greater part is still in their hands, and century they have had uninterrupted prosperity of Kilsyth,

A glance at the Arms of the Edmons

tive of some of the distinguishing incidents in the history of the family. A Scottish eye at once notices with pleasure the double tressure on the field with its flore-counterflore embellishment, The crescents are indicative of cadency. The sinister hand couped gules in the middle chief of the upper tressure, is a witness of Irish connection. The helm affronté-an important distinction in heraldry-declares the bearer to be of the bloodroyal if barred. The helm of the Edmonstone escutcheon appears, however, to be only that of a baronet, The annulet is adorned with strawberry leaves. The crest was originally a camel's head, It next became a horse's, and now it is a swan's. The camel's head is the undoubted crest, but its meaning and origin are alike unknown.

The Edmonstones are a very old family. It is probable they are the descendants of one or other of those Saxon barons who accompanied Margaret, sister of Edgar Atheling, to Scotland, when she was married to Malcolm Canmore, Their first appearance in authentic history dates from 1248, when there was living in Midlothian a certain Hendruas de Edmondiston, an intimate relation of the Setons, another ancient Scottish house, The first Sir William Edmonstone of Duntreath was the son of the brother of Sir John Edmonstone, who married the Lady Isobel, daughter of King Robert II. It was long believed that this first Duntreath Edmonstone was the son of the Princess Isobel; but this error was fully exposed by the late Sir Archibald Edmonstone, who was too veracious a historian to allow the pride of a double descent from the Scottish Royal family blind his interests to the truth, His investigations have indicated the Edmonstone achievement and placed the cadency of the family beyond dispute.

In 1425 the first Sir William Edmonstone, then

earl dying in 1404, the princess marrie year, Sir James Kennedy, son of Sir G Dunure. Sir James, the second husb killed in a quarrel with his elder br brief space, she took for her third hu Graham of Kincardine and Mugdock. Ideath she married Sir William Ed Princess Mary had family by all her Sir William she had a son William, Elizabeth. The first Sir William was He died in 1460. The date of the de is unknown. Her remains were depos Church. Near the centre of the churd stone, bearing the following inscripti IN THE SAME GRAVE WITH MARY, COU SISTER TO KING JAMES THE FIRST OF WHOM HE IS LINEALLY DESCEnded, A STONE, ESQ., OF DUntreath, IN THIS REDHALL IN IRELAND, WHO DIED IN

AGED ABOUT FIFTY-ONE YEARS.

r

The first Sir William Edmonstone only held Duntreath in life-rent. however, married Matilda Stewart, a noble house of Lennox, through the quired-Lord Avondale, his wife's b Chancellor and favourite of King Ja himself securely established as proprie blane lands. His eldest son, the th

held high office at the Court of the King.

He married the sister of George Shaw, the Abbot of Paisley and Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. This marriage was as fortunate for his house as his father's or even his grandfather's had been. The abbot was one of the kindliest of men, and a prime favourite with James IV. He used his position to forward the interests of his sister's husband, to secure a good appointment for him, places for his brothers, and husbands for his sisters.

The fourth Sir William Edmonstone, on his succession to Duntreath, was appointed Captain of Doune Castle and Steward of Menteith. He was four times married. His first wife was Sibylla, daughter of Sir William Baillie of Lamington, and the marriage was solemnised on the 17th May, 1497. It is through this union that the Edmonstones trace their descent from the great Scottish deliverer and patriot, Sir William Wallace. On this subject Blind Harry is the chief authority. In lively verse he describes the courtship and subsequent marriage of Sir William Wallace and Marion Bradfute. Of the latter, the old poet has left a picture daintily done.

"In Lanark dwelt the fair, well known to fame,
For matchless beauties crown'd the charming name.
Now in her spring of life she grew apace,

Spreading to bloom, and crowned with every grace.
The syrens with persuasive eloquence,

Charmed from her lips and beautified her sense,

While piety adds lustre to her name.

Wallace beheld and owned the pleasing flame :

The print of love new stamp'd his ductile breast,
And with soft characters his soul imprest."

By this marriage it is said that one daughter was born before the lady fell a prey to the fury of Hazilrig, and

that from her descended the Baillies of Lamington. There is a descent from Wallace, but it does not appear to have been from so honourable a source. And yet there is no evidence forthcoming to stamp the connection as illegitimate. It is perfectly true that Sir William Baillie of Hoprig did marry a daughter of Wallace. The difficulty is not as to her father, but, strange to say, as to who the mother of this lady was. On that point there has as yet been no genealogical testimony forthcoming. Wallace's daughter bore her husband a son, William, who married the daughter of Sir William Seton. The three succeeding possessors of Lamington were Sir William Baillies, and Sibylla was the daughter of the third. It is consequently perfectly clear that the Edmonstones have flowing in their veins the blood of the great Scottish patriot. Sir William fell on Flodden field, the 9th September, 1513,—ad fidem regis in campo bellico nuper in Northumbria.

When the fifth Sir William Edmonstone succeeded to Duntreath lands, and the Stewardship and Chamberlainship of Menteith, he fell under the displeasure of Queen Margaret, the wife of James IV., for holding Doune Castle against her wishes, and for refusing to account for his intromissions with the rents of the Stewartry, which belonged to her. After a strong resistance, the offices were taken from him, and given to Sir James Stewart. This gentleman held the appointments till the death of James V., on the 14th December, 1542. Mary of Guise, the widow of the King, then coming into possession of the Stewartry, reinstated Sir William Edmonstone in his old places. Sir James Stewart, however, as Sir William had done before him, refused to yield up his places and emoluments. Losing all patience with him, Sir William, with his brothers Archibald and James, laid wait for the