Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn

SAI NTECL AIRES OF RO SSL YN. 9
with no great difficulty, and flew of the Danes 24,000 ; fo that King Acho
was compelled to fly to the cattle of Aire, and from thence to Orkney,
where he ended his life. The fame day was borne to Alexander a
fone, named Alexander, wherat the Scots had double caufe of joy. After
this, by the perfuafion of one Symon Strong, fome of the nobility of
England rofe up againft Henry their King, who fought for help from
Scotland ; to whom was fent Sir William Saintclair and John Cummyn,
with 5,000 men, who foon pacified the matter, and returned home. Not
long after, King Alexander rideing a hunting upon a fierce horfe attJCing-
horne, by chance, att the weft end of the rock, towards the fea fide, fell
and broke his neck, in the 37 year of his reign, and of our Lord 1286.
Stories record that the day before the King's death, one Thomas Leir-
mont faid to the Earle of Marche, that before the afternoone of the next
day, there fliould blow futch a winde, as fliould bring great calamity to
Scotland, which was fulfilled by the King's death, which enfued before
the afternoone of the next day. After the death of King Alexander, in
refpect he had no pofterity, there was appointed governors. In the mean-
time, one Robert Bruce, Earle of Carrick, and one John Balliol, Earle
of Galloway, did ftrive who fhould be King ; the which difference they
thought meet to be taken away by the judgement of Edward the Firft,
King of England, who made John Balliol, King, although it did of right
belong to Robert Bruce, but upon this condition, that he fliould have it
as holden of him, and fo fliould be at his command, which he conde-
fcended unto. At the fame time, King Edward fending for help from
John Baliol againft the French, and not being obeyed, he fends a navie
to Berwick againft him. His company fieing the number of their eni-
mies, yet nothing difmayed, difcomfited eighteen of their fliips. King
Edward, greatly offended att this, fent a greater number, who, for all
that, could not prevaill, the city was fo well defended, but were compel-
led to ufe deceit : Firft, they feigned flight, afterwards made ftandards
like to the Scots, and fent them who were fled to them for feare to the
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