He was the eldest son of David Lindsay, 10th Earl of Crawford, by Margaret, daughter of Cardinal Beaton and Marion Ogilvy, and was born about 1547.
David Hume of Godscroft wrote that Crawford was a good shot and Glamis presented an easy target as he was so tall.
[2] Crawford was sent a prisoner to Edinburgh Castle, but on 14 June was permitted to pass to his house at Cairnie in Fife on giving sureties again to enter into ward on fifteen days' notice.
On the Earl of Arran's return to power in August of this year he became one of his main supporters, and at the parliament held on the 22nd, he carried the sword.
In the spring of 1589, he and Huntly appeared in arms at Perth and shortly afterwards waylaid the treasurer Glamis, whom for some time they kept in captivity in the north.
From Perth they proceeded northwards to the bridge of Dee; but on the appearance of the king with a greatly inferior force, they disbanded their troops.
He was on the 21st convicted of treason, and sentenced to be confined in St Andrews Castle during the king's pleasure; he received his release the following September.