Red and white book of Menzies

160 THE "RED 6* WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1523.
but they were saddled with these crimes by their would-be friend Campbell.
These acts were principally enacted in the Rannoch possessions of the Menzies',
and had been carried on to such an extent as to cause Sir Robert a great deal
of expense and annoyance. He, therefore, on giving his son William a grant of
Rannoch, bound him down not to let these lands in life-rents or long leases. This
obligation is still preserved at Castle Menzies, and reads thus : —
" William Menzeis of Rawar to his father, Sir Robert Menzies of that Ilk,
Knight, binding himself and his 'airis male of the Rannoch' in the wonted form,
and als not to analy nor tyne the saidis lands,' under the pain of paying the said
Sir Robert or his heirs 300 lib. Scots within 20 days after such failie was known at
Edinburgh. Edinburgh, 8th March 1516." — Castle Menzies Charter Room, No. 178.
The reason given for this obligation is that his father had given him the lands
of Rannoch without any expense, and in defence of them had himself sustained
great labour, scaith, and expense.
It had been made clear to Sir Robert that the Campbells had in secret made
use of the MacGregors to ravish his lands, so that he would get disgusted with
such a state of affairs, and would therefore let or sell the lands on easy terms to
the Campbells. This is quite obvious, as there never was any difference between
the Menzies' and the MacGregors, who were their "kindly tenants" and kinsmen,
until the crafty Campbells came, as evil spirits, among these peaceful Celts. Sir
Robert, therefore, procured a second obligation from his son, William Menzies, not
to let his lands of Roro, in Glenlyon, to the Campbells, or to the Chief MacGregor.
Here is the document, which reads as follows : —
" Obligation not to set Rorow to Campbells, nor the chief of Clan Gregor.
Perth, 22nd February 15 18. We — Williame Menzeis and Jonat Campbel, my
spouse — binds and oblissis vs, and the langar levand of vs tua to ane honorable
man Schir Robert Menzeis of that Ilk, Knycht, that we sal gif na takkis nor set in
assedatioun the tuelf merkisland of Rorowis, with the pertinentis, Hand in the
barony of Menzeis and schirefdom of Perth, quhilkis we haif of the said Robert,
to nane berand surname of Campbell, nor to the cheif of the Clan Gregor, vndir
pane of ane hundreth pundis, to be payt to the said Robert for costis, scathis, and
expenses Indorsed : ' The oblygatioun that Rorow sail nocht be set to the
Campbells na Scheyff of Clangregour." — Charter Room of Castle Menzies, No. 188.
The MacGregor referred to in the foregoing obligation was not the real chief
of Clan Gregor, but was one of the lawless MacGregors who had usurped that
position. He was called Duncan Ladosach MacGregor, and had been elected to
that position as leader of the Rannoch caterans, which consisted of all the lawless
and broken men of the Highlands belonging to almost all the clans, who were
called MacGregors from their self-elected chief and leader. The real chief of Clan
Gregor was on the most friendly terms with the chief of Clan Menzies, and had