Castle Cluggy, which stands on the peninsula on the north side of the
Loch of Monzievaird, is undoubtedly very old, but how old no one can
tell. A square tower, about 17 feet by 18 feet, with walls five or six
feet thick, of tremendous strength, is all that now remains. It is
said to have been a seat of the "Red Cumin," the rival of Robert the
Bruce for the throne of Scotland, slain at Dumfries before the high
altar. The prison is sometimes said to have been on the island in the
loch, but really the dungeon must be sought under the foundations of
the tower. In the charter giving Ochtertyre to the Murrays, in the
year 1467, it is even then described as an "ancient fortalice." The
key of the tower was found about fifty years ago on the east side of
the building. The old church of Monzievaird, now converted into a
mausoleum, was the scene of a dreadful tragedy, characteristic of the
spirit of feudal times. The Murrays and the Drummonds were but ill
neighbours in the days of James IV. The collision between them in this
instance has been ascribed to the levying of tithes, but without
historic grounds; and the law of retaliation is even older than that of
teinds, and far more widely practised. In a foray which began near
Knock Mary the Murrays or their retainers were overpowered and driven
westward. They kept up a running fight round the western base of
Tomachastel, and an obstinate struggle took place in the hollow between
Westerton and the Loch, where many men fell. The Murrays, however,
succeeded in reaching the church, where 120 men able to bear arms, with
their wives and children, took refuge. They were followed by the
Drummonds, reinforced, as some say, by Campbell of Dunstaffhage, and
thirsting for vengeance. Even then they might have escaped, had not
one of the Murray clan indiscreetly revealed their hiding-place by
aiming a successful shot at one of the Drummonds. The Drummonds now
summoned them to surrender, but in vain, and then piled wood round the
long, low, heather-thatched edifice, and consumed it with its human
holocaust. One Murray alone, David by name, escaped, being aided by
one of the Drummonds, who was attached to his sister. He in turn was
hated and persecuted by his own clan, and forced to escape to Ireland.
After some years he returned thence under the effectual protection of
the powerful Abbot of Inchaffray, who was a Murray. He was settled on
the Abbey lands, and the property which he received still bears the
name of Drummond-Ernoch (of Erin).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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