Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill facts for kids
Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill (born around 1505, died 1576) was an important Scottish noble. He was known as the 'Great Lord Sempill'.
Robert, also called Semphill or Semple, was the 3rd Lord Sempill. He was the older son of William Sempill, 2nd Lord Sempill, and Lady Margaret Montgomery. His mother's family had a special connection to Scottish royalty. Through her grandmother, Lady Margaret was a fifth-generation descendant of Robert II of Scotland. This means that Robert Sempill's family was connected to many Scottish kings, including Robert II. They also had links to Anglo-Saxon kings through the marriage of Malcolm III of Scotland to Saint Margaret of Scotland.
The Sempill family had been important in Scotland since the 1200s. They were hereditary bailiffs (like local officials) of Paisley and sheriffs of Renfrew. They often fought bravely in wars against England and helped with important government tasks. For example, Sir Thomas Sempill, an ancestor, died fighting for James III of Scotland in 1488. The first Lord Sempill, created by James IV, died at the battle of Flodden in 1513.
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Early Life and Service
As a young man, Robert Sempill, known then as the Master of Sempill, worked for James V of Scotland. He wore special clothes and gave the King gifts. For example, in 1532, he gave the King eight two-handed swords. In January 1533, he gave stockings and a tartan coat.
On October 20, 1533, Robert was made the Governor of Douglas Castle, which belonged to the King. In 1534, after he became an adult, King James V made his father pay a fine. This was because his father had not paid certain fees for Robert to officially take over the Sempill family lands.
Later, Robert Sempill became the Master of Household for Regent Arran. This was an important role in the Regent's government. However, in July 1550, Robert Sempill was accused of treason. He was replaced by David Stewart. Robert became the Lord Sempill in 1552 after his father passed away.
A Difficult Event
In June 1552, Robert, Lord Sempill, was involved in a serious incident. He was said to have caused the death of William Crichton, 5th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar. This happened while Lord Sempill was at the home of Regent Arran in Edinburgh. Lord Sempill was arrested and taken to Edinburgh Castle. He might have faced a severe punishment, but his powerful friends helped him get released.
One person who helped Lord Sempill was his daughter, Grizzel. She was known as 'Lady Gilton'. She was the widow of James Hamilton of Stenhouse. She was also connected to John Hamilton, the Archbishop of St Andrews, who was Regent Arran's brother. A record shows that Lord Sempill's oldest son, Robert, also received a pardon for his part in the event in September 1552.
Historians like John Lesley and Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie wrote about this event. They saw it as an example of the problems and rivalries between powerful groups in Scotland at that time.
Religious Changes and Castle Sieges
Robert, Lord Sempill, did not support the Scottish Reformation in 1560. This was a big change in Scotland where the country moved away from the Catholic Church. Lord Sempill remained loyal to the Queen Regent, who was Catholic. The reformer John Knox described him as an "enemy to God."
Because of his loyalty, a group called the Lords of the West attacked Castle Semple in Lochwinnoch in December 1559. Lord Sempill left his son at the castle and went to Dunbar Castle for safety. Dunbar Castle was controlled by a French captain named Corbeyran de Cardaillac Sarlabous. In August 1560, the Lords of the Congregation asked Sarlabous to hand over Lord Sempill, but he refused. He said he would only do so if Mary, Queen of Scots and Francis II of France ordered it.
Soon after, Thomas Randolph reported that Sempill had secretly left Dunbar. He went back to his own castle with twenty soldiers who had special guns called arquebuses. Then, he went to France.
After the Scottish Reformation Parliament, James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault and his son James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran again attacked Castle Semple. An ally of the Hamiltons, the Earl of Glencairn, described an attack on the castle on September 18, 1560. The attackers got into the castle yard and even took some sheep to show their success! Lord Sempill eventually went to Dumbarton Castle. He was captured on October 14, 1560. When Castle Semple was finally taken in November 1560, he was at Dunbar. He was pardoned in March 1561. A cannon from James V of Scotland, likely used in this siege, was found in Castle Semple Loch later and is now in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Lord Sempill and Mary Queen of Scots
Lord Sempill was one of the nobles who supported Mary, Queen of Scots and her husband, Lord Darnley, in September 1565. This was against other rebel nobles. He even commanded a part of Mary's army in a battle. His loyalty to Mary was recognized by Pope Pius IV, who praised him for defending the Catholic religion and being loyal to his Queen.
However, after Darnley was murdered, Lord Sempill changed his loyalty. He joined a group that supported the young prince (Mary's son) and opposed Mary's new husband, Bothwell.
At the battle of Carberry Hill on June 14, 1567, Lord Sempill commanded a part of the army that fought against the Queen. He also signed the papers that allowed William Douglas of Lochleven to take the Queen to Lochleven Castle. He was also present when important documents, known as the 'casket letters', were found and opened.
Civil War in Scotland
After the Queen escaped from Lochleven, Lord Sempill gathered his supporters to fight against her at the Battle of Langside on May 13, 1568. On May 19, he was made a military leader in the western parts of Scotland. His job was to watch Dumbarton Castle and stop supplies or people from getting in or out. For his help, he was given control of the Paisley Abbey.
In May 1570, while returning from an army mission, Lord Sempill visited one of his daughters' houses. There, he was captured by some of the Hamilton family's supporters. He was taken prisoner to Craignethan Castle. He was later moved to Argyle by Lord Boyd. He was probably set free in February 1571. Even with the efforts of Lord Sempill and others, Dumbarton Castle remained strong until it was finally captured on April 1, 1571, by his cousin Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill.
Family Life
Robert, 3rd Lord Sempill, was married twice. His first wife was Isabel Hamilton. His second wife was Elizabeth Carlyle.
With his first wife, Isabel Hamilton, he had four daughters and two sons:
- Robert Master of Sempill, who died before his father. This Robert was the father of Robert Sempill, 4th Lord Sempill.
- Andrew Sempill, who was an ancestor of another branch of the Sempill family.
- James Sempill. In 1542, Andrew and James were old enough to witness a property deal in Paisley.
With his second wife, Elizabeth Carlyle, he had other children, including:
- John Sempill of Beltrees, who married Mary Livingston in March 1565. Mary Livingston was one of the famous Four Marys, who were ladies-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Colonel William Sempill of Lochwinnoch. He was involved in a historical event called the Spanish blanks plot.
- Jean Sempill, who married James Ross, 4th Lord Ross.
Lord Sempill was still alive in March 1574, but he passed away before January 17, 1576.
Not the Poet
Some people have thought that the 3rd Lord Sempill, or his son, or the 4th Lord Sempill, might have been the Robert Sempill who wrote the Sempill Ballads (a collection of poems). However, this is not true. The 4th Lord was born too late, and the 3rd Lord and his son died too early to have written those poems.
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