| He was Earl in 1389, and contrary to Sir Robert Gordon's account, who makes John succeed to his father William and a mythical Earl Nicholas to John, followed by Robert, the latter was really the son of William and his successor. His accession in or before 1389 is proved by his presence as Earl at the pronouncing of the decree against Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, by the Bishops of Moray and Ross, on 2 November 1389. It is possible that he was Earl in or soon after 1370, and that it is he who figures in the pages of Froissart as taking part in the welcome to the Prench knights in 1384 and to Sir John de Vienne and his company in the following year. But he is not named among those nobles who received shares of the 40,000 gold francs sent from Prance. The Earl of Sutherland also, according to Froissart, was a leader in the Scottish force which invaded the west of England in 1388. On 2 November 1389, he was, as already stated, a witness to the consistorial decree pronounced against Alexander, Earl of Buchan, and he was also named by the Earl as one of his sureties for fulfilment of the decree. He was then, or became soon after, the Earl's son-in-law. On 22 January 1400-1 he granted to his brother Kenneth the lands of Drummoy, and others, with certain conditions as to services to the neighbouring mills and as to fishings.' This writ contains the earliest reference to the castle of Dunrohin, where it is said to be granted, and it was probably used as a residence by Earl Robert; and it may have been he from whom it took its name, though a building may have stood on the site from a very early period. The later history of Earl Robert was apparently uneventful.7 |