Montgomery manuscripts

4 The Montgomery Manuscripts.
Laird of Luss T ° (chief of his ancient sept). This Adam the first (last mentioned) was son to Robert,
the 3d Laird of that name, who was the son of Robert, the 2d Laird of that name, who was the son
of Robert, the 1st of that name, and 1st Laird of Braidstane, who was the 2d son of Alexander,
one of the Earles of Eglingtoune, 11 all of them Montgomeries; which Earles are (in a little book
called Indiculum Scotias, or the present state of Scotland, written by A. M., 12 in Anno, 1682,) placed
the 1 ith in that degree of nobility, which agrees with the list next spoken of, tho' in King Charles
the Martyr's reign, rivalled (as I have heard said), for precedency, by the Conninghams, Earles of
Glencairne^ whom I find by an antient list (of the Scottish Peers) written in King James the 6th
10 Laird of Lass. — Genealogists derive the name and
family of Colquhoun from Galgacus, the Caledonian gene-
ral, who gallantly resisted the Roman legions under Agri-
cola. But, without the aid of legends or traditions, it can
be shown from documentary evidence that the Colquhouns
are a very old family. Originally, or rather when first
known, there were three branches, those of Colquhoun,
Kilpatrick, and Luss, who held a large part of Dumbar-
tonshire by charters from the crown. These gradually
merged into the one family of Luss, by marriage, succes-
sion, or othenvise ; and it is in connexion with this dis-
trict that the Colquhouns are known from the commence-
ment of the fourteenth century. In 13 16, Robert Brace
confirmed to John De Luss, knight, a charter from Mal-
colm, earl of Lennox, in which he granted, for the honour
of his patron, the most holy St. Kessog, to his beloved
and faithful bachelor, sir John of Luss, freedom from exac-
tions for the royal household, during the King's progresses
within the lands of Luss, and exemption from appearing
as witnesses before the King's Justiciar. An Indenture
made at Dumbarton, on the 1 8th of December, 1400, is
witnessed by Vmfray Colquhowne ; and another made at
Balloch, on the iSth October, 1405, is witnessed by Vmfry
of Colqwhoue, lord of Luss. Between 1426 and 1432, John
Cameron, bishop of Glasgow, erected the church of Luss
into a prebend of his cathedral, with consent of Joint de
Collequhone, lord of Luss. James III. granted to sir John
Culquhone of Lusse, about the year 1474, the lands of
Strone, Kilmone, Invercapill, and Cayvelad, in Ergill.
In 1497, John Colquhone of Luss, sold to Archibald, earl
of Ergill (Argyle), a part of the territory of Inverquhapill,
held by the Keeper of the Staff of St. Munde. The
tenure of this land, held in right of the custody of St.
Munde's crozier, is curious, but not singular, as similar
tenures existed in Glendochart and Lismore. — Origines
Pa rochia/es Scotia; vol. i. , pp. 30, 502, and vol. ii., pp.
72, 73. The Colquhouns are still the leading race in
Luss, having survived through many vicissitudes, which
would probably have overwhelmed most other fami-
lies. Their native district, which lies on the banks of
Loch Lomond, and comprehends Glendouglas, Glenluss,
and Glenfruin, has always been celebrated for the pictur-
esque beauty of its scenery. It is also rich in historical
associations ; and the rains at Banochar, Inchgalbraith,
and Rossdhu, are evidences of its territorial importance at
an early period. The famous clan-battle of Glenfruin,
between the Colquhouns and Macgregors, in 1602, is a
comparatively modern event in the history of the district.
— Archaologia Scotica, vol. iv., p. 153 ; Proceedings of the
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. i., p. 142. In the
Funeral Entry of the first viscount Ards, his grandmother
is stated to have been adaughter of "JerviceColchoune, Esq.,
of Lusk, in the county of Kerry. " It thus appears that the
laird of Luss owned lands in Ireland, which he had named
after his Scottish property, — a custom usual at the period.
11 One of the earls of Eglingtoune. — In the Funeral Entry
referred to in the preceding note, it is also stated that
Robert Montgomery, first laird of Braidstane, was a son
of the first earl of Eglinton. This statement was supplied
to the Herald's Office by the second viscount Ards, and was
evidently accepted by that branch of the family as correct.
But, in truth, the first laird of Braidstane, instead of being
son of " one of the earles of Eglingtoune," was uncle to Hugh
Montgomery, created first earl of Eglinton in the year 1506.
The mistake of supposing that the first laird of Braidstane
was a son of one of the earls, and that the first laird of
Hazlehead was a descendant, — when in fact they were both
uncles of the first earl, — is remarkable, and no doubt arose
from the uncertainty of the date on which the earldom was
created. Paterson, Account of the Parishes and Families
of Ayrshire, vol. ii., pp. 233, 234, conjectures that the
Eglinton Peerage was created so early as 1445 ; but
Fraser, Memorials, vol. i., p. 28, thinks that the creation
must have taken place between the 3rd and 20th of
January, 1506. We are disposed to believe, however, that
the author's words, when speaking of the Braidstane and
Hazlehead descent, have been incorrectly given in the
printed Manuscripts. This suspicion is strengthened by
another document left by the author. In a pedigree of the
descent of Gransheogh from the Braidstane family, given
on the dexter side of the coat of arms of William Mont-
gomery of Gransheogh and Mary M'Gill his wife,
the author says "the first of which lairds (of Braidstane)
was second brother of Alexander, earl of Eglinton's
ancestor, the laird of Ardrossan. — MS. A r oteofCol. Francis
0. Montgomery. Thus William Montgomery, in the docu-
ment above-named, which will be printed in its proper
place, clearly states that the first laird of Braidstane was
second brother of that Alexander, who was in reality
father of the first earl of Eglinton.
12 Written by A. M. — A. M. are probably the initials
of some Alexander Montgomery, who compiled the
Indiculum Scotia:, containing, among other matters, a list
of the Scottish earls according to the order of precedency.
13 Earls of Glencairne. — The contest for precedency
between the earls of Eglinton and Glencairn was fre-
quently a subject of discussion in the Scottish Privy
Council and Parliament. Sir Alexander Cunningham,
lord Kilmaurs, was created first earl of Glencaim by James
III., in May, 1488 ; but both the king and the newly-
created earl were slain in a battle near Stirling, in the
month of June following. James's successor immediately