Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill

ROBERT, LORD SEMPILL

The Scots Peerage etc. Volume VII, pp. 538-51 for Robert, third Lord Sempill and his children

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

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12 November 1534: Instrument upon the revocation by James V of his gift of the island and lands of Little Cumray in favour of Robert Symple, son and heir of William, Lord Symple, and upon the ratification of the King of his gift thereof to Robert Huntar made in the Great Chamber of the Monastery of Kelso at seven hours afternoon John Hamylton of Cambuskenet, procurator for the said Robert Huntar. Witnesses: Malcolm, Lord Flemyng, Sir George Clappertoun, the King's Elemosiner, William Wod, his porter and John Mure, his barber, Alexander Kynninmond, notary. National Records of Scotland, Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton: Titles, reference GD3/1/1/13/5

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10 November 1572; Instrument of sasine in favour of Robert Semple, grandson and apparent heir of Robert, Lord Semple of the barony of Craigenforth, containing the following lands viz Farnencis, Ryfrat, Bar in Kilburchun, Brientiscroft, Weitlandis, Biltreis, Harispennell, Boullandis, Mishealtoun and Craigenfeoche; the 20lib land of old extent of Auchinfour; 10 merk land of old extent called Third Part or Thirdpart of Auchennanes, lying within the barony and sheriffdom of Renfrew; 40 merks of land of old extent of Privick, lands of Pinotriddins Falie with common in the commonty of Largs, lying within the sheriffdom of Ayr with castles, houses etc which were all incorporated in one whole and free barony called the Barony of Craiginfeoche as also the Barony of Sempill containing in itself the following lands viz the lands of Cassiltoun with park, castle and lake thereof called Lochquhinzeoche, the lands of Ellistoun, Schutterflat, Nether Pennell, Haristingtoun, the lands of Laven, Bargane and Leicheland with all their pertinents, lying within the sheriffdom of Renfrew, together with the office of sheriff of Renfrew and of the whole sheriffdom of the same, together with the office of coroner and Mayor of Fee within the bounds between the Waters of Black Cart and Laveron; and the lands of Southennan, lying within the sheriffdom of Ayr; and the lands of Glassford, lying within the sheriffdom of Lainnarke (Lanark), mills, multures, castles etc together with the advocation, donation of the church of Glassford, provostry and prebendaries of the collegiate church of Sempill and other churches and chapels of the above expressed lands with all their pertinents, which whole lands of the Barony of Sempill are annexed and united and incorporated in one free barony called the Barony of Sempill; reserving to Robert, Lord Sempill during his life the free tenement of the said baronies. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/3/16/1

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7 October 1573: Commission by Robert, lord Simple, sheriff principal, coroner and mair of fee of Renfrew, appointing Robert, master of Simple, his "oy'"and James, earl of Mortoun, his tutor (for his interest), as his deputes National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Morton, reference GD150/2282

Evidence from the Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow

12 November 1563: Robert, lord Sempile and his son John Sempile, are noticed in the witness list of a deed of reversion issued by John Brisbane of Bischoptowne. The deed was executed in "Lady Semillis hous in Paslay." Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow, William Hegait's Protocols, 1561-8, protocol number 762 on p. 44

Biographical Summary

Robert, third Lord Sempill, the elder son, called the great Lord Sempill, had, when master of Sempill, with other charters, one of the office of governor and constable of the king’s castle of Douglas, 20th October 1533. He was taken prisoner by the English at the battle of Pinkie, 1547, and succeeded his father the following year. He was one of the supporters of the queen regent, Mary of Guise, against the lords of the Congregation. In 1560, his castle was besieged and taken, for having disobeyed the laws and ordinances of the council, especially, because he persisted in retaining the mass, and had beset the earl of Arran with a great number of his friends, while he was riding on his way with his accustomed company. He was faithful to the interests of Queen Mary till the murder of Darnley, but in 1567 he entered into the association to defend the young king, James Vi., and was one of the jury on the trial of the earl of Bothwell. At Carberry-hill he was one of the lords who commanded the rear-guard of the confederated force in arms against the queen and Bothwell. He was one of the lords who signed the letters to Douglas of Lochleven to take in charge the ill-fated Queen Mary. He had a command in the avant-guard of the army of the Regent Moray, at the battle of Langside, in 1568, and in consideration of his many valuable services to the king and government, he obtained from him, in 1569, a charter of the abbey of Paisley, on the forfeiture of Lord Claud Hamilton, but it was afterwards restored to the latter. He was one of the secret council of the regent, and after his murder he was taken prisoner, in 1570, by the Hamiltons, while riding home securely from the army of the earls of Lennox and Glencairn at Glasgow. He was carried prisoner to Draffen, whence in a few days he was removed to Argyle by Lord Boyd, and detained there for a year. He engaged in the great feuds between the houses of Eglinton, with which the Sempills had formed various marriage connections, and Glencairn, or the Montgomeries and Cunninghams. These feuds lasted from 1488 to 1586. He built the Peel, the ruins of which still exist, on a small isle on Castle-Semple Loch. He died in 1572.

He married, first, Isabel, daughter of Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar, and had, with four daughters, two sons, Robert, master of Sempill, who predeceased him, leaving a son, Robert, fourth Lord Sempill; and Andrew, who, in 1560, got from his father the lands of Bruntchells, and was ancestor of the Sempills of Bruntchells and Millbank.

He married, secondly, Elizabeth, a daughter of Carlyle of Torthorwald, and had, with three daughters, a son, John, whose wife, Mary Livingstone, one of ‘the Queen’s Maries,’ was the youngest daughter of the fifth Lord Livingstone. John Knox notices the marriage of Mary Livingstone the lusty to John Semple the dancer. He acquired the lands of Beltrees, and was ancestor of the Sempills of Beltrees, celebrated for their poetical talents (see next article). In 1577, John Sempill conspired against the Regent Morton, with the design of procuring his death. The conspiracy was revealed by one of his accomplices, Gabriel Sempill, who avowed it before the council, and offered to maintain the truth of his declaration against him in single combat. John Sempill then confessed, and subscribed his confession with his own hand, but instantly swooned, and could not hold the pen in his hand. When he recovered, he craved mercy, but was convicted by an assize, and sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. At the intercession of his friends, however, he was reprieved, and committed to prison in the castle of Edinburgh, to remain there during the regent’s pleasure. He was not set at liberty till Morton resigned the regency.

Genealogy

1. 'The Scots Peerage etc. Volume VII, pp. 538-51 for Robert, third Lord Sempill and his children
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