Bartolf Lessley

Bartolf also known as Bartholomew was a Scottish nobleman and the founder of the Leslie family, who currently serve as Earls of Leven and Earls of Rothes and Lord Newark, all of which are situated in the historic kingdom and county of Fife, Scotland.

Bartolf is known for being the first governor of Edinburgh Castle in the 11th century, he moved to Scotland in 1067 and married king Malcolm III's sister Beatrix^[1] (of whom he founded the Leslie family with). He may of lived until the 12th century (ie. the 1100s) according to the Scottish Rampant Clan website.^[2]

Earl of Ross and Lord Lessley

He supposedly was given the title of Earl of Ross by king Malcolm Canmore and Lord Lessley which became Lord Leslie by 1445. This is according to a c. 19th century book on titles within Scotland.^[3] Note: his name in this book is the Latin-ish Bartholdus not Bartolfus or Bartolf.

"Grip fast" legend

Clan Leslie member badge bearing the motto Grip Fast.

As the Queen's Chamberlain, it was Bartolf's duty to carry the Queen on his own horse, with her riding pillion on a pad behind the saddle with a belt round his waist for her to hold. Tradition has it that one day while riding in this fashion they were crossing a swollen stream when the horse stumbled and the Queen fearing she would fall off cried "Gin the buckle bide?" (Will the buckle hold?), Bartolf, urging his horse to the other side answered crying "Grip Fast!" and they reached the other side safely. This incident so alarmed Bartolf that he had two more buckles added to his belt, so three buckles on a belt became the Arms of the Leslies and "Grip Fast!" became the motto.

Leslie name

Bartolf established himself at Lesselyn, in the Garioch district of Aberdeenshire, where he built a castle. Note: he was also given land in other parts of Angus and Fife although it is unclear whether he used them or not.^[4] Lesselyn eventually by 1293 had become Lessley and eventually Leslie and the Leslie family as we now know it was founded.^[5] Bartolf's son was created Constable of the Royal Castle of Inverurie according to sources, it is unknown who he was though.

Death

According to the book "Historical records of the family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868-9 Vol.1" by Colonel Leslie KH of Balquhain, he died in 1121 and passed the title of Earl of Ross and Lord Lessley to his son Malcolm.^[6] Malcolm was created constable of the royal castle at Inverury which he held for David I, and his great-grandson, Sir Norman Lesley, acquired the lands of Fythkill in Fife, afterwards called Leslie, around 1282.^[7]

See Also

• Malcolm Lessley
• Norman Lessley
• Norino Lessley
• Earl of Rothes
• Sir Walter Leslie

References

1. ↑ "Clan Leslie Charitable Trust - Family History". clanleslietrust.org. Retrieved 2017-08-01. 
2. ↑ "Leslie History | ScotClans | Scottish Clans". ScotClans | Scottish Clans. Retrieved 2017-08-01. 
3. ↑ Salmon, Nathaniel (1759). A Short View of the Families of the Scottish Nobility: Their Titles, Marriages, Issue, Descents; ... To which are Added, a List of All Those Peers who Have Served in Parliament Since the Union; ... By Mr. Salmon. W. Owen. 
4. ↑ "Leslie Clan Crest, Grip Fast Motto, Family History, Leslie Clan Gifts". www.scotsconnection.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02. 
5. ↑ "Clan Leslie". Wikipedia. 2017-07-23. 
6. ↑ Leslie, Charles Joseph (1869). Historical records of the family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868-9,. Edinburgh,. 
7. ↑ Sholto. "Leslie". www.scotland.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-08-06.