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The estate of Arngibbon is pleasantly situated near the
village of Arnprior, and adjoins the property of Garden. The
mansion-house is built on a commanding eminence, having a sweeping view
of the vale of Monteith, the eastern portion of the Lennox, with the
whole range of the Grampian hills beyond. The present beautiful house
was built and the grounds laid out by the esteemed proprietor, which
reflects the highest credit on his taste and intelligence. The name of
Forrester is of great antiquity, and the family is one of the very
oldest, in a direct line, in the county of Stirling. The name is derived
from the office of “forester” or “keeper” of the king’s forests. The
present Mr. Forrester of Arn-gibbon is descended, in a direct line, from
the ancient proprietors of Garden of that name.
Previous to the year 1490, Garden appears to have been
crown lands; for, in 1495, Sir Duncan Forrester, who would appear to
have been the first laird of Garden of that name, had charters of the
lands of Garden, Skipness, Torwood, Torwoodhead, &c.; and was also
comptroller of the King’s household, and had the office of keeper of the
forest of Torwood. About the year 1613, Sir Andrew Forrester sold his
estate of Garden to Stirling of Keir, but appears to have retained the
estate of Arngibbon.
At a very early period, and for a very long time, the
Menzies were proprietors of the greater part of the parishes of Kippen
and Killearn; and during the reign of James IV. one of that name held
the ancient estate of Arnprior. Menzies was an old man without heirs,
and had long lived at enmity with Forrester of Garden. The latter being
the more powerful of the two continued to overawe his neighbour, and at
last brought matters to a crisis by ordering Menzies either to leave his
estate voluntarily to him, or he would come and drive him from it by
force. Menzies not being able to cope with Garden, but at the same time
very unwilling to leave his estate to his mortal enemy, wrote Buchanan
of Auchmar that if he would protect him from Garden he would leave the
estate to one of his sons. Buchanan readily accepted the offer, and so
far undervalued Garden that he sent his second son, then only an infant,
with his nurse to Arnprior.
Forrester, hearing of the “young heir,” instantly went to
Arnprior house, and demanded that he should be at once sent back,
otherwise he should kill the child and burn the house about his ears.
The nurse, however, being of a bold determined nature, brandished her
fist in Forrester’s face, exclaiming—“Touch but one hair of the child’s
head, and you bring the vengence of Auchmar upon you; to-morrow, you
shall be hanging on your own gibbet, and your estate be a ruin!” This
bold speech on the part of the nurse was a complete damper to Forrester,
who well knew he could not cope with the then powerful house of Auchmar,
and he ceased to molest his neighbour. This same infant in after life
became the renowned “King of Kippen,” as the following incident will
show:—
During the reign of King James V. carriers were
frequently-passing along the road, from the western portions of the
county, to Stirling, with goods for the King’s use, the county road
leading past the entrance to Buchanan’s house. On one occasion Buchanan
ordered the carrier to leave part of the load for his use, and he should
be paid for it; but the carrier refusing, Buchanan instantly compelled
him to give up what he wanted, telling the bewildered carrier that, if
his master was “King of Scotland,” he was “King of Kippen,” and that it
was reasonable he should share with his neighbour King.
This matter afterwards coming to the ears of James, he
resolved on paying Arnprior a visit. On his arrival Buchanan was at
dinner, and his Majesty was denied access by a tall fellow, who
brandished a battle-axe, and told the king there could be no admittance
till dinner was over; but this answer not being satisfactory, the King,
sent to demand admittance a second time, upon which he was desired by
the porter to desist, otherwise he should have cause to repent of his
rudeness.
James, finding this method not suitable, desired the
porter to tell his master that the “Guid man o’ Ballangeich” desired to
speak with the “King of Kippen.” Buchanan hearing this, instantly
received his Majesty, entertained him sumptuously; and made himself so
agreeable, that he was allowed to take whatever he wanted for his own
use out of the King’s carts, and desired to visit his Majesty at
Stirling, which he did, and continued afterwards in great favour.
This Buchanan of Arnprior was also proprietor of the
estate of Gartartan, and had charters from the Commen-dator of
Inchmahome of the lands of Hornhaugh; he was also laird of Brachern.
After he had got possession of Brachern, it was violently seized by
Captain M£Tormad, chief of a company of outlaws, who took possession and
plundered the property.
Buchanan, getting notice that M‘Tormad and his associates
were drinking in a tavern at Chapelarroch, near Gartmore, and were
likely to spend the night there, selected a number of his men mounted on
horseback, and arrived at Chapelarroch during the night. On Buchanan’s
arrival, he found the outlaws overcome with drink and sleep, and making
fast the doors, he set fire to the house, when their chief and his
followers, twenty-four in number, were either burned or slain. This
brave man, the first of the “Kings of Kippen,” was killed at the
disastrous battle of Pinkie.*
The estate of Arngibbon is situated in the county of
Perth, but the family has always been reckoned as of Stirlingshire.
* Historical Essay upon the Family and Surname of
Buchanan, by Buchanan of Auchmar. |
