| Year 1667.
It necessarily resulted from the the proscriptive law mentioned in
the former trial, and enforced with severe penalties, that such of the
clan Gregor as did not yield obedience, became outlaws; became a
desperate banditti, who had no other livelihood than the booty acquired
by the most criminal outrages. The prosligate and rapacious habits
increased by this act survived the statute itself, and gave occasion to
the trial of the prisoner.
Patrick Roy MacGregor, by his activity, courage, and cruelty, had
rendered himself the most celebrated of a formidable band of robbers,
that long infested the Highlands +.
It consisted of about forty persons, whose stile of life had nourished a
strength and activity of body, and a cruelty of disposition, displayed
in wanton outrages against the feeling of others, yet accompanied with a
fortitude that bore, without shrinking, the pinching of cold and hunger,
and the torture of the executioner. Lachlan MacIntosh, the Captain
of this band, about a year preceding, had finished his course in the
hands of justice. The prisoner, who succeeded to the command, was
a man of robust make, but diminutive stature. The red hair which
grew thick over all his body, indicated his strength, while it added to
his ugliness, and got him the name of Roy. His stern features
bespoke ferocity; his keen red eyes, and nose, like the eagle's beak,
heightened the terrors of his countenance. And both at his
examination, and execution, he bore an uncommon severity of torture,
with a patience and fortitude which excited astonishment.
This banditti had committed violent depredations on the lands of John
Lyon of Muiresk, for which Mackintosh the Captain had been apprehended
and executed, and the prisoner declared an outlaw; and a commission of
fire and sword issued out against him. In resentment of these
proceedings, the prisoner and his associates plundered the lands of
Bellchirries, the property of Lyon of Muiresk. Lyon defended his
house of Bellchirries, against the assaults of these robbers, till the
30th of April 1666, when they surrounded the house, brought straw and
corn from the barnyard, piled them around the mansion, and set the whole
in flames. The proprietor and his son, a lad of about eighteen
years of age, were glad to come out of the house, on a capitulation with
the robbers, who promised them their lives. Having got possession
of the house, the robbers carried off the furniture and arms, horses and
cattle, belonging to Mr Lyon, to the hills of Abernethie, about sixteen
miles distant. They also carried the gentleman and his son
prisoners; and, regardless of the articles of capitulation, murdered
both father and son, leaving their bodies, pierced with redoubled
wounds.
The prisoner and his banditti, to the number of forty, proceeded next
to assault the borough of Keith, levied contributions on the town, and
fought with all who opposed them. In this assault, however, Roy
was so severely wounded as to be unable to make his escape. Next
day he was apprehended, and was conducted, under strong guard, to the
tollbooth of Edinburgh.
On the 25th of March he was brought to trial; and a complete proof
being led of his manifold crimes, he was sentenced to be taken, on the
27th of that month, to the Cross of Edinburgh, his right hand to be cut
off, and then to be hanged till he be dead, and his body to be hung in
chains on the gallows between Leith and Edinburgh. The Executioner
mangled him so shockingly, in the discharge of his duty, that he was
next day turned out of office. Patrick Drummond, the associate of
the prisoner's guilt, was, at the same time, the companion of his
sufferings. |
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