_Swearing on a Skull_ (Vol. v., p. 485.).--In the "Historical Memoirs of
the Clan McGregor," prefixed to the _Life of Rob Roy_, by K. Macleay, M.D.,
Glasgow, 1818, is the following story:--On the arrival of Anne of Denmark
in Scotland, {547} immediately after her marriage to James VI., the king
ordered Lord Drummond of Perth, who was "principal forester of Glenartney,"
to provide venison for a feast. His deputy, Drummond of Drummondernoch,
found in the forest some trespassers of clan Donald of Glenco, whose ears
he cropped and let them go. The Macdonalds, however, returned with others
of their clan, killed Drummond, and cut off his head. The atrocious acts of
barbarism which followed need not be told here. They ultimately took the
head with them, and proceeded to Balquhidder, among their friends the
McGregors, whose conduct is best described in the words of the king's
proclamation against their clan, which, after denouncing the "manifest
reifs, and stouths" committed by them, and the murder of Drummond, proceeds
thus:
"Likeas after ye murther committed, ye authors yrof cutted aff ye said
umqll Jo. Drummond's head, and carried the same to the Laird of
McGregor, who, and his haill surname of McGregors, purposely conveined
upon the next Sunday yrafter, at the kirk of Buchquhidder; qr they
caused ye said umqll John's head be pnted to them, and yr avowing ye sd
murder, laid yr hands upon the pow, and in Ethnic and barbarous manner,
swear to defend ye authors of ye sd murder."