Genealogical account of the family of Edmonstone of Duntreath

THE FAMILY OF EDMONSTONE. 23
the King as he had been with his predecessor King David. But that
which engaged this young gentleman entirely was the great affection he
bare to the beautiful daughter of Sir John Edmondstoune, who, being her
father's only child, was appearing heiress of a fair estate, and that lying
within the same shire where the greatest part of his father's estate lay, which
held all ward of the King, whereas the Barony of Cambusnethan held
blenche of the Crown for a pair of gilded spurs, which is the Reddendo of
the charter of that Barony. This lady, what for her beauty and great estate
had many suitors of as good quality and fortune as this gentleman, but he
played his game so well by engaging the lady's affection, who was then in
the twenty-fourth year of her age, which was much about that of his own, and
being obsequious to the old Sir John Edmondstoune in all he was pleased
command him, that he at length obtained his consent to let him have his
daughter, and with her the Barronie of Cambusnethan. This business was
brought to tryst (formal meiting) at Lanark the same month, and in Novem-
ber thereafter the marriage was solemnized, to the great satisfaction of
the parties themselves and all their honourable relations.' Some pages
further, the following notice: — 'In August the same year, 1398, his virtuous
Lady Margaret Edmondstoune dies, having lived with her husband twenty-
eight years, during which time she had borne to her husband nine children,
five whereof survived herself, two sons and three daughters. She was
buried, at her own desire, in the Quyer of Cambusnethan church. She
was a lady of many eminent virtues, and was the third female that made
a great addition to the Barons of Linton, their estate in Scotland.'
Whether a fair daughter of Sir John Edmonstone did at this time
marry into the house of Somerville there is no other authority for deciding,
but that she took the estate of Cambusnethan with her is a complete mis-
take. This estate was acquired by the Somervilles by Janet Stewart's
marriage with Thomas de Somerville. It had been forfeited, as is stated
in ' the Memorie,' by the Bairds, for treason against Robert Bruce, and was
granted by his son, King David, to Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnley,
grandfather to the aforesaid Janet. There is a note by the Editor of the
Memorie of the Somervilles to the above effect, and he confesses 1 that the
' more ancient part of the narrative is particularly deficient.'
1 Note 29, Appendix.