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- Clan McFarlane Website
"1 - "Duncan was serving as a retainer of his distant cousin Patrick, 3rd Lord Drummond, in December 1578, when he was arrested at Miln of Nab, Drymen Parish, Stirlingshire whilst in the company of his second cousin twice removed another Duncan MacFarlane, Esq., who was charged with murder."
from 'The barons of Arrochar and their cadets' a manuscript by Chevalier Terrance Gach MacFarlane. Chapt. 1 - 14b
2 - Duncan, 13th Chief , who besides Andrew, his successor, had one other son, Duncan. All we know of the younger Duncan is given in the account of the Mill of Nab affair of 1578.
[History of Clan Macfarlane Vol. II - manuscript by James Macfarlane; Chapt. 34]
3 - In 1578, from the Privy Council Register it would appear that the Clan was guilty of considerable bloodshed, as witness the following, dated Stirling Castle, 26th December, 1578, complaint by Patrick, Lord Drummond, against the Earl of Montrose : - " Upon the 21st day of December, John, Earl of Montrose, with his servants and accomplices, to the number of forty persons or thereby, in warlike manner, came, under silence of night, to the dwelling house of Wm. Drummond at the Mill of Nab, and surrounded the same for the apprehension of Duncan MacFarlane, brother-german to Andrew MacFarlane of Arrochar, and Duncan MacCoull MacFarlane in Drummond of Lennox, the said Patrick, Lord Drummond's servants being lying in their beds within the said house ; for putting of his devised purpose into execution, entered within the said house, and put violent hands upon the persons aforesaid, took them out of their beds, and perforce has transported them to his place of Kincardine; where he as yet detains them as captives and prisoners." Both parties now appearing personally, and the Earl of Montrose having alleged and produced in his justification a commission, dated 2nd December, given him by the King, " for taking of the said Duncan M'Coull MacFarlane and others, his accomplices, committers of the cruel murder of the late Ra, like as he by vertew thereof took and apprehended him and the said umquhile Duncan MacFarlane, the Lords do two things. They ordain that the Earl of Montrose shall, under pain of horning, ' exhibit the aforesaid persons before them upon the 29th December,' then to hear the cause decided ; but, at the same time, they acquit him from all pain and danger for what he has already done in the matter." The continuation of the narrative is found under date, Stirling Castle, 29th December, 1578: - " The Earl of Montrose, now appearing and presenting his two prisoners, according to the order recorded above, argued that one of them, Duncan MacCoull MacFarlane, having been ' taken by virtue of our Sovereign Lord's commission, for art and part of the cruel murder of the late Ra,' ought not to be set at liberty till he is tried. Lord Drummond, as patron of the prisoners, contended, on the other hand, that the said Duncan MacCoull MacFarlane ought to be released on surety for his appearance to be tried. The case having been considered, the Lords ordained Colin, Earl of Argyll, justice principal, to whom the said Duncan MacCoull MacFarlane was delivered, to retain and cause him to be kept in sure firmance that he escape not,' and direct the said Duncan to be ' put to the knowledge of an assize within the tolbooth of Stirling upon the 13th day of January next to come.' " There is some confusion between the two Duncans. From the reference to the " umquhile Duncan MacFarlane," it would appear that the brother-german to Andrew of Arrochar had died, and that the two prisoners produced by the Earl of Montrose were the men referred to in the following entry: - " Caution by Wm. Drummond of Myllynab in 500 merks, for Duncan MacFarlane and in 100 pounds for Malcolm MacGillevoray, his servant, that they will appear to be tried for art and part in the slaughter of Ra, and will keep the peace meanwhile."
[History of Clan Macfarlane by James Macfarlane pub 1922]"
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Abt 1546 - 1578 (~ 32 years)
