History of the Fife Pitcairns

LORD ROBERT PITCAIRN. 121
whom he had done so much, his imprisonment in Loch-
leven, the attainder of his lifelong friends Mar, Glammis,
&c, who had their estates forfeited, as his were (by the
infamous Arran, who divided the lands with his con-
federates), had completely broken Pitcairn in health and
spirits; and it was only a wreck of his former self — ill,
worn out, weighed down with many trials — that landed on
the shores of Scotland, where he was to die so soon. He
was accompanied by his wife ; and it must have been a
consolation to him in his hours of sadness and the bitter-
ness of disappointed hopes to know that his relations, at
any rate, were faithful to him. He stayed at Limekilns.
Shortly after his arrival he became worse, and, to be
near his medical attendant, he was allowed to remove to
his official residence, " Pitcairn's House," in the Maygate,
Dunfermline, which was close to the Abbey.
As the plague was raging in the town at the time of his
death, it is likely that, in his weak state of health, he was
attacked by it. He died on the 18th Oct. 1584. He had
great strength of character. His wisdom and fidelity were
so great that they were extolled by such writers as George
Buchanan, Calderwood, Sir James Melville, &c. He was
a man of great ability, as was shown by the nobles choos-
ing him to represent them at the Court of Queen Elizabeth :
he was one of twelve appointed to govern the country
during the minority of the King, and was at every Con-
ference of note; was chosen to adjudicate and settle all
the vexed questions which arose in his time ; one of a
Committee to reform the Universities ; was Ambassador
many times to England ; and even that astute Queen,
Elizabeth, specially praised his wisdom and discretion, and
she was no mean judge of men.
For very many years he enjoyed the friendship of the
King. To his relations he was ever kind and most gen-
erous, and a most faithful servant to his country and
his King.
Such is the history of Robert Pitcairn, a very important
personage in his day. It was inexpressibly sad that, having