LEARMONTH,
a surname as old as the reign of Malcolm III. The principal family
of the name was Learmonth of Ercildoune in the Merse, of which was
Thomas the Rhymer, the earliest poet of Scotland (see RYMER, Thomas
of Ercildonne). A younger son of this celebrated personage is said
to have married Janet Dairsie, heiress of Dairsie, in Fife, and to
have obtained with her that estate and the heritable offices of
bailie and admiral of the regality of St. Andrews. Sir James
Learmonth of Dairsie, master of the household to King James V., was
provost of St. Andrews in 1546.
Learmonth of Balcomie, also in Fife, of this family, was
master of the household to James IV. In a note to his Introduction
to the metrical Romance of Sir Tristrem, Sir Walter Scott says: “In
removing and arranging some ancient papers, lodged in the offices of
the Clerks of Session, the following genealogical memoir was
discovered, among many writings belonging to the family of Learmonth
of Balcomy, which is now extinct. It is in the handwriting of the 17th
century. ‘The genealogy of the honourable and ancient sirname of
Leirmont. Leirmont bears Or, on a chevron, S, three
mascles voided of the first; the name is from France. The chief of
the name was the laird of Ersilmont in the Merse, whose predecessor,
Thomas Leirmonth, (lived) in the reign of Alexander III. He foretold
his death. One of whose sons married Janet de Darsie, and had the
lands of Darsie in Fife, be that marriage; the contract is yet
extant confirmed be the king. The house of Darsie bear a rose in
base for difference. It is now extinct; only Leirmont of Balcomie in
Fife, is chief now, whose predecessor was master of howshold to King
James IV. His predecessor was the eldest son of Darsie, and took to
himselfe the estate of Balcomie, leaving Darsie to the second
brother. Upon this account, Balcomie is holden of the king, and
Darsie of the archbishop of St. Andrews; so Balcomie bears the
simple coat without the rose in base, since the distinction of
Darsie.’” In 1604 Sir John Learmonth of Balcomie, knight, was one of
the commissioners appointed to treat with the English commissioner,
relative to a treaty of union with England, a favourite project of
James VI. He was a member of the assembly held at Perth on 25th
August 1618, at which the five articles were agreed upon, he voting
for them. On the renewal of the high commission in 1619 he was one
of the members of that arbitrary tribunal. Both families have long
been extinct; the name, however, is not uncommon in Scotland. (See
DARSIE.)
