Note 91 — Chapter IX · ATTACK ON CRAWFORD CASTLE.—RETURN TO LANARK.—CONFLICT WITH THE ENGLISH.—MURDER OF THE HEIRESS OF LAMINGTON.—HER DEATH REVENGED.—THE ENGLISH DRIVEN OUT OF LANARK.

The family, from which Sir Bryce Blair is descended, has come down till the present time. He was third in succession from William de Blair, mentioned in a contract between Ralph de Eglinton and the town of Irvine, in 1205; and who is said to have died in the reign of Alexander II., betwixt the years 1214 and 1249, leaving a son also named William, who, in a charter of Alexander III., is styled Willielmus de Blair, Dominus de eodem, or of that Ilk. This William left two sons; 1st Bryce, and 2d David. He was succeeded by the eldest, Sir Bryce Blair of that Ilk, who, having given umbrage to the English, by joining our hero, was put to death in the treacherous manner described in our history. His brother David, who succeeded to the estates, had submitted to Edward, along with the aristocracy in 1296. Though the head of this family was considered as the chief of all the Blairs in Scotland, yet their title was often called in question by the Blairs of Balthycock, a family of great antiquity. The affair was at last brought before James VI., who decided, that “the oldest man, for the time being, of either family should have the precedency.” It is probable that John Blair, who acted as chaplain to Wallace, was a cadet of this family.