The book Arran; - Cook Clan

102 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
chapter of Hamilton interest in the M'Ahsters and their
retort to Montgomery.
It runs thus :
Complaint by Robert Montgomerie of Skelmourlie and Marrarat
Makmillane in North Sannokis in Arrane, his tenant, as follows :
' It is not unknowin to his Majestie be quhat meanis, travell, cair
and panes the said Robert his laitlie recoverit his house of Lochransay,
quhilk wes violently surprisit and tane be sum brokin hieland men '
of the Clan AUaster, or how, after the recovery thereof, he had
hoped ' not onlie to have levit peciable himselff, bot alsua to have
brocht his haill tennentis and servandis, dwelland upoun his landis
of Loehrainsay within the isle of Arrane and schirefdome of Bute,
undir some civill governament and obedience to his Majestie and
his lawis, lyke as, indeid, preasit be God, some experience of guid
ordoure hes bene thir twa or thrie yeiris bigane ressonablie establischit,
alswele upoun his pairt in putting his Heynes lawis to executions as
be thame in giving thair obedience thairunto.' Upon 4th August
last, however, Paull Hammiltoun, captain of Brodik, Alexander
Hammiltoun of Corrie, Archibald, Alexander and George Hammiltouns,
sons of the late Mr. Gawin Hammiltoun, Matthew Hammiltoun,
son of the late Robert Hammiltoun, called of Torrence, all armed
with habguts and pistolets, accompanied by certain other ' brokin
hieland men and vagaboundis,' came to the said Robert's lands of
North Sannokis and not only violently took away with them Duncane
M'Ellowey (MacLouis ?), servitor to Ewen M'Myllen in Glen, as
prisoner to the castle of Brodik, where they kept him as captive
three or four days, but also broke up the doors of the said Marramats
house, and spuilyied eight kye, six stones of wool, twenty ells of
cloth, a grey horse, worth £40, a cow, worth £16, plaids, pans, and all
her plenishing, estimated at £40. The pursuers appearing, but none
of the defenders, the order is to denounce them rebels.
Montgomery's ' house at Lochransay ' has long since
passed from its ancient possessors, but still stands in semi-
isolation, with access from the land only on one side, in part
broken, roofless, hall and bower mingled in a common
vacancy, yet even as a mere shell dignified and capacious.