ROBERT MACGREGOR is better known as the legendary Rob Roy, a businessman, cattle dealer, and outlaw.

He worked the lands around Loch Lomond but settled in the Stirlingshire hamlet of Balquidder.

He had many run ins with the authorities and during the Jacobite Uprising of 1715 eventually took the side of the Jacobites.

At the famous Battle of Sheriffmuir in November that year, he arrived at the site five hours after the battle had commenced. With a price on his head, he soon became infamous throughout the land.

In his 1814 book 'Waverley' Sir Walter Scott wrote a footnote about an evening Rob Roy had spent with Sir George Abercromby, the Laird of Tullibody.

He had been told the tale by the Laird himself around 1792.

Abercromby was a "gentleman of respectable family and considerable fortune", owning lands in and around Tullibody, and was interested in developing it.

He had been born in 1705 and looked towards improving his lands.

The ground near his house had been developed but much of the land beyond remained uncultivated but was used for grazing.

What irritated him most was that he believed Rob Roy or some of his followers were driving his cattle from his estate.

Eventually he managed to secure a meeting with MacGregor. Rob Roy received him somewhere near Aberfoyle.

He was courteous towards him during the meeting, and hospitable, sharing with him cogues of a strong soup, followed by steak, all washed down with a dram or two of whisky.

MacGregor claimed there must have a mistake, or that the cattle had been taken by accident.

He handed over two collops that had been hanging by their heels. These slices of meat were from Abercromby's own beasts.

He left, but not before a deal had been brokered that he would pay MacGregor a small sum of money to ensure that not only his herds were left alone, but also any stolen by other freebooters would be replaced. This was Macgregor's calling card. Essentially, he was blackmailing Abercromby.

However, Rob Roy's mistake was that he believed Abercromby was a Jacobite sympathiser. In fact, he was a Whig and Hanoverian supporter, but did not let on to MacGregor, as he was in no position to ensure his own safety while in his presence. He knew MacGregor's loyal followers were nearby so kept his mouth shut.

Abercromby continued to pay this small fee to ensure the safety of his cattle until the death of MacGregor in December 1734.