Red and white book of Menzies

138 THE "RED &> WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1494-1497.
This decision at once defeated Stewart and his crafty adviser's schemes, but
it was also at considerable loss to Sir Robert, being only a foretaste of the
insatiable revenge which smouldered within the heart of his enemy, who lay
in wait, wolf-like, for an opportunity to pounce upon him.
Neil Stewart was supposed to be acting in secret with the broken men
and cattle-lifters of the surrounding country, in connection with whom another
circumstance occurred which hastened Stewart into open acts of lawlessness.
Sir Robert the Menzies had captured some Rannoch cattle-lifters, and Neil
Stewart with a band of caterans attempted to rescue them, but was defeated in
his bold attempt with considerable loss by Sir Robert, who held his prisoners
with a strong hand and brought them to Castle Menzies. He dispatched a
messenger to the government of James IV. at Edinburgh, who sent officials to
bring them there to trial, of which we find the following recorded in the " Accounts
of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland," dated 23rd October, 1497 : —
" Item to Richard Wallas to pas to the Lard of Weym ' Sir Robert Menzies,'
with ane letter to fech theives." The Menzies, having captured another gang
of these Highland robbers, they were sent for from Edinburgh, as we find again
on the 5th of November 1497 there is recorded another payment as follows : —
"Item to Richard Wallas, messenger-' at-arms ' to pas to the Lard of Weym 'Sir
Robert Menzies,' 'to fech thevis.'" — Exchequer Rolls, p. 365.
This shows that two batches of prisoners had been dispatched by Sir Robert
to the government at Edinburgh, there to be dealt with. This firm and
courageous action of Sir Robert seems to have damped the action of his enemies
and pacified the district for a time.
In 1497 Sir Robert the Menzies had the bailiary of Slios-Min or Loch
Rannoch restored to him as Chief of Clan Menzies after the capture of the thieves.
He is described as " an excellent, order-loving gentleman, who deserved the king's
respect, and who was very much honoured by the industrious and well-behaved
inhabitants of his own district ; but the cattle-lifters defied him to catch them in
the Moss of Rannoch." — Book of Garth, p. 176.
The branch of the Clan Menzies of Garth — whose estates Neil Stewart had
claimed to be heir to from his mother — were thus descended from Chief Sir
Robert, the 42nd Menzies, Viscount of Edinburgh, who gave his second son, Sir
Alexander Menzies, the lands of Fortingall, then represented by the present
parish of that name. Sir Alexander married Janet, daughter of Robert Stewart,
the Earl of Athole, about 1 370. Of this marriage there were two sons ; the elder,
Sir Alexander Menzies, inherited the estates of his father and mother. He had
an only child called Jean, or Janet, Menzies, named after his mother. She
married Duncan Stewart, fifth natural son of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan,
fourth son of King Robert II., by his first wife, Elizabeth More. The Earl is better