The Sterling genealogy

40 THE STERLING GENEALOGY
In the following year, 1339, John de Strivelyne and Alan
Boyd, styled by Fordum " valentes armigeri," commanded the
archers under the Steward of Scotland, at the siege of Perth,
when they both were killed.
The death of John de Striuelyne at Perth is also recorded
by Wyntoun in his " Cronykil "
He was father of
"Inhil thai ware lyand at that Town
Thai had oft tymys bykkoryng,
Inhave there wes far and nere schotyng
Thaire deyd twa Scottis Squyeris
As thai were governand thaire archerys
Alane Boyd and Jhone of Stryvelyne."
VII WILLIAM OF STRIVELYN OF RATHORAN (1339-
1393). William may have been born in 1339, being the year
following the marriage of his parents. He possessed the lands
of Rathoran by the same tenure they had been granted to Mary,
the wife of John de Strivelyne and her heirs. It appears from
Quhill all the men he suld gare sla,
That than wyth — in that castell ware.
Swa made he hym for to byd thare
In till assege all a qwhylle,
And offt wes set in hard peryle.
The castelanys than offt and fast
Had at hym swa, qwhyll at the last
He saw welle, all, that he wrowcht,
Lytill helpyt hym, or rycht nowcht,
Wyth thaim he made a small trette.
Swa swne owt off the land gat he
Wyth a fere grettare schame,
Than he browcht wyth hym fra hame.
In these days of chivalry it was the custom during a truce between contending
forces for knights from each to challenge one of the enemy to a friendly passage at
arms. Wyntoun relates an encounter between Sir John Stirling and William Douglas.
At Blakbwrne wyth the Lord Berklay
He wes set to full hard assay:
Bot for thai fawcht in to the nycht,
And faylyd fast (of ther) sycht,
On bathe the halwys fled thare men.
Bot Dowglas nere the war had then:
Thare held noucht wyth hym owre thre:
Tharefore his folk (wende), slayne wes he.
And at the Craggis by Cragyne
He fawcht wyth Jhon off Stryvelyne,
That was of Edynburch capitane.
And tuk hym thare wyth mekill payne,
For thai defendvt thame stowtly:
Bot thai war wencust noucht for — thi.