[2] The claimed origin of the name Maxwell is that it comes from Maccus Well, a pool in the River Tweed near Kelso, Scottish Borders.

[2] Sir John Maxwell was Chamberlain of Scotland but he died without issue and was succeeded by his younger brother, Aymer.

[2] Herbert's son, Eustace Maxwell held Caerlaverock Castle as a vassal of the English, however he later followed Robert the Bruce to the Battle of Bannockburn.

[2] In 1526 the Maxwells supported Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus at the Battle of Melrose where they defeated the forces of Sir Walter Scott.

[2] After Mary was executed in 1587 and after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Lord Maxwell continued to correspond with Philip II of Spain trying to gain support for a Catholic revolution.

[2][5] However, with the assistance of his wife Winifred,[5] he disguised himself as a serving woman and the couple fled to Rome where the earl died in 1744.