Red and white book of Menzies

140 THE "RED &- WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1500-1502.
Kinloch-Rannoch and other parts, when, according to tradition, in returning from
Rannoch he halted at Castle Menzies, and being convinced of the claims of Sir
Robert Menzies as the lineal descendant of the oldest and truest clan in that part
of his dominions, and the rightful inheritor of Rannoch, which had always been
included under the Menzies' lordship of Fortingall, just as it is now within that
parish, James IV. therefore granted unto Chief Sir Robert and his heirs male a
new charter to the Rannoch, with the loch and surrounding country, under the
title of the " Barony of Rannoch," which reads as follows : —
"At Stirling, 1st September 1502, King James IV. The king, for
services done at great risk and for possession of the property under the Crown in
full possession, concedes to ' Robert Menzeis ' of Menzies and his heirs male the
lands of 'Rannoch,' viz., Dowane, Kinclaucliter, the two Cammysirochtis, Ardlarach,
Kilqulionane Larane,. Ardlair, Laragane, island of Lodirannoch, the lochs of
RannacJi and Iroclity, with everything in the district, and islands connected
with these lands, extending in rental to £20 lands, with the keeping of the
forests in the same ' Rannoch ' in shire of Perth, and the same is erected into the
free barony of ' Rannach ' : Discharged £30 annually in full possession." — Reg.
Great Seal, Scot., 2664, p. 566.
This charter confirmed to Sir Robert Menzies the vast stretch of country of
Loch Rannoch which Neil Stewart of Garth was anxious to have himself. It is
related that, on discovering Sir Robert had got this charter, his rage knew no
bounds, and his maddening impetuosity hurled him with all the relentless ferocity
of his grandfather, the redoubtable " Wolf of Badenoch," to wreak his vengeance on
Sir Robert. The more to make his vengeance a success he planned an attack
under darkness of night on Castle Menzies, to be carried out in the most
treacherous manner possible, at the same time keeping up a show of unaltered
relations to Sir Robert. Neil Stewart gathered with the utmost secrecy all the
thieves he could muster from the surrounding districts, for he well knew he could
not take Castle Menzies by open warfare, or if the slightest suspicion of his
intention became known. He therefore got his followers and accomplices to creep
through the woods to Weem under cover of night, led by Niall Gointe himself,
and in the darkness watch their opportunity. It is not known how Stewart and
his followers surprised the unsuspecting guard of the castle, but the surprise
was so complete that the invaders were in full possession of the fortalice before
Sir Robert or his household were aware of any danger. There was little or no
resistance, as it was impossible, the whole garrison and household being unaware
of the treachery, and consequently there was little or no bloodshed. The chief,
Sir Robert, was taken and bound prisoner by Stewart, who then turned the other
members of the household and retainers out of doors, when he proceeded to
plunder the castle and then set it on fire.