Person:Robert Semple (15)

Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill

• The Scots Peerage by Paul, James

Page 538 thru 543 – Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill, born about 1505, was involved with his father in the trouble with John Mure of Caldwell, East Renfrewshire in 1526.

He, as son and heir-apparent of William Semple, 2nd Lord Sempill, had a charter of the island of Little Cumbrae, 23 February 1532-33, which was afterwards revoked; a charter in liferent of the lands of Hardrig and others, in the lordship of Douglas; and a grant of the office of Governor and Constable of the King’s Castle of Douglas, both on 20 October 1533.

On 2 March 1539-40 ‘now being furth of the realme fugitive fra the lawis and at the horne for certane grete crymes,’ the King having granted him remission, his father undertook, under the pain of L5000, that he would not resort to Scotland or France. His father granted him a charter of the office of Sheriff of Renfrew, barony of Sempill, lands of Southannan, Previk, Glasfurd, and others 24 January 1543-44. He sat in Parliament 1544-46, and at the convention at Stirling 1545, and on 6 October 1545 and 20 May 1546 Queen Mary granted him the lands of Crukiston, Crukisfee, Thankerton, and Darnley, which were forfeited by Matthew, Earl of Lennox. Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill came to the assistance of the Abbot of Paisley, and by arms preserved the monks from heretics, and in recompense, on 16 April 1545, he received from them the bailiary of the whole lands of the Abbey with some exceptions, and on the same day he and his father William Semple, 2nd Lord Sempill undertook to support and defend the Abbot and convent, or failing to do so to forfeit the appointment. He was made prisoner at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September 1547.

On 9 April 1549 John Mure of Caldwell, East Renfrewshire and others attempted to murder him. On 11 June 1549, probably during a private quarrel, he slew William, Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, in the lodging or hall of the Lord Governor in Edinburgh. For this crime he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, and would probably have been executed but for the favour of the John Hamilton, 'Archbishop of St. Andrews', whose mistress was Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill’s daughter Grizzel Sempill, 'Lady of Stonehouse' 'Lady Gilton' 'Lady Blair'. An agreement was come to in 1550 between the relatives of the deceased and William, Lord Sempill, his son Robert, Master of Sempill, and his son Robert, which inter alia provided for the marriages of the Master’s second son with Margaret, the youngest daughter of the murdered Lord, and of Lord Sempill’s ward, Alan, fourth Lord Cathcart, with Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Lord Chrichton. In June 1552 he and his father’s widow came to an agreement regarding their respective rights in his estate, whereby he obtained possession of Castle Sempill and the place of Southannan. On 7 April 1554 he had a respite for treasonably coming in battle array against the Earl of Glencairn.

c. 1555 - Records of the time also document a dispute between John Porterfield and others in parish against Robert, Lord Sempill. The dispute probably arose from differences in faith as John and his allies were of the Reformed faith (Protestant) and Lord Sempill was of the Old Church (Catholic). In 1555, John and over 140 of their servants and tenants gather at Carsemeadow to plot the removal of Lord Sempill. The plot went astray and Porterfield and his group were brought up on charges in the court at Edinburgh. The case was dropped for lack of evidence.^S8

In March 1557-58 je was ‘at enemytie and deadly feid’ with the Earl of Glencarin. The great feuds between the Montgomeries of Eglinton and the Cunninghams of Glencairn, in which the Lords Sempill took part with the former, lasted from 1488 to 1586. He was one of the few who were faithful to the Queen-Regent Mary of Guise against the Lords of the Congregation, and in 1559 was deputed by her to meet the Protestants who were convened at Perth. He was described by John Knox as ‘a man sold under sin, an enemy to God and all godliness’. After his father’s death he was again in Parliament as Lord Sempill in 1558, 1567.

His house of Castle Sempill was besieged by the Lords of the West in December 1559, and by James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault and his son James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran on 18 September 1560. The castle taken on 14 October 1560. He took refuge in Dunbar Castle, and the commander of that castle Corbeyran de Cardaillac Sarlabous declined to surrender him. He was ‘relaxed from the horn’ in March 1561.

Along with others of the ‘Nobles and Barons of the West Country’ on 5 September 1565 he signed a band in support of Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, in opposition to the Earl of Moray and other rebels, and held a command under the Earl of Lennox in the vanguard of the army raised against them. He had a commission of justiciary upon the whole inhabitants of Renfrewshire, which was in 1564 discharged so far as concerned James Glen of the Bar, his family and friends, as he was also at ‘deidly feid and inimytie’ to them.

Although a Roman Catholic, after the murder of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley he joined the Association for the ‘defences of the young prince’ as opposed to James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell and the Mary, Queen of Scots, and at that time preserved the life of the Earl of Lennox when attaked in Glasgow. He was a member of the assize at the mock trial of the James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell for the murder of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley on 12 April 1567, and on the 19 of April is stated to have been one of the subscribers of the 'Aynesley' bond to Bothwell. On 12 June he was one of those who signed the bond to deliver Mary, Queen of Scots from thralldom, preserve the prince, and have the murderers of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley tried.

At the Battle of Carberry Hill, on 14-15 June 1567, he was present in the army which opposed her, and was one of those who signed the Act of Regent and Council authorizing her detention in Loch Leven Castle. He was one of the Council of the Regent, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray in 1567. In Morton’s declaration regarding the discovery and custody of the Casket letters, he is said to have been present at the opening of the casket which contained Mary, Queen of Scots letters. In 1568 he appeared in Parliament once more. He was a Commissioner for opening Parliament 1567-68. After her escape from Loch Leven Castle he appeared against Mary, Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside on 13 May 1568; and on the 19 of that month he was, with the Earl of Glencairn, appointed by the Lord Regent and Lords of Secret Council Lieutenant of the Western Parts, for the purpose of suppressing the conspirators and those who were at the Battle of Langside opposed to the King and Regent.

He was at the Convention of Estates at Perth 20 July 1569, and voted against the Mary, Queen of Scots divorce from James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. Along with the Earl of Glencairn, on the instructions of the Earl of Moray, the Regent James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, he besieged the Dumbarton Castle, and was ordered to destroy the house of Boghall. For his special services he obtained a gift of the Abbot of Paisley in 1569, which was forfeited by Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley. About the commencement of the year 1570 he signed an instrument, along with other nobles, desiring Queen Elizabeth I, of England to return Mary, Queen of Scots. Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill had a command in the army which destroyed Hamilton Castle, and set fire to it and the palace and other houses belonging to the supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1570.

Returning one evening in May 1570 from the army which had demolished the castle of the Hamiltons, Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill was, by some of Hamilton’s dependents, taken prisoner, and carried first to Draffen, and afterwards to Argyll. He was probably set at liberty in July 1571. He was appointed a Privy Councillor 7 September 1571, and was in parliament 1571 and 1572. On 2 July 1572 he was appointed Lieutenant-General and Justiciar of the sheriffdoms of Lanark and Renfrew.

On 8 November 1572 Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill granted a charter of his estates, reserving his own liferent, in favour of Robert, his grandson, and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to Andrew, his own son and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to John Sempill of Bruntschellis and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to John Sempill of Beltries and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to his own lawful and nearest heirs bearing the name and arms of Sempill. The Earl of Eglinton and Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill were, on 15 April 1573, ordered to disband their followers. He was sued by Thomas Jack, vicar of Eastwood, for payment of the duties due to him as such vicar; but his Lordship intruded Sir John Hamilton, a papist priest, into the vicarage, and threatened the life of the said Thomas Jack should he enforce his rights. For this he was put to the horn on 6 May 1573.

He was charged to surrender his house on 1 June 1573 to the Regent, and failing obedience the Earl of Argyll was to proceed against him, and in that month he was excommunicated, and was at court on 1 August 1573. He died between that date and 17 January 1575-76. His latter will and testament, dated 8 November 1572, appointed James, Earl of Morton, ‘tutor testamentary, reular, gidar and governour,’ to Robert Sempill, his grandson, and the Commissaries committed the administration of the grandchild and his lands until he was fourteen years of age to the tutor. An action for the reduction of tha latter will and testament was instituted by his Lordship’s second son Andrew on 6 May 1578.

He had been contracted to marry Margaret, daughter of Sir Adam Chrichton of Ruthvendenny, prior to the death of his grandfather. The marriage, however, did not take place, and his father was sued for repayment of the tocher, and the marriage-contract between them is referred to. He married Isabel Hamilton, daughter of Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar, by whom he had issue:-

Timeline

• 1527 - Pardoned of Murder - Edinburgh, Scotland - Pardoned with his father and brothers for the murder of Cornelius de Machetema at Tolbooth.

"On June 12, 1527, Parliament assembled in Edinburgh. Lord Semple had already been concerned with the Earl of Eglinton, Sir Neil Montgomery, and Stirling of Keir, in the death of the laird of Lochleven, and on the 21st of the month the Lords Temporal thought it expedient that Semple and his associates should be indicted for treason. While Parliament was sitting, Semple whether aware of this resolution or not, entered Edinburgh at the head of a strong force. With his men he set upon one Cornelius de Mathetema, a Dutchman, near the Tolbooth, and put him to death. The affair created a great stir, but on the 17th of the following month the King issued a letter of respite, protecting Semple and his followers against all that might follow from this “treasonable slaughter” for nineteen years. The letter gives the names of Semple’s accomplices. In all they number 586."^[5]

• 1533 - Douglas Castle, Lanackshire, Scotland - Governor and Constable of Douglas Castle

• 07 Apr 1538 - Auchindonnamylne, Ayr, Scotland - Marriage to Isabel Hamilton - 1st wife

• 1541 - England, Great Britain - In exile in England for Murder - Pardoned

• 1543 - Illegitimate child born, Later to be known as: Colonel William Semple "of Lochwinnoch" "of Spain"

• 1544 - Renfrew, Renfrewshire, , Scotland - Sheriff of Renfrew, Bailiff of the Regality of Paisley

• 24 Aug 1546 - 2nd Marriage to - Elizabeth Carlyle "of Torthorwald"

• 10 Sep 1547 - River Esk near Musselburgh, Lothian, Scotland - Taken Prisoner at the Battle of Pinkie - It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and is seen as the first modern battle in the British Isles. It was a catastrophic defeat for Scotland, and became known there as Black Saturday.

• 11 Jun 1550 - Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland - Semple Killed William Crichton, 5th Lord of Sanquhar - At the house of Governor Arran, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, by Robert 3rd Lord Semple, stabbed to death in a quarrel.

• 1554 - Subscribed the Earl of Arran's Bond

• Aug 1560 - Supported the Queen-Regent Mary of Guise against the Lords of the Congregation - Resulting in Semple Castle being besieged and taken.

• Sep 1560 - Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland - Castle Semple Besieged - " was the Castell of Sempill 2 besieged and tane, because the Lord thairof disobeyed the lawes and ordinances of the Counsall in many thingis and especiallie in that, that he wold manteane the idolatrie of the Messe."

• 21 Oct 1561 - Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland - Castle Semple Surrender's - The castle surrendered about the 21st of October 1561. " B. 0. Scot-land Eliz ," vol. v. No. 39.

• 13 Feb 1563 - Kirk o'Field, Scotland - Lord Darnley Stewart Murdered - Semple, although a catholic, he, after the murder of Darnley, joined the association for the' defences of the young prince' in opposition to Bothwell and the Mary Stewart "Queen of Scots."

• 14-15 Jun 1567 - Carberry, East Lothian, Scotland - Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill, one of the Confederate Lords in opposition to Mary, Queen of Scots that commanded in the vanguard of the army which opposed the queen at the Battle of Carberry Hill; and he was also one of those who signed the documents authorising William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton to take the queen under his charge in his fortalice of Loch Leven Castle.

Supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots - George Seton, 7th Lord Seton, Lord Hay of Yester, Lord Borthwick, John Cockburn of Ormiston, Home of Wedderburn, Blackadder of Tulliallan, and Cockburn of Langtoun.

Confederate Lords - The Confederate Lords included the Regent Morton, John Erskine, 17th Earl of Mar, Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn, the Lords Lindsay, William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home, Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill, Lord Sanquhar, and the lairds Murray of Tullibardine, Douglas of Drumlanrig, Kirkcaldy of Grange and all their horsemen and foot soldiers.

• 04 Jul 1567 - Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill was a Roman Catholic who joined the Protestant Church of Scotland and their Association to Defend James VI and I - James VI and I who was then raised up as a member of the Protestant Church of Scotland.

Act Anent the demission of the Crown in favour of our Sovereign Lord, and his Majesty's Coronation 1567

• 12-13 May 1568 - Langside, Scotland - Opposition to Mary, Queen of Scots - After the queen's escape from Lochleven Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill assembled his dependents against her at the Battle of Langside.

• 19 May 1568 - Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, , Scotland - Appointed Lieutenant of Western Parts - Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill was with the Earl of Glencairn, appointed lieutenant of the western parts, with special instructions to watch the Dumbarton Castle, and prevent the entrance into it of provisions or reinforcements or fugitives.

• May 1570 - Draffen, Scotland - Kidnapped by the Hamiltons, Taken Prisoner - While returning one evening from the army which had demolished the castle of the Hamiltons, Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill was seized by some of the Hamiltons' dependents, and carried a prisoner to Draffen.

• 01 Apr 1571 - Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland - Dumbarton Castle Captured - Notwithstanding the utmost efforts of Glencairn and Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill, the Dumbarton Castle continued to hold out, until, its rock was scaled by Thomas Crawford, of Jordanhill.

• 1571 - Privy Councillor

• 1572 - Lieut-General and Justiciar of Lanark and Renfrew

• 06 May 1573 - Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland - Possession of Castle Taken - The Earl of Arran having taken possession of Castle Semple, Lord Semple took refuge in France. This day Robert, Lord Semple, was denounced and put to the horn, for intruding Sir Johnne Hamilton, a Papist priest, in the vicarage of Eastwood.

1573 - Put to the Horn and Excommunicated - Henceforth, three times a year, at the market cross, in their district's major burgh, their name to be read three times, and all their goods and money are to be confiscated. Announcement, usually in ancient times, was preceded by 3 blasts of a horn.

• 17 Jan 1575 - Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland - Death

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill (c. 1505–1576) was a Scottish lord of Parliament.

Robert, also Semphill or Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill (d. circa 1575), commonly called the 'Great Lord Sempill', was the elder son of William Sempill, 2nd Lord Sempill, by his first wife, Lady Margaret Montgomery, eldest daughter of Hugh Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Eglinton. His parents' marriage was commemorated in carved stone heraldry at Castle Semple Collegiate Church. Through her paternal grandmother, Lady Margaret Montgomery was a fifth generation descendant from Robert II of Scotland. So descendants of Robert, 3rd Lord Sempill, are descended from many Scottish monarchs up to Robert II, and also from Anglo-Saxon kings (through the marriage of Malcolm III of Scotland to Saint Margaret of Scotland).

The Sempill family from the thirteenth century were hereditary bailiffs of the regality of Paisley and sheriffs of Renfrew under the Lord High Steward of Scotland. They frequently distinguished themselves in the English wars, and were employed in important duties of state. Sir Thomas Sempill, father of John Sempill, 1st Lord Sempill, was killed at the battle of Sauchieburn on 11 June 1488, fighting in support of James III, and the first Lord Sempill, created by James IV about 1489, fell at Flodden on 9 September 1513.

1.   Patrick Hogue (Samples). The Samples / Semples Family.

   Hereditary Sempill Lords of Lochwinnoch & Clan Sempill

2.   Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
3.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (TM) July 1996 (c), data as of 2 January 1996 (2).
4.   Semple, William Alexander. Genealogical History of the Family Semple: From 1214 to 1888. (Hartford, Connecticut: Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1888)
   Page 11, 1888.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Metcalfe, William Musham. A history of the county of Renfrew from the earliest times: with a map of the county. (Paisley [Scotland]: A. Gardner, 1905)
   Pages 136-37.

   "On June 12, 1527, Parliament assembled in Edinburgh. Lord Semple had already been concerned with the Earl of Eglinton, Sir Neil Montgomery, and Stirling of Keir, in the death of the laird of Lochleven, and on the 21st of the month the Lords Temporal thought it expedient that Semple and his associates should be indicted for treason. While Parliament was sitting, Semple whether aware of this resolution or not, entered Edinburgh at the head of a strong force. With his men he set upon one Cornelius de Mathetema, a Dutchman, near the Tolbooth, and put him to death. The affair created a great stir, but on the 17th of the following month the King issued a letter of respite, protecting Semple and his followers against all that might follow from this “treasonable slaughter” for nineteen years. The letter gives the names of Semple’s accomplices. In all they number 586."

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Paul, James Balfour. The Scots peerage: founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's ‘Peerage of Scotland’ containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, with armorial illustrations. (Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904-1914)
   Vol. 7.

   Page 538 thru 543 – Robert, third Lord Sempill, born about 1505, was involved with his father in the trouble with John Mure of Caldwell in 1526. He, as son and heir-apparent, had a charter of the island of Little Cumray, 23 February 1532-33, which was afterwards revoked; a charter in liferent of the lands of Hardrig and others, in the lordship of Douglas; and a grant of the office of Governor and Constable of the King’s Castle of Douglas, both on 20 October 1533. On 2 March 1539-40 ‘now being furth of the realme fugitive fra the lawis and at the horne for certane grete crymes,’ the King having granted him remission, his father undertook, under the pain of L5000, that he would not resort to Scotland or France. His father granted him a charter of the office of Sheriff of Renfrew, barony of Sempill, lands of Southannan, Previk, Glasfurd, and others 24 January 1543-44. He sat in Parliament 1544-46, and at the convention at Stirling 1545, and on 6 October 1545 and 20 May 1546 Queen Mary granted him the lands of Crukiston, Crukisfee, Thankerton, and Darnley, which were forfeited by Matthew, Earl of Lennox. Robert Sempill came to the assistance of the Abbey of Paisley, and by arms preserved the monks from heretics, and in recompense, on 16 April 1545, he received from them the bailiary of the whole lands of the Abbey with some exceptions, and on the same day he and his father Lord Sempill undertook to support and defend the Abbot and convent, or failing to do so to forfeit the appointment. He was made prisoner at the battle of Pinkie in September 1547. On 9 April 1549 John Mure of Caldwell and others attempted to murder him. On 11 June 1549, probably during a private quarrel, he slew William, Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, in the lodging or hall of the Lord Governor in Edinburgh. For this crime he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, and would probably have been executed but for the favour of the Archbishop of St. Andrews, whose mistress was Lord Sempill’s daughter. An agreement was come to in 1550 between the relatives of the deceased and William, Lord Sempill, his son Robert, Master of Sempill, and his son Robert, which inter alia provided for the marriages of the Master’s second son with Margaret, the youngest daughter of the murdered Lord, and of Lord Sempill’s ward, Alan, fourth Lord Cathcart, with Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Lord Chrichton. In June 1552 he and his father’s widow came to an agreement regarding their respective rights in his estate, whereby he obtained possession of Castle Sempill and the place of Southannan. On 7 April 1554 he had a respite for treasonably coming in battle array against the Earl of Glencairn. In March 1557-58 je was ‘at enemytie and deadly feid’ with the Earl of Glencarin. The great feuds between the Montgomeries of Eglinton and the Cunninghams of Glencairn, in which the Lords Sempill took part with the former, lasted from 1488 to 1586. He was one of the few who were faithful to the Queen-Regent against the Lords of the Congregation, and in 1559 was deputed by her to meet the Protestants who were convened at Perth. He was described by John Knox as ‘a man sold under sin, an enemy to God and all godliness. After his father’s death he was again in Parliament as Lord Sempill in 1558, 1567. His house of Castle Sempill was besieged by the Lords of the West in December 1559, and taken 14 October 1560. He took refuge in Dunbar, and the commander of that castle declined to surrender him. He was ‘relaxed from the horn’ in March 1561. Along with others of the ‘Nobles and Barons of the West Country’ on 5 September 1565 he signed a band in support of Mary and Darnley, in opposition to the Earl of Moray and other rebels, and held a command under the Earl of Lennox in the vanguard of the army raised against them. He had a commission of justiciary upon the whole inhabitants of Renfrewshire, which was in 1564 discharged so far as concerned James Glen of the Bar, his family and friends, as he was also at ‘deidly feid and inimytie’ to them. Although a Roman Catholic, after the murder of Darnley he joined the Association for the ‘defences of the young prince’ as opposed to Bothwell and the Queen, and at that time preserved the life of the Earl of Lennox when attaked in Glasgow. He was a member of the assize at the mock trial of the Earl of Botwell for the murder of Darnley on 12 April 1567, and on the 19 of April is stated to have been one of the subscribers of the ‘Aynesley’ bond to Bothwell. On 12 June he was one of those who signed the bond to deliver Queen Mary from thralldom, preserve the prince, and have the murderers of Darnley tried. At Carberry Hill, on 14 June 1567, he was present in the army which opposed her, and was one of those who signed the Act of Regent and Council authorizing her detention in Lochleven Castle. He was one of the Council of the Regent Moray in 1567. In Morton’s declaration regarding the discovery and custody of the ‘casket letters,’ he is said to have been present at the opening of the casket which contained Queen Mary’s letters. In 1568 he appeared in Parliament onece more. He was a Commissioner for opening Parliament 1567-68. After her escape from Lochleven he appeared against Queen Mary at the battle of Langside on 13 May 1568; and on the 19 of that month he was, with the Earl of Glencairn, appointed by the Lord Regent and Lords of Secret Council Lieutenant of the Western Parts, for the purpose of suppressing the conspirators and those who were at the battle of Langside opposed to the King and Regent. He was at the Convention of Estates at Perth 20 July 1569, and voted against the Queen’s divorce from Bothwell. Along with the Earl of Glencairn, on the instructions of the Earl of Moray, the Regent, he besieged the castle of Dumbarton, and was ordered to destroy the house of Boghall. For his special services he obtained a gift of the Abbey of Paisley in 1569, which was forfeited by Lord Claud Hamilton. About the commencement of the year 1570 he signed an instrument, along with other nobles, desiring Queen Elizabeth to return Queen Mary to Scotland. He had a command in the army which destroyed Hamilton Castle, and set fire to it and the palace and other houses belonging to the supporters of Queen Mary, in 1570. Returning one evening in May 1570 from the army which had demolished the castle of the Hamiltons, Lord Sempill was, by some of Hamilton’s dependents, taken prisoner, and carried first to Draffen, and afterwards to Argyll. He was probably set at liberty in July 1571. He was appointed a Privy Councillor 7 September 1571, and was in parliament 1571 and 1572. On 2 July 1572 he was appointed Lieutenant-General and Justiciar of the sheriffdoms of Lanark and Renfrew. On 8 November 1572 Lord Sempill granted a charter of his estates, reserving his own liferent, in favour of Robert, his grandson, and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to Andrew, his own son and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to John Sempill of Brintscheillis and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to John Sempill of Beltries and the heirs-male of his body lawfully procreated, whom failing, to his own lawful and nearest heirs bearing the name and arms of Sempill. The Earl of Eglinton and Lord Sempill were, on 15 April 1573, ordered to disband their followers. He was sued by Thomas Jack, vicar of Eastwood, for payment of the duties due to him as such vicar; but his Lordship intruded Sir John Hamilton, a papist priest, into the vicarage, and threatened the life of the said Thomas Jack should he enforce his rights. For this he was put to the horn on 6 May 1573. He was charged to surrender his house on 1 June 1573 to the Regent, and failing obedience the Earl of Argyll was to proceed against him, and in that month he was excommunicated, and was at court on 1 August 1573. He died between that date and 17 January 1575-76. His latter will and testament, dated 8 November 1572, appointed James, Earl of Morton, ‘tutor testamentary, reular, gidar and governour,’ to Robert Sempill, his grandson, and the Commissaries committed the administration of the grandchild and his lands until he was fourteen years of age to the tutor. An action for the reduction of tha latter will and testament was instituted by his Lordship’s second son Andrew on 6 May 1578. He had been contracted to marry Margaret, daughter of Sir Adam Chrichton of Ruthvendenny, prior to the death of his grandfather. The marriage, however, did not take place, and his father was sued for repayment of the tocher, and the marriage-contract between them is referred to. He married Isabel, daughter of Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar, by whom he had issue:-

7.   Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill, in Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.
8.   *The Marty Acks Wiki - John Porterfield, Laird of Cuchal (1515-1575).