Notes |
Morgund, who first appears on record as a witness to a charter by King D a v i d I . t o the monks of Dumfermline dated between 1147 and 1152,(5-567) b u t i f t h e d ates assigned to charters by him and his wife are accepted, h e m a y h a v e been Earl before or from 1141.(6-567) It is probable, howeve r, t h a t t h e later date is more correct. He is designed 'Mac Gyloclery,' o r s o n o f G y loclery, in one writ of undoubted credit, and has been descr ib e d a s t h e son of Gillocher, Earl of Mar, but this last statement at p r e s en t r ests only on a doubtful document, the authenticity of which is m u c h d i s puted, but according to which Morgund presented himself before K i n g W i l liam the Lyon, at Hindhop Burnemuthe, in the King's new forest ( ' a p u d H indhop Burnemuthe in mea nova foresta') on the tenth Kalend of J u n e ( 2 3 M ay) 1171, claiming the earldom of Mar, in presence of the coun c i l a n d a rmy of Scotland then assembled. The King thereupon, it is said , s u m m o ned an inquest, who found that Morgund was son and lawful heir o f G i l l o cher, Earl of Mar, upon which the King granted and restored the e a r l d o m to Morgund. The latter then further petitioned for the earldom o f M o r a y o n the same grounds, that his father Gillocher was last vest th er e i n . A nother inquest found that he was the true and lawful heir of Mo r a y , b u t because the King was heavily engaged in war with England, and t h e m e n o f M oray could not be subjected to his will, he was unable to do j u s t i c e to Morgund. But he promised that when he could terminate the war a n d s u b d ue the rebels, he would recognise the rights of Morgund to the e a r l d o m of Moray.
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