Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 2 (of 2)Chambers, Robert
History
Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 2 (of 2)
Chambers, Robert
Scotland -- History -- 16th century; Scotland -- History -- 17th century
On the application of Mr William Gordon, professor of medicine and
anatomy in the university of Aberdeen, who had hitherto been obliged
to illustrate his lessons by dissecting beasts, the Privy Council gave
warrant to the sheriffs and magistrates of Aberdeen to allow him the
bodies of a couple of malefactors for the service of his class, if
such could be had, but, failing these, the bodies of any poor people
who might die in hospitals or otherwise, and have no friends to take
exception; this being with the approbation of the Bishop of Aberdeen,
chancellor of the university.[69]
* * * * *
[Sidenote: JULY 27.]
[Sidenote: 1636.]
This was a terrible day for the _broken men_ who had for the last few
years been carrying on such wild proceedings in Morayland and other
districts bordering on the Highlands. Lord Lorn--who soon after, as
Marquis of Argyle, became the leader of the Covenanting party--had
exerted himself with diligence to put down the system of robbery and
oppression by which the country had been so long harassed; and he
had succeeded in capturing ten of the most noted of the catterans,
including one whose name enjoys a popular celebrity even to the present
day. This was Gilderoy or Gillieroy; such at least was his common
appellation--a descriptive term signifying the Red Lad--but he actually
bore the name of Patrick Macgregor, being a member of that unhappy clan
which the severity of the government had driven to desperate courses
about thirty years before. Another of the captured men was John Forbes,
who seems to have been the _fidus Achates_ of the notorious outlaw,
James Grant. A natural son of Grant was also of the party. These ten
men were now brought to trial in Edinburgh.
It was alleged of Gilderoy that he and his band had for three years
past _sorned_ ‘through the haill bounds of Strathspey, Braemar, Cromar,
and countries thereabout, oppressing the common and poor people,
violently taking away from them their meat, drink, and provision,
and their haill guids.’ They had taken fifteen nolt from one farm in
Glenprosen; had lain for days at Balreny, eating up the country, and
possessing themselves of whatever they could lay hands on, and in some
instances they had carried off the goodman himself, or the man and wife
together, in order to extort money for their ransom. One of the charges
leads us to the romantic scenery of Loch Lomond, where there is an
island called Inchcailloch (Women’s Island), from having been the seat
of a nunnery in ancient times. Gilderoy, in company with his brother,
John Dhu Roy, and his half-brother, John Graham, had come to William
Stewart’s house in this island, and taken from it ‘the whole insight
plenishing, guids, and geir,’ besides the legal papers belonging to the
proprietor. There had also been a cruel slaughter of one of the Clan
Cameron. The other men were taxed with offences of a similar kind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account