Interest in STIRLING of GLENESK, ANGUS, SCOTLAND

196. Inspection of the charter of Katherine de Striuelyn entailing on her husband Alexander de Lindsay and their heirs, all of her lands, rents and possessions in the sheriffdoms of Inverness, Aberdeen, and Forfar, including the advocation of the church and chapel of Lethnot. 1 October 1358.  

Dauid Dei gracia rex Scottorum omnibus probes hominibus tocius terre sue clericis et laicis salutem. Sciatis nos quamdam cartam Katherine de Striuelyne filie et vnius heredum quondam Johannis de Striuelyne militis de Glenesk vidisse et diligenter intellexisse in hec verba. Sciant presentes et futuri quod quo Katerina de Striuelyne filia et vna heredum domini quondam Johannis de Striuelyne militis domini de Glenesk in mea pura virginitate dedi concessi et hac presenti carta mea confirmaui Alexandro de Lyndesay filio domini Dauid de Lyndesay militis domini de [Cr]awford omnes et singulas terras meas redditus meos et possessiones meas quascumque cum pertinenciis suis quas vel quos habeo [vel] habere potero in vicecomitabus de Inuernys Abyrdon et Forfar qualitercunque me contingentes. Habend et tenend’ dictas terras redditus et possessiones cum pertenciis suis dicto Alexandro et heredibus inter ipsum et me carnaliter procreandis quibuscunque, et si contingat nullum heredem carnaliter procreandis quibuscunque, et si contingat nullum heredem inter nos carnaliter procreari quod absit sibi et heredibus suis de corpore suo procreandis quibuscunque masculis seu famellis, in boscis in planis in moris in marisiis in stagnis in aquis in piscariis in viuariis in molendinis in bracinis in aeriis falconii et cum omnibus aliis libertatibus commoditabis aysiamentis sectis curarum liberetenentibus et natiuis terrarum supradictarum habitis et habendis de iure vel consuetundine tam non nominatis quam nominatis adeo libere et quiete  bene et in pace in feodo et hereditate in perpetuum sicut eto vel predecessores mei dictas terras redditus et possessiones cum pertinenciis suis liberius quiecius habuimus et tenuimus de dominis nostris capitalibus aliquibus temporibus et precipue cum aduocacione eccliesie de Lethnoth et capelle de Lethenoth cum iuribus et [pertin]enciis suis. Et nullo herede de corpore dicti Alexandri exeunte quod absit dicte terre redditus et possessiones [cum pertin]enciis [suis et cum adu]ocacione dicte ecclesie et capelle [ad me et] heredes meos libere [reuer]tentur. Reddendo ipse Alexander et heredes sui de dictis terris redditibus et possessionibus et faciendo pro eisdam quicquid de iure vel consuetudine fieri debetur et tenetur. Et si pretactum matrimonium inter nos rite et canonice minime compleatur vel prius complecione eiusdem ex parte dicti Alexandri diuorcietur concordatum est quod omnes terre redditus et possessiones predicti cum suis pertinenciis absque contradictione vel streptiu iudiciali ad me et heredes meos eo ipso libere reuertantur nullo propendo obstante in contrarium. Et ego Katerina et heredes mei dictas terras redditus et possessiones cum pertinenciis vna cum aduocacione dicte ecclesie et capelle in omnibus et per omnia vt prescriptum est dicto Alexandro et heredibus suis de corpore suo exeuntibus contra omnes gentes warantizabimus acquietabimus et in perpetuum defendemus. In cuius rei restimonium presenti carte sigillum meum apposui. Hiis testibus dominis Dauid de Grame, Dauid Flemyng militibus, Patricio de Striuelyn et Morgand de Striuelyn consanguineis meis, Magistro Johanne Someruyle, Henrico de Lychtoun, Willelmo de Anandia, et multis aliis. Quam quidem cartam donacionemque et concessionem in eadem contentas in omnibus punctis suis articulis condicionibus modis et circumstanciis suis quibuscunque forma pariter et effectu in omnibus et per omnia approbamus ratificamus et pro nobis et heredibus nostris in perpetuum confirmamus. Saluo seruicio nostro. In cuius rei testimonium presenti carte nostre sigillum nostrum precepimus apponi. Testibus venerabiliibus in Christo patribus Willielmo episcopo Sancti Andree, Patricio episcopo Brechynsi cancellario nostro, Roberto senescallo Scocie comite de Strathern nepote nostro, Willelmo [comi]de Douglas, Roberto de Erskyn et Johanne de Prestoun militibus. Apud Edynburgh primo Octobris anno regni nostri vicesimo nono.

David by the grace of God, king of Scots, salutes the health of all the good clergymen and laymen of the land. That you may know we have seen and carefully examined the words in the charter of Katherine de Striuelyn, daughter and one of the heirs of the late John de Striuelyn of Glenesk:  

“Know for the present and future that the intention of Katerina de Striuelyn, daughter and one of the heirs of the late John de Striuelyn, knight, of Glenesk, that in my pure maidenhood with this charter I have given Alexander de Lyndesay, son of lord David de Lyndesay, knight, Lord of Crawford, all [lit. ‘the whole and each piece’] of my lands, rents and my possessions with their appurtenances which I have in the sheriffdoms of Inverness , Aberdeen and Forfar. The lands, rents and possessions with their appurtenances will be had and held  by the said Alexander and the heirs begot betwixt himself and me; and if no lawful heir, God forbid, is begotten between us, then to himself and the heirs of his body male or female. (The said lands will be had and held) with the jurisdiction of the forests, the plains, pathways, springs, and fishing pools, game enclosures, millhouses and airs of the falcons with the concerns of all the free tenants and serfs of the aforesaid lands, and  as well as all other freedoms, commodities, advantages and rights named and even those not named precisely, freely, quietly, better and in peace as has been with my predecessors if feu and heritage. (With) the said lands to be delivered, and  possessions with appurtenances,  we have held capital jurisdiction [criminal, not involving the state] [as well as] the advocation of the church of Lethnot and the chapel of Lethnot with the jurisdiction and appurtenances of them. And with no heir of the body of the said Alexander forthcoming that may inherit the said lands, rents and possessions with their appurtenances, the said church and chapel shall be returned to my heirs freely. With the returning (of the lands), Alexander and his heirs will have the making of whatever law or custom is needed. And if the dowered marriage between us (because it is outwith the canons?)  between us ends prematurely in divorce (annulment?) the aforesaid said rents and possessions with their appurtenances, even the judicial rights, will be returned to my heirs without objection, even the legal jurisdictions. I, Katerina, give the said lands, rents, and the possessions with appurtenances and the advocation of the said church and chapel and everything, enjoying the friendship and the order, to the said Alexander and the heirs of his body, against all men we will warrant, discharge and defend in perpetuity. Onto the testimony of this charter I have placed my seal. Her witnesses Lord David de Graham, David Flemyng, knight, Patrick de Striuelyn and Morgan de Striuelyn my kinsmen, with Master John Somerville, Henry de Lychtoun, William de Annand, and many others.”  

The charter’s donation and granting is correct in all its points and in the agreements with the manners and circumstances of his men, and is (correct in) its execution in every way. We approve all and we ratify it on behalf of ourselves and our heirs. With the good of our service, we have anticipated placing the testimony of our present charter into execution; and we have anticipated our seal to be placed on it. His witnesses venerable fathers in Christ, William bishop of St. Andrews, Patrick, bishop of Brechin my chancellor, Robert, Steward of Scotland earl of Strathearn our son, William, Earl of Douglas, Robert de Erskyn and John de Prestoun, knights. At Edinburgh the first of October of the 29th year of our reign.

Webster, Bruce, ed., The Acts of David II, King of Scots 1329-1371. University of Edinburgh Press, Edinburgh. 1982. Volume VI of the Regesta Regnum Scottorum (RRS.V.vi). See also, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regnum Scotorum (RMS), v. 1. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, a.d. 1306-1424, New edition. John Maitland Thomson, ed., Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh , 1984. Appendix II, 1131.  

The lands in Inverness were granted in 1234 (Moray.Reg.86) to Alexander de Striuelyn by Walter Cumyn, the Earl of Menteith. They were in Daviot; the remains of the tower that David Lindsay, son of Katherine and Alexander, 1^st Earl of Crawford are still extant. (I have this charter, too, but it is not translated yet).  

National Archives of Scotland RH1/2/110, 21 May 1339. King Edward Balliol in favour of John de Strivelyn, knight, of the lands and tenements of William de Keth, knight and John de Strivelyn de Glennesse, knight. [The John de Strivelyn who received these lands was an Englishman in the service of Edward Balliol.]  

See also the Calendar of Scottish Documents, v.II  #1396. September 1303, Walter the dean of the Cathedral church of Elgin in Moray prays the King (Edward I) to restore the heritage of his cousin John de Stirling, a native of Berwick; also for a gift of timber to repair his own houses at Elgin burned by the Prince’s army. #1691 Shortly after September 15, 1305 . Sir John de Strivelyn named sheriff of Inverness .

C.A.G.

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