Source:Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross (Cronicle)

"Ane Brieve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross" Ane Breve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross (1850)

ANE BRIEVE CRONICLE OF THE EARLIS OF ROSS.

In the yeir of God 1272 yeiris, Alexander the Third, King of Scottis, passit with his Laddy Queene Margaret, accompanyit with many nobillis and barones of Scotland, to London, to the coroneatioun of King Edward Langschanks, King of England, brother to the said King Alexander's wyflfe; and on the assumptioun day of our Ladie in the same yeir ane thousand twa hundreth threscor and twelf yeiris, upon the sixteine day of November, was the coranatioun of the said king Edward at Londoun with great triumph. At this tyme, thair was ane Normand, ane Frenchman, callit Dougall Duncansone, in the said King Edwardis hous, of mervillous strenth, and had sic craft in wrasling, that he cuist all men that assilȝeit him, netheles he was finallie wanquishit be Farq^r Ross, ane Scottisman. The forsaid King Alexander, for his notabill wassilage, gaue to the said Farq^r the erldome of Ross. Of

this Farq^r discendit fyve erlis, being Ross of surname, viȝ^t Farq^r the first, Williame the second, Williame the third, Hew the fourt, and William the fift ; but the sixt erle was namit Walter Ross, utherwayis Leslie, quha maryit the said fift erle of Ross his dochter, callit Euphame Ross. This Walter Ross alias Leslie was ane nobill, valȝeant man, quha made great service to the King of Scotland, and soucht to his rewarde the heretrix of Ross, and callit himself Walter Ross alias Leslie, or ellis the said Euphame wald not mary him. The said Walter Ross alias Leslie, begat on the said Euphame Ross, onne sone callit Alexander, quha was callit Alex^r Ross als lang as his mother leivid, and thairefter was callit Alex^r Leslie ; quha was maryit on Duke Robert Steuart, governor of Scotland, his dochter, and begat with her onne dochter callit Marie, quha deyit virgin. Thairefter was Alexander Ila and Johne Ila earlis of Ross. The said Williame, quhilk was the fyft erll of Ross, hade two dochters, the eldest, Eupham Ross, maryit on Walter Ross alias Leslie as said is. The uther maryit on Donald of the lies, quha strak the batell of Harlaw, in Garyeoche, up on Sanct James evin in the yeir of God ane thousand four hundreth and ellevin yeires. In this battell was slaine nyne hundreth men, with two principal captaines, upon the syde of the said Donald of the

Ilis. The name of the two captaines wer Makillane and Malcometoche ; and upon the erll of Mar syde war slaine Alexander Ogilbie, James Skrimgour, and many uthers, as the cronicles declaires in the 16 buik and 17 cap: Now, let us come to the first erll of Ross, callit Ferq^r Ross, quha made ane vow to God gif he overcame the forenamit Frenschman as God gaiff him the victorie, that he should found ane abbay of the first religious men that he should happin to meit efter his victorie, within the erldome of Ross, and swa thairefter obtainit the victorie. He chancit to meitt with two quhite channonis in Galloway, ane callit Malcome, with ane uther brother, haiffing certaine of Sanct Ninianis relictes with thame ; quilk Malcome, with his brother, the said erll broucht with him in Ross, and foundit ane abbey of that order and religioun at Fame, besyd Kincardin in Stracharrin, quhair the situation thereof yit does appeare ; quairof the said Malcome was abbot fiftene yeiris, and thair he deceissit and was buryed there, quha was holden efter his death amongis the peopill as a sanct. And thairefter the said erll, with consent of the abbot and bretherene of the said place, for the more tranquilitie, peace, and quyetnes thairof, translated the said monasterie quhair now it presentlie standis, the xxvi yeir of the said Farq^r's erldome, and in the yeir of God

ane thousand two hundreth¹     In the qlk time, was the second abbot, Malcome of Nig. And the said erll leived erle fourtie yeiris, and deceissit in Tayne ane thousand two hundreth fiftie ane yeiris, in the beginning of the calendis of Feb : and succeidit to the said Farq^r , William, his sone, and goodsone to the erllof Buchane, quha leived erll xxiiii yeiris, and deyit at erllis allane the 20 calends² of Juny ane thousand two hundreth threscor fourtene yeiris. In his tyme, was the third abbot, Machabeus Makhersin. Unto the quilk Williame succeidit Williame his sone, quha was made erll at Witsonday the said yeir, quha leived erll fourtie nyne yeiris. In quhas time, Robert, erll of Carrike, made insurrexioun, pretending to the Croune of Scotland, and the king made confedderatioun with the said Williame. That Hew, quha was aire to the said Williame, in respect he had gotten him with the king his sister, callit Mauld, ane sone callit Williame, the said Williame, father to the said Hew, should mary the said Mauld. Quhilk Wil- liame, for his fidelitie to the Realme, was long imprisoned in England, yet he reteired happilie to his awin, and de- pairted at Delnay in Ross, the xxviii day of Januar one

1. This date remains not filled up in the M.S.
2. Kalendar of Feme.

thousand three hundreth twentie two yeiris. And in the time of this erll Williame were divers abbottis of Feme, that is ane Mertein, ane channon in Quhythorne, nocht chosin, but presentit be the pryor of Quhythorne, and ane uther brother Johne of the said hous of Quhythorne intrusit nocht chosin. The third abbot, callit Mark Ross, sone to S^r Mark Ross, ane Knicht, nocht chosin be the convent of Ferae, but presentit be the said Pryor of Quhythorne. Qlk Mark abbot enterit in the monasterie two yeiris before the deceis of erll Williame the second, and fande the said place destitute of idonius personis, ornamentes, Diggings, and uthers gudes. Quha in his tyme governit the said place and kirk weill, als weill in brothers to be ressavit as alreddie ressavit, and according to the ordour instructit thame diligentlie. In tyme of this Mark, abbot forsaid, Hew, goodsone to the King, was made erll of Ross upon St. Patrike his day, the xvii day of March, efter the deceis of his father, ane thousand thrie hundreth and twentie thrie yeiris,¹ and leived erll ten yeiris ;² and for the defence of the realme depairtit in the conflict of Hildonhill besyde

1. On 24th Sept., in the 18th year of his reign, (1323,) King Robert granted a Charter to Hugh of Ross of the Burgh of Crumbathy. — B.
2. On 10th May, 1333, Hugh, Earl of Ross, granted a Charter to Hugh de Ross, his 3on, of the four Davoch lands of liarichies. — B.

Berwike, the tliretteen calendis of August ane thousand thrie hundreth threttie thrie yeiris. Unto quhome succeidit Wilhame the third his sone, oy to King Robert Steuart, quha efter lang banishment in Norroway, came hame to his awin, and fand his men convertit to the obedience of England, quha manfullie gatherit ane great armie and invadit the toun of Pearth, quhair Englishmen was, and drew watter frome them, quhilk constrainit thame to depart furth out of the said town for ever. And as Judas Machabeus, ane strong man, persuit the wicket men within Israeli quha was partakers of the comon welth unto the death, swa the said erll Williame perseuit the wickit people to the death ; haiffing in reverence, favour, and kindness keiping, all zealous persons of the laws of God, religious and ecclesiasticall persones, helping, re-edifying, and supplying the biggings and manorplaces of his predecessors in sunclrie pairtes of Ross, amplifying the same honorablie. Quha was made erll efter returning from his exyle, upon Friday, before Whitsonday, ane thousand thrie hundreth and threttie sex. In quhas name, becaus the abbay kirk of Feme bot of clay and rouch staine alutterlie rewinous appeirandlie, the said Wilhame being trublit of mynd with anguish, that the sepulture of his fathers, parentis, and quhair he tendit to be buryed quhenever God

callit him out of this mortall lyfife, and that ignomiuontlie the dropis descending from heaven distilled in the challice and upon the altar quhair the sacrament was ministrat, erll Williame with diligence callit to counsell Bischope Rodger, then Bischop of Ross, with the haill clergie thairof, and all the great men in Ross, with consent of Mark, then abbot of Feme, and convent thairof. Swa it was concludit that seven bretherene that then wer in the place, willinglie oblist thameselffis to povertie, and to beg and thig through the country; the abbot onlie to remaine in the place for attending on the warke new then begun for bigging of the said kirk there of hewin staines. Swa the warke thairof was begun the second yeir efter the said Williame was maid erll of Ross, that is ane thousand thrie hundreth threttie audit ; and the abbot Mark deyit amangs his bretherene efter the bigging of the said warke, ane thousand three hundreth fiftie fyve, and was honorablie burjdt within the said kirk as he deservit. Unto the qlk Mark succedit Donald Pupill. In this maner, the said erll Williame the third, considering the channonis of Feme had frie power of electione be Pape Urban the fourt, in quha's time they war foundit, and others fra the beginning of the said ordour, geving thame speciall priviledgis, the said erll, willing to keip all juris to the said religious

men, that nethar electioun nor presentatioun schould be had fra utheris, but within the said abbay, according to the institutioun of Augustin, that sum worthie persones be electit out of the bosome of the said place. Quhilk convent, religiouslie and duelie, as accordes, for thair interes, electit and presentit the said Donald abbot, quha refussit the samyne for the jure of presentation, quilk he had of Quhythorne, albeit not justlie ; quha shortlie efter his electioun in Feme, quhen all the bretherene consentit him to be abbot, he, accompanyit with ane brother callit Johne Abernethie, * * * to Quhythorne to the Pryor thairof in his earrand of electioun ; quhair efter many ressonis and controversies, the Prior of Quhythorne and Convent thairof confirmit and approvit of the electioun of the said Donald, made at Feme in the dayes of this erll Williame. And in the said abbot Donald his time, the stane warke of the said abbey kirk was endit, and the timber wark thairof be the supply of the said erll was finishit. This is that gude erll Williame,¹ doar and repairar of all the place of Feme, quha grantit to the samyne for his saull and his predecessor, the kirk of Tarridie, in Ross, that was at his presentatioun, and obtenit consent of the abbay of Ferne thair-

1. On 5th March 1355, Earl William granted a deed to the Abbey relieving it and its lands, &c. of payment of all taxes. — B.

upon of the Bishop and chapter of Ross, for quhas saull everie channon under great payne was appoyntit ilk day to say ane mess at the hie altar. Quilk Williame leived erll threttie five yeiris, and was bannischit in Norroway thrie yeiris, and deceissit at Dalny in Ross, the nynt of Februar ane thousand thrie hundreth thriescor ellevin yeiris.¹ Thair succeidit the said abbot Donald, Adame Monilaw, quha deceissit at Feme the tent day of September, ane thousand four hundreth and sevin yeiris. And in his tyme was ane Lord of Ross, ane nobill and valzeant man, callit Walter Leslie, quha maryit Euphame Ross, dochter to the said erll Williame, repairer of the forsaid abbay of Ferae, quha depairtit at Pearth the penult clay of Februar ane thousand thrie hundreth fourscor ane yeiris ; and to him succeidit Alexander Leslie his sone, erll, quha maryit ane dochter of Duik Robert, Governor of Scotland, and gat with hir ane dochter callit Marie, that deceissit ane virgin ; and the said Alexander deceissit at Dingwall in his young age, the aught² day of May,

1. On 13th April 1350, Earl William, with consent of his sister Marjory, Countess of Caithness, granted a letter of tailzie of the earldom, &c. in favour of Hugh de Ross, his brother, provided he himself died without heirs male of his body. — B.
2. Kaiendar of Ferne.

ane thousand four hundreth and two yeiris. And efter that Thormas Kethirnathie, send by the pryor of Quhythorne, stude as abbot in the ressaiving and expending of the fruits of Ferae for ane certaine tyme, and becaus he sped not as he wald, he retyred hame ; he was supponit to be ane sensuall and fleshlie hooremaister, but what his end was it is uncertaine. And efter this was ane abbot Finlaw, oy of S^r William Feriar, Vicar of Tayne, quha for ane certaine tyme governit the place in ressaiving and expending the gudes thairof ; he theikit the kirk of Ferae, and deyit thair the fifteen of October 1436 yeiris. And thairefter Alexander Ila was erll of Ross and Justice for the north ; he was valzeant in all his actes, and lovinglie governit the erldome in tranquilitie and peace, and deyit at Dingwall, and was buryit at the channerie of Ross, the aucht day of May, ane thousand four hundreth fourtie and nyne reiris. He maryit Euphame, dochter to the said Walter Leslie, quhairby he was erll of Ross. King James the first, 1426, beheaded James Campbell for the murther of Johne of the lies, a man dearlie belovit of his people. In the next yeir following, quhilk was efter the incarnatioun 1427, Alexander, Lord of the Iyllis, was arreistit be the king at Inverness, for that he was accusit to be ane sucourer and mainteaner of theivs and robberis in

the countrie. But for as meikle as he promissit in tyme coming to reforme the former misdemeanours, and was pardonit and set at libertie, quhairoff ensewit great trubill immediatlie efter ; for schortlie upon his deliverance he gatherit a power of wickit scapthriftis, alias reivars and sorneris, and with the same coming into Inverness, brunt the town and beseigit the castell, inforceing Avith all diligence upon the same, till he was advertised that the king was coming towards him with ane great power, quhairupon he fled incontinent to the Iyllis. Finallie, haiffing knowledge that a great number of people lay daylie in wait to tak him, that they might put him to the kingis handis, he came disaguysed in ane pure array to Holyrudhous, and thair finding the king on Paschday devoutly in the kirk at his prayeres, he fell down on his kneis before him, and besocht him of grace, for his saik that rose as that day frome deith unto lyffe. At request of the Queene, the King pardonit him of lyffe, but he appointit Williame Douglas, erll of Angus, to haiff the custodie of him, and that within the castell of Tantallon, that no trubill should ryse be his meanis thairefter. His mother, Euphame, dochter to Walter sumtyme erll of Ross, was also committit in warde in Sanct Colme's Insch, becaus it was knowin that she solicited her sone Alexander to rebell in

manner as is aforesaid against the King. Nocht long efter, Donald Ballache, brother to the said Lord Alex^r of the Iyllis, came with ane great power of men unto Lochquhaber. The erlls of Mar and Caithnes came with sic number of thair people as they could raise to defend the countrie against the invasion of these hylandmen and Donald, at Inverlochie, where the earle of Caithness was slaine, and the earle of Marr discomfited. Herewith did Donald Balloch return [with a very] great pray of goods and riches into the Isles. The King was sorely moved with the newis hereof, came with a great armie unto Dunsstaffage, purposing with all speed to pass into the Iyllis. The clanns and other chiefmen [of the hylands] advertissit hereof, cam to Dunstaffage and submitted thairselffis to the King, excusing their offence (for that as they alledgit) the said Donald had constrained them against their willis to pes with him in the last journey. All these clans upon this thair excuse were admitted to the King's favour, and sworn to persew the said Donald unto the death. Shortly heirefter the said Donald fled into Ireland, where he was slain, and his head send be ane Odo, a great Lord in Ireland, (in quhas countrie he lurked,) as a present to the King, that lay as than at Striveling. There were also three hundred of his adherents takin, and by

the King's commandment hanged for thair offence within three weeks space efter his fleeing into Ireland, betwixt the years 1454 and 1455 years. There was ane callit Donald, erle of lloss, in the tyme that the erll Douglas came out of England invading the Scottismen, he tint the field ; his brother Archibald Douglas was slaine, the Lord of Ormond, beand Douglas, was hurte and tane. The said earle of Douglas fled to Dunstaffage, quhair finding the said Donald, earle of Ross and Lord of the Iylis, he procurit to him, by nature inclynit and ready enough to follow such counsel, to mak war in his favour against the King, and after he had set him anes on warke, he got him back again into England. Donald wastit not only the King's possessions that lay near to Dunstaffage, but also passing through Ardgyll, did much hurt in all places where he came. He invadit so the He of Arran, and chased the Bischope of Lismore, constraining him to take sanctuarie. This done, he entered into Lochaber, and so into Murray land, where he burnt the town of Inverness, wan the castle by a guileful trayne. Meantymc the erll of Ormond after he recoverit of his hurte, as Boetius writes, was presented into the King, and efter he had remained in prison a long tyme he was at lenth beheaded. Moreover, the Countess Beatrice she saw no hope left that the erll Douglas

schould recover his former estate, came to the King and submitted hirself, laying all the blame on the erll, quha had procured hir unto such unlawful marriage with him, being hir former husband's brother. The King ressavit hir richt courteouslie, and gave to her the Baronie of Balknie to meantean therewith hir estate. Shortly efter the Countes of Ross fled frome hir husband, and came to the King for feare of hir husband's crueltie, which partly she had taisted alreddie. The King, because he had made the marriage betwixt hir and hir husband, assyned her forthwith sufficient revenues also for the maintenance of her estate.

In the yeir of God 1455, the King acquitted the Isles, and gat obedience thereof that they war in reddines to serve the wares, speciallie Donald of the Iyllis and erle of Ross, who had befoir joyned himself in confedderacie with the erles of Douglas and Crawfurde against the King, and had taken in his hand the Kingis house and castell of Inverness, (as befoir ye haiff herd,) naming himself King of the Iyllis. Nevertheless the King at the lenth gave pardon to the said Donald for trew obedience in tyme coming, providing he wald not enter to his former deilling of evill doings.

King James the Seconcle was slaine with the wadge of

a gunn at Roxburgh, in the yeir of his lyffe xxix, and of liis reign 24, and efter the incarnation 1460. Then did Regcntis govcrne the realme.

Moreover, shortly efter Donald of the Iyllis and erll of Ross being reconceilled, began new to his old maneris, spoilzeing and harrying the haill countrie of Atholl, and tuik the erll and countess thereof captives to the Iyllis. The saids regentis preparing ane armie to pass on the said Donald, trew advertisement cam that the said Donald was striken with madness, and lost all his ships in the sea, and the spuilzies that he tuik. The erll of Atholl and his lady war restored ; and the said Donald himselff was slain in the castell of Inverness, be ane clairshear that playit on ane clersha, in the year 1461. The clershear said he wald play ane spring that he never herd befoir nor yit efter, and so cutted his throat, for the said Donald slew his fether. The said Donald's son was callit Lord of the Iyllis and erll of Ross.

In July, the fourt day, in the yeir of God 1476, ane Parliament wes haldin at Ed^r, in the quhilk John, Lord of the Iyllis and erll of Ross, was attendid pairtly for his awin evill deids, but maist speciallie for the defaultis of his father, Donald, Lord of the Iyllis. In May, in the yeir of God 1477, the King raissit ane puissant armie of

the maist abill men upon the north side of the watter of Forth, to pursew the Lord of the Iyllis baith be sea and land. The erll of Crawfurde was made admirall of the sea ; and the erll of Atholl, the King's uncle by his father, was livetennent of the armie be land. Bot such meanis was used be the erll of Atholl, that the Lord of the Iyllis humbled himselff to the King's pleasor upon certaine conditiouns : and thairupon, in the beginning of July next ensewing, the said Lord of the Iyllis came to the Parliament at Edinburgh, and thair was the aggreement made and confirmit betwixt the King and him. He resynit in the Kingis handis all the richt he had to the erll dome of Ross. Swa the King came to the erlldome of Ross, the lands of Kinteer and Knapdles. Q^lk erlldome the King annexit to the crowne, and pardonit him and his servands of all offences befoir that day committed, and invested him of new in the lordschip and signorie of the Iyllis, and uthers his landis nocht released, to hold the same of the King be service of warde and relieff. The King also gain to the erll of Atholl for his diligence shewed in reducing the said Lords of Iyllis to ordour, the lands and forestes of Clonic The said Jolme Ila was erll of Ross and Lord of the Iyllis enduring his lyftyme, and that graciouslie by the King's gift.

In time of the said John, was Abbot Finlay Mackfaid, (whose succession by the King's desire was called Fearns to this day. The first was Mr. John Fearn, father to Alex^r Fearn, of Balnasirach,) who honourably held the Abbay of Fearn, in his time in guidness and rest, and did many good and laudable works. He bigget Saint Michael's Isle on the south side of the kirk. He founded the Dortour ; he bigget the cloister ; he brought home an tabernacle, and Lettron of brass, the organs, with the challices, vestments, and sundry other ornaments out of Flanders, and payed all the same himself. He lived Abbot forty-four years ; he virtuously governed his abbay and convent as well young as old, and celebrating their divine service night and day ; he deceast among his brethern at Fern, on St. Boniface day, the 17th day of March 1485 yeares. Unto him succeeded Abbot Thomas M'Culloch, who lived Abbot 31 yeares ; he bigged furth the Dortour, and was sinistruously and wrongously put out of the Abbay be Andrew Stuart, Bishop of Caithness ; the said Bishop of Caithness being resavit with the Abbot of Fearn, well treated with him, he caused ane Nottary give a false instrument to Rome, and brought home brievis on the same, and made himself Abbot and Bishop of Fearn ; through the whilk the said Abbot Thomas M'Culloch took great displeasure, because he was master-

fully put out of Fearn ; and dwelt in Midd Genie, where he bigged ane chappel to himself so long as he lived, to serve his God, and got nothing of the Abbacy of Fearn but the Miln and Mid Geny, whereof he made a Mans ; and the said Thomas M'Culloch dyed at Fearn, the 17th day of Jully 1516 yeares. And after him succeeded the said Bishop Andrew Stuart of Caithness, who was the first Commendator of Fearn granted be the See of Rome, who lived undoubted Abbot of Fern ane year, and dyed at Skibo, the 17th day of June 1517, and was buryed in the Quire of the Cathedral Church of Dornoch. And after him succeeded Mr. Patrick Hamiltown, who was accused for heresie be James Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, Primat of Scotland, with the counsell of the haill clergie of Scotland, and was decerned to be burnt, and delivered in the seculars hands for diverse articles of heresie, grounded upon Luther's laws, viz^t : — That man had no free will ; that man is in sin as long as he lives ; that children incontinent after their baptism are sinners ; all Christians that be worthy to be called Christians do know that they are in grace ; no man is justified by works, but by faith only ; sound works makes not an good man, but an good man makes good works ; that faith, hope, and charity are so knitt, that he that has one has the rest, and he that

wants one of them, wanteth the rest ; upon the whilk articles the said Archbishop gave sentence definitive at the Metropolitan kirk of St. Andrews, the last day of February 1527, where the said Mr. Patrick Hamiltoun was burnt in presence of Gavin, Bishop of Glasgow ; George, Bishop of Dunkell ; John, Bishop of Brechin ; William, Bishop of Dunblane ; Patrick, Prior of St. Andrews; David, Abbote of Arbrothok ; George, Abbot of Dumfermling ; Alex^r, Abbote of Cumbuschkynoch ; Henry, Abbot of Lindores ; John, Prior of Pittenwemyss ; the Dean and Subdean of Glasgow ; Mr. Hugh Spence, Thomas Ramsay, and Allan Meldrum. He lived Abbot ten years, and after him succeeded Abbot Donald Denoon, who lived Abbot 15 yeares and 5 months, and governed the place in tranquillity and rest dureing his time, and deceased at Fearn, the 9th day of February 1540. And to him succeeded Robert Carnecors, Bishop of Ross, who lived Abbot 5 years, and deceast in the Chanonry of Ross, where he was burried, the last day of November 1545 years ; and to him succeeded James Carnecors, who demitted the said Abbacy in favors of Nicolas Ross, then Provost of Tain, who lived Abbot 22 years, and dyed at Fearn, the 17th day of September 1569 years, and was burryed in the north side of the Quire of Fearn. And after him succeeded Mr. Thomas

Ross, Parson of Allies, who was provyded to the said Abbacie, three years before said Nicholas departed, as the said Mr. Thomas Ross's provision declares at more length, of the date at Edinburgh, the 12th day of October 1566 yeares ; who theikit the Dortour of Fearn after it was burnt be negligence of Hutcheon M'Culloch, now in Reifadden ; and he made a hall, chambers, cellars, pantrie, and kitchen of the same, in respect the old house was decayed ; he caused to joist and loft the chamber and pantrie, caused make such turnpicks and easements in Fearn to the hall, cellars, and vaults, &c. The said Mr. Thomas Ross caused build the litle chamber beside the Dortour, joisted, lofted, and theikit the same ; whilk Dortour and little chamber was burnt be the said Hutchon 16 years before the said Mr. Thomas was Abbote. Notwithstanding; the said Mr. Thomas Ross gart bigg in Fearn two stone barns and the miln with stone and clay, he biggit an new miln bewest the place of Fearn, which was going, and won what was worth the bigging of the same, till Alex^r Ross of litle Tarrell molested him ere he departed, and the miln decayed in default of beiting and holding up of the same. The said Alex^r Ross of litle Tarrell departed, (as God knows,) at litle Tarrell, the fourth day of January 1567 years, and mas burryed in Tain, the 5th day of the same

moneth. The said Mr. Thomas Ross built in Tain divers houses, yards, barns ; thereafter the said Mr. Thomas Ross for the most part of ten years, being boasted be Alexander Ross of Balnagowan, was out of Ross, and dwelt in Murray, in the town of Forres, where he conquest lands to build on both the sides of the road, and some field land, and made great expenses in Murray in householding, which he rather to have made in Ross among his own friends if they had suffered him to remain among them, and payed him his own liveing ; albeit none held his liveing from him, but the surname of Ross. It is not remembered be Alex. Ross, old laird of Balnagown, how the said Mr. Thomas Ross served Mr. Henry Sinclair, Bishop of Ross, for seven yeares gratis, and sought nothing for his fee and reward, but that the said Bishop would be so good of his goodness as to give the said laird of Balnagown his chief, for the singular love he buire to him for the time, certain steiding and fishings, which was upon and about the said Balnagown his lands, and was most meet for him, yea meeter for him than for any except the laird of Fowlis, who had some lands adjacent thereto, viz., the Davoch of Carbsdale, and offered great sums of money for the same ; notwithstanding the said Bishop caused the said Mr. Thomas Ross send for the said laird of Balnagown to come to

Edinburgh, and to receive such lands as after follows, in feu gratis, viz., Ardgay, ane Davoch of lands of great bounds of gressings ; the Kirktown of Kincardine ; yaire, and salmond fishing of the same, which will make yearly ane last of salmond or thereby ; the town of Eddertoun and pendicles thereof, which will hold twenty-three ploughs, with fair meadows and wards adjacent thereto, with the miln of Kincardin, which is worth twenty-four bolls victuall. The haill lands above written will occupie twenty-four ploughs, besides shealls and grassings ; whilk land, grassings, and fishings above written, when the said Bishop gave them gratis to him, he desyred the said laird to recompence the said Mr. Thomas Ross for his fee and reward, which the Bishop should have given him, in respect he gave the said lands gratis to the laird of Balnagown at the said Mr. Thomas his desire ; notwithstanding the said Bishop took from the good SherrifF of Cromarty, called Alex^r Urquhart, three thousand marks for worse land and less of profite, who held the said Bishop in his house of Cromarty ane half year well treated and entertained, in respect his own house of Chanonry was holden from him by Mr. Donald Fraser, Archdean of Ross, and such reward as the said Mr. Thomas Ross got from the said laird of Balnagowan, it is known, viz., evil deeds for

guid, he held and holds anc part of his liveing from him, and put him out of his father's Roume called Culnaha and Annat, he rests to him of his liveing of Fearn a great sum of money, viz., four thousand pounds Scots. George Ross, the young laird of Balnagowan, was resting to the said Abbot three thousand merks, which the said Abbot forgave him for ane petty grassing in the Highlands, called Garvarie, above Kincardin, in Strathcharron. The said Mr. Thomas Ross deceast in Tain, the fourteenth day of February 1595 yeares, and was burryed at Fearn in St. Michael's Isle.

Timeline

Below is a list of events that are evidenced by this source. They should appear in the 'Timeline' section of articles about people and places involved in the events.

• Feb 1251 - The first erll of Ross, callit Ferq^r Ross, leived erle fourtie yeiris, and deceissit in Tayne, and succeidit to the said Farq^r, William, his sone, and goodsone to the erll of Buchane
  <ref name="Cronicle of the Earlis 1850 p. 4" />
• 15 May 1274 - Williame his sone, quha was made erll at Witsonday the said yeir, quha leived erll fourtie nyne yeiris
  <ref name="Cronicle of the Earlis 1850 p. 4" />
• 27 March 1323 - Hew, goodsone to the King, was made erll of Ross upon St. Patrike his day, efter the deceis of his father, and leived erll ten yeiris
  <ref name="Cronicle of the Earlis 1850 p. 5" />
• 13 August 1333 - For the defence of the realme depairtit Hew, erll of Ross, in the conflict of Hildonhill besyde Berwike. Unto quhome succeidit Wilhame the third his sone, oy to King Robert Steuart, was quha efter lang banishment in Norroway, came hame to his awin, and fand his men convertit to the obedience of England, quha manfullie gatherit ane great armie and invadit the toun of Pearth, quhair Englishmen was, and drew watter frome them, quhilk constrainit thame to depart furth out of the said town for ever.
  <ref name="Cronicle of the Earlis 1850 pp. 5-6" />
• 11 May 1336 - Williame was made erll efter returning from his exyle in Norroway, upon Friday, before Whitsonday
  <ref name="Cronicle of the Earlis 1850 p. 6" />
• circa 1615 - The unknown author of the Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross manuscript stated that, "Of this Farq^r discendit fyve erlis, being Ross of surname, viȝ^t Farq^r the first, Williame the second, Williame the third, Hew the fourt, and William the fift ; but the sixt erle was namit Walter Ross, utherwayis Leslie, quha maryit the said fift erle of Ross his dochter, callit Euphame Ross."
  <ref name="Cronicle of the Earlis 1850 p. 2" />
• March 1850 - W. R. Baillie published Ane Breve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross. In this book he presents the Balnagown manuscript as it was discovered, filling in the blanks and adding additional information provided by a copy made circa 1730 and the Deuchar manuscript
  <ref name="Cronicle of the Earlis 1850 pp. i-ii" />

Discussion

As it appears in this manuscript.

1-Ferqrquha Ross first erle of Ross d. ane thousand two hundreth fiftie ane yeiris, in the beginning of the calendis of Feb (Feb 1251), Tayne
.2-Williame Ross second erle of Ross d. the 20 calends of Juny ane thousand two hundreth threscor fourtene yeiris (20 Jun 1274), erllis allane
  + dochter of erll of Buchane, callit Johne Cumming 
..3-Williame Ross third erle of Ross d. xxviii day of Januar one thousand three hundreth twentie two yeiris (28 Jan 1322), Delnay in Ross
   + Mauld sister to the king 
...4-Hew Ross fourt erle of Ross d. the tliretteen calendis of August ane thousand thrie hundreth threttie thrie yeiris, in the conflict of Hildonhill
    + my Lord Grhame's dochter 
....5-William Ross fift erle of Ross d. the nynt of Februar ane thousand thrie hundreth thriescor ellevin yeiris, Dalny in Ross
.....6-Euphame Ross 
      + Walter Ross, utherwayis Leslie sixt erle of Ross d. the penult clay of Februar ane thousand thrie hundreth fourscor ane yeiris, Pearth
......7-Alexander Ross, utherwayis Leslie erle of Ross d. the aught day of May ane thousand four hundreth and two yeiris, Dingwall
       + dochter of Duke Robert Steuart, governor of Scotland 
.......8-Marie, quha deyit virgin 
......7-Euphame 
       + Alexander Ila erll of Ross and Justice for the north d. Dingwall, Bur. the aucht day of May, ane thousand four hundreth fourtie and nyne reiris, the channerie of Ross
.......8-Donald Ballache d. betwixt the years 1454 and 1455 years, Ireland
.......8-Johne of the Iyllis 
.......8-Alexander erll of Ross 
........9-Donald earle of Ross and Lord of the Iylis d. 1461, slain in the castell of Inverness
.........10-John Ila Lord of the Iyllis and erll of Ross 
.....6-dochter 
      + Donald of the Iles 
....5-Hew the first laird of Balnagowne and Rarichies Ross 
.....6-Williame Ross laird of Balnagown 
......7-Hew Ross 
.......8-Wilhame Crunblache Ross 
        + the Lord Livingstonis dochter 
........9-Walter Cluganach Ross 
         + Paull McTyres dochter callit Katherene, quhairby the Ross are callit Clanlanders 
.........10-Huchone Ross 
          + the erll of Sutherlandis dochter, callit Jonet Sutherland 
..........11-Johne Ross laird of Balnagown 
           + Christian J^T'Loid, dochter to Torkill M'Loid of Lewis 
...........12-Alex r M'Dods Ross laird of Balnagown 
            + Doroie Sutherland 
............13-S r David Ross laird of Balnagown 
             + the Laird of Innerugies dochter, callit Helenor Keith 
.............14-Walter Ross laird of Balnagown d. slaine in Tayne
              + the laird of Grauntis dochter, callit Marion Graunt 
..............15-Alexander Ross laird of Balnagown 
               + Janet Sinclair, the erll of Cathnes dochter 
...............16-George Ross laird of Balnagown 
                + Marjorie Campbell, dochter to the laird of Caduell 
................17-David Ross now of Balnagoune 
                 + Jeane Gordoun, dochter to the erll of Sutherland 
                 + Anabell Murray, dochter to my Lord Tillibairne, 
.................18-David Ross laird of Balnagown 
                  + my Lord Lovatt's daughter, callit Marie Fraser 
..................19-David Ross now leard of Balnagown 
                   + Ladie Ann Steuart, daughter to James earle of Murray 
................17-sindrie dochteris 
...............16-sindrie dochters 
               + Katharene M'Kenzie 
...............16-Nicolas Ross 
...............16-Malcolme Ross 
...............16-sindrie dochters 
..............15-Hutcheon Ross 
.............14-William Ross 
.............14-Hutcheone Ross 
             + the Duke Albaneis dochter 
...........12-Gallicallim Ross 
..........11-Hucheone Ross 
..........11-Mr. Williame Ross 
..........11-Mr. Thomas Ross 

Discussion

Fearchar Mac an t-Sagairt
Ane Breve Cronicle

• of this Farq^r discendit fyve erlis, being Ross of surname p. 2
• And the said erll leived erle fourtie yeiris p. 4
• deceissit in Tayne ane thousand two hundreth fiftie ane yeiris, in the beginning of the calendis of Feb p. 4

Modern English

• from this Fearchar descends five earls, being of the surname Ross
• And the said earl lived as earl forty years
• dying in Tain one thousand two hundred and fifty one years, in the beginning of February

Current thinking

• Fearchar Mac an t-Sagairt is thought to be the patriarch of four more generations of Earls of Ross.
• This chronicler states clearly several times that the surname of these first Earls of Ross was Ross. Sir Robert Gordon, in a manuscript written in the 1630s, about the same time that this chronicle was written, claimed that the surname of these original Earls of Ross was Builton and that there never were any Earls of Ross by the surname Ross.
• Builton was apparently the anglicised version Ó Beólláin. Based on this idea that Fearchar went by 'mac an t-sagairt', meaning 'son of a priest', it was speculated that there was some connection between his family and the Irish family Ó Beólláin who were keepers of Máel Ruba's church at Sligo. There seems to be no concrete evidence, however, of this surname of O'Beollan or the connection to this Irish family.
• Even with all of the inconsistencies that can be found in the Chronicle, it seems that, if the name of the family had originally been O'Beollan, and not Ross, their own family's chronicler would've known & mentioned it. Unless, of course, they had some reason to attempt to change the family's narrative in the beginning of the 17th century.
• Fearchar is not known to have been mentioned as Earl of Ross in any records until the mid 1220s. If he truly lived as earl for 40 years, that would mean that he would have become earl at least 10 years earlier, circa 1211.
• Current thinking is that Fearchar did die at Tain in January of 1251 and is buried at the abbey he built at Fearn.

William, 2nd Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• William, his sone p. 4
• goodsone to the erll of Buchane, callit Johne Cummming p. 4 p. 23
• leived erll xxiiii yeiris p. 4
• deyit at erllis allane the 20 calends 2 of Juny ane thousand two hundreth threscor fourtene yeiris p. 4

William, 3rd Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• Williame his sone, quha was made erll at Witsonday the said yeir p. 4
• quha leived erll fourtie nyne yeiris p. 4
• That Hew, quha was aire to the said Williame, in respect he had gotten him with the king his sister, callit Mauld, ane sone callit Williame, the said Williame, father to the said Hew, should mary the said Mauld. p. 4 p. 24
• depairted at Delnay in Ross, the xxviii day of Januar one thousand three hundreth twentie two yeiris p. 4-5

Modern English

• William his son, who was made earl at Whitsun the same year
• who lived as earl for 49 years
• That Hugh, who was heir to the said William, in the respect that he had fathered him with the king's sister, her name being Maud, one son named William, the said William, father to the said Hugh, should marry the said Maud.
• departed this life at Delny in Ross, the 28th day of January 1322.

Current thinking

Hugh, 4th Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• Hew, goodsone to the King p. 5
• maryit my Lord Grhame's dochter p. 24
• She bure to him William the fift erll of Ross, and Hew the first laird of Balnagowne and Rarichies p. 24
• made erll of Ross upon St. Patrike his day, the xvii day of March, ane thousand thrie hundreth and twentie thrie yeiris p. 5
• leived erll ten yeiris p. 5
• depairtit in the conflict of Hildonhill, the tliretteen calendis of August ane thousand thrie hundreth threttie thrie yeiris p. 5-6

William, 5th Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• Unto quhome succeidit Wilhame the third his sone p. 6
• oy to King Robert Steuart p. 6
• made erll efter returning from his exyle, upon Friday, before Whitsonday, ane thousand thrie hundreth and threttie sex p. 6
• Williame leived erll threttie five yeiris p. 9
• deceissit at Dalny in Ross, the nynt of Februar ane thousand thrie hundreth thriescor ellevin yeiris p. 9
• The said Williame, quhilk was the fyft erll of Ross, hade two dochters p. 2
• the eldest, Eupham Ross, maryit on Walter Ross alias Leslie p. 2
• The uther maryit on Donald of the lies, quha strak the batell of Harlaw, in Garyeoche, up on Sanct James evin in the yeir of God ane thousand four hundreth and ellevin yeires p. 2

Walter Leslie Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• the sixt erle was namit Walter Ross, utherwayis Leslie p. 2
• maryit the said fift erle of Ross his dochter, callit Euphame Ross p. 2
• callit himself Walter Ross alias Leslie, or ellis the said Euphame wald not mary him p. 2
• begat on the said Euphame Ross, onne sone callit Alexander p. 2
• he gat on hir ane sone callit Alexander, and ane dochter callit Euphame p. 24
• depairtit at Pearth the penult day of Februar ane thousand thrie hundreth fourscor ane yeiris p. 9

Alexander Leslie Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• succeidit Alexander Leslie his sone, erll p. 9
• was callit Alex^r Ross als lang as his mother leivid, and thairefter was callit Alex^r Leslie p. 2 p. 24
• was maryit on Duke Robert Steuart, governor of Scotland, his dochter p. 2 p. 24
• begat with her onne dochter callit Marie, quha deyit virgin p. 2 p. 24
• deceissit at Dingwall in his young age, the aught 2 day of May, ane thousand four hundreth and two yeiris p. 9-10 p. 24

'Eupheme Leslie Ane Breve Cronicle

• Alexander Ila was erll of Ross and Justice for the north; [...] p. 10
• He maryit Euphame, dochter to the said Walter Leslie, quhairby he was erll of Ross. p. 10
• The said Euphame maryed Alexander Ha, quha threw hir was made erll of Ross, and Justice fra Forth north. p. 24
• He begot on hir Johne of the Iyllis, ane man dearlie belovit of his people, quha was murtherit be James Campbell as said is. p. 25

Alexander Ila Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• And thairefter Alexander Ila was erll of Ross and Justice for the north p. 10
• maryit Euphame, dochter to the said Walter Leslie, quhairby he was erll of Ross p. 10
• In the next yeir following, quhilk was efter the incarnatioun 1427, Alexander, Lord of the Iyllis, was arreistit be the king at Inverness p. 10
• His mother, Euphame, dochter to Walter sumtyme erll of Ross, was also committit in warde in Sanct Colme's Insch, becaus it was knowin that she solicited her sone Alexander to rebell in manner as is aforesaid against the King. p. 11-12
• deyit at Dingwall, and was buryit at the channerie of Ross, the aucht day of May, ane thousand four hundreth fourtie and nyne reiris

Alexander Earl of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• Thairefter Alex^r brother to the Johne, and sone to the said Alex r and Euphame, was made erll p. 25
• quha for his enormities was comitted to warde at Tantallon, at requeist of the Q.ueene, as the Cronicle can testifie, and his mother, also Euphame, dochter to Walter, sumtyme erll of Ross, was comittit to warde in Sanct Colmes' Insche, becaus it was knawin that scho solicited her sone Alex r to rebell against the King p. 25

Donald Ballache
Ane Breve Cronicle

• Nocht long efter, Donald Ballache, brother to the said Lord Alex^r of the Iyllis, came with ane great power of men unto Lochquhaber.
• the said Donald fled into Ireland, where he was slain p. 12
• within three weeks space efter his fleeing into Ireland, betwixt the years 1454 and 1455 years p. 13

Donald Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles
Ane Breve Cronicle

• There was ane callit Donald, erle of lloss, in the tyme that the erll Douglas came out of England invading the Scottismen, he tint the field
• earle of Douglas fled to Dunstaffage, quhair finding the said Donald, earle of Ross and Lord of the Iylis, he procurit to him p. 13
• In the yeir of God 1455, the King acquitted the Isles, and gat obedience thereof that they war in reddines to serve the wares, speciallie Donald of the Iyllis and erle of Ross p. 14 p. 25
• the King at the lenth gave pardon to the said Donald p. 14
• Donald himselff was slain in the castell of Inverness, in the year 1461 p. 15 p. 25
• Donald's son was callit Lord of the Iyllis and erll of Ross p. 15 p. 25

John Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles
Ane Breve Cronicle

• In July, the fourt day, in the yeir of God 1476, ane Parliament wes haldin at Ed^r ' in the quhilk John, Lord of the Iyllis and erll of Ross, was attendid pairtly for his awin evill deids, but maist speciallie for the defaultis of his father, Donald, Lord of the Iyllis. p. 15 p. 25
• in the beginning of July next ensewing, the said Lord of the Iyllis came to the Parlia- ment at Edinburgh, and thair was the aggreement made and confirmit betwixt the King and him p. 16
• Q^lk erlldome the King annexit to the crowne, and pardonit him and his servands of all offences befoir that day committed, and invested him of new in the lordschip and signorie of the Iyllis p. 16

Countess of Ross
Ane Breve Cronicle

• the Countes of Ross fled frome hir husband, and came to the King for feare of hir husband's crueltie, which partly she had taisted alreddie p. 14

John of the Isles

• King James the first, 1426, beheaded James Campbell for the murther of Johne of the Iles, a man dearlie belovit of his people p. 10

Donald Ballache, brother to the said Lord Alex r of the Iyllis p. 12 Donald, earle of Ross and Lord of the Iylis p. 13 p. 14 "Shortly efter the Countes of Ross fled frome hir husband, and came to the King for feare of hir husband's crueltie, which partly she had taisted alreddie. The King, because he had made the marriage betwixt hir and hir husband, assyned her forthwith sufficient revenues also for the main- tenance of her estate." Was this Eupheme, daughter of William 5th earl of Ross? If so, this is out of chronological order. p. 15 Donald himselff was slain in the castell of Inverness, be ane clairshear that playit on ane clersha, in the year 1461 The said Donald's son was callit Lord of the Iyllis and erll of Ross In July, the fourt day, in the yeir of God 1476, ane Parliament wes haldin at Ed r ' in the quhilk John, Lord of the Iyllis and erll of Ross, was attendid pairtly for his awin evill deids, but maist speciallie for the defaultis of his father, Donald, Lord of the Iyllis. p. 24 The third was callit Williame Ross, quha maryed the King's sister, quha bure him Hew Ross. The fourt erll callit Hew Ross, sone to the said Maid. The said Hew maryit my Lord Grhame's dochter.

Source citation

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This source also needs to be included in the 'Sources' section of an article by adding the following:

* {{Ane Breve full}}

Sources

• Baillie, W. R, ed. (1850). Ane Breve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross. Including notices of the Abbots of Fearn, and of the family of Ross of Balnagown. Edinburgh: T. Constable. OCLC 1039478538. OL 25119441M.