Brennan, Brian (2019) A history of the Kennedy Earls of Cassillis before 1576. PhD thesis. https://theses.gla.ac.uk/70978/ Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work 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 Enlighten: Theses https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] A History of the Kennedy Earls of Cassillis before 1576 Brian Brennan BSc MA MLitt Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) School of Humanities College of Arts University of Glasgow Abstract This thesis will study the Kennedy family, beginning with its origins as a minor cadet branch of the lineage that ruled Galloway in the twelfth century, and trace its history until the death of the fourth earl of Cassillis in 1576. A study of how the Kennedys extended their influence across south-west Scotland and acquired an earldom has never been undertaken. This thesis aims to fill the significant gap in our understanding of how lordship operated in this region. In particular, analysis of the interactions between the Kennedys and the earls of Carrick, usually the monarch or his heir, demonstrates that the key factor in their success was their policy of close alignment and support of the crown. The Kennedy kindred were the dominant force in Carrick in south-west Scotland from the middle of the fourteenth century. Their first appearance in the historical record in the late twelfth century makes it likely that the Kennedys were connected to the kindred of Fergus, Lord of Galloway. His grandson Duncan became the first earl of Carrick when that territory was separated from Galloway. Duncan’s lineage was known as the ‘de Carricks’ and the Bruce family gained the earldom through marriage to a ‘de Carrick’ heiress. The earldom of Carrick then became connected to the crown and, when the male line of the ‘de Carricks’ failed, Robert II recognised John Kennedy of Dunure as the rightful leader of the kindreds within Carrick. For over two hundred years the principal Kennedy line exerted a powerful lordship in Carrick which later extended into western Galloway. The family’s dominance in the area and their loyalty to the crown was recognised when the head of the Kennedys was made a lord of parliament in 1458. The Kennedy chief was granted a comital title in 1509 and the Kennedy earls of Cassillis were highly influential during the reigns of James V and Mary Queen of Scots. The power and influence of the Kennedy chiefs has been acknowledged by historians but there has been limited study of the kindred. As bailies to the earls of Carrick, usually the monarch or the heir to the throne, the Kennedys may have been seen as playing a secondary role within the province. Studies have examined the life of individual Kennedys and the mechanisms used by some Kennedy chiefs to exert their lordship in an area where Gaelic kinship practices still operated. However, until now the history of the Kennedy dynasty has never been subjected to in-depth analysis. 2 Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 List of Figures 4 Acknowledgements 5 Author’s Declaration 6 Conventions and Abbreviations 7 Introduction 10 Chapter 1: The Kennedys until 1509 24 Chapter 2: Land, Kindred, Disputes and the Church 53 Chapter 3: The First two earls of Cassillis 1509 – 1527 72 Chapter 4: The Third earl of Cassillis 1527 – 1542 90 Chapter 5: The Third earl of Cassillis 1542 – 1558 115 Chapter 6: The Fourth earl of Cassillis 1558 – 1576 147 Thesis Conclusion 176 Appendix: Òran Bagraidh, 'A Song of Defiance' 187 Bibliography 195 3 List of Figures Figure 1: Scotland showing Carrick and Galloway 20 Figure 2: The early earls of Carrick and the Kennedy kindred 21 Figure 3: Emergence of the main cadet branches of the Kennedys 22 Figure 4: Carrick and Western Galloway 23, 52 Figure 5: Family tree of the Cassillis branch of the Kennedys – pt.1 71 Figure 6: Family tree of the Cassillis branch of the Kennedys – pt.2 89 4 Acknowledgements I would like to thank here all those whose help and advice were of enormous value to me throughout my studies. Foremost among these is my main supervisor Dr Steven Reid whose scholarship, criticism and enthusiasm has been invaluable and to whom I am deeply indebted. The input from my other supervisor Dr Martin McGregor, though more sporadic, was very influential in guiding the structure of the thesis. Together, they eventually managed to convince me that simply stringing more and more facts together in a narrative was not what was required. David Kennedy Marquis of Ailsa the current chief of the Kennedys, his sister Lady Elizabeth Drummond and his heir Archibald were encouraging and supportive of my research. The other occupants of Room 103, the office I shared in 9 University Gardens, have been a great support. For long periods Ross Crawford and I were the only regular occupants and I would like to thank him for his friendship and generous advice. Joe Ryan- Hume, Shaun Kavanagh, Nicole Cassie, Edwin Sheffield and Dan Oliver have all helped to make our office a haven where laughter was never far away. Other students who helped create a friendly ambience in 9 University Gardens were Paul Goatman, Miles Kerr- Peterson and William Hepburn. To Ewen and Raymond and my long-suffering hill-running friends Allan, Paul, Trevor, Jonathan, Gus and many others, thank you for putting up with my studies, and apologies for telling each of you much more than you could ever have reasonably wished to know about the history of the Kennedys. My fantastic and talented daughters, Sharon, Kathleen and Kirsten have always been very supportive of my studies. Thank you and I apologise for those occasions when they got in the way of my duties as a dad and a ‘grampa’. However, particular thanks must go to their mother, my wife Anne. Her support for me returning to university was generous and wholehearted although I suspect it was also mixed with considerable relief that I would not be hanging around the manse at a loose end. The best thing I have ever done was to marry Anne. We make a great team and I thank God for the great gift of her love and friendship over the last 40+ years. 5 Author’s Declaration I declare that, except where explicit reference is made to the contribution of others, that this dissertation is the result of my own work, and has not been submitted for any other degree at the University of Glasgow or any other institutions. Signature: ______________________________________ Printed name: 6 Conventions and Abbreviations All dates are given assuming the new year begins on 1 January. All sums of money are in pounds Scots or merks. A merk is equivalent to two thirds of a pound Scots. A merkland is land valued in ‘auld extent’ at that sum and is equivalent, on average, to around 35 acres but the actual area is dependent on the productive capacity of the land.1 Gaelic was prevalent in south-west Scotland during this period and it is likely that the names of individuals were often Gaelic in form. However, the sources for the period covered by this thesis are primarily in Scots or Latin and generally use anglicised versions of both forenames and surnames. For consistency, and to avoid the confusion of different names for the same individual, these anglicised forms will be utilised. Where an anglicised form is not provided the name is given as it appears in the source. Unless otherwise indicated, place-names are given in the form in which they appear on modern Ordnance Survey 1:50000 maps. All quotations from primary sources have kept the original spelling. Contractions and abbreviations in manuscripts have been silently expanded. The following abbreviations have been used: ADCP Acts of the Lords of Council in Public Affairs, 1501-1554: Selections from Acta Dominorum Concilii, ed. R. K. Hannay (Edinburgh, 1932) AILSA Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments) Bargany Papers of the family of Dalrymple-Hamilton of Bargany, Ayrshire (Bargany Muniments) Buchanan, History Buchanan, George, The History of Scotland, ed. & trans. J. Aikman (Glasgow, 1827). 1 Cosmo Innes, Lectures on Scotch Legal Antiquities (Edinburgh, 1872), pp.282-5. 7 Crossraguel Chrs. Charters of the Abbey of Crosraguel, ed. F. C. Hunter Blair (Edinburgh, Ayrshire and Galloway Archaeological Society, 1886), vol.1. CDS Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland ed. J. Bain, vols.1-4 (Edinburgh, 1881-8). CPL Calendar of entries in the Papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: Papal Letters, vols. 4,8,10, ed. W.H. Bliss, J.A. Twemlow et al (London, HMSO, 1893-1909). CSP Scot. Calendar of the State Papers relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1547-1603, vols.1-5, ed. J. Bain et al. (Edinburgh, 1898- 1903) CSPVB Agnew, Robert Vans, Correspondence of Sir Patrick Waus of Barnbarroch, Knight; Part 1 1540-1584 (Edinburgh, Ayr and Galloway Archaeological Association, 1887). CSSR Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome, vols.3-5, ed. A. I. Dunlop et al (Edinburgh/Glasgow, 1970-1997).