History of the Fife Pitcairns

77
CHAPTER VIII.
LORD ROBERT PITCAIRN,
THIRTEENTH LAIRD OF THAT ILK AND FORTHAR, ARCHDEAN OF ST
ANDREWS, COMMENDATOR OF DUNFERMLINE, ROYAL LEGATE,
SECRETARY OF STATE TO KING JAMES VI., AND AMBASSADOR TO
QUEEN ELIZABETH. 1520-84.
Robert Pitcairn, Archdean of St Andrews, Royal Legate,
Commendator of Dunfermline, Secretary of State during
the Regency and in the reign of James VI., and Ambassador
at the Court of Queen Elizabeth, was born at Forthar-
Ramsay in Fife in 1520. He was the second but eldest
surviving son of David Pitcairn of that Ilk (twelfth laird
of the baronies of Forthar- Ramsay and Downfield), and
Elizabeth Dury, of the old Fife family of Durys.
His grandfather was Henry Pitcairn, eleventh laird of
Pitcairn and Pitlour, and of the baronies of Downfield and
Forthar - Ramsay, and his grandmother Egidia Marlville
or Melville.
David Pitcairn of that Ilk had succeeded to the barony
of Forthar-Ramsay on the death of his father Henry, also
to the lands and barony of Downfield and the lands of
Pitcairn, so that his possessions were somewhat extensive.
He had also acquired Freuchy.
Kettle, or King's Kettill (as the old charters have it), is
the name of the village close to the house of Forthar-Ram-
say, and belonged also to the Pitcairns. In the times of
Episcopacy the parish was called Loresk or Lathrisk ; but
about the year 1636 the parish church with manse and
glebe were removed and brought to the village of Kettle :
from that time the village gave its name to the parish.