1954 - Special Collections

YEAR BOOK AMERICA N CLA N GREGOR S OCIETY 41
1563, in the reign of Queen Mar y, authority was granted to the most powerful
nobles and neighboring chief s to pursue the MacG regors with fire and sword.
In the end, because of their contempt for the law, the MacGregor s were deprived
of all ordinary means of procuring subsistence for themselves and their fam ilies.
But they could not be expected to starve; and hence they became experts in deeds of
depredation and forays upon their neighbors. It is undisput ed tha t they were exploited
by their wily neighbors who sought other s to carry out such unlawful acts as
they themselves feared to attempt ; and it was commonly said that the Macfiregors
held themselves out as ready agents in such deeds of lawlessness.
In 1589 Balquidder was the scene of one of the most notorious outbreaks of
lawlessness and cruelty. In the royal forest of Glen Artney, the King's deputy
fore ster, John Drummond, was out alone stalking deer. He was set upon and
murdered by MacDonalds of Glencoe. Hi s head was cut off and his body left
exposed in the heather. With thei r bloody trophy the MacDonalds hurried to the
house of th eir victim's sister, the wife of St ewa rt of Ardvorlich ; and on the table
there they set the head of the murde red man, before the distracted eyes of his sister.
Then the MacDonalds made their escape, calling upon the MacGregors for assistance
in defending themselves again st retribution. Thi s they were promised. As a
result measure s of stern retaliati on against the men of those clans were planned;
and Lord Drummond under royal authority mustered a superio r force , made a
sur prise attac k on Balquidder and slew every grown man they could lay their
hand s on.
In 1592, notw ithstanding many denunciations and th e general discrediting of
MacGregors as a race some of the clan still held property. The Chief then was
Alastair MacGregor of Glenst rae; who nevertheless took part in many violent and
illegal raid s. In the battle of Glenfruin against the Colquhouns, which resu lted
in a massacre of the Colquhouns, a large share of the blame rests on Alastai r and
on his foster brothe r, Dugald. As a result of this massacre there followed the
most severe punishment conceivab le. By Act of Privy Council, dated Ap ril 3,
1603, the very name MacGregor was abolished ; and on pain of deat h all so named
were commanded to change it for other surnames. By a subsequent Act they were
forbidd en to assemble in a greater number than four . Execution of these Acts
of severity was intrusted in the We st to the Earl of Argyle and the powerfu l
Clan Campbell, and in the Ea st to the Earl of Athole.
At length the pride of Ala stair MacGregor was so much lowered tha t he ag reed
to surrender himself with his princip al followers to the Duke of Argyle on condition
that they be sent out of the country. The wily Duke disposed of the tr oublesome
MacG regor in this treacherous way. H e was sent under gua rd over the
border into England; out of the country, according to the bargain. But he was
brought back to Edinburg h in custody. T here he was tri ed and found guilty on
J anuary 20, 1604; and immediately hanged at the Cross . T he Ea rl of Argy le
was rewarded for his infamous treachery by an Act of a grateful Pa rliament in
1607 ; and agai n in 1633 the sta tutes as to the disabilities imposed on all Mac­
Gregors were reestablished.
The verses of Si r Walter Scott's stirring song, " MacGregors' Gathering",
describes fa r better than could any words of ours the tr agic plight of th is unfortunate
Clan at thi s period, and are set forth below :