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Pringle Clan Chronology
Robert de Hoppringle (c. 1270)
The surname Hoppringill, or Pringle, dates from the reign of Alexander III of Scotland (1249-86). The first written record of a person of the name Pringle is Robert de Hoppryngill, who was witness to a charter of Edward de AlbaFonte (Quhytwell) granting lands to the House of Soltre (Soutra), along with the Archdeacon of the Lothians, Sir William de St Clair and the Sheriff of Edynburgh. Although undated, the document is known to date from the period 1265-1275 (the reign of Henry III in England).
The Hospice of Soutra, was founded by Scottish King Malcolm IV in 1164 for the entertainment of pilgrims travelling the hills by "Malcolm's Road" to the Border abbeys. It was four and a half miles north from Hoppringill. The remains of the Hospice, now known as Soutra Aisle, can still be seen at the side of the B6368.
Elias de Hoppringle (c. 1296)
One Elys (Elias) de Obrinkel - presumed to be the son of Robert deHoppryngill, signatory to the Charter of Soutra - appears in the 'Ragman Roll', naming 2000 landowners of Scotland who, rather than lose their lands, submitted to Edward I. The names were entered at Berwick on the 28th August 1296. Elias' seal was attached - described as "Oval, a hunting horn. S. Helias de Hopprigkill."
Roger Hoppringle (c. 1310)
The Pringles were allied to Robert the Bruce against the Balliols, and because of this, forfeited their lands of Whitsun, which were then bestowed by King John Balliol (1292-1296) and confirmed by Edward I of England upon John De Lyle on 13th October, 1295. When the fortunes of the Bruce prevailed, the Pringles' land was returned to Roger Hoppringle. Bruce was succeeded by his five-year-old son, David II (1329-1371), with Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, as Regent.
In 1334, the Pringles were again deprived of their land, this time by Edward III, to restore John De Lyle. When David Bruce finally established his supremacy, the rights of the Pringles must have been confirmed, because we find Thomas Hoppringle of Whitsun a witness to a charter under the seal of King David Bruce in 1336.
Thomas Hoppringle (c. 1340)
The Douglas clan were the most powerful family outside of the royal family. The squires to the chief of the clan were Pringles for a great number of years. Thomas Hoppringle wasscrutifer (squire) to William, 1st Earl and son of the regent Archibald, and nephew of Sir James "the Good" for some ten years.
On the 10th June 1359 Thomas deHoppringill was witness to a charter with Sir Archibald Douglas (later 3rd Earl - known as The Grim). The charter is granting John de Towers the farm of Rutherglen. About the same time, Adam de Hoppringill was witness to another charter with Earl Archibald, granting John of Erth certain lands in the barony of Haltoun.
In 1363 Archibald Douglas was in arms against King David, but by the end of the year the King was secretly plotting to get a son of Edward III appointed his successor, and he and Douglas were at the English Court. As part of this mission, the Earl and his two squires visited the English Court, and also took the opportunity to visit the tomb of Thomas a' Becket at Canterbury. On the 15th December, 1363, King Edward granted safe conducts in a list reading: "Thomas de Hoppringill, Johannes de Douglas, Willielmus de Douglas, Adam de Hoppringill....." This grant entitled them to enter England, with companions, and remain for one year.
On 20th June, 1366, Thomas deHoppringill de Scotia received a similar letter of safe conduct, probably in connection with the payment of King David's ransom, which was being paid in annual installments.
In February of the 39th year of his reign (1368) King David confirmed a charter by Alexander Lindsay deOrmiston granting lands to his daughter and heiress on the occasion of her marriage to Alexander de Cockburn. Witnesses included the Abbots of Holyrood, Sir Archibald and Sir James of Douglas and Thomas of Oppringyl (spelt Hopprynghil in a duplicate copy in another hand).
In a charter dated before 1369, John de Gordon of that Ilk granted half of the lands of Ligertwood to Thomas de Borthwick. The witnesses were the Bishops of St Andrews, Abbots of Kelso and Dryburgh, Earls of Douglas, Moray and March, Sir Walter and Sir Alexander de Haliburton, Thomas de Hoppryngill and others.
In an undated charter by Sir Alexander de Dalwolsey, the witnesses are: William, Earl of Douglas, Sir James of Douglas of Dalkeith and his brother Sir Henry, Thomas de Hoppryngill, and four others.
Adam Hoppringle ( d. 15 August, 1388)
Adam Hoppringle was squire to William, Earl of Douglas, and his son James, for some 30 years during the reign of Robert II [Stewart], (1371-1390), who proved to have been a better Regent than he was a King.
In March 1368, in a charter dated at Cavers, Thomas de Balliol resigns to William, Earl of Douglas, certain lands, including Yarlsyde, Singlee and Penchryse. The witnesses were Sir Duncan Wallace, William de Lindsay, Simon deGlendinning, Thomas de Cranston, Adam deHoppringill, and five others.
In 1370/71, Robert II made Earl William Warden of the East Marches and Justiciary south of the Forth. In June, at Tantallon Castle, Earl William grants a charter to Melrose Abbey of the patronage of Cavers Church, to which the witnesses are James (his son), Sir Henry de Douglas, Sir John de Edmondston, Sir John de Towers, knights, and William de Creichton, Alan de Lauder and Adam de Hoppryngill, squires (scutiferi).
William, Earl of Douglas was succeeded by his son James, 2nd Earl, who at 15 (1370) married Isabel, daughter of King Robert II.
Between 1384 and 1388 we find Earl James confirming a charter to William, with reversion to Archibald (his natural son), the lands already given to him of Drumlanrig. The witnesses are: Sir Archibald of Douglas, Lord of Galloway, Sir James of Douglas, Lord of Dalkeith, Sir James of Lindsay, Lord of Crawford, Sir William of Lindsay, Sir Robert Colville, Sir William of Borthwick, Adam Forester, Adam of Hoppringill and Alan Lauder.
Adam de Hoppringill died at the Battle of Otterburn on 15th August, 1388, alongside Earl James. The Earl was buried beneath his tattered banner in Melrose Abbey. The battle, headed by theDouglases on the Scottish side, and Harry Hotspur of the Percys on the English side, is commemorated in the Ballad of Chevy Chase.
William Hoppringle Of That Ilk (c. 1390)
In the year ending March 1391 we read of a grant of £15 made by King Robert III to Willelmo Hoppringill. The fee was large one - similar in size to that of the Constable of Edinburgh Castle. Although we do not know what office he held, it was obviously an important one. He was also the first Hoppringill designated, "Of That Ilk".
Adam de Hoppringle II (c. 1407)
In January, 1407, at Westminster, Henry VI granted safe conducts to Sir Thomas de Murray, Sir William de Dalziel, William de Towers, Hugh Campbell, Robert Pryngil and 50, their companions, to go in England until the fast of Purification.
Archibald "The Grim" was succeeded as head of the Douglas clan by Archibald "Tineman" (loser of battles). Earl Archibald married a sister of the Regent Albany, and Sir Walter Haliburton to one of his daughters. In a charter confirmed by Albany at Falkland Place on 9th May, 1407: "Know all that I, Walter Haliburton of that Ilk, have given, conceded, and by this my charter confirmed to Adam de Hoppringle, son of the late William de Hoppringle of that Ilk, all my lands of Fawnys (Fans) with pertinents lying within the earldom of March, to be held by said Adam and his heirs or assignees, paying to me and my heirs a pair of gilt spurs annually at Whitsunday in name of blench, if asked only, in place of all other services or demands which by me or my heirs could be exacted of said lands." Witnesses are Sir John Seton, Sir William de Hay, Sir Walter de Bikirton, Alexander, George, Fergus and John de Haliburton, and William de Spens. These were the lands known as Yerlside (Earlside) and were a fourth part of Fans and Lauderdale.
Thomas, Archibald and Sir Andrew Hoppringle
Adam's children were Thomas, Archibald and Sir Andrew deHoppringill, a chaplain. Sir Andrew also acted as attorney for John de Gordon at Stitchill.
Robert Hoppringle (d. August 1424)
On 20th March, 1408, at Edinburgh, a charter was granted by Archibald, Earl of Douglas, to Robert de Hoppringill, of the lands of Pilmuir, Lauderdale, to be held ward.
The son and heir of the Earl of Douglas sailed to La Rochelle in 1419 with 7,000 soldiers to help bring central France under the Dauphin. In March, 1420, they routed the English at Beauge, killing the Duke of Clarence, King Henry V's brother. Following a defeat in 1423 at Crevat, the Earl himself enlisted in the cause, landing in Spring 1424 at La Rochelle with 10,000 knights and soldiers. He was made Duke of Touraine at Tours.
Disaster came when the army went to the relief of the Castle at Ivry, besieged by the Duke of Bedford. At Veineuil on 17th August, 1424, the Scots were defeated by the English. The Earl and his younger son, James, were both killed and buried in the middle of the choir at Tours Cathedral. Robert Hoppringill, the Earl's squire, also died in the battle.
George and Alexander Hoppringle (c. 1430)
His sons, George and Alexander were both squires to the Douglases; to Archibald, 5th Earl, and succeeding Earls until the forfeiture of the Earldom in 1455.
After the assasination of the King in February 1437, the Earl of Douglas was created Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom. In November, 1437, he issued Letters of Bailiary, appointing George de Hoppringill his Bailie of the lands of Dunbrenny, in the sheriffdom of Perth, to endure for the Duke's will.
In August, 1450, William, Earl of Douglas set off for Rome to celebrate the Papal Jubilee. He received flattering attention in Rome, and likewise at the English Court on his return journey. His letters of safe-conduct of 23rd April, 1451, issued on 12th May, include 100 attendants, of whom 37 are given by name. They include, Sir James Douglas, the Earls of Moray and Ormond, his brothers, Lord James Hamilton, Sir Alexander Home of that Ilk, George Hoppringill, Alexander Hoppringill, David Hoppringill (respectively, 14th, 15th and 16th on the list).
Robert Hoppringle of Smailholm (c. 1450)
Precisely when the Pringles acquired the lands of Smailholm is uncertain, though a George Pringle - the first Master Ranger of the Tweed - was in possession before 1459 when Robert Pringle of Wrangholm succeeded him as laird. Squires of the Earls of Douglas until the forfeiture of the earldom in 1455, the "heart" device - the monogram of the Douglas family - can be seen carved on the chamfer at the left hand side of the fireplace of Smailholm Tower, the fortified house on Smailholm Crag.
William and Thomas Pringle (c. 1480)
In 1473 Wille Pringill is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls as an official in the household of James III. Sauchieburn was fought on 11th June 1488, and in the following month the new King, James IV, granted to Thomas Pringill, Trumpeter, £10 for his services, and the lands of Ballencrieff, with the power of occupying or letting them to tenants, and in 1498 confirmed the grant when in camp at Kintyre.
The Pringles had strong ties with James III, being mentioned as part of his household in 1473. Subsequently, the Pringles were amongst the household staff of James IV and James V.
Adam Hoppringle
In 1474 King James III granted to Adam(2) Pringill de Burnhouse, "familiaris armiger suus" (membership of the Household Guards), the lands of Caverton, Roxburghshire, forfeited by Robert, Lord Boyd. In 1480, Adam also recovered two-thirds of Hoppringle after the resolution of a dispute with Lady Hoppringle.
Mariotte of that Ilk, a daughter of Margaret Turnbull, Lady Hoppringill, relict of Thomas Hoppringill, was left a ward of the King. He granted marriage to William, 1st Lord Borthwick. There was a certain amount of in-fighting over the Pringle lands between Mariotte and Adam (2) of that Ilk (grandson of the original Adam, and son of Archibald), and Robin Hoppringill. Adam was a member of the Household Guard of James III (1460-1488). In 1480 Adam reclaimed two-thirds of the Hoppringill lands, to Lady Hoppringill's one-third.
Alexander, Elizabeth, Margaret and Isabella Hoppringle
Adam's (2) children were: Alexander (heir), Elizabeth (married William Spottiswoode of that Ilk - killed at Flodden), Margaret (married Patrick Crighton of Lugton), Isabella (prioress of Coldstream Abbey).
In 1494 Alexander, son of Adam (2) Hoppringill took action against Thomas and John Borthwick of Crookston over their destruction and downcasting of his tower-house and place of Burnhouse. Alexander's sister was Isabella, Prioress of Coldstream. Alexander died in 1530.
Thomas Hoppringle
Between 1502 and 1508 Thomas Pringill, Trumpeter, was allowed to export, free of duty, certain quantities of wool, hides and salmon. In 1506 he got the escheat of the goods of Sir William Lindsay, pertaining to the King because of Lindsay's treason.
In 1503, James had married 12-year-old Margaret Tudor and signed a treaty of perpetual peace with England. But in 1511, his brother-in-law, Henry VIII of England, joined the Pope, King of Spain and the Doge of Venice in a Holy League against France. James passionately desired a united Europe. Determined to maintain a balance of power, he therefore renewed the 'Auld Alliance' with France, and tried in vain to mediate.
In January 1507 the King issued an edict: "We have for certain reasons, and for the good rule of our Port of Grace (Newhaven in Edinburgh), constituted our lovit familiar servitour, Thomas Hoppringill, Baillie of our said port, as well of sea as of land, and to use the office of Justiciary within the bounds of the same." It was here that the King built the ship "Saint Michael", the greatest ship of its age, with sides of oak 10ft thick, and carrying besides the crew 1,000 men at arms.
On 9th September, 1513, at Flodden Field, Thomas Hoppringill was the principal Trumpeter and by his master's side sounded the charge, and died alongside the King.
"...their tread alone,
At times one warning trumpet blown,
At times a stifled hum,
Told England from his mountain throne,
King James did rushing come."
John Hoppringle
John Hoppringill, apparently Thomas' brother, was also amongst James IV's five trumpeters. There are many references to them in the Exchequer Rolls. John Pringill is also mentioned as accompanying James IV on a pilgrimage to Whithorn Monastery.
Isabella Hoppringle
Isabella Hoppringill was Prioress ofColdstream Abbey, near Flodden. On hearing of the defeat she instructed that the bodies of the dead be brought to her for burial in consecrated ground. This noble act is still commemorated each August by a ceremony in the town.
When, in the same year, Queen Margaret and her husband fled from the Regent Albany to England, they had stopped at the convent and found Isabella a congenial and intelligent hostess. In 1515, Henry VIII issued an edict to the English Wardens protecting the Prioress and her convent.
In April, 1523, Queen Margaret wrote to the Earl of Surrey and Warden of the English Middle March to save the Abbey from burning, and they had granted her request, "because the prioress is one of the best spies we have in Scotland."
John Hoppringle
The last recorded usage in its full form is by a Chief of the Clan whose will, dated 1737, is in the name of "John Hoppringle of that Ilk"
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