6 Anniversary Address. 



The early proprietors, to whom reference has been made, 

 are Hugh Dundere, Johanna de Moreville, and Julian, the 

 wife of Radulf de Braeslaughen. 



After them the barony was owned by Thomas Eandolph, 

 Earl of Moray. In the disaster which befell King Robert 

 Bruce at Methven, shortly after his coronation at Scone, on 

 27th March 1306, Thomas Randolph fell into the hands of the 

 English. He would have been sentenced to death by Edward 

 I. but for the solicitations of Adam de Gordon of Gordon, the 

 representative of the family which Male ilm had settled in the 

 district of that name in his efforts to foster English civilisation 

 among his subjects. Thereafter Edward wrote, on 24th July 

 1306, commanding ' Sir Adam de Gourdon to keep Randolph in 

 sure ward at the Castle of Inverkip till he himself arrives at 

 the Castle of Carlisle, or Perth, or beyond the mountains; and 

 that he is on no account to be released on ])levine or mainprise, 

 but lie in prison.'- There is no wonder we Snd him vested, on 

 4th March 1308, in possession of the property as well as of the 

 person of Randolph, for ' the king commits to his liege, Adam 

 de Gurdoun, the vill of Styechehulle, in Scotland, forfeited by 

 the rebellion of Thomas Randolph, to be kept during his 

 pleasure without reddendo. '^^ Randolph confirmed this gift 

 by a charter, which received the sanction of Robert Bruce on 

 28th June 1315, as has been alreadj' referred to. In Edward's 

 gift to Gordon of these lands, he seems to have been preferred 

 to other suitors for the royal favour. In 'A Certain Breviate of 

 the Petitions presented to the King for lauds or preferment in 

 Scotland, and of the grants made therein,' it is stated: — 'Item. 

 A Monsr Robert Hastang, qui pria la terre de Stichil qui fut a 

 Monsr Thom Randolf en Conte de Rokesborgh, et la terre (de) 

 Monsr Johan de Somervill, et les terres de Lynton et Oarnewyth 

 qui furent a Monsr Thom de Somervii od ceste claus. Et sachez 

 qu, en-droit de votre dite demande on en autre chose (nous) ferous 

 votre volonte pour voiis parceque vous I'avez bien deserve ore 

 et autre fois.'^* This old document reads thus:— Item, To 

 Sir Robert Hastang. who petitioned for the lands of Stichil, 



^ Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, Vol. ii., p. 485, No. 

 1807. 



23 Do. Vol. ni., p. 15, No. 76, 



'^ Documents and Records illustrating the History of Scotland 

 (Palgrave) p. 304, No. 142. 



