Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-09-04

pltrlOt w aliace, Wncn after MS OeIcat
ut Falkirk, in 1903, he sailed from
Kirkcudbright for France. The clan
was so numerous and prosperous
about the beginning of theft fteenth
century that there were no fewer
than fourteen kni ights of the name at
that period living in Galloway.
About the middle of the century the
Maclc lans came in collision with the
formidable house ofDouglas, and the
consequent murder Of Sir Patrick
Mcclellan, tutor or guardian Of the
young Laird Of Boml lie, and Sheriff
OF Galloway, is one Of the most trag-
ic incidents Of those troublous times.
Sir Patrick had refused to join the
confedcracy which William, eighth
Earl of Douglas, was then organizing
against the royal authority, and was,
in consequent, violently seized by
that baron and imprisoned in his
castle of Ihrieve. Sir Patrick's un-
cle-Sir Patrick Gray-the COM
Inander of the Royal Guard-obtain-
cd from the King (Jamcs H. letter
to the Earl, entreating as favor
rather than urging rs command,
that he would deliver the person of
the tutor of Bombie, into the hands
Of his relative, Sir Patrick Gray. On
the arrival of Sir Patrick at Threive
Castle, Douglas received him with
much apparent courtesy, but declin-
ed to speak with him on the occa-
sion of his coming till he should par
take of dinner, from which the Earl
had just risen. But guessing that
the object Of the Earl's visit was to
obtain Maclellan's release he gave
orders that his prisoner should be
Immediately put to death. When
dinner was over Sir Patrick present
ed the royal letter, which Douglas
received with an air of the greatest
respect, and observed that his Majes-
ty's request should instantly be grant
ed. Conducting Sir Patrick to the
place where Maclellan's liteless body
lay, he jeegingly said, "you have come
a little too late. There lies your sis
tcr's son, but he wants the head. The
body is, however, at your service"
Vengeance speedily overlook the
savage Baron for this foul murder.
A few months later, when Douglas
was stabbed i'll Stirling Castle by the
King in a burst OF passion, Sir Pat
rick GRAY assisted in dispatching the
wounded nobleman by blow with
battle AK. The Maclcllans were from
the earliest times staunch Royalists,
and zealously supported the success
sivc kings Of Scotland in their con-
tests with their turbulent and too
powerful barons. Sir Robert Mac
lellan was raised to the peerage in
1888 by Charles l., under the title of
Lord kirkcudbright. The newly-cre-
ated peer and his successors fought
gallantly on the royal side during the
great civil war, and the third lord,
who was the proprietor of nearly all
the parish OF kirkcudbright, incurred
such enormous expenses i'll raising
and arming his vassals as completely
ruined his estates, which were seized
and sold by his creditors. AS moth
ing remained to support the dignity,
the title was not claimed for nearly
sixty years after the death of the
luckless Royalist, and even then it
was assumed merely for the purpose
of voting in a keen contest between
the Earl> Of Eglinton and Aberdeen.
The sixth Earl kirkcudbright was so
reduced in his circumstances that he
had to supper; himself and his fami-
ly by keeping glover's shop in Ed
inburg. But once year on the
night of the Peers Ball, he took his
place in full dress, wearing his sword,
among his brother mobiles, and by
this act asserted his equality Of rank
with those who, on other occasions,
were his Gidsgow Mail.