Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

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Expand view Topic review: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Sat Nov 19, 2022 1:25 pm

No. 18

Eglinton Family No. 13

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 13th October 1855

Concluding Article


For several years after taking his seat in the House of Peers the Earl of Eglinton generally spoke and voted on the more important political questions that occupied their lordships' attention; but on the whole he did not take any very prominent part in the general routine of business that came before the House. The defection of the late Sir Robert Peel, however, from the ranks of the party with whom he had so long acted, and by whose confidence and support he mainly attained to the high position which he held as a Parliamentary leader, through his conversion to the principles of free trade, while it deprived the great conservative party of its principal ornament and most distinguished leader in the Lower House, as well as several of its most practical and experienced statesmen, both there and in the House of Peers, had also the effect of entirely changing the aspect of the two great political parties. This event which, to all appearance, irremediably shattered the conservative party, threw its remaining members on their own resources, and again taught them the oft-repeated and wholesome lesson, that it is as fatal to the existence of a party as to the ascendancy of a principle, to leave its exclusive guidance in the hands of a few persons. The deep significance of this truth, which forcibly demonstrated that the very existence of the conservative party now depended on the vigour and energy of its individual members, was clearly perceived by many, and by none more than the noble Earl. And we well remember that in several of his Lordship's speeches on the measure for the repeal of the duty on corn, he pointedly enforced the recognition of that fact, and himself successfully exemplified the utility of the practice in exposing, by a series of arguments as sound as they were convincing, the hollowness of the plausible yet impossible predictions of the advocates of free trade. From that period, therefore, his Lordship may be said to have fairly entered the political arena, and to have taken his place as an important and influential member of the conservative party.
On the resignation by Lord John Russell of the office of Prime Minister, and the consequent fall of the Whig Ministry, on the 21st of February, 1852, the Earl of Derby was called upon to take the reins of Government. In that administration the Earl of Eglinton was appointed to the honourable yet arduous office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland; and we are bold to say that the Earl of Derby could not, in the whole range of his party, have chosen one in every respect better qualified to reflect honour on his administration, or redeem the Irish Government from the foul blot of being under the necessity of resorting to the most unequivocal and disgraceful political jobbing in order to retain its influence over the Irish people. The reception of his Lordship in Dublin was in the highest degree enthusiastic; each party vied with the other in its congratulations and expressions of personal respect, and a brief space demonstrated that that generous confidence had not been misplaced. It soon became manifest that his Lordship viewed the duties of his position with the eye of a man of sense and of a statesman. He exerted himself to allay the religious and political asperities that had so long proved the bane of Ireland, and showed that he rested the strength and popularity of his Government, not upon the creation of party influences, but upon a spirit of firm and generous conciliation, and the development of the material resources of the nation. To compass this object he from the first assiduously endeavoured to make himself acquainted with the character, the feelings, the prospects, and the necessities of the people for whose welfare and government he was mainly responsible.
What the means were which his Lordship considered requisite for the regeneration of Ireland we learn from a brilliant speech delivered at a banquet given in connection with the Agricultural Society of Galway, at which the noble Earl was present. On that occasion his Lordship said: —

"I have come to Galway at a time when the turmoil, the excitement, and the heart-burnings of that great but necessary evil, a general election, has scarcely subsided, when, perhaps, men who have been friends from their youth have separated from each other on a hasty word, a harsh expression, or a political accusation. Be it my duty to pour oil upon these passions, to assuage these animosities. to restore these friendships. l am not aware that the men of Galway have shown any especial favour to those who hold my political views, but I have come to Galway not the less willingly for that. I did not come to Galway as a party politician, nor as an electioneerer; but I came as the Viceroy of Ireland, anxious to allay all animosities, to sanction by my presence, and to promote so far as I am able those great interests which are essentially necessary to the welfare of every country, but which are of especial importance to the prosperity of Ireland. I came here to urge upon you the duty of uniting in heart and hand, and frankly with each other, to labour for the cultivation of the soil, from whence is chiefly to flow the materials of Ireland's greatness. Depend upon it the colour of your crops is of far more importance to you than the colour of your flags, and you will find more to learn in the neighbouring show-yard than in any political harangue, be it liberal or conservative. I believe that on the proper cultivation of the soil all real prosperity is based, and from that root all other prosperity, whether it be manufacturing or commercial, must spring. Cultivate your soil, therefore, reclaim your waste lands, manure your fields, cultivate the flax crop, turnips, and mangold, but above all live in harmony with each other, and you will soon see the tall chimneys, the busy factories, the heavy trains, and the laden ships follow. The merchandise of the world will fill your bays; and the waters of Lough Corrib will carry down the commerce of the interior. But I may also be permitted to remind you that all the riches of the earth are not above ground. There may be a great part of your country barren and covered with stones, but beneath those stones there may be mineral wealth not only sufficient to repay the utmost labour that you can employ, but the working may be the means of greatly promoting the development of the other sources of wealth in your country. I know from my own experience that estates in Scotland, which a few years ago, were not worth more than a few pounds annually, are now worth as many thousands. I also know that you have such mines in Ireland, but I trust that the present produce of these mines is but small when compared with what may hereafter be produced; and I do not think that, with the fine railway opened to your city, with your mercantile bay, and with the internal resources of Lough Corrib and Lough Mark, Galway can long remain stationary. In reference to the sentiment that has been coupled with my name, ("Prosperity to Ireland "), I would say that, in my opinion, the whole history of Ireland lies within a very small compass. Is it the character of the people which unfits them for happiness or greatness? So far from that being the case, I may venture to say that there is not a people in the world whose perceptions are so keen, whose intellects are so quick, whose hearts are so warm, and whose good feelings are so easily excited. Is there any dullness in the eyes of the daughters of Erin, or inaptitude in their fingers for the most delicate handiwork? Since I came to this country I have made it my business to investigate into the system of education, and I will venture to say that there is not a country in the world where the children exhibit more cleverness and docility, or give greater proofs of progress. Is it then the character of the climate or the nature of the soil. There is no doubt but Ireland's miseries are to be traced to disunion and strife among her children, to the turbulence which prevents the employment of her industry, the development of her resources, and the outlay of her capital. If her children would but live together as brethren, instead of foes; if they are true to themselves and their country, there will no longer be heard the wail over Ireland's sorrows and difficulties, and the Atlantic will cease to bear so many homeless wanderers upon its waves. The government must also be true to you, and must take care to execute in an impartial but firm manner, the powers with which it is invested, and I pledge my honour that so long as I remain amongst you, neither will partiality ever lead me to deviate from the straight path, nor will censure ever deter me from pursuing that course which, in my conscience, I believe to be right."

Such was the policy by which the noble Earl proposed to govern Ireland. He saw and understood that the valuable agricultural wealth of the country had been allowed to remain undeveloped, while the land had been swept by famine and disease, and the people driven from the scenes of their birth to seek a happier home on a foreign shore; and, above all, he knew that the elements of religious and political discord were deep-rooted, and had been encouraged and fostered for party purposes; and that until these were allayed, if not eradicated, there was no hope of Ireland's regeneration. He, therefore, set himself to encourage the improvement of the soil, to consolidate and render effective the national system of education; so that by the first its agricultural wealth might be increased, and by the second raze the foundation of that ignorance which was the chief element in Ireland's degradation, and the parent of its crime, misery, and poverty. The undeviating pursuit of a policy so beneficial and conciliatory could not fail to benefit and win the affections of the Irish people. And such was assuredly the result. On the occasion of his leaving Ireland, in consequence of the resignation of the Derby Ministry, and after having acted as her Majesty's representative for a period of nine months, every class of the Irish people rivalled the other in their demonstrations of affectionate respect for a nobleman who, while he largely benefited their country, left to his successor the dignified spectacle of an administration which had gained to itself the love and esteem of the people by its uniform moderation and justice. In truth it may justly be affirmed that, during at least the present century, no Lord-Lieutenant enjoyed a higher degree of personal respect, or was more deservedly popular with all classes; and even in the bitterness of party strife, neither of the hostile parties, into which Ireland was unhappily divided, could point to a single act that tended to sully the purity or overshadow the lustre of his administration.
During his Viceroyship, the noble Earl was elected to the honourable office of Lord-Rector of the Glasgow University, and the ceremony of installation took place on the 30th of Nov., 1852.
More recently, on the formation of the Association for the Vindication of Scottish Rights, his Lordship was nominated president of that body, an office which he still holds.
The Earl of Eglinton is Lord-Lieutenant of the County, and Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Ayrshire Militia.
On the 17th of February, 1841, his Lordship married Theresa, widow of Richard Howe Cockerell, Esq., Com. R.N. Her Ladyship died on the 16th of December, 1853. By this marriage his Lordship had issue three sons: —1, Archibald-William Lord Montgomery, born 3rd December, 1841; 2, Hon. Seton Montolieu, born 15th May, 1846; 3, Hon. George Arnulph, born 1848; and one daughter, Lady Egidia, born 17th December, 1843.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Mon Nov 14, 2022 12:18 pm

No. 17

Eglinton Family No. 12 – Eglinton Tournament

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 22nd September 1855


The tilting of Friday was concluded by the appearance in the lists of the "Knight of the Golden Lion", Captain J. O. Fairlie, and the "Knight of the Burning Tower", Sir F. Hopkins. The first career of both knights was a failure; but in the second the Golden Lion shivered his lance on the armour of the Tower. The third course was like the first, ineffective on both sides; and the Golden Lion having made the only hit, was in consequence declared the victor.
At the conclusion of the tilt the Lord of the Tournament announced to the assemblage that the jousting of the day was finished, but that, if the weather proved favourable, the passage-of-arms would be resumed next day, Saturday, a piece of information which elicited loud cheers. The tilting of Friday, it may here be observed, was not at all equal to that of Wednesday. The knights, although seemingly eager in their endeavours to hit, uniformly failed, and appeared to be nerveless, jaded, and shorn of that quickness of eye and steadiness of hand which are indispensable in the rapid movements of the tourney. On the whole, therefore, the day's performance though passable as an amateur display, failed to give satisfaction, and may not unfittingly be described by one of the best jokes of the Tourney Jester, who, on witnessing one of the ineffectual careers, cried, "Ho! ho! if the Ayrshire eagles think to dine to-day upon a dead knight, they will look long enough before they find one".
Having finished the tilting the knights essayed to emulate the feats

"Of the braw gallants
Wha rade at the ring",

so celebrated in ancient ballad story. The riding at the ring was to many not the least animating part of the day's spectacle, and in the trials of skill, the knights and esquires, who participated in this part of the performance, acquitted themselves with considerable success. The exercise was conducted in this wise:—A ring, of a size just large enough to be carried off on an ordinary lance point, was suspended from a string loosely stretched between two upright poles, and hanging at an elevation nearly level with the horse's head. One pair of these poles was placed in front of the loge of the Queen of Beauty, and another pair occupied a similar position on the opposite side of the barrier which ran through the lists. The knights and esquires who were to ride took their station about thirty-six yards distant from the ring, and on the signal being given they started, urging their horses to a gallop, and following each other in rapid succession endeavoured to bear off the ring on the point of their lances as they passed through between the poles.
The performance of the day was brought to a close by what was justly considered the most exciting and entertaining portion of either day's spectacle—a tourney with the sword between four mounted knights who represented Scotland and Ireland, and an equal number who represented the cause of England. The Scottish and Irish knights were:—the Earl of Eglinton, Lord of the Tournament; the Marquis of Waterford, the Knight of the Dragon; W. Little Gilmour, Esq., the Black Knight; and Viscount Glenlyon, the Knight of the Gael;—against the English knights—Viscount Alford, the Knight of the Black Lion; Mr Lechmere, the Knight of the Red Rose; Sir Charles Lamb, the Knight of the White Rose; and Captain Fairlie, the Knight of the Golden Lion. Preparatory to the encounter the combatants ranged themselves on opposite sides of the lists, and on the signal being given, by sound of trumpet, they rushed on each other at a furious pace. The chief merit of the trial lay in each striking two blows on his opponent in passing. But in the heat of action several of the knights did not content themselves with the required number of strokes, especially Lords Waterford and Alford, who, instead of moving onward after their two strokes, turned their horses again to the attack, and set to work in right earnest. For some time this single combat raged with fearful fury, the blows were laid on with such reckless force that the sounds of clanging armour rang through the lists, the fire flashed quickly and vividly from their arms, while many of the spectators, thinking it an arranged part of the performance, were wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement, and evinced their delight at the real nature of the melee by greeting the combatants with loud and prolonged cheers. At last the furious character of the combat began to excite fears for the consequences, and Sir Charles Lamb, the Marshall of the Tournament, who dashed between the combatants, had no small difficulty in separating the pair. This general encounter with the sword was universally admitted to be the best part of the two days' spectacle. The knights, jealous of the honour of their respective countries, hewed and hacked at each other with right good will, and so stoutly was the contest maintained that some of the swords were snapped by the hilt, while all were more or less injured. Nor was it altogether a bloodless one. In one of the encounters the Honourable Mr Jerningham was so severely cut in the wrist that he had to be stripped of his armour, and, like the knights of old, had his wound dressed on the field.
This having concluded the business of the day, the procession was again formed, and to the stirring sounds of martial music the cortege returned to the castle.
In the evening a banquet and ball were given by the Lord of the Tournament, in the temporary pavilions erected for that purpose adjoining the castle. The banquet was peculiarly sumptuous, and the ball brilliant beyond all previous precedent; and never did the princely hospitality nor generous disposition and courteous bearing of the noble Earl shine with greater lustre than when he was engaged in entertaining one of the most numerous and brilliant assemblages that ever graced the mansion of any single individual. The hall, and especially the ball-room, was fitted up on a scale of unequalled magnificence, and was superbly gorgeous from the radiant glare of myriad lamps falling with dazzling richness on the crimson drapery that surrounded the walls, and on the blaze of diamonds, jewels, and antique dresses of the guests, who wore the costumes of the gala days of ancient chivalry.
On Saturday it was intended to resume the spectacle of the previous days, but the weather again proved unfavourable, and it was consequently, to the regret of many, and to none more than to the noble Earl himself, found necessary to give up all thoughts of further continuing the entertainment.
Thus terminated the Eglinton Tournament, an entertainment which, whether from the richness of the equipment, the admirable arrangements, and the superb and extensive scale on which everything calculated to enhance the splendour of the spectacle, or add to the gratification of the spectators, was provided, has seldom been equalled, if ever surpassed even in the days when the work of the tourney was of a character sterner than a mere amusement or a gala day pastime. With the mimic nature of the combats not a few of the spectators felt disappointed. But it must be observed that the whole performance was conducted in strict accordance with the usages of ancient times. In the exhibitions of the tourney of the olden time there were two degrees of tilting. The utmost intention of the tilting of courtesy, which was that practised at Eglinton, was for the knight to break a spear by pushing it against his opponent's shield, and in order to prevent either knight being unhorsed or hurt, the lances were always made of the most brittle wood, and not unfrequently, to make them more fragile, almost cut through in several places, so as to insure their breaking the moment they were properly planted on the shield or armour of the adversary. The second kind of tilting was that with the ashen spear. This weapon differed from the former in being more tough, and in having instead of the crotchet or flat piece of wood on the point, three iron prongs, from an inch and a-half to two inches long, each prong being flattened at the point so as to make it take hold of the shield, but at the same to guard against the possibility of its penetrating the armour of the combatants. The chief merit of this encounter lay in each knight endeavouring to unsaddle and unhorse his antagonist; and although this was always done in the most perfect good humour, and without any intention of entailing fatal effects, these not unfrequently followed from the bruises sustained in the act of being unhorsed. It is, therefore, unnecessary to say that this last species of jousting was wholly unsuited to the humane character of the Eglinton Tournament.

To be continued.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Fri Nov 11, 2022 4:07 pm

No. 16

Eglinton Family No. 11 - Eglinton Tournament

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 15th September 1855


While the tilting continued the rain increased even to a perfect deluge. Every one felt soaked and uncomfortable notwithstanding that he stood in a whole forest of umbrellas. But the day's disasters did not end there, to many greater evils were looming in the distance. Drenched and hungry the occupants of the galleries were no doubt feasting their imaginations with the delicious banquet, and the exhilarating ball, which the noble Earl had prepared for his guests, never doubting that although the rain had fallen with fatal effects on the procession, thrown cold water on the performances of the knights and the heads and bodies of the spectators, yet it would spare the dinner and the dance. What then must have been the blank looks of consternation and dismay which broke on the fine features of congregated beauty, and expectant diners and dancers, when Lord Eglinton rode up to the front of the gallery where sat the Queen of Beauty, and taking off his bonnet and bowing said—"I regret much that I am compelled to announce that, in consequence of the insufficiency of the temporary buildings at the Castle, the rain has so destroyed everything as to put it out of my power to fulfil my intention of giving an entertainment to my friends". But whatever the feelings of disappointment were which that short and manly speech awakened, the announcement was followed by clapping of hand and every token of approbation and sympathy, and we are sure that there was not one present who had not more commiseration for his Lordship on account of the painful situation in which he was placed, than any regret at the temporary inconvenience that such an event might occasion themselves. Meantime, although the rain fell thickly the sports were continued; and a spirited combat with two-handed swords, not the least antique part of the games, was commenced by two men-at-arms, Mr Mackay and Mr Redbury. The combatants laid lustily about them, wielding their ponderous weapons with great skill and dexterity, their armour ringing clearly with the force and frequency of the blows, as one might fancy it did in days of yore, when the double-handed sword wrought sad havoc in an enemy's ranks. So exciting was this scene that the spectators seemed to be more impressed by its near approach to reality than any part of the previous performance, and greeted the combatants with the most animating cheers.
On the conclusion of the combat the "Knight of the Dolphin", the Earl of Cassillis, and the "Knight of the Black Lion", Lord Alford, rode up to the barrier. In the first course their lances crossed without breaking. In the second the knight of the Dolphin rode up with great impetuosity, and gallantly broke his lance on the armour of his opponent. In the third encounter both lances crossed, and the Knight of the Dolphin's was again broken.
This concluded the doings of the first day. It was now six o'clock, and the rain still falling heavily, the heralds having sounded the retreat, the procession was again marshalled, and returned to the Castle in the same order in which it had set out. Now was seen the grandest and most melancholy sight of all. Thousands of weary, wet, mud-bespattered pedestrians wended their way through the spacious parks, drenched to the skin, and engaged in a resolute contest with the flood of rain above and the sea of mud beneath. Here might be seen a pert beauty, or a staid matron of the nineteenth century decked in the grotesque costume of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, industriously picking her steps, shoeless and umbrellaless, through the superabundent puddle; whilst there might be beheld mailed heroes, stalwart esquires, bluff men-at-arms, burly halberdiers, with their buff boots, silk hose, velvet doublets, and plumed bonnets, rueful and forlorn, jostling along, and presenting to the attentive observer the most whimsical and motley-medley of ancient oddities which it was possible to conceive.
Thursday should have been the second day of the Tournament, but if the previous day was bad, that was still more unfavourable. The morning was ushered in with a perfect storm of wind and rain. Unpromising, however, as the day was, it did not quench the hopes of the thousands of eager spectators of all ranks who early congregated around the lists, awaiting the renewal of the previous day's spectacle. But these hopes suffered a sad collapse when early in the day an official intimation was issued by Lord Eglinton, that owing to the badness of the weather it was impossible to go on with the work of the Tournament. Yet thousands continued to loiter on the ground, and when about mid-day the clouds began to disperse, the rain to abate, and the sun to shine out brightly, the hopes of the hitherto disappointed began to brighten also. Nor were they deceived; the noble Earl, with his characteristic generosity, and knowing the responsibility that attached to the peculiar position in which he stood, rode himself through the grounds, and amidst the deafening plaudets[sic] of the assembled thousands, announced that, foul or fair, the Tourney should be held on the following day, Friday.
On Friday it accordingly took place; and if the two previous days were bad, this one amply compensated for all the inconvenience of its predecessors. Nothing could be more beautiful than the sunshine, and the thousands who had not seen the gorgeous procession of Wednesday, denuded as it was of its fairest features and splendour by the envious elements, promised themselves the gratification of beholding the unwonted spectacle under the most favourable circumstances. To give even a faint idea of the splendour or the magnificence of the procession on this clay would far exceed the limited space at our disposal; suffice it, therefore, to say that the most fastidious lover of "spectacles grand" must have felt proud of the gorgeous and rich display of costumes, ancient and modern, which decked the portly persons of knights and esquires. On arriving at the lists the procession entered at the principal gate, and after making the half circuit of the area the King of the Tournament, (Marquis of Waterford) the judges of the field, &c., were dismounted and placed in their respective seats in the grand gallery. The King and Queen having taken their seats on their thrones, a prolonged flourish of trumpets summoned the knights and esquires to pay their devoirs to the Queen of Beauty, (Lady Seymour) and the knights riding round again received from the ladies the favours, gloves, scarfs, &c., to be worn in their helmets during the tourney. Another blast of trumpets gave notice to the knights to retire to their pavilions, to complete their arming, and await the summoning of the herald. The knights then rode from the pavilions completely armed, and took their stations on the ground appointed to them, when the trumpets having again sounded the herald of the tourney announced that they were ready to do their devoirs against any knight who might demand the combat. On this the knight elected to run the first course against the challenger left his tent, and riding up to the gallery, demanded permission to make his assay, which was granted.
About three o'clock the tilting was begun by the "Knight of Gael," Lord Glenlyon, who sent his defiance to the "Knight of the Black Lion", Lord Alford. In the two first courses both knights failed to hit; but in the third course the Gael shivered his lance upon the shield of the Black Lion, and being declared victor, was brought up to the front of the throne of the Queen, where he paid his devoirs and retired.
The next who appeared in the lists to do the honours of tilting were the "Knight of the Griffen", the Earl of Craven, and the "Knight of the Golden Lion", Captain G. O. Fairlie. In the first course both knights splintered their lances with such grace that the encounter was justly admitted to be one of the best specimens of jousting that had yet been given. In the second both weapons crossed, but in the third the Knight of the Griffen carried his lance and struck his adversary with such precision that the weapon was shivered into fragments, a small piece only remaining in his hand below the gauntlet gripe. He immediately after retired, and passing before the Queen, paid his devoirs and was declared the victor.
The Lord of the Tournament, the Earl of Eglinton, then rode up to the lists to contend with the "Knight of the Red Rose", R. J. Lechmere. In the first and second courses both knights were bent on destroying their lances, but failed in hitting. In the third, however, the Lord of the Tournament delivered and shivered his lance on the shield of his opponent in capital style, and so gratified were the spectators with the gallant act, that as the noble Earl rode up to pay his devoirs, his success was hailed by loud acclamations, and by the waving of the handkerchiefs of the women, and the bonnets and hats of the men assembled on all sides of the amphitheatre.
The "Knight of the Stag's Head", Captain Beresford, and the "Black Knight", W. J. Gilmour, then ran four courses, all of which were without effect, and the tilt was in consequence left undecided. The courses that followed between the "Knight of the Dolphin", Lord Cassillis, and the "Knight of the White Rose", Sir Charles Lamb, and the "Knight of the Swan", Mr Jerningham, and the "Knight of the Ram", Captain Gage, although contested with great spirit were alike resultless. The same may be said of the "Knight of the Dragon",, the Marquis of Waterford, and the "Knight of the Border", Sir J. Johnstone, who, although they ran their careers with admirable speed, failed to do more than cross their lances, and that only in the first course.

To be continued.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Wed Nov 09, 2022 4:12 pm

No. 15

Eglinton Family No. 10

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 08th September 1855


Archibald William, thirteenth and present Earl of Eglinton, was born at Palermo in Scicily [sic], on the 29th of September, 1812. On the death of his father, Archibald Lord Montgomery, he was brought from thence to Eglinton Castle, where he continued to reside under the care of his grandfather till the death of the latter in 1819; when he succeeded to the titles and estates of Eglinton. Subsequently, in 1840, his lordship added the title of Winton, having served himself, in the December of that year, heir-male general to George fourth Earl of Winton, the title having been attainted, in 1716, in the person of George the fifth Earl of Winton, who died without male issue. His lordship obtained an education suited to fit him for filling with honour the high positions in the councils of the nation, to which by his exalted rank he was naturally entitled to aspire, and he early and honourably distinguished himself in many of the classes at his university, giving a promise of the possession of administrative and literary talents of no mean order; and, it is scarcely necessary to say that, the various incidents in his subsequent career have in all instances proved the justness of the highly favourable opinion then entertained of his abilities. In early youth, as he has himself stated, he contracted a passionate fondness for the works of the ancient poets and romancers, and, with all the enthusiasm of a devotee he pored over the pages of those recorders of the times when the gallant deeds of chivalry cast the humanising halo of their radiant glory over the crude elements of a incipient civilisation. No class of literature, we are bold to say, has a more powerful influence over, or is more pregnant with attraction to a cultivated mind than those "Antique stories of deeds martial", while to a youth "High of ingine and right inquisitive", they are altogether irresistible. It is not therefore at all surprising that the heroic achievements of a king Arthur, a Sir Tristrim[sic], or a Sir Launcelot, with the other numberless heroes of minstrelsy and romance, should, in his boyhood have lead captive his lordship's fervid imagination; and that in his more mature years, those visions of chivalry, should revive with all the force of their original fascination, when he pondered on the picturesque pages of the eloquent Froissart, "till he fancied he heard the clang of armour, and the shrill blast of the trumpet calling him to the tented field". This intense and deep-rooted admiration of those days of chivalric glory, it is almost needless to remark, give birth to that most gorgeous and magnificent of all the spectacles which the nineteenth century has yet seen, the Eglinton Tournament,

"Where the knights were met on the tented ground,
As they met in days of yore;
And poised the lance to the trumpet sound,
While the banners were waving o'er.
Bright forms were there—and sparkling eyes
On the brave encounter bent,
But lovelier none as she gave the prize,
Than the Queen of the Tournament,"

The Eglinton Tournament, in which the noble Earl hoped to give a transient revival to, and more than surpassed in splendour the feats of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, will be still fresh in the recollection of many of our readers. But premising that not a few of the younger portion of those into whose hands the "Herald" usually falls, have only heard by imperfect report of an event which, from the intimate acquaintance displayed of the ancient usages of chivalry, and the richness of the armour and artistic exterior decorations, gained for the subject of our sketch an European reputation, we believe, that, although it may interrupt the current of our narrative, a brief account of the Tournament will not be to them uninteresting.
The Eglinton Tournament took place on the 28th and 30th of August 1839. On the first of these days the number of the spectators, who had assembled not only from all parts of Britain, but literally from the four quarters of the globe was computed to amount to 80 000 persons. The lists where the knights were to display their prowess, and contend for the honours of the day was the centre of attraction round which that vast multitude assembled. These were erected in an extensive and level, field which rose with a gentle elevation on each side, situated a short distance from the castle, and was well adapted for gratifying the assemblage with an unobstructed view of' the whole proceedings. The space in which the tilting was to be exhibited, was surrounded by a strong wooden fence, five feet high, and contained a space of about three acres, whilst along the middle of the enclosure a fence or barrier ran lengthways, extending about six hundred and fifty feet, on each side of which the knights rode to the encounter. On the eastern side of the lists stood a row of three galleries intended for the accommodation of those who had been invited to view the festivities. The central gallery was especially remarkable, both for its extent, and the costly magnificence with which it was fitted up. In it the throne of the Queen of Beauty, which stood out prominently from the rest of the building, at once caught and enchained the eye of the spectator, not less from the elaborate carved work, overlaid with gold, that surmounted the regal seat, than the dazzling brilliancy of the crimson damask drapery with which it was hung. This grand or centre gallery was seated to hold six hundred, while the smaller galleries by which it was flanked on each side held respectively six hundred. At each end of the lists stood the tents and pavilions of the knights who were to take part in the tilting. These were the Earl of Eglinton, Lord of the Tournament, Lord G. Beresford, Mr Jerningham, Lord Glenlyon, Mr Lechmere, the Earl of Craven, Captain J. O. Fairlie, Sir Charles Lamb, the Earl of Cassillis, Captain Gage, Sir F. Hopkins, Viscount Alford, and the Marquis of Waterford.
It was arranged that the procession should leave the Castle at one o'clock, but considerable delay took place in its formation, and the spectators waited long and with the most anxious impatience, the expected appearance of the cavalcade. Up to this time, the day had been one of unusual beauty, the sun shone brightly, and the calm serenity of an autumnal sky seemed to auger a continuance of fair weather. But in a short space, and to the consternation of the assembled multitude, dark clouds were seen gradually spreading their inky pall over the horizon, and almost immediately after the rain descended in torrents. This untoward mishap threw a damp on the whole proceedings. The procession which was in course of formation when the rain began to fall, was dispersed and ordered into the Castle, there to await a more favourable change in the weather. But in this they were disappointed, as little or no abatement seemed to be promised for that day; and at last when all hope of a change for the better had been given up, the procession was again ordered out and wended its way to the lists about four o'clock, and where it arrived without its principle ornament, the Queen of Beauty, who was conveyed in her carriage. After entering the lists, the procession twice made the circuit of the enclosure, and after doing obeisance to the Queen of Beauty, the knights retired to their several tents, there to await the challenge to the combat. All eyes were now bent on the pavilions, and watched with anxious expectancy for the signal, which was to call forth the knights who were to do the first honours of tilting. Presently the herald's trumpet sounded the call, and "the Knight of the Swan", the Honourable Mr Jerningham, emerged from his tent and sent his defiance to the "Knight of the Golden Lion", Captain G. O. Fairlie. The knights were clad in complete coats of mail, and armed with a shield and a lance. The lances were wholly composed of wood, about 12 feet long, and were topped with crochets or flat pieces of wood of a circular form. To provide against any accident, in case the timber should not prove of itself sufficiently frail, the preservative precaution had been taken of making several deep indentations in the lances with a saw, previous to their delivery to the knights. At another blast of the trumpet, the opposing knights set their lances in rest, selected opposite sides of the fence which ran through the lists, and levelling their lances, rode furiously forward, but failed in touching each other. This was the first course and was not counted, In the second the iron masque was struck from off the horse of the " Knight of the Swan", and in the third his horse swerved from the barrier, but by a piece of dextrous horsemanship he regained his position, and in the fourth course, Fairly broke his lance on the shield of his antagonist.
In the next tilt the Earl of Eglinton, lord of the Tournament, appeared in the lists and sent his challenge to the "Knight of the Dragon", the Marquis of Waterford. Lord Eglinton was clad in a suit of gilded armour of dazzling brilliancy. He was, says an eminent author, an eye witness of scenes, "distinguished above the other nobles not less by the magnificence of his appointments, than by the ease and dignity with which he rode, and his knightly bearing and stature. His golden armour sat on him as if he had been used to wear it, and he managed his beautiful charger, and bowed in reply to the reiterated shouts of the multitude and his friends, with such a grace and chivalric courtesy, which drew murmurs of applause from the spectators long after the cheering had subsided". Nor was the reception which his gallant opponent, the Marquis of Waterford, received less enthusiastic and flattering. The knights having placed themselves at the farther ends, and on opposite sides of the fence, the signal was given to advance. In the first course, the lord of the Tournament shivered his lance on the shield of his opponent, an act performed with so much dexterity, that it elicited from the spectators in the galleries and around the enclosure, the most hearty acclamations. In the second course, both knights missed, but in the third, the noble Earl broke another lance on the armour of his opponent, and amidst another enthusiastic burst of applause, and the sounds of martial music, the Earl proceeded to the throne of the Queen of Beauty to receive the prize of victory.
The "Knight of the Burning Tower", Sir Francis Hopkins, was the next to challenge, the "Knight of the Red Rose", A. J. Lechmere. In the first course, the "Knight of the Burning Tower", struck his opponent, and in second, he shivered his lance with such force on the armour of his antagonist, that the splinters were thrown high in the air. In the third course, he accomplished a feat of still greater dexterity, breaking his lance with all the gallantry of an ancient knight on the casket of the "Knight of the Red Rose". On the conclusion of the tilt, the "Knight of the Burning Tower" was greeted by a prolonged round of applause, which showed the ardent interest that the spectators took in the progress of the spectacle.
After the "Knight of the Burning Tower" had paid his devoirs to the Queen of Beauty, the "Knight of the Black Lion", Viscount Alford; and the King [Knight] of Gael, Lord Glenlyon, advanced to the opposite extremities of the barrier. In the first course, both knights passed each other without touching; but in second, the "Knight of the Black Lion" hit the lance of the "Knight of Gael", and in the third course, the former broke his lance on the armour of his opponent.

To be continued.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Thu Nov 03, 2022 1:45 pm

No. 14

Eglinton Family No. 9

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 01st September 1855


Shortly after his succession to the earldom Hugh twelfth Earl of Eglinton, rebuilt Eglinton. He also erected an elegant, stately, and elaborately finished mansion on the family estate of Coilsfield. The rebuilding of the Castle was commenced about 1798, and completed about 1802. He likewise re-arranged and enlarged the extensive pleasure grounds, laid out new gardens, and plantations, and, by the judicious exercise of his exquisite taste for the beautiful, greatly enhanced the striking effects of the quiet yet naturally picturesque scenery which on all sides surrounds the Castle. But the most extensive of his undertakings, and that which has been productive of the greatest advantages to the public, was the construction of the Harbour of Ardrossan. The object which he proposed to compass in this undertaking, was to construct a safe and commodious harbour, which, being connected with Glasgow and Paisley by means of a canal, would supersede the tedious navigation of the Clyde, while it would, at the same time facilitate and extend the commercial intercourse of the West of Scotland with the sister kingdoms, and foreign countries. Nor was he alone in his estimate of the great impetus which the commerce of the West of Scotland would receive from the consummation of such a project. In this enterprise he was joined by a considerable number of gentlemen in Ayrshire, and the neighbouring counties of Lanark and Renfrew, who, immediately perceiving the importance and feasibility of the plan, formed themselves into a company to carry on the works which were prosecuted with unusual vigour. A celebrated engineer, Mr Telfer, was engaged to survey the bay of Ardrossan and plan the Harbour; and Acts of Parliament were obtained in 1805, empowering the company to proceed with the construction of the canal and harbour. The foundation stone of the harbour was laid on the 31st July, 1806, but the canal was only completed from Glasgow to Johnstone. To the realization of this magnificent idea, the Earl devoted himself with unabated ardour, entering into the scheme with all the energy and enthusiasm so conspicuous in his character, and, accordingly, during his lifetime the works were carried on with a vigour, and at an expense which has rarely been equalled, perhaps never surpassed, by a private individual. To give some idea of the immense sums expended by his Lordship in this gigantic speculation, it may be remarked that the works were continued without interruption from 1806 till 1819, at an outlay which frequently rose as high as £1000 per month, and in no year was the outlay less than £4000. His Lordship married his cousin Eleanor, fourth daughter of Robert Hamilton of Bourtreehill, a lady who was highly esteemed for her many virtues and amiable disposition. Her Ladyship died on the 18th of January, 1817, and had issue two sons; 1, Archibald Lord Montgomery; 2, Hon. Roger Montgomery, who was a lieutenant in the navy, and died at Port Royal in Jamaica, in January, 1799:—and two daughters; 1, Lady Jean, married to Archibald Hamilton, Esq. of Carcluie; 2, Lady Lilias, married first to Robert Dundas Macqueen of Braxfield, who died on the 5th August, 1816, and secondly to Richard Alexander Oswald of Auchincruive. Lady Lilias died on the 10th September, 1845. Hugh twelfth Earl of Eglinton died on the 15th December, 1819, at the advanced age of 80 years, and was succeeded by his grandson, Archibald William, the present Earl, third son of Archibald Lord Montgomery.—Archibald Lord Montgomery was born on the 30th of July 1773. He entered the army as an ensign in the 42nd regiment, and subsequently obtained the Lieut.- Colonelcy of the Glasgow Regiment raised by his father, and which was reduced in 1795. He afterwards became Colonel of the Ayrshire Militia, but resigned his commission in 1807. In 1809 he was advanced to the rank of Major- General in the army, and was employed on active service in Sicily during the years 1812 - 13, and while there, he represented, in the absence of Lieut.-General Lord William Bentick, his Majesty at the Court of Palermo. But being soon after necessitated to remove from thence, on account of failing health, he died on the 4th of January, 1814, at Alicant in Spain, and was interred at Gibraltar. Lord Montgomery married Lady Mary Montgomery, daughter of Archibald eleventh Earl of Eglinton, and heiress to extensive entailed estates, by whom he had issue three sons; 1, A son born, and died on the 18th December, 1803; 2, Hugh Lord Montgomery, born 24th January, 1811, and who died at Eglinton Castle, on the 13th of July, 1817, aged six years and seven months, and to whose memory his grandfather, Hugh twelfth Earl of Eglinton, erected a beautiful monument, composed of white marble, commemorative of the affection which he bore to, and the inexpressible sorrow and irreparable loss he sustained in the death of his beloved and promising grandson. 3, Archibald William, the present Earl, :who on the death of his grandfather succeeded to the titles and estates of Eglinton. Lady Mary Montgomery married secondly Sir Charles Lamb, Bart. Her Ladyship died on the 12th June, 1848.
We here close the earlier and more modern history of the noble family of Eglinton. This noble house as we have seen, originally sprang from Philip de Montgomery, son of Arnulph de Montgomery, who was the fourth son of Roger Earl of Montgomery, cousin to William the Conqueror, in whose army he held the rank of Constable, and with whom he came to England. This Philip de Montgomery, as we have already stated, came from France to Scotland. in the company of David Earl of Huntingdon, in the early part of the twelfth century, and thus, dating from that time to the present day, this distinguished family may be said to have held the foremost rank amongst the nobility of Scotland for a period of upwards of seven hundred years. During this long period many members of the family have arisen, possessed of administrative talents of the first order, which led to their elevation to some of the highest situations in the Councils of their sovereign, in all of which they were as distinguished for their patriotism and love of country as for the ability and assiduity that they displayed in discharging the duties of the important offices with which they were entrusted. The antiquity and noble birth of the family of Eglinton, and its extensive landed possessions, while they entitled it to a high and honourable position amongst the nobility of Scotland, secured for it, at the same time, a connection through marriage with the first families in point of rank in the kingdom. One of these marriages, that of Margaret, daughter of Alexander first Lord Montgomery, with John Earl of Lennox, Lord Darnley, subsequently gave birth to several kings of Scotland and England. Besides these matrimonial alliances, many other important families bearing the name and arms of Montgomery, immediately sprang from the ancient house of Montgomery, and having acquired lands established themselves in various parts of the country. The first of the branches, or offshots, of whom there is any record is Marthaw [Murthauch] de Montgomery, second son of John de Montgomery the sixth of Eagleshame and Eastwood, who in the latter part of the thirteenth century became ancestor of the Montgomeries of Thornton; and Allan de Montgomery, third son of the same John, was about the same period, founder of the Montgomeries of Stair and Cassillis. George Montgomery, second son of Alexander first Lord Montgomery, received from his father a gift of the lands of Lochlibogside, Hartfield and Coply, and was ancestor of the Montgomeries of Skelmorlie, which ancient family as we have seen became united to the parent house of Eglinton, after a separation of three hundred years, by the marriage of Lilias daughter of Sir Robert Montgomery of Skelmorlie, with Alexander Montgomery of Coilsfield, the eldest son of which marriage became twelfth Earl of Eglinton. John Montgomery, third son of Alexander first Lord Montgomery, had the lands and was designed of Giffen. This John was also ancestor of the French Comtes de Montgomery. The immediate ancestor of the French branch of the house of Montgomery, was James, first Comte de Montgomery, son of the above John of Giffen, who was a Captain in the body of Scottish Guards, instituted as a guard of honour by Charles V. of France. At one of the tournaments, then a frequent species of diversion with the nobility, Comte de Montgomery accidentally killed Henry II. of France. While engaged in jousting with the king, the Comte shivered. his spear, and one of the splinters of the broken weapon having entered the eye, penetrated to the brain of his majesty, inflicting a wound of which he shortly afterwards died. This melancholy occurrence, in which the Comte played so prominent a part, made considerable noise at that time, as the manner of the king's death had been foretold, some years before the event happened, by Nostradamus, a celebrated French prophet of that period. The predictions of the seer, as translated from the French, we present to the curious among our readers, premising that the allusion to the "golden cage" in the third line, is said by commentators to mean the golden helmet worn by the king: —

"The young lion shall overcome the old one,
In martial field by a single duel.
In a golden cage he shall put out his eye.
Two wounds from one he shall die a cruel death."

The male line of this family is now extinct, but it is represented by the Marquis de Thiboutal, through the female line. We next find Robert Montgomery, grandson of Alexander first Lord Montgomery, receiving from his lordship, in 1442, a charter of the lands of Braidstone, and becoming the founder of the Montgomeries. of that place. From him were descended the Viscounts of Ardes, and the Earls of Mount-Alexander, in Ireland, which titles ceased, on the family becoming extinct in 1757. Another grandson of Alexander first Lord Montgomery, Hugh, was the ancestor of the Montgomeries of Helsilhead [Hessilhead], the male of which family is now also extinct. Sir Neil Montgomery, third son of Hugh first Earl of Eglinton, was the founder of the Montgomeries of Lainshaw, in the parish of Stewarton. The male line of this family is now extinct, having ceased in the person of James Montgomery ninth of that house. The female line was continued by his sister, Elizabeth, who married Alexander Montgomery Cuninghame of Kirktonholme. William Montgomery, fourth son of Hugh first Earl, was the first of Greenfield, which family has now merged into, and is represented by the Montgomeries of Broomlands, in Lanarkshire, itself a branch of the family of Braidstone above mentioned. Col. James Montgomery, fourth son of Alexander sixth Earl of Eglinton, was the first of the family of Coilsfield. This family which produced several distinguished members, ultimately gave a representative to the noble house of Eglinton, in the person of Hugh the twelfth Earl, who succeeded, as already noticed to the titles and estates of Eglinton, on the death, without male issue of his cousin Archibald eleventh Earl of Eglinton.
We have thus given a brief and succinct review of the numerous branches which have at various times sprung from the noble family of Eglinton, and we now return to the main line, represented by the Right Honourable Archibald William thirteenth Earl of Eglinton and Winton, who will form the subject of our succeeding sketches.

To be continued.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Wed Oct 26, 2022 4:58 pm

No. 13

Eglinton Family No. 8

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 25th August 1855


Alexander Montgomery succeeded his father to the estate of Coilsfield. He married Lilias, eldest daughter of Sir Robert Montgomery of Skelmorlie, by whom he acquired the estate of Skelmorlie. They had issue five sons—1, Hugh, who succeeded his father in the estate of Coilsfield and Skelmorlie, and who in 1796, on the death of his third cousin, Archibald eleventh Earl of Eglinton, succeeded to the titles and estates of Eglinton; 2, Alexander Montgomery of Annick, who served with distinction for several years in the East India Company's Naval Service, and died in 1802; 3, Thomas who died at Dumfries, in Virginia, on the 13th day of August, 1793; 4, Archibald Montgomery of Stair, who was in the civil service of the East India Company; 5, Lieut.- General James Montgomery of Wrighthall [Wrighthill], who was some time Governor of Dominica, and also Colonel of the 74th and 30th regiments; and three daughters; 1, Frances, married to James Ritchie of Busbie; 2, Lilias, married to John Hamilton of Sundrum; 3, Margaret, married to John Hamilton of Bargany. Alexander Montgomery of Coilsfield, died on the 28th of December, 1783; and was succeeded in the estates of Coilsfield and Skelmorlie by his eldest son Hugh, who on the demise of his third cousin, Archibald eleventh Earl of Eglinton, in 1796, succeeded to the estates and honours of Eglinton.—Hugh twelfth Earl of Eglinton, early embraced the military profession, joining the army in 1756. He went with his regiment to America, and was in active service during the seven years war. During the greater part of that period, he held the rank of Captain in the 74th regiment, and afterwards in the 1st royals. In 1778, he was appointed Major, and subsequently Lieut.-Colonel of the West Lowland Fencibles. In 1780, he was elected Member of Parliament for the County of Ayr, and was re-elected in 1784; but resigned his seat on being appointed Inspector of Military Roads, in 1787. His eminent practical talents peculiarly adapted him for that office, the complicated duties of which, he performed in a highly efficient manner. In 1793 he held the appointment of Colonel of the West Lowland Fencibles, and shortly afterwards he raised a regiment of the line, called the Glasgow Regiment, which was disbanded in 1795. In the same year he was nominated Lieutenant-Governor of Edinburgh Castle. At the general election in 1796, he was a third time chosen to represent the County of Ayr in Parliament; but vacated his seat on his succession, almost immediately after, to the titles and estates of Eglinton. A vacancy occurring, in 1798, he was chosen a representative of the Scottish Peerage, and again re-chosen at the general election in 1802. On the 14th of February, 1806, his lordship was created a Baron of the United Kingdom, by the title of Baron Ardrossan, in Ayrshire, with a limitation to the heirs male of his body. He succeeded to the estate of Bourtreehill, in 1817, on the death of his sister-in-law, Lady Cathcart of Carleton. His lordship was Lord Lieutenant of the county, an office which he filled with credit to himself, and much advantage to the public. He enjoyed the respect, and was deservedly popular amongst all classes of the people, on account of the courteous affability of his manners, the deep interest that he took in the welfare of all those more immediately connected with the localities in which his estates were situated, and the profuse hospitality for which Eglinton Castle was then justly famous. He was a liberal patron of the fine arts, had himself a highly cultivated taste for music, was the author of several popular Scottish airs, and no mean proficient on the violincello. Accordingly the private concerts given at Eglinton Castle were of frequent occurrence, and eminently distinguished for their display of musical ability, as well as the presence of the eclat of the county. These entertainments were, however, varied by others of a more enlivening and sometimes grotesque character, and the following graphic description of a masquerade, which took place at Eglinton Castle in 1809 as given in Paterson's Families of Ayrshire, and extracted from the columns of the Edinburgh Courant of that year, may not be uninteresting to our readers. —

"Among the social festivities which enliven Eglintoun Castle in Christmas times, on Tuesday last, (27th Dec. 1809), a grand masquerade was given by the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, which was attended by a very great portion of the fashion and gaiety of the country.
"About nine o'clock at night the company in masks began to arrive. When the Castle gate was thrown open, the transition from the natural winter night gloom. which pervaded the serpentine paths through the shadowy policy, to the dazzling effulgence of the brightness and splendour of the radiant halls, was superlatively striking. Fronting the door, in the centre hall, a beautiful transparent painting of the Eglintoun arms was fixed; in the niche of the saloon, opposite the grand organ, there was another transparency, representing Britannia, and above the door of the breakfast parlour, one representing an Italian dance. These, we understand, were by Mr Smith of Irvine. The taste and execution displayed, prove him to be an artist whose talents may be an acquisition to the country. Besides the ordinary lights which illuminated the entrance hall and saloon, hundreds of variegated lamps, in various fantastic forms, from the walls, from the fronts of the galleries of the saloon, and from the lustres, united in shedding rays like the meridian splendour of the sun-beams. On the railing of the staircase, a variety of evergreen shrubbery served to display variegated lamps, and to give equal light. At the entry to the large drawing-room, a gipsy den was situated; and in the middle of the room, on the right hand side, an inviting arbour, chequered with flowers, next to which a luxuriant display of evergreen shrubbery, all tastefully set off with variegated lamps, served, with the splendid mirrors, the rich furniture, and the noble grandeur of the apartments, to impress the spectator with the idea of an enchanted palace.
"Here, about ten o'clock, the characters in the masquerade had nearly assembled. Mr Sylvester Daggerwood, in capital style, was among the first who attracted notice. He was busily employed paying his respects to the company, soliciting their patronage to his benefit next Tuesday, and furnishing them with a bill of fare of the performances. Two farmers and a few sprightly country lasses seemed quite in character. A considerable group of old gentlemen, who seemed to have held commissions of the peace in the days of George the II., possessed of great garrulity, and very courteous address, afforded gallants to some ladies of similar standing, dressed in hoops, toupees, rich brocades, and apparently in a plurality of petticoats. One old gentleman in scarlet and gold, appeared to possess a peculiar knack of making himself agreeable to all; he also seemed to enjoy a waggish pleasure in quizzing a lawyer, who appeared to have little employment. A French hair-dresser industriously proffered his services; but he was in too loyal a society; instead of being encouraged by the gay and the fashionable, who seemed to dislike him for his country airs, and regard his bowing and scraping and fawning, as symptomatic of a spy, and as dangerous to be trusted as a domestic, he could only prevail on a clownish watchman to submit to his dressing. A german peasant, and a woman in the grotesque costume of the country, excited particular notice; many a sprightly waltz they danced together; for they seemed from Hungary; where the blasting influence of the Corsican satellites has not destroyed mirth and jollity, A joyous old fiddler seemed much pleased to be employed by them, and shook his elbows with as much spirit as they cut their whirling capers. A portly Dutch skipper and a few British sailors were well supported. A Jew appeared in very natural style, purchasing old clothes. A lawyer, a Turk with two ladies, and one with none, two Chinese, a doctor, an Indian Prince and Princess decked out with a profusion of gewgaws, a Hindoo Brahmin, a Pilgrim, and a Quaker, were all interesting characters. An interesting country maid, spinning with a distaff, a number of flower and fruit girls, especially one who trundled a wheel-barrow with apples, attracted considerable notice. A fine and appropriate figure of Diana, and also of the Goddess of Peace, drew general attention. Portraits of two of the noble family graced the walls of the apartment, dressed in Highland garb; and the appearance of Master Montgomerie, a nephew of the Earl's, in that attire, served to excite lively emotion and complacent anticipation. The Earl and the Countess were not masked, and mixed in the social throng with their characteristic affability and condescension. Our limits prevent us from noticing further this numerous and happy society. About one o'clock they withdrew; and after taking off their masks, and enjoying in the saloon a hearty laugh at the frolic they had been parties in, they adjourned to the dining-room, where a supper, in the most superb style of elegance and plenty, was served up, presenting part of all the delicacies of the season, a dessert of the most choice and rare fruit, and a profusion of the richest wines, &c.
"In the midst of this repast the gong sounded, and the ghost of the governor in Don Juan stalked through the saloon into the dining-room. Four fiddlers were seated on a form in the saloon. Astonishment struck three of them, and they started up; the fourth being seated at the end of the form, and blind, and not participating in the impression, as if to produce a kind of sympathetic contrast to his brethren, upset it, and fell to the floor.
"Among those who excited most attention in the characters they had assumed, were Lord and Lady Montgomerie, Lady Jane Montgomerie, Sir David and Colonel James Hunter Blair, Colonel and Mrs John Hamilton, Mr Solicitor-General Boyle, Colonel Brisbane, Colonel Burnet, Colonel A. W. Hamilton, the Miss Hamiltons of Sundrum, Mr Montgomerie, and the Mr Montgomeries of Annick, Colonel and Captain White, Major Logan, &c., &c.
"On such occasions poets are generally inspired, and we have of course been favoured with the following song:—

"A Ballad,
To the tune of Hooly and Fairly [slowly and gently, cautiously]

In Eglinton Castle I take great delight,
Where I'm feasted all day and amused every night;
But to sing all its charms it would puzzle me fairly [certainly, indeed];
When I try at a rhyme it comes hooly and fairly.
Hooly and fairly hooly and fairly,
When I try at a rhyme it comes hooly and fairly

My Lord is benevolent, friendly and true
To his king and his country, he's rivalled by few;
This place shows his taste, that he's showed up so rarely;
Would you see all its beauties, gang hooly and fairly
Hooly, &c.

With cheerful good humour my Lady behold,
Who is always the same, and ne'er frigid and cold;
She's kind to the poor, when she sees them clad barely,
And in giving relief ne'er gangs hooly and fairly.
Hooly, &c.

Montgomerie sae [so] noble, and his lady sae sweet,
In Coilsfield's gay mansion have all things complete;
Love and wealth in their cup, fortune does not deal sparely,
Or, in filling it up, e'er cries hooly and fairly
Hooly, &c.

Lady Jean in her cottage, sae neatly set out,
I suspect is some goddess that's come here about,
To instruct a' our wives to gae trig [1] late and early;
Or in cleansing their house ne'er gang hooly and fairly.
Hooly, &c.

Now in this happy circle may pleasure abound,
And wit, mirth, and frolic, go cheerfully round,
Till Aurora peeps in to hint that 'tis early;
But I'm sure when we part 'twill be hooly and fairly.
Hooly and fairly, hooly and fairly,
I'm sure when we part 'twill be hooly and fairly.

[To be continued]
________________________________________
gae trig – be brisk, active, nimble, alert, clever.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:41 am

No. 12

Eglinton Family No. 7

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 11th August 1855

Alexander tenth Earl of Eglinton succeeded his father in 1729. In 1746 his lordship was appointed Governor of Dumbarton Castle; and on the accession of George III. to the throne, in 1760, he was nominated one of his Majesty's Lords of the Bed-chamber. At the general election, in 1761, his lordship was chosen one of the sixteen representatives of the Scottish Peerage, and was again elected, in 1768. In virtue of the act, passed in 1748, for the abolition of heritable jurisdictions, his lordship received for the heritable sheriffship of Renfrew, £5000; for the Regality of Cunninghame, £2000; and for the Bailliary of Kilwinning, £800; or altogether the sum of £7,800, in lieu of his claim of £12,000, as compensation for surrendering his rights to these offices. During the latter years of his life, his lordship devoted much of his time to the improvement of his extensive estates, and in fact he may be said to have been the first landed proprietor in Ayrshire, who, perceiving how imperfectly the soil was cultivated, exerted himself to introduce amongst his numerous tenantry those improved methods of husbandry, which, within the past century, have done so much to develop the agricultural resources of the county. On his accession to the earldom, in 1729, agricultural operations were conducted on the most slovenly and antiquated processes—the produce of the soil was meagre, when contrasted with its possible fertility, and the housing and implements of husbandry as well as the domestic condition of the farmer himself, were of the worst description. Chalmers, speaking of this period, draws a most deplorable picture of the state of agriculture in the county. "Farm houses," he says, "were mere hovels, having an open hearth or fireplace in the middle of the floor, the dung-hill at the door; the cattle starving, and the people wretched. There were no fallows, no green crops, no artificial grass, no carts, no waggons, no straw-yards, and hardly a potatoe or esculent root. The farms were generally divided between the in-field and the out-field land. The first received the whole manure, the second was almost relinquished in dispair". To remedy this untoward and unpromising state of things, the Earl adopted the most energetic measures. He brought from various parts of the kingdom several eminent practical farmers, who initiated his tenants into the most approved modes of levelling and straighting land, fallowing, drilling, turnip husbandry, and the managment of the dairy. He abolished the distinction of croft and field land, and the injudicious practice of overploughing,—introduced the rotation of crops, and bound his tenants to crop only one-third of their lands. He periodically traversed the whole extent of his estates, saw the progress which was made, entered into familiar conversation with his tenants, inquired into the obstacles which retarded their improvements, and planed[sic] and erected new farm-steadings, and opened up roads. The divisions and marches of the farms were newly arranged, long and straight fences were run through his estates, and he especially encouraged his tenants to green crop in fallow, and cultivate turnips and artificial grasses on an extensive scale; and, in order the better to infuse amongst the farmers a spirit of emulation in the race of improvement, he instituted an Agricultural Society, and presided over it for several years. These generous efforts of his lordship for ameliorating the condition of his tenantry, it might be supposed, would have met with the ready approbation, and hearty co-operation of those for whose benefit they were chiefly designed, but such was not the case. The farmers clung to their old habits and prejudices, they disliked the new methods of cultivation, held in particular abhorrence the article of rye-grass, as an "uncanny thing", and thought his lordship "wi' his new-fangled notions, wisna [wasn't] like his forbears," for he was "far owre fashious".[very troublesome]
But in the midst of his career of improvement, and when he was proving himself a benefactor of his kind by making "two blades of grass grow, where only one grew before", his lordship met an untimely death, having been mortally wounded by a shot from the gun of one Mungo Campbell, an exciseman. This unfortunate and fatal occurrence, which took place near Ardrossan, we have alluded to in the sketches of that place,* and the following description of the encounter we quote from Paterson's Families of Ayrshire:—

"On Tuesday the 24th of October 1769, his lordship left Eglinton Castle on horseback, his carriage and two servants attending him. He stopped at Ardrossan Parks, and observing two men on the sea-shore, one of them with a gun in his hand, a person of the name of Campbell, an excise officer at Saltcoats, whom he had detected killing game on his estates about twelve months before, but passed from prosecution on his promising not to repeat the offence, he rode to him and insisted on his delivering up his gun, which the latter refused to part with. The Earl, alighting from his horse, went towards Campbell, who cocked his gun, and retired, keeping it forward on his side and thigh, pointed towards his lordship. The servants then rode up, and a conversation ensued, Lord Eglinton reminding Campbell of his former offence, and insisted to have the gun—Campbell, on the other hand, acknowledged it; but added, that, if he had trespassed either formerly or at present, the law was open; that he was resolved not to part with his gun; that he would sooner part with his life; desiring Lord Eglinton to keep off if he regarded his own. The Earl replied that he could use a gun as well as he, and ordered one of his servants to fetch his fowling piece from the carriage. In the meantime he kept still advancing and gaining on Campbell, circling and winding to avoid the muzzle of the gun. Campbell retired backwards till he stumbled on a stone and fell. In rising he fired at Lord Eglinton, then within three or four yards of him, and lodged the charge in his left side. His lordship laying his hand on the wound, walked some paces from the place, which was wet, and within tide-mark, and sat down on a green hillock, telling his servants that he was mortally wounded—adding that he intended no harm to Campbell, as his gun, which had been brought from his carriage a moment before, was not loaded. He was put into his coach, and carried to Eglinton Castle, where he arrived a little before twelve o'clock. A physician and several surgeons were there before he reached it. All assistance was unavailing. He employed himself in giving orders, and writing directions about his affairs, making provision for his servants, and comforting his near relations, in which he discovered a tenderness, composure, and magnanimity that affected every person present. He died next morning. Sincere and steady in his friendships, and possessed of all the more amiable virtues, his lordship's death was long and painfully regretted".

At the time of his death his lordship was 46 years of age, having been born about 1722. Dying unmarried, he was succeeded in the titles and estates by his brother, the Hon. Archibald Montgomery.—Archibald eleventh Earl of Eglinton was born about 1723. He early embraced the profession of arms, and by his eminent military talents rose rapidly to a high rank in the army. In 1751, he was Major of the 36th regiment; and in 1775 [should be 1757] he raised a regiment of Highlanders, which he accompanied to America, where he greatly distinguished himself in several important expeditions, especially in one against the Cherokees, when by his energy and tact, he succeeded in reducing that powerful Indian tribe to obedience. He was elected Member of Parliament for the county of Ayr in 1761; and was in the same year appointed one of the equerries in waiting to the Queen, which office he held till his succession to the earldom in 1766. In 1764 he was appointed Governor of Dumbarton Castle; Deputy Ranger of St. James' and Hyde Parks in 1766; and Col. of the 51st regiment in 1767. In 1776 he was chosen one of the sixteen representatives of the Scottish Peerage; and was again re-chosen at the elections in 1780, 1784, and 1790. He was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1782, and had the Colonelcy of the Scots Greys in 1795. He was successfully raised to the rank of Major General in 1772, to that of Lieutenant General in 1777, and of General in 1793. His lordship zealously adopted and completed the plans left by his brother for the improvement of the farms on the family estates. As old leases expired he sub-divided the lands anew, abolished the small farms, and erected them into large ones, built new and commodious farm steadings and bound the tenants to certain rotations of cropping. His Lordship, after a very active life spent in the service of his country, died at Eglinton Castle, on 30th October, 1796, aged 73. He was twice married—first to Lady Jean Lindsay, eldest daughter of George eighteenth Earl of Craufurd, who died without issue, in 1778, aged 21 years. He married, secondly, Francis[sic], daughter of Sir William Twysden, Bart., of Raydon Hall, in Kent, by whom he had issue—Two daughters; 1, Lady Mary, born 5th March, 1787, married to Archibald Lord Montgomery, eldest son of Hugh, twelfth Earl of Eglinton; 2, Lady Susan, born 26th May, 1788, who died on the 16th November, 1805, aged 17. His Lordship having died without male issue, the family estate devolved on Hugh Montgomery of Coilsfield, his Lordship's cousin. We therefore turn aside to trace the descent of the

MONTGOMERIES OF COILSFIELD

Colonel James Montgomery was the fourth son of Alexander sixth Earl of Eglinton.† He acquired the estate of Coilsfield by purchase. In common with the nobles of the period he actively joined in the dispute between Charles I. and the Covenanters, and subsequently the English Parliament. His firm adherence to the party of the King, in whose army he held the rank of Colonel, drew down upon him the displeasure of the presbyterian party, and he, along with his brother, Hugh Lord Montgomery, was declared incapable of holding any public office. But in 1650, on the rescinding of the act of Classes, Colonel Montgomery, was "on the recommendation of the General Assembly, declared capable of publicke employment, and all acts of restraint which had been passed against him were repealed." Colonel Montgomery died in 1675. He married the only daughter of Eneas Lord Macdonald of Ares, by whom he had issue—two sons; 1, Alexander, who succeeded his father; 2, Hugh, who succeeded his brother; and three daughters; 1, Margaret, married to John Chalmers of Gardgirth[sic]; 2, Mary, married to Dunbar of Machrimore; 3, Elizabeth, married to Kennedy of Kirkmichael. He was succeeded in the estate of Coilsfield by his eldest son Alexander, who died soon after, and was succeeded by his brother—Hugh Montgomery, who married, first, Jean, daughter of Sir William Primrose of Carrington, by whom he had three daughters; —, the eldest, married to William Hamilton of Letham; —, the second, married to Thomas Girvan, Esq., —, the third, married to — Burnet, Esq. He married, secondly, Catherine Arbuckle, relict of Hamilton of Letham, by whom he had issue, one son, Alexander; and two daughters; 1, Margaret, married to John Hamilton of Jamaica; 2, Catherine, who died unmarried. He was succeeded in the estate of Coilsfield, by his eldest son Alexander.

To be continued.

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* Ardrossan No. 3

Eglinton Family No. 5

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Sat Oct 15, 2022 12:05 pm

No. 11

Eglinton Family No. 6

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 04th August 1855


Alexander ninth Earl of Eglinton, married thirdly, Susanna, daughter of Sir Archibald Kennedy of Colzean[sic], Bart., by whom he had issue three sons; 1, James Lord Montgomery, who died young; 2, Alexander Lord Montgomery who succeeded his father; 3, Hon. Archibald Montgomery, who, on the death of his brother, in 1769, succeeded to the earldom; and seven daughters: 1, Lady Elizabeth, married to Sir David Cuninghame of Caprington, Bart.; 2, Lady Helen, married to Lieut.-Col. John Stewart; 3, Lady Margaret, married to Sir Alexander McDonald of Slate, Bart.; 4, Lady Susanna, married to John Renton of Lamerston; 5, Lady Christian, married to James Moray of Abercairney; 6, Lady Francis; 7, Lady Grace, married to Cornet [second lieutenant] Boyne[sic] of Bland's Dragoons [3rd (The King's Own) Hussars].
Susanna Countess of Eglinton[1] was celebrated for her beauty, and remarkable for a manner peculiar to herself, which was long remembered as the "Eglinton air, or Eglinton manner". Her Ladyship is also remembered as the liberal patron of Allan Ramsay, [William] Hamilton of Bangour, and a number of less memorable poets. The Gentle Shepherd was placed under her Ladyship's protection, and in the dedication to that pastoral, Allan did not perhaps overstrain "a just praise" when he attributed to her Ladyship the possession of every outward charm in the most perfect degree, "as well as being conspicuous among her sex, for her "penetration, superior wit, profound judgment, and the unfading beauties of wisdom and piety"; and Hamilton of Bangour, in the prefatory verses prefixed to the same poem, gives a like character to her Ladyship, and in passing pays a not unmerited compliment to her daughters:—

" In virtues rich, in goodness unconfined,
Thou shin'st a fair example of thy kind;
Sincere, and equal to thy neighbours' fame,
How swift to praise and obstinate to blame.
Bold in thy presence bashfulness appears,
And backward merit loses all its fears.
Supremely blest by Heaven, Heaven's richest grace
Confest is thine—an early blooming race;
Whose pleasing smiles shall guardian wisdom arm—
Divine instruction:—taught of thee to charm,
What transports shall they to thy soul impart
(The conscious transports of a mother's heart),
When thou behold'st them of each grace possessed,
And sighing youths imploring to be blest!
After thy image formed, with charms like thine,
Or in the visit or the dance to shine.
Thrice happy who succeed their mother's praise,
The lovely Eglintouns of other days".

When living in retirement at Auchans, her Ladyship was visited by Johnson and Boswell, who were then returned from their tour in the Hebrides, and she seems to have left a highly favourable impression on the sturdy Dr.
The account given by Boswell of this interview is interesting as confirming Ramsay and Hamilton's character of her Ladyship. "Lady Eglintoune," he says, "though she was now in her eighty-fifth year; and had lived in the retirement of the country for almost half a century, was still a very agreeable woman. She was of the noble house of Kennedy, and had all the elevation which a consciousness of such birth inspires. Her figure was majestic, her manner high bred, her reading extensive, and her conversation elegant. She had been the admiration of the gay circles of life, and the patroness of poets. Dr. Johnson was delighted with his reception here. Her principles in church and state were congenial with his. She knew all his merit, and had heard much of him from her son, Earl Alexander, who loved to cultivate the acquaintance of men of talents in every department. In the course of our conversation this day, it came out that Lady Eglintoune was married the year before Dr. Johnson was born, upon which she graciously said to him that she might have been his mother, and that she now adopted him; and, when we were going away, she embraced him, saying, "My dear son, farewell! My friend was much pleased with this day's entertainment, and owned that I had done well to force him out". Her Ladyship lived for 51 years after the death of the Earl, her husband, dying at Auchans, in 1780, at the advanced age of 91 years.

[1] Susanna Montgomery
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Since the publication of our last sketch, we have been kindly favoured with abstracts of a number of curious old letters and other valuable documents, at present in the Charter Chest at Eglinton Castle. The dates of these documents range from 1509 to 1661; and as they contain much which tends to throw additional light on several points of interest in our three last sketches, we take the liberty of presenting extracts from a few of them to our readers.—
Under date 6th June 1509 we find a discharge by James Archbishop of Glasgow, to Hugh first Earl of Eglinton for the sum of one hundred Merks for the composition of the ward of certain lands in the shire of Renfrew.* On the 18th December 1515, Colin Earl of Argyle granted an acknowledgment to his "Ant Elyn Countess of Eglintoun"* for ane chenzie (chain) of gold containing five ounces and half-ane ounce, and three score and twelve links; and ane silver piece containing seven and three-quarter ounces. By the same document he binds himself, or his heirs to deliver these articles, without claim, to the Countess or her heirs, between the date of the writ, and the feast of Fastern's eve [Shrove Tuesday] thereafter. Helen, Countess of Eglinton was the daughter of Colin first Earl of Argyle. By a letter of King James the Fifth, His Majesty, with the consent of his mother the Queen regent, constituted and ordained Hugh, first Earl of Eglinton, "his very lawful and undoubted Bailie and Chamberlain of all and haill [complete] the lands and lordship of Stewarton". This letter bears date 10th September, 1524. In the feud which then raged between the Earls of Eglinton and Glencairn, and in one of the hostile encounters then frequent between these two powerful families, Edward Cuningham of Auchenharvie was slain. For this deed the Earl of Eglinton was called upon "to stand an assize," or trial, which upon refusing to do he was outlawed. But he subsequently complied, and James V. on the 5th September, 1528, (15th year of his reign) granted a discharge, in which he revoked the gift made formerly, by him, "to Archibald Earl of Angus, and William Master of Glencairn, his eme (nephew) of the unlaws (outlawry) and Escheats of Hugh Ear] of Eglinton for the slaughter of Umquhil [late] Edward Cuningham of Auchenharvie", because we are told "the Earl of Eglinton had now stood an assize for the said slaughter and was made white (cleared) thereof". It will be remembered that the claim of Sir Alexander Setoun to the title of Earl of Eglinton, was for some time held in abeyance, and several of the documents give some particulars regarding the steps taken to prevent him from taking the name and honours of Eglinton.† In a letter by King James VI. to Lord Binning, his secretary, and Sir William Oliphant Knight, his advocate, his Majesty requires them to cause Sir Alexander Montgomery in their presence to resign all claim and right, which he might in anywise have pretended to the style of Earl of Eglinton; and to cause him to exhibit unto them, in writing, a sufficient resignation of the said style and dignity, signed with his own hand, to be kept, ad futuram re memoriam [for future reference]. This document is dated 29th January, 1615. It would appear that Sir Alexander made the required resignation soon after this date, for in another letter of James VI. to the same noblemen, dated the last day of February, 1615, we find the king requiring them to advise, before giving the infeftment out of their hands, whether anything should be added to the demission of the style and dignity of the Earl of Eglinton, executed by the said Sir Alexander Montgomery, so as it might be made every way sufficient in law. Under the same date there is another letter to Lord Binning and Sir William Oliphant, anent [alongside] the signature of the Earl of Eglinton, and which enjoins them to give information to the officers and keepers of the Seals and Registers not to suffer any infeftment of tailzie [entail] and others, containing the translation of the dignity of Lord of Parliament, to pass, unless it be passed under his Majesty's own hand. Sir Alexander seems to have been shortly after this permitted to assume the name and honours of Eglinton. From another letter of James VI. to Alexander sixth Earl of Eglinton, dated 19th October, 1616, we are presented with a curious picture of the state of the law, and the extent of the royal prerogative in the seventeenth century. In it the Earl is authorised to hawk and hill, with long-winged hawks, all sorts of fowls, with the exception of partridges and muir-fowl, and to hunt hares with rackes [consideration?], giving them (the hares) fair play, and not hunting them with greyhounds. It also appears that Alexander sixth Earl of Eglinton received in 1619, a license from the Lords of the Secret Council, to eat flesh during the forbidden time of lent. This document, is followed by another, bearing date the 6th March, 1622, in which the indulgence is renewed to his lordship, and all other persons, who shall accompany him at his table, to eat flesh during the term of lent, and also upon Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, for the space of one year from the date of the license. We have already alluded to the part which Alexander sixth Earl of Eglinton took in the struggles between Charles I. and the Covenanters. There are several documents relating to the transactions of that period, and amongst them a letter from General David Leslie to the Earl, in which the movements of the Marquis of Montrose is detailed, and intimation given that he is marching from the north upon Glasgow, and Leslie entreats the Earl to use all speed in getting the new levies of men in readiness for active service, and to take measures to put the country in a posture of defence. This letter is dated from Arbroath, 12th October, 1643. On the 3rd of October, 1648, the Earl received intimation to attend "a General Meeting of the Committee, (of Estates), to be kept at St. Andrews, upon Tuesday, the 24th instant, for considering of such things as are to be offered by the English Commissioners, and for settling the affairs of the kingdom". Alexander Earl of Eglinton was a zealous Covenanter, and delighted in befriending the Ministers of the Gospel when overtaken by misfortune or persecution, occurrences but too frequent in that troublous period. We accordingly find Mr Samuel Rutherford, in 1649, soliciting his lordship's protection and assistance for "ane honest youth, Mr Alexander Pitcairn, regent in the old College"; and Mr Robert Wodrow, in 1650, entreating his lordship to send to his aid half-a-dozen troopers. During the dissensions between Charles I. and the Covenanters, and subsequently the English Parliament, Hugh Lord Montgomery, afterwards seventh Earl of Eglinton, joined the king's party, and was in his army at the battle of Marston-Moor.† In a letter from King Charles I., dated at Whitehall, the 22nd day of March, 1639, addressed "To our Right Trustie and well-beloved the Lord Montgomery," his lordship is requested "to make immediate and personal repair" to the king's presence; and in a subsequent commission without a date, from the same king, his lordship is invested with all the powers and privileges appertaining to the office of a Colonel of Horse or foot; and he is at the same time ordered to convocate the Committees of War, in the Bailliary of Cunninghame, and Sheriffdom of Renfrew, that they may appoint the necessary levies of horse and foot for the king's service, as well as to collect all those that were levied for Colonel Gilbert Kerr's regiment, wherever they were to be found.


To be continued.

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* Eglinton No. 3

Eglinton No. 5

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Wed Oct 12, 2022 3:40 pm

No. 10

Eglinton Family No. 5

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 21st July 1855


The Abbacy of Kilwinning having been erected, in 1592, into a temporal lordship in favour of William Melville, of Raith, who was then Commendator, he soon after transferred the right to Hugh fifth Earl of Eglinton. This transfer was subsequently (in 1603), confirmed by a charter from James VI., in which he granted anew to the Earl, his heirs, and assignees, the dissolved Abbey of Kilwinning, with all its lands and titles, whether in property or superiority, and which erected the same into a temporal lordship, along with the patronage of the parish churches belonging thereto. His lordship married, first, Lady Jane Hamilton, daughter of the Duke of Chatelherault, who died about 1596; and, secondly, Margaret, daughter and sole heiress of Robert Montgomery of Giffen, neither of whom had issue. He died in 1613, and, not having left issue, was succeeded, according to a previous agreement between the Earl of Eglinton and the Earl of Winton, by Sir Alexander Seaton, of Foulstruther, second son of the Earl of Winton, and of Lady Margaret, daughter of Hugh third Earl of Eglinton. But that settlement having been made to the prejudice of Sir Neil Montgomery of Lainshaw, who was the nearest male heir, and without the sanction of the crown, James VI. refused to acknowledge Sir Alexander's claim to the earldom. About two years afterwards, in 1615, the King appears to have acceded to his claim, and Sir Alexander then took the title of Earl of Eglinton.—Alexander sixth Earl of Eglinton was a member of the Privy Council of Charles I.; but being a zealous Covenanter he was early induced to join the defenders of the independence of the Scottish Church, in their opposition to the introduction of the prelatical measures by which the King hoped to subvert its liberties. He was with the army of the Covenanters which encountered and routed a part of the English army at Kelso, and which subsequently encamped, in the beginning of June 1639, at Dunse Law. Here the King, perceiving the determined front opposed to him by the Covenanters, and the utter disaffection and daily desertions that had commenced amongst his own troops, proposed the opening of negotiations for peace. A treaty having been concluded, in which the King conceded to the Covenanters the right "to enjoy their religion and liberties, according to the ecclesiastical and civil laws of the kingdom", the army was immediately disbanded. But the King, who never intended to keep faith with his Scottish subjects in a question which he believed struck at the root of his authority, broke the treaty; and the following year (1640) saw the Covenanting army again assembled, and marched into England. It encountered the English army at Newburn, which disputed the passage of the river Tyne, but being attacked with great impetuosity, it was soon driven from its position, and compelled to retreat. This defeat and the increasing disaffection of his English subjects, forced the King to conclude a peace with the Covenanters, and the army returned to Scotland. In 1642 the Earl of Eglinton went to Ireland with the Scottish forces, raised for the purpose of putting down the rebellion which had broken out there. On the breaking out of the civil war between Charles I. and the Parliament, the Earl espoused the cause of the latter, and was with the Parliamentary army at the battle of Long- Marston-Moor, in 1644. When Charles II. arrived, however, in Scotland, in 1650, the Earl, along with the other presbyterian nobles, joined his standard, and was appointed Captain of the King's Horse Guards. The welcome which Charles experienced on his lauding in Scotland, was in the highest degree hearty and spontaneous, and the inhabitants of the capital, carried away by the generous ardour of their loyalty, were especially enthusiastic in their demonstrations of joy, celebrating the auspicious event, "by setting furth of [out] bailfyres [beacon fires], ringing of bells, sounding of trumpets, dancing through the streets all that night. The puir kaill-wyffes [poor kale- women] at the Trone [Tron, weighing machine] sacrificed their creills [wicker baskets], and the very stooles they sat upon, to the fire". But this unanimity was not of long duration. The bitter dissensions in the church, which had arisen out of the Act of Classes, passed in 1649, again burst into a flame, and raged with such intensity, that the predominating party compelled Charles to discharge from his army all those who were suspected of malignancy. To this class the Earl of Eglinton, and several of the leading nobles, as well as a considerable number of the inferior officers and the common soldiers, had the misfortune to belong. The purgation of the army accordingly took place a few days before the battle of Dunbar, and almost in sight of the invading army under Cromwell; and to that impolitic measure, dictated by party rancour, the disastrous results which followed that engagement were mainly to be attributed. But in the December following 1550 [1650?], the Parliament which met at Perth, anxious to put an end to a division, which excluded from active service the flower of the army—proposed the question, "what persons are to be admitted to rise in arms, and to join with the forces of the kingdom, and in what capacity for defence thereof, against the armies of the sectaries who contrary to the Solemn League and Covenant and Treaties, have most unjustly invaded and are destroying the kingdom?" adopted resolutions favourable, under certain limitations to the admission of all persons able to bear arms. This measure, which led to the rescinding of the Act of Classes, seems to have again permitted the Earl to take an active port in the defence of the kingdom against the arms of Cromwell, for in 1651, we find him engaged in raising troops for the King's army, in Dumbartonshire[sic]. While on this service, he was, however, surprised and taken prisoner by a party of English horsemen, and sent to Hull, from whence he was subsequently conveyed to Berwick-on-Tweed. On the restoration of Charles II. to the English throne, in 1660, he was released, and his estates, which had been sequestrated, were restored. His lordship died in the month of January, 1661. He was twice married, first to Lady Ann Livingstone, daughter of the Earl of Linlithgow, who died in 1632, and by whom he had issue; five sons; 1, Hugh Lord Montgomery; 2, Sir Henry Montgomery of Giffen; 3, Sir Alexander Montgomery; 4, Colonel James Montgomery of Coilsfield; 5, Major-General Robert Montgomery, who greatly distinguished himself during the civil wars; and one daughter; Lady Margaret, married, first, to John first Earl of Tweeddale; and, secondly, to William Earl of Glencairn. His lordship married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Walter Lord Buccleugh, who died in 1651; without issue. —Hugh seventh Earl of Eglinton succeeded his father, in 1661. He was with the Presbyterian army which invaded England, in 1640, and took part in the skirmish at Newburn; but he subsequently went over to the side of the King, and fought in his behalf at Marston-Moor in 1644. In consequence of his adherence to the royal cause he was declared ineligible to public employment; but on the rescinding of the Act of Classes in 1650, he was relieved from his civil disability. In the following year vigorous measures having been taken for the defence of the kingdom, by the Committee of Estates, against the army of the Sectaries, it was "ordered that Lord Montgomery have 6 barrels of that powder which belongs to the publicke, for the defence of his house, for which the said Lord is to be comptable[accountable] to the publicke for". He was one of the noblemen exempted from Cromwell's Act of Grace and Pardon, in 1654. His lordship died in 1669. He was twice married, first to Lady Anne Hamilton, daughter of the Marquis of Hamilton, by whom he had issue one daughter; Lady Ann married to James Earl of Findlater. He married secondly, Lady Mary Leslie, daughter of the Earl of Rothes, by whom he had issue, two sons; 1, Alexander Lord Montgomery: 2, Hon. Francis Montgomery of Giffen; and five daughters; 1, Lady Mary, married to George Earl of Winton; 2, Lady Margaret, married to James Earl of Loudon; 3, Lady Christian, married to John Lord Balmerino; 4, Lady Eleanor, married to Sir David Dunbar of Baldoon; 5. Lady Anne, married to Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall.—Alexander eight Earl of Eglinton succeeded his father. He was prominently engaged in the Revolution of 1688; and in 1689, was appointed a member of the Privy Council. His lordship died in 1701. He married Lady Elizabeth, daughter of William Earl of Dumfries, and had issue three sons; 1, Alexander Lord Montgomery; 2, Major Hugh Montgomery; 3, Major John Montgomery; and one daughter, Lady Mary, married to Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochaw. —Alexander ninth Earl of Eglinton succeeded his father in 1701. Prior to his accession to the earldom he took an active interest in political affairs, and held several important offices under the Crown. He was one of the Commissioners of the Treasury to King William as well as one of the Privy Council, and in 1700 he sat in Parliament, by virtue of the king's Letter, in the stead of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. In the commotions which followed on the rebellion of 1715, his lordship was a strenuous supporter of the government, and displayed great zeal in the raising and disciplining of the Ayrshire fencible men, 6000 of whom were assembled at Irvine, on the 22nd of August 1715, for the purpose of being trained. After a life of great activity and usefulness, his lordship died in 1729. He was thrice married, first to Lady Margaret Cochrane, daughter of William Earl of Dundonald, by whom he had issue—two sons; 1, Hugh Master of Eglinton, who died in 1696; 2, Master William, who also died young; and four daughters; 1, Lady Catherine, married to James Earl of Galloway; Lady Euphemia, married to George Lockhart of Carnwath, Esq.; 3, Lady Grace, married to Robert Earl of Carnwath; 4, Lady Jean, married to Sir Alexander Maxwell of Monreith. His lordship married, secondly, Lady Anne Gordon, daughter of George Earl of Aberdeen, by whom he had issue one daughter, Lady Mary, married to Sir David Cuninghame of Milncraig.

To be continued.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Sat Oct 08, 2022 1:25 pm

No. 9

Eglinton Family No. 4

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 14th July 1855


Hugh second Earl of Eglinton, eldest son of John Lord Montgomery, succeeded his grandfather in 1525. He is probably the Lord Montgomery mentioned along with his grandfather, the Earl of Eglinton, as being summoned to meet James V. at Stirling, in 1528, immediately after his escape from Falkland. About this time, he was one of the Justiciaries of Scotland, as appears from an entry in the Lord Treasurer's accounts for 1529. "To Lord Montgomery, Justice, remanand continualie at the Airis [itinerant courts of justice] of Forfar, Perth, and Couper, fra the first day of Januar to the XXIII day of Februar, to his expences i.e. XX li [20 pounds]". He died on the 3rd of September, 1529. His lordship married Marion, daughter of George Lord Seytoun, by whom he had issue, one son, Hugh; and two daughters; 1, Agnes, married to Thomas Kennedy, of Bargany; 2, Margaret, —. Hugh, third Earl of Eglinton, succeeded his father in 1546. He was one of the nobles who accompanied Mary Queen of Scots from France to Scotland in 1561, on which occasion the vessel which contained the Earl was captured by an English cruiser and carried into port. This was done in accordance with secret instructions received from the Queen of England, who had resolved upon intercepting Mary, while on her passage, but the ship in which she was, fortunately escaped the English cruiser under cover of a fog, and arrived safely at the port of Leith. When, therefore, it was discovered that the object of their search had escaped, the vessel was released and permitted to put out again to sea. He was throughout a warm supporter of Mary, and ardently, though prudently, espoused her cause during the distracted period that followed her ascension of the throne, and marriage with Lord Darnley. He is also believed to have been in the Parliament, convened to meet at Edinburgh, on the 12th of April, 1567, for the trial of the Earl of Bothwell, who was accused of being a leading participator in the murder of the King Consort, Lord Darnley, and which acquitted that nobleman of the charges brought against him. On the rising of the Parliament, the Earl of Bothwell entertained his supporters and several of the leading noblemen at a supper, in a then noted tavern in Edinburgh, kept by a person named Ansley, and known as "Ansley's supper", at which the Earl of Eglinton was present. In the course of the evening the house was surrounded by a party of armed men, and immediately thereafter, the Earl of Bothwell surprised his guests by rising and soliciting their signatures to a document, sanctioning his marriage with the Scottish Queen, at the same time producing, it is said, the written consent of Mary herself. During the confusion consequent upon that sudden and unexpected proceeding, the Earl of Eglinton contrived to effect his escape from the house, and was the only nobleman present, who evaded lending the sanction of his name to the ambitious project of Bothwell. We again find the Earl amongst the leading nobles and barons who met at Stirling, in the month of May following, to concert measures for preserving the young Prince (afterwards James VI.), from the power of the Earl of Bothwell. At that meeting, the associated lords entered into a "band", wherein they solemnly bound themselves "to defend (each) other in all things that shall concern the glory of God, and Commonweal of their country"; and, it may be remarked that this coalition subsequently led to the deposition and imprisonment of Mary, and the banishment of Bothwell. Notwithstanding, however, his participation in the deposition of Mary, and the triumph of the nobles, the Earl of Eglinton does not appear to have wholly renounced his allegiance to the unfortunate Queen, but rather seems to have viewed the measures taken by the confederates as being attended with too much severity and rigour. Accordingly, on her escape from Lochleven, in 1568, he was one of the first to join her standard. He fought in her behalf at the fatal battle of Langside; and only saved himself from being made prisoner by taking refuge in a house contiguous to the field, where he lay concealed until the darkness of the night favoured his escape. He acted with the party of the Queen up to 1669-70 [1569-70]; but in the latter year he seems to have given in his adhesion to the Regent Lennox, as he is mentioned among the nobles present at the Parliament, known as "the Parliament with the hole in it", which was held at Stirling, in August of that year; and was taken prisoner on the fourth of September following, when the town of Stirling was surprised by the Earl of Huntley, and other noblemen in the Queen's interest. The Earl of Eglinton, along with several of the leading nobles, appears to have fallen under the displeasure of James VI. soon after his ascension of the throne, for we find him in the list of the seven lords, to whom the King sent intimation that their services would be dispensed with, at the Parliament held at Edinburgh in 1581. This procedure arose, no doubt, from their avowed hostility to the two royal favourites—the Earl of Lennox and Captain James Stewart. Lennox had recently been made a Duke, and Stewart had received a gift of the earldom of Arran; and the Parliament was expected to confirm these favours of the King. It was therefore considered necessary, in order to preserve a show of unanimity, that none should be present except those who would readily sanction with their approval, the measures passed in favour of Lennox and Arran. But the opposition to those noblemen was not to be so easily got rid of. In the year following, 1582, an association was organised consisting of the leading Protestant lords, of whom the Earl of Eglinton was one, and the more influential ministers, for the overthrow of Lennox, who was believed to be a secret abettor of popery; and which association, calumniated in the Gowrie conspiracy, or "Raid of Ruthven", when the King was forcibly seized and kept a prisoner, Lennox was sent into exile, and Arran committed to prison. The Earl of Eglinton married first, Lady Jane Hamilton, daughter of James, Duke of Chatelherault, and Earl of Arran, Governor of Scotland during the minority of Mary, Queen of Scots; but the marriage was dissolved in 1562, on account of the parties standing in the fourth degree of consanguinity, and the Pope having refused to grant the necessary dispensation. He married secondly, Agnes, daughter of Sir John Drummond, of Innerpeffar[sic], and had issue, two sons; 1, Hugh ,Lord Montgomery; 2, Robert Montgomery, of Giffen; and two daughters; 1, Lady Margaret, married to Robert first Earl of Winton; 2, Lady Agnes, married to Robert Lord Temple. His lordship died in 1585, and was succeeded by his eldest son,—Hugh, fourth Earl of Eglinton. He is said to have been with the army of Mary, Queen of Scots, at the battle of Langside, in 1568; and is mentioned in the list of the 300 lords and gentlemen who were taken prisoners on that occasion. But this could not be if he was the eldest son of the third Earl of Eglinton, by Agnes, his second wife, as this marriage is said to have taken place after 1562, for in that case his lordship could not be more than six years of age at the date of the battle of Langside. In order therefore to explain this difficulty, the second marriage must be assigned an earlier date, or the incorrectness of the list, above mentioned, assumed. While crossing the Annock [Annick] water, at Stewarton, on the 10th of April, 1586, he was attacked and murdered by a party of the Cuninghames. This arose out of the old feud existing between the Eglinton and Glencairn families. His lordship is said to have been twice married: first to Lady Giles, daughter of Robert Lord Boyd, by whom Paterson says he had his successor, Hugh; but there is probably a mistake here, for in the list of nobles drawn up and sent to England in 1692 [1592], the mother of Hugh, is stated to be the Earl's second wife, Helen, daughter of Thomas Kennedy, of Bargany [sic]. He was succeed by his only son, Hugh, who at his father's death was a minor.—Hugh, fifth Earl of Eglinton, is mentioned as one of the nobles who went to Edinburgh, accompanied by their armed retainers, on the day of trial of Campbell, of Ardkinglass, who was accused of the murder of the Laird of Calder. Ardkinglass was a distant relation of the Eglinton family; Colin Campbell, of Ardkinglass, having married Lady Maude, third daughter of Hugh, first Earl of Eglinton. On this occasion, however, the trial of Campbell was seized by the more powerful nobles, as well as the lesser barons, as a pretext for a demonstration of their strength in order to further the aims of the several political parties to which they belonged. And so great was the terror inspired by the presence of the numerous bands of armed men, which assembled in the city, that the inhabitants were kept under arms day and night, and the Lords of Session who tried Campbell, were under the necessity of raising a body of three hundred men for their own protection. It is true, however, that the assassination of the Laird of Calder arose out of the feud, then existing, between the powerful houses of Moray and Huntley—a quarrel in which the greater part of the nobility, were more or less implicated. Campbell of Calder was known to have been one of the party, which some years before, set fire to Moray's house, of Dunnibirrel, and killed the Earl himself. To exact revenge for his participation in that outrage, as well as to settle some private grudge Ardkinglass, is said, to have hired a person named Mackellar, to assassinate Calder, a task which he accomplished under circumstances of unusual atrocity; and the consequences of the infamous deed, forms the subject of one of those beautiful ballads, with which our old Scottish lyrical literature abounds:


BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL.
Hie upon Hielands
And low upon Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell
Rade [Rode] out on a day.
Saddled and bridled
And gallant rade he;
Hame [Home] came his gude [good] horse,
But never cam he!

Out cam his auld mither [old mother]
Greeting fu' sair,[crying bitterly]
And out cam his bonnie bride
Rivin' [tearing out] her hair.
Saddled and bridled
And booted rade he;
Toom [Empty] hame came the saddle;
But never cam he!

"My meadow lies green,
And my corn is unshorn.
My barn is to big,
And my babe unborn."
Saddled and bridled
And booted rade he;
Toom hame came the saddle,
But never came he!


To be continued.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Mon Oct 03, 2022 1:33 pm

No. 8

Eglinton Family No. 3

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 07th July 1855


Sir John Montgomery, as stated in our last, was at the battle of Otterburne, where he took Sir Henry Percy prisoner. He is also said to have captured and carried away from the field, the spear and pennon of Percy, which were afterwards deposited in Eglinton castle, where we understand they still remain. The restoration of these trophies appear to have been demanded by the late Earl of Northumberland, the representative of the noble House of Percy; and Paterson relates an anecdote highly characteristic of the late Earl of Eglinton, who, in answer to the request, replied,—"There is as good lea land here as any at Chevy-Chase—let Percy come and take them." Sir John, is believed to have died about 1392. He had four sons-1, Hugh, who was killed at Otterburne; 2, John, who succeeded his father ; 3, --------; 4, Hugh, who being of the same name as his eldest brother, would seem to have been born after his death.—Sir John de Montgomery, second son of Sir John, succeeded his father in the estates of Eaglesham, Eglinton, and Ardrossan. He was one of the Barons, who in 1398, received charters from Robert III., conferring upon them annuities, on the condition of their defending the king, and his son, the Earl of Carrick, against all enemies whether in time of peace or war.
We also find Lord Montgomery mentioned as receiving from Donald, Lord of Isles, the person believed to have been the dethroned Richard II. of England. Richard, as is well known, was deposed by Henry IV., who confined him first in the tower of London, and subsequently in Pontefract Castle, where he found means to elude the vigilance of his keepers and effect his escape. Having landed, in disguise, on the Western Isles of Scotland, he was recognised as Richard II. by an Irish lady, wife to Donald's brother, who had previously seen him in Ireland. Upon these suspicions being communicated to Donald, he retained the fugitive king in custody, until an opportunity occurred of delivering him into the charge of Lord Montgomery, by whom he was carried to Stirling Castle. But we will allow Winton himself to describe this circumstance—

"Bot in the Owt-Ilys of Scotland than
Thare wes traveland a pure man.
A Lordis douchtyr of Ireland
Of the Bissetis, thare dwelland
Wes weddit wyth a Gentylman,
The Lord of the Ilys bruthir than.
In Ireland before quhen scho had bene,
And the King Richard there had sene,
Quhen in the Islis scho saw this man,
Scho let that scho weil kend hym than.
Til hir Maistere sone scho past
And tauld there til hym als-sa-fast,
That he wes that King of Yngland.
That scho before saw in Ireland,
Quhen he wes therein before,
As scho drew there to memore;
Quhen til hir mastere this scho had tauld,
That man rycht sone he til hym cald.
And askit hym, gyf it wes swa.
That he denyit, and said nocht, ya.
Syn to the Lord off Montgwmery
That ilke man wes send in hy.
That ilke man syne eftyr that
Robert oure King off Scotland gat.
The Lord als off Cumbirnald
That man had a quhile to hald.
The Duke of Albany syne hym gat,
And held hym lang tyme eftyr that.
Quhethir he had bene King, or nane,
There wes bot few, that wyst certane.
Off devotioune nane he wes,
And seildyn will had till here Mes:
As he bare hym, like wes he
Oft half wod or wyld to be."
[Androw of Wyntoun, Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland]

This event must have occurred in 1400, or 1401, and not in 1404 as some have it, for we find that, previous to these dates, Henry IV. caused reports to be circulated throughout England, to the effect, that Richard had died in Pontefract Castle in 1399; and in order to authenticate these reports, he had a dead body, purported to be that of Richard, exposed to the view of the citizens of London, on the 12th of March of the same year. The exiled king is also said, by contemporary Scottish historians, to have died at Stirling Castle in 1419, after a residence of eighteen years; from which we would infer that he came to Scotland about 1401-2. John de Montgomery was one of the nobles who commanded the Scottish army, which entered England, under the Earl of Douglas, in 1402; and was present at the battle of Homildon Hill, where he was taken prisoner. In 1408 he was one of the hostages retained by Henry IV. for the return of the Earl of Douglas, who was made prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. His name also appears in the list of the twenty-eight nobles, selected as hostages for the ransom of James I. in 1423, and he is there designated " Johannis de Montgomery, miles de Ardrossane;" but he must have returned to Scotland in the year following, for he was one of the twenty-six nobles and barons, who, along with Murdoch, Duke of Albany, and his son, Lord Alexander Stewart, were arrested by James I., at the Parliament held at Perth, on the 12th of March, 1424. It seems, however, that he was shortly after liberated, as he was on the list of the twenty-one nobles and barons, who composed the jury on the trials of the Duke of Albany, Walter Stewart, Lord Alexander Stewart, his sons, and the Earl of Lennox, which took place at Stirling in the month of May, of the same year. Sir John died in 1429, and left issue—3 sons; 1, Alexander; 2, Robert; 3, Hugh; and three daughters; 1, Anne; 2, Janet; 3, Isabel. He was succeeded by his eldest son,—Alexander de Montgomery, who is designated of Ardrossan, in a commission, bearing date 1430, constituting him governor of Kintyre and Knapdale, in conjunction with Sir Robert Cuninghame of Kilmaurs. In 1438, he was one of the commissioners sent to England for the purpose of concluding a truce; and was again employed on a similar mission in 1449. He is believed to have been created a peer of the realm, by James II., between 1439 and 1448, (Crawfurd says 1445) with the title of Lord Montgomery, of Ardrossan. Lord Montgomery was employed in various offices of trust and responsibility, both by James I. and his successor James II; and he was one of the nobles who affixed their seals to the instrument of forfeiture, passed by the Parliament held at Perth, on the 9th of June, 1455, against the rebel Lords, who had taken up arms in opposition to the Government of James II. His lordship married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Boyd, of Kilmarnock, by whom he had issue—four sons; 1, Alexander, who died before his father; 2, George, of Skelmorlie; 3, John, of Giffen; 4, Thomas, parson of Eaglesham; and four daughters; 1, Magaret(sic), married to the Earl of Lennox; 2, Janet; 3, Elizabeth, married Lord Kennedy; 4, Anne, married to William Cunninghame, of Glengarnock. —Alexander, Master of Montgomery, died in 1452. He was the first of the family who held the heritable Bailliary of Cunninghame, which, Crawfurd states, he acquired of Alexander Cuninghame, of Kilmaurs, in 1454. Paterson, however, says—"This could not be the case, as he was actually in possession of that office several years earlier, by a grant from James III., dated 31st January, 1448-9:" — "To Alexander de Montgomerie, eldest son of our dear cousin, Alexander Lord Montgomery." But the granter in this case must have been James II., as that monarch's reigns extended to 1460. Alexander de Montgomery married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Adam Hepburn, of Hailes, by whom he had three sons; 1, Alexander; 2, Robert, from whom was descended the Earls of Mount-Alexander, in Ireland; 3, Hugh, of Hesiihead, —Alexander, second Lord Montgomery, succeeded his grandfather, Alexander,. first Lord Montgomery, sometime after 1461. He is probably the Lord Montgomery mentioned in an indenture entered into, at Stirling, in 1465, by Robert Lord Fleming, on the one side, and Gilbert Lord Kennedy, and Sir Alexander Boyd, of Duchol, on the other, in which, amongst other provisions, they bind themselves to stand each to the other, in "afald [sincere] kindness, supply, and defence," in all causes or quarrels in which any of them then are, or may thereafter be engaged during the period of their lives. Amongst the list of those exempted as friends of Kennedy and Boyd, is Lord Montgomery. He married Catherine, daughter of Gilbert Lord Kennedy, and had issue—three sons; 1, Hugh; 2, James; 3, John; and one daughter, Helen, married to Sir James Bruce, of Airth. —Hugh, third Lord Montgomery, and first Earl of Eglinton, succeeded his father. He was in the first Parliament of James IV., held at Edinburgh, on the 6th of October, 1488; and was there appointed one of the commissioners charged with the searching for, and putting down those guilty of the crimes of theft, robbery, and murder, in the districts of Carrick, Ayr, Kyle, and Cunningham; and in the year following he was appointed one of the King's Privy Council. About this time a dispute seems to have arisen between Lord Montgomery, and Cuthbert Earl of Glencairn, regarding the title to the Bailliary of Cunninghame, which the Cuninghames claimed as belonging to them by right of old standing. This disagreement between these noble houses led, in accordance with the spirit of the times, to frequent reprisals and deadly encounters, which grew at last into an established feud; and we accordingly find Lord Montgomery obtaining from James IV., 1488, a remission for "throwing down the house of Kerrielaw (now Grange), and carrying off the goods". The Cuninghames, to whom Kerelaw then belonged, appear to have waited their time and exacted reparation for the injury thus inflicted by surprising and burning Eglinton Castle, in 1526. In this disaster the destruction of the charters and other family documents was envolved[sic]. In 1507-8, Lord Montgomery is said to have been created Earl of Eglinton; but Crawfurd, quoting from " the Decreet of Ranking," says 1503, and adds, that it was in the fourteenth-year of the reign of James IV.; this, however, would make the date of creation 1502, as the fourth James ascended the throne in 1488. The Earl of Eglinton was one of the nobles summoned to meet James V. at Stirling in 1528, when that monarch succeeded in making his escape from Falkland, where he was held by the Earl of Douglas; and in the same year, his lordship received from the king a new charter of his lands in Renfrew, Ayr, &c. In 1536, he was one of the regency of six noblemen, appointed by James V., when he went to France for the purpose of espousing the Princess Magdalen. His lordship married Lady Helen, daughter of the Earl of Argyle, by whom he had issue—six sons; 1, Alexander, who died young; 2, John, Lord Montgomery; 3, Sir Neil Montgomery, of Lainshaw; 4, William Montgomery, of Greenfield; 5, Hugh, killed at the battle of Pinkie; 6, Robert, bishop of Argyle; and eight daughters; 1, Lady Margaret, married to Lord Semple; 2, Lady Marjory, married to Lord Somerville; 3, Lady Maude, married to Colin Campbell, of Ardkinglass; 4, Lady Isabel, married to John Mure, of Caldwell; 5, Lady Elizabeth, married to John Blair of that Ilk; 6, Lady Agnus, married to John Ker of Kersland; 7, Lady Janet, married to the Laird of Cessnock; 8, Lady Catherine, married to George Montgomery of Skelmorlie. The Earl of Eglinton died in 1545, at the advanced age, it is believed, of 85, and was succeeded by his grandson, Hugh, eldest son of John Lord Montgomery. —John Lord Montgomery, second son of the Earl of Eglinton, died before his father. He appears to have taken an active part in the feuds with the Cuninghames; and was charged with wounding William Cuninghame of Craigends, on the 20th of January 1506. He was himself wounded in an encounter with Sir William Cuninghame, Master of Glencairn, in 1507-8, on which occasion several of the adherents on both sides were killed. Lord Montgomery was slain in the conflict, known as " Cleanse the Causey", which took place in 1520, at Edinburgh, between the Earls of Angus and Arran and their adherents. He married Janet, daughter of Sir Archibald Edmonstone of Dantreath, and had issue, two sons; 1, Lord Archibald, who died about 1526; 2, Hugh, who succeeded his grandfather; and a daughter, Christina, married to Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig.

To be continued.

Re: Historical Sketches - Kilwinning

by hahaya2004 » Tue Sep 27, 2022 5:16 pm

No. 7

Eglinton Family No. 2

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 30th June 1855


Philip de Montgomery, the son of Arnulph, mentioned in our last, is believed to have been the founder of the family of Eaglesham. He is supposed to have come to Scotland in the company of David, Earl of Huntingdon, when that Prince returned from France, where, he is said to have gone for the purpose of visiting the famous Bernard, Abbot of Clairvale. This fact is not, however, on the whole, very well authenticated; and the scantiness of the information, now extant, relative to the origin of the family does not supply any data, whereby, a more certain conclusion can be arrived at, than what may be said to amount to a merely probable conjecture. Paterson, in his " Families of Ayrshire", adopts the opinion that the Montgomeries came out of France. This opinion he bases on the authority of Boethius, who, he believes, may have had access to ancient family records, supposed to have existed prior to the destruction of Eglinton Castle, by fire, in 1528; and he considers it likely that Philip de Montgomery was brought to Scotland by David, Earl of Huntingdon. "That Prince", he says, "afterwards David I., it is well known, undertook a journey to France, for the purpose of visiting Bertrand d'Abbeville, the founder of the Tyronensian order of monks. Before he reached Tyrone, however, the monk was dead. During this visit, it is naturally presumed that David could not fail to make the acquaintance of the houses of Perche and Montgomerie, sovereigns of Tyrone, which accounts for the introduction of Philip, son of Arnulph, to the Scottish Prince, who accepted of an offer to accompany him to Scotland." If, therefore, the Montgomeries came from France to Scotland, this inference would be entitled to consideration as being not only highly probable, but also as marking the time, and the occasion of their introduction to the kingdom; but on the other hand, the journey of David, if ever undertaken, must have been made prior to the year 1125, the date of his ascension of the throne; and in that case the Monk could not be dead, for it is well known that Bernard, Abbot of Clairvale, founder of the Tyronenses order of monks, was an eminent and active member of the church for many years after that date, and is mentioned by Mosheim, (vol. iii. p. 97) as being alive in 1147; twenty-two years after David's accession to the crown. Without, however, pursuing farther the inquiry whether Philip came from France or England, as a satisfactory solution of the difficulty would in the end prove hopeless, it may be observed, that he was known by the designation of Cymbricus, or the Welshman, thus clearly indicating his descent from the Montgomeries already alluded to as having settled in England in the reign of William the Conqueror. Philip de Montgomery, the ancestor of the house of Eaglesham, is said to have married Margaret, daughter of the second Earl of March, with whom, it is supposed, he acquired the lands and castle of Thorntoun. The time of his death is unknown; but he left issue – three sons; 1 Robert; 2 Hugh; 3 Adam; and one daughter, Egidia. He was succeeded by his eldest son,—Robert de Montgomery, or Mundgumbrie, who is mentioned as a witness in the foundation charter of the Monastery of Paisley, granted by Walter, Lord High Steward, in 1160. He received a grant of the estate of Eaglesham from the High Steward, which, Robertson says, was the first property held by the Montgomeries in Scotland. He is designated Vice Comes of Lanerk, in a mortification of the Church of Innerwick to the abbey of Paisley; as also, in another of a ploughgate of land, granted to Negillus de Constantine. He is supposed to have died about 1180, and to have been succeeded by his eldest son,—John de Montgomery, Miles, who married Helen de Kent, one of the three daughters, and co-heiress of Robert de Kent, of Innerwick, in East Lothian, by reason of which marriage, he became possessed of a third-part of the lands of Innerwick. He had three sons; 1, Alan; 2, Robert; 3, William.—Alan de Montgomery, or Mundigumbrie, the eldest son of John, succeeded to the estate of Eaglesham, and the lands of Thorntoun and Innerwick. He is mentioned a witness in the donations made to the monastery of Paisley, made by Alan, son of Walter, the High Steward of Scotland. He is also witness to a charter granted in the reign of Alexander II., by Walter, son of Alan, above mentioned, and grandson of the founder of the monastery of Paisley, conferring on that house the lands of Old Patrick and Espedie; and he is likewise witness to several other charters of donations made to the same monastery, between the years 1204 and 1231; and to another with Walter, Bishop of Glasgow, made sometime between 1208 and 1232. He is supposed to have died about the latter year, leaving three sons; 1, Robert; 2, John; 3, Henry. He was succeeded by his eldest son,—Robert de Montgomery; for we find "Robert de Mundigumbrie and Johannus frater suus", mentioned as witnesses to a donation, which Walter, the son of Alan, the High Steward, made to the monks of Paisley about 1234; and again to a charter by the same Walter, upon an excambion [exchange] of the lands of Ingleston, with the lands of Inverurie, between 1240 and 1248. In 1258, he witnessed a charter granted to the monks of Coldingham by the Earl of March. He seems to have died without issue, between 1258 and 1260; as he was succeeded by his brother, John Montgomery, of Eastwood,—John de Montgomery was witness to a charter made by Walter, the High Steward, to the monastery of Paisley, between 1240 and 1250. He is believed to have lived till 1285, and to have left issue—four sons; 1 John; 2, Murthaw, the ancestor of the Montgomeries of Thorntoun; 3, Alan, Designed of Stair, who is said to have been killed by the English at Ayr, in 1297; 4, Thomas; and a daughter, married to Archibald Mure, of Rowallan. —John de Montgomery, the eldest son, succeeded his father in the estates of Eaglesham and Eastwood. He was one of the Barons of Scotland, who attended at Berwick in 1291, on a summons from Edward I., and his name also appears in the list of nobles, who swore fealty to that monarch in 1296. He married Janet, daughter of the Lord Erskine, and is supposed to have died about 1357, leaving issue—two sons; 1, Alexander; 2, William; and one daughter, Margory. He was succeeded by his eldest son, —Alexander de Montgomery, who is designated in a charter by David II., bearing date 1357—"Alexander de Montgomery de Eglishame, filius Johannius de Montgomery". He appears to have taken an active part in the political transactions of the period in which he lived, and must have been esteemed a nobleman of considerable influence and ability, as he was frequently employed to conduct difficult and important negotiations with England. He was one of the Scottish Commission appointed to meet with that of England, at Berwick, in 1358, to settle on the ransom of David II., then a captive at the court of England. In the same year he was one of a company pf noblemen, who, prompted by a love of military adventure, and inspired with a desire to distinguish themselves by feats of arms, left Scotland to join, it is presumed, the Teutonic Knights, then engaged in a kind of crusade against the infidel Prussians. They received letters of permission to pass through England on their way to the Continent, and each of them was attended by a train of sixty horse, as well as a large body of foot soldiers. When he returned from this expedition is not known; but he appears to have died about 1388, in which year, his only son, John, succeeded him in the estates of Eaglesham and Eastwood. —John de Montgomery, married Elizabeth de Eglinton, daughter and heiress of Sir Hugh de Eglinton, by reason of which marriage, the estates of Eglinton and Ardrossan passed to the house Eaglesham. We have already, under Sir Hew de Eglinton, alluded to the difficulty which here occurs relative to the time when the house of Eglinton became possessed of the lands of Ardrossan; and then noticed that the point in doubt was, whether Elizabeth de Eglinton, above mentioned, was the daughter of the heiress of Ardrossan, or of Egidia, daughter of the High Steward of Scotland; but the maternal descent of Elizabeth de Eglinton, as we then stated, cannot now be elucidated. It may, however, be remarked that Crawford, in his History of Renfrewshire, states that, an Ardrossan of Ardrossan live about this time, (the reign of David II.), and is then mentioned in a charter, without a date; and we find a Fergus de Ardrossan, and Robinus de Ardrossan frater ejus, mentioned in the list of the twenty-five knights and gentlemen, who, for three months, heroically defended the castle of Stirling, in 1304, against the forces of Edward I., but at last capitulated, and were sent prisoners into England. Whether either of them returned from thence or died in captivity is not known. Sir John was present at the battle of Otterburne, in 1388, where his eldest son, Hugh, was slain, and took Sir Henry Percy, (better known as Hotspur), eldest son of the Earl of Northumberland, prisoner, with whose ransom he is said to have afterwards built the Castle of Pulnoon[sic]. The death of Hugh, and the gallant manner in which Sir John acquitted himself on that memorable day, are thus alluded to in the following stanza from an old ballad: —

"Sir Hugh was slain, Sir John maintained
The honour of the day;
And with it brought the victory,
And Percy's son away."

But a different version of the story is given in the old ballad of Chevy Chase, Sir Hugh being there described as having killed, with his own hand, Sir Henry Percy; and as being himself slain, later in the day, by an English archer. The occasion was this; —The Earl of Douglas, chief of the Scottish army, carried on by an indomitable valour, advanced too rashly on the English spearmen and was slain, upon this the nobles who surrounded the Douglas, justly enraged at the loss of their courageous leader, swore a bloody revenge on the house of Percy; one of these was Sir Hugh Montgomery; —


"A knight among the Scots there was
Which saw Erle Douglas dye,
Who streight in wrath did vow revenge
Upon the Lord Percye.

Sir Hugh Montgomery was he call'd,
Who with a spere most bright,
Well mounted on a gallant steed
Ran fiercely through the fight.

And past the English archers all
Without all dread or feare,
And through Erle Percyes body then
He thrust this hateful spere.
With such a vehement force and might
He did his body gore,
The staff ran through the other side
A large cloth yard and more.
So thus did both these nobles dye
Whose courage none could staine,
An English archer then perceiv'd
The noble Erle was slaine.

He had a bow bent in his hand
Made of a trusty tree,
An arrow of a cloth yard long
Up to the head drew he.

Against Sir Hugh Mountgomerye
So right the shaft he sett,
The grey goose-winge that was thereon
In his hart's blood was wett."


So far then the description by the minstrel of Chevy Chase of the manner in which Sir Hugh met his death. But again in contradiction to this, and in another old ballad of the battle of Otterburne, we find it related that—


"There the Douglas lost his lyfe,
And the Percy was led awaye.
Then was there a Scottyshe prisoner tayne,
Syr Hugh Montgomery was his name,
For soth [truly] as I you saye,
He borowed[1] the Percy home agayn."


Notwithstanding, however, the conflicting accounts of this affair as related by the bards, we believe the version first given is the correct one.

To be continued.

________________________________________
[1] To borow – to redeem or ransom

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