"Earldom" on William (2nd and 3rd Earls)

William, the Second of That Name, Earle of Southerland
- The one we now call the 2nd Earl of Sutherland
- son of William the 1st Earl of Sutherland
- "This William Earle of Southerland did passe ane accord and arbitrall-dcreet betuixt him and Archbald bishop of Catteynes, the yeir of God 1275, by reason of long discord which had been betueen William and William, Erls of Southerland, and Gilbert, William, and Walter, bishops of Catteynes, for certan lands in Southerland." (p. 35)
- This accord split lands between the Bishop of Catteynes (and his successors) and William 2nd Earl of Sutherland (and his successors). "And that the lands of Ewleck, Pronsies, Riarcher, Isedaill, Thorobell, Kinnald, Lairges, and other lands in Southerland, should hertablie apperteyn to William Erle of Southerland and his airs; all which lands the Erle of Southerland doth possesse unto this day, either in propertie or tennedrie." (p. 35)
- This accord also called for the alter of St James' chapel to be instituted and erected in Dornoch Cathedral, and the Earls of Sutherland were appointed to be "perpetuall patrons therof". This accord was made and sealed by both parties at Dornoch Cathedral.

Sir Robert Gordon appears to mix together William (2nd Earl) and William (3rd Earl), as the 2nd died in 1307, but Gordon says he dies 1325, and talks next of Kenneth (who actually was the 4th Earl, succeeding his brother William the 3rd Earl).

William, 3rd Earl of Sutherland

- In 1308, the Scottish nobility answered an inquiry from King Phillip of France about King Robert Bruce. William, Erle of Southerland, was one of the group of nobles who replied. It "wes dated at Sanct Andrewes, and sealed with the seales of all the noble ther present; wher the Earle of Southerlands armes are thrie starres or muletts." (p. 37)

- Assisted King Robert Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, 1314. (It was the decisive battle in the First War of Scottish Independence. -wikipedia)

- In 1302, King Robert Bruce held a convention called the Black Parlament. Afterward, some nobles plotted to deliver Scotland back to King Edward. The conspiracy was revealed and the traitors punished. "But (so sayeth Fordonius) William Earle of Soutehrland, with divers others of the nobilitie, who were not pertakers of that treasone, perceaveing the king to beir them some grudge for that which wes done at the black parlament, they did write unto Pope John, shewing how King Robert had delt hardlie with them." (p. 41)
- The Pope helped, getting King Robert Bruce to receive them back into his favor "and chieflie William Earle of Southerland, whom he did alwise from hence-foreward love most intirelie, which he deserved for his good service shortlie therefter, at the battle of Bighland." (p. 42)
- Sir Robert Gordon then describes the Battle of Beighland (1323), where William and other nobles accompanied King Robert Bruce as pursued the English back into England, to York, and to the abbey of Beighland, with "King Edward himself hardlie escaping." The Scottish remained in England for a month and 4 days, returning in October, 1323. (p. 42)

- Sir Robert Gordon then says that William in 1325, buried in Dornoch Cathedral, leaving one son Kenneth to succeed him. However, Kenneth was this William, 3rd Earl's brother, not son. William, 2nd Earl (Kenneth's and William 3rd's father) had died in 1307. It is likely that both of these Williams were buried in Dornoch Cathedral.