A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

OF THE CHEYERON.
and so the same tinctures and figures of the arms of the Earls of Dunbar may be
looked upon as arms of patronage, frequent in the days of their assumption. All
writers tells us, that the first of this name was an Englishman, whom the Earl of
Dunbar took prisoner, and brought to Scotland, and being a brave and valiant
for which see Hector Boece
man, the Earl gave lu'rn several lands in East-Lothian ;
his History.
As for the manner and time of their rise in Scotland I cannot be positive ; but
I may assert there were of this name with us, in the reign of King Robert the
Bruce, as by the Minute Book of old charters made by Mr George Lawson, Underclerk
of the Exchequer where Ada..i de ; Hepburn gets a charter of the lands of
South and North Hales and Trapren, upon the forfeiture of Hugh Gourlay of Benston,
to be holden of the Earl of Dunbar and March : as also a charter of the
lands of Mersington, Rollingston, and some lands of Cockburnspath, all holden of
Patrick Earl of Dunbar.
Dominus Patricius de Hepburn, son to the said Adam, is a witness in an original
charter of Patricius de Dumbar, Comes Mortice IS Moravia, and (Black) Agnes his
Countess, dated at the Castle of Dunbar, 24th May 1367, and he is ranked before
George Dunbar, whom the Earl calls Consanguineus noster. The same Dominus Patricius
de is Hephurn also a witness in a charter granted by Alexander de Lindsay Dominus
de Ormistoun, in favours of his daughter and heir, Janet, upon the agreement betwixt
him and Alexander de Cockburn, in the marriage of John de Cockburn, his only son
of the first marriage, and the said Janet; wherein he gives the lands of Ormiston,
with the manor-house Peaston, &c. to them. Which charter is confirmed by
King David Bruce, the 39th year of his reign. This Sir Patrick is the same person
whom I mentioned before, whose seal of arms is appended to the act of Parliament
recognizing John, eldest son and heir of King Robert II. 1373. Our his-
torians make honourable mention of him, and his son Patrick,
in the famous bat-
tle of Otterburn, in the year 1388.
PATRICK HEPBURN, the younger of HALES, (his father being then 81 years old)
returning from an expedition into England, was unfortunately overtaken and killed
at Nisbet, by George Dunbar, son to the Earl of that name, who came up
with a party of horse to assist the English, in the year 1402.
Sir ADAM HEPBURN of Hales, son of the said Patrick, was imprisoned in the
Castle of St Andrews, with Hay of Yester, and other brothers, upon suspicion, by
King James I. but was soon released and made governor of the Castle of Dunbar,
in anno 1433. He was at the battle of Pepperden, in England, where the Scots
gained a notable victory over the English, 1437.
He left three sons, Patrick, Wil-
liam, and George of Whitsome.
Patrick succeeded his father, Sir Adam : and, in his charter to the Abbacy of
Coldingham, the witnesses are Archibald de Hepburn, his uncle, William and
CU-orge, his brothers : he was made a Lord of Parliament by the title of Lord
Hales, by King James II. 1456. His son Patrick Lord Hales was advanced to
the dignity of Earl of Bothwell, by King James IV. the first year of his
reign.
And the year after, I find him designed Comes de Bothwell fc? Dominus de Hales W
Magister Hospitii nostri, as witness in that king's charter to George Home of Ay ton.
This earl's seal of arms I have seen appended to a Precept of Seisin of James Bail-
lie, in the lands of Carphin, anno 1489 ; on which were the arms of Hepburn, as
before, supported by two lions gardant ; and for crest, a horse head and neck
bridled. I have seen another seal of this earl's appended to another precept in the
year 1498, which had a shield, quarterly, first and fourth, a bend, which I take
for the arms of Vauss Lord Dirleton; second and third, Hepburn, as before. He
was succeeded by his son Adam Earl of Bothwell ; and his successor, James Earl
of Bothwell, was \vith all solemnity, in the Castle of Edinburgh, created Marquis
of Fife and Duke of Orkney, by Queen Mary 1567; and was High Admiral
of Scotland. I have seen his arms illuminated thus, quarterly, first Hepbum ;
second azure, a ship or, with her sails furled up- argent, within a double tre^ure
flowered and counter-flowered of the second, as Duke of Orkney ; third ermine,
three chevronels gulfs, tor the Lord Soules ;- fourth or, a bend azure, for Vass
Lord Dirleton, embellished with the fore-mentioned exterior ornaments, and behind
the shield was an anchor, the badge of the office of Admiralty. He was for-