The book Arran; - Cook Clan

THE OWNERS OF ARRAN 67
Hamilton titles in Stewart's favour, with grant of all the
Hamilton possessions, specifying this to have been done '
the most reasonable causes.' Stewart, better known as
' Captain James ' than by his passing plumes, was a rascal
for all his classical acquirements, and ended his life at the
hands of a Douglas (1596), as a feudal return for his action
regarding Morton. Sir James Douglas of Parkhead, near
Glasgow, fell on him at Catslack, Lanarkshire, had his head
carried on a spear, and left his body to the dogs. Long ere
that, however, he was a broken man. Meantime, the recog-
nised head of the Hamilton house was the next son, familiar
as Lord John, who was a fugitive in England. But the
Presbyterian revolution of 1585, which cleared out the
Stewart Arran and his party, and in which Lord John took
a hand, brought about the placement of the latter in the
family estates and honours. Fortunately, Lord John and
the king hit it off well together ;
they had mutual interests
in horses and racing dogs, which they borrowed from each
other, and on the occasion of the baptism of the Princess
Margaret, in April 1599, Lord John, Earl of Arran, was
raised to the dignity of Marquis of Hamilton.
Here, for the moment, we may leave the island in its
territorial character, flourishing (or not) under the cinquefoils
of Hamilton, the fleur-de-lis of Montgomery in the north
end, the batoned fess-checquy of the Stewarts in the south
end, and, midway, the three branches of the Fullartons.^
*" In a resignation by John FuUarton of that ilk. Lord of Corsby, of the lands of
Drumrudyr in favour of the Stewarts (see p. 56), we have a seal appended : charges,
three branches of a tree, two and one ; legend, S. Johannis Foulartoune (Hamilton
MSS.). The blazon of the Kilmichael Fullartons is : Argent, a crescent between three
otters' heads, erased, gules (red); Crest, a camel's head, erased, proper (natural
colour) ; Motto, Lux in tenebris (Light in darkness).
for