whence he and many Writers since have imposed this Comment as a Truth But if I prove that Eupheme Ross died not in the 2 d. year of King Robert's Reign but lived many years thereafter that will falsifie the first Assertion of the foresaid Paragraph If Elizabeth Mure whom he calls the Daughter of Adam Mure did not only bear two Daughters to Robert but six then our Historians have not been well informed of the State and Concerns of that Family If John Elizabeths eldest Son was Earl of Carrick Robert Earl of Menteith and Alexander Earl of Badinoch in the first year of King Roberts Reign then it is false that these Honours and Estates were bestowed upon them by their Father after the 3 d. year of his Reign If they were bestowed upon them in Eupheme Ross's Lifetime then it is false that they were bestowed upon them sometime after her Death If the Convention of Estates or Parliament who declared John the eldest Son of Robert by Elizabeth Mure to be his Successor in the Crown was kept and did so declare in the first year of King Roberts Reign and whilst Queen Eupheme was alive then it is false that this Convention was kept and did give this Declaration after her death and after the 3 d. year of King Roberts Reign And if it appear plainly that Robert Stuart of Scotland and Earl of Stratherne did whilst he was in these Stations and long before he was King own John his eldest Son by Elizabeth Mure to be his eldest Son and Heir and did share his Fortune and Honours with him and that he was so owned in all publick Writings by his Father by his Fathers Vassals and by those who contracted with his Father and him both Laicks and Ecclesiasticks and that by many reiterated Acts If he was so owned openly by King David Bruce before his Death then it is a sure Truth that he was so nor could his Right of Legitimacy and Filiation be taken from him no not by his Father And if it be true that not only his Father but the whole Estates of the Kingdom in Parliament conveen'd immediatly upon Robert the 2 ds coming to the Crown and in the first year of his Reign did owne John as the undoubted Heir and Successor to Robert and if at that time he was so owned by Queen Eupheme and all her Relations And if Elizabeth Mure was dead before the year 1364 then it is false that her Children were advanced by her being married to the King in the year 1373 or after Eupheme Rosses death And John the eldest Son's Right and Title is beyond all Controversie tho' not beyond all Calumny And lastly If Elizabeth Mure was so far from being a mean Person or a Concubine that she was a Person of such Quality and near Relation to Robert her Husband that he was at the Trouble to procure a Dispensation from the Pope and that at considerable Expenses for Allowance to marry her before he obtained her And if this Dispensation was granted several years before he was King and many years before Euphame Ross's death Then the Insinuation of her Meanness the Imputation of her being a Concubine the Untruth of her being married three years at least after King Robert was KING and indeed the whole of this Comment and false Relation appears to be a scandalous Libel But all these Positions in favours of JOHN appear from what follows 1. Fordon says that Queen Eupheme and Bishop Wardlaw died about the same time in the year 1387 King David Bruce died on the 7 th of May 1370 and Robert did hold his first Parliament on the 27 th day of March 1371 at Scoon and was then Crown'd as an authentick Record verifies to which also Buchanan and all the other Historians agree so that Queen Eupheme died not till the 17 th year of King Roberts Regin There is a Charter granted by King Robert the 2 d. of the Earldom of Murray excepting Lochquhaber Badinoch Castle and Barony of Vrquhart on the 9 th of March Anno Regni 2 do dilecto filio nostro Joanni de Dumbar Mariotae Sponsae ejus filiae nostre charissimae There is a Charter by Robert the 2 d. Apud Scoon tempore Parliamenti Anno Regni 2 d. Dilecto filio nostro Joanni de Yla of the Lands of Moydart Morvarn and many others And there are two other Charters in the Rolls of the Great-Seal to the said John of Yla Margaretae ejus Sponsae filiae nostrae charissimae Anno Regni 6 to of the Lands of Lochaber and Knoydart There is a Charter granted by Kobert the 2 d. Anno Regni nono to Thomas Hay Constable of Scotland filio nostro charissimo There is another Charter in the Rolls to him under the same Designation Anno Regni secundo And another to him Elizabethae ejus sponsae nostrae filiae on the eighteen Merks Sterling of Inchtuthill A Charter in the Rolls by Robert the 3 d. Anno Regni primo of 200 lib. Sterling of the Customs of Aberdeen to David Lindsay of Glenesk Dilecto nostro Fratri and John Dumbar Earl of Murray and David Lindsay of Glenesk are designed in several of King Robert the third's Charters Fratres nostri There is a Charter in the Rolls granted by King Robert the second to William Douglas Son to the Earl of Galloway Aegidae filiae nostrae charissimae of the Earldom of Nithsdale Anno Kegni Nota they had only one Daughter who was called the Fair Maid of Nithsdale who married Henry de sancto claro with whom he had the Earledom of Nithsdale but his Successors exchanged it with King James the second for the Earldom of Caithness John Lyon of Glames did marry another Daughter of King Robert's the second with whom he got the Lordship of Glames and the Original Charter granted to the said John and to his Daughter is yet in the Custody of the Earl of Strathmore his Successor Both the Historians and several Charters in the Rolls do instruct that the Douglas married King Roberts Daughter by Eupheme Ross. These authentick Records of King Robert's having seven Daughters do sufficiently shew how ill acquainted our Historians were with the State and Condition of the King's Children who say that he had but one Daughter by Eupheme Ross and two by Elizabeth Mure. There is in the Rolls a Charter by Robert the second in June Anno Regni primo to his Son Alexander of the sixty Davachs of Badinoch One the 13 of June and the first year of King Roberts Reign in a Charter granted to Allan Lawder of the Lands of Whitsled and others Testibus Willielm and Patric Episcopis sancti Andrae Brechen Joanne filio nostro natu maximo Comite de Carrick Roberto Comite de Menteith which Buchannan calls Taichiae Alexandero Senescallo filiis nostris Gulielmo Comite de Douglas c. On the 28 of May Anno Regni primo there is a
nos seu alium vel alios clam vel Palam directe velindirecte procuraverimus seu procuraverit impediri obligamus nos haeredes nostros per omniabona nostra Mobilia Immobilia ad solvend dictas decem Mercas de aliis Redditibus nostris ubi Episcopus Glascuensis qui pro tempore fuerit vel Capitulum ejusdem sede vacante duxerit eligendum toto tempore quo cessatum fuerit a solutione dictarum decem Mercarum percipen de annuo Redditu supradicto subjicientes nos haeredes nostros jurisdictioni coertioni Episcopi Glascuensis ipsius Officialis qui pro tempore fuerint ut ipsi per omnimodam censuram Ecclesiasticam nos haeredes nostros compellere valeant ad percipienda omnia singula supradicta in quo casu defecerimus vel defecerint quod absit in aliquo praemissorum ultra omnia praenotata nos haeredes nostri praedict Donationem Concessionem nostram de dictis decem Mercis annuis precipien ut supra de annuo Redditu praedictis Episcopo Ecclesiae Glascuensi Capellano qui` pro tempore fuerint contra omnes homines faeminas warrantizabimus acquitabimus in perpetuum defendemus In cujus rei testimoniumo sigillum nostrum una cum sigillo Joannis SENESCALLI Domini de Kyle primo-geneti haeredis nostri praesentibus est appensum his testibus venerabili patre Domino Roberto Abbate Monasterii Killwyning Dominis Joanne SENESCALLO fratre nostro Hugone de Eglingtoun Thoma de Fauside militibus Joanne Merser Burgensi de Perth Joanne de Ross Joanne Tayt armigeris aliis apud Perth duodecimo die Mensis Januarii anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo sexagesimo quarto Sigilibatur autem dicta Charta duobus sigillis rotundis ex cera rubra super alba quorum unum refert fasciam tesselatam in Circumferentia scriptum habens literis legibilibus ✚ sigillum Roberti SENESCALLI Scotiae Alterum item refert fasciam tessalatam duplario limbo liliis contra positis consitam in Circumferentia scriptum habens literis legibilibus S. Johis SENESCALLI in quorum omnium fidem praesentes literas omnium nostrorum manu subscriptas sigillo Regalis monasterii insigniri voluimus Datum in eodem monasterio die anno suprascripis Camillus Lesellice Abbas de Louuois H. Caille F. Joannes Mabillon Jalaze Eusebius Renaudot Nicolaus Clement F. Theodoricus Ruinavt Et Nos Hilarius Rouilli Dominus du Caudray Regi sanctioribus Consiliis Regiis in supra Rationum Curia procurator Qui huic virorum eruditissimorum rerum antiquarum peritissimorum Conventui interfuimus Chartam illam inspeximus examinavimus eorum sententiam suffragio nostro approbandam duximus censemusque nullomodo dubitari a quoquam posse quin ea sit verissima omniprorsus supicione carcus in quorum omnium sidem hoc nos manu nostra propria subscripsimus Sigillum apponi fecimus datum ut supra Rouille du Caudray Et Comites Barones alii Regis magnae Britanniae subditi infra scripti presentes sumus dum praedicta Charta inspiceretur examinaretur a supra scriptis viris eruditissimis eorum antiquorum peritissimis candemque nos pariter vidimus sanam integram reperimus in quorum fidem has praesentes literas Chyrographis nostris sigillis firmavimus datum ut supra This Charter granted on the 12. day of January 1364. in performance of a former Obligation and on so long before that the eldest Son of the Marriage with Elisabeth viz. JOHN is a Witness in this Deed under the Designation of the Lord of Kyle and eldest Son and Heir to the said Robert so that the Dispensation for a Marriage to be contracted could be no less than ten or twelve years before that Date And consequently the Marriage with Elizabeth Mure was not in the year 1373. altho' Eupheme Ross had then died as she did not for six years thereafter but the Marriage behoved to be at least 20 years before he was King and 29 years before Eupheme Ross died according to Fordan's account of her Death and 23 years before her Death according to Buchannan and Boetius and if there were no more to canvell the Authority of the groundles Histories but this single Document it were more than sufficient For it first proves that Elisabeth Mure was a person of Quality of Consanguinty and near Relation to the King and it is very probable she might have been so since the Baron of Rowallan was of near neighbour head to the Lords of Kyle and a proper Match for any of the Daughters of that Family and who by authenitck Documents yet upon Record and extent in Rowallans Charter-Chest appears to have been Heretor of 100 Merk-lands of Property and Superiority of old extant above these 300 years which is more than the Estate of ordinary Barons and our Historians telling she was the Daughter of a Knight called Sir Adam Mure and there being then no Families of that Name in Scotland and of that Quality but Rowallan Abercorn those of Abercorn who were co-temporary with Robert Earl of Strathern were Reginald the Father and Sir William the Son and Reginald Son to Sir William but no Sir Adam as appears by several Writs extant in the Records of Pasly in the Reigns of K. David Bruce Robert the 2d and Robert the 3d. there are several Charters and Writings on Record granted to those of Abercorn by the said Robert of Strathern but never with the Designation of Consanguineus or importing any Relation whereas this Dispensation evinces that the Family of Elisabeth Mure was in Consanguinity to the said Robert Nor was it a Disparagement for any Earl to marry a Knights Daughter and about that very time King David Bruce did marry the Daughter of Sir John Logie and Robert the third then called JOHN shortly thereafter whilst PRINCE of SCOTLAND did marry the Daughter of Sir Drummond Predecessor to the now Earl of Perth as appears by a Charter following on a Contract of Marriage confirming the PRINCE and the said Lady in several Lands anno Regni 3. which is extant in the Rolls of the Great Seal This Charter of Mortification to the Church of Glasgow likewise evinces that this Lady was so far from being a Concubine that the Earl of Strathern was at the pains to procure a Dispensation from the Pope before he could have her in Marriage And by the tenor of the Paper it is clear that the Dispensation was obtained before the Marriage was consumate And yet the eldest Son of the Marriage is a conjunct Disponer in this Charter with his Father of ten Merks Sterling to the Chaplain of Glasgow in the year 1364. In which year and in this most authentick Document under the Sign and Seal of her Husband before famous Witnesses she is spoke of as dead at that time Nor was there so great a Disparity betwixt the first and second
Tailzie of his Lands to the youngest Son of Mariota and failing of him to the second Son of Mariota and failing of him to the eldest Son of Mariota For another Charter granted to Mariota of the Lands de nigra Aula and others makes JOHN to be her eldest Son Alexander the 2 d. and James the 3 d. what this Mariota or Moram were I know not that being nothing to our purpose But if any pleases to palliate our Historians Error by their placing Moram the last Concubine for Elisabeth Mure the first undoubted Wife they may for me so they likewise tell that Elisabeth Mure was dead long before the year 1364. And thus the Propsition of this whole syllogism being undenyable the Assumption being proven by so many Mediums I presume no rational man will deny his Assent to the Conclusion and confess that Elisabeth Mure was the first and lawful Wife of Robert Earl of Strathern STEWART of SCOTLAND and that all her Children were lawful Children and the eldest called first IOHN and thereafter ROBERT the 3 d. was the lawful undoubted Heir of the Crown And his Title behoved to be esteemed sacred by the whole Nation when they so peaceably obeyed him and own'd his Soveraignity altho he was one of the weakest men both of Body and Mind that ever was amongst our Kings which also Guarded him and his Infant Children from the Rebellion of his Subjects and the Usurpation of his Relations albeit Occasions seemed to favour such Inclinations in his Uncle the Governour a man of great Wisdom and Action and Vicegerent very long in the Royal Power and who as some write wanted not Inclinations to aspire had he not been keep 't down by his Brother and Nephew 's just Title And had there been a Shadow of Right in the Children of Eupheme Ross who were strengthened with so many and so great Relations in the Kingdom it had been a meanness in them never to claim their Right from so silly a Brother and infant Nephews But the Impediment did ly in the undoubted Title of ROBERT the 3 d. and of his Son James the 1 st which made the whole Nation resent the Attempt made for the Crown by the Children of Eupheme Ross in the Earl of Athol's murdering of James the first by a Revenge of that Deed famous over Europe and moved most certainly from the then Notoriety of King JAMES'S Title FINIS The Descent of K. Charles the 2 d from Fergus the 1 st Charles 2 Son to Charles 1 Son to Iames 6 Son to Queen Mary Daughter to James 5 Son to James 4 Son to James 3 Son to James 2 Son to James 1 Son to Robert 3 Son to Robert 2 Son to Marjory Sister to David and Daughter to Robert 1 Son to Robert Earl of Carrick Son to Robert Bruce who competed with the Baliol Son to Isabel Daughter to David Earl of Huntingtoun Son to Henry Prince of Scotland Son to David 1 Son to Malcolme Canmoir Son to Duncan Son to Beatrix Daughter to Malcolme 2 Son to Kenneth 3 Son to Malcolme 1 Son to Donald 6 Son to Constantine 2 Son to Kenneth 2 Son to Alpine Son to Achaius Son to Etsinus Son to Eugenius 7 Son to Finnanus Son to Eugenius 5 Son to Dongard Brother to Maldum and Son to Donald 4 Son to Eugenius 4 Son to Aidanus Son to Connanus Son to Dongardus Son to Fergus 2 Son to Erthus Son to Ethodius 3 Son to Fincormachus Son to Alduin Son to Baldus Son to Findocus Son to Athirco Son to Ethodius 2 Son to Ethodius 1 Son to Adona Sister to Mogallus and Daughter to Bengillis Sister to Corbred 2 and Daughter to Corbred 1 Son to Cadallam Son to Egelfa Sister to Metellanus and Daughter to Birsa Brother to Ederus and Son to Dochamus Son to Durstus Son to Finnanus Son to Josina Son to Reutherus Son to Dornadilla Son to Mainus Son to FERGUS 1 FINIS Proposition Assumption not legible Objest 1. Object 2. Objest 3.
Marriage for Eupheme Ross was but a Widow when he married her and Widow to the Earl of Murray as a Charter granted by David Bruce anno 1341. to Robert SENESCALLVS his Nephew and Eupheme Countess of Murray his Wife of the Lands of Methven does prove and is extant in the Records And to evince further that there is certainty enough of Elisabeth Mures being Rowallans Daughter there are in Rowallans Charter-chest these following Writings Rex we charge you to gife seizing till Muir the Son and Aire to of the Lands Reservand to us the Ward and Releif of ye saids Landis reservand also the frank tenendry to Dame Iannet Mure whyleom wife to Adam Mure Knight halding yir our Lers for your Warrand Gifen under Our Signet at Dumfermling last day of Feb. and of Our Reign the 23. yheir Which Precept of Seasin is directed thus at the end thereof Dilectis fidel nostris vicec de Aire Beliv de Cunninghame Nota Where Blanks are left in this Precept the Words are worn out in the Original the Paper being torn in several Places It is likewise to be Noted that in the Circumference of the Seal appended to this Precept there appears yet visibly DAVID REX in plain characters RObertus Dei gratia Rex Scotorum Omnibus probis Hominibus totius terrae suae Clericis laicis salutem sciatis nos dedisse concessisse hac praesenti Carta nostra confirmasse Dilecto Consanguineo nostro Adae Mure de Rowallane Militi pro Homagio servitio suo nobis impensis impendendis omnes terras de Rowallane cum pertinen jacen in Baronia de Conyghame infra Vice-comitatum de Aire Quaequidem terrae cum pertinentiis fuerunt dicti Adae quas dictus Adam non vi aut metu ductus nec errore lapsus sed mera spontanea voluntate sua in propria persona sua in praesentia plurium Regni nostri procerum fidelium nobis per fustem Baculum sursum reddidit purèque simpliciter Resignavit ac totum jus Clameum quae in dictis terris cum pertinentiis habuit vel habere potuit pro si haeredibus suis die Confectionis praesentium in manus nostras omnino quietem clamavit in perpetuum Tenendas Habendas dictas terras de Rowallane cum pertinentiis dicto Adae haeredibus suis de nobis haeredibus nostris in feodo hereditate per omnes rectas metas divisas suas in unam integram liberam Baroniam in boscis planis pratis pascuis pasturis moris maresiis aquis stagnis vinariis viis semitis molendinis multuris earum sequelis aucupationibus venationibus piscariis brasinis fabrinis cum furca fossa sok sak Tholl Theam Infang-thief out-fang-thief cum servitiis liberè tenentium earundem Terrarum de Rowallane cum curiis earum exitibus nec non cum omnibus aliis singulis Libertatibus Commoditatibus asiamentis ac justis pertinentiis quibuscunque tam non nominatis quam nominatis tam sub terra quamsupra terram prope procul ad dictas terras cum pertinen Speâ—â—antibus seu quovismodo justâ— spectare valentibus in futurum libere quiete plenariè integre honorifice bene in pace Faciendo inde nobis haeredibus nostris dictus Adam haeredes sui tres sectas ad tria placita nostra Capitalia Baroniae nostrae de Cuninghame quolibet anno apud Irwin tenend In cujus rei testimonium praesenti Cartae nostrum magnum praecipimus apponi sigillum testibus venerabilibus in Christo patribus Mattheo Gilberto Glasguen Abredonen Eclesiarum Episcopis Roberto de Fife de Menteth fratre nostro dilecto Archibaldo de Douglass Domino Galawidiae consanguineo nostro Comitibus Jacobo de Duglass Domino de Dalkeith Thoma de Erskin consanguineis nostris dilectis militibus Alexandro de Cockburne de Langtoune Custode magni sigilli nostri apud Irwing undecimo die Novembris Anno Regni nostri secundo ROBERT Duke of Albany Earl of Fife and of Menteith and Governour of Scotland til al and sundry to quhais Knawladge yir presents Letters shall to come Greeting for quhy that is meritable thing to bere Witness to the suthfastness and yarefore it is yat we do Witness by thir our Letters yat in our last general Counsale halden at Perth with Dliverance of the three Estates yair beand assemblit we lete to Borch til Dame JOHANNE of Danyelstoun wife to Quhileme our Cousin Adam Muir of Rowallan Knight alle and sundry his Lands of the Barony of Polkelly and alle uthurs hir Lands pertenand til hir by way of hir Terce or otherways of Right and of Law the whilks were recognist of lang time in our hands of before and this til alle and sundry that it efferis or may effere we make it kend by thir our presents Letters to the quhilks we have gart set our Sele at Down in Menteth the penultim day of August the yheir of our Lord mill cccc and fifteen and of our Governal the tend year BY which Evidents t' is clear that in the time of David the 2 d. there was a Sir Adam Muir of Rowallan that he was also in the time of Robert the 2 d. that he had a Son called also Sir Adam who in K. ROBERT the 3 ds time is designed in the Charter CONSANGVINEVS Noster and was indeed his Cousin German by Elizabeth Mure. AND for further proof Mr. David Chalmers one of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice a man of Learning and Probity in an Abridgement writ by him of all the Popes Emperors Kings of FRANCE SCOTLAND and ENGLAND which was Printed at Paris and dedicated to King HENRY the 3 d of France and grounding his Proofs as to Scots matters on Turgot and Bishop Elphinston who indeed only transcribed and gave some Addition to Veremudus and on the Collections of John Swinton and John Campbel two Church-men in Relation to this Subject hath these words Ce Roy de Escosse viz. ROBERT the 2 d meurant laissa de Elizabeth fille d' Adam Mure Baron de Rowallan trois fils deux filles c. And Mr. John Lermond Chaplain to Alexander Bishop of St. Andrews in his Collection of the Scots Antiquities asserts that he saw a Testificat under the hand of Roger Mcadam a Priest bearing that he the said Roger did marry Robert the great STEWART of SCOTLAND to Elisabeth Mure Daughter to Rowallan These Testimonies are Proofs as much as is ordinarly required for Historical Narrations But the forementioned Writs bearing the first Sir Adam of Rowallan and Polkelly to have been co-temporary with King David Bruce and consequently when Robert the Great STEWART was a Youth and that the 2 d. Sir Adam is alwise designed CONSANGVINEVS by King Robert the 3 d. and by his Brother Robert Duke of Albany Earl of Fife
Governour of Scotland and both Sons to to the said Elisabeth Mure puts it out of all Reasonable Doubt that this Lady was a Daughter of that Family There is such a heap of Absurdities and Inconsistencies as well as Falshoods in the Forgery of this Fable that in pity to our Historiographers I will prosecute it no further hoping it may teach all future Writers to have better Avouchers for their Assertions than common bruit and open Fame or to take on Trust what 's writ by former Authors without authentick Evidence The Proofs of this Marriage are so strong and clear as to leave no Doubt except that of their being too clear for why should one design his Son always his eldest Son and Heir unless it had been doubtful that he was so As this is but a silly Conjecture in ballance with the least of the former Evidences so it will only occur to those who are little acquainted with the Stile of Writings at that time for there are hundreds of Charters by privat Subjects standing on Record then and thereafter with the very like Designations A second scruple is why should a Parliament recognize JOHN to be King Robert the 2 ds Son and Heir unless there were ground to doubt it And that an Act of Parliament was necessary to make that be believed But if they read this that they call an Act of Parliament Recognizing John's Title they will find a Narration sufficient to answer their Objection and those who are acquaint with our History know that it was ordinary for our Kings to make publick Declarations of their eldest Sons Succession David the first did send Malcolm his eldest Grand-child by Henry the Prince with Mcduff Earl of Fife through the whole Kingdom to be shewen and declared as his successor and Heir but this Custom was judged more necessary by King Robert Bruce and his Successors For the debate in the Succession betwixt the Baliol and the Bruce having brought the Kingdom to the very Brink of Ruine King Robert the Bruce before his Death did in Parliament declare that David his Son was his undoubted Heir and Successor albeit at that time he had neither Son nor Brother but David only Which is one of Mr. Cookes mistakes who writes as if Edward Bruce his Brother were then alive whereas he was dead long before King David Bruce after his Fathers Example did in a Parliament at Scoon Publish and Declare that Robert Earl of Strathern his Sisters Son was his undoubted Heir and Successor albeit at that time there was none of that Family to compete with him And as this Instrument before insert does narrate that this wise King in Example of his Predecessors did publish this Document so neither wanted their good Reasons why these three last Kings should have done so the Crown having been but lately before transported from the Baliols to their Family so that albeit there was no shadow of Competition in their own Family yet there was no imprudence in engaging the Parliament to own their Succession and to put frequent Bars upon the Door against the Race of the Baliol which then did exist both in the Baliol and the Cumming The last frivolous Objection is why did our Historians unanimously assert Elisabeth Mure's being married to Robert the 2 d. after Eupheme Ross's Death that is to say there are very great proofs that Elisabeth Mure was King Roberts Wife but some will not believe the truth unless you tell why our Historiographers did ly to which this is a sufficient Answer you should believe truth because it is proven and reject the Assertion which is redargued by so many Demonstrations but if you will allow me after clear Demonstrations of their Error to make some Excuse for their rash Injuries I offer these Conjectures viz. Major the eldest of these Historians wrote his History in the beginning of Queen Maries Reign some 200. years after Elisabeth Mure's Marriage he cites no Author nor can we learn of any that he had except the Manuscript of the Continuator of Fordan an obscure man whose Writings shew that he did take common Reports as Proofs and Warrants for his Assertions but Fordan who wrote before that time hath not the least Assertion of this so considerable a matter had it been true and Majors Philosophy as well as his History does sufficiently shew that he did take for truth what others reported at Random Boetius's Business was to give good Latine to the Collections of his Predecessors and he was happy enough in Writing had he not unhappily stuffed it with too many Fables which we must only impute to his easie Nature Lesly had no Design in writing his History but to assert his Queens Right and resent the Injuries done her and therefore minded little to put his Authors to the Test of Record Buchanan who was to support a bad Design by writing excellently his care was not to canvell Fashoods especialy when they contributed to his purpose as this Imputation bound on Elisabeth Mure and her Succession did and albeit the first must needs have founded the Account on false Report and never looked into the Records which had they done that which now appears clearly to us in redarguing that Falshood would certainly have done so to them so the succeeding Authors have this Excuse tho' I confess a bad one that they found their Falshood on what was writ before them And perhaps even the first of them by a supine inadvertence having heard that Robert the 2 d. after Queen Euphem's Death had Children by a Concubine to whom he had great Kindness and that this Concubin's Name was Moram did ignorantly confound this Concubine Moram with his first Wife Mure. My Conjecture is founded on this following Charter ROBERTUS Dei gratiâ Rex Scotorum sciatis nos dedisse hac praesenti Cartâ nostrâ Confirmasse JOANNI SENESCALL genito inter nos dilectam nostram Moram omnes singulas terras nostras de Ballachie de Moncreiff cum pertinen in Thanagio de Kinclaven infra vice-comitatum Perth Tenen Haben eidem Joanni haeredibus suis de Corpore suo legitime procreandis quibus utique forsitan deficientibus dilecto filio nostro JACOBO SENESCALL genito inter nos Mariotam de Cairden haeredibus suis de Corpore suo legitime procreandis Quibus utique forsitan deficien ALEXANDRO SENESCALL dilecto filio nostro de dicta Mariota genito haeredibus suis de Corpore suo legitime procreandis quibus similiter fortasse deficientibus ad nos haeredes nostros Reges Scotiae plenarie perpetuo revrsuris c. Reddendo unum denarium c. apud Perth 15. January anno Regni nostri 12. This Charter gives you Account of 4. â—Sons of King Robert the 2 d. and two Concubines never mentioned in our Histories Moram seems to have been the last of the two Concubines because her Son John's Charter bears a