Manrent

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Manrent

Manrent refers to a Scottish

Scottish people

The Scots people are a nation and an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland.Historically, as an ethnic group, they emerged from an amalgamation of Celts, Picts, Gaels and Brythons....
mid 15^th century to the early 17^th century type of contract

Contract

A contract is an exchange of promises between two or more parties to do, or refrain from doing, an act which is enforceable in a court of law. It is a binding legal agreement....
, usually military

Military

A military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or Threat of force ....
in nature and involving Scottish clans. The bond of manrent was commonly an instrument in which a weaker man or clan

Scottish clan

Vassal

A vassal in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudal of medieval Europe, is one who enters into mutual obligations with a monarch, usually of military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain guarantees, which came to include the terrain held as a fiefdom....
rendering service to a superior, often made in the form of a covenant

Covenant

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Encyclopedia

Manrent refers to a Scottish

Scottish people

Contract

Military

Scottish clan

Vassal

Covenant

A covenant, in its most general sense, is a solemn promise to engage in or refrain from a specified action.More specifically, a covenant, in contrast to a contract, is a one-way agreement whereby the covenanter is the only party bound by the promise....
. Manrents have been defined as a "Promise by one persone to serve ane uther in sic [such] sort that he sall be friend to all his friends, and foe to all his foes". Some bonds of manrent, described as bonds of friendship, took place between men or clans

Scottish clan

Alliance

An alliance is an agreement between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, between the Kingdom of England and Portugal, is the oldest alliance in the world which is still in force....
. These contracting parties bound themselves to assist each other. Manrents always acknowledged and prioritized the signatory's duty of allegiance to the King, in terms such as: ". . . always excepting duty to our lord the king.". In the same manner, when men who were not chiefs of clans

Scottish clan chief

for a list of the Scottish Chiefs and their clan, see Scottish clans.The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan....
, but of subordinate tribes, thus bound themselves, their fidelity to their chiefs was always excepted, in terms such as ". . . always excepting duty to our kindred and friends". Smaller clans

Scottish clan

Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Scottish clan chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms....
who were unable to defend themselves, and such clans or families who had lost their chiefs, frequently entered into bonds of manrent. Under such treaties the smaller clans identified themselves with the greater clans; they engaged in the quarrels, followed the fortunes, and fought under the greater chiefs; however, their ranks were separately marshaled, and led by their own subordinate chiefs, chieftain

Chieftain

Chieftain may refer to:The leader or head of a group:* a tribal chief or a village head.* a member of the 'House of chiefs'.* a captain , to which 'chieftain' is etymologically related....
s, laird

Laird

A Laird is a member of the Gentry and a hereditary title in Scotland. The title of Laird may carry certain local or feudal rights, though unlike a Lord of Parliament, a Lairdship has never carried voting rights, either in the historic Parliament of Scotland or, after unification with the Kingdom of England, in the Great Britain House of Lord...
s or captains, who owed submission only when necessary, for the success of combined operations. Although manrents would often use terms such as "our successors", "perpetually" and "in all time coming", their object was usually one of defense, aggression or revenge, rarely extending further than the occasion for which they were formed.

Background

Bonds of manrent played an important part in Scottish clan

Scottish clan

Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Scottish clan chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms....
relationships during the 15^th to the early 17^th century. The disputes between opposing clans were frequently made matters of negotiation, and their differences were often settled by treaties. In order to strengthen a clan against the attacks of a rival, or to maintain the balance of power in a region, a clan would enter into coalition

Coalition

A coalition is an Wiktionary:alliance among individuals, during which they cooperate in Joint venture, each in his own self-interest. Joining forces together for a common cause....
s with friendly neighbours. Manrents served to protect the smaller clans from being swallowed up by the greater, and at the same time nursed the turbulent and warlike spirit which formed the common distinction of all. From these and other causes, the Highlands were for ages as constant a theater of petty conflicts as Europe has been of great and important struggles; in the former were enacted, in miniature, scenes bearing a striking and amusing analogy to those which took place upon a grand scale in the latter. The circumstances which led to the forming of these manrents shows that the Scottish

Scottish people

The Scots people are a nation and an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland.Historically, as an ethnic group, they emerged from an amalgamation of Celts, Picts, Gaels and Brythons....
government of the time was too weak to afford protection to the oppressed, or to quell the disputes of rival clans.

Manrents and Scots Law

Manrents were abolished by Act of Parliament

Parliament of Scotland

The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Independence Kingdom of Scotland.The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early thirteenth century, and the first meeting for which reliable evidence survives was at Kirkliston in 1235, during the reign of A...
, Edinburgh, under legislation the 6^th March 1457 "that no man dwelling within burgh be found in manrent ", and under the same terms, by legislation the 18^th May 1491. The penalty being the confiscation of goods and "thar lifis at the kingis will". However, the terms of this legislation allowed for Manrents to the King, to the King's officers, to the Lord of the same burgh as the man entering into manrent, and to their superior officer.

In Chapter 17 of legislation the 20^th June 1555, and for reasons "because it is thocht aganis all law and obedience of subjectis towart thair princis", the giving and taking of bonds of manrent made in the past were now null and void, an exception was made for heritable bonds given for "assythment of slaughters in time bygone".

Manrents mentioned in Parliamentary procedure and legislation:

Under parliamentary procedure of 11 December 1543, Sir James Hamilton, was bound into a bond of manrent for himself and his heirs to James Hamilton, Earl of Arran
Earl of Arran

Earl of Arran is a title in both the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland. The two titles refer to different places, the Isle of Arran in Scotland, and the Aran Islands in Ireland....
and his heirs, in return for a bond of maintenance.

A "Ratification of a bond of manrent to [James Weir], laird of Blackwood" was passed in legislation the 5th June 1592, "for the assythment and satisfactioun of the slauchter of umquhile Johnne Weir of Poneill".

The following cases involving bonds of manrent were brought before the Judicial proceedings: acts of the lords auditors of causes and complaints:

4 July 1476, Gavin of Crichton against Sir William of Borthwick
Lord Borthwick

Lord Borthwick is a title in the Peerage of Scotland.Alexander Nisbet relates that "the first of this ancient and noble family came from Hungary to Scotland, in the retinue of Queen Margaret, in the reign of Malcolm Canmore, anno Domini 1057....
, knight.
20 July 1476, Alexander Cunningham, Lord Kilmaurs, against Robert of Muir of Rowallan.
9 Dec 1482, John the Bruce of the Stenhouse against Robert Fleming, Lord Fleming and Andrew Oliphant, his bailie.
19 May 1491, Cuthbert of Murray of Cockpool against Robert of Carlyle.

Terminology

The earliest known bond to use the term "manrent" was recorded in January 1442, between Alexander MacDonald, earl of Ross

Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross

Alexander of Islay or Alexander MacDonald was a medieval Scottish nobleman, who succeeded his father Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles as Lord of the Isles and rose to the rank of Earl of Ross ....
and Hugh Fraser of Lovat

Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat

Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat , was a Scotland Peerage, and the Chiefs of Clan Fraser of the Clan Fraser.Fraser was the son of Thomas Fraser, 5th laird of Lovat, and Lady Janet Dunbar....
.. Earlier contracts survive, but use terms such as "letters of retinue
Retinue

A retinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a nobility or royal family personage, a suite of "retainers."...
" or "rentinencia".

Illustrative example of a manrent

In 1588 William Macleod of Macleod, 13^th chief of Clan Macleod

Clan MacLeod

Clan MacLeod is a Scottish Highlands Scottish clan. The Gaelic form is Clann Mhic Le?id. Clann means family, while mhic is the genitive of mac, the Gaelic for son, and Le?id is the genitive of Le?d....
, entered into a bond of manrent with Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Captain and Chief of the Clan Chattan, whose daughter he had married, in the following terms (text taken from public domain

Public domain

File:PD-icon.svgThe public domain is a range of abstract materials?commonly referred to as intellectual property?which are not owned or controlled by anyone....
):-

List of Manrents (currently incomplete)

Between	Date	Notes and Reference
Clan Forbes Clan Forbes Clan Forbes is a Scottish Lowlands Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.... Clan Ogston	1430	10 may, 1430; for Alexander Ogston of that Ilk, son and heir of Thomas of Ogistun lord of that Ilk, to "attend him [Sir Alexander Forbes of that Ilk] with three armed horsemen against all mortals, the King excepted"; with a clause that the number of horsemen be increased to six upon Thomas of Ogistun's death: "...sall serff wt. III hors qwyll my ffader lyffis & efter hym wt. sex"
Clan Macdonald Clan Fraser Clan Fraser Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of French people origin. The Clan has been strongly associated with Inverness and the surrounding area since the Clan's founder gained lands there in the 13th century....	1442	recorded in January 1442. The earliest known bond to use the term "manrent". Between Alexander MacDonald, earl of Ross Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross Alexander of Islay or Alexander MacDonald was a medieval Scottish nobleman, who succeeded his father Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles as Lord of the Isles and rose to the rank of Earl of Ross .... and Hugh Fraser of Lovat Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat , was a Scotland Peerage, and the Chiefs of Clan Fraser of the Clan Fraser.Fraser was the son of Thomas Fraser, 5th laird of Lovat, and Lady Janet Dunbar.... ..
Clan Gordon Clan Gordon Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename. The chief of the Clan Gordon was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.... Clan Forbes Clan Forbes Clan Forbes is a Scottish Lowlands Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland....	1444	"Bond of Manrent of James of Forbes, sone and ayer apperande of Schir Alexander of Forbes knycht" to "lorde Alexander of Setoune of Gordon".
Clan Brodie Clan Brodie Clan Brodie is a Scottish clan whose origins are uncertain. The first known Brodie Clan chief were the thegn of Brodie and Dyke in Morayshire.... Clan Mackenzie Clan MacKenzie Clan Mackenzie is a Scottish highlands Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire....	1466	bond of manrent made in gratitude and friendship for the assistance of Clan Brodie Clan Brodie Clan Brodie is a Scottish clan whose origins are uncertain. The first known Brodie Clan chief were the thegn of Brodie and Dyke in Morayshire.... against Clan Macdonald at the battle of Blar-na-pairc Clan MacKenzie Clan Mackenzie is a Scottish highlands Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.... .
Clan Campbell Clan Campbell Clan Campbell is historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Scottish Highlands Scottish clans.... Clan MacDonell of Glengarry	1519	"Allastyr Mac Ean Vic Allyster of Morvern and Glengarrie," in a bond of manrent to Colin, Earl of Argyll, the King's Lieutenant at the time over the district in which Glengarry's property lay, dated 5th of February, 1519, with a Notarial Instrument thereon, dated 8th of August in the same year.
Clan Gordon Clan Gordon Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename. The chief of the Clan Gordon was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.... Clan MacKay Clan MacKay The Clan Mackay is an ancient and once powerful Scottish clan from the country's far north in the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old province of Moray....	1522	Alexander Gordon (the Earl of Sutherland Earl of Sutherland The title of Earl of Sutherland is an ancient one in the Peerage of Scotland, created circa 1230. The Earl of Sutherland was also the Chief of Clan Sutherland.... 's eldest son) overthrew John Mackay of Strathnaver at Lairg, and forced him to submit himself to the Earl of Sutherland; unto whom John Mackay gave his band of manrent and service, dated "the year of God 1522".
Clan Montgomery Clan Montgomery Clan Montgomery is a Lowland Scottish clan.... Clan MacFarlane Clan MacFarlane Clan MacFarlane is a Scottish highlands Scottish clan. The clan claims a descent from the old line of the Earls of Lennox. For some time there had been some controversy as to the descent of these earls, with both Gaels and Anglo-Saxons origins given....	1545	granted to Hugh, Master of Eglinton, in 1545 by Duncan, uncle to the Laird of MacFarlane at Irwine
Clan Gordon Clan Gordon Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename. The chief of the Clan Gordon was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.... Clan Mackenzie Clan MacKenzie Clan Mackenzie is a Scottish highlands Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire....	1545	13th of December 1545, at Dingwall Dingwall Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It formerly functioned as an east-coast harbor, but now lies inland.... , the Earl of Sutherland Earl of Sutherland The title of Earl of Sutherland is an ancient one in the Peerage of Scotland, created circa 1230. The Earl of Sutherland was also the Chief of Clan Sutherland.... entered into a bond of manrent with John Mackenzie of Kintail for mutual defence against all enemies, reserving only their allegiance to their youthful Queen, Mary Stuart Mary I of Scotland Mary I was Queen of Scots from 14 December 1542 to 24 July 1567.She was the only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scotland. She was only six days old when her father died and left her Queen of Scots....
Clan Gordon Clan Gordon Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename. The chief of the Clan Gordon was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.... Clan MacLean Clan MacLean Clan Maclean is a highland Scottish clan.... , Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, also known as Clan Ranald of Lochaber, is a Scottish Clan.... , and others	1547	Hector MacLean, then of Duart, with Keppoch and others, signed a bond of Manrent "vitht my hand at the pen," to George, Earl of Huntly, at the castle of that name.
Clan Campbell Clan Campbell Clan Campbell is historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Scottish Highlands Scottish clans.... Clan Macleod Clan MacLeod Clan MacLeod is a Scottish Highlands Scottish clan. The Gaelic form is Clann Mhic Le?id. Clann means family, while mhic is the genitive of mac, the Gaelic for son, and Le?id is the genitive of Le?d.... ,	1559	At Dunoon Dunoon Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde beside Holy Loch and opposite Gourock.... , 1st March 1559, "betwixt a noble and potent Lord Archibald, Earl of Argyll, on the one part, and Tormod Macleod, son to [umquhile] Alexander Macleod of the Harris, as principal in this contract, and Hector Maclean of Duart as principal favourer and tutor to the said Tormod, on the other part"..."the said Tormod, by these presents, gives and grants his bond of manrent, his faithful and true service, with all his kin and friends, and his heirs and successors of the Harris, to the said Earl, his heirs and successors, of Argyll, perpetually; also shall not marry but with the advice of the said Earl, whose counsel he shall take in marrying a wife"
Clan Grant Clan Grant File:Clan member crest badge - Clan Grant.svgClan Grant is a Highland Scottish clan which inhabited land in Northern Scotland since 1316, although the clan is known to have existed farther back than that.... Clan MacDonell of Glengarry,	1571	Contract between Angus MacAlester of Glengarry and Clan Grant. Glengarry, in this bond of manrent, which he agreed to give, makes an exception in favour "of ye auctoritie of our soverane and his Chief of Clanranald only ". This is held by Clanranald of Moydart as an acknowledgment by Glengarry of the Captain of Clanranald as his chief.
Clan Mackintosh Clan MacKintosh Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobitism ties. The Mackintoshes share a common history with the Chattan Confederation.... Clan Macleod Clan MacLeod Clan MacLeod is a Scottish Highlands Scottish clan. The Gaelic form is Clann Mhic Le?id. Clann means family, while mhic is the genitive of mac, the Gaelic for son, and Le?id is the genitive of Le?d....	1588	see illustrative example above Manrent Manrent refers to a Scottish people mid 15th century to the early 17th century type of contract, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans....
Clan Gordon Clan Gordon Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename. The chief of the Clan Gordon was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.... Clan Macpherson Clan Macpherson Clan Macpherson is a Highland Scottish clan from Badenoch, on the Spey River, Scotland. It is a leading member of the Chattan Confederation....	1591	signed at Huntly Castle Huntly Castle Huntly Castle is a ruined castle in Huntly, Scotland in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was the ancestral home of the chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly.... , "leallie, faithfullie, and to serve in all action and wars agains quhatsumever," to George, Earl of Huntly by Andrew MacPherson of Cluny Clan Macpherson Clan Macpherson is a Highland Scottish clan from Badenoch, on the Spey River, Scotland. It is a leading member of the Chattan Confederation.... , John MacPherson in Brakaucht, James and Paul MacPherson, and others
Clan MacGregor Clan MacGregor Clan Gregor, or Clan MacGregor, is a Scottish Highlands Scottish clan. Outlawed for nearly two hundred years after losing their lands in a long power struggle with the Clan Campbell, the Clan Gregor claims descent from Constantin and wife and cousin Malvina, first son of Doungallas and wife Spontana and grandson of Giric, the third so... Clan MacAulay Clan MacAulay Clan MacAulay is a Scottish clan. The clan was historically centred around the lands of Ardincaple, which are today consumed by the little village of Rhu and burgh of Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute....	1591	entered into between MacGregor of Glenstrae and MacAulay of Ardincaple, of date 27th May 1591, the latter acknowledges his being a cadet of the former, and agrees to pay him the "calp," that is, a tribute of cattle given in acknowledgment of superiority.
Clan MacNab Clan MacNab Clan Macnab is a Highland Scottish clan.... Clan Mackinnon Clan MacKinnon Clan Mackinnon or Clan Fingon is a Scottish Highlands Scottish clan associated with the islands of Isle of Mull and Skye, in the Inner Hebrides....	1606	dated 12th July 1606, between Lauchlan MacKinnon of Strathairdle and Finlay Macnab of Bowaine, In the bond the two chiefs claimed to "come from ane house and one lineage", and promised to lend aid to each other
Clan Chattan Clan Macqueen Clan MacQueen Clan Macqueen is a Scottish clan. The clan does not have a Scottish clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Because of this, the clan is considered an armigerous clan, and as such Clan Macqueen has no standing under Scots Law....	1609	On the 4th April 1609, Donald Macqueen of Corrybrough signed the bond of manrent, with the chiefs of the other tribes composing the Clan Chattan, whereby they bound themselves to support Angus Mackintosh of that ilk as their captain and leader
Clan MacGregor Clan MacGregor Clan Gregor, or Clan MacGregor, is a Scottish Highlands Scottish clan. Outlawed for nearly two hundred years after losing their lands in a long power struggle with the Clan Campbell, the Clan Gregor claims descent from Constantin and wife and cousin Malvina, first son of Doungallas and wife Spontana and grandson of Giric, the third so... Clan Mackinnon Clan MacKinnon Clan Mackinnon or Clan Fingon is a Scottish Highlands Scottish clan associated with the islands of Isle of Mull and Skye, in the Inner Hebrides....	1671	dated at Kilniorio in 1671, between Lauchlan Mackinnon of Strathairdle and James Macgregor of Macgregor, "for the special love and amitie between these persons, and condescending that they are descended lawfully fra twa breethren of auld descent, wherefore and for certain onerous causes moving we witt ye to be bound and obleisit, likcas by the tenor hereof we faithfully bind and obleiso us and our successors, our kin, friends, and followers, faithfully to serve one anither in all causes with our men and servants, against all who live or die."
Clan Campbell Clan Campbell Clan Campbell is historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Scottish Highlands Scottish clans.... Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, also known as Clan Ranald of Lochaber, is a Scottish Clan....	1681	found in the Black-book of Taymouth that a bond of manrent was given by Gilleasba, chief of Keppoch, to John Glas, first Earl of Breadalbane; "such as Ceppoch's predecessors gave to the Earl's predecessors." binding Keppoch "to restrain all the inhabitants of Brae-Lochaber, and all of the name of Macdonell, from committing robberies within the Earl's bounds."

Manrent

Background

Manrents and Scots Law

Terminology

Illustrative example of a manrent

List of Manrents (currently incomplete)

See also