Simon Locard
Encyclopedia
Sir Symon Locard, 2nd of Lee (1300–1371) was a Scottish knight
who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence
. He accompanied Sir James Douglas
in their curtailed attempt to carry the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land
in 1330.
(aka the "Black Douglas"), set out to fulfil the King's last wish, that his heart be taken to the Holy Land
, to be deposited in the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. King Robert's heart was placed in a silver casket, which was carried by Sir James, while Sir Symon Locard was entrusted with the key:
“In 1329 a band of Scottish knights set out to fulfil the last wish of their dead King. Their leader, Lord James Douglas, carried the King’s heart in ‘ane cas of silver fyn, enamilit throu subtilite’ hung about his neck. Beside him rode Sir Symon Locard, carrying the key of the casket. Sir Symon had won fame and distinction in the wars against the English; and now he was entrusted with the key of the precious casket.”.
The two knights, with six other knights and twenty-six squires and gentlemen, set out from Montrose
in 1330. Stopping a Sluys in Flanders
, they heard of the crusade of Alfonso XI of Castile
against the Muslim Emirate of Granada
. Sailing to Seville
, they joined Alfonso's army and took part in the Battle of Teba
. Most of the Scots were killed, including Sir James Douglas, Sir William St. Clair of Rosslyn
and Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig
. The body of Sir James, and the casket, were recovered from the field, and were carried back to Scotland by Sir Symon Locard and Sir William Keith of Galston.
, as the only holder of the key to the locked casket. He added a heart and fetterlock to the family coat of arms
, and the motto Corda Serrata Pando: "I open locked hearts". Sir Symon lived into his 70s, dying in 1371 at the beginning of the reign of Robert II
(1371–1390).
, whom he held ransom. When the emir's mother came to ransom him, she paid with an amulet
, which she claimed had medicinal properties. The amulet could be dipped into water to make the water antipyretic
, for fever reduction, and hemostatic to restrict bleeding. Sir Symon made use of the amulet in Spain and in Scotland, and its healing powers became widely known. The amulet became known as the Lee Penny, after the family seat of Lee Castle
near Lanark
, and remains in the possession of the Lockhart family. The story of the Lee Penny formed the basis for Sir Walter Scott's 1825 novel The Talisman.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
. He accompanied Sir James Douglas
James Douglas, Lord of Douglas
Sir James Douglas , , was a Scottish soldier and knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence.-Early life:...
in their curtailed attempt to carry the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
in 1330.
Family
Symon was the grandson of another Sir Symon Locard (1236-1286) who was knighted by King Alexander III (r.1249-1286), and acquired the lands of Craiglockhart. This Symon had two children, Malcolm and Stephen. Stephen died in 1320, leaving Symon Locard as successor to the 'Lands of Lee.'Mission to the Holy Land
Following the death of Robert the Bruce in 1329, his companion Sir James DouglasJames Douglas, Lord of Douglas
Sir James Douglas , , was a Scottish soldier and knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence.-Early life:...
(aka the "Black Douglas"), set out to fulfil the King's last wish, that his heart be taken to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, to be deposited in the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. King Robert's heart was placed in a silver casket, which was carried by Sir James, while Sir Symon Locard was entrusted with the key:
“In 1329 a band of Scottish knights set out to fulfil the last wish of their dead King. Their leader, Lord James Douglas, carried the King’s heart in ‘ane cas of silver fyn, enamilit throu subtilite’ hung about his neck. Beside him rode Sir Symon Locard, carrying the key of the casket. Sir Symon had won fame and distinction in the wars against the English; and now he was entrusted with the key of the precious casket.”.
The two knights, with six other knights and twenty-six squires and gentlemen, set out from Montrose
Montrose, Angus
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers...
in 1330. Stopping a Sluys in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, they heard of the crusade of Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
against the Muslim Emirate of Granada
Emirate of Granada
The Emirate of Granada , also known as the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada , was an emirate established in 1238 following the defeat of Muhammad an-Nasir of the Almohad dynasty by an alliance of Christian kingdoms at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212...
. Sailing to Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, they joined Alfonso's army and took part in the Battle of Teba
Battle of Teba
The Battle of Teba took place in August 1330, in the valley below the fortress of Teba, now a town in the province of Málaga in Andalusia, southern Spain...
. Most of the Scots were killed, including Sir James Douglas, Sir William St. Clair of Rosslyn
Rosslyn
Rosslyn can refer to:* Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland* Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia, United States** Rosslyn , the Washington Metro station serving Rosslyn* Rosslyn, Ontario, Canada...
and Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig
Restalrig
Restalrig is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located east of the city centre, west of the A199 road, and to the east of Lochend, with which it overlaps. Restalrig Road is the main route through the area, running from London Road at Jock's Lodge, to Leith Links at the south edge of...
. The body of Sir James, and the casket, were recovered from the field, and were carried back to Scotland by Sir Symon Locard and Sir William Keith of Galston.
Origin of the surname Lockhart
It is said that, following these events, Sir Symon changed his surname to Lockheart, later LockhartLockhart
-Places:In the United States:*Lockhart, Alabama*Lockhart, Florida*Lockhart, South Carolina*Lockhart, Texas*Lockhart Township, Minnesota*Lockhart StadiumIn Australia:*Lockhart, New South Wales*Lockhart River, Queensland...
, as the only holder of the key to the locked casket. He added a heart and fetterlock to the family coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, and the motto Corda Serrata Pando: "I open locked hearts". Sir Symon lived into his 70s, dying in 1371 at the beginning of the reign of Robert II
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
(1371–1390).
The Lee Penny
At the battle of Teba, Sir Symon captured a wealthy EmirEmir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
, whom he held ransom. When the emir's mother came to ransom him, she paid with an amulet
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
, which she claimed had medicinal properties. The amulet could be dipped into water to make the water antipyretic
Antipyretic
Antipyretics ; an-tee-pahy-ret-iks; from the Greek anti, against, and pyreticus, are drugs or herbs that reduce fever. Normally, they will not lower body temperature if one does not have a fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override an interleukin-induced increase in temperature...
, for fever reduction, and hemostatic to restrict bleeding. Sir Symon made use of the amulet in Spain and in Scotland, and its healing powers became widely known. The amulet became known as the Lee Penny, after the family seat of Lee Castle
Lee Castle, South Lanarkshire
Lee Castle, also known as The Lee, is a castellated mansion in Auchenglen, a branch of the Clyde Valley in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located south of Braidwood, and north-west of Lanark...
near Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
, and remains in the possession of the Lockhart family. The story of the Lee Penny formed the basis for Sir Walter Scott's 1825 novel The Talisman.