A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

OF THE SALTIER OR SAUTOIR. TI-
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crest, an eagle's talon holding a writing quill, proper: motto, Non sine usu. L
Register.
WILLIAM MAXWELL of Loch, descended of the family of Nithsdale, ardent, a
saltier within a bordure sable, the last charged with eight roses of the first ; c.
A hart couchant, Ins attirings wreathed about with holly leaves, all proper : motto,
Semper viridis. Lyon Register.
ROBERT MAXWELL of Garnsalloch, descended of George, eldest son of Sir Herbert
Maxwell of Carlaverock, and his second Lady, Catharine, daughter to the Lord
Seaton, argent, a saltier sable, with a bordure of the last, charged with eight crescents
or, the figures of Seaton ; crest, a stag rising from an holly bush, proper :
motto, tfresco tj? surgo. Lyon Register.
Colonel THOMAS MAXWELL, Cuiarter-master General to his Majesty's forces in
England, son to James Maxwell of Littlebar, who was a second son of Maxwell of
Kirkonell, a second son of Robert, first Lord Maxwell, argent, a saltier sable, within
a bordure embattled gules ; crest, a stag lodged under a bush of holly, proper :
motto, Non dormio. Lyon Register.
Many of the surname of NAPIER carry a saltier ;
and some of that name carry a
bend. The Napiers were numerous of old with us about the year 1296. In Prynne's
History, page 655, there are Matthew de Napier le Aghelerk in Forfarshire, John
le Napier in Dumbartonshire, and several others of that name who swore allegiance
to King Edward the first of England. William Napier got from King David
II. the lands of Kilmacheugh in Dumbartonshire, which formerly belonged to the
co-heiresses of Sir William Montefix, as by that king's charter of the date 1346,
in Pub. Arch. The armorial bearing of John Napier of Kilmacheugh, as recorded
in the Lyon Register, is, gules on a bend argent, three crescents azure, and, in
the sinister chief point, a spur-rowel of the second ; crest, a man's head adorned
with laurel, proper : motto, Virtute gloria parta.
NAPIER of Wrightshouses carried or, on a bend azure, a crescent between two
spur-rowels of the first, as in Mr Font's Book of Blazons.
What NAPIER of Merchiston, the most eminent family of the name, carried of
old, I know not ; but since John Napier of Merchiston married Margaret Mon-
teith, daughter and co-heir of Murdoch Monteith of Ruskie, and one of the heirs
of line to Duncan Earl of Lennox, in the reign of King James II. they have been
in use to carry only the arms of Lennox, viz. argent, a saltier ingrailed, cantoned
with four roses gules; their sons were, Archibald who succeeded, and John Napier
of Balerno. Archibald's son, Sir Alexander Napier of Merchiston, lost his life at
Flodden Field, pth September 1513, as did his son Alexander, at the battle of
Pinkie, loth September 1547, whose son and successor, Sif Archibald, was knighted
by King James VI. and made Master of the Mint 1587. He went generally by
the title of Edinbelly, and married first Janet, daughter of Mr Francis Bothwell,
one of the Senators of the College of Justice
in the reign of King James V. ancestor
to the Lord Holyroodhouse; by whom he had John, his son and heir. After her
death he married a daughter of Moubray of Bambougle, by whom he had Sic
Alexander Napier of Lauriston,
the reign of King Charles I.
one of the Senators of the College of Justice in
JOHN NAPIER of Merchiston succeeded his father, and was very famous for his
and his other works that
learning, especially in the mathematics ; his logarithms,
have been published, remain as monuments of his sublime parts and penetration.
He married, first, Margaret, daughter to Sir James Stirling of Keir, by whom he
had Sir Archibald ; and after her death lie married Agnes, daughter of Sir James
Chisholm of Cromlicks, by whom he had (as in Mr Crawfurd's Peerage) John Napier
of Easter Torry, Mr Robert Napier, of whom the branch of the Napiers of
Kilcroich, Mr Alexander Napier of Gellets, William Napier of Ardmore, of whom
also is Napier of Craiganet, Adam, of whom the Napiers of Blackston are de-
scended. The great Merchiston died ^d of April 1617, aged 67, and was succeeded
by his eldest son, who was Lord Treasurer Depute 1624, as also Justice
the title
Clerk, and afterwards by King Charles I. made a lord of Parliament, by
of Lord Napier, in the year 1627. He stood firm in his loyalty to his Majesty in
the worst of times, and accompanied James Marquis of Montrose to the battle of
Philiphaugh, whose sister, Margaret, he had for his lady. She bore to him Archi-
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