July 26 1384 Scots were part of the Anglo French truce that would expire in October. Robert II of Scotland 1^st of House of Stewart to be King of Scots.

Seal Robert II on his great seal. Note the shield,flat top, pointed bottom.

1476 sometime in July.  John Barton, a Scottish mariner, had been captured by the Portuguese, As the King of Portugal refused to make any amends, James 4^th  granted the family of Barton (John’s son Andrew, Robert and John) letters of reprisals, that is, a warrant empowering them to take all Portuguese vessels which should come in their way, until their loss was made up. (TG24-355)

Juliana of Captain John Barton. johnlisle.us John Barton was the eldest son of Andrew and Margaret (Prestoun) Barton and born about 1440 at Leith, County Edinburgh, Scotland and was murdered while being held prisoner in 1476.  The Bartons made good their reprisal, but Portuguese ships being scarce, Sir Andrew Barton began taking English ships, until young king Henry 8^th sent the Howards to catch the Bartons. An epic poem describing the capture in August 2, 1511 [2 years before the battle of Flodden field] was published in 1710.

http://www.contemplator.com/child/abartin.html (about a third of the poem is given below)

As itt beffell in midsummer-time,

When burds singe sweetlye on euery tree,

Our noble king, King Henery the Eighth,

Ouer the river of Thames past hee.

Hee was no sooner ouer the riuer,

Downe in a fforrest to take the ayre,

But Eighty merchants of London cittye

Came kneeling before King Henery there.

“O yee are welcome, rich merchants,

Good saylers, welcome unto me!”

They swore by the rood they were saylers good,

But rich merchants they cold not bee.

“To Ffrance nor Fflanders dare we nott passe,

Nor Burdeaux voyage wee dare not ffare,

And all ffor a ffalse robber that lyes on the seas,

And robbs us of our merchants ware.”

King Henery was stout, and he turned him about,

And swore by the Lord that was mickle of might,

“I thought he had not beene in the world throughout

That durst haue wrought England such unright.”

But ever they sighed, and said, “alas!”

Unto King Harry this answere againe:

“He is a proud Scott that will robb us all

If wee were twenty shipps and hee but wain (one).

***

“Now thou must tell me, Harry Hunt,

As thou hast sayled by day and by night,

Hast thou not heard of a stout robber?

Men calls him Sir Andrew Bartton, Knight.

But ever he sighed, and sayd, “Alas!

Ffull well, my lord, I know that wight;

He robd me of my merchants ware,

And I was his prisoner but yesternight.”

Now God fforefend” sais Henery Hunt

“My lord, you shold worke soe ffarr amisse!

God keepe you out of that traitors hands!

For you wott ffull litle what a man hee is.

“Hee is brasse within, and steele without,

And beames hee beares in his topcastle stronge;

His shipp hath ordinance cleane round about;

Besids, my lord, hee is verry well mand.

“He hath a pinnace, is deerlye dight,

Saint Andrews crosse, that is his guide;

His pinnace beares nine score men and more,

Besids fifteen cannons on euery side.

“This is cold comfort” sais my Lord Haward (Howard),

“To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea;

I’ll bring him and his shipp to shore,

Or else into Scottland hee shall carrye mee”

 “And then you need to ffeare no Scott,

Whether you sayle by day or by night;

And to-morrow, by seven of the clocke,

You shall meete with Sir Andrew Barton, Knight.

And the hache-bord where Sir Andrew lay

Is hached with gold deerlye dight:

“Now by my ffaith;” sais Charles, my lord Haward

“Then yonder Scott is a worthye wight!”

But they stirred neither top nor mast,

But Sir Andrew they passed by:

“whatt English are yonder,” said Sir Andrew

“That can so litle curtesye?”

“I have beene admirall over the sea

More then these yeeres three;

There is never an English dog, nor Portingall

Can passe this way without leave of me.”

 “But now yonder pedlers, they are past

Which is no litle greffe to me;

Ffeich them backe;” sayes Sir Andrew Barton

“They shall all hang att my maine-mast tree.

Simon had a sonne; with shott of a gunn-

Well Sir Andrew might itt ken-

He shott itt in att a priuye place,

And killed sixty more of Sir Andrews men.

 Harry Hunt came in att the other syde,

And att Sir Andrew hee shott then;

He drove downe his fformast-tree,

And killed eighty more of Sir Andrews men.

“Ever alas!” sayd Sir Andrew Barton

“what shold a man either thinke or say?

Yonder ffalse theeffe is my strongest enemye

Who was my prisoner but yesterday.

“Comie hither to me, James Hambliton,

Thou are my sisters sonne, I have no more;

I will give thee six hundred pound

If thou will lett my beames downe ffall.”

“Goe ffeitch me downe my armour of prooffe,

For it is guilded with gold soe cleare;

God be with my brother, John of Bartton!

Amongst the Portingalls hee did itt weare.

Yett ffrom the tree hee wold not start,

But hee clinged to itt with might and maine;

Vnder the coller then of his jacke,

He stroke Sir Andrew thorrow the braine.

 “Ffight on my men,” sayes Sir Andrew Barton,

“I am hurt, but I am not slaine;

I’le lay mee downe and bleed a-while,

And then I’le rise and ffight againe.

 “Ffight on my men,” sayes Sir Andrew Bartton

“These English doggs they bite soe lowe;

Ffight on ffor Scottland and Saint Andew

Till you heare my whistle blowe!”

But when they cold not heare his whistle blow,

Sayes Harry Hunt, “I’le lay my head

You may bord yonder noble shipp, my lord,

For I know Sir Andrew hee is dead.”

With that they borded this noble shipp,

Soe did they itt with might and maine;

The ffound eighteen score Scotts alive,

Besids the rest were maimed and slaine.

 My Lord Haward tooke a sword in his hand,

And smote off Sir Andrews head;

The Scotts stood by did weepe and mourne,

But never a word durst speake or say.

But when they see his deadly face,

His eyes were hollow in his head;

“I wold give a hundred pound,” sais King Henry

“The man were alive as hee is dead!

 “Yett for the manfull part that hee hath playd

Both heere and beyond the sea,

His men shall have halfe a crowne a day

To bring them to my brother, King Jamye!”  [James 4^th of   Scotland was married to Margaret Tudor, Henry the Eighth’s older sister].

1524 James 5^th escaped from his French captors at Stirling and rode for the capital. By the end of the same day his minority was declared over. Of course the real decision makers were to be his mother, Margaret Stewart (nee Tudor, Douglas –Dowager Queen) and Arran (uncle). The collapse of the Scottish French army after Wark in 1517, was the last straw for Regent Albany (John Stewart, Duke of Albany). Albany once again made his way to France on the promise of returning in the spring with new resources. But this time Albany never returned.  Albany kept a free Scotland for his King and never once had he prejudiced his loyalty. Margaret, dowager Queen of Scots and Henry 8^th’s  (King of English) sister, took full advantage of her proximity to the King James 5^th (her son) and called upon Arran as her ally.

Arran, (clan Hamilton) still smarting after Cleanse the Causeway and now supported in some part by English bribes was happy to help especially as the Duchess of Albany (Anne de La Tour d’Auvergne (1496 – 1524) also Anne de Boulogne fille de Jehan Comte de Boulogne et Auvergne, was sovereign Countess of Auvergne from 1501 until 1524, and Duchess of Albany by marriage to John Stewart, Duke of Albany. Wikipedia) had just died leaving no surviving children.  Arran felt that this was the only way he would have a say in the naming of the future king. Their plan was simple. James now twelve years old, was to be taken to Edinburgh and adorned with the symbols of sovereignty.

A contemporary portrait of Anne de la Tour d’Auvergne. www.bolb.org.uk

1643 Storming of Bristol, 1^st English civil war.

1654 – Defeat at Loch-Gary. General Middleton leaves Highlands. English forces (Roundheads) compel clans to submit to the Protector (Cromwell) (TG46-114)

Loch Gary.

The Colquhouns were ardent royalists and joined Middleton’s army.

http://www.templum.freeserve.co.uk/history/families/colquhoun.htm

 Middleton and Wales (on his Army uniform). Duchess and Duke of Cambridge. Alums of Saint Andrews.

1698 – Leith expedition sailed, 1200 on board, for  Acta, New Edinburgh, Fort Saint Andrew, colony of Caledonia.  (TG59-40) Bay of Panama isthmus route to the Pacific ocean. (TG59-38) When eight hundred thousand pounds formed the whole circulating capital of Scotland, half of that sum was vested in the Darien company stock. (TG59-31)

1698 26^th  July The Darien colony.

Twelve hundred men, three hundred of whom were youths of the best Scottish families, embarked on board of five frigates, (Saint Andrew, Caledonia, Unicorn, Dolphin, and Endeavour) purchased at Hamburgh for the service of the expedition ; for the King refused the Company even the trifling accommodation of a ship of war, which lay idle at Burnt (59-39)island. They sailed from Leith roads [26^th  July [Sir Walter Scott’s Tales of a Grandfather-59-40] 1698], reached their destination in safety,

[After calling at Madeira and the West Indies,] and disembarked at a place called Acta, where, by cutting through a peninsula, they obtained a safe and insulated situation for a town, called New Edinburgh, and a fort named Saint Andrew. With the same fond remembrance of their native  land, the colony itself was called Caledonia. They were favourably received by the native princes, from whom they purchased the land they required. The harbour, which was excellent, was proclaimed a free port; and in the outset the happiest results were expected from the settlement.

Company of Scotland book of instructions to expedition leaders, 1698 (extract) www.rbs.com

1716 Ship “Elizabeth and Anne”. commander Edward TRAFFORD, bound for Virginia and Jamaica from Liverpool 28 July 1716 with 126 prisoners (128 prisoners listed in manifest). Duncan, Robert. 637 Scottish rebels  were captured at Preston, Lancashire, on 14 Nov 1715. compiled from ten ship manifests, prisoners were sent to the American Colonies the following spring as indentured servants for a seven-year period.

Taking of the Town of Preston from the Rebels by King Georges Forces.

1745 July 26 PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD STUART Sailed to Lochnanuagh and landed at Borradale 8 in Arisaig, the farmhouse of Angus MacDonald (I. 206). The traditional landing-place is on the west side of Eriska-Coilleag a Phrionsa (the Prince’s Strand). It was conveniently near a house which Boisdale then had at Kilbride in South Uist. On a rocky knoll a little way up from the bay a fleshy-leaved pink convolvulus grows (C(JnfIfJ/vuIus major) which tradition says was planted by the Prince. The ground was enclosed by a stone wall some years ago by Dr. Robert Stewart of Harris (if. C.R.C. App. A. 460). The following is from the current number (Jan. 1897) of the Celtic Non/My: ‘This convolvulus, in spite of many attempts to rear it elsewhere, will only live at Eriskay, and in consequence is known as “the Prince’s flower.'” Remained in the neighbourhood of Borradale either on shore or on board ship until August 10^th .

The day following the landing, Kinloch Moidart, who had arrived, was sent back to summon John Murray of Broughton, the Duke of Perth (J.M.B.), and LochieL Young Clanranald, Alexander MacDonald of Glenaladale, lEneas MacDonald, and the Lockhart chronicler (a Clanranald MacDonald), visited the Prince on board ship (L.P. 479). Young Clanranald and Allan Mac- Donald (brother of Kinloch Moidart) were sent to Skye to summon Sir Alexander MacDonald and MacLeod of MacLeod (L.P. 481), and Glenaladale was sent to assemble Clanranald’s clansmen as a guard for the Prince. MacDonald of Seatus, on behalf of Glengarry, MacDonald of Keppoch, MacDonald of Glencoe (i6.), and Hugh MacDonald, brother of Morar (III. 50), also visited the Prince. All, even those who had accompanied him from France, implored the Prince to return; t the Prince was single in his resolution of landing’ (III. 51). On Clanranald’s return from Skye with a refusal from Sir Alexander and MacLeod,l he too was so disheartened that he was reluctant to go on, but he was persuaded to join and at once raised his clan (III. 52). Lochiel! sent his brother, Dr. Archibald Cameron, to urge the Prince to return, whereupon the Prince sent young Scotus to Achnacarie ‘to persuade Lochiel to do his duty,’ upon which Lochie} came to Borradale (ib.).8 Loehiel, after vainly persuading the Prince to abandon his enterprise, agreed to raise his clan • on condition of the Prince giving security for the full value of his estate should the attempt prove abortive, and on MacDonald of Glengarry undertaking in writing to raise his clan for the Prince, which he did, under command of his second son, Angus, and his kinsman Lochgarry (III. 120, 121).6

Arrangements were then made to raise the standard of James VIII. at Glenfinnan on Monday,      Aug 1. Proclamation by Government of a reward of £30,000 to any person seizing the PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD STUART on his landing in the British Dominion (L.G. Aug. 3). Skie Island

1745 August 19th (L.P. 480).

1758 – Battle of Louisburg  ends. Thomas Cochrane, the 6^th  Earl of Dundonald (died 1737). Thomas was the son of William Cochrane (died 1717), second son of the William Cochrane, Lord Cochrane (died 1679), eldest son of the 1^st  Earl. He was succeeded by his son William Cochrane, the seventh Earl (died 1758). He fought in the Seven Years’ War and was killed at the siege in 1758. Louisburg, present-day Nova Scotia, then the French province of Ile-Royale.

Map of Louisburg (1758).

1788 New York. Constitution ratification bicentennial commemorative issue.

1988. New York was a strategic location. General

Washington unsuccessfully tried to hold off British control of New York in August 1776. Alexander Hamilton and John Jay headed the state’s delegation to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and played major roles in its ratification. New York became the 11^th  state to ratify. usstampgallery.com/

Scottish place names in New York the Empire State.

Albany (ultimately from Alba, Gaelic for Scotland), Alexandria, Allendale, Alloway. Angus, Arden, Argyle, Armstrong Corners, Arrochar, Avon, Belmont, Bolton, Bonnie Crest. Boswell Corners, Braeside, Brookfield, Buchanan, Burns,  Burnside, Buskirk, Caledonia, Camby, Cameron, Campbell, Carnegie,  Ceres, Chapel Corners,  Charleston,  Charlton, Chester, Chester Hill, Cheviot, Clifton, Clyde, Covington, Cowan Corner,  Craigs, Crawford, Cross Hill, Cross Roads,  Cullen, Dalton, Dean, Douglas Crossing, Dunbar, Dunbarton, Dundee, East Avon, East Buskirk, East Campbell, East Hamilton,  East Hills, East Pitcairn, East Whitehall, Edinburg, Elgin, Fairfield, Fineview,  Flushing, Fort Hill, Fraser, Fulton, Furnace Village, Garfield, Georgetown,  Gifford,Glasgow Mills,  Glen, Glenburnie,  Glencairn, Glendale, Glenmore, Glenwood,  Glen Spey, Gordon Heights, Grant,  Green Hills, Greenfield, Gretna, Greystone, Hall, Hamilton, Harris, Hecla, Henderson, Hermitage, Highland, Highland Falls, Highland Lake, Highland Park, Hillside, Hope, Howard, Hume, Hunter, Huntly Corners, Inverness, Jamestown, Kelly Corners, Kenmore, Kennedy, Kilmartin Corners, Kirk, Kirkwood, Knapp Creek, Lamberton, Lamont, Lee, Lewis, Lewiston, Linwood,  Lithgow,  Livingston, Loch Sheldrake, Lockwood, Logan, Longwood, Lyons, MacDougall, Marshall, Martin,  Mayfield, McClure, McConnell Corners, McCormack Corners, McDuffie Town , McEwens Corner, McIntyre, McKinley,  McKinneys, McKnight Corners, McLean, McMaster Corners,  McMillan Corners,  McPherson Point,  Melrose,  Millport,  Milltown, Milton, Monroe, Montrose, Morey Park, Morningside Heights,  Morton, Moscow Hill, Mount Vernon, Murray, Netherwood, New Scotland, Newburgh, Newfield, Newkirk, Newport, Newton Falls, Newtown, North Argyle, North Avon, North Bloomfield, North Cameron, North Greenfield, North Highland,  North Sterling, Northfield, Oakley Corners, Oakwood, Ormiston, Overlook, Perth, Pitcairn, Preston, Riverside, Rock Glen, Rose Hill, Rosebank, Roslyn, Ross Corners, Rossburg, Rye, Salisbury, Saltaire, Scotch Bush, Scotch Church, Scotch Hill, Scotchtown,  Scotia, Scott, Scotts Corners, Scottsburg, Scottsville, Selkirk, South Albany, South Argyle, South Avon, South Cameron, South Hamilton, South Highland, Springfield, St. Andrew, Stanley, Star Corners, Sterling, Stewart Corners, Stirling, Stow, Summer Hill, Summerville, Sunny Brae, The Glen, Thorn Hill, Thornton, Treadwell, Waverly, Wellwood, West Albany, West Bloomfield, West Cameron, West Hill, West Milton, West Monroe, West Mount Vernon, West Park, West Perth, Westfield, Weston, Westwood Corners, Whitehall, Whitehouse, Whitelaw, Whiteside Corners, Whitestone, Wicks Corners, Willow Glen, Wilton, Wood haven, Woodlawn, Woodside,

1830 Paris. Insurrection revolution after French King and ministry attempt to destroy the charter.  The Bourbons are expelled from France, and Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans crowned.  Tytler’s Britannica 28 History of Scotland.  The French beret previously adopted patterned after the Scots’ Tam.

1858. Jews emancipated. Rothschild sworn into Lords. From 1534 to 1607 to 1641 English Religious persecution laws were adopted at various times in these years. The Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and Penal Laws of England, (with jurisdiction into Ireland, British colonies of Africa, India, and Americas, and after 1707 into Scotland), enforced by execution and torture, fine and prison, confiscation and transport to the plantations (American colonies, if you weren’t already here) were, according to Edmund Burke “a machine of wise and elaborate contrivance, as well fitted for the oppression, impoverishment and degradation of a people, and the debasement in them of human nature itself, as ever proceeded from the perverted ingenuity of man.” Savage, John (1869). Fenian Heroes and Martyrs. Patrick Donahoe. pp. 16.Wikipedia. Ban on Catholics, Dissenters from the Established Church, (Nonconformists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Quakers, Covenanters, Congregationalists, Jews, Anglicans 1650-1661, Baptists,  along with slaves, felons, imbeciles. and foreigners) Methodists claimed to be the conservative Anglicans to avoid these laws.  Prior to 1707 Scotland’s law did not persecute Jews. However, the Acts of Union,  the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland  and the Treaty of Union of 22 July 1706,  the Kingdoms of England and Scotland became under the Treaty, “United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain”. Thus the test, uniformity, and penal acts now applied in Scotland, as well. Ban on Jews holding seat in Parliament repealed by Act permitting House of commons (either House) to determine the form of oath for members of the Jewish faith, so on July 26^th 1858 Baron Rothschild swore ‘so help me Jehovah’.  The Reform Advocate April 30, 1910. Catholic and dissenters ban was previously repealed circa 1829.

Celebrating Passover with lit hangng Sabbath lamp. Ceremonies et coutumes religiuses de tous le Mond. www.sothebys.com1643

1872 Michele Enrico Carafa di Colobrano (17 November 1787 – 26 July 1872) was an Italian opera composer. Elisabetta in Derbyshire ossia Il castello di Fotheringhay (Elizabeth (1^st) in Derbyshire, or Fotheringay Castle), (December 1818). Based on Friedrich Schiller’s play (1802). Le nozze di Lammermoor (1829); La prison d’Édimbourg (1833).

Michele Carafa. Capecelatro; Carafa [I solitari di Scozia, 1815, and Elisabetta in Derbyshire ossia Il castello di Fotheringhay, 1818].

1886 Sir Alexander Matheson, 1^st  Baronet  died (16 January 1805-26 July 1886), was a Scottish businessman and long-standing Liberal Member of Parliament.  Matheson was the nephew of Sir James Matheson, 1^st  Baronet, and a partner in the family firm of Jardine Matheson. He was returned to Parliament for Inverness Burghs in 1847, a seat he held until 1868 when he succeeded his uncle as Member of Parliament for Ross and Cromarty. He retained this constituency until 1884. In 1882 he was created a Baronet, of Lochalsh in the County of Ross.

1971 Apollo 15 to the moon. Scott and Irwin (scots descents)

Apollo 15 launches on July 26, 1971.

2006 Leah Eve Choate born, many great grand daughter of King Robert 2^nd.