On one
occasion, when Mr Graham of Killearn (the factor) had collected the tenants to pay their
rents, all Rob Roy's men happened to be absent except Alexander Stewart (called 'the
bailie'). With this single attendant he descended to Chapellairoch, where the factor
and the tenants were assembled. He reached the house after it was dark, and,
looking in at a window, saw Killer, surrounded by a number of the tenants, with a bag
full of money which he had received, and was in the act of depositing it in
a dresser cupboard, at the same time saying that he would cheerfully give
all in the bag for Rob Roy's head. This notification was not lost
on the outside visitor, who instantly gave orders in a loud voice to place two
men at each window, two at each corner, and four at each of two doors,
thus appearing to have twenty men.
Immediately the door
opened, and he walked in with his attendant close behind, each armed with a
sword in his right hand and a pistol in his left hand, and with dirks
and pistols in their belts. The company started up but he desired them
to sit down, as his business was only with Killearn, whom he ordered
to hand down the bag and put it on the table.
When this was done, he desired the money
to be counted and proper receipts to be drawn out, certifying that he received the
money from the Duke of Montrose's agent, as the duke's property, the tenants
having paid their rents, so that no after demand could be demanded of
them on account of this transaction;and finding that some of the people had not
obtained receipts, he desired the factor to grant them immediately, 'to show his grace',
said he,'that it is from him I take the money, and not from these honest men who have paid
him'.
After the whole was
concluded, he ordered supper, saying that as he had got the purse, it
was proper that he pay the bill; and after they had drunk heartily together for several
hours, he called his bailie to produce his dirk and lay it naked on the table. Killearn
was then sworn that he would not move, nor direct anyone else to move, from that spot for
an hour after the departure of MacGregor, who thus cautioned him - 'If you break your
oath, you know what you are to expect in the next world. And in this', pointing to his
dirk, he then walked away, and was beyond pursuit before the hour expired.
We are not, however, to suppose the
character, of this distinguished outlaw was that of an actual hero, acting uniformly
and consistently on such moral principles as the illustrious Baird who,
standing by his grave, has vindicated his fame. On the contrary, as is common
with barbarous chiefs, Rob Roy would appear to have mixed his professions of
principal with a large alloy of craft and dissimulation, of which his conduct
during the civil war of 1715 is sufficient proof.
It is also said, and truly, that although
his courtesy was one of his strongest characteristics, yet sometimes he assumed an
arrogance of manner which wasn't easily endured by the high spirited men to whom it
was addressed, and drew the daring outlaw into frequent disputes, from which he didn't
always come off with credit. From this it has been inferred that Rob Roy
was more of a bully than a hero, or at least that he had, according to the
common phrase, his fighting days.
Some aged men who knew him well, have described
him also as better at a taich-tulzie, or scuffle within doors,
than in mortal combat. The tenor of his life maybe quoted to repel this charge;
while, at the same time, it must be allowed, that the situation in which he was
placed rendered him prudently averse to maintaining quarrels, where nothing
was to be had save blows, and where success would have raised up against
him new and powerful enemies, in a country where revenge was still considered
a duty rather than a crime. The power of commanding his passions, on
such occasions, far from being inconsistent with the part which he had
to perform, was essentially necessary, at the period when he lived, to
prevent his career from being cut short.
One of the most extraordinary events in Rob's adventures was his visit to
London. His numerous exploits rendered him so remarkable that his name was
frequently the subject of conversation among the nobility of the English
court. He was there spoken of as the acknowledged protégé of Argyle, who was
often berated by the king for his partiality towards the MacGregor. On several
occasions the king had expressed a desire to see the hardy
"mountaineer"; and Argyll, willing to gratify him, sent for Rob
Roy, but concealed his being in London, lest the officers of state, aware of
the king's hatred, might take measures to detain him.
Argyll, however, took care to see that the king should see him without knowing who he was,
and for this purpose made Rob Roy walk for some time in front of St. James's palace.
His majesty observed, and remarked that he had never seen a finer looking man in a
Highland dress, and Argyll having soon after waited on the king, his majesty told him of
having noticed a handsome Scots Highlander, when Argyle replied that it was Rob Roy
MacGregor, his Majesty said he was disappointed that he did not know it
sooner, and appeared not to relish the information, having felt to be the object of
a dupe.
The period of the Rebellion, 1715,
approached soon after Rob Roy had attained celebrity. His Jacobite
partialities were now placed in opposition to his sense of the obligations
which he owed to indirect protection or the Duke of Argyle. But the desire or
'drowning his sounding steps amid the din of general war', induced
him to join the forces of the Earl of Mar, although his patron, the Duke
of Argyle was at the head of the army opposed to the Highland
insurgents.
The MacGregors, a large Sept of
them at least, that of Ciar Mohr, on this occasion, were not commanded by Rob Roy,
but by his nephew, Gregor MacGregor, otherwise called James Graham of Glengyle,
and still better remembered by the Gaelic epithet of GhluneDleu (Black
Knee) from a black mole on one or his knees, which in Highland garb rendered
visible. There can be no question, however, that being then very young, Glengyle
must have acted on most occasions on the advice and direction of so
experienced a leader as his uncle.
The MacGregors assembled in numbers
at that period, and began even to threaten the Lowlands towards the lower extremity
of Loch Lomond. They suddenly seized all the boats which were upon the
lake, and, probably with a view to some enterprise or their own, drew them
overland to Inversnaid, in order to intercept the progress of a large body of
west country Whigs who were in arms for the Government, and were moving in that
direction.
The Whigs made
an excursion for the recovery of the boats. Their forces consisted of
volunteers from Paisley, Kilpatrick, and elsewhere, who, with the assistance of a
body of seamen, were towed up the river Leven in long-boats belonging to the ships
of war then lying in the Clyde. At Luss they were joined by the forces of Sir
Humphrey Colquhoun, and James Grant, his son-in-law, with their followers, attired in
the Highland dress of the period. The whole party crossed to Craig-Royston, but the
MacGregors did not offer combat.
If we were to believe the account of the
expedition given by the historian Rae, they leaped on shore at Craig Royston with
the utmost intrepidity, no enemy appearing to oppose them, and, by the noise
of their drums, which they beat incessantly, and the discharge of their
artillery and small arms, terrified the MacGregors, whom they appear never to
have seen, out or their fastness and caused them to fly in a general panic
to the camp of the Highlanders at StrathFillan. The low countrymen
succeeded in getting possession of the boats, at a great expenditure of noise
and courage, and little risk or danger.
After this temporary removal from
his old haunts, Rob Roy was sent by the Earl of Mar to Aberdeen, to raise a part of
the clan Gregor, which was settled in that country. These men were of his
own family (the race of the Ciar Mohr). They were the descendants of
about three hundred MacGregors whom the Earl of Murray, about the year
1624, transported from his estates in Monteith to oppose against his enemies
the MacIntoshes, a race as hardy and restless as they were themselves.
Rob Roy's followers were in the Highland
army, but his heart seems to have been with the Duke of Argyle's. Yet the
Insurgents were constrained to trust to him as their only guide, when they
marched from Perth towards Dunblane, with the view of crossing the Forth
at what are called the Fords of Frew, and when they themselves said he could
not be relied upon.
This movement to the westward, on
the part of the insurgents, brought on the battle of Sherriffmuir - indecisive in
its immediate results, but of which the Duke of Argyle reaped the whole
advantage. In this action, the right wing of the Highlanders broke and cut to
pieces Argyle's left wing, while the clans on the left of Mars army, though
consisting of Stewarts, MacKenzies,and Camerons, were completely routed.
During this medley of flight and
pursuit, Rob Roy retained his station on a hill in the centre of the Highland
position; and though it is said his attack would have decided the day, he
could not be prevailed upon to charge. This was the more unfortunate for
the insurgents, as the leading of a party to the MacPhersons had been committed to
MacGregor.
This, it is said, was owing to the age
and infirmity of the chief of that name, who, unable to lead his clan in person,
objected to his heir apparent, MacPherson of Nord, discharging his duty on that
occasion; so that his clan were brigaded with their allies the MacGregors.
While the favourable moment for action was slipping away,
Mar's positive orders reached Rob Roy that he should presently attack, to
which he coolly replied, 'No, no if they cannot do it without me, they cannot
do it with me'.
One of the MacPhersons, named Alexander,
one of Rob's original profession, videlicit a drover, but a man of great
strength and spirit,was so incensed at the inactivity of his temporary
leader, that he threw off his plaid, drew his sword, and called out to his
clansman, 'Let us endure this no longer if he will not lead you, I will'.
Rob Roy replied, with great coolness.
'Were the question about droving Highland stoats or kyloes, Sandie, I would yield to
your superior skill; but as it respects the leading of men, I must be allowed to be
the better judge'. - 'Did the matter respect driving Glen-Eigasstots', answered the
MacPherson, 'the question with Rob would not be, which was to be last, but
which was to be foremost.' Incensed at this sarcasm, MacGregor drew his
sword,and they would have fought upon the spot if their friends of both sides had
not interfered.
But the moment of attack was
completely lost. Rob did not, however, neglect his own private interest on the
occasion. In the confusion of an undecided field of battle, he enriched his followers by
plundering the baggage and the dead on both sides.
Notwithstanding the sort of neutrality
which Rob Roy had continued to observe during the progress of the Rebellion, he did not
escape some of its penalties- He was included in the act of attainder, and the house
in Breadalbaine, which was his place of retreat, was burned by General Lord
Cardogan.
When, after the conclusion of the
insurrection, he marched through the Highlands to disarm and punish the
offending clans. But upon going to Inverary with about forty or fifty of his followers,
Rob obtained favour, by an apparent surrender of their arms to Colonel Patrick Campbell of
Finnah, who furnished them and their leader with protections under his hand.
Being thus in a great measure secured
from the resentment of Government,Rob Roy established his residence at Craig-Royston, near
Loch Lomond, in the midst of his own kinsmen, and lost no time in resuming his
private quarrel with the Duke of Montrose. For this purpose, he soon got on
foot as many men, and well armed too, as he had yet commanded. He never moved
without a body-guard of ten or twelve picked followers, and
without much effort could increase them to fifty or sixty.
This was probably
one of Rob Roy's last exploits in arms. The time of his death is not known with
certainty, but he is generally said to have survived 1738, and to have died an aged
man. When he found himself approaching his final change, he expressed some
contrition for particular parts of his life, his wife laughed at these scruples of
conscience, and exhorted him to die like a man, as he had lived. In
reply, he rebuked her for her violent passions and the counsels she had
given him. 'You have put strife', he said. 'betwixt me and
the best men of the country and now you would place enmity
between me and my God.'
There is a tradition, no way inconsistent
with the former, if the character of Rob Roy be justly considered, that,
while on his death bed, he learned that a person, with whom he was at enmity,
proposed to visit him. 'Raise me from my bed' said the invalid; 'throw my
plaid around me, and bring me my claymore, dirk and pistols - it shalt never
be said that a foeman saw Rob Roy MacGregor defenceless and unarmed.'
His foeman, thought to be one of
the Maclarens, entered and paid his compliments, inquiring after the health of his
formidable neighbour, Rob Roy maintained a cold, haughty civility during their short
conference, and so soon as he had left the house. 'Now', he said, 'all is over -
let the piper play Hatilmitu Iidh, (we return no more;) and he is
said to have expired before the dirge was finished.
This singular man died in bed in
his own house, in the parish of Balquhidder. He was buried in the
church yard of the same parish,where his tombstone is only distinguished by
rude attempt at the figure of a broadsword.
A Post-Mortem
Of course Rob couldn't have guessed,but in a later age, Sir Walter
Scott, the best loved writer ever of Scottish lore, would romanticize him into the hearts
of all people of the world. He became the stuff of legend, a Scottish Robin Hood that
would have made even Rob blush. Many people,some even in Scotland, doubt if Rob Roy
even existed. In the 19th century,Rob Roy acts were popular in Britain. Below
is a theatre poster advertising one such event.
Thanks to Sir Walter Scott, through his novels such as 'Lady of the
Lake, and 'Rob Roy MacGregor', Scottish culture became popular, such that commoners and
Royalty alike wanted their own kilts and tartans even though most had not a drop of
Scottish blood. It was partially due to Scott that Highland games, bagpipes,
and all the other paraphernalia finally became the cultural events they are today.
The Duke of Montrose, in consequence of
the cattle speculation, got possession finally of Rob Roy's lands at Craig-Royston.
