'^ Ki ,V^>M''9'lj'4w|/!t!,t«'i^!*^|'i ^^il^fMft'jlWllf ^4»«'i!^te *•-« 3tt!aca, Hem ^orh m^tte ^iatorttal SIthrars THE GIFT OF PRESIDENT WHITE MAINTAINED BY THE UNIVERSITY IN ACCORD- ANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE GIFT Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924088022318 The Isle of Bute in the Olden Time CD (0 ^^ < o M Eh O ' The Isle of Bute in the Olden Time WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, MAPS, AND PLANS JAMES KING HEWISON, M.A., F.S.A. (Scot.) MINISTER OF ROTHESAY EDITOR OF 'certain TRACTATES BY NINIAN WINZET VOL. II. AND THE BRANDANES WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCXCV TO THE MARCHIONESS OF BUTE PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME. In this volume I have carried out my intention of providing an account of the Stewards of Scotland, and a history of ' Bute in the Olden Time,' from the thirteenth down to the eighteenth century, to which I have added a few of the more important facts which link the last two centuries to the present time. Having no special brief to furnish, in fullest detail, the romantic history of the Royal Stewards, I have been hampered in the effort to condense, within the straitened framework of language attractive to the reader, many important unpublished results of re- searches which should add a new interest to the mystery of the origin of the Stewarts who occupied the throne of Scotland. To find " the root of many kings " among the Celts of Scotland, I have ransacked every likely place for facts, with such success, chronicled herein, as may viii Preface to the Second Volume. possibly provoke some other zealous investigator to follow up the clues through those unpublished MSS., which are the treasures of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, and which my examination did not ex- haust. By their means the ghost of Banquo may yet become more vocal than he was to King Macbeth. To ensure reliable investigation into the connection of Alan—the progenitor of the Stewards—with Brit- tany, I visited that ancient province, and in the Public Library at Rennes, as well as in the British Museum, verified the supposition that the Fitz Alans were also Bretons. On my return, I had the honour and good fortune to receive from the Right Honour- able the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres the use of a large collection of MSS. referring to the Fitz Alans and their Breton contemporaries, which were gathered during a lifetime by the late learned peer, his father, who had given much attention to the early history of his ancestry. Many of these docu- ments are extracts from the chartularies of French monasteries and records of Brittany, made by dis- tinguished French scholars, notably Monsieur Fran- cisque Michel. I have to thank the Earl of Crawford and Bal- — Preface to the Second Vohi-me. ix Carres for his kindness in intrusting this valuable collection to me. I have also to thank the Most Noble the Mar- quess of Bute, K.T., for his courtesy in permitting me to study in Mountstuart Library, to have access to his charters, and to publish the Report on Rothesay Castle, drawn up by Mr Burges, architect. To the many friends who have assisted me in the production of this work, including those artistic helpers whose names are associated with the beauti- ful plates throughout this volume, and are mentioned in the descriptive Index, I tender my thanks. For ten years I have, in imagination, listened to the voices of the saintly and patriotic makers of our Fatherland, and have followed throughout these western regions our immortal heroes, — Aidan from Erin to lona — Wallace from Lanark to London Bruce from Carrick to Cardross—the Brandanes from Bute to Bannockburn and many another field ; but now the accomplishment of this work brings the regret that I must forbear their "pastyme and gud companie," and let the sword of freedom descend, darkling, into its rusty scabbard, —the sweet chant of St Blaan turn into the wind-gusts whistling through his still roofless fane — the countenance of Walter, X Preface to the Second Volume. gallant companion of the Bruce, " seemly to sycht," find base presentment in the mutilated effigy that memorialises his fame in the Lady Kirk — and com- munion in the brave days of old become ex- changed for association in the diurnal conflicts of a more flexible, and therefore a meaner age, wherein too many consider patriotism to be a restrictive prejudice. J. KING HEWISON. The Manse, Rothesay, March 1895. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. I. THE ORIGIN OF THE ROYAL STEWARTS, I II. THE STEWARDS OF SCOTLAND, 38 III. THE BRANDANES, 85 IV. THE HOME OF THE STEWARTS, 105 V. THE BARONS OF BUTE,. 133 VI. THE ROYAL BURGH, 188 VII. THE ROMAN CHURCH, . 212 VIII. THE REFORMED CHURCH, 251 IX. THREE CENTURIES OF CIVIL LIFE IN BUTE, 304 APPENDICES. I. GENEALOGY OF MAORMOR OF LEVEN, 347 II. GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE STEWARDS OF SCOTLAND, 349 III. PR^CEPTUM DE ECCLESIA B. MARI^ DE COMBORNIO, 353 IV. INQUISITION MADE IN NORFOLK IN 1 275, . 354 V. DONATIO DE SPARLAIO, .... 354 VI. AUCTORAMENTUM DE GUGUEN, 355 xii Contents of the Second Vohmte. VII. FONDATION DU PRIEURfi DE S. FLORENT-SOUS-DOL, . 356 VIH. CHARTER OF FITZ JORDAN TO MARMOUTIERS, . 357 IX. CARTA DE MOLENDINO DE BORTONE, . -358 X. CARTA HENRICI REGIS ANGLORUM DE CELLA S. TRINI- TATIS EBORACENSIS, ..... 358 XI. CHARTER OF ST FLORENT ATTESTED BY ALAN, . 359 XII. DONATION X MARMOUTIERS PAR JOURDAIN, . 359 XIII. GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE FITZ ALANS AND STEWARTS, 361 XIV. GENEALOGICAL TABLE SHOWING THE DESCENT OF THE STEWARDS, ....... 365 XV. MR J. R. THOMSON'S REPORT ON ROTHESAY CASTLE, . 369 XVI. LIST OF STEWART CHARTERS, . 372 XVII. THE BANNATYNES OF KAMES, .... 383 387 ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE SECOND VOLUME. ROTHESAY CASTLE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, . Frontispiece ROYAL ARMS OF,STUARTS, . Vignette on title-page ON SEPARATE PAGES. PAGE SEALS OF THE STEWARDS, ...... 38 TOMB OF WALTER, STEWARD OF SCOTLAND (WHO DIED IN I326), IN ST Mary's chapel, rothesay, . .85 ROTHESAY CASTLE, GENERAL PLAN, ..... I05 charter OF ROBERT III. APPOINTING JOHN, STEWARD OF BUTE, SHERIFF OF BUTE AND ARRAN, ..... I42 CHARTER OF JAMES IV. APPOINTING SHERIFF NINIAN STEWART HEREDITARY KEEPER OF ROTHESAY CASTLE, . -153 WESTER KAMES CASTLE IN 1 894, . I78 THE TOLBOOTH, CROSS, TOWN, AND CASTLE OF ROTHESAY, ABOUT 1680,. ........ 188 From an old Engraving in the possession of the Marquess of Bute J Photo by Messrs J. Adamson ^ Son, Rothesay. ST Mary's chapel. From Drawings by Mr James Walker, Architect— sketch VIEW FROM NORTH-EAST, PLAN, AND SKETCH OF INTERIOR, ....... 212 — XIV Illustrations to the Second Volume. ST MARY'S CHAPEL ELEVATION, SECTION, AND PLAN OF TOMBS AND PISCINA, . 238 TOMB OF A LADY IN ST MARY'S CHAPEL, ROTHESAY, . 242 MOUNTSTUART HOUSE IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, . 304 Fro??i a Painting in the possession of the Marquess of Bute j Photo by Messrs J. Adamson (Sr» Son, Rothesay. KAMES CASTLE IN 1894, ...... 329 IN THE TEXT. CHATEAU DE COMBOURG, BRITTANY, . 21 MAISON DES PLAIDS, DOL, BRITTANY, . , . 27 SEALS OF^ 1. JAMES, STEWARD OF SCOTLAND, \ 2. JOHN STEWART OF BONKYL, \ . 58 3. ROBERT, STEWARD OF SCOTLAND, ) ROTHESAY CASTLE. From Drawings by the late Mr William Purges, Architect— CURTAIN WALL, ..... no ST MICHAEL'S CHAPEL, SECTION LOOKING SOUTH, III TOP OF CURTAIN WALL, .... 112 ST MICHAEL'S CHAPEL, PLAN OF CRYPT, 113 11 II PLAN, U4 II II SECTION LOOKING NORTH, 115 ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY, 116 GROUND-PLAN OF JAMES IV. WORK, 118 FLOOR PLAN If II . 120 LONGITUDINAL SECTION THROUGH JAMES IV. WORK, 128 TRANSVERSE SECTION 1, 11 11 130 MACNIELL'S TOMBSTONE, 164 From Photos by Miss C. Macrae, THE CROWNEr'S CASTLE AT Karnes Castle, MEIKLE KILMORIE, 165 — Illustrations to the Second Volume. XV MANSION-HOUSE OF ASCOG, From Photo by Mr James M^Crone. 167 WESTER KAMES CASTLE, GROUND- f By Mr Jas. Walker, ArchiA 178 PLAN AND SECTION, I tect, J OLD SEAL OF ROTHESAY BURGH OBVERSE, ........ 196 REVERSE, ........ 197 ST bride's hill and CHAPEL, ROTHESAY, IN 183O, EFFIGY OF WILLIAM CUMMIN, \ 239 sepulchre under sir walter the From Drawings by steward's monument, Mr J. C. Roger, 241 effigy of sir walter the steward, ] \ 244 EFFIGY OF A SOLDIER, FROM ST MARY'S CHAPEL, . 246 COAT OF ARMS, ST MARY'S CHAPEL, 248 COAT OF ARMS OVER DOOR OF ROTHESAY CASTLE, 250 ROTHESAY PARISH CHURCH, 1692-1795, . From an old Map. 300 ROTHESAY PARISH CHURCH AND ST MARY'S CHAPEL IN I 303 THE ISLE OF BUTE IN THE OLDEN TIME. CHAPTER I. THE ORIGIN OF THE ROYAL STEWARTS. " " Banquo. O, treachery ! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly ! —Shakespeare's Macbeth. " We found a great number of bones. The Stuarts of Bute buried on this side of the Choir." —Accotmt of Stuart Monuments in Rothesay. " Son of man, can these bones live?" —EZEKIEL. HE origin of the royal house of Stewart has long I remained a mystery, perplexing historical stu- dents, who feel tantalised at knowing so little concerning the hapless victim of the jealousy of King Macbeth—Banquo, round whom Shakespeare has cast the glamour of undying romance, and to whom the old chroniclers of Scotland traced back the family of Stewart. The very fascinating excellence of the poet's conceptions of VOL. II. A — " 2 Bute in the Olden Time. the men and times he selected to depict creates the impres- heroes sion that only in imagination, not in real life, these reader of the thoughts of existed ; and when the gratified the dramatist, on turning to history, discovers that this saucy " muse has scarcely given a " local habitation