Red and white book of Menzies

146 THE "RED &> WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1502-1508.
by a number of brawny robbers, who, after insulting him before her, they marched
off towards Garth — they then turned Lady Menzies and her maids out of doors
into that dark and stormy night, where, half-clad, and fainting with excitement,
she was so overpowered that she almost succumbed on the spot. Her maids and
the few clansmen who happened to be in the castle gave her all the support and
help they could, and had her conveyed to a place of safety, where she lingered in
sore distress until the time when Sir Robert regained his freedom. She did not
long survive the shock, as she died a short time after. Sir Robert had her remains
interred with all honours near the high altar of the Auld Kirk o' Weem, into the
back of which was inserted a beautiful sculptured panel, with a Latin inscription
to her memory, under which there is a sculptured escutcheon of the arms of her
house: 1st and 4th, a fesse chequy ; 2nd and 3rd, a lion rampant, debruised of a
ribbon in bend. The inscription reads : —
" MARGARETA . LINDSEY . FILIA MARGARET LINDSAY, DAUGHTER OF THE
DOMINI EDGEL . SPOUSA . ROEERTI _ LORD OF EDZELL, WIFE OF SIR ROBERT
Translation :
MEZE . DE . VEYM . MILTIVS . MEINGEIS, LORD OF WEEM, KNIGHT, ALAS
ATAVIA . DICTI . CONDITORIS." HER DEATH IS CHRONICLED.
Notwithstanding what has been said and written about Sir Robert's capture
and imprisonment, it is also traditional that he was liberated a few days after by
his eldest son Robert, who, with his two brothers and all the force of the
clan that could be got together under the circumstances of such a surprise,
attacked Garth Castle with such irresistible fury that they soon battered a breach
in its north wall — which is still to be seen — and thereby gained an entrance. Neil,
the Wolf, escaped by a small door at the other side, and slipped down the rocks
into the river and, under cover, got off. The Menzies' gave what would burn of
Garth Castle to the flames, and left it a dismantled and ruined structure, which
it still remains.
King James IV. — having marched into the Highlands at the head of an army
to liberate Sir Robert the Menzies from the dungeon of Garth and the jaws of
death — must have made himself familiar with Highland life and character ; indeed,
it is stated that he delighted in Highland songs and music, which made him
popular among the people. As a Highlander, he is said to have talked the Gaelic
almost continuously. Between 1502 and 1508, we find recorded in the Exchequer
Rolls the fees paid by Sir Robert Menzies to the Crown from his lands, &c. In
the following record we have considerable detail, not given in former records, and
which translated reads : —
" By letters under the Privy Seal, 1st September 1502. Rental of the lordship
of Apnadule, £12, 13s. 4d., balanced and accounted for and paid by Roberto
Menzeis of Menzies, in full possession by Royal Letters under the Great Seal,