Red and white book of Menzies

a.d. 1715-1716.] CHIEF-REGENT &* TUTOR OF MENZIES. 355
utterly routed, and would have been cut off to a man had not timely reinforce-
ments come up to cover their retreat.
The battle of Sheriffmuir was claimed by both sides, but in the long run the
Government succeeded in getting the upper hand. Argyle retired to Stirling,
Mar to Perth, where his army remained in quarters, as winter was now setting in.
After the arrival of the prince it was decided to abandon the attempted restoration ;
accordingly the Jacobite army dispersed, and the prince, Mar, and others left the
country ; but of those gentlemen who remained, and had fallen into the hands of
the Government, the word was behead, hang, quarter, confiscate without mercy.
As the prince was about to embark at Montrose, nth February 1716, the
nevrs had just then reached the length of the " Appin-na-M einerich" of the
retrograde march of the Jacobite army. Consequently, the friends of the prince
were in low spirits and preparing to shift for themselves as best they could. As
the young Chief Sir Robert the Menzies was very young and lame, it proved good
policy on the part of Captain James Menzies of Comrie, the tutor of Menzies, to
remain at home with a small section of the clan to preserve the young chief's
possessions, and guard against any attack from the enemies of the clan. He
therefore relaxed his watchfulness on the news of the break-up of Mar's army,
as, hostilities being over, the country would once more settle down to peaceful
pursuits. This relaxation on his part was the opportunity of the fox-like Campbell
of Glenlyon, who, with 30 or 40 men, sprang upon Castle Menzies, when its
garrison had gone home to resume their avocations. He therefore easily surprised
and seized the castle, and immediately began to plunder it. News of this being
brought to Captain James Menzies, he collected a number of Clan Menzies, and
at once blocked up Campbell of Glenlyon in Castle Menzies, and then sent to
the Duke of Athole, who acted for the Government, informing him of what had
happened. The letter of Captain James runs as follows : —
Copy letter — Captain James Menzies of Comrie to the Duke of Athole.
Comrie, 5 February, 17 16. — States that the Castle of Weem was occupied by
Glenlyon, with about 30 men from Fortingall and his mother's jointure lands, who
had relieved a detachment of the clans, and as they had little provision (only 10
bolls of meal), he (Captain James Menzies) had ordered the countrymen to block
them up. This had been done for two nights, and was to be continued. — Charter
Room, Castle Menzies, No. 168.
Captain James Menzies maintained the blockade so well with his handful of
Menzies' that the notorious Campbell was glad to sue for terms, through fear and
hunger, which being arranged, another letter was sent to Athole giving him notice
of what had been done. This letter runs as follows : —
Copy letter — Captain James Meingeis of Comerie to the Duke of Athole.
February 6th 1716. — Glenlyon, finding himself in need of provisions and fireing,
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