Product Code Database
Manrent refers to a Scottish people contract of the mid-15th century to the early 17th century, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans. The bond of manrent was commonly an instrument in which a weaker man or Scottish clan pledged to serve, in return for protection, a stronger lord or clan—in effect becoming a vassal that renders service to a superior, often made in the form of a covenant. Manrents were a Promise by one person to serve another, such that he shall 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, unable to defend themselves, and clans or families who had lost their chiefs, frequently entered into manrent. Under such treaties, 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 clan chief, , or captains, who owed submission only when necessary, for the success of combined operations. Although manrents often used terms such as, "our successors", "perpetually", and "in all time coming", their object was usually defense, aggression, or revenge, rarely extending further than the occasion for which they were formed.Burrill, p. 702.Maclauchlan; Wilson; Keltie (1875) 2, pp. 121–122.History of the Scottish Highlands : Highland clans and Highland regiments, with an account of the Gaelic language, literature, and music (Volume 1) (188?), p. 320 [1]The House of Forbes, Aberdeen, Printed for the third Spalding Club, MCMXXXVII
In Chapter 17 of legislation on 20 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:
The following cases involving bonds of manrent were brought before the Judicial proceedings: acts of the lords auditors of causes and complaints:
| "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 advertise, 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.The Celtic magazine; a monthly periodical devoted to the literature, history, antiquities, folk lore, traditions, and the social and material interests of the Celt at home and abroad (Volume 11) p.166 [5] |
| 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 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" The Scottish Clans And Their Tartans: With NotesThe House of Forbes, p. 35, Aberdeen, Printed for the third Spalding Club, MCMXXXVII |
| 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".The House of Forbes, p. 39, Aberdeen, Printed for the third Spalding Club, MCMXXXVII |
| 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.New York |
| Clan MacLea Clan Campbell of Cawdor | 1518 | "clane McDowleanis" (an error for M'Donvleavis or Clan MacLea) gave their bond of manrent to Sir John Campbell of Caldor (Cawdor). The Surnames of Scotland: Their origin, meanings, and history, by George Black, PhD, New York Public Library, 1946. Originally collected for the book from articles which originally appeared in the Bulletin of the New York Public Library, August 1943 through September 1946. |
| 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 5 February 1519, with a Notarial Instrument thereon, dated 8 August in the same year.Mackenzie (1881), p. 301. |
| 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".The Celtic magazine; a monthly periodical devoted to the literature, history, antiquities, folk lore, traditions, and the social and material interests of the Celt at home and abroad (Volume 10) p.573 [6] |
| 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 | 13 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 the youthful Mary, Queen of Scots |
| 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, 1 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"The Celtic magazine; a monthly periodical devoted to the literature, history, antiquities, folk lore, traditions, and the social and material interests of the Celt at home and abroad (Volume 11) p.133 [7] |
| 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.Mackenie (1881), p. 307; p. 308. |
| 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 against quhatsumever", to George, Earl of Huntly by Andrew Clan Macpherson, 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 27 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.Maclauchlan; Wilson; Keltie (1875) 2 |
| Clan MacNab Clan Mackinnon | 1606 | dated 12 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 otherKeltie; Maclauchlan; Wilson (187?) 4, pp. 256–258. |
| Clan Chattan Clan Macqueen | 1609 | On 4 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."Keltie; Maclauchlan; Wilson (187?) 4, p. 254. |
| 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".The Celtic magazine; a monthly periodical devoted to the literature, history, antiquities, folk lore, traditions, and the social and material interests of the Celt at home and abroad (Volume 5) p.99 [8] |
| Brim-DeForest of Balvaird Clan MacPherson | 2021 | 17 May 2021; in the collection of the Clan Macpherson Museum, a bond of manrent from Brady Brim-DeForest of Balvaird Castle, “in true bond of mutual assistance and loyal service to James Brodie Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, Chief of Clan Macpherson”; Creag Dhubh; an annual periodical of Clan Macpherson;(Volume 75) 2023 |
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