Red and white book of Menzies

158 THE " RED & WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1512-1513.
now called Morenish. Under these two names were included the whole west end of
Loch Tay and the places now known as Achmore, Finlarig and its castle, Cloichern,
and other places in the surrounding district, including Glendochart, and with these
lands went the fishings, &c. We give a translation of the charter as under : —
"At Edinburgh, 1st September, 15 12, James IV. The king confirms a
charter of Robert Menzeis of Menzies, Knight, who concedes to his son and heir,
Roberto Menzeis, Knight, and Cristine Gurdun, his wife, the lands of Kynnaldy ;
with water fishings, extending to 20 merks, of old extent, and 10 merks of
Moreynche, with river fishings, valued at 10 merks, of old extent ; 3 merks of
Westir Beltoquhan, value 3 merks, of old extent, in the barony of ' Menzeis ' in the
shire of ' Perth,' belonging to said Robert's son and Cristian, and the same to
either of the said during life, thus conjointly in possession, and their heirs male of
one another, legitimately born them descending, which failing, heirs male of said
Robert's father nearest from him of surname and arms of ' Menzeis,' related by
blood, de rege in feodo. Witnesses : Wil. Ruthven of Ruthven, Knight, Sheriff
of ' Perth.' ; Joh. Menzeis of Castlehill, Cuthberto Menzeis of Achonsel, Joh.
Menzeis of Gardnarland, Joh. Menzeis of Cunry, Joh. Menzeis of Drumcrile, Wil.
Menzeis, D. Joh. Mwry, chaplain ; and D. Wil. Ramsay, presbetir and notarie
public, with signatures given personally. At Perth, 31st October 15 11." — Reg.
Great Seal, p. 819, 3768.
This document is valuable to the Menzies', as it shows the amount of branch
chieftain representatives which could be brought together as occasion required,
and also the good Celtic feeling of kin which existed among them. The first of
these, John Menzies of Castle Hill, who owned the estates of Durrisdeer in the
Dumfriesshire Highlands, but took his title from the castle or fortalice on the hill
above Durrisdeer. The second, Cuthbert Menzies of Auchonsel, owned the estates
of " Achlyne," as now called, in Glendochart, and which marched with those being
granted by Sir Robert. The third, John Menzies of Gardnarland; his lands are
thought to have been part of those of Clunie, afterwards called Rotmel. The
fourth, John Menzies of Cumry — now Comrie — who had just taken possession of
the lands and castle of Comrie on the death of his father, Robert Menzies of
Comrie, who is recorded in the chronicle of Fortingall to have died on 12th May
1 508. Fifth, John Menzies of Drumcrile, probably Drumcharry in Glenlyon, and
his lands would adjoin the lands of Comrie. Sixth, William Menzies, who was the
second son of Sir Robert, and brother to the receiver of the lands — in all, seven
Menzies', including the chief.
The object for which the Chief Sir Robert the Menzies brought so many of
the chieftains or heads of branches of Clan Menzies together, was not simply to be
witnesses to the foregoing charter, and acknowledging his eldest son as receiving
a portion of his lands, to be enjoyed by him during his father's lifetime, but was