The Lindsay Earls of Crawford: the Heads of the Lindsay Family in Late Medieval Scottish Politics, 1380-1453
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This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: • This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. • A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. • This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. • The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. • When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. The Lindsay Earls of Crawford: The Heads of the Lindsay Family in Late Medieval Scottish Politics, 1380-1453 by Jonathan Mantele Cox A thesis submitted for the degree of Ph. D. University of Edinburgh 2009 1 Abstract This thesis examines the careers of the first four Lindsay earls of Crawford, 1380-1453. Each of these four Scottish earls played an important role in Scottish politics, though they have not been closely examined since A. W. C. Lindsay’s Lives of the Lindsays, or a memoir of the Houses of Crawford and Balcarres, published in 1849. This is despite the fact that these men figured in some of the major events in late medieval Scotland. David 1st earl of Crawford can be linked to the murder of David Stewart duke of Rothesay in 1401-2. David 3rd earl of Crawford (d. 1446) was a marriage ally of William 6th earl of Douglas who was judicially murdered in 1440 by William Crichton and James Douglas earl of Avondale in 1440. Evidence suggests this marriage alliance was a factor in the decision to commit the murder. Alexander 4th earl of Crawford (d. 1453) was involved in the famous Douglas-Crawford-Ross tripartite bond which cost William 8th earl of Douglas his life. All of the first four earls were involved, in different ways, in the disputes to determine the succession of the earldom of Mar during their careers. Although the barony of Crawford was in Lanarkshire, the earls’ main sphere of influence was south of the Mounth, where they held lands stretching from Urie near present-day Stonehaven to Megginch near Perth. Glen Esk, their largest holding, was in Forfarshire, which was where they exerted the most influence. They also maintained a degree of influence in Aberdeenshire, where they were the hereditary sheriffs. A few factors explain their ability to maintain this sphere of influence. The first was an ability to call out a significant armed band of men, something which the first, third and fourth earls of Crawford are all recorded to have done. Most also had an income from annuities from various burghs including Aberdeen, Dundee, and Montrose totaling about £200, and they can be demonstrated to have owned a house in Dundee and maintained connections with burgesses there. This may suggest they were involved in trade. David Lindsay, 1st earl of Crawford (d. 1407), who used all of the above means to propel himself to the top ranks of Scottish politics, also promoted himself through active engagement with the culture of chivalry and crusade. This earned him much praise from the contemporary chronicler, Andrew Wyntoun. There are hints that the third and fourth earl may have maintained this interest as well. 2 Statement of Original Authorship Hereby I declare that this thesis has been composed by myself, the work is my own and it has not been submitted for any degree or professional qualification, except as specified on the title page. Signed:_______________________________________ Date:_______________________ 3 Contents Acknowledgements 5 List of Abbreviations 6 Introduction 11 Chapter I: Sir David Lindsay of Glenesk, 1st Earl of Crawford, 1380-1407 42 Chapter II: Alexander Lindsay 2nd Earl of Crawford, 1407-c. 1439 110 Chapter III: David Lindsay 3rd Earl of Crawford, 1423-1446 150 Chapter IV: Alexander Lindsay 4th Earl of Crawford, 1446-1453 200 Conclusion 262 Appendix A: Personal Business of the First Four Earls of Crawford 271 Appendix B: Early Lindsay Connections to Robert II 280 Appendix C: Maps 288 Appendix D: Family Trees 291 Appendix E: Copies of Charters 294 Bibliography 297 4 Acknowledgements This thesis has only been made possible by the kind support of many people and institutions. First, I must thank my supervisors, Dr. Steve Boardman and Dr. Andrew D. Brown. Throughout my study as a Ph. D. student, they have always guided, helped and challenged me. I could not imagine two better supervisors. I also owe many thanks as well to Anne Brockington, the Scottish History Subject Area secretary for her help and access to the department printer. I next must thank his lordship, Robert Lindsay earl of Crawford and Balcarres for kindly allowing me access to the Crawford Collection at the National Library of Scotland. The documents contained therein are integral to this thesis, especially those on Alexander 2nd earl of Crawford (1407-c. 1439), whose career would have remained all but a mystery without access to this collection. The University of Edinburgh’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences provided me with a full studentship, which provided much financial support during my study, for which I am thankful. The Scottish History Subject Area’s class library was of great use to me throughout my studies, and I hope that, despite any possible organisational changes for the Subject Area and School, that this class library will remain a resource available to those studying Scottish History at the University of Edinburgh. The staff at the National Archives of Scotland, National Library of Scotland, and University of Edinburgh Library have all been very helpful and friendly. I would especially like to thank Kenneth Dunn at the National Library of Scotland for helping me gain access to the Crawford Collection and familiarising me with its contents. Ralph Moffat, now Curator of European Arms and Armour for Glasgow Museums, a good friend, has been of great assistance to me during my studies, answering my questions about tournament and armour. He also passed on to me more than one reference to the Lindsays which he came across in his own research, and I owe him many thanks for this consideration. Throughout this process, my friends, whom I name in no particular order, Cathryn Spence, Kathrine Nicolai, Tom Turpie, Alima Bucciantini, Anne Hall, Linda Andersson Burnet, Markus Becker, Soyeon Kim, Juard VanDijkhorst, Josh Ingrham, Philip Touchette, Mark Merkel, Steve Moroz, Andrea Kane, and Sean MacDonald, and others, have all provided moral support throughout this process. I thank them as well. I must also thank my grandparents for all of the support and inspiration they have given me, particularly my grandfather Everett, for sparking my interest in history. I would like to thank my parents, who have always been there for me, for fostering my interest in history, and always encouraging me. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Hilda for all of the support and affection she has shown to me through the years of my Ph. D. study, and for always being willing to listen to me ramble on about late medieval Scottish history. While the support of all these people and institutions have helped improve my thesis, any mistakes which remain are, of course, entirely mine. 5 List of Abbreviations1 1. Print and Online Sources: Abdn. Counc. Extracts from the Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen, (Spalding Club, 1844-48). Abdn. Guild Recs. Aberdeen Guild Court Records, 1437-1468, ed. E. Gemmill (Edinburgh, 2005). Aberdeen-Banff Coll. Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff (Spalding Club, 1843). Aberdeen-Banff Illustrations Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff. (Spalding Club, 1847-69). Aberdeen Registrum Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis. (Spalding and Maitland Clubs, 1845). Acts of Lords Auditors The Acts of the Lords Auditors of Causes and Complaints, ed. T. Thomson (Edinburgh, 1839). APS The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, edd. T. Thomson and C. Innes (Edinburgh, 1814-75). Arbroath Liber Liber S. Thome de Aberbrothoc. (Bannatyne Club, 1848-1856). ASH Atlas of Scottish History to 1707, edd. P. G. B. McNeil and H. L. MacQueen (Edinburgh, 1996). Chron. Auchinleck The ‘Auchinleck Chronicle’, printed in C. McGladdery, James II. (Edinburgh, 1990). Bamff Chrs. Bamff Charters 1232-1703, ed. J. H. Ramsay (Oxford, 1915). Brechin Registrum Registrum Episcopatus Brechinensis (Bannatyne Club, 1856). Buchanan, History G. Buchanan, The History of Scotland, translated J. Aikman (Glasgow and Edinburgh, 1827-29). Caithness Recs. Caithness and Sutherland Records, edd. A. W. Johnston and others (Viking Society, London, 1909-28). 1 This list of abbreviated titles is based on the list printed in ‘List of Abbreviated Titles of the Printed Sources of Scottish History to 1560’, Scottish Historical Review, Supplement (October 1963): vi-xxix. 6 CDS Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, ed. J. Bain (Edinburgh, 1881-8). Chron. Anonimalle The Anonimalle Chronicle, 1333-1381, ed. V. H. Galbraith (Manchester, 1927). Chron. Boece (1977) Boethius, Hector, Chronicle of Scotland, translated Bellenden, (Amsterdam, 1977). Chron. Bower (Watt) W. Bower, Scotichronicon, translated and ed. D. E. R. Watt (Aberdeen, 1989-1998). Chron. Extracta Extracta e Variis Cronicis Scocie (Abbotsford Club, 1842). Chron. Lanercost (Maxwell) The Chronicle of Lanercost 1272-1346, translated by H. Maxwell (Glasgow, 1913). Chron. Pluscarden Liber Pluscardensis, ed. ed. F. J. H. Skene (Edinburgh, 1877-80). Chron. St Albans The St. Albans Chronicle, 1406-1420, ed. V. H.