Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn

102 GENEALOGIEOFTHE
conditione extin&a fuit,ut Alexandri controverfias, fuo regni jure abdicate,
poftea Epifcopatu Moravienfi, ac Abbatia Sconenfi amplificarentur.
Buchanan, p. 450. Moritur item in Gallia Alexander Regis frater,
duobus filiis reli&is, Alexandro ex uxore priore Comitis Orcadum filia,
et e fecunda Johanne, qui poftea Prorex in Scotia aliquot annos fuit, ab
anno nempe 1515, quo appulit Britannodunum, fumma cum omnium
bonorum gratulatione, ad annum 1523, quo impetrata a proceribus venia,
in Galliam tranfmifit, nunquam ad nos inde reverfus.
This Alexander whom Buchanan mentions, borne of the Earle of
Orknay's daughter, lawfully joined in marriage with the Duke of
Albany before his comeing to France, and marrieing the Earle of Bou-
logne's daughter, in a Parliament held in prefence of his brother John
the governor, makes his claim to the Crowne, failing James V. ; yet, not-
withftanding his challenge, being more fitt for a Koule, gave over all
title he had in his brother's favors, whereupon, to deprive him ever
hereafter of lawfull fucceffion, they turned him Preift, Abbot of Scone,
and Bifhop of Murray. Meurfius, Lib. I. Part 2. p. 20, ad annum
1481, et Margaretam Scotias Regi Jacobo tertio elocatam, cui dotis loco
datse prseter caetera infulas Orcades, fub hac lege, ut redimere liceret
Danise Regi cuicunque, quovis tempore.
Earle William was a man of rare parts, haveing in him a mind of
moft noble compofition, a perceing witt, fitt for managing great affairs ;
he was famous not only for moral vertue and piety, but alfb for military
difcipline, in high favour with his Prince, and raifed to the greateft dig-
nitys that in thofe times a fubjedt had. He was averfs from putting
criminels to the rack, the tortures whereof make many ane innocent
perfon confefs himfelf guilty, and then with feeming juftice be executed,
or if he prove fo ftoute as in torments to deny the faft, yet he comes off
with difjoynted bones, and fuch weaknes as rendres himfelf and his life
a burthen ever after. He builded the Caftle of Roflin, amenioufly feated
in a moft fruitfull countrey on the water of Efk, rifeing upon a litle