Source:Scottish document RMS, xiii, no. 186

Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xiii no. 186 • NRS, C2/13/186
Carta confirmationis super carta Johannis Domini Insularum facta suo fratri Hugoni Alexandri de Insulis
Originally written in Latin 10 November 1495

Transcription

'Jacobus Dei gratia Rex Scotorum Omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue clcricis et laicis salutem Sciatis nos quandam cartam factani per Johannem de Yle Comitem Rossie et Dominum Insularum suo fratri Hugoni Alexandri de Insulis hereditarie de certis terris in sua carta infrascripta spccificatis in dominio Insularum jacentibus de mandato nostro visam lectam inspectam et deligenter examinatam sanam integram non rasam non cancellatam nee in aliqua sui parte suspectam ad plenum intellexisse sub hac forma : Omnibus banc cartam visuris vel audituris Johannes de Yle Comes Rossie et Dominvis J Insularum etemam in Domino salutem Noveritis nos de consensu assensu et matura deliberacione tocius nostri Consilii dedisse concessisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse carissimo fratri nostro Hugoni Alexandri de Insulis Domino de Slete omnes et singulas terras nostras infrascriptas viz. terras triginta mercarum de Skerehowg terras duodecim mercarum de Beanbeacla denariatum de Gergremynis terras sexaginta mercarum ex parte Corientali de Wist duos denariatus de scolpic quatuor denariatus de Gremynis duos denariatus de Talawmartin sex denariatus de Orvinsaig dimedium denariatum de Waynlis et dimedium denariatum de Insula Gillegerre unacum terris viginti octo mercarum de Slete cum pertinentiis jacentes in dominio nostro Insularum : Tenendas et habendas totas et integras prenominatas terras cum pertinentiis prefato Hugoni et heredibus suis masculis inter ipsum Hugonem et Fynvolam Alexandri Johannis de Ardnamurchan legitime sive illegittime procreatis seu procreandis ac ipsorum legitimis heredibus quibus omnibus deficientibus quod absit heredibus suis masculis post mortem prefate Finvole inter ipsum Hugonem et quamcunque aliam mulierem de nostro consilio necnon et consiliis nostrorum consanguineorum viz. Donaldi de Insulis Domini de Dunnowaig et de Glynnis Celestini de Insulis de Lochalche Lachlani M'Gilleoin de Doward et Alexandri Johannis de Ardnamurchan quibus deficientibus vel deficiente quod absit tunc de consilio ipsorum heredum vel ipsius deficientis heredis electam de nobis et heredibus nostris universis in feodo et hereclitate imperpetuum per omnes rectas metas suas divisas et antiquas fines in costis planis pratis nioris marresiis pascuis pasturis petariis turbariis carbonariis fabrilibus et brasinis viis semitis silvis virgultis aquis stagnis rivolis et lacubus aucupationibus venationibus piscationibus cum niolendinis miilturis et eorum sequelis cum curiis et curiarum exitibus cum comuni pastura libero introitu et exitu ac cum omnibus aliis et singulis commoditatibus libertatibus fertilitatibus [sic] et asiamentis ac justis suis pertinentiis quibuscunque tam non nominatis quam nominatis tam subtus terra quam supra terrain tam per mare quain per terras tam prope quam procull ad dictas terras cum pertinentiis spectantibus seu juste spectare valentibus quomodolibet in futurum adeo libere quiete integre plenarie honorifice bene et in pace libere pro ipsius homagiis liecnon heredumque suorum masculorum ut premittitur fidelibus homagiis serviciis consiliis auxiliis potenciis et favoribus universis nobis heredibus nostris universis et successoribus quibuscunque bene et fideliter impendendis in guerra et in pace tam per mare quam per terras tociens quociens causa requirit seu opus fuerit necessarium contra et adversus quoscunque mortales homines et feminas : Et nos vero prefatus Johannes Comes Rossie et Dominus Insularum atque heredes nostri et succcssores omnes et singulas terras prenominatas cum pertinentiis prefato Hugoni de Insulis fratri nostro suisque heredibus masculis ut prefertur warantizabimus acquietabimus et imperpetuum defendemus prout melius liberius et honorificentius alique terra hereditarie prout supra consueverunt in dominio Insularum literis concedi aut cartas confirmari : In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum presentibus est appensum apud Aros vicesimo octavo die mensis Junii anno Domini millesimo cccc⁰ nono hiis testibus presentibus viz. Donaldo de Insulis Domino de Dunnowaig et de Glynnis Celestino de Insulis de Lochalch fratre nostro Lachlano M'Gilleoin Domino de Doward Johanne M'Gilleoin de Lochboyg Lachlano juvine M'Gilleoin Magistro de Doward W[illelm]o M'Loyd de Glennelg Rodrico M'Leoid de Leoghys Alexandro Johannis de Ardnamiirchan Johanne Lachlani M'Gilleoin de Colla et Thoma de Monro nostro secretario ac rectore de Kilmanawik cum nonniillis aliis nobilibus et proceribus in fidem et testimonium omnium et singulorum premissorum vocatis et specialiter rogatis necnon et requisitis. Quamquidem cartam ac donacionem et concessionem in eadem contentas in omnibus suis punctis et articulis condicionibus et modis ac circumstanciis suis quibuscunque forma pariter et effectu in omnibus et per omnia approbamus ratificamus et pro nobis et successoribus nostris ut premissum est pro perpetuo confirmamus salvis nobis et successoribus nostris juribus et serviciis de prefatis terris cum pertinentiis ante presentem nostram confirmacionem debitis et consuetis : In cujus rei testimonium presenti carte nostre inagnum sigillum nostrum apponi precipimus, testibus reverendo in Christo patre Willelmo Episcopo Abirdonense nostri secreti Sigilli Custode, dilectis consanguineis nostris Archibaldo Comite Angusie Domino Douglas Cancellario nostro, Archibaldo Comite de Ergile Magistro Hospicii nostri Patricio Comite de Boithuile Domino Halis Alexandro Domino Hume magno camerario nostro Johanne Domino Drummond Justiciario nostro, venerabilibus in Christo patribus Georgio Abbate de Dunfermling et Georgio Abbate de Pasleto Thesaurario nostro, apud Striveling decimo decimo [sic] die mensis Novembris anno Domini millesimo quadringentesimo nonagesimo quinto et regni nostri octavo.'

Translation

James, by the grace of God, King of the Scots. To all the good men of his land, the clergy and laity. our visa, read, inspected, and carefully examined, sound, whole, not shaved, not erased, nor suspected in any part of itself, fully understood in this form: You will all see or hear the bank charter of John de Yle, Earl of Ross, and the Lords of the Isles. and that, by early deliberation, our Council has agreed to give and confirm by this present charter to our dearest brother Hugh Alexander of the Isles, Lord of Slete, all and each of our underwritten lands, viz. thirty lands purchased from Skerehowg twelve lands purchased from Beanbeacla denarii de Gergremynis sixty denarii lands purchased from the Eastern part of Wist two denarii from Scolpic four denarii from Gremynis two denarii two denarii from Talawmartin six denarii from Orvinsaig half a denarii from Waynlis and half a denarii from the Isle of Gillegerre together with twenty lands eight mercantiles of Slete with their appurtenances lying in our possession of the Isles: To hold and have the whole and entire aforesaid lands with their appurtenances to the aforesaid Hugh and his heirs male between himself and Fynvol Alexander John of Ardnamurchan legitimately or illegitimately begotten or procreated and their legitimate heirs to whom all failing which is absent from his male heirs after the death of Finvole between Hugh himself and any other woman of our counsel as well as the counsel of our relatives viz. Donald de Insuli Lord de Dunnowaig and Glynnis Celestini de Insuli de Lochalche Lachlani M'Gilleoin de Doward and Alexander John de Ardnamurchan failing or failing what is then absent from the counsel of their heirs or the failing heirs chosen of us and the heirs of all ours in fee and with the perpetual hereclitus divided by all their straight goals and the ancient borders in the flat coasts of the meadows of the nior marshes of pastures of pastures of petarias of turbari of carbonaris of carpenters and of branis roads paths of woods bushes of water ponds rivulets and lakes hunting hunting fishing with niolendini miilturus and their sequels with the courts and the exits of the courts with the commons pasturage with free entrance and exit, and with all other and individual benefits, liberties, fertility, and allotments, and all their appurtenances, both unnamed and named, both under the land and above the land, both by sea and through lands both near and far from the said lands with their appurtenances, or just to look to those who are strong in any way in the future so freely, quietly, completely, fully, honorably, well and freely in peace, for the homage of himself and his male heirs, as is required by faithful homage, service, counsel, aid, power, and favor to all of us, our heirs, and successors, to whomsoever we may spend well and faithfully in war and in peace both by sea and by land, whenever the cause requires or the need may be necessary, against and against any mortal men and women; to our own and to his heirs male, as it is preferred, we will grant, we will pacify, and we will defend perpetually, as it is better, more free and more honorable, and some land be granted by inheritance, as is customary above, in the domain of the Islands, and confirmed by letters or charters: In witness whereof our seal has been affixed to the present at Aros on the twenty-eighth day of June in the year of the Lord 1400 ninth to these present witnesses viz. Donald of the Isles Lord of Dunnowaig and Glynnis Celestine of the Isles of Lochalch our brother Lachlan M'Gilleoin Lord of Doward John M'Gilleoin of Lochboyg Lachlan juvine M'Gilleoin Master of Doward William M'Loyd of Glennelg Rodric M'Leoid of Leoghys Alexander Johannis de Ardnamiirchan, John Lachlani M'Gilleoin de Colla, and Thomas de Monro, our secretary and rector of Kilmanawik, together with several other nobles and nobles, were called and specially requested and required in the faith and testimony of each and every one of the premises. Whereas we ratify the charter and donation and concession contained in the same in all its points and articles conditions and manners and circumstances in whatever form as well as in effect in all and throughout everything and confirm for us and our successors as promised for ever saving us and our successors rights and services concerning the aforesaid lands

Document

Printed sources	• Highland Papers (vol. 1) • Registrum magni sigilli (vol. 2)
National Records of Scotland catalogue
Collection	Great Seal Register (Registrum Magni Sigilli) (C2/13)
Repository	National Records of Scotland
Reference	C2/13 (link to catalog entry)
Title	Great Seal Register (Registrum Magni Sigilli)
Date	15 Jan 1493-18 Aug 1503
Access status	Open
Location	On site
Level	File

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.

• 10 November 1495 - James, King of the Scots, confirms the bank charter, “John de Yle, Earl of Ross, and the Lords of the Isles. and that, by early deliberation, our Council has agreed to give and confirm by this present charter to our dearest brother Hugh Alexander of the Isles, Lord of Slete, all and each of our underwritten lands, viz. thirty lands purchased from Skerehowg twelve lands purchased from Beanbeacla denarii de Gergremynis sixty denarii lands purchased from the Eastern part of Wist two denarii from Scolpic four denarii from Gremynis two denarii two denarii from Talawmartin six denarii from Orvinsaig half a denarii from Waynlis and half a denarii from the Isle of Gillegerre together with twenty lands eight mercantiles of Slete with their appurtenances lying in our possession of the Isles: To hold and have the whole and entire aforesaid lands with their appurtenances to the aforesaid Hugh and his heirs male between himself and Fynvol Alexander John of Ardnamurchan legitimately or illegitimately begotten or procreated and their legitimate heirs to whom all failing which is absent from his male heirs after the death of Finvole between Hugh himself and any other woman of our counsel as well as the counsel of our relatives viz. Donald de Insuli Lord de Dunnowaig and Glynnis Celestini de Insuli de Lochalche Lachlani M'Gilleoin de Doward and Alexander John de Ardnamurchan”
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Discussion

One of the most tiresome blunders in the Record of the Great Seal is that with regard to the charter by John, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, to his brother Hugh, confirmed by King James iv. on 10th November 1495. The date given, 1409, is plainly wrong, as John only succeeded his father in 1449, and was then still under age. But it is not easy to fix the proper date, and a valuable landmark in Highland chronology has been lost.

By this charter, whenever it was granted, Hugh, described by the granter as ‘carissimo fratri meo,’ without any qualifying word to suggest illegitimacy, received the extensive terriitory so long possessed by his descendants ; and he held this from the Lord of the Isles until 1495, when, as Hugh Macdonald points out (vide ante, p. 48), he thought it desirable to get a charter from the King. The fact that this Crown charter is in the form of a confirmation, and not of a grant of lands, which were in the King's hands ‘ratione forisfacturæ,’ is one of the circumstances that tend to cast doubt on the alleged second forfeiture of John, Lord of the Isles, in 1493.

The terms of the original charter are remarkable in various respects. It is granted by the Lord of the Isles with the consent of his whole council, as if he were a sovereign prince. The destination in the tenendas clause to Hugh's heirs male, whether legitimate or illegitimate, by Fynvola Maclan, is unique, and so also seems the provision as to the choice of another wife in the event of Fynvola's demise. In the testing clause it will be observed that Celestine of Lochalsh is described by the granter simply as ‘fratre nostro.’ In the same clause, too, the heir apparent of Maclean of Duart designs himself ‘Magistro de Doward’ — a very early instance of such a designation, and specially noteworthy as being employed by the son of a Highland magnate, who was not a peer, nor even apparently a tenant in capite of the Crown, but a vassal of the Lord of the Isles.

Source citation

Each of the timeline events displayed above is followed by the reference code for that particular timeline event. This code is not displayed when the timeline event is included in the 'Timeline' section of an article. If an event is discussed within the body of an article, this reference code can be used to cite the source of the timeline event.

Sources

• Paul, James Balfour, ed. (1882). Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum : The register of the Great seal of Scotland, A.D. 1306-1668. A.D. 1424-1513. Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House. pp. 484-485. hdl:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t9668qp1c. OCLC 674363124. OL 23329160M.