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Date Posted: 20:18:40 05/18/11 Wed
Author Host/IP: 98-159-200-219.scottsboro.org/98.159.200.219
Post 272 A: Clan Mac Gregor History:
SIOL ALPIN NO NA GRIOGARAICH - THE MAC GREGORS
"Is Rioghal mo dhream," i.e., my race is royal, is the proud boast of this indomitable clan, and the descent is traced to Griogar, third son of Alpin Mac Achai', king of Scotland, who commenced his reign in 787. Donngheal, the eldest son, gave the patronymic Mac Gregor to his posterity, and his brother, Guaria', was founder of the clan, since distinguished as Mac Quarrie.
Malcolm, who died about the year 1164, appears to have been the first who is designated of Gleann Urchai'. Malcolm, who lived in the time of Bruce, supported his interest with the utmost power of the clan, and fought bravely at Bannockburn; he also accompanied Edward, the king's brother, in the invasion of Ireland, and having been severely wounded at Dundalk, he was afterwards alluded to as being "am Mor'ear," the lame lord.
Campbell of Lachaw, in the fifteenth century, incited the Mac Nabs to quarrel with the Mac Gregors, who meeting their enemies in battle at Crinlarach, cut them off almost to a man. Lochaw thereupon received a commission to proceed by martial law against both, when they made common cause, but, after repeated skirmishes, with different success, they were forced about 1500 to obtain peace by ceding a considerable part of their lands to their too powerful neighbour.
Alastair, of Glenstrae, was celebrated for his martial prowess, and signally avenged a galling quarrel with the Colquhons, who had attacked him by surprise, at the battle of Glenfruin, in 1602. The vanquished, excessively mortified, accused the Mac Gregors of having stained their laurels by the commission of acts of atrocious cruelty. Colquhon endeavoured to "entrap and ensnare" the unfortunate victors "within compass of law," which he effectually did by a grevious complaint to the Lords of Council, when the whole clan were denounced rebels, and the Earl of Argyle was ordered to fall on them with fire and sword, a process by which, if successful the Mac Gregors' land would be his reward; various collisions consequently took place.
Argyle at last succeeded in persuading the chief that he could procure his pardon if he accompany him to the court in England, engaging to conduct Mac Gregor, who was outlawed, safely into that country. The latter part of the agreement he truly performed, for he conveyed his charge across the Tweed, but by an act of gross perfidy, he had the old Alastair immediately seized and carried back to Edinburgh, where he was executed with thirty of his followers!* On his death, without lawful issue, the clan, then in a state of disorder, elected a chief; but the head of the collateral branch reversed this arrangement very unceremoniously, by dragging the expectant of the honour from his inaugural chair in the kirk of Strath Fillan, and placed therein a more acceptable ruler in the person of Gregor, natural son of the late chief.
*He left an affecting declaration of the base purpose for which Argyle had sought to employ him, and for which he had met so sad a reward.-Pitcairn's Crim. Trials.
From the book: 'The Clans of the Scottish Highlands', - R.R. Mc Ian. Text by James Logan. First published 1845 and 1847.
End post 272 A: part 1, The Mac Gregors www.voy.com/40560/, teltalheart = Michael D. Barnes
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Post 272 A: Clan Mac Gregor History: Part 1