Christian de Callendar and Sir William Livingston

    Sir William supported the House of Bruce, and he accompanied King David II on his ill-fated invasion of England in 1346. Following the Scottish defeat at the battle of Neville’s Cross on October 17, 1346, King David along with many of his followers, including Sir William Livingston, were taken prisoner.  King David was not released until the Treaty of Berwick in October 1357, but Sir William was back in Scotland in 1350 or earlier. About that time,  the lands of Sir Patrick de Callendar were taken from him for his adherence to the English, and given to Sir William Livingston who then married Sir Patrick’s only daughter.

    It was uncertain who would gain the upper hand in Scotland, and it appears that Sir William made sure his situation was covered. In the event of a Scottish victory, he was a supporter of the House of Bruce. In the event of an English victory, his wife was from a family of English supporters; and he was doing his best to safeguard the lands of Sir Patrick de Callendar. Sir William’s Coat of Arms was the Livingston Arms (Argent, three cinquefoils Gules; i.e., a silver or white background with three red five circle shapes) quartered with the Callendar Arms (Sable, a bend between six billets, Or; i.e., a black background with a diagonal between six gold bars.)  As one of the Scottish magnates who negotiated the treaty of peace with England, Sir William’s seal of arms is attached to that document which is still preserved and bears the date 5th October, 1357.