Notes |
- Rob Roy
"Walter (Sir) Scott is responsible for the spurious glamour which is nowattached to his (Rob Roy) name. In reality he was unscrupulous andtreacherous though there is no denying his audacity nor his personalcourage. He was not a native of Balquhidder but he leasedMonachyltruarach, at the western end of the glen, from the Duke ofAtholl, who was by then superior of most of Balquhidder. Rob was a littletoo ready to throw his weight about and the tension between the MacLarensand Macgregors steadily increased. It came to a head in 1734 over thesuccession to a certain tack, which was shortly to be renewed. It washeld by John MacLaren of Wester Invernenty, Baron Stobchon, but Rob Roydemanded that he should get the tack when the lease fell in and feelingran so high that a challenge was issued to settle the matter by force ofarms. A day was named and while the MacGregors called up all theirsupporters, the MacLarens sent over the hills to the Stewarts of Appin.The two forces met each other in the haugh below the Kirkton ofBalquhidder, but the MacGregors seeing that they were outnumbered,suggest that the matter should be settled instead by single combat. RobRoy naturally represented the MacGregors. He was one of the bestswordsmen in the country, partly because his arms were so long thataccording to tradition he could tie his garters without stooping. Heboasted that he had never lost a fight and was confident that he wouldwin this one. The MacLarens, since they had brought the Stewarts so far,and for nothing, offered them the honour of providing the champion andAlastair Stewart of Invernahyle stepped out to meet the Macgregor. It wasa sore fight for the contestants were evenly matched. Rob Roy's fantasticreach and his greater experience were balanced by the vigour and agilityof his younger opponent. (Walter (Sir) Scott who had met him, describesInvernahyle as "rather of low stature, but very well made, athletic, andan excellent swordsman."). At last Invernahyle got under the guard of thetiring MacGregor and dealt him a wound which stopped the fight.
Although the wound was comparatively slight, Rob Roy never recovered fromit. He lingered on in failing health for some time and toward the end hewas visited by John MacLaren. What the purpose for the visit was we donot know, but according to tradition it was conducted with extremeformality on both sides. Shortly afterwards Rob Roy died." (page 67-68)
Margaret Maclaren of Maclaren. "The Maclarens. A History of Clan Labhran".
1976 & 1984. ISBN 0 946270 10 4. Copyright Donald Maclaren of Maclaren.
The Pentland Press, Edinburgh. Printed & bound by McCorquodale (Scotland)Ltd
Margaret Maclaren of Maclaren goes on to say:
"The death of Rob Roy did nothing to improve relations between theMaclarens and the MacGregors; if anything it made them worse, for RobRoy's sons held that John Maclaren was responsible for their father'sdeath and swore to avenge it. How they did so is graphicly described in aletter from Alastair Stewart of Invernahyle to Alexander Murray, who wasAtholl's (Duke of Atholl) factor. It is dated "Innernenty, 13 March 1736."
"Sir, - Upon the 4th Instant their happened a most barbarous action inthis country in the hands of Rob Roy's youngest son. He came with a gunnand pistle to the Town of Drumlich where John MacLaren, baron ofStoibchon and Wester Innernenty liv'd, and the said Baron and two of hisneighbours being att the pleugh, and without any provocation, as theBaron was holding the plough, shott him in the back, of which wounds hedied that night.
Tho' this wretch was the unhappy executioner, yet it is thought he wassett upon by his Brothers and others of their adherents to commit thistragicall action, as will appear by their conduct, for on the 9th, theynot wearying of their vile practices, they hough'd and killed upwards of30 stotes (bullocks) belonging to Donald MacLaren, Drover, in Innernenty,and threatened frequently to shoot himself and some others of his Clann."
Invernahyle (Alastair Stewart)'s letter goes on to request these men bebrought to justice. And Margaret Maclaren writes more about the affair,pages 69-71.
Invernahyle (Alastair Stewart)'s letter goes on to request these men bebrought to justice. And Margaret Maclaren writes more about the affair,pages 69-71.
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