James Lindsay, Provost of Lincluden. 295 



effect by marrying his cousin, the Fair Maid of Galloway, thereby 

 gathering again into his own hands the whole of the family re- 

 sources. Then by leaguing with the Earls of Crawford and Ross 

 he put himself into a position that could scarcely be assailed with 

 success by the whole forces of the Crown. 



Such masterly policy and action emanating from one so 

 young may be explicable by assuming for him exceptional talent 

 and courage. There have been many historical instances of 

 precocity in political affairs ; but we do not resort to the excep- 

 tional and the marvellous in explanation, when the more common- 

 place will suffice ; and if some one could be pointed to of proved 

 astuteness and experience, who was likely to be a trusted adviser 

 of the young earl, we should be bound to give this possible factor 

 full consideration in any attempted elucidation of his political 

 aims and achievements. No such personage is mentioned by any 

 of those who have written of the history of the period. To all 

 appearance none such was known to them. Yet in James Lind- 

 say, Rector of Douglas and Provost of Lincluden, there was one 

 well able to fill the role of political mentor. 



Lindsay, when he became secretary to the young earl, was 

 a man of mature years. In 1449 he was one of the auditors of 

 accounts, and was chosen a member of an important embassy sent 

 to England, a testimony no doubt to his reputation as a man of 

 affairs.^ In later life he was one of the leading statesmen in the 

 country, and the writer of the Auchinleck Chronicle speaks of 

 him in terms not flattering, certainly, but such as would not have 

 been called forth by a merely colourless personality. " Ye said 

 quene, he says, eftir ye deid of King James ye secund tuke master 

 James lyndesay for principale counsalour And gart him kepe ye 

 preve sele nochtwithstanding yat ye said master James was ex- 

 cludit fra ye counsall of ye forsaid king and fra ye cort for his 

 veray helynes And had bene slane for his demerits had not bene 

 he was redemit with gold."^ We do not know the meaning of 

 the word "helynes," but obviously it was something uncompli- 

 mentary, craftiness or duplicity, perhaps. 



As secretary to Earl William, the rector of Douglas must have 

 been something more than the parish priest who might be called 



6. Excheq. liol/s., Vol. V., p. 3:16; Rymer, Foedera, Tom. XI., p. 235. 



7. Auchinleck Chronicle, p. 22. 



