History of the earldoms of Strathern, Monteith, and Airth

90 HISTORY OF THE EARLDOMS OF
William the Eai'ldom of Aii'tli : a fact which shows
SEVENTH Earl
OF MoNXEiTH. the sense in which the word lieirs must have
1633. T • 1 1 PIT.
been used in the other parts of the Patent ; and
especially in the creative clause, where it next
occurs.
In no part of the instrument is there the
slightest allusion to heirs male, while the term
heirs occurs no less than seven times: —
First, it is said that Malise Earl of Monteith
and his hei^^s had obtained the Earldom of Mon-
teith by a Charter, dated on the 6th of Septem-
ber, 1428.
2ndly. That William Earl of Monteith had
been retoured undoubted and lawful heir of line
and succession to the said Malise.
3rdly. The lands of Airth are erected into a
territorial Earldom in favour of the grantee and
his heirs.
4thly. The Earl of Monteith and his heirs are
created Earls of Airth.
5thly. The Charter of 1428 is again said to
have been granted to Malise Earl of Monteith
and his heirs.
6thly. The Earl of Monteith and his lieirs
aforesaid are to have the Title of Earl of Airth.
7th ly. The Charter of 1428 is, for the third
time, said to have been granted to Malise Earl
of Monteith and his [heirs] aforesaid.
If, on the first occasion, when the destination
to heirs occurs in this Patent, there were reasons