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THE CRICHTONS OF FRENDRAUGHT.
INTRODUCTION.
page 184
Another branch of this ill-fated race settled in Dumfriesshire, and from it
sprang that famous prodigy of learning, the 'admirable Crichton,' whose tragical
death, in the twenty-second year of his age, is known to all scholars. An
interesting notice of this prodigy of learning and ability has just been
discovered in the archives of Venice. In the Register of the Council of Ten,
there is the following entry under A.D. 1580, 19th August:—'A young Scotchman,
Giacomo Cretonio, of very noble lineage, and from what has been clearly seen by
divers proofs and trials made with very learned and scientific men, and
especially by a Latin oration which he delivered this morning extempore in our
college, of most rare and singular ability. In such wise, that not being above
twenty, or but little over, he astounds and surprises everybody. Wherefore it
will be put to the ballot, that of the monies in the chest of the Council there
be given to the said Crichton, a Scottish gentleman, one hundred golden crowns.
Ayes, 22; noes, 2; neutrals, 4.'* William de Crichton married one of the two
daughters and co-heiresses of Robert de Ross, and obtained with her half of the
barony of Sanquhar. The other half was subsequently purchased by his successors.
Sir Robert de Crichton, a successor of this William, had charters of the barony
of Sanquhar and the lands of Eliock, and of the office of Sheriff of
Dumfriesshire in 1464, and of the office of Coroner of Nithsdale in 1468. His
eldest son, Sir Robert Crichton of Sanquhar, was elevated to the peerage in 1487
by James III. as a reward for his services in assisting to defeat the Earl of
Douglas and the Duke of Albany at Lochmaben in 1484. The sixth Lord Sanquhar of
this line was hanged for the murder of one Turner, a fencing-master, who had
accidentally put out one of his lordship's eyes with a foil. Seven years after
this incident had occurred, Lord Sanquhar was on a visit to the Court of France,
and was casually asked by Henry IV. how he had lost his eye. 'By the thrust of a
sword,' replied his lordship, not caring to enter into particulars. The King,
supposing this accident to have been the result of a duel, immediately remarked,
'Does the man yet live?' This remark so acted upon the morose and anti-social
disposition of the peer that on his return to England he hired two men to
assassinate Turner. On the perpetration of the foul deed (11th May, 1612) the
assassins fled, but were speedily captured, brought to trial, and executed. Lord
Sanquhar absconded on the capture of his accomplices, but a reward of £1,000
was offered for his apprehension, and he was shortly after taken and brought to
trial in the King's Bench, Westminster Hall. He was capitally convicted,
on his own confession, and was hanged on a gibbet in Great Palace Yard on the
29th of June. His peerage devolved upon a distant relative, who, in 1622, was
created Viscount Ayr, and in 1633 Earl of Dumfries—titles which have now
passed, through the female line, into the possession of the Marquis of Bute.
The name of the ill-fated Crichtons, once widely diffused throughout Scotland,
has thus disappeared from the roll of the peerage, and almost from the ranks of
the landed gentry. Their extensive estates are in the hands of strangers.
Crichton Castle, their ancient family residence, splendid even in ruins—
THE ERSKINES.
page 117
A curious paper, written partly by Lady Grange, partly by the minister of St.
Kilda, found its way to Edinburgh, and fell into the hands of Mr. William
Blackwood, the well-known publisher. It was purchased by John Francis, Earl of
Mar, and, along with some letters from that lady, was presented to the Marquis
of Bute. This interesting document, which is dated
January 21st, 1746, gives a long and minute account of Lady Grange's abduction,
and of the treatment which she received from her captors and successive
custodians, which bears the stamp of truth. It was published in the Scots
Magazine for November, 1817, by a gentleman who had obtained a copy of the
paper.
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