Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS
FYNNAirr. part of the lauds of the Douglasses, by
whom it was lost by forfeiture in 1455,
and conferred on Lord Hamilton in
1457. It passed away from Sir James,
on Ids own forfeiture in 1 540, and liis
incensed Sovereign bestowed it on Alex-
ander Shaw of Sauchie.
In a settlement which was made of
the Hamilton estates, dated 16th Janu-
ary 1512-13, he was called the first to
the succession, after the heirs-male to
be procreated of the body of his father ;
and on the 20th of the same month and
year, the Earl, his father, obtained a
legitimation for him, under the great
seal, and for his two bastard uncles,
John Hamilton of Brumehill, and Sir
Patrick Hamilton of Kincavel, Knt.
James the Fifth granted him liberty
to add the double tressure, part of the
royal arms, to his armorial bearings, the
charter for which was dated 3d March
1530.
Buchanan, the historian, and the pro-
testant clergy of that period, have load-
ed his memory with odium and reproach.
They accused him of having, as Grand
Inquisitor, been guilty of great severity
and cruelty towards the Reformers. A
Pinkeiton, ii. late writer has asserted that he never
held this odious office. My opinion is,
that his devotion to his Sovereign, who,
towards the latter part of his reign, was
wholly governed by the Catholic clergy,
and his acquiescence in all their bloody
measures, is the heaviest charge that
can be established against him in this
respect.
A cabal of his enemies paved the way,
but it was the sudden aversion of his
royal master, aided by the fears and the
resentment of a kinsman, that completed
his downfal. Whether there was any
foundation for the crimes alleged against
him it is impossible now to determine ;
but it cannot be forgot that his trial was
hastened on in a most indecent manner;
that the jury was chiefly composed of
his personal enemies, who brought him
in guilty. His execution was almost
immediate, and his whole estates and
possessions were confiscated to the
crown.
He certainly was one of the most
considerable men of that age. There
were few examples in Scotland of the
cadet of a powerful family almost out-
rivalling, in splendour, opulence, and
power, the original stock from whence
lie sprung. His sudden and unexpected
downfal produced a great impression at
the time, and it is certain that King
James regretted much his loss. It ap-
pears that the recollection of his injustice
haunted his mind; and the historians
of that period minutely relate several
frightful dreams of his Majesty, of which
Sir James was the subject.
Sir James married Margaret, only
child and heiress of Sir Robert Living-
stone of Easter Wemyss, by whom he
had issue :
1. Sir James, his heir.
2. Andrew, who had a charter " An- Mag. Sig. Lib.
dreffi Hamilton, filio Jacobi Hamilton™ 1- N ° " 6 '
de Fyunart, militis, terrarum de Ovir
Snar et Glenkip," dated 26th October
1537.
1. Grizel, married to Andrew, fourth Woods Peer-
Earl of Rothes, and had issue. 8Se ' iL 43a