rone, in 1370, Robert II. transferred
the Earldom to David, the eldest son of his second marriage to Euphemia
Ross, the widow of Randolph, Earl of Moray. Earl David took the title,
Earl Palatine, in 1375, and his only daughter, Euphemia, who succeeded
him in 1389, styled herself "_Senescalli Comitissa Palatina de
Strathearn_." She married Patrick Graham, who was killed at Ferntower,
in 1413, by Sir John Drummond of Concraig, Steward of Strathearn, and
kinsman of James I., whose mother was Annabella Drummond. The only son
of Patrick Graham and his wife, Euphemia, was Malise Graham, who, as
Earl of Strathearn, became security along with twenty-seven others for
the payment of the ransom of James I. He was detained as a hostage in
England for thirty years, and meantime his estates and title were
resumed by the King, on the ground that they did not descend to the
heir-female. To compensate him for this, he was created Earl of
Menteith. The annual rental of his estates as Earl of Strathearn was
set down in the Durham Schedule at 500 merks. The schedule was drawn
up in the year 1424.

Even in the time of the old Earls, Crieff held an important position in
public affairs. It will hardly do to say that it was the capital of
Strathearn. As a Royal Burgh of the foundation of Malcolm Canmore,
perhaps Auchterarder was entitled to claim the premier rank. But it
would seem that the business of the ancient Earldom was transacted
here. So early as 1218, Earl Gilbert, the founder of the religious
house of Inchaffray, granted a charter of "six marcis of Abercarnich,
dated apud Crefe die Santi Ambrosii." Fifty years later, Earl Malise,
who was the first of his race to show fondness for English
ways--sending his sons, Gilbert and Robert, to be educated in the
English Court--granted, to the Convent of Inchaffray, permission to
quarry stones within his lands at Nether Gask. The permission was
dated at Crieff, 1266. Later traces are a narration by Robert, the
Steward of Scotland and Earl of Strathearn, of the proceedings of his
Court, held at Crieff on May 8th, 1358; and the fact that on May 7th,
1491, William, Lord Ruthven, moved King James IV. and his Council for a
return of the record of "ane justiceayr holden at the Skait of Creif on
the penult day of July, 1443."

The Steward's Court of Strathearn was held in the open air. The site
was included within the park of Broich. It was a circular mound,
twelve yards across, and