Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 40.djvu/40

 and Life of John Napier, p. 26). He also held the office of master of the household, and in this capacity he provided ‘travelling gear’ for the king and queen when, after the birth of an heir to the throne—James IV—17 March 1472–3, they went on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Ninian at Whithorn, Galloway (Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer, i. 44). In May 1473 he was sent on a special embassy to the court of Burgundy, with secret instructions from James III, respecting the king's claims to the duchy of Gueldres. He died some time between 24 Oct. 1473 and 15 Feb. 1473–4, when his son was infeft as heir. He was buried in St. Giles's Church, Edinburgh. By his wife Elizabeth Lauder, probably a daughter of the laird of Halton or Hatton, he had three sons—John, his heir, who married Elizabeth, daughter and coheiress of Menteith of Rusky, who on 19 June 1492 was declared legal possessor of a fourth part of the earldom of Lennox; Henry, who married Janet, daughter of John Ramsay of Colluthie; and Alexander—and a daughter, Janet, married to Sir David Edmonston of that ilk.

The eldest son, John (third of Merchiston), known as John of Rusky, was killed at the battle of Sauchieburn on 11 June 1488. His eldest son, Archibald, fourth of Merchiston (d. 1522), was three times married. By his first wife he had issue Alexander, fifth of Merchiston, who was knighted in 1507, and was killed at Flodden Field 9 Sept. 1513, leaving issue a son Alexander, who was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547, and left a son, Sir (1534–1608) [q. v.] By his third wife Archibald, fourth of Merchiston, had two sons, Alexander and Mungo, of whom the elder settled at Exeter, where he was known as Sandy, and became father of (1559–1634) [q. v.]



NAPIER, ARCHIBALD (1534–1608), seventh of Merchiston, master of the Scottish mint, born in 1534, was eldest son of Alexander Napier, sixth of Merchiston, who was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. His mother was Annabella, youngest daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenurchy. His paternal grandfather was Sir Alexander, fifth of Merchiston, who was killed at Flodden Field on 9 Sept. 1513 (Cambuskenneth Charters, p. 207; see art., (d. 1473?)). Archibald was infeft in the barony of Edenbellie as heir to his father on 8 Nov. 1548, a royal dispensation enabling him, though a minor, to feudalise his right to his paternal barony in contemplation of his marriage with Janet Bothwell, which took place about 1549. He soon began to clear his property of encumbrances. On 1 June 1555 he redeemed his lands of Gartnes, Stirlingshire, and others from Duncan Forester, and on 14 June 1558 he obtained a precept of sasine for infefting him in the lands of Blairwaddis, Isle of Inchcolm (Reg. Mag. Sig. 1546–80, entry 1285). In 1565 he received the order of knighthood. He seems to have sided with Queen Mary after her escape from Lochleven Castle (Reg. P. C. Scotl. i. 637). During the siege of Edinburgh Castle, held by Kirkcaldy of Grange for the queen, he was required on 1 May 1572 to deliver up his house of Merchiston (ib. ii. 730) to the king's party, who placed in it a company of soldiers to prevent victuals being carried past it to the castle. On this account the defenders of the castle made an attempt to burn it, which was unsuccessful (, History, iii. 213). Napier's name appears with those of others in a contract with the regent for working for the space of twelve years certain gold, silver, copper, and lead mines (Reg. P. C. Scotl. i. 637). He was appointed general of the cunzie-house (master of the mint) in 1576 (, Records of Coinage of Scotland, i. 216), and on 25 April 1581 he was directed, with others, to take proceedings against John Achesoun, the king's master-coiner (Reg. P. C. Scotl. iii. 376). In May 1580 he received a payment of 400l. for the expenses of his mission to England. On 24 April 1582 he was named one of the assessors to prepare the matters to be submitted to the general assembly of the kirk of Scotland (Book of the Universal Kirk, ii. 548), and his name frequently occurs in following years as an ordinary member of assembly, and also as acting on special commissions and deputations. On 8 Feb. 1587–8 the king granted to him, Elizabeth Mowbray, his second wife, and Alexander, their son and heir, the lands called the King's Meadow (Reg. Mag. Sig. 1580–93, entry 1455). On 6 March 1589–90 he was appointed one of a commission for putting the acts in force against the jesuits (Reg. P. C. Scotl. iv. 463). On 25 March 1591 his double claim for the assize of gold and silver as master of the cunzie-house was disallowed by the council, the money being ordered to be distributed to the poor (ib. p. 603); but on 15 Feb. 1602–3 the decision was declared to ‘in no way prejudge him and his successors anent their right to the whole