Red and white book of Menzies

i8o THE "RED 6- WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1551-1552.
heirs, for all the days of our lifetime, in all actiones, and, in speciale, that we shall
dispone ourselves at our whole power (and) with our kiyn freyndis and part-takers,
to invade and ' persew to the death, Duncan Laudosach M'Gregour, Gregour, his sone,
thair servants, part-takers, and complices, in all bundis and contries where ever thay
shall happen to make residense,' (for the) reason that they are our deadly enemies,
and our soverine ladye's rebellis . . . And likewise shall be ready to serve the said
Colline and Duncan, and their heirs, upon their expenses, both in the Highlands
and Lowlands, against all manner of persons, the Queen's grace hir authoritie, the
Earl of Menteytht, and Lord Drummond, allanerlie exceptit ... In witness of the
which thing, because we could not subscribe our selfes, we have for Ws caused the
notare underwritten, subscribe the same with our hands touching the pen, at the Isle
of Locktay,the ix day of March, the yeir of God MV C " fiftie-ane yeir ( 1 5 5 1 ), before
thir witnes — Allexander Menyeis of Rannocht, Thomas Grahame of Calzemuk,
Andro Toscheocht of Mouse, David Toscheocht, Patrik Campbell, Johnn Mawire,
and Andro Ouhit, notar-publict.
James Stewart, with my hand at the pen.
Allexander Dormound, with my hand at the pen.
Ita est Andreas Ouhit, notarius-publicus." — Black Book of Taymouth, p. 192.
Sir Alexander Menzies also witnessed a deed of bonds and manrent between
Colin Campbell and Duncan MacGregor, on the 2nd May 1552, at the Isle of Loch
Tay, within its Menzies Castle.
Following up the bond of the 9th March 1 551, every effort was put forth to
capture the murderers, and this seems to have been an arduous undertaking, and one
which took the associates longer than had been expected, for they did not capture
MacGregor and his sons until the month of June 1552. On the 16th of that month
they suffered the last penalty of the law. It is described in the Chronicle of
Fortingall, and is the most notable exercise of criminal jurisdiction which is
recorded in the Chronicle. The translation runs thus : —
" The slaying and beheading of Duncan MacGregour and his sons, namely,
Gregour, and Malcolm Roy, for Colin Campbell of Glenurchy, and for Duncan Roy
Campbell of Glenlyon, and Alexander Menzies of Rannoch, with their associates,
on which day, John Gour MacDuncan, Vc. Alexander Kayr, was slain for
Alexander Menzies, at in the month of June, to wit, the 16th day of June,
the year of the Lord, 1552."
We also give the original, as it appears in the book of the Chronicle of
Fortingall, which is as follows : —
" Interfcctio et dccptitatio Duncani M'Gregor et filiorum eius, videlicet,
Gregorii, et Malcolmi Roy, per Colium Campbell de Glenurquhay, et per
Duncanum Roy Campbell of Glenlyon, et Alexandrum Menzheis of Rannoch,
cum suis complicibus, quo die, Joannes Goicr M' Duncan, Vc. Alexander Kayr,