Rob Roy | Page 2

of a learned university. Thus a character like
his, blending the wild virtues, the subtle policy, and unrestrained
license of an American Indian, was flourishing in Scotland during the
Augustan age of Queen Anne and George I. Addison, it is probable, or
Pope, would have been considerably surprised if they had known that
there, existed in the same island with them a personage of Rob Roy's
peculiar habits and profession. It is this strong contrast betwixt the
civilised and cultivated mode of life on the one side of the Highland
line, and the wild and lawless adventures which were habitually
undertaken and achieved by one who dwelt on the opposite side of that
ideal boundary, which creates the interest attached to his name. Hence
it is that even yet,
Far and near, through vale and hill, Are faces that attest the same, And
kindle like a fire new stirr'd, At sound of Rob Roy's name.
There were several advantages which Rob Roy enjoyed for sustaining
to advantage the character which he assumed.
The most prominent of these was his descent from, and connection with,
the clan MacGregor, so famous for their misfortunes, and the
indomitable spirit with which they maintained themselves as a clan,
linked and banded together in spite of the most severe laws, executed
with unheard-of rigour against those who bore this forbidden surname.
Their history was that of several others of the original Highland clans,
who were suppressed by more powerful neighbours, and either
extirpated, or forced to secure themselves by renouncing their own
family appellation, and assuming that of the conquerors. The

peculiarity in the story of the MacGregors, is their retaining, with such
tenacity, their separate existence and union as a clan under
circumstances of the utmost urgency. The history of the tribe is briefly
as follows--But we must premise that the tale depends in some degree
on tradition; therefore, excepting when written documents are, quoted,
it must be considered as in some degree dubious.
The sept of MacGregor claimed a descent from Gregor, or Gregorius,
third son, it is said, of Alpin King of Scots, who flourished about 787.
Hence their original patronymic is MacAlpine, and they are usually
termed the Clan Alpine. An individual tribe of them retains the same
name. They are accounted one of the most ancient clans in the
Highlands, and it is certain they were a people of original Celtic
descent, and occupied at one period very extensive possessions in
Perthshire and Argyleshire, which they imprudently continued to hold
by the coir a glaive, that is, the right of the sword. Their neighbours,
the Earls of Argyle and Breadalbane, in the meanwhile, managed to
leave the lands occupied by the MacGregors engrossed in those
charters which they easily obtained from the Crown; and thus
constituted a legal right in their own favour, without much regard to its
justice. As opportunity occurred of annoying or extirpating their
neighbours, they gradually extended their own domains, by usurping,
under the pretext of such royal grants, those of their more uncivilised
neighbours. A Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochow, known in the
Highlands by the name of Donacha Dhu nan Churraichd, that is, Black
Duncan with the Cowl, it being his pleasure to wear such a head-gear,
is said to have been peculiarly successful in those acts of spoliation
upon the clan MacGregor.
The devoted sept, ever finding themselves iniquitously driven from
their possessions, defended themselves by force, and occasionally
gained advantages, which they used cruelly enough. This conduct,
though natural, considering the country and time, was studiously
represented at the capital as arising from an untameable and innate
ferocity, which nothing, it was said, could remedy, save cutting off the
tribe of MacGregor root and branch.

In an act of Privy Council at Stirling, 22d September 1563, in the reign
of Queen Mary, commission is granted to the most powerful nobles,
and chiefs of the clans, to pursue the clan Gregor with fire and sword.
A similar warrant in 1563, not only grants the like powers to Sir John
Campbell of Glenorchy, the descendant of Duncan with the Cowl, but
discharges the lieges to receive or assist any of the clan Gregor, or
afford them, under any colour whatever, meat, drink, or clothes.
An atrocity which the clan Gregor committed in 1589, by the murder of
John Drummond of Drummond-ernoch, a forester of the royal forest of
Glenartney, is elsewhere given, with all its horrid circumstances. The
clan swore upon the severed head of the murdered man, that they would
make common cause in avowing the deed. This led to an act of the
Privy Council, directing another crusade against the "wicked clan
Gregor, so long continuing in blood, slaughter, theft, and robbery," in
which letters of fire and sword are denounced against them for