Manrent

Manrent refers to a Scottish mid 15^th century to the early 17^th century type of contract, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans. The bond of manrent was commonly an instrument in which a weaker man or clan would pledge his or their services, in return for protection, to a stronger lord or clan; a vassal rendering service to a superior, often made in the form of a covenant. Marents 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 of equal power, worded in the form of treaties of offensive and defensive alliance. 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, 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 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, chieftains, lairds 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 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 coalitions with friendly neighbours. Manrents served to prevent 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 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, Edinburgh, the 6^th March 1457, under item 24 "Of Bandis and ligis within burrowis and of manrent". However, they continued to be in use, and curiously an item of "Ratification of ane band of Manrent to the laird of Blaikwode" can be found in the parliamentary Acts of the 3^rd April 1592.

Terminology

The earliest known bond to use the term "manrent" was recorded in January 1442, between Alexander MacDonald, earl of Ross and Hugh Fraser of Lovat.. Earlier contracts survive, but use terms such as "letters of retinue" or "rentinencia".

Illustrative example of a manrent

In 1588 William Macleod of Macleod, 13^th chief of Clan Macleod, 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):-

"Be it kenned to all, me, William Macleod of Dunvegan, to become bound and obliged. Like as by the tenor hereof, I bind and oblige me, my heirs, leally and truly, by the faith and truth in my body, to take, efauld, and true part, assist, maintain, and defend, and concur with Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton, Captain and Chief of the Clan Chattan, and his heirs, in all and sundrie their actions, causes, quarrels, debates, and invasion of any person or persons whatever, indirectly used or intended contrary to the said Lachlan and his heirs in all time coming, from the day and date hereof, so that I, the said William Macleod, and my heirs, shall be sufficiently and duly premonished and advertised by the said Lachlan Mackintosh and his foresaids, to the effect foresaid, and shall give faithful and true counsel to him and his heirs, by and attour concurrence, and take efauld part with him and his heirs (as said is) in all their just causes and actions as said is. And sicklike I shall not hide, obscure, nor conceal, by any colour or engine, directly or indirectly, any skaith, displeasure, nor harm, meant or concert, in contrar the said Lachlan Mackintosh and his foresaids by any whatsomever person or persons, the same coming to the knowledge and ears of me, the said William Macleod and my heirs, but immediately after trial thereof in all our best manner, with all expedition and haste, shall advertize, report, and make foreseen the said Lachlan Mackintosh and his heirs thereof. As also to concur, assist, maintain, defend, and take faithful part with them against all mortals (the King's Majesty excepted allenarly). And this my bond to stand firm and stable in all time coming after the day and date hereof. In witness of the whilk, I have subscribed these presents with my hand, in manner under written, at Culloden, the 15th day of January, 1588, before witness."

(Signed) WILLIAM M'LEOYD offe Dunvegane.

List of Manrents (currently incomplete)

Between	Date	Notes and Reference
Clan Forbes 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	1442	recorded in January 1442. The earliest known bond to use the term "manrent". Between Alexander MacDonald, earl of Ross and Hugh Fraser of Lovat..
Clan Gordon Clan Forbes	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 Mackenzie	1466	bond of manrent made in gratitude and friendship for the assistance of Clan Brodie against Clan Macdonald at the battle of Blar-na-pairc.
Clan Campbell 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 MacKay	1522	Alexander Gordon (the Earl of 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 MacFarlane	1545	granted to Hugh, Master of Eglinton, in 1545 by Duncan, uncle to the Laird of MacFarlane at Irwine
Clan Gordon Clan Mackenzie	1545	13th of December 1545, at Dingwall, the Earl of 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
Clan Gordon Clan MacLean, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, 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 Macleod,	1559	At Dunoon, 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 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 Macleod	1588	see illustrative example above
Clan Gordon Clan Macpherson	1591	signed at Huntly Castle, "leallie, faithfullie, and to serve in all action and wars agains quhatsumever," to George, Earl of Huntly by Andrew MacPherson of Cluny, John MacPherson in Brakaucht, James and Paul MacPherson, and others
Clan MacGregor Clan MacAulay	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 Mackinnon	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	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 Mackinnon	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 MacDonald of Keppoch	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."