Gilderoy (outlaw)

Patrick McGregor aka Gilderoy was the leader of a band of limmers[5] or robbers, also he was a murderer and a cattle thief (blackmailer). He is best known by the anglicised version of his nickname (Scottish Gaelic: Gille Ruadh), meaning 'the Red-haired Lad'[2] from his characteristically Scottish red hair. He was also casually referred to as the 'Bonnie Lad'[6] and is sometimes compared with other popular outlaws such as Robin Hood and also Rob Roy MacGregor who lived later (1671–1734) and with whom he is sometimes confused.[7] The lowland Scots form 'Gilderoy' will be used throughout for consistency.

A view within the Burn o'Vat.

The spectacular rock formation at Burn o'Vat, near Ballater on Deeside is popularly associated as a hiding place of Rob Roy MacGregor, however it is some distance from his usual haunts and tradition says that it was used by Gilderoy, conceivably a relation of this better-known outlaw who was popularised by Walter Scott. A shallow depression behind the main waterfall here is known as "Gilderoy's Cave" as he is said on one occasion to have hidden from pursuers behind the waterfall when the burn was in spate.[8] In June 1636 Sir James Grant of Freuchie and Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum and his wife Magdalene Scrimgeour were censured for harbouring him in their lands.[9]

Gilderoy was executed in 1636; however, several highly adapted, greatly exaggerated and romanticised versions of his life have been published, some giving his year of death as late as 1658.[10]

A statue of Rob Roy MacGregor located above the Culter Burn. Rob Roy may never or rarely have visited Aberdeenshire and historically the statue would best represent Gilderoy.

Several popular versions of his life were published such as Lives and Exploits of English Highwayman, Pirates and Robbers.[6] The time period of his activities is moved forward and his execution given as being in 1658 with various fantastical and highly exaggerated elements added. Gilderoy has been placed in the same category as Robin Hood, Twm Siôn Cati and the aforementioned Rob Roy McGregor.[7]

Gilderoy is said to have come from a good family with an estate in Perthshire that he inherits at the age of twenty one upon his father's death. Despite advice from friends and relations he quickly bankrupts the estate by his recklessness.[6] His mother eventually refuses him further funds and as a result he cuts her throat, rapes his sister and a servant following which he sets fire to her home having robbed her of all her remaining valuables.[13]

A publication containing the song 'Gilderoy'.

An advertising poster for the play 'Gilderoy'.

A considerable reward is offered for his capture and Gilderoy flees to France where he purchases fine clothes and finds himself one day in a cathedral near Paris where Cardinal Richelieu is preaching with the king in attendance.[14] Gilderoy steals money from the cardinal's purse that he had left on his seat, the king spots his actions but Gilderoy gives a sign to indicate that it is a prank, the king later finding, to his great embarrassment, that he has been duped. Fleeing France he enters Spain, carrying out outrageous robberies wherever he goes. In Madrid he steals a great deal of valuable silver plate from the Duke of Medinaeceli.[13]

After an absence of three years Gilderoy feels that it is safe to return to Scotland. Although Gilderoy was in fact executed in 1636 in these versions of his life he is said to have taken advantage of the confusion caused by the English Civil War (1642–1651) to gather together a band of brigands and to have terrorised people throughout the counties of Athol, Lochaber, Angus, Mar, Baquahan, Moray and Sutherland, demanding cattle from his victims to gain his protection, a practise known as blackmail. The Earl of Linlithgow is recorded a victim, Gilderoy stealing a diamond ring, a gold watch and eighty gold coins from him.[13]

Oliver Cromwell is brought into the story,[14] supposedly to cast a bad light on The Protectorate that was at the time of writing in power. Gilderoy is said to have discovered that Cromwell was passing through the wilds of Galloway after having landed at Portpatrick on his return from Ireland and decides to rob him. Although Cromwell has only two servants with him he opts to fight Gilderoy rather than submit to highway robbery, upon which Gilderoy opens fire and eventually pretends to flee and after a long chase suddenly halts, shoots and kills one of his pursuers, injures the other and shoots Cromwell's horse from under him, resulting in him breaking his leg. Gilderoy grants Cromwell his life, mounts him on an ass and sends him on his way.[13]

Three of Gilderoy's men are next said to have been captured and hanged. In revenge he kidnaps the judge responsible, murders his servants, cuts up his coach, kills his horses and hangs him on the very same gibbet upon which his men still dangle. After carrying out many other atrocities a reward of 1000 marks is offered for his capture dead or alive. His mistress, Margaret Cunningham, decides to betray him as his days as a generous provider for her are clearly numbered. She arranges for forty soldiers to take him at her home, however she is not destined to benefit from her treachery as he murders her with much barbarity before managing to kill eight of the soldiers who eventually overwhelm him.[1]

Gilderoy is securely chained by his hands, waist and feet and after three days so attired in the Edinburgh Tollbooth he is hung from a thirty foot high gibbet in April 1658 having expressed no remorse. His body, still hung in chains, is exhibited on another gibbet placed between Edinburgh and Leith as a dire warning to others. He is said to have been thirty-four years old at his death.[1]

Below is the first stanza from the 1783 publication of "Select Scotish Ballads by John Pinkerton[15] showing that despite the harsh and brutal reality of Gilderoy's life he had a romantic appeal; the original is said to have been composed shortly after his execution by a young woman who unfortunately was attached to him.[1] Miss Halket, later Lady Wardlaw, is known to have softened, expunged, and added, as necessity might require.[1]

A 'black letter' copy of around 1650 shows that it was popular in England at that time and in 1702 it also appeared in Playford's "Wit and Mirth."[17] A black letter copy is a name used for the early form of type used by the printers that gave the appearance of a hand written manuscript. John Niven, a Jacobite sympathiser, transcribed in the 1760s the tune "The Flowers of Scotland - Gilderoy".[18]

The tune Gilderoy also appears in Thomas D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy of 1707 and in Tea Table Miscellany of circa 1726. It also appeared in Orpheus Caledonius of 1733.[19]

The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable of 1870 records the expression "To be hung higher than Gilderoy's kite", meaning to receive a punishment that is more severe than that usually meted out to even the most despicable of criminals![20]

One of the most recent supposed memorials to "Gilderoy" is that by Thomas Campbell (1777–1844) who wrote the ballad "Roslin Gilderoy", however this probably relates to a different person with the same nickname who in the eighteenth century was also hung in Edinburgh for stealing sheep, cattle, etc.[22] This is the first stanza :-

Robert Burns used a version of the melody Gilderoy for the song From Thee Eliza.[19][24]

Ann Gilrye was the mother of the pioneer conservationist John Muir who was born in Scotland at Dunbar. Because of the association with her surname the family adopted 'Gilderoy' as their song as can be seen at the John Muir Museum in Dunbar.

Professor Gilderoy Lockhart is a celebrity author and Hogwarts' new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gilderoy (outlaw).

• Rob Roy McGregor
• Robin Hood
• Twm Siôn Cati

Notes

Sources

• The Newgate Calendar - A most barbarous Murderer of his Mother and Sister, who led a bloodthirsty Gang of Outlaws in Scotland and hanged a Judge. Executed in April, 1658.
• The Ballad of Gilderoy by Thomas Campbell.
• Historical records of the trial of Patrick McGregor
• "Gilderoy" the folk song.
• Burn O'Vat & the Outlaw Gilderoy video