History of the Fife Pitcairns

LORD ROBERT PITCAIRN. 85
sisting of a shield, bearing a chevron between three cresc-
ents. The arms are those of the Dury family, ancient
possessors of the lands of Dury in Fife, in the reign of
Alexander II., and of whom George Dury, a descendant
(uncle to Robert Pitcairn), was the last Abbot. The Abbot's
pastoral staff surmounts the shield, and underneath is the
motto " Confido." George Dury was a relation of the
Regent's, and was chosen by him as one of his advisers on
the death of James V. David Pitcairn of Forthar married
Elizabeth Dury of Dury, as elsewhere stated.
This palace is commemorated in the old ballad of Sir
Patrick Spens : —
" The King sits in Dunfermline town,
Drinking the blude-red wine :
' O where will I get a skeely skipper
To sail this new ship of mine?'
O up and spake an eldern knight
Sat at the King's right knee :
'Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor
That ever sailed the sea.'
Our King has written a braid letter,
And sealed it with his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Was walking on the strand.
To Noroway, to Noroway,
To Noroway o'er the faem ;
The King's daughter of Noroway,
'Tis thou maun bring her hame ! "
It is supposed that the ballad is founded on authentic
history, and records the melancholy and disastrous fate of
the gallant band which followed in the suite of Margaret,
daughter of Alexander III., when she was espoused to Eric,
King of Norway.
The earliest notice of the district now traceable is found
in a charter of 1098, in which King Edgar bequeathed
to the Abbey Church of Dunfermline the lands of Galald
or Gellet. Incidental references, such as that to the dis-
posing of the revenues of the port of Gellet, and the con-