The 1611 manuscript detailing the extent of the feud.

Two manuscripts dealing with one of the most infamous feuds in clan history are set to go under the hammer this week in Edinburgh. The Persecution of the Clan Gregor manuscripts, dated between 1611 and 1619, highlight the extent to which the MacGregors were punished by the Campbells after loosing a bitter and long power struggle over land in Argyll.

Set to fetch up to £3000 at auction, the first document was issued in 1611 by the Privy Council of Scotland under the auspices of one of the most notorious members of the Campbell clan, Sir Duncan Campbell of Glen Orchy, who went by the sinister nickname of “Black Duncan of the Cowl.” The manuscript instructs the holding of regional courts to try those suspected of ‘resetting’, or protecting the interests of, members of the Clan MacGregor. The second manuscript from 1619 was granted to Duncan Campbell, giving him permission to ‘intercommune’ with certain members of Clan MacGregor. At this time the persecution of Clan MacGregor was so severe that it was even forbidden to communicate with members of the clan.

The history of Clan MacGregor’s persecution began in April 1603, when King James VI issued an edict proclaiming the name MacGregor to be ‘abolished’. This came in the wake of years of the Clan Gregor having been restricted in their lands to Glenstrae by the Campbells, and subsequent inter-clan battles and killings. As of 1603, Clan MacGregor would be persecuted by law, and anyone bearing this name and refusing to renounce it would be put to death. Until the edict against the clan was repealed in 1774, it was illegal to be a MacGregor, or to protect or support the cause of those who held onto the name. The persecution continued for over 200 years.

The first manuscript makes it clear that some people in the Highlands had indeed been resetting (protecting or supporting the interests of) members of the clan, and the Privy Council were not happy with this. The commission resolves to make examples of those resetting the clan members and lists regional noblemen and dignitaries who are given the power to call courts to try the resetters and ensure that the sentences are carried out. The commission not only underlines how vilified Clan MacGregor was by the state, but also shows that by 1611 the suppression had not been as effective as hoped.

Auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull have described the sale as a rare chance to snap up a piece of Scottish history. The manuscripts form part of the Breadalbane Collection, a gathering of documents relating to the Campbells of Glen Orchy, which is largely held by Edinburgh University.

Cathy Marsden, book specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said translations of the document from “Old Scots” highlighted the frustration of the Privy Council that some people had been protecting and supporting the interests of the clan.

She said: “As of 1603, the clan would be persecuted by law, and anyone bearing this name and refusing to renounce it would be put to death.

“Until the edict against the clan was repealed in 1774, it was illegal to be a MacGregor, or to protect or support the cause of those who held onto the name.

“It is very rare for something of this nature to come up for auction. We often get old title deeds and things like that, which are not particularly valuable, but documents like this, which relate to a really important part of Scottish history, don’t come up for auction that often.

“We’re expecting a lot of interest in it, perhaps from private buyers who are very interested in Scottish history and documents, or institutions like museums and archives who are interested in buying it on behalf of the nation.”

The auction will be held at 11 am on Wednesday 15th January 2014. You can view Lot 181 here, and Lot 182 here.

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The dome topped mausoleum in front of Kilmun Parish Church

Work has begun on restoring the final resting place of twenty generations of Campbell chiefs. Built in 1798, the current mausoleum is on the site of an earlier chapel where Campbells have been buried since the 15th century. The mausoleum is located within the grounds of Kilmun Parish Church on the banks of the Holy Loch in Argyll.

Following six years of campaigning, £1m in funding was awarded to the community organisation behind the restoration drive. Donors included Historic Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Argyll and Bute Council and the Argyll Estates. The mausoleum has fallen into disrepair after the cast iron dome, forged in Glasgow’s shipyards in 1890, began leaking soon after it was installed. The restoration project will be supervised by a team of archeaologists because of the building’s status as a scheduled ancient monument.

Welcoming the announcement, Dinah McDonald, Chair of Argyll Mausoleum Ltd said:  “We’re thrilled that after years of campaigning, the Mausoleum has been given the recognition it deserves. We would like to thank everyone for their support and contributions. The funding will go towards vital restoration of the building and artefacts. We also want to build new visitor facilities within the adjacent Church of Scotland and open the Mausoleum up to the community, schools and visitors”.

Records indicate that Campbell chiefs have been buried in Kilmun since at least the 15th Century. This tradition began with the untimely death in 1422 of Celestine, the son of ‘The Black Knight of Loch Awe’ Sir Duncan Campbell. A fierce snowstorm prevented the burial party from reaching Innishail, so Sir Duncan chose to bury his son beneath the aisle of the church at Kilmun. Sir Duncan and his wife Marjory (great, great grand-daughter of Robert the Bruce) were subsequently also buried in the church with their effigies above their tombs, establishing the clan tradition. A private chapel for burying Campbell chiefs and their families was constructed off the nave of the church by the 9th Earl in 1669. This was replaced by the present mausoleum built in 1798. The last Campbell chief to be buried in the mausoleum was the 10th Duke of Argyll in 1949.

Work is expected to begin in January 2014, with completion plans scheduled for the summer. David McKenzie, director of Argyll Mausoleum, said the mausoleum has wider historical importance as it contains medieval burial effigies dating back to the 1450s which are thought to be the last examples of such quality in Scotland. “They are not only of incredible historical importance, they’re also of incredible quality. The stone carvings are incredibly detailed. They show how a lady would have dressed, down to the beading on her gown. The armour worn by the lord is said to be evidence that even then, the Campbells had aspirations to be more than just a Highland clan.”

A list of those buried in the mausoleum can be found here.

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