William Maclellan facts for kids
Sir William MacLellan was a brave Scottish knight who lived a long time ago, in the 1400s. He was the son of Patrick MacLellan of Bombie and Margaret Of Lennox. William was married to Lady Marion Carlyle. He is famous for a daring act that helped his family and earned him a special honor from the King.
Contents
A Family Challenge
William's family faced a big challenge when their land, called Bombie, was taken away by King James II. This happened after some trouble involving William's clan and another powerful family, the Douglas clan. Even though they lost their land, the MacLellans stayed loyal to the King. They hoped to earn back the King's favor and their family's good name.
The Story of Black Morrow
William MacLellan is best known for a very exciting adventure involving a person known as Black Morrow. Black Morrow was causing a lot of trouble and fear in the area around Kirkcudbright. People described Black Morrow in different ways, some said he was a traveler, others a Moor, or an Irishman.
King James II was very worried about this problem. He made a special promise: if William MacLellan could capture Black Morrow, dead or alive, the MacLellan family would be given the important area of Kirkcudbright. This was a huge opportunity for William to restore his family's honor and gain the King's trust.
William's Brave Act
William was determined to help his family. He gathered his loyal followers and went after Black Morrow and his group. After a brave fight, William and his men were successful. To prove his victory to the King, William carried Black Morrow's head on the tip of his sword.
When William presented the proof to King James II, the King was very happy and praised William for his courage. However, the King seemed to forget the important promise he had made about the land.
The "Think On!" Moment
William was very upset that the King had forgotten his promise. In a bold move, he took off his armored glove, called a gauntlet, and threw it at the King's feet. Shaking his fist, William bravely told the King to "Think on!" and remember his word.
The King was impressed by William's courage and honesty. Because of this brave act, William MacLellan was made a knight, becoming Sir William MacLellan. The town of Kirkcudbright was also given a special status as a "Royal Burgh," meaning it was directly controlled by the King. Sir William MacLellan became its very first leader, known as the Provost.
The MacLellan Crest and Motto
To remember this important event, Sir William MacLellan chose a special design for his family's crest. It shows a strong right arm holding a dagger, with Black Morrow's head on the point of the blade. The family motto, which is a special saying, became "Think On!" This motto reminds everyone of Sir William's bravery and the importance of remembering promises.
Sir William MacLellan continued to serve the Scottish kings, later helping King James III, who was King James II's son.
See also
