Hugh Kennedy of Girvanmains

Hugh or Huw Kennedy of Girvanmains was a Scottish courtier, soldier, and landowner.

He was the son of Alexander Kennedy of Girvanmains in Ayrshire. The family lived at Dalquharran Castle.

He was a supporter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus when James V of Scotland was in his minority. After James V broke free from the Douglases, Kennedy was regarded as a traitor, but was forgiven in 1530 and allowed to into exile in France.

In August 1554 Mary of Guise hired a private ship, called the Lion from George Hume to attack Borve Castle, Sutherland held by Iye Du Mackay. Hugh Kennedy embarked 50 soldiers and the royal gunner Hans Cochrane with a cannon. Provisions for Kennedy's voyage included a barrel of white wine bought from Anthony Varennes, a French soldier based at Broughty Castle under Monsieur Curtre.[1]

Hugh Kennedy hoped to capture the Robsons at Girnigoe Castle in 1554

Kennedy was at Dunrobin Castle in October 1554. He wrote to the Earl of Cassillis that he had met representatives of the Clan Gunn on 12 October who promised their loyalty to the queen. The Robson Gunn family, however, were prominent supporters of Iye Du Mackay. John Robson's sons and his nephews were at Girnigoe Castle. Hugh Kennedy asked Cassillis to persuade Mary of Guise to order the Earl of Caithness to surrender Girnigoe. William Robson could be charged with treason for fire-raising, murder, slaughter, and concurring with and fortifying rebels. Hugh Kennedy wrote that he planned to meet Iye Du Mackay on 18 October, and he hoped he would accept the queen regent's terms. The late Donald Mackay's wife Helen Sinclair was in possession of some of Mary of Guise's dower lands near Inverness. Hugh Kennedy thought that Mary of Guise could take these lands, because Helen Sinclair had hosted the household servants of the rebel Iye Du Mackay. He thought the matter would not even go to trial. He sent his greetings to Henri Cleutin.[2]

In October 1555, Hugh Kennedy was paid for the voyage in the Lion, and for keeping Iye Du Mackay and two gentlemen, and buying Mackay clothes before 11 November 1554, with two year's arrears of his salary.[3]

Rob John Robson was subsequently a pledge for the Clan Gunn and was held at Edinburgh Castle from February 1558.[4]

The date of Hugh Kennedy's death is unknown.

  1. ^ Pamela Ritchie, Mary of Guise in Scotland, 1548-1560: A Political Career (Tuckwell, 2002), p. 166: James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1913), pp. 233-4, 237.
  2. ^ Annie Cameron, Scottish Correspondence of Mary of Lorraine (Edinburgh, 1927), pp. 390-5.
  3. ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1913), pp. 294-5, 314.
  4. ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1913), pp. 269, 331.