| He was a member of the famous Convention Parliament, in 1560, which passed an act establishing the Reformed faith in Scotland. A trial took place, 1st December, 1576, in consequence of a feudal war between the Montgomeries of Scotston, who lived only about a mile from Hessilhead Castle, and the family of Hessilhead, in which Gabriel Montgomerie, of the Scotston family, was slain by some adherents of Hessilhead. The quarrel may have originated from the tocher of the mother of the Scotstons, who was a daughter of Hessilhead's grandfather, old Hugh, having been unpaid, at least for a long period, which appears by the confirmation of old Hugh's last will, in 1564. However, the Lady Hessilhead having been barbarously assaulted by a servant of Gabriel Montgomerie, for slapping him on the face, so that her life was in danger, was the first offence borne on the record. Nothing, however, was done to either party by the law, and the prosecution seems to have expired without any result. Hugh Montgomerie of Hessilhead, according to Crawford, married Janet, daughter of Roljert, third Lord Semple. This, however, seems to le a mistake; for in the latterwill and testament of Robert Boyd of Badenheath, third son of the fourth Lord Boyd. who died in 1611, this entry occurs: "Item, I leif to the Laird of Hessilheid, my sittter sone, in ane rememberance, my signet of gold of ane vnce weicht, and my best stand of silk claithes to his gone, my god sone." It would thus appear that the lady of Hugh Montgomerie of Hessilhead was a daughter of Lord Boyd.8 |