The KINGS of SCOTLAND (11)

4 William the son of Alan of Salopscire,' for lands of
the value of two knights' fees. In a charter of 1185
William the son of Alan and Walter the son of Alan
appear as benefactors of the order of Knights
Templars. William Pitz-Alan supported David I. of
Scotland in asserting the rights of the Empress
Matilda to the English throne, and his brother
Walter Fitz-Alan seems to have accompanied David
into Scotland, and to have been identical with the
' Walter the son of Alan ' who appears as High Stewart
of Scotland in the reign of David I. and Malcolm IV.
This is rendered more sure by the fact that in 1335
that office was claimed by Richard Fitz-Alan, Earl
of Arundel (descended of William Fitz-Alan above
mentioned), as his by hereditary right, the real
holder, Robert Stewart, the representative of Walter
Fitz-Alan the original grantee, having been temporarily
dispossessed by the English.

On his creation as High Stewart of Scotland he
also received great estates in the lowlands of Scotland
from King David I. In 1157 King Malcolm IV.
ratified the grants of the office of Stewart of
Scotland to his family, and added greatly to his
possessions to support the dignity while travelling in
the service of the Crown. In 1164 he repelled an
invasion of Renfrewshire. He founded Paisley Abbey
the foundation charter of which further proves his
connection with Shropshire by showing that the
monks to carry on the work were brought from thence,
and that it was dedicated 'inter olios' to St. Milburga
of Wenloc in Shropshire. He died in 1177,leaving
by his wife Eschyna de Molle, widow of Robert
de Croc  and daughter apparently of the Thomas
de Londoniis, whose son Malcolm was the first Doorward
of Scotland, Alan, who carried on the family
and its honours. ' Simon, brother of Walter the son
of Alan,' appears as a witness in the foundation
charter of Paisley Abbey. To him the Boyds, who
bear the same arms as the Stewarts, trace their.......



more to follow........