The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society
The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society
314 THE HIGHLANDERS [p.-VRT ii hill-country of Ross. These clans, consisting principally of the Macivers, Macaula}'s, and Maclays, had risen against the earl of Ross, and taken his second son at Balnagowan. In his attempt to put down this insurrection, the earl of Ross was promptly assisted by the Monros and the Dingwalls, who pursued the Highlanders, and fought them at a place called Beallynebroig. The three clans who had broken out into rebellion were nearly of the extinguished, and it is said that a hundred and forty Dingwalls and eleven of the house of Fowlis, who were to succeed each other, were killed, and that accordingly the succession fell to an infant. The Monros, however, appear to have soon recovered from this slaughter, and to have again attained to the station they had formerly possessed. The first feudal titles obtained by this family to their possessions were acquired about the middle of the fourteenth centur)', and all proceeded from the earl of Ross as their feudal superior. The reddendo of one of these charters is of a somewhat singular nature considering the times, Monro holding the lands of Pitlundie blench of the earl of Ross, for payment of a pair of ivhite gloves, or three pounds Scots, if required, alternately. In another charter, however, granted by the same earl, of the lands of Easter Fowlis, to Robert Monro of Fowlis, it is expressly said, that these lands had belonged to his prede- cessors ever since the time of Donald, the first of this family. From this period, the Monros appear to have remained in possession of the same territories, without either acquiring additions to them, or suffering diminution ; and to have at all times held the same station in which they were first found among the other Highland clans. In the sixteenth century they seem to have been considered as a clan of considerable importance, for when so many of the Highlanders assembled round Queen Mary at Inverness, in 1562, Buchannan says, "Audito principis periculo magna priscorum Scotorum multitude partim excita partim sua sponte affecit, imprimis Fraserii ct Moiiivi hominum fortissimorum in illis gentibus familiar." But when the civil wars of the seventeenth century broke out, and the Highlanders took such an active part on the side of the royal cause, the Monros were one of the few clans of Gaelic
CHAP. VII] O F S C O T L A X D 315 origin who embraced the other side and from this ; period the\' made a constant and determined opposition to the efforts made in favour of the Stuarts. The cause of this determination is probably to be found in the circumstance of the chief of the Monros having been for several generations engaged in the con- tinental wars, into which the}- had been drawn to serve by embarrassments at home, and the hope of increasing the fortunes of the family. This circumstance, as it had the same effect with the Mackays, seems always to have induced the Scotch, on their return from the German wars, to adopt the line of politics opposed to that of the Highlanders generall}-, and, in this respect, the Monros had rendered themselves well known for the active support which they invariably afforded to the established government. In the year 1745, the Monros proved their attachment to the government by joining it with the whole clan, and their chief, Sir Robert Monro, of Fowlis, was killed at the battle of Falkirk, fighting against the army of the Stuart cause. Anns. Or, an eagle's head erased, gules. Badge. Eagles' feathers. Principal Seat. Fowlis. Oldest Cadet. Munro of Milton. Chief. Munro of Fowlis. Force. In 1704 and 1715, 4C0. In 1745, 5°°- Clan Gillemliaol. The earliest seat of the Macmillans appears to have been on both sides of the Locharkaig, and their situation strongly confirms their traditionar)- connection with the clan Chattan. On the grant of Lochaber to the lord of the Isles, the iVIacmillans
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314 THE HIGHLANDERS [p.-VRT ii<br />
hill-country <strong>of</strong> Ross. <strong>The</strong>se clans, consisting principally <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Macivers, Macaula}'s, and Maclays, had risen against the earl <strong>of</strong><br />
Ross, and taken his second son at Balnagowan. In his attempt<br />
to put down this insurrection, the earl <strong>of</strong> Ross was promptly<br />
assisted by the Monros and the Dingwalls, who pursued the<br />
<strong>Highlanders</strong>, and fought them at a place called Beallynebroig.<br />
<strong>The</strong> three clans who had broken out into rebellion were nearly<br />
<strong>of</strong> the<br />
extinguished, and it is said that a hundred and forty<br />
Dingwalls and eleven <strong>of</strong> the house <strong>of</strong> Fowlis, who were to<br />
succeed each other, were killed, and that accordingly the<br />
succession fell to an infant. <strong>The</strong> Monros, however, appear to<br />
have soon recovered from this slaughter, and to have again<br />
attained to the station they had formerly possessed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first feudal titles obtained by this family to their possessions<br />
were acquired about the middle <strong>of</strong> the fourteenth<br />
centur)', and all proceeded from the earl <strong>of</strong> Ross as their feudal<br />
superior. <strong>The</strong> reddendo <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> these charters is <strong>of</strong> a somewhat<br />
singular nature considering the times, Monro holding the<br />
lands <strong>of</strong> Pitlundie blench <strong>of</strong> the earl <strong>of</strong> Ross, for payment <strong>of</strong> a<br />
pair <strong>of</strong> ivhite gloves, or three pounds Scots, if required,<br />
alternately. In another charter, however, granted by the same<br />
earl, <strong>of</strong> the lands <strong>of</strong> Easter Fowlis, to Robert Monro <strong>of</strong> Fowlis,<br />
it is expressly said, that these lands had belonged to his prede-<br />
cessors ever since the time <strong>of</strong> Donald, the first <strong>of</strong> this family.<br />
From this period, the Monros appear to have remained in<br />
possession <strong>of</strong> the same territories, without either acquiring<br />
additions to them, or suffering diminution ; and to have at all<br />
times held the same station in which they were first found<br />
among the other Highland clans.<br />
In the sixteenth century they seem to have been considered<br />
as a clan <strong>of</strong> considerable importance, for when so many <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Highlanders</strong> assembled round Queen Mary at Inverness, in<br />
1562, Buchannan says, "Audito principis periculo magna<br />
priscorum Scotorum multitude partim excita partim sua sponte<br />
affecit, imprimis Fraserii ct Moiiivi hominum fortissimorum in<br />
illis gentibus familiar."<br />
But when the civil wars <strong>of</strong> the seventeenth century broke<br />
out, and the <strong>Highlanders</strong> took such an active part on the side <strong>of</strong><br />
the royal cause, the Monros were one <strong>of</strong> the few clans <strong>of</strong> Gaelic