A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

OF FOWLS AND BIRDS. 343
\\-.\\\, \vhich he culled Ferrin-Donald, ;'. e. Donald's Lands; and he \\a^ called Do-
nald a Bunro, in respect of his father's residence on the water of Ro in Ireland;
and thereafter, by the change of the letter B. into M. his descendents were called
Monros. They got also other lands in Scotland which they called Foulis, from a
that their ar-
place in Ireland of that name, called Loch-Feul. I am ot opinion
morial figures are relative to their designation, Foulis.
By the history of the family and other documents, the Monros, Barons of
FOULIS, have been of a long standing in the shire of Ross ; (I cannot here give a
complete deduction of the family and its branches, not having room to complete
this treatise). GEORGE MONRO of Foules, the eighth in a lineal descent from the
above Donald, got a charter from William Earl of Sutherland, in the reign of
King Alexander II. " Clarissimo et fidelissimo consanguineo Georgio Munro de
" I'Ymlis."
From this George was lineally descended ROBERT, counted the eighteenth Baron
of Foules in the history of the family, a man of singular valour and loyalty ; who,
hearing, in the year 1562, that Queen Mary was in some difficulty by the Gordons
at Inverness, he, \vith other Highland clans and their followers, came to her Ma-
jesty's relief: So that Buchanan in his History, says, " Audito principis periculo,
" magna ipsorum Scotorum multitudo, partim excita, partim sponte sua, aftuit ;
" imprimis Frazerii et Monroii, hominum fortissimorum in illis gentibus familiae."
His grandchild and successor, ROBERT, was a Colonel under Gustavus, King of
Sweden ; he was killed in Germany, anno 1633, leaving behind him only one
daughter ; and he was succeeded in his fortune by his brother Hector, another
Colonel in the German service, who was made a Knight-Baronet in the year 1634.
His son was Hector Monro of Foulis, who died without issue, and was succeeded
by his nearest heir-male, Sir Robert Monro, who married Janet, daughter of Colonel
Sir Hector Monro of Foulis; and their son and successor was Sir John, fa-
ther of the present Sir Robert Monro, Baronet, of Foulis, whose eldest son is
Colonel Robert, now Member of Parliament.
The cadets of this family were very numerous, and have been eminent in mili-
tary posts.
ALEXANDER MONRO of Bearcrofts, or, an eagle's head erased gules, holding in
her beak a laurel branch vert ; crest, an eagle perching or : motto, Non inferior a.
N. R.
Mr GEORGE MONRO of Pitlundie carries the same; and, for crest, an eagle look-
Ibid.
ing to the sun, proper : motto, Crelestia scqiior.
The lea'rned Dr ALEXANDER MONRO, Principal of the College of Edinburgh,
lawful son to Hugh Monro of Fyrish, descended of Hector Monro of Kildermoor,
a second son of the House of Foules, carries or, an eagle's head erased within a
bordure waved gules ; crest, an eagle rising with a sword, proper : motto, Alis &
ant mo. Ibid.
THE GRIFFIN.
A CHIMERICAL creature, lialf an eagle and half a lion, with large ears, frequent
in arms, especially with the Germans. Those who have been, or are vassals and
dependents, and carry a lion for their proper arms, whose over-lords and patroiu
carried eagles, do frequently carry this creature as composed of both. Some say
the griffin is the symbol of ecclesiastical and civil authority joined together ; the
first shown by the fore part of the eagle, and the civil power by the hinder part of
the lion.
Others say the griffin, by its fore parts, represents wisdom joined to fortitude,
which should follow wisdom, as Chassaneus; " Gryphus significat sapientiam jun-
" gendam fortitudini, sed sapientiam debere pneire, fortitudinem sequi." Its proper
posture in armories is to be rampant or salient, and then sometimes said to be
xt'tfreant, by the English, that is, as if he were ready to flee.
Those of the name of LAWIDER, or LADDER, or LAUTHER, which is differently
wrote, according to the customs of ancient times, and the different apprehensions
of the writers, for the nam; is local from the town and lands of Lauder, i. e. lower