Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/107

MacGregor entertained by his clansman Dr. James Gregory, professor of medicine in King's College, Aberdeen. On his return south he collected a large force of clansmen, and seizing the ferry-boats and other vessels on Loch Lomond brought them to Rowardennan. On 27 or 28 Sept. he marched in the direction of the forces of Mar (Appendix to Loch Lomond Expedition, p. 18; Hist. MSS. Comm. 3rd Rep. p. 380). During his absence the men of Paisley and Dumbarton, to the number of one hundred, sailed up Loch Lomond in four men-of-war boats, and succeeded in recapturing the boats that Rob Roy had seized. The narrative of the expedition gives the Paisley and Dumbarton volunteers the credit of having frightened the MacGregors by a vigorous discharge of firearms, but in all probability before they undertook the expedition they were well aware that the MacGregors had left the district (The Loch Lomond Expedition of 1715, reprinted and illustrated from Original Documents, Glasgow, 1834). Although Rob Roy followed in the wake of the rebel army, he did not actually join it. Robert Patten [q. v.] relates that at Sheriffmuir he ‘was with his men and followers within a very little distance from the Earl of Mar's army, and when he was desired by a gentleman of his own to go and assist his friends, he answered, “If they could not do it without me they should not do it with me”’ (Hist. of the Rebellion, ed. 1740, p. 171). Friendship for Argyll seems chiefly to have actuated him in holding aloof. When Mar retreated to Perth, Rob made a foraging tour in the south on his own account. On 9 Dec. he appeared at Drymen, where he proclaimed the Pretender and rifled the gauger's house and tore up his books (Hist. MSS. Comm. 3rd Rep. p. 375; Appendix to Loch Lomond Expedition, p. 30). Afterwards he appeared at Luss (ib. p. 31). Graham of Killearn came up with him at the inn of Crianlarich, and made an attempt to seize him, when Rob, it is affirmed, taking up a position inside the inn door, ‘felled each intruder to the ground as he entered,’ until his followers, rushing to his assistance, compelled the Grahams to retreat (, p. 157). He now passed eastwards into Fife, and on 4 Jan. 1716 seized Falkland Palace (Loch Lomond Expedition, p. 34). On the 21st, at the head of two hundred men, he attacked and captured a party of Hanoverians sent by General William, first earl Cadogan [q. v.], to occupy the Tower of Balgonie (Hist. MSS. Comm. 3rd Rep. p. 375). After various raids in Fife and Stirling he returned with his followers in April to Craigroyston.

While he was stationed with a small band at Strathfillan, his house at Auchinchisallan in Breadalbane was burned by the enemy. He partly revenged himself by firing from the rocks and passes on the troops as they were retreating with their booty (Letter of Graham of Killearn, 11 April 1716, ib. p. 381). Shortly afterwards the homesteads of Glengyle and Craigroyston were also destroyed; and growing desperate, he by a bold coup de main seized Graham of Killearn while he was in the inn at Menteith collecting rents for Montrose, took the factor's money, and refused to set him free until he paid 3,400 merks for loss and damage done to his property, and obtained a promise from Montrose not ‘to trouble or prosecute’ Rob afterwards (Letter of the Duke of Montrose, 21 Nov. 1716, ib. p. 381). On the 27th he, however, set Graham free, with his books, papers, and bonds, but kept the money (Letter of Montrose, November, ib. p. 382). Not long afterwards Montrose, at the head of a body of his tenants, surprised and captured Rob at Balquhidder, but the outlaw escaped while crossing a river at nightfall. Thereupon the Duke of Atholl, who up till this time had been on friendly terms with Rob, offered to effect his capture, and on 4 June 1717, according to the duke's own account, Rob surrendered to him (Hist. MSS. Comm. 12th Rep. App. pt. viii. p. 71). Rob gave another version of his capture. According to him the duke arranged a friendly meeting with him on 3 June at Blair Castle, on a promise of security, and broke that promise (Declaration of Rob Roy, 25 June 1717, ib. 3rd Rep. p. 384). On 6 June Rob broke out of prison at Logierait. Probably through the protection of Argyll, and no doubt by the connivance of the clansmen, he contrived, by lurking in caves or in the woods, to carry on his depredations against Montrose for several years more. Various other instances, no doubt somewhat embellished by tradition, are given of his hair-breadth escapes (see, History of Rob Roy). In appendix to Millar's ‘History’ is also an authentic account of the clever escape of Henderson, the laird of Westerton, from his clutches. He was present with a number of his followers at the battle of Glenshiels, 10 June 1719. In 1719 he amused himself by penning a challenge to Montrose to settle their disputes by single combat, which he said would save him and the troops ‘any further trouble of searching’. Ultimately, however, through the intervention of the Duke of Argyll, a reconciliation was effected with Montrose, and on their advice Rob in 1722 sent a letter of submission to General Wade, in which he de-