[2] A presumed descendant, Thomas de Crichton, is listed on the Ragman Rolls of 1296, swearing fealty to Edward I of England.

The Earl of Douglas and his brother were invited as guests of honour to a royal banquet at the castle, where King James was in residence.

The Clan Douglas, never slow to take revenge, laid siege to the castle, which Crichton surrendered to the king, and a truce was declared.

[2] The sixth Lord Sanquhar died in disgrace, having been accused of being involved in the murder of a fencing master who had blinded Crichton in one eye years before.

He is said to have mastered all of the knowledge of his time and been able to speak and write in ten different languages, all by the age of twenty; he was also a feared swordsman.

James Crichton studied at the University of St Andrews then travelled to Paris, where he challenged professors of the city to dispute with him on any branch of science or literature, offering to answer in any of his ten languages.

[2] The double-barrelled surname originates from the fact that the chiefs are direct descendants of the Maitland family, the Earls of Lauderdale, and Clan Makgill.