As early as 1594, Robert received a charter for Balgreddan Farm and by 1603, MacLellan was knighted by James VI of Scotland and was appointed to serve as a Gentlemen of the Bedchamber, a position at court that provided him significant influence.
His first significant scandal occurred in July 1607 when, at a church session in Kirkcudbright, MacLellan assaulted Robert Glendinning, the minister, during a heated debate.
This tension was compounded by accusations that MacLellan had been lenient in allowing prisoners to remain free in Kirkcudbright, which further brought him before the Privy Council.
The situation worsened when he and his clan members were accused of attacking several men, including William Maxwell of Cavers and merchant Edward Edzer, in the streets of Kirkcudbright.
His involvement in Irish affairs continued into the 1620s, when he was granted a commission to raise troops for service in Ireland, and he sought reimbursements for the expenses incurred during military campaigns.
In the years following his financial crisis, MacLellan’s role in public affairs gradually diminished, though he remained active in the pursuit of his rights.
In the 1630s, MacLellan’s activities in Ireland took a more bureaucratic turn as he sought to enforce the maintenance of public infrastructure and force local landowners to fulfill their obligations.
Sir Robert MacLellan of Bombie’s later years were marked by his persistent legal and financial troubles, but also by substantial contributions to the plantation efforts in Ireland and his role as a landowner.