Red and white book of Menzies

70 THE "RED & WHITE'" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1332.
Scotland, and as cousin of Earl Robert the Menzies, assigned to him the lands and
rents of Obyne, near Balmoral, including Dunnottar Castle. These evidently were
taken from Reginald More for assisting Edward Baliol, and given for services to
Chief Robert the Menzies ; but as Reginald had to fly from Scotland, and not
knowing that Lord Menzies had got his lands, he wrote instructing Adam of
Bothirgask to collect his rents. His reply is preserved among the national
manuscripts, dated 1332, and is as follows : —
"1332. From the National Manuscripts of Scotland, page 29, vol. ii., "also
as to the rents of Obyne, assigned of the said Reginald by our lord the guardian,
Adam says that they never by fault of his remain unpaid but by the assignation
of our lord the guardian, made to Sir Robert of Meyners and Sir John Cabr,
knights, by letters patent of our lord the guardian." That it was not through the
fault of the said Adam is evident, because the said Reginald could no more demand
the rents of Obyne for the term of Martinmas while he himself was present, than
the said Adam could demand the said rents for the term of Whitsunday while the
said Reginald was absent." The lands of Aboyne are about thirteen miles long,
and at their greatest breadth about twelve miles. Lord Robert the Menzies had
the greater part of them covered by one of the finest forests in the country. In
holding these lands he also held the Castle of Aboyne, and is said to have been the
governor of the Castle of Dunnottar. This, with the other possessions held by his
brother, Sir Thomas Menzies, consisting of the whole barony and lands of the
Garrioch and other parts, made Clan Menzies one of the most powerful in the
Highlands of Aberdeenshire, and they materially assisted in driving the Baliol
faction out of the country. It is something for local history to know that Reginald
More was succeeded by Sir Robert the Menzies as " lord of lands at Kincardine
O'Neil and the Mearns, including the ancient Keep of Dunoter, about the year
I 33 2 "- —Chamberlain Rolls.
Viscount Robert the Menzies married Margaret de Oyoth, Uyoth, or Evioth,
which family, afterwards called Evioth of Busey, was of considerable note, and sub-
sisted till the reign of King James the Sixth, when Colin Eviot of Busey was forfeited
for his share in the Gowrie conspiracy. This lady was one of the daughters and
heirs-portioners of Sir David de Oyoth, knight. By this marriage the Menzies' got
the lands of Syres, now called Ceres, in Fifeshire. Ceres is a town and also a parish
that extends for seven or eight miles in length by about four miles broad, with an
area of about 8000 acres. It is pleasantly and even picturesquesly diversified, the
whole consisting of a beautiful valley screened by Tarvet Hill and Magus Moor.
The town of Ceres stands two-and-a-half miles south-east of Cupar, on the road to
Pittenweem, which may have got its name from the Menzies' village and possessions
of Weem in Perthshire. They also got the lands of Caffyndoly, now called
Cassindilla, adjoining Ceres ; the lands of Balquy, now Balcarlsward ; and the lands