[Omitting portions which appear elsewhere throughout this work]
NOTE - These are inserted partly as a curiosity, chiefly to illustrate how valueless are the numerous statements when tested by modern research.
MALCOLM CANMORE having recovered, by the support of Edward, King of England, his realm, which Macbeth did possess, was crowned at Scone not long thereafter, upon the fifth of April, in the year 1061; and holding a parliament at Forfar in Angus, he created several Earls, Lords, Barons, etc., in compensation of their service and loyalty.
The Norman Conqueror in his days mastered England, I call so William, Duke of Normandy, notwithstanding that I have seen several Judges reprehending gentlemen at the Bar that casually gave him that title; for though he killed Harold the Usurper, and routed his army, yet he pretended a right to the kingdom, and was admitted by compact, and did take an oath to observe the laws and customs of the realm.
Edgar, who was righteous heir, resolves to pass again to Hungary with his mother and sisters; but being tossed a while at sea, is carried at length safe to a place on the River of Forth, named Queensferry, from Margaret, whom the King espoused in 1067.
Many gentlemen came about that time to Scotland, part with the Queen, as Chrichton, Fodringhame, Giffard, Maulis, Borthik, Leslie, etc., all Hungarians; part from England to shun the Usurper, as Lindsay, Vans, Ramsay, Lowall, Towers, Bodwell, Monteith, Preston, Sandilands, Bissart, Fowlis, Wardlaw, Maxwell, Ross, etc.; part from France, as Forfar, Boswell, Montgomery, Bodwell, Montith, Boys, Campbell, Beaton, Murray, Warwin, Telfer.
Amongst the last was one SIR WILLIAM SINCLARE, second son to Woldonius, or Wildernus, in France, whose mother was daughter to Duke Richard, a man well proportioned in all his members, of middle stature, fair of face, yellow haired, surnamed the Seemly, whom King Malcolm made cupbearer to his Queen.
The gentleman having served some time at Court, desired liberty to visit his parents, which was granted; and after sometime spent with them, returns loaded with presents, which he presented to the King and Queen. The gifts were well accepted of, and he, by his liberality, winning preferment, married Dorothy, as some say Agnes Dunbar, daughter to Patrick, first Earl of March, or as some writers have, fifth Earl of March, and obtained the Barony of Roslin, so called because it represents a peninsula, being environed almost on all sides with water. After this he was made Warden of the Southern Marches, in defending whereof he was killed.
He begat upon his Lady a son named HENRY, who lived in the Conqueror's days, and in whose time Malcolm the third was killed by Percy. This Henry got of the King and Queen, Roslin in free heritage, with the Barony of Pentland, He married Rosabell, or as some say, Katherine, daughter to Forteith, Earl of Stratherne. He was of a free nature and candid in his thoughts and words, very wise, and more given to study war than peace, for which rare qualities he was entrusted with the military commands. He was dubbed knight by King Malcolm, and left to succeed him a son named also HENRY, who is supposed to have fought the battle of Allertowne, where the English army was rooted under the reign of Saint David.
He outlived King Malcolm, and died under King William, by whom he was sent ambassador towards Henry, King of England, to re-demand Northumberland in the name of the Scots. He received from David the first the lands of Carden and the command of 8,000 men a-foot, as likewise the honour of knighthood.
At first our Kings bestowed upon their subjects lands as a reward of their service, but after their liberality, finding no such way of gratification towards those who behaved themselves manfully, they fell upon an easier way, which was in giving them place amongst the nobility of their realm, and ranking them above the most common sort, either in creating them knights, which was performed by girding them with a belt, or in making them Earls, which was done by other ceremonies.
This Sir Henry married Margaret Grathenay, daughter to the Earl of Mar, upon whom he begot a son named William, to whom he resigned his lands, and shortly after changed his inconstant habitation for a perpetual one hereafter.
"THE HISTORY OF THE SAINTCLAIRS" says that Malcolme Canmore made some earls, some barons, and some knights, at Forfar, in 1057, or, as Buchanan says, in 1061. Malcolm King of Scots was crowned at Scone in the year 1061, inde Forfarum generale indixit concilium, volens ut Primores, quod antea non fuerat, alia rum more gentium, a praediis fuis cognomina caperent; quosdam vero etiam. He created Earls, Barons (Lords), and Martial Knights. MacDuff Thane of Fife became Earl of Fife, Patrick of Dunbar became Earl of March, also Menteith, Atholl, Mar, Caithness, Ross and Angus became Earls, - John Sowls, David Dardier of Abernethy, Simon of Tweeddale, William of Douglas, Gillespie Cameron, David Brechin and Hugo of Culdella became Barons, cum diversis aliis, - Equites auratos perplures, pauci vera Thani relicti.
Many new surnames were given to the families of the Scots, as Mar, Calder, Lockhart, Meldrum, Gordon, Seaton, Liberton, Lauder, Shaw, Learmonth, Strachan, Dundas, Leslie, Cockburn, Abercrombie; etc. Many were named from the lands they had in possession, some from their office, as Stewart, Durward, Bannerman, Forman, etc. Some from the proper names of valiant men, as Kenneth, Gray, Keith, etc.
This worthy Prince, according to the same history, made a law whereby all Barons might give judgment upon murderers within their own bounds. About which time William Duke of Normandy, coming with a great army to England, vanquished Harold and conquered the kingdom. (Edward) Edgar Etheling, the righteous heir, taking his mother and his two sisters, Margaret and Christian, went to sea, designing to pass to Hungary, but being tossed with cross winds for a time, arrived at length at a haven called Queensferry, in the Firth, where King Malcolm met them, and conducted them to Dumfermeline; there he married Margaret, daughter to Agatha, with great solemnity, after Easter in 1067.
William the Conqueror having got knowledge thereof, fearing least some evil might ensue thereby, banished all friends of (Edward) Edgar, whereof several came to Scotland, and got lands from King Malcolm, as Ross, Lindsay, Ramsay, Lowell, Towers, Preston, Sandilands, Bissart, Fowls, Wardlaw, Maxwell, and others. There came also some from Hungary with Margaret, as Chrichton, Forthingham, Giffart, Mauld, Borthwick; some also from France, as Frazer, Bodwell, Montgomery, Menteith, Boas, Campbell, Vervin, Telfer, Boswell, amongst whom came also WILLIAM SAINTCLAIR, second son to Wildernus, Earl of Saintclair in France, whose mother was daughter to Duke Richard of Normandy, father to William the Conqueror.
He was sent by his father to Scotland, to take a view of the people's good behaviour. He was able for every game, agreeable to all company, and styled "The Seemly Saintclair". The report of his qualifications came to the Queen's ears, who desired him of her husband, because of his wisdom.
The King made him her cupbearer, in which station he purchased to himself great favour and love of both Princes, But when he had served a long time, he desired liberty to visit his father and friends. The Queen yielded thereto, upon condition be should return again to Scotland, which he promised.
His father was not willing he should return; yet perceiving he was earnest to fulfil his word, bestowed upon him jewels, gold, clothing, horses, and other gifts, to present to the King and Queen, with which he returned back, and was welcomed by the courtiers and servants, to whom he was very beneficial.
He married Dorothea Dunbar, daughter to the Earl of March, upon whom he begot Sir Henry Saintclair. He got also of the King and Queen the barony of Roslin in liferent; after which, being desirous to try his fortune in wars, he obtained a company of men, underwent many dangers in resisting the Southern forces, and was appointed to defend the borders.
William the Conqueror, offended at King Malcolm because he would not deliver in his hands (Edward) Edgar Etheling, sent about this time the Duke of Gloucester, with a great army, to invade the Scots. King Malcolm hearing thereof sent the Earls of March and Menteith with a company of men of war, to aid and assist the Sinclair's forces; whereupon Sir William Sinclair rushed forward, with a design to put the enemy out of order, but being enclosed by the contrary party, he was slain by the multitude of his enemies, whereof he made fall many in heaps flat down before his feet. The news of his death coming to the two other cheiftains, March and Menteith, they fell so boldly upon the enemy, that they scarce left any alive. The King and Queen lamented his misfortune, and vowed to be revenged of the Southerns' cruelty.
He left three children, two daughters, who died infants, and one son, SIR HENRY SAINTCLAIR, who succeeded his father, and was entirely beloved of the King and Queen, who gave him Roslin in free heritage, and made him Knight. He was not inferior to his father.
He was made governor and captain of 600 men, passed to Northumberland and Cumberland with the King, to be avenged upon the Southerns for his father's death, when William the Conqueror rencountered him with great force; but he being vehemently stirred up to anger by remembering the cruel slaughter of his father, went amongst his enemies like a lion, so that in a short time he put them to flight. The King beholding this was overjoyed, and rewarded him with the barony of Pentland.
Not long after King Malcolm was slain at the siege of Alnwick, in Northumberland; for when those who were within the Castle were almost starved, and ready to yield, one of their company came riding in arms on horseback, with a spear in his hand, and the keys of the Castle upon the point of the spear, as the Scots thought upon purpose to deliver them to the King, but with the point of the spear, he pierced the King at the left eye, and escaped by flight. This companion after this was called Percy, which name his successors retained. The King died of his wounds.
A little before Saintclair married Rosabell Forteith, daughter to the Earl of Stratherne, who bore to him Henry Saintclair, to whom he resigned all his lands, desiring the King to make him new charters, the others being lost.
Not long after he died, and left to succeed him his son SIR HENRY SAINTCLAIR, whom King David made Knight. This Prince, remembering the good service done to his father by Sir William and Sir Henry Saintclair, made this Sir Henry a Privy Councillor, with the Earls of March, Menteith, Fife, and Angus.
His dwelling was at Roslin, which is thought to have been founded by Asterius, whose daughter Panthioria, a Pictish Lady, married Donald the First. Roslin was at that time a great Forest, as also Pentland Hills, and a great part of the country about, so that there did abound in those parts great number of harts, hinds, deer and roe, with other wild beasts.
This Sir Henry married Elizabeth Gartnay, daughter to the Earl of Mar, and begot William Saintclair, Henry Saintclair, and three daughters, Marie, Margaret, and one who died young.
About this time Stephen, King of England, sent the Duke of Gloucester to Northumberland to waste it with fire and sword, because, King David refused to do him homage for Northumberland, Cumberland, and Huntingdonshire. King David hearing this, made Sir Henry Saintclair captain of 8000 men afoot, collected out of the north parts of Scotland. The Earls of March and Angus were appointed to command the companies collect out of the south parts, that is Lothian, Merse, Teviotdale, Galloway, etc. Those armies meeting, at length joined in battle.
It was uncertain for a long time to whose side the victory should incline. At length the strongest wing of the English army being disordered by the Earl of Marche with a company of horsemen, Sir Henry Saintclair forced the English to fly, none being able to abide his blows: In this battle, which was given at Allerton, many English were slain, many were taken prisoners, amongst whom the Duke himself, and other nobles were: scarce the tenth part got away.
King David, after this victory, returned home, and rewarded largely his nobles. He gave to Sir Henry Saintclair Cardain, which from him, was called Cardain Saintclair, and having concluded a peace, he deceased in the 29th year of his reign, 1153.
Malcolm, surnamed the Maiden, because he was never married, nor knew woman, succeeded his grandfather. About the beginning of his reign there was a plague and famine through all Scotland. Somerled, Thane of Argyll, beholding this, and contemning the King's age, who was but about 13 years of age, came into the country, robbing and killing all that resisted him. The King, seeing this, sent Gilchrist, Earl of Angus, against him: they killed two thousand of his men. Somerled fled to Ireland.
King Malcolm reigned 12 years, and dying at Edinburgh, was buried at Dunfermline. Next to him succeeded his brother William, surnamed Lyon, who sent Sir Henry Saintclair ambassador toward Henry King of England, about the beginning of his reign, to re-demand Northumberland. King Henry appeared willing to do him justice; after which Saintclair, returning home, died, leaving behind him two sons, William and Henry, and two daughters, Marie and Margaret.
His son SIR WILLIAM succeeded; he was Baron of Roslin, Pentland, Pentland Moor, in free forestry, Sherriff of Lothian, Baron of Causland, Cardaine Saintclair, and Great Master Hunter of Scotland.
King William deceasing in the 29 year of his reign, the 74 year of his age, and of our Lord 1214, Alexander the Second, a valiant prince, his son, succeeded. He loved Sir William Saintclair, whose excellent beauty and delicate proportion of body he much esteemed; he made him Knight, Sherriff of Lothian, and bestowed upon him considerable gifts; at which time the Commons of England, not being willing to endure King John's tyranny, sent to Scotland and France for succour. King Alexander entered England, and shortly after Lewis, Dauphin of France, came to London without any impediment. King Alexander informed thereof, gathered 30,000 men, with a design to join him.
For that effect he sent Sir William Saintclair with 5,000 light horsemen before, to observe the passages; and finding no impediment he came to London, where having met with Lewis the Dauphin, they conferred about the present state of the country, Afterwards they sailed over into France to King Philip, to renew the ancient friendship betwixt France and Scotland, taking only ten ships with them, leaving the rest of the armies to be governed by Sir William Saintclair and the Earl of March.
Their bonds of friendship being renewed, they returned to London. At that time King John, through displeasure, died. They seeing this, and taking a way all occasion of war, by their counsel, returned to their countries.
King Alexander, after his return, did reward his nobles, amongst whom he gave to Sir William Saintclair the Barony of Cousland in heritage, as charters yet extant do record. He made him also new charters of his lands of Roslin, for it would appear his old charters had been burnt, or destroyed some way or an other in King William's time, because of the great trouble that was then in the country. He gave him also the Baxter lands of Innerleith.
Not long after King Alexander died, in the 35 year of his reign, and of our Lord 1249. Next to him succeeded King Alexander the Third, who raised an army of 40000 men against King Acho [Hakon] of Norway, who did invade the Isles, and subjected them to his dominion, the which army was divided into three bodies.
In the one was Sir Alexander Stewart of Dundonald, with the Earls of Menteith and Lennox, who governed the men of Argyll, Atholl, Lennox, and Galloway; in the other was Sir William Sinclare of Roslin, with the Earl of March, who governed the men of the Merse, Teviotdale, Lothian, Berwick, Fife, and Stirlingshire: and in the middle was King Alexander, with all the power of Scotland. So the armies joining, the Scots became victorious with no great difficulty, and slew of the Danes 24,000, so that King Acho was compelled to fly to the castle of Aire, and from thence to Orkney, where he ended his life.
The same day was born to Alexander a son named Alexander, whereat the Scots had double cause of joy.
After this, by the persuasion of one Symon Strong, some of the nobility of England rose up against Henry their king, who sought for help from Scotland, to whom was sent Sir William Saintclair and John Comyn, with 5000 men, who soon pacified the matter and returned home.
Not long after King Alexander, riding a hunting upon a fierce horse at Kinghorne, by chance, at the west end of the rock, towards the sea side, fell and broke his neck, in the 37 year of his reign, and of our Lord 1286. Stories record that the day before the King's death, one Thomas Learmonth said to the Earl of March, that before the afternoon of the next day there should blow such a wind as should bring great calamity to Scotland, which was fulfilled by the King's death, which ensued before the afternoon of the next day.
After the death of King Alexander, in respect he had no posterity, there was appointed governors.
In the meantime, one Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and one John Balliol, Earl of Galloway, did strive who should be king; the which difference they thought meet to be taken away by the judgment of Edward the First, King of England, who made John Balliol King, although it did of right belong to Robert Bruce, but on this condition, that he should have it as holden of him, and so should be at his command, which he condescended unto.
At the same time King Edward sending for help from John Balliol against the French, and not being obeyed, he sends a navy to Berwick against him. His company seeing the number of their enemies, yet nothing dismayed, discomfited eighteen of their ships. King Edward, greatly offended at this, sent a greater number, who, for all that, could not prevail, the city was so well defended, but were compelled to use deceit. First they feigned flight, afterwards made standards like to the Scots, and sent them who were fled to them for fear to the city to make open way for John Balliol. The citizens, seeing the Scots' banner, opened the ports to their enemies.
They having got entrance to the city, spared neither men, women, nor children; and sundry Knights were taken, among whom some of the most valiant fled to the Castle, as Sir William Saintclair, the Earl of Menteith, and others, who for want of provisions were compelled to yeild.
John Balliol was also delivered by John Comyn in the hands of Edward, to whom he resigned his title of the kingdom of Scotland, who was subject to the Southernes' cruelty, and had been altogether undone had not God raised up a young man named Sir William Wallace, son to Sir Edward Wallace of Craigie, who, by his insuperable and victorious hand, relieved his country and was made governor of it.
He was not long governor, when he began to be hated of his countrymen, which he perceiving, by the flight of the Cummins at Falkirk, would be no longer governor, and therefore John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, was made governor, who, with his two colleagues, Sir William Saintclair of Roslin, and Simon Frazer of Bigger, proved valiant at Roslin Moor.
King Edward sent to Scotland 30,000 chosen men, under the government of one Rodolph Comfrene, thinking thereby to make a whole conquest thereof, without let or stay. This Rodolph divided his men into three armies, appointing to every one of them 10,000, and ordained them all to meet at Roslin Moore, and from thence to pass through the rest of the country, with slaughter and burning.
This coming to the governor's ears, who having but eight thousand in his company, and two other captains, to wit, Sir William Saintclair and the Frazer, yet for all that resolved to hazard himself, and coming to the place is rencountered with ten thousand men, at a place in the moor named Bilsdone burn, where he with the other two, after encouragement of the company, proved so valiant, that in a short time they became victors, slew Rodolph their General; the death of whom, after it came to the ears of a lady in England, who entirely loved him, she made be set up in remembrance of his death into that part, a cross of stone, which at that time was all gilded over.
But to our purpose:
The victory being gained, the spoil gathered, and unsuspicious of any danger to ensue, at once they behold marching against them 10,000 men. At the sight thereof, all amazed, made the prisoners be slain, least they should raise again; and at the counsel of Sir William Saintclair, who knew all those bounds, passed over Dryden Burn, where there was rood for them to escape in if they were put to flight.
Their enemies, thinking to be revenged on the slaughter before committed, came to that part where when the battle was joined, their fortune was so bad that they became companions to the former company. This victory scarce was obtained, when, behold, a new company of ten thousand men is ready to join in battle with them, which the Scots beholding became all dismayed; yet, through the persuasive exhortations of their captains, their courage became fresh; and anon the three captains went through all the companies where the wounded and slain were, and slew all the English that were alive, and to every Scot living they gave a weapon, to the end they might kill the English that came upon them, and after that they went to prayer, desiring God to remove their offences, and to consider how just their cause was.
The English thinking because they were with heads uncovered, and knees bended, that they craved mercy of them; and so, without thought of any resistance to be made, they came over Draydon Burn, where, contrary to their expectations of friends, they found foes, of men overcome, men ready to be victors. Yea, within short time, put them to flight, although the battle continued for a space with uncertain victory. This victory, to speak by the way, gained as great praise to our country as any they ever obtained.
But to our purpose:
After this great victory was obtained, everyone of the three chieftains ready to receive part of the spoil, they went to consultation what way it should be divided, and to Sir William Saintclair, because his dwelling was in that part of the country, they gave the ground whereon the battle was fought, the first of them at Bilsdon Burn, besides Dryden, the which, to this day, is called the Shin Bones, some bones and swords being therein found to this day; the other two betwixt Dryden and Hawthornden, which place is called the graves.
The other two chieftains divided the rest of the spoil betwixt them. Sir William Saintclair, after his good success in this battle, returned to his dwelling not far from that place, and carried with him one English prisoner, a man of no small estimation in England, whom he entertained so well, that whilst he remained with him, all things that might anyway turn to the best he gave him counsel in, as amongst - the rest, because he saw the Castle of Roslin not to be strong enough, he advised him to build it on the rock where it now stands; which counsel he embraced, and built the Wall Tower with other buildings, and there he dwelt.
He had two sons, Henry and William, of whom hereafter.
After the battle, this country was greatly vexed by the tyranny of Edward Longshanks; neither ever did any Scot live at ease, except those who yielded to him, until the time that Robert Bruce was made King, who when, after great trouble, he had established his realm under his own government, then did he reward those who were partakers of the pains he took in relieving the country from tyranny; amongst whom, by all the rest, he rewarded richly that valiant champion, Sir James Douglas and Sir William Saintclair, that worthy warrior, which two he preferred above all the rest in respect of their fidelity, which appeared after that at the battle of Bannockburn, fought upon Saint John's Day, 1314, wherat they two proved most valiant.
But also the two sons of Sir William Saintclair proved so well, that all men admired their valour, the report thereof coming to the King's ears, he received the eldest, to wit, Henry, into his service, and made William, Bishop of Dunkeld.
When King Robert the Bruce was returned from Ireland with his country free from King Edward's tyranny, he began to take pleasure in pastimes, as hunting and hawking. It was at one of these functions that Sir William Saintclair of Roslin is stated to have staked his head that his two hounds, Help and Hold, would kill a certain white faunch deer before she could cross the Marcheburn. They caught her in mid-stream. (The incident is recounted more fully in Cameos of the Gens).
In his need he had sought assistance of Saint Katharine, and in gratitude built the church of St.Kathrine in the Hopes. Sir William, after this, proved valiant in Northumberland, together with his companion, the doughty Douglas: and after the death of King Robert, they, together with Sir Robert Logan, took Bruce’s heart enclosed in a coffer of gold, and delicately spiced, to Jerusalem, where, royally, they buried it, and then joined themselves with their company, to Christians, where they valiantly subdue their enemies; and returning home by force of wind, were driven upon the coast of Spain, where they found the King of Aragon warring against the Saracens of that country, and joined themselves to his forces; so, through their good fortune in fight, they became careless, not esteeming of their enemies, till at length, through deceit of Saracens, they were slain.
So ended those valiant Knights, in defence of the right, whose virtues are as examples to allure men to doe the like.
A modern poet hath made the following verses on Sir William Saintclair and Sir Robert Logan, two honourable and hardy Knights, famous for their fortitude in the wars of the Bruce, - for their expedition to the Holy Land with his heart, - for many knightly deeds in the Holy Wars, where they were slain, the year of Christ 1330: -
The constant courage, and the loyal love,
The hardy hearts, the readiness of hands,
While that the strong King stiff and stoutly strove,
By force and flight, to free, half lost, his lands;
That in there two, tried in his worthy wars,
Makes them now glister like two golden stars.
The oppositions and alterations oft,
That to impede their Prince his piece appeared,
Made nought, there gallants leave him, while aloft
On honour's rock his royal seige was reared;
No, nor when dead, but both to after death,
There Knights, well kithed, to leave their Lord was loath.
For with that hardy Count that had his heart,
To be inhumed at the Holy Grave,
This pair, therewith, to pass prepared depart,
To do it, the honour last that it should have;
Which duly done, as the deceased deserved,
'Gainst Saracens, whin they were slain, they served.
After the death of Sir William Sinclair succeeded to him his eldest son Henry, when John Comyn the governor, after the captivity of John Raiddell (Randolph) Earl of Murray and Governor before him, began to tyrannize over all favourers of King David Bruce, he with his confederates raised an army, and in open battle slew him (1338); in whose place was constituted Andrew Murray as Governor of Scotland, whereat the Comyns, mightily offended, came and destroyed all parts in the North, where they came with fire and sword; wherefor the Governor sent for help of the Prince of Orkney, who coming with his forces vanquished the Cummins, with all the assistants and favourers of Balliol, in open battle, and then returning to his country of Orkney, by the way he met a navy sent by King Edward to destroy Orkney, whom he rencountred so bravely, that with his small number, he slew two thousand, and put all the rest to flight, and so went home.
Soon after this died Andrew Murray, in the year of our Lord 1338, and within three years after came King David Bruce to Scotland, who, remembering the injuries done to him by the Southerns, sent an army under the government of the Prince of Orkney, and John Raiddell into England, who returned with great spoil.
King David, not contented therewith, made the Prince of Orkney bring a thousand chosen men out of Orkney, the which adding to his army of 19,000 men, he sent them to England under the command of the Prince of Orkney, and the Earl of March, who burnt and slew in all parts where they came, and returned with a rich prey; wherefore the King rewarded them, for he made Henry Saintclair, Lord Saintclaire and Lord Chief Justice of Scotland.
After this King David was taken at Durham (1346) where he had sent an army in help of the King of France, and sundry of his nobles were slain through the flight of Robert Stewart Prince of Scotland, and the Earl of Marche, through which shortly after his return to his country he died, and was buried at Holyrood-house, in the 39th year of his reign, in the year of our Lord 1370.
Next to Prince Henry Saintclair succeeded his eldest son Henry, second of the name, Prince of Orkney, etc., who left behind him one son named William and one daughter who was married to the Earl of Marche.
[From The History of the Saint-Clairs]
[The preceding is evidently by Van Bassan, and what follows by Hay]
The history of Sutherland derives the Saintclairs from Walderin or Woldonius in France, whose son, Guillelmus de Sancto Claro, did, as they allege, marry Agnes Dunbar, daughter to Patrick, first Earl of March. They say that Kathrin, daughter to Fortieth, the Earl of Strathern, married Sir Henry Saintclair, whose son Henry, married Margaret, daughter to Gratney, the Earl of Mar.
This Henry's son, Sir William, passed into Spain with good Sir William Douglas, who carried the Bruce's heart to Jerusalem: he was married to Elizabeth Sparre, daughter to the Earl of Orkney and Shetland, and so by her became first Earl of Orknay of the Saintclairs. His name was Julius Sparre. He is also reputed Earl of Stratherne and Caithness.
The second Earl was Henry Saintclair Prince of Orkney and Shetland, Duke of Holdenbourg, Knight of the Golden Fleece, etc., who married Florentina, daughter to the King of Danemark.
The third Earl was his son, Henry Saintclair, Prince of Orkney and Shetland, Duke of Holdenbourg, Lord Saintclair, Knight of the Cockle, and of the Order of Saint George in England, etc. It is to be noted, nevertheless, that his name is not enrolled or registrated amongst the Knights at Windsor. He married Giles Douglas, daughter to William Douglas, Lord Nithsdale, called the Black Douglas, and Giles Stewart, daughter of King Robert the Second.
The fourth Earl was Sir William Saintclair, called Prodigus, Knight of the Cockle and Golden Fleece, Prince of Orkney and Shetland, etc. This William married Elizabeth Douglas, daughter to Archibald Tyneman first Duke of Turaine, and after her death he married Margaret Southerland, daughter to Alexander of Southerland, eldest son of John Earl of Sutherland, second of the name, by whom he had Oliver, Laird of Roslin, etc., and William. The last obtained the Earldom of Caithness in the latter end of King James the Second's reign, and was slain at Flodden, 1513.
(In Nisbet's Heraldry there is a similar account of the Saintclairs)
All what is above recorded by the Genealogists doth not agree with the Evidences, Histories, Registers and other private Memoirs I have found in Gentlemen's hands.
It's certain that the Saintclairs came originally from France, where there are as yet several places of that name. In Normandy there is a place named Saintclair, upon the river of Epte, where the Emperor Othou was beat by the Normans in 949, whilst Lewis the Third was King of France. There is also a village called Saintclair two leagues distant from Moncontour, where Gaspard de Coligny, Admiral of France, incamped the 30th of September 1569; but whilst he was decamping he was met by the army of the Catholics, and lost 200 foot soldiers and 120 horse. It is probable that the Saintclairs took their surname from some place or other so called in France.
They came over to England with William, Duke of Normandy. I find in the annals of Clifteaux, written by Angelus Manriquez, page 436, ad annum 1167: "Hugonem de Santo Claro, cum Roberto de Lacy, Jocelino de Balliolo, Thoma filio Bernardi, excommunicatum a Sancto Thoma Cantuariensi, quod in possessiones et bona Ecclesiae Cantuariensis manus extenderat, ut eis abuteretur, et eorum usus irnpediverat, quorum necessitatibus erant deputata".
This proves that they were established very early in England. In the History of the Earls of Dreux in France, I find Eleanor, daughter to Robert the Second, Earl of Dreux, and Jolanda of Coucy, married first to Hugo Lord of Chateauneuf and afterwards to Robert de Saintclair.
This Eleanor's nephew, Robert the fourth Earl of Dreux, who died in 1282, begot upon Beatrix, only daughter to John, Earl of Montfort, Joleta, first married to Alexander the Third, King of Scotland, in 1286, and afterwards to Arthur, the second Duke of Brittany, Earl of Richmond and Montfort; which proves the Saintclairs to have been considerable men in those parts.
As for Scotland, I find none of them named amongst us before King William's time. The first I find recorded is Alan Saintclair, to whom Roland, Earl of Galloway, grants the lands of Herdmanston, bounded as at present.
As for Roslin, it was not in the Saintclairs' hands till that King's time at soonest, for in the beginning of his reign I find Thomas de Roslyn witness to a charter, granted by Robert de Monteforti, in the Chartulary of Arbroath; and Roger of Roslin is witness to several charters of William of Lysuris, Laird of Gorton. Henry of Roskelyn resigns his lands to Alexander the Third, which are disponed in favour of William Saintclair in 1280. Whether this Henry was of the same surname or not I cannot determine till further enquiry.
The further observations of Father Hay will be found under the different sections of this work.
The Editor of his Manuscript refers to him in these words: -
"Of Father Hay, some account will be found prefixed to the "Genealogie of the Hayes of Tweeddale". His mother, Jean Spotswood, having, upon the death of her first husband, George Hay, youngest son of Sir George Hay, Lord Register, married James Saintclair of Rosslyn, this connection naturally afforded the stepson access to the muniments in the Rosslyn charter-chest, and from these writings he was enabled principally to compile this genealogy of the family.
It is to he regretted that the reverend gentleman was so careless in making his transcripts, as in many instances various evident mistakes have crept in, which the absence of the original documents renders it sometimes difficult to correct.
Fortunately these inaccuracies, generally speaking, are of no very great moment; and it will be always remembered that Father Hay was no more faulty than the other Scottish antiquaries and genealogists of the period, who attached no importance to that extreme accuracy which in modern times is so properly deemed essential to the transcription and publication of ancient writings.
Much, therefore, as we may desiderate the too frequent occurrence of error, we must be thankful that copies of deeds of such value were taken, as no traces of the original charters and other papers can now be found."
Since Maidment wrote the foregoing, one document at least has been discovered in private ownership, "The Testament of Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath, in Caithness," and a comparison with Hay's transcript shows that they agree in every way.
The History of the Saintclairs was written by one James van Bassan, a Dane who lived long at Roslin Castle, and whom Nisbet's Heraldry terms "a very confident genealogist".
The mediaeval St.Clairs of Rosslyn bore the names of William and Henry in alternation, and this has occasioned a transposition of many historical references, some being antedated by one or two generations, and others being postdated similarly.
[From Nisbet's Heraldry]
NOTE - The St.Clairs of Roslin seemingly came direct from Normandy in the reign of Alexander II, 1213-1249, as they do not identify armorially with any of the English St.Clares, nor with the Herdmanston family.