Sir John Maxwell was Chamberlain of Scotland but he died without issue and was succeeded by his younger brother, Aymer.[2] From Aymer's sons sprang many branches of the family throughout south-west Scotland.[2]
Eustace's descendant, another Sir Herbert, was created Lord Maxwell in about 1440.[2] He took a seat as a Lord of Parliament.[2] A branch of the clan, the Maxwells of Monreith descend from his second son and they were later created baronets in 1681.[2]John Maxwell, 4th Lord Maxwell was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.[3]
John Maxwell, the seventh Lord Maxwell was a devout Catholic throughout the Scottish Reformation and he was linked to a number of plots to restore Mary, Queen of Scots to the throne.[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] However Maxwell was killed in 1593 in a feud with the Clan Johnstone of Lockerbie.[2] (See: Battle of Dryfe Sands). The feud continued and the next Lord Maxwell shot Sir James Johnstone.[2] Maxwell's brother, Robert, succeeded to the Maxwell title and was created Earl of Nithsdale in 1620.[2][5]
Lord Maxwell was also at feud with the powerful Clan Douglas over the Earldom of Morton, which he regarded as his inheritance.[5] For this quarrel he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle in 1607. After escaping, he shot Sir James in the back during a meeting held "under trust", and he fled to France. He was convicted of treason in his absence and sentenced to death. On his return to Scotland in 1612 he was arrested, and was beheaded at Edinburgh on 21 May 1613.[6][7]
Haggs Castle was owned by the Maxwells from 1585 to 1972.
Pollok House, the seat of the Maxwell Baronets of Pollok, is now of international importance, as it houses the world-famous Burrell Collection in its grounds.
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