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Manrent'''Manrent''' refers to a Scottish people|Scottish mid 15th century|15th century to the early 17th century|17th 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 Scottish clan|clan would pledge his or their services, in return for protection, to a stronger lord or Scottish clan|clan; a vassal rendering service to a superior, often made in the form of a covenant. 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 Scottish clan|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 Scottish clan chief|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 Scottish clan|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 clan chief|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.[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 http://www.archive.org/details/historyofscottis01macluoft][The House of Forbes, Aberdeen, Printed for the third Spalding Club, MCMXXXVII]
Background
Bonds of manrent played an important part in Scottish clan relationships during the 15th century|15th to the early 17th century|17th century. The disputes between opposing Scottish clans|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.[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 http://www.archive.org/details/historyofscottis01macluoft] 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.[History of the Scottish Highlands : Highland clans and Highland regiments, with an account of the Gaelic language, literature, and music (Volume 1) (188?), p.64 http://www.archive.org/details/historyofscottis01macluoft]
Manrents and Scots Law
Manrents were abolished by Act of Parliament, Edinburgh, the 6th 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 3rd April 1592.[An Abridgement of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland: From the Reign of James the First in 1424 to the Union with England in 1707, Including Verbatim All the Acts Now in Force and Use ; with Notes and References, and an Appendix Containing a Chronological Table of the Titles of the Whole . . . ; By William Alexander; Published by Black, 1841; Original from Oxford University; internet link][The House of Forbes, Aberdeen, Printed for the third Spalding Club, MCMXXXVII]
Terminology
The earliest known bond to use the term "manrent" was recorded in January 1442, between Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross|Alexander MacDonald, earl of Ross and Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat|Hugh Fraser of Lovat.[Curry; Mathew, p. 165.]. Earlier contracts survive, but use terms such as ''"letters of retinue"'' or ''"rentinencia"''.[Burrill, p. 702.][Concepts and Patterns of Service in the Later Middle Ages By Anne Curry and Elizabeth Matthew; p.166, ISBN:0851158145 http://books.google.ca/books?id=kHxWZfm1lb4C&pg=PA166&dq=letters+of+retinue&sig=ACfU3U12B-gOBHGlbWOPD8n8dvNxTbRbrg#PPA166,M1]
Illustrative example of a manrent
In 1588 William Macleod of Macleod, 13th 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):-
See also
- Scottish clan
- Homage (medieval)
- coalition, covenant and treaty
Notes
References
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Category:Scottish clans
Category:Medieval law
Category:Scots lawRelated Images
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