William Schaw (1549-1602)

and the

Masters of Work to the Scottish Crown

and the Shaw Statutes

Masters of works to the crown of Scotland, from The Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (SocAntScot.org)

William Schaw by Bro David McGregor. From The Master Mason.

William Schaw Master of Works. From The New Age.

 

Wikipedia – Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland

Wikipedia.org – William Schaw

The Schaw Monument – Church Monuments Society

See also: 

Highly recommended Scottish Masonic author: Robert L.D. Cooper (robertldcooper.org)

Cracking the Freemason’s Code: The Truth About Solomon’s Key and the Brotherhood, by Bro. Robert Cooper. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cracking-Freemasons-Code-Solomons-Brotherhood/dp/1846040493/

THE FIRST SCHAW STATUTE OF 1598

At Edinburgh the XXVIII day of December, The zeir of God I’ V’ four scoir awchtene zeiris.

At Edinburgh, the 28th day of December, the year of God 1598.

The statutis ordinance is to be obseruit be all the maister maissounis within this realme, Sett doun be Williame Schaw, Maister of Wark, to his maiestie And generall Wardene of the said craft, with the consent of the maisteris efter specifeit.

The Statutes and Ordinances to be observed by all the Master Masons within this realm. Set down by William Schaw, Master of Work to His Majesty and General Warden of the said Craft, with consent of the Masters specified hereafter.

(1) Item, first that they obserue and keip all the gude ordinanceis sett doun of befoir concemyng the priviligeis of thair Craft be thair predicesso’ of gude memorie, And specialie That thay be trew ane to ane vther and leve cheritablie togidder as becumis sworne brether and companzeounis of craft.

(1) First, they shall observe and keep all the good ordinances established before, concerning the privileges of their craft, by their predecessors of good memory; and especially, they shall be true to one another and live charitably together as becometh sworn brethren and companions of the Craft.

(2) Item, that thay be obedient to thair wardenis, dekynis, and maisteris in alithingis concernyng thair craft.

(2) They shall be obedient to their wardens, deacons, and masters in all things concerning their craft.

(3) Item, that thay be honest, faithfull, and diligent in thair calling, and deill uprichtlie w’the maisteris or awnaris of the warkis that they sall tak vpoun hand, be it in task, meit, & fie, or owlkiie wage.

(3) They shall be honest, faithful, and diligent in their calling, and deal uprightly with their masters, or the employers (owners), on the work which they shall take in hand, whether it be piece-work with meals and pay [task, melt, & fie], or for weekly wages.

(4) Item, that name tak vpoun hand ony wark gritt or small quhilk he is no’abill to performe qualifeitlie vnder the pane of fourtie pundis money or ellis the fourt pairt of the worth and valo’of the said wark, and that by and atto’ ane condigne amendis and satisfactioun to be maid to the awnaris of the wark at the sycht and discretioun of the generall Wardene, or in his absence at the sycht of the wardeneis, dekynis, and maisteris of the shrefdome quhair the said wark is interprisit and wrocht.

(4) None shall undertake any work great or small, which he is not capable to perform adequately, under penalty of forty pounds lawful money or else the fourth part of the worth and value of the work, besides making satisfactory amends to the employers, according as the General Warden may direct or, in the absence of the latter, as may be ordered by the wardens, deacons, and masters of the sheriffdom in which the work is undertaken and carried on.

(5) Item, that na maister sali tak anevther maisteris wark over his heid, efter that the first maister hes aggreit w’the awnar of the wark ather be contract, arlis, or verball conditioun, vnder the paine of fourtie punds.

(5) No master shall take away another master’s work after the latter has entered into an agreement with the employer by contract or otherwise, under penalty of forty pounds.

(6) Item, that na maister sall tak the wirking of ony wark that vther maisteris hes wrocht at of befoir, vnto the tyme that the first wirkaris be satisfeit for the wark quhilk thay haif wrocht, vnder the pane foirsaid.

(6) No master shall take over any work at which other masters have been engaged previously, until the latter shall have been paid in full for the work they did, under penalty of forty pounds.

(7) Item, that thair be ane wardene chosin and electit Ilk zeir to haif the charge over everie ludge, as thay are devidit particularlie, and that be the voitis of the maisteris of the saids ludgeis, and consent of thair Wardene generall gif he happynis to be pn’, And vtherwyis that he be aduerteist that sic ane wardene is chosin for sic ane zeir, to the effect that the Wardene generall may send sic directionis to that wardene electit, as effeiris.

(7) A warden shall be elected annually to have charge of every lodge in the district for which he is chosen by the votes of the masters of the lodges of such district and the consent of the Warden General if he happens to be present; otherwise the Warden General shall be notified of the election that he may send to the warden-elect necessary directions.

(8) Item, that na maister sall tak ony ma prenteissis nor thre during his lyfetyme w’out ane speciall consent of the haill wardeneis, dekynis, and maisteris of the schirefdome quhair the said prenteiss that is to be ressauit dwellis and remanis.

(8) No master shall take more than three ‘prentices in his lifetime, without the special consent of all the wardens, deacons, and masters of the sheriffdom in which the to-be-received ‘prentice resides.

(9) Item, that na maister ressaue ony prenteiss bund for fewar zeiris nor sevin at the leist, and siclyke it sall no’be lesum to mak the said prenteiss brother and fallow in craft vnto the tyme thathe haif seruit the space of vther sevin zeiris efter the ische of his said prenteischip w’out ane speciall licenc granttit be the wardeneis, dekynis, and maisteris assemblit for the caus, and that sufficient tryall be tane of thair worthynes, qualificatioun, and skill of the persone that desyirs to be maid fallow in craft, and that vnder the pane of fourtie punds to be upliftit as ane pecuniall penaltie fra the persone that is maid fallow in craft aganis this ord’, besyde the penalteis to be set doun aganis his persone, accordyng to the ord’of the ludge quhair he remanis.

(9) No master shall take on any ‘prentice except by binding him to serve him as such for at least seven years, and it shall not be lawful to make such ‘prentice a brother or fellow of the craft until he shall have served other seven years after the completion of his ‘prenticeship, without a special license granted by the wardens, deacons, and masters, assembled for that purpose, after sufficient trial shall have been made by them of the worthiness, qualifications and skill of the person desiring to be made a fellowcraft. A fine of forty pounds shall be collected as a pecuniary penalty from the person who is made a fellow of the craft in violation of this order, besides the penalties to be levied against his person by order of the lodge of the place where he resides.

(10) Item, it sall no’ be lesum to na maister to sell his prenteiss to ony vther maister nor zit to dispens w’the zeiris of his prenteischip be selling y’of to the prenteisses self, vnder the pane of fourtie punds.

(10) It shall not be lawful for any master to sell his ‘prentice to another master, nor to curtail the years of his ‘prenticeship by selling these off to the ‘prentice himself, under the penalty of forty pounds.

(11) Item, that na maister ressaue ony prenteiss w’out he signifie the samyn to the wardene of the ludge quhair he dwellis, to the effect that the said prenteissis name and the day of his ressauyng may be ord’lie buikit.

(11) No master shall take on a ‘Prentice without notice to the warden of the lodge where he resides, so that the ‘Prentice and the day of his reception may be duly booked.

(12) Item, that na prenteiss be enterit bot be the samyn ord’, that the day of thair enteres may be buikit.

(12) No ‘Prentice shall be entered except according to the aforesaid regulations in order that the day of entry may be duly booked.

(13) Item, that na maister or fallow of craft be ressauit nor admittit w’out the numer of sex maisteris and twa enterit prenteissis, the wardene of that ludge being ane of the said sex, and that the day of the ressauyng of the said fallow of craft or maister be ord’lie buikit and his name and mark insert in the said buik w’ the names of his sex admitteris and enterit prenteissis, and the names of the intendaris that salbe chosin to everie persone to be alsua insert in thair buik. Providing alwayis that na man be admittit w’out ane assay and sufficient tryall of his skill and worthynes in his vocatioun and craft.

(13) No master or fellow of craft shall be received or admitted without there being present six masters and two entered ‘prentices, the warden of the lodge being one of the six, when the day of receiving the new fellow of craft or master shall be duly booked and his mark inserted in the same book, with the names of the six admitters and entered ‘prentices, as also the names of the intenders [intendaris-instructors] which shall be chosen for every person so entered in the book of the lodge. Providing always that no man be admitted without an essay and sufficient trial of his skill and worthiness in his vocation and craft.

(14) Item, that na maister wirk ony maissoun wark vnder charge or command of ony vther craftisman that takis vpoun hand or vpoun him the wirking of ony maissoun wark.

(14) No master shall engage in any mason work under the charge or command of any other craftsman who has undertaken the doing of any mason work.

(15) Item, that na maister or farow of craft ressaue ony cowanis to wirk in his societie or cumpanye, nor send nane of his servands to wirk w’cowanis, under the pane of twentie punds sa oft as ony persone offendis heirintill.

(15) No master or fellow of craft shall accept any cowan to work in his society or company, nor send any of his servants to work with cowans, under the penalty of twenty pounds as often as any person offends in this matter.

(16) Item, it sall no’be lesum to na enterit prenteiss to tak ony gritter task or wark vpon hand fra a awnar nor will extend to the soume of ten punds vnder the pane foirsaid, to wit xx libs, and that task being done they sall Interpryiss na mair w’out licence of the maisteris or warden q’thay dwell.

(16) It shall not be lawful for any entered ‘Prentice to undertake any greater task or work for an employer, which amounts to as much as ten pounds, under the penalty just mentioned, to wit twenty pounds, and that task being done he shall not undertake any other work without license of the masters or warden where he dwells.

(17) Item, gif ony questioun, stryfe, or varianc sall fall out amang ony of the maisteris, servands, or entert prenteissis, that the parteis that fallis in questioun or debait, sall signifie the causis of thair querrell to he perticular wardeneis or dekynis of thair ludge w’in the space of xxiiij ho” vnder the pane of ten pnds, to the effect that thay may be reconcilit and aggreit and their variance removit be thair said wardeneis, dekynis, and maisteris; and gif ony of the saids parteis salhappin to remane wilfull or obstinat that they salbe deprivit of the privilege of thair ludge and no’permittit to wirk y’at vnto the tyme that thay submit thame selffis to ressoun at the sycht ofthair wardenis, dekynis, and maisteris, as said is.

(17) If any question, strife, or variance shall arise among any of the masters, servants, or entered ‘prentices, the parties involved in such questions or debate shall make known the causes of their quarrel to the particular warden and deacon of their lodge, within the space of twenty-four hours, under penalty of ten pounds, to the end that they may be reconciled and agreed and their variances removed by their said warden, deacon, and masters; and if any of the said parties shall remain wilful or obstinate, they shall be deprived of the privilege of their lodge and not permitted to work thereat unto the time that they shall submit themselves to reason according to the view of the said wardens, deacons, and masters.

(18) Item, that all maisteris, Inte priseris of warkis, be verray cairfull to sie thair skaffellis and futegangis surelie sett and placeit, to the effect that throw thair negligence and siewth na hurt or skaith cum vnto ony personis that wirkis at the said wark, vnder pain of dischargeing of thaim y efter to wirk as maisteris havand charge of ane wark, bot sall ever be subiect all the rest of thair dayis to wirk vnder or w ane other principall maister havand charge of the wark.

(18) All masters, undertakers of works, shall be very careful to see that the scaffolds and gangways are set and placed securely in order that by reason of their negligence and sloth no injury or damage [hurt or skaith] may come to any persons employed in the said work, under penalty of their being excluded thereafter from working as masters having charge of any work, and shall ever be subject all the rest of their days to work under or with an other principal master in charge of the work.

(19) Item, that na maister ressaue or ressett ane vther maisteris prenteiss or servand that salhappin to ryn away fra his maisteris seruice, nor interteine him in his cumpanye efter that he hes gottin knawledge y’of, vnder the paine of fourtie punds.

(19) No master shall receive or house [resset] a ‘Prentice or servant of any other master, who shall have run away from his master’s service, nor entertain him in his company after he has received knowledge thereof, under penalty of forty pounds.

(20) Item, that all personis of the maissoun craft conuene in tyme and place being lawchfullie warnit, vnder the pane of ten punds.

(20) All persons of the mason craft shall convene at the time and place lawfully made known to them [being lawchfullie warnit], under penalty of ten pounds.

(21) Item, that all the maisteris that salhappin to be send for to ony assemblie or meitting sall be sworne be thair grit aith that thay sall hyde nor coneill na fawltis nor wrangis done be ane to ane vther, nor zit the faultis or wrangis that ony man hes done to the awnaris of the warkis that they haif had in hand sa fer as they knaw, and that vnder the pane of ten punds to be takin vp frae the conceillairs of the saidis faultis.

(21) All the masters who shall happen to be sent to any assembly or meeting, shall be sworn by their great oath that they will neither hide nor conceal any faults or wrongs done to the employers on the work they have in hand, so far as they know, and that under penalty of ten pounds to be collected from the concealers of the said faults.

(22) Item, it is ordanit that all thir foirsaids penalteis salbe liftit and tane vp fra the offendaris and brekaris of thir ordinances be the wardeneis, dekynis, and maisteris of the ludgeis quhair the offendaris dwellis, and to be distributit ad pios vsus according to gud conscience be the advyis of the foirsaidis.

(22) It is ordained that all the aforesaid penalties shall be lifted and taken up from the offenders and breakers of their ordinances by the wardens, deacons, and masters of the lodges where the offenders dwell, the moneys to be expended ad pios usus (for charitable purposes) according to good conscience and by the advice of such wardens, deacons, and masters.

And for fulfilling and observing of thir ordinances, sett doun as said is, The haill maisteris conuenit the foirsaid day binds and oblisses thaim heirto faithfullie. And thairfore hes requeistit thair said Wardene generall to subscriue thir presentis wt his awn hand, to the effect that ane autentik copy heirof may be send to euerie particular ludge w’in this realme.

For the fulfilling and observing of these ordinances, as set down above, the master convened on the aforesaid day bind and obligate themselves faithfully. Therefore they have requested their said Warden General to sign these ordinances by his own hand in order that an authentic copy hereof may be sent to every particular lodge within this realm.

WILLIAM SCHAW,

Maistir of Wark. Master of the Work

THE SECOND SCHAW STATUTE OF 1599

XXVIII Decembris, 1599. 28th December 1599.

(1) First It is ordanit that the warden witin the bounds of Kilwynning and vther placeis subject to thair ludge salbe chosin and electit zeirlie be monyest of the Mrs voitis of the said ludge vpoun the twentie day of December and that wn the kirk of Kilwynning as the heid and secund ludge of Scotland and yrefter that the generall warden be advertysit zeirlie quha is chosin warden of the ludge, immediatlie efter his electioun.

(1) The warden within the bounds of Kilwinning and other places subject to their lodge, shall be elected annually by a majority [be monyest]of the masters of the lodge, on the twentieth day of December, in the Kirk of Kilwinning. Immediately after election, the Warden General must be notified who was chosen warden.

(2) Item it is thocht neidfull & expedient be my lord warden generall that everie ludge wtin Scotland sall have in tyme cuming ye awld and antient liberties yrof vse and wont of befoir & in speciall, yt ye ludge ol Kilwynning secund ludge of Scotland sail haif thair warden pnt at the election of ye wardenis wtin ye bounds of ye Nether Waird of Cliddsdail, Glasgow Air & bounds of Carrik; wt powar to ye said wairden & dekyn of Kilwynning to convene ye remanent wardenis and dekynis wtin ye bounds foirsaid quhan thay haif ony neid of importance ado, and yai to bejudgit be ye warden and dekyn of Kilwynning quhen it sall pleis thame to qvene for ye tyme ather in Kilwynning or wtin ony vther pt of the west of Scotland and bounds foirsaid.

(2) Agreeably to “former ancient liberties,” the warden of Kilwinning shall be present at the election of wardens within the limits of the lower ward of Cliddisdale, Glasgow, Ayr, and the district of Carrik. Furthermore, the warden and deacon of Kilwinning shall have authority to convene the wardens within the indicated jurisdiction, when anything of importance is to be done, such meetings to be held at Kilwinning or any other place in the western part of Scotland included in the described bounds, as the warden and deacon of Kilwinning may appoint.

(3) Item it is thocht neidfull & expedient be my lord warden generall, that Edr salbe in all tyme cuming as of befoir the first and principall ludge in Scotland, and yt Kilwynning be the secund ludge as of befoir is notourlie manifest in our awld antient writts and that Stirueling salbe the third ludge, conforme to the auld privileges thairof.

(3) Edinburgh shall be, in the future as in the past, the first and principal lodge in Scotland; Kilwinning, the second “as is established in our ancient writings;” and Stirling shall be the third lodge, “conformably to the old privileges thereof.”

(4) Item it is thocht expedient yt ye wardenis of everie ilk ludge salbe answerabel to ye presbyteryes wtin thair schirefdomes for the maissonis subiect to ye ludgeis anent all offensis ony of thame sall committ, and the thrid pt of ye vnlawis salbe employit to ye godlie vsis of ye ludge quhair ony offens salhappin to be committit.

(4) The warden of each and every lodge shall he answerable to the presbyters of the sheriffdom for all offences committed by masons subject to these lodges. One third of all fines imposed for offences shall be applied to charitable [godlie] uses.

(5) Item yt yr be tryall takin zeirlie be ye wardenis & maist antient maisteris of everie ludge extending to sex personis quha sall tak tryall of ye offenss, yt punishment may be execut conforme to equitie & iustice & guid conscience & ye antient ordor.

(5) The wardens together with the oldest masters, up to the number of six, of every lodge shall hold an annual investigation of offences committed and try all offenders to the end that proper punishment may be meted out conformably to equity and justice and good conscience, according to traditional procedure.

(6) Item it is ordanit be my lord warden generall that the warden of Kilwynning as secund in Scotland, elect and chuis sex of the maist perfyt and worthiest of memorie within (thair boundis,) to tak tryall of the qualificatioun of the haill masonis within the boundis foirsaid of thair airt, craft, scyance and antient memorie; To the effect the warden deakin may be answerable heiraftir for sic p(er)sonis as Js qmittit to him & wthin his bounds and jurisdictioun.

(6) The warden of Kilwinning shall appoint six worthy and perfect masons, well known to the craft as such, to inquire into the qualifications of all the masons within the district, as regards their skill and knowledge of the trade and their familiarity with the old traditions, to the end that the warden [and] deacon may be answerable thereafter for all such persons within his district and jurisdiction.

(7) Item conunissioun in gewin to ye warden and deakon of Kilwynning as secund luge, to secluid and away put ftirthe of yr societe and cumpanie all psonis disobedient to fulfil & obey ye haill acts and antient statutts sett doun of befoir of guid memorie, and all psonis disobedient eyr to kirk craft counsall and uyris statutts and acts to be mayd heireftir for ane guid ordour.

(7) Authority is given to the warden and deacon of Kilwinning to exclude from the lodges of the district all persons who wilfully fail to live up to “all the acts and ancient statutes set down from time immemorial,” also all who are .”disobedient to their church, craft, council and other statutes and acts to be promulgated hereafter for good order.”

(8) Item it is ordainit be my lord warden generall that the warden and deakyn to be pnt of his quarter maisteris elect cheis and constitut ane famous notar as ordinar clark and scryb, and yat ye said notar to be chosinge sall occupye the office, and that all indentouris discharges and vtheris wrytis quhatsumevir, perteining to ye craft salbe onlie wrytin be ye clark and that na maner of wryt neyther tityll nor other evident to be admit be ye said warden and deakin befoir yame, except it be maid be ye said clark and subscryuit wt his hand.

(8) The warden and deacon, together with the masters of the district [quarter maisteries] shall elect a well known notary [constitut ane famous notar] as clerk and secretary [scryb] who shall make out and sign all indentures, discharges, and other writings whatsoever, pertaining to the craft, and no writ, title or other evidence shall be admitted by the warden and deacon, except it shall have been executed by this clerk and signed by him.

(9) Item It is ordanit be my lord generall that ye hale auld antient actis and statutis maid of befoir be ye predicessrs of ye masonis ofkilwynning be observit faithftillie and kepit be ye craftis in all tymes cuminge, and that na prenteis nor craftis man, in ony tymes heireftir be admittit nor enterit Bot onlie wthin the kirk of Kilwynning as his paroche and secund ludge, and that all bankatts for entrie of prenteis or fallow of crafts to be maid wthin ye said lug of Kilwynning.

(9) All the acts and statutes made by the predecessors of the masons of Kilwinning shall be observed faithfully and kept by the craft in all time coming; ‘prentices and craftsmen shall be admitted and entered hereafter only in the Kirk of Kilwinning, as their parish and second lodge, and all entry-banquets of ‘prentices and fellows of craft shall be held in the lodge of Kilwinning.

(10) Itemltis ordanit that all fallows of craft at his entrie pay to ye commoun bokis of ye luge the soume of ten punds monie, wt x s. worthe of gluiffis or euire he be admitit and that for the bankatt, And that he be not adrrtitit wthout ane sufficient essay and pruife of memorie and art of craft be the warden deacon and quarter mrs of ye lug, conforme to ye foirmer and qrthrow yai may be ye mair answerable to ye generall warden.

(10) Every fellow of craft, at his entry, shall pay to his lodge ten pounds to go for the banquet, and ten shillings for gloves; before admission he shall be examined by the warden [and] deacon and the district masters in the lodge as to his knowledge [memorie] and skill, and he also shall perform an assigned task to demonstrate his mastery of the art.

(11) Item that all prentessis to be admitit be not admittit qll first pay to ye commoun bankat foiresaid the sowme of sex punds monie, utherwyes to pay the bankat for ye haill members of craft wthin the said ludge and prentessis yrof.

(11) Every ‘prentice, before he is admitted, shall pay six pounds to be applied to the common banquet.

(12) Item It is ordanit that the warden and deakis of ye secund luge of Scotland pnt of Kilwynning, sall tak the aythe, fidelitie and trewthe of all mrs and fallowis of craft wthin ye haill bounds commitit to yr charge, zeirlie that thai sall not accumpanie wth cowans nor work with diame, nor any ofyr servands or prenteisses wndir ye paine of ye penaltie contenit in ye foirmer actis and peying yrof.

(12) The warden and deacon of the second lodge of Scotland, to wit Kilwinning, shall obligate by oath all masters and fellows of craft within the district not to associate with cowans nor work with them, neither to permit this to be done by their servants or ‘prentices.

(13) Item It is ordanit be ye generall warden, That ye warden of ye lug of Kilwynning, being the secund lug in Scotland, tak tryall of ye airt of memorie and science yrof, of everie fellowe of craft and everie prenteiss according to ayr of yr vocations; and in cais yat yai haue lost ony point yrof dvied to thame To pay the penaltie as followis for yr slewthfulness, viz., Ilk fallow of craft, xx s., Ilk prentess, x s., and that to be payit to ye box for ane commoun weill zeirlie & yat conforme to the commoun vs and pratik of the commoun lugs of this realm.

(13) The warden of the lodge of Kilwinning, being the second lodge of Scotland, once in each year, shall examine every fellow craft and ‘prentice, according to the vocation of each, as to his skill and knowledge; those who have forgotten any points they have been taught shall pay fines.

And for the fulfilling, observiiige and keping of thir statutis and all oyr actis and statuttis maid of befoir and to be maid be ye warden deaconis and quarter mrs of ye lugis foirsads for guid ordor keping confonn to equitie justice & antient ordor to ye makinge and setting doun qrof ye generall warden hes gevin his power and conunissionto the said warden and yrs abouevrtn to sett doun & mak actis conforme as accords to ye office law. And in signe and taking yrof I the generall warden of Scotland hes sett doun and causit pen yir actis & statutis And hes sybscryuit ye smyis wt my hand eftr ye testimoniale on this syd and on the uther syd.

Be it Kend to the warden dekyn and to the mrs of the ludge of Kilwynning That Archibald Barklay being directit commissioner fra the said ludge comperit in Edr the twentie sevin & twentie awcht of December Instant quhair the said

Archibald  in pns of the warden generall & the mrs of the ludge of Edr, producit his commissioun, and behaifit himself verie honestlie and cairfullie for the discharge of sik thingis as was committit into him; bot be ressone of the absence of his Maitie out of the toun and yt thair was na mrs bot the tudge of Edr convenit at this tyme, We culd not get ane satlat order (as the privileges ofthe craft requyris) tane at this tyme, bot heirefter quhan occasioun sal be offerit we sall get his Maities warrand baith for the authorizing of the ludgeis privilegeis, and ane penaltie set down for the dissobedient personis and perturberis of all guid ordor. Thus far I thocht guid to sgnifievn to the haill brether of the ludge, vnto the neist commoditie In witnes heirof, I haif subscriuit this pnt wt my hand at Halyrudhous the twentie awcht day of December The zeir of God ImV’ fourscoir nynetene zeirs.

WILLIAM SCHAW,

Maistir of Wark, Wairden of ye Maisons.

From - A System of Heraldry by Alexander Nisbet

Volume 1, page 422.

The surname of SHAW, with us, carries also azure [blue], three covered cups or [gold].

These of this name, says Sir George Mackenzie, are descended of one Shaw, a second son of Duncan Earl of Fife, who took their father’s name for a surname, (if whom the principal family was SHAW of Sauchie, who carried as above.


John Shaw of Sauchie was Comptroller to King James III. ; the lands of Greenock belonged to Sauchie, which one of his progenitors purchased, by marrying one of the co-heirs of Galbraith of Greenock, in the reign of Robert III. Which lands continued in the family of Sauchie till the reign of King James V. that Alexander Shaw of Sauchie gave the lands of Greenock, in patrimony, to John Shaw his eldest son, by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of William Cunningham of Glengarnock. The family of Sauchie, through failure of succession, fell into Greenock, who is now lineal representer, and chief of the name.


Sir JOHN SHAW of Greenock, Baronet, azure [blue], three covered cups or [gold]; supporters, two savages wreathed about the middle with laurel, proper ; crest, a demi-savage : motto, I mean well.


SHAW of Bargaran, in Renfrewshire, azure [blue], a fesse cheque, argent [silver] and gules [red], between three covered cups or [gold].

JOHN SHAW of Sornbeg, azure [blue], three mullets in fesse, between as many covered cups argent [silver]. N. R.