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- Sandilands distinguished himself in fighting against the English under King David II. He married Eleanor Douglas, widow of Alexander Bruce, 1st Earl of Carrick, son of Edward Bruce, King Robert's brother, and daughter of Sir Archibald Douglas of Liddesdale, Regent of Scotland at the time, and from whom he obtained the lands of Calder in Midlothian. His descendants remained close allies of the Crown. James Sandilands was the son of Sir James Sandilands and Elizabeth Scrymgeour, daughter of James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, Constable of Dundee and Hereditary Standard-Bearer (for whom see the earls of Dundee). He was Preceptor of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta at Torphichen Preceptory. He lived in Malta for some years and in 1538 became Lord St John of Jerusalem in Scotland after the death of the previous holder, which office gave him access to the Privy Council. He was a supporter of the Reformation and welcomed John Knox to Calder, and from where Knox would travel to Edinburgh to preach. He joined the Lords of the Congregation in 1559. He travelled to France in 1560 to obtain the agreement of Queen Mary and her father-in-law, King Francis to the Treaty of Edinburgh. He obtained the estates and lordship of Torphichen, and other former Knights Templar estates, in exchange for passing the lands of the knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem to Queen Mary, with an additional payment of 10,000 crowns to her. When he died without children, his title passed to his older brother's grandson. NOTE: This qiestions my listing of his daughter, Mary.
On 24 January 1563, Sandilands appeared before Queen Mary at the behest of the Grand Preceptory, to surrender the lands and possessions of the Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, together with the title of Lord St. John, which he had held as Preceptor. The Queen accepted them and, showing her high regard for him, returned to him at a bargain price the lands of Torphichen, and conferred upon him the title of Lord Torphichen.
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