These days, the Royal High School is mostly known for being at the centre of a heated debate on the future of one of Edinburgh’s oldest buildings - and for its educational attainments, of course.
But hidden away in the school’s history is a 16th century scandal that saw pupils take over the school Lord of the Flies -style after they were saddled with a new teacher by the name of Hercules Rollock who was unable to keep control over his students. Because of this, the students missed large amounts of lesson time and the school decided that they would have to forfeit their autumn holiday to make up the time.
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Understandably, this didn’t go down well - and on the 13th September 1595, they decided that enough was enough. If their teachers wanted them to stay in school, they would.
It wasn’t the first time the boys had started what they called a “barring-out”, but usually this passed without any major incident. This time, however, would be different.
The pupils, most of whom were the sons of wealthy and influential men, barricaded themselves into the school with food, drink - and weapons. After two days, the town council felt it was time to intervene. They sent Bailie John MacMorran, a local magistrate, to take control of the situation.
Clearly, he felt the right approach was to speak softly and carry a big stick - in this case, a battering ram.
Along with some of his men, he warned the boys they were going to break into the school. But tensions were high, and they responded in turn that if he did, they’d shoot.
MacMarron called their bluff. It would turn out to be a fatal error.
Minutes later, as he entered the school, a 13 year old pupil named William Sinclair shot him in the head, twice. He died instantly, and Sinclair and his friends fled.
What should have been a simple case was muddied by the fact that not only was the late Bailie MacMarron a wealthy and influential man, but so was the family of the boy who shot him. Sinclair’s uncle was the Earl of Caithness, and William would go on to inherit a title and castle of his own.
Justice faced a stalemate, and James IV was called on to intervene.
By this point, seven of the boys had been imprisoned in Tolbooth Gaol until a plea was made to the Privy Council for their release.
They boys had been kept there for two months, living alongside criminals from social classes they would never have normally encountered.
All seven, including Sinclair, escaped punishment and Hercule Rollock was let go from his position.
Rollock was already a noted scholar and poet of Latin verse, and this seems to have had little effect on the overall trajectory of his career.
The boys, unsurprisingly, were expelled for their involvement - although given their families’ social standing, it didn’t harm their future prospects.
In fact, William Sinclair was later knighted by James IV himself - who seems to have forgotten, or ignored, Sinclair’s role in the tragedy.
