 1646.t
No farther accounts have been obtained of
George Leslie, eighth and last baron of that Ilk,
or of his son John.
It is stated in the Laurus Leslceana, and by
others, that George Leslie, eighth Baron of Leslie,
married the Honourable Jane Leslie, daughter of
Lord Lindores; and that, after his death, his
widow married John Forbes, who purchased the
heavy debts on the estate and thus got possession
of it. But this account is clearly refuted by the
transactions and deeds above recorded.
Registrum Magni tSigilli, lib. xlix. No. 324.
t " Inquisitiones Generates," No. 3183.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
65
CHAPTER III.
WALTEK LESLIE,
EARL OF ROSS.
WALTER LESLIE, who became Earl of Koss in
right of his wife Eufamia, Countess of Koss,
daughter and heiress of William, sixth Earl of
Eoss, was the fourth son of Sir Andrew de Les-
lie, VI. Dominus Ejusdem, by his wife Mary
Abernethy, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Alex-
ander Abernethy of Abernethy.
John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, in his Rebus
Gestis Scotorum, p. 201, states that Walter Leslie
served in the Imperial army under the Emperors
Louis IV. and Charles IV. (1346-1378), with
great distinction, against the Saracens, and was so
esteemed for his bravery against the enemy, and
for his humanity towards the vanquished, that he
was styled the " Generous Knight." The Laurus
Leslceana styles him " Walter the Wight Leslie."
Walter Leslie seems to have gone to the wars in
Germany in 1356, as he and his brother Norman
had a safe-conduct to pass through England on
Walter,
Earl of Ross
See App.
No. XIX.
1346-78.
1356.
VOL. I.
F
66
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross.
1358.
1372.
1363-
their way to Prussia, 20th August 1356.*"
Afterwards Walter Leslie returned to Scotland,
but he did not remain long there. He went
abroad again, and entered the service of the King
of France. He got a safe-conduct into England
for himself and sixty persons in his suite, going
to foreign parts, 24th October 1358. He served
with great distinction in the wars against King
Edward III. of England. In reward of his
services, Charles V. King of France, by a letter
patent dated 1st October 1372, granted to Walter
Leslie, Earl of Eoss in the kingdom of Scotland,
an annuity of 200 francs of gold, to be paid out
of the Eoyal Treasury, for his good and faithful
services against our ancient enemies of England,
especially at the battle of Pontvalain. For this
pension Walter de Leslie did homage to the King
of France against all and every one, reserving the
fidelity due by him to the King of Scotland and
the Duke of Austria. The patent is in the
possession of M. Letellier of Paris, as appears by
a letter written by M. Teulet, sub-director of the
Archives du Eoyaume, Palais de Soubise, to
Colonel Charles Leslie, K. H. of Balquhain, 7th
October 1845.
After such distinguished services abroad,
Walter Leslie returned to Scotland before 1363.
The fame of his exploits gained him the favour of
Rotuli Scotice, vol. i. p. 797.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
King David II., who, 14th October 1363, granted
him a pension for life of forty pounds sterling, to
be paid annually out of the great Customs of
Dundee by the Chamberlain of Scotland.* Also,
through the influence and friendship of King
David II., Walter Leslie obtained in marriage
Eufamia, eldest daughter and heiress of William,
sixth Earl of Eoss. The Lady Eufamia was a near
relation of the king, and married Walter Leslie
about 1365, as is shown by a charter granted by
David II. to Walter de Leslie, knight, and
Eufamia de Koss his spouse, of the new forest in
the shire of Dumfries, to be held of the king in
free barony, dated at Perth, 13th September
1365.t It appears that a papal dispensation was
obtained in December 1367, as the marriage had
been deemed uncanonical, because Walter Leslie
had previously had illicit intercourse with a lady
related within the fourth degree of kindred to
Eufamia de Koss. The dispensation is dated at
Avignon, viii. Kalend Decembris, anno quinto
pontificate Urbani V., A.D. 1367.J
Walter de Leslie is a witness to a charter
granted by Margaret de Leslie, widow of Sir
Norman de Leslie, knight, and confirmed by
David II. at Edinburgh, llth February 1366, to
William Cuppyld, her cousin, of the lands of
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 32, No. 75.
t lUd. p. 53, No. 162.
t Stewart's History of the Stewarts, Supp., p. 438.
67
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross.
1365.
1367-
1366.
68
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
Walter,
EarlofRoss.
1366.
See App.
No. XX.
1367.
See App.
No. XXL
Lumlethyn, Cragoe, and others within the shire
of Forfar, and Asdory in the shire of Fife, which
belonged to her great-grandfather, Sir Alexander
de Lamberton, knight.* David II. granted a
charter of the barony of Philorth in Aberdeen-
shire to Walter de Leslie, knight, t Walter de
Leslie, knight, Dominus de Philorth, granted a
charter of all the lands which he held in the
territory of Monergood, to John Lyon of Terteviot,
which charter was confirmed by Andrew de Leslie,
Dominus Ejusdem, of whom Sir Walter held
these lands, and who in his charter of confirma-
tion calls Sir Walter his uncle. " Sciatis nos
vidisse cartam dilecti patrui nostri Walteri de
Lesley de Philorth," etc. The charter is dated
1366. Walter de Leslie, Dominus de Eoss,
granted a charter to Eufamia de Sancto Claro of
the lands of Tiry in Buchan, and of Bra, Drum,
and Bron, in the shire of Inverness, to be held of
him and his heirs by her and her heirs, for pay-
ment of two pennies yearly at the feast of St.
John the Baptist, if demanded, dated 1367.
David II. granted a charter to Sir Walter de
Leslie, and Eufamia his spouse, of the lands of
the thanage of Aberchirder, and the lands of
Blaresnache, to be held of the king for the service
of one knight and three suits at three head
courts to be held within the shire of Banff ; dated
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 50, No. 151,
t Robertson's Index of Missing Charters.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
69
at Perth, 27th February 1369. King David II.
granted another charter of the thanage of the
lands of Aberchirder, and of the thanage of
Kincardine, to Sir Walter Leslie, knight, with a
provision that if the heirs of the old thanes should
recover possession, Sir Walter should have the
accustomed service and rent paid by them in
time past to the Crown ; dated at Edinburgh, 6th
May 1369. Walter de Leslie, Dominus de
Philorth, granted a charter to John de Urchard,
son of Adam de Urchard, sheriff of Cromarty, of
the lands of Fohesterdy in Buchan, 8th November
1369, which charter was confirmed by David II.
8th November 1369.*
Walter de Leslie, knight, was a member of the
convention, held first at Muirhouselow, and after-
wards at Eoxburgh, 1st September 1367, in the
affairs of the Marches, betwixt Thomas, Earl of
Warwick, Marischal of England, Lord Percy, and
others, on the one part ; and Patrick, Earl of
March and Moray, Walter, Earl of Douglas, Hugh
de Eglington, Walter de Leslie, and others, on the
other part. He had a safe-conduct into England
on the affairs of David II., 23d January 1368.
He is a witness to a charter granted by David II.
to William de Dyschyngtoun, knight, at Edin-
burgh 18th September 1368 ;t also to a charter
granted to Alexander Lindsay, 23d February
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 63, No. 204.
t Ibid p. 68, No. 231.
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross,
See App.
No. XXII.
1369.
1368.
70
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross.
1369.
See App.
No. XXIII.
1370.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
1369;* also to a charter, confirming a charter,
granted by Thomas, Earl of Angus, Seneschal of
Scotland, to Andrew Parker, 15th March 1369.t
He was one of the guarantees of the peace with
England, 20th July 1369.
David II. granted a charter to William, sixth
Earl of Eoss, of the earldom of Eoss, the lordship
of Sky, and all his other lands within the realm,
except the lordships and lands which sometime
belonged to him by inheritance from Margaret
Cumyn, one of the heiresses of Buchan, in the
shires of Aberdeen, Dumfries, and Wigton, pro-
ceeding on the Earl's free and voluntary resigna-
tion of the same in full parliament at Perth, 23d
October 1370, to be held by the said Earl and
the heirs-male of his body, with remainder to Sir
Walter Leslie, knight, and Eufamia, his spouse,
and to the longest liver of them two, and to the
heirs of the body of the said Eufamia ; and if the
said heirs were heirs-female, then to the eldest
heir-female without division ; whom failing, to
Johanna, the younger daughter of the said Earl
of Eoss, and her heirs ; dated at Perth 23d October
1370. In the following year, William, Earl of
Eoss, made a complaint to Eobert II., successor
of David II., complaining that David II. had
given to Sir Walter Leslie, knight, all his lands
and tenements, and also those of his brother,
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 59, No. 184.
f Ibid p. 48, No. 140.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
71
Hugh de Koss, within the district of Buchan,
neither the Earl, the complainant, nor his brother
Hugh being cited ; that he had written to the
Bishop of Brechin, then Chancellor of Scotland,
Robert, Seneschal of Scotland, Thomas, Earl of
Mar, William de Keith, and William de Meldrum,
supplicating letters ; and also a letter to the
king, and to the Lady Eufamia, the complainant's
sister; that he had entrusted John de Gairdyn,
his chaplain, Canon of Caithness, with these
letters ; that John of Aberchirder, esquire of the
said Sir Walter, met John de Gairdyn and arrested
him, and atrociously struck his man because he
would not bind his master to his horse's tail, and
then robbed the said John de Gairdyn of all his
letters and led him to a wood, where he was kept
till he paid a ransom, and swore on the holy
Gospels, in the presence of Dominus Cristinus,
vicar of Forgue, that he would not deliver any of
the letters to any one except to Sir Walter Leslie ;
that the said John de Gairdyn then went and
complained to his lord, the Bishop of Aberdeen,
and to William de Keith, and then returned to the
complainant and related to him what had hap-
pened ; that the complainant then went in per-
son to the king at Aberdeen, who would not grant
his request unless he renounced all his rights in
the platan of Forfar into the king's hands in
favour of John de Logy ; that he made this con-
cession, and was asked to dinner by the king, and
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross.
72
CHAP. III.
Walter,
EarlofRoss
See App.
No. XXIV.
1372.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
after dinner asked an answer to his affairs ; that
a long list of questions was sent to him to answer,
containing many authorities from the civil law ;
that he said that he did not desire any litigation
with the king, and had not come for that pur-
pose ; that then he returned to Ross without
asking leave, and did not speak to the king again
till he came to Inverness, when, seeing the king-
moved -against him and his brother Hugh, and
the said Walter Leslie to have great influence
with the king, and he and his brother Hugh not
being restored to the possession of their lands in
Buchan, they ratified under their seals the dona-
tion of their lands made by the king to the
foresaid Walter, on account of greater dangers
which they thought imminent; also that the
complainant's daughter was espoused to the fore-
said Walter altogether against her father's will,
who had never made to her any concession or
donation of lands or goods up to the time of the
death of David II. except through fear of the king's
anger. To these complaints, William, Earl of
Ross, affixed his seal at Edinburgh 24th June 1371.
William, Earl of Ross, died soon after this,
about 1372, and leaving no male issue, he was
succeeded in his Earldom and estates by his
eldest daughter, Eufamia, Countess of Ross,
according to the provisions of the charter of 23d
October 1370, and her husband, Walter Leslie,
became Earl of Ross in her right.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
73
Walter de Leslie, Dominus de Boss, had a safe-
conduct into England 3d January 1373. He
resigned the forest called the New Forest in
Galloway, in favour of his nephew, James de
Lindesay, who got a charter of the same from
Eobert II., dated at Perth, 20th August 1373.*
Kobert III., confirmed a grant made by Walter
de Leslie to Sir William de Lindesay of the lands
of Aberkyrdore and others in Banffshire, 3d October
1373.t Walter de Leslie, Dominus de Koss, had
a safe-conduct into England, 20th August 1374,
and another, 12th* February 1375. Sir Walter
Leslie, Dominus de Eoss, and Eufamia his wife,
granted a charter to his brother-in-law, Sir Alex-
ander Fraser, knight, and Janet Eoss, his wife, of
the lands of Auchinschogle and Meikle Fyntra in
Buchan, and of the lands of Crekiltown, in the lord-
ship of Galloway and shire of Wigton, and of an
annual rent of eighteen pounds sterling out of the
lands of Farindonald in Eoss, in full exchange
and compensation for all claim of heritage in the
lands of Eoss accruing to the said Sir Alexander
Fraser and Janet Eoss, dated at Aberdeen, 4th
June 1375. Walter de Leslie, Dominus de Eoss,
and Eufamia his spouse, resigned the lands of Bal-
maledy and Smithyhill, and the lands of Aber-
luthnot in Kincardineshire, in favour of Patrick
de InnerpefFer, burgess of Dundee, who got a
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 99, No. 19.
t Ibid. p. 66, No. 139, and p. 160, No. 34.
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross.
I373-
1374-
1375-
See App.
No. XXV.
1375-
74
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross
1378.
1325-
I375-
1381
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
charter of the same from Kobert II., dated at
Dundee, 25th December 1 3 78. * Walter de Leslie,
Dominus de Eoss, had a safe-conduct into Eng-
land, 14th August 1378.
Walter Leslie, Dominus de Eoss, in several
charters styles Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk
and Sir William Lindsay of Byres "carissimi
fratres," his dearest brothers, they being his uterine
brothers, sons of his mother, Mary Abernethy, by
her second marriage with Sir David Lindsay of
Crawford, for which marriage a dispensation was
obtained from Pope John XXII. in 1325, and was
found in the Vatican by Andrew Stewart, t
In a charter granted by Sir Walter de Leslie,
knight, Dominus de Eoss, containing a remission
of certain services stipulated for in a lost charter,
to John Lyon of Terteviot, dated at Edinburgh,
26th December 1375, two of the witnesses are
styled Domino Alexandro de Lindesay, domino de
Glenesk, et Willelmo de Lindesay, fratribus nostris
carissimis. This charter is in the possession of
the Earl of Strathmore. In a charter dated at
Philorth, 18th August 1381, granted by Walter
de Leslie, Dominus de Eoss, in favour of Andrew
Mercer, of the lands of Faythley and Tyre, in the
Barony of Kynedward, and of certain annual rents
out of the lands of Findlater, Netherdale, Petten-
dreich, and Culbirny, in the shire of Banff, two of
* Reg. Mag. Sig., p. 152, No. 125, and p. 70, No. iv.
t Stewart's History of the Stewarts, p. 446.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
the witnesses are designed Dominis Alexandro et
Willelmo de Lindesay, fratribus nostris carissimis.
This charter was confirmed by Eufamia, Domina
de Ross, at her castle of Dingwall, 9th March
1382, after the death of her husband Walter de
Leslie.
Walter Leslie, Earl of Ross, had issue by his
wife Eufamia, Countess of Ross—
I. ALEXANDER LESLIE, who succeeded as eighth Earl of
Ross at the death of his mother ;
II. LADY MARGARET LESLIE, married to Donald, Lord of
the Isles ;
.
III. LADY MARY LESLIE, married to Sir David Hamilton.
Walter Leslie, Earl of Ross, died after 18th
August 1381, when he granted a charter to
Andrew Mercer, and before 9th March 1382,
when Eufamia, Domina de Ross, in her pure and
legitimate widowhood, confirmed the said charter.
EUFAMIA,
SEVENTH COUNTESS OF ROSS.
AFTER the death of Walter Leslie, Earl of Ross,
his widow Eufamia, Countess of Ross, married
Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, fourth son of
King Robert IL, and he became Earl of Ross in
right of his wife.
Eufamia, Countess of Ross, granted a charter
of the lands of Contilech and others to her dear
75
CHAP. III.
Walter,
Earl of Ross.
See App.
No. XXVI.
1382.
1381
Eufamia,
Seventh
Cotmtess of
Ross.
76
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
Eufamia,
Seventh
Countess of
Xoss.
1382.
cousin Hugh Munro, ninth Baron of Foulis, dated
at Dingwall, 30th April 1379. Eufamia, Countess
of Boss, daughter and heiress of the deceased
William, Earl of Koss, granted a charter in her
widowhood, resigning the superiority of the lands
of the western part of Kynfaunys into the king's
hands, who granted the same to his nephew,
Walter the Seneschal, by a charter dated at
Kylwynyne, 24th April 1382.*
Robert II. granted a charter to his son, Alex-
ander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, of the barony of
Kynedward, proceeding on the resignation of
Eufamia, Domina de Ross, 22d July 1382. He
also ratified the donation and concession which
Eufamia, Domina de Ross, had made and conceded
to his son Alexander the Seneschal, Earl of
Buchan, of the earldom of Ross, to be held by
him for life, 25th July 1382.t He also granted
to his beloved son Alexander the Seneschal, Earl
of Buchan, and to Eufamia, Domina de Ross, the
thanage of Dingwall, with the castle, on the
resignation of the said Eufamia, to be held by the
said Alexander and Eufamia, and the longest liver
of them two, and the heirs to be legitimately pro-
create betwixt them, with remainder to the heirs
whomsoever of the said Eufamia ; dated at Inver-
ness, 24th July 13824 He also granted to his
son Alexander the Seneschal, Earl of Buchan, and
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 166, No. 27.
t Ibid. p. 164, No. 20. } Ibid. p. 165, No. 25.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
77
to Eufamia, Domina de Eoss, the baronies or
lordships of Sky and Lewes; of the lands in
Caithness and Sutherland, Nairn and Inverness,
Athole in the shire of Perth ; the barony of
Fythkill in Fife ; all the lands in Galloway ; the
lands of Forgrundtheny and Kynfaunys in Perth;
i the thanage of Glendowachy and the lands of
Deskford in Banff, which belonged hereditarily to
the said Eufamia, and which she had resigned
into the king's hands, to be held by the said
Alexander and Eufamia, and the longest liver of
them two, and the* heirs to be legitimately pro-
created betwixt them, with remainder to the heirs
whomsoever of the said Eufamia ; dated at Inver-
ness, 25th July 1382.*
The Countess of Eoss does not seem to have
been happy in her second marriage ; differences
arose betwixt her and her husband, Alexander,
Earl of Buchan. These differences were brought
before the ordinaries of the respective parties,
Alexander, Bishop of Moray, and Alexander
Bishop of Eoss, who, in 1389, pronounced judg-
ment to the effect that the Earl of Buchan should
live with his wife, the Countess of Eoss, whom he
had deserted for Mariota, the daughter of Athyn,
and that he should not maltreat the Countess of
Eoss under a penalty of £200.
Eufamia, Countess of Eoss, with the consent
* Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 165, No. 26.
CHAP. III.
Eiifamici)
Seventh
Countess of
Ross.
1382.
1389-
See App.
No. XXVII
78
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
of her son and heir, Alexander de Leslie, granted
Eufamia,
Seventh
Countess of
Ross.
a charter of the lands of Wester Foulis to her
cousin Hugh Munro of Foulis, 4th August 1394.
Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, died in
*394-
1394, having had no issue by his wife, Eufamia,
Countess of Eoss, who died soon afterwards, and
was succeeded by her son, Alexander Leslie,
eighth Earl of Ross.
Alexander,
Eighth
Earl of Ross.
ALEXANDER LESLIE,
EIGHTH EARL OF ROSS.
ALEXANDER LESLIE, son of Walter Leslie, Earl of
Ross, and Eufamia, seventh Countess of Ross,
succeeded as eighth Earl of Ross, on the death of
1394-
his mother, about 1394.
In an agreement made at Calder, 5th September
1394, between Thomas Dunbar, Earl of Murray,
and Alexander de Insulis, Dominus de Lochaber,
third son of John of the Isles, concerning the
possession and superiority of certain lands and
privileges, they bound themselves to support each
other against every one, except the King, the
Earl of Fyff, Malcolm de Dromonde, Earl of Mar,
and Alexander de Leslie, heir-apparent to the
earldom of Ross.* Alexander de Leslie, Earl of
Ross, granted a procuratory of resignation, consti-
* Registrum Moraviense, p. 355, No. 272.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
79
tuting David, Earl of Crawford, William de
Dalziell and John de Kamorgney, knights, his
procurators for resigning into the hands of the
king, Eobert III., all and hail the barony of
Fythkill, with its pertinents, in the shire of Fife ;
dated at Perth, 4th February 1398, and has the
Earl's seal appended still entire. The king there-
on granted the barony of Fythkill to Sir George
de Leslie, knight, of Eothes, and Elizabeth, his
spouse, by a charter, 5th February 1398. * Alex-
ander Leslie, Earl of Boss, granted a charter to
his beloved cousin George Leslie, knight,
Dominus de Eothes, of the lands of Woodfield,
Pitnamoon, and others, 8th November 1398,
which grant was confirmed by Eobert III., by a
charter dated at Scone, 4th March 1400, whereby
the king confirmed to George Leslie, Dominus
de Eothes, the lands of Woodfield, Pitnamoon,
the mill of Kincardine, Fettercairn, Eilly, and
Bomain, granted to him by Alexander Leslie,
Earl of Eoss in consideration of his having ad-
vanced to the said earl, in his great necessity,
the sum of 200 merks to relieve his lands and
earldom of Eoss out of the hands of the king,
the superior thereof, and for his good council and
service.
Alexander Leslie, Earl of Eoss, married Lady
Isabel Stewart, daughter of Eobert, Duke of
CHAP. III.
Alexander,
Eighth
Earl of Ross.
1398.
1400.
* Original in Rothes charter-room at Leslie House.
80
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
Alexander,
Eighth
EarlofRoss
1411.
Euphemia,
Ninth
Countess of
Ross.
1411.
Albany, Regent of Scotland, and by her had an
only child—
I. EUPHEMIA, who succeeded him. as ninth Countess of
Ross.
Alexander Leslie, Earl of Ross, died before 1411,
and was succeeded by his only child, Euphemia,
ninth Countess of Ross. His widow, Lady
Isabel Stewart, married Walter, Lord Halyburton
of Dirleton.
EUPHEMIA,
NINTH COUNTESS OF ROSS.
EUPHEMIA, only child of Alexander Leslie, Earl
of Ross, by his wife, Lady Isabel Stewart,
succeeded as ninth Countess of Ross, on the death
of her father before 1411.
The Countess Euphemia being under age at her
accession, and being, it is said, of a weakly
constitution, small, and deformed, was induced by
her maternal grandfather, Robert Duke of Albany,
then Regent of the kingdom, to resign her rights
to the Earldom of Ross in favour of her maternal
uncle, John Stewart, Earl of Buchan. Thereupon
the Regent granted a charter of the earldom of
Ross, the lands of Stroglache, the town of Nairne,
with the castle, the barony of Kincardine, the
superiority of the barony of Fythkill, and others,
to Euphemia, Countess of Ross, with remainder to
John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, and his heirs :
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
81
whom failing, to Kobert Stewart, his brother, and
his heirs; whom failing, to the king; dated 15th
June 1415. Kobert, Duke of Albany, Eegent of
the kingdom, also granted a charter to his son,
John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, of the barony of
Kynnedward in the shire of Aberdeen, on the re-
signation of Euphemia, Countess of Koss, ward.
In order to secure the possession of the earldom
of Eoss to his son, John Stewart, Earl of Buchan,
the Duke of Albany induced Euphemia, Countess
of Koss, to take the veil ; she became a nun, it is
said, in the convert of North Berwick, when
the Earl of Buchan took possession of her estates,
and assumed the title of Earl of Koss. She died
soon afterwards, about 1415, not without sus-
picion of having been poisoned. On her death
the earldom of Koss was claimed by Donald of
the Isles, who had married her aunt, Lady
Margaret Leslie, daughter of Walter Leslie, Earl
of Koss, by his wife, Euphemia, seventh Countess
of Koss.
DONALD, LORD OF THE ISLES;
AND MARGARET LESLIE,
TENTH COUNTESS OF ROSS.
LADY MARGARET LESLIE, daughter of Walter
Leslie, Earl of Ross, by his wife Euphemia,
Countess of Ross, married Donald, Lord of the
VOL. I. G
CHAP. III.
Euphemia,
Ninth
Countess of
Ross,
Donald,
Lord of the
Isles ; and
Margaret,
Tenth
Countess of
Ross.
82
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
Donald,
Lord of the
Isles ; and
Margaret,
Tenth
Countess of
Ross.
1411.
Isles. When Lady Margaret's niece, Euphemia,
Countess of Eoss, daughter of her deceased
brother, Alexander, Earl of Ross, had declared her
intention to take the veil, Donald of the Isles
asserted his claim to the earldom of Eoss as next
heir, in right of his wife, in conformity with the
entail made by William, Earl of Eoss, her
grandfather, in 1 370. He disputed the destination
made by his wife's niece Euphemia, as being
made in prejudice to his wife, who was the lawful
heir to the earldom. The Duke of Albany, and
his son John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, wishing to
keep what they had got, insisted that the
resignation of the Countess Euphemia was legal,
and they declared that they would maintain it.
Whereon Donald resolved to assert his right by
force of arms ; and he so far took possession that
he held the castle of Dingwall, the residence of
the Earls of Eoss. He raised an army of 10,000
men in the Hebrides and Eoss, and marched
through Moray into the Garioch, on Mar, intend-
ing, it is said, to attack the city of Aberdeen.
Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar and Lord of
the Garioch, the king's lieutenant in the North,
collected a body of troops in haste, and met the in-
vader at Harlaw, on the river Urie, about eighteen
miles north-west of the city of Aberdeen, 24th
July 1411. Although Mar's army was inferior in
number, the battle was most obstinately contested,
with great loss on both sides. It proved inde-
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
83
cisive, however. Both parties claimed the victory.
On the side of Donald, the chiefs of Macintosh and
Maclean fell, with about 900 men ; Mar lost 500
men, besides many persons of rank. Sir Andrew
de Leslie, third Baron of Balquhain, who com-
manded Mar's horse, lost six sons in the battle.
Donald of the Isles was so much weakened by
this sanguinary battle, that he was forced to
retire, and the Duke of Albany, Eegent of the
kingdom, shortly afterwards proceeded with a
force to the north, and took the castle of Ding-
wall ; and in the following year, 1412, he invaded
Donald's territories, and obliged him to abandon
his pretensions to the earldom of Koss, and to give
hostages for his future observance of peace.
John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, was now styled
Earl of Eoss, and he held the title till his death
at the battle of Verneil, in Normandy, 1 7th
August 1424 ; and his brother, Sir Eobert Stewart,
being also killed in the same battle, and neither
of them leaving any male issue, the earldom of
Eoss, in virtue of the limitation in the charter
granted to them by their father, the Eegent, in
1415, devolved on the crown.
It would appear that although the Stewarts
got forcible possession of the earldom of Eoss,
yet Lady Margaret Leslie did not forego her just
claims, and she retained at least the title of
Countess of Eoss, as is shown by the following
document : —
CHAP. III.
Donald,
Lord of the
Isles ; and
Margaret,
Tenth
Countess of
Ross.
1412.
1424.
84
CHAP. III.
Donald,
Lord of the
Isles ; and
Margaret,
Tenth
Countess of
Ross.
1420.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
" John Byschop of Koss, Dame Margaret of the
lie, Lady of the Yles and of Boss, Huchen Eraser,
Lord of Lovat, John "Orchard, Lord of Crommathy,
Donald of Kalder, Thayne of that like, with
many others, till all and sundry, &c. We mak
knowyn, truche thir presents that in August 16
year 1420, in the kyrk yharde of Eosmarkyn,
compeart Willyam the Grame, son and heyr
umquhile of Henry the Grame, in presence of us
before a nobil Lord and a michty Thomas Erie of
Murreff, his ovyr Lord of the barony of Kerdale,
resyngnan over of his auyn fre will in til handes
of the sayde Lord the Erie the sayde all his lands
of the barony of Kerdale Scheradom of Inverness,
and all other lands, to be gyffyn to the sayde
Willyam the Grame and his heyris-male, and
faylzand them, to Willyam the Hay. Upon the
quhylkes thyngis the sayde Willyam the Grame
and Willyam the Hay requirit us in witnesyng
by our letters testimonial and our seals. The
quhilk we grawntit at the place and day before
sayde/'*
Lady Margaret Leslie, Countess of Boss, had by
her husband, Donald, Lord of the Isles, issue —
I. ALEXANDER, who succeeded as Lord of the Isles, and
assumed the title of Earl of Ross ;
II. MARIOT, married to Alexander Sutherland. She and her
husband, Alexander Sutherland, in 1429, got a grant of
the lands of Duchall from her brother, Alexander, Lord
of the Isles and Earl of Ross.
* Registrum Moraviense, p. 475, No. 23.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
Donald, Lord of the Isles, died before 1427.
Margaret, Countess of Ross, and her son, Alex-
ander, Lord of the Isles, were arrested by King
James I. when he held a parliament at Inverness,
in 1427. The Lord of the Isles was soon released,
but his mother, the Countess of Ross, was detained
a prisoner, and died about 1429.
ALEXANDER, LORD OF THE ISLES,
ELEVENTH EARL OF ROSS.
ALEXANDER, son of Donald, Lord of the Isles, by
Lady Margaret Leslie, tenth Countess of Ross,
succeeded his father in 1427, as Lord of the Isles.
As has been related, Alexander, Lord of the Isles,
and his mother, Margaret, Countess of Ross, were
arrested by King James I. when he held a parlia-
ment at Inverness in the spring of 1427, because,
it is said, that monarch wished to humble the
Lord of the Isles, as his predecessors had asserted
an independence dangerous to Scotland, and had
treated with the Kings of England as sovereign
princes. Sir Robert Gordon, in his Genealogy of
the Earls of Sutherland (p. 67), says King James
I. took Alexander, Lord of the Isles, prisoner at
Inverness, for manteyning of thieves and not
bringing them to justice ; but upon promise of
amendment, the king soon after did pardon him
and set him at liberty.
85
CHAP. III.
Donald,
Lord of the
Isles ; and
Margaret,
Tenth
Countess of
Ross.
1429.
Alexander,
Lord of the
Isles,
Eleventh
Earl of Ross
86
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
Alexander,
Lord of the
Isles,
Eleventh
Earl of Ross.
1429.
Alexander de Yle, Lord of the Isles, granted a
charter of the Island of Barra to Gillcowan, son
of Eoderick Murchard Makneill, 23d June 1427.*
Alexander, Lord of the Isles, raised a body of
men in 1429, and besieged the castle and burned
the town of Inverness. The king overtook him
and defeated him at Lochaber, 23d June 1429.
The Lord of the Isles sued for peace, which the
king refused to grant. Being reduced to ex-
tremities, the Lord of the Isles went disguised to
Holyrood on Easter-day, and when the king was
at his devotions in the chapel, he fell on his
knees before him, and besought pardon and his
life for the sake of Him who rose on that day for
the salvation of mankind, which the king granted,
but sent him to be kept prisoner in the castle of
Tantallon, under the Earl of Angus, in order that
the islanders might be kept in better subjection.
But, notwithstanding this, Donald Ballogh, a
brother or near relation of Alexander, Lord of
the Isles and Earl of Eoss, went with a body of
men into Lochaber, and laid waste the country.
Alexander, Earl of Mar, and Allan Stewart, Earl
of Caithness, proceeded with a force against him ;
but Donald Ballogh surprised them at Inverlochy,
and defeated them, and killed the Earl of Caith-
ness and obliged the Earl of Mar to retreat.
Donald Ballogh then returned to the Isles, but,
being pursued by the king, he fled to Iceland,
RegiMrum Magni Sicfilli, lib. Ixiii. No. 152.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
87
where he was killed, and his head was sent to the
king at Stirling, in 1436.*
Alexander de Isle, Comes Eossise, granted a
precept, dated 24th October 1429, to Alexander
Sutherland of Dunbeath, who had married the
Earl's sister, Lady Mariot. A free pardon was
granted to Alexander, Earl of Eoss, in a parlia-
ment held at Perth in 1431. After the death of
King James I. in 1436, Alexander, Earl of Koss,
held the office of Justiciary north of the Forth.
In a charter, dated 22d February 1438, in the
possession of Innes* of Innes, the Earl of Eoss is
styled "Justiciarius Scotie ex parte boreali aque
de Forth." Alexander, Lord of the Isles and Earl
of Eoss, granted a charter of the lands of Kilra-
vock to John Eose, 22d June 1440.
Alexander, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Eoss,
married Elizabeth, only daughter of Alexander
Seton,Lord of Gordon and Huntly, and had issue—
I. JOHN, who succeeded him ;
II. HUGH, whose son Donald succeeded as Lord of the Isles ;
III. CELESTINE, who had charters, dated 2d February 1463,
8th November 1463, and 10th January 1464, from
John. Earl of Ross, Lord of the Isles, his brother.
Celestine had a son who died without issue, and three
daughters, the eldest of whom, Margaret, married Alex-
ander Macdonell of Glengary, from whom descended the
Lords Macdonell and Arros ;
IV. LADY MARGARET, married to John, eighth Earl of
Sutherland ;
V. LADY FLORENCE, married to Duncan Mackintosh of
Mackintosh.
* Sir R. Gordon's Genealogy of the Earls of Sutherland, pp. 67, 68.
CHAP. Ill,
Alexander,
Lord of the
Isles,
Eleventh
\EarlofRoss
H3I-
1436.
1438.
1440.
88
CHAP. III.
Alexander,
Lord of the
Isles,
Eleventh.
Earl of Ross.
John, Lord
of the Isles,
Twelfth
Earl of Ross.
1448.
HISTORICAL EECORDS OF
Alexander, Lord of the Isles, eleventh Earl of
Boss, died about 1448, and was succeeded by his
eldest son John, Lord of the Isles, twelfth Earl
of Eoss.
JOHN, LOED OF THE ISLES,
TWELFTH EARL OF ROSS.
JOHN, eldest son of Alexander, Lord of the Isles,
eleventh Earl of Eoss, by Elizabeth, daughter of
Alexander Seton, Lord of Gordon and Huntly,
succeeded as Lord of the Isles and twelfth Earl
of Eoss, on the death of his father, about 1448.
He was one of the guarantees of a truce with
England, in 1449, 1451, 1457, and 1459, and
was one of the Wardens of the Marches in 1457.
He entered into a confederacy with the Earls of
Douglas and Crawford, but he did not engage in
the rebellion of the Douglases in 1454. After
the death of James II. , he entered into a negotia-
tion with King Edward IV. of England, in 1462.
A treaty was concluded, 8th February 1462,
between Edward IV. and John, Earl of Eoss,
by which it was agreed that the Earl of Eoss,
Donald Ballogh, and John de Yle, son and heir-
apparent of the said Donald, and all their subjects,
and the inhabitants of the earldom of Eoss and
of the Isles, should become liegemen of Edward
IV., do homage, and remain for ever subjects of
the kings of England, and assist them against all
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
their enemies. King Edward agreed to give to
the Earl of Eoss, during his life, a yearly pension
of 100 merks in time of peace, and of £200 ster-
ling in time of war ; and if Scotland should be
conquered in consequence of the alliance between
them, that part of the kingdom to the north of the
Forth was to be given to the Earl of Eoss ; and
in case of a final peace betwixt the two kingdoms,
England was not to agree with Scotland, without
getting the Earl of Eoss and his associates in-
cluded in the peace.
This agreement was not discovered till 1474,
when a treaty being concluded between England
and Scotland, and containing a clause that
the respective kings should renounce all former
engagements, the convention between the King
of England and the Lord of the Isles was brought
to light. In consequence of this discovery, a
summons of treason was executed at the castle of
Dingwall, 16th October 1475, against the Earl of
Eoss, for communing with the king's enemies of
England ; for leagues and bands made with King
Edward; for communing with Sir James of
Douglas, sometime Earl of Douglas; for help,
counsel, favour, and supply given to the same,
and leagues and bands made with him against
the king ; for giving safe-conducts to the king's
enemies of England; for usurpation of the king's
authority in making his bastard son a lieutenant
to him ; for convocation of the lieges, besieging
89
CHAP. III.
John, Lord
of the Isles,
Twelfth
Earl of Ross.
1474.
H75-
90
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
John, Lord
of the Isles,
' Twelfth
Earl of Ross.
1476.
the castle of Rothesay in Bute, and wasting and
destroying the lands in Bute. For these offences
the Earl of Ross was forfeited in absence in
parliament, 1st December 1475, and a force was
collected to execute the sentence of confiscation of
his possessions. But the earl made his submission,
and was rehabilitated in parliament, 10th July
1476. On that day he surrendered to the king
the earldom of Ross, the lands of Knapdale and
Kintyre, with their pertinents, and the office of
Sheriff of Inverness and Nairn, to remain with the
crown for ever. The king ratified to Elizabeth,
Countess of Ross, spouse of John, Earl of Ross, a
grant of the lands of Grenan in Ayrshire, of
Kynnedward in Aberdeenshire, of Rew and Ewyl,
in the earldom of Ross, granted to her 8th Feb-
ruary 1476. He also created John de Isla, Lord
of the Isles, formerly Earl of Ross, a baron
banrent and lord of parliament ; and on the same
day the earldom of Ross was inalienably annexed
to the crown by Act of Parliament, with power,
nevertheless, to the king and his successors to
bestow the same on a second son of the royal
family.
A charter passed the Great Seal, 15th July 1476,
rescinding the forfeiture of the Earl of Ross, and
creating him a lord of parliament, and granting
to him the lands of Morvarne, Garmorveane, the
lordship of Lochaber, Durwan, and GlentoiJl, in
the shire of Inverness ; the barony of Kynned-
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
91
ward in the shire of Aberdeen; the lands of
Grenan in Carrick, and all the lands which he
possessed before his forfeiture, except the earldom
of Eoss, the lordship of Kintyre, and the office of
Sheriff of Inverness and Nairn ; to him and the
heirs of his body, with remainder to Angus de He,
his natural son, and to John de He, also his
natural son. John, Lord of the Isles, had another
charter of the foresaid lands, 16th December 1478,
to himself and the heirs-male of his body, with
remainder to Angus de Ila, his natural son, and
the heirs-male of his body ; whom failing, to the
legitimate heirs of John, Lord of the Isles. This
indicates that John de He, the other natural son
of the Lord of the Isles, was then dead. John de
Ila, Lord of the Isles, granted a charter, 22d
December 1478, of the barony of Kynnedward, to
Alexander Leslie of Wardis ; and he had a char-
ter, llth August 1481, of the lands of Killewnane,
and other lands in Kintyre and Knapdale, to him
for life.
John, Lord of the Isles, appears now to have
returned to his treasonable practices with England.
King Edward IV. issued a commission, 22d July
1481, for treating with his dearest cousin, the
Lord of the Isles and Earl of Koss, and with his
cousins and councillors, and Donald Gorne, for
their assistance. These treasonable practices being
discovered, the Lord of the Isles was again out-
lawed and forfeited, as appears from several char-
CHAP. III.
John, Lord
of the Isles,
Twelfth
Earl of Ross.
1478.
1481.
92
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. III.
John, Lord
of the Isles,
Twelfth
Earl of Ross.
1476.
1490.
1494.
1503-
ters under the Great Seal in 1498, granting to the
Macleans of Dowart and Lochbuy, the Macleods
of Harris, the Macranalds and Macallans, their
lands which they formerly held of the Earl of
Eoss and Lord of the Isles, and which were then
in the king's hands by reason of his forfeiture.
John, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Eoss, mar-
ried Elizabeth, daughter of James, Lord Living-
ston, great chamberlain of Scotland. She had
charters to Elizabeth de Levyngston, wife of John,
formerly Earl of Eoss, of certain annual rents for
the honourable sustentation of her person, dated
14th December 1476 ; of the lands of Polquhois,
GarrefFes, and Garclaithie, in Ayrshire, 29th
October 1490 ; and she is mentioned in the
Eecords of parliament in 1494. By her the Earl
of Eoss had no children.
John, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Eoss, had
no legitimate children, but he had several natural
sons, two of whom, Angus and John, have been
already mentioned as being included in the re-
mainders in the charters granted to their father
in 1476 and 1478. John seems to have died
between 1476 and 1478. Angus married Lady
Mary Campbell, fifth daughter of Colin, first earl
of Argyle, but does not appear to have had any
issue by her. But he had a natural son, Donald,
as it was found in parliament, 5th March 1503,
that Lauchlan Maclane of Dowart had been guilty
of treason, in the treasonable maintaining, forti-
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
93
fying, and supplying of Donald, bastard and un-
lawful son of umquhile Angus of the Yles, bastard
son to umquhile John of the His, in the causing
of the said Donald to usurp our sovereign lord's
authority, to the effect that the said Donald
should be Lord of the Ylis, usurping upon our
sovereign lord's authority, and for the causation
of our sovereign lord's lieges to obey to the said
Donald as Lord of the Ylis, which is our sovereign
lord's property, usurping our sovereign lord's
authority thereby.
John, Lord of the Isles, twelfth earl of Eoss,
died in 1498, and was succeeded as Lord of the
Isles by his nephew, Donald, the son of Hugh,
second son of Alexander, Lord of the Isles,
eleventh earl of Koss. The earldom of Eoss, as
has been related, was forfeited and attached to
the crown by act of parliament 10th July 1476.
CHAP. III.
John, Lord
of the Isles,
Twelfth
Earl of Ross.
1498.
94
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
The Garioch
1 1 60.
1219.
I237-
CHAPTEE IV.
THE DISTEICT OF THE GARIOCH.
THE Garioch is a fertile district in Aberdeenshire,
of which the principal town is Inverurie, situated
on a point of land between the rivers Urie and
Don, about fifteen miles north-west from Aber-
deen. It is bounded on the south by the river
Don, which separates it from the district of Mar ;
on the east and north by Formartine, and the
hills of Foundland ; and on the west by the river
Bogie. It is watered by the rivers Don, Urie?
and Gadie, and is overlooked by the beautiful
conical hill of Bennachie, which lies in the
parishes of Oyne, Premnay, and Chapel of
Garioch.
The district of the Garioch was erected into an
earldom by Malcolm IV., in favour of his brother
David, Earl of Huntington, about 1160. David
was succeeded by his son John, Earl of Hunting-
ton, in 1219, and he died without issue in 1237,
when the earldom of the Garioch fell to his sister
Isabel, wife of Robert Bruce, third Lord of
Annandale, who was succeeded by her son Robert
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
95
Bruce, fourth Lord of Annandale, and father of
CHAP. IV.
King Robert Bruce, who, about 1309, granted
The Garioch.
the earldom of the Garioch to his sister, Christian
Bruce, married to his brother-in-law Gratney,
eleventh Earl of Mar. Christina Bruce, having
survived her son Donald, twelfth Earl of Mar,
was succeeded in the earldom of the Garioch by
her grandson, Thomas, thirteenth Earl of Mar,
who, 1357, obtained a charter of confirmation
1357.
from David II., of the lordship of the Garioch to
be held by him and his heirs whomsoever, as
freely as David, Earl of Huntington, had held the
same. Thomas, thirteenth Earl of Mar and Lord
of the Garioch, died without issue in 1377, and
'377-
was succeeded by his sister Margaret, Countess
of Mar, married to William, Earl of Douglas, by
whom she had a daughter, Isabel, Countess of
Mar, and Lady of the Garioch.""
PARISH OF CHAPEL OF GARIOCH.
THE parish of Chapel of Garioch is situated in the
Parish of
Chapel of
Garioch.
centre of the district of the Garioch, in Aberdeen-
shire. The ancient name of the parish was Logy
Durno, or Durnoch, which is said to signify a low-
lying or hollow place. Before the Reformation
there were three places of public worship in the
parish — Logy Durno, Fetternear, and a chapel
•
* Douglas's Peerage, vol. ii. p. 200.
96
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Parish of
Chapel of
Garioch.
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and called the
Chapel of the Blessed Virgin of the Garioch, and
which gives the present name to the parish.
Early in the seventeenth century the parsonage of
Fetternear, lying on the north bank of the river
Don, was annexed to that of Logy Durno, on the
north side of the Urie. The church was then
transferred to the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin of
the Garioch, at the east end of Bennachie, on
account of its being the most central part of the
parish.
The parish of Chapel of Garioch is ten miles in
length from north to south, and from two to five
miles from east to west. It forms an irregular
figure. Its greatest breadth at the northern ex-
tremity is five miles, and at the southern extremity
three miles, from whence it contracts as it ap-
proaches towards the centre of the parish, where
its greatest breadth does not exceed two miles.
It is bounded on the north by the parishes of
Eayne and Daviot; on the east by Bourtrie,
Keith-hall, and Inverurie ; on the south by Mony-
musk, and that part of the parish of Kemnay
which lies on the south side of the river Don;
and on the west by the parish of Oyne and the
hill of Bennachie. The rivers Don and Urie flow
through the parish. The rocks consist chiefly of
granite and whinstone. Cairngorms have occa-
sionally been found of considerable magnitude.
About half-a-mile to the south east of the parish
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
97
church is the old castle of Balquhain, long the
chief residence of the Leslies, Barons of Balquhain.
From it there is one of the finest echoes in Scot-
land. There is also, at a short distance to the
east of it, a Druidical circle, which is very entire.
It may be mentioned that there is also a Druidical
circle on the farm of Aquhorties, on the Balquhain
estate, nearly half way between the castle of Bal-
quhain and Fetternear House. This circle, one of
the most perfect to be found, consists of a large
altar stone, and eleven upright stones, which com-
plete the circle. About a mile to the north of the
castle of Balquhain, in trenching a piece of barren
ground on the Mains of Balquhain, called the
Gallow Hill, three human skulls were dug up,
which, from the name of the spot, were supposed
to have belonged to criminals or vassals in the
feudal ages. Also, in 1866, in trenching a piece
of barren ground on the farm of Newton of Bal-
quhain, several cairns or tumuli were opened up,
and under one of them was found a stone cist or
coffin, containing an urn of baked clay full of
charred bones. Under the other cairns were
found bits of charred bones and charcoal. About
half-a-mile to the north-west of the parish church
of Chapel of Garioch is a large stone called the
Maiden Stone, which stands ten feet above the
ground, and is two feet ten inches broad, and
about ten inches thick. It is supposed to be sunk
about six feet into the ground. It has been en-
CHAP. IV.
Parish of
Chapel of
Garioch.
1866.
VOL. I.
98
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Parish of
Chapel of
Garioch.
1411.
I338-I357-
graved in the Sculptured Stones of Scotland, pub-
lished by the Spalding Club. It has figures of a
warlike kind sculptured on each side. There are
various traditions concerning the cause of its erec-
tion. The most probable tradition is that which
says that it was erected as a monument to com-
memorate a fray between the Leslies of Balquhain
and the Forbesses.
About a mile to the east of the parish church is
the battlefield of Harlaw, fought 24th July 1411,
between the Eoyal forces under Alexander Stew-
art, Earl of Mar, Sir Andrew Leslie, third Baron of
Balquhain, who commanded the horse, Sir Alex-
ander Irvine of Drum, and other distinguished
leaders, and 10,000 Highlanders and Islesman,
under the command of Donald, Lord of the Isles.
The battle was long and bloody, and ended in the
defeat of the Highlanders, who lost the chiefs of
Maclean and Macintosh, and 900 men. On the
Eoyal side the loss was also great, including Sir
Alexander Irvine of Drum, Provost Davidson of
Aberdeen, and no less than six sons of Sir Andrew
Leslie, third Baron of Balquhain. A cross was
erected on the place where the Leslies fell, and
was called Leslie's Cross from this circumstance.
The Chapel of the Blessed Virgin of the Garioch
was founded at a very early date. Between the
years 1338 and 1344, or 1355 and 1357, the sis-
ter of King Eobert I., Christian of Bruce, Lady of
the Garuiach, and widow of Sir Andrew of Mur-
THE FAMILY
OF
LESLIE,
99
ray, the Pantler of Scotland, founded a chantry
in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the
Garuyach, endowing the chaplain, celebrating
religious services there for the souls of King
Robert, of the founder, and of her husband, with
a toft, a croft, containing an acre, in the tenement
of Drumdurnach, in the lordship of the Garuyach,
and with one hundred shillings sterling yearly
from the lands of Meikle Warthill, in the same
lordship of the Garuyach.*
In the year 1384, Margaret, Countess of Doug-
las, Lady of Mar and of the Garuiach, daughter
of Donald, third of that name, Earl of Mar, and
widow of William, Earl of Douglas, granted a ten-
pound land from the two parts of the town of
Petgovny, and from the town of Colihill, with the
pertinents, excepting the Westfelde, lying in the
tenement of Bourty, and the regality of the
Garuiach, for the endowment of a chaplain per-
forming the usual religious services in the Chapel
of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Garuiach, for
the souls of the founder, of her deceased husband
William, Earl of Douglas, Thomas, Earl of Mar,
her brother, and James, Earl of Douglas, and
Lord of Liddesdale, her son.t Alexander, Earl
of Mar, founded another chaplainry in the Chapel
of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Garioch,
* Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. pp. 66, 67.
t Ibid, vol. i. p. 167.
CHAP. IV.
Parish of
Chapel of
Garioch.
1384.
100
CHAP. IV.
Parish of
Chapel of
Garicch.
1420.
1425-
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
and endowed a chaplain who should perform
religious services for the souls of those who
were slain at the battle of Harlaw in 1411,
when he defeated Donald of the Isles. An-
other chaplainry was founded by Isabel Mortimer,
daughter of Bernard Mortimer of Craigievar,
and widow of Sir Andrew Leslie, third Baron of
Balquhain, for the souls of her six sons slain at
Harlaw, and of her husband, who was killed at
Braco, 22d January 1420. Another chaplainry
was founded by the Leslies of Pitcaple.
King James I. confirmed a grant made by Sir
Patrick Ogilvie of Ogilvie, Knight of Grandown,
with the consent of the deceased Alexander de
Ogilvie, Sheriff of Forfar, his father, to a chaplain
performing divine services in the Chapel of the
Blessed Virgin Mary of the Garioch, for the soul
of Sir Andrew de Leslie, Knight, third Baron of
Balquhain, of an annual rent of ten merks from
the lands of Strathalva, in the sheriffdom of Banff,
failing which, from the baronies of Owchtirous
and Essy, in the sheriffdom of Forfar, until he or
his heirs should infeft the chaplain in a ten merk-
land in the Garioch ; until which time the pre-
sentation of the chaplain should belong to Sir
Patrick and his heirs, and thereafter to William
Leslie, fourth Baron of Balquhain, and his heirs,
14th April 1425.*
* Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 269.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
101
King James III. granted a charter, 28th No-
vember 1474, mortifying an annual rent of twelve
merks from the lands of Balcomy in Fife, which
failing, from the lands of Wardis and Quyltpat,
in the sheriffdom of Aberdeen, given by Alex-
ander Leslie, first Baron of Wardis, for the support
of a chaplain at the chapel of St. Mary of Garioch,
for behoof of the souls of the said Alexander Les-
lie, and Isabella his spouse.*
King James IV. confirmed a charter, 24th
January 1506, granted by Sir Alexander Gallo-
way, chaplain of Collihill, to the Blessed Virgin
Mary of the Chapel of Gareauch, and to his suc-
cessors, chaplains at the Chapel of Collihill, of two
acres of land in the barony of Balquhain, for a
manse to the chaplains of Collihill; which two
acres of land he had bought from William Leslie,
fourth Baron of Balquhain, and which he thus dis-
posed of for the praise and glory of God, of the
Most Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God, and of
all the Saints, and for the increase of the divine
service, and for the benefit of the souls of William
Elphinston, Bishop of Aberdeen ; Walter Ogilvie
of Boyne, Knight ; Andrew Elphinston of Selmys ;
Master Duncan Scherar, Rector of Clatt ; William
Leslie of Balquhain ; and Elizabeth Ogilvie, his
spouse.f
* Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 405.
f Ibid. vol. iii. p. 370.
CHAP. IV.
Parish, of
Chapel of
Garioch.
1506.
102
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Balqukain
Castle.
1340.
BALQUHAIN CASTLE.
BALQUHAIN CASTLE, the ancient residence of the
family of Leslie, barons of Balquhain, is situated
in the district of the Garioch in Aberdeenshire,
about three miles north-west of the Koyal Burgh
of Inverurie, and nineteen miles from the city of
Aberdeen. Balquhain Castle stands in a rich
valley on the high bank of a small stream. The
valley is bounded on the north by a range of
fertile heights which extend to the west, and on
which is seen the parish church of Chapel of
Garioch, built on the site of the ancient chapel of
the Blessed Virgin of the Garioch. At some
distance on the south is the hill of Middleton,
covered with wood. The valley is open to the
east, commanding a most extensive view over the
varied and highly-cultivated country, through
which is seen gliding the river Urie.
The castle of Balquhain was erected at a very
early period. George Leslie, first Baron of
Balquhain, son of Sir Andrew de Leslie, sixth
Lord of Leslie from Bartholomew, the founder of
the family in 1067, got from his father the
baronies of Balquhain, Braco, Syde, and other
lands in 1340, and obtained from King David II.
a charter under the Great Seal, erecting the said
lands into one free barony, called the barony of
THE FAMILY OP LESLIE.
103
Balquhain. Hence the proprietors of the barony
have usually been styled Barons of Balquhain,
and the barony has remained in the possession of
the Leslie family in the direct descendants of
George Leslie, first Baron of Balquhain. The
castle of Balquhain appears originally to have
consisted of a quadrangular turreted building,
having a court enclosed with a wall, and towers
on the front. The noble square tower or keep
was erected by Sir William Leslie, seventh Baron
of Balquhain, about 1530, when he repaired the
ancient castle, which had been burned in the
memorable feud between the Leslies and the
Forbesses in 1526. Sir William made the castle
a place of considerable strength, capable of resist-
ing future attacks. It would appear that in the
time of Sir William Leslie, ninth Baron of Bal-
quhain, the castle of Balquhain must have been a
place of comfort, and even elegance, as the baron,
who was then Sheriff of Aberdeenshire, had the
honour of entertaining Queen Mary there when
she made her progress to the north in 1562.
The Queen spent the night at the castle of
Balquhain, 9th September 1562, and attended
mass in the neighbouring Chapel of the Blessed
Virgin of the Garioch.
The castle of Balquhain remained the principal
residence of the Barons of Balquhain till the time-
of Patrick, Count Leslie, fifteenth baron, about
1690. Patrick, Count Leslie, finding the castle I
CHAP. IV.
Balquhain
Castle.
1530.
1526.
1562.
1690.
104
CHAP. IV.
Balquhain
Castle.
1710.
1746.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
of Balquhain incommodious — it having been
built more as a place of strength than as a place
of residence — removed to the mansion-house of
Fetternear, beautifully situated on the banks of
the river Don. Henceforth Fetternear became
the permanent residence of the Barons of Bal-
quhain. After Patrick, Count Leslie, took up his
residence at Fetternear, his son, George Leslie,
with his wife, the Honourable Margaret Elphin-
ston, and their family continued to reside at
Balquhain Castle, as we find by the Poll-books
of Aberdeenshire, vol. i. p. 292. On the death
of Patrick, Count Leslie, in 1710, his son and
successor, George Leslie, sixteenth Baron of
Balquhain, left the castle of Balquhain and took
up his residence at Fetternear. After this the
proud baronial residence was occupied by the
factors or managers of the Balquhain estates, and
the castle began to fall into decay. It was
entirely ruined in 1746. The Duke of Cumber-
land, while on his way to Culloden, ordered the
castle of Balquhain to be burned. There is a
local tradition that this calamity was averted by
one of the tenants on the estate, John Nicol,
who offered the soldiers, sent to set fire to the
castle, his broad bonnet full of silver pieces, and
said to them, " My lads, I'll gie ye a' this, if ye
winna burn the auld place." The soldiers took
the money, and filled the vaults of the castle
with wet straw, to which they set fire, and when
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
105
the Duke beheld the dense smoke which enveloped
the castle, he was satisfied that his orders had
been executed, and he proceeded on his way to
Culloden.
The roof of the castle of Balquhain having
fallen in through neglect during the disputed
succession to the Balquhain estates, after the
death of Ernest, Count Leslie, eighteenth baron,
people began to pull down the out-wings of the
castle, and carried off the stones to build houses
and farm-steadings, so that at the present time
the large square tower or keep is the only part
remaining. No one can behold the crumbling
walls of this ancient baronial castle, and the
shattered remains of the towering keep still
standing erect amid the wreck of so remarkable
a building without feelings of regret. There the
proud display of the pomp and power of the
feudal state long held its sway. The ancient
hold, whose former vaulted roof had oft resounded
with the joyous sounds of revelry and the social
mirth of valorous knights and courtly dames, is
now silent as the tomb. The present proprietor,
Colonel Charles Leslie, K.H., twenty-sixth Baron
of Balquhain, has taken measures to prevent
farther dilapidation of the castle. The ground
immediately surrounding the castle has been
enclosed and laid out in an ornamental manner
with plots and evergreens. He is seconded in
preserving and ornamenting the place by a most en-
CHAP. IV.
Balqtthain
Castle.
106
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
terprising tenant, Mr. Dean, who has built a hand-
Balquhain
some residence, and has laid out his garden and
Castle.
the grounds adjoining the castle with great taste.
Several illustrious members of the Leslie
family were born in the castle of Balquhain.
Among others, Walter, Count Leslie, fourth son
of John Leslie, tenth Baron of Balquhain, created
a Count of the Holy Roman Empire by the
Emperor Ferdinand, who also gave him large
possessions in Germany and Bohemia; also
James, Count Leslie, eldest son of Alexander
Leslie, fourteenth Baron of Balquhain, who
succeeded his uncle, Count Walter, in Germany,
and was a Field-Marshal in the Imperial service,
and held a command in the Imperial army under
1683.
John Sobieski, King of Poland, in 1683, during
the famous siege of Vienna by the Turks ; also
James Ernest, Count Leslie, eldest son of Patrick,
Count Leslie, fifteenth Baron of Balquhain, who
succeeded his uncle, James, second Count Leslie
in Germany, and was ancestor of the succeeding
Counts Leslie.
Fetternear.
FETTERNEAR.
THE barony of Fetternear anciently belonged to
1109.
the See of Aberdeen. It appears that about 1109
a collegiate church was erected at Fetternear,
with a foundation for a warder or dean, and
canons. Pope Adrian IV., by a bull dated 10th
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
107
August 1157, confirmed to Edward, Bishop of
Aberdeen, all the lands, churches, and others,
granted to the Cathedral Church of Aberdeen by
the kings of Scotland; amongst the lands and
churches specified in the bull, we find the villa of
Fethernear, and the church with its pertinents.*
King Malcolm IV., by a charter dated at Stirling
20th August 1163, the eleventh year of his reign,
granted and confirmed to the Blessed Virgin
Mary, to St. Machar, and to Matthew Kinninmont,
Bishop of Aberdeen, numerous lands, places,
churches, tithes, and others ; amongst others the
church of Fetternear, with the lands of the same,
and pertinents, f William, parson of Fetternear
in 1236, was a witness to an agreement between
Andrew, Bishop of Moray, and Gylbert, Bishop of
Aberdeen, regarding their jurisdiction over certain
charities, i King Alexander II., by a charter dated
at Kinfawnys 18th September 1242, granted to
Kalph de Lambley, eighth Bishop of Aberdeen,
the privilege of a free forest in the lands of Brass
and Fetternear, so that no one could cut wood or
hunt there without the bishop's permission, under
a penalty of a fine of £10.§
* Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. 6 ; and
Collections on Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 145.
t Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. 7.
t Registrum Episcopate Moraviensis, p. 101, No. 88 ; and
Collections on Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 527, note.
§ Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. 15, and
preface, p. xxiii.
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1163.
1236.
1242.
108
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1297.
1382.
In the Eegister of the Taxes paid by the Bishops
of Scotland, dated 1275, under the head of the
Taxes of the churches and benefices of the
Bishopric of Aberdeen, in the deanery of Mar, the
Church of Fethyrner is rated at iij merks and a
half/"' Henry le Chen, twelfth Bishop of Aber-
deen, granted a charter of the lands of Kyllalch-
mond, to Patrick de Rothnek, dated at Fetternear
on Tuesday after the feast of St. Bartholomew,
1297.t
Adam Cunningham, seventeenth Bishop of
Aberdeen, granted absolution in his chapel at Old
Rayne, 9th March 1382, to John de Camera,
bailie and receiver of the lands of Formartine,
and farmer of Formartine, from the sentence of
excommunication pronounced against him for not
having paid the second tithes for the said lands ;
and at Fetternear, on the fifteenth day of the same
month, the Bishop absolved Robert, the son of
Ego, Adam Halde, Angus Faber, and William, the
son of John, who all went to Fetternear to obtain
absolution. {
It would appear that the bishop's lands of
Fetternear were not always well farmed. The
Lords of Council issued a decreet against Thomas
Drumbrek, and Agnes his spouse, for labouring
* Registmm Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. ii. p. 52.
t Ibid. vol. i. p. 38.
t Ibid. vol. i. pp. 163, 166.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
the lands of Fetternear. The following is a copy
of the decreet : —
" At Edinburgh the xiij day of Decembris the
yeir of Gode MCCCC,LXXXV yeirs, the Lordis of
Consale, decretis and delyueris that Thomas
Drumbrek and Agnes his spouss has done wrang
in the lawboryng and maunryng of the landis of
Fetherner belangin to the bishoprik of Aberdene
as wes clerly previt befor the lordis and ordanis
thaim to devoide and red the samyn to a reuerend
fadir in Gode Wilyhame elect confirmate of Aber-
dene and that thai* sail content and pay to the
sade reuerend fadir the malis and profitis of the
sade landis of twa yeirs bigane as he may prufe
befor the schereff of the schyr that thai are of
vaile togidder with hyis costis and skathis that he
hes sustenyt thar throw and ordanis our souerane
lordis letteres be derect to the schereff to tak the
sade preif befor him and to warne the perty tharto,
and the sade Thomas wes lauchfully sommond to
this action and oft tymes callit and nocht comperit.
Extractum de libro actorum per me Alexandrum
Scott rectorem de Wigtone clericum rotulorum et
registri ac consilii regis."*
In the rental of the bishoprick of Aberdeen in
1511, containing the tithes of the lands and
possessions granted to it by the holy King David,
between the rivers Dee and Spey, in the counties
* Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. 318.
109
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1485.
1511
110
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
of Aberdeen and Banff, we find the following
entry regarding the lands of Fet'ternear :—
FETHIRNEYR.
Terra dominicalis iiij aratra gressuma iiij. lib. assedatur pro
iiij lib. argenti, iij celdris ordei et, vj. s. viij. d. pro bondagio
cum sernicio. Set quilibet cottarius habens vaccam in dicta villa
edificabit vel edificare faciet unam rudam de le fauld pro qualibet
vacca. Et tenentes pro tempore respondebunt pro habitatoribus
croftorum in hijs que ad agriculturam spectant et de bona
proprietate seruanda cum animalibus suis ad ingrassandam terram
et alia que ad vicinitatem pertinent. Et si in contrarium factum
fuerit in quocumcjue tenentes respondebunt vt supra.
Johanni Steuin . . iiij. bouate Willelmo Bisset . . vj. fc.
Willelmo Smyth . . iiij. B. Willelmo Cristesoune ij. fc.
Johanni Barcar . . iiij. fc. Willelmo Barcar . iiij. fc.
Elizibetht Kow vidue iiij. K Alexandro Cristeson iiij. fc.
Ortus Palacij.
Assedatur Willelmo Cristesoun pro ij. bollis ordei.
Molendinum eiusdem cum crofto.
Assedatur pro Iiij. s. iiij. d. in anno v. bollis ordei quas recipient
ab incolis intro scriptis.
Willelmo Smytht . . due partes.
Willelmo Matesone . . tertia pars.
Croftagia vj, liB. xvj. s. iiij. d.
Assedantur pro vj. lit. xvj. s. iiij. d. in anno v. bollis ordei vt
supra, et x. duodenis gallinis videlicet.
Crofta Mersyntone.
Assedatur pro xij. s. in anno vj. gallinis.
Willelmo Smytht.
Crofta Gardiner et Boye.
Assedatur pro x. s. iiij. d. in anno iiij. gallinis.
Crofta Crag et Kill.
Assedatur pro x. s. viij. d. in anno et xij. gallinis.
Crofta dicta Crag alias Ellane.
Assedatur pro vj. s. viij. d. in anno et vj. gallinis.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
Crofta Houshil.
Assedatur pro viij. s. in anno et xij. gallinis.
Dauid Robertsone.
Crofta Adam.
Assedatur pro viij. s. viij. d. in anno et xviij. gallinis.
Jolianni Steuin.
Crofta Windislie.
Assedatur pro viij. s. viij. d. in anno et xvj. gallinis.
Jacobo Crommy.
Crofta brasine cum fabrina.
Assedatur pro xxij. s. viij. d. in anno et xviij. gallinis.
Willelmo Bisset.
Crofta Coy.
Assedatur pro xij. s. in anno et xij. gallinis.
"Willelmo Cowbane.
Crofta Gilcrist,
Assedatur pro vj. s. viij. d. in anno et vj. gallinis.
Willelmo Young.
Crofta Mor.
Assedatur pro vj. s. viij. d. in anno et vj. gallinis.
Crofta Anderson.
Assedatur pro vj. s. viij. d. in anno et vj. gallinis.
Crofta Molendini.
Assedatur pro x. s. in anno et vj. gallinis.
Kirkhillok et Feriarsett.
Assedatur pro vj. s. viij. d. in anno et vj. gallinis.
Alexandro Cristesoune.
Pratum et fenum reseruanter domino quandoquidem a tenen-
tibus eiusdem dominii custodiri debeat ab omnibus suis anima-
libus et alienis quibuscumque a Pascate vsque ad festum Sancti
Michaelis et postquam scissum fuerit fenum predictum arefaciant
et in cumulis ponent vt moris est et dominus tantum soluet pro
scissura eiusdem.
Came j. aratriun gressuma iij. lib. vj. s. viij. d. assedatur pro
iij. lib. vj. s. viij. d. in anno j. mutone j. bolla auenarum xij.
gallinis et xx. d. pro bondagio et seruiciis solitis.
Summa huius dominii in terraruin Summa gallinarum xj. duo-
Firmis xvj. lit. xvj. s. viij. d. dene.
Ill
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
112
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1529.
1549-
Summa girsunie. Summa Mutonum j.
Summa bondagiorum viij. s. iiij. ct. Summa auenarum j. B.
Summa ordei iij. celd. vij. K Summa aratrorum v.
Piscaria et foresta de Fethirneir reseruanter domino.*
In the same rental we find the following entry : —
" Rectoria de Fethirneir beneficium ad tempus et
est de proprietate episcopi."t
The Rev. Andrew Cullen, parson of Fetternear,
son of Provost Cullen of Aberdeen, and also vicar
of the church of St. Nicholas in Aberdeen, was a
witness to an obligation 14th December 1529,
whereby Gilbert Menzies, Provost of Aberdeen,
and the bailies of the said burgh, bound them-
selves to maintain the bridge over the Dee, built
by Bishop Gawan.J
William Gordon, Bishop of Aberdeen, granted
a lease, 7th March 1549, to George, Earl of
Huntly, Lord Gordon and Badenoch, Chancellor
of Scotland, and Lieutenant of the north, of the
barony and shire of Fetternear, with the place of
fishing and pertinents of the same, for thirteen
years, paying therefor yearly seventeen pounds
six shillings and eightpence usual money of
Scotland, three chalders, eight bolls of bere, with
a peck to every boll, one mutoun, thirteen dozens
of poultry, one barrel of salmon for the fishing, or
three pounds in money, at the option of the said
noble lord, his heirs, subtenants, and helps fore-
* Registrum Episcopatus Alerdonensis, vol. i. pp. 364-367.
t Ibid. p. 380. $ Ibid. p. 395
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
113
said, eight shillings and eightpence for bondage
with arrage, carriage, and other due service.*
Soon afterwards the same William Gordon,
Bishop of Aberdeen, granted a lease, 22d October
1550, to John Leslie, eighth Baron of Balquhain,
of the barony and shire of Fetternear, and of the
town of Bonyngtoun lying within the barony of
Kayne, for nineteen years, paying therefor yearly
seventeen pounds six shillings and eightpence,
usual money of Scotland, together with three
pounds foresaid for the fishing of the same, or
one barrel of salmon at the option of the occupiers,
eight shillings and eightpence for bondage, three
chalders, eight bolls bere, with one peck to every
boll, thirteen dozens of poultry : and for the said
lands and town of Bonyngtoun with the pendicles
and pertinents thereof, twenty pounds money
foresaid, two marts, six mutones, twenty-eight
bolls of meal and malt, equally, with a peck to
every boll of malt, six dozens of capons, six
dozens of poultry, eight bolls of oats with the
straw, ten shillings for bondage, with arrage,
carriage, and other due service, t
William Leslie, ninth Baron of Balquhain, was
Sheriff of Aberdeenshire under the Queen's
Lieutenant of the north, the Earl of Huntly. In
this capacity he afforded great assistance to the
* Registrum Episcopates Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. 447.
t Ibid. p. 451.
VOL. I. I
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1550.
114
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1566.
1602.
1670.
Bishop of Aberdeen in protecting the cathedral
from the ravages of the Eeformers, and he sup-
ported the bishop in his diocese when all
the other bishops in Scotland were persecuted.
The bishop, William Gordon, a brother of the
Earl of Huntly, as a mark of his gratitude for
the services done to him in those perilous times,
bestowed on William Leslie, ninth Baron of
Balquhain, the barony of Fetternear, with the
palace, the tower, and fortalice of the same,
with the salmon-fishing in the river Don, and
all other pendicles; also the lands of Tal-
zeaucht, lying in the shire of Fetternear : the
lands of Bonyngton, with the mill, multures, and
crofts of the same : the lands of Lowesk, and the
third part of the town and lands of Ledintusche :
the lands of Curtestoun, in the shire of Kayne :
the lands of Auchlyne, with the mill of the same :
the croft of Blairdinny, in the shire of Clatt, with
all their pendicles, lying within the county of
Aberdeen. The bishop granted to William
Leslie a charter of all these lands 8th June 1566,
which charter was confirmed by a royal charter
10th May 1602, and by a Papal charter, granted
20th September 1670, by Pope Clement X. to
Alexander Abercrombie, who at that time held
the barony of Fetternear in wadsett.*
* See Charters, Nos. xiv. and xv., Appendix to the Barons of
Balquhain.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
Mr. Andrew Leslie parson of Fetternear,
granted a tack of the parsonage and vicarage
teinds of the lands of Fetternear to John Leslie,
tenth Baron of Balquhain, for eighteen years, 22d
September 1569.* Mr. Walter Gordon, parson
and vicar of Fetternear, with the consent of
David Cunningham, Bishop of Aberdeen, and of
the Dean and Chapter of Aberdeen, granted a
tack of the vicarage teinds and teind-sheaves of
the lands of Fetternear, to John Leslie, tenth
Baron of Balquhain, 18th May 1586.1 David
Cunningham, Bisnop of Aberdeen, granted a
charter of the lands of Fetternear and others, to
John Leslie, tenth Baron of Balquhain, 5th April
1596.J Mr. Alexander Patterson, minister of
Chapel of Garioch, was collated to the benefice of
Fetternear, 15th August 1606,|| and the Bishop
of Aberdeen issued a commission for resigning
the glebe of Fetternear to the said Mr. Alexander
Patterson, 13th October 1620.§
About 1621 the parsonage of Fetternear was
annexed to that of Logy Durno, on the north side
of the river Urie. The church was then trans-
ferred to the ancient Chapel of the Blessed Virgin
of the Garioch, from which the parish takes its
present name of Chapel of Garioch.
John Leslie, eleventh Baron of Balquhain,
* Balquhain Charters, No. 512.
I Ibid. No. 458. II Ibid. No. 903.
t Ibid. No. 513.
§ Ibid. No. 905.
115
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1569.
1586.
1596.
1606.
1620.
1621.
116
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1625.
1627.
1628.
1631.
1670.
1640.
wadsett the lands and barony of Fetternear to his
brother-in-law, Sir Alexander Hay of Dalgety,
and William Hay his son, for the sum of 11,000
merks, 15th June 1625. Sir Alexander Hay of
Dalgety, and William Hay his son, with the
consent of John Leslie, eleventh Baron of Balquhain,
and Janet Innes his spouse, alienated the lands
and barony of Fetternear in favour of Hector
Abercrombie of Westhall, second son of Alexander
Abercrombie of Birkenlog, by his wife Margaret,
daughter of William Leslie ninth Baron of Bal-
quhain, 16th November 1627. Patrick Forbes,
Bishop of Aberdeen, with the consent of the Dean
and Chapter, granted a charter containing a novo-
damus of the said lands, in favour of Hector
Abercrombie, 2d February 1628, which charter
was confirmed under the great seal, 29th January
1631. Alexander Abercrombie, eldest son of
Hector Abercrombie, succeeded his father in the
lands of Fetternear, and as has been related, he
obtained a charter from Pope Clement X. 20th
September 1670, confirming the same to him.
While the barony of Fetternear was in the
possession of the-Abercrombies, the mansion-house
was attacked by the Earl Marischal's men, as is
shown by the following quaint account given by
Spalding : —
"The same Sonday (7th June 1640,) about 11
houris at evin, thair cam out of New Aberdein
about 200 soldiouris with there commanderis.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
117
At the brig of Done thay divydit in thrie pairtes,
quhairof one went in touardis Foveran and
Knockhall, another by Whitecarns touardis Wdny,
and Fudness, and the 3 touardis Fetterneir. . .
These who went to Fetterneir fand the yetis
keipit cloiss, the Laird himself being within, and
began to persew the entress yet, quhilk was weill
defendit, and ane of thir soldiouris schot out
thairat, quhairof he deit schortlie thairefter. The
rest leaves the persute, and thair hurt soldiour
behind thame, and returnis to Aberdein without
moir ado. The Laird feiring sum truble to follow,
displenishes the place, left nothing tursabill within,
cloissis wp the yettis, and took his wyf, children,
and servandis with him to sum uthir pairt. But
schortlie thair cum fra Abirdein another pairtie
of soldiouris to the same place, brak up the yettis
and durris, enterit the houssis and chalmeris, brak
doun wyndois, bedis, burdis, and left no kynd of
plenishing on hewin doun, quhilk did thame little
good, albeit skaithful to the owner. Sic as thay
culd carie with thame thay took, syne returnit
bak to Abirdein ; bot the Laird fled the cuntrie,
and to Berwick goes he, suffering this gryt
skaith."*
Francis Abercrombie, created Lord Glassford,
succeeded his father, Alexander Abercrombie in
the possession of Fetternear. From him the
* Spalding's History of the Troubles in Scotland, vol. i. p. 282.
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
118
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1690.
barony of Fetternear was redeemed by Patrick
Count Leslie, fifteenth Baron of Balquhain.
Francis Lord Glassford, and Dame Anna Sempill,
his spouse, disponed the lands and barony of
Fetternear in favour of Patrick, Count Leslie of
Balquhain, and Mary Irvine his spouse, and
granted a charter of the same to them, in liferent,
and to their son, George Leslie, and the other
heirs of entail specified, in fee, 20th August
1690.* Alexander Abercrombie of Auchorsk, a
member of the Birkenbog family, who rented the
mansion-house of Fetternear, renounced his
possession of the same in favour of Count Patrick
Leslie, 23d August 1690. Since that period the
barony of Fetternear has been in the uninterrupted
possession of the family of Leslie, Barons of
Balquhain.
The mansion-house of Fetternear is beautifully
situated in a finely-wooded domain, at a short
distance from the bank of the river Don, com-
manding a view of the river and of the surrounding
country. From it are seen in the distance the
hill of Corrennie, the hill of Fair, the hill of
Bennachie, and others, which form a picturesque
boundary to the landscape. The mansion-house
of Fetternear was built at a very early period,
and was the summer residence of the bishops of
Aberdeen. In ancient charters it is styled the
* Balquhain Charters, No. 489.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE. 119
palace, the tower, and fortalice of Fetternear.
About 1256, additions were made to the house of
Fetternear by Peter de Kamsay, ninth Bishop of
Aberdeen, who frequently resided at Fetternear.
Other additions were made by Alexander
de Kyninmund, thirteenth Bishop of Aberdeen,
who completed the Episcopal residences of
Aberdeen and Fetternear, and also began to build
residences at Mortlach and old Eayne. It is
recorded that he was wont, between 1329 and
1341, to pass the winter at Mortlach, the spring
in Aberdeen, the summer at Fetternear, and the
autumn at Old Bayne, in order that he might
more effectually discharge his Episcopal duties in
every part of his diocese.
Patrick, Count Leslie, fifteenth Baron of
Balquhain, on recovering the barony of Fetternear
from the Abercrombies in 1690, found that the
mansion-house possessed many advantages as a
place of residence, while the ancient castle of
Balquhain, which had hitherto been the chief
residence of the family, having been built more
for strength than convenience, proved less desir-
able as a residence in more settled times.
Therefore he removed from the castle of Balquhain
to Fetternear House, which henceforth became the
chief seat of the family. At this period the
approach to Fetternear House from the south, was
through a magnificent avenue of three rows of
trees on each side. The mansion-house was very
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1329.
1690.
120
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1297.
spacious, the front was three storeys high, the
windows of the upper storey having pointed tops,
with eleven representations of the family arms
carved upon them. The house was of considerable
length, and had round towers at the east and west
end. The tower on the east end had a pepper-
box top, with a lofty conical roof ; that on the west
end was surmounted by a small square house, the
corners of which overhung the upper part of the
tower. The inside of this small house was
composed of one chamber, the access to which
was by a narrow stair through the massive wall
from the third storey of the main building. There
is a tradition that when Sir William Wallace was
in the north in 1297, he found refuge in this
small chamber, hence the tower on which it was
built is called Wallace's Tower. From each end of
the main building of the mansion-house there was
built a wing at right angles, which thus formed a
court, which on the south was enclosed by a low
wall surmounted by iron railings, and the entrance
to the court was by a large gate opposite to the
main entrance to the house. The original
building was prepared for defence, which, indeed
was necessary in times when the law could do
little to secure the tranquillity of the country.
There was originally a fosse all round the building,
and all the lower chambers, offices, and passages
on the ground floor had small windows with iron
stanchions, or had long loop-holes to fire through.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
121
The two towers had also loop-holes, and were
ascended by spiral stone staircases. The mansion-
house was called the tower and fortalice of
Fetternear, and, from being the residence of the
Bishop of Aberdeen, it was sometimes called the
Palace.
Patrick, Count Leslie, on taking up his resi-
dence at Fetternear in 1690, had his arms
emblazoned in bold alto-relief on a stone label,
six feet long, by four feet wide, with a raised
border, and built the stone into the front wall of
the mansion-house, 'above the entrance, where it
still remains. Some feet above these arms is a
stone with the letters I. H. S. carved on it. The
interior of the house was very commodious. All
the suites of rooms on the first floor opened into
one another, and the long centre room was called
the Gallery. Count Patrick Leslie fitted up the
mansion-house of Fetternear in a magnificent
manner, and furnished and adorned it with a
valuable collection of pictures and objects of art
which were sent to him from Germany by his
uncle, Count Walter Leslie, by his brother, Count
James, and by his son, Count James Ernest.
Many of these articles had been taken from the
Turks, by Count James Leslie, during the siege of
Vienna in 1683, and in other battles in which he
defeated them. Amongst them were pieces of
rich silk and gold and silver brocade stuffs, which
were made into church vestments, and some of
CHAP. IV.
Felternear.
1690.
1683.
122
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1710.
1739-
1720.
which still remaia at Fetternear. There was also
a saddle and bridle with upwards of three
hundred pearls on them ; a gold- worked sash, a
massive gold basin, and several Turkish daggers,
highly ornamented with pearls and precious
stones.
George Leslie succeeded his father, Count
Patrick, as sixteenth Baron of Balquhain in 1710,
and died in 1715, leaving two sons who were
infants. His widow, the Honourable Margaret
Elphinstone, who had charge of the children
during their minority, shared in the bitter anti-
Catholic spirit of the times, and does not seem to
have been zealous for the interests of the family.
She resolved to bring up her sons as Protestants,
and therefore she sent away from Fetternear all
the valuable chapel furniture, and all the Catholic
books, and only a very few of these things were
ever recovered by the family. Her eldest son,
Count James Leslie, died in Paris in 1731, while
still in his minority. He was succeeded by his
brother, Count Ernest Leslie, eighteenth Baron of
Balquhain, who died unmarried in 1739. His
mother, who about 1720, had married Sir James
Gordon of Park, had persuaded him to leave to
her son, James Gordon of Cowbairdy, the lands
of Boddam in Insch, part of the entailed barony
of Balquhain, and all the household furniture at
Fetternear. Thus the family property was dis-
membered, and all the family heirlooms disap-
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
123
peared, and Fetternear House was stripped of all
the relics of former ages which are so highly
valued by ancient families.
On the death of Count Ernest Leslie, eighteenth
baron, the succession to the Balquhain estates
was disputed. A long litigation ensued, and was
decided in favour of Count Anthony Leslie,
nineteenth Baron of Balquhain, who resided for
some time at Fetternear House, but his chief
residence was on his family estates in Germany.
Some years afterwards, Count Anthony's claim to
the possession of the Balquhain estates was
challenged by Peter Leslie Grant, on the ground
that he was a Papist and an alien. Another long
litigation ensued, and after many interlocutors
pronounced by the Court of Session, the cause
was decided in favour of Peter Leslie Grant, by a
decision of the House of Lords in 1762. In
consequence of this decision the mansion-house of
Fetternear again changed masters. For the first
few years, Peter Leslie Grant, being in the Dutch
service, came over occasionally from Holland and
visited Fetternear. About 1769 he retired from
the service, and took up his permanent residence
at Fetternear. At this period the mansion-house,
though shorn of much of its splendour, was still
in a tolerably good state, and the gardens and
wooded domains were in perfect order. But
Peter Leslie Grant was much pressed for money,
and he granted a lease of the whole estate,
CHAP; IV.
Fetternear.
1762.
1796.
124
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1775-
including the mansion-house and domain of
Fetternear, to his agent and relation, David
Orme, a lawyer in Edinburgh, for five times
nineteen years, at a small annual rent. Peter
Leslie Grant died in 1775, and was succeeded by
his cousin, Patrick Leslie Duguid, twenty-first
Baron of Balquhain, who, with his son, John
Leslie, brought an action to reduce the lease
granted to David Orme. They succeeded in
reducing the lease in as far as it included the
mansion-house and domain of Fetternear. David
Orme, anticipating this result, did all he could to
dilapidate and destroy the place. He ordered all
the wood to be cut down, including the ornamen-
tal timber and the superb old avenues. Some of
the neighbouring gentlemen, anxious to save the
ornamental trees from destruction and to preserve
them for the family, bought them and left them
standing. David Orme insisted that this was a
breach of bargain, as the trees were sold under
condition of being cut down. He repossessed
himself of them, and sold them again for the
merest trifle. The fine old gardens, orchards,
and shrubberies were destroyed. The two side
wings of the mansion-house and the extensive
stables and office-houses were allowed to go to
ruin, and were then pulled down, and the beams
and timber used for firewood . The main building of
the house was left in a wretched state. The only
relic of family antiquity left was Blairbouy's chair.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
125
This relic, called Blairbouy's, or Jock o' Ben-
nachie's chair, is constructed of massive oak, and
is of gigantic size. It is of such weight that the
strongest man can hardly lift it from the ground.
It derives its name from a stalwart Baron of
Balquhain, noted for his gigantic stature, and
famous in northern song and legend for his many
daring exploits and adventures.
" His legs were like twa trees o' aik,
His height was thirty feet and three,
Atween his brows there was a span,
Atween his .shoulders ells three."
The tremendous strength and dimensions of
this chair excite the admiration and wonder of
degenerate men of modern days.
John Leslie, twenty-second Baron of Balquhain,
on recovering possession of Fetternear from David
Orme, took up his residence there, having pre-
viously lived at the house of Tullos on the estate
of Balquhain, near the foot of Bennachie. His
means being limited, he could not undertake to
restore the mansion-house of Fetternear to its
former grandeur. He contented himself, therefore,
with repairing the dilapidations of the main
building, so as to render it habitable, and he had
the ruins of the two wings cleared away. Thus
the features of the place were unavoidably
changed, and the venerable antiquity of the
mansion-house was lost in its modern shape. The
domain, which had been long neglected, or had
CHAP. IV.
Felternear.
126
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1818.
been broken up into fields and exhausted by
overcropping, was put under the best system of
modern husbandry to restore it to its pristine
vigour, and was then laid down in grass, which at
the present time is the finest in that part of the
country. Extensive ranges of hills behind the
mansion-house were planted, and clumps of trees
were interspersed in the domain, so as in some
measure to retrieve the desolation which had
been made.
In 1818 Mr. Leslie repaired the house of
Fetternear, and made some alterations and addi-
tions. Unfortunately, the architect employed was
allowed to alter the ancient style of the mansion.
The small house on one tower and the peaked
roof of the other were taken down, as also were
the pointed tops with the carved arms above the
windows of the upper storey of the main building.
These were replaced with battlements not only
on the towers, but also along the whole front of
the building, and thus the ancient baronial
castellated appearance of the house was destroyed.
To compensate in some measure for this, a hand-
some dining-room was included in the additions
made to the house. A new approach from the
north-east, or Inverurie side, was made through
the woods along the bank of the river Don, and
it now forms a beautiful drive of two miles up to
the house.
Count Ernest Leslie, twenty-third Baron of
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
127
Balquhain, did not reside much at Fetternear,
but lived chiefly abroad. He was succeeded by
his son, John Edward, Count Leslie, twenty-fourth
Baron of Balquhain, who, on coming of age in
1841, took up his residence at Fetternear house,
which he furnished in a very superior style. He
built a new steading of office-houses and hand-
some lodges at each of the gates, and made other
improvements. He was succeeded by his uncle,
James Michael Leslie, twenty-fifth Baron of
Balquhain, who repaired the old chapel at Fetter-
near, and made additions to the old chancel,
which was the family burial-place, and which he
caused to be roofed in, and formed into a vault.
He died unmarried, 2d January 1849, and was
succeeded by his brother, Colonel Charles Leslie,
K.H., twenty-sixth Baron of Balquhain, the pre-
sent proprietor.
THE PAEISH OF LESLIE.
THE parish of Leslie, in the western part of the
district of the Garioch, is bounded on the west by
the parish of Clatt and by Strathbogie ; on the north
by the parish of Kennethmont ; on the east by
the parish of Premnay ; and on the south by the
Hills of Leslie and the parish of Keig, which
separates it from the Valley of Alford.
The parish is very fertile, lying on both sides of
the river Gadie, which runs through it from west
CHAP. IV.
Fetternear.
1841.
1849.
Parish of
Leslie.
128
CHAP. IV.
Parish of
Leslie.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
to east, forming a charming valley. The Gadie
abounds in fine trouts, and falls into the river
Urie, a little below the Kirk of Oyne. It is cele-
brated both in Latin and Scotch poetry. Dr.
Arthur Johnston of Caskieben wrote — " Crede
mihi, toti notus jam Gadius orbi est." and the
touching song, " 0 an' I were where Gadie rins,"
is well known. There is also a small rivulet or
brook called the Burn of Leslie, on the south bank
of which the parish church is situated, and at no
great distance stands the old castle of Leslie, on
the north bank.
At the head of the den of Chapeltown, on the
east side of the road leading from Leslie to Alford,
there is a place called Little John's Length, or
the Four Lords' seat. It is a small circular arti-
ficial hollow, about five feet in diameter, and three
or four feet deep. Tradition reports that four
different proprietors went to that place and dined
together, each sitting on his own land. These
four proprietors were Lord Glammis, the Lord of
Leslie, the Lord of Putachie, and the Bishop of
Aberdeen. A little to the west of this place there
are vestiges of an intrenched camp, the fosse being
yet in several places very distinct ; and at a short
distance farther west there are a good many cairns
or tumuli, one of the largest of which is called
Cook's Cairn.
On the south-west of the parish church at Cha-
pelton there was formerly a Catholic church, the
THE FAMILY OP LESLIE.
ruins of which were dug up many years ago.
The baptismal stone font is still to be seen in one
of the buildings of a farm-steading. There is a
tradition that the farmer who removed the stones
lost the whole of his horses, and one race of horses
after another, till he was completely ruined, and
was obliged to give up the lease of his farm.
Here the Leslies of Chapelton had a castle. The
Leslies of New Leslie also had a castle about a
mile to the north-west of Leslie Castle. So
numerous were the Leslies in this locality, that
there was a popular song—
" Thick sit the Leslies on Gadieside,
On Gadieside,
The back of Benuachie."
LESLIE CASTLE.
LESLIE Castle, the original baronial seat of the
ancient family of Leslie, is situated in a charming
valley in the parish of Leslie, in the district of
the Garioch, in Aberdeenshire. The castle is now
a ruin. It appears to have been a place of some
strength. It was surrounded by a fosse and
rampart, and had a drawbridge on the west side,
protected by a watch tower. It was of the cas-
tellated style of building, and consisted of two
massive square towers or keeps, joined at right
angles, the upper corners of the towers being
ornamented with turrets, commonly called pepper-
VOL. i. K
129
CHAP. IV.
Parish of
Leslie.
Leslie
Castle.
130
CHAP. IV.
Leslie
Castle.
1067-1439
1620.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
boxes. The walls were for the most part six feet
thick. The ground-floor was raised on arches,
having vaults underneath. The principal stair-
case, which is of a peculiar construction, was
placed in an angle formed by the two main
towers. It consisted of a square tower rising to
the whole height of the castle, having in its in-
terior another square tower of smaller dimensions.
In the interior, between the walls of the inner and
outer towers, was placed the stair, which wound
round the inner tower. This inner tower was
hollow from bottom to top, having openings like
small windows opposite the landing-places of the
stair on each floor. It is probable that these
openings were for the purpose of calling the ser-
vants, because by speaking into one of them the
voice is heard from top to bottom. The castle
was surrounded by fine gardens, orchards, and
ornamental woods, and the hills on the south and
south-west were covered with forest.
Leslie Castle was no doubt erected by Bartho-
lomew, the founder of the Leslie family, in whose
family the barony of Leslie remained for nine
generations, from 1067 till 1439, when it was
conveyed to Alexander Leslie, first Baron of Leslie,
or of that Ilk, whose family retained possession
for eight generations, till about 1620, when
George Leslie, eighth baron of that Ilk, mortgaged
the barony of Leslie to John Forbes, second son
of Forbes of Monymusk. William Forbes, son of
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
this John Forbes, succeeded his father in the
barony of Leslie, and he repaired the old castle
of Leslie, as appears by an inscription on the
wall, dated 17th June 1661. The Forbes coat-
of-arms was also placed on the wall of the castle,
and over the entrance is an inscription, " Haec
Corp. Sydera mentem."
The barony of Leslie did not remain long in the
possession of the Forbesses. It was sold, and is
now in the possession of Colonel Leith Hay of
Kannes and Leith Hall. The castle of Leslie
was inhabited up to the beginning of the present
century, when it was occupied by Captain Stew-
art, agent for the Kannes family. Since then this
ancient castle has been allowed to fall into decay ;
the roof is gone, and the building is fast becom-
ing a ruin. The fosse has been drained, and is
now almost filled up. The fine woods which for-
merly surrounded the castle, and the beautiful
ornamental trees, many of them of large size,
which ornamented the grounds, have been cut
down, and the venerable baronial residence is now
a desolate monument of former grandeur.
KOTHES.
THE barony of Rothes, which gave the title to
the noble branch of the Leslie family, the Earls
of Rothes, continued in the possession of the
Leslies, Earls of Rothes, for nearly four hundred
131
CHAP. IV.
Leslie
Castle.
1661.
Rothes.
132
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1238.
1 165.
1214.
1187-1203.
years. It was sold by John, ninth Earl of Rothes,
in 1711, to John Grant of Elchies, whose grand-
son, John Grant, Baron of the Exchequer, sold it
to James, Earl of Findlater, and it is now in the
possession of the Earl of Seafield.
The first mention which we find of the barony
of Eothes is in the year 1238, when Eva de
Mortach, daughter of Muriel de Polloc, who was
daughter of Petrus de Pollock, was Domina, or
Lady of Eothes. Petrus de Polloc, grandfather
of Eva de Mortach, Lady of Kothes, was witness
to a charter granted by William the Lion, 1165-
1214, to the church and monks of Kinlos, of the
lands of Burgin, lying between Forres and Elgin.*
Eichard, Bishop of Moray, 1187-1203, confirmed
to the abbot and monks of Kinlos, all the grants
of lands which they had received from various
benefactors. Amongst others, the third part of
the Halech of Dundurcus, and the third part of
the fishings of the same, which they had received
from Petrus de Polloc, to be held by them during
the lifetime of the said Petrus de Polloc, after
whose death they were to have the whole Halech
and the whole fishings of the same. Petrus de
Polloc himself is a witness to this charter of con-
firmation.t Petrus de Polloc is also a witness to
a deed regarding the lands of Fither, by William
Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, p. 454, No. 2.
t Ibid. p. 454, No. 3.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
133
the Lion, at Elgin ;* also to a charter granted by
William the Lion to Richard, Bishop of Moray,
1187-1203 ;t also to another charter granted by
William the Lion to Kichard, Bishop of Moray, of
certain lands in Banff.J Alexander II. granted a
charter confirming to the church at Kinlos certain
gifts made to it ; amongst others, the gift made
by Walter Murdach, with the consent of Muriel
de Polloc, his spouse, of part of the lands of the
Halech of Dundurcus, which formerly belonged
to Petrus de Polloc, and which the monks had
cultivated with tneir own hands, and at their
own expense, since the death of Petrus de Polloc,
dated at Scone, 12th February 1226.§ From
this charter it appears thot Muriel de Polloc,
daughter of Petrus de Polloc, married Walter
Murdach or Mortach before 1226.
Muriel de Polloc, daughter of the deceased
Petrus de Polloc, gave to God, to the Blessed
Mary, and to the Blessed Nicholas, her lands of
Inverokil, for the foundation of the hospital of St.
Nicholas at the Bridge of Spey, for the reception
of poor travellers. Her charter of these lands is
witnessed by Andrew, Bishop of Moray, 1223-
1 235 ; Nicholas, Vicar of Rothes ; William, brother
of Richard, the bishop ; and Simon, Vicar of Dun-
* Chartulary of Moray, p. 6, No. 5.
t Ibid. p. 9, No. 11. £ Ibid. p. 11, No. 14.
§ Registrum Episcopates Moraviensis, p. 457, No. 5.
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1226.
1223.
1235-
134
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1238.
1232.
1235-
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
durcus.* She made a farther grant to this hos-
pital of the right of a mill and a mill-dam at
Inverokil, and also granted some neighbouring
lands to the hospital by a charter dated St.
Nicholas' Day 1238. Alexander II. granted an
annual rent of four merks to the same hospital,
for the support of a chaplain, to be paid out of
the rents of the mills of Invernairn, by a charter
dated at Invercullen 7th October 1232.
A dispute having arisen between the prior of
St. Andrews on the one part, and the Bishop of
Moray, Lady Muriel de Eothes, and the hospital
of St. Nicholas, at the Bridge of Spey, on the
other part, regarding the church of Eothes, the
matter was submitted to the said Bishop of Moray
in 1235. The bishop conceded to the hospital of
St. Nicholas the rights which it claimed to have
in the church of Eothes, and with the consent of
his chapter, and of the foresaid lady of Eothes, he
granted an annual rent of three merks, to be paid
to the hospital out of the revenues of the church
of Eothes.t
By her husband, Walter Murdach, Muriel de
Polloc had a daughter, Eva de Mortach, Domina
de Eothes, who, for the benefit of her soul, and of
the souls of her father and mother, gave to the
Blessed Trinity, to the Cathedral Church of Moray,
* Chartulary of Moray, p. 120, No. 106.
t Ibid. p. 123, No. 111.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
and to Archibald, Bishop of Moray, and his suc-
cessors, all her lands of Inverlochtie. She appended
her seal to this charter, which is witnessed by
Thomas Wiseman, William Duir, Dean of Moray,
Archibald Heroc, archdeacon, Henry, chaplain of
Kothes, Sir Gilbert de Roule, knight, Sheriff of
Elgin, and others, dated Idus Aprilis 1263. She
also confirmed to the hospital of St. Nicholas, at
the Bridge of Spey, the grant of the church of
Kothes, made to it by her mother, Muriel de
Polloc. Her charter of confirmation had her seal
appended, and wtis witnessed by William de
Aston, canon, Henry, chaplain of Rothes, Robert
de Polloc, Ada de Polloc, son of Robert, and
others.* Andrew, Bishop of Moray, with the con-
sent of his chapter, confirmed this grant before
1242, in which year he died.t
King Edward I. of England visited Rothes
29th July 1296, on his progress through Scot-
land, when he received the homage of the Scottish
Barons.J At Rothes William de Rothenayks
swore fealty to Edward, and renounced a]l leagues
which might exist between the Scots and the
King of France against the King of England. §
King Robert Bruce granted a charter to Gil-
bert Wysman of the lands of Rothayes, Auchen-
both, Mulben, and Cardeny, between the years
* Chartulary of Moray, p. 124, No. 112.
f Hid. p. 125, No. 113.
Ragman's Roll, pp. 92-100. § Ibid. p. 109.
135
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1242.
296.
136
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1312.
1390.
1392.
1309 and 1321.* King Eobert Bruce also granted
a charter to his nephew Eandolph, Earl of Moray,
son of Thomas Eandolph, Great Chamberlain of
Scotland, and Lady Isabella Bruce, of all the
king's lands in Moray, as they were held by Alex-
ander, King of Scotland, together with all the
other adjacent lands contained within the limits
and boundaries, beginning at the river Spey
where it falls into the sea, and ascending by the
same river, comprehending the lands of Fochabers,
Eothenayks, Eothes, Boharm, and other lands.
This charter is not dated, but is supposed to
have been granted about 1312.t
In 1390 we find Sir George Leslie, grandson
of Sir Andrew Leslie, VI. Dominus Ejusdem,
styled Dominus de Eothes. Sir George Leslie,
Dominus de Eothes, is a witness to a contract of
marriage, 26th April 1392, as has been related in
the records of the Eothes family, but it has not
been ascertained how he obtained possession of
the barony of Eothes.
Mr. Andrew Leslie, chaplain of the chapel of
the Blessed Virgin Mary within the castle of
Eothes, with the consent of George, Earl of Eothes,
patron of the said chapel, and of Patrick, Bishop
of Aberdeen, and of the chapter of the said
diocese, granted a feu-charter of all and haill the
* Robertson's Index, No. 57.
t Registrum Moraviense, p. 342, No. 264.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
137
lands of Chapel Hill, with its pertinents, belonging
to the said chapel, lying within the lordship of
Kothes and shire of Moray, in favour of George
Leslie, son and heir-apparent of an honourable
man, William Leslie of Culclaraquhey. A
precept of sasine followed thereon, dated 1555,
and is signed only by the chaplain, and his seal
only is affixed, though it bears to have the earl's
and the bishop's seals adhibited.
Mr. James Leslie, chaplain of the chaplainry of
Rothes, granted a tack of the lands of Chapel Hill
of Rothes, and of the teinds of the same, and of
the lands of Dandaleith, pertaining to him as part
of the patrimony of the said chaplainry, to
Andrew, Earl of Rothes, for the space of three
years from Whitsunday 1571.
In the rental of the diocese of Moray for the
terms of Whitsunday and Martimas 1565, we
find that the church lands of Rothes were valued
at forty-six shillings and eightpence, one quarter
of a mart, one sheep, one lamb or kid, one dozen
capons, one boll oats with straw, and fourteen
shillings for six firlots of meal.*
In Shaw's History of Moray we find the
following account of the parish of Rothes : —
" The parish of Rothes in Erse is called Rauis
or Raudh-uis, that is, red water, from the red
banks of the river and brooks. It extendeth on
Registrum Aforaviense, p. 440.
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
'555-
1571
1565-
138
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1238.
1758.
the river-side in a beautiful plain from north-
north-east to south-south-west, about two miles ;
and in the lower end a defile called the glen of
Kothes, stretcheth among the hills towards Elgin,
three miles to the north-north-west. The church
standeth upon the side of a brook, a quarter of a
mile from the river, and half-a-mile from the
north end of the parish ; one mile south of
Dundurcos Church, three miles north of Aberlour,
and about five miles north-east of Knockando.
In the year 1238 Eva de Mortach was Domina
de Eothes. In the reign of King Alexander III.,
Norman Lesly of Lesly in the Garioch, married
the daughter and heiress, it is said, of Watson of
Eothes, and from that time the barony continued
to be the property of the family of Leslie till the
beginning of this century (the eighteenth).
Captain John Grant of Easter Elchies made a
purchase of it, and his grandson, John Grant,
Baron of Exchequer, sold the barony of Eothes,
and the baronies of Easter Elchies and Edinville,
anno 1758, to James, Earl of Findlater. The east
side of the glen of Eothes pertaineth in feu-holding
to Eobert Innis of Blackhills, and the west side is
the feu property of Eobert Gumming of Loggie.
Near the church stood the castle or fortalice of
Eothes, which carries the mark of an ancient build-
ing. It stood on a green mount, surrounded by a
dry ditch or fosse, and is now in ruins. The whole
of the parish is in the county of Elgin or Moray."
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
139
The parish of Kothes was extended in 1782 by
the annexation of part of the parish of Dundurcos,
and the following account of the state of the
parish in 1825 is given in a note appended to
Shaw's description : —
"The parish of Eothes in its present extent,
along the western bank of the Spey, measures
nearly ten miles from the lower Craigelachy to
the boundary of the parish of Speymouth, upon
the Duke of Gordon's estate of Dipple. The
mountain receding in its bendings from the river,
has shaped the parish into four beautiful extensive
plains of Dunnaleith, Eothes, Dundurcos, and
Ortown. Many farms also stretch backward on
the more gentle declivities of the mountain : and
in the valleys along the sundry brooks sent forth
from the mountain through those plains into the
river. Eothes comprehends also the peninsula of
Akaunwall, part of the estate of Arndilly,
projected in a promontory form from the bottom
of the mountain of Bennegin, insulated on all its
sides by the winding of the river. There is the
defile also of the glen of Eothes, opening north-
ward quite through the mountain into the broad
champagne of Moray, containing the estate of
Auchnaroth, the property of William Eobertson,
Esq. ; and the glens with Pitcraiggy, appertaining
to the family of Gumming of Loggie. Auchnaroth
exhibits a handsome dwelling, with the requisite
embellishments of groves, gardens, and extensive
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1825.
140
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
plantations, with a large extent of the mountain
backward, for the production of grouse, and the
maintenance of sheep. Ortown House, the
property of Eichard Wharton Duff, Esq., is the
only family seat. An extensive plain of fertile
corn-fields spread backwards more than a mile
from the river. A wood-clothed bank sweeps
circular along the other side, presenting near its
margin above an inviting elevated situation for
the house — a modern, large, elegant building of
four storeys, with appropriate wings, containing a
suite of magnificent public rooms. The paintings,
though pretty numerous, are, in general, family
and other portraits. There are a few specimens
of the polygraphic art, landscapes little distin-
guishable from common paintings. The library
is a lofty and spacious room, fitted up in an
elegant and commodious style. The approach is
judiciously opened through a sheltering grove,
with its ornamental shrubbery continued along
the green lawn, which spreads around the house.
Within the recess of a grove, on the plain under
the wood-clothed bank, is the spacious orchard, in
contiguity with an extensive garden, with a long
range of hot-house, rearing the pine-apple and
the grape ; besides a large extent of brick-lined
wall for the more delicate kinds of European
fruitage. The bank presents an inviting shade
and shelter to the circumjacent fields, and an
indefinite extent of forest, fir, larix, and all the
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
141
variety of deciduous trees, clothe the face of the
mountain behind. On one prominent intermediate
height a neat modern watch-tower commands the
landscape; the winding course of the broad
rolling river — Gordon Castle, and its decorated
domain — the whole of the varied plain on the
north — and a great extent of the sea. In the year
1776 a village was begun by the Earl of Seafield,
on the plain of Eothes, upon leases of thirty-eight
years, and the liferent thereafter of the possessor,
after which the building might be purchased by
the landlord. Eacb tenement is the eighth part
of an acre of Scots measure, at the rent of ten
shillings yearly. From one half to two acres of
land at an adequate rent is occupied with each
tenement without the security of a lease. The
village accommodates nearly 400 inhabitants. The
establishment of no manufactory has yet been
proposed, though a considerable stream working a
corn-mill, a carding-mill, and a fulling-mill, runs
behind the gardens. The exigencies of the
country are supplied by the requisite artisans."*
Shaw gives the following ecclesiastical history
of the parish of Rothes : —
" Rothes was a parsonage, the Earl of Rothes
patron, but now the Earl of Findlater. The
stipend is 40 bolls of oat-meal, and 370 merks,
without allowance for communion elements, and
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1776.
* Shaw's History of Moray, p. 20.
142
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
CHAP. IV.
Rothes.
1576.
1620.
without a decreet of modification. The salary of
the school is not legal. The catechisable persons
are 500. No mortifications. The inscription on
the gravestone of Mr. James Leslie runneth thus.
' Here lies ane nobleman, Mr. James Lesly, parson
of Eothes, broth er-german to George, umquhile
Earl of the same, who departed in the Lord, 13th
October 1576/ To him succeeded Mr. Alexander
Lesly, whose successor was Mr. Leonard Leslie.
In a discharge granted by the Earl of Eothes to
one Margaret Anderson, dated at the castle of
Kothes, anno 1620, Mr. Leonard Lesly is a
witness ; the ministers are —
" Mr. JAMES LESLEY, Exhorter and parson 1570, died October
13, 1576.
ALEXANDER LESLEY, died about 1610.
LEONARD LESLEY, parson in 1620.
JOHN WEMYS, brother to Lord Wemys, ordained June 1,
1622, died February 25, 1640.
ROBERT TOD, ordained May 5, 1642, Transported to
Urquhart 1662.
JOHN LESLEY, ordained November 4, 1663, died about
1692.
JAMES ALLAN, ordained September 23, 1696, deposed
for Burroignionism, May 29, 1706.
GEORGE LINDSAY, ordained August 22, 1710, trans-
ported to Aberlowe, 1714.
ALEXANDER TOD, ordained November 11, 1714, died
April 11, 1716.
THOMAS FAIRBAIRN, ordained in 1717, transported to
Gartlie 1719.
JOHN PAUL, ordained November 10, 1720, died March
16, 1747.
JAMES GRAY, ordained April 1714, transported to
Lanark, 1755.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
143
ALEXANDER PATERSON, ordained in 1759, admitted July
17, 17 60, transported to Cullen 1762.
JAMES OGILVIE, from Ordequhill, admitted March 24,
1763.
GEORGE CRUICKSHANKS, admitted September 25 1788."*
CHAP. iv.
Rothes.
* Shaw's History of Moray, p. 363.
APPENDIX.
VOL. I.
APPENDIX No. I.
II. MALCOLM.
CHARTER granted by DAVID, Earl of Huntingdon, brother
of King William the Lion, to MALCOLM, the son of BER-
TOLF, of the Lands of Leslie and others — 1171-1199.
DAVID frater Kegis Scocie omnibus probis hominibus tocius
terre sue clericis et laicis . Francis et Anglis . Flamingis
et Scotis tarn presentibus quam futuris . Salutem . Sciatis me
dedisse et concessisse et hac carta mea confirmasse Malcolmo
filio Bartholf et heredibus suis terram suam in Lesslyn sicut
perambulata fuit ei cpram M (Mattheo) Episcopo de Abir-
den et per probos homines meos . et Hachennegort per
rectas divisas suas . et Mache per rectas divisas suas . cum
omnibus justis pertinenciis suis et libertatibus in bosco et
piano in terris et agris in pratis et pascuis in moris et
mossis et maresiis in ecclesiis et capellis in molendinis et
stagnis in vivariis et piscariis et omnibus aliis aysiamentis
tarn non nominatis quam nominatis . Tenendas sibi et
heredibus suis de me et heredibus meis in feodo et heredi-
tate libere et quiete et honorifice cum sacca et socco
cum tholl et them et infangandthef cum furca et omnibus
aliis libertatibus praeter fossam . per servitium unius militis.
Testibus .
M (Mattheo) Episcopo de Abirden.
Malcolmo filio Comitis Anegus.
(Duncan) filio Brouiss judice.
E(oberto) de Kerneil.
Herberto de Arches (Archel).
Allano filio Hugonis.
Waltero de Bosyth (Bisset).
Gilleberto de Lancas (Lacu).
Nicalao de Aelles (Adles).
Willelmo de Vaial (Wacet).
Original in Charter-room of the Earls of Kothes at Leslie House.
Appendix I.
148
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX.
Appendix
II.
Appendix
III.
APPENDIX No. II.
II. MALCOLM.
CHARTER by DAVID, Earl of Huntingdon, to the Abbey of
Arbroath, witnessed by MALCOLM, the son of BERTOLF.
DAVID frater Regis Scotorum . omnibus . &c. Sciatis me
dedisse &c. Deo et ecclesie Sancti Thome de Arbrothe et
Monachis ibidem Deo servientibus pro animabus patris et
matris mei &c. et pro anima mea et pro anima Matilde
sponse mee unam carucatam terre in Kinalchmund &c.
in piam et perpetuam elemosinam . &c. his testibus
Willelmo rege Scotorum fratre meo.
H. (Henrico) filio meo (Henry of Brechin).
MALCOLMO FILIO BERTOLF (LESLIE).
Recardo Capellano meo.
Phillippo Clerico meo et aliis.
Registrum vetus Cenobii de Aberbrothie, p. 624.
APPENDIX No. III.
III. NORMAN.
CHARTER by JOHN, Earl of Huntingdon, to NORMAN, the
son of MALCOLM, of the Lands of Lesselyn, Achnagart,
Mile, and Caskyben, etc. — 1219-1237.
OMNIBUS hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris Joannes
Comes de Huntingtoun salutem. Noveritis me concessisse et
hac presenti carta mea confirmasse Normanno filio Mal-
colmi terram de Lesselyn et Achnagart et Mile tenendam
sibi et heredibus suis de me et heredibus meis in feodo et
hereditate per suas rectas divisas cum omnibus pertinenciis
et libertatibus suis sicut carta patris mei quam inde habet
testatur excepta donacione Ecclesie de Lesselyn quam
dictus Normannus dedit Abbacie de Lundores et monachis
ibidem Deo servientibus sicut carta ipsius Normanni quam
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
149
idem Monachi inde habent testatur . Dedi etiam et concessi
eidem Normanno et heredibus suis totam terrain de Casky-
ben per suas rectas divisas et cum omnibus pertinenciis suis
ad incrementum praedictarum terrarum . Faciendo inde
mini et heredibus meis pro omnibus prenominatis terris
servicium feodi unius militis . Hisce testibus . Domino
Johanne tune Abbate de Lindoris . Henrico de Brechin . et
Henrico de Strivelyn . fratribus meis . Koberto de Cam-
pania . Henrico de Frevill . Johanne de Bruiss . Henrico de
Boysuill . David de Andrus . et Willelmo de Cull.
Original in Charter-room of the Earls of Rothes at Leslie
House.
APPENDIX No. IV.
III. NORMAN.
CHARTER by MATTHEW KINNINMOUNT, Bishop of Aberdeen,
for the erection of St. Peter's Hospital, in the Spittal,
near Aberdeen, witnessed by NORMAN, the Constable
of Inverurie — 1 1 65-1 169.
UNIVERSIS Sancte Matris ecclesie filiis Matheus Dei
gracia Aberdonensis ecclesie minister humilis . Salutem in
Christo . Sciant tarn presentes quam futuri nos divina
inspirante gracia pro anima regis Willelmi et pro animabus
antecessorum et successorum suorum et pro anima nostra et
pro animabus antecessorum et successorum nostrorum
Hospitale infirmorum fratrum statuisse in honorem Beati
Petri Apostolorum Principis in territorio de Aberden et
eidem Hospitali et infirmis ibidem commorantibus terram
quae dicitur Ardschelly et Petenderleyn . Carnahard et
Ardonachyn per rectas divisas suas excepta terra ilia quam
Caperoni homini nostro dedimus et ei per divisas assignavi-
mus dedisse concessisse et hac carta mea confirmasse in
liberam et perpetuam eleemosynam cum terra ilia que est
APPENDIX.
III.
Appendix
IV.
150
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
IV.
Appendix
V.
1202-6.
circa ipsum hospitale et cum omnibus decimis dominii
nostri de Aberdeyn preter illas decimas quas clericis
ecclesie Sancte Marie servientibus in perpetuum assigna-
vimus . Concedimus eciam eisdem infirniis decimam cani
nostri et placitorum nostrorum atque lucrorum et decimam
firme nostre tarn in farina quam brasio et prebenda .
decimam quoque frumenti nostri . salis et ferri . carnium
quoque et piscium omniumque cibariorum que in domo
nostra expendunter . Quare volumus ut prefatum hospitale
et infirmi ibidem manentes terras et omnes decimas
prenominatas et omnes possessiones suas ita libere et quiete
teneant et possideant sicuti aliqua domus fratram infir-
morum in regno Scocie constituta liberius et quiecius tenet
et possidet . Testibus Simone archidiacono nostro . Eoberto
decano . Magistro Matheo . Willelmo . Galtero . Bricio
Capellanis nostris . Willelmo persona . Matheo Senescallo
nostro . Thoma nepote nostro . Joanne filio Archid .
Mauricio persona de Tarves . Gillochero comite de Mar .
Fergo comite de Buchan . Malcolmo . Jacobo filiis Mor-
gundi . NORMANO CONSTAPULARIO DE ENNROURY . Baldueno
clerico . Roberto de Eaij . Willelmo de Tatenhill . Willelmo
de Slanes milite. Dunecano Makfety . Willelmo filio Hugonis .
Gilberto filio Roselini.
Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff;
Spalding Club, pp. 153, 154.
APPENDIX No. V.
III. NORMAN.
CHARTER of the Foundation of the Church and Abbey of
Lindores by DAVID, Earl of Huntingdon, witnessed by
NORMAN, the son of MALCOLM, and Constable of
Inverurie — 1202-1206.
UNIVERSIS Sancte Matris ecclesie filiis et fidelibus
tarn presentibus quam futuris Comes David frater regis
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
Scocie salutem . Sciatis me fundasse quandam Abbaciam
apud Lindors de ordine Kelchoensi ad honorem Dei et
Sancte Marie virginis et Sancti Andree Apostoli omni-
umque Sanctorum pro salute anime David regis avi mei
et pro salute anime comitis Henrici patris mei et comi-
tisse Ade matris mee et Malcolmi Eegis fratris mei et pro
salute anime regis Willelmi fratris mei et regine Arme-
gard et omnium antecessorum meorum et pro salute anime
mee et Matildis comitisse sponse mee et pro salute ani-
me David filii mei et omnium successorum meorum et pro
salute animarum fratrum et sororum mearum Concessi eciam
et hac carta mea confirmavi predicte Abbacie de Lindors
et monachis ibidem Deo servientibus in liberam et puram et
perpetuam elemosinam ecclesiam de Lindors cum omnibus
pertinenciis suis et terram ad predictam ecclesiam pertinen-
tem in bosco et piano sicut earn Magister Thomas tenuit et
habuit . et ecclesiam de Dunde cum omnibus pertinenciis
suis . et ecclesiam de Fintrith cum omnibus pertinenciis
suis . et ecclesiam de Inverurin cum capella de Munkegin
et cum omnibus aliis pertinenciis suis . et ecclesiam de
Durnach et ecclesiam de Frame . et ecclesiam de Eadmuriel .
et ecclesiam de Inchemabanim . et ecclesiam de Culsamuel .
et ecclesiam de Kelalcmund . cum capellis earundem
ecclesiarum et terns et decimis et omnibus aliis pertinenciis
earum . ad proprios usus et sustentaciones eorundem
monachorum . Quare volo et concede ut predicti monachi
habeant et teneant in perpetuam et puram elemosinam pre-
dictas ecclesias cum capellis et terns et decimis et omnibus
aliis pertinenciis suis sine omni servicio et consuetudine et
auxilio seculari et exaccione bene et in pace libere quiete
plenarie integre et honorifice sicut aliqua Abbacia vel domus
religionis in toto regno Scocie melius liberius quiecius
plenius et honorificencius aliquas ecclesias vel aliquas alias
elemosinas habet et possidet . Has autem ecclesias prenomi-
nato monasterio de Lindors et monachis ibidem Deo
servientibus ita libere et pacifice jure perpetuo possidendas
concessi et confirmavi ut mihi succedencium nullus aliquid
ab eis nisi solas oraciones ad anime salutem exigere pre-
APPENDIX
V.
152
HISTORICAL KECOEDS OF
APPENDIX
V.
Appendix
VL
1248.
sumat . His testibus Willelmo Eege Scocie . Johanne
Episcopo Aberdonensi . Radulfo Episcopo Brehinensi .
Osberto Abbate Kelchoensi . Henrico Abbate de Aberbrudoc .
Simone Archidiacono de Aberdeen . Roberto decano de
Aberdeen . Waltero official! . Matheo de Aberdeen . clerico
domini Regis . David de Lindeseia . Waltero Olifard .
Roberto Basset . Walkelino filio Stephani . Willelmo
Wascelin . Galfrido de Watervile . NORMANO FILIO MALCOMI .
CONSTABULARIO DE INVERURIN . Henrico de Bevile . Matneo
falconario . Simone Flamang . cum aliis multis.
Denmylne Collection of Charters, MSS., Advocates' Library,
Edinburgh ; and Collection for Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp.
246, 247, Spalding Club.
APPENDIX No. VI.
IV. NORINO.
CHARTER granted by King ALEXANDER II. to NORINO, son
of NORMAN, of the Lands of Leslie in Free Forest —
AD. 1248.
Alexander Dei Gratia Rex Scotorum omnibus probis
hominibus terre sue Salutem . Sciatis nos ad instanciam
Isobile de Bruiss et Roberti de Bruiss filii sui concessisse
Norino filio Normanni constabulario tenenti suo ut terram
suam de Lesslyn et Boscum suum de Lesslyn quas de eis
tenet habeat in liberam forestam . Quare firmiter prohibemus
ne quis in dicto bosco sine ejus licencia speciali secet aut
venetur super nostram plenariam forisfacturam decem lib-
rarum . Testibus Willelmo Comite de Mar . Alexandro filio
Walteri Senescallo . Joanne Cumyn et Nicolao de Soulis .
Apud Edinburg quarto die mensis Decembris . anno
regni nostri tricesimo quarto (viz. 4th December 1248).
Original Charter in Charter-room of the Earls of Kothes at
Leslie House.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
153
APPENDIX No. VII.
VIII. SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE, DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
COPY of a DISCHARGE by Sir ANDREW DE LESLIE, VIII.
Dominus Ejusdem, to Sir THOMAS HAY, Lord Errol,
for £200 sterling.
PATEAT universis per presentes me Andream de Lesley
Dominus Ejusdem recepisse et plenarie habuisse per manus
Thomae de Haia Domini de Errol Constabularii de Scocie
ducentos libros bonorum et legalium sterlingorum . In
quibus idem Thomas de Haia ratione cujusdam contractus
super matrimonium iitfer filium meum et filiam suam ha-
bendum mini liberatorie extitit obligat . de quorum quidem
ducentorum librorum pecunie solutione et receptione habeo
me contentum . In cujus rei testimonium presentibus
sigillum meum apposui apud Dunde duodecimo die Julii
Anno Domini M°c.c.c. lxx° sexto (i.e. 12th July 1376).
Original in Charter-room of the Earl of Errol.
APPENDIX No. VIII.
VIII. SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE, DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
CHARTER granted by King EGBERT III., in favour of
NORMAN DE LESLIE and Sir GEORGE LESLIE of
Rothes— 18th August 1390.
ROBERTUS Dei gratia Rex Scottorum omnibus probis
hominibus tocius terre sue clericis et laicis salutem .
Sciatis nos dedisse concessisse et hac present! carta nostra
confirmasse Normano de Lessley terras baronie de
Balnebrech infra vicecomitatum de Fyif et terras baronie
de Lour et terras de Dunlopy infra vicecomitatum de
Fforfar terras eciam baroniarum de Cusschene et Rothynor-
APPENUIX.
Appendix
VII.
1376.
Appendix
VIII.
1390.
154
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
VIII.
1390.
mane cum pertinenciis infra vicecomitatum de Abyrdene
que fuerunt dicti Normani et quas ipse non vi aut metu
ductus nee errore lapsus sed sua mera et spontanea
voluntate per fustum et baculum per terras suas resignaci-
onis sursum reddidit pureque et simpliciter resignavit in
manibus excellentissimi principis quondam domini Roberti
Dei gratia Eegis Scottorum illustris nostri progenitoris
apud Linlithgow in ultimo consilio suo ibidem tento ac
totum jus et clameum que in dictis terris cum pertinenciis
habuit aut habere potuit pro se et heredibus suis omnino
quittum clamavit imperpetuum . Tenendas et habendas
eidem Normano et heredibus suis masculis de corpore suo
legitime procreatis seu procreandis et ipsis forte deficientibus
Georgio de Lessley militi et heredibus suis masculis de
corpore suo legitime procreandis et ipsis deficientibus
heredibus dicti Normani legitimis quibuscumque in feodo et
hereditate per omnes rectas metas et divisas suas cum
omnibus et singulis libertatibus commoditatibus aysiamentis
et justis pertinenciis quibuscumque ad dictas terras
spectantibus seu juste spectare valentibus quomodolibet
infuturum . faciendo inde nobis et heredibus nostris servicia
debita et consueta reservato tamen Andree de Lessley
patri dicti Normani pro toto tempore vite sue libero
tenemento terrarum omnium predictarum cum pertinenciis .
In cujus rei testimonium presenti carte nostre nostrum
precipimus apponi Sigillum Testibus venerabilibus in Christo
patribus Waltero et Matheo Sancti Andree et Glasguensis
cclesiarum Episcopis . Roberto de Fif et de Meneteth
fratre nostro dilecto . Archebaldo de Douglas domino
Galwidie . Comitibus Jacobo de Douglas domino de Dalketh .
Thoma de Erskyne consanguineis nostris dilectis militibus
t Alexandro de Cockburn de Langton custode magni
sigilli nostri . Apud Sconam octodecimo die Augusti tempore
coronacionis nostre ibidem celebrate . Anno regni nostri
primo (i.e. 18th August 1390).
Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 187, No. 17.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
155
APPENDIX No. IX.
VIII. SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE, DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
CHARTER granted by Sir ANDREW DE LESLIE, VIII.
Dominus Ejusdem, to his Brother-in-law, DAVID DE
ABERCROMBIE, and MARGARET DE LESLIE his Spouse —
30th May 1391.
OMNIBUS &c — Andreas de Lesley Dominus Ejusdem
salutem . Noveritis me cum consensu et assensu Domini
Normani de Lesley militis filii mei et heredis dedisse et per
hanc cartam meam confirmasse David de Abercromby et
Margarite sponse sue sorori mee carissime in libero
maritagio omnes et singulas terras meas de Achquhorthy
de Acquhorsk et de Blairdaff cum pertinenciis suis jacentes
in regalitate de Garvyach infra vicecomitatum de Aberdene.
Tenendas &c. prefatis David et Margarita ac eorum
diutius vivente heredibusque inter ipsis legitime procreatis
seu procreandis quibus forte deficientibus mihi et heredibus
meis quibuscumque in feodo, &c . . . de me et heredibus
meis dominis de Lesley imperpetuum per omnes rectas
metas et cum bondis bondagiis nativis et locum sequelis
&c. Faciendo inde mihi et heredibus meis dominis de
Lesley sectam communem ad curias nostras tenendas infra
baroniam de Lesley . Volo tamen quod omnes tenentes et
singuli qui inhabitaverint terras meas de Lesley capiant et
habeant miremia sibi necessaria ad opera sua infira dictas
terras meas quoties indigeant de boscis et silvis de
Acquhorsk absque impedimento qualicunque . In cujus rei
testimonium sigillum meum presenti carte apposui apud
Lesley penultimo die mensis Maij . Anno Domini Millesimo
trecentesimo nonogesimo primo . Testibus venerabili patre
Domino Gylberto Aberdonensi Episcopo . Jacobo Eraser .
Domino . de Frendracht . Alexandro Fraser Domino de
Phylorth . Johanne de Gordon Domino Ejusdem . Andrea
de Lesley (third Baron of Balquhain) consanguineo meo
carissimo militibus, et aliis multis.
Original Charter in Balquhain Charter-room.
APPENDIX.
Appendix
IX.
I39L
156
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX.
Appendix
X.
1390.
APPENDIX No. X.
VIII. SIR ANDREW DE LESLIE, DOMINUS EJUSDEM.
CHARTER by ROBERT III., confirming a Charter granted by
the deceased NORMAN DE LESLIE, Knight, to Sir JOHN
RAMSAY of Culathy.
ROBERTUS omnibus probis hominibus — Sciatis — nos
quandam cartam quondam Normani de Lesley militis de
mandato nostro — in hac forma — omnibus hanc cartam
visuris vel auditurus Normanus de Lesley miles Dominus
de Balnabrech salutem in Domino . Noveritis nos post
quandam inquisitionem fidedignorum ad hoc juratorum
captam apud Glenduky quinto decimo die mensis Julii Anno
Domini Millesimo cccmo nonogesimo quorum nomina sunt
hec Andreas de Ramesay de Redy Johannes de Kynnore
Willelmus de Berclay Joannes de Cam a Alanus de Loch-
malony Walterus de Ramesay Maliseus de Kynynmond
Johannes de Kyndeloch Willelmus Stirk Willelmus de
Ferny Johannes de Ramesay Willelmus de Lochmalony
Robertus Lyel Andreas de Cama et Johannes de Arous
plenarie intelexisse quod quondam predecessores Domini de
Ramesay de Culathy militis infeodati fuerunt de terris de
Balmadyside et de Petachop cum pertinenciis hereditarie
per quondam Marioriam de Dundemour dominam ejusdem
Reddendo sibi et heredibus suis annuatim unum denarium
nomine albe firme si petatur ad festum Pentecostes Et
nobis et heredibus nostris servicium de dictis terris debitum
et consuetum Quam quidem infeodacionem pro nobis et
heredibus nostris et successoribus in omnibus suis punctis et
articulis modis formis et circumstanciis in omnibus et per
omnia ratificamus confirmamus et per presentes approbamus
salvo servicio nostro In cujus rei testimonium huic presenti
carte sigillum nostrum est appensum apud Balnabrech
quintodecimo die mensis Augusti Anno Domini millesimo
cccmo nonogesimo Quam quidem cartam predictam in
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
157
omnibus punctis suis et articulis condicionibus et modis ac
circumstanciis suis quibuscunque &c . in omnibus et per
omnia approbamus ratificamus et pro nobis et heredibus
nostris ut premissum est imperpetuum confirmamus salvo
servicio nostro In cujus rei testimonium presenti carte
nostre confirmacionis nostrum precepimus apponi sigillum
Testibus venerabilibus in Christo patribus Waltero et
Matheo Sancti Andree et Glasguensis ecclesiarum episcopis
Eoberto de Ffyf et de Meneteth fratre nostro carissimo
Archebaldo de Douglas Domino Galwidie consanguineo
nostro comitibus Jacobo de Douglas Domino de Dalketh
Thoma de Erskine consanguineis nostris militibus et
Alexaudro de Cokburne de Langtone Custode Magni Sigilli
nostri Apud Dunde septimo die Aprilis Anno regni nostri
secundo . (A.D. 1392). •
Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 208, No. 37.
APPENDIX No. XI.
GEORGE LESLIE, SECOND BARON OF THAT ILK.
RESIGNATION in the King's hand, by GEORGE LESLIE,
Second Baron of that Ilk, of the lands of Brawkawche,
Myddiltone, Knock of Kynblewis, Drummeis, Glas-
chawe, Mill of Glaschawe, and the Wood of Drum-
contane, in the regality of the Garioch, in favour of
PATRICK GORDON of Methlic — A.D. 1490-1500.
EXCELLENTISSIMO et inuictissimo principi Jacobo quarto
Dei gratia Scotorum Regi illustrissimo vester humilis legius
et subditus Georgius Leslie de Eodem ... In manus vestre
serenitatis ego ... terras nostras de Brawkawche Myddil-
tone Knok de Kynblewis Drummeis Glaschawe molendinum
de Glaschawe et siluam de Drumcontane cum sius perti-
nentiis jacentes in regalitate de Gareauche infra vicecomi-
tatum de Aberdene quas de vobis teneo in capite . . . sim-
APPENDIX
X.
1392.
Appendix
XL
1490-1500.
158
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
XI.
Appendix
XII.
1497.
plicter resigno . . . pro qua resignatione . . . fienda . . .
constituo . . . nobiles et honorabiles viros Walterum Ogiluy
de Boyne militem Magistros Willelmum Ogiluy et Alexan-
drum Ogiluy Andream Wode de Fethercarne . . . meos . . .
procuratores ... in fauorem specialem Patricii Gordon de
Methtlik ... In cujus rei testimonium presentibus sigillum
meum est appensum apud . . .
Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 472,
Spalding Club. From Notary's protocol, entitled, " Register of
Sasines for the Burgh of Aberdeen," vol. i. MS. in archivis ejusdem.
APPENDIX No. XII.
GEORGE LESLIE, SECOND BARON OF THAT ILK.
CHARTER of half of the lands of Edingarioch, and half of
the lands of Chapeltown, granted by King JAMES IV.
to GEORGE LESLIE, Second Baron of that Ilk, and
VIOLET MEDDLETON his Spouse — 24th November 1 497.
JACOBUS Dei gracia Rex Scotorum . . . Sciatis nos tanquam
tutorem et gubernatorem carissimi fratris nostri Johannis
Comitis de Mar et Garriache dedissi . . . dilectis nostris
Georgio Leslie de Eodem et Violete Myddiltoun, ejus sponse
et ipsorum alteri diucius viuenti in conjuncta infeodacione
dimidietatem terrarum de Edingarrach et dimidietatem
terrarum de le Chapelt oun cum suis pertinenciis jacentes
in regalitate de Garriache infra vicecomitatum nostrum de
Aberdene Quequidem terre cum pertinenciis fuerunt dicti
Georgii hereditarie et quas idem Georgius non vi aut metu
ductus ... in manus nostras apud Linlytgow tanquam in
manibus tutoris prefati carissimi fratris nostri Johannis
Comitis de Mar domini superioris earundem per fustem et
baculum . . . simpliciter resignauit . . . Tenendas . . . de
prefato carissimo fratre nostro Johanne Comite de Mar et
suis successoribus in feodo et hereditate in perpetuum . . .
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
Faciendo inde annuatim prefato Comiti de Mar et suis
successoribus jura et seruicia de dictis terris cum pertinen-
ciis ante dictam resignacionem debita et consueta . In
cuius rei testimonium present! carte nostre resignacionis
magnum sigillum nostrum apponi precipimus . Testibus
reuerendo in Christo Patre Willelmo Episcopo Aberdonensi
nostri secret! sigilli custode dilectis consanguineis Archibaldo
Comite de Ergyle Domino Campbell et Lome magistro
hospicii nostri . . . Apud Linlytgow vicesimo quarto die
mensis Nouembris anno Domini millesimo quadringentesimo
nonagesimo septimo et regni nostri decimo.
Collections on Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 551 ; from the
Earl of Haddington's Collection of Charters, vol. i. p. 273, MS.
APPENDIX No. XIII.
GEORGE LESLIE, SECOND OF THAT ILK.
CONFIRMATION by King JAMES IV. to GEORGE LESLIE,
Second of that Ilk, and MARGARET ERASER his Wife,
of Eight Mercates of the lands of Chapeltoune, in the
Lordship of the Garioch — A.D. 1505.
APUD Abirdene . xxvi (Octobris) . jm v v . . Rex con-
firmavit Georgio Leslie de eodem et Margrete Frasere ejus
sponse et eorum alteri diucius viventi in conjuncta infeo-
datione et post eorum decessum legitimis et propinquioribus
heredibus dicti Georgii quibuscunque octo mercatas ter-
rarum de Chapeltoune in dominio de Garviauche infra vice-
comitatum de Abirdene quas dictus Georgius personaliter
resignavit.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 391,
Spalding Club. From the Abbrevatio Registri Magni Sigilli, lib.
xiv. No. 154, MS. General Register House, Edinburgh.
159
APPENDIX
XII.
1497.
Appendix
XIIL
I505-
160
APPENDIX.
Appendix
XIV.
I527-
I527-
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX No. XIV.
ALEXANDER LESLIE, FOURTH OF THAT ILK.
CHARTER by ALEXANDER LESLIE, and CHRISTIAN LESLIE
his Wife, fiars of the Barony of Leslie, with consent of
JONET LESLIE, liferenter of the same, to the Chaplains
of the Choir of the Collegiate Church of Aberdeen, of
an annual rent of Forty Shillings from the lands of the
Manor of Leslie — A.D. 1527.
OMNIBUS hanc cartam visuris . . . Alexander Lesley et
Cristina Lesley eius sponsa feodatarii . . . terrarum baronie
de Lesley salutem . . . Noueritis nos cum . . . consensu . . .
nobilis domicelle Jonete Lesley francmentarii et vsufruct-
uarii terrarum dicte baronie pro toto tempore vite ejusdem
. . . dedisse . . . ac titulo pure venditionis alienasse . . .
Magistris Johanni Awaill Alexandro Wrycht Duncano
Robertsone et Dauid Barnys ceterisque Capellanis chori
ecclesie collegiate Abirdonensis et eorundem successoribus
. . . vnum annuum redditum quadraginta solidorum . . .
monete . . . Scocie annuatim de terris nostris maneriei de
Lesley et pertinentiis eiusdem jacentibus infra baroniam de
Lesley et vicecomitatum de Abirdene . . . Tenendum . . .
hujusmodi annuum redditum . . . de nobis heredibus nostris
dictarumque terrarum possessoribus in alba firma ... Ac in
speciale warrantum damus . . . terras baronie nostre de
Petnamwin jacentes infra vicecomitatum de Kyncardyn et
baroniam de Balmain ... In cuius rei testimonium sigilla
nostra propria presentibus sunt appensa unacum sigillo
dicte Jonete in signum sui consensus . . . Apud Abirdene
none die mensis Augusti anno Domini millesimo quingen-
tesimo vigesimo septimo coram his testibus Magistris Wal-
tero Stewart Thoma Pyot et Thoma Lesley unacum sub-
scriptione manuali Alexandri Lesley.
ALEXR. LESLIE of that Ilk, with my hand.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 392,
Spalding Club. From the original in the possession of the late
Patrick Rose, Esq., Sheriff-Clerk of Banffshire.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
161
APPENDIX No. XV.
ALEXANDER LESLIE, FOURTH OF THAT ILK.
INSTRUMENT upon the presentation by ALEXANDER LESLIE,
fourth of that Ilk, for himself, and in the name of
JOHN LESLIE his son and heir, to MARGARET LESLIE,
Daughter of the deceased ALEXANDER LESLIE, third
of that Ilk, of JOHN LESLIE, or Master THOMAS
MORTYMAR, as a fit Husband for her — AD. 1544.
VIGESIMO primo Januarii Anno Domini etc xliij0 Eodem
die Alexander Leslie.de Eodem pro se et procuratorio
nomine Johannis Leslie sui filii primogeniti et heredis
apparentis ipso presente et consentiente accessit ad perso-
nalem presentiam honorabilis damicelle Margarete Leslie filie
quondam Alexandri Leslie de Eodem qui obtulit eedem
Margarete comparem ad contrahendum matrimonium
videlicet Johannem Leslie eius fratrem germanum vel
Magistrum Thomam Mortymar ad placitum dicte Margarete
quern habere voluerit et si obstat impedimentum consan-
guinitatis vel affinitatis ad obtinendum dispensationem
summi pontificis fideliter promisit quod si refutauerit et
aliter aut cum aliquo contraxerit matrimonium de remedio
juris solempniter protestatus est Super quibus idem Alex-
ander pro se et procuratorio nomine dicti sui filii a me
notario petiit instrumentum Acta erant hec in aula de
Leslie hora quasi pomeridiana quarta presentibus Domino
Willelmo Cristesone Magistro Thoma Mortimar Thoma Red
Alexandro Pattone et me notario publico.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Ban/, voL iii. p. 392,
Spalding Club. From the General Register House, Edinburgh.
APPENDIX.
Appendix
XV.
1544-
VOL. I.
M
162
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX.
Appendix
XVI.
1546.
1546.
APPENDIX No. XVI.
JOHN LESLIE, FIFTH OF THAT ILK.
LEASE for nineteen years by JOHN, Abbot of Lindores, and
the Monks of the same, to JOHN LESLIE , fifth of that
Ilk, and ELIZABETH DEMPSTER his Wife, of the Teind-
Sheaves of the Mains of Leslie, Auld Leslie, and
Curtastoun — AD. 1546.
UNIVERSIS . . . nos Johannem . . . abbatem monasterii de
Lundoris et ejusdem loci conventus . . . salutem . . .
Noueritis nos . . . vnanimi consensu . . . pro summa triginta
librarum monete Scocie . . . per subscriptum honorabilem
virum Johannem Leslie de Eodem nobis gratanter persoluta
. . . ad firmam dimisisse . . . prefato Johanni Lesly de Eodem
Elizabeth Dempster eius sponse et eorum alteri diutius
viuenti quibus deficientibus eorum vnico assignato et
subtenentibus pluribus autvni non maioris potentie seipsis . . .
decimas nostras garbales de Manys de Leslie Auld Leslie et
Curtastoun cum . . . pertinentiis jacentibus infra parochiam
ecclesie nostre de Leslie et vicecomitatum de Abirden pro
omnibus terminis nouemdecim annorum . . . Soluendo inde
annuatim . . . summam quadraginta duarum marcarum
monete Scocie videlicet pro decimis garbalibus de lie Manys
de Leslie nouem marcas et pro decimis garbalibus de Auld
Leslie tredecim marcas et pro decimis garbalibus de
Curtaston viginti marcas ... ad festum Sancti Laurentii
Marthiris aut scilicit ad Festum Sancti Bartholmei annuatim
. . . In cuius rei testimonium sigillum commune capituli
nostri presenti nostre assedationi est appensum ac nostris
subscriptionibus manualibus subscripte apud dictum monas-
terium de Lundoris die decimo mensis Octobris anno
Domini millesimo quingentesimo quadragesimo sexto coram
hiis testibus venerabilibus et honorabilibus viris Magis-
tris Jacobo Kolland priore de Balquhidder Eoberto Lausoun
Johanne Kolland Johanne Philp vicario de Logiedurno
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
163
Henrico Philip Michaele Inch Jacobo
et Johanne Bennat cum diversis aliis.
Johannes Abbot of Lundoris.
Johannes Brownhill supprior
ejusdem.
Johannes Blair.
Ricardus Barcar.
Patricias Steill.
Willelmus Messon.
Alexr. Wrycht.
Alexr. Ricardsoun.
Daniel Orem.
Andreas Lesly.
Smyth Andrea Paigh
Alexr. Patonson.
Eobertus Jameson.
Robertus Wilyemson.
Robertus Wostuatter.
Jacobus Carstairs.
Johannes Skynnir.
Willelmus Walhand.
Gilbertus Mischell.
Andreas Vod.
Johannes Smyth.
Antiquities of the Shirks of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 393,
Spalding Club. From the original in the possession of the late
Patrick Rose, Esq., Sheriff-Clerk of Banffshire.
APPENDIX No. XVII.
JOHN LESLIE, FIFTH OF THAT ILK.
FEU-CHARTER by SIR THOMAS RAITH, Vicar of the parish
church of Leslie, with consent of JOHN, Abbot of
Lindores, and the Monks of the same, to JOHN LESLIE,
fifth of that Ilk, of the Kirklands and Glebe of the
Vicarage of Leslie — A.D. 1561.
OMNIBUS hanc cartam visuris . . . Dominus Thomas Raith
vicarius ecclesie parochialis de Leslie salutem . . . (Noveri-
tis me) . . . cum consensu . . . Johannis abbatis monasterii
de Lundoris et conuentus eiusdem . . . exigentibus . . .
nonnullis gratitudinibus et benemeritis honorabilis viri
Johannis Leslie de eodem ac pro certa summa pecunie . . .
ad feudifirmam . . . hereditarie dimisisse . . . prefato
Johanni suis heredibus et assignatis . . . terras meas
ecclesiasticas cum gleba prefate mee vicarie de Leslie cum
APPENDIX
XVI.
Appendix
XV1L
1561
164
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
XVII.
I56l.
suis pertinentiis jacentes infra diocesim Aberdonensem et
vicecomitatum ejusdem Tenendas . . . de me et successori-
bus meis vicariis dicte ecclesie in feudifirma . . . imper-
petuum . . . Eeddendo inde annuatim . . . michi et successo-
ribus meis summam quatuor marcarum . . . monete . . .
Scotie tanquam firmam . . . solitam necnon duos solidos . . .
in augmentationem rentalis . . . Insuper dilectis meis
Roberto Leslie in Auchmair Nicholao Murray . . . balliuis
meis . . . vobis precipio . . . quatenus . . . sasinam . . .
prefatarum terrarum prefatis Johanni vel suo certo
attornato latori presentium . . . tradatis . . . reseruata michi
et successoribus meis manerea seu mansione dicte vicarie
cum seminatione duarum bollarum ordei ex orientali parte
crofte de Gostach quequidem crofta una pars dictarum
terrarum ecclesiasticarum est In cujus rei testimonium huic
presenti infeodationi mee manu mea subscripte sigillum
meum proprium est appensum una cum sigillo communi
capituli dicti monasterii et subscriptionibus manualibus
dictorum Abbatis et Conuentus in signum eorum consensus
. . . ad premissa . . . apud Edinburght et Lundoris respectiue
primo die mensis Maii anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo
sexagesimo primo coram his testibus Magistro Joanne
Leslie rectore de Wne Magistro Roberto Lummisdane de
Clovay et Archibaldo Dempster in Coschenay cum diuersis
aliis.
Thomas Raith vicar of Leslie
wyth my hand.
Johannes, Abbot of Lundoris.
Jacobus Carstaris.
Alexander Patonsone.
Robertus Wilyemson.
Willelmus Symson.
Andreas Froster.
Thomas Woid.
Johannes Smyth.
Gilbertus Mischell.
Johannes Wobster.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 390,
Spalding Club. From original in the possession of the late
Patrick Rose, Esq., Sheriff-Clerk of Banffshire.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
165
APPENDIX No. XVIII.
JOHN LESLIE, FIFTH OF THAT ILK.
LEASE for twice nineteen years of the Teinds of the Mains
of Leslie, and the lands of Edingarrah, by JOHN
LESLIE, Vicar of Pramoth, with consent of the Pre-
sident and Chapter of Aberdeen, to JOHN LESLIE
fifth of that Ilk— A.D. 1579.
BE it kende till all men . . . me Jhone Leslie vicar
perpetuall of Pramoth . . . within the regalite of Garyeaucht
diosie and shirefdome of Aberdene . . . with consent of the
Precedent and Chaptur of Abirdene ... to have sett ... to
ane honorabill man Jhone Leslie of that Ilk and to his
airs and assignais . . . the vicarage of the Manes of Leslie
and of haill landis of Edingarrah sa far as lyis within the
paroche of Pramay . . . that is to say teind hay teind nolt
teind cheis teind lint teind and all otheris emolumentis
pertening or may pertene to the wicarage of the saidis
landis with thair pertinentis ... for the haill space of thre
yeris . . . following the entres thairto quhilk ... sal be at
the Feist of the Inuentione of the Cross callit the Kuid day
the yere of God ane thousand fywe hundretht sewinte and
aucht yeris and fra thre yeris to thre yeris indvringe the
space of nyntene yeris . . . and frae thre yeris to thre yeris
indvring the space of wthir nyntene yeris . . . following the
first nyntene yeris . . . Payand thairfor yerlie ... to me
and my successoris . . . the soume of fourte schillingis
Scottis monie at the Feist of Pashe allanarlie ... In witnes
of the quhilkis to this my assedatione subscriuit with my
hand togyddir with the subscriptionis of the said Presedent
and Chanonis my seall is appensit to the same at Abirdeyne
the twenty sewint of Januare the yere of God ane thousand
fywe hundretht sewinte and aucht yeris befoir thir witnes
Andrew Annand masar burges of Doundie Valter Leslie
in Auld Leslie Malcolme Layng Alexander Clerk in Kyntor
APPENDIX.
Appendix
XVIII.
I579-
1578.
166
HISTORICAL RECOEDS OF
APPENDIX
XVIII.
Appendix
XIX.
1061.
and Maister Eobert Eoust notair public Maisteris Robert
Lumisden of Clowat Williame Dauidsone and Gilbert Ross
notair publict.
Johnne Leslye vicar of Premnaucht with
my hand.
Aberdonensis Episcopus.
Willelmus Setone Cancellarius Aberdonensis.
Jacobus Erskine Archidiaconus Aberdonensis.
Mr. Robert Merser of Banquhory Devynik.
John Collison subchantur of Abd.
Mr. Thomas Burnett personn of Methlik.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iii. p. 399,
Spalding Club. From the original in possession of the late
Patrick Rose, Esq., Sheriff-Clerk of Banffshire.
APPENDIX No. XIX.
THE EAKLDOM OF Ross.
THE territorial dignity of the earldom of Ross existed at a
very early period. There was a succession of earls of
Ross from the period that the parliament was held at
Forfar or Angus by King Malcolm III. about 1061.
The chief residence of the Earls of Ross was the castle of
Dingwall, which stood at the east end of the town of Ding-
wall, close to the shore, on the firth of Cromarty. The
deep stormy river Peffery wound round two sides of the
castle, and a plain of some extent surrounded the other two
sides. The castle was strongly fortified, and the fosse and
glace may still be traced.
The Earls of Ross possessed a great part of the lands in
the district of Ross, and many rich baronies in various
counties in Scotland. Even now many proprietors hold
their lands by charters granted by the Earls of Ross, and
dated from " our castle of Dingwall."
I. MALCOLM, the first Earl of Ross of whom we have any
account, was possessor of the earldom in the reign of Mai-
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
167
colm IV., who directed a precept to Malcolm, Earl of Ross,
to protect and defend the monks of Dunfermline in their
lawful privileges and possessions, witnessed by Arnold,
Bishop of St. Andrews, who died in 1162.* He was suc-
ceeded by
II. FERQUHARD, Earl of Ross, who accompanied Alexander
II. to London about 1227. He there challenged a re-
nowned French champion to single combat, and made a
vow to found a monastery in his own earldom if he con-
quered his opponent. Having vanquished and slain his
antagonist, the earl set about to accomplish his vow. He
travelled home, and brought with him from the priory of
Candida Casa in Galloway two canons who founded an
abbey at Fearn, in the earldom of Ross. The abbey was
situated in the parish of Eddertown, on the firth of Dor-
noch in Ross-shire. The first abbot was Malcolm of Gal-
loway, appointed in 1230; the second was Malcolm of
Nigg, who succeeded about 1246. Hector Boece asserts
that for the gallant deed of overcoming the Frenchman the
king "conferred the earldom of Ross on Ferquhard Ross,
who was only a private gentleman. But there are proofs
that there were Earls of Ross long previous to this period.
Ferquhard, Earl of Ross, is a witness to the treaty between
Alexander II. of Scotland and Henry III. of England,
dated at York, September 1237, and also to many
charters granted during the reign of Alexander II. Domi-
nus Fercardus, Comes de Ross, is a witness to a composition
between Andrew, Bishop of Moray, and William Cumyn,
Earl of Mynynteth, concerning the lands of Kynkardyn, in
1234;f to a composition between the Chapter of Moray
and Alexander de Stryvelene, concerning the half-darach of
land at Devath, in 123 4;$ to a composition between
Andrew, Bishop of Moray, and Walter de Moravia de
Duffus, concerning the lands of Ewin, VII. Idus Augusti,
* Chartulary of Dunfermline, No. 186 D.
f Registrum Mwaviense, p. 99, No. 85.
t Hid. p. 99, No. 86.
APPENDIX
XIX.
1662.
1227.
I23O.
1246.
1237-
1234.
168
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
XIX.
1232.
1258.
1270.
1239.
1253-
1298.
1258.
1235.* He granted a charter of two dovates of the lands
of Clon in Koss, to Walter de Moravia, son of Hugh de
Moravia, to be held in feu and heritage for the yearly pay-
ment of a pound of pepper.f He was succeeded by his son
III. WILLIAM, third Earl of Ross. William, son and heir
of Ferquhard, Earl of Koss, is one of the witnesses to the
charter granted by Earl Ferquhard to Walter de Moravia.
He is also one of the witnesses to an agreement between
Andrew, Bishop of Moray, and Gilbert, son of the Earl of
Strathen, dated Anno gratie 1232, pridie Idus Septembris. J
He confirmed all his father's grants and donations to the
abbey of Fearn in 1258, and made donations to the
religious in Moray by deeds witnessed by Robert, Bishop
of Ross, who died in 1270.§ He was Justiciary of
Scotland north of the Forth, as appears by a precept from
him to David Wemys, Sheriff of Fife, 7th October, Anno
Regni Alexandri II. vicesimo quinto, A.D. 1239, command-
ing David Wemys to pay the eighth part of the amercements
of Fife imposed in the Justice Aire of Cupar, to the Abbot
of Dunfermline, according to his rights. || In the time of
Archibald, Bishop of Moray, who was consecrated in 1253,
and died 5th December 1298, it seems that William, Earl
of Ross, had done some injury to the church of Pettie, and
to the prebendary of Brachlie, for the reparation of which
he gave the lands of Catboll in Ross, and other lands,
to the Bishop and canons of Moray, f William, Earl of
Ross, was one of the Scottish nobles who entered into an
agreement with Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, that the Scotch
and Welsh should not make peace with England without
the mutual consent of both — 8th March 1258. He was
also one of the nobles who signed the obligation which
Alexander III. obtained from his chief nobility to receive
as Queen of Scotland his granddaughter Margaret, the
* Registrum Moramense, p. 101, No, 87. t Ibid. p. 333, No. 259.
J Ibid. p. 89, No. 80. § Chartulary of Moray, pp. 312-317.
|| Chartulary of Dunfermline.
IT Shaw's History of Moray, p. 170.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
169
Maiden of Norway, and the issue of her body — dated at
APPENDIX
Scone, 5th February 1288, and signed by
XIX.
Alexander de Cumyn, Comes de Buchan,
Constabularius.
Malesius, Comes de Strathern.
Johannes de Baleolo.
Alexander de Baleolo.
Robertus de Bruce, Comes de Carrick.
Robertus de Bruce, Pater.
Willelmus, Comes de Ross.
Gilbert, Comes de Angus.
Willelmus, Comes de Sutherland.
Magnus, Comes de Cathenea.
Jacobus, Senescalus Scocie.
Nicholas de Haya;
and others.
William, third Earl of Ross, died about 1289, and was
1289.
succeeded by his son
IV. WILLIAM, fourth earl. The Earls of Ross, Athole,
Moray, and others, were witnesses to the confirmation by
King Robert I. of Scotland, and Haquin, King of Norway,
at Inverness, 28th October 1312, of a treaty between
I3I2.
Alexander III. of Scotland and Magnus IV. of Norway,
6th July 1266, whereby Magnus renounced for ever the
1266.
Isles of Sodor and Man, and all the Western Isles, for an
annual rent of one hundred merks sterling, and the sum of
four thousand merks to be paid by instalments ; reserving,
however, to himself the Isles of Orkney and Shetland.
William, Earl of Ross, is also one of the witnesses to a
charter whereby Robert I. granted the lands of Taruays, or
Tarves, in Aberdeenshire, to the Abbey of Arbroath, 26th
February 1313.* He got a charter from Robert I. of the
I313.
lands of Dingwall, with the castle, burgh, and liberties of
the same, and other lands, in 1321 ;t also another charter,
1321.
dated 5th August 1322, witnessed by Donald, Abbot of
1322.
* Registrum velus Cendbii de Aberbrothoc.
+ Robertson's Index of Missing Charters, No. 1 5.
170
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
XIX.
1292.
I294.
1296.
1308.
1323.
1320.
1328.
New Fearn. He appeared in the convention of Brigham,
12th March 1289, when the marriage of Queen Margaret
with Prince Edward of England was proposed. He was
one of the nominees on the part of Baliol in his competition
for the crown of Scotland with Eobert Bruce, 1292. He
swore fealty to Edward I. at Berwick, 3d August 1292,
and was present when John Baliol did homage to the
English king, 20th November 1292. He was directed to
attend Edward at London, 1st September 1294, to go over
the seas with the king, by letters dated 29th June 1294.
He was in the Scottish army at the battle of Dunbar, 28th
April 1296, and, after the defeat of the Scots, he took
refuge in the castle of Dunbar, which was surrendered a
day or two afterwards, and he was carried prisoner to
London. He adhered to Edward II., who, 20th May 1308,
addressed a letter to him and his son Hugh, thanking
them for past services and requiring their aid. Afterwards
he joined the party of Robert Bruce, and was one of the
guarantees of a treaty between him and Edward II., 1st
June 1323. He was one of the nobles who signed the
letter addressed to Pope John XXII. in 1320, asserting
the independence of Scotland.
William, fourth Earl of Eoss, had three children —
I. HUGH, who succeeded him.
II. JOHN, who married Margaret Cumyn, second daughter of
Alexander, fourth Earl of Buchan, and got with her as
tocher half of the Earl of Buchan's lands in Scotland ;
and Robert L, in 1315, confirmed a charter granting to
them these lands.*
III. LADY ISABELLA, married to Edward Bruce, Earl of
Carrick, for which marriage a papal dispensation was
obtained, 1st June 1317.
William, fourth Earl of Ross, died before 3d July 1328,
and was succeeded by his eldest son,
V. HUGH, fifth Earl, who had charters from King Robert
I. to himself and his wife, Maud, the king's sister, of the
Robertson's Index, Nos. 41, 42.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
171
lands of Nairn, with the town, and of the town of Crum-
bachie, or Cromarty, with an annual rent. He had also
charters of the thanage of Glendouachy in Banffshire : of
the lands of Sky, of Trouterness in Sky, of Tarnedelle and
Innerafren, of Straglass and Strathconan ; of Kinfauns in
Perthshire, with the fishings ; and to him and his spouse,
of the barony of Inverlunan. He had a controversy with
Andrew de Moravia concerning the lands of Dromcudyn,
Munlochy, and others, 3d July 1328. King Edward III.
ratified a treaty with King Robert I. at Northampton, 4th
May 1328, for a marriage between David, son and heir of
Eobert I., and Johanna, sister of Edward III., both then
under age, and Hugh, Earl of Eoss, and Robert de Lawdor,
Justiciary of Lothian, swore that all the articles of the
treaty would be observed. Hugh, Earl of Ross, resigned
into the king's hands the patronage of the church of
Philorth in Buchan, 29th March 1330.
He married first Jean, daughter of Walter, High Steward
of Scotland, but does not seem to have had any issue by
her; he married, secondly, Maud, sister of King Robert
Bruce, and had issue —
I. WILLIAM, who succeeded him.
II. HUGH Eoss of Karichies, of whom there are several
notices in Eobertson's Index. A safe-conduct was
granted, 3d September 1351, to Hugh Koss, brother and
presumptive heir of the Earl of Eoss, as one of the
hostages for David II. when the king was allowed to
visit his dominions in that year. Hugh de Eoss, Lord
of Philorth, son of the deceased Hugh, Earl of Eoss,
granted a charter to Adam Urquhart, Sheriff of Cromarty,
of the lands of Fohesterdy in Buchan, 1st August 1365.
He also granted a charter to Alexander de Santo Claro
of the lands of Estirtyre in Aberdeenshire. David II.
granted a charter of ten pounds and four chalders of
wheat due to the king out of the lands of Doun in
Banffshire, to Hugo de Eoss, and Margaret de Barclay
his spouse, 26th February 1369. Another charter of
the same was granted to Hugh de Eoos de Kynfaunys,
APPENDIX
XIX.
[328.
1330.
135
1369.
172
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
XIX.
1374-
1778.
1370.
1778.
1306-1329.
1338.
and Margaret his spouse, by Robert II., 1st June 1373.
Hugh de Ross seems to have died soon after this, as
Robert II, 10th August 1374, granted a charter
ratifying a grant made by the late William, Earl of
Ross, "our brother," to the late Hugh de Ross, his
brother, of the lands of Balnagoune, Achanyll, and
Corty, and an annual rent of four pounds from Tarbard
in the earldom of Ross, to be held by William de Ross,
eon and heir of the said late Hugh, and his heirs.
From this Hugh de Ross descended Munro Ross of
Pitcalnie, who, in February 1778, presented a petition
to the king, showing that the title and dignity of Earl
of Ross was very ancient, and was limited to and held
in the male line till the death of William, Earl of Ross,
in 1370 ; that the said William, Earl of Ross, dying
without male issue, left two daughters — Lady Eufamia,
who married Sir Walter Leslie, and Lady Johanna, who
married Sir Alexander Fraser ; that the said Earl of
Ross left a brother, Hugh Ross of Rarichies, who, as
heir-male, was entitled to take the title and dignity of
Earl of Ross, but being opposed and oppressed by the
power and influence of the husbands of his nieces, and
also by the Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland, he was
obliged to submit to their usurpation of his rights ;
that the petitioner was the male descendant of the
foresaid Hugh Ross of Rarichies, brother of' the last
Earl of Ross and, as such was entitled to the foresaid
title and dignity. Therefore he humbly prayed the
king that the title and dignity of Ross, Earl of Ross,
might be declared of right to belong to him and his
heirs-male. By the king's command the petition was
presented to the House of Lords, 9th February 1778,
but no determination appears to have been come to
thereon.
III. LADY LILIAS, married to William Urchard of Cromarty,
who was hereditary sheriff of that county in the reign of
Robert Bruce, 1306-1329. Their son, Adam Urchard,
got from William, sixth Earl of Ross, a charter of the
lands of Inchrory in Ross, dated 30th September 1338 ;
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
173
and also charters of the davach lands of Bray, dated at
Dingwall, 6th January 1349.
IV. LADY EUFAMIA, married, first, to John Randolph, Earl
of Moray, who was killed at the battle of Durham, in
1346 ; secondly, to Robert, Earl of Strathern, afterwards
King Robert II., for which marriage a papal dispensation
was obtained 2d May 1355.
V. LADY JANET, married, first, to Monymusk of Monymusk ;
and secondly, to Sir Alexander Moray of Abercairney.
Hugh, Earl of Eoss, and Kenneth, Earl of Sutherland,
commanded the advanced guard of the Scottish army at the
battle of Halidon Hill, 22d July 1333, when the Earl of
Ross was slain. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
VI. WILLIAM, sixth ^ Earl of Ross, who granted a charter
to his nephew, Adam Urchard, the son of his sister Lilias,
of the lands of Inchrory in Ross, 30th September 1338,
and of the davach lands of Bray, 6th January 1349. He
also granted a charter to Reginald, son of Roderick of the
Isles, of ten davits of the lands of Kennetale, dated at the
castle of Urchard, 4th July 1342, and confirmed by David
II. in the following year. He granted a charter to Robert
Munro, eighth Baron of Foulis, of the lands of Pittende
and others, for payment of a pair of white gloves and three
pennies Scots. A treaty was signed at Berwick, 3d October
1357, for liberating David II., who had been taken prisoner
at Durham in 1346. His ransom was 100,000 merks, to
be paid by instalments of 10,000 merks annually for ten
years, and twenty hostages were to be given for the pay-
ment, three of the following six nobleman to be always of
the number of hostages — viz. John, eldest son and heir of
Robert, Steward of Scotland ; the Earls of Ross, Mar, and
Sutherland; Lord Douglas, and Thomas de Moray. William,
Earl of Ross, is a witness to a charter granted by David II.
in August 1359, to the chapel of the Virgin at Inverness,
of a portion of the lands of Cras, confirmed in full parlia-
ment at Scone, 26th October 1359.* He granted to the
* Registrum Moraviense, p. 302, No. 234.
APPENDIX
XIX.
1346.
1355-
'333-
1338.
I349-
1342-
1357-
1359-
1359-
174
APPENDIX
XIX.
I36l.
1362.
1365.
I366.
1368.
1369.
I370.
See A pp.
No. XXIII.
1370.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
chapel of the Virgin at Inverness four merks of annual rent
out of the lands of Culdochy, by a charter dated at Spynie,
Thursday after the feast of St. Peter ad vincula, 1361.*
As superior of the lands of Brythmond and Kynstary, he
confirmed a charter of an annual rent of one hundred
shillings sterling out of the said lands granted by Eobert
de Laweder for the foundation of a chapel in the cathedral
of Moray, dated at Dunfermline, 1st May 1362.f He
granted to the cathedral of Moray an annual rent of four
merks out of the lands of Culdochy, 20th February 13654
He confirmed a charter, 21st December 1366, granted by
his brother, Hugh de E-oss, Dominus de Philorth, son of
Hugh, Earl of Eoss, to Adam Urchard, Sheriff of Cromarty,
of the lands of Fochesterday, or Fishery in Buchan, which
charter was confirmed by David II. at Montrose, 8th
December 1368. David II. regranted to William, Earl of
Eoss, the forest of Plater, and the lands of Fythinewyest,
and the patronage of the church, on the earl's resignation,
6th May 1369.§ William, Earl of Eoss, Lord of Sky,
granted a charter to his brother, Hugh Eoss, of Earichies,
of the lands of Kilmachalmark and Carbisdile, reserving
the salmon-fishing of the Kyle of Ockil, dated at Dingwall,
4th February 1370. David II. confirmed a charter to
William, Earl of Eoss, of all the earldom of Eoss, and
Lordship of Sky, and failing him and the heirs-male of his
body, to Sir Walter Leslie, knight, and Eufamia Eoss his
wife, dated at Perth, 23d October 1370. David II. con-
firmed a grant made by William, Earl of Eoss, to Alexander
de Sancto Claro, of the lands of Bray in Inverness, dated at
Dundee, 1st November 1370.|| He also confirmed a
charter granted by William, Earl of Eoss, to Hugh de Eoss,
of the lands of Philorth and Easter Tyre in Aberdeenshire.
John de Haya, Dominus de Tulybotheyle, with the consent
* Registrum Moraviense, p. 306, No. 237.
t Ibid. p. 309, No. 239. t Ibid. p. 317, No. 243.
§ Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, p. 65, No. 215.
|| Registrum Magni Sigilli, p. 76, No. 274.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
175
formerly obtained of the late William, Earl of Koss, his
APPENDIX
superior, granted several lands to found a chapel of the
, XIX.
blessed Virgin at Kincragy, by a charter, dated at Rate, 3d
May 1374.*
!374-
William, Earl of Ross, was Justiciary of Scotland north
of the Forth in 1342. When David II. resolved to in-
1342.
vade England, and appointed an army to assemble at Perth
in 1346, for that purpose, William, Earl of Ross, and
1346.
Reginald of the Isles, appeared at the rendezvous, where
the Earl of Ross, having a difference with Reginald, assas-
sinated him at the monastery of Elcho, and abandoned the
king's host, and led his followers back to their mountains.
Robert Munro, Baron of Foulis, was killed in a scuffle, in
defence of William, Earl of Ross, in 1369.
1369.
William, Earl of Ro*ss, married, first, Isabel, daughter of
Malesius, Earl of Strathern, Caithness, and Orkney, who,
according to Sir Robert Gordon, in 1344 gave the
1344-
earldom of Caithness to William, Earl of Ross, in marriage
with his daughter Isabel, by a charter confirmed by David
II. in 1362. The issue of this marriage was —
1362.
I. WILLIAM. Among the hostages proposed for the release
of David IL, 13th July 1354, was the son and heir of
1354-
the Earl of Ross, when he was of an age to travel, or
the brother of the said Earl. In August 1357, in
1357-
naming hostages for the king, it was stated that
William, filz et heir le Counte de Rosse est malades, et
le roi David, &c., sont compris qu'il serra livere s'il
soit en vie devant Nowel, et s'il soit mort, que le pro-
chain heir au dit Counte vendra en son lieu. William
died without issue before his father.
II. LADY EUFAMIA, who married Sir Walter Leslie, and, in
consequence of the charter of 23d October 1370, suc-
1370.
ceeded her father as seventh Countess of Koss.
III. LADY JOHANNA, married to Sir Alexander Fraser of
Philorth.
* Registrum Mwavierise, p. 320, No. 245.
176
APPENDIX
XIX.
I37I-2.
Appendix
XX.
1367-
1367-
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
William, Earl of Ross, is said to have married, secondly,
a daughter of Sir David Graham of Montrose, by whom he
had a daughter, Margaret, married to Sir Walter Hamilton
of Innerwick. He died 1371-2, and was succeeded by his
eldest daughter, Eufamia, seventh Countess of Eoss.
APPENDIX No. XX.
WALTER LESLIE, EARL OF Eoss.
CHARTER by WALTER LESLIE, DOMINUS DE Eoss, to
EUFEMIA DE SANCTO CLARO, of the lands of Tiry in
Buchan, and of Bra, Drum, and Bron, in the shire of
Inverness — A.D. 1367.
OMNIBUS hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris Walterus de
Lesly dominus de Eoss / salutem in Domino sempiternam /
Sciatis nos dedisse . . . dilecte et fideli nostre Evfemie de
Sancto Claro omnes et singulas terras de Bra cum per-
tinentiis iacentes infra vicecomitatum de Inuerness / et de
Tiry infra vicecomitatum de Aberdene / dimidietatem de
Drum et tertiam partem de Bron cum pertinentiis infra
vicecomitatum de Inuerness / Quequidem terre de Bra et
Tiry fuerunt Alexandra de Sancto Claro hereditarie / et que
medietas de Drum et terre de Bron fuerunt Elene de Sancto
Claro / quasque Alexander et dicta Elena . . . mera et
spontanea voluntate in manus nostras per fustum et baculum
reddiderunt . . . Tenendas et habendas dicte Eufemie pro se et
heredibus suis de nobis et heredibus nostris / dando nobis
et heredibus nostris annuatim duos denarios nomine albe
firme ad Festum Sancti Johannis Baptiste tantum si petatur /
In cuius rei testimonium present! carte nostre sigillum
nostrum precepimus apponi / Testibus Hugone de Fraser /
Johanne de le Hay / et Eoberto de Innes / cum multis
aliis / Anno Domini m°ccc° sexagesimo septimo.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. ii. p. 383.
From the original in the Innes Charter-chest at Floors.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
. APPENDIX No. XXL
WALTER LESLIE, EARL OF Ross.
CHARTER by King DAVID II. to Sir WALTER DE LESLIE,
and EUFAMIA his spouse, of the lands of the Thanage
of Aberchirder and the lands of Blaresnache — A.D.
1369.
DAVID Dei gracia / Rex Scottorum / omnibus probis
hominibus tocius terre sue salutem / Sciatis nos dedisse . . .
dilecto consanguineo nostro Waltero de Lesley pro fideli
seruicio suo nobis impenso et impendendo / omnes et
singulas terras nostras thanagii de Abirkyrdore / ac terrain
nostram de Blaresenache / cum pertinenciis infra vicecomi-
tatum de Banffe / Tendendas et habendas eidem Waltero et
Eufamie sponse sue dilecte consanguinee nostre / ac heredibus
inter ipsos legitime procreatis seu procreandis / de nobis et
heredibus nostris in feodo et hereditate / in vnam integram
et liberam baroniam per omnes rectas metas et diuisas suas
in boscis et planis . . . necnon cum omnibus aliis et singulis
libertatibus commoditatibus . . . libere et quiete . . . Faciendo
nobis et heredibus nostris dictus Walterus et Eufamia
sponsa sua ac heredes sui predicti / seruicium vnius militis
pro dictis terris ac tres sectas curie ad tria placita nostra
capitalia vicecomitatus de Banffe / In cuius rei . . . Testibus
. . . apud Perthe penultimo die Februarii / anno regni nostri
Quadragesimo (AD. 1369).
Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, p. 71. No. 243.
177
APPENDIX.
Appendix
XXL
1369-
VOL I.
N
178
APPENDIX,
dtppendix
XXJI.
1369.
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX No. XXII.
WALTER LESLIE, EARL OF Eoss.
CHARTER by King DAVID II. to Sir WALTER DE LESLIE,
Knight, of the Thanages of Aberchirder and Kin-
cardine ; with a provision that, if the heirs of the old
Thanes should recover possession, Sir Walter should
have the accustomed Service and Kent paid by them in
time past to the Crown — A.D. 1369.
DAVID Dei gracia / Rex Scotorum / omnibus . . . Licet
alias infeodauerimus dilectum consanguineum nostrum /
Walterum de Lesley militem / hereditarie / de thanagio de
Abirkiirdore cum pertinenciis infra vicecomitatum de Banff /
et de thanagiis de Kyncardyn / tamen / quia forte heredes
thanorum qui dicta thanagia antiquitus ad feodam firmam
tenuerunt recuperare poterunt infuturum ipsa thanagia ten-
enda prout eorum predecessores ipsa tenuerunt / concessimus
dicto consanguineo nostro quod / si ipsi heredes vel eorum
aliquis dicta thanagia vel aliquod ipsorum forte recuper-
auerint / idem consanguineus noster et heredes sui habeant
teneant et possideant seruicia heredum vel heredis dictorum
thanorum vel thanj / et feodofirmas vel feodofirmam an-
tiquitus debitas de thanagiis vel thanagio prenotatis /
eisdem forma et consideracione / et pro seruiciis illis /
quibus ipsa thanagia jam tenet aut tenere debet per infeo-
dacionem nostram sibi alias inde factam/et prout carte
nostre inde sibi confecte continent et proportant / In cuius
rei testimonium . . . Testibus . . . apud Edynburghe / sexto
die Mali / anno regni nostri quadragesimo (A.D. 1369).
Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, p. 66, No. 220.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
APPENDIX No. XXIII.
WALTER LESLIE, EARL OF Ross.
CHARTER by King DAVID II. to WILLIAM, Earl of Ross, of
the Earldom of Ross, the Lordship of Sky, and all
others his lands within the realm (except only the
lordships and lands which sometime belonged to him
by inheritance from MARGARET CUMYN, one of the
heiresses of Buchan), in the Shires of Aberdeen, Dum-
fries, and Wigton, with remainder to WALTER LESLIE,
knight, and EtTAMiA his spouse — A.D. 1370.
DAVID Dei gratia Rex Scottorum / omnibus . . . salutem /
sciatis nos dedisse . . . dilecto consanguineo nostro Willelmo
comiti de Ross / totum comitatum de Rosse / et dominium
de Sky, ac omnia alia dominia et terras cum pertinentiis /
que fuerunt ipsius comitis vbicunque infra regnum / exceptis
dominiis illis et tends que fuerunt dicti comitis infra vice-
comitatus de Abirdene / de Drumfres / et de Wygtona /
Quern quidem comitatum / terras / et dominia cum perti-
nentiis / idem comes .... mera et spontanea voluntate sua /
nobis apud Perth in pleno parliamento nostro tento ibidem
vicesimo tertio dei mensis Octobris anno Domini Millesimo
trecentesimo septuagesimo / in presencia Roberti Senescalli
Scocie / comitis de Stratherne nepotis nostri / Willelmi
comitis de Douglas / Georgii comitis Marchie / Johannis
Senescalli comitis de Carryk / Archibald! de Douglas /
Roberti de Erskyne / Alexandri de Lindesay / Willelmi de
Disschyngtona militum et aliorum plurium baronum et
nobilium regni nostri per suas litteras patentes et eciam
cum fusto et baculo per manus procuratorum suorum suf-
ficientem ad hoc commissionem habentium sursum reddidit
pureque et simpliciter resignauit . . . Tenenda et habenda
dicto comiti et heredibus suis masculis de corpore suo
legittime procreandis / quibus deficientibus / Waltero de
APPENDIX.
180
APPENDIX
XXIII.
HISTOKICAL RECORDS OF
Lesley militi et Eufamie sponse sue ac eorum alter! diucius
viuenti et heredibus de ipsa Eufamia legitime procreatis seu
procreandis ita videlicet quod si heres masculus de ipsa
Eufamia non exierit et plures forte de se habuerit filias /
senior semper filia tam ipsius Eufamie quam suorum. here-
dum de se exeuntium deficientibus heredibus masculis
habeat totum jus et integrum dictum comitatum dominia
et terras cum pertinenciis exceptis supra exceptis, sine
diuisione aliquali / Et ipsis Waltero et Eufamia sponsa sua
et heredibus de ipsa Eufamia legitime procreandis fortasse
deficientibus Johanna junior filia dicti comitis et heredes
sui et quando ipsi heredes femelle fuerint semper senior
heres femella sine diuisione et participatione aliqua / totum
et integrum dictum comitatum dominia et terras predictas
cum pertinenciis / exceptis supra exceptis / teneat et
teneant / de nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et heredi-
tate / per omnes rectas metas et diuisas suas cum tenandriis
seruiciis liberetenencium et aduacacionibus ecclesiarum /
adeo libere et quiete in omnibus et per omnia sicut dictus
Willelmus comes de Kosse consanguineus noster vel aliquis
predecessorum suorum dictum comitatum dominia et terras
predictas cum pertinenciis aliquo tempore liberius quiecius
et honorificencius juste tenuit seu possedit / Faciendo inde
seruicia debita et consueta / In cuius rei testimonium . . .
Testibus . . . apud Perth / xxiij die Octobris anno regni
nostri quadragesimo primo (A.D. 1370).
Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum,}*. 74, No. 258; and
Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, vol. i., app. p. 177 ; Antiqui-
ties of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. ii. p. 386.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
APPENDIX No. XXIV.
WALTER LESLIE, EARL OF Eoss.
COMPLAINT to King EGBERT II., by WILLIAM, Earl of Eoss,
showing how the Earl's lands in Buchan, together with
those of his Brother HUGH DE Eoss, were, without
their consent, given by King DAVID II. to Sir
WALTER LESLIE, Knight; and how the said Sir
WALTER married the Earl's daughter EUPHAME,
altogether against her Father's will — A.D. 1371.
EXCELLENTISSIMO principi ac domino suo reverendissimo /
Domino Eoberto Dei gratia Eegi Scottorum / et suo bono
concilio / vester humilis nepos Willelmus comes de Eoss
conqueritur sub hac forma / videlicet / Quod quondam bone
memorie dominus meus Eex predecessor vester domino
Waltero de Lesly militi ad impetrationem ejusdem dedit
omnes terras meas et tenementa ac etiam fratris mei
Hugonis de Eoss infra Buchaniam existentes / me et fratre
meo predicto non requisitis non citatis non in jure confessis
nee in judicio convictis / Et cum constaret (michi) de saysina
dictarum terrarum sic predicto Domino Waltero ex arupto
et sine juris processu deliberata / scripsi domino Episcopo
Brechynensi / tune cancellario Scotie pro una litera attorna-
toria ex capella Eegia continente has personas / videlicet /
Eobertum senescallum Scotie / dominos Thomam comitem
de Mar / Willelmum de Keth, Willelmum de Meldrum / et
singulis eorum singulariter unam literam clam supplica-
toriam ut dignentur esse attornati ad petendum a domino
meo Eege terras meas et fratris mei predicti ad plegium /
una etiam cum una litera Domino meo Eegi / et alia
Domine Eufamie sorori mee / super eandem materiam ' Et
cum predictis literis presentandis singulariter oneravi do-
minum Johannem de Gairdyn clericum meum canoni-
cum Catanensem / cui itinerant! occurreus Johannes de
Aberkyerder / dicens se armigerum predicti Domini Walteri
ipsum arrestavit hominemque suum atrocitur verberavit
APPENDIX.
182
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
XXIV.
quia magistrum suum ad eandam equi sui noluit ligare /
ipsum de omnibus literis suis spoliavit et eum ad nemora et
loca devia deduxit / De cujus arrestatione predictus clericus
meus non potuisset deliberari quousque convenisset sibi sex
marcas sterlingorum infra tres septimanas plegiis domino
Roberto rectore de Forglen et Willelmo Byset deRouthyrlis /
et fecit dictum clericum meum jurare super Sancta
Evangelia presente Domino Cristino vicario de Forg quod
non presentaret aliquam literam de eisdem alicui nisi
pixidem cum dictis literis suo sigillo sigillatam Domino
Waltero de Lesly domino suo / et quod intraret seipsum
predicto Domino Waltero cum dicta pixide sigillata et sua
litera / Quo facto predictus clericus sic deliberatus laboravit
ad dominum suum Episcopum Aberdonensem conquerendo
et ad dictum Dominum Willelmum de Keth qui ipsum de
solutione pecunie predicte resolvebant / et ab hinc laboravit
in Rossiam nuncians michi ista / Quo facto / sciens quod per
medias personas literas meas ad plegium habere non potui /
laboravi in propria persona ad dominum meum Regem
usque villam de Aberdene ad petendum literas meas ad
plegium / quas habere non potui nisi concedere (volui)
predicto domino meo Regi pro usu Johannis de Logy
totum jus meum de la Platan de Forfar / Cujus con-
cessione facta vocatus ad prandium cum domino meo Regi
petii responsum negotiorum meorum post prandium / a
quo post avisationem suam missa fuit michi in ecclesia
una magna sedula questionum pro response / allegatis
in eadem pluribus autoritatibus juris civilis / qua lecta
dixi quod litiscontestationem facere nolui cum Domino
meo Rege nee pro ilia omnino veni / Et tune nulla licentia
petita ulteriori laboravi versus Rossiam nee plus cum predicto
domino meo Rege usque adventum suum apud Inuernys
loquebar / ubi percipientes predictum dominum meum
contra me et fratrem meum Hugonem motum et dictum
Dominum Walterum secum valde potiri / ego et frater
meus Hugo predictus / ad statum pristinum et corporalem
possessionem terrarum nostrarum Buchanie non restaurati /
predictam donationem terrarum nostrarum predictarum
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
183
factam per dominum Eegem predicto Domino Waltero sub
sigillis nostris ratificavimus propter pericula majora tune
eminentia ut estimavimus predicto fratre nostro tune a
nobis remoto in nemoribus et aliis deviis / Et non celando
veritatem rei in re vera et fide qua Deo tenemur nee fuit
filia nostra cum dicto Domino Waltero sponsata cum volun-
tate nostra sed omnino contra voluntatem nostram / nee
aliquam concessionem vel donationem terrarum vel bonorum
vel conventionem quamcunque sibi fecimus aliquo tempore
usque diem obitus nostri Regis David predecessoris vestri /
nisi ex rigore ejusdem domini Regis et sue iracundie timore /
nullo tempore nostra spontanea voluntate bona ad hoc ad-
hibita / Et hoc Deo et sue majestati celesti et vobis vestreque
majestati terrestri in/iotescimus presenti scripto / In cujus rei
testimonium presenti scripto sigillum meum est appensum /
Datum apud Edynburgh vicesimo quarto die mensis Junii
Anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo septuagesimo primo.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. ii. p. 387.
From a collection of Scottish Charters, MS., in the library at
Panmure.
APPENDIX No. XXV.
WALTER LESLIE, EARL or Ross.
CHARTER by Sir WALTER LESLIE, Dominus de Ross, and
EUPHAMIA his wife, to his Brother-in-law, Sir ALEX-
ANDER ERASER, Knight, and JANET Ross his wife, of
the lands of Auchinschogle and Meikle Fyntra, in
Buchan, and of other lands in Galloway and Ross, in
full Exchange and Compensation for all claim of heritage
in the lands of Ross, accruing to the said Sir
ALEXANDER ERASER and JANET Ross— A.D. 1375.
OMNIBUS hanc cartam visuris vel audituris . . . Walterus
Lesly miles dominus de Ross et Eufemia Ross sponsa sua .
Salutem in Domino sempiternam . Noueritis nos unanimi
consensu et assensu dedisse . . . dilectis confratri et sorori
APPENDIX
XXIV.
Appendix
XXV.
1375-
184
HISTORICAL KECOKDS OF
APPENDIX
XXV.
1375-
nostre Alexandro Eraser militi et Jonete Ross sponse sue et
eorum alter! diucius viuenti totas et integras terras meas de
Auchinchogyle cum pertinentiis et terras meas de Meikle
Fyntra cum pertinentiis jacentes in comitatu Buchanie infra
vicecomitatum de Aberdene necnon terras nostras de
Crekiltoun cum pertinentiis jacentes in dominio Gallvydie
infra vicecomitatum de Wigtoun et annuum redditum octo
decem librarum sterlingorum annuatim leuandum . . . de totis
et integris terris de Farindonald in Ross cum pertinentiis
jacentibus infra vicecomitatum de Inuernes in merum
liberum et legittimum excambium ac in recompensationem
. . . plenariam dictorum Alexandri militis et Jonete ac
heredum suorum pro universis et singulis suis partibus
hereditariis terrarum de Ross cum pertinentiis jacentibus
infra vicecomitatum de Inuernes per dictos Alexandrum et
Jonetam sponsam suam unanimi consensu et assensu pro se
et heredibus suis sibi in excambium et contentationem
nostrorum Walteri et Eufamie et heredum nostrorum pro
dictis terris et annuo redditu nostris datis hereditarie et
concessis Tenendas et habendas totas et integras terras pre-
dictas . . . et annuum redditum . . . dictis Alexandro et
Jonete sponse sue et eorum alteri diucius viuenti et heredi-
bus inter ipsos legittime procreatis seu procreandis quibus
deficientibus heredibus legitimis dicte Jonete quibuscunque
a nobis et heredibus nostris de supremo domino nostro
Eege et successoribus suis in merum et legitimum excambium
et contentationem antedictam in feodo et hereditate perpetuo
. . . Reddendo inde annuatim . . . supremo domino nostro
Regi . . . seruicium dictarum terrarum et annui redditus
debitum et consuetum ac wardam et releuium cum contin-
git . . . In cuius rei testimonium sigillum meum presentibus
est appensum apud Aberdeen quarto die mensis Junii Anno
Domini millesimo ccc° septuagesimo quinto Testibus
Willelmo Comite de Douglas Georgio de Dunbar Roberto
Erskyne "Willelmo de Dyschyntoun militibus et Thoma
de Ret cum multis aliis.
A ntiq uities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. ii. p. 3 5 0. From
a collection of Scottish Charters, MS., in the library at Panmure.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
185
APPENDIX No. XXVI.
EUFAMIA, COUNTESS OF Eoss.
CHARTER by EUPHAMIA, Domina de Eoss, daughter and
heiress of WILLIAM, Earl of Eoss, to ANDREW
MERCER, confirming the grant made to him by her
husband, Sir WALTER LESLIE, deceased, Dominus de
Eoss, of the lands of Faythley and Tyrie in the
Barony of Kynedward, and of certain yearly payments
from the lands of Findlater, Netherdale, Pettendreich,
and Culbirny, ki the shire of Banff— A.D. 1382.
OMNIBUS hanc cartam visuris vel audituris / Eufamea
domina de Eosse filia et heres Willelmi quondam comitis
de Eosse / eternam in Domino salutem / Cum Joneta de
Meyness filia et heres quondam Alexandri de Meyness
domini de Forthyrgill . . . sua mera et spontanea voluntate
in legittima sua viduitate existens / omnes et singulas terras
de Faythley cum pertinentiis in baronia de Kynedward
infra vicecomitatum de Aberden que fuerunt dicte Jonete /
Karissimo domino nostro Domino Waltero de Lesley
quondam sponso nostro et domino de Eoss / per fustum et
baculum sursum reddidit pureque et simpliciter resignavit /
Et post modum dictus Dominus Walterus quondam sponsus
noster / cum consensu et assensu nostro et ex maturo
avisamento et distincta deliberatione concilii sui et nostri /
predictas terras de Faythley cum pertinentiis dilecto
consanguineo suo et nostro Andree Mercer ac heredibus
suis et assignatis / pro servicio suo sibi et nobis impenso et
in futurum impendendo / pro uno pare calcariorum
deauratorum nomine albefirme heredibus dicti Domini
Walteri sponsi nostri et nostris inter nos procreatis vel in
posterum procreandis / nobis annuatim per predictum
Andream heredes suos et assignatos tantum persolvendo /
ac etiam dictus Dominus Walterus quondam maritus noster /
APPENDIX.
Appendix
XXVI.
1382.
186
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF
APPENDIX
XXVI.
nostro etiam consensu et assensu / predicto Andree heredibus
eius et assignatis novem librae sterlingorum de Fynleter /
Natyrdole / et de Petyndreych / proportionaliter ac an-
nuatim debitas / et viginti quatuor solidos de Culbreny
annuatim debitos infra vicecomitatum de Banff / pro uno
pare calcariorum deauratorum domino nostro Regi nomine
albefirme annuatim tantum persolvendo per eundem An-
dream et heredes suos et assignatos / ac terras de Tyre cum
pertinentiis in baronia de Kynedward infra vicecomitatum
de Aberdeen / pro uno denario sterlingorum nomine
albefirme per supradictum Andream heredes suos et
assignatos nobis et heredibus nostris ut supra tune an-
nuatim persolvendo si petantur ... in perpetuum concessit /
Nos vero / tandem nunc in nostra pura et legitima viduitate
existens / predictas donationes . . . dicti Domini Walteri
quondam sponsi nostri de predictis terns de Faythley / et
Tyry . et annuis redditibus de Finleter . Nathyrdole .
Petyndreych / et de Culbreny / cum pertinentiis suis / de
consensu et assensu nostro predicto Andree heredibus suis
et assignatis factas / prout carte dicti Domini "Walteri
quondam sponsi nostri sibi inde facte plenius continent et
testantur / in omnibus et per omnia . . . et in perpetuum
ratificamus ... In cuius rei testimonium sigillum nostrum
present! carte est appensum apud castrum nostrum de
Dyngwale / nono die Mensis Martii Anno Domini Millesimo
trecentesimo octuagesimo primo / His testibus venerabili in
Christo patre domino Alexandro Dei gratia episcopo
Rossensi / Magistro Willelmo de Digwale decano Rossensi /
Waltero Senescalli / Ricardo Cumyne / militibus / Adam de
Urchard vicecomite de Crombachy / Hugone de Munro / et
multis aliis.
Antiquities of Shires of Aberdeen and Banf, vol. ii. p. 389.
From a collection of Scottish Charters, MS., in the library at
Panmure.
THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
187
APPENDIX No. XXVII.
EUFAMIA, SEVENTH COUNTESS OF Koss.
JUDGMENT pronounced by ALEXANDER, Bishop of Moray,
and ALEXANDER, Bishop of Eoss, on the differences
between ALEXANDER STEWART, Earl of Buchan, and
EUFAMIA, Countess of Ross, his spouse — 1389.
CHRISTI nomine invocato . Nos Alexander et Alexander
Moraviensis et Rossensis ecclesiarum Episcopi Dyo-
cesani partium subscriptarum judicesque ordinari sedentes
pro tribunali de peritorum consilio quibus hec omnia
communicavimus auditis que utraque pars contra aliam
proponere voluit pronunciamus . . . et declaramus in his
scriptis Dominam Eufamiam Comitissam Rossie restituendam
esse Domino Alexandro Seneschalli comiti Buchanie et
Domino de Ross tanquam viro suo et marito una cum pos-
sessionibus suis et quantum de jure possumus restituimus
tractandam maritali affectione honeste in lecto et in mensa .
in victu . . . secundum decentiam sui status Mariotamque
filiam Athyn amovendam fore et quantum de jure possumus
amovemus et quod ipse earn de cetro non dimittat et quia
Domina Eufamia allegat timorem mortis et hominum
suorum nativorum nobilium dictus comes manucapiet nobis
et securitatem fidejusariam magnarum et notabilium per-
sonarum et sub poena ducentarum librarum nobis inveniet
quod ipsam tractabit in omnibus honeste ut supra dicitur
et sine periculo mortis et homines suos nativos nobiles et
alios contra jus commune in aliquo non artabit In quarum
testimonium sigilla nostra sunt appensa Lecta lata et in his
scriptis pronunciata fuit hec nostra sententia in ecclesia
fratrum predicatorum de Inverness . . 2 Novembris 1389,
presentibus magnifico viro Roberto Comite de Sutherland
Ada Abbate de Kynloss et multis aliis testibus ad premissa
vocatis Qui quidem Alexander ibidem personaliter constitutus
APPENDIX.
Appendix
XXVIL
1389-
1389.
188
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE FAMILY OF LESLIE.
APPENDIX
XXVII.
promisit et manucepit fideliter premissa omnia per nos sibi
injuncta facere et adimplere sub poena predicta et ad hec
dedit nobis fidejussores dictum comitem de Sutherland,
Alexandrum de Moravia Dominum de Culbyn et Thomam
de Chisholme.
Registmm Moraviense, p. 353, No. 271.
END OF VOL. I.
Printed by R. CLARK, Edinburgh.
cs
479
U
1869
v.l
Leslie, Charles Joseph
Historical records of the
family of Leslie
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