Walter of Faslane, Lord of the Lennox

WALTER OF FASLANE Lord of the Lennox

Baltar mac Amlaimh, also called Walter of Faslane, was the de facto Mormaer of Lennox through his wife Margaret between 1365 and 1385. He was the great grandson of Amlaibh, the grandson of Mormaer Ailín II through the male line. He was the chief of a kin-group tracing its origins to the settlement which followed the death of Ailín II, where the ten brothers of Mormaer Maol Domhnaich were compensated with lands

Baltar and his kin achieved the Mormaerdom because he was allowed to marry the daughter of Mormaer Domhnall, Margaret. When Domhnall died in 1365, Margaret succeeded with Baltar as de facto ruler. It had been Domhnall's intention that the marriage would eventually allow the succession of a grandson, but it seems that Baltar was intended to rule in his turn. Indeed Baltar and Margaret had a son, Donnchad, who was probably a young man by the time Baltar and Margaret succeeded. We do not know how relations deteriorated, but it seems that Donnchadh got impatient. In the summer of 1384, King Robert II issued two charters formally conferring the Mormaerdom on Baltar. However, a year later he and his wife Margaret resigned the Mormaerdom over to their eldest son Donnchadh. Brown (p. 215) attributes this change as a policy change of the monarchy triggered by the increased influence of John of Carrick, the future king Robert III.However, in 1388, Baltar and Margaret were handed custody of the Mormaerdom for the remainder of their lives, with Donnchadh retaining the title. Donnchadh was confined to a stronghold in Loch Lomond, Inchmurrin castle. Wikipedia: Walter of Faslane

Evidence from the Lennox Muniments

                   1

18 January 1353: Resignation of the lands of Keppach upon the Leven in favour of Waltero de Fosselene. The Lennox II: 20

                   2

9 May 1356: Charter witnessed by Waltero de Foslen and others. The Lennox II: 213

                   3

1342 X 1362: Charter witnessed by Waltero de Fosselane and others. The Lennox II: 21

                   4

X 2 May 1361: Charter by which David II, King of Scots, confirms the gift of Donald, Earl of Lennox, to Walter of Faslane and his heirs of the lands of Cragroston with the park of Rosemurrys. Witnesses: William, Bishop of St Andrews; William, Earl of Douglas; Robert Erskine, David, son of Sir Walter and William Ramsay, knights. Dated at Perth. The Lennox II: 25

                   5

26 January 1370: Charter witnessed by Waltero de Fosselane and others.
The Lennox II: 28

                   6

1 June 1384: Charter by which Robert II, King of Scots, confirms his gift of the lands of Achyndonane and and Mundoven to Waltero de Fosselane, Lord of Lennox, and his heirs, to be held by him in free alms and regality. The Lennox II: 31

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

1 June 1384: Charter by King Robert II, granting to the said Walter of Fosselane, Lord of Leuenax, and his heirs, Earls of Leuenax, the exhibitions of arms of the whole earldom of Leuenax, both the King's lands and all other lands in the said earldom, together with the corrections of the same, and with the deficiencies and issues of the armies of the said earldom; which exhibition of arms (ie right of summoning the people to wapinshawings or musters), was granted to Malcolm Earl of Leuenax and his heirs by King Robert I: and also granting to the said Walter and his heirs of Fosselane and his assignees the lands of Achyndonane and of Mvdoven, with the pertinents, for paying to the chaplain officiating at the altar of the Holy Cross in the parish church of Dunbretan, for the souls of the granter and his predecessors, the sum of 6 merks yearly: granting also to the said Walter and his foresaids all the privileges enjoyed by previous Earls of Leuenax, etc. Dated at the Castle of Rothesay, in the 14th year of the King's reign. [http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/details.aspx?...

                    2

9 February 1409: Instrument of transumpt of charter by Donald, Earl of Lennox in favour of Murdoch of Lennox, his brother, of lands of Dumgoyach, Redding, hill called Duntreath, lands of Blairgar and of Dunfin, all in earldom of Lennox, held blench, n.d. [c1344 x c1364]. Witnesses to charter: WALTER, SON OF AULAY OF FOSSELANE' Finlay of Campsie; Malcolm, son of Duncan; Gilmore son of Malise; Kessan the clerk. Witnesses to transumpt: Nigel Blare, squire; and John Dumfries, burgess of Glasgow. Notary: Robert of Annan, priest of Glasgow diocese. National Records of Scotland, Papers of Napier Family, reference GD430/76

Genealogy

1. he Lennox by William Fraser, Volume I. Memoirs (Edinburgh MDCCCLXXIV), 538 pp.
2. The Lennox by William Fraser, Volume II. Muniments (Edinburgh MDCCCLXXIV), 542 pp. including indexes