Person:Robert Tulloch (47)

"A few years later the sister of Marjory [Urquhart] had become equally beautiful, and an impetuous lover, Robert Tulloch, a son of the laird of Tannachy, sought her in marriage. The Urquharts were against the match, and on 14th September, 1621, Robert made a desperate attempt to carry off the lady from her father’s house in Forres. The laird appeared on the-scene and rescued his daughter, but reluctant to prosecute a neighbour's son, he tried to arrange matters. The young man was determined to have the lady at all costs, and the mother's watchfulness baffling every attempt to kidnap the girl, Tulloch, mad with passion, fired at the old lady. For this outrageous conduct he was brought before the Lords of Council, and on 24th April, 1622, in their presence, gave solemn oath never to molest the Urquhart household. Notwithstanding this he pressed his suit ardently and impudently. The Sheriff of Cromarty [Sir Thomas Urquhart] soon afterwards was a guest at Rurdsyards, and very likely heard the story of Tulloch's persistent wooing. The recital roused him to anger; in his own domain he dealt out shrewd and sharp justice, there being none to call him in question. So next Sunday he went into the Kirk of Forres, when the third bell was ringing to the sermon, accompanied by men armed to the teeth. The stricken lover evidently occupied a seat near the Burdsyards' pew in the hope of seeing his fair one. Although he never offended the Sheriff in word or deed, yet Urquhart and his companions, “with bandit pistols, drawn swords and whingers, immediately set upon him, and after giving him divers bluidy straikes and woundies, threw him out of his desk and seate, and cuttit and brak the same in pecis." The worshippers interfered and saved Tulloch from the Sheriff's fury, and the parson—a clansman—[ Patrick Tulloch ] coming out of the pulpit, tried to reason with the rioters, and “threatened them with the heavy wraith of God for profaning His holy Sabbath and sanctuary." This led to further violence, for, seizing the cleric, they cut off his garments with swords and daggers, and so “birst and bruisit his haill bodie and bowalis" that the poor minister spat blood for ten days, and was unable to preach “ sensyne." Sir Thomas soon found that there was a difference between the Highlands of Cromarty and the “ Laich of Moray," for he was committed to ward in the Castle of Edinburgh, and had to pay £20 to every witness who was a horseman, and ten marks to every witness who was a footman" (Reg. of Privy Council, XIII., p. 174) [1]

The other side of the story is told from the Fastae:

"On 18th Feb. 1623 complaint was made to the Privy Council by T. [Patrick Tulloch, Minister of Forres] and Robert Tulloch, son of Alexander of Tannachie, that Sir Thomas Urquhart, sheriff of Cromarty, and others, including Alexander Urquhart, natural son, of Burdsyards, lately entered the kirk of Forres, attacked Robert Tulloch in his seat, and also attacked the minister of Forres when he came from the pulpit, 'cuttit his gowne and uther abuilzements with swords and daigers and so shamefullie misused him and birst and bruist his haill body and bowalls within him, that he vomeitt and spatt bluid at his mouth the space of aucht or ten days thairefter and has never been able to go to the pulpett sensyne.' The sheriff of Cromarty and Alexander Urquhart were found guilty of attack on Robert Tulloch, and the sheriff was ordered to pay the expenses of the witnesses ; the others were assoilzied." - [2]

Soon afterwards he met a violent end:

"Anno 1629: Alexander Innes, nottar public in Elgin, cruelly slew Robert Tulloch, brother to —— Tulloch of Tanoquhy, at the Pans-port in Elgin about Whitsunday 1629; he fled to Ireland, his wife and children followed, but feared punishing." - [3]