Friar Mark Hamilton facts for kids

A page from Friar Mark's History manuscript

A stone with the Hamilton family crest at Kinneil House

Friar Mark's History helps explain the Clan Hamilton family symbols

Dunfermline Abbey, where Robert the Bruce was buried

Part of Gilbert Hamilton's speech, from the National Library of Scotland

King Robert and Isabella of Mar, from an old family book

The main part of the Bute Mazer, a famous cup

Friar Mark Hamilton was a Scottish friar who lived around 1553. He was a member of the Dominican order, a group of Catholic priests. Friar Mark is famous for writing a book called History of the Hamiltons. This book tells the story of the Hamilton family.

His relative, Regent Arran, gave Friar Mark £4 in Scottish money in 1553. This money was for a friar's special clothing, called a habit. We don't know much else about Friar Mark's life, apart from his book and this gift.

Friar Mark's History of the Hamiltons

Friar Mark's book about the Hamilton family is very important. It helps us understand the culture of the Scottish court. This was during the time when Regent Arran was in charge of Scotland (from 1543 to 1554).

The book is a short story that mixes real historical facts with family legends. It talks about how the Hamiltons came from England. Regent Arran often told the English ambassador, Ralph Sadler, about this English connection. The original book is kept safe at the National Library of Scotland.

The Brave Fight on Kinneil Muir

Friar Mark's book includes an old family story. Some people call it a "fabulous story," meaning it might not be entirely true. The History says that Robert the Bruce, a famous Scottish king, gave land at Kinneil to a man named Gilbert Hamilton.

King Robert gave Gilbert the land for his "true service and great bravery." Especially, it was for killing "the great lieutenant of England upon Kynnale Muir" for the King. Gilbert Hamilton had fought with Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. He was also one of the King's seven special bodyguards. People said a large stone marked the spot where this fight happened.

For Gilbert's brave act on Kinneil Muir, where he defeated "Odomar Vallance," Friar Mark tells us something special. Odomar Vallance was a Welsh-born leader for the English King Edward II of England. King Robert gave Gilbert Hamilton a special family symbol to use forever in Scotland. This symbol was "three cinquefoils in a blood red field." A cinquefoil is a five-petaled flower, and a "blood red field" means a red background. This symbol is part of the Hamilton family's coat of arms, which is like their family badge.

Gilbert and Walter fitz Gilbert in the History

In Friar Mark's book, "Gilbert Hamilton" is shown as the older brother. He is the brother of a real historical person named Walter fitz Gilbert of Cadzow. "Cadzow" is an old name for the town of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. Walter's family symbols can be seen on the Bute Mazer. This is a very famous old cup kept at the National Museums of Scotland.

Friar Mark also wrote that Walter fitz Gilbert had red hair and a reddish face. He said these traits came from his Scottish mother. Walter was taught by monks at Dunfermline Abbey. Their father was Philip, who was the Earl of Southampton in England. The exact family connections of these early Hamiltons are not fully clear today.

Isabella of Mar: A Noble Lady

Friar Mark wrote about Isabella of Mar. He described her as "one of the most chivalric women of that age." This means she was very brave and honorable. She was King Robert's niece and the sister of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray. Her name was Isabella, and she was twenty years old. Friar Mark said she was full of goodness and honor, second only to the Queen of Scots herself.

Gilbert Hamilton's Special Prayer

The last part of Friar Mark's book is called "Oratio Gilberti Hammiltoune in funera Roberti Brus Regis." This means "Gilbert Hamilton's Oration at the Funeral of King Robert the Bruce." It is supposed to be a translation of a Latin prayer. Gilbert Hamilton supposedly said this prayer at King Robert the Bruce's funeral in 1329 at Dunfermline Abbey.

Part of the prayer says:

While his [King Robert's] life on Earth may last with heart and mind constant, The right of Scotland always to defend with invincible courage, his body ever to reserve for Scotland's commonwealth, The duty of war, ever to engage in all kinds of warlike danger. Let never his soul suffer pain or sorrow in Hell or purgatory, but with the most noble kings in Heaven to reign.

Friar Mark might have meant that the Hamilton family felt a strong connection to King Robert. They believed they should always fight for Scotland and work for peace for the Scottish people. This was for the "common wealth," meaning the good of everyone. It is probably not true that this prayer was actually said at the King's funeral.

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