Genealogical memoir of the most noble and ancient house of Drummond

sect. ii. Of Maurice, 1st Than e of Lennox. H
to be justiciar and guardian of that country ; to lead forth
the men appointed for the war, according to the rolls
and lists made up for that effect ; and to be collector or
accountant to the abthane of the kingdom, for the king's
rents within that circuit. The abthane was the highest
officer under the king, the chief minister of state, gene-
ral questor, principal treasurer, and great steward of
Scotland. To him, the thanes were next in degree of
honour, and were the first whom king Malcolm advanc-
ed to the new titles of earls. 1
Upon this Hungarian gentleman, the king also con-
ferred, as a lasting badge of honour, a noble coat of
arms, fitly contrived to represent his present condition,
thanos, hoc est prccfcelos regiomtm, sive nomarchas, el quastorem
rerum capilaliunt, nullum honoris nomen equestri ordini allius fu-
erat.'' Hist. Scot. lib. 6. And again, in (he life of Malcolm
III, ' Rex Walierum, Stuartum totins Scotia: fecit ; quasi dicas
ceconomum. Hie magistrates census omnes regios colligit : juris-
dictionem etitun, qualern convtntmim prrefecti habent, ac prorsus
idem est cum eo, quam prhires lhanum appellabant. Atque nunc
sermone Jnglico patrium superanle, regionum t/iani, plerisque in
locis, Stuarti vocantur : et qui illis, erat abthanus, nunc Sluartus
Scotice nominator.* Hist. Scot. lib. 7,
2 Before the reign of Malcolm Canmore, the highest dig-
nity or jurisdiction enjoyed by subjects in Scotland was that of
thane, which dignity was afterwards succeeded by that of earl.
In 1057 this king held a connentum procerum, a convention of
his nobles at Forfar, when some of the chiefs of his nobility
were created earls, by the titles they formerly enjoyed as thanes.
The first who enjoyed this new dignity, were Macduff thane of
Fife, Martacus thane of Marr, Walter thane of Sutherland, and
Gilchrist thane of Angus. In these times, they subscribed their
names Earl Macduff, Earl Walfer, &c. without any addition.
The title of duke \yas unknown in Scotland till 1398, when Da-
vid prince of Scotland, the eldest son of Robert 111. and queen
Annabella Drunmiond, was created duke of Rothsay, earl of
Atholl and Carrick ; and, in 1399, Robert Stewart was created
duke of AlbaD/, by his brother Robert III.