| Clan Scott | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotach[1] | |||
 | |||
| Motto | Amo (I love)[1] | ||
| War cry | 'a Bellendaine! ("To Bellendaine!") Also, "The Scotts are out!" | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Scottish Borders[1] | ||
| Plant badge | Blaeberry[1] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Richard Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott[2] | |||
| The 10thDuke of Buccleuch and the 12thDuke of Queensberry | |||
| Seat | Bowhill House | ||
| Historic seat | Dalkeith Palace | ||
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Clan Scott is aScottish clan and is recognised as such by theLord Lyon King of Arms.[3] Historically the clan was based in theScottish Borders.
TheLatin wordScotti was originally used to describe theCelts ofIreland.[3] However the historian George Fraser Black notes in hisSurnames of Scotland that the earliest certain record of the name was that of Uchtred 'Filius Scott', in a charter from around 1120.[3]
In 1195 Henricus le Scotte witnessed a charter by David,Earl of Strathearn.[3] At the beginning of the thirteenth century a Master Isaac Scotus witnessed charters by theBishop of St Andrews.[3]
Michael Scott "The Wizard" (1175 – c.1232) was a real-life scholar and philosopher, whom Walter Scott described inThe Lay of the Last Minstrel as "addicted to the abstruse studies of judicialastrology,alchemy,physiognomy, andchiromancy. Hence he passed among his contemporaries for a skilful magician".[4]
Four generations after Uchtred, Sir Richard Scott married the heiress ofMurthockstone and in doing so acquired her estates.[3] Sir Richard was appointed as the ranger ofEttrick Forest and this brought to him the additional lands of Rankilburn.[3] The new laird built his residence at Buccleuch and the estates were generally known by this name.[3]
Sir Richard's son, Sir Michael Scott the second Laird of Buccleuch was a staunch supporter ofRobert the Bruce during theWars of Scottish Independence.[3] Michael distinguished himself at theBattle of Halidon Hill in 1333, being one of the few that escaped the carnage.[3] However he was later killed at theBattle of Durham in 1346.[3] Michael left two sons: Robert Scott, the third laird and John Scott who founded the important cadet branch of the clan, the Scotts of Synton from whom theLords Polwarth descend.[3] Robert Scott died in about 1389, probably from wounds received at theBattle of Otterburn.[3]
Robert Scott, fifth of Buccleuch succeeded to the family estates in 1402 after his father, Walter, was killed in battle.[3] In 1420 he acquired half of the lands ofBranxholme, consolidating the family estates.[3] He was active in supporting the Crown in the struggle to suppress the power of theClan Douglas.[3] When the king's cause prevailed Scott was rewarded with tracts of Douglas land.[3] In 1463 Branxholme became a free barony on the annual payment of a red rose to the Crown on the feast day ofSt John the Baptist.[3]
The Scotts had become one of the most powerful of all the Border clans by the end of the fifteenth century and the chief could call upon a thousand spears to support him.[3] Like most of theBorder Reiver clans the Scotts quarrelled with their neighbours, in particular theClan Kerr.[3] The feud began on 25 July 1526 whenSir Walter Scott of Buccleuch launched an attack (theBattle of Melrose) to rescue the youngJames V of Scotland who was being held by the DouglasEarl of Angus atDarnick just west ofMelrose, and in the ensuing fight Kerr of Cessford was killed.[3] Sir Walter Scott was also wounded in the action.[3] Scott later fought against the English at theBattle of Pinkie Cleugh and four years later was appointed warden ofLiddesdale and theMiddle Marches.[3] The Kerrs however were biding their time and in 1552 they set upon Sir Walter Scott onEdinburgh High Street and killed him.[3] The feud came to an end when SirThomas Kerr of Ferniehirst married Janet Scott who was the sister of the tenth Laird of Buccleuch.[3]
In 1565 a deadly feud arose between the Clan Scott and their neighbours theClan Eliott.[5] Scott of Buccleuch executed four Eliotts for the minor crime of cattle rustling.[5] In response three hundred Eliotts rode to avenge the fate of their kinsmen and during the battle losses on both sides were heavy but eventually the two clans came to terms with each other.[5]
The tenth Laird of Buccleuch was a staunch supporter ofMary, Queen of Scots.[3] His son, anotherWalter Scott went on to become a daring military leader who was known as "Bold Buccleuch".[3] In 1596 he rescued his vassal,William Armstrong, who was known as "Kinmont Willy", from theFortress of Carlisle which had been thought to be impregnable.[3]
James VI of Scotland's accession to the English throne was followed by a royal policy to pacify the Borders.[3]Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch therefore sought adventure fighting on the Continent for the Prince of Orange in theNetherlands.[3] His son wasWalter Scott, 2nd Lord Scott of Buccleuch who commanded a regiment for the States of Holland against the Spanish.[3] In 1619 he was advanced to the rank of Earl of Buccleuch.[3]
During theScottish Civil War,Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch supported theNational Covenant and opposedCharles I of England's religious policies.[3] Scott led his cavalry against the royalist,James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose at theBattle of Philiphaugh.[3]
Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch died in 1651 and was succeeded by his four-year-old daughter,Mary Scott, 3rd Countess of Buccleuch.[3] The General Assembly for the Church of Scotland allowed Mary to be married at the age of just eleven but she died aged just fourteen.[3] She was succeeded by her sister,Ann Scott, who was considered one of the greatest heiresses in the kingdom.[3]Charles II of England arranged for Anne Scott to marry his illegitimate son,James, Duke of Monmouth who as a result of the marriage assumed the surname Scott.[3] On the day of their marriage the couple were createdDuke and Duchess of Buccleuch.[3] Monmouth later rose up in rebellion against the Crown and as a result he was executed in 1685 and his titles were forfeited.[3] However, as Anne Scott had been specifically created Duchess of Buccleuch her titles were unaffected.[3] She was succeeded by her grandson,Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch.[3]
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Several Scotts fought for the government during theJacobite rising of 1745. Captain John Scott commanded two companies ofRoyal Scots was defeated and taken prisoner at theHighbridge Skirmish in August 1745.[6] During the action Scott had lost a sergeant and up to six men killed.[6] Scott himself was wounded but the Jacobite MacDonald of Keppoch arranged for his wound to be dressed at Cameron of Lochiel'sAchnacarry Castle.[6]
Captain Caroline Frederick Scott ofGuise's Regiment commanded the successfuldefence of Fort William in March 1746.[7] He gained a reputation for brutality and has been described as one of the most notorious 'Redcoats' of the Rebellion.[8] One story alleges three Highlanders who surrendered to him were drowned in a mill flume at Lochoy, although there is no independent confirmation of this.[9]
The Duke of Buccleuch today is one of the largest private landowners in the United Kingdom, and the internationally famous art collection known as theDuke of Buccleuch collection is held at the family's great houses of Drumlanrig, Bowhill, and Boughton.[3]
Another example of the dropping of hyphens is that of the Duke of Buccleuch who was recognised in 1975 as Chief of the Name and Arms of Scott after dropping the hyphens in the surname Montagu-Douglas-Scott (Lyon Register, vol. 60, fol. 7–8).
