Red and white book of Menzies

Cbief Sir 3obn tbe " fll>en3bers," 40tb from flDa^nua,
tbe 9tb Baron of fll>en3ies.
Surnamed " The Admirable."
armour-bearer to king james the first.
A.D. 1 397-1467.
SIR JOHN THE MENZIES, on the death of his father Sir David the
Menzies, succeeded to all his vast possessions, for which he had received
grants from the Crown. A great part of these had been conveyed to
him by his father during his lifetime. These lands consisted of the north
and west sides of Loch Tay, of which were Eddiramuky, on its north-west side ;
the lands of Merynche, a few miles farther west, and marching with those of
Edramuckie. He also received the Menzies Castle of Finlarig for his residence,
with the lands of Glenlochy, Glenlyon, and the large tract of country known as
Mamlorn. He ultimately received the whole of Dissawer, or the entire north
bank or " sunny side " of Loch Tay. He also held the office of Toicchderety.
The Tosisich was the office of judge, first held and exercised by the ancient
Scottish kings, and then by such Highland chiefs as the Menzies', who had
been made barons of lands by the kings, and held by them in hereditary right
and jurisdiction. With the office went the lands of Fornachy, now Fearnan,
which lie at the north-east end of Loch Tay, and lead to Glenlyon and For-
tingall. Near this was a " mote hill," or hanging mound, called Tom-na-Croich,
which could be plainly seen in 1850, near the river end of the house of Mr
Alexander Menzies, who called his house after it. A part of the mound was
taken away when the house was built, but there still remained a portion, one
side being damaged. When the next house was built, it took away what
remained completely, and only the name Tom-na-Croich remains, which gives
the place its name. It was here that the chief Sir John dispensed justice, as
his ancestors had done, to the clansmen and other Highlanders of their country.
Joining the foregoing, Sir John got the lands of Goulcntyne, in the Abthane of
Dull, the Menzies' castle and lands of Grandtully. His father also gave him