Story of the Stewarts

26
mentioned — his whole estates being held of the King for five
knights' service.
In 1164 Walter defeated Somerled of the Isles in his
descent on the Barony of Renfrew, in which invasion Somer-
led's son was slain. He would appear about this time, and
probably in reward of his services against Somerled, to have
obtained another large addition to his lands, as he is now
found in possession of the whole district of Strathgryfe in
Renfrewshire, and the western half of Kyle in Ayrshire, lying
between the Irvine water in the north and the Ayr and Lugar
waters in the south. This district of Kyle took from him
the name of Walter's Kyle, and at a later date, Kyle Stewart
— a designation familiar to all readers of the national bard.
The other portion, known by way of distinction as King's
Kyle, also came into the possession of Walter's descendants
on their accession to the Crown.
During the same year, 1164, Walter founded the Abbey
of Paisley, for the souls of King David, King Henry, and
Earl Henry {i.e., David I. King of Scots ; Henry I. King of
England; and Henry, Prince of Scotland and Earl of Hunting-
don), and for the salvation, body and soul, of King Malcolm,
and of the Stewart himself, and all his parents, benefactors,
and descendants. It was dedicated to God and the Blessed
Virgin, and more particularly to St James, St Milburga,
and St Mirin. St James was the special or patron saint
of the Stewarts ; St Milburga was the founder and patron