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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18254-8.txt b/18254-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8fdb70f --- /dev/null +++ b/18254-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6875 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Claverhouse, by Mowbray Morris + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Claverhouse + + +Author: Mowbray Morris + + + +Release Date: April 25, 2006 [eBook #18254] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLAVERHOUSE*** + + +E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +English Worthies + +Edited by Andrew Lang + + +CLAVERHOUSE + +by + +MOWBRAY MORRIS + + + + + + + +New York +D. Appleton and Company +1887 + + + + +A LIST OF AUTHORITIES FOR THE LIFE OF CLAVERHOUSE. + + +"An Account of the Proceedings of the Estates in Scotland:" London, +1689. + +Balcarres' "Memoirs touching the Revolution in Scotland:" printed for +the Bannatyne Club, 1841. + +Browne's "History of the Highlands and the Highland Clans:" 2nd ed., +1845. + +Burnet's "History of My Own Time," ed. 1809. + +Burt's "Letters from the North of Scotland," ed. 1818. + +Burton's "History of Scotland," 2nd ed. + +Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army." + +"Memoirs of Captain John Creichton:" Scott's edition of Swift's Works, +vol. xii. ed. 1883. + +"Memoirs of Sir Ewan Cameron of Lochiel:" printed for the Abbotsford +Club, 1842. + +Chambers's "History of the Rebellions in Scotland:" Constable's +Miscellany, vol. xlii. + +"The Cloud of Witnesses," 1714. + +Dalrymple's "Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland," 2nd ed., 1771. + +Defoe's "Memoirs of the Church of Scotland," 1714. + +"Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dundee," &c., 1714. + +"Letters of the Viscount of Dundee, with Illustrative Documents:" +printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1826. + +Lt.-Colonel Fergusson's "Laird of Lag," 1886. + +Fountainhall's "Historical Notices of Scottish Affairs:" printed for the +Bannatyne Club, 1848. + +Howie's "Heroes for the Faith, or Lives of the Scots Worthies," edited +by William McGavin, ed. 1883. + +Kirkton's "True History of the Church of Scotland from the Restoration +to the year 1678," edited by C.K. Sharpe, 1817. This edition includes +Russell's account of the murder of Archbishop Sharp and of the affairs +at Drumclog and Glasgow. + +"The Lauderdale Papers:" printed for the Camden Society, 1884-5. + +"The Leven and Melville Papers:" printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1843. + +"The Lives of the Lindsays," 2nd ed., 1858. + +Macpherson's "Original Papers," 1775. + +Macaulay's "History of England," ed. 1882. + +"Memoirs of the War carried on in Scotland and Ireland, 1689-91," by +Major-General Hugh Mackay: printed for the Abbotsford Club, 1833. + +"Life of Lieut.-General Hugh Mackay of Scowrie," by John Mackay of +Rockfields, 1836. + +Napier's "Memorials and Letters Illustrative of the Life and Times of +John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee," 1859-62. + +"New Statistical Account of Scotland," 1845. + +Pennant's "Tour in Scotland," 1774. + +Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather." + +Simpson's "Times of Claverhouse," 1844. + +Simpson's "Gleanings in the Mountains," 1846. + +Shield's "Short Memorial of the Sufferings and Grievances of the +Presbyterians in Scotland," 1690. + +Stewart's "Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland," 1822. + +"Remarks on Col. Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders," 1823. + +Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana," 1732, reprinted at Edinburgh 1837. + +Wodrow's "History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland," Burn's +ed. 1838. + + + + +CLAVERHOUSE. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +John Graham, Viscount of Dundee, best known, perhaps, in history by his +territorial title of Claverhouse, was born in the year 1643. No record, +indeed, exists either of the time or place of his birth, but a decision +of the Court of Session seems to fix the former in that year--the year, +as lovers of historical coincidences will not fail to remark, of the +Solemn League and Covenant.[1] + +He came of an ancient and noble stock. The family of Graham can be +traced back in unbroken succession to the beginning of the twelfth +century; and indeed there have been attempts to encumber its scutcheon +with the quarterings of a fabulous antiquity. Gram, we are told, was in +some primeval time the generic name for all independent leaders of men, +and was borne by one of the earliest kings of Denmark. Another has +surmised that if Graham be the proper spelling of the name, it may be +compounded of Gray and Ham, the dwelling, or home, of Gray; but if +Grame, or Græme, be the correct form, then we must regard it as a +genuine Saxon word, signifying fierce, or grim. Such exercises are +ingenious, and to some minds, possibly, interesting; but they are surely +in this case superfluous. A pedigree, says Scott laughingly as he sits +down to trace his own, is the national prerogative of every Scottishman, +as unalienable as his pride and poverty; but he must be very poor or +very proud who cannot find his account in the legitimate pedigree of the +House of Montrose. + +The first of the branch of Claverhouse, which took its name from a small +town in Forfarshire a few miles to the north of Dundee, was John, son of +John Graham of Balargus in the same shire. Graham of Balargus was the +son of another John, who was the second son of Sir Robert Graham of +Fintrey, the eldest son of Robert Graham of Strathcanon, son and heir of +Sir William Graham of Kincardine, by his wife the Lady Mary Stuart, +widow of George first Earl of Angus and daughter of King Robert the +Third--the unhappy king of "The Fair Maid of Perth." The grandson of +John Graham was Sir William Graham of Claverhouse, the chosen friend of +his cousin, the gallant and unfortunate Marquis of Montrose. By his wife +Marion, daughter of Thomas Fotheringham of Powrie, Sir William had two +sons, George and Walter, of whom the latter was the ancestor of those +Grahams of Duntroon who at a later period assumed the title of Dundee. +George left one son, another Sir William, who married Lady Jean +Carnegie, daughter of the first Earl of Northesk, and by her had four +children--two daughters, Margaret and Anne, and two sons, John and +David. David is, as will be seen, not unrecorded in the annals of his +country; but his name has been completely eclipsed by that of his elder +brother, the "bloody Claver'se" of the Whigs, the "bonnie Dundee" of the +Jacobites, one of the most execrated or one of the most idolised +characters in the history of this kingdom, according to the temper and +the taste of the writers and readers of history. + +The register of that year shows that the two brothers matriculated at +Saint Leonard's College in the University of Saint Andrews, on February +13th, 1665. Before this date all is a blank. Of John's boyish years +history and tradition are equally silent. Long after his death, indeed, +some idle stories became current, as their fashion is, of prophecies and +prodigies in that early time. His nurse is said to have foretold that a +river taking its name from a goose would prove fatal to him, and to have +lamented that her child's career of glory had been frustrated because he +had been checked in the act of devouring a live toad. This last story +sounds much like a popular version of the Grecian fable of Demophoön, as +told in the Homeric hymn to Demeter. But, as a matter of fact, it was a +legend current of the infancy both of the Regent Morton and of Montrose +himself before it was given to Claverhouse; and possibly of many other +youthful members of the Scottish aristocracy, who happened to make +themselves obnoxious to a class of their countrymen whose piety seems +to have added no holy point to their powers of invective. There is an +ingenious fancy, and, at least, as much reason as is generally displayed +in mythological researches, in the surmise that this particular legend +may have owed its origin to the French connection with Scotland, a +connection which would naturally have found little favour in the eyes of +the followers of John Knox. + +Claverhouse seems to have neglected neither the studies nor the +discipline of the University. He has, indeed, in our own time been +denied enough even of the common intellectual culture of his day to save +him from ridicule as a blockhead. But there is no reason for this +contemptuous statement. His own contemporaries, and others, who if not +exactly contemporaries have at least as good right to be heard as a +writer of our own time, have left very different testimony. Burnet, who, +though connected by marriage with Claverhouse and at one time much in +his confidence, was the last of men to praise him unduly, has vouched +both for his abilities and virtues. Dalrymple, who was certainly no +Jacobite, though censured by the Whigs for his indulgence to James, has +described him as from his earliest youth an earnest reader of the great +actions recorded by the poets and historians of antiquity. More +particular testimony still is offered by a writer whose work was not, +indeed, undertaken till nearly fifty years after the battle of +Killiecrankie, but whose pictures of those men and times have all the +freshness and colour of a contemporary. The author of those memoirs of +Lochiel of which Macaulay has made such brilliant use, has credited +Claverhouse with a considerable knowledge of mathematics and general +literature, especially such branches of those studies as were likely to +be of most use to a soldier. Lastly, Doctor Munro, Principal of the +College of Edinburgh, when charged before a Parliamentary Commission +with rejoicing at the news of Killiecrankie, denied at least that he had +rejoiced at the death of the conqueror, for whom he owned "an +extraordinary value," such as, in his own words, "no gentleman, soldier, +scholar, or civilised citizen will find fault with me for."[2] + +It would be as foolish to take these witnesses too literally, as it is +foolish to call Claverhouse a blockhead because he could not spell +correctly. For many years after his death men of position and abilities +far more distinguished and acknowledged than his, were not ashamed to +spell with a recklessness that would inevitably now entail on any +fourth-form boy the last penalty of academic law. Scott says that +Claverhouse spelled like a chambermaid; and Macaulay has compared the +handwriting of the period to the handwriting of washerwomen. The +relative force of these comparisons others may determine, but it is +certain that in this respect at least Claverhouse sinned in good +company. The letters of even such men as the Lord Advocate, Sir George +Mackenzie, and the Dalrymples,--letters written in circumstances more +favourable to composition than the despatches of a soldier are ever +likely to be--are every whit as capricious and startling in their +variations from the received standard of orthography. If it is +impossible quite to agree with his staunch eulogist, Drummond of +Bahaldy, that Claverhouse was "much master in the epistolary way of +writing," at least his letters are plain and to the purpose; and the +letters of a soldier have need to be no more. + +It is, of course, unlikely that he could have been, even for those days, +a cultivated man. The studies of youth are but the preparation for the +culture of manhood; and after his three quiet years at Saint Andrews +were done, his leisure for study must have been scant indeed. But all we +know of his character, temperament, and habits of life forbid the +supposition that he wasted that precious time either in idleness or +indulgence. His bitterest enemies have borne witness to his singular +freedom from those vices which his age regarded more as the +characteristics than the failings of a gentleman. The most scurrilous of +the many scurrilous chroniclers of the Covenanters' wrongs has owned in +a characteristic passage that his life was uniformly clean.[3] Gifted by +nature with quick parts, of dauntless ambition and untiring energy both +of mind and body, he was not the man to have let slip in idleness any +chance of fortifying himself for the great struggle of life, or to have +neglected studies which might be useful to him in the future because +they happened to be irksome in the present. It is only, therefore, in +reason to suppose that he managed his time at the University prudently +and well, and this may easily be done without assuming for him any +special intellectual gifts or graces. + +But, as a matter of strict fact, from the date of his matriculation to +the year 1672 nothing is really known of Claverhouse or his affairs. It +has, however, been generally assumed that, after the usual residence of +three years at the University, he crossed over into France to study the +art of war under the famous Turenne. As the practice was common then +among young men of good birth and slender fortune, it is not unlikely +that Claverhouse followed it. A large body of English troops was a few +years later serving under the French standard. In 1672 the Duke of +Monmouth, then in the prime of his fortune, joined Turenne with a force +of six thousand English and Scottish troops, amongst whom marched John +Churchill, a captain of the Grenadier company of Monmouth's own +regiment. But the military glory Claverhouse is said to have won in the +French service cannot have been great: his studies in the art of war +must have been mainly theoretical. In the year 1668, the year in which +Claverhouse is said to have left Scotland for France, Lewis had been +compelled to pause in his career of conquest. The Triple Alliance had in +that year forced upon him the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. He had been +compelled to restore Franche Comté, though he still kept hold of the +towns he had won in the Low Countries. But the joy with which all +parties in England welcomed this alliance had scarcely found expression +when Charles, impatient of the economy of his Parliament and indifferent +to its approval, opened those negotiations which, with the help of his +sister the Duchess of Orleans, and that other Duchess, Louisa of +Portsmouth, resulted in the secret treaty of Dover. We are not now +concerned to examine the particulars of a transaction which even Charles +himself did not dare to confide entirely to his ministers, familiar as +the Cabal was with shameless deeds. It is enough for our present purpose +to remember that, in return for a large annual subsidy and the promise +of help should England again take up arms against her king, Charles +bound himself to aid Lewis in crushing the rising power of Holland and +to support the claims of the House of Bourbon to the throne of Spain. +Supplies were obtained for immediate purposes by closing the Exchequer, +an act which ruined half the goldsmiths in London. As a set-off against +this, a royal proclamation, arrogating to itself powers only Parliament +could rightly exercise, suspended the laws against Nonconformists and +Catholics. The latter were, indeed, allowed to say Mass only within +their private houses, but to dissenters of every other class was granted +the freest liberty of public worship. + +The declaration of war followed close on the declaration of indulgence. +The immediate result of the latter was the release of John Bunyan from +an imprisonment of twelve years, and the publication of the "Pilgrim's +Progress." A more important and lasting result was the Revolution of +1688. Both declarations were unpopular, but the Declaration of +Indulgence was the most unpopular of the two. It was unpopular with the +zealous Churchman for the concessions it made both to Papist and +Puritan. It was unpopular with the Puritan because he was compelled to +share it with the Papist. It was unpopular with the Papist because it +was less liberal to him than to the Puritan. It was unpopular with all +classes of patriotic Englishmen alike, because it directly violated that +prerogative of the Legislature for which so much English blood had been +already shed. It was soon, indeed, repealed, and its repeal was soon +followed by the dissolution of the Cabal, the passing of the Test Act, +and peace with Holland. But though the fears of the nation were thus +laid to rest for a time, it now first became clear to those who could +look beyond the passing day, and whose vision was sharpened by the +memory of what had been, how surely England was moving under the son +back again to a state of things which had cost the father his crown and +his life. + +But to return to the declaration of war. Lewis received, and probably +expected to receive, but little support from his English allies, and in +a furious action fought off the coast of Suffolk De Ruyter more than +held his own against the combined fleets of France and England. But on +land the French King carried all before him. Led by Condé and Turenne, +the ablest captains of the age, a vast host poured across the Rhine. The +Dutch were waked from the vain dreams of a French alliance, into which +they had been lulled by the chiefs of the great merchant class which had +risen to power on the fall of the House of Orange, only to find +themselves helpless. Town after town opened its gates to the invader: +three out of the seven provinces of the Federation were already in his +hands: his watch-fires were seen from the walls of Amsterdam. In the +first mad paroxysm of their despair the people rose against their +leaders. De Ruyter, who had borne their flag to victory on many a hard +fought day, was insulted in the public streets: the Grand Pensionary, +John De Witt, and his brother Cornelius were brutally murdered before +the palace of the States-General at the Hague. The office of Stadtholder +was re-established; and the common voice called back to it a prince of +that House which twenty years ago had been excluded for ever from the +affairs of a State which had never existed without it. + +William Henry, great-grandson of the founder of the Dutch Republic, +hereafter to be known as William the Third of England, was then in his +twenty-second year. The heroic spirit of William the Silent lived again +in the frail body of his descendant. Without a moment's hesitation he +accepted the hard and thankless task imposed upon him. With wise counsel +and brave words he calmed and revived the drooping hearts of his +countrymen. He rejected with scorn the offers both of Charles and Lewis +to seduce him from his allegiance. He replied to Buckingham's +remonstrances on the folly of a struggle which could only mean ruin to +the Commonwealth, that he would fight while there was a ditch left for +him to die in. His courage spread. The Dutch flew to arms: without a +regretful voice they summoned to their aid their last irresistible ally: +the dykes were cut, and soon the waters, destroying to save, spread over +all that trim and fertile land. The tide of invasion was checked, and +with the next spring it began to roll slowly backward. The great princes +of the Continent became alarmed at this new prospect of French ambition. +The sluggish Emperor began to bestir himself. Spain, fast dwindling to +the shadow of that mighty figure which had once bestrode two worlds, +sent some troops to aid a cause which was, indeed, half her own. By sea +the Dutch could do no more than keep their flag flying, but it says much +for their sailors that they could do that against a foe their equal in +skill and courage, and almost always their superior in numbers. On land +they were more successful. The Bishop of Munster was driven back from +the walls of Groningen: Naerden and Bonne were retaken: before the +summer was over the whole electorate of Cologne was in the hands of +William and his allies. The campaign of 1674 was less fortunate to the +young general. Charles had, it is true, been compelled by his Parliament +to make a peace more favourable than the Dutch could have hoped for; but +in almost every direction Lewis made good again the ground he had lost +in the previous year. William, indeed, took Grave, but he was compelled +to raise the siege of Oudenarde. A large force of Germans under the +Elector of Brandenburg was driven out of Alsace across the Rhine by +Turenne, who had a short while before completely routed the Imperial +troops under the Duke of Lorraine at Sintzheim. Franche Comté was +reconquered in a few weeks. But the most notable action of the year was +the battle of Seneff, fought near Mons on August 11th between William +and Condé. It was long, bloody, and indecisive; but it raised William's +reputation for courage and ability to the highest pitch, and drew from +his veteran opponent one of those compliments a brave soldier is always +glad to pay a foeman worthy of his steel. "The Prince of Orange," said +Condé, "has acted in everything like an old captain, except in venturing +his life too like a young soldier." + +The battle of Seneff has for us, too, a particular importance. It gives +us, according to some of his biographers, the first glimpse of +Claverhouse as a soldier. The story goes that, at an early period of the +fight, William with a handful of his men was closely beset by a large +body of French troops. In making his way back to his own lines the +Prince's horse foundered in some marshy ground, and he would inevitably +have been either killed or made prisoner had not Claverhouse, who was of +the party, mounted him on his own charger and brought him safe out of +the press. For this service William gave the young soldier (who was, +however, the Prince's senior by seven years) a captain's commission in +his own regiment of Horse Guards, commanded by the Count de Solmes who +led the English van on the day of the Boyne. This story has been +contemptuously rejected by Macaulay as a Jacobite fable composed many +years after both actors in the scene were dead. The story may not be +true, but Macaulay's reasons for rejecting it are not quite exact. +Reports of Claverhouse's gallantry at Seneff were certainly current +during his lifetime. It is mentioned, for example, in a copy of doggerel +verses addressed to Claverhouse by some nameless admirer on New Year's +Day 1683.[4] And there is yet more particular testimony, though, like +the former, it is of that nature which a historian will always feel +himself at liberty to reject if it does not match with the rest of his +case, and which counsel on the opposite side are accordingly at equal +liberty to make use of. In the memoirs of Lochiel mention is made of a +Latin poem written by a certain Mr. James Philip of Amryclos, in +Forfarshire, who bore Dundee's standard at Killiecrankie. Lochiel's +biographer does not quote the Latin text, but gives translations of +certain passages. The original manuscript, bearing the date 1691, is now +in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. Napier had seen this "Grameis," +as the work is called, and compared it with the translations, which he +declares to be very imperfect, as, from the specimens he gives, they +undoubtedly are. Macaulay, who never saw the Latin text, owns to have +taken a few touches from the passages quoted in the memoirs for his +inimitable picture of affairs in the Highlands during the days +immediately preceding Killiecrankie; but the passage recording the early +gallantry of the conqueror at Killiecrankie he did not take.[5] + +It is unfortunate that the tale of these early years should assume so +controversial a tone. But where all, or almost all, is sheer conjecture, +it is inevitable that the narrative must rest rather on argument than +fact. The precise moment when Claverhouse transferred his services from +the French to the Dutch flag is, in truth, no more certain than the +date of his birth is certain, or his conduct at Saint Andrews, or, +indeed, than it is certain that he ever at any time served under Lewis. +The tale of those English services under the French King is in the last +degree confused and doubtful. If it is so in the case of such a man as +Marlborough, small wonder that it is so in the case of such a man as +Claverhouse, whose name was practically unknown till ten years before +his death. That he did, however, at one time bear arms in the Dutch +ranks seems as indisputable as any part of the scanty story of the first +two-and-thirty years of his life can be said to be. But beyond this it +is impossible to go. + +In 1677 he left William's service and returned to Scotland. An idle +story was circulated some years afterwards of a brawl with one of +William's officers who had received the regiment promised to +Claverhouse, of a reprimand from William, and an indignant vow never to +serve again under a prince who had broken his word. The judicial weight +that has been brought to demolish this slender fabric is unnecessary. +The story itself is not consistent with the characters of either men. It +is very possible that the young soldier, like another young man of those +days, may have grown "tired with knocking at preferment's door;" but, in +truth, a reason to account for their parting is very easily found. With +the campaign of 1677 all fighting on the Continent was stayed for a +time. Claverhouse's profession was fighting. After the peace of Nimeguen +in 1678 Scotland was the only European country then offering a chance of +employment to a soldier of fortune. In 1677, accordingly, he resigned +his commission in the Dutch service and crossed over into England, +taking with him a reputation for courage and ability that at once +recommended him to the King and Duke of York for a man likely to be +useful in such affairs as they had then on hand. Indeed, the character +that it is clear he brought back with him from Holland is alone +sufficient to disprove the story of the quarrel in the courtyard at +Loo.[6] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Fountainhall's "Historical Notices:" Napier's "Memorials of Dundee," +i. 183. The decision in question is dated July 24th, 1687, and certainly +appears to prove that Claverhouse did not attain his majority till 1664, +which would fix his birth in the year above given. + +[2] The "Memoirs of the Life of Sir Ewan Cameron of Lochiel" were +printed for the Abbotsford Club in 1842. They are believed to have been +written between 1730 and 1740 by John Drummond of Bahaldy, a grandson, +or great-grandson, of Lochiel. Several copies of the manuscript are in +existence, of which the best is said by the editor to be the one then in +the possession of Mr. Crawfurd of Cartsburn. It is written in a clear +hand upon small quarto paper, and bound in two volumes. On the fly-leaf +of the first volume is written "Aug. 7. 1732, Jo. Drummond." See also +Burnet's "History of My Own Time," ii. 553; Dalrymple's "Memoirs of +Great Britain and Ireland," i. 344; Burton's "History of Scotland," vii. +360; Napier's "Memorials of Viscount Dundee," i. 16-32, and 178-9. +Burnet married Lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the Earl of Cassilis +and aunt of Lady Dundee. In point of style and arrangement, of taste and +temper--in everything, in short, which helps to make literature, +Napier's book is perhaps as bad as it is possible for a book to be. But +his industry is unimpeachable; and, through the kindness of the late +Duke of Buccleuch, he was able to publish no less than thirty-seven +letters written in Claverhouse's own hand to the first Duke of +Queensberry, not one of which had been included in the collection +printed for the Bannatyne Club in 1826, nor was, in fact, known to be in +existence by anyone outside the family of Buccleuch. His book includes +also the fragment of a memoir of Dundee and his times, left in +manuscript by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, of Hoddam, Walter Scott's +friend. The memoir was thrown up, it is said, in despair on the +appearance of "Old Mortality." Some idea of the extent to which Napier +suffered from the _Lues Boswelliana_ may be gathered from the fact that +he regards even the Claverhouse of that incomparable romance as a libel. + +[3] "The Hell wicked-witted, bloodthirsty Graham of Claverhouse hated to +spend his time with wine and women."--"Life of Walter Smith," in +Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana." + +[4] + + "I saw the man who at St. Neff did see + His conduct, prowess, martial gallantry: + He wore a white plumach that day; not one + Of Belgians wore a white, but him alone + And though that day was fatal, yet he fought, + And for his part fair triumphs with him brought." + +Laing's "Fugitive Scottish Poetry of the Seventeenth Century." + +[5] The passage occurs in the fifth book. Dundee, retreating before the +forces of the Convention, is represented as musing over his camp-fire on +the ingratitude of the Prince whose life he had once saved. + + "Tu vero, Arctoæ gentis prædo improbe, tanti + Fons et origo mali, Nassovi, ingrate virorum, + Immeritum quid me, nunc Cæsaris arma secutum, + Prosequeris toties, et iniquo Marte fatiges? + Nonne ego, cum lasso per Belgia stagna caballo + Agmina liligeri fugeres victricia Galli, + Ipse mei impositum dorso salientis equi te + Hostibus eripui, salvumque in castra reduxi? + Hæcne mihi meriti persolvis præmia tanti? + Proh scelus! O Soceri rapti nequissime sceptri!" + +The translation, which is certainly, as Napier calls it, both imperfect +and free, is to this effect: + + "When the fierce Gaul through Belgian stanks you fled, + Fainting, alone, and destitute of aid, + While the proud victor urged your doubtful fate, + And your tired courser sunk beneath your weight; + Did I not mount you on my vigorous steed, + And save your person by his fatal speed? + For life and freedom then by me restored + I'm thus rewarded by my Belgick Lord. + Ungrateful Prince!" + +[6] The stories of Claverhouse's conduct at Seneff, and of the quarrel +at Loo, are told in the "Life of Lieut.-General Hugh Mackay," by John +Mackay of Rockfields, and in the "Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dundee," +published in 1714, and professing to be written by an officer of the +army. This little book is remarkable chiefly as being the first recorded +attempt at a biography of Dundee. The writer was possibly not an +officer, nor personally acquainted with Dundee. But he had certainly +contrived to learn a good deal about him and his affairs; and as later +research has either corroborated or, at least, made probable, much of +his information, it seems to me quite as fair to use it for Dundee, as +to use the unsupported testimony of the Covenanters against him. +According to his biographer, Mackay himself was Claverhouse's successful +rival. According to the earlier writer, the man was David Colyear, +afterwards Lord Portmore, and husband of Catherine Sedley, Lady +Dorchester, James's favourite and ugliest mistress. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It will be necessary now to review the condition of Scotland at the time +when Claverhouse began first to be concerned in her affairs, and of the +causes political and religious--if, indeed, in Scottish history it be +ever possible to separate the two--which produced that condition. +Without clearly understanding the state of parties which then distracted +that unhappy country, it will not be possible clearly to understand the +position of Claverhouse; and without a clear understanding of his +position, it will certainly not be possible to form a just estimate of +his character. It is by too readily yielding to the charm of a writer, +who had not then for his purpose the impartial estimate of a human +character so much as the embellishment of a political principle, that +public opinion has been for many years content to accept a savage +caricature in place of a portrait. It would be impertinent to say that +Macaulay did not understand the circumstances into which Claverhouse was +forced, and the train of events which had caused them; but it would not +have suited his purpose so clearly and strictly to have explained them +that others might have traversed the verdict he intended to be +established. He heard, indeed, and he determined to hear, only one side +of the case: indeed, at the time he wrote, there was not much to be +heard on the other; and on the evidence he accepted the verdict was a +foregone conclusion. It is impossible altogether to acquit Claverhouse +of the charges laid to his account, nor will any attempt here be made to +do so; but even the worst that can be proved against him, when +considered impartially with the circumstances of his position and the +spirit of the time, will, I think, be found to take a very different +complexion from that which has been somewhat too confidently given to +them.[7] + +When Charles the Second was restored to the throne of his fathers he was +hailed in Scotland with the same tumultuous joy that greeted him in +England. The Scottish nation was indeed weary of the past. It was weary +alike of the yoke of Cromwell and of the yoke of the Covenant. The first +Covenant--the Covenant of 1557--had been a protest against the tyranny +of the Pope: the Covenant of 1643 was a protest against the tyranny of +the Crown. It was the Scottish supplement, framed in the religious +spirit and temperament of the Scottish nation, to the English protest +against ship-money. The voice, first sounded among the rich valleys and +pleasant woods of Buckinghamshire, was echoed in the churchyard of the +Grey Friars at Edinburgh. Six months later the triumph of +Presbyterianism was completed, when in the church of Saint Margaret's at +Westminster the Commons of England ratified the Solemn League and +Covenant of Scotland. Over the wild time which followed it will be +unnecessary for our purpose to linger. The work was done: then followed +the reaction. In both countries the oppressed became in turn the +oppressors. The champions of religious liberty became as bigoted and +intolerant as those whose intolerance and bigotry had first goaded them +into rebellion. The old Presbyterian saw the rise of new modes of +worship with the same horror that he had shown at the ritual of Laud. +Milton protested that the "new Presbyter is but old Priest writ large." +Within only four years of the outbreak of the civil war no less than +sixteen religious sects were found existing in open defiance of the +principles of faith which that war was pledged to uphold. One common +bond, indeed, united these sects in sympathy: one and all repudiated +with equal energy the authority of the Church to prescribe a fixed form +of worship: a national Church was, in their eyes, as odious and +impossible a tyranny as the divine right of kings. But this common +hatred of the interference of a Mother Church could not teach them +tolerance for each other. Cardinal Newman has described the enthusiasm +of Saint Anthony as calm, manly, and magnanimous, full of affectionate +loyalty to the Church and the Truth. "It was not," he says, "vulgar, +bustling, imbecile, unstable, undutiful." The religious enthusiasm of +the two nations at this time, though at heart sincere and just, was +unfortunately in its public aspect the exact opposite of Saint +Anthony's. There was the essential great meaning of the matter, to +borrow Carlyle's words, but there were also the mean, peddling details. +It was the misfortune of many, of three kings of England among the +number, that the latter should seem the most vital of the two. +Presbyterian and Independent, Leveller and Baptist, Brownist and Fifth +Monarchy Man, one and all stood up and made proclamation, crying, "Look +unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and +there is none else." Well might Cromwell adjure them in that war of +words which followed the sterner conflict on the heights of Dunbar, "I +beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be +mistaken." + +Though the number and variety of the dissentients in England were far +greater than in Scotland, where the bulk both of the people and the +clergy stood firmly within the old Presbyterian lines, yet in the latter +country the separation was far more bitter and productive of far more +violent results. In the former the strong hand of Cromwell, himself an +Independent, but keen to detect a useful man under every masquerade of +worship, and prompt to use him, kept the sects from open disruption. +Quarrel as they might among themselves, there was one stronger than them +all, and they knew it. The old Committee of Estates, originally +appointed by the Parliament as a permanent body in 1640, was not strong +enough to control the spirit it had helped to raise: it was not even +strong enough to keep order within its own house. The new Committee was +but a tool in the hands of Argyle. The old Presbyterian viewed with +equal dislike the sectaries of Cromwell, the men of the Engagement which +had cost Hamilton his head, and the Malignants who had gathered to the +standard of Montrose. The Resolutioner, who wished to repeal the Act of +Classes, was too lukewarm: the Remonstrant was too violent. It was by +this last body that the troubles we have now to examine came upon +Scotland. + +After the collapse of Hamilton's army at Uttoxeter in August 1648, a +body of Covenanters assembled at Mauchline, in Ayrshire, to protest +against the leniency with which the Engagement had been treated in the +Estates, where, indeed, a considerable minority had been inclined openly +to countenance it. Their leader was at first the Earl of Eglinton, a +staunch Covenanting lord; but as they gathered strength Argyle joined +them with his Highlanders, and the command soon passed into his hands. +The Protesters marched upon Edinburgh. In an attempt to take Stirling +Castle they were defeated by Sir George Monro with a division of +Hamilton's army which had not crossed the border; but Argyle had better +tools to work with than the claymores of his Highlanders. He opened +negotiations with Cromwell, who led an army in person into Scotland, +renewed the Covenant, laid before the Estates (the new Estates of Argyle +and his party) certain considerations, as he diplomatically called them, +demanding, among other things, that no person accessory to the +Engagement should be hereafter employed in any public place or trust. +The Committee were only too willing to have the support of Cromwell to +what they themselves so vehemently desired. Two Acts were quickly +passed: one reversing many of the acts of its predecessors and +confirming the considerations: the other, known in history as the Act of +Classes, defining the various misdemeanours which were to exclude men +from sitting in Parliament or holding any public office, for a period +measured by their offences, and practically to be determined by the +judicatories of the Kirk. + +This Mauchline Convention was popularly known at the time as the +Whiggamores' Raid, a name memorable as the first introduction into +history of a word soon to become only too familiar, and still a part of +our political vocabulary.[8] Its immediate result was to throw the +direction of affairs still more exclusively into the hands of the +clergy: indirectly, but no less surely, it was the cause of the Pentland +Rising and the savage persecution which followed, of the murder of +Archbishop Sharp, of the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge, and of +those terrible years still spoken of in Scotland as the "killing-time." +It was, in short, like the wrath of Achilles, the spring of unnumbered +woes. + +Then followed the execution of Charles. Against this the whole body of +Presbyterians joined in protesting. The hereditary right of kings was, +indeed, as much a principle of the Covenant as their divine right was +opposed to it; and the execution at Whitehall on January 30th, 1649, was +regarded with as much horror by the Presbyterians of England as by the +Presbyterians of Scotland. + +The first act of the Estates was to proclaim the Prince of Wales king of +Great Britain, their next to send a deputation to Holland to invite him +to take possession of his kingdom. It had been better both for Charles +and for Scotland that the invitation had never been accepted. The terms +on which alone the Scots would see the son of Charles Stuart back among +them as crowned king were such as only the direst necessity could have +induced him to accept: they were such as it seems now amazing that even +the most bigoted and inexperienced could really have believed that the +son of his father, or, indeed, any man in his position, would keep one +moment longer than circumstances compelled him. But his advisers, led on +by Wilmot and Buckingham, bid him sign--sign everything, or all would be +lost. He signed everything. First he put his hand to the Solemn League +and Covenant: then to a second declaration promising to do his utmost to +extirpate both Popery and Prelacy from all parts of his kingdom: +finally, he consented to figure as the hero of a day of public fasting +and humiliation for the tyranny of his father and the idolatry of his +mother. And while he was acquiescing to each fresh demand with a shrug +of his shoulders and a whispered jest to Buckingham, and in his heart as +much hatred for his humiliators as he was capable of feeling for +anybody, he was all the while urging on Montrose to strike that wild +blow for his crown which was to lead the brave marquis to the scaffold. +The deaths of Hamilton and Huntly had preceded the death of Montrose by +a few weeks: a few more weeks and Charles was in Scotland, a crowned +king in name, virtually a prisoner. Within little more than a year the +fight at Dunbar, and the "crowning mercy" of Worcester, had bitterly +taught him how futile was all the humiliation he had undergone. + +It will be enough to briefly recall the main incidents of the years +which intervened between the battle of Worcester and the Restoration. +After the establishment of the Protectorate an Act of Indemnity was +passed for the Scottish people. From this certain classes were excepted. +All of the House of Hamilton, for instance, and some other persons of +note, including Lauderdale: all who had joined the Engagement, or who +had not joined in the protestation against it: all who had sat in +Parliament or on the Committee of Estates after the coronation of +Charles at Scone: all who had borne arms at the battle of Worcester. +From this proscribed list, however, Argyle managed to extricate +himself. He had fortified himself at Inverary, and summoned a meeting of +the Estates to which the chiefs of the Royalist party had been bidden. +To conquer him in his own stronghold would have been difficult, perhaps +impossible, to English soldiers unused to such warfare. Cromwell wisely +preferred to negotiate, and Argyle was not hard to bring to terms. He +bound himself to live at peace with the Government, and to use his best +endeavours to persuade others to do so. In return he was to be left +unmolested in the free enjoyment of his estates, and in the exercise of +religion according to his conscience. + +The politicians were now silenced; but a noisier and more troublesome +body had still to be reckoned with. In July, 1653, the General Assembly +was closed, and Resolutioners and Remonstrants were sent to the right +about together. Some measures, however, had to be taken to prevent them, +not from cutting each other's throats, which would have suited the +Government well enough, but from stirring up a religious war, which they +would inevitably have done if left to the free enjoyment of their own +humours. It was necessary so to strengthen the hands of one of the two +parties that the other should be compelled to refrain at least from open +hostilities. The Resolutioners, as the most tolerant and the +mildest-mannered, would have been those Cromwell would have preferred to +see in the ascendency. But the Resolutioners had acknowledged Charles, +and were, after their own fashion, in favour of the royal title. The +Remonstrants were accordingly preferred. They, indeed, denied the +authority of the Commonwealth over spiritual matters, but they also +denied the authority of Charles; and it was felt that at such a crisis +the civil allegiance was of more value than the religious. A law was +accordingly established dividing Scotland into five districts, in each +of which certain members of the Remonstrant clergy were empowered to +ordain ministers, as it were, to the exercise of their functions. At the +same time it was not the object of Cromwell to exalt one party at the +expense of the other so much as to strike a balance between the two; and +in doing this he was much served by the tact and good sense of James +Sharp, whose name now first begins to be heard in Scottish history. He +was on the side of the Resolutioners, but he so managed matters as to be +favourably regarded by the Government as a person likely to be of +service to them in the event of any open disruption between the two +bodies, without losing the confidence of his own party. The Court of +Session was the next to go, and in its place rose the Commission of +Justice, of which James Dalrymple, afterwards Lord Stair, the first +Scottish lawyer of his day, was the most conspicuous member. In 1654 the +Act for incorporating the Union between England and Scotland was passed +by the Commonwealth. With that Commonwealth disappeared the Union, but +the few years of its existence were fruitful of at least one great boon +to Scotland. In those years was established free-trade between the two +countries: a boon for Scotland which she never properly appreciated till +she lost it by the Navigation Act of the Restoration: an alleged +grievance to England which had its share in bringing that Restoration to +pass; for it was then, and for long after, a fixed principle in the +philosophy of English commerce that free-trade between the two +countries meant pillaging Englishmen to enrich Scotchmen. A regular +postal service was also established. The abortive rising known as +Glencairn's Expedition was the only act of open hostility that broke +those few years of comparative tranquillity; and the lenient terms +granted by Monk to the Highland leader tended more than anything to show +how weary of the long rule of disorder and bloodshed all the best of the +two nations were growing. On September 3rd, 1658, Oliver Cromwell died, +and in November of the following year Monk began his famous march to +London. On May 25th, 1660, Charles the Second landed at Dover. + +Though the Remonstrants had won the upper hand for a time, the bulk of +the Scottish nation had been all along on the side of the Resolutioners. +Much as the character and religious views of Charles were to their +distaste, the principle of the Covenant was for a king, and it was by +the principle of the Covenant that the Scottish nation stood. The stern +and narrow bigotry of the Remonstrants, whom their short taste of power +had made of course more fanatical and more quarrelsome than ever, had +almost succeeded in forcing the more moderate Presbyterians into the +arms of the Royalists. A little tolerance, a little tact on the English +side would probably have cemented the alliance. But it was not to be. + +It is important to remember this. The extreme party with which +Claverhouse had to deal no more represented the Scottish nation than the +Irishmen who follow Mr. Parnell's call in the House of Commons represent +their nation now, or than men like Napper Tandy and Wolfe Tone +represented it a century ago. It seems still a common belief that +Claverhouse and his troopers were sent to force upon a sober, patient, +God-fearing nation a religion and a king that they abhorred. Nothing +could be farther from the truth. The large majority of the Scottish +nation was as eager to welcome Charles as the old squires who had lost +their fortunes for his father, or the young bloods who hoped to find +fortunes under the son. The narrow and blatant form of religion +professed by the extreme party was as repulsive to the bulk of their +countrymen as to the King himself. + +These men were a remnant of the old Remonstrants of the Mauchline +Convention. They had originally, as we have seen, looked to Argyle as +their leader; but when Argyle ranged himself on the side of the young +King there were some among them who would not follow him. These +maintained, and so far they were unquestionably right, that the "young +man Charles Stuart" was, for all his protestations and oaths, as much at +heart a Malignant as his father; and that those who pretended to believe +him were playing the Kirk and the Covenant false. When Cromwell marched +into Scotland to win the battle of Dunbar these men had formed +themselves into a separate party under Colonel Archibald Strachan, an +able soldier who commanded that division of Leslie's army which had +defeated Montrose in Rossshire. Strachan's design seems to have been to +stand aloof for the present from either side; but from some not very +intelligible cause he fell into disgrace with his party, and this is +said to have so preyed upon his mind as to have caused his death. From +that time the Wild Westland Whigs, as they began now to be called, had +no ostensible leader. They withdrew sullenly to their own homes, +contenting themselves during the remaining years of the Commonwealth +with protesting against everybody and everything outside their own +narrow circle. They must not be confounded with the general body of the +Remonstrants, between whom and the Resolutioners Cromwell had to keep +the balance. They were a people apart. Throughout the wild +hill-districts of the Western Lowlands they preached their fierce +crusade against all who were not prepared to stand by the spirit of the +Covenant as they chose to interpret it. The toleration they demanded +they would not give. No man should be free to worship God as he pleased: +every man must worship Him in the way which seemed good to them, and in +that way only. The moderate Presbyterians were as hateful to them as +Charles himself and all his bishops; and they in their turn were as +obnoxious to the majority of the Scottish nation as to the English +Government. Cleric and layman alike was weary of the unending squabbles +that had distracted the Church of Scotland since the days of Knox. They +wished for peace; and no peace was possible so long as an ignorant and +noisy minority would suffer it only at their own price. + +One other point should also be remembered. It has been the custom to +excuse the cruelties of the Covenanters, when they could not be denied, +as the acts of men goaded into madness by years of persecution. This +excuse will hardly serve. It might, indeed, serve to explain the murder +of Sharp and the savage deeds of such men as Hamilton and Burley; but +long before that time the Scottish fanatic had proved himself a match +in ferocity for the bloodiest Malignant of them all. After Philiphaugh +one hundred Irish prisoners were shot in cold blood, while a minister of +the Covenanting Church stood by, reiterating in savage glee, "The wark +goes bonnily on." About the same time eighty women and children were in +one day flung over the bridge at Linlithgow for the crime of having been +followers of the camp of Montrose. In 1647 three hundred of the +Macdonalds who held a fortified post on a hill in Kintire surrendered at +discretion to David Leslie. It is said that Leslie would have let them +go but for his chaplain, John Nave. Borrowing the words of Samuel, "What +meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of +the oxen which I hear?" in a long and fiery harangue this man of God +exhorted the conquerors to finish their work, and threatened their +captain with the curse of Saul who spared the Amalekites. The prisoners +were butchered to a man.[9] + +If, then, it be but a delusion of later times that Scotland could at the +Restoration have been conciliated into accepting a moderate form of +Episcopacy, it is at least clear that there was at that time a strong +party in the country anxious for a compromise between the two Churches, +and willing to make all reasonable advances towards one. Unfortunately +the first move on both sides was of a nature to make all chances of a +compromise impossible. + +Charles had conceived a violent dislike to Presbyterianism, and with +his experiences of it the dislike was not unnatural. It was not, he told +Burnet, a religion for gentlemen, and he found few among his court to +contradict him. Scarcely had he settled himself in his capital when the +Presbyterians were upon him. Sharp had already been some months in +London as ambassador of the moderate party, the party of the old +Resolutioners. But an easy way of reconciling Sharp's conscience was +soon found. It is not precisely clear when the bargain was struck which +was to convert the chosen champion of the Presbyterian Church into an +archbishop, but struck it was, and in no long time. He had by Monk's +advice visited Charles at Breda, and some suppose that the first +interview completed the transformation. If so, he managed to delude his +party very skilfully. His letters to the Assembly, though the light of +subsequent events enables us to translate them more clearly than was +possible at the time, were full of wise counsel, of apparently honest +confessions of the many difficulties he foresaw in the way, and of +protestations of fidelity and firmness which were no less implicitly +believed. "I told him," said his colleague Robert Douglas, a man of very +different stamp, when Sharp went up to London later for his ordination, +"I told him the curse of God would be on him for his treacherous +dealing; and that I may speak my heart of this man, I profess I did no +more suspect him in reference to Prelacy than I did myself."[10] + +Meanwhile the extreme party had not been idle. It will be perhaps most +convenient henceforth to distinguish them as Covenanters: to call them +Whigs, as Burnet and other historians of the time call them, would not +convey to modern ears the significance it had for their contemporaries. +Even those stern and unbending Tories of whom Mr. Gladstone was once the +spokesman have long ceased to regard the men who are still sometimes +called Whigs as the most fanatical members of the body politic. It would +be no mere fanciful application of modern terms to distinguish the two +parties of the Scottish Church as Liberals and Radicals; but it will for +many reasons be best henceforth to write of them as Presbyterians and +Covenanters. + +The Covenanters, then, had not been idle. Shortly after the Restoration +they had, through a deputation of their elders and ministers, called +upon their brethren of the Church to unite with them in an address to +the King, praying him, as a member of the Covenant with themselves, to +remember his obligations to that sacred institution and zealously to +prosecute its blessed work in all his three kingdoms. Toleration in +things religious was especially denounced as a vast mischief disguised +under the specious pretence of liberty for tender consciences. +Schismatics were to be stamped out as sternly as Papists and Prelatists; +and by Schismatics were meant all men, members of their own Church no +less than of others, who ventured to differ from them on any point of +doctrine whatsoever. + +The Committee of Estates, which had resumed its sittings, did not like +the job. They called the deputation a private meeting of some protesting +ministers, and clapped the leaders into prison. + +A government had now been formed for Scotland. Middleton was Lord High +Commissioner, a soldier of fortune who had been raised to the peerage +for the occasion. He was also named commander-in-chief of the forces and +governor of Edinburgh Castle. With him were associated Glencairn as Lord +Chancellor, Lauderdale as Secretary of State, Rothes as President of the +Council, and Crawford as Lord Treasurer. The first proceeding of this +Parliament, known in the gossip of the time as the Drunken Parliament +from the too frequent condition of its chiefs, was to pass a Rescissory +Act, repealing all measures that had become law since the year 1633, +including even those passed by the Parliament professing the authority +of Charles himself. This was followed by an Act "concerning religion and +Church government," in which, after some pious but vague protestations +of the royal design to "encourage the exercise of religion both public +and private, and to suppress all profaneness and disorderly walking," it +was promised that the administration by sessions, presbyteries, and +synods would not for the present be interfered with. That present, +however, soon passed. On May 27th, two days before the anniversary of +the Restoration of the Monarchy, the Act for the Restoration of +Episcopacy was made law. A previous Act had ordained May 29th to be kept +holy; and the opposition taken to this by those who objected to all +holidays as idolatrous had in turn produced a measure which practically +marks the beginning of that system of vague bullying, as Dr. Burton has +happily called it, which was in no long time to pass into a persecution +anything but vague. On December 15th, in Westminster Abbey, Sharp was +consecrated Primate of Scotland, and at the same time Fairfoul was +raised to the see of Glasgow, Hamilton to the see of Galloway, and the +good and gentle Leighton to the see of Dunblane. + +Meanwhile the English Parliament had by its Navigation Act crushed for +the time the short-lived hopes of Scottish commerce, and was now busy +with an Act of Indemnity. This had been practically one of the +conditions of the Restoration, but Scotland had not been included in the +bargain. Argyle was the first to suffer from the omission. He had gone +up to London to pay his court to the new King, but had been refused an +audience. He was arrested, and, after a short sojourn in the Tower, sent +back to Edinburgh to stand his trial for high treason before the +Estates. He was found guilty and beheaded in the High Street on May +27th, 1661, two days after the anniversary of the more shameful death +which he had helped to bring upon Montrose. As he had been expressly +pardoned during the King's short reign in Scotland for all acts +committed by him against the Crown up to the year 1657, and as his +accusers could find no evidence of communications with the Parliament +after that time, he must have been acquitted had it not been for Monk, +who at the last moment produced certain letters written by Argyle to him +when acting for Cromwell. Johnstone of Warriston was another victim, +whom, like Argyle, it was no hard matter for judges who had a mind that +way to bring within the compass of the law of treason. He, however, +managed to get across to the Continent before he could be arrested. He +was tried and condemned in his absence. After two years of painful +shifts and wanderings he was tracked down in France by a man known as +Crooked-back Murray, and sent back to his fate. A third victim was James +Guthrie, the most vehement and active of the Covenanters, the framer of +the original Remonstrance and author of a seditious pamphlet called "The +Causes of the Lord's Wrath." With him would probably have suffered +Samuel Rutherford, a minister as zealous as Guthrie, but of more +education and manners. Fortunately for him, he died before the reign of +punishment began; and the Government was forced to content itself with +ordering his book "Lex, Rex," to be burned by the hangman at the Cross +of Edinburgh and at the gate of the University of Saint Andrews, where +he had been Professor of Divinity. In 1662, an Act of Indemnity was made +law, by which future punishment for the past was adjusted by a scale of +fines. + +Close on the heels of the Act of Indemnity followed one demanding from +all persons holding any office of public trust a public abjuration of +the Covenant, and another requiring all clergymen who had been appointed +since 1649 to receive collation from the bishop of their diocese. Those +who did not obey were, after a short respite, expelled from their +parishes. Those who obeyed were regarded by their congregations as +backsliders and self-seekers. Three hundred and fifty ministers were +driven with their families from their homes in the depth of winter; and +to supply their places new ministers were appointed, popularly known as +the King's Curates. Another Act required attendance at the parish church +on penalty of a fine graduated according to the rank of the absentee. +Finally, to crown all, the Solemn League and Covenant was publicly +burned at the market-cross of Edinburgh; and an aggravated copy of the +English Five-mile Act against Non-jurors, known as the Mile Act, was +passed, prohibiting all recusant clergymen from residing within twenty +miles of their old parishes, within six miles of Edinburgh or any +cathedral town, and within three miles of any royal burgh. The +punishment for transgressing this law was to be the same as that for +sedition. + +Enough has now been said to show the nature of the bullying adopted by +the Government. Over the years which still lie between us and the entry +of Claverhouse on the stage I must pass more rapidly. + +In 1663 Rothes succeeded Middleton as commissioner. The latter had been +rash enough to measure his strength with Lauderdale, and had been +signally worsted. To complete the legislative machinery a Conventicle +Act was passed this year, declaring all assemblies of more than five +persons, besides members of the family, unlawful and seditious. As most +of their congregations had followed the expelled ministers into the +wilderness, this new law so mightily increased the labours of the +authorities that it was found necessary to institute a new tribunal of +justice for the especial treatment of ecclesiastical offences. This was +no less than a renewal of that old Court of High Commission which had +been abolished by the Long Parliament twenty years before to the joy of +the whole nation. To strengthen its hands a body of troops was sent down +into the western shires, now the stronghold of the Covenant, to impose +and exact the fines ordained by the Commission. Their leader was Sir +James Turner, a man of some education, but rough and brutal. He had +served on the Continent under Gustavus Adolphus, had fought under Leslie +in the Presbyterian ranks, and had accompanied Hamilton with the +Engagers into England. Turner, in his own memoirs, declares that he not +only did not exceed his orders, but was even lenient beyond his +commission. When, a few years later, in a momentary fit of indulgence, +his acts were called in question by the Privy Council, the evidence +hardly served to establish his assertion. + +At length the West rose. On November 13th, 1666, four countrymen came +into the little village of Dalry, in Galloway, in search of refreshment. +There they found a few soldiers, driving before them a body of peasants +to thresh out the corn of an old man who would not pay his fines. There +was an argument and a scuffle: a pistol was fired and a soldier fell: +the rest yielded. It was now too late to go back. Turner was posted at +Dumfries with a considerable sum of money in his charge. It was +determined to seize him. The four champions had now been joined by some +fifty horsemen and a large body of unmounted peasants. Turner was made +prisoner; and the money restored to the service of those from whose +pockets it had been originally drawn. + +The number of the insurgents had now risen to three thousand. They +determined to march on Edinburgh, thinking to gather recruits on the +way; but when they came within five miles of the city their hearts +failed them. The weather was bitterly cold: provisions and arms were +scarce: the peasantry of the more cultivated districts had proved either +lukewarm to the cause or openly hostile: no recruits had come in, and +their own ranks were growing daily thinner. At length they turned on +their tracks and made once more for their western fastnesses. But they +had now to reckon with a more dangerous foe than Turner. + +The garrison in Edinburgh was commanded by Thomas Dalziel, a ferocious +old soldier who had learned his trade in the Russian wars. His dress was +as uncouth as his manners, and he wore a long white bushy beard that no +steel had been suffered to touch since the death of the first +Charles.[11] With all the regulars he could muster Dalziel was quickly +after the fugitives. He came up with them on Rullion Green, a ridge of +the Pentland Hills. Though now numbering scarce a thousand men, the +Covenanters were strongly posted, and defended themselves bravely. The +royal troops were twice driven back before they could carry the ridge, +and night had fallen before the insurgents were fairly broken. The +slaughter was not great; and it is significant of the unpopularity of +their cause that the fugitives suffered more from the Lothian peasantry +than from the victorious soldiers. + +The Government could now assume the virtue of those who are summoned to +quell an open rebellion. Dalziel was put in command of the insurgent +districts, and his little finger was indeed found thicker than Turner's +loins. Twenty men were hanged on one gibbet in Edinburgh and many others +in various parts of the country: crowds were shipped off to the +plantations: torture was freely applied, and the ingenious devices of +the boot and the thumbkin were in daily requisition.[12] Dalziel was in +his element. A prisoner reviled him at the council board for "a Muscovy +beast who roasted men." The old savage struck the man with the hilt of +his sword so fiercely in the mouth that the blood gushed out. + +At length there came a lull. Weary of the useless butchery, which, +hitherto, they had not perhaps fully realised, the English Government +determined to see if indulgence could persuade where persecution was +powerless to force. Orders to that effect were sent up to Edinburgh. The +soldiers were withdrawn from the western shires. Sharp was bidden to +retire to his see. Lauderdale took the place of Rothes as commissioner. + +The character of Lauderdale is one of the most curious problems of the +time. In his youth he had been as zealous for the Covenant as he now +appeared to be zealous for Episcopacy. Hence some have supposed that his +real design was by favouring the intolerance of the bishops to bring +them to discomfiture, and to re-establish on their ruin the old +Presbyterian Church, for which, despite the profligacy of his life and +conversation, he was still believed to entertain as much veneration as +he was capable of feeling for any form of religion. But whatever may +have been his regard for the old Covenant of his youth, he was set as a +rock against the men who were now as much opposed to any moderate +observance of Presbyterian worship as the most inveterate Malignant at +Whitehall. + +The first Indulgence was passed in 1669, in favour of the ministers whom +the Act of 1662 had driven from their parishes. Such as had since that +time kept from open violation of the law were now to be reinstated in +their livings where vacant. The manse and the glebe were to be theirs as +formerly, but the stipend was not to be renewed. These terms were +accepted by some forty or fifty clergymen. By the advice of the gentle +Leighton, who almost alone among his brethren seems at this time to have +dared, or to have been even willing, to counsel tolerance, a deputation, +nicknamed "the Bishop's Evangelists," was sent into the West to preach +the doctrine of this Indulgence. The pious crusade was in vain. The +failure of the Pentland rising and its terrible sequel had turned those +stubborn hearts to madness. Their weaker brethren were now classed with +the apostate Sharp and the butcher Dalziel; and the Indulgence was +declared a snare for the soul far more deadly than any torture the +Government could devise for the body. Nor, if time could have +strengthened Leighton's hands, was time allowed him. Following close +upon the Indulgence came a fresh Act, now making not only all +field-preaching a capital offence, but even laying heavy penalties on +any exercise of the Presbyterian worship except under an Indulged +minister. This again was soon followed by a fresh law against +Intercommuning--that is to say, against all who should offer even the +simplest act of common charity to a Covenanter--and promising large +rewards to all who should give information against them or their +protectors. By this law it is said that thousands of both sexes, +including many persons of rank, suffered severely; and from it sprang a +curious incident in the miserable history of this time. + +An order was issued to the landed gentry of Renfrew and Ayr, the shires +where the disaffection was strongest, requiring them to give bail that +their servants and tenants should not only abstain from personal +attendance at conventicles, but also from all intercourse with +intercommuned persons. The gentry answered that such assurance was +impossible. It was not, they said, within the compass of their power to +do this thing. The reply from Edinburgh was short and conclusive: if the +landlords could not keep order in their districts, order must be kept +for them. A body of English troops had already been moved up to the +border and an Irish force collected at Belfast; but a more ingenious +mode of punishment was now devised. Since the barbarous excesses of the +Highland clans under Montrose, it had become an acknowledged breach of +the rules of civilised warfare to employ men who, like the Red Indians +used in our own American wars, were amenable to no discipline and +recognised no principles of humanity. Eight thousand of these savages +were now let loose on the disobedient Lowlanders. The result was, +indeed, not all that had been anticipated at Edinburgh. The Council had +naturally enough expected that the descent of these plaided barbarians +would be the signal for a general insurrection, which would relieve them +of their troubles as certainly and much more conveniently than Dalziel's +dragoons and Perth's thumbkins. While Highlander and Lowlander were +cutting each other's throats, Lauderdale and his colleagues would have +ample leisure to decide on the apportionment of the booty.[13] In this, +however, they were disappointed. No armed resistance was offered. During +the two months these marauders lived at free quarters, without any +distinction between friend and foe, on a land which, compared with their +own barren moors and mountains, was a paradise flowing with milk and +honey, only one life was lost, and that the life of a Highlander. At +length the scandal became too great even for Lauderdale. Hamilton, who, +like his brother before him, had always stood by the Crown, went up to +London with several gentlemen of rank to protest against a tyranny which +they vowed was that of Turks rather than Christians. According to one +account, the King would not see them: according to another, he admitted +Hamilton to an interview, and, after hearing his protest, owned that +many bad things had been done in Scotland, but none, so far as he could +see, contrary to his interests. It was clear, however, that in this +matter Lauderdale had gone too far. The Highlanders were ordered to +return to their homes. They returned accordingly, laden with spoil such +as they had never dreamed of, and of the use of a large part of which +they were as ignorant as a Red Indian or a negro.[14] + +The departure of the Highland host leaves the stage free for +Claverhouse. It was at this crisis he returned to Scotland, and here +this summary of one of the most miserable chapters in British history +may fitly end. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] This is, perhaps, the best place to disclaim all intention of +scoffing at this great writer and historian. It is a common impertinence +of the day in which I have no wish to join. It is not, I hope, an +impertinence to say that only those who have, for their own purposes, +been forced to follow closely in his tracks can have any just idea of +the unwearying patience and acuteness with which he has examined the +confused and so often conflicting records of that time, or of the +incomparable skill with which he has brought them into a clear +continuous narrative. To glean after Macaulay is indeed a barren task. +So far, then, from affecting to cavil at his work, I must acknowledge +that without his help this little book would have been still less. Yet I +do think he has been hard upon Claverhouse. Perhaps the scheme of his +history did not require, or even allow him, to examine the man's +character and circumstances so closely as a biographer must examine +them. It is still more important to remember that the letters discovered +by Napier in the Queensberry Archives were not known to him. Had he seen +them, I am persuaded that he would have found reason to think less +harshly of their writer. + +[8] "The south-west counties of Scotland have seldom corn enough to +serve them round the year; and the northern parts producing more than +they need, those in the west come in the summer to buy at Leith the +stores that come from the north; and from a word 'whiggam,' used in +driving their horses, all that drove were called the 'whiggamores,' and +shorter, the 'whiggs.' Now in that year, after the news came down of +Duke Hamilton's defeat, the ministers animated the people to rise and +march to Edinburgh; and they came up, marching on the head of their +parishes, with an unheard-of fury, praying and preaching all the way as +they came. The Marquis of Argyle and his party came and headed them, +they being about 6,000. This was called the Whiggamores' Inroad: and +even after that all that opposed the Court came in contempt to be called +Whiggs: and from Scotland the word was brought into England, where it is +now one of our unhappy terms of distinction."--Burnet, i. 58. See also +Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," ch. xii. Mr. Green, however, thought +the word _whig_ might be the same as our _whey_, implying a taunt +against the "sour-milk faces" of the fanatical Ayrshiremen.--"History of +the English People," iii. 258. + +[9] Sharpe's notes to Kirkton's "History of the Church of Scotland," pp. +48-9. See also Wishart's "Memoirs of Montrose." + +[10] "The Lauderdale Papers." The most important passages in Sharp's +letters will be found in Burton's history, vii. pp. 129-146. + +[11] "Memoirs of Captain John Creichton," pp. 57-9. + +[12] The torture of the thumbkin is said to have been introduced into +Scotland by Lord Perth, who had seen it practised in Russia. But, +according to Fountainhall, something very like it had been previously +known under the homely name of "Pilliwincks," or "Pilniewinks." + +[13] "Duke Lauderdale's party depended so much on this that they began +to divide, in their hopes, the confiscated estates among them, so that +on Valentine's Day, instead of drawing mistresses they drew +estates."--Burnet, ii. 26. + +[14] "When the Highlanders went back one would have thought they had +been at the sacking of some besieged town, by their baggage and luggage. +They were loaded with spoil. They carried away a great many horses and +no small quantity of goods out of merchants' shops, whole webs of linen +and woollen cloth, some silver plate bearing the names and arms of +gentlemen. You would have seen them with loads of bedclothes, carpets, +men and women's wearing clothes, pots, pans, gridirons, shoes and other +furniture whereof they had pillaged the country."--Wodrow, ii. 413. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Claverhouse was not left long in idleness. In 1664, the year of the +first Indulgence, it had been determined to withdraw the regular troops +altogether from Scotland, leaving their place to be supplied by the +local militia, which was now practically raised to the condition of a +standing army and, contrary to immemorial law, placed under the +immediate authority of the Crown. But the bishops and their clergy had +demurred. They had little fancy for being left with no other protection +than a half-disciplined rabble, who, ready as they might be to act +against their troublesome countrymen, had no more respect for a lawn +sleeve than for a homespun jerkin. A few troops of regular cavalry were +therefore retained, and one regiment of Foot Guards. The former were +commanded by Athole, the latter by Linlithgow. Towards the end of 1677 a +fresh troop of cavalry was raised, and the command given to the young +Marquis of Montrose, grandson to him who had died on the scaffold and +kinsman to Claverhouse. + +Claverhouse applied to him for employment, and it appears from +Montrose's answer that the application had been warmly backed by the +Duke of York. "You cannot imagine," runs the letter, "how overjoyed I +should be to have any employment at my disposal that were worthy of your +acceptance; nor how much I am ashamed to offer you anything so far below +your merit as that of being my lieutenant; though I be fully persuaded +that it will be a step to a much more considerable employment, and will +give you occasion to confirm the Duke in the just and good opinion which +I do assure you he has of you." The writer goes on to say that he +himself was expecting instant promotion, and to promise his kinsman a +share in whatever fortune might befall him: none but gentlemen, he adds, +are to ride in his troop. The offer was accepted, and the promotion was +not long delayed. + +The Indulgence had failed, as by some at least of those who had +countenanced it it had been expected to fail. The Opposition, led at +Edinburgh by Hamilton and Argyle, and backed in London by Monmouth and +Shaftesbury, which had for some time past been working openly against +Lauderdale, had also for the moment failed. The Commissioner's hands +were strong. With the King and the Duke of York at his back, and, in +Edinburgh, Sharp, Burnet, and the majority of the Episcopalian clergy, +together with all the needy nobles who loved best to fish in troubled +waters, Lauderdale could afford, as he thought then, to laugh at all +opposition. To assume that his design had been from the first to goad +the West into open rebellion affords, indeed, a simple explanation of a +policy that in its persistent unwisdom and brutality seems strangely +irrational and monstrous, even for such times and men. But it is rash to +take any policy as certain in those dark and crooked councils, unless it +be--as probably in Lauderdale's case it was, and as it assuredly was in +the case of most of his creatures--the policy of personal +aggrandisement. At any rate, after the failure of the Indulgence had +been made clear even to those hopeful spirits who still, with Leighton, +had believed it possible to efface years of wrong by a few grudging +concessions, the cruel game was renewed with fresh vigour. The +Highlanders, indeed, had gone, but their place was now to be filled by a +more dangerous because a more disciplined foe. Orders were given to +raise three new troops of cavalry for special service in Scotland. The +Earls of Home and Airlie were chosen by Lauderdale to command two of +these troops: the third was, at the King's express desire, given to +Claverhouse. At the same time, Athole, who was now in opposition with +Hamilton and Argyle, was superseded by Montrose, and Linlithgow named +commander-in-chief of all the royal forces in Scotland. + +Claverhouse now for the first time steps in his own person on the stage +of Scottish history. Eleven years later, in 1689, he passes off it for +ever. It is with the tale of that brief time, so crowded with action, so +variously recorded, that we shall be from this point concerned. + +He was now in his thirty-fifth year. Confused and conflicting as the +witnesses of his life and character may be, of the man himself as he +looked to the eyes of his contemporaries there is the clearest +testimony. Over the mantelpiece of Scott's study in Castle Street hung +the only picture in the room--a portrait of Claverhouse. An original +portrait Lockhart calls it, but which of the five portraits engraved in +Napier's volumes it may have been, if any of them, I cannot tell. All +these engravings, with a unanimity not common in the portraiture of the +time, show the same face: a face of delicate, almost feminine beauty, +framed in the long full love-locks of the period.[15] The eyes are large +and dark, the figure small but well made, and the general expression of +the countenance one of almost boyish smoothness and simplicity. His +manners were gentle and courteous, though reserved: his habit of life +was, as has been already said, singularly decorous: he was scrupulous in +the observance of all religious ordinances. After his death an old +Presbyterian lady, who had lodged below him in Edinburgh, told Lochiel's +biographer how astonished she had been to find one of his profession so +regular in his devotions. In truth, one of the most curious, and at the +same time one of the most indisputable, points in the life of this +singular man is the contrast between those public actions which have had +so large a share in moulding the popular impression, and his private +character and conduct. And not less curious is the contrast between the +reality of his personal appearance and the counterfeit presentment +likely to be fostered by a too liberal adherence to that impression. It +would be difficult to imagine a more complete surprise than awaits those +who turn for the first time from the stern, brutal, and profane soldier +of the historian's page to the high-bred and graceful gentleman of the +painter's canvas. + +Claverhouse seems to have received his commission in the autumn of 1678. +The earliest of his letters extant is dated from Moffat, a small town +in the north of Dumfriesshire, on December 28th. It is addressed to Lord +Linlithgow, and contains this significant passage: "On Tuesday was eight +days, and Sunday there were great field-conventicles just by here, with +great contempt of the regular clergy, who complain extremely when I tell +them I have no order to apprehend anybody for past misdemeanours."[16] +And this scrupulous observance of his orders, at a time when a little +excess of zeal was unlikely to be regarded as a very serious blunder, is +yet more strikingly illustrated in his next letter, written a week later +from Dumfries. In that town, at the southern end of the bridge over the +Nith, the charity of some devout Covenanting ladies had lately set up a +large meeting-house. The clergy, as wild against the Covenanters as +Lauderdale himself, were very importunate with Claverhouse to demolish +this hotbed of disaffection; but he, though he confessed privately to +his chief his annoyance at seeing a conventicle held with impunity "at +our nose," answered all importunities with a calm reference to his +orders. The southern end of the bridge was in Galloway, and in Galloway +his commission did not run. The authority of the Deputy-Sheriff of the +shire was therefore called into play, and with his countenance the +offending building was quickly razed to the ground. In his report of +this business Claverhouse writes:--"My Lord, since I have seen the Act +of Council, the scruple I had about undertaking anything without the +bounds of these two shires is indeed frivolous, but was not so before. +For if there had been no such act, it had not been safe for me to have +done anything but what my order warranted; and since I knew it not, it +was to me the same thing as if it had not been. And for my ignorance of +it, I must acknowledge that till now, in any service I have been, I +never inquired further in the laws than the orders of my superior +officers." This will not be the only occasion on which Claverhouse will +be found keeping strictly within the lines of his commission, instead +of, as he has been so frequently charged with doing, wantonly and +savagely exceeding it. + +This Deputy-Sheriff (or Steward, as the phrase then ran) needs a word to +himself, both on his own account, as representing a certain phase of +character unfortunately too common to the time, and as the real author +of many of the cruel deeds of which Claverhouse so long has borne the +blame. Sir Robert Grierson of Lag was regarded in his own district with +an energy of hatred to which even the terror inspired by Claverhouse +gave place, and which has survived to a time within the memory of men +still living. In the early years of this century the most monstrous +traditions of his cruelty were still current, and are not yet wholly +extinct. In a vaulted chamber of the house in which he lived, on the +English road some three miles south of Dumfries, is still shown an iron +hook from which he is said to have hung his Covenanting prisoners; and +a hill in the neighbourhood is still pointed out as that down which he +used, for his amusement, to send the poor wretches rolling in a barrel +filled with knife-blades and iron spikes,--an ingenious form of torture, +commonly supposed to have been invented by the Carthaginians two +thousand years ago for the particular benefit of a Roman Consul. The +dark and mysterious legend of Sir Robert Redgauntlet, with which +Wandering Willie beguiled the way to Brokenburn-foot, was a popular +tradition of Sir Robert Grierson, or Lag (as, in the familiar style of +the day he was more commonly called) in Scott's own lifetime: the fatal +horseshoe, the birth-mark of all the Redgauntlet line, was believed to +be conspicuous on the foreheads of every true Grierson in moments of +anger; and it was a grandson of old Lag himself who sat to Scott for the +portrait of the elder Redgauntlet, the rugged and dangerous Herries of +Birrenswark. Within the last fifty years it was a custom of Halloween in +many of the houses in Dumfriesshire and Galloway to celebrate by a rude +theatrical performance the evil memory of the Laird of Lag.[17] + +Born of a family which had held lands in Dumfriesshire since the +fifteenth century, and had figured at various times on the troubled +stage of Scottish history, Lag was undoubtedly a man of some parts and +capacity for public affairs, but coarse, cruel and brutal beyond even +the license of those times. The Covenanting historians charge him with +vices such as even they shrank from attributing to Claverhouse; and, +careful as it is always necessary to be in taking the evidence of such +witnesses, it is abundantly clear that even these ingenious romancists +would have been hard put to it to stain the memory of Lag. Later +historians have been sometimes less careful in distinguishing between +the two men. At least in one striking instance, the misdeeds of this +ruffian have been circumstantially charged to the account of his more +famous and important colleague. + +It will be remembered that in the picture Macaulay has drawn of +Claverhouse the soldiers under his command, and by implication +Claverhouse himself, figure as relieving their sterner duties by a +curious form of relaxation. They would call each other, he says, by the +names of devils and damned souls, mocking in their revels the torments +of hell. The authority for this surprising statement is Robert Wodrow, +who was not born when Claverhouse returned to Scotland, and whose +history of the Scottish Church was not published till more than thirty +years after the battle of Killiecrankie.[18] Wodrow's work is very far +from being the contemptible thing some apologists for Claverhouse would +have us believe; but he is not a witness whose unsupported testimony it +is always safe to take for gospel-truth. He wrote at a time when the +naturally romantic imagination of the Scottish peasantry, stimulated by +the memories of old men who had known the evil times, had largely +embellished the facts he set himself to chronicle; and following the +fashion of his day (indeed, as one may say, the fashion of many +historians who cannot plead Wodrow's excuse), he was not always careful +to separate the romance from the reality, even where the latter might +have better served his turn. But considering all the circumstances--the +circumstances of the time, of his subject, and of his own +prepossessions, he is a writer whom it is impossible to disregard; and, +indeed, compared with the other Covenanting chroniclers he stands apart +as the most sober and impartial of historians. Where he got the story +that has been so ingeniously fashioned into an indictment against +Claverhouse is not clear. The passage runs as follows:--"Dreadful were +the acts of wickedness done by the soldiers at this time, and Lag was as +deep as any. They used to take to themselves, in their cabals, the names +of devils and persons they supposed to be in hell, and with whips to +lash one another, as a jest upon hell. But I shall draw a veil over many +of their dreadful impieties I meet with in papers written at this time." +This is not exactly the sort of evidence any judge but a hanging judge +would allow, though it would serve well enough the turn of a prosecutor. +It is at any rate evidence which no one, with any experience of the sort +of gossip the annalists of the Covenant were content to call history, +would care to take seriously. But whatever its value may really be, so +far as it goes it is evidence not against Claverhouse but against Lag. +It is clear from Wodrow that the story refers not to the royal soldiers +but to the local militia; and a writer a little later than Wodrow makes +it still more clear that the men supposed thus to have disported +themselves in their cups were those commanded by Lag. John Howie, an +Ayrshire peasant and a Cameronian of the strictest sect, who was not +born till fourteen years after Wodrow had published his history, has +given Lag a particular place in the Index Expurgatorius of his "Heroes +for the Faith." There we may read how this "prime hero for the promoting +of Satan's kingdom" would, "with the rest of his boon companions and +persecutors, feign themselves devils, and those whom they supposed in +hell, and then whip one another, as a jest upon that place of torment." +Claverhouse, as has been already shown, was himself singularly averse to +all rioting and drunkenness, as well as to profane amusements of every +kind; and, as he was indisputably one of the sternest disciplinarians +who ever took or gave orders, it is unlikely that he would have +countenanced any such unseemly revels in the men under his command, with +whom, moreover, he was in these years thrown into unusually close +personal contact. But, in truth, the story, so far as he is concerned, +is too foolish to need any solemn refutation. It has been only examined +at this length as furnishing a signal instance of the recklessness with +which the misdeeds of others have been fathered on him.[19] + +The work Claverhouse now found to do must have been singularly +distasteful to one who had seen war on a great scale under such captains +as William and Condé. It was at once undignified and dangerous; and +though danger was all to his taste, it was one thing to risk one's life +in open battle with enemies worthy of a soldier's steel, and another and +very different thing to run the chance of a stray bullet from behind a +haystack or through a cottage window. The line of country he had to +patrol (for his work was really little more than that) was all too large +for the forces at his disposal. The enemies with whom he had mostly to +deal were either old men or women, for the Covenanters were well +supplied with intelligence, and generally had ample warning of his +movements, quick and indefatigable as they were. "If your lordship give +me any new orders, I will beg they may be kept as secret as possible, +and sent for me so suddenly as the information some of the favourers of +the fanatics are to send may be prevented."[20] And again: + + "I obeyed the orders about seizing persons in Galloway that + very night I received it, as far as it was possible; that is + to say, all that was within forty miles, which is the most + can be ridden in one night; and of six made search for, I + found only two, which are John Livingston, bailie of + Kirkcudbright, and John Black, treasurer there. The other + two bailies were fled, and their wives lying above the + clothes in the bed, and great candles lighted, waiting for + the coming of the party, and told them, they knew of their + coming, and had as good intelligence as they themselves; and + that if the other two were seized on, it was their own + faults, that would not contribute for intelligence. And the + truth is, they had time enough to be advertised, for the + order was dated the 15th, and came not to my hands till the + 20th. I laid the fellow in the guard that brought it, so + soon as I considered the date, where he has lain ever since, + and had it not been for respect to Mr. Maitland + [Lauderdale's nephew] who recommended him to me I would have + put him out of the troop with infamy."[21] + +The letters written during the first months of his commission are full +of warnings of this sort. And he had other complaints to make, which +must have been still more against the grain. He was so inadequately +supplied with money by the Council that he found it a hard matter to pay +his men, and harder still to pay the country people for the necessary +provisions and forage; for, so far from quartering his men at large upon +the peasantry, he seems, at any rate in those first months, to have been +scrupulous to pay at the current rates for all he required to a degree +that matches rather with the niceties of modern warfare than the customs +of those rough times. + +In March Claverhouse was appointed Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire by a +particular warrant from Whitehall, and Andrew Bruce of Earlshall, one of +his lieutenants, was nominated with him. This step gave great offence to +Queensberry, who, as Sheriff of the shires of Dumfries and Annandale, by +law held all such patronage in his own hand, and marks the beginning of +the petty jealousy which from this time forward he seems to have shown +to Claverhouse whenever he dared, and which rose afterwards, as we shall +see, to a serious height. But Queensberry was no match for Lauderdale; +and Claverhouse was duly settled in his new office, which, while +strengthening his hands and enabling him to dispense with many tedious +formalities, at the same time considerably increased his labours. + +And so winter passed into spring, and still Claverhouse found no work +more worthy of him than patrolling the country, arranging for his men's +quarters, examining suspected persons, and endeavouring to persuade the +Government to leave him not entirely penniless. More than once he sent +word to Edinburgh that he believed something serious was afoot. "I +find," he writes to Linlithgow on April 21st, "Mr. Welsh is accustoming +both ends of the country to face the king's forces, and certainly +intends to break out into open rebellion." This Welsh is a famous figure +in Covenanting history. Grandson to a man whose name was long held in +affectionate memory by his party as that of the "incomparable John Welsh +of Ayr," and great-grandson to no less a hero than John Knox himself, he +was on his own account a memorable man. He had inaugurated the first +conventicle, and had ever since been zealous in promoting them and +officiating at them among the wild hills and moorlands of the western +shires, till his name had become a byword among the soldiers for his +courage in braving and his skill in evading them. But though one of the +most resolute and indefatigable of the ministers of the Covenant, he was +also one of the most moderate and sensible. Had no one among them been +more eager than he to carry the war into the enemy's country there had +been no Bothwell Bridge. And, indeed, we shall find him seriously taken +to task by the more extreme of the party as a backslider from the good +cause for his endeavour to avert that disastrous affair. + +Yet Claverhouse was right. Something very serious was soon to be afoot. +During the last few weeks the Covenanters had been notoriously growing +bolder. They did not always now, as hitherto, content themselves with +evading the soldiers: they became in their turn the aggressors. More +than once an outlying post of Claverhouse's men had been fired upon; +and on one occasion a couple of the dragoons had been savagely murdered +in cold blood. Even Wodrow found himself forced to own that about this +time "matters were running to sad heights among the armed followers of +some of the field meetings." But the trouble did not arise through John +Welsh. It came through a servant of the Crown who had been a sorer +plague to his countrymen than a myriad of disaffected ministers. + +On May 5th, Lord Ross[22] from Lanark, and on the 6th Claverhouse from +Dumfries, sent in their despatches to the commander-in-chief at +Edinburgh as usual. It is clear that neither of them had at that time +heard any rumour of an event which had happened a few days previously at +no very great distance from their quarters. On May 2nd the Primate of +Scotland had been dragged from his carriage as he was driving across an +open heath three miles out of Saint Andrews, and murdered in open day +before the eyes of his daughter. + +James Sharp, Archbishop of Saint Andrews, was at that time probably the +best-hated man in Scotland. Like all renegades he was in no favour even +with his own party, though Lauderdale found after trial that he could +not dispense with his support. Even the moderate Presbyterians, who +regarded the uncompromising Covenanters as the real cause of their +country's troubles, looked askance upon Sharp, as the man whom they had +chosen out of their number to save them and who had preferred to save +himself. By the Covenanters themselves he was assailed with every form +of obloquy as the Judas who had sold his God and his country for thirty +pieces of silver, and who had hounded on the servants of the King to +spill the blood of the saints. Yet his murder was but an accident. +Eleven years before an attempt had, indeed, been made upon his life by +one Mitchell, a fanatical and apparently half-witted preacher, who was +after a long delay put to the torture and finally executed on a +confession which he had been induced to make after a promise from the +Privy Council that his life should be spared. It is said that Lauderdale +would have spared him, but Sharp was so vehement for his death that the +Duke dared not refuse. + +The chief promoters of the Archbishop's murder were Hackston of +Rathillet, Russell of Kettle, and John Balfour of Burley, or, more +correctly, of Kinloch. These three men were typical of the class who at +this time began to come to the front among the Covenanters, and by their +incapacity, folly, and brutality discredited and did their best to ruin +a cause whose original justice had been already too much obscured by +such parasites. It is impossible to believe that they, or such as they, +were inspired by any strong religious feelings. Hackston and Balfour +were men of some fortune, who had been free-livers in their youth, and +were now professing to expiate those errors by a gloomy and ferocious +asceticism. Both had a grudge against Sharp. Balfour had been accused of +malversation in the management of some property for which he was the +Archbishop's factor, and Hackston, his brother-in-law, had been +arrested as his bail and forced to make the money good. Russell, who has +left a curiously minute and cold-blooded narrative of this murder,[23] +was a man of headstrong and fiery temper. They had all those dangerous +gifts of eloquence which, coarse and uncouth as it sounds to our ears, +was, when liberally garnished with texts of Scripture, precisely such as +to inflame the heated tempers of an illiterate peasantry to madness. It +is important to distinguish men of this stamp from the genuine sufferers +for conscience' sake. The latter men were, indeed, often wrought up by +their crafty leaders to a pitch of blind and brutal fury which has done +much to lessen the sympathy that is justly theirs. But they were at the +bottom simple, sincere, and pious; and they can at least plead the +excuse of a long and relentless persecution for acts which the others +inspired and directed for motives which it would be difficult, perhaps, +to correctly analyse, but assuredly were not founded on an unmixed love +either for their country or their faith. Stripped of the veil of +religious enthusiasm which they knew so well how to assume, men of the +stamp of Sharp's murderers were in truth no other than those brawling +and selfish demagogues whom times of stir and revolution always have +brought and always will bring to the front. There need, in these days, +be no difficulty in understanding the characters of men who dress Murder +in the cloak of Religion and call her Liberty. + +Every child knows the story of the tragedy on Magus Moor. It will be +enough here to remind my readers, once more, that it was no preconcerted +plan, but a pure accident--or, as the murderers themselves called it, a +gift from God. The men I have named, with a few others, were really +after one Carmichael, who had made himself particularly odious by his +activity in collecting the fines levied on the disaffected. But +Carmichael, who was out hunting on the hills, had got wind of their +design and made his way home by another route. As the party were about +to separate in sullen disappointment, a messenger came to tell them that +the Archbishop's coach was in sight on the road to Saint Andrews. The +opportunity was too good to be lost. Hackston was asked to take the +command, but declined, alleging his cause of quarrel with Sharp, which +would, he declared, "mar the glory of the action, for it would be +imputed to his particular revenge." But, he added, he would not leave +them, nor "hinder them from what God had called them to." Upon this, +Balfour said, "Gentlemen, follow me;" and the whole party, some nine or +ten in number, rode off after the carriage, which could be seen in the +distance labouring heavily over the rugged track that traversed the +lonely expanse of heath. How the butcher's work was done: how Sharp +crawled on his knees to Hackston, saying, "You are a gentleman--you will +protect me," and how Hackston answered, "Sir, I shall never lay a hand +on you": how Balfour and the rest then drew their swords and finished +what their pistols had begun; and how the daughter was herself wounded +in her efforts to cover the body of her father--these things are +familiar to all. + +From May 6th to 29th no letters from Claverhouse have survived; but on +the latter date he sent a short despatch from Falkirk, announcing his +intention of joining his forces with Lord Ross to scatter a conventicle +of eighteen parishes which, he had just received news, were about (on +the following Sunday) to meet at Kilbryde Moor, four miles from Glasgow. +The following Sunday was June 1st, on which day Claverhouse was indeed +engaged with a conventicle; but in a fashion very different from any he +had anticipated. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] It is said that he used to tend these curls with very particular +care, attaching small leaden weights to them at night to keep them in +place,--a custom which, I am informed, has in these days been revived by +some dandies of the other sex. + +[16] This very much bears out Burnet's complaint against the Episcopal +clergy in Scotland, which has been so strenuously denied by Creichton. +"The clergy used to speak of that time as the poets do of the golden +age. They never interceded for any compassion to their people; nor did +they take care to live more regularly, or to labour more carefully. They +looked on the soldiery as their patrons; they were ever in their +company, complying with them in their excesses; and, if they were not +much wronged, they rather led them into them than checked them for +them."--"History of My Own Time," i. 334. + +[17] "The Laird of Lag," by Lieut.-Col. Fergusson, pp. 7-11. + +[18] His "History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland" was first +published in 1721. + +[19] This confusion was first pointed out by Aytoun in an appendix to +the second edition of his "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers." + +[20] Claverhouse to Linlithgow, December 28th, 1678. These letters are +all quoted from Napier's book. I have thought it better to give the date +of the letter than the reference to the page. + +[21] Claverhouse to Linlithgow, February 24th, 1679. + +[22] George, eleventh Lord Ross, was joined with Claverhouse in the +command of the western shires. He had married Lady Grizel Cochrane, +daughter of the first Earl of Dundonald, and aunt of the future Lady +Dundee. + +[23] Printed in Sharpe's edition of Kirkton's "History of the Church of +Scotland." It differs in some, but not very important, points from the +account printed in the same volume from Wodrow's manuscripts. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The die was now fairly cast. In a general rising lay the only hope of +safety for Sharp's murderers. Desperate themselves, they determined to +carry others with them along the same path, and by some signal show of +defiance commit the party to immediate and irretrievable action. The +occasion for this was easily found. May 29th, the King's birthday, had +been, as already mentioned, appointed as a general day of rejoicing for +his restoration. This had from the first given offence as well to those +members of the Presbyterian Church who saw in his Majesty's return no +particular cause for joy, as to those more ascetic spirits who objected +on principle to all holidays. May 29th was therefore hailed as the day +divinely marked, as it were, for the purpose on hand, a crowning +challenge to the King's authority. + +The business was put in charge of Robert Hamilton, a man of good birth +and education, but violent and rash, without any capacity for command +and, if some of his own side may be trusted, of no very certain courage. +With him went Thomas Douglas, one of the fire-breathing ministers, +Balfour and Russell and some seventy or eighty armed men. Glasgow had +been originally chosen for the scene of operations; but a day or two +previously a detachment of Claverhouse's troopers had marched into that +city from Falkirk, and the little town of Rutherglen, about two miles to +the west of Glasgow, was chosen instead. + +On the afternoon of the 29th Hamilton and his party made their +appearance in Rutherglen. They first extinguished the bonfire that was +blazing in the King's honour; and, having then lit one on their own +account, proceeded solemnly to burn all the Acts of Parliament and Royal +Proclamations that had been issued in Scotland since Charles's return. A +paper was next read, containing a vigorous protest against all +interferences of the English Government with the Presbyterian religion, +and especially those subsequent to the Restoration. This paper, which +was styled the Declaration and Testimony of some of the true +Presbyterian party in Scotland, was then nailed to the market-cross of +the little town, and the party withdrew. All this, be it remembered, was +done within only two miles of the royal forces, some of whom, it is +said, were actually spectators of the whole affair at scarce +musket-shot's distance. It was fortunate for the party that Claverhouse +was not in Glasgow at the time. + +He was then in Falkirk, from which place he had, as we have seen, +written to Linlithgow on the very day of the Rutherglen business of a +rumour he had heard of some particular gathering appointed for the +following Sunday, June 1st. Though he did not believe it, he thought it +well to join forces with Ross in case there might be need for action. +This was done at Glasgow on Saturday; and at once Claverhouse set off +for Rutherglen to inquire into the affair of the 29th. As soon as he +had got the names of the ringleaders he sent patrols out to scour the +neighbourhood for them. A few prisoners were picked up, and among them +one King, a noted orator of the conventicles, formerly chaplain to Lord +Cardross, whose service he had left, it is said, on account of a little +misadventure with one of the maid-servants. The troops halted for the +night at Strathavon, and early next morning set off with their prisoners +for Glasgow. On the way Claverhouse determined on "a little tour, to see +if we could fall upon a conventicle," which, he ingenuously adds, "we +did, little to our advantage." + +During his search for the Rutherglen men he had heard more of the plans +for Sunday. It was clear something was in the air, and report named +Loudon Hill as the place of business, a steep and rocky eminence marking +the spot where the shires of Ayr, Lanark, and Renfrew meet. To Loudon +Hill accordingly Claverhouse turned his march, and soon found that +rumour had for once not exaggerated. + +Two miles to the east of the hill lies the little hamlet and farm of +Drumclog, even now but sparsely covered with coarse meadow-grass, and +then no more than a barren stretch of swampy moorland. South and north +the ground sloped gently down towards a marshy bottom through which ran +a stream, or dyke, fringed with stunted alder-bushes. On the foot of the +southern slope, across the dyke, the Covenanters were drawn up; and the +practised eye of Claverhouse saw at a glance that they had gathered +there not to pray but to fight. "When we came in sight of them," he +wrote to Linlithgow, "we found them drawn up in battle upon a most +advantageous ground, to which there was no coming but through mosses and +lakes. They were not preaching, and had got away all their women and +children."[24] They were ranged in three lines: those who had firearms +being placed nearest to the dyke, behind them a body of pikemen, and in +the rear the rest, armed with scythes set on poles, pitchforks, goads +and other such rustic weapons. On either flank was a small body of +mounted men. Hamilton was in command: Burley had charge of the horse; +and among others present that day was William Cleland, then but sixteen +years old, and destined ten years later to win a nobler title to fame by +a glorious death at the head of his Cameronians in the memorable defence +of Dunkeld. + +As usual, it is impossible to estimate with any exactness the strength +of either side. According to one of their own party, who was present, +the Covenanters did not exceed two hundred and fifty fighting men, of +whom fifty were mounted and the same proportion armed with guns. These +numbers have been accepted, of course, by Wodrow, and also by Dr. +Burton. But within a week this handful had, on Hamilton's own testimony, +grown to six thousand horse and foot; and though, no doubt, the success +at Drumclog would have materially swelled the Covenanting ranks, if they +were only two hundred and fifty on that day, the most liberal +calculation can hardly accept the numbers said to have been gathered on +Glasgow Moor six days later. Probably, if we increase the former total +and diminish the latter, we shall get nearer the mark; but it is +impossible to do more than conjecture. Sharpe, in the fragment printed +by Napier, rates Hamilton's force at six hundred. Claverhouse's own +estimate was "four battalions of foot, and all well armed with fusils +and pitchforks, and three squadrons of horse." His experience was more +likely to serve him in such matters than the untrained calculations of +men who were, moreover, naturally concerned to magnify the defeat of the +King's troops as much as possible; while it is clear from the tone of +his own despatch, which is singularly literal and straightforward, that +he had no wish, and did not even conceive it necessary, to excuse his +disaster. But here again the estimate helps us little, owing to the +vague use of the terms battalion and squadron. For the same reason we +can but guess at the strength of the royal force. In the writings of the +time Claverhouse's command is indiscriminately styled a regiment and a +troop. It is certain that he was the responsible officer, so that, +whatever its numerical strength, he stood to the body of men he +commanded in the relation that a colonel stands to his regiment. But it +is probable that his regiment, with those commanded by Home and Airlie, +were practically considered as the three troops of the Royal Scottish +Life Guards of whom the young Marquis of Montrose was colonel. From a +royal warrant of 1672, it appears that a troop of dragoons was rated at +eighty men, exclusive of officers, and that a regiment was to consist of +twelve troops. But it is hardly possible that this strength was ever +reached. From a passage in the third chapter of Macaulay's history it +does not seem as if the full complement of a regiment of cavalry can +have much exceeded four hundred men; but, I repeat, the indiscriminate +use of the terms troop and regiment, battalion and squadron, makes all +calculations theoretical and vague.[25] Scott puts the King's forces at +Drumclog at two hundred and fifty men; and, as a detachment had been +left behind in garrison with Ross's men at Glasgow, this is probably not +over the mark, if Macaulay's estimate of a regiment be correct. He also, +in the report Lord Evandale makes to his chief, rates the Covenanters at +near a thousand fighting men, which would probably tally with +Claverhouse's estimate. But, whatever the strength of either side may +have been, it is tolerably certain that the advantage that way was on +the side of the Covenanters. + +The description of the fight in "Old Mortality" is an admirable specimen +of the style in which Scott's genius could work the scantiest materials +to his will. All contemporary accounts of the fray are singularly meagre +and confused; and, indeed, the art of describing a battle was then very +much in its infancy. It is difficult, from Claverhouse's own despatch, +to get more than a general idea of the affair, which was probably after +the first few minutes but an indiscriminate _mêlée_. No doubt it was his +consciousness of some lack of clearness that inspired his apologetic +postscript: "My Lord, I am so wearied and so sleepy that I have written +this very confusedly." The flag of truce, which in the novel Claverhouse +sends down under charge of his nephew Cornet Graham to parley with the +Covenanters, was of Scott's own making, though it seems that a couple +of troopers were despatched in advance to survey the ground. Nor does +Claverhouse mention any kinsman of his, or any one of his name, as +having fallen that day: the only two officers he specifies are Captain +Blyth and Cornet Crafford, or Crawford, both of whom were killed by +Hamilton's first fire. But though Claverhouse mentions no one of his own +name, others do. By more than one contemporary writer one Robert Graham +is included among the slain. It is said that while at breakfast that +morning in Strathavon he had refused his dog meat, promising it a full +meal off the Whigs' bodies before night; "but instead of that," runs the +tale, "his dog was seen eating his own thrapple (for he was killed) by +several." Another version is, that the Covenanters, finding the name of +Graham wrought in the neck of the shirt, savagely mangled the dead body, +supposing it to be that of Claverhouse himself.[26] + +But to come from tradition to fact. The affair began with a sharp +skirmish of musketry on both sides. To every regiment of cavalry there +were then joined a certain proportion of dragoons who seem to have held +much the position of our mounted infantry, men skilled in the use of +firearms and accustomed to fight as well on foot as in the saddle. A +party of these advanced in open order down the hill to the brink of the +dyke and opened a smart fire on the Covenanters, who answered with +spirit, but both in their weapons and skill were naturally far inferior +to the royal soldiers. Meanwhile, some troopers had been sent out to +skirmish on either flank, and to try for a crossing. This they could not +find; but, unable to manoeuvre in the swampy ground, found instead +that their saddles were emptying fast. Then Hamilton, seeing that his +men were no match at long bowls for the dragoons, and marking the +confusion among the cavalry, gave the word to advance. By crossings +known only to themselves Burley led the horse over the dyke on one +flank, while young Cleland followed with the bulk of the foot on the +other. Claverhouse thereupon called in his skirmishers, and, advancing +his main body down the hill, the engagement became general. But in that +heavy ground the footmen had all the best of it. The scythes and +pitchforks made sad work among the poor floundering horses. His own +charger was so badly wounded that, in the rider's forcible language, +"its guts hung out half an ell;" yet the brave beast carried him safely +out of the press.[27] The troopers began to fall back, and Burley, +coming up on sound ground with his horse, flung himself on them so hotly +that the retreat became something very like a rout. Claverhouse, to +whose courage and energy that day his enemies bear grudging witness, did +all that a brave captain could, but his men had now got completely out +of hand. "I saved the standards" (one of which had been for a moment +taken) "and made the best retreat the confusion of our people would +suffer." So he wrote to Linlithgow, but he made no attempt to disguise +his defeat. He owns to having lost eight or ten men among the cavalry, +besides wounded; and the dragoons lost many more. Only five or six of +the Covenanters seem to have fallen, among whom was one of Sharp's +murderers. This does not speak very well for their opponents' fire; but +then we have only the testimony of their own historians to go by. +Claverhouse himself could say no more than that "they are not come +easily off on the other side, for I saw several of them fall before we +came to the shock." + +Pell-mell went the rout over the hill and across the moorland to +Strathavon, through which the Life Guards had marched but a few hours +before in all their bravery. As their captain passed by the place where +his prisoner of the morning, John King, was now lustily chanting a psalm +of triumph, the reverend gentleman called out to him, with audacity +worthy of Gabriel Kettledrummle, "to stay the afternoon sermon." At +Strathavon the townspeople drew out to bar their passage, but the fear +of their pursuers lent the flying troopers fresh heart: "we took +courage," writes Claverhouse, "and fell to them, made them run, leaving +a dozen on the place." Through Strathavon they clattered, and never drew +rein till they found themselves safe in Glasgow among their own +comrades. + +Fortunately the pursuit had slackened, or it might have gone ill with +the garrison in Glasgow. Claverhouse's men had no doubt fine tales to +tell of the fury of the Whig devils behind them; and had Hamilton been +strong enough in cavalry to enter the town at the heels of the flying +troopers it is not likely that he would have met with much opposition. +The pursuit, however, did not follow far. Thanksgivings had to be made +for the victory, and the prisoners to be looked to. All these, according +to Wodrow, were let go after being disarmed; but Hamilton himself tells +a very different tale. His orders had been strict that there should be +no quarter that day; but on his return from the pursuit he found that +his orders had been disobeyed. Five prisoners had been dismissed, and +were already out of his reach: two others were waiting while their +captors debated on their fate. Then Hamilton, furious that any of +"Babel's brats" should be let go, slew one of these with his own hand, +to stay any such unreasonable spirit of mercy, "lest the Lord would not +honour us to do much more for him."[28] + +That night the Covenanting captains stayed at Lord Loudon's house, +where, though the master had deemed it prudent to keep out of the way, +they were hospitably entertained by her ladyship. The next morning they +continued their march to Glasgow. + +Claverhouse was ready for them. The town was too open a place to be +properly barricaded, but he had caused some sort of breastwork to be +raised near the market-cross as cover for his men, and patrols had been +out since daybreak to watch Hamilton's movements. That worthy was +reported to be dividing his men into two bodies, one of which presently +marched on the town by the Gallowgate bridge, while the other took a +much longer route by the High Church and College. It was thus possible +to deal with the first before the latter could come to its assistance. +This was very effectually done. About ten in the morning the attack was +made by way of the bridge, led by Hamilton in person.[29] But the +welcome which met them from the barricades was too warm for the +Covenanters. They broke and fled at the first fire, Claverhouse and Ross +at the head of their men chasing them out of the town. Meanwhile, their +comrades, descending the hill on the other side, saw what was going on, +and, having no mind for a similar welcome, turned about and made off by +the way they had come. The two parties joined and halted for a while at +the place they had occupied on the previous night; but when they heard +Claverhouse's trumpets sounding again to horse they fell back to +Hamilton Park, where it was not thought prudent to follow them. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[24] Claverhouse to Linlithgow, June 1st, 1679. This is the famous +despatch which Scott says was spelled like a chambermaid's. The original +is now among the Stow Manuscripts in the British Museum. + +[25] Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army" (Second +Dragoons): Macaulay's History, i. 305-8. + +[26] Russell's account of Sharp's murder, Kirkton, p. 442. See also +Creichton's Memoirs, though the captain was not present at the fight, +having remained in garrison at Glasgow. In a Latin poem, "Bellum +Bothuellianum," by Andrew Guild, now in the Advocates' Library at +Edinburgh, are the following lines: + + "Tum rabiosa cohors, misereri nescia, stratos + Invadit, laceratque viros: hic signifer, eheu! + Trajectus globulo, Græmus, quo fortior alter + Inter Scotigenas fuerat, nec justior ullus: + Hunc manibus rapuere feris, faciemque virilem + Foedarunt, lingua, auriculis, manibusque resectis + Aspera diffuso spargentes saxa cerebro." + +The passage is quoted at length in the notes to "Old Mortality." Sharpe, +in his notes to Kirkton, says, on the authority of Wodrow, that Cornet +Graham was shot by one John Alstoun, a miller's son, and tenant of Weir +of Blackwood. This is not correct. There was a Cornet Graham so killed, +but not till three years after Drumclog. + +[27] "With a pitchfork they made such an openeing in my rone horse's +belly." Sir Walter, following tradition, has mounted Claverhouse on a +coal-black charger without a single white hair in its body, a present, +according to the legends of the time, from the Devil to his favourite +servant. See also Aytoun's fine ballad "The Burial March of Dundee": + + "Then our leader rode among us + On his war-horse black as night; + Well the Cameronian rebels + Knew that charger in the fight." + +[28] Kirkton, 444, note. + +[29] It was reported by some of his own party that as his men entered +the town Hamilton withdrew into a house at the Gallowgate to wait the +issue. But it would be no more fair to take this report for truth than +it would be to assume that Claverhouse really forbad burial to the dead +Whigs, that the dogs might eat them where they lay in the streets. There +was too much quarrelling in the Covenanting camp to allow us to take for +granted all their judgments on each other when unfavourable; and at +Drumclog Hamilton seems by all accounts to have borne himself bravely +enough, whatever he may have done subsequently. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +There is no letter from Claverhouse in this year, 1679, later than that +reporting the defeat at Drumclog. There was, indeed, no occasion for him +to write. As soon as the news of his defeat and the attack on Glasgow +had reached the Council, orders were at once sent for the forces to +withdraw from the latter place and join Linlithgow at Stirling. After +Bothwell Bridge had been won he was sent again into the West on the +weary work that we have already seen him employed on. But during the +intervening time his independent command had ceased. At the same time +there is no reason to suppose that he was in any disgrace for the defeat +at Drumclog. He had committed the fault, not uncommon, as military +history teaches, with more experienced leaders than Claverhouse, of +holding his foe too cheaply: he had committed this fault, and he had +paid the penalty. There is some vague story of a sealed commission not +to be opened till in the presence of the enemy, and when opened on the +slope of Drumclog containing strict orders to give battle wherever and +whenever the chance might serve. But the story rests on too slight +authority to count for much. His own temperament would have made him +fight without any sealed orders; and, indeed, he had not long before +written to Linlithgow that he was determined to do so on the first +occasion, and had warned his men to that effect. The wisdom of his +resolve is clear. Disgusted with their work, discontented with the +hardness of their fare and the infrequency of their pay, in perpetual +danger of their lives from unseen enemies, his soldiers were getting out +of hand. Claverhouse was the sternest of disciplinarians; but the +discipline of those days was a very different thing from our +interpretation of the word. It was more a recognition by the soldier of +the superior strength and possibilities of his officer, than trained +obedience to an inevitable law. When they once had satisfied themselves +that their captain was unable to bring the enemy to book, was unable +even to provide them with proper rations and pay, no love for the flag +would have kept them together for another hour. It was essential for +Claverhouse to show them that he and they were more than a match for +their foes whenever and in whatever form the opportunity came. +Unfortunately for him it came in the form of Drumclog, and the proof had +still to be given. + +But it is abundantly clear that no stain was considered to rest either +on his honour or his skill. The only ungenerous reference to his +discomfiture came a few years later in the shape of a growl from old +Dalziel against the folly of splitting the army up into small +detachments at the discretion of rash and incompetent leaders. +Claverhouse was removed from his independent command only because the +circumstances of the moment made it necessary. When it was found +necessary to despatch a regular army against the insurgents (as, for all +their provocation, they must after Drumclog be styled), he took his +proper place in that army as captain of a troop in the Royal Scottish +Life Guards. When the brief campaign had closed at Bothwell Bridge, and, +worst fortune for him, affairs had resumed their original complexion, he +went back to his old position. + +It will be necessary, then, to supply this gap in Claverhouse's +correspondence by a brief review of the state of things from the battle +of Drumclog to the date of his new commission. + +The garrison of Glasgow had, as we have seen, joined Linlithgow at +Stirling. There they lay for a day or two till orders were received from +the Council for the whole army, which only numbered about eighteen +hundred men in all, to fall back on Edinburgh. In the capital the +greatest consternation reigned. The first proceeding of the Council was +to proclaim the rising "an open, manifest, and horrid rebellion," and +all the insurgents were summoned to surrender at discretion as +"desperate and incorrigible traitors." Having thus satisfied their +diplomatic consciences they wisely proceeded to more practical measures. +The militia was called out, horse and foot, in all the Lowlands, save in +the disaffected shires. For those north of the Forth the rendezvous was +at Stirling, for those south on the links of Leith. Each man was to +bring provisions with him for ten days. The magistrates were ordered to +remove all the powder and other munitions of war they could find in the +city to the Castle. An armed guard was stationed night and day in the +Canongate, and another in the Abbey. Finally, a post was sent to London +on Linlithgow's advice to urge the instant despatch of more troops, and +two shillings and sixpence a day of extra pay was promised to every foot +soldier. + +They were not disturbed in their preparations. The Covenanters were too +busy with their own affairs to take much heed what their enemies might +be doing. They did, indeed, march into Glasgow, but beyond shooting a +poor wretch whom they vowed they recognised as having fought against +them on the 2nd, and possibly indulging in a little looting, they did +nothing. They did not stay long in the town. Plans they seem to have had +none, nor any settled organisation or discipline. Moving restlessly +about the neighbourhood from village to village and from moor to moor, +their preachers exhorted and harangued as much against each other as +against Pope or Prelate, and their leaders quarrelled as though there +were not a King's soldier in all Scotland, nor Claverhouse within a +dozen miles of them eager for the moment to strike. There was no lack of +arms among them, and their numbers seem at this time to have been not +far short of eight thousand. But no men of any position or influence in +the country had joined them with the exception of Hamilton; and his +authority, whether the story of his cowardice at Glasgow be true or not, +was not what it had been at Rutherglen and Drumclog. The preachers +seemed to have exercised the only control over the rabble; and such +control, as was natural, seems rarely to have lasted beyond the length +of their sermons, which, indeed, were not commonly short. As the +Covenanters (to keep to the distinguishing name I have chosen) were an +extreme section of the Presbyterians, so now the Covenanters themselves +were divided into a moderate and an extreme party. The chiefs of the +former, or Erastians as their opponents scornfully termed them, were +John Welsh and David Hume. Of Hume there is no particular account, but +Welsh we have met before. Though he had been under denunciation as a +rebel ever since the Pentland rising (in which he had, indeed, borne no +part), he had never given his voice for war; and, though assuredly +neither a coward nor a trimmer, had always kept from any active share in +the proceedings of his more tumultuous brethren. His plan, and the plan +of the few who at that time and place were on his side, was temperate +and reasonable. They asked for no more than they were willing to give. +Against the King, his government, and his bishops they had no quarrel, +if only they were suffered to worship God after their own fashion. +Though they themselves had not accepted the Indulgence, they were not +disposed to be unduly severe with those who had. In a word, they were +willing to extend to all men the liberty they demanded for themselves. +Had there been more of this wise mind among the Covenanters--among the +Presbyterians, one may indeed say--though it is hardly possible to +believe that Lauderdale and his crew would not still have found occasion +for oppression, it would be much easier to find sympathy for the +oppressed. + +On the other side, Hamilton himself, Donald Cargill, and Thomas Douglas +were the most conspicuous in words, while Hackston, Burley, and the rest +of Sharp's murderers were, of course, with them. Hamilton and Douglas we +know. Cargill, like Douglas, was a minister: he had received a good +education at Aberdeen and Saint Andrews, but had soon fallen into +disgrace for the disloyalty and virulence of his language. In a sermon +on the anniversary of the Restoration he had declared from his pulpit +that the King's name should "stink while the world stands for treachery, +tyranny, and lechery."[30] In this party all was confused, extravagant, +fierce, unreasoning. What they wanted, what they were fighting to get, +from whom they expected to get it, even their own historians are unable +to explain, and probably they themselves had no very clear notions. They +talked of liberty, by which they seem to have meant no more than liberty +to kill all who on any point thought otherwise than they did: of +freedom, which meant freedom from all laws save their own passions: of +the God of their fathers, and every day they violated alike His precepts +and their practice. To slay and spare not was their watchword; but whom +they were to slay, or what was to be gained or done when the slaying was +accomplished, no two men among them were agreed. For the moment the +current of their fury seems to have set most strongly against the +Indulgence and those who had accepted its terms. A single instance will +show pretty clearly the state of insubordination into which those +unhappy men had fallen. It was announced that one Rae, a favourite +expounder on the moderate side, was about to preach on a certain day in +camp. Hamilton, who still retained the nominal command, sent him a +letter bidding him not spare the Indulgence. To this Rae, who does not +seem himself to have been in any position of authority, made answer that +Hamilton had better mind what belonged to him, and not go beyond his +sphere and station.[31] It would not be difficult to draw a parallel +between the condition of the Covenanting camp at that time and the +so-called Irish Party of our own time. Indeed, if any body will be at +the trouble to examine the contemporary accounts of Hamilton and his +followers, and particularly their language, much of which has been +faithfully chronicled by their admirers, they will be surprised to find +how closely the parallel may be pushed. + +Meanwhile, on the other side preparations went briskly forward. A strong +detachment of regular troops was at once despatched from London, with +the young Duke of Monmouth himself in command. Great pains have been +taken both by contemporary and later writers to explain the reason of +this appointment. It was designed, they have said, to render him +unpopular in Scotland. It is certainly possible that he might have been +sent to Scotland to get him out of the way of his admirers in England, +who just at that time were somewhat inconveniently noisy in their +admiration. But the appointment does not seem to need any very subtle +explanation. Monmouth was the King's favourite son. He had served his +apprenticeship to the trade of war in the Low Countries, and under such +captains as Turenne and William of Orange. He was popular with the +people for his personal courage, his good looks, his pleasant manners, +and above all for his Protestantism--a matter with him possibly more of +policy than principle, but which served among the common people to gain +him the affectionate nickname of The Protestant Duke, and to +distinguish him in their eyes as the natural antagonist to the unpopular +and Popish James. With all his faults Monmouth was no tyrant, and +Charles himself was rather careless than cruel. This appointment, +therefore, was taken in Scotland to signify a disposition on the King's +part to employ gentle means if possible with the insurgents, and as such +was not altogether approved of. Gentle means were not much to the taste +of the presiding spirits of the Council-Board at Edinburgh, whose native +ferocity had certainly not been softened by the fright and confusion of +the last few days. It was particularly requested, therefore, that +Dalziel might be named second in command, who might well be trusted to +counteract any unseasonable leniency on Monmouth's part. Fortunately for +the insurgents the old savage did not receive his commission till the +day after the battle. + +Monmouth left London on June 15th and reached Edinburgh on the 18th. He +at once took the field. Montrose commanded the cavalry, Linlithgow the +foot: Claverhouse rode at the head of his troop under his kinsman, and +the Earls of Home and Airlie were there in charge of their respective +troops: Mar held a command of foot. Many other Scotch noblemen and +gentlemen of position followed the army as volunteers. Some Highlanders +and a considerable body of militia made up a force which has been put as +high as fifteen thousand men, but probably did not exceed half that +number. + +The near approach of the royal troops only increased the quarrelling and +confusion in the insurgent camp, which was pitched now at Hamilton. Some +friends at Edinburgh had sent word to them that Monmouth might be found +not indisposed to treat; and that it would be best for them to stand off +for a while, and not on any account be drawn into fighting. But the idea +of treating only inflamed the more violent. On the 21st a council was +called which began in mutual recrimination and abuse, and ended in a +furious quarrel. Hamilton drew his sword, vociferating that it was drawn +as much against the King's curates and the minions of the Indulgence as +against the English dragoons, and left the meeting followed by Cargill, +Douglas and the more violent of his party. Disgusted with the scene, and +convinced of the hopelessness of a cause supported by such men, many +left the camp and returned to their own homes. Welsh and the moderate +leaders resolved to take matters into their own hands. On the morning of +the 22nd Monmouth had reached Bothwell. His advance guard held the +little town about a quarter of a mile distant from the river: his main +body was encamped on the moor. Shortly after daybreak he was surprised +by a visit from Welsh, Hume and another of their party, Fergusson of +Caitloch. Monmouth received them courteously, and heard them with +patience while they read to him a paper (known in Covenanting annals as +the Hamilton Declaration) they had drawn up detailing their grievances +and their demands. The first were indisputable: the second were, as has +been said, moderate. Monmouth was, however, forced to answer that he +could not treat with armed rebels. If they would lay down their arms and +surrender at discretion, he promised to do all he could to gain them not +only present pardon but tolerance in the future. Meanwhile, he said, +they had best return to their camp, report his message, and bring him +back an answer within half an hour's time. They returned, only to find +confusion worse confounded, and their own lives even in some danger from +the furious Hamilton. + +The half-hour passed, and no further sign of submission was made. +Monmouth bid the advance be sounded, and the Foot Guards, commanded by +young Livingstone, Linlithgow's eldest son, moved down to the bridge. +Just at that spot the Clyde is deep and narrow, running swiftly between +steep banks fringed on the western side with bushes of alder and hazel. +The bridge itself was only twelve feet wide, and guarded in the centre +with a gate-house. The post was a strong one for defence, and had there +been any military skill, or even unity of purpose, among the defendants, +Monmouth would have had to buy his passage dear. Hackston of Rathillet +had thrown himself with a small body of determined men into the +gate-house, while Burley, with a few who could hold their muskets +straight, took up his post among the alder-bushes. The rest stood idly +by while their comrades fought. For about an hour Hackston held the gate +till his powder was spent. He sent to Hamilton for more, or for fresh +troops, but the only answer he received was an order to retire. He had +no choice but to fall back on the main body, which he found at that +supreme moment busily engaged in cashiering their officers, and +quarrelling over the choice of new ones. The English foot then crossed +the bridge: Monmouth followed leisurely at the head of the horse, while +his cannon played from the eastern bank on the disordered masses of the +Covenanters. A few Galloway men, better mounted and officered than the +rest of their fellows, spurred out against the Life Guards as they were +filing off the narrow bridge, but were at once ordered back by Hamilton. +The rest of the horse in taking up fresh ground to avoid the English +cannon completed the disorder of the foot--if, indeed, anything were +wanted to complete the disorder of a rabble which had never known the +meaning of the word order; and a general forward movement of the royal +troops, who had now all passed the bridge, gave the signal for flight. +Hamilton was the first to obey it, thus, in the words of an eye-witness, +"leaving the world to debate whether he acted most like a traitor, a +coward, or a fool."[32] Twelve hundred of the poor wretches surrendered +at discretion: the rest fled in all directions. Monmouth ordered quarter +to be given to all who asked it, and there is no doubt that he was able +considerably to diminish the slaughter. Comparatively few fell at the +bridge, but four or five hundred are said to have fallen, "murdered up +and down the fields," says Wodrow, "wherever the soldiers met them, +without mercy." Mercy was not a conspicuous quality of the soldiery of +those days; and the discovery of a huge gallows in the insurgents' camp, +with a cartload of new ropes at the foot, was not likely to stay the +hands of men who knew well enough that had the fortune of war been +different those ropes would have been round their necks without any +mercy. But it is clear that Monmouth was able to save many. When Dalziel +arrived next day in camp and learned how things had gone, he rebuked +the Duke to his face for betraying his command. "Had I come a day +sooner," he said, "these rogues should never have troubled his majesty +or the kingdom any more."[33] + +There is no authority for attributing to Claverhouse himself any +particular ferocity. We may be pretty sure that the Covenanting +chroniclers would not have refrained from another fling at their +favourite scapegoat could they have found a stone to their hand; but as +a matter of fact, in no account of the battle is he mentioned, save by +name only, as having been present with his troop in Monmouth's army. The +fiery and vindictive part assigned to him by Scott rests on the +authority of the most amazing tissue of absurdities ever woven out of +the inventive fancy of a ballad-monger.[34] He had no kinsman's death to +avenge, and he was too good a soldier to directly disobey his chief's +orders, however little they may have been to his taste. + +There is, moreover, positive evidence to the contrary. Six years after +the battle one Robert Smith, of Dunscore, who had been among the rebel +horsemen at Bothwell, deposed that as they, some sixteen hundred in +number, were in retreat towards Carrick, he saw the royal cavalry halted +within less than a mile from the field, and this was considered by the +fugitives to have been done to favour their escape. "For," he went on, +"if they had followed us they had certainly killed or taken us all." It +is clear, therefore, that whatever Claverhouse might have done had he +been left to himself, or whatever he may have wished to do--what he did +do was, in common with the rest of the army, to obey his superior's +orders. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[30] "Lives of the Scots Worthies," p. 383. + +[31] Wodrow, iii. 93. + +[32] Wodrow, iii. 107. + +[33] Creichton, pp. 37-8. + +[34] See some doggrel verses on the battle in "The Minstrelsy of the +Scottish Border," in which Claverhouse is represented as posting off to +London from the field of battle and, by means of false witnesses, +bringing Monmouth to the scaffold as a traitor who had given quarter to +the King's enemies. Sir Walter, of course, knew very well what he was +about; but it did not seem to him necessary to write fiction with the +nice exactness of the historian; nor was he, happily for us, of that +scrupulous order of minds which conceives that a cruel wrong has been +done to the reputation of a man who has been in his grave for nearly a +century and a half by employing the colours of tradition to heighten the +pictures of fancy. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Could Monmouth's influence have lasted, their defeat at Bothwell Bridge +might have turned out well for the Covenanters. As soon as he had led +his army back into quarters, he hastened to London, where he so strongly +represented the brutal folly and mismanagement of Lauderdale's +government, that he prevailed upon the King to try once more the effect +of gentler measures. An indemnity was granted for the past, and even +some limited form of indulgence for the future. But the unexpected +return of the Duke of York from Holland put an end to all these humane +counsels. Monmouth was himself soon again in disgrace; and Lauderdale, +though his power was now past its height, was still strong enough to +mould to his own will concessions for which the time had now perhaps +irrevocably gone. + +The twelve hundred prisoners from Bothwell were marched in chains to +Edinburgh, and penned like sheep in the churchyard of the Grey Friars, +the building which barely forty years before had witnessed the +triumphant birth of that Covenant which was, if ever covenant of man +was, assuredly to be baptized in blood. Two of them, and both ministers, +were immediately executed: five others, as though to appease the cruel +ghost of Sharp, were hanged on Magus Moor: of the rest, the most part +were set at liberty on giving bonds for their future good behaviour, +while the more obstinate were shipped off to the plantations. + +Claverhouse was now sent back to his old employment. Though none of his +own letters of this time have survived, it is clear from an Order of the +Privy Council that shortly after the affair at Bothwell he was again +entrusted with the control of the rebellious shires. There is +unfortunately no record of his own by which it is possible to check the +vague charges of Wodrow, who wisely declines to commit himself to +particulars on the ground that "multitudes of instances, once flagrant, +are now at this distance lost," while not a few, he candidly admits, +"were never distinctly known." In the rare cases in which he becomes +more specific in his complaints, he does not make it clear that the +offences were committed in Claverhouse's presence, nor even that they +were always committed by soldiers of his troop--"the soldiers under +Claverhouse" seem to stand with him for all the royal forces then +employed in the western shires. That what he calls "spulies, +depredations, and violences" were committed on Claverhouse's authority +may be freely granted: they were precisely such as a strict obedience to +the letter (and no less to the spirit) of his commission would have +enjoined--the levying of fines, the seizure of arms, horses, and other +movable property from all suspected of any share in the rebellion who +would not absolve themselves by taking the oath of abjuration, and from +all resetters, or harbourers, of known rebels. It would be idle to +refuse to believe that many unjust and cruel acts were not committed at +this time, as we know they were committed subsequently, merely because +they cannot be succinctly proved. It is unlikely that Claverhouse +himself wasted over-much time on sifting every case that was brought in +to him by his spies; and where he was not himself present--and it must +be remembered that he was not the only officer engaged in this service, +and also that his own soldiers were often employed under his lieutenants +on duties he was personally unable to attend to--it is hard to doubt +that much wild and brutal work went on. The whole case, in short, except +in a very few instances (which will be examined elsewhere), is one +solely of hearsay and tradition; and it is no more than common justice +in any attempt to define Claverhouse's share in it, to give him the +benefit of the doubt where it is not directly contrary to the proved +facts and the evidence of his despatches. For Claverhouse, it should be +also and always remembered, may be implicitly trusted to speak the truth +in these matters, for the simple reason that he was not in the least +ashamed of his work. We may well believe that it was not the work he +would have chosen; but it was the work he had been set to do; and his +concern was only to execute it as completely as possible. He was a +soldier, obeying the orders of his superiors, for which they and they +only were responsible. That their orders matched with his feelings, +religious as well as political, for Claverhouse was as thorough in his +devotion to the Church as he was in his devotion to the Crown, mattered +nothing. The whole question was to him one of military obedience. Sorely +as he may have chafed at the order, he halted his troopers on the banks +of the Clyde when Monmouth's trumpets sounded the recall, with the same +readiness and composure that he showed in leading them to the charge +down the slopes of Drumclog; and he would have led them against his +brothers-in-arms Ross or James Douglas, had they turned rebels, as +straightly and keenly as he led them against Hamilton and Burley. At the +same time both his letters and his actions show that he did his best to +discriminate between the ringleaders and the crowd: between the brawling +demagogues or the meddlesome priests and the honest ignorant peasants, +whose only crime was that they wished to worship God after a fashion the +Government chose to discountenance. It is not necessary to assume that +he was moved thereto by any softness of heart: common-sense, and a +sense, too, of justice, would suffice to show him where to strike. And +it will hereafter be seen that, where his commission was large enough, +he more than once exercised a discretion not entirely to the taste of +the more thorough-going zealots of the Edinburgh Council-board. + +The only distinct evidence we have of him at this time is contained in +the aforesaid Orders of Council. From these it appears that he had been +charged by the Scottish Treasury with appropriating the public moneys to +his use. He had been appointed for his services trustee to the Crown of +the estate of one Macdowall of Freugh, an outlawed Galloway laird; and +of this estate it was alleged that he would render no accounts, nor of +the fines he had been commissioned to levy on the non-abjuring rebels. +With characteristic fearlessness Claverhouse went straight to London, +and in a personal interview satisfied Charles of his innocence, who +forthwith ordered him to be reinstated in his commission and all the +privileges belonging to it.[35] It is clear, however, that during the +greater part of the year 1680 Claverhouse was suspended from both his +civil and military employments, and this will account for the duty of +punishing the authors of the Sanquhar Declaration devolving not upon +him, but upon his lieutenant, Bruce of Earlshall. + +The prime mover of the Sanquhar Declaration was Richard Cameron, who had +now become the head of the extreme party, henceforth to be known by his +name--a name which still survives as that of a distinguished regiment of +the British army. It was framed in much the same language and to much +the same purpose as its predecessor of Rutherglen, though it would not +be right to degrade Cameron to the level of Hamilton and his ruffianly +associates. It took its title from having been fixed to the market-cross +of Sanquhar, a small town in Dumfriesshire, on June 22nd, 1680. Exactly +a month later Claverhouse's troopers (though, as I have said, not +commanded by Claverhouse himself) came upon the Cameronians in a +desolate spot among the wilds of Ayrshire, known as Aird's Moss. Richard +Cameron was killed at the first charge: Donald Cargill and Hackston of +Rathillet were made prisoners. Both were taken to Edinburgh and +executed, the latter with circumstances of needless barbarity. + +Though Claverhouse was reinstated in his commission, he does not appear +to have been actively employed during the year 1681, the second year of +the Duke of York's administration in Scotland, and the year also of the +Test and Succession Acts, which were destined to cost another Argyle his +head. Early in 1682 the Duke of York returned to England, to which fact +Wodrow attributes "a sort of respite of severities," notwithstanding +that Claverhouse was once more commissioned for his old work in the +West, and with even ampler authority than before. In addition to his +military powers, he was appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire and +Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire and the Stewartries of Kirkcudbright and +Annandale; and he was also specially invested with a commission to hold +criminal courts in the first-named shire and to try delinquents by jury. +His letters to Queensberry[36] begin in February 1682, and from this +time onward his actions become easier to follow. These letters give a +very full and fair idea of his method of procedure, and in one of them +is a passage worth quoting as evidence how far that method as yet +deserved the hard epithets which have been so freely lavished on it. The +despatch is dated from Newton in Galloway, March 1st, 1682. + + "The proposal I wrote to your Lordship of, for securing the + peace, I am sure will please in all things but one,--that it + will be somewhat out of the King's pocket. The way that I + see taken in other places is to put laws severely, against + great and small, in execution; which is very just; but what + effects does that produce, but more to exasperate and + alienate the hearts of the whole body of the people; for it + renders three desperate where it gains one; and your + Lordship knows that in the greatest crimes it is thought + wisest to pardon the multitude and punish the ringleaders, + where the number of the guilty is great, as in this case of + whole countries. Wherefore, I have taken another course + here. I have called two or three parishes together at one + Church, and, after intimating to them the power I have, I + read them a libel narrating all the Acts of Parliament + against the fanatics; whereby I made them sensible how much + they were in the King's reverence, and assured them he was + relenting nothing of his former severity against dissenters, + nor care of maintaining the established government; as they + might see by his doubling the fines in the late Act of + Parliament; and in the end told them, that the King had no + design to ruin any of his subjects he could reclaim, nor I + to enrich myself by their crimes; and therefore any who + would resolve to conform, and live regularly, might expect + favour; excepting only resetters and ringleaders. Upon this, + on Sunday last, there was about three hundred people at + Kirkcudbright Church; some that for seven years before had + never been there. So that I do expect that within a short + time I could bring two parts of three to the Church. But + when I have done,--that is all to no purpose. For we will be + no sooner gone, but in comes their Ministers, and all repent + and fall back to their old ways. So that it is vain to think + of any settlement here, without a constant force placed in + garrison. And this is the opinion of all the honest men + here, and their desire. For there are some of them, do what + they like, they cannot keep the preacher from their houses + in their absence, so mad are some of their wives." + +His remedy was to raise a hundred dragoons for a permanent garrison: the +Crown was to pay the soldiers, and the country would find maintenance +for the horses, he bearing his own part as "a Galloway laird," which he +was as trustee of Macdowall's estate. The command of this new force he +was willing to undertake without any additional pay. + +It does not seem that this remedy was ever sanctioned; but at any rate +Claverhouse so managed matters that a month later he was able to report +to the Council that all was "in perfect peace." + + "All who were in the rebellion are either seized, gone out + of the country, or treating their peace; and they have + already so conformed, as to going to the Church, that it is + beyond my expectation. In Dumfries not only almost all the + men are come, but the women have given obedience; and + Irongray, Welsh's own parish, have for the most part + conformed; and so it is all over the country. So that, if I + be suffered to stay any time here, I do expect to see this + the best settled part of the Kingdom on this side the Tay. + And if these dragoons were fixed which I wrote your Lordship + about, I might promise for the continuance of it.... All + this is done without having received a farthing money, + either in Nithsdale, Annandale, or Kirkcudbright; or + imprisoned anybody. But, in end, there will be need to make + examples of the stubborn that will not comply. Nor will + there be any danger in this after we have gained the great + body of the people; to whom I am become acceptable enough; + having passed all bygones, upon bonds of regular carriage + hereafter."[37] + +For these services Claverhouse was summoned to Edinburgh to receive the +thanks of the Council, to whom he presented an official report of his +proceedings which is no more than a summary of his letters to +Queensberry.[38] + +It was not likely that a man so uniformly successful and of such high +spirit would be able to steer clear of all offence to men, who probably +felt towards him much as Elizabeth's old courtiers felt towards the +triumphant and masterful Raleigh. Nor, conscious of his own powers and +confident in the royal favour, is it probable that he was always at much +pains to avoid offence, for, though neither a quarrelsome nor a wilful +man, he had his own opinions, and was not shy of expressing them when he +saw fit to do so. With all his constitutional regard for authority and +his soldier's respect for discipline, Claverhouse would suffer himself +to be browbeaten by no one. In those jealous intriguing days a man who +could not fight for his own hand was bound to go down in the struggle. +Claverhouse was now to give a signal proof that he both could and would +fight for his when the need came. + +The Dalrymples of Stair had been settled in Galloway for many +generations. Sir James, the head of the house, was one of the first +lawyers of the day, and had held the Chair of Philosophy in the +University of Glasgow: the son, Sir John (afterwards to earn an undying +name in history as prime mover in the Massacre of Glencoe), was +heritable Baillie in the regality of Glenluce. There had been bad blood +between them and Claverhouse for some time past. The father had not +profited sufficiently by his studies either in law or philosophy to +recognise the folly of a man in disgrace venturing to measure swords +with one of fortune's favourites. And Sir James at the time of his +quarrel with Claverhouse was in disgrace. At the close of 1681 he had +been dismissed from the office of President of the Court of Session for +refusing the Test Act; and for some while previously he had been coldly +regarded for his advocacy of gentler measures than suited Lauderdale and +his creatures. The Dalrymples were strict Presbyterians; and though the +men were too cautious to meddle openly with treasonable matters, their +womenfolk were notoriously in active sympathy with the rebels. All +through Claverhouse's letters of this time run allusions to some great +personage whom it might be wise to make an example of, and he himself +had taken an early opportunity of impressing on Sir James the necessity +of caution.[39] But the latter would not be warned. He set himself +against Claverhouse at every opportunity, both openly and in secret. He +wrote long querulous letters to Edinburgh, complaining of the latter's +disrespect. Finally, when he found it prudent to leave the country for a +while, his son carried the business to a height by bringing a formal +charge against Claverhouse of extortion and malversation. The latter saw +his opportunity, and at once carried the war into the enemy's country. +He preferred a specific bill of complaint against Sir John, in the +course of which it came out that he had been offered a bribe both by +father and son not to interfere with their hereditary jurisdictions; +and, notwithstanding the exertions of Sir George Lockhart and +Fountainhall, the most eminent counsel of the Scottish bar, utterly +defeated him on every point. The Court found that Sir John Dalrymple had +been guilty of employing rebels and of winking at treasonable practices: +of not exacting the proper fines by law ordained for such misdemeanours: +of stirring up the country-folk against the King's troops; and, finally, +of grossly misrepresenting Claverhouse to the Council. For these +offences he was sentenced to pay a fine of five hundred pounds and the +whole costs of the proceedings, and to be imprisoned in the Castle of +Edinburgh till the money should be paid. Claverhouse, on his side, +received not only a full and most complimentary acquittal from all his +adversary's charges, but also a signal proof of the royal favour in the +presentation to a regiment of cavalry raised especially for this +purpose. His commission was dated December 25th, 1682, and in the +following March he was sent into England with despatches from the +Council to the King and the Duke of York, who was still nominally +Commissioner for Scottish Affairs.[40] + +Hitherto Claverhouse may be said to have stood conspicuous among the men +of his time for his persistent refusal to enrich himself at the public +cost. He had certainly had many opportunities, as had a still more +famous captain after him, of wondering at his own moderation, yet his +enemies had been unable to bring home to him a single instance of +malpractice. But we have now come to an episode in his life for which +an extremely virtuous or an extremely censorious moralist might, were he +so minded, find occasion to re-echo the popular epithet of rapacious. +Claverhouse was in no sense of the word an avaricious man; but, like all +sensible men, he had a strong belief in the truth of the maxim, the +labourer is worthy of his hire. He had laboured long and successfully; +and the time, he thought, had now come for his hire. + +Lauderdale was dying, and from every side the vultures were flocking +fast to their prey. In those days politicians looked for promotion +mainly to the death or disgrace of their comrades, and the death of any +powerful statesman generally meant the disgrace of his family. All +parties were now busy in anticipation over the rich booty that was so +soon to come into the market. His brother and heir, Charles Maitland of +Hatton, was attacked before the breath was out of the old man's body. +Among the many lucrative posts he enjoyed, the most lucrative was that +of Governor (or General, as the style went) of the Scottish Mint. At the +instigation of Sir George Gordon of Haddo, who had become in quick +succession President of the Court of Session, Lord Chancellor, and Earl +of Aberdeen, a Commission was appointed to inquire into the state of the +coinage, with the result that Maitland (by this time Earl of Lauderdale, +for the dukedom began and ended with his brother) was declared to have +appropriated to his own use no less than seventy thousand pounds of the +revenue. In the general division of spoil which this verdict gave signal +for, Claverhouse saw no reason why he should go empty away. Eleven years +previously, when the old statesman was at the height of his evil power, +his brother had been appointed Constable of Dundee and presented with +the estate of Dudhope, lying conveniently near to Claverhouse's few +paternal acres. A bargain, which would have seemed in those days no +disgraceful thing to any human being, was accordingly struck between +Claverhouse and the various claimants for the dead man's shoes. +Queensberry, though but lately advanced to a marquisate, had set his +heart upon a dukedom: the Chancellor was in want of money to support his +new honours. And there were other petitioners for the good offices of +the ambassador to Whitehall: Huntly and the Earl Marischal and Sir +George Mackenzie had each marked his share of the general prize. To one +and all Claverhouse promised his services; and they on their part were +to advance by all means in their power his designs on the fat acres of +Dudhope. All this, no doubt, sounds very contemptible to us now, who +manage these matters so much more circumspectly; but it must be +remembered that Lauderdale, though his offence was probably greatly +exaggerated, and though a large part of the fine in which he had been +originally cast was in fact remitted, had certainly been guilty of gross +carelessness, if not of actual malversation; while Claverhouse on his +pact offered to pay, and did pay, whatever sum might be legally fixed as +due for his share of the booty.[41] + +All these bargains were in time brought to a successful issue. +Claverhouse was in England from the beginning of March to the middle of +May. He was with the Court at Newmarket, Windsor, and London, always in +high favour, but at the former place finding the King more eager for his +company at the cockpit and race-course than in the council-chamber.[42] +Early in May he returned to Scotland, and shortly after his return he +took his seat at Edinburgh as a Privy Councillor. This was his present +reward: Dudhope and the Constabulary were to follow later, with +Queensberry's and Huntly's dukedoms and the other honours. But Dudhope +was not destined to drop into his lap. The Chancellor, whom he counted +as his particular friend, had played him false. Lauderdale's fine had +been reduced by Charles from seventy thousand pounds to twenty thousand, +sixteen thousand of which were granted to the Chancellor and four +thousand to Claverhouse. But should Lauderdale and his son agree to +assign to the Chancellor under an unburdened title the lands and +lordship of Dundee and Dudhope, then the whole sum was to be remitted, +Lauderdale binding himself to discharge the fines inflicted on his +subordinates. Power was also given to Claverhouse to redeem this +property from the Chancellor at twenty years' purchase; and it seems +also to have been privately agreed between them that the purchase-money +was not to be exacted, on condition of the former buying certain other +lands in the neighbourhood that the latter wished to dispose of. But the +crafty Chancellor saw an easier and quieter way to get hold of his +money. For the sum of eight thousand pounds he privately relinquished +all his rights to Lauderdale, thus leaving the latter free to deal with +Claverhouse on his own terms. This bit of sharp practice was effected in +August 1683; and it was not till the following March that the business +was finally settled, after a long and tedious wrangle before the Court, +in the course of which Claverhouse seemed to have found occasion to +speak his mind pretty sharply to the Chancellor. On the question of the +former's right to demand Dudhope on the terms of twenty years' purchase +Lauderdale had to give way; but on the other question of clearing the +title he was so difficult to deal with that the King himself had to +interfere; and not till a peremptory order had gone down from Whitehall, +cancelling the royal pardon till all the terms of the original agreement +had been satisfactorily settled, was the affair finally closed, the +title cleared, and Claverhouse established as master of the long-coveted +estate. + +It was not till the autumn of 1684 that Claverhouse found himself master +of Dudhope and Constable of Dundee. Meanwhile one of the few domestic +events of his life that have come down to us had taken place. On June +10th he had been married to the Lady Jean Cochrane, granddaughter to the +old Earl of Dundonald. + +This young lady was the daughter of William, Lord Cochrane, by +Catherine, daughter of the Presbyterian Earl of Cassilis and sister to +that Lady Margaret Kennedy whom Gilbert Burnet had married. Her father +had died before Claverhouse came on the scene, leaving seven children, +of whom Jean was the youngest. Her mother, whose notoriously Whiggish +sympathies had brought both her husband and father-in-law into +suspicion, was furiously opposed to the match; though worldly prudence +may have touched her heart as well as religious scruple, for +Claverhouse, though he had risen fast and was marked by all men as +destined to rise still higher, was hardly as yet perhaps a very eligible +husband for the pretty Lady Jean. But in truth it was a strange family +for him to seek a wife in, and many were the whispered gibes the news of +his courtship provoked at Edinburgh. Was this strong Samson, men asked, +to fall a prey at last to a Whiggish Delilah? Hamilton, whose own +loyalty was by no means unimpeachable, and who was no friend to +Claverhouse, affected to be much distressed by the Lady Susannah's +partiality for the young Lord Cochrane, and made great parade of his +disinclination to give his daughter to the son of such a mother without +the express consent of the King; and this Claverhouse chose to take as a +hit at him, who had not thought it necessary to ask any one's permission +to choose his own wife. Affairs were still further complicated by the +backslidings of Sir John Cochrane, Lady Jean's uncle, a notorious rebel +who was then in hiding for his complicity with Russell and Sidney, and +was even suspected of knowing something of that darker affair of the Rye +House. Claverhouse was furious at the gossip. "My Lord Duke Hamilton," +he wrote to Queensberry, + + "has refused to treat of giving his daughter to my Lord + Cochrane, till he should have the King and the Duke's leave. + This, I understand, has been advised him, to load me. + Wherefore I have written to the Duke, and told him that I + would have done it sooner, had I not judged it presumption + in me to trouble his Highness with my little concerns; and + that I looked upon myself as a cleanser, that may cure + others by coming amongst them, but cannot be infected by any + plague of Presbytery; besides, that I saw nothing singular + in my Lord Dundonald's case, save that he has but one rebel + on his land for ten that the lords and lairds of the south + and west have on theirs; and that he is willing to depone + that he knew not of there being such. The Duke is juster + than to charge my Lord Dundonald with Sir John's crimes. He + is a madman, and let him perish; they deserve to be damned + that own him. The Duke knows what it is to have sons and + nephews that follow not advice. I have taken pains to know + the state of the country's guilt as to reset; and if I make + it not appear that my Lord Dundonald is one of the clearest + of all that country, and can hardly be reached in law, I am + content to pay his fine. I never pleaded for any, nor shall + I hereafter. But I must say I think it hard that no regard + is had to a man in so favourable circumstances--I mean + considering others--upon my account, and that nobody offered + to meddle with him till they heard I was likely to be + concerned in him.... Whatever come of this, let not my + enemies misrepresent me. They may abuse the Duke for a time, + and hardly. But, or long, I will, in despite of them, let + the world see that it is not in the power of love, nor any + other folly, to alter my loyalty." + +And again on the same day: + + "For my own part, I look upon myself as a cleanser. I may + cure people guilty of that plague of Presbytery by + conversing with them, but cannot be infected. And I see very + little of that amongst those persons but may be easily + rubbed off. And for the young lady herself, I shall answer + for her. Had she not been right principled, she would never, + in despite of her mother and relations, made choice of a + persecutor, as they call me."[43] + +The young lady seems to have been well-favoured, though it is not easy +to learn much from the female portraits of those days, which are all +very much of a piece. What else she may have been it is impossible to +say. She is a name in her husband's history and nothing more, and in the +few stormy years that were yet to run for him she could not well have +been much more. However, she seems to have been well pleased with her +handsome lover; and, in spite of her mother's opposition, the marriage +was pushed briskly forward. The contract was signed at Paisley on June +10th, and on the following day the marriage was celebrated at the same +place. Lady Catherine's is not among the signatures; but there is to be +seen the almost illegible scrawl of the old grandfather and of Euphrame +his wife, a daughter of Sir William Scott of Ardross. The bride's eldest +brother, whose own marriage with the Lady Susannah Hamilton was soon to +follow, and her cousin John, son of the outlaw of Ochiltree, were also +among the witnesses; and for the bridegroom, his brother-in-arms Lord +Ross[44] and Colin Mackenzie, brother of the Lord Advocate, Sir George +of Rosehaugh. The lady's jointure was fixed at five thousand merks Scots +(something over two hundred and seventy pounds of English money), +secured on certain property in Forfarshire and Perthshire; while she on +her side brought her husband what in those days was reckoned a very +comfortable fortune for a younger child.[45] + +The marriage was made under an evil star. Hardly had the blessing been +spoken when word came down in haste from Glasgow that the Whigs were up. +Since the Sanquhar Declaration and the deaths of Cameron and Cargill, +the Covenanters had been comparatively quiet. The work of pacification +had indeed not slackened, but rather taken a fresh departure in the +appointment of a Court of High Commission, or Justiciary Circuit, which +in the summer of 1683 was held in the towns of Stirling, Glasgow, Ayr, +Dumfries, Jedburgh, and Edinburgh. Claverhouse was expressly ordered to +attend the justices in their progress as captain of the forces, except +at places where the Commander-in-Chief would naturally be present. But +though the discovery of the Rye House Plot had just then stirred the +kingdom to its centre, and given fresh energies both to the Government +and its enemies, only three men suffered during this circuit, of whom +two were convicted murderers. In each town members of the gentry as well +as of the common people flocked to take the Test; some to clear +themselves of suspicion, others only to air their loyalty, but all, in +the words of the report, cheerfully. Where time, moreover, was asked for +consideration, it was granted on good security. But from the end of +July, 1683, to the day of his marriage, Claverhouse seems to have been +occupied almost entirely with his duties as Councillor at Edinburgh, and +only to have left the capital for brief tours of inspection through the +western garrisons. + +But with the day of his marriage came a change. On the previous Sunday +news had been brought to Glasgow of an unusually large and well-armed +conventicle to be held at Blacklock, a moor on the borders of +Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire. Dalziel (who was in church when the +message came, but who did not suffer his duty towards God to interfere +with his duty towards man) put the soldiers on the track at once; but +for the next eight-and-forty hours the country from Hamilton northwards +to the ford of Clyde was scoured in vain. The Covenanters marched fast, +and the country folk, many of them probably still fresh from the Test, +kept their secret well. Claverhouse was sent for in haste from Paisley. +He was in the saddle and away before the bridal party could recover from +their first shock of surprise. But even Claverhouse was foiled. His +lieutenant, however, had better luck. Colonel Buchan, as he was +returning to Paisley by way of Lismahago, came upon an ambuscade of two +hundred Covenanters, whose advanced post fired on and wounded one of the +soldiers.[46] "They followed the rogues," wrote Claverhouse to +Queensberry, "and advertised Colonel Buchan; but before he could come +up, our party had lost sight of them. Colonel Buchan is yet in pursuit +and I am just taking horse. I shall be revenged some time or other of +this unseasonable trouble these dogs give me. They might have let +Tuesday pass." This despatch was written from Paisley on the morning of +the 13th, while fresh horses were being saddled. By noon he was off +again, and for the next three days rode fast and far, leaving "no den, +no knowl, no moss, no hill unsearched." He could track his game from +Aird's Moss to within two miles of Cumnock town, and thence on towards +Cairntable. But there all traces of them had vanished. + + "We could never hear more of them. I sent on Friday night + for my troop from Dumfries, and ordered them to march by the + Sanquhar to the Muirkirk, to the Ploughlands, and so to + Streven. I sent for Captain Strachan's troop from the + Glenkens, and ordered him to march to the old castle of + Cumloch, down to the Sorne, and through the country to + Kilbryde, leaving Mauchline and Newmills on his left, and + Loudon-hill on his right. By this means they scoured this + country, and secured the passages that way. Colonel Buchan + marched with the foot and the dragoons some miles on the + right of my troop, and I, with the Guards and my Lord Ross + and his troop, up by the [Shaire?]. We were at the head of + Douglas. We were round and over Cairntable. We were at + Greenock-head, Cummer-head, and through all the moors, + mosses, hills, glens, woods; and spread in small parties, + and ranged as if we had been at hunting, and down to + Blackwood, but could learn nothing of those rogues. So the + troops being extremely harassed with marching so much on + grounds never trod on before, I have sent them with Colonel + Buchan to rest at Dalmellington, till we see where these + rogues will start up. We examined all on oath, and offered + money, and threatened terribly, for intelligence, but we + could learn no more."[47] + +The "rogues" were to start up soon and with a vengeance. On a day in +July (the date is not specified) a party of troopers were escorting +sixteen prisoners to Dumfries. They were Claverhouse's men, but their +captain was not with them. At Enterkin Hill, a narrow pass with a deep +precipice on either side, a rescue was attempted by a considerable body +of men,--English Borderers, it was whispered. Some of the prisoners +escaped: others were killed in the scuffle or broke their necks over the +precipice: only two were brought into Edinburgh: a few of the soldiers +were also killed. This audacious affair spurred the Government on to new +energies. The garrisons were increased through all the western shires. +Claverhouse, with Buchan for his second in command, was put in charge of +all the forces in Ayrshire and Clydesdale, and a special civil +commission was added to their military powers. + +At length, towards the end of August, there was a lull, and the master +of Dudhope was able at last to enjoy the society of his bride and the +pleasures of a country life. But of the latter he soon grew weary. +"Though I stay a few days here," he wrote to Queensberry on August 25th, +"I hope none will reproach me of eating the bread of idleness." That, at +least, is a reproach his worst enemies have never tried to fasten on +him. To be doing something was, indeed, a necessity of his existence; +and his duties as Constable soon furnished him with something to do. In +the Tolbooth of Dundee lay a number of poor wretches whom the hard laws +of the time had sentenced to death for various offences, the gravest of +which did not rise above theft. It was within the Constable's power to +order them at any moment for execution; and doubtless some of those who +have meddled with his life, had they been aware of this circumstance in +it, would have risked the conclusion that he did so. Yet, strange as it +may seem, he exerted himself to save the prisoners. And he exerted +himself so successfully that not only was the capital sentence reprieved +to such milder punishment as he might order, but the same license was +granted to him for dealing with all future criminals of the same +class.[48] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[35] "We have spoken to him about it," runs the royal Order, "and he +doth positively assert that while he was in Scotland he received not one +farthing upon that account" (Napier, ii. 238). The two Orders are dated +respectively February 3rd and 26th, 1681. + +[36] The Marquis of Queensberry was then Lord Treasurer, and +practically, since Lauderdale's disgrace, first Minister of Scotland. + +[37] Claverhouse to Queensberry, April 1st, 1682. + +[38] A copy of this report was printed in the Aberdeen Papers (1851) +from the original in Claverhouse's own hand: Napier, ii. 276. + +[39] "Here in the shire I find the lairds all following the example of a +late great man, and still a considerable heritor here among them; which +is, to live regularly themselves, but have their houses constant haunts +of rebels and intercommuned persons, and have their children baptized by +the same; and then lay all the blame on their wives; condemning them, +and swearing they cannot help what is done in their absence." +Claverhouse to Queensberry, March 5th, 1682. + +[40] Napier, ii. 285-309. + +[41] "I must beg your Lordship's assistance in that business of the +lands of Dudhope. My Lord Chancellor designs nothing but to sell it, and +buy lands in the north, seeing he is to get Stirling Castle to dwell in. +Wherefore I desire leave to ask the house of Dudhope, and the +Constabulary, and other jurisdictions of Dundee belonging to my Lord +Lauderdale; and I offer to buy forty chalders of victual from my Lord +Chancellor lying about it [meaning the land bearing so much, at a +valuation], though I should sell other lands to do it. I have no house, +and it lies within half-a-mile of my land; and all that business would +be extremely convenient for me, and signify not much to my Lord +Chancellor, especially seeing I am willing to buy the land. I would take +this for the greatest favour in the world, for I cannot have the +patience to build and plant." Claverhouse to Queensberry, March 20th, +1683. + +[42] "It is hard to get any business done here. I walked but nine miles +this morning with the King, besides cock-fighting and courses." +Claverhouse to Queensberry, Newmarket, March 9th, 1683. + +[43] Both these letters were written from Edinburgh, May 19th, 1684. + +[44] William, twelfth Lord Ross, son of the one previously mentioned. + +[45] Napier, ii. 385-393. The contract was first printed in the volume +of Claverhouse's letters edited by George Smythe for the Bannatyne Club +in 1826. That volume contains also portraits of the bride and +bridegroom, a drawing of which was made by Sharpe for Napier. The +portrait of the latter is the one known as the Leven portrait, now in +possession of Lady Elizabeth Cartwright. The portrait of Lady Jean is +from a picture then belonging to the editor. There is also an engraving +of a mourning ring belonging to the editor's grandmother, Catherine +Cochrane, wife of David Smythe of Methven, said to have been given to +her by her father, Lady Dundee's brother. The ring contains a lock of +Dundee's hair, on which the letters V.D. are worked in gold, with a +Viscount's coronet above. The motto is "Great Dundee for God and me. J. +Rex." One child was born of the marriage in April 1689, and he died +three months after his father fell at Killiecrankie. Lady Dundee married +secondly William Livingstone, afterwards Lord Kilsyth, of whom mention +will be made elsewhere. A son was born also of this marriage, but in the +autumn of 1695 both mother and child were killed by the fall of a house +in Holland. Lord Kilsyth was "out in the Fifteen," and died an outlaw at +Rome in 1733, after which the title became extinct. Napier (iii., +Appendix 2) gives a curious account of the opening of Lady Dundee's +coffin more than a hundred years after her burial in the family vault at +Kilsyth Church. + +[46] "So when we came to Streven (Strathavon), I left the command to +Colonel Buchan, and desired him to return the troops to their quarters; +but, in his march, to search the skirts of the hills and moors on the +Clydesdale side; which he did, and gave me an account that, going in by +the Greenock-head, he met a man that lives down on Clydeside, that was +up buying wool, who told him that on Lidburn, which is in the heart of +the hills on the Clydesdale side, he had seen a great number of rebels +in arms, and told how he had considered the commanders of them. One of +them, he said, was a lusty black man with one eye, and the other was a +good-like man, and wore a grey hat. The first had on a velvet cap. But +before he (Colonel Buchan) could come near the place, a party of foot, +that he had sent to march on his right, fell accidentally on them. Four +of our soldiers going before to discover, were fired on by seven that +started up out of a glen, and one of ours was wounded. They fired at the +rebels, who, seeing our party of foot making up, and the horse in sight, +took the alarm, and gained the hills, which was all moss." Claverhouse +to the Archbishop of Saint Andrews (Alexander Burnet), Paisley, June +16th, 1684. + +[47] Claverhouse to the Archbishop, Paisley, June 16th, 1684. + +[48] "Privy Council Register," Edinburgh, September 10th, 1684: Napier, +ii. 410. + + + + +CHAPTER VII.[49] + + +I propose now to examine, with more care than there has yet been +occasion for, those charges of wanton and illegal cruelty which have for +close upon two centuries formed the basis of the popular--I had almost +written the historical--conception of the character of Claverhouse. I +have used the words "illegal cruelty" because Claverhouse is not only +commonly believed to have far surpassed all his contemporaries in his +treatment of the Scottish Covenanters, but to have even gone beyond the +sanction of a law little disposed to be illiberal in such matters. Some +reason has, I trust, been already shown for at least reconsidering the +popular verdict. But as we are now approaching that period of his life +when, for a time all too short for his own reputation, Claverhouse at +last found free play for those eminent abilities which none have denied +him, it will be well, before passing into this larger field, to be +finally rid of a most tiresome and distasteful duty. The controversial +element is, I fear, inseparable from this part of the subject, but I +shall endeavour to do with as little of it as possible. + +Although the significant title of "the Killing Time" seems to have been +occasionally used in Scotland during the subsequent century to cover the +whole period from Lauderdale's administration to the Revolution, yet the +phrase was originally and more properly applied to the years of James's +reign alone. The most notorious of the acts attributed to Claverhouse +were, as a fact, committed within that time; but it will be more +convenient not to adhere too rigidly to chronological sequence, and to +take the charges rather in order of their notoriety and of the +importance of those who have assumed them to be true. Following this +order, the two first on the list will naturally be the death, by +Claverhouse's own hand, of John Brown, and the deaths, by drowning on +the sands of Solway Firth, of the two women, Margaret Maclachlan and +Margaret Wilson--popularly known as the Wigtown Martyrs. + +An attempt has been made to prove that this last affair is a pure +romance of Covenanting tradition. It has never been disputed that the +women were tried for high treason (that is to say, for refusing to +abjure the Covenant and to attend Episcopal worship) and condemned to +death; but it has been denied that the sentence was ever carried into +effect, on the strength of a reprieve granted by the Council at +Edinburgh before the day of execution. That a reprieve, or rather a +remand, was granted is certain, as the pages of the Council register +remain to this day to testify. But it is not so certain that the +decision of the Council at Edinburgh ever reached the magistrates at +Wigtown; and that, if it did reach them, they at least paid no attention +to it, remained for upwards of a century and a half the fixed opinion +of all writers and readers of history. The women were sentenced on April +18th, 1685: the remand is dated April 30th, but the period for which it +was to run has been left blank, pending the result of a recommendation +for full pardon with which it was accompanied: the sentence was executed +on May 11th--in Wodrow's words, "a black and very remarkable day for +blood in several places." + +It will be sufficient to indicate where the arguments employed to +discredit this affair may be found.[50] They do not practically amount +to more than this--that as a reprieve was certainly granted in the +Council Chamber at Edinburgh, the execution could not possibly have +taken place on the sands of the Solway. The case is indeed one which +those who will accept nothing that cannot be proved with mathematical +certainty will always find reasons for doubting; but at least they must +have read the history of those times to little purpose if they can +accept such an argument as conclusive. For the rest, it will be enough +to say that the story first found its way into print in 1687, and that +it was more circumstantially repeated in 1711, when the records of the +Kirk Session of the parish of Penninghame were published by direction of +the General Assembly. At that time Thomas Wilson, a brother of the +younger sufferer, was still alive, with many others to whom the +Killing-Time was something very much more than a tradition. In 1714 +(possibly to a later date, but certainly in that year) a stone in +Penninghame churchyard still marked the grave of Margaret Wilson, and +told the story of her death.[51] The ruins of the church may still be +seen, but the stone has long ago gone to join the dust that was once the +bones of Margaret; and an obelisk, raised within our own times on the +high ground outside the busy little seaport, now serves in statelier, if +less vital, fashion to recall to the traveller the memory of the Martyrs +of Wigtown. It is difficult to believe that a story so well and widely +recorded, and so firmly implanted in the hearts of so many generations +of men, can have absolutely no foundation in fact.[52] It is indeed +possible that time has embellished the bald brutality of the deed, +though the graphic narrative of Macaulay is practically that which +Wodrow took from the records of Penninghame. But that the two women +were drowned in the waters of the Blednock on May 11th, 1685, is surely +a fact as well authenticated as any in the martyrology of the Scottish +Covenant. + +There is, as I have said, an excellent reason for not dragging my +readers through the obscure and barren mazes of this controversy; and +like all good reasons it is a very simple one. Claverhouse was present +neither at the trial nor the execution. He had, indeed, no more to do +with the deaths of these two women than Cameron, who had been five years +in his grave, or Wodrow, who was but five years old. It is true that one +of his family was present, but this was his brother, David Graham, +Deputy Sheriff of Galloway, and but lately made one of the Lords +Justices of Wigtownshire. Macaulay does not directly name Claverhouse as +concerned in this affair; but it is one out of five selected by the +historian as samples of the crimes by which "he, and men like him, +goaded the Western peasantry into madness"--a consummation which, it may +be observed in passing, had been effected twelve years before +Claverhouse had drawn sword in Scotland. It is not certain that Macaulay +believed the Graham who sat in judgment on these women to have been John +Graham of Claverhouse. But it is certain that the effect of his +narrative has been, in the minds of most English-speaking men, to add +this also to the long list of mythical crimes which have blackened the +memory of the hero of Killiecrankie.[53] + +But over the other affair there rests no shadow of doubt. That +Claverhouse, and he alone, is responsible for the death of John Brown +stands on the very best authority, for it stands on his own. It is not, +indeed, certain that he shot the man with his own hand. This is Wodrow's +story, and as usual he gives no authority for it. "With some +difficulty," he writes, + + "he was allowed to pray, which he did with the greatest + liberty and melting, and withal in such suitable and + scriptural expressions, and in a peculiar judicious style, + he having great measures of the gift as well as the grace of + prayer, that the soldiers were affected and astonished; yea, + which is yet more singular, such convictions were left in + their bosoms that, as my informations bear, not one of them + would shoot him or obey Claverhouse's commands, so that he + was forced to turn executioner himself, and in a fret shot + him with his own hand, before his own door, his wife with a + young infant standing by, and she very near the time of her + delivery of another child. When tears and entreaties could + not prevail, and Claverhouse had shot him dead, I am + credibly informed the widow said to him, 'Well, sir, you + must give an account of what you have done.' Claverhouse + answered, 'To men I can be answerable, and as for God, I'll + take him into my own hand.' I am well informed that + Claverhouse himself frequently acknowledged afterwards that + John Brown's prayer left such impressions upon his spirit + that he could never get altogether worn off, when he gave + himself liberty to think of it."[54] + +Patrick Walker, the pedlar, writing a very few years after Wodrow (whom +he notices only to abuse for his inaccuracy and backsliding), and +professing to have got his version from the wife, tells a different +tale. "Claverhouse," he says, "ordered six soldiers to shoot him. The +most part of the bullets came upon his head, which scattered his brains +upon the ground." Of any refusal, or even disinclination, on the part of +the soldiers to obey their orders there is not a word. Then we have +Claverhouse's own report to Queensberry, written two days later from +Galston, a village between Kilmarnock and Ayr. + + "On Friday last, amongst the hills betwixt Douglas and the + Ploughlands, we pursued two fellows a great way through the + mosses, and in end seized them. They had no arms about them, + and denied they had any. But being asked if they would take + the abjuration, the eldest of the two, called John Brown, + refused it; nor would he swear not to rise in arms against + the King, but said he knew no king. Upon which, and there + being found bullets and match in his house, and treasonable + papers, I caused shoot him dead; which he suffered very + unconcernedly. The other, a young fellow and his nephew, + called John Brownen, offered to take the oath, but would not + swear that he had not been at Newmills in arms, at rescuing + of the prisoners. So I did not know what to do with him. I + was convinced that he was guilty, but saw not how to proceed + against him. Wherefore, after he had said his prayers, and + carabines presented to shoot him, I offered to him that, if + he would make an ingenuous confession, and make a discovery + that might be of any importance for the King's service, I + should delay putting him to death, and plead for him. Upon + which he confessed that he was at that attack of Newmills, + and that he had come straight to this house of his uncle's + on Sunday morning. In the time he was making this confession + the soldiers found out a house in the hill, under ground, + that could hold a dozen of men, and there were swords and + pistols in it; and this fellow declared that they belonged + to his uncle, and that he had lurked in that place ever + since Bothwell, where he was in arms.... He also gives + account of those who gave any assistance to his uncle; and + we have seized thereupon the goodman of the uppermost + Ploughlands, and another tenant about a mile below that is + fled upon it.... I have acquitted myself when I have told + your Grace the case. He has been but a month or two with his + halbert; and if your Grace thinks he deserves no mercy, + justice will pass on him; for I, having no commission of + justiciary myself, have delivered him up to the + Lieutenant-General, to be disposed of as he pleases."[55] + +It is singular that neither Wodrow nor Walker makes any mention of this +nephew, whose presence on that day, taken in connection with his share +in the affair at Newmills,[56] puts the uncle in rather a different +light. There happen also to be one or two affairs known about this John +Brown which are worth noting. For instance, his name is found on a list +of proscribed rebels and resetters of rebels, appended to a royal +proclamation of May 5th, 1684, which will naturally account for his +"having been a long time upon his hiding in the hills," as Wodrow +ingenuously confesses. In other words, this Brown was an outlaw and a +marked man. He was by profession a carrier--"the Christian carrier," his +friends called him, for the fervour and eloquence of his preaching, +which was remarkable even in a neighbourhood where the gift of tongues +was not uncommon. A carrier is an extremely useful channel of +communication; and, in fact, there can be really no doubt that Brown had +been for some time engaged in practices which the most iniquitous +Government in the world could hardly be blamed for thinking +inconvenient. It has been suggested that Claverhouse was at that time +especially on the watch to intercept all communication between Argyle +and Monmouth, and that Brown was employed in carrying intelligence +between the rebel camps. Macaulay refuses this suggestion. He points out +with perfect truth that both Argyle and Monmouth were at that time in +Holland. But when he goes on to say that there was no insurrection in +any part of our island, he goes rather too far. The western shires of +Scotland had been in a state of insurrection ever since the Pentland +rising, if there be any meaning in the word at all. And, though it is +true that on May 1st (the day of Brown's death) Argyle was in Holland, +it is no less true that on the second he had left Holland for Scotland; +that since April 21st the Privy Council had been well informed of his +designs; that measures had been taken for putting the whole kingdom in a +state of defence against him; and that arrests had been already made on +account of treasonable correspondence with him.[57] But the question is +not one of probabilities, and moreover against these probabilities it +may be very fairly urged that Claverhouse's own despatch proves that the +nephew's confession and the discovery of the underground armoury were +not made till after the uncle's death. Nor is there any word in this +despatch to show that Claverhouse had any previous knowledge of Brown or +was acting on particular information. The real question, and the only +question, is, was Claverhouse legally--not morally, that belongs to +another part of the case--was he legally justified in ordering the man +to be shot? To this there can be but one answer, so long as the phrase +"legal justification" bears the meaning it has hitherto borne for those +who use the English tongue: both by the spirit and the letter of his +commission he was justified in what he did. By the law of the Government +whose servant Claverhouse then was, the death of John Brown on that +Ayrshire moor was as lawful an act as the death on the scaffold of any +prisoner to-day found guilty by a jury of his countrymen. In October, +1684, the Covenanters had published a declaration, drawn up by Renwick, +of their intention to do unto all their enemies whom they could lay +hands on, civil no less than military, as their enemies had done and +should do unto them; and the deliberate murder of two troopers of the +Life Guards in the following month had shown (what, to be sure, can have +needed very little proof) that this was no idle threat.[58] An Act, +therefore, was hastily passed to the effect that, "Any person who owns +or will not disown the late treasonable declaration on oath, whether +they have arms or not, be immediately put to death, this being always +done in the presence of two witnesses, and the person or persons having +commission to that effect." With the severity, the folly, or the +injustice of such a law we are not for the moment concerned. The fact +remains that such was the law; and Claverhouse transgressed no jot of +it in ordering John Brown to death. It was no question of form of +religion: it was no question of previous misconduct. The man would not +take the oath; and he was accordingly shot in the presence of the +requisite number of witnesses by the order of a competent authority. + +On the truth of the details given both by Wodrow and Walker it is +impossible to form any conclusion. Wodrow gives no authority for his +version. "I am well informed," he says, "I am credibly informed," and so +on; but the sources of his information he nowhere gives. Walker is more +communicative; he, as we have seen, professed to have learned his story +from Brown's wife; but no statement of Walker's can be accepted for +absolute truth, and his uncertainty about even the names of his +witnesses does not add the stamp of conviction to their testimony.[59] +Beyond the bare fact that the man was shot in the presence of +Claverhouse nothing is certain. On the rest of the story each must make +up his mind as seems best to him. + +With the death of Peter Gillies and John Bryce Claverhouse is not +directly charged by Wodrow. Walker, however, quotes an epitaph said to +have been inscribed on the grave of these men, who, with three others, +were hanged, without trial, at Mauchline by + + "Bloody Dumbarton, Douglas, and Dundee, + Moved by the devil and the Laird of Lee." + +These lines must have been composed some years after the event, inasmuch +as the men were hanged on May 6th, 1685, and the patent of Claverhouse's +peerage bears the date November 12th, 1688. This proves, what indeed few +people can have doubted, that the damning testimony of "The Cloud of +Witnesses" wants at least the weight of contemporary evidence. An +authority, however, for this particular epitaph can be traced back to +1690, when Alexander Shields published his martyrology.[60] "The said +Claverhouse," he wrote, "together with the Earl of Dumbarton and +Lieut.-General Douglas, caused Peter Gillies, John Bryce, Thomas Young +(who was taken by the Laird of Lee), William Fiddisone, and John +Buiening to be put to death upon a gibbet, without legal trial or +sentence, suffering them neither to have a Bible nor to pray before they +died."[61] Defoe has evidently followed Shields;[62] but Walker, though +he quotes the aforesaid epitaph, does not himself implicate +Claverhouse. + +Wodrow does not appear to have heard any of these stories. He names only +Gillies and Bryce, quoting from the indictment, which does not specify +the other sufferers, to show that the men were tried before General +Drummond and a tribunal of fifteen soldiers on May 5th, and hanged on +the following day. We have already seen that a few days previously +Claverhouse had sent a prisoner for trial to this same General Drummond, +because he had himself at that time no commission to try prisoners. +Unless, therefore, we are ready to suppose that officers were in the +habit of sitting on a jury with their own troopers, or to believe that +within three days a change had taken place in Claverhouse's position of +which there is no record either in his own letters or in any other +existing document, we must accept Wodrow's narrative as the true one, +and exonerate Claverhouse from all responsibility for the deaths of +Gillies and his unfortunate fellow-sufferers. + +Two cases yet remain of the five cited by Macaulay. With one of +these--the case of the three men shot near Glasgow for refusing to pray +for the King--no writer has ever pretended to implicate Claverhouse +personally; but with the other he is directly concerned. Andrew Hislop +was the son of a poor widow in whose house a proscribed Covenanter had +lately died. This was discovered by one Johnstone of Westerhall, an +apostate Presbyterian, and, like most of his class, particularly bitter +against his former associates. He turned the woman with her younger +children into the fields, pulled down her house, and dragged the eldest +son before Claverhouse, then marching through that part of the country. +So Macaulay tells the story, following for once the "Cloud of Witnesses" +rather than Wodrow. According to the latter, Claverhouse found Hislop +wandering about the fields, and carried him before Westerhall, "without +any design, as appeared, to murder him." Westerhall voted for instant +death, while Claverhouse pleaded for the lad, and only yielded at last +on the other's insistence, saying: "The blood of this poor man be upon +you, Westerhall. I am free of it." He thereupon ordered the captain of a +Highland company, then brigaded with his own men, to provide a +firing-party; but the Highlanders angrily refused, and the troopers had +to do the work. Both versions, it will be seen, agree in representing +Claverhouse as inclined to mercy but overborne by Westerhall. The +question remains, how was it that the former, a masterful man and not +easy to be silenced when he was in the right, could not save this poor +lad if he had a mind to do so? + +The answer is in truth not easy to find. The explanation that Westerhall +was at that particular time superior in authority to Claverhouse will +hardly serve. It is true that the latter had just then no civil +jurisdiction at all, either to condemn or pardon--no commission of +justiciary, as he wrote to Queensberry. He had been since the close of +the previous year in disgrace at headquarters, in consequence of a +quarrel between him and the Treasurer, arising out of some action of +Colonel James Douglas, the latter's brother, of which Claverhouse seems +to have expressed his disapproval rather too warmly. His name had +accordingly been removed from the list of Privy Councillors soon after +James's accession, and himself deprived of all his civil powers. His +punishment did not indeed last long, nor was it allowed to affect his +military rights. An order for his restoration to the Council had been +signed on the very day of Hislop's death (though he did not take his +seat again till July), but his civil powers had not been renewed. +Westerhall was one of those who had in the previous year been empowered +by royal commission to try prisoners, and his commission was still +running when Claverhouse was disgraced. But on April 20th General +Drummond was appointed to the supreme authority in all the southern and +western shires, and his appointment was expressly declared to cancel all +other civil commissions previously granted. Unless, therefore, some +particular reservation had been made in Westerhall's favour, of which +there is no existing record, he had no more jurisdiction than +Claverhouse, and both were equally guilty of breaking the law. It was, +indeed, still open to Claverhouse to act as he had acted with John +Brown--to put the abjuration oath, and, on its being refused, to order +the recusant to instant execution. There is no mention by any of the +Covenanting writers that this oath was offered to Hislop. But unless it +was, it is difficult to see how either Westerhall or Claverhouse could +have been empowered to kill him. Nor is it likely that the latter, +knowing well how many sharp eyes were on the look-out in Edinburgh to +catch him tripping, would have ventured on so flagrant a breach of the +law. It must also be remembered that neither Wodrow nor Walker, nor any +writer on that side, has charged Claverhouse with exceeding the law. +They cry out against the cruelty of the deed, but on its unlawfulness +they are silent. We must suppose, therefore, that Hislop's case was the +case of John Brown: he had refused the oath, and was therefore liable to +death. But we cannot suppose that if Claverhouse had stood firm he could +not have saved the lad's life. It is absurd to believe that at the head +of his own soldiers, with another captain of the same way of thinking by +him, such a man as Claverhouse was not strong enough to carry his own +will against one who had not even the powers of an ordinary justice of +the peace. We must, therefore, conclude that he was unwilling at that +time to run the risk of further disgrace by any charge of unreasonable +leniency to rebels. Like Pilate, he was willing to let the prisoner go; +but, like Pilate again, he preferred his own convenience, and the +prisoner was put to death. + +On Defoe's list of victims murdered, as he calls it, by Claverhouse's +own hand is the name of Graham of Galloway. The young man, he says, +being pursued by the dragoons, had taken refuge in his mother's house; +but being driven out thence was overtaken by Claverhouse and shot dead +with a pistol, though he offered to surrender and begged hard for his +life. Shield so words his version of the story as to make it doubtful +whether the shot was fired by Claverhouse himself. In the "Cloud of +Witnesses" it is not even made certain that Claverhouse was present. At +the close of the year in which this alleged murder was committed Sir +John Dalrymple brought his action against Claverhouse. It is not likely +that so shrewd a lawyer would have overlooked such a chance as this, a +case of murder committed in his own country; for murder it would +certainly have been, were Defoe's story true. In 1682 military +executions had not been sanctioned by law; and for a soldier to shoot a +man offering to surrender would have been as clear a case of murder as +was the butchery on Magus Moor. Yet throughout Dalrymple's indictment is +no hint of any such offence. Claverhouse is accused of oppression by +excessive fines and illegal quartering of troops, of malversation, and +so forth; but of taking man's life unlawfully there is no single word. + +Another of Defoe's victims is Matthew Mekellwrath. Claverhouse, he says, +riding through Camonel in Carrick, saw a man run across the street in +front of the soldiers, as though to get out of their way, and instantly +ordered him to be shot, without any examination. In the "Cloud of +Witnesses" an epitaph is quoted to show that the man was shot for +refusing the abjuration oath. + +Next we find four men dragged out of a house at Auchencloy, on Dee-side, +where they had met for prayer, and shot before the door, without any +examination. Defoe gives the names of the four as John Grier, Robert +Fergusson, Archibald Stuart, and Robert Stuart. Shields substitutes for +Archibald Stuart the name of James Macmichael. In "The Cloud of +Witnesses" only Grier, Robert Stuart, and Fergusson are named. In +Wodrow's pages the four men become eight: of these four, as given by +Shields (Macmichael, however, being spelt Macmichan), were shot at once: +two more, Smith and Hunter, were carried to Kirkcudbright and hanged +after a form of trial: two, unnamed, got safe away. "It may be," adds +Wodrow, "the rescue of some prisoners at Kirkcudbright by some of the +wanderers, a little before this, was the pretext for all this cruelty." + +It may indeed have been so, and something more than a rescue of +prisoners may have helped. The affair on Dee-side took place December +18th, 1684. On the 11th of the same month (just after Renwick's +proclamation of war) a party of men, headed by James Macmichael, +murdered Peter Peirson, minister of Carsphairn, at his own door. Wodrow +cannot shirk this fact: he finds it detestable, and generally denounced +and disowned by the more respectable of the Covenanters; but he also +manages to find as many excuses for it as he conveniently can in the +provocation given by the victim. Peirson, he says, was "a surly, +ill-natured man, and horridly severe." He was of great service to Lagg +in ferreting out rebels, used to sit in court with him to advise him of +the prisoners' characters, and generally make himself obnoxious to the +Covenanters. He was also accused of leaning to popery, and is said on +one occasion to have openly defended the doctrine of purgatory; on +another he maintained Papists to be much better subjects than +Presbyterians--as, indeed, from the Government's point of view they +certainly were. How far Peirson deserved this character we cannot surely +tell. The fact of his being hated by the Covenanters is not necessarily +to his discredit; but we may assume that he was not conciliatory in his +speech, that he meddled more in civil matters than became his cloth, +and, in short, was probably made much after the same pattern as some of +the chosen vessels of the Covenanting tabernacle. He lived alone in his +manse, without even a servant, but took care always to have his firearms +handy. The accounts of the murder vary a little in detail. One says that +he was killed in a scuffle arising out of his furious and unprovoked +treatment of a deputation which waited on him at midnight, to request +him to come outside and speak with some friends who meant him no harm--a +request which in the circumstances he can hardly be blamed for having +received with some degree of suspicion. But the most authentic version +represents him as shot dead the instant he opened his door. Macmichael +fired the shot, and the man who called Peirson out was Robert Mitchell, +nephew to James Mitchell, who was hanged five years previously for an +attempt on Sharp's life.[63] + +A week later, on December 18th, a party of Covenanters more than one +hundred strong burst into Kirkcudbright ("the most irregular place in +the kingdom," Claverhouse used to call it), killed the sentry who +challenged them, broke open the gaol, set all the prisoners free, and +then marched victoriously off, beating the town drum, with such of their +rescues as would go with them, and all the arms they could lay hands on. + +It is clear, then, from a comparison of the dates and names, that the +men killed at Auchencloy were no innocent folk met together for prayer, +but certainly included Peirson's murderer, and probably some of those +concerned in the rescue at Kirkcudbright, as the place where they were +surprised was but a few miles from that town. Moreover, it appears from +another account that, so far from these men having been shot +unresistingly, they were part of a larger force which had only been +dispersed after a sharp skirmish.[64] + +One more instance, and this part of my business will be done. Defoe +names Robert Auchinleck as shot by Claverhouse without examination for +not answering his challenge, the man, as was subsequently discovered, +being too deaf to hear what was said to him. There is no mention +elsewhere of Robert Auchinleck; but Shields includes in his list a man +called Auchinleck, of Christian name unknown, who was killed in similar +circumstances; and Wodrow gives a different version of the death of one +William Auchinleck, both assigning the act to one Captain Douglas, who +was marching from Kirkcudbright with a company of foot.[65] + +These instances have been chosen as the most notorious and the most +circumstantially recorded of the indictments made against Claverhouse. +Of the traditions that gathered in the following century about his name +I have taken no notice, nor of the vague charges brought by writers of +still later date on no better authority than those traditions.[66] It +was inevitable that as time wore on these floating legends would be +gathered to one common head, and that the most important figure would be +selected to bear the sins of all. It is of course possible that many and +more damning instances might be added to the foregoing list, of which +the record has now perished. But the most that can be done is to take +what the counsel for the prosecution have brought forward, and to +examine it as strictly as can now be possible. + +It must always be difficult to reconsider with absolute impartiality any +verdict that has been generally accepted for close upon two hundred +years. On the one hand, there is a not unnatural disinclination for the +trouble necessary to re-open a case already heard and judged: on the +other, is a most natural inclination to take every fresh fact +discovered, or every old blunder detected, as of paramount importance. +The explorer in strange lands is too apt to take every mole-hill for a +mountain. And when the verdict is one that has been endorsed by +Macaulay, he must be a bold man indeed who thinks to upset it. +Nevertheless, something has, I hope, been done to bear out my belief +that Claverhouse has been too harshly judged. No attempt has been made +to gloss over or conceal any crime that can be brought fairly home to +him. The case of Andrew Hislop (a far blacker case than the more +notorious one of John Brown) has been left as it stands, so far as the +imperfect evidence enables us now to judge it. If that one case be held +enough to substantiate the general verdict, if nothing can be set +against it, there is no more to be said--save that, if this be justice, +many a better man than Claverhouse must go to the wall. + +One thing, at least, should be clear. He was no capricious and +unlicensed oppressor of a God-fearing and inoffensive peasantry, but a +soldier waging war against a turbulent population carrying arms and +willing to use them. I have nowhere tried to soften the bitter tale of +folly, misrule, and cruelty which drove those unhappy men into +rebellion, nor to heighten by a single touch their responsibility for +their own misfortunes. I have not tried to find excuses for the men +whose orders Claverhouse obeyed, nor arguments to show that in the +circumstances such orders were inevitable. But I have tried to show that +in no single instance, of which the record is complete, did he go +beyond the letter of his commission, and that in more than one instance +he construed its spirit with a mildness for which he has never yet been +given credit. + +But nothing will avail to save him in the eyes of those who maintain +that the law of human morality is fixed and immutable, and that men of +every age and every country can only be judged, and must be judged, by +the eternal laws of right and wrong. They, of course, will not allow the +excuse that he was a soldier obeying the orders of his superior +officers, even should they be disposed to admit that he did no more than +that. The orders, they will say, were cruel and unjust: he should have +refused to obey them. But is this unswerving standard possible as a +gauge of human actions? Who then shall be safe? There are offences +which, in Coleridge's happy phrase, are offences against the good +manners of human nature itself. The man who committed such offences in +the reign of Chedorlaomer was no doubt as guilty as the man who should +commit them in the reign of Victoria. But are the offences which can be +fairly laid to Claverhouse's account of such a kind? His most able and +his bitterest accuser pronounces him to have been "rapacious and +profane, of violent temper and obdurate heart." Yet every attempt of his +enemies to convict him of extortion or malversation broke signally down. +The decorum of his life and conversation was allowed even by the +Covenanters; and it is recorded as a notable thing that, however +disturbed or thwarted, he was never known to use profane language. The +imperturbable calm of his temper is said by one of their own party to +have at once exasperated and terrified those who were brought before +him far more than the brutal fury of men like Dalziel and Lag.[67] His +heart was indeed hard to those whom he regarded as plotters and +murderers, traitors to their King and enemies of the true religion. He +was indeed in his own way as much a fanatic as the men whom he was +empowered to crush. His devotion to the Crown and to the Protestant +faith was a passion as deep and sincere as that which moved the simple +peasants of the West to find the gospel of Christ in the horrible +compound of blasphemy and treason which too often made up the eloquence +of the Conventicles. But his hardness, if not tempered with mercy, was +at least guided by more justice than was common among his colleagues. He +both advocated and practised the policy of distinguishing between the +multitude and their ringleaders. The just punishment of one of the +latter might save, he said, many of the former;[68] and his entreaty for +the prisoners whom he found under sentence of death at Dundee proves +that his actions were dictated by no vulgar thirst for blood. When +judged by the general manners of the age, the circumstances of the time +and his position, I do not believe him to have been cruel by nature or +careless of human life. The standard of military morals in vogue two +hundred years ago cannot be weighed by that in vogue to-day. The +humanity of one generation is not the humanity of the next. Wellington +was certainly not a cruel man, and he certainly was a most strict +disciplinarian. Yet it is well known that many things were done during +the Peninsular campaign which no general now would dare to pass +unpunished, which no soldier now would even dare to do; and it is quite +possible that eighty years hence our descendants will read with horror +of the deeds done by their grandsires among the rocky passes of +Afghanistan or on the burning sands of Egypt. I do not claim for +Claverhouse that he was gentle, merciful, or humane beyond his time, +though I believe him to have had as large a share of those qualities as +any of his contemporaries would have displayed in similar circumstances. +But I do claim for him that his faults were the faults not of the man +but of his age; and I maintain that his age cannot in such matters be +tried by the standard of this. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[49] I have been much indebted in this chapter to an anonymous pamphlet +entitled "A Note to the Pictorial History of Scotland, on Claverhouse," +apparently printed at Maidstone; but when, or on whose authority, I have +been unable to discover. It was sent to me by an equally nameless +benefactor. + +[50] Napier, iii. Appendix 3, and his "Case for the Crown": Blackwood's +Magazine, December 1863. On the other side see Barton, vii. 255: +Macmillan's Magazine, December 1862; and a pamphlet by the Rev. +Archibald Stewart, "History Vindicated in the case of the Wigtown +Martyrs," 2nd ed. 1869. + +[51] According to "The Cloud of Witnesses," first published in 1714, the +epitaph ran as follows: + + "Murdered for owning Christ supreme + Head of his Church, and no more crime + But her not owning Prelacy, + And not abjuring Presbytery. + Within the sea, tied to a stake, + She suffered for Christ Jesus' sake." + +The stone on which these lines were inscribed covered, according to the +same authority, "the body of Margaret Wilson, who was drowned in the +water of the Blednock upon the 11th of May, 1684 [5], by the Laird of +Lagg." + +[52] In Colonel Fergusson's most entertaining chapter of family history, +"The Laird of Lagg," he mentions an old lady, still alive in 1834, who +remembered her grandfather's account of the execution, which he declared +he had himself witnessed: "There were cluds o' folk on the sands that +day in clusters here and there, praying for the women as they were put +down." + +[53] Charles Kingsley, for example, wrote in "Alton Locke" of "the +Scottish Saint Margaret whom Claverhouse and his men bound to a stake." + +[54] Wodrow, iv. 244. + +[55] Claverhouse to Queensberry, May 3rd, 1685. Napier, i. 141; and iii. +457. + +[56] "John Inglis, captain of a troop of dragoons, lying in garrison at +Newmills, in the West, a house belonging to the Earl of Loudon, having +taken some of these fanatics prisoners, and though he had power to +execute them, yet keeping them alive, some of their desperate comrades +breaks in upon the garrison and rescues them, to their great shame; for +which Inglis was degraded, and his place was given to Mr. George +Winrahame, a bigot Papist." Fountainhall, quoted by Napier, iii. 457. +This Winrahame may be the Winram who had to do with the Wigtown Martyrs. +According to "The Cloud of Witnesses," + + "The actors of this cruel crime + Was Lagg, Strachan, Winram, and Grahame." + +A letter more or less in a name was of no account in the cacography of +those times. + +[57] "The new reign was not to remain long undisturbed; before the end +of April there was the apprehension of a great civil war, and in May the +news came that it had begun both in England and Scotland." These are +Burton's words (vii. 258), and no one can accuse Burton of undue +partiality to James or his government. See also Aytoun's Appendix to his +"Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," which, however, was written before the +publication of Napier's book had proved Claverhouse's responsibility for +the death of John Brown. + +[58] Wodrow, iv. 148-9. He prints the declaration in full from a copy in +Renwick's own handwriting. The following extracts will give some idea of +it: "We have disowned the authority of Charles Stuart (not authority as +God's institution, either among Christians or heathens) and all +authority depending upon him, for reasons given elsewhere (disclaiming +all such things as infer a magistratical relation betwixt him and us); +and also we have declared war against him, and his accomplices such as +lay out themselves to promote his wicked and hellish designs.... We do +hereby declare unto all that whosoever stretcheth forth their hands +against us ... by shedding our blood actually, either by authoritative +commanding, such as bloody counsellors ... especially that so-called +justiciary, generals of forces, adjutants, captains, lieutenants, and +all in civil and military power, who make it their work to embrue their +hands in our blood, or by obeying such commands, such as bloody militia +men, malicious troopers, soldiers, and dragoons; likewise such gentlemen +and commons who, through wickedness and ill-will, ride and run with the +foresaid persons ... we say all and every one of such shall be reputed +by us enemies to God and the covenanted work of reformation, and +punished as such, according to our power and the degree of their +offence.... Let not any think that (our God assisting us) we will be so +slack-handed in time coming to put matters in execution as heretofore we +have been, seeing we are bound faithfully and valiantly to maintain our +covenants and the cause of Christ." + +[59] For example, in the earliest edition of the pamphlet containing his +version of this affair ("The Life of Peden") an "old singular Christian +woman named Elizabeth Menzies" is mentioned as the first neighbour who +came to condole with Mrs. Brown. In later editions Elizabeth Menzies +becomes Jean Brown. The wife also is sometimes Isabel and sometimes +Marion. Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana" is a collection of tracts +published by him at different times, of which this "Life of Peden" is +the earliest and the best. + +[60] "A Short Memorial of the Sufferings of the Presbyterians." + +[61] This Buiening is called Bruning in "The Cloud of Witnesses," and +may be the Brownen of Claverhouse's letter, that is to say, the nephew +of John Brown. + +[62] "It seems somebody had maliciously told this Graham they were of +the Whigs who used the field meetings, upon which, without any trial or +other sentence than his own command, his soldiers fetched them all to +Mauchline, a village where his headquarters were, and hanged them +immediately, not suffering them to enter into any house at their coming, +nor at the entreaty of the poor men would suffer one to lend them a +Bible, who it seems offered it, nor allow them a moment to pray to God." +Defoe's "Memoirs of the Church of Scotland" were first published in +1717, a few years before Wodrow's History. Elsewhere in the same work he +states that Claverhouse had "among the rest of his cruelties barbarously +murdered several of the persecuted people with his own hands," also that +"this man is said to have killed above a hundred men in this kind of +cold blood cruelty." But Defoe's qualifications for a historian of those +times are, to say the least, uncertain. He mentions Cameron and Cargill +as alive and busy in 1684, four years after one had died fighting at +Aird's Moss, and the other on the scaffold at Edinburgh. + +[63] Wodrow, iv. 197; Napier, i. 89. I have called this the most +authentic version because it professes to have come from the murderers +themselves. It is to be found in a letter to Wodrow (printed by Napier) +now in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. The date is 1715, and the +writer, who only signs his initials, J.C., calls Wodrow "cousin." "I +give you the account," he writes, "from the best information it's +possible to be got, viz., from Robert Dun, in Woodheade of Carsphairn, +and John Clark, then in that parish, now in Glenmont, in the parish of +Strathone, anent the curate's death of Carsphairn, which they had from +the actors' own mouths." Wodrow adds a little touch of his own--"Mr. +Peirson with fury came out upon them with arms"--and is silent on the +fact of Mitchell's presence. + +[64] Fountainhall's "Historical Notices," and a letter to Queensberry +from Sir Robert Dalzell and others, quoted by Napier, ii. 427-8. + +[65] Wodrow, iv. 184. + +[66] For example, the story told of Claverhouse sparing a man's life for +the sport his capture had afforded, but ordering his ears to be shorn +off. This may be found in a book called "Gleanings among the Mountains, +or Traditions of the Covenanters," published at Edinburgh, in 1846, by +the Rev. Robert Simpson, of Sanquhar. The same gentleman is responsible +for an earlier volume, "The Times of Claverhouse," in which the +Covenanters are described as a class of "quiet and orderly men," +maintaining the standard of their gospel in "the most peaceful and +inoffensive way." In neither volume is any authority offered for these +stories: even the evidence of time and place is rarely vouchsafed. + +[67] Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana:" Lochiel's Memoirs. + +[68] See _ante_, p. 92: also Napier, ii. 360, for a letter to the Lord +Chancellor, June 9th, 1683. "I am as sorry to see a man die, even a +Whig, as any of themselves. But when one dies justly, for his own +faults, and may save a hundred to fall in the like, I have no scruple." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Both in Scotland and England events were now moving fast to their +inevitable conclusion, but of Claverhouse's part in public affairs there +is for the next three years little record. Only two of his letters have +survived between May, 1685, and October, 1688, when the disastrous march +into England began. From one of these it is clear that his restoration +to favour at Whitehall had not improved his position at Edinburgh. +Gratitude was not then a common virtue among public men. Claverhouse had +done for his colleagues all that he had promised. The recollection of +their debt to him, and the unlikelihood of their being able to increase +it, did not serve to endear to them this successful soldier of fortune, +who had indeed helped them to their ambition, but who had thereby shown +a dangerous capacity for helping himself. At the head of these +malcontents was, of course, Queensberry, though, as the King had shown +himself determined not to lose the services of his brilliant captain, it +was necessary for the Treasurer to give his jealousy a guarded form. He +complained to Dumbarton (then commanding the forces in Scotland) that +Claverhouse had misused some of his tenants, though in what manner is +not clear. There is a letter from Claverhouse expressing in respectful +terms his regret at Queensberry's annoyance, which he declares to have +been founded on misapprehension of the facts. + + "I am convinced (he writes) your Grace is ill-informed; for, + after you have read what I wrote to you two days ago on that + subject, I daresay I may refer myself to your own censure. + That I had no desire to make great search there, anybody may + judge. I came not from Ayr till after eleven in the + forenoon, and went to Balagen with forty heritors again + night. The Sanquhar is just in the road; and I used these men + I met accidentally on the road better than ever I used any + in these circumstances. And I may safely say that, as I + shall answer to God, if they had been living on my ground I + could not have forborne drawing my sword and knocking them + down. However, I am glad I have received my Lord Dumbarton's + orders anent your Grace's tenants, which I shall most + punctually obey; though, I may say, they were safe as any in + Scotland before."[69] + +The previous letter here referred to has been lost; but it is probable +that the complaint originated in Claverhouse's summons to these +heritors, or small proprietors, to take arms in the King's service, as +they were bound to do. Men will mostly follow their master's lead. The +Treasurer's tenants knew well, we may be sure, how little love their +master bore for the imperious soldier, and were no doubt somewhat saucy +in their remonstrances; and sauciness Claverhouse would not brook from +any man alive, whatever his quality. + +But Queensberry and his crew had to nurse their grudge in secret. Much +as the knowledge may have chafed them, they knew well that Claverhouse +was the one man on whom they could depend for wise counsel and prompt +action in emergency. A few weeks before this matter of the tenants he +had received an urgent despatch from Edinburgh, signed by "his +affectionate friends and servants" of the Council, authorising him to +take what steps he thought best for disposing the troops. Argyle was on +the sea, and the Campbells were mustering fast to their chief's call. +Measures had already been taken in the northern shires. Athole had been +appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Argyleshire, and held Inverary with a large +force of his Highlanders. The Gordons, under their new-made Duke, were +guarding the sea-board of Invernessshire. Glasgow was occupied by a +strong body of militia. Ships of war watched the Firth of Clyde. To keep +the Western Lowlands and the Border quiet was Claverhouse's charge. It +is unnecessary to remind my readers what followed. Within little more +than a month from his landing in Scotland Argyle stood upon the scaffold +in Edinburgh; and a fortnight later Monmouth closed his short unhappy +life on Tower Hill. + +In this same despatch Claverhouse was told that the King had raised him +to be a brigadier of both horse and foot, that James Douglas had +received the same promotion, and that the latter's commission bore +priority of date. He wisely took no notice of this slight,--for, +comparing the weight of his services to the Government with the services +of Douglas, a slight it undoubtedly was, and was meant to be. He knew +that it did not come from the King, and he was much too prudent and too +proud to let the others see that he was annoyed by a stupid insult he +was powerless to resent. But there exists a letter from Secretary +Murray to Queensberry which makes the business very clear. It is worth +quoting as significant of the petty intrigues in which men of rank and +position were not then ashamed to indulge. + + "The King ordered two commissions to be drawn, for your + brother and Claverhouse to be brigadiers. We were ordered to + see how such commissions had been [drawn?] here, and in Earl + Middleton's office we found the extract of one granted to + Lord Churchill, another to Colonel Worden, the one for + horse, the other for foot. So Lord Melfort told me the King + had ordered him to draw one for your brother for the foot + and Claverhouse for the horse. I told him that could not be; + for by that means Claverhouse would command your brother. To + be short, we were very hot on the matter. He said he knew no + reason why Colonel Douglas should have the precedency, + unless that he was your brother. I told him that was enough, + but that there was a greater, and that was, that he was an + officer of more experience and conduct, and that was the + King's design of appointing brigadiers at this time. He said + Claverhouse had served the King longer in Scotland. I told + him that was yet wider from the purpose, for there were in + the army that had served many years longer than Claverhouse, + and of higher quality, and without disparagement to any, + gallant in their personal courage. By this time I flung from + him, and went straight to the King and represented the case. + He followed, and came to us. But the King changed his mind + and ordered him to draw the commissions both for horse and + foot, and your brother's two days' date before the other; by + which his command is clear before the other. I saw the + commissions signed this afternoon, and they are sent + herewith by Lord Charles Murray. Now, I beseech Your Grace, + say nothing of this to any; nay, not now to your brother. + For Lord Melfort said to Sir Andrew Forrester, that he was + sure there would be a new storm on him. I could not, nor is + [it] fit this should have been kept from you; but you will + find it best for a while to know or take little notice, for + it gives him but ground of talking, and serves no other + end."[70] + +But these jealous fellows were not to have it all their own way. In the +autumn of the same year Claverhouse was summoned to London with +Balcarres to be heard on a complaint he had in his turn to make against +Queensberry. Early in the spring he had been peremptorily ordered to +discharge a bond he had given to the Treasury for fines due from +delinquents in Galloway. He answered that his brother (then +Deputy-Sheriff of that shire) was collecting the fines, and requested +more time for payment. On being told that he might take five or six +days, he replied that, considering the difficulty of collection and the +distances to be travelled, they might as well give him none. "Then," +answered Queensberry, "you shall have none."[71] Claverhouse had many +times applied for leave to be heard in his own defence; but Murray had +hitherto persuaded the King to answer that no audience could be granted +to him until he had made his peace with the Treasurer and been restored +to his seat at the Council. But the name of Queensberry was not now the +power it had been at Whitehall. It is difficult to believe that he was +much more concerned with religion than Lauderdale; but he was, at any +rate by profession, a staunch Protestant, and there were those among +his colleagues ready to take every advantage of this passport to James's +disfavour. It was determined to hear what Claverhouse had to say for +himself. He was summoned to London, graciously received by the King, and +pleaded his cause so effectually that the Treasurer was ordered to +refund the money. + +Claverhouse and Balcarres returned to Edinburgh on December 24th. With +them came the Chancellor Perth and his brother, John Drummond, the new +Lord Melfort. The brothers were in James's best books, for they had +recently professed themselves converted to the Roman Catholic faith by +the convincing logic of the papers found in Charles's strong-box and +made public by the King.[72] But they were not so popular in Edinburgh. +The new year opened with something very like a No Popery riot. Lady +Perth was insulted on her way home from mass by a baker's boy. The Privy +Council ordered the lad to be whipped through the Canongate, but the +'prentices rose to the rescue of their comrade. The guard was called +out: there was firing, and some citizens fell. There was disaffection, +too, among the troops: one soldier was arrested for refusing to fire on +a Protestant: another was shot for threatening to run his sword through +a Papist. In the Council Perth moved that one Canaires, minister at +Selkirk, should be arraigned for preaching against the Pope; but he +found no man on his side except Claverhouse, who, though Protestant to +the backbone, had no mind to see his King insulted under the cloak of +religion. James's famous scheme of Universal Toleration was soon found +to be what every sensible man had foreseen--a scheme of toleration for +his own religion and of persecution for all others. + +But the history of the next three years, with its wretched tale of +violence and folly, of oppressions that broke the hearts of the loyal, +and concessions that only moved the scorn of the mutinous, may be read +elsewhere. The last appearance of Claverhouse on the scene is at the +Council in February, 1686, where he supports Perth in his motion to +bring the indiscreet minister to book, till he appears again in his +proper character as a soldier commanding the cavalry of the Scottish +contingent on its march south to join the army of England. We know, +however, that in that same year, 1686, he was promoted to be +Major-General, and in March, 1688, was made Provost of Dundee. We must +now pass to the memorable autumn of the latter year. + +In September, 1688, a despatch in James's own hand was sent down to the +Council at Edinburgh announcing the imminent invasion of England by the +Prince of Orange. Perth, still Chancellor and a Papist, was told to do +nothing without consulting Balcarres and Tarbat. Their advice was +unquestionably the best that could have been given for James and the +worst for England; for, had it been followed, instead of the short +Highland campaign of the following year, that began at Killiecrankie and +ended at Dunkeld, there would in all probability have been civil war +throughout the kingdom. They advised that the regular troops under +Douglas and Claverhouse, now between three and four thousand strong, +should be augmented by a force of twelve thousand raised from the +Highland clans and the militia, and that these troops should be +distributed along the Border and through the northern shires of England. +Preparations were at once begun to this effect. The chiefs of the great +clans were ordered to hold their claymores ready: the castles of +Edinburgh and Stirling were munitioned for war: the militia was called +out in every county, and volunteers enrolled in every town. In the midst +of the bustle arrived a second despatch from James, ordering the regular +troops to march at once for England to join the army under Feversham. +This foolish order was Melfort's doing, urged by his secretary, Stewart +of Goodtrees, who, after having been concerned in all the most notorious +plots of the last twenty years, and actually condemned to death for his +share in Argyle's rebellion, had now blossomed into an Under-Secretary +of State. Remonstrance was useless. "The order," wrote Balcarres, "was +positive and short--advised by Mr. James Stewart at a supper, and wrote +upon the back of a plate, and an express immediately despatched +therewith." + +And so "with a sorrowful heart," he goes on to remind the exiled King, +"they began their march--three thousand effective young men--vigorous, +well-disciplined and clothed, and, to a man, hearty in your cause, and +willing, out of principle as well as duty, to hazard their lives for the +support of the Government as then established both in Church and +State."[73] The loyalty of some of these fine fellows was, however, +destined soon to suffer a change in the disturbing atmosphere of +England. + +The full strength of the Scottish contingent was three thousand seven +hundred and sixty-three men. Douglas was in command, with Claverhouse +under him at the head of the cavalry, which mustered eight hundred and +forty-one sabres, including his own regiment, Livingstone's troop of +Life Guards, and Dunmore's dragoons, a regiment which, as the Scots +Greys, has since earned a reputation second to none in the British Army. +The infantry was made up of Douglas's own regiment of Foot Guards, now +the Scots Guards: Buchan's regiment, now the Twenty-first of the Line, +or, to give them their latest title, the Royal Scots Fusiliers; and +Wauchope's regiment:--two thousand nine hundred and twenty-two men in +all.[74] They left Scotland in the beginning of October, the foot +marching by way of Chester, the horse by way of York, on London. Early +in November they reached the capital, where they lay for a few days: +Claverhouse, with his own regiment and the Horse Guards, being quartered +in Westminster, the dragoons in Southwark, and Douglas, with his Foot +Guards, in Holborn. On the tenth of the month they marched for +Salisbury, where the King's army was now gathered. During the march +Claverhouse received the last and most signal proof of favour James was +to give him. On November 12th he had been created Viscount of Dundee. + +In the royal camp all was confusion and doubt. William was at Axminster, +and not a single enemy was in his rear. Many of the great English houses +had already joined him, and each hour brought news to Salisbury of fresh +disaffection in every part of the kingdom. James was at first anxious to +fight, but Feversham warned him that, though the men were steady, few of +his officers could be depended on. Before leaving London the King had +called his chief captains together and offered passes to all who were +desirous to leave him for the Prince of Orange, "to spare them," he +said, "the shame of deserting their lawful sovereign." All were profuse +in professions of loyalty, and among them were Churchill, Grafton, and +the butcher Kirke. Churchill, we know, continued these professions up to +the eleventh hour. On the evening of the 24th James held a council of +war, in which Churchill's voice was loudest for battle. That night he +left Salisbury for Axminster, and Grafton went with him. Some of the +Scottish officers stood firm, but not all. Dumbarton offered to lead his +regiment alone against the enemy. Dundee urged James to do one of three +things: to fight the Prince, to demand from him in person his business +in England, or to retire into Scotland with his faithful troops. But the +King still hesitated, and while he hesitated the moment passed. Kirke, +who commanded the advance guard at Warminster, flatly refused to obey +the orders sent him from Salisbury, and a rumour spread that he had gone +over to William with all his men. The King broke up the camp and began +his retreat to London; and before he had got farther on his way than +Andover, Ormonde and Prince George had joined the deserters, taking with +them young Drumlanrig. Douglas did not himself go over; but one of his +battalions did, without any attempt on his part to stop them. He had +sounded Dundee on the expediency of making terms for themselves with +William; but as he had done so under an oath of secrecy, Dundee felt +himself bound in honour to keep silence, and we may suppose made it a +part of the bargain that Douglas should stay where he was. + +James left no orders behind him, and after his retreat the movements of +his army are somewhat confused. Dundee marched his cavalry to Reading, +where he was joined by Dumbarton. Thence they were ordered to Uxbridge +to consult with Feversham on the chances of a battle. But hardly had +they got there when the latter received orders to disband the army, and +heard at the same time of the King's flight from London. The Scottish +troops clamoured for Dundee to lead them back to their country. He +marched them to Watford, and while there, it is said, received a letter +from William, who had now advanced to Hungerford, bidding him stay where +he was and none should harm him.[75] According to Balcarres, Dundee made +at once for London on the news of the King's flight, and was still there +on his return. But the fact is that few of these contemporary writers +descend to dates, and it is almost impossible therefore to track any one +man's movements through those troubled days. It is, however, certain +that a meeting of the Scottish Council was summoned in London by +Hamilton at some period between James's first flight and his return, and +that Dundee attended it. That Hamilton meditated declaring for William +is certain, and that he would have taken all his colleagues with him, +except Dundee and Balcarres, is probable; but the King's sudden return +to Whitehall postponed matters for a time. + +James reached London from Rochester on the afternoon of Sunday, December +16th. William was then at Windsor, and James expressed a wish to meet +him in London, offering St. James's Palace for his quarters. William +sent an answer that he could not come to London while there were any +troops there not under his command. On the 17th a council was held at +Windsor, with Halifax in the chair, to determine what should be done +with James. William himself would not be present. It was decided that +James must, at any rate, leave London, and the decision was brought to +him that night as he lay asleep in bed. No resistance was possible, had +any been intended. The Dutch had occupied Chelsea and Kensington early +in the afternoon; and when Halifax, Shrewsbury, and Delamere arrived +with their message from Windsor, three battalions of foot, with some +troops of horse, were bivouacked in St. James's Park, and Dutch +sentinels were posted at Whitehall. + +Early on the morning of the 17th Dundee and Balcarres had waited on the +King. None were with him but some gentlemen of his bedchamber. Balcarres +told him that he had orders from his colleagues to promise that, if the +King would give the word, an army of twenty thousand men should be ready +within four-and-twenty hours. "My lord," replied James, "I know you to +be my friend, sincere and honourable: the men who sent you are not so, +and I expect nothing from them." It was a fine morning, and he said he +should like a walk. Balcarres and Dundee attended him into the Mall. +When they had got there the King asked them, how came they still to be +with him when all the world had forsaken him for the Prince of Orange? +Both answered that their fidelity to so good a master would be ever the +same, and that they had nothing to do with the Prince of Orange. "Will +you two," then asked the King, "say you have still attachment to me?" +"Sir," was the answer, "we do." "Will you give me your hands upon it as +men of honour?" They did so. "Well," said the King, "I see you are the +men I always took you to be; you shall know all my intentions. I can no +longer remain here but as a cypher, or to be a prisoner to the Prince of +Orange, and you know there is but a small distance between the prisons +and the graves of kings. Therefore I go for France immediately; when +there you shall have my instructions--you, Lord Balcarres, shall have a +commission to manage my civil affairs, and you, Lord Dundee, to command +my troops in Scotland." + +They then parted. On the next morning, the morning of the 18th, in dark +and rainy weather, the royal barge was ready at Whitehall stairs, under +an escort of boats filled with Dutch soldiers. Halifax, with his +colleagues from Windsor, attended the King to the water-side. Dumbarton, +Arran, and a few others followed him down the river, and stayed by him +during the few painful days he lingered at Rochester. At dawn of the +23rd James left England for ever. + +Dundee stayed on in London. His regiment had been disbanded, and the +rest of the Scottish forces, after a spirited but futile attempt to take +matters into their own hands, had settled quietly down under their new +colonels, some of the most doubtful ones being sent out of harm's way to +Holland. Dunmore had thrown up his command, and his dragoons were now in +the charge of Sir Thomas Livingstone. Schomberg was placed, to their +intense disgust, at the head of Dumbarton's infantry, once James's +favourite regiment. Some of his old troopers, however, still kept by the +captain whom they had known as Claverhouse. + +Hamilton and his party pressed William to exempt from the general +amnesty certain members of the Scottish Council whom they named as +particular and unscrupulous instruments of James's tyranny, and unsafe +to be let go at large. But the Prince with his usual good sense refused +to drive any man into opposition: the past even of the most guilty +should, he said, be forgotten till he was forced to remember it. Against +Dundee and Balcarres he had been especially warned. He remembered both +well: Balcarres had married a lady of his family, and Dundee had fought +by his side. He asked them both to enter his service. They refused, and +Balcarres, plainly avowing the commission entrusted to him by James, +asked if, in such circumstances, he could honourably take service with +another. "I cannot say that you can," was the answer, "but take care +that you fall not within the law, for otherwise I shall be forced +against my will to let the law overtake you." Dundee was told that if he +would live quietly at home, no allegiance should be exacted from him and +no harm done to him. He answered that he would live quietly, if he were +not forced to live otherwise. Early in February the two friends left +London for Edinburgh.[76] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[69] Claverhouse to Queensberry, June 16th, 1685. + +[70] Napier, iii. 464: this Murray was Alexander Stuart, Earl of Murray, +descendant and heir of the famous Regent. He declared himself a convert +to the Church of Rome at the same time as Perth and Melfort. + +[71] Napier, iii. 435: quoted from Fountainhall. + +[72] Burnet, ii. 341. + +[73] The memoirs of Colin Lindsay, third Earl of Balcarres, were +presented to James at Saint Germains in 1690. The edition I have used is +that printed for the Bannatyne Club in 1841 by the late Lord Crawford, +from a transcript made by James, the son of the writer, and +great-grandfather of Lord Crawford. The editions previously printed in +1715 and 1754, and in Walter Scott's edition of Somers's Tracts +published in 1814, contain many passages not to be found in the first +transcript, and declared, by its latest editor, to reflect the opinions +and sentiments of the copyist rather than those of the original author. + +[74] Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army:" Napier, iii. +475-76. Claverhouse's own regiment was disbanded early in the following +year. The first colonel of the Greys, then officially known as "The +Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons," was Dalziel, Lord Charles Murray +(afterwards created Earl of Dunmore) serving as captain under him. +Dalziel died in 1685, and was succeeded in the command by Dunmore. +Napier gives the muster-roll of Claverhouse's regiment for May, 1685. It +consisted of six troops, of which the colonel, as the custom then was, +commanded the first in person, the other captains being Lords +Drumlanrig, Ross, Airlie, Balcarres, and William Douglas; hardly the +men, perhaps, to sanction the pranks of Macaulay's Apollyons and +Beelzebubs. Napier also quotes an amusing passage in a letter from +Athole to Queensberry, which, as he says, may recall memories of a +certain historic injunction of later times, "to take care of Dowb." +Athole had been superseded in his command of the Life Guards by +Montrose, and when the latter fell sick, made interest with Queensberry +to be reinstated. "As you will oblige me," the passage runs, "pray +remember Geordie Murray [who held a commission in the regiment], but not +in wrath." + +[75] Creichton. + +[76] It is not clear that Dundee had an audience of William. Macaulay +says in one place that he was not ungraciously received at Saint +James's, and in another that he employed the mediations of Burnet. Both +statements are of course compatible with each other. The latter rests on +Burnet's own authority; but for the former I can find none in any of the +writers from whom Macaulay has taken his narrative of these days. +Dalrymple's words are, "Dundee refused without ceremony," which may mean +anything. It is, I think, not improbable that William employed Burnet to +sound Dundee, and that the good bishop, among whose qualities tact was +not pre-eminent, managing the matter clumsily, met with an unceremonious +refusal for his pains. The point, however, is of no importance. It is +clear enough that William, would have been glad to see both men in his +service, and that they both declined to enter it. As Macaulay has called +Dundee's conduct disingenuous, apparently on Burnet's authority, it may +be well to give the bishop's own words. "He [Dundee] had employed me to +carry messages from him to the King, to know what security he might +expect if he should go and live in Scotland without owning his +government. The King said, if he would live peaceably, and at home, he +would protect him: to this he answered, that, unless he was forced to +it, he would live quietly." "History of My Own Time," iii. 29. +Macaulay's paraphrase is as follows. "Dundee seems to have been less +ingenuous. He employed the mediation of Burnet, opened a negotiation +with Saint James's, declared himself willing to acquiesce in the new +order of things, obtained from William a promise of protection, and +promised in return to live peaceably. Such credit was given to his +professions, that he was suffered to travel down to Scotland under the +escort of a troop of cavalry." "History of England," iv. 281. I do not +think the text quite bears out the commentary; and indeed elsewhere in +the chapter Macaulay seems inclined to allow more credit to these +professions. The "escort" under which Dundee was "suffered to travel" +consisted of his own troopers, who had followed him from Watford to +London, and stayed with him to the end. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +All eyes were now turned to Scotland. England had practically accepted +William, and although the terms of acceptance were still in some +quarters kept open to question, there was no longer fear that the final +answer would have to be given by the sword. In Scotland the case was +different. Many of the great nobles and other dignitaries had indeed +professed themselves in favour of William, but political morality, a +custom nowhere in those days very rigidly observed, may be said to have +been honoured by Scottish statesmen almost wholly in the breach. No man +trusted his neighbour, and his neighbour was perfectly aware of the +fact. It was impossible to say what an hour might not bring forth; and +in this flux of things no man could guarantee that the Whigs of to-day +would not be the Jacobites of to-morrow. Hamilton was the recognised +leader of the Whigs, Athole of the Jacobites. Both were great and +powerful noblemen. The influence of Hamilton was supreme in the Western +Lowlands: only Mac Callum More could muster to his standard a larger +gathering than the lord of Blair, and the glory of Mac Callum More was +now in eclipse. Yet Hamilton had been one of James' Privy Councillors, +and had not declared for William till the Dutch guards were at +Whitehall. His son Arran and his brother Dumbarton were both on the +other side: Arran had accompanied James to Rochester, and Dumbarton had +refused to hold his commission under the Prince of Orange. Athole had +more than once coquetted with the Whigs, and his present Jacobitism was +shrewdly suspected to be due to the coolness with which his advances had +been received: his son Lord Murray, who had married a daughter of +Hamilton, had declared for William. These great noblemen had indeed the +satisfaction of feeling that, however the die might fall, their titles +and estates were at least secured. But the wisdom of their family +arrangements did not increase their reputation with their parties. The +Duke of Gordon held the castle of Edinburgh for James; and, though the +Duke was a weak creature, his position was strong. The bulk of the +common people were undoubtedly Whigs: the bishops, and the clergy +generally, were, if not exactly Jacobites, undoubtedly Tories. + +There were religious troubles of course to swell the political ones. +When the news of James's flight reached Edinburgh, Perth had been +imprudently induced to disband the militia, and the Covenanters had been +quick to take advantage of the imprudence. The Episcopal clergymen were +rabbled throughout all the western shires. Their houses were sacked, and +themselves and their families insulted and sometimes beaten: the +churches were locked, and the keys carried off in triumph by the pious +zealots. In Glasgow the Cathedral was attacked, and the congregation +pelted through the streets. In Edinburgh Holyrood Palace was carried by +storm: the Catholic chapel, which James had built and adorned with great +splendour, was gutted, and the printing-press, employed to publish +tracts in favour of the Catholic religion, was broken up. Perth fled for +his life, but was overtaken at sea, carried back and lodged in Stirling +Castle, followed by the threats and curses of the mob. Such was the +temper of the Scottish nation when the Convention of Estates, summoned +by William, met at Edinburgh on March 14th, 1689. + +The Act depriving the Presbyterians of the franchise had been annulled, +and the elections had gone strongly in favour of the Whigs. Hamilton had +been chosen President by a majority of forty votes over Athole, +whereupon twenty ardent Jacobites went straightway over to the other +side. The next thing to be done was to get rid of Gordon. It was +impossible, they said, for a free Parliament to deliberate under the +shadow of hostile guns. Two of his friends, the Earls of Lothian and +Tweeddale, were accordingly sent to the Duke with a message from the +Convention, offering him favourable terms of surrender. He asked a night +for consideration; but during the night he was also visited by Dundee +and Balcarres. They showed him the commissions entrusted to them by +James, and told him that if things did not go better for their party +they had resolved to exercise their power of summoning a new Convention +to Stirling. At his request Dundee also gave him a paper guaranteeing +his action in holding the castle as most necessary to the cause. On the +following day, when the earls returned, Gordon told them he had decided +not to surrender his trust except upon terms too extravagant to be +seriously considered. He was accordingly summoned in form by the +heralds: guards were posted round the castle, and all communications +between it and the town declared treasonable. The Duke replied by a +largess of money to the heralds to drink King James's health, telling +them that they should in common decency have turned the King's coats +they wore on their backs before they came to declare the King's subjects +traitors. + +Meanwhile a messenger had arrived with a sealed despatch for the Estates +from James. It seemed strange both to Dundee and Balcarres that the +message had not been to them, or at least accompanied by a letter +informing them of its purport; but they had no suspicion of its +contents, and willingly agreed to the terms on which the Whigs consented +to hear it read. These terms were, that the Convention was a legal and +free meeting, and would accept no order to dissolve until it had secured +the liberty and religion of Scotland. The vote was passed, and the +letter was read, to the consternation of the Jacobites and the delight +of the Whigs. Of all the foolish acts committed by James the despatch of +this letter was, in the circumstances, the most foolish. Not a word did +it contain of any intention to respect the religion or the liberty of +men whom it still professed to address as subjects. Pardon was promised +to all who should return to their allegiance within a fortnight: to all +others punishment was threatened in this world, and damnation in the +next. Nothing was wanting to heighten the imprudence. The letter was in +the handwriting of Melfort, who was equally odious to both parties; and +it had been preceded by one from William expressed in terms as wise and +moderate as the others were headstrong and foolish. But the feeling of +the more temperate Jacobites will best be shown in the account Balcarres +himself gave to his master of the effect produced by this fatal epistle. +"When the messenger was announced," he wrote, + + "His coming was joyful to us, expecting a letter from your + Majesty to the Convention, in terms suitable to the bad + situation of your affairs in England, and as had been + advised by your friends before we left London; and so + assured were they of their advices being followed, that they + had encouraged all the loyal party, and engaged many to come + to the Convention, in hopes such full satisfaction would be + given in matters of religion and liberty, that even most of + those who had declared against you would return to their + duty. But, as in place of such a letter as was expected, or + letters to particular persons, as was advised, came a letter + from your Majesty to the Convention, without any copy to + show your friends, in terms absolutely different from those + we had agreed upon, and sent to your Majesty by Mr. Lindsay + from London. Upon other occasions such a letter might have + passed, if there had been power to have backed it, or force + to make good its reception; but after the Parliament of + England had refused to read a letter from your Majesty + because of the Earl of Melfort's countersigning it [and + considering] that England had made the Prince of Orange + their King, and that it was known you had none to sustain + your cause but those who advised letters of another strain, + it was a fault of your advisers hardly to be pardoned.... + Crane was brought in and the letter read, with the same + order and respect observed upon such occasions to our Kings; + but no sooner was it twice read and known to be Earl + Melfort's hand and style, but the house was in a + tumult--your enemies in joy and your friends in confusion. + Glad were your enemies to find nothing so much as promised + of what we had asserted should be done for their + satisfaction, [they] having much feared many of their party + would have forsaken them if your Majesty's letter had been + written in the terms we advised from London. Mr. Crane could + give no account why the advice of your friends was not + followed, but Mr. Lindsay made no secret of it after he came + back from St. Germain's, but informed us that, after he had + delivered to [the] Earl of Melfort the letters and advices + of your friends at London to your Majesty, his Lordship kept + him retired, and he was not suffered to attend you--fearing + that what he had written to your Majesty relating to his + Lordship might spoil his project of going to Ireland with + you. We had observed at London the great aversion men of all + professions had at his being employed, and we knew he was in + no better esteem in his own country, which made us entreat + your Majesty to leave him in France, and some, upon his own + account, advised his not coming over, knowing the danger he + might be in; but his Lordship either suppressed our letters + or gave our advices another turn than was intended, by which + all our hopes of succeeding in the Convention vanished, nor + was ever seen so great an alteration as was observed at the + next meeting after your letter was read, which made all your + friends resolve to leave Edinburgh and to call a Convention + of Estates at Stirling, as your Majesty had given the + Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Viscount of Dundee, and + myself the power to do this by a warrant sent by Mr. Brown + from Ireland." + +Dundee was anxious to be gone. He saw that the game was up in the +Convention, and there were other reasons. For many days past troops of +strange, fierce-looking men, carrying arms but half-concealed beneath +their plaids, had been flocking into Edinburgh. These were the men of +the hill-sides and moorlands of the West, the wild Western Whigs, who +feared and hated the name of Claverhouse more than anything on earth. +Their leader was William Cleland, a survivor from the fields of Drumclog +and Bothwell, a brave and able young man, of good education and humane +above his fellows, but who, it was well known, was burning to have +vengeance upon Dundee. Some of these men had been heard to mutter that +the tables were turned now, and "bloodly Clavers" should play the +persecutor no more. Word was brought to Dundee that a plot was on foot +to assassinate him and Sir George Mackenzie, the most hated of all +James's lawyers. Whether the rumour were true or not, it was at least +too probable to be disregarded. Dundee laid the matter before Hamilton, +offered to produce his witnesses, and demanded that these armed +strangers be ordered to leave the town. Hamilton (who was, in fact, +responsible for their presence) answered that the Convention had more +important matters to think of, that the city could not be left +defenceless to Gordon and his rebellious garrison, and, it is said, +twitted Dundee with imaginary fears unbecoming a brave man. + +A meeting of the Jacobites was held. It was decided to call a fresh +Convention at Stirling. Mar, who held the castle there, professed +himself staunch, and Athole promised to have a force of his Highlanders +in readiness. This was on Saturday, March 16th: it was determined to +leave Edinburgh on the following Monday. + +When Monday came Athole proposed to wait another day. As his +co-operation was of the greatest importance, his proposal was accepted. +But Dundee would wait no longer. In vain Balcarres told him that his +haste would ruin all their plans. He answered that he would take no +action without the agreement of the rest, but in Edinburgh he would stay +no longer. He had made an appointment for that day with some friends +outside the walls, and he could not break it. His troopers had been in +readiness since an early hour, and Dundee returning to his lodgings gave +signal to mount. The streets were thronged with scowling faces, but they +shrank to right and left as those stern riders came clattering down the +Canongate. A friend called from the crowd to know whither they went. +Dundee raised his hat from his head and answered: "Wherever the spirit +of Montrose shall direct me." When clear of the walls he led his men to +the left up the Leith Wynd and along the bank of the North Loch, the +ground now occupied by the busy and handsome thoroughfare known as +Prince's Street. The road to Stirling winds beneath the Castle rock, and +as the cavalcade came on, their leader saw the Duke on the ramparts, +making signals to him for an interview. Dundee dismounted, and scrambled +up the steep face of the rock. What passed between them is not clearly +known. Balcarres says Dundee told the Duke of the design for Stirling, +and once more prayed him to stand firm. But it seems clear that Dundee +had by that time abandoned all hopes of a fresh Convention, and it is +doubtful whether he had any definite plan in his mind. Dalrymple's +report of the conversation seems more likely to be the true one. +According to him Dundee pressed the Duke to come north with him, leaving +the castle to the charge of the Lieutenant-Governor, Winram, a man who +had made himself too odious to the people to leave room for any doubt +of his fidelity to James. But these bold ventures were not to the Duke's +taste: his courage was of that sort which shows best behind stone walls: +and his answer was ingeniously framed to conceal his timidity under a +show of discipline. "A soldier," he said, "cannot in honour quit the +post that is assigned to him." + +Meanwhile the city was in an uproar. A number of people had gathered +round the foot of the rock to stare at the strange sight. The watchers +from the city magnified this idle crowd into a hostile force. A +messenger came in haste to the Convention with the news that Dundee was +at the gates with an army, and that the Duke of Gordon was preparing to +fire on the town. + +Hamilton, who, while affairs were still in the balance, had behaved with +unexpected moderation, now gave loose to his temper. The time had come, +he said, for all good friends of order to see to their safety when +enemies to their liberties and religion were taking arms. There was +danger within as well as without. The traitors must be kept close; but +true men had nothing to fear, for thousands were ready to start up in +their defence at the stamp of his foot. He then ordered the room to be +locked, and the keys to be laid on the table. The drums beat to arms: +the town-guard, and such force of militia as was still in the city, fell +in; while from garrets and cellars the Westland men came thronging into +the streets, with weapons in their hands, and in their faces fury and +fear of their terrible enemy. After a time, as the news came that Dundee +had ridden off northward and that all seemed quiet in the castle, the +tumult subsided. The doors of the Parliament House were opened, and the +members came out. Hamilton and his party were greeted with loud cheers: +threats and execrations no less loud assailed the few and downcast +Jacobites. From that memorable day the friends of William had nothing +more to fear in the capital of Scotland. For a while, indeed, some show +of opposition was still maintained, faintly stimulated by the arrival of +Queensberry from London. But he had come too late. His power was no +longer what it had been; nor were his professions of loyalty regarded by +men like Balcarres as above all suspicion. For Queensberry had been wise +with the wisdom of Hamilton and Athole. The great House of Douglas was +prudently divided against itself, and come what might it should not +fall. And Athole now, after with great show of bravery urging Gordon to +fire on the town, had grown somewhat less than lukewarm, while Mar, the +Governor of Stirling Castle, put an end for ever to any thoughts of a +fresh Convention in that city by boldly declaring for William. The hopes +and the hearts of the Jacobites had gone northward with Dundee; and in +truth there was not at this moment a brave company of either. + +Dundee did not draw rein in Stirling. He galloped through the town, +across the bridge, and on by Dunblane, where he stayed the night, to his +own home at Dudhope, where his lady was then waiting her confinement. +The only man of his own quality who had ridden with him from Edinburgh +was George Livingstone, Lord Linlithgow's son, whose troop of Life +Guards had been taken from him in the general re-arrangement of +regiments that had followed the fiasco of Salisbury; and he had left +his companion on the road to make for Lord Strathmore's house at Glamis. +For a week of unwonted quiet, the last he was to know on earth, Dundee +rested at Dudhope. Then his enemies found him. On the morning of the +26th Hamilton's messengers appeared before his gates, summoning him to +lay down his arms and return to his duty at the Convention, on pain of +being proclaimed traitor and outlaw. Dundee replied by a letter which, +as it has been styled both disrespectful and disingenuous, it is worth +while to print in full. + + "Dudhope, March 27th, 1689. + + "May it please your Grace:--The coming of an herald and + trumpeter to summon a man to lay down arms that is living in + peace at home, seems to me a very extraordinary thing, and, + I suppose, will do so to all that hear of it. While I + attended the Convention at Edinburgh I complained often of + many people being in arms without authority, which was + notoriously known to be true; even the wild hill-men; and no + summons to lay down arms under the pain of treason being + given them, I thought it unsafe for me to remain longer + among them. And because a few of my friends did me the + favour to convey me out of the reach of these murderers, and + that my Lord Livingstone and several other officers took + occasion to come away at the same time, this must be called + being in arms. We did not exceed the number allowed by the + Meeting of Estates. My Lord Livingstone and I might have had + each of us ten; and four or five officers that were in + company might have had a certain number allowed them; which + being, it will be found we exceeded not. I am sure it is far + short of the number my Lord Lorn was seen to march with. And + though I had gone away with some more than ordinary, who can + blame me when designs of murdering me was made appear? + Besides, it is known to everybody that, before we came + within sixteen miles of this, my Lord Livingstone went off + to his brother, my Lord Strathmore's, house; and most of the + officers and several of the company went to their respective + homes or relations. And, if any of them did me the favour to + come along with me, must that be called being in arms? Sure, + when your Grace represents this to the Meeting of the + States, they will discharge such a groundless pursuit, and + think my appearance before them unnecessary. Besides, though + it were necessary for me to go and attend the meeting, I + cannot come with freedom and safety, because I am informed + there are men-of-war and foreign troops in the passage; and + till I know what they are and what are their orders, the + Meeting cannot blame me for not coming. Then, my Lord, + seeing the summons has proceeded on a groundless story, I + hope the Meeting of States will think it unreasonable I + should leave my wife in the condition she is in. If there be + anybody that, notwithstanding of all that is said, thinks I + ought to appear, I beg the favour of a delay till my wife is + brought to bed; and in the meantime I will either give + security or parole not to disturb the peace. Seeing this + pursuit is so groundless, and so reasonable things offered, + and the Meeting composed of prudent men and men of honour, + and your Grace presiding in it, I have no reason to fear + further trouble. + + "I am, may it please your Grace, your most humble servant, + + "DUNDEE. + + "I beg your Grace will cause this read to the Meeting, + because it is all the defence I have made. I sent another to + your Grace from Dunblane with the reasons of my leaving + Edinburgh. I know not if it be come to your hands." + +The letter was read to the Convention on the following day, and on +Saturday, March 30th, John Graham, Viscount of Dundee, was proclaimed +traitor with all the usual ceremonies. Thrice was his name called within +the Parliament House, and thrice outside its doors, and thrice with +sound of trumpet at the market-cross of the good town of Edinburgh. + +About the same time happened a still more untoward thing. James was now +in Ireland. He had learned how matters had gone in Scotland, and +conceived that the moment for action had come. A commission was +accordingly despatched to Dundee, constituting him Lieutenant-General +and Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, together with a letter in James's +own hand, informing him that five thousand foot and three hundred horse +would presently be at his disposal. There were letters also from Melfort +both to Dundee and Balcarres. Either by the folly or the knavery of the +messenger the papers fell into the hands of Hamilton, who read them to +the Convention. As usual, Melfort's letters were in the most foolish and +violent language. "You will ask no doubt," he wrote to Dundee, "how we +shall be able to pay our armies; but can you ask such a question while +our enemies, the rebels, have estates to be forfeited? We will begin +with the great and end with the small ones." To Balcarres he wrote in +the same strain. "The estates of the rebels will recompense us. You know +there were several lords whom we marked out, when you and I were +together, who deserved no better fate. When we get the power, we will +make these men hewers of wood and drawers of water." No man was +mentioned by name, so that each man was at liberty to take these threats +for himself. "You hear," cried Hamilton, "you hear, my lords and +gentlemen, our sentence pronounced. We must take our choice, to die, or +to defend ourselves." There was a terrible uproar, the new Whig recruits +being among the loudest in their exposition of the dangers to which +their love for their religion and their country was likely to expose +them. Leven was ordered with two hundred of his new regiment to arrest +both Dundee and Balcarres.[77] The latter was taken easily enough, and +clapped into the Tolbooth. But Dundee got wind of his danger, and was +off before the soldiers could reach Dudhope. He went northward still, to +Glen Ogilvy, his wife's jointure-house, in the parish of Glamis, not far +from the old historic castle of Macbeth; and thither Leven did not think +it prudent to pursue him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[77] During the first alarm raised by Dundee's departure the Convention +had passed an order to raise and arm a regiment of eight hundred men, +and had given the command to Leven. It is said that the men were found +within two hours. See "An Account of the Proceedings of the Estates in +Scotland," London, 1689. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Dundee had ridden out of Edinburgh with no clear plan of action before +him. Balcarres afterwards declared that his friend had no intention of +making for the Highlands till he learned that warrants were out for his +apprehension. Yet it is probable that the idea of a Highland campaign +had already begun to take shape in Dundee's mind before Mackay's advance +forced him over the Grampians. His orders were, in the event of the +Estates declaring for William, to keep quiet till the arrival of a +regular force from Ireland should enable him to take the field with some +chance of success. And, indeed, he had at that time no alternative. It +was clear to him that the game was lost in the Lowlands, but it was not +yet clear to him that anything was to be gained in the Highlands. The +example of his famous kinsman might indeed serve to fire both his +imagination and his ambition; but it could hardly serve to make him +hopeful of succeeding with the weapons which had failed Montrose. A few +thousand claymores would no doubt prove a useful supplement to the small +body of troops James might be able to spare from Ireland; but even a +mind so ardent and sanguine as Dundee's might well have shrank from +facing the chances of war with no other resources than a handful of +troopers and a rabble of half-armed, half-naked, and wholly +undisciplined savages. And in truth experience had shown that these +fierce and jealous spirits were little less dangerous as allies than as +enemies. Every clan had its hereditary feud, and no one could say that +on the day of battle the claymores might not be drawn against each other +instead of against the common foe. Branches even of the same stock did +not conceive themselves inevitably bound by the tie of blood, though it +was a claim never forgotten when it was convenient to make or allow it. +Sometimes a few of the smaller clans would make common cause against the +oppressions of a more powerful, or the cattle of a wealthier neighbour; +but it was rarely that friendship went beyond the conditions of an armed +neutrality. Though the feudal system had long prevailed in many parts of +the Highlands, it had never superseded the older patriarchal system. The +chief of the clan might pay homage to a great lord like Argyle or +Athole; but in the clan he was king, and his word was law. Moreover, +brave as the Highlanders undoubtedly were, they were not a warlike race. +They would rise to the signal of the fiery cross, without questioning +the cause; and they would on occasion fight for their own hand, for +revenge or plunder. But the long service of a regular war was little to +their taste. Of military science and military discipline they knew +nothing. To win the battle with the rush of the first onset, and when +the battle was won to make off to their homes with all the plunder they +could lay hands on,--this was their notion of warfare, and it was a +notion which the chiefs were too ignorant or too prudent to interfere +with. What chance could there be of inducing such spirits as these to +combine in one great confederacy, and to undertake a long and desperate +struggle for the sake of a king of whom the most part had never heard, +and of a cause which they could not understand? + +But Dundee had learned something at Dunblane which had given him fresh +views. During the few hours he had passed there he had talked much with +a Highland gentleman, Alexander Drummond of Bahaldy, son-in-law to Sir +Ewan Cameron of Lochiel, the great chief of the clan Cameron. Drummond +told him that Lochiel had been busy all the winter among his neighbours, +that they were now ripe for war, and were only waiting a leader and some +succours of regular troops and ammunition; that James had been +communicated with, and had approved their plan in a letter written with +his own hand to Lochiel; and that an early day had been appointed for a +rendezvous of the clans in Lochaber, the headquarters of the Camerons. + +It is now generally acknowledged that on this occasion, however it may +have been in the next century, the action of the Highland chiefs was not +inspired by devotion to the House of Stuart. Lochiel himself may indeed +have been moved by some personal consideration for the exiled King. He +had fought bravely under Montrose for Charles the First, and under +Middleton for Charles the Second. From the latter King he had received +more than one letter full of those flattering assurances Charles knew so +well how to make. By James he had been graciously welcomed at Whitehall, +and had received the honour of knighthood from the royal hand. He was +brave, wise, generous, and faithful, and, even in a less rude society +than that in which his lot was cast, his manners would have been called +agreeable and his education certainly not contemptible. But even +Lochiel's loyalty was not suffered to run counter to his interests. In +Lochaber the name of James was as nothing compared with the name of Evan +Dhu, and the law of the King of England gave place to the law of the +great Chief of the Camerons. As for the rest, the dispute between Whigs +and Jacobites was no more to them than the dispute between the Guelphs +and Ghibellines had been to their ancestors. They cared not the value of +a single sheep whether James or William sat on the throne of Great +Britain, so long as neither interfered with them. No later than the +previous year the authority of James had been insulted and his soldiers +beaten by one of these independent lordlings--Colin Macdonald of +Keppoch, familiarly known as Coll of the Cows, for his skill in tracking +his neighbour's cattle over the wildest mountains to the most secret +coverts.[78] + +But for what loyalty to the House of Stuart was powerless to effect a +motive was found in the hatred to the House of Argyle. Nearly all the +chiefs of the Western Highlands were vassals to Mac Callum More, the +head of the great clan of Campbell. The numerous branches of the +Macdonalds, who had once been lords of the Hebrides and all the mountain +districts of Argyleshire and Invernessshire, the Camerons, the +Macnaghtens, the Macleans, the Stuarts of Appin, all these paid tribute +(it would be probably more correct to say owed tribute) to the Marquis +of Argyle, and all were ready to welcome any chance of freedom from that +odious bondage. The early loyalty of Lochiel had probably been as much +inspired by the fact that he was fighting against an Argyle as for a +Stuart, as it is possible had been the loyalty of Montrose himself. In +1685 he had cheerfully summoned his clan to repel the invasion of +another chief of that hated House; and now the Revolution had brought +back from exile yet another to exercise the old tyranny. This was enough +to make the Revolution a hateful thing in the eyes of Lochiel and his +neighbours. But it was also believed that James had conceived the idea +of buying up from the great Highland nobles their feudal rights over the +clans, and had only been prevented from carrying his idea into effect by +the Revolution. In the minds of these Western chiefs, then, William was +the oppressor and James the deliverer. Throughout the winter they had +watched eagerly for news from the South. At length they learned that the +Estates had declared for William; that their prime enemy was restored to +favour and power; and that Dundee, whose exploits against the party of +which for three generations an Argyle had been the acknowledged head +were well known to them, was an outlaw and a fugitive. In him they at +once recognised the leader for whom they waited. Drummond was +accordingly sent to invite him to their councils, and to promise that a +sufficient escort should be ready at the proper time to convey him to +the appointed meeting-place. + +Meanwhile it had become necessary for Dundee to look to his own safety. +A more dangerous enemy than Leven was now in the field against him. As +soon as William had learned the decision of the Estates he had +despatched a body of troops into Scotland under General Mackay. Hugh +Mackay, of Scourie, was himself of a Highland stock. Like Dundee, he had +learned the art of war first in France, and afterwards in the Low +Countries, where he had risen to the command of the Scots Brigade, as +those regiments were called which upwards of a century before the new +Protestant enthusiasm of England had raised to support Holland against +the tyranny of Spain. He was a good man, a brave if not a dashing +soldier, a prudent tactician, and well skilled in all the machinery of +war. + +Mackay at first contented himself with sending Livingstone and his +dragoons after Dundee, while he turned his attention to Gordon, who was +still maintaining some show of resistance in the castle. But Livingstone +was too late. He found the nest warm, but the bird had flown. Dundee had +gone northwards over the Grampians into the Gordons' country, where the +Earl of Dunfermline, the Duke's brother-in-law, at once joined him with +a most welcome addition to his little band of troopers. Mackay foresaw +that the Highlands were to be the real scene of operations, and that no +danger need be apprehended from the vapouring Gordon. He sent word, +therefore, to Livingstone to await him in Dundee, and marched himself +for that place with some two hundred of his own brigade and one hundred +and twenty of Lord Colchester's dragoons.[79] + +It is as difficult for the reader to follow Dundee through these April +days as Mackay found it. In the sounding hexameters of the "Grameis," +his movements are indeed described with more labour than lucidity; but +at this early stage of the campaign it is not necessary to track him +over every mountain and river, and by every town and castle.[80] It will +be enough to say that in an incredibly short space of time he beat up +for recruits the greater part of the counties of Aberdeen, Inverness, +and Perth, while the bewildered Mackay, whose training and troops were +alike unfitted to this sort of campaigning, toiled after him in vain. He +also found time for a flying visit to Dudhope, where his wife had been +safely delivered of a son. He can have stayed with her but a day at +most; and when he left her, he was to see her face no more. + +From Dudhope Dundee crossed the Grampians again for Inverness. Here it +had been arranged for him to meet Keppoch and the promised escort of +Highlanders. And here, accordingly, he found them; but he also found a +state of things which gave him a lively foretaste of the character and +conduct of his new allies. + +Between the clan of Macdonald and the clan of Mackintosh there had +existed for many centuries a deadly feud, the exact origin of which had +long been lost in the mists of fable. On the other hand, a good +understanding had long existed between the Mackintoshes and the town of +Inverness. Though the town in those days consisted only of some five +hundred mean buildings surrounded by a crazy wall, the busy little +colony of artisans which inhabited it, and the occasional visit of a +trading vessel to its port, had invested it among the Highlanders with +the reputation of vast wealth. Here was an opportunity for gratifying +his love of revenge and his love of plunder which Keppoch was not the +man to lose. He advanced through the territory of the Mackintoshes, +harrying and burning as he marched, up to the walls of Inverness. For +two days he lay before its crazy gates threatening fire and sword, while +the burghers mustered to arms within, and the ministers exhorted them +from the market-place. Such was the state of affairs Dundee found when +he and his troopers rode into the Highland camp on the first day of May. + +Keppoch tried to excuse himself. The town, he said, owed him money, and +he sought only to recover his own. On the other hand, the magistrates +said that he had forced them to promise him four thousand marks. Dundee +answered that Keppoch had no warrant from him to be in arms, much less +to plunder. But it was not yet safe for him with his handful of horse to +use such brave language to the chief at the head of his eight hundred +claymores. He therefore temporised. By his advice the magistrates agreed +to pay two thousand dollars: half of this sum was raised on the spot +with some difficulty: for the other half Dundee gave his bond to +Keppoch. He also promised the magistrates that, when James was restored +to his throne, the money should be refunded to them. Dundee had saved +the town, but for the present he had lost his allies. Keppoch and his +thieves, laden with the silver of Inverness and the cattle of the +Mackintoshes, retired in dudgeon to their mountains. + +But Dundee was destined to achieve something before he joined the muster +at Lochaber. After he had parted from Keppoch he turned westward down +the valley of the Ness, by the noble castle of Glengarry, which +Cumberland destroyed after Culloden, by Kilcummin, where Fort Augustus +now stands, memorable in his eyes as the spot whence Montrose had led +the clans to break the power of the Campbells at Inverlochy, and so +southwards again through the forest of Badenoch to the Tay. As he was +painfully toiling through this vast and rugged recruiting-ground word +was brought to him that a regiment of cavalry was being raised in Perth +under the auspices of the Laird of Blair, a rich and powerful gentleman +who had married into Hamilton's family. He determined on a bold stroke. +He was sorely in need of powder, provisions, money, and especially of +fresh mounts for his troopers, the long rapid marches, cold weather, and +scanty forage having reduced his horses to a very sorry plight. In Perth +he might lay hands on all these, and possibly on a few recruits into the +bargain. He was in Blair when the messengers found him on May 10th. With +his handful of sabres he swooped down on Dunkeld, which he reached just +in time to relieve a tax-collector of the dues he had been successfully +raising for William. At Dunkeld he rested his men till nightfall, and +then rode straight for Perth. At two o'clock in the morning he entered +the city, surprised Blair and his lieutenant, Pollock, in their beds, +collected forty horses, a store of arms and powder, some provisions, and +some of the public money, and was off again with his booty and his +prisoners before the startled citizens had fairly realised the weakness +of their invaders. He recrossed the Tay, and halted at Scone to refresh +himself and his men at the charges of Lord Stormont, an involuntary act +of hospitality on the latter's part for which he had some trouble to +excuse himself in Edinburgh.[81] + +While in the wilds of Badenoch Dundee had received another message which +had interested him much. In the dragoons now under Livingstone's command +were several of Dunmore's old officers still well affected to James. +Chief among these were William Livingstone,[82] a relation of the +colonel, and that Captain Creichton of whom mention has been already +made. While lying in garrison at Dundee Creichton found means to get +secretly into Dudhope, and to assure Lady Dundee that he and many of his +comrades were only waiting an opportunity to join her husband. She sent +off word of this to the wanderer, who managed to convey an assurance to +Creichton of his plans, and of the strength of the reinforcements he +expected from Ireland. On their landing, he added, he should expect the +dragoons to join him. + +This note was received by Creichton from the hands of a ragged +Highlander two days after he had marched with a part of his regiment to +join Mackay at Inverness. Could he have waited a little longer he would +have seen his correspondent in person. On the afternoon of Monday, May +13th, the inhabitants of the town which had given this terrible +Claverhouse his title saw to their amazement the crest of the high +ground to the north glittering with steel-clad riders. At the same time +Lord Rollo, who was camped outside the walls with some new levies of +horse, came flying through the gates with the news that Dundee was upon +them. The drums beat to arms: the gates were closed; and barricades +hastily thrown up in the principal streets, while the citizens crowded +on the walls to stare at the audacious foe. + +It is possible that Dundee, who was ignorant of Creichton's departure, +thought that his appearance might bring the dragoons over to his side at +once. But the officer who was then in command kept his troops quiet; and +after manoeuvring his men up to the very walls of the town Dundee drew +off as night fell to Glen Ogilvy.[83] It is impossible that even he can +have conceived the idea of a serious attack on the place; and the story +of his actually entering and plundering the town is certainly +apocryphal, though his men very probably made free with Rollo's camp. + +Meanwhile Mackay at Inverness was busy in his turn among the clans. +Lochiel had only sent the cross round among those chiefs who, like him, +hated the Campbells. Dundee had gone further afield, but had not been +successful. The gratitude of the Mackintoshes was not enough to do more +than keep them neutral,--which was perhaps fortunate, for had they +joined the muster at Lochaber they would inevitably have been at blows +with the Macdonalds before a day had passed. The Macphersons also kept +aloof, and the Macleods. Mackay's invitations were received with the +same indifference. Some of the Grants, whose chief had suffered under +the late Government for his allegiance to Argyle, joined him; and from +the northern shires of Ross and Sutherland a few Mackays came to fight +for a captain of their own blood. But the two sources on which the +Government had mainly relied for help were both found wanting. The +Campbells had suffered so severely from the invasion of Athole in the +previous year that Argyle found it impossible to rally them in time to +be of service in the present campaign. The Covenanters, though hailing +the rule of William as a deliverance from the rule of James, were +persuaded by their ministers that it was a sin to take military service, +even against the abhorred Dundee, with men whose orthodoxy was, to say +the least, not above suspicion. Seaforth, Lovat, Breadalbane, and the +other great lords of the east and south Highlands, would not bid their +vassals arm for either side. Athole had indeed once more professed +allegiance to the new order, but while affairs were still in an +uncertain state he would not commit himself to any decisive action. It +was clear to Mackay that the name of William was no name to charm with +in Scotland, and that the most he could hope to effect was to prevent a +general rising of the clans for James. The sagacious Tarbat had already +pointed out to him how this might be done. Five thousand pounds, he +said, would be ample to satisfy all Argyle's claims upon the chiefs who +owed him vassalage. If these claims were satisfied, and the clans +assured that under William they would secure the freedom they had hoped +for from James, though it might not be possible to persuade them to +fight for the former, not a single claymore would follow Dundee to the +field for the latter. William was now induced to try the experiment. But +by a blunder so extraordinary as to suggest treachery somewhere, the +agent entrusted to manage the affair was himself a Campbell. The chiefs +naturally refused to listen to such a messenger, and treated all +subsequent overtures with a contemptuous refusal or a still more +contemptuous silence. It is not certain that any money was actually +expended; but if so, it is very certain that not a penny of it went to +any Cameron or Macdonald. + +Dundee had now reached Lochaber, where he was cordially welcomed by +Lochiel, and lodged in a building close to the chief's own house, a rude +structure of pine-wood, but in his men's eyes a magnificent palace. The +clans had proved true to their tryst. Every Cameron who could wield a +broadsword was there. From the wild peaks of Corryarrick and Glen Garry, +from the dark passes of Glencoe and the storm-beaten islands of the +western seas, the men of Macdonald came trooping in. Sir John of Duart +brought a strong gathering of Macleans from Mull, promising that more of +the name were on the road. Young Stewart of Appin had led his little +band from the shores of Loch Finnhe. The Macnaghtens were there from the +very heart of the great enemy's country, where the hated towers of +Inverary cast their shadow on the waters of Loch Fyne. Fraser of Foyers +and Grant of Urquhart, disregarding the action of their respective +chiefs, each brought a small following of his own vassals. + +It is impossible to calculate the exact force which, at any time during +his short campaign, Dundee had at his disposal. But the number of +claymores which this first muster brought to Lochaber cannot have been +less than two thousand. Besides these, there was his little body of +cavalry, some fifty sabres in all, partly composed of his own troopers, +and partly of Dunfermline's followers. That nobleman and Lord Dunkeld +were of the party. Dundee's own brother, too, seems to have been with +him, and a member of the Duntroon branch of the Grahams. Certain +gentlemen from the Lowlands had also joined him: Sir Alexander James of +Coxtone, Sir Archibald Kennedy of Cullean, Hallyburton of Pitcur, Murray +of Abercairny, and others. + +Still there was no sign from Ireland, and Dundee hesitated to take the +field against Mackay with such capricious and irregular allies. He did +not doubt the courage of his Highlanders, but he had grave doubts of +their obedience. That they would fight bravely when it was their cue to +fight, he knew well; but he was much less confident that they would take +their cue from him. He had at first conceived the idea of putting them +through some course of military training, but Lochiel urged so many and +such weighty reasons against it that he gave up the plan. "There is not +time," said the sagacious old chief, "for our men to learn your method +of warfare. They would merely unlearn their own. This is one which must +seem strange to your notions of war; but it is one which they thoroughly +understand, and which makes them, when led by such a general as you, a +match for the most practised veterans. Think of what they did under +Montrose, and be sure that they will show the same courage and win as +great victories under you." It, therefore, became more than ever +necessary that the promised succours should be no longer delayed. Some +regular troops, however few, would serve both as a rallying-point and as +an example to the Highlanders. And, indeed, it had been only on the +promise of such support that Lochiel had induced the chiefs to arm. +Dundee sent letter after letter to Ireland full of cheerful accounts of +the good promise of affairs, but urging the instant despatch of troops, +together with a store of money, ammunition, and all the other +necessaries for an army about to take the field, of which there was, in +truth, a most plentiful lack in Lochaber. There were not above fifty +pounds of powder in the camp; and though the Highland fashion was to +trust more to the cold steel than the bullet, powder was a necessity of +war that could not well be altogether dispensed with. Dundee also urged +upon Melfort the good effect James' own presence would have upon his +Scottish allies. If that could not be managed, he said, at least let him +send the Duke of Berwick. There was no petty jealousy in Dundee's +character. He would have cheerfully put himself under the command of any +man if by so doing he were likely to further the cause he had at heart. +But no answer came to these appeals. In one of the last letters Dundee +wrote, he reminds Melfort that for three months he had received not a +single line from him or from James. + +Meanwhile, his tact, his good temper, courtesy, and liberality had won +the hearts of his new allies. With the money he had brought with him +from the Lowlands, and the supplies his wife and some of his friends +were able occasionally to send him, he contrived to maintain an +establishment that was at least superior to anything which most of his +new friends were accustomed to. Every day he entertained some of the +chiefs at his table. He made himself acquainted with the faces and names +of the principal tacksmen of each clan, and mastered a few words of +Gaelic to enable him to address and return salutations. In the field he +lived no better than the meanest of his men, sharing their coarse food +and hard lodging, and often marching on foot by their side over the +roughest country and in the wildest weather. His powers of endurance +extorted the wonder even of those sturdy mountaineers who had been +inured from childhood to the extremes of hunger and fatigue. More than a +century after his death it was still told with admiration how once, +after chasing Mackay from dawn to sunset of a summer's day over the +ruggedest part of the Athole country, he had spent the night in writing, +only resting his head occasionally on his hands to snatch a few moments +of sleep. Among the Camerons he was always spoken of as the General, and +honoured next to Lochiel himself. At the same time, he was careful to +maintain his authority and to exact the respect due to his position. He +knew well that among those lawless spirits he who would be obeyed must +be feared. On one occasion he administered a public rebuke to the +arch-thief, Keppoch, who had found time for another raid on the +Mackintoshes. In the presence of all the chiefs Dundee told the offender +that he would sooner serve in the ranks of a disciplined regiment than +command men who were no better than common robbers; that he would +countenance such outrages no more, nor any longer keep in his army those +who disgraced the King's cause by their private quarrels. Keppoch, who +would infallibly have struck his dirk into any other man who had used +such language to him, attempted some lame excuses, muttered an apology, +and ended by promising for the future neither he nor any of his men +would stir a foot save at the General's command. There is no stronger +proof of Dundee's genius and capacity for affairs than the singular +influence he was able in a few short weeks to gain over men who could +not speak his language and who hated his race. When on the dark day of +Culloden the wavering clans looked in vain to their Prince, an old +chief, who had heard his father talk of Ian Dhu Cean (Black John, the +Warrior), exclaimed in a passion of rage and grief, "Oh, for an hour of +Dundee!" + +But loth as he was to engage Mackay with the Highlanders alone, Dundee +knew that he could not hope to keep them long together inactive. +Provisions were running short. If they could not harry James's enemies, +they would make free with their own. Dundee was particularly anxious to +give no cause of offence to those clans whose neutrality he hoped to be +able to turn into friendship. Already a serious prospect of disunion had +threatened the little army. A party of the Camerons had made a raid on +the Grants, in which a Macdonald of Glengarry had been killed. The man +had become affiliated to the Grants, and had refused to join the muster +of his own tribe. He had therefore forfeited all the right of clanship. +Yet Glengarry, as much perhaps from policy as from any overpowering +sense of kinship, demanded vengeance; and it needed all the combined +tact of Dundee and Lochiel to prevent him from drawing out his men to +attack the Camerons. When, therefore, Dundee learned that Mackay had +left Inverness to join some reinforcements from Edinburgh, he determined +on action. + +The troops Mackay expected to find in Badenoch were six hundred men of +his own Scots Brigade under Colonel Ramsay. Ruthven Castle on the Spey +was the place of meeting, and May 26th the time. But Ramsay had been +detained in Edinburgh by an alarm of an invasion from France, and it was +not till the 27th that he entered the Athole country. Here he learned +that Dundee was on the march to meet him. The population did not seem +friendly: he could get no news of Mackay; and on the whole he judged it +prudent to retire to Perth. That he might do this with more speed he +blew up his ammunition train, to prevent it falling into Dundee's hands. +Mackay, who, as soon as he learned that Ramsay was fairly on the road, +had marched with all speed from Inverness, was too late to save Ruthven +Castle. It had been surrendered by the governor, Captain Forbes, on the +29th, and reduced to a heap of ruins. + +This was the beginning of a series of marches and counter-marches on the +part of the two generals, which lasted far into June, without any +advantage on either side. On one occasion a party of the Macleans of +Lochbuy, marching to join Dundee in Badenoch, came to blows with some of +Livingstone's dragoons; and there were other skirmishes, of no material +result, at none of which was either general present in person. More than +once Dundee was in striking distance of Mackay; but he never found +himself in a position to engage with sufficient assurance of victory. A +defeat he dared not risk; and even victory, unless complete enough to +need no second blow, had its dangers. An army which considered the safe +storage of his booty as the first duty of a successful soldier could not +safely be trusted to make good the result of a doubtful battle. And in +fact he found his forces each day diminishing as food became more scarce +in those barren wilds, or as some lucky raid necessitated a departure +for home with the prize. At length, wisely determining to sanction what +he could not prevent, and feeling that even his iron frame and dauntless +spirit were in need of rest, Dundee dismissed the clans for the present, +on their giving a promise to join him again when he should require them. +Keeping only some two hundred of the Macleans with him, he returned to +his old quarters, on the pressing invitation of Lochiel, who swore to +him that while there was a cow in Lochaber neither he nor his men should +want. Mackay did not attempt to follow him. At such a game of +hide-and-seek he saw that his men were no match for the active +light-marching Highlanders. He accordingly put garrisons into certain +fortified parts of Invernessshire and Perthshire, sent the rest into +quarters, and himself repaired to Edinburgh. + +From the middle of June to the end of July the war therefore languished. +But Dundee was not idle. The arts of diplomacy were as familiar to him +as the arts of war. He still maintained an active correspondence with +the neutral chiefs, and kept Melfort well informed of all he had done +and proposed to do for his master's service. I shall conclude this +chapter with an extract from the last despatch he sent to Ireland. It is +long; but it gives so graphic an account of his proceedings since the +muster at Lochaber, of the state of the country, and the relative +positions and prospects of the two parties, that its length may be +excused. It also shows, what one would not perhaps have otherwise +surmised, that the writer had some little touch of humour. The letter is +dated from Moy, in Lochaber, June 27th, 1689. I omit the first part, +which seems to refer to some complaints Melfort had made of his having +been ill-spoken of by Dundee. + + "My Lord, I have given the King, in general, account of + things here; but to you I will be more particular. As to + myself, I have sent you it at large. You may by it + understand a little of the state of the country.[84] You + will see there, when I had a sure advantage I endeavoured to + profit on it; but on the other hand, shunned to hazard + anything for fear of a ruffle. For the least of that would + have discouraged all. I thought if I could gain time, and + keep up a figure of a party without loss, it was my best + till we got assistance, which the enemy got from England + every day. I have told the King I had neither commission, + money, nor ammunition. My brother-in-law and my wife found + ways to get credit.[85] For my own nobody durst pay to a + traitor. I was extremely surprised when I saw Mr. Drummond, + the advocate, in Highland habit, come up to Lochaber to me, + and gave account that the Queen had sent 2,000_l._ sterling + to London, to be paid to me for the King's service, and that + two more was a-coming. I did not know the Queen had known + anything of our affairs. I received a very obliging letter + from her with Mr. Crane, but I know no way to make a return. + However, when the money comes, I shall keep count of it and + employ it right. But I am feared it will be hard to bring it + from Edinburgh. + + "When we came first out I had but fifty pounds of powder. + More I could not get. All the great towns and seaports were + in rebellion, and had seized the powder, and would sell + none. But I had one advantage--the Highlanders will not fire + above once, and then take to the broadsword. + + "But I wonder, above all things, that in three months I + never heard from you, seeing by Mr. Hay I had so earnestly + recommended it to you, and told of this way by Inverlochy as + sure. If you could not have sent expresses, we thought you + would at least have hastened the dispatch of those we sent. + McSwyne has now been away near two months, and we know not + if the coast be clear or not. However, I have ventured to + advise Mr. Hay to return straight, and not go further in the + country. He came not here until the 22nd, and they + surrendered on the 13th.[86] It was not Mr. Hay's fault he + was so long of coming, for there has been two English + men-of-war and the Glasgow frigates amongst the islands till + of late. For the rest of the letters I undertook to get them + delivered. Most of the persons to whom they are directed are + either put in bond, or in prisons, or gone out of the + kingdom. The Advocate is gone to England, a very honest man, + firm beyond belief,[87] and Athole is gone too, who did not + know what to do. Earl Hume, who is very frank, is taken + prisoner to Edinburgh, but will be let out on security. Earl + Breadalbane keeps close in a strong house he has, and + pretends the gout. Earl Errol stays at home. So does + Aberdeen. Earl Marischal is at Edinburgh, but does not + meddle. Earl Lauderdale is right, and at home. The Bishops? + I know not where they are! They are now the Kirk invisible. + I will be forced to open the letter, and send copies + attested to them, and keep the original till I can find out + our Primate. The poor ministers are sorely oppressed over + all. They generally stand right. Duke Queensberry was present + at the Cross when their new mock king was proclaimed, and, I + hear, voted for him, though not for the throne vacant. His + brother, the Lieutenant-General, some say is made an earl. + He is come down to Edinburgh, and is gone up again. He is + the old man, and has abused [deceived] me strangely. For he + swore to me to make amends. Tarbat is a great villain. + Besides what he has done at Edinburgh, he has endeavoured to + seduce Lochiel by offers of money which is under his hand. + He is now gone up to secure his faction (which is melting), + the two Dalrymples and others, against Skelmorly, Polwart, + Cardross, Ross, and others, now joined with that worthy + prince, Duke Hamilton. Marquis Douglas is now a great knave, + as well as beast, as is Glencairn, Morton, and Eglinton. + And even Cassilis is gone astray, misled by Gibby.[88] + Panmure keeps right and at home. So does Strathmore, + Southesk, and Kinnaird. Old Airlie is at Edinburgh under + caution. So is Balcarres and Dunmore. Stormont is declared + fugitive for not appearing. All these will break out, and + many more, when the King lands, or any from him. Most of the + gentry on this side the Forth, and many on the other, will + do so too. But they suffer mightily in the meantime, and + will be forced to submit if there be not relief sent very + soon. The Duke of Gordon, they say, wanted nothing for + holding out but hopes of relief. Earl of Dunfermline stays + constantly with me, and so does Dunkeld, Pitcur, and many + other gentlemen, who really deserve well, for they suffer + great hardships. When the troops land, there must be blank + commissions sent for horse and foot for them, and others + that will join. There must be a Commission of Justiciary, to + judge all but landed men. For there should be examples made + of some who cannot be judged by a council of war. They take + our people, and hang them up, by their new sheriffs, when + they find them straggling.[89] + + "My Lord, I have given my opinion to the King concerning the + landing. I would first have a good party sent over to + Inverlochy; about five or six thousand, as you have + convenience of boats; of which as many horse as conveniently + can. About six or eight hundred would do well, but rather + more. For had I had horse, for all that yet appeared I would + not have feared them. Inverlochy is safe landing, far from + the enemy, and one may choose, from thence, to go to Moray + by Inverness, or to Angus by Athole, or to Perth by Glencoe, + and all tolerable ways. The only ill is the passage is long + by sea, and inconvenient because of the island; but in this + season that is not to be feared. So soon as the boats + return, let them ferry over as many more foot as they think + fit to the point of Kintyre, which will soon be done; and + then the King has all the boats for his own landing. I + should march towards Kintyre, and meet, at the neck of + Tarbet, the foot, and so march to raise the country, and + then towards the passes of Forth to meet the King, where I + doubt not but we would be numerous. + + "I have done all I can to make them believe the King will + land altogether in the west, on purpose to draw their troops + from the north, that we may easier raise the country if the + landing be here. I have said so, and written it to + everybody; and particularly I sent some proclamations to my + Lady Errol, and wrote to her to that purpose, which was + intercepted and carried to Edinburgh, and my Lady taken + prisoner. I believe it has taken the effect I designed; for + the forces are marched out of Kintyre, and I am just now + informed Major-General Mackay is gone from Inverness by + Moray, towards Edinburgh. I know not what troops he has + taken with him as yet; but it is thought he will take the + horse and dragoons (except a few) and most of the standing + forces; which, if he do, it will be a rare occasion for + landing here, and for raising the country. Then, when they + hear of that, they will draw this way, which will again + favour the King's landing. Some think Ely a convenient place + for landing, because you have choice of what side, and the + enemy cannot be on both. Others think the nearer Galloway + the better, because the rebels will have far to march before + they can trouble you. Others think Kirkcudbright or + thereabouts, because of that sea for ships, and that it is + near England. Nobody expects any landing here now, because + it is thought you will alter the design, it having been + discovered. And to friends and all I give out I do not + expect any. + + "So I am extremely of opinion this would be an extreme + proper place, unless you be so strong that you need not care + where to land. The truth is, I do not admire their mettle. + The landing of troops will confound them terribly. I had + almost forgot to tell you that the Prince of Orange, as they + say, has written to his Scotch Council, telling them he will + not have his troops any more harassed following me through + the hills, but orders them to draw to the West, where, he + says, a great army is to land; and, at the same time, gives + them accounts that eight sail of men-of-war is coming from + Brest, with fifteen thousand men on board. He knows not + whether they are designed for England or Ireland. I beg you + will send an express before, whatever you do, that I may + know how to take my measures; and if the express that comes + knows nothing, I am sure it shall not be discovered for me. + I have told Mr. Hay nothing of this proposal, nor no man. If + there come any party this way, I beg you send me ammunition, + and three or four thousand arms of different sorts--some + horse, some foot. + + "I have just now received a confirmation of Mackay's going + south, and that he takes with him all the horse and + dragoons, and all the standing foot. By which I conclude, + certainly, they are preparing against the landing in the + west. I entreat to hear from you as soon as possible; and + am, in the old manner, most sincerely, for all Carleton can + say, my lord, your most humble and faithful servant, + + "DUNDEE." + +It appears by a postscript added on the following day, that before +Dundee's messenger left Lochaber letters had arrived from Melfort. They +seem to have been again full of complaints of the hard things said about +him, and of the undeserved dislike with which all classes in Scotland +seemed to regard him. But of help there was no more than the usual +vague promises, and glowing accounts of apocryphal successes in Ireland. +Dundee congratulated the Secretary on their master's good fortune, +diplomatically fenced with the question of unpopularity, and reiterated +his appeal for succour. + + "For the number" [he wrote], "I must leave [that] to the + conveniency you have. The only inconveniency of the delay + is, that the honest suffer extremely in the low country in + the time, and I dare not go down for want of horse; and, in + part, for fear of plundering all, and so making enemies, + having no pay. I wonder you send no ammunition, were it but + four or five barrels. For we have not twenty pounds." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[78] The passage in which Macaulay has explained the condition and +sentiment of the Highlanders at this time, will be familiar to every +reader. What may be less familiar is a pamphlet entitled "Remarks on +Colonel Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders," published at Edinburgh +in 1823, the year after Stewart's book. + +[79] Now the Third Dragoon Guards. + +[80] In Napier's third volume will be found many translations in prose +from this poem, from which I have taken a few touches. + +[81] Napier (iii. 552, note) quotes the following minute in the records +of the Estates:--"13th May, 1689: A missive letter from the Viscount of +Stormont to the President was read, bearing that the Viscount Dundee had +forced his dinner from him at his house of Scone, on Saturday last, and +therefore desiring that his intercommuning with him, being involuntary, +might be excused." He was cited, however as a delinquent, together with +his father-in-law, Scott of Scotstarvet and his uncle, Sir John Murray +of Drumcairn (a Lord of Session), who had also to assist at the +involuntary banquet. Throughout his short campaign Dundee was careful +never to take a penny from the pocket of any private person. He +considered, he said, that he was justified in appropriating the King's +money to the King's use. + +[82] Creichton calls him Lord Kilsyth, but he had not then succeeded to +the title. He is the same who afterwards married Lady Dundee. + +[83] It is doubtful who this officer was. Mackay, in his memoirs, says +it was William Livingstone, calling him either a coward or a traitor for +not showing fight. If Livingstone it was, he may not have felt sure +enough of the men who were left with him to join Dundee in so open a +manner, and to fight was not his cue. But another account puts one +Captain Balfour in command. The whole account of the affair is even more +confused than are most of Dundee's exploits. But that he did make a +demonstration of some sort against the town is proved by the Minutes of +the Estates. + +[84] None of his previous despatches from the Highlands are in +existence. + +[85] Robert Young of Auldbar had married Dundee's youngest sister, Anne. + +[86] The Duke of Gordon surrendered the Castle of Edinburgh on June +13th, after a resistance which towards the end assumed the character +almost of a burlesque. + +[87] Sir George Mackenzie. + +[88] Gilbert Burnet, the bishop. His wife was a sister of Lord Cassilis. + +[89] On Dundee's retreat from Badenoch, some of his men who had +straggled for plunder had been caught and hung by Gordon of Edenglassie, +Sheriff of Banff. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Mackay had now decided on a new plan of campaign. He would apply to the +service of war a device employed by the Highlanders in the chase, and +put in practice against them their own tactics of the tinchel.[90] A +chain of fortified posts was to be established among the Grampians, and +at various commanding points in Invernessshire. On the west a strong +garrison was to be placed in the castle of Inverlochy, the northernmost +point of Argyle's country overlooking the stronghold of the Camerons. A +small fleet of armed frigates drawing a light draft was to cruise off +the western coasts, and to watch those dangerous islands whence issued +the long war-galleys of the Macdonalds and the Macleans. Stores and +transport enough to keep a considerable force in the field for one month +was to be collected; and a skilled body of pioneers, equipped with all +the tools necessary for road-making, was to accompany the column. + +Having already sketched out this plan in a letter to Hamilton, Mackay +was in hopes to find on his arrival in Edinburgh that measures had been +begun to put it into operation. He was grievously disappointed. He found +nothing but quarrels and intrigues in the Parliament House and out of +it. Each man was too intent on out-manoeuvring his neighbour in the +great struggle for place, to spare a thought for a foe who was happily +separated from them by a vast barrier of mountains and many hundreds of +miles of barren moorland, deep waters, and dense forests. He saw that +his plan for subduing the warriors of the Highlands must wait till the +Lowland politicians were at leisure to listen to him; yet he determined +to return to his duty, and to do his best with such means as he could +find or make for himself. It was possible that Argyle might now have +sufficiently repaired his affairs to be able to render some assistance +from the West; and there was an ally in Perthshire who might, if he +would, prove of even more value than Argyle.[91] + +Lord Murray, Athole's eldest son, had, unlike his father, made up his +mind early in the Revolution and kept to it. But it happened that there +was one now in possession of Blair Castle who had also chosen his side +with equal resolution. Athole had slunk off to England, leaving his +castle and his vassals to the charge of his agent, Stewart of Ballechin. +Ballechin was a sturdy Jacobite; and though he had not yet dared to arm +the Athole men for James, he had managed on more than one occasion to do +timely service to Dundee. Blair was one of the most important posts in +the proposed line of garrisons. It commanded on one side the only road +by which troops could march from the low country of Perth into the +Highlands, and on the other the passes leading to the Spey and the Dee. +Whoever held Blair practically held the key of the Highlands. Mackay +therefore urged Murray, who was then in Edinburgh, to get rid of this +unjust steward and make sure of so valuable a stronghold for the +Government. Murray promised to do what he could. He did not profess to +be very sanguine of persuading the men of Athole to fight for William; +but for the castle, he could not suppose that Ballechin would dare to +shut the gates of his own father's house against him. "Keep the Athole +men from joining Dundee," said Mackay, "and that is all I ask, or can +expect from your father's son." He pressed Murray to start at once for +Blair, promising to follow as soon as he could collect the necessary +force of troops and stores. + +It was tedious work preparing for a campaign in Edinburgh, where, nobody +feeling himself in immediate danger, nobody was concerned to guard +against it. Mackay was detained longer than he had expected, and before +he could take the field bad news had come down from Perthshire. +Ballechin was strongly entrenched in Blair, and resolute not to budge an +inch. The Athole men had gathered readily enough to their young lord's +summons; but when they found he had summoned them to fight for King +William they had gone off in a body shouting for King James.[92] And +there was yet worse news. The fiery cross was speeding once more through +the Western Highlands. There could be no doubt that Ballechin was acting +under orders from Dundee. A few men had stayed with Murray, and with +these he proposed to watch the castle and the pass till Mackay should +come. But the clans were mustering fast. Dundee himself was said to be +in the neighbourhood. Unless troops could be brought up at once, Blair +would be irretrievably lost, and the key of the Highlands in the hands +of Dundee. + +Dundee was in the neighbourhood. He was at Struan, close to Blair, +whence he wrote more than one letter to Murray, using every argument he +could think likely to influence the interests or the prejudices of +Athole's son. Professing to be convinced that Murray was really for +James, though doubtful about the time for declaring himself, he declared +that he had only sent help to Ballechin to keep the rebels at bay till +Murray was able to act as his principles and education would naturally +suggest. The King, he said, had seen the mistakes into which Melfort had +hurried him. He had now given his word to secure the Protestant +religion as by law established, to allow full liberty of conscience to +all dissenters, and to grant a general pardon for all except those who +had been actively engaged in dethroning him. What more might be +necessary to satisfy the people, Dundee begged Murray to let him know. +The King was particularly anxious for advice on these points, and ready +to go all reasonable lengths; and Murray, he well knew, would advise +nothing unreasonable. No more was to be feared from Melfort, who had +promised to forgive all old quarrels, and even to resign his office +rather than force himself upon those who were unwilling to receive him. +Finally (keeping to the last the most powerful argument he could +devise), he declared that it was now in Murray's power to "have the +honour of the whole turn of the King's affairs." Murray would make no +answer, refused to see Dundee's messengers, and sent all his letters on +to Mackay.[93] + +Dundee knew the importance of Blair as well as Mackay. As soon as he +heard from Ballechin of Murray's action, he threw a garrison into the +castle, and sent signal to the clans to join him at once. The time was +short: too short even to muster all the outlying Camerons. Some days +must elapse before he could expect to see round him such a force as he +had commanded two months earlier, and every hour was precious. Lochiel +urged him to march at once for Blair with such forces as were at hand, +promising to follow with the rest. But Dundee was loth to advance +without Lochiel. He relied much on the old chief's sagacity and +experience, on his knowledge of the Highland character, and his tact in +managing it: without his counsel and support he did not feel even now +certain of his quarrelsome captains. He prayed Lochiel, therefore, to +come with him, leaving his son to bring on the late musters. + +As they marched through Badenoch they were joined by the long-promised +succours from Ireland--three hundred ragged Irish recruits, half +starved, badly armed, and entirely ignorant of war. Their leader was an +officer named Cannon, who bore a commission from James giving him rank +next to Dundee, a position which neither his abilities nor his +experience entitled him to hold in such an army. Some stores of powder +and food had been sent with them; but the vessels containing them had, +through Cannon's negligence, been taken in the Hebrides by English +cruisers. Dundee had neither powder nor food to spare. There had been no +time to collect provisions; and for many days past his officers had +eaten no bread and drunk nothing but water. The great promises of help +on which the Highlanders had so confidently relied, on the assurance of +which they had taken the field, and for which their general had +repeatedly given his own word, had shrunk to this--three hundred empty +mouths to feed, and three hundred useless hands to arm.[94] + +And now word came that Mackay was approaching. He had marched by way of +Stirling to Perth, at which place he had appointed his muster. At +Stirling he had found six troops of dragoons, which he had ordered to +follow him to Perth. On July 26th he was at Dunkeld, where he received +word from Murray of Dundee's arrival at Blair, but not the dragoons he +was expecting from Stirling. His own cavalry consisted of but two +troops, chiefly composed of new levies. He dared no longer trust +Livingstone's dragoons in the face of the enemy. Half of the officers he +had been obliged to send under guard to Edinburgh as traitors: the rest +of the regiment was out of harm's way in quarters at Inverness. The +horses of Colchester's men were in such a plight after their marches +among the Grampians that they could not carry a saddle. Mackay knew well +how important cavalry was to the work before him. A mounted soldier was +the one antagonist a Highlander feared; and his fear was much the same +superstitious awe that a century and a half earlier the hordes of +Montezuma had felt for the armoured horsemen of Cortez. But the messages +from Murray were urgent, and he dared not delay. At break of day on +Saturday, the 27th, he marched out from Dunkeld for the glen of +Killiecrankie. + +His force, according to his own calculation, was between three and four +thousand strong; but barely one half of these were seasoned troops. +There was the Scots Brigade, indeed, of three regiments, his own, +Balfour's, and Ramsay's. But before despatching them to Scotland William +had ordered them to be carefully weeded of all Dutch soldiers, that the +patriotism of the natives might be offended by no hint of a foreign +invasion; and the gaps thus made had been hastily filled up in +Edinburgh. Besides this brigade were three other regiments of infantry: +the one lately raised by Lord Leven (now the Twenty-fifth of the Line, +and still recognizing its origin in its title of The Borderers), +Hastings' (now the Thirteenth of the Line), and Lord Kenmure's.[95] Of +these, Hastings' was manned chiefly by Englishmen, and seems to have +been the only one of the three that had had any real experience of war. +One troop of horse was commanded by Lord Belhaven: the other should have +been commanded by Lord Annandale, whose name it bore, but Mackay could +persuade neither him nor Lord Ross to take the field. Some feeling of +compunction may have kept the latter from drawing his sword against an +old comrade in arms; but Lord Annandale had always been fonder of +wrangling than fighting. Mackay makes no mention of any artillery; but +it appears that he had a few small field-pieces of the kind known as +Sandy's Stoups from the name of their inventor.[96] + +It is only possible to guess at Dundee's numbers. When he broke up his +army early in June he seems to have had about three thousand claymores +under him. The second muster was, we know, much smaller than the first; +and though it was slightly increased on the march, and while he waited +at Blair, the whole force he led at Killiecrankie cannot have much +exceeded two thousand men. Over and above the claymores he had not four +hundred. The Irish were three hundred, and his cavalry mustered about +fifty sabres. Highland tradition puts the claymores at nineteen hundred; +and this is probably much about the truth. Artillery, of course, he had +none. + +As soon as it was known that Mackay was at the mouth of the pass, Dundee +called a council of war. Three courses, he told his officers, were +before them: to harass Mackay's advance with frequent skirmishes, +avoiding a general engagement till the reinforcements a few days would +certainly bring had made the numbers more equal: to attack him in the +pass; or to wait till he had reached the level ground above it. His own +officers, and the Lowland gentlemen generally, were in favour of the +first plan. Some of the chiefs were in favour of the second. Dundee +listened courteously to all, and then turned to the old chief of the +Camerons who had not yet spoken. What, he asked, did Lochiel advise? +Lochiel had no doubt. They must fight and fight at once, were the enemy +three to one. Their men were in heart: they would have all the advantage +of the ground: let Mackay get fairly through the pass that the +Highlanders might see their foes, and then charge home. He had no fear +for the result; but he would answer for nothing were the claymores to be +kept back now the Saxons were fairly at their feet. + +Those who watched Dundee saw his eye brighten. He answered that he +agreed with every word Lochiel had spoken. Delay would bring +reinforcements to Mackay as well as to them, and Mackay's reinforcements +would almost certainly include more cavalry. To fight them in the pass +was useless. In that narrow way the weight of the Highland onset would +be lost. The claymores would not have room for their work, and half the +column would escape. They must fight on open ground and on fair terms, +as Montrose would have fought.[97] + +There was no more opposition. The word for battle went through the +clans, and was hailed with universal delight. Then Lochiel spoke again. +He had always, he said, promised implicit obedience to Dundee, and he +had kept his promise; but for once he should command. "It is the voice +of your Council," he went on, "and their orders are that you do not +engage personally. Your Lordship's business is to have an eye on all +parts, and to issue out your commands as you shall think proper. It is +ours to execute them with promptitude and courage. On you depends the +fate not only of this little brave army, but also of our King and +country." He finished by threatening that neither he nor any of his clan +should draw sword that day unless his request were granted. Dundee +answered that he knew his life to be at that moment of some importance, +but he could not on that day of all days refuse to hazard it. The +Highlanders would never again obey in council a general whom they +thought afraid to lead them in war. Hereafter he would do as Lochiel +advised, but he must charge at the head of his men in their first +battle. "Give me," he concluded, "one _Shear-Darg_ (harvest-day's work) +for the King, my master, that I may show the brave clans that I can +hazard my life in that service as freely as the meanest of them."[98] + +Mackay had reached the mouth of the pass at ten in the morning. Here he +found Murray and his little band, who had not judged it prudent to +remain longer in the neighbourhood of Blair. Two hundred picked men were +accordingly sent forward to reconnoitre under Colonel Lauder; and at +noon, the ground having been reported clear in front, the whole column +advanced. + +The pass of Killiecrankie is now almost as familiar to the Southron as +to the Highlander. It forms the highest and narrowest part of a +magnificent wooded defile in which the waters of the Tummel flowing +eastward from Loch Rannoch meet the waters of the Garry as it plunges +down from the Grampians. Along one of the best roads in the kingdom, or +by the swift and comfortable service of the Highland railway, the +traveller ascends by easy gradations from Pitlochrie, through the +beautiful grounds of Faskally to the little village and station of +Killiecrankie, where a guide earns an unlaborious livelihood by +conducting the panting Saxon over the famous battle-field and to various +commanding points of the defile. How the scene must have looked in those +days, and what thoughts it must have suggested to men either ignorant of +war or accustomed to pursue it in civilised countries, has been +described by Macaulay in a passage which it were superfluous to quote +and impertinent to paraphrase. Near sixty years later, when some +Hessian troops were marching to the relief of Blair Castle, then +besieged by the forces of Prince Charles, the stolid Germans turned from +the desperate sight and, vowing that they had reached the limits of the +world, marched resolutely back to Perth. The only road that then led +through this Valley of the Shadow of Death was a rugged path, so narrow +that not more than three men could walk abreast, winding along the edge +of a precipitous cliff at the foot of which thundered the black waters +of the Garry. Balfour's regiment led the van of this perilous march: the +baggage was in the centre, guarded by Mackay's own battalion: +Annandale's horse and Hastings' foot brought up the rear. + +For about the last mile and a half the pass runs due north and south; +but at the summit the river bends westward, and the mountains sweep back +to the right. As the head of the column emerged into open air it found +itself on a small table-land, flanked on the left by the Garry, and on +the right by a tier of low hills sparely dotted with dwarf trees and +underwood. Above these hills to the north and east rose the lofty chain +of the Grampians crowned by the towering peaks of Ben Gloe and Ben +Vrackie. In front the valley gradually opened out towards Blair Castle, +about three miles distant, and along this valley Mackay naturally looked +for the Highland advance. He sent some pioneers forward to entrench his +position, and as each regiment came up on to the level ground, he formed +it in line three deep. Balfour's regiment thus made the left wing +resting on the Garry, while Hastings was on the right where the ground +began to slope upwards to the hills. Next to Balfour stood Ramsay's +men, and then Kenmure's, Leven's, and the general's own regiment. The +guns were in the centre, and the two troops of horse in the rear of the +guns. + +In the meantime Dundee had not been idle. Sending a few men straight +down the valley, he led his main body across the Tilt, which joins the +Garry just below the castle, round at the back of the hills till he had +reached the English right. Mackay was in front with his skirmishers, +watching what he supposed to be the approach of Dundee's van, when word +was brought to him that the enemy were occupying the hills on the right +in force. Mackay saw his danger at a glance. The Highlanders would be +down like one of their own rivers in flood on his right flank, and roll +the whole line up into the Garry. On one of the hills overlooking his +position stood what is now known as Urrard House, but was then called by +its proper name of Renrorie.[99] Immediately below this stretched a +piece of ground large and level enough in Mackay's judgment for his army +to receive, though not to give, the attack. He made no change in his +line, but wheeling it as it stood upon the right wing, he marched it up +the slope on to this new ground in the face of the enemy.[100] His +position was now better than it had been; but it was bad enough. The +river was in his rear, and behind the river the inhospitable mountains. +His only way of escape, should the day go against him, lay through that +terrible pass up which, with no enemy to harass him, he had just climbed +with infinite toil. He could hardly hope to make good his retreat down +such a road with a victorious army maddening in his rear. In the +preliminary game of tactics he had been completely out-manoeuvred by +his old comrade. + +The clans were now forming for battle. The Macleans of Duart held the +post of honour on the right wing. Next to the Macleans stood Cannon with +his Irish. Then came the men of Clanranald, the men of Glengarry, and +the Camerons. The left wing was composed of the Macdonalds of Sleat and +some more Macleans. In the centre was the cavalry, commanded not as +hitherto by the gallant Dunfermline, but by a gentleman bearing the +illustrious name of Wallace. He had crossed from Ireland with Cannon; +but nothing is heard of him till apparently on the very morning of the +day he produced a commission from James superseding the Earl of +Dunfermline in favour of Sir William Wallace of Craigie. What would +otherwise appear one of those inexplicable freaks by which James ever +delighted to confound his affairs at their crisis, is amply explained by +the fact that the new captain was the brother of Melfort's second wife. +Fortunately Dunfermline was too good a soldier and too loyal a gentleman +to resent the slight. As Mackay's line was much longer than his, Dundee +was compelled to widen the spaces between the clans for fear of being +outflanked, which left for his centre only this little cluster of +sabres. Lochiel's eldest son, John, was with his father, but Allan, the +second, held a commission in Mackay's own regiment. As the general saw +each clan take up its ground, he turned to young Cameron and said, +pointing to the standard of Lochiel, "There is your father with his wild +savages; how would you like to be with him?" "It signifies little what I +would like," was the spirited answer; "but I recommend you to be +prepared, or perhaps my father and his wild savages may be nearer to you +before night than you would like!"[101] + +Each general spoke a few words to his men. Dundee reminded his captains +that they were assembled that day to fight in the best of causes, in the +cause of their King, their religion and their country, against rebels +and usurpers. He urged them to behave like true Scotchmen, and to redeem +their country from the disgrace cast on it by the treachery and +cowardice of others. He asked nothing of them but what they should see +him do before them all. Those who fell would fall honourably like true +and brave soldiers: those who lived and conquered would have the reward +of a gracious King and the praise of all good men. Let them charge home +then, in the name of King James and the Church of Scotland. Mackay urged +the same honourable duty on his battalions; but he added one very +practical consideration which suggests that he was not so confident of +the issue as he afterwards professes to have been, and which was perhaps +not very wisely offered. They must fight, he said, for they could not +fly. The enemy was much quicker afoot than they, and there were the +Athole men waiting to pounce on all runaways. Such thoughts would hardly +furnish the best tonic to a doubtful spirit. Nevertheless the troops +answered cheerfully that they would stand by their general to the last; +which, adds the brave old fellow ruefully in his despatch, "most of them +belied shortly after."[102] + +A dropping fire of musketry had for some time been maintained between +the two lines, and on the English left there had been some closer +skirmishing between Lauder's sharpshooters and the Macleans. Mackay was +anxious to engage before the sun set. He doubted how his raw troops +would stand a night-attack from a foe to whom night and day were one: +still more did he fear what might happen in the darkness during the +confusion of a retreat down that awful pass. But he could not attack, +and Dundee would not, till his moment came. The darkness the other +feared would be all in his favour. A very short time he knew would be +enough to decide the issue of the battle. Should that issue be +favourable to King James, as he felt confident it would be, he had +determined that before the next morning dawned there should be no army +left to King William in the Highlands. + +The sun set, and the moment he had chosen came. The Southrons saw +Dundee, who had now changed his scarlet coat for one of less conspicuous +colour, ride along the line, and as he passed each clan they saw plaids +and brogues flung off. They heard the shout with which the word to +advance was hailed; but the cheer they sent back did not carry with it +the conviction of victory. Lochiel turned to his Camerons with a smile. +"Courage!" he said, "the day is our own. I am the oldest commander in +this army; and I tell you that feeble noise is the cry of men who are +doomed to fall by our hands this night." Then the old warrior flung off +his shoes with the rest of them, and took his place at the head of his +men. Dundee rode to the front of his cavalry. The pipes sounded, and the +clans came down the hill. + +They advanced slowly at first, without firing a shot, while Mackay's +right poured a hot volley into their ranks, and the leathern cannon +discharged their harmless thunder from the centre. A gentleman of the +Grants, who was fighting that day among the Macdonalds, was knocked over +by a spent ball which struck his target. "Sure, the Boddachs are in +earnest now!" he said, as he leaped to his feet with a laugh. It was not +till they had reached the level ground that the Highlanders delivered +their fire. One volley they poured in, and then, flinging their muskets +away, bounded forward sword in hand with a terrific yell. The soldiers +had not time to fix their bayonets in the smoking muzzles of their +muskets before the claymores were among them and the battle was +over.[103] On the left wing scarcely a trigger was pulled: the men broke +and ran like sheep. The famous Scots Brigade, in fact, set the example +of flight. Their officers behaved like brave soldiers. Balfour, +abandoned by his men, defended himself for a time against overwhelming +odds, till he was cut down by a young clergyman, Robert Stewart, a +grandson of Ballechin. Eight officers of Mackay's own regiment were +killed, including his brother, the colonel; and many of Ramsay's. In +vain was the cavalry ordered to charge. In vain did Belhaven like a +gallant gentleman gallop to the front. In vain did Mackay place himself +at their head, and, calling on them to follow him, spur into the thick +of the flashing claymores. Before his horse they fell back right and +left in such a way as to justify his boast to Melville that with fifty +stout troopers he could have changed the day even then; but one of his +own servants alone followed him. A few of the dragoons discharged their +carbines at random. Then all turned and spurred off among the crowd of +footmen to the mouth of the pass. Some of the fugitives tried to cross +the Garry, and were either drowned in its swift waters, or cut down as +they scrambled drenched and unarmed through its fords. Down the pass to +Pitlochrie the rout went. The men of Athole, no longer doubtful of the +issue, pounced from their lair upon the easy prey; and even women lent +their hands to the butchery.[104] + +Well might Mackay bitterly complain, "There was no regiment or troop +with me but behaved like the vilest cowards in nature except Hastings +and my Lord Leven's."[105] For on the right matters had fared rather +better with the Lowlanders. Many of Leven's Borderers had stood firm and +Hastings' Englishmen; and where the Southrons stood firm the Highlanders +wavered. But they were too few for Mackay to have any hopes of +retrieving the fortune of the day. The Highlanders were now busy with +the baggage, which offered a more tempting and less troublesome prize +than the struggling mass of fugitives. Mackay therefore collected the +few men he could get together, and led them across the Garry by a ford +above the field of battle over the mountains towards Stirling. On his +march he overtook some more of his runaways whom Ramsay was leading in +the same direction. Mackay did all it was possible for a brave man to do +to encourage his men and keep them together. But many were too +frightened to heed his words, or even the pistol with which he +threatened to shoot the first man he saw leaving his ranks. The news of +his defeat had spread with marvellous rapidity: the whole country was +up: every glen and mountain sent out its reapers to the rich harvest. +And where enemies did not exist, the fears of these poor wretches found +them. Every drover with his herd, every shepherd with his flock, was +magnified into a fresh array of the terrible Highlanders. On the evening +of Monday, the 29th, Mackay reached Stirling with barely one-fifth of +the force with which he had marched out of the town a week earlier. + +The Highland loss was calculated at nine hundred men. The Macdonalds and +Camerons were the principal sufferers, their position on the left and +left-centre having brought them in contact with the battalions who had +kept their ground. Glengarry's brother was among the killed, with +Macdonald of Largo, and no less than five cousins of Macdonald of the +Isles. Among the Lowlanders fell Hallyburton of Pitcur, and Gilbert +Ramsay, Dundee's favourite officer, who had dreamed overnight of the +victory and of his death. But though the battle had been won for James, +he had suffered a greater loss than William. A fresh army could replace +Mackay's broken battalions; but no one could replace Dundee, and Dundee +was dead. + +He had ridden at the head of his cavalry straight on Mackay's centre. +But for some unexplained reason his troopers had not followed him close; +whether their new captain did not like the guns, or had misunderstood +his orders, is not clear. Dunfermline, seeing his general's plumed hat +waving above the smoke, had spurred out of the ranks with sixteen +gentlemen, and with these sabres the guns were taken and silenced. +Dundee, seeing that all went well on the right wing, turned to the left +where the Macdonalds were wavering before the firmer front of Hastings' +Englishmen. As he galloped across the field to bring them to the +charge, a shot struck him in the right side immediately below his +breastplate. For a few strides further he clung swaying to his saddle, +and then sank from his horse into the arms of a soldier named Johnstone. +Like Wolfe on the heights of Abraham, he asked how the day went. "Well +for the King," said the man, "but I am sorry for your Lordship." And +like Wolfe, Dundee answered, "It is the less matter for me, seeing the +day goes well for my master." As his officers returned from the pursuit +they found him on the field, and it is said, though one would be glad to +disbelieve it, stripped by the very men whom he had led to victory. By +his side was found a bundle of papers. Among them was a letter from +Melfort, bidding him be sure that both he and James would feel +themselves bound by no promise of toleration circumstances had induced +them to make. Well might Balcarres, who knew his friend's disposition +better than Melfort, tell James how such foolish and disingenuous +dealing had grieved Dundee and all who wished honestly to the +cause.[106] + +Dundee's body, wrapped in a plaid, was carried to the castle, and a few +days later buried in the old church of Blair. In 1852 some bones, +believed to be his, were removed from Blair to the Church of Saint +Drostan in the parish of Old Deer, in Aberdeenshire; and eleven years +later a window of stained glass was placed in the same church, bearing, +on a brass plate in the window-sill, this inscription: "Sacred to the +memory of John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, who died in the +arms of victory, and whose battle-cry was 'King James and the Church of +Scotland!'" + +As no stone was ever known to mark his first grave; there is, of course, +ample room for the incredulous to smile over this late tribute to his +memory. But in truth the shadow of doubt broods over him in death as in +life. It is certain only that he received his death-wound on the field +of battle, and in the moment of victory. What else fell with him there +was well expressed by William. When the news from Killiecrankie came +down, the King was urged at once to send a large army into the +Highlands. "It is needless," he answered, "the war ended with Dundee's +life." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[90] See the sixth canto of "The Lady of the Lake." + + "We'll quell the savage mountaineer, + As their tinchel cows the game." + +The tinchel was the name given to the circle of hunters which, gradually +narrowing, hemmed the deer into a small space, where they could be +easily slaughtered. + +[91] Mackay complains bitterly in his Memoirs of "the unconcerned method +of the Government in matters which touch them nearest as to their +general safety, each being for his particular, and fixed upon his +private projects, so as neither to see nor be concerned for anything +else." + +[92] "When in front of Blair Castle their real destination was disclosed +to them by Lord Tullibardine [the heir of Athole did not assume this +style till 1695]. Instantly they rushed from their ranks, ran to the +adjoining stream of Banovy, and, filling their bonnets with water, drank +to the health of King James; and then, with colours flying and pipes +playing, 'fifteen hundred of the men of Athole, as reputable for arms as +any in the kingdom' [Mackay's words], put themselves under the command +of the Laird of Ballechin and marched off to join Lord Dundee." +Stewart's "Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland," i. 67. But this is +not strictly true. They joined neither Ballechin nor Dundee, but went +off on their own account to the mountains to watch the issue of events. + +[93] Probably Dundee wrote more confidently than he felt. He owned that +Murray might "have more to do to believe" Melfort's assurance than +James's; but, in fact, there was too good reason to disbelieve both. +From the first letter written from Struan it appears that the despatch +from James which had fallen into Hamilton's hands was much more +temperate and conciliatory than the earlier one brought to the +Convention by Crane. Dundee had not seen this despatch; and it is +possible that he described it rather as his own good sense urged him to +believe it must have been, than as it really was. The letters to +himself, which he summarises for Murray's benefit, must have been those +acknowledged in the postscript to Melfort of June 28th. It is, as we +shall presently see, certain that about this time James was induced to +assume, as he had before assumed when it was too late, the virtue of +toleration. How much of these promises Dundee really believed, it is +impossible to say. The history of our own time has shown, and is every +day showing, that neither wisdom nor experience will always avail to +prevent a man from believing that which it is his interest to believe. + +[94] Memoirs of Balcarres and of Lochiel. + +[95] I have given the modern style of these regiments as they were +before the last freak of the War Office. What they may be now, I do not +know; nor is the knowledge important, for the style I have used will +probably be most familiar to my readers. "My Uncle Toby," it will be +remembered, was of Leven's regiment. There exists a letter from +Schomberg to Lord Leven, especially commending to the latter's care a +gentleman of the name of Le Fevre. See the "Leven and Melville Papers." + +[96] Mackay says in his Memoirs that he left Edinburgh with two troops +of horse, and four of dragoons. It is certain that only the former were +engaged at Killiecrankie. But the general's narrative is throughout +extremely confused, and sometimes barely intelligible. Perhaps the +larger force was that he had counted on having; or the four troops of +dragoons may have been those he ordered to follow from Stirling. + +Alexander Hamilton, who commanded the artillery in the Covenanter's army +with which Leslie and Montrose made the famous passage of the Tyne in +1640. From Burton's description of them they can hardly have been very +dangerous, at least to the enemy. "They seem to have been made of tin +for the bore, with a coating of leather, all secured by tight cordage. A +horse could carry two of them, and it was their merit to stand a few +discharges before they came to pieces." "History of Scotland," vi. 302. + +[97] It is said that one of Dundee's arguments against attacking in the +pass was, that it did not become brave soldiers to engage a foe at +disadvantage, an argument which I should imagine Dundee was much too +sensible a man to employ to Highlanders. Had his force been sufficient +for him to close up the mouth of the pass after the Lowlanders had +entered, it is hard to imagine he would have lost the chance of catching +Mackay in such a trap. But his force was too small to divide: while the +nature of the ground would of course have told as much against those who +made as against those who met a charge, besides inevitably offending the +jealous point of honour which forbad one clan to take precedence of +another. It may be, too, that Dundee was not very well served by his +scouts. Mackay certainly seems to have got well on his way through the +pass before the other knew that he had entered it. See the "Life of +Mackay," and the "Rebellions in Scotland." + +[98] Memoirs of Lochiel. + +[99] For long afterwards the battle was known among the Highlanders as +the battle of Renrorie. + +[100] Mackay's Memoirs: "a quart de conversion" is his own phrase for +this change of front. + +[101] "Sketches of the Highlanders." + +[102] Among the Nairne Papers is what purports to be a copy of Dundee's +speech. It has been contemptuously rejected by some writers as a +manifest forgery, on the ground that no Highlander would have understood +a word of it. But there were Dundee's own officers and men to be +addressed; and, moreover, his language would have been perfectly +intelligible to some, at least, of the chiefs, who would have conveyed +its purpose to their men. It was still the fashion for a general to +harangue his troops before leading them into action, and it was a +fashion particularly in vogue among the Highlanders. I see no reason, +therefore, to doubt the general authenticity of this speech. Exactly as +it stands in the Nairne Papers probably Dundee did not deliver it; the +style being somewhat more grandiloquent than he was in the habit of +employing. But its general purpose, which I have endeavoured to give in +a paraphrase, seems to be very much what such a man would have said at +such a moment. The authority for Mackay's speech will be found in his +own despatch to Lord Melville after the battle. + +[103] It was the disastrous experience of this day that led Mackay to +devise a plan of fixing the bayonet to the musket so that each could be +used, as now, without interfering with the other. + +[104] "History of the Rebellions in Scotland." Even the men who had +stood by Lord Murray joined in the slaughter. He did his best to keep +them quiet, but was forced to own afterwards to Mackay that he had not +been very successful. "It cannot be helped," he wrote, "of almost all +country people, who are ready to pillage and plunder whenever they have +occasion." See the Bannatyne edition of Dundee's Letters, &c. + +[105] Mackay's opinion was that "the English commonalty were to be +preferred in matter of courage to the Scots." + +[106] One tradition, for a long while current among the Lowlands, +declares him to have been shot by one of his own men in the pay of +William Livingstone, who afterwards married Lady Dundee; Livingstone +having been for some weeks a close prisoner in Edinburgh with the other +disaffected officers of his regiment. Lady Dundee, the story goes on to +say, was aware of his intentions, and on the following New Year's day +sent "the supposed assassin a white night-cap, a pair of white gloves, +and a rope, being a sort of suit of canonicals for the gallows, either +to signify that she esteemed him worthy of that fate, or that she +thought the state of his mind might be such as to make him fit to hang +himself." Another tradition makes Dundee fall by a shot fired from the +window of Urrard House, in which a party of Mackay's men had lodged +themselves. He was watering his horse at the time at a pond called the +Goose-Dub, where the Laird of Urrard's geese were wont to disport +themselves. This story is evidently part of the old nurse's prophecy +mentioned on page 3. For these and many other anecdotes of the battle, +see the "History of the Rebellions in Scotland." I have taken my account +of Dundee's death from the memoirs of Balcarres and Lochiel, and from +the depositions, printed by Napier, of certain witnesses examined +afterwards at Edinburgh, among them being an officer of Kenmure's +regiment, who was carried prisoner into the castle after the battle and +heard Johnstone's story. As for the letter said to have been written by +Dundee to James after the battle, and now among the Nairne Papers, there +is more to be said for it than some have allowed. Macaulay, alluding to +it as dated the day after the battle, calls it as impudent a forgery as +Fingal. But in fact it bears no date at all: the handwriting is declared +on the best authority to be beyond question contemporary; and there is +no absolute proof that Dundee did not live long enough at least to +dictate an account of his victory to James. It is tolerably certain that +he would have done so had his strength permitted him. But in a letter +written from Dublin in the following November by James to Ballechin, +there is no mention of any letter from Dundee, and his death is there +alluded to as having occurred at the beginning of the action. This, of +course, is not conclusive; James's actual words are, "the loss you had +... at your entrance into action," which need not imply instant death. +On the whole, however, the balance of evidence seems to me to prove that +Dundee died where he fell, and that the letter is not genuine, though +certainly no forgery of Macpherson's. Those who are still curious on a +point which is, after all, of no very great importance, will find it +amply discussed in a note to the edition of Dundee's letters published +for the Bannatyne Club, and in an appendix to Napier's third volume. A +stone still marks the spot where Dundee is said to have fallen, and was +seen by Captain Burt less than fifty years after the battle. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Abjuration oath, the, 121 + + Acts against the Covenanters, 35-6, 40, 45, 121 + + Aird's Moss, skirmish at, 91 + + Annandale, Lord, 200 + + Argyle, Marquis of, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 34 + Earl of (son of preceding), 45, 119, 139 + Earl of (son of preceding), 171, 193 + + Athole, Marquis of, 44, 46, 139, 145 _note_, 153, 154, 159, 162, 188, 194 + men of, behaviour of the, 196 _note_, 211 and _note_ + + Auchencloy, execution of Covenanters at, 128-31 + + Auchinleck, Robert, execution of, 131-2 + + + Balcarres, Earl of, 141, 142, 143, 148, 149, 151, 155, 156, 157, 166, 189 + memoirs of the Revolution by, 144 _note_ + + Balfour, Colonel, 200, 205, 211 + of Burley, John, 58, 60, 62, 65, 69, 83 + + Ballechin, Stewart of, 194 + letter to, from James, 215 _note_ + + Belhaven, Lord, 200, 211 + + Blair Castle, 194, 195, 201, 214 + Church, 214, 215 + + Bothwell Bridge, battle of, 83-6 + + Brown, John, execution of, 116-22 + + Bruce, Andrew, of Earlshall, 55, 91 + + Buchan, Colonel, 107, 108, 109, 145 + + Burnet, Bishop, on Claverhouse, 4, 151 _note_ + + + Cameron of Lochiel, Sir Ewan, 169, 170, 171, 179, 181, 185, 198, 202, + 203, 210 + memoirs of, 5 _note_ + Allan, 207-8 + Richard, 91 + + Cameronians, the, 91 + + Cannon, Colonel, joins Claverhouse with Irishmen, 198 + + Cargill, Rev. Donald, 78, 79, 91 + + Charles the Second, signs the Covenant, 24 + crowned in Scotland, 24 + his opinion of Lauderdale's administration, 42 + acquits Claverhouse of malversation, 91 + + Charles the Second appoints Claverhouse to a regiment of cavalry, 97 + his goodwill to Claverhouse, 100 and _note_ + settles Claverhouse in possession of Dudhope, 101 + + Claverhouse, birth of, 1 + family and education, 2-7 + supposed to have served in French army, 8, 9 + gallant action at Seneff, 12, 13 + resigns commission in Dutch service, 15 + story of his reasons for resigning, 15, 16 _note_ + applies to Montrose for employment, 44 + receives lieutenant's commission, 45 + portrait of, 46, 47 + refuses to interfere illegally with Covenanters, 48 + appointed Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire, 55 + at Drumclog, 70 + at Glasgow, 72, 73 + at Bothwell Bridge, 85, 86 + accused of malversation, 90, 91 _note_ + appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire, 92 + his policy towards the Covenanters, 92-3, 135 and _note_ + receives command of cavalry regiment, 97 + his quarrel with the Dalrymples, 95-7 + his visit to England, 97-100 + made a Privy-Councillor, 100 + obtains estate of Dudhope, 101 + his marriage, 101-5 + merciful conduct to prisoners, 109 + examination into charges against, 111-36 + in disgrace, 125-6 + his character, 134-5 + his quarrel with Queensberry, 139-42 + second visit to England, 142 + Provost of Dundee and Major-General, 143 + marches into England, 145 + quartered in London, 146 + joins James at Salisbury, 146 + created Viscount of Dundee, 146 + his advice to James, 147 + marches to Reading, 147 + receives a message from William at Watford, 148 + attends Scottish Council in London, 148 + waits on James at Whitehall for the last time, 149 + negotiations with William, 151 + returns to Edinburgh, 151 + plot to assassinate him, 158 + leaves Edinburgh, 160 + his interview with the Duke of Gordon, 160 + proclaimed traitor by the Convention, 164 + escapes to Glen Ogilvy, 166 + a son born to him, 173 + saves Inverness from Keppoch, 174 + his raid upon Dunkeld and Perth, 175 + demonstration outside Dundee, 177 + at Lochaber, 179 + the muster of the Clans, 179-80 + his popularity with the Highlanders, 182-3 + returns to Lochaber, 185 + re-assembles the Clans, 198 + garrisons Blair Castle, 198 + holds Council of War, 201-4 + addresses his soldiers, 208 + death and burial, 213-15 + + Cleland, William, 65, 159 + + "Cloud of Witnesses," the, value of the testimony of, 123 + + Cochrane, Lady Jean, 101, 102, 104 + + Convention of Estates, the, 155-9, 161-2, 165-6 + + Covenanters, assembly of, at Mauchline, 21 + under Strachan, 28 + cruelties of, 29, 30 + character of, 29, 59 + address of, to Charles, 32 + rising of, in the West, 37 + divisions among, 77-80, 82, 83 + declarations by, 63, 91, 120, 121 _note_ + treatment of, after Bothwell Bridge, 87-8 + rabble the Episcopalian clergy, 154 + + Creichton, Captain, 176-7 + + Cromwell, Oliver, his advice to the Presbyterians, 20 + negotiates with Argyle, 21, 25 + his policy towards the Presbyterians, 25-6 + + + Dalrymples of Stair, their quarrel with Claverhouse, 95-7 + + Dalziel, Thomas, 38, 81, 85, 106, 145 _note_ + + Declaration of Indulgence, the, 8 + repeal of, 9 + the Rutherglen, 63 + the Hamilton, 82 + the Sanquhar, 91 + + Defoe on Claverhouse, 123 _note_, 127, 131 + value of his testimony, 124 _note_ + + Douglas, General James, 123, 126, 139-40, 145, 147, 188 + + Drumclog, battle of, 64-71 + + Drumlanrig, Viscount, 145 _note_, 147 + + Drummond, General, 126 + Alexander, of Bahaldy, 169 + John, of Bahaldy, 5 _note_ + + Drunken Parliament, the, 33 + + Dumbarton, Earl of, 123, 137, 138, 147, 150 + + Dundee, Viscount of. _See_ Claverhouse + memoirs of, 16 _note_ + Viscountess of, second marriage and death, 105 _note_ + story of, and Col. Livingstone, 214 _note_ + + Dundonald, Earl of, 101, 103 + + Dunfermline, Earl of, 172, 180, 189, 207, 213 + + Dunmore, Earl of, 145 _note_, 150 + + + Edinburgh, riots in, 142, 154-5 + + Enterkin Hill, rescue of Covenanters at, 109 + + Episcopal clergy, Scotch, Burnet's complaint against, 48 _note_ + + + Feud between Macdonalds and Mackintoshes, 123 + + Field-preaching, Act against, 40 + + + Gordon, Duke of, in command of Edinburgh Castle, 155-6, 160-61, + 187 _note_ + + Graham, David, 3, 115, 180 + + Graham, Robert, 68 and _note_ + + Grameis, the, 13, 173 + + Grierson, Sir Robert. _See_ Lag + + + Hackston of Rathillet, 58, 60, 83, 91 + + Hamilton, Duke of, 42, 102, 148, 153, 155, 159, 161-3, 165-6 + Robert, 62-3, 65, 71-3, 77-9, 82-4 + + Highland Host, the, 41-2 + + Highlanders, loyalty of, 169-71 + their value as soldiers, 168, 181 + + Hislop, Andrew, execution of, 125-7 + + + James the Second, as Duke of York, favours Claverhouse, 44 + High Commissioner in Scotland, 91, 97 + promotes Claverhouse, 139-40 + summons him to London, 141 + announces invasion of England to Scotch Council, 143 + orders Scotch troops to England, 144 + at Salisbury, 145-7 + his flight and return, 148 + ordered to leave the capital by William, 148 + his last interview with Balcarres and Claverhouse, 149-50 + leaves England, 150 + his foolish letter to the Estates, 156 + his letter to Claverhouse falls into hands of Hamilton, 165 + his promises of toleration, 197 _note_, 214 + his letter to Ballechin, 215 _note_ + + + Keppoch, Colin Macdonald of, 170, 173-4, 183 + + Killing-time, the, 111-36 + + King, Rev. John, 64, 71 + + + Lag, the Laird of, 49-53, 114 _note_ + + Latin poem on Battle of Bothwell Bridge, 68 _note_ + + Lauderdale, Duke of, 33, 39, 42, 58, 98 + Earl of, 98-101 + + Leather guns, 201 + + Leighton, Bishop, 34, 40 + + Leslie, David, 30 + + Letters from Claverhouse to Archbishop Burnet, 107, 108 + to Duke of Hamilton, 163-4 + to James, 215 _note_ + to Earl of Melfort, 186-92 + to Linlithgow, 48-9, 54, 56, 64-5, 67, 70 + to Lord Murray, 196-7 + to Queensberry, 92, 94, 96 _note_, 99 _note_, 103-4, 109, 117, 138 + + Leven, Earl of, 166, 200, 212 + + Linlithgow, Earl of, 44, 81 + + Livingstone, George, Lord, 83, 145, 162-3 + Sir Thomas, 150, 172, 185, 199 + William, 176, 177 _note_, 214 _note_ + + + Macaulay on Claverhouse, 13, 17, 18, 119, 125, 151 _note_ + + Macdonald of Keppoch, 170 + + Macdonalds, killed at Killiecrankie, 213 + + Mackay, General, story of his alleged quarrel with Claverhouse, 16 _note_ + commands the troops in Scotland, 172 + tries to raise the Clans for William, 178-9 + marches against Claverhouse, 184-5 + new plan of campaign, 193 + sends Lord Murray to Blair Castle, 195 + takes the field again, 199 + the strength of his army, 200-1 and _note_ + marches through the Pass of Killiecrankie, 204-5 + his order of battle, 206 + his address to his troops, 208 + his bravery, 211 + his opinion of English soldiers, 212 _note_ + his retreat to Stirling, 212-13 + John, of Rockfields, his biography of General Mackay, 16 _note_ + + Mackenzie, Sir George, 99, 159, 188 + Colin, 105 + + Macpherson, James, alleged forgery of letters from Claverhouse by, 215 + _note_ + + Martyrs, the Wigtown, 112-15 + + Mekellwrath, Matthew, execution of, 128 + + Melfort, Earl of, 142, 144, 156-8, 165, 186, 207 + + Mitchell, James, attempt to assassinate Sharp by, 58 + + Mitchell, Robert, 130 + + Monmouth, Duke of, appointed to command army in Scotland, 80 + his leniency to the Covenanters, 82, 84, 87 + executed, 139 + + Montrose, Marquis of, 44-5, 46 + + Munro, Dr., on Claverhouse, 5 + + Murray, Earl of, letter from to Queensberry, 140 + Lord Charles. _See_ Earl of Dunmore + Lord, 194-7, 204, 211 _note_ + + Muster-roll of Claverhouse's regiment, 145 _note_ + + + Nairne Papers, the, 209 _note_, 215 _note_ + + Napier, Mark, his "Life and Times of Dundee," 5 _note_ + + + Peirson, Rev. Peter, murder of, 129-30 + + Perth, Earl of, 39 _note_, 142, 154-5 + + "Pilliwincks," torture of the. _See_ Thumbkin + + Plot to assassinate Claverhouse and Mackenzie, 159 + + + Queensberry, Duke of, 55, 92, 99, 137-8, 141, 162. _See_ Letters from + Claverhouse to + + + Ramsay, Lieut.-Col., 184, 211, 212 + Gilbert, 213 + + Remonstrants, the, 21, 25-8 + + Renwick, head of the Covenanters, proclamation by, 121 _note_ + + Resolutioners, the, 21, 25-8 + + Ross, George, Lord, 57 and _note_, 61, 72 + William, Lord, 105 and _note_, 200 + + Rullion Green, battle of, 38 + + Rutherford, Rev. Samuel, 35 + + Ruthven Castle destroyed, 184 + + + Saint Drostan, church of, memorial to Claverhouse in, 215-6 + + Sanquhar Declaration, the, 91 + + Scotch troops ordered to England, 144 + + Scotland, state of, reviewed, 17-76 + + Scott, Sir Walter, his account of Drumclog in "Old Mortality," 67 + his account of Bothwell Bridge in the same, 85 and _note_ + + Seneff, battle of, 12 + + Sharp, James, 26, 31 + consecrated Primate of Scotland, 34 + murdered, 57, 60 + + Simpson, Rev. Robert, on Claverhouse and the Covenanters, 132 _note_ + + Smith, Robert, evidence on battle of Bothwell Bridge, 85 + + Stormont, Viscount of, 176 and _note_ + + + Thumbkin, torture of the, 39 _note_ + + Tinchel, the, 193 and _note_ + + Traditions about Claverhouse, 3, 47 _note_, 70, 182, 214 _note_ + + Turner, Sir James, 36-8 + + + Walker, Patrick, on Claverhouse, 7 _note_, 135 + his opinion of Wodrow, 116 + on death of John Brown, 116-17, 122 and _note_ + + Welsh, Rev. John, 56-7, 78, 82 + + Westerhall, Johnstone of, 125 + + Western Shires, the, nursery of the Covenanters, 29 + + Whiggamores' raid, the, 22 + + Whigs, origin of the name of, 23 _note_ + brought into Edinburgh by Hamilton, 158-9, 161 + + William the Third, stories of his early acquaintance with Claverhouse, + 12, 15-16 + his message to Claverhouse, 148 + tries to persuade Claverhouse and Balcarres to enter his service, 151 + and _note_ + his opinion of Claverhouse, 216 + + Winrahame, George, 118 _note_, 160 + + Wodrow, Rev. Robert, his "History of the Sufferings of the Church of + Scotland," 51-2 + vagueness of his charges against Claverhouse, 88 + on the Wigtown Martyrs, 113-14 + on the death of John Brown, 116 + Andrew Hislop, 127 + on the murder of Rev. Peter Peirson, 129-30 and _note_ + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: + +VARIANT SPELLINGS +Page vi: John Mackay is of Rockfield (p. vi); and Rockfields (p. 16 and +index, under Mackay). Amended Rockfield to Rockfields. + +Page vi.: Variant spelling of Scourie and Scowrie retained, however, as +the author could well have spelled it Scowrie (though online historical +sources suggest Hugh Mackay was born at Scourie). + +Page 133: Hyslop has been in all other instances spelt Hislop; corrected. + +Page 159: "bloodly Clavers" matches book: retained. + +Variant spelling of doggerel/doggrel (one instance of each) retained. + +VARIANT CAPITALISATIONS +Inconsistent capitalisation of Council-Board and Council-board (one +instance of each) retained. + +Capitalisation of Churchman (p. 9) and Legislature (p. 9) retained + +The Killing Time variously capitalised as killing-time, Killing-time, +Killing-Time and Killing Time (one of each). Two of these are enclosed +in quote marks and one is in the index. Retained. + +Popery and popery/popish and Popish variant capitalisations retained +(read properly in context). + +VARIANT SPELLINGS IN QUOTED LETTERS +While the author notes that Claverhouse could not spell correctly (for +example p. 6), the only misspellings that appear in the reproduced +letters are proper names: there are no other spelling errors. It would +appear that the transcriber was correcting the common English without +correcting the proper names. Subsequently the following misspelled +proper names have been corrected: + +Page 108: Mauchlin corrected to Mauchline. + +Page 138: Sanquar corrected to Sanquhar (spelt correctly in a previous +letter, p. 108). + +Page 188: Variant spelling of Locheil, elsewhere Lochiel, corrected. In +the same letter there is a reference to Queenberry (otherwise +Queensberry), ditto corrected. + +Page 190: Kircudbright corrected to Kirkcudbright (spelt correctly in at +least 3 previous letters, see pp. 54, 93 and 94). + +HYPHENS +One instance of each headquarters, head-quarters and one split over the +end of a line. Settled on headquarters as the more common spelling. + +PUNCTUATION +Page 69: "; amended to ;", which is the standard punctuation arrangement +in the book. + +Page 188: "strangely, For" amended to "strangely. For". + +Page 192: Editorial comment in quoted letter (that) is in parentheses +and not square brackets as has been used elsewhere in book. Amended to +square brackets. + +MISCELLANEOUS +TOC created for this text (no TOC in the original book) + +Page 117: "...I caused shoot him dead;" checks out against original +book. Left as is. + +Index: Page reference for Whigs, origin of name fixed to page 23 +(footnote 8); no note on page 82 (original reference in book). + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLAVERHOUSE*** + + +******* This file should be named 18254-8.txt or 18254-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/2/5/18254 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Claverhouse</p> +<p>Author: Mowbray Morris</p> +<p>Release Date: April 25, 2006 [eBook #18254]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLAVERHOUSE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span><br /> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> +<h1>CLAVERHOUSE</h1> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><b>English Worthies</b></h2> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Edited by ANDREW LANG</span></p> + +<h2>CLAVERHOUSE</h2> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>MOWBRAY MORRIS</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class='center'>NEW YORK<br /> + +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY<br /> + +1887</p> + +<p class='center'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p class='center'> +<a href="#A_LIST_OF_AUTHORITIES_FOR_THE_LIFE_OF_CLAVERHOUSE"><b>A LIST OF AUTHORITIES FOR THE LIFE OF CLAVERHOUSE.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII49"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#INDEX"><b>INDEX.</b></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="A_LIST_OF_AUTHORITIES_FOR_THE_LIFE_OF_CLAVERHOUSE" id="A_LIST_OF_AUTHORITIES_FOR_THE_LIFE_OF_CLAVERHOUSE"></a>A LIST OF AUTHORITIES FOR THE LIFE OF CLAVERHOUSE.</h2> + + +<p>"An Account of the Proceedings of the Estates in Scotland:" London, +1689.</p> + +<p>Balcarres' "Memoirs touching the Revolution in Scotland:" printed for +the Bannatyne Club, 1841.</p> + +<p>Browne's "History of the Highlands and the Highland Clans:" 2nd ed., +1845.</p> + +<p>Burnet's "History of My Own Time," ed. 1809.</p> + +<p>Burt's "Letters from the North of Scotland," ed. 1818.</p> + +<p>Burton's "History of Scotland," 2nd ed.</p> + +<p>Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army."</p> + +<p>"Memoirs of Captain John Creichton:" Scott's edition of Swift's Works, +vol. xii. ed. 1883.</p> + +<p>"Memoirs of Sir Ewan Cameron of Lochiel:" printed for the Abbotsford +Club, 1842.</p> + +<p>Chambers's "History of the Rebellions in Scotland:" Constable's +Miscellany, vol. xlii.</p> + +<p>"The Cloud of Witnesses," 1714.</p> + +<p>Dalrymple's "Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland," 2nd ed., 1771.</p> + +<p>Defoe's "Memoirs of the Church of Scotland," 1714.</p> + +<p>"Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dundee," &c., 1714.</p> + +<p>"Letters of the Viscount of Dundee, with Illustrative Documents:" +printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1826.</p> + +<p>Lt.-Colonel Fergusson's "Laird of Lag," 1886.</p> + +<p>Fountainhall's "Historical Notices of Scottish Affairs:" printed for the +Bannatyne Club, 1848.</p> + +<p>Howie's "Heroes for the Faith, or Lives of the Scots Worthies," edited +by William McGavin, ed. 1883.</p> + +<p>Kirkton's "True History of the Church of Scotland from the Restoration +to the year 1678," edited by C.K. Sharpe, 1817. This edition includes +Russell's account of the murder of Archbishop Sharp and of the affairs +at Drumclog and Glasgow.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span></p><p>"The Lauderdale Papers:" printed for the Camden Society, 1884-5.</p> + +<p>"The Leven and Melville Papers:" printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1843.</p> + +<p>"The Lives of the Lindsays," 2nd ed., 1858.</p> + +<p>Macpherson's "Original Papers," 1775.</p> + +<p>Macaulay's "History of England," ed. 1882.</p> + +<p>"Memoirs of the War carried on in Scotland and Ireland, 1689-91," by +Major-General Hugh Mackay: printed for the Abbotsford Club, 1833.</p> + +<p>"Life of Lieut.-General Hugh Mackay of Scowrie," by John Mackay of +Rockfields, 1836.</p> + +<p>Napier's "Memorials and Letters Illustrative of the Life and Times of +John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee," 1859-62.</p> + +<p>"New Statistical Account of Scotland," 1845.</p> + +<p>Pennant's "Tour in Scotland," 1774.</p> + +<p>Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather."</p> + +<p>Simpson's "Times of Claverhouse," 1844.</p> + +<p>Simpson's "Gleanings in the Mountains," 1846.</p> + +<p>Shield's "Short Memorial of the Sufferings and Grievances of the +Presbyterians in Scotland," 1690.</p> + +<p>Stewart's "Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland," 1822.</p> + +<p>"Remarks on Col. Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders," 1823.</p> + +<p>Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana," 1732, reprinted at Edinburgh 1837.</p> + +<p>Wodrow's "History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland," Burn's +ed. 1838.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>CLAVERHOUSE.</h2> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>John Graham, Viscount of Dundee, best known, perhaps, in history by his +territorial title of Claverhouse, was born in the year 1643. No record, +indeed, exists either of the time or place of his birth, but a decision +of the Court of Session seems to fix the former in that year—the year, +as lovers of historical coincidences will not fail to remark, of the +Solemn League and Covenant.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>He came of an ancient and noble stock. The family of Graham can be +traced back in unbroken succession to the beginning of the twelfth +century; and indeed there have been attempts to encumber its scutcheon +with the quarterings of a fabulous antiquity. Gram, we are told, was in +some primeval time the generic name for all independent leaders of men, +and was borne by one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> earliest kings of Denmark. Another has +surmised that if Graham be the proper spelling of the name, it may be +compounded of Gray and Ham, the dwelling, or home, of Gray; but if +Grame, or Græme, be the correct form, then we must regard it as a +genuine Saxon word, signifying fierce, or grim. Such exercises are +ingenious, and to some minds, possibly, interesting; but they are surely +in this case superfluous. A pedigree, says Scott laughingly as he sits +down to trace his own, is the national prerogative of every Scottishman, +as unalienable as his pride and poverty; but he must be very poor or +very proud who cannot find his account in the legitimate pedigree of the +House of Montrose.</p> + +<p>The first of the branch of Claverhouse, which took its name from a small +town in Forfarshire a few miles to the north of Dundee, was John, son of +John Graham of Balargus in the same shire. Graham of Balargus was the +son of another John, who was the second son of Sir Robert Graham of +Fintrey, the eldest son of Robert Graham of Strathcanon, son and heir of +Sir William Graham of Kincardine, by his wife the Lady Mary Stuart, +widow of George first Earl of Angus and daughter of King Robert the +Third—the unhappy king of "The Fair Maid of Perth." The grandson of +John Graham was Sir William Graham of Claverhouse, the chosen friend of +his cousin, the gallant and unfortunate Marquis of Montrose. By his wife +Marion, daughter of Thomas Fotheringham of Powrie, Sir William had two +sons, George and Walter, of whom the latter was the ancestor of those +Grahams of Duntroon who at a later period assumed the title of Dundee. +George<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> left one son, another Sir William, who married Lady Jean +Carnegie, daughter of the first Earl of Northesk, and by her had four +children—two daughters, Margaret and Anne, and two sons, John and +David. David is, as will be seen, not unrecorded in the annals of his +country; but his name has been completely eclipsed by that of his elder +brother, the "bloody Claver'se" of the Whigs, the "bonnie Dundee" of the +Jacobites, one of the most execrated or one of the most idolised +characters in the history of this kingdom, according to the temper and +the taste of the writers and readers of history.</p> + +<p>The register of that year shows that the two brothers matriculated at +Saint Leonard's College in the University of Saint Andrews, on February +13th, 1665. Before this date all is a blank. Of John's boyish years +history and tradition are equally silent. Long after his death, indeed, +some idle stories became current, as their fashion is, of prophecies and +prodigies in that early time. His nurse is said to have foretold that a +river taking its name from a goose would prove fatal to him, and to have +lamented that her child's career of glory had been frustrated because he +had been checked in the act of devouring a live toad. This last story +sounds much like a popular version of the Grecian fable of Demophoön, as +told in the Homeric hymn to Demeter. But, as a matter of fact, it was a +legend current of the infancy both of the Regent Morton and of Montrose +himself before it was given to Claverhouse; and possibly of many other +youthful members of the Scottish aristocracy, who happened to make +themselves obnoxious to a class of their countrymen whose piety<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> seems +to have added no holy point to their powers of invective. There is an +ingenious fancy, and, at least, as much reason as is generally displayed +in mythological researches, in the surmise that this particular legend +may have owed its origin to the French connection with Scotland, a +connection which would naturally have found little favour in the eyes of +the followers of John Knox.</p> + +<p>Claverhouse seems to have neglected neither the studies nor the +discipline of the University. He has, indeed, in our own time been +denied enough even of the common intellectual culture of his day to save +him from ridicule as a blockhead. But there is no reason for this +contemptuous statement. His own contemporaries, and others, who if not +exactly contemporaries have at least as good right to be heard as a +writer of our own time, have left very different testimony. Burnet, who, +though connected by marriage with Claverhouse and at one time much in +his confidence, was the last of men to praise him unduly, has vouched +both for his abilities and virtues. Dalrymple, who was certainly no +Jacobite, though censured by the Whigs for his indulgence to James, has +described him as from his earliest youth an earnest reader of the great +actions recorded by the poets and historians of antiquity. More +particular testimony still is offered by a writer whose work was not, +indeed, undertaken till nearly fifty years after the battle of +Killiecrankie, but whose pictures of those men and times have all the +freshness and colour of a contemporary. The author of those memoirs of +Lochiel of which Macaulay has made such brilliant use, has credited +Claverhouse with a considerable knowledge of mathematics<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> and general +literature, especially such branches of those studies as were likely to +be of most use to a soldier. Lastly, Doctor Munro, Principal of the +College of Edinburgh, when charged before a Parliamentary Commission +with rejoicing at the news of Killiecrankie, denied at least that he had +rejoiced at the death of the conqueror, for whom he owned "an +extraordinary value," such as, in his own words, "no gentleman, soldier, +scholar, or civilised citizen will find fault with me for."<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>It would be as foolish to take these witnesses too literally, as it is +foolish to call Claverhouse a blockhead because he could not spell +correctly. For many years after his death men of position and abilities +far more distinguished and acknowledged than his, were not ashamed to +spell with a recklessness that would inevitably now entail on any +fourth-form boy the last penalty of academic law. Scott says that +Claverhouse spelled like a chambermaid; and Macaulay has compared the +handwriting of the period to the handwriting of washerwomen. The +relative force of these comparisons others may determine, but it is +certain that in this respect at least Claverhouse sinned in good +company. The letters of even such men as the Lord Advocate, Sir George +Mackenzie, and the Dalrymples,—letters written in circumstances more +favourable to composition than the despatches of a soldier are ever +likely to be—are every whit as capricious and startling in their +variations from the received standard of orthography. If it is +impossible quite to agree with his staunch eulogist, Drummond of +Bahaldy, that Claverhouse was "much master in the epistolary way of +writing," at least his letters are plain and to the purpose; and the +letters of a soldier have need to be no more.</p> + +<p>It is, of course, unlikely that he could have been, even for those days, +a cultivated man. The studies of youth are but the preparation for the +culture of manhood; and after his three quiet years at Saint Andrews +were done, his leisure for study must have been scant indeed. But all we +know of his character, temperament, and habits of life forbid the +supposition that he wasted that precious time either in idleness or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +indulgence. His bitterest enemies have borne witness to his singular +freedom from those vices which his age regarded more as the +characteristics than the failings of a gentleman. The most scurrilous of +the many scurrilous chroniclers of the Covenanters' wrongs has owned in +a characteristic passage that his life was uniformly clean.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> Gifted by +nature with quick parts, of dauntless ambition and untiring energy both +of mind and body, he was not the man to have let slip in idleness any +chance of fortifying himself for the great struggle of life, or to have +neglected studies which might be useful to him in the future because +they happened to be irksome in the present. It is only, therefore, in +reason to suppose that he managed his time at the University prudently +and well, and this may easily be done without assuming for him any +special intellectual gifts or graces.</p> + +<p>But, as a matter of strict fact, from the date of his matriculation to +the year 1672 nothing is really known of Claverhouse or his affairs. It +has, however, been generally assumed that, after the usual residence of +three years at the University, he crossed over into France to study the +art of war under the famous Turenne. As the practice was common then +among young men of good birth and slender fortune, it is not unlikely +that Claverhouse followed it. A large body of English troops was a few +years later serving under the French standard. In 1672 the Duke of +Monmouth, then in the prime of his fortune, joined Turenne with a force +of six thousand English and Scottish troops, amongst whom marched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> John +Churchill, a captain of the Grenadier company of Monmouth's own +regiment. But the military glory Claverhouse is said to have won in the +French service cannot have been great: his studies in the art of war +must have been mainly theoretical. In the year 1668, the year in which +Claverhouse is said to have left Scotland for France, Lewis had been +compelled to pause in his career of conquest. The Triple Alliance had in +that year forced upon him the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. He had been +compelled to restore Franche Comté, though he still kept hold of the +towns he had won in the Low Countries. But the joy with which all +parties in England welcomed this alliance had scarcely found expression +when Charles, impatient of the economy of his Parliament and indifferent +to its approval, opened those negotiations which, with the help of his +sister the Duchess of Orleans, and that other Duchess, Louisa of +Portsmouth, resulted in the secret treaty of Dover. We are not now +concerned to examine the particulars of a transaction which even Charles +himself did not dare to confide entirely to his ministers, familiar as +the Cabal was with shameless deeds. It is enough for our present purpose +to remember that, in return for a large annual subsidy and the promise +of help should England again take up arms against her king, Charles +bound himself to aid Lewis in crushing the rising power of Holland and +to support the claims of the House of Bourbon to the throne of Spain. +Supplies were obtained for immediate purposes by closing the Exchequer, +an act which ruined half the goldsmiths in London. As a set-off against +this, a royal proclamation, arrogating to itself powers only Parliament +could rightly exercise,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> suspended the laws against Nonconformists and +Catholics. The latter were, indeed, allowed to say Mass only within +their private houses, but to dissenters of every other class was granted +the freest liberty of public worship.</p> + +<p>The declaration of war followed close on the declaration of indulgence. +The immediate result of the latter was the release of John Bunyan from +an imprisonment of twelve years, and the publication of the "Pilgrim's +Progress." A more important and lasting result was the Revolution of +1688. Both declarations were unpopular, but the Declaration of +Indulgence was the most unpopular of the two. It was unpopular with the +zealous Churchman for the concessions it made both to Papist and +Puritan. It was unpopular with the Puritan because he was compelled to +share it with the Papist. It was unpopular with the Papist because it +was less liberal to him than to the Puritan. It was unpopular with all +classes of patriotic Englishmen alike, because it directly violated that +prerogative of the Legislature for which so much English blood had been +already shed. It was soon, indeed, repealed, and its repeal was soon +followed by the dissolution of the Cabal, the passing of the Test Act, +and peace with Holland. But though the fears of the nation were thus +laid to rest for a time, it now first became clear to those who could +look beyond the passing day, and whose vision was sharpened by the +memory of what had been, how surely England was moving under the son +back again to a state of things which had cost the father his crown and +his life.</p> + +<p>But to return to the declaration of war. Lewis received, and probably +expected to receive, but little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> support from his English allies, and in +a furious action fought off the coast of Suffolk De Ruyter more than +held his own against the combined fleets of France and England. But on +land the French King carried all before him. Led by Condé and Turenne, +the ablest captains of the age, a vast host poured across the Rhine. The +Dutch were waked from the vain dreams of a French alliance, into which +they had been lulled by the chiefs of the great merchant class which had +risen to power on the fall of the House of Orange, only to find +themselves helpless. Town after town opened its gates to the invader: +three out of the seven provinces of the Federation were already in his +hands: his watch-fires were seen from the walls of Amsterdam. In the +first mad paroxysm of their despair the people rose against their +leaders. De Ruyter, who had borne their flag to victory on many a hard +fought day, was insulted in the public streets: the Grand Pensionary, +John De Witt, and his brother Cornelius were brutally murdered before +the palace of the States-General at the Hague. The office of Stadtholder +was re-established; and the common voice called back to it a prince of +that House which twenty years ago had been excluded for ever from the +affairs of a State which had never existed without it.</p> + +<p>William Henry, great-grandson of the founder of the Dutch Republic, +hereafter to be known as William the Third of England, was then in his +twenty-second year. The heroic spirit of William the Silent lived again +in the frail body of his descendant. Without a moment's hesitation he +accepted the hard and thankless task imposed upon him. With wise counsel +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> brave words he calmed and revived the drooping hearts of his +countrymen. He rejected with scorn the offers both of Charles and Lewis +to seduce him from his allegiance. He replied to Buckingham's +remonstrances on the folly of a struggle which could only mean ruin to +the Commonwealth, that he would fight while there was a ditch left for +him to die in. His courage spread. The Dutch flew to arms: without a +regretful voice they summoned to their aid their last irresistible ally: +the dykes were cut, and soon the waters, destroying to save, spread over +all that trim and fertile land. The tide of invasion was checked, and +with the next spring it began to roll slowly backward. The great princes +of the Continent became alarmed at this new prospect of French ambition. +The sluggish Emperor began to bestir himself. Spain, fast dwindling to +the shadow of that mighty figure which had once bestrode two worlds, +sent some troops to aid a cause which was, indeed, half her own. By sea +the Dutch could do no more than keep their flag flying, but it says much +for their sailors that they could do that against a foe their equal in +skill and courage, and almost always their superior in numbers. On land +they were more successful. The Bishop of Munster was driven back from +the walls of Groningen: Naerden and Bonne were retaken: before the +summer was over the whole electorate of Cologne was in the hands of +William and his allies. The campaign of 1674 was less fortunate to the +young general. Charles had, it is true, been compelled by his Parliament +to make a peace more favourable than the Dutch could have hoped for; but +in almost every direction Lewis made good again the ground he had lost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +in the previous year. William, indeed, took Grave, but he was compelled +to raise the siege of Oudenarde. A large force of Germans under the +Elector of Brandenburg was driven out of Alsace across the Rhine by +Turenne, who had a short while before completely routed the Imperial +troops under the Duke of Lorraine at Sintzheim. Franche Comté was +reconquered in a few weeks. But the most notable action of the year was +the battle of Seneff, fought near Mons on August 11th between William +and Condé. It was long, bloody, and indecisive; but it raised William's +reputation for courage and ability to the highest pitch, and drew from +his veteran opponent one of those compliments a brave soldier is always +glad to pay a foeman worthy of his steel. "The Prince of Orange," said +Condé, "has acted in everything like an old captain, except in venturing +his life too like a young soldier."</p> + +<p>The battle of Seneff has for us, too, a particular importance. It gives +us, according to some of his biographers, the first glimpse of +Claverhouse as a soldier. The story goes that, at an early period of the +fight, William with a handful of his men was closely beset by a large +body of French troops. In making his way back to his own lines the +Prince's horse foundered in some marshy ground, and he would inevitably +have been either killed or made prisoner had not Claverhouse, who was of +the party, mounted him on his own charger and brought him safe out of +the press. For this service William gave the young soldier (who was, +however, the Prince's senior by seven years) a captain's commission in +his own regiment of Horse Guards, commanded by the Count de Solmes who +led the English<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> van on the day of the Boyne. This story has been +contemptuously rejected by Macaulay as a Jacobite fable composed many +years after both actors in the scene were dead. The story may not be +true, but Macaulay's reasons for rejecting it are not quite exact. +Reports of Claverhouse's gallantry at Seneff were certainly current +during his lifetime. It is mentioned, for example, in a copy of doggerel +verses addressed to Claverhouse by some nameless admirer on New Year's +Day 1683.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> And there is yet more particular testimony, though, like +the former, it is of that nature which a historian will always feel +himself at liberty to reject if it does not match with the rest of his +case, and which counsel on the opposite side are accordingly at equal +liberty to make use of. In the memoirs of Lochiel mention is made of a +Latin poem written by a certain Mr. James Philip of Amryclos, in +Forfarshire, who bore Dundee's standard at Killiecrankie. Lochiel's +biographer does not quote the Latin text, but gives translations of +certain passages. The original manuscript, bearing the date 1691, is now +in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. Napier had seen this "Grameis," +as the work is called, and compared it with the translations, which he +declares to be very imperfect, as, from the specimens he gives, they +undoubtedly are. Macaulay, who never saw the Latin text, owns to have +taken a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> few touches from the passages quoted in the memoirs for his +inimitable picture of affairs in the Highlands during the days +immediately preceding Killiecrankie; but the passage recording the early +gallantry of the conqueror at Killiecrankie he did not take.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>It is unfortunate that the tale of these early years should assume so +controversial a tone. But where all, or almost all, is sheer conjecture, +it is inevitable that the narrative must rest rather on argument than +fact. The precise moment when Claverhouse transferred his services from +the French to the Dutch flag<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> is, in truth, no more certain than the +date of his birth is certain, or his conduct at Saint Andrews, or, +indeed, than it is certain that he ever at any time served under Lewis. +The tale of those English services under the French King is in the last +degree confused and doubtful. If it is so in the case of such a man as +Marlborough, small wonder that it is so in the case of such a man as +Claverhouse, whose name was practically unknown till ten years before +his death. That he did, however, at one time bear arms in the Dutch +ranks seems as indisputable as any part of the scanty story of the first +two-and-thirty years of his life can be said to be. But beyond this it +is impossible to go.</p> + +<p>In 1677 he left William's service and returned to Scotland. An idle +story was circulated some years afterwards of a brawl with one of +William's officers who had received the regiment promised to +Claverhouse, of a reprimand from William, and an indignant vow never to +serve again under a prince who had broken his word. The judicial weight +that has been brought to demolish this slender fabric is unnecessary. +The story itself is not consistent with the characters of either men. It +is very possible that the young soldier, like another young man of those +days, may have grown "tired with knocking at preferment's door;" but, in +truth, a reason to account for their parting is very easily found. With +the campaign of 1677 all fighting on the Continent was stayed for a +time. Claverhouse's profession was fighting. After the peace of Nimeguen +in 1678 Scotland was the only European country then offering a chance of +employment to a soldier of fortune. In 1677, accordingly, he resigned +his commission in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> the Dutch service and crossed over into England, +taking with him a reputation for courage and ability that at once +recommended him to the King and Duke of York for a man likely to be +useful in such affairs as they had then on hand. Indeed, the character +that it is clear he brought back with him from Holland is alone +sufficient to disprove the story of the quarrel in the courtyard at +Loo.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Fountainhall's "Historical Notices:" Napier's "Memorials of +Dundee," i. 183. The decision in question is dated July 24th, 1687, and +certainly appears to prove that Claverhouse did not attain his majority +till 1664, which would fix his birth in the year above given.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The "Memoirs of the Life of Sir Ewan Cameron of Lochiel" +were printed for the Abbotsford Club in 1842. They are believed to have +been written between 1730 and 1740 by John Drummond of Bahaldy, a +grandson, or great-grandson, of Lochiel. Several copies of the +manuscript are in existence, of which the best is said by the editor to +be the one then in the possession of Mr. Crawfurd of Cartsburn. It is +written in a clear hand upon small quarto paper, and bound in two +volumes. On the fly-leaf of the first volume is written "Aug. 7. 1732, +Jo. Drummond." See also Burnet's "History of My Own Time," ii. 553; +Dalrymple's "Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland," i. 344; Burton's +"History of Scotland," vii. 360; Napier's "Memorials of Viscount +Dundee," i. 16-32, and 178-9. Burnet married Lady Margaret Kennedy, +daughter of the Earl of Cassilis and aunt of Lady Dundee. In point of +style and arrangement, of taste and temper—in everything, in short, +which helps to make literature, Napier's book is perhaps as bad as it is +possible for a book to be. But his industry is unimpeachable; and, +through the kindness of the late Duke of Buccleuch, he was able to +publish no less than thirty-seven letters written in Claverhouse's own +hand to the first Duke of Queensberry, not one of which had been +included in the collection printed for the Bannatyne Club in 1826, nor +was, in fact, known to be in existence by anyone outside the family of +Buccleuch. His book includes also the fragment of a memoir of Dundee and +his times, left in manuscript by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, of Hoddam, +Walter Scott's friend. The memoir was thrown up, it is said, in despair +on the appearance of "Old Mortality." Some idea of the extent to which +Napier suffered from the <i>Lues Boswelliana</i> may be gathered from the +fact that he regards even the Claverhouse of that incomparable romance +as a libel.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> "The Hell wicked-witted, bloodthirsty Graham of Claverhouse +hated to spend his time with wine and women."—"Life of Walter Smith," +in Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I saw the man who at St. Neff did see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His conduct, prowess, martial gallantry:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He wore a white plumach that day; not one<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of Belgians wore a white, but him alone<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And though that day was fatal, yet he fought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And for his part fair triumphs with him brought."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +Laing's "Fugitive Scottish Poetry of the Seventeenth Century."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The passage occurs in the fifth book. Dundee, retreating +before the forces of the Convention, is represented as musing over his +camp-fire on the ingratitude of the Prince whose life he had once saved. +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Tu vero, Arctoæ gentis prædo improbe, tanti<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fons et origo mali, Nassovi, ingrate virorum,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Immeritum quid me, nunc Cæsaris arma secutum,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Prosequeris toties, et iniquo Marte fatiges?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nonne ego, cum lasso per Belgia stagna caballo<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Agmina liligeri fugeres victricia Galli,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ipse mei impositum dorso salientis equi te<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hostibus eripui, salvumque in castra reduxi?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hæcne mihi meriti persolvis præmia tanti?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Proh scelus! O Soceri rapti nequissime sceptri!"<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +The translation, which is certainly, as Napier calls it, both imperfect +and free, is to this effect: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"When the fierce Gaul through Belgian stanks you fled,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fainting, alone, and destitute of aid,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While the proud victor urged your doubtful fate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And your tired courser sunk beneath your weight;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Did I not mount you on my vigorous steed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And save your person by his fatal speed?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For life and freedom then by me restored<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm thus rewarded by my Belgick Lord.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ungrateful Prince!"<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> The stories of Claverhouse's conduct at Seneff, and of the +quarrel at Loo, are told in the "Life of Lieut.-General Hugh Mackay," by +John Mackay of Rockfields, and in the "Memoirs of the Lord Viscount +Dundee," published in 1714, and professing to be written by an officer +of the army. This little book is remarkable chiefly as being the first +recorded attempt at a biography of Dundee. The writer was possibly not +an officer, nor personally acquainted with Dundee. But he had certainly +contrived to learn a good deal about him and his affairs; and as later +research has either corroborated or, at least, made probable, much of +his information, it seems to me quite as fair to use it for Dundee, as +to use the unsupported testimony of the Covenanters against him. +According to his biographer, Mackay himself was Claverhouse's successful +rival. According to the earlier writer, the man was David Colyear, +afterwards Lord Portmore, and husband of Catherine Sedley, Lady +Dorchester, James's favourite and ugliest mistress.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>It will be necessary now to review the condition of Scotland at the time +when Claverhouse began first to be concerned in her affairs, and of the +causes political and religious—if, indeed, in Scottish history it be +ever possible to separate the two—which produced that condition. +Without clearly understanding the state of parties which then distracted +that unhappy country, it will not be possible clearly to understand the +position of Claverhouse; and without a clear understanding of his +position, it will certainly not be possible to form a just estimate of +his character. It is by too readily yielding to the charm of a writer, +who had not then for his purpose the impartial estimate of a human +character so much as the embellishment of a political principle, that +public opinion has been for many years content to accept a savage +caricature in place of a portrait. It would be impertinent to say that +Macaulay did not understand the circumstances into which Claverhouse was +forced, and the train of events which had caused them; but it would not +have suited his purpose so clearly and strictly to have explained them +that others might have traversed the verdict he intended to be +established. He heard, indeed, and he determined to hear, only one side +of the case: indeed, at the time he wrote, there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> was not much to be +heard on the other; and on the evidence he accepted the verdict was a +foregone conclusion. It is impossible altogether to acquit Claverhouse +of the charges laid to his account, nor will any attempt here be made to +do so; but even the worst that can be proved against him, when +considered impartially with the circumstances of his position and the +spirit of the time, will, I think, be found to take a very different +complexion from that which has been somewhat too confidently given to +them.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>When Charles the Second was restored to the throne of his fathers he was +hailed in Scotland with the same tumultuous joy that greeted him in +England. The Scottish nation was indeed weary of the past. It was weary +alike of the yoke of Cromwell and of the yoke of the Covenant. The first +Covenant—the Covenant of 1557—had been a protest against the tyranny +of the Pope:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> the Covenant of 1643 was a protest against the tyranny of +the Crown. It was the Scottish supplement, framed in the religious +spirit and temperament of the Scottish nation, to the English protest +against ship-money. The voice, first sounded among the rich valleys and +pleasant woods of Buckinghamshire, was echoed in the churchyard of the +Grey Friars at Edinburgh. Six months later the triumph of +Presbyterianism was completed, when in the church of Saint Margaret's at +Westminster the Commons of England ratified the Solemn League and +Covenant of Scotland. Over the wild time which followed it will be +unnecessary for our purpose to linger. The work was done: then followed +the reaction. In both countries the oppressed became in turn the +oppressors. The champions of religious liberty became as bigoted and +intolerant as those whose intolerance and bigotry had first goaded them +into rebellion. The old Presbyterian saw the rise of new modes of +worship with the same horror that he had shown at the ritual of Laud. +Milton protested that the "new Presbyter is but old Priest writ large." +Within only four years of the outbreak of the civil war no less than +sixteen religious sects were found existing in open defiance of the +principles of faith which that war was pledged to uphold. One common +bond, indeed, united these sects in sympathy: one and all repudiated +with equal energy the authority of the Church to prescribe a fixed form +of worship: a national Church was, in their eyes, as odious and +impossible a tyranny as the divine right of kings. But this common +hatred of the interference of a Mother Church could not teach them +tolerance for each other. Cardinal Newman has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> described the enthusiasm +of Saint Anthony as calm, manly, and magnanimous, full of affectionate +loyalty to the Church and the Truth. "It was not," he says, "vulgar, +bustling, imbecile, unstable, undutiful." The religious enthusiasm of +the two nations at this time, though at heart sincere and just, was +unfortunately in its public aspect the exact opposite of Saint +Anthony's. There was the essential great meaning of the matter, to +borrow Carlyle's words, but there were also the mean, peddling details. +It was the misfortune of many, of three kings of England among the +number, that the latter should seem the most vital of the two. +Presbyterian and Independent, Leveller and Baptist, Brownist and Fifth +Monarchy Man, one and all stood up and made proclamation, crying, "Look +unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and +there is none else." Well might Cromwell adjure them in that war of +words which followed the sterner conflict on the heights of Dunbar, "I +beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be +mistaken."</p> + +<p>Though the number and variety of the dissentients in England were far +greater than in Scotland, where the bulk both of the people and the +clergy stood firmly within the old Presbyterian lines, yet in the latter +country the separation was far more bitter and productive of far more +violent results. In the former the strong hand of Cromwell, himself an +Independent, but keen to detect a useful man under every masquerade of +worship, and prompt to use him, kept the sects from open disruption. +Quarrel as they might among themselves, there was one stronger than them +all, and they knew it. The old Committee of Estates, originally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +appointed by the Parliament as a permanent body in 1640, was not strong +enough to control the spirit it had helped to raise: it was not even +strong enough to keep order within its own house. The new Committee was +but a tool in the hands of Argyle. The old Presbyterian viewed with +equal dislike the sectaries of Cromwell, the men of the Engagement which +had cost Hamilton his head, and the Malignants who had gathered to the +standard of Montrose. The Resolutioner, who wished to repeal the Act of +Classes, was too lukewarm: the Remonstrant was too violent. It was by +this last body that the troubles we have now to examine came upon +Scotland.</p> + +<p>After the collapse of Hamilton's army at Uttoxeter in August 1648, a +body of Covenanters assembled at Mauchline, in Ayrshire, to protest +against the leniency with which the Engagement had been treated in the +Estates, where, indeed, a considerable minority had been inclined openly +to countenance it. Their leader was at first the Earl of Eglinton, a +staunch Covenanting lord; but as they gathered strength Argyle joined +them with his Highlanders, and the command soon passed into his hands. +The Protesters marched upon Edinburgh. In an attempt to take Stirling +Castle they were defeated by Sir George Monro with a division of +Hamilton's army which had not crossed the border; but Argyle had better +tools to work with than the claymores of his Highlanders. He opened +negotiations with Cromwell, who led an army in person into Scotland, +renewed the Covenant, laid before the Estates (the new Estates of Argyle +and his party) certain considerations, as he diplomatically called them, +demanding, among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> other things, that no person accessory to the +Engagement should be hereafter employed in any public place or trust. +The Committee were only too willing to have the support of Cromwell to +what they themselves so vehemently desired. Two Acts were quickly +passed: one reversing many of the acts of its predecessors and +confirming the considerations: the other, known in history as the Act of +Classes, defining the various misdemeanours which were to exclude men +from sitting in Parliament or holding any public office, for a period +measured by their offences, and practically to be determined by the +judicatories of the Kirk.</p> + +<p>This Mauchline Convention was popularly known at the time as the +Whiggamores' Raid, a name memorable as the first introduction into +history of a word soon to become only too familiar, and still a part of +our political vocabulary.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> Its immediate result was to throw the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +direction of affairs still more exclusively into the hands of the +clergy: indirectly, but no less surely, it was the cause of the Pentland +Rising and the savage persecution which followed, of the murder of +Archbishop Sharp, of the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge, and of +those terrible years still spoken of in Scotland as the "killing-time." +It was, in short, like the wrath of Achilles, the spring of unnumbered +woes.</p> + +<p>Then followed the execution of Charles. Against this the whole body of +Presbyterians joined in protesting. The hereditary right of kings was, +indeed, as much a principle of the Covenant as their divine right was +opposed to it; and the execution at Whitehall on January 30th, 1649, was +regarded with as much horror by the Presbyterians of England as by the +Presbyterians of Scotland.</p> + +<p>The first act of the Estates was to proclaim the Prince of Wales king of +Great Britain, their next to send a deputation to Holland to invite him +to take possession of his kingdom. It had been better both for Charles +and for Scotland that the invitation had never been accepted. The terms +on which alone the Scots would see the son of Charles Stuart back among +them as crowned king were such as only the direst necessity could have +induced him to accept: they were such as it seems now amazing that even +the most bigoted and inexperienced could really have believed that the +son of his father, or, indeed, any man in his position, would keep one +moment longer than circumstances compelled him. But his advisers, led on +by Wilmot and Buckingham, bid him sign—sign everything, or all would be +lost. He signed everything. First he put his hand to the Solemn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> League +and Covenant: then to a second declaration promising to do his utmost to +extirpate both Popery and Prelacy from all parts of his kingdom: +finally, he consented to figure as the hero of a day of public fasting +and humiliation for the tyranny of his father and the idolatry of his +mother. And while he was acquiescing to each fresh demand with a shrug +of his shoulders and a whispered jest to Buckingham, and in his heart as +much hatred for his humiliators as he was capable of feeling for +anybody, he was all the while urging on Montrose to strike that wild +blow for his crown which was to lead the brave marquis to the scaffold. +The deaths of Hamilton and Huntly had preceded the death of Montrose by +a few weeks: a few more weeks and Charles was in Scotland, a crowned +king in name, virtually a prisoner. Within little more than a year the +fight at Dunbar, and the "crowning mercy" of Worcester, had bitterly +taught him how futile was all the humiliation he had undergone.</p> + +<p>It will be enough to briefly recall the main incidents of the years +which intervened between the battle of Worcester and the Restoration. +After the establishment of the Protectorate an Act of Indemnity was +passed for the Scottish people. From this certain classes were excepted. +All of the House of Hamilton, for instance, and some other persons of +note, including Lauderdale: all who had joined the Engagement, or who +had not joined in the protestation against it: all who had sat in +Parliament or on the Committee of Estates after the coronation of +Charles at Scone: all who had borne arms at the battle of Worcester. +From this proscribed list, however, Argyle managed to extricate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +himself. He had fortified himself at Inverary, and summoned a meeting of +the Estates to which the chiefs of the Royalist party had been bidden. +To conquer him in his own stronghold would have been difficult, perhaps +impossible, to English soldiers unused to such warfare. Cromwell wisely +preferred to negotiate, and Argyle was not hard to bring to terms. He +bound himself to live at peace with the Government, and to use his best +endeavours to persuade others to do so. In return he was to be left +unmolested in the free enjoyment of his estates, and in the exercise of +religion according to his conscience.</p> + +<p>The politicians were now silenced; but a noisier and more troublesome +body had still to be reckoned with. In July, 1653, the General Assembly +was closed, and Resolutioners and Remonstrants were sent to the right +about together. Some measures, however, had to be taken to prevent them, +not from cutting each other's throats, which would have suited the +Government well enough, but from stirring up a religious war, which they +would inevitably have done if left to the free enjoyment of their own +humours. It was necessary so to strengthen the hands of one of the two +parties that the other should be compelled to refrain at least from open +hostilities. The Resolutioners, as the most tolerant and the +mildest-mannered, would have been those Cromwell would have preferred to +see in the ascendency. But the Resolutioners had acknowledged Charles, +and were, after their own fashion, in favour of the royal title. The +Remonstrants were accordingly preferred. They, indeed, denied the +authority of the Commonwealth over spiritual matters,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> but they also +denied the authority of Charles; and it was felt that at such a crisis +the civil allegiance was of more value than the religious. A law was +accordingly established dividing Scotland into five districts, in each +of which certain members of the Remonstrant clergy were empowered to +ordain ministers, as it were, to the exercise of their functions. At the +same time it was not the object of Cromwell to exalt one party at the +expense of the other so much as to strike a balance between the two; and +in doing this he was much served by the tact and good sense of James +Sharp, whose name now first begins to be heard in Scottish history. He +was on the side of the Resolutioners, but he so managed matters as to be +favourably regarded by the Government as a person likely to be of +service to them in the event of any open disruption between the two +bodies, without losing the confidence of his own party. The Court of +Session was the next to go, and in its place rose the Commission of +Justice, of which James Dalrymple, afterwards Lord Stair, the first +Scottish lawyer of his day, was the most conspicuous member. In 1654 the +Act for incorporating the Union between England and Scotland was passed +by the Commonwealth. With that Commonwealth disappeared the Union, but +the few years of its existence were fruitful of at least one great boon +to Scotland. In those years was established free-trade between the two +countries: a boon for Scotland which she never properly appreciated till +she lost it by the Navigation Act of the Restoration: an alleged +grievance to England which had its share in bringing that Restoration to +pass; for it was then, and for long after, a fixed principle in the +philosophy of English commerce<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> that free-trade between the two +countries meant pillaging Englishmen to enrich Scotchmen. A regular +postal service was also established. The abortive rising known as +Glencairn's Expedition was the only act of open hostility that broke +those few years of comparative tranquillity; and the lenient terms +granted by Monk to the Highland leader tended more than anything to show +how weary of the long rule of disorder and bloodshed all the best of the +two nations were growing. On September 3rd, 1658, Oliver Cromwell died, +and in November of the following year Monk began his famous march to +London. On May 25th, 1660, Charles the Second landed at Dover.</p> + +<p>Though the Remonstrants had won the upper hand for a time, the bulk of +the Scottish nation had been all along on the side of the Resolutioners. +Much as the character and religious views of Charles were to their +distaste, the principle of the Covenant was for a king, and it was by +the principle of the Covenant that the Scottish nation stood. The stern +and narrow bigotry of the Remonstrants, whom their short taste of power +had made of course more fanatical and more quarrelsome than ever, had +almost succeeded in forcing the more moderate Presbyterians into the +arms of the Royalists. A little tolerance, a little tact on the English +side would probably have cemented the alliance. But it was not to be.</p> + +<p>It is important to remember this. The extreme party with which +Claverhouse had to deal no more represented the Scottish nation than the +Irishmen who follow Mr. Parnell's call in the House of Commons represent +their nation now, or than men like Napper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> Tandy and Wolfe Tone +represented it a century ago. It seems still a common belief that +Claverhouse and his troopers were sent to force upon a sober, patient, +God-fearing nation a religion and a king that they abhorred. Nothing +could be farther from the truth. The large majority of the Scottish +nation was as eager to welcome Charles as the old squires who had lost +their fortunes for his father, or the young bloods who hoped to find +fortunes under the son. The narrow and blatant form of religion +professed by the extreme party was as repulsive to the bulk of their +countrymen as to the King himself.</p> + +<p>These men were a remnant of the old Remonstrants of the Mauchline +Convention. They had originally, as we have seen, looked to Argyle as +their leader; but when Argyle ranged himself on the side of the young +King there were some among them who would not follow him. These +maintained, and so far they were unquestionably right, that the "young +man Charles Stuart" was, for all his protestations and oaths, as much at +heart a Malignant as his father; and that those who pretended to believe +him were playing the Kirk and the Covenant false. When Cromwell marched +into Scotland to win the battle of Dunbar these men had formed +themselves into a separate party under Colonel Archibald Strachan, an +able soldier who commanded that division of Leslie's army which had +defeated Montrose in Rossshire. Strachan's design seems to have been to +stand aloof for the present from either side; but from some not very +intelligible cause he fell into disgrace with his party, and this is +said to have so preyed upon his mind as to have caused his death. From +that time the Wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> Westland Whigs, as they began now to be called, had +no ostensible leader. They withdrew sullenly to their own homes, +contenting themselves during the remaining years of the Commonwealth +with protesting against everybody and everything outside their own +narrow circle. They must not be confounded with the general body of the +Remonstrants, between whom and the Resolutioners Cromwell had to keep +the balance. They were a people apart. Throughout the wild +hill-districts of the Western Lowlands they preached their fierce +crusade against all who were not prepared to stand by the spirit of the +Covenant as they chose to interpret it. The toleration they demanded +they would not give. No man should be free to worship God as he pleased: +every man must worship Him in the way which seemed good to them, and in +that way only. The moderate Presbyterians were as hateful to them as +Charles himself and all his bishops; and they in their turn were as +obnoxious to the majority of the Scottish nation as to the English +Government. Cleric and layman alike was weary of the unending squabbles +that had distracted the Church of Scotland since the days of Knox. They +wished for peace; and no peace was possible so long as an ignorant and +noisy minority would suffer it only at their own price.</p> + +<p>One other point should also be remembered. It has been the custom to +excuse the cruelties of the Covenanters, when they could not be denied, +as the acts of men goaded into madness by years of persecution. This +excuse will hardly serve. It might, indeed, serve to explain the murder +of Sharp and the savage deeds of such men as Hamilton and Burley; but +long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> before that time the Scottish fanatic had proved himself a match +in ferocity for the bloodiest Malignant of them all. After Philiphaugh +one hundred Irish prisoners were shot in cold blood, while a minister of +the Covenanting Church stood by, reiterating in savage glee, "The wark +goes bonnily on." About the same time eighty women and children were in +one day flung over the bridge at Linlithgow for the crime of having been +followers of the camp of Montrose. In 1647 three hundred of the +Macdonalds who held a fortified post on a hill in Kintire surrendered at +discretion to David Leslie. It is said that Leslie would have let them +go but for his chaplain, John Nave. Borrowing the words of Samuel, "What +meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of +the oxen which I hear?" in a long and fiery harangue this man of God +exhorted the conquerors to finish their work, and threatened their +captain with the curse of Saul who spared the Amalekites. The prisoners +were butchered to a man.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>If, then, it be but a delusion of later times that Scotland could at the +Restoration have been conciliated into accepting a moderate form of +Episcopacy, it is at least clear that there was at that time a strong +party in the country anxious for a compromise between the two Churches, +and willing to make all reasonable advances towards one. Unfortunately +the first move on both sides was of a nature to make all chances of a +compromise impossible.</p> + +<p>Charles had conceived a violent dislike to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> Presbyterianism, and with +his experiences of it the dislike was not unnatural. It was not, he told +Burnet, a religion for gentlemen, and he found few among his court to +contradict him. Scarcely had he settled himself in his capital when the +Presbyterians were upon him. Sharp had already been some months in +London as ambassador of the moderate party, the party of the old +Resolutioners. But an easy way of reconciling Sharp's conscience was +soon found. It is not precisely clear when the bargain was struck which +was to convert the chosen champion of the Presbyterian Church into an +archbishop, but struck it was, and in no long time. He had by Monk's +advice visited Charles at Breda, and some suppose that the first +interview completed the transformation. If so, he managed to delude his +party very skilfully. His letters to the Assembly, though the light of +subsequent events enables us to translate them more clearly than was +possible at the time, were full of wise counsel, of apparently honest +confessions of the many difficulties he foresaw in the way, and of +protestations of fidelity and firmness which were no less implicitly +believed. "I told him," said his colleague Robert Douglas, a man of very +different stamp, when Sharp went up to London later for his ordination, +"I told him the curse of God would be on him for his treacherous +dealing; and that I may speak my heart of this man, I profess I did no +more suspect him in reference to Prelacy than I did myself."<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p>Meanwhile the extreme party had not been idle. It will be perhaps most +convenient henceforth to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> distinguish them as Covenanters: to call them +Whigs, as Burnet and other historians of the time call them, would not +convey to modern ears the significance it had for their contemporaries. +Even those stern and unbending Tories of whom Mr. Gladstone was once the +spokesman have long ceased to regard the men who are still sometimes +called Whigs as the most fanatical members of the body politic. It would +be no mere fanciful application of modern terms to distinguish the two +parties of the Scottish Church as Liberals and Radicals; but it will for +many reasons be best henceforth to write of them as Presbyterians and +Covenanters.</p> + +<p>The Covenanters, then, had not been idle. Shortly after the Restoration +they had, through a deputation of their elders and ministers, called +upon their brethren of the Church to unite with them in an address to +the King, praying him, as a member of the Covenant with themselves, to +remember his obligations to that sacred institution and zealously to +prosecute its blessed work in all his three kingdoms. Toleration in +things religious was especially denounced as a vast mischief disguised +under the specious pretence of liberty for tender consciences. +Schismatics were to be stamped out as sternly as Papists and Prelatists; +and by Schismatics were meant all men, members of their own Church no +less than of others, who ventured to differ from them on any point of +doctrine whatsoever.</p> + +<p>The Committee of Estates, which had resumed its sittings, did not like +the job. They called the deputation a private meeting of some protesting +ministers, and clapped the leaders into prison.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>A government had now been formed for Scotland. Middleton was Lord High +Commissioner, a soldier of fortune who had been raised to the peerage +for the occasion. He was also named commander-in-chief of the forces and +governor of Edinburgh Castle. With him were associated Glencairn as Lord +Chancellor, Lauderdale as Secretary of State, Rothes as President of the +Council, and Crawford as Lord Treasurer. The first proceeding of this +Parliament, known in the gossip of the time as the Drunken Parliament +from the too frequent condition of its chiefs, was to pass a Rescissory +Act, repealing all measures that had become law since the year 1633, +including even those passed by the Parliament professing the authority +of Charles himself. This was followed by an Act "concerning religion and +Church government," in which, after some pious but vague protestations +of the royal design to "encourage the exercise of religion both public +and private, and to suppress all profaneness and disorderly walking," it +was promised that the administration by sessions, presbyteries, and +synods would not for the present be interfered with. That present, +however, soon passed. On May 27th, two days before the anniversary of +the Restoration of the Monarchy, the Act for the Restoration of +Episcopacy was made law. A previous Act had ordained May 29th to be kept +holy; and the opposition taken to this by those who objected to all +holidays as idolatrous had in turn produced a measure which practically +marks the beginning of that system of vague bullying, as Dr. Burton has +happily called it, which was in no long time to pass into a persecution +anything but vague. On December 15th, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> Westminster Abbey, Sharp was +consecrated Primate of Scotland, and at the same time Fairfoul was +raised to the see of Glasgow, Hamilton to the see of Galloway, and the +good and gentle Leighton to the see of Dunblane.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the English Parliament had by its Navigation Act crushed for +the time the short-lived hopes of Scottish commerce, and was now busy +with an Act of Indemnity. This had been practically one of the +conditions of the Restoration, but Scotland had not been included in the +bargain. Argyle was the first to suffer from the omission. He had gone +up to London to pay his court to the new King, but had been refused an +audience. He was arrested, and, after a short sojourn in the Tower, sent +back to Edinburgh to stand his trial for high treason before the +Estates. He was found guilty and beheaded in the High Street on May +27th, 1661, two days after the anniversary of the more shameful death +which he had helped to bring upon Montrose. As he had been expressly +pardoned during the King's short reign in Scotland for all acts +committed by him against the Crown up to the year 1657, and as his +accusers could find no evidence of communications with the Parliament +after that time, he must have been acquitted had it not been for Monk, +who at the last moment produced certain letters written by Argyle to him +when acting for Cromwell. Johnstone of Warriston was another victim, +whom, like Argyle, it was no hard matter for judges who had a mind that +way to bring within the compass of the law of treason. He, however, +managed to get across to the Continent before he could be arrested. He +was tried and condemned in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> absence. After two years of painful +shifts and wanderings he was tracked down in France by a man known as +Crooked-back Murray, and sent back to his fate. A third victim was James +Guthrie, the most vehement and active of the Covenanters, the framer of +the original Remonstrance and author of a seditious pamphlet called "The +Causes of the Lord's Wrath." With him would probably have suffered +Samuel Rutherford, a minister as zealous as Guthrie, but of more +education and manners. Fortunately for him, he died before the reign of +punishment began; and the Government was forced to content itself with +ordering his book "Lex, Rex," to be burned by the hangman at the Cross +of Edinburgh and at the gate of the University of Saint Andrews, where +he had been Professor of Divinity. In 1662, an Act of Indemnity was made +law, by which future punishment for the past was adjusted by a scale of +fines.</p> + +<p>Close on the heels of the Act of Indemnity followed one demanding from +all persons holding any office of public trust a public abjuration of +the Covenant, and another requiring all clergymen who had been appointed +since 1649 to receive collation from the bishop of their diocese. Those +who did not obey were, after a short respite, expelled from their +parishes. Those who obeyed were regarded by their congregations as +backsliders and self-seekers. Three hundred and fifty ministers were +driven with their families from their homes in the depth of winter; and +to supply their places new ministers were appointed, popularly known as +the King's Curates. Another Act required attendance at the parish church +on penalty of a fine graduated according to the rank of the absentee. +Finally, to crown all, the Solemn League<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> and Covenant was publicly +burned at the market-cross of Edinburgh; and an aggravated copy of the +English Five-mile Act against Non-jurors, known as the Mile Act, was +passed, prohibiting all recusant clergymen from residing within twenty +miles of their old parishes, within six miles of Edinburgh or any +cathedral town, and within three miles of any royal burgh. The +punishment for transgressing this law was to be the same as that for +sedition.</p> + +<p>Enough has now been said to show the nature of the bullying adopted by +the Government. Over the years which still lie between us and the entry +of Claverhouse on the stage I must pass more rapidly.</p> + +<p>In 1663 Rothes succeeded Middleton as commissioner. The latter had been +rash enough to measure his strength with Lauderdale, and had been +signally worsted. To complete the legislative machinery a Conventicle +Act was passed this year, declaring all assemblies of more than five +persons, besides members of the family, unlawful and seditious. As most +of their congregations had followed the expelled ministers into the +wilderness, this new law so mightily increased the labours of the +authorities that it was found necessary to institute a new tribunal of +justice for the especial treatment of ecclesiastical offences. This was +no less than a renewal of that old Court of High Commission which had +been abolished by the Long Parliament twenty years before to the joy of +the whole nation. To strengthen its hands a body of troops was sent down +into the western shires, now the stronghold of the Covenant, to impose +and exact the fines ordained by the Commission. Their leader was Sir +James Turner, a man of some education, but rough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> and brutal. He had +served on the Continent under Gustavus Adolphus, had fought under Leslie +in the Presbyterian ranks, and had accompanied Hamilton with the +Engagers into England. Turner, in his own memoirs, declares that he not +only did not exceed his orders, but was even lenient beyond his +commission. When, a few years later, in a momentary fit of indulgence, +his acts were called in question by the Privy Council, the evidence +hardly served to establish his assertion.</p> + +<p>At length the West rose. On November 13th, 1666, four countrymen came +into the little village of Dalry, in Galloway, in search of refreshment. +There they found a few soldiers, driving before them a body of peasants +to thresh out the corn of an old man who would not pay his fines. There +was an argument and a scuffle: a pistol was fired and a soldier fell: +the rest yielded. It was now too late to go back. Turner was posted at +Dumfries with a considerable sum of money in his charge. It was +determined to seize him. The four champions had now been joined by some +fifty horsemen and a large body of unmounted peasants. Turner was made +prisoner; and the money restored to the service of those from whose +pockets it had been originally drawn.</p> + +<p>The number of the insurgents had now risen to three thousand. They +determined to march on Edinburgh, thinking to gather recruits on the +way; but when they came within five miles of the city their hearts +failed them. The weather was bitterly cold: provisions and arms were +scarce: the peasantry of the more cultivated districts had proved either +lukewarm to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> cause or openly hostile: no recruits had come in, and +their own ranks were growing daily thinner. At length they turned on +their tracks and made once more for their western fastnesses. But they +had now to reckon with a more dangerous foe than Turner.</p> + +<p>The garrison in Edinburgh was commanded by Thomas Dalziel, a ferocious +old soldier who had learned his trade in the Russian wars. His dress was +as uncouth as his manners, and he wore a long white bushy beard that no +steel had been suffered to touch since the death of the first +Charles.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> With all the regulars he could muster Dalziel was quickly +after the fugitives. He came up with them on Rullion Green, a ridge of +the Pentland Hills. Though now numbering scarce a thousand men, the +Covenanters were strongly posted, and defended themselves bravely. The +royal troops were twice driven back before they could carry the ridge, +and night had fallen before the insurgents were fairly broken. The +slaughter was not great; and it is significant of the unpopularity of +their cause that the fugitives suffered more from the Lothian peasantry +than from the victorious soldiers.</p> + +<p>The Government could now assume the virtue of those who are summoned to +quell an open rebellion. Dalziel was put in command of the insurgent +districts, and his little finger was indeed found thicker than Turner's +loins. Twenty men were hanged on one gibbet in Edinburgh and many others +in various parts of the country: crowds were shipped off to the +plantations: torture was freely applied, and the ingenious devices of +the boot and the thumbkin were in daily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> requisition.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Dalziel was in +his element. A prisoner reviled him at the council board for "a Muscovy +beast who roasted men." The old savage struck the man with the hilt of +his sword so fiercely in the mouth that the blood gushed out.</p> + +<p>At length there came a lull. Weary of the useless butchery, which, +hitherto, they had not perhaps fully realised, the English Government +determined to see if indulgence could persuade where persecution was +powerless to force. Orders to that effect were sent up to Edinburgh. The +soldiers were withdrawn from the western shires. Sharp was bidden to +retire to his see. Lauderdale took the place of Rothes as commissioner.</p> + +<p>The character of Lauderdale is one of the most curious problems of the +time. In his youth he had been as zealous for the Covenant as he now +appeared to be zealous for Episcopacy. Hence some have supposed that his +real design was by favouring the intolerance of the bishops to bring +them to discomfiture, and to re-establish on their ruin the old +Presbyterian Church, for which, despite the profligacy of his life and +conversation, he was still believed to entertain as much veneration as +he was capable of feeling for any form of religion. But whatever may +have been his regard for the old Covenant of his youth, he was set as a +rock against the men who were now as much opposed to any moderate +observance of Presbyterian worship as the most inveterate Malignant at +Whitehall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first Indulgence was passed in 1669, in favour of the ministers whom +the Act of 1662 had driven from their parishes. Such as had since that +time kept from open violation of the law were now to be reinstated in +their livings where vacant. The manse and the glebe were to be theirs as +formerly, but the stipend was not to be renewed. These terms were +accepted by some forty or fifty clergymen. By the advice of the gentle +Leighton, who almost alone among his brethren seems at this time to have +dared, or to have been even willing, to counsel tolerance, a deputation, +nicknamed "the Bishop's Evangelists," was sent into the West to preach +the doctrine of this Indulgence. The pious crusade was in vain. The +failure of the Pentland rising and its terrible sequel had turned those +stubborn hearts to madness. Their weaker brethren were now classed with +the apostate Sharp and the butcher Dalziel; and the Indulgence was +declared a snare for the soul far more deadly than any torture the +Government could devise for the body. Nor, if time could have +strengthened Leighton's hands, was time allowed him. Following close +upon the Indulgence came a fresh Act, now making not only all +field-preaching a capital offence, but even laying heavy penalties on +any exercise of the Presbyterian worship except under an Indulged +minister. This again was soon followed by a fresh law against +Intercommuning—that is to say, against all who should offer even the +simplest act of common charity to a Covenanter—and promising large +rewards to all who should give information against them or their +protectors. By this law it is said that thousands of both sexes, +including many persons of rank, suffered severely; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> from it sprang a +curious incident in the miserable history of this time.</p> + +<p>An order was issued to the landed gentry of Renfrew and Ayr, the shires +where the disaffection was strongest, requiring them to give bail that +their servants and tenants should not only abstain from personal +attendance at conventicles, but also from all intercourse with +intercommuned persons. The gentry answered that such assurance was +impossible. It was not, they said, within the compass of their power to +do this thing. The reply from Edinburgh was short and conclusive: if the +landlords could not keep order in their districts, order must be kept +for them. A body of English troops had already been moved up to the +border and an Irish force collected at Belfast; but a more ingenious +mode of punishment was now devised. Since the barbarous excesses of the +Highland clans under Montrose, it had become an acknowledged breach of +the rules of civilised warfare to employ men who, like the Red Indians +used in our own American wars, were amenable to no discipline and +recognised no principles of humanity. Eight thousand of these savages +were now let loose on the disobedient Lowlanders. The result was, +indeed, not all that had been anticipated at Edinburgh. The Council had +naturally enough expected that the descent of these plaided barbarians +would be the signal for a general insurrection, which would relieve them +of their troubles as certainly and much more conveniently than Dalziel's +dragoons and Perth's thumbkins. While Highlander and Lowlander were +cutting each other's throats, Lauderdale and his colleagues would have +ample leisure to decide on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> apportionment of the booty.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> In this, +however, they were disappointed. No armed resistance was offered. During +the two months these marauders lived at free quarters, without any +distinction between friend and foe, on a land which, compared with their +own barren moors and mountains, was a paradise flowing with milk and +honey, only one life was lost, and that the life of a Highlander. At +length the scandal became too great even for Lauderdale. Hamilton, who, +like his brother before him, had always stood by the Crown, went up to +London with several gentlemen of rank to protest against a tyranny which +they vowed was that of Turks rather than Christians. According to one +account, the King would not see them: according to another, he admitted +Hamilton to an interview, and, after hearing his protest, owned that +many bad things had been done in Scotland, but none, so far as he could +see, contrary to his interests. It was clear, however, that in this +matter Lauderdale had gone too far. The Highlanders were ordered to +return to their homes. They returned accordingly, laden with spoil such +as they had never dreamed of, and of the use of a large part of which +they were as ignorant as a Red Indian or a negro.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p><p>The departure of the Highland host leaves the stage free for +Claverhouse. It was at this crisis he returned to Scotland, and here +this summary of one of the most miserable chapters in British history +may fitly end.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> This is, perhaps, the best place to disclaim all intention +of scoffing at this great writer and historian. It is a common +impertinence of the day in which I have no wish to join. It is not, I +hope, an impertinence to say that only those who have, for their own +purposes, been forced to follow closely in his tracks can have any just +idea of the unwearying patience and acuteness with which he has examined +the confused and so often conflicting records of that time, or of the +incomparable skill with which he has brought them into a clear +continuous narrative. To glean after Macaulay is indeed a barren task. +So far, then, from affecting to cavil at his work, I must acknowledge +that without his help this little book would have been still less. Yet I +do think he has been hard upon Claverhouse. Perhaps the scheme of his +history did not require, or even allow him, to examine the man's +character and circumstances so closely as a biographer must examine +them. It is still more important to remember that the letters discovered +by Napier in the Queensberry Archives were not known to him. Had he seen +them, I am persuaded that he would have found reason to think less +harshly of their writer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> "The south-west counties of Scotland have seldom corn +enough to serve them round the year; and the northern parts producing +more than they need, those in the west come in the summer to buy at +Leith the stores that come from the north; and from a word 'whiggam,' +used in driving their horses, all that drove were called the +'whiggamores,' and shorter, the 'whiggs.' Now in that year, after the +news came down of Duke Hamilton's defeat, the ministers animated the +people to rise and march to Edinburgh; and they came up, marching on the +head of their parishes, with an unheard-of fury, praying and preaching +all the way as they came. The Marquis of Argyle and his party came and +headed them, they being about 6,000. This was called the Whiggamores' +Inroad: and even after that all that opposed the Court came in contempt +to be called Whiggs: and from Scotland the word was brought into +England, where it is now one of our unhappy terms of +distinction."—Burnet, i. 58. See also Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," +ch. xii. Mr. Green, however, thought the word <i>whig</i> might be the same +as our <i>whey</i>, implying a taunt against the "sour-milk faces" of the +fanatical Ayrshiremen.—"History of the English People," iii. 258.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Sharpe's notes to Kirkton's "History of the Church of +Scotland," pp. 48-9. See also Wishart's "Memoirs of Montrose."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> "The Lauderdale Papers." The most important passages in +Sharp's letters will be found in Burton's history, vii. pp. 129-146.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> "Memoirs of Captain John Creichton," pp. 57-9.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> The torture of the thumbkin is said to have been +introduced into Scotland by Lord Perth, who had seen it practised in +Russia. But, according to Fountainhall, something very like it had been +previously known under the homely name of "Pilliwincks," or +"Pilniewinks."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> "Duke Lauderdale's party depended so much on this that +they began to divide, in their hopes, the confiscated estates among +them, so that on Valentine's Day, instead of drawing mistresses they +drew estates."—Burnet, ii. 26.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> "When the Highlanders went back one would have thought +they had been at the sacking of some besieged town, by their baggage and +luggage. They were loaded with spoil. They carried away a great many +horses and no small quantity of goods out of merchants' shops, whole +webs of linen and woollen cloth, some silver plate bearing the names and +arms of gentlemen. You would have seen them with loads of bedclothes, +carpets, men and women's wearing clothes, pots, pans, gridirons, shoes +and other furniture whereof they had pillaged the country."—Wodrow, ii. +413.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>Claverhouse was not left long in idleness. In 1664, the year of the +first Indulgence, it had been determined to withdraw the regular troops +altogether from Scotland, leaving their place to be supplied by the +local militia, which was now practically raised to the condition of a +standing army and, contrary to immemorial law, placed under the +immediate authority of the Crown. But the bishops and their clergy had +demurred. They had little fancy for being left with no other protection +than a half-disciplined rabble, who, ready as they might be to act +against their troublesome countrymen, had no more respect for a lawn +sleeve than for a homespun jerkin. A few troops of regular cavalry were +therefore retained, and one regiment of Foot Guards. The former were +commanded by Athole, the latter by Linlithgow. Towards the end of 1677 a +fresh troop of cavalry was raised, and the command given to the young +Marquis of Montrose, grandson to him who had died on the scaffold and +kinsman to Claverhouse.</p> + +<p>Claverhouse applied to him for employment, and it appears from +Montrose's answer that the application had been warmly backed by the +Duke of York. "You cannot imagine," runs the letter, "how overjoyed I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +should be to have any employment at my disposal that were worthy of your +acceptance; nor how much I am ashamed to offer you anything so far below +your merit as that of being my lieutenant; though I be fully persuaded +that it will be a step to a much more considerable employment, and will +give you occasion to confirm the Duke in the just and good opinion which +I do assure you he has of you." The writer goes on to say that he +himself was expecting instant promotion, and to promise his kinsman a +share in whatever fortune might befall him: none but gentlemen, he adds, +are to ride in his troop. The offer was accepted, and the promotion was +not long delayed.</p> + +<p>The Indulgence had failed, as by some at least of those who had +countenanced it it had been expected to fail. The Opposition, led at +Edinburgh by Hamilton and Argyle, and backed in London by Monmouth and +Shaftesbury, which had for some time past been working openly against +Lauderdale, had also for the moment failed. The Commissioner's hands +were strong. With the King and the Duke of York at his back, and, in +Edinburgh, Sharp, Burnet, and the majority of the Episcopalian clergy, +together with all the needy nobles who loved best to fish in troubled +waters, Lauderdale could afford, as he thought then, to laugh at all +opposition. To assume that his design had been from the first to goad +the West into open rebellion affords, indeed, a simple explanation of a +policy that in its persistent unwisdom and brutality seems strangely +irrational and monstrous, even for such times and men. But it is rash to +take any policy as certain in those dark and crooked councils, unless it +be—as probably in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> Lauderdale's case it was, and as it assuredly was in +the case of most of his creatures—the policy of personal +aggrandisement. At any rate, after the failure of the Indulgence had +been made clear even to those hopeful spirits who still, with Leighton, +had believed it possible to efface years of wrong by a few grudging +concessions, the cruel game was renewed with fresh vigour. The +Highlanders, indeed, had gone, but their place was now to be filled by a +more dangerous because a more disciplined foe. Orders were given to +raise three new troops of cavalry for special service in Scotland. The +Earls of Home and Airlie were chosen by Lauderdale to command two of +these troops: the third was, at the King's express desire, given to +Claverhouse. At the same time, Athole, who was now in opposition with +Hamilton and Argyle, was superseded by Montrose, and Linlithgow named +commander-in-chief of all the royal forces in Scotland.</p> + +<p>Claverhouse now for the first time steps in his own person on the stage +of Scottish history. Eleven years later, in 1689, he passes off it for +ever. It is with the tale of that brief time, so crowded with action, so +variously recorded, that we shall be from this point concerned.</p> + +<p>He was now in his thirty-fifth year. Confused and conflicting as the +witnesses of his life and character may be, of the man himself as he +looked to the eyes of his contemporaries there is the clearest +testimony. Over the mantelpiece of Scott's study in Castle Street hung +the only picture in the room—a portrait of Claverhouse. An original +portrait Lockhart calls it, but which of the five portraits engraved in +Napier's volumes it may have been, if any of them, I cannot tell. All +these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> engravings, with a unanimity not common in the portraiture of the +time, show the same face: a face of delicate, almost feminine beauty, +framed in the long full love-locks of the period.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> The eyes are large +and dark, the figure small but well made, and the general expression of +the countenance one of almost boyish smoothness and simplicity. His +manners were gentle and courteous, though reserved: his habit of life +was, as has been already said, singularly decorous: he was scrupulous in +the observance of all religious ordinances. After his death an old +Presbyterian lady, who had lodged below him in Edinburgh, told Lochiel's +biographer how astonished she had been to find one of his profession so +regular in his devotions. In truth, one of the most curious, and at the +same time one of the most indisputable, points in the life of this +singular man is the contrast between those public actions which have had +so large a share in moulding the popular impression, and his private +character and conduct. And not less curious is the contrast between the +reality of his personal appearance and the counterfeit presentment +likely to be fostered by a too liberal adherence to that impression. It +would be difficult to imagine a more complete surprise than awaits those +who turn for the first time from the stern, brutal, and profane soldier +of the historian's page to the high-bred and graceful gentleman of the +painter's canvas.</p> + +<p>Claverhouse seems to have received his commission in the autumn of 1678. +The earliest of his letters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> extant is dated from Moffat, a small town +in the north of Dumfriesshire, on December 28th. It is addressed to Lord +Linlithgow, and contains this significant passage: "On Tuesday was eight +days, and Sunday there were great field-conventicles just by here, with +great contempt of the regular clergy, who complain extremely when I tell +them I have no order to apprehend anybody for past misdemeanours."<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +And this scrupulous observance of his orders, at a time when a little +excess of zeal was unlikely to be regarded as a very serious blunder, is +yet more strikingly illustrated in his next letter, written a week later +from Dumfries. In that town, at the southern end of the bridge over the +Nith, the charity of some devout Covenanting ladies had lately set up a +large meeting-house. The clergy, as wild against the Covenanters as +Lauderdale himself, were very importunate with Claverhouse to demolish +this hotbed of disaffection; but he, though he confessed privately to +his chief his annoyance at seeing a conventicle held with impunity "at +our nose," answered all importunities with a calm reference to his +orders. The southern end of the bridge was in Galloway, and in Galloway +his commission did not run. The authority of the Deputy-Sheriff of the +shire was therefore called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> into play, and with his countenance the +offending building was quickly razed to the ground. In his report of +this business Claverhouse writes:—"My Lord, since I have seen the Act +of Council, the scruple I had about undertaking anything without the +bounds of these two shires is indeed frivolous, but was not so before. +For if there had been no such act, it had not been safe for me to have +done anything but what my order warranted; and since I knew it not, it +was to me the same thing as if it had not been. And for my ignorance of +it, I must acknowledge that till now, in any service I have been, I +never inquired further in the laws than the orders of my superior +officers." This will not be the only occasion on which Claverhouse will +be found keeping strictly within the lines of his commission, instead +of, as he has been so frequently charged with doing, wantonly and +savagely exceeding it.</p> + +<p>This Deputy-Sheriff (or Steward, as the phrase then ran) needs a word to +himself, both on his own account, as representing a certain phase of +character unfortunately too common to the time, and as the real author +of many of the cruel deeds of which Claverhouse so long has borne the +blame. Sir Robert Grierson of Lag was regarded in his own district with +an energy of hatred to which even the terror inspired by Claverhouse +gave place, and which has survived to a time within the memory of men +still living. In the early years of this century the most monstrous +traditions of his cruelty were still current, and are not yet wholly +extinct. In a vaulted chamber of the house in which he lived, on the +English road some three miles south of Dumfries, is still shown an iron +hook from which he is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> said to have hung his Covenanting prisoners; and +a hill in the neighbourhood is still pointed out as that down which he +used, for his amusement, to send the poor wretches rolling in a barrel +filled with knife-blades and iron spikes,—an ingenious form of torture, +commonly supposed to have been invented by the Carthaginians two +thousand years ago for the particular benefit of a Roman Consul. The +dark and mysterious legend of Sir Robert Redgauntlet, with which +Wandering Willie beguiled the way to Brokenburn-foot, was a popular +tradition of Sir Robert Grierson, or Lag (as, in the familiar style of +the day he was more commonly called) in Scott's own lifetime: the fatal +horseshoe, the birth-mark of all the Redgauntlet line, was believed to +be conspicuous on the foreheads of every true Grierson in moments of +anger; and it was a grandson of old Lag himself who sat to Scott for the +portrait of the elder Redgauntlet, the rugged and dangerous Herries of +Birrenswark. Within the last fifty years it was a custom of Halloween in +many of the houses in Dumfriesshire and Galloway to celebrate by a rude +theatrical performance the evil memory of the Laird of Lag.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> + +<p>Born of a family which had held lands in Dumfriesshire since the +fifteenth century, and had figured at various times on the troubled +stage of Scottish history, Lag was undoubtedly a man of some parts and +capacity for public affairs, but coarse, cruel and brutal beyond even +the license of those times. The Covenanting historians charge him with +vices such as even they shrank from attributing to Claverhouse; and, +careful as it is always necessary to be in taking the evidence of such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +witnesses, it is abundantly clear that even these ingenious romancists +would have been hard put to it to stain the memory of Lag. Later +historians have been sometimes less careful in distinguishing between +the two men. At least in one striking instance, the misdeeds of this +ruffian have been circumstantially charged to the account of his more +famous and important colleague.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that in the picture Macaulay has drawn of +Claverhouse the soldiers under his command, and by implication +Claverhouse himself, figure as relieving their sterner duties by a +curious form of relaxation. They would call each other, he says, by the +names of devils and damned souls, mocking in their revels the torments +of hell. The authority for this surprising statement is Robert Wodrow, +who was not born when Claverhouse returned to Scotland, and whose +history of the Scottish Church was not published till more than thirty +years after the battle of Killiecrankie.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> Wodrow's work is very far +from being the contemptible thing some apologists for Claverhouse would +have us believe; but he is not a witness whose unsupported testimony it +is always safe to take for gospel-truth. He wrote at a time when the +naturally romantic imagination of the Scottish peasantry, stimulated by +the memories of old men who had known the evil times, had largely +embellished the facts he set himself to chronicle; and following the +fashion of his day (indeed, as one may say, the fashion of many +historians who cannot plead Wodrow's excuse), he was not always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> careful +to separate the romance from the reality, even where the latter might +have better served his turn. But considering all the circumstances—the +circumstances of the time, of his subject, and of his own +prepossessions, he is a writer whom it is impossible to disregard; and, +indeed, compared with the other Covenanting chroniclers he stands apart +as the most sober and impartial of historians. Where he got the story +that has been so ingeniously fashioned into an indictment against +Claverhouse is not clear. The passage runs as follows:—"Dreadful were +the acts of wickedness done by the soldiers at this time, and Lag was as +deep as any. They used to take to themselves, in their cabals, the names +of devils and persons they supposed to be in hell, and with whips to +lash one another, as a jest upon hell. But I shall draw a veil over many +of their dreadful impieties I meet with in papers written at this time." +This is not exactly the sort of evidence any judge but a hanging judge +would allow, though it would serve well enough the turn of a prosecutor. +It is at any rate evidence which no one, with any experience of the sort +of gossip the annalists of the Covenant were content to call history, +would care to take seriously. But whatever its value may really be, so +far as it goes it is evidence not against Claverhouse but against Lag. +It is clear from Wodrow that the story refers not to the royal soldiers +but to the local militia; and a writer a little later than Wodrow makes +it still more clear that the men supposed thus to have disported +themselves in their cups were those commanded by Lag. John Howie, an +Ayrshire peasant and a Cameronian of the strictest sect, who was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +born till fourteen years after Wodrow had published his history, has +given Lag a particular place in the Index Expurgatorius of his "Heroes +for the Faith." There we may read how this "prime hero for the promoting +of Satan's kingdom" would, "with the rest of his boon companions and +persecutors, feign themselves devils, and those whom they supposed in +hell, and then whip one another, as a jest upon that place of torment." +Claverhouse, as has been already shown, was himself singularly averse to +all rioting and drunkenness, as well as to profane amusements of every +kind; and, as he was indisputably one of the sternest disciplinarians +who ever took or gave orders, it is unlikely that he would have +countenanced any such unseemly revels in the men under his command, with +whom, moreover, he was in these years thrown into unusually close +personal contact. But, in truth, the story, so far as he is concerned, +is too foolish to need any solemn refutation. It has been only examined +at this length as furnishing a signal instance of the recklessness with +which the misdeeds of others have been fathered on him.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> + +<p>The work Claverhouse now found to do must have been singularly +distasteful to one who had seen war on a great scale under such captains +as William and Condé. It was at once undignified and dangerous; and +though danger was all to his taste, it was one thing to risk one's life +in open battle with enemies worthy of a soldier's steel, and another and +very different thing to run the chance of a stray bullet from behind a +haystack or through a cottage window. The line of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> country he had to +patrol (for his work was really little more than that) was all too large +for the forces at his disposal. The enemies with whom he had mostly to +deal were either old men or women, for the Covenanters were well +supplied with intelligence, and generally had ample warning of his +movements, quick and indefatigable as they were. "If your lordship give +me any new orders, I will beg they may be kept as secret as possible, +and sent for me so suddenly as the information some of the favourers of +the fanatics are to send may be prevented."<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> And again:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I obeyed the orders about seizing persons in Galloway that very night I +received it, as far as it was possible; that is to say, all that was +within forty miles, which is the most can be ridden in one night; and of +six made search for, I found only two, which are John Livingston, bailie +of Kirkcudbright, and John Black, treasurer there. The other two bailies +were fled, and their wives lying above the clothes in the bed, and great +candles lighted, waiting for the coming of the party, and told them, +they knew of their coming, and had as good intelligence as they +themselves; and that if the other two were seized on, it was their own +faults, that would not contribute for intelligence. And the truth is, +they had time enough to be advertised, for the order was dated the 15th, +and came not to my hands till the 20th. I laid the fellow in the guard +that brought it, so soon as I considered the date, where he has lain +ever since, and had it not been for respect to Mr. Maitland +[Lauderdale's nephew] who recommended him to me I would have put him out +of the troop with infamy."<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p><p>The letters written during the first months of his commission are full +of warnings of this sort. And he had other complaints to make, which +must have been still more against the grain. He was so inadequately +supplied with money by the Council that he found it a hard matter to pay +his men, and harder still to pay the country people for the necessary +provisions and forage; for, so far from quartering his men at large upon +the peasantry, he seems, at any rate in those first months, to have been +scrupulous to pay at the current rates for all he required to a degree +that matches rather with the niceties of modern warfare than the customs +of those rough times.</p> + +<p>In March Claverhouse was appointed Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire by a +particular warrant from Whitehall, and Andrew Bruce of Earlshall, one of +his lieutenants, was nominated with him. This step gave great offence to +Queensberry, who, as Sheriff of the shires of Dumfries and Annandale, by +law held all such patronage in his own hand, and marks the beginning of +the petty jealousy which from this time forward he seems to have shown +to Claverhouse whenever he dared, and which rose afterwards, as we shall +see, to a serious height. But Queensberry was no match for Lauderdale; +and Claverhouse was duly settled in his new office, which, while +strengthening his hands and enabling him to dispense with many tedious +formalities, at the same time considerably increased his labours.</p> + +<p>And so winter passed into spring, and still Claverhouse found no work +more worthy of him than patrolling the country, arranging for his men's +quarters, examining suspected persons, and endeavouring to persuade<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> the +Government to leave him not entirely penniless. More than once he sent +word to Edinburgh that he believed something serious was afoot. "I +find," he writes to Linlithgow on April 21st, "Mr. Welsh is accustoming +both ends of the country to face the king's forces, and certainly +intends to break out into open rebellion." This Welsh is a famous figure +in Covenanting history. Grandson to a man whose name was long held in +affectionate memory by his party as that of the "incomparable John Welsh +of Ayr," and great-grandson to no less a hero than John Knox himself, he +was on his own account a memorable man. He had inaugurated the first +conventicle, and had ever since been zealous in promoting them and +officiating at them among the wild hills and moorlands of the western +shires, till his name had become a byword among the soldiers for his +courage in braving and his skill in evading them. But though one of the +most resolute and indefatigable of the ministers of the Covenant, he was +also one of the most moderate and sensible. Had no one among them been +more eager than he to carry the war into the enemy's country there had +been no Bothwell Bridge. And, indeed, we shall find him seriously taken +to task by the more extreme of the party as a backslider from the good +cause for his endeavour to avert that disastrous affair.</p> + +<p>Yet Claverhouse was right. Something very serious was soon to be afoot. +During the last few weeks the Covenanters had been notoriously growing +bolder. They did not always now, as hitherto, content themselves with +evading the soldiers: they became in their turn the aggressors. More +than once an outlying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> post of Claverhouse's men had been fired upon; +and on one occasion a couple of the dragoons had been savagely murdered +in cold blood. Even Wodrow found himself forced to own that about this +time "matters were running to sad heights among the armed followers of +some of the field meetings." But the trouble did not arise through John +Welsh. It came through a servant of the Crown who had been a sorer +plague to his countrymen than a myriad of disaffected ministers.</p> + +<p>On May 5th, Lord Ross<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> from Lanark, and on the 6th Claverhouse from +Dumfries, sent in their despatches to the commander-in-chief at +Edinburgh as usual. It is clear that neither of them had at that time +heard any rumour of an event which had happened a few days previously at +no very great distance from their quarters. On May 2nd the Primate of +Scotland had been dragged from his carriage as he was driving across an +open heath three miles out of Saint Andrews, and murdered in open day +before the eyes of his daughter.</p> + +<p>James Sharp, Archbishop of Saint Andrews, was at that time probably the +best-hated man in Scotland. Like all renegades he was in no favour even +with his own party, though Lauderdale found after trial that he could +not dispense with his support. Even the moderate Presbyterians, who +regarded the uncompromising Covenanters as the real cause of their +country's troubles, looked askance upon Sharp, as the man whom they had +chosen out of their number to save<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> them and who had preferred to save +himself. By the Covenanters themselves he was assailed with every form +of obloquy as the Judas who had sold his God and his country for thirty +pieces of silver, and who had hounded on the servants of the King to +spill the blood of the saints. Yet his murder was but an accident. +Eleven years before an attempt had, indeed, been made upon his life by +one Mitchell, a fanatical and apparently half-witted preacher, who was +after a long delay put to the torture and finally executed on a +confession which he had been induced to make after a promise from the +Privy Council that his life should be spared. It is said that Lauderdale +would have spared him, but Sharp was so vehement for his death that the +Duke dared not refuse.</p> + +<p>The chief promoters of the Archbishop's murder were Hackston of +Rathillet, Russell of Kettle, and John Balfour of Burley, or, more +correctly, of Kinloch. These three men were typical of the class who at +this time began to come to the front among the Covenanters, and by their +incapacity, folly, and brutality discredited and did their best to ruin +a cause whose original justice had been already too much obscured by +such parasites. It is impossible to believe that they, or such as they, +were inspired by any strong religious feelings. Hackston and Balfour +were men of some fortune, who had been free-livers in their youth, and +were now professing to expiate those errors by a gloomy and ferocious +asceticism. Both had a grudge against Sharp. Balfour had been accused of +malversation in the management of some property for which he was the +Archbishop's factor, and Hackston, his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> brother-in-law, had been +arrested as his bail and forced to make the money good. Russell, who has +left a curiously minute and cold-blooded narrative of this murder,<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> +was a man of headstrong and fiery temper. They had all those dangerous +gifts of eloquence which, coarse and uncouth as it sounds to our ears, +was, when liberally garnished with texts of Scripture, precisely such as +to inflame the heated tempers of an illiterate peasantry to madness. It +is important to distinguish men of this stamp from the genuine sufferers +for conscience' sake. The latter men were, indeed, often wrought up by +their crafty leaders to a pitch of blind and brutal fury which has done +much to lessen the sympathy that is justly theirs. But they were at the +bottom simple, sincere, and pious; and they can at least plead the +excuse of a long and relentless persecution for acts which the others +inspired and directed for motives which it would be difficult, perhaps, +to correctly analyse, but assuredly were not founded on an unmixed love +either for their country or their faith. Stripped of the veil of +religious enthusiasm which they knew so well how to assume, men of the +stamp of Sharp's murderers were in truth no other than those brawling +and selfish demagogues whom times of stir and revolution always have +brought and always will bring to the front. There need, in these days, +be no difficulty in understanding the characters of men who dress Murder +in the cloak of Religion and call her Liberty.</p> + +<p>Every child knows the story of the tragedy on Magus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> Moor. It will be +enough here to remind my readers, once more, that it was no preconcerted +plan, but a pure accident—or, as the murderers themselves called it, a +gift from God. The men I have named, with a few others, were really +after one Carmichael, who had made himself particularly odious by his +activity in collecting the fines levied on the disaffected. But +Carmichael, who was out hunting on the hills, had got wind of their +design and made his way home by another route. As the party were about +to separate in sullen disappointment, a messenger came to tell them that +the Archbishop's coach was in sight on the road to Saint Andrews. The +opportunity was too good to be lost. Hackston was asked to take the +command, but declined, alleging his cause of quarrel with Sharp, which +would, he declared, "mar the glory of the action, for it would be +imputed to his particular revenge." But, he added, he would not leave +them, nor "hinder them from what God had called them to." Upon this, +Balfour said, "Gentlemen, follow me;" and the whole party, some nine or +ten in number, rode off after the carriage, which could be seen in the +distance labouring heavily over the rugged track that traversed the +lonely expanse of heath. How the butcher's work was done: how Sharp +crawled on his knees to Hackston, saying, "You are a gentleman—you will +protect me," and how Hackston answered, "Sir, I shall never lay a hand +on you": how Balfour and the rest then drew their swords and finished +what their pistols had begun; and how the daughter was herself wounded +in her efforts to cover the body of her father—these things are +familiar to all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>From May 6th to 29th no letters from Claverhouse have survived; but on +the latter date he sent a short despatch from Falkirk, announcing his +intention of joining his forces with Lord Ross to scatter a conventicle +of eighteen parishes which, he had just received news, were about (on +the following Sunday) to meet at Kilbryde Moor, four miles from Glasgow. +The following Sunday was June 1st, on which day Claverhouse was indeed +engaged with a conventicle; but in a fashion very different from any he +had anticipated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> It is said that he used to tend these curls with very +particular care, attaching small leaden weights to them at night to keep +them in place,—a custom which, I am informed, has in these days been +revived by some dandies of the other sex.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> This very much bears out Burnet's complaint against the +Episcopal clergy in Scotland, which has been so strenuously denied by +Creichton. "The clergy used to speak of that time as the poets do of the +golden age. They never interceded for any compassion to their people; +nor did they take care to live more regularly, or to labour more +carefully. They looked on the soldiery as their patrons; they were ever +in their company, complying with them in their excesses; and, if they +were not much wronged, they rather led them into them than checked them +for them."—"History of My Own Time," i. 334.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> "The Laird of Lag," by Lieut.-Col. Fergusson, pp. 7-11.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> His "History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland" +was first published in 1721.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> This confusion was first pointed out by Aytoun in an +appendix to the second edition of his "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Claverhouse to Linlithgow, December 28th, 1678. These +letters are all quoted from Napier's book. I have thought it better to +give the date of the letter than the reference to the page.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Claverhouse to Linlithgow, February 24th, 1679.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> George, eleventh Lord Ross, was joined with Claverhouse in +the command of the western shires. He had married Lady Grizel Cochrane, +daughter of the first Earl of Dundonald, and aunt of the future Lady +Dundee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Printed in Sharpe's edition of Kirkton's "History of the +Church of Scotland." It differs in some, but not very important, points +from the account printed in the same volume from Wodrow's manuscripts.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>The die was now fairly cast. In a general rising lay the only hope of +safety for Sharp's murderers. Desperate themselves, they determined to +carry others with them along the same path, and by some signal show of +defiance commit the party to immediate and irretrievable action. The +occasion for this was easily found. May 29th, the King's birthday, had +been, as already mentioned, appointed as a general day of rejoicing for +his restoration. This had from the first given offence as well to those +members of the Presbyterian Church who saw in his Majesty's return no +particular cause for joy, as to those more ascetic spirits who objected +on principle to all holidays. May 29th was therefore hailed as the day +divinely marked, as it were, for the purpose on hand, a crowning +challenge to the King's authority.</p> + +<p>The business was put in charge of Robert Hamilton, a man of good birth +and education, but violent and rash, without any capacity for command +and, if some of his own side may be trusted, of no very certain courage. +With him went Thomas Douglas, one of the fire-breathing ministers, +Balfour and Russell and some seventy or eighty armed men. Glasgow had +been originally chosen for the scene of operations; but a day or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> two +previously a detachment of Claverhouse's troopers had marched into that +city from Falkirk, and the little town of Rutherglen, about two miles to +the west of Glasgow, was chosen instead.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the 29th Hamilton and his party made their +appearance in Rutherglen. They first extinguished the bonfire that was +blazing in the King's honour; and, having then lit one on their own +account, proceeded solemnly to burn all the Acts of Parliament and Royal +Proclamations that had been issued in Scotland since Charles's return. A +paper was next read, containing a vigorous protest against all +interferences of the English Government with the Presbyterian religion, +and especially those subsequent to the Restoration. This paper, which +was styled the Declaration and Testimony of some of the true +Presbyterian party in Scotland, was then nailed to the market-cross of +the little town, and the party withdrew. All this, be it remembered, was +done within only two miles of the royal forces, some of whom, it is +said, were actually spectators of the whole affair at scarce +musket-shot's distance. It was fortunate for the party that Claverhouse +was not in Glasgow at the time.</p> + +<p>He was then in Falkirk, from which place he had, as we have seen, +written to Linlithgow on the very day of the Rutherglen business of a +rumour he had heard of some particular gathering appointed for the +following Sunday, June 1st. Though he did not believe it, he thought it +well to join forces with Ross in case there might be need for action. +This was done at Glasgow on Saturday; and at once Claverhouse set off +for Rutherglen to inquire into the affair of the 29th.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> As soon as he +had got the names of the ringleaders he sent patrols out to scour the +neighbourhood for them. A few prisoners were picked up, and among them +one King, a noted orator of the conventicles, formerly chaplain to Lord +Cardross, whose service he had left, it is said, on account of a little +misadventure with one of the maid-servants. The troops halted for the +night at Strathavon, and early next morning set off with their prisoners +for Glasgow. On the way Claverhouse determined on "a little tour, to see +if we could fall upon a conventicle," which, he ingenuously adds, "we +did, little to our advantage."</p> + +<p>During his search for the Rutherglen men he had heard more of the plans +for Sunday. It was clear something was in the air, and report named +Loudon Hill as the place of business, a steep and rocky eminence marking +the spot where the shires of Ayr, Lanark, and Renfrew meet. To Loudon +Hill accordingly Claverhouse turned his march, and soon found that +rumour had for once not exaggerated.</p> + +<p>Two miles to the east of the hill lies the little hamlet and farm of +Drumclog, even now but sparsely covered with coarse meadow-grass, and +then no more than a barren stretch of swampy moorland. South and north +the ground sloped gently down towards a marshy bottom through which ran +a stream, or dyke, fringed with stunted alder-bushes. On the foot of the +southern slope, across the dyke, the Covenanters were drawn up; and the +practised eye of Claverhouse saw at a glance that they had gathered +there not to pray but to fight. "When we came in sight of them," he +wrote to Linlithgow, "we found them drawn up in battle upon a most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +advantageous ground, to which there was no coming but through mosses and +lakes. They were not preaching, and had got away all their women and +children."<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> They were ranged in three lines: those who had firearms +being placed nearest to the dyke, behind them a body of pikemen, and in +the rear the rest, armed with scythes set on poles, pitchforks, goads +and other such rustic weapons. On either flank was a small body of +mounted men. Hamilton was in command: Burley had charge of the horse; +and among others present that day was William Cleland, then but sixteen +years old, and destined ten years later to win a nobler title to fame by +a glorious death at the head of his Cameronians in the memorable defence +of Dunkeld.</p> + +<p>As usual, it is impossible to estimate with any exactness the strength +of either side. According to one of their own party, who was present, +the Covenanters did not exceed two hundred and fifty fighting men, of +whom fifty were mounted and the same proportion armed with guns. These +numbers have been accepted, of course, by Wodrow, and also by Dr. +Burton. But within a week this handful had, on Hamilton's own testimony, +grown to six thousand horse and foot; and though, no doubt, the success +at Drumclog would have materially swelled the Covenanting ranks, if they +were only two hundred and fifty on that day, the most liberal +calculation can hardly accept the numbers said to have been gathered on +Glasgow Moor six days later. Probably, if we increase the former total +and diminish the latter, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> shall get nearer the mark; but it is +impossible to do more than conjecture. Sharpe, in the fragment printed +by Napier, rates Hamilton's force at six hundred. Claverhouse's own +estimate was "four battalions of foot, and all well armed with fusils +and pitchforks, and three squadrons of horse." His experience was more +likely to serve him in such matters than the untrained calculations of +men who were, moreover, naturally concerned to magnify the defeat of the +King's troops as much as possible; while it is clear from the tone of +his own despatch, which is singularly literal and straightforward, that +he had no wish, and did not even conceive it necessary, to excuse his +disaster. But here again the estimate helps us little, owing to the +vague use of the terms battalion and squadron. For the same reason we +can but guess at the strength of the royal force. In the writings of the +time Claverhouse's command is indiscriminately styled a regiment and a +troop. It is certain that he was the responsible officer, so that, +whatever its numerical strength, he stood to the body of men he +commanded in the relation that a colonel stands to his regiment. But it +is probable that his regiment, with those commanded by Home and Airlie, +were practically considered as the three troops of the Royal Scottish +Life Guards of whom the young Marquis of Montrose was colonel. From a +royal warrant of 1672, it appears that a troop of dragoons was rated at +eighty men, exclusive of officers, and that a regiment was to consist of +twelve troops. But it is hardly possible that this strength was ever +reached. From a passage in the third chapter of Macaulay's history it +does not seem as if the full<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> complement of a regiment of cavalry can +have much exceeded four hundred men; but, I repeat, the indiscriminate +use of the terms troop and regiment, battalion and squadron, makes all +calculations theoretical and vague.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> Scott puts the King's forces at +Drumclog at two hundred and fifty men; and, as a detachment had been +left behind in garrison with Ross's men at Glasgow, this is probably not +over the mark, if Macaulay's estimate of a regiment be correct. He also, +in the report Lord Evandale makes to his chief, rates the Covenanters at +near a thousand fighting men, which would probably tally with +Claverhouse's estimate. But, whatever the strength of either side may +have been, it is tolerably certain that the advantage that way was on +the side of the Covenanters.</p> + +<p>The description of the fight in "Old Mortality" is an admirable specimen +of the style in which Scott's genius could work the scantiest materials +to his will. All contemporary accounts of the fray are singularly meagre +and confused; and, indeed, the art of describing a battle was then very +much in its infancy. It is difficult, from Claverhouse's own despatch, +to get more than a general idea of the affair, which was probably after +the first few minutes but an indiscriminate <i>mêlée</i>. No doubt it was his +consciousness of some lack of clearness that inspired his apologetic +postscript: "My Lord, I am so wearied and so sleepy that I have written +this very confusedly." The flag of truce, which in the novel Claverhouse +sends down under charge of his nephew Cornet Graham to parley with the +Covenanters, was of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> Scott's own making, though it seems that a couple +of troopers were despatched in advance to survey the ground. Nor does +Claverhouse mention any kinsman of his, or any one of his name, as +having fallen that day: the only two officers he specifies are Captain +Blyth and Cornet Crafford, or Crawford, both of whom were killed by +Hamilton's first fire. But though Claverhouse mentions no one of his own +name, others do. By more than one contemporary writer one Robert Graham +is included among the slain. It is said that while at breakfast that +morning in Strathavon he had refused his dog meat, promising it a full +meal off the Whigs' bodies before night; "but instead of that," runs the +tale, "his dog was seen eating his own thrapple (for he was killed) by +several." Another version is, that the Covenanters, finding the name of +Graham wrought in the neck of the shirt, savagely mangled the dead body, +supposing it to be that of Claverhouse himself.<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>But to come from tradition to fact. The affair began with a sharp +skirmish of musketry on both sides. To every regiment of cavalry there +were then joined a certain proportion of dragoons who seem to have held +much the position of our mounted infantry, men skilled in the use of +firearms and accustomed to fight as well on foot as in the saddle. A +party of these advanced in open order down the hill to the brink of the +dyke and opened a smart fire on the Covenanters, who answered with +spirit, but both in their weapons and skill were naturally far inferior +to the royal soldiers. Meanwhile, some troopers had been sent out to +skirmish on either flank, and to try for a crossing. This they could not +find; but, unable to manœuvre in the swampy ground, found instead that +their saddles were emptying fast. Then Hamilton, seeing that his men +were no match at long bowls for the dragoons, and marking the confusion +among the cavalry, gave the word to advance. By crossings known only to +themselves Burley led the horse over the dyke on one flank, while young +Cleland followed with the bulk of the foot on the other. Claverhouse +thereupon called in his skirmishers, and, advancing his main body down +the hill, the engagement became general. But in that heavy ground the +footmen had all the best of it. The scythes and pitchforks made sad work +among the poor floundering horses. His own charger was so badly wounded +that, in the rider's forcible language, "its guts hung out half an ell;" +yet the brave beast carried him safely out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> press.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> The +troopers began to fall back, and Burley, coming up on sound ground with +his horse, flung himself on them so hotly that the retreat became +something very like a rout. Claverhouse, to whose courage and energy +that day his enemies bear grudging witness, did all that a brave captain +could, but his men had now got completely out of hand. "I saved the +standards" (one of which had been for a moment taken) "and made the best +retreat the confusion of our people would suffer." So he wrote to +Linlithgow, but he made no attempt to disguise his defeat. He owns to +having lost eight or ten men among the cavalry, besides wounded; and the +dragoons lost many more. Only five or six of the Covenanters seem to +have fallen, among whom was one of Sharp's murderers. This does not +speak very well for their opponents' fire; but then we have only the +testimony of their own historians to go by. Claverhouse himself could +say no more than that "they are not come easily off on the other side, +for I saw several of them fall before we came to the shock."</p> + +<p>Pell-mell went the rout over the hill and across the moorland to +Strathavon, through which the Life Guards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> had marched but a few hours +before in all their bravery. As their captain passed by the place where +his prisoner of the morning, John King, was now lustily chanting a psalm +of triumph, the reverend gentleman called out to him, with audacity +worthy of Gabriel Kettledrummle, "to stay the afternoon sermon." At +Strathavon the townspeople drew out to bar their passage, but the fear +of their pursuers lent the flying troopers fresh heart: "we took +courage," writes Claverhouse, "and fell to them, made them run, leaving +a dozen on the place." Through Strathavon they clattered, and never drew +rein till they found themselves safe in Glasgow among their own +comrades.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the pursuit had slackened, or it might have gone ill with +the garrison in Glasgow. Claverhouse's men had no doubt fine tales to +tell of the fury of the Whig devils behind them; and had Hamilton been +strong enough in cavalry to enter the town at the heels of the flying +troopers it is not likely that he would have met with much opposition. +The pursuit, however, did not follow far. Thanksgivings had to be made +for the victory, and the prisoners to be looked to. All these, according +to Wodrow, were let go after being disarmed; but Hamilton himself tells +a very different tale. His orders had been strict that there should be +no quarter that day; but on his return from the pursuit he found that +his orders had been disobeyed. Five prisoners had been dismissed, and +were already out of his reach: two others were waiting while their +captors debated on their fate. Then Hamilton, furious that any of +"Babel's brats" should be let go, slew one of these with his own hand, +to stay any such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> unreasonable spirit of mercy, "lest the Lord would not +honour us to do much more for him."<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p> + +<p>That night the Covenanting captains stayed at Lord Loudon's house, +where, though the master had deemed it prudent to keep out of the way, +they were hospitably entertained by her ladyship. The next morning they +continued their march to Glasgow.</p> + +<p>Claverhouse was ready for them. The town was too open a place to be +properly barricaded, but he had caused some sort of breastwork to be +raised near the market-cross as cover for his men, and patrols had been +out since daybreak to watch Hamilton's movements. That worthy was +reported to be dividing his men into two bodies, one of which presently +marched on the town by the Gallowgate bridge, while the other took a +much longer route by the High Church and College. It was thus possible +to deal with the first before the latter could come to its assistance. +This was very effectually done. About ten in the morning the attack was +made by way of the bridge, led by Hamilton in person.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> But the +welcome which met them from the barricades was too warm for the +Covenanters. They broke and fled at the first fire, Claverhouse and Ross +at the head of their men chasing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> them out of the town. Meanwhile, their +comrades, descending the hill on the other side, saw what was going on, +and, having no mind for a similar welcome, turned about and made off by +the way they had come. The two parties joined and halted for a while at +the place they had occupied on the previous night; but when they heard +Claverhouse's trumpets sounding again to horse they fell back to +Hamilton Park, where it was not thought prudent to follow them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Claverhouse to Linlithgow, June 1st, 1679. This is the +famous despatch which Scott says was spelled like a chambermaid's. The +original is now among the Stow Manuscripts in the British Museum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army" (Second +Dragoons): Macaulay's History, i. 305-8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Russell's account of Sharp's murder, Kirkton, p. 442. See +also Creichton's Memoirs, though the captain was not present at the +fight, having remained in garrison at Glasgow. In a Latin poem, "Bellum +Bothuellianum," by Andrew Guild, now in the Advocates' Library at +Edinburgh, are the following lines: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Tum rabiosa cohors, misereri nescia, stratos<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Invadit, laceratque viros: hic signifer, eheu!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trajectus globulo, Græmus, quo fortior alter<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Inter Scotigenas fuerat, nec justior ullus:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hunc manibus rapuere feris, faciemque virilem<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fœdarunt, lingua, auriculis, manibusque resectis<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aspera diffuso spargentes saxa cerebro."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +The passage is quoted at length in the notes to "Old Mortality." Sharpe, +in his notes to Kirkton, says, on the authority of Wodrow, that Cornet +Graham was shot by one John Alstoun, a miller's son, and tenant of Weir +of Blackwood. This is not correct. There was a Cornet Graham so killed, +but not till three years after Drumclog.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> "With a pitchfork they made such an openeing in my rone +horse's belly." Sir Walter, following tradition, has mounted Claverhouse +on a coal-black charger without a single white hair in its body, a +present, according to the legends of the time, from the Devil to his +favourite servant. See also Aytoun's fine ballad "The Burial March of +Dundee": +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Then our leader rode among us<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On his war-horse black as night;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Well the Cameronian rebels<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Knew that charger in the fight."<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Kirkton, 444, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> It was reported by some of his own party that as his men +entered the town Hamilton withdrew into a house at the Gallowgate to +wait the issue. But it would be no more fair to take this report for +truth than it would be to assume that Claverhouse really forbad burial +to the dead Whigs, that the dogs might eat them where they lay in the +streets. There was too much quarrelling in the Covenanting camp to allow +us to take for granted all their judgments on each other when +unfavourable; and at Drumclog Hamilton seems by all accounts to have +borne himself bravely enough, whatever he may have done subsequently.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>There is no letter from Claverhouse in this year, 1679, later than that +reporting the defeat at Drumclog. There was, indeed, no occasion for him +to write. As soon as the news of his defeat and the attack on Glasgow +had reached the Council, orders were at once sent for the forces to +withdraw from the latter place and join Linlithgow at Stirling. After +Bothwell Bridge had been won he was sent again into the West on the +weary work that we have already seen him employed on. But during the +intervening time his independent command had ceased. At the same time +there is no reason to suppose that he was in any disgrace for the defeat +at Drumclog. He had committed the fault, not uncommon, as military +history teaches, with more experienced leaders than Claverhouse, of +holding his foe too cheaply: he had committed this fault, and he had +paid the penalty. There is some vague story of a sealed commission not +to be opened till in the presence of the enemy, and when opened on the +slope of Drumclog containing strict orders to give battle wherever and +whenever the chance might serve. But the story rests on too slight +authority to count for much. His own temperament would have made him +fight without any sealed orders; and, indeed, he had not long before +written to Linlithgow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> that he was determined to do so on the first +occasion, and had warned his men to that effect. The wisdom of his +resolve is clear. Disgusted with their work, discontented with the +hardness of their fare and the infrequency of their pay, in perpetual +danger of their lives from unseen enemies, his soldiers were getting out +of hand. Claverhouse was the sternest of disciplinarians; but the +discipline of those days was a very different thing from our +interpretation of the word. It was more a recognition by the soldier of +the superior strength and possibilities of his officer, than trained +obedience to an inevitable law. When they once had satisfied themselves +that their captain was unable to bring the enemy to book, was unable +even to provide them with proper rations and pay, no love for the flag +would have kept them together for another hour. It was essential for +Claverhouse to show them that he and they were more than a match for +their foes whenever and in whatever form the opportunity came. +Unfortunately for him it came in the form of Drumclog, and the proof had +still to be given.</p> + +<p>But it is abundantly clear that no stain was considered to rest either +on his honour or his skill. The only ungenerous reference to his +discomfiture came a few years later in the shape of a growl from old +Dalziel against the folly of splitting the army up into small +detachments at the discretion of rash and incompetent leaders. +Claverhouse was removed from his independent command only because the +circumstances of the moment made it necessary. When it was found +necessary to despatch a regular army against the insurgents (as, for all +their provocation, they must after Drumclog<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> be styled), he took his +proper place in that army as captain of a troop in the Royal Scottish +Life Guards. When the brief campaign had closed at Bothwell Bridge, and, +worst fortune for him, affairs had resumed their original complexion, he +went back to his old position.</p> + +<p>It will be necessary, then, to supply this gap in Claverhouse's +correspondence by a brief review of the state of things from the battle +of Drumclog to the date of his new commission.</p> + +<p>The garrison of Glasgow had, as we have seen, joined Linlithgow at +Stirling. There they lay for a day or two till orders were received from +the Council for the whole army, which only numbered about eighteen +hundred men in all, to fall back on Edinburgh. In the capital the +greatest consternation reigned. The first proceeding of the Council was +to proclaim the rising "an open, manifest, and horrid rebellion," and +all the insurgents were summoned to surrender at discretion as +"desperate and incorrigible traitors." Having thus satisfied their +diplomatic consciences they wisely proceeded to more practical measures. +The militia was called out, horse and foot, in all the Lowlands, save in +the disaffected shires. For those north of the Forth the rendezvous was +at Stirling, for those south on the links of Leith. Each man was to +bring provisions with him for ten days. The magistrates were ordered to +remove all the powder and other munitions of war they could find in the +city to the Castle. An armed guard was stationed night and day in the +Canongate, and another in the Abbey. Finally, a post was sent to London +on Linlithgow's advice to urge the instant despatch of more troops,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> and +two shillings and sixpence a day of extra pay was promised to every foot +soldier.</p> + +<p>They were not disturbed in their preparations. The Covenanters were too +busy with their own affairs to take much heed what their enemies might +be doing. They did, indeed, march into Glasgow, but beyond shooting a +poor wretch whom they vowed they recognised as having fought against +them on the 2nd, and possibly indulging in a little looting, they did +nothing. They did not stay long in the town. Plans they seem to have had +none, nor any settled organisation or discipline. Moving restlessly +about the neighbourhood from village to village and from moor to moor, +their preachers exhorted and harangued as much against each other as +against Pope or Prelate, and their leaders quarrelled as though there +were not a King's soldier in all Scotland, nor Claverhouse within a +dozen miles of them eager for the moment to strike. There was no lack of +arms among them, and their numbers seem at this time to have been not +far short of eight thousand. But no men of any position or influence in +the country had joined them with the exception of Hamilton; and his +authority, whether the story of his cowardice at Glasgow be true or not, +was not what it had been at Rutherglen and Drumclog. The preachers +seemed to have exercised the only control over the rabble; and such +control, as was natural, seems rarely to have lasted beyond the length +of their sermons, which, indeed, were not commonly short. As the +Covenanters (to keep to the distinguishing name I have chosen) were an +extreme section of the Presbyterians, so now the Covenanters themselves +were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> divided into a moderate and an extreme party. The chiefs of the +former, or Erastians as their opponents scornfully termed them, were +John Welsh and David Hume. Of Hume there is no particular account, but +Welsh we have met before. Though he had been under denunciation as a +rebel ever since the Pentland rising (in which he had, indeed, borne no +part), he had never given his voice for war; and, though assuredly +neither a coward nor a trimmer, had always kept from any active share in +the proceedings of his more tumultuous brethren. His plan, and the plan +of the few who at that time and place were on his side, was temperate +and reasonable. They asked for no more than they were willing to give. +Against the King, his government, and his bishops they had no quarrel, +if only they were suffered to worship God after their own fashion. +Though they themselves had not accepted the Indulgence, they were not +disposed to be unduly severe with those who had. In a word, they were +willing to extend to all men the liberty they demanded for themselves. +Had there been more of this wise mind among the Covenanters—among the +Presbyterians, one may indeed say—though it is hardly possible to +believe that Lauderdale and his crew would not still have found occasion +for oppression, it would be much easier to find sympathy for the +oppressed.</p> + +<p>On the other side, Hamilton himself, Donald Cargill, and Thomas Douglas +were the most conspicuous in words, while Hackston, Burley, and the rest +of Sharp's murderers were, of course, with them. Hamilton and Douglas we +know. Cargill, like Douglas, was a minister: he had received a good +education at Aberdeen and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> Saint Andrews, but had soon fallen into +disgrace for the disloyalty and virulence of his language. In a sermon +on the anniversary of the Restoration he had declared from his pulpit +that the King's name should "stink while the world stands for treachery, +tyranny, and lechery."<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> In this party all was confused, extravagant, +fierce, unreasoning. What they wanted, what they were fighting to get, +from whom they expected to get it, even their own historians are unable +to explain, and probably they themselves had no very clear notions. They +talked of liberty, by which they seem to have meant no more than liberty +to kill all who on any point thought otherwise than they did: of +freedom, which meant freedom from all laws save their own passions: of +the God of their fathers, and every day they violated alike His precepts +and their practice. To slay and spare not was their watchword; but whom +they were to slay, or what was to be gained or done when the slaying was +accomplished, no two men among them were agreed. For the moment the +current of their fury seems to have set most strongly against the +Indulgence and those who had accepted its terms. A single instance will +show pretty clearly the state of insubordination into which those +unhappy men had fallen. It was announced that one Rae, a favourite +expounder on the moderate side, was about to preach on a certain day in +camp. Hamilton, who still retained the nominal command, sent him a +letter bidding him not spare the Indulgence. To this Rae, who does not +seem himself to have been in any position of authority, made answer that +Hamilton had better mind what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> belonged to him, and not go beyond his +sphere and station.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> It would not be difficult to draw a parallel +between the condition of the Covenanting camp at that time and the +so-called Irish Party of our own time. Indeed, if any body will be at +the trouble to examine the contemporary accounts of Hamilton and his +followers, and particularly their language, much of which has been +faithfully chronicled by their admirers, they will be surprised to find +how closely the parallel may be pushed.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, on the other side preparations went briskly forward. A strong +detachment of regular troops was at once despatched from London, with +the young Duke of Monmouth himself in command. Great pains have been +taken both by contemporary and later writers to explain the reason of +this appointment. It was designed, they have said, to render him +unpopular in Scotland. It is certainly possible that he might have been +sent to Scotland to get him out of the way of his admirers in England, +who just at that time were somewhat inconveniently noisy in their +admiration. But the appointment does not seem to need any very subtle +explanation. Monmouth was the King's favourite son. He had served his +apprenticeship to the trade of war in the Low Countries, and under such +captains as Turenne and William of Orange. He was popular with the +people for his personal courage, his good looks, his pleasant manners, +and above all for his Protestantism—a matter with him possibly more of +policy than principle, but which served among the common people to gain +him the affectionate nickname of The Protestant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> Duke, and to +distinguish him in their eyes as the natural antagonist to the unpopular +and Popish James. With all his faults Monmouth was no tyrant, and +Charles himself was rather careless than cruel. This appointment, +therefore, was taken in Scotland to signify a disposition on the King's +part to employ gentle means if possible with the insurgents, and as such +was not altogether approved of. Gentle means were not much to the taste +of the presiding spirits of the Council-Board at Edinburgh, whose native +ferocity had certainly not been softened by the fright and confusion of +the last few days. It was particularly requested, therefore, that +Dalziel might be named second in command, who might well be trusted to +counteract any unseasonable leniency on Monmouth's part. Fortunately for +the insurgents the old savage did not receive his commission till the +day after the battle.</p> + +<p>Monmouth left London on June 15th and reached Edinburgh on the 18th. He +at once took the field. Montrose commanded the cavalry, Linlithgow the +foot: Claverhouse rode at the head of his troop under his kinsman, and +the Earls of Home and Airlie were there in charge of their respective +troops: Mar held a command of foot. Many other Scotch noblemen and +gentlemen of position followed the army as volunteers. Some Highlanders +and a considerable body of militia made up a force which has been put as +high as fifteen thousand men, but probably did not exceed half that +number.</p> + +<p>The near approach of the royal troops only increased the quarrelling and +confusion in the insurgent camp, which was pitched now at Hamilton. Some +friends at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> Edinburgh had sent word to them that Monmouth might be found +not indisposed to treat; and that it would be best for them to stand off +for a while, and not on any account be drawn into fighting. But the idea +of treating only inflamed the more violent. On the 21st a council was +called which began in mutual recrimination and abuse, and ended in a +furious quarrel. Hamilton drew his sword, vociferating that it was drawn +as much against the King's curates and the minions of the Indulgence as +against the English dragoons, and left the meeting followed by Cargill, +Douglas and the more violent of his party. Disgusted with the scene, and +convinced of the hopelessness of a cause supported by such men, many +left the camp and returned to their own homes. Welsh and the moderate +leaders resolved to take matters into their own hands. On the morning of +the 22nd Monmouth had reached Bothwell. His advance guard held the +little town about a quarter of a mile distant from the river: his main +body was encamped on the moor. Shortly after daybreak he was surprised +by a visit from Welsh, Hume and another of their party, Fergusson of +Caitloch. Monmouth received them courteously, and heard them with +patience while they read to him a paper (known in Covenanting annals as +the Hamilton Declaration) they had drawn up detailing their grievances +and their demands. The first were indisputable: the second were, as has +been said, moderate. Monmouth was, however, forced to answer that he +could not treat with armed rebels. If they would lay down their arms and +surrender at discretion, he promised to do all he could to gain them not +only present pardon but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> tolerance in the future. Meanwhile, he said, +they had best return to their camp, report his message, and bring him +back an answer within half an hour's time. They returned, only to find +confusion worse confounded, and their own lives even in some danger from +the furious Hamilton.</p> + +<p>The half-hour passed, and no further sign of submission was made. +Monmouth bid the advance be sounded, and the Foot Guards, commanded by +young Livingstone, Linlithgow's eldest son, moved down to the bridge. +Just at that spot the Clyde is deep and narrow, running swiftly between +steep banks fringed on the western side with bushes of alder and hazel. +The bridge itself was only twelve feet wide, and guarded in the centre +with a gate-house. The post was a strong one for defence, and had there +been any military skill, or even unity of purpose, among the defendants, +Monmouth would have had to buy his passage dear. Hackston of Rathillet +had thrown himself with a small body of determined men into the +gate-house, while Burley, with a few who could hold their muskets +straight, took up his post among the alder-bushes. The rest stood idly +by while their comrades fought. For about an hour Hackston held the gate +till his powder was spent. He sent to Hamilton for more, or for fresh +troops, but the only answer he received was an order to retire. He had +no choice but to fall back on the main body, which he found at that +supreme moment busily engaged in cashiering their officers, and +quarrelling over the choice of new ones. The English foot then crossed +the bridge: Monmouth followed leisurely at the head of the horse, while +his cannon played from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> eastern bank on the disordered masses of the +Covenanters. A few Galloway men, better mounted and officered than the +rest of their fellows, spurred out against the Life Guards as they were +filing off the narrow bridge, but were at once ordered back by Hamilton. +The rest of the horse in taking up fresh ground to avoid the English +cannon completed the disorder of the foot—if, indeed, anything were +wanted to complete the disorder of a rabble which had never known the +meaning of the word order; and a general forward movement of the royal +troops, who had now all passed the bridge, gave the signal for flight. +Hamilton was the first to obey it, thus, in the words of an eye-witness, +"leaving the world to debate whether he acted most like a traitor, a +coward, or a fool."<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> Twelve hundred of the poor wretches surrendered +at discretion: the rest fled in all directions. Monmouth ordered quarter +to be given to all who asked it, and there is no doubt that he was able +considerably to diminish the slaughter. Comparatively few fell at the +bridge, but four or five hundred are said to have fallen, "murdered up +and down the fields," says Wodrow, "wherever the soldiers met them, +without mercy." Mercy was not a conspicuous quality of the soldiery of +those days; and the discovery of a huge gallows in the insurgents' camp, +with a cartload of new ropes at the foot, was not likely to stay the +hands of men who knew well enough that had the fortune of war been +different those ropes would have been round their necks without any +mercy. But it is clear that Monmouth was able to save many. When Dalziel +arrived next day in camp and learned how things had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> gone, he rebuked +the Duke to his face for betraying his command. "Had I come a day +sooner," he said, "these rogues should never have troubled his majesty +or the kingdom any more."<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> + +<p>There is no authority for attributing to Claverhouse himself any +particular ferocity. We may be pretty sure that the Covenanting +chroniclers would not have refrained from another fling at their +favourite scapegoat could they have found a stone to their hand; but as +a matter of fact, in no account of the battle is he mentioned, save by +name only, as having been present with his troop in Monmouth's army. The +fiery and vindictive part assigned to him by Scott rests on the +authority of the most amazing tissue of absurdities ever woven out of +the inventive fancy of a ballad-monger.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> He had no kinsman's death to +avenge, and he was too good a soldier to directly disobey his chief's +orders, however little they may have been to his taste.</p> + +<p>There is, moreover, positive evidence to the contrary. Six years after +the battle one Robert Smith, of Dunscore, who had been among the rebel +horsemen at Bothwell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> deposed that as they, some sixteen hundred in +number, were in retreat towards Carrick, he saw the royal cavalry halted +within less than a mile from the field, and this was considered by the +fugitives to have been done to favour their escape. "For," he went on, +"if they had followed us they had certainly killed or taken us all." It +is clear, therefore, that whatever Claverhouse might have done had he +been left to himself, or whatever he may have wished to do—what he did +do was, in common with the rest of the army, to obey his superior's +orders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> "Lives of the Scots Worthies," p. 383.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Wodrow, iii. 93.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Wodrow, iii. 107.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Creichton, pp. 37-8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> See some doggrel verses on the battle in "The Minstrelsy +of the Scottish Border," in which Claverhouse is represented as posting +off to London from the field of battle and, by means of false witnesses, +bringing Monmouth to the scaffold as a traitor who had given quarter to +the King's enemies. Sir Walter, of course, knew very well what he was +about; but it did not seem to him necessary to write fiction with the +nice exactness of the historian; nor was he, happily for us, of that +scrupulous order of minds which conceives that a cruel wrong has been +done to the reputation of a man who has been in his grave for nearly a +century and a half by employing the colours of tradition to heighten the +pictures of fancy.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>Could Monmouth's influence have lasted, their defeat at Bothwell Bridge +might have turned out well for the Covenanters. As soon as he had led +his army back into quarters, he hastened to London, where he so strongly +represented the brutal folly and mismanagement of Lauderdale's +government, that he prevailed upon the King to try once more the effect +of gentler measures. An indemnity was granted for the past, and even +some limited form of indulgence for the future. But the unexpected +return of the Duke of York from Holland put an end to all these humane +counsels. Monmouth was himself soon again in disgrace; and Lauderdale, +though his power was now past its height, was still strong enough to +mould to his own will concessions for which the time had now perhaps +irrevocably gone.</p> + +<p>The twelve hundred prisoners from Bothwell were marched in chains to +Edinburgh, and penned like sheep in the churchyard of the Grey Friars, +the building which barely forty years before had witnessed the +triumphant birth of that Covenant which was, if ever covenant of man +was, assuredly to be baptized in blood. Two of them, and both ministers, +were immediately executed: five others, as though to appease the cruel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +ghost of Sharp, were hanged on Magus Moor: of the rest, the most part +were set at liberty on giving bonds for their future good behaviour, +while the more obstinate were shipped off to the plantations.</p> + +<p>Claverhouse was now sent back to his old employment. Though none of his +own letters of this time have survived, it is clear from an Order of the +Privy Council that shortly after the affair at Bothwell he was again +entrusted with the control of the rebellious shires. There is +unfortunately no record of his own by which it is possible to check the +vague charges of Wodrow, who wisely declines to commit himself to +particulars on the ground that "multitudes of instances, once flagrant, +are now at this distance lost," while not a few, he candidly admits, +"were never distinctly known." In the rare cases in which he becomes +more specific in his complaints, he does not make it clear that the +offences were committed in Claverhouse's presence, nor even that they +were always committed by soldiers of his troop—"the soldiers under +Claverhouse" seem to stand with him for all the royal forces then +employed in the western shires. That what he calls "spulies, +depredations, and violences" were committed on Claverhouse's authority +may be freely granted: they were precisely such as a strict obedience to +the letter (and no less to the spirit) of his commission would have +enjoined—the levying of fines, the seizure of arms, horses, and other +movable property from all suspected of any share in the rebellion who +would not absolve themselves by taking the oath of abjuration, and from +all resetters, or harbourers, of known rebels. It would be idle to +refuse to believe that many unjust and cruel acts were not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> committed at +this time, as we know they were committed subsequently, merely because +they cannot be succinctly proved. It is unlikely that Claverhouse +himself wasted over-much time on sifting every case that was brought in +to him by his spies; and where he was not himself present—and it must +be remembered that he was not the only officer engaged in this service, +and also that his own soldiers were often employed under his lieutenants +on duties he was personally unable to attend to—it is hard to doubt +that much wild and brutal work went on. The whole case, in short, except +in a very few instances (which will be examined elsewhere), is one +solely of hearsay and tradition; and it is no more than common justice +in any attempt to define Claverhouse's share in it, to give him the +benefit of the doubt where it is not directly contrary to the proved +facts and the evidence of his despatches. For Claverhouse, it should be +also and always remembered, may be implicitly trusted to speak the truth +in these matters, for the simple reason that he was not in the least +ashamed of his work. We may well believe that it was not the work he +would have chosen; but it was the work he had been set to do; and his +concern was only to execute it as completely as possible. He was a +soldier, obeying the orders of his superiors, for which they and they +only were responsible. That their orders matched with his feelings, +religious as well as political, for Claverhouse was as thorough in his +devotion to the Church as he was in his devotion to the Crown, mattered +nothing. The whole question was to him one of military obedience. Sorely +as he may have chafed at the order, he halted his troopers on the banks +of the Clyde when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> Monmouth's trumpets sounded the recall, with the same +readiness and composure that he showed in leading them to the charge +down the slopes of Drumclog; and he would have led them against his +brothers-in-arms Ross or James Douglas, had they turned rebels, as +straightly and keenly as he led them against Hamilton and Burley. At the +same time both his letters and his actions show that he did his best to +discriminate between the ringleaders and the crowd: between the brawling +demagogues or the meddlesome priests and the honest ignorant peasants, +whose only crime was that they wished to worship God after a fashion the +Government chose to discountenance. It is not necessary to assume that +he was moved thereto by any softness of heart: common-sense, and a +sense, too, of justice, would suffice to show him where to strike. And +it will hereafter be seen that, where his commission was large enough, +he more than once exercised a discretion not entirely to the taste of +the more thorough-going zealots of the Edinburgh Council-board.</p> + +<p>The only distinct evidence we have of him at this time is contained in +the aforesaid Orders of Council. From these it appears that he had been +charged by the Scottish Treasury with appropriating the public moneys to +his use. He had been appointed for his services trustee to the Crown of +the estate of one Macdowall of Freugh, an outlawed Galloway laird; and +of this estate it was alleged that he would render no accounts, nor of +the fines he had been commissioned to levy on the non-abjuring rebels. +With characteristic fearlessness Claverhouse went straight to London, +and in a personal interview satisfied Charles of his innocence, who +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>forthwith ordered him to be reinstated in his commission and all the +privileges belonging to it.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> It is clear, however, that during the +greater part of the year 1680 Claverhouse was suspended from both his +civil and military employments, and this will account for the duty of +punishing the authors of the Sanquhar Declaration devolving not upon +him, but upon his lieutenant, Bruce of Earlshall.</p> + +<p>The prime mover of the Sanquhar Declaration was Richard Cameron, who had +now become the head of the extreme party, henceforth to be known by his +name—a name which still survives as that of a distinguished regiment of +the British army. It was framed in much the same language and to much +the same purpose as its predecessor of Rutherglen, though it would not +be right to degrade Cameron to the level of Hamilton and his ruffianly +associates. It took its title from having been fixed to the market-cross +of Sanquhar, a small town in Dumfriesshire, on June 22nd, 1680. Exactly +a month later Claverhouse's troopers (though, as I have said, not +commanded by Claverhouse himself) came upon the Cameronians in a +desolate spot among the wilds of Ayrshire, known as Aird's Moss. Richard +Cameron was killed at the first charge: Donald Cargill and Hackston of +Rathillet were made prisoners. Both were taken to Edinburgh and +executed, the latter with circumstances of needless barbarity.</p> + +<p>Though Claverhouse was reinstated in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> commission, he does not appear +to have been actively employed during the year 1681, the second year of +the Duke of York's administration in Scotland, and the year also of the +Test and Succession Acts, which were destined to cost another Argyle his +head. Early in 1682 the Duke of York returned to England, to which fact +Wodrow attributes "a sort of respite of severities," notwithstanding +that Claverhouse was once more commissioned for his old work in the +West, and with even ampler authority than before. In addition to his +military powers, he was appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire and +Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire and the Stewartries of Kirkcudbright and +Annandale; and he was also specially invested with a commission to hold +criminal courts in the first-named shire and to try delinquents by jury. +His letters to Queensberry<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> begin in February 1682, and from this +time onward his actions become easier to follow. These letters give a +very full and fair idea of his method of procedure, and in one of them +is a passage worth quoting as evidence how far that method as yet +deserved the hard epithets which have been so freely lavished on it. The +despatch is dated from Newton in Galloway, March 1st, 1682.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The proposal I wrote to your Lordship of, for securing the peace, I am +sure will please in all things but one,—that it will be somewhat out of +the King's pocket. The way that I see taken in other places is to put +laws severely, against great and small, in execution; which is very +just; but what effects does that produce, but more to exasperate and +alienate the hearts of the whole body of the people; for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> it renders +three desperate where it gains one; and your Lordship knows that in the +greatest crimes it is thought wisest to pardon the multitude and punish +the ringleaders, where the number of the guilty is great, as in this +case of whole countries. Wherefore, I have taken another course here. I +have called two or three parishes together at one Church, and, after +intimating to them the power I have, I read them a libel narrating all +the Acts of Parliament against the fanatics; whereby I made them +sensible how much they were in the King's reverence, and assured them he +was relenting nothing of his former severity against dissenters, nor +care of maintaining the established government; as they might see by his +doubling the fines in the late Act of Parliament; and in the end told +them, that the King had no design to ruin any of his subjects he could +reclaim, nor I to enrich myself by their crimes; and therefore any who +would resolve to conform, and live regularly, might expect favour; +excepting only resetters and ringleaders. Upon this, on Sunday last, +there was about three hundred people at Kirkcudbright Church; some that +for seven years before had never been there. So that I do expect that +within a short time I could bring two parts of three to the Church. But +when I have done,—that is all to no purpose. For we will be no sooner +gone, but in comes their Ministers, and all repent and fall back to +their old ways. So that it is vain to think of any settlement here, +without a constant force placed in garrison. And this is the opinion of +all the honest men here, and their desire. For there are some of them, +do what they like, they cannot keep the preacher from their houses in +their absence, so mad are some of their wives."</p></div> + +<p>His remedy was to raise a hundred dragoons for a permanent garrison: the +Crown was to pay the soldiers, and the country would find maintenance +for the horses,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> he bearing his own part as "a Galloway laird," which he +was as trustee of Macdowall's estate. The command of this new force he +was willing to undertake without any additional pay.</p> + +<p>It does not seem that this remedy was ever sanctioned; but at any rate +Claverhouse so managed matters that a month later he was able to report +to the Council that all was "in perfect peace."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"All who were in the rebellion are either seized, gone out of the +country, or treating their peace; and they have already so conformed, as +to going to the Church, that it is beyond my expectation. In Dumfries +not only almost all the men are come, but the women have given +obedience; and Irongray, Welsh's own parish, have for the most part +conformed; and so it is all over the country. So that, if I be suffered +to stay any time here, I do expect to see this the best settled part of +the Kingdom on this side the Tay. And if these dragoons were fixed which +I wrote your Lordship about, I might promise for the continuance of +it.... All this is done without having received a farthing money, either +in Nithsdale, Annandale, or Kirkcudbright; or imprisoned anybody. But, +in end, there will be need to make examples of the stubborn that will +not comply. Nor will there be any danger in this after we have gained +the great body of the people; to whom I am become acceptable enough; +having passed all bygones, upon bonds of regular carriage +hereafter."<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p></div> + +<p>For these services Claverhouse was summoned to Edinburgh to receive the +thanks of the Council, to whom he presented an official report of his +proceedings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> which is no more than a summary of his letters to +Queensberry.<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a></p> + +<p>It was not likely that a man so uniformly successful and of such high +spirit would be able to steer clear of all offence to men, who probably +felt towards him much as Elizabeth's old courtiers felt towards the +triumphant and masterful Raleigh. Nor, conscious of his own powers and +confident in the royal favour, is it probable that he was always at much +pains to avoid offence, for, though neither a quarrelsome nor a wilful +man, he had his own opinions, and was not shy of expressing them when he +saw fit to do so. With all his constitutional regard for authority and +his soldier's respect for discipline, Claverhouse would suffer himself +to be browbeaten by no one. In those jealous intriguing days a man who +could not fight for his own hand was bound to go down in the struggle. +Claverhouse was now to give a signal proof that he both could and would +fight for his when the need came.</p> + +<p>The Dalrymples of Stair had been settled in Galloway for many +generations. Sir James, the head of the house, was one of the first +lawyers of the day, and had held the Chair of Philosophy in the +University of Glasgow: the son, Sir John (afterwards to earn an undying +name in history as prime mover in the Massacre of Glencoe), was +heritable Baillie in the regality of Glenluce. There had been bad blood +between them and Claverhouse for some time past. The father had not +profited sufficiently by his studies either in law or philosophy to +recognise the folly of a man in disgrace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> venturing to measure swords +with one of fortune's favourites. And Sir James at the time of his +quarrel with Claverhouse was in disgrace. At the close of 1681 he had +been dismissed from the office of President of the Court of Session for +refusing the Test Act; and for some while previously he had been coldly +regarded for his advocacy of gentler measures than suited Lauderdale and +his creatures. The Dalrymples were strict Presbyterians; and though the +men were too cautious to meddle openly with treasonable matters, their +womenfolk were notoriously in active sympathy with the rebels. All +through Claverhouse's letters of this time run allusions to some great +personage whom it might be wise to make an example of, and he himself +had taken an early opportunity of impressing on Sir James the necessity +of caution.<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> But the latter would not be warned. He set himself +against Claverhouse at every opportunity, both openly and in secret. He +wrote long querulous letters to Edinburgh, complaining of the latter's +disrespect. Finally, when he found it prudent to leave the country for a +while, his son carried the business to a height by bringing a formal +charge against Claverhouse of extortion and malversation. The latter saw +his opportunity, and at once carried the war into the enemy's country. +He preferred a specific bill of complaint against Sir John, in the +course of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> which it came out that he had been offered a bribe both by +father and son not to interfere with their hereditary jurisdictions; +and, notwithstanding the exertions of Sir George Lockhart and +Fountainhall, the most eminent counsel of the Scottish bar, utterly +defeated him on every point. The Court found that Sir John Dalrymple had +been guilty of employing rebels and of winking at treasonable practices: +of not exacting the proper fines by law ordained for such misdemeanours: +of stirring up the country-folk against the King's troops; and, finally, +of grossly misrepresenting Claverhouse to the Council. For these +offences he was sentenced to pay a fine of five hundred pounds and the +whole costs of the proceedings, and to be imprisoned in the Castle of +Edinburgh till the money should be paid. Claverhouse, on his side, +received not only a full and most complimentary acquittal from all his +adversary's charges, but also a signal proof of the royal favour in the +presentation to a regiment of cavalry raised especially for this +purpose. His commission was dated December 25th, 1682, and in the +following March he was sent into England with despatches from the +Council to the King and the Duke of York, who was still nominally +Commissioner for Scottish Affairs.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a></p> + +<p>Hitherto Claverhouse may be said to have stood conspicuous among the men +of his time for his persistent refusal to enrich himself at the public +cost. He had certainly had many opportunities, as had a still more +famous captain after him, of wondering at his own moderation, yet his +enemies had been unable to bring home to him a single instance of +malpractice. But we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> have now come to an episode in his life for which +an extremely virtuous or an extremely censorious moralist might, were he +so minded, find occasion to re-echo the popular epithet of rapacious. +Claverhouse was in no sense of the word an avaricious man; but, like all +sensible men, he had a strong belief in the truth of the maxim, the +labourer is worthy of his hire. He had laboured long and successfully; +and the time, he thought, had now come for his hire.</p> + +<p>Lauderdale was dying, and from every side the vultures were flocking +fast to their prey. In those days politicians looked for promotion +mainly to the death or disgrace of their comrades, and the death of any +powerful statesman generally meant the disgrace of his family. All +parties were now busy in anticipation over the rich booty that was so +soon to come into the market. His brother and heir, Charles Maitland of +Hatton, was attacked before the breath was out of the old man's body. +Among the many lucrative posts he enjoyed, the most lucrative was that +of Governor (or General, as the style went) of the Scottish Mint. At the +instigation of Sir George Gordon of Haddo, who had become in quick +succession President of the Court of Session, Lord Chancellor, and Earl +of Aberdeen, a Commission was appointed to inquire into the state of the +coinage, with the result that Maitland (by this time Earl of Lauderdale, +for the dukedom began and ended with his brother) was declared to have +appropriated to his own use no less than seventy thousand pounds of the +revenue. In the general division of spoil which this verdict gave signal +for, Claverhouse saw no reason why he should go empty away. Eleven years +previously, when the old statesman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> was at the height of his evil power, +his brother had been appointed Constable of Dundee and presented with +the estate of Dudhope, lying conveniently near to Claverhouse's few +paternal acres. A bargain, which would have seemed in those days no +disgraceful thing to any human being, was accordingly struck between +Claverhouse and the various claimants for the dead man's shoes. +Queensberry, though but lately advanced to a marquisate, had set his +heart upon a dukedom: the Chancellor was in want of money to support his +new honours. And there were other petitioners for the good offices of +the ambassador to Whitehall: Huntly and the Earl Marischal and Sir +George Mackenzie had each marked his share of the general prize. To one +and all Claverhouse promised his services; and they on their part were +to advance by all means in their power his designs on the fat acres of +Dudhope. All this, no doubt, sounds very contemptible to us now, who +manage these matters so much more circumspectly; but it must be +remembered that Lauderdale, though his offence was probably greatly +exaggerated, and though a large part of the fine in which he had been +originally cast was in fact remitted, had certainly been guilty of gross +carelessness, if not of actual malversation; while Claverhouse on his +pact offered to pay, and did pay, whatever sum might be legally fixed as +due for his share of the booty.<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>All these bargains were in time brought to a successful issue. +Claverhouse was in England from the beginning of March to the middle of +May. He was with the Court at Newmarket, Windsor, and London, always in +high favour, but at the former place finding the King more eager for his +company at the cockpit and race-course than in the council-chamber.<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> +Early in May he returned to Scotland, and shortly after his return he +took his seat at Edinburgh as a Privy Councillor. This was his present +reward: Dudhope and the Constabulary were to follow later, with +Queensberry's and Huntly's dukedoms and the other honours. But Dudhope +was not destined to drop into his lap. The Chancellor, whom he counted +as his particular friend, had played him false. Lauderdale's fine had +been reduced by Charles from seventy thousand pounds to twenty thousand, +sixteen thousand of which were granted to the Chancellor and four +thousand to Claverhouse. But should Lauderdale and his son agree to +assign to the Chancellor under an unburdened title the lands and +lordship of Dundee and Dudhope, then the whole sum was to be remitted, +Lauderdale binding himself to discharge the fines inflicted on his +subordinates. Power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> was also given to Claverhouse to redeem this +property from the Chancellor at twenty years' purchase; and it seems +also to have been privately agreed between them that the purchase-money +was not to be exacted, on condition of the former buying certain other +lands in the neighbourhood that the latter wished to dispose of. But the +crafty Chancellor saw an easier and quieter way to get hold of his +money. For the sum of eight thousand pounds he privately relinquished +all his rights to Lauderdale, thus leaving the latter free to deal with +Claverhouse on his own terms. This bit of sharp practice was effected in +August 1683; and it was not till the following March that the business +was finally settled, after a long and tedious wrangle before the Court, +in the course of which Claverhouse seemed to have found occasion to +speak his mind pretty sharply to the Chancellor. On the question of the +former's right to demand Dudhope on the terms of twenty years' purchase +Lauderdale had to give way; but on the other question of clearing the +title he was so difficult to deal with that the King himself had to +interfere; and not till a peremptory order had gone down from Whitehall, +cancelling the royal pardon till all the terms of the original agreement +had been satisfactorily settled, was the affair finally closed, the +title cleared, and Claverhouse established as master of the long-coveted +estate.</p> + + +<p>It was not till the autumn of 1684 that Claverhouse found himself master +of Dudhope and Constable of Dundee. Meanwhile one of the few domestic +events of his life that have come down to us had taken place. On June +10th he had been married to the Lady Jean Cochrane, granddaughter to the +old Earl of Dundonald.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>This young lady was the daughter of William, Lord Cochrane, by +Catherine, daughter of the Presbyterian Earl of Cassilis and sister to +that Lady Margaret Kennedy whom Gilbert Burnet had married. Her father +had died before Claverhouse came on the scene, leaving seven children, +of whom Jean was the youngest. Her mother, whose notoriously Whiggish +sympathies had brought both her husband and father-in-law into +suspicion, was furiously opposed to the match; though worldly prudence +may have touched her heart as well as religious scruple, for +Claverhouse, though he had risen fast and was marked by all men as +destined to rise still higher, was hardly as yet perhaps a very eligible +husband for the pretty Lady Jean. But in truth it was a strange family +for him to seek a wife in, and many were the whispered gibes the news of +his courtship provoked at Edinburgh. Was this strong Samson, men asked, +to fall a prey at last to a Whiggish Delilah? Hamilton, whose own +loyalty was by no means unimpeachable, and who was no friend to +Claverhouse, affected to be much distressed by the Lady Susannah's +partiality for the young Lord Cochrane, and made great parade of his +disinclination to give his daughter to the son of such a mother without +the express consent of the King; and this Claverhouse chose to take as a +hit at him, who had not thought it necessary to ask any one's permission +to choose his own wife. Affairs were still further complicated by the +backslidings of Sir John Cochrane, Lady Jean's uncle, a notorious rebel +who was then in hiding for his complicity with Russell and Sidney, and +was even suspected of knowing something of that darker affair of the Rye +House.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> Claverhouse was furious at the gossip. "My Lord Duke Hamilton," +he wrote to Queensberry,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"has refused to treat of giving his daughter to my Lord Cochrane, till +he should have the King and the Duke's leave. This, I understand, has +been advised him, to load me. Wherefore I have written to the Duke, and +told him that I would have done it sooner, had I not judged it +presumption in me to trouble his Highness with my little concerns; and +that I looked upon myself as a cleanser, that may cure others by coming +amongst them, but cannot be infected by any plague of Presbytery; +besides, that I saw nothing singular in my Lord Dundonald's case, save +that he has but one rebel on his land for ten that the lords and lairds +of the south and west have on theirs; and that he is willing to depone +that he knew not of there being such. The Duke is juster than to charge +my Lord Dundonald with Sir John's crimes. He is a madman, and let him +perish; they deserve to be damned that own him. The Duke knows what it +is to have sons and nephews that follow not advice. I have taken pains +to know the state of the country's guilt as to reset; and if I make it +not appear that my Lord Dundonald is one of the clearest of all that +country, and can hardly be reached in law, I am content to pay his fine. +I never pleaded for any, nor shall I hereafter. But I must say I think +it hard that no regard is had to a man in so favourable circumstances—I +mean considering others—upon my account, and that nobody offered to +meddle with him till they heard I was likely to be concerned in him.... +Whatever come of this, let not my enemies misrepresent me. They may +abuse the Duke for a time, and hardly. But, or long, I will, in despite +of them, let the world see that it is not in the power of love, nor any +other folly, to alter my loyalty."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>And again on the same day:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For my own part, I look upon myself as a cleanser. I may cure people +guilty of that plague of Presbytery by conversing with them, but cannot +be infected. And I see very little of that amongst those persons but may +be easily rubbed off. And for the young lady herself, I shall answer for +her. Had she not been right principled, she would never, in despite of +her mother and relations, made choice of a persecutor, as they call +me."<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p></div> + +<p>The young lady seems to have been well-favoured, though it is not easy +to learn much from the female portraits of those days, which are all +very much of a piece. What else she may have been it is impossible to +say. She is a name in her husband's history and nothing more, and in the +few stormy years that were yet to run for him she could not well have +been much more. However, she seems to have been well pleased with her +handsome lover; and, in spite of her mother's opposition, the marriage +was pushed briskly forward. The contract was signed at Paisley on June +10th, and on the following day the marriage was celebrated at the same +place. Lady Catherine's is not among the signatures; but there is to be +seen the almost illegible scrawl of the old grandfather and of Euphrame +his wife, a daughter of Sir William Scott of Ardross. The bride's eldest +brother, whose own marriage with the Lady Susannah Hamilton was soon to +follow, and her cousin John, son of the outlaw of Ochiltree, were also +among the witnesses; and for the bridegroom, his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> brother-in-arms Lord +Ross<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> and Colin Mackenzie, brother of the Lord Advocate, Sir George +of Rosehaugh. The lady's jointure was fixed at five thousand merks Scots +(something over two hundred and seventy pounds of English money), +secured on certain property in Forfarshire and Perthshire; while she on +her side brought her husband what in those days was reckoned a very +comfortable fortune for a younger child.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a></p> + +<p>The marriage was made under an evil star. Hardly had the blessing been +spoken when word came down in haste from Glasgow that the Whigs were up. +Since the Sanquhar Declaration and the deaths of Cameron<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> and Cargill, +the Covenanters had been comparatively quiet. The work of pacification +had indeed not slackened, but rather taken a fresh departure in the +appointment of a Court of High Commission, or Justiciary Circuit, which +in the summer of 1683 was held in the towns of Stirling, Glasgow, Ayr, +Dumfries, Jedburgh, and Edinburgh. Claverhouse was expressly ordered to +attend the justices in their progress as captain of the forces, except +at places where the Commander-in-Chief would naturally be present. But +though the discovery of the Rye House Plot had just then stirred the +kingdom to its centre, and given fresh energies both to the Government +and its enemies, only three men suffered during this circuit, of whom +two were convicted murderers. In each town members of the gentry as well +as of the common people flocked to take the Test; some to clear +themselves of suspicion, others only to air their loyalty, but all, in +the words of the report, cheerfully. Where time, moreover, was asked for +consideration, it was granted on good security. But from the end of +July, 1683, to the day of his marriage, Claverhouse seems to have been +occupied almost entirely with his duties as Councillor at Edinburgh, and +only to have left the capital for brief tours of inspection through the +western garrisons.</p> + +<p>But with the day of his marriage came a change. On the previous Sunday +news had been brought to Glasgow of an unusually large and well-armed +conventicle to be held at Blacklock, a moor on the borders of +Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire. Dalziel (who was in church when the +message came, but who did not suffer his duty towards God to interfere +with his duty towards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> man) put the soldiers on the track at once; but +for the next eight-and-forty hours the country from Hamilton northwards +to the ford of Clyde was scoured in vain. The Covenanters marched fast, +and the country folk, many of them probably still fresh from the Test, +kept their secret well. Claverhouse was sent for in haste from Paisley. +He was in the saddle and away before the bridal party could recover from +their first shock of surprise. But even Claverhouse was foiled. His +lieutenant, however, had better luck. Colonel Buchan, as he was +returning to Paisley by way of Lismahago, came upon an ambuscade of two +hundred Covenanters, whose advanced post fired on and wounded one of the +soldiers.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> "They followed the rogues," wrote Claverhouse to +Queensberry, "and advertised Colonel Buchan; but before he could come +up, our party had lost sight of them. Colonel Buchan is yet in pursuit +and I am just taking horse. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> shall be revenged some time or other of +this unseasonable trouble these dogs give me. They might have let +Tuesday pass." This despatch was written from Paisley on the morning of +the 13th, while fresh horses were being saddled. By noon he was off +again, and for the next three days rode fast and far, leaving "no den, +no knowl, no moss, no hill unsearched." He could track his game from +Aird's Moss to within two miles of Cumnock town, and thence on towards +Cairntable. But there all traces of them had vanished.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We could never hear more of them. I sent on Friday night for my troop +from Dumfries, and ordered them to march by the Sanquhar to the +Muirkirk, to the Ploughlands, and so to Streven. I sent for Captain +Strachan's troop from the Glenkens, and ordered him to march to the old +castle of Cumloch, down to the Sorne, and through the country to +Kilbryde, leaving Mauchline and Newmills on his left, and Loudon-hill on +his right. By this means they scoured this country, and secured the +passages that way. Colonel Buchan marched with the foot and the dragoons +some miles on the right of my troop, and I, with the Guards and my Lord +Ross and his troop, up by the [Shaire?]. We were at the head of Douglas. +We were round and over Cairntable. We were at Greenock-head, +Cummer-head, and through all the moors, mosses, hills, glens, woods; and +spread in small parties, and ranged as if we had been at hunting, and +down to Blackwood, but could learn nothing of those rogues. So the +troops being extremely harassed with marching so much on grounds never +trod on before, I have sent them with Colonel Buchan to rest at +Dalmellington, till we see where these rogues will start up. We examined +all on oath, and offered money, and threatened terribly, for +intelligence, but we could learn no more."<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + + +<p>The "rogues" were to start up soon and with a vengeance. On a day in +July (the date is not specified) a party of troopers were escorting +sixteen prisoners to Dumfries. They were Claverhouse's men, but their +captain was not with them. At Enterkin Hill, a narrow pass with a deep +precipice on either side, a rescue was attempted by a considerable body +of men,—English Borderers, it was whispered. Some of the prisoners +escaped: others were killed in the scuffle or broke their necks over the +precipice: only two were brought into Edinburgh: a few of the soldiers +were also killed. This audacious affair spurred the Government on to new +energies. The garrisons were increased through all the western shires. +Claverhouse, with Buchan for his second in command, was put in charge of +all the forces in Ayrshire and Clydesdale, and a special civil +commission was added to their military powers.</p> + +<p>At length, towards the end of August, there was a lull, and the master +of Dudhope was able at last to enjoy the society of his bride and the +pleasures of a country life. But of the latter he soon grew weary. +"Though I stay a few days here," he wrote to Queensberry on August 25th, +"I hope none will reproach me of eating the bread of idleness." That, at +least, is a reproach his worst enemies have never tried to fasten on +him. To be doing something was, indeed, a necessity of his existence; +and his duties as Constable soon furnished him with something to do. In +the Tolbooth of Dundee lay a number of poor wretches whom the hard laws +of the time had sentenced to death for various offences, the gravest of +which did not rise above theft.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> It was within the Constable's power to +order them at any moment for execution; and doubtless some of those who +have meddled with his life, had they been aware of this circumstance in +it, would have risked the conclusion that he did so. Yet, strange as it +may seem, he exerted himself to save the prisoners. And he exerted +himself so successfully that not only was the capital sentence reprieved +to such milder punishment as he might order, but the same license was +granted to him for dealing with all future criminals of the same +class.<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> "We have spoken to him about it," runs the royal Order, +"and he doth positively assert that while he was in Scotland he received +not one farthing upon that account" (Napier, ii. 238). The two Orders +are dated respectively February 3rd and 26th, 1681.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> The Marquis of Queensberry was then Lord Treasurer, and +practically, since Lauderdale's disgrace, first Minister of Scotland.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Claverhouse to Queensberry, April 1st, 1682.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> A copy of this report was printed in the Aberdeen Papers +(1851) from the original in Claverhouse's own hand: Napier, ii. 276.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> "Here in the shire I find the lairds all following the +example of a late great man, and still a considerable heritor here among +them; which is, to live regularly themselves, but have their houses +constant haunts of rebels and intercommuned persons, and have their +children baptized by the same; and then lay all the blame on their +wives; condemning them, and swearing they cannot help what is done in +their absence." Claverhouse to Queensberry, March 5th, 1682.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Napier, ii. 285-309.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> "I must beg your Lordship's assistance in that business of +the lands of Dudhope. My Lord Chancellor designs nothing but to sell it, +and buy lands in the north, seeing he is to get Stirling Castle to dwell +in. Wherefore I desire leave to ask the house of Dudhope, and the +Constabulary, and other jurisdictions of Dundee belonging to my Lord +Lauderdale; and I offer to buy forty chalders of victual from my Lord +Chancellor lying about it [meaning the land bearing so much, at a +valuation], though I should sell other lands to do it. I have no house, +and it lies within half-a-mile of my land; and all that business would +be extremely convenient for me, and signify not much to my Lord +Chancellor, especially seeing I am willing to buy the land. I would take +this for the greatest favour in the world, for I cannot have the +patience to build and plant." Claverhouse to Queensberry, March 20th, +1683.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> "It is hard to get any business done here. I walked but +nine miles this morning with the King, besides cock-fighting and +courses." Claverhouse to Queensberry, Newmarket, March 9th, 1683.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Both these letters were written from Edinburgh, May 19th, +1684.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> William, twelfth Lord Ross, son of the one previously +mentioned.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> Napier, ii. 385-393. The contract was first printed in the +volume of Claverhouse's letters edited by George Smythe for the +Bannatyne Club in 1826. That volume contains also portraits of the bride +and bridegroom, a drawing of which was made by Sharpe for Napier. The +portrait of the latter is the one known as the Leven portrait, now in +possession of Lady Elizabeth Cartwright. The portrait of Lady Jean is +from a picture then belonging to the editor. There is also an engraving +of a mourning ring belonging to the editor's grandmother, Catherine +Cochrane, wife of David Smythe of Methven, said to have been given to +her by her father, Lady Dundee's brother. The ring contains a lock of +Dundee's hair, on which the letters V.D. are worked in gold, with a +Viscount's coronet above. The motto is "Great Dundee for God and me. J. +Rex." One child was born of the marriage in April 1689, and he died +three months after his father fell at Killiecrankie. Lady Dundee married +secondly William Livingstone, afterwards Lord Kilsyth, of whom mention +will be made elsewhere. A son was born also of this marriage, but in the +autumn of 1695 both mother and child were killed by the fall of a house +in Holland. Lord Kilsyth was "out in the Fifteen," and died an outlaw at +Rome in 1733, after which the title became extinct. Napier (iii., +Appendix 2) gives a curious account of the opening of Lady Dundee's +coffin more than a hundred years after her burial in the family vault at +Kilsyth Church.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> "So when we came to Streven (Strathavon), I left the +command to Colonel Buchan, and desired him to return the troops to their +quarters; but, in his march, to search the skirts of the hills and moors +on the Clydesdale side; which he did, and gave me an account that, going +in by the Greenock-head, he met a man that lives down on Clydeside, that +was up buying wool, who told him that on Lidburn, which is in the heart +of the hills on the Clydesdale side, he had seen a great number of +rebels in arms, and told how he had considered the commanders of them. +One of them, he said, was a lusty black man with one eye, and the other +was a good-like man, and wore a grey hat. The first had on a velvet cap. +But before he (Colonel Buchan) could come near the place, a party of +foot, that he had sent to march on his right, fell accidentally on them. +Four of our soldiers going before to discover, were fired on by seven +that started up out of a glen, and one of ours was wounded. They fired +at the rebels, who, seeing our party of foot making up, and the horse in +sight, took the alarm, and gained the hills, which was all moss." +Claverhouse to the Archbishop of Saint Andrews (Alexander Burnet), +Paisley, June 16th, 1684.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Claverhouse to the Archbishop, Paisley, June 16th, 1684.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> "Privy Council Register," Edinburgh, September 10th, 1684: +Napier, ii. 410.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII49" id="CHAPTER_VII49"></a>CHAPTER VII.<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a></h2> + + +<p>I propose now to examine, with more care than there has yet been +occasion for, those charges of wanton and illegal cruelty which have for +close upon two centuries formed the basis of the popular—I had almost +written the historical—conception of the character of Claverhouse. I +have used the words "illegal cruelty" because Claverhouse is not only +commonly believed to have far surpassed all his contemporaries in his +treatment of the Scottish Covenanters, but to have even gone beyond the +sanction of a law little disposed to be illiberal in such matters. Some +reason has, I trust, been already shown for at least reconsidering the +popular verdict. But as we are now approaching that period of his life +when, for a time all too short for his own reputation, Claverhouse at +last found free play for those eminent abilities which none have denied +him, it will be well, before passing into this larger field, to be +finally rid of a most tiresome and distasteful duty. The controversial +element is, I fear, inseparable from this part of the subject, but I +shall endeavour to do with as little of it as possible.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>Although the significant title of "the Killing Time" seems to have been +occasionally used in Scotland during the subsequent century to cover the +whole period from Lauderdale's administration to the Revolution, yet the +phrase was originally and more properly applied to the years of James's +reign alone. The most notorious of the acts attributed to Claverhouse +were, as a fact, committed within that time; but it will be more +convenient not to adhere too rigidly to chronological sequence, and to +take the charges rather in order of their notoriety and of the +importance of those who have assumed them to be true. Following this +order, the two first on the list will naturally be the death, by +Claverhouse's own hand, of John Brown, and the deaths, by drowning on +the sands of Solway Firth, of the two women, Margaret Maclachlan and +Margaret Wilson—popularly known as the Wigtown Martyrs.</p> + +<p>An attempt has been made to prove that this last affair is a pure +romance of Covenanting tradition. It has never been disputed that the +women were tried for high treason (that is to say, for refusing to +abjure the Covenant and to attend Episcopal worship) and condemned to +death; but it has been denied that the sentence was ever carried into +effect, on the strength of a reprieve granted by the Council at +Edinburgh before the day of execution. That a reprieve, or rather a +remand, was granted is certain, as the pages of the Council register +remain to this day to testify. But it is not so certain that the +decision of the Council at Edinburgh ever reached the magistrates at +Wigtown; and that, if it did reach them, they at least paid no attention +to it, remained for upwards of a century and a half the fixed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> opinion +of all writers and readers of history. The women were sentenced on April +18th, 1685: the remand is dated April 30th, but the period for which it +was to run has been left blank, pending the result of a recommendation +for full pardon with which it was accompanied: the sentence was executed +on May 11th—in Wodrow's words, "a black and very remarkable day for +blood in several places."</p> + +<p>It will be sufficient to indicate where the arguments employed to +discredit this affair may be found.<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> They do not practically amount +to more than this—that as a reprieve was certainly granted in the +Council Chamber at Edinburgh, the execution could not possibly have +taken place on the sands of the Solway. The case is indeed one which +those who will accept nothing that cannot be proved with mathematical +certainty will always find reasons for doubting; but at least they must +have read the history of those times to little purpose if they can +accept such an argument as conclusive. For the rest, it will be enough +to say that the story first found its way into print in 1687, and that +it was more circumstantially repeated in 1711, when the records of the +Kirk Session of the parish of Penninghame were published by direction of +the General Assembly. At that time Thomas Wilson, a brother of the +younger sufferer, was still alive, with many others to whom the +Killing-Time was something very much more than a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> tradition. In 1714 +(possibly to a later date, but certainly in that year) a stone in +Penninghame churchyard still marked the grave of Margaret Wilson, and +told the story of her death.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> The ruins of the church may still be +seen, but the stone has long ago gone to join the dust that was once the +bones of Margaret; and an obelisk, raised within our own times on the +high ground outside the busy little seaport, now serves in statelier, if +less vital, fashion to recall to the traveller the memory of the Martyrs +of Wigtown. It is difficult to believe that a story so well and widely +recorded, and so firmly implanted in the hearts of so many generations +of men, can have absolutely no foundation in fact.<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> It is indeed +possible that time has embellished the bald brutality of the deed, +though the graphic narrative of Macaulay is practically that which +Wodrow took from the records of Penninghame. But that the two women +were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> drowned in the waters of the Blednock on May 11th, 1685, is surely +a fact as well authenticated as any in the martyrology of the Scottish +Covenant.</p> + +<p>There is, as I have said, an excellent reason for not dragging my +readers through the obscure and barren mazes of this controversy; and +like all good reasons it is a very simple one. Claverhouse was present +neither at the trial nor the execution. He had, indeed, no more to do +with the deaths of these two women than Cameron, who had been five years +in his grave, or Wodrow, who was but five years old. It is true that one +of his family was present, but this was his brother, David Graham, +Deputy Sheriff of Galloway, and but lately made one of the Lords +Justices of Wigtownshire. Macaulay does not directly name Claverhouse as +concerned in this affair; but it is one out of five selected by the +historian as samples of the crimes by which "he, and men like him, +goaded the Western peasantry into madness"—a consummation which, it may +be observed in passing, had been effected twelve years before +Claverhouse had drawn sword in Scotland. It is not certain that Macaulay +believed the Graham who sat in judgment on these women to have been John +Graham of Claverhouse. But it is certain that the effect of his +narrative has been, in the minds of most English-speaking men, to add +this also to the long list of mythical crimes which have blackened the +memory of the hero of Killiecrankie.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> + +<p>But over the other affair there rests no shadow of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> doubt. That +Claverhouse, and he alone, is responsible for the death of John Brown +stands on the very best authority, for it stands on his own. It is not, +indeed, certain that he shot the man with his own hand. This is Wodrow's +story, and as usual he gives no authority for it. "With some +difficulty," he writes,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"he was allowed to pray, which he did with the greatest liberty and +melting, and withal in such suitable and scriptural expressions, and in +a peculiar judicious style, he having great measures of the gift as well +as the grace of prayer, that the soldiers were affected and astonished; +yea, which is yet more singular, such convictions were left in their +bosoms that, as my informations bear, not one of them would shoot him or +obey Claverhouse's commands, so that he was forced to turn executioner +himself, and in a fret shot him with his own hand, before his own door, +his wife with a young infant standing by, and she very near the time of +her delivery of another child. When tears and entreaties could not +prevail, and Claverhouse had shot him dead, I am credibly informed the +widow said to him, 'Well, sir, you must give an account of what you have +done.' Claverhouse answered, 'To men I can be answerable, and as for +God, I'll take him into my own hand.' I am well informed that +Claverhouse himself frequently acknowledged afterwards that John Brown's +prayer left such impressions upon his spirit that he could never get +altogether worn off, when he gave himself liberty to think of it."<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p></div> + +<p>Patrick Walker, the pedlar, writing a very few years after Wodrow (whom +he notices only to abuse for his inaccuracy and backsliding), and +professing to have got his version from the wife, tells a different +tale. "Claverhouse," he says, "ordered six soldiers to shoot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> him. The +most part of the bullets came upon his head, which scattered his brains +upon the ground." Of any refusal, or even disinclination, on the part of +the soldiers to obey their orders there is not a word. Then we have +Claverhouse's own report to Queensberry, written two days later from +Galston, a village between Kilmarnock and Ayr.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"On Friday last, amongst the hills betwixt Douglas and the Ploughlands, +we pursued two fellows a great way through the mosses, and in end seized +them. They had no arms about them, and denied they had any. But being +asked if they would take the abjuration, the eldest of the two, called +John Brown, refused it; nor would he swear not to rise in arms against +the King, but said he knew no king. Upon which, and there being found +bullets and match in his house, and treasonable papers, I caused shoot +him dead; which he suffered very unconcernedly. The other, a young +fellow and his nephew, called John Brownen, offered to take the oath, +but would not swear that he had not been at Newmills in arms, at +rescuing of the prisoners. So I did not know what to do with him. I was +convinced that he was guilty, but saw not how to proceed against him. +Wherefore, after he had said his prayers, and carabines presented to +shoot him, I offered to him that, if he would make an ingenuous +confession, and make a discovery that might be of any importance for the +King's service, I should delay putting him to death, and plead for him. +Upon which he confessed that he was at that attack of Newmills, and that +he had come straight to this house of his uncle's on Sunday morning. In +the time he was making this confession the soldiers found out a house in +the hill, under ground, that could hold a dozen of men, and there were +swords and pistols in it; and this fellow declared that they belonged to +his uncle, and that he had lurked in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> place ever since Bothwell, +where he was in arms.... He also gives account of those who gave any +assistance to his uncle; and we have seized thereupon the goodman of the +uppermost Ploughlands, and another tenant about a mile below that is +fled upon it.... I have acquitted myself when I have told your Grace the +case. He has been but a month or two with his halbert; and if your Grace +thinks he deserves no mercy, justice will pass on him; for I, having no +commission of justiciary myself, have delivered him up to the +Lieutenant-General, to be disposed of as he pleases."<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p></div> + +<p>It is singular that neither Wodrow nor Walker makes any mention of this +nephew, whose presence on that day, taken in connection with his share +in the affair at Newmills,<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> puts the uncle in rather a different +light. There happen also to be one or two affairs known about this John +Brown which are worth noting. For instance, his name is found on a list +of proscribed rebels and resetters of rebels, appended to a royal +proclamation of May 5th, 1684, which will naturally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> account for his +"having been a long time upon his hiding in the hills," as Wodrow +ingenuously confesses. In other words, this Brown was an outlaw and a +marked man. He was by profession a carrier—"the Christian carrier," his +friends called him, for the fervour and eloquence of his preaching, +which was remarkable even in a neighbourhood where the gift of tongues +was not uncommon. A carrier is an extremely useful channel of +communication; and, in fact, there can be really no doubt that Brown had +been for some time engaged in practices which the most iniquitous +Government in the world could hardly be blamed for thinking +inconvenient. It has been suggested that Claverhouse was at that time +especially on the watch to intercept all communication between Argyle +and Monmouth, and that Brown was employed in carrying intelligence +between the rebel camps. Macaulay refuses this suggestion. He points out +with perfect truth that both Argyle and Monmouth were at that time in +Holland. But when he goes on to say that there was no insurrection in +any part of our island, he goes rather too far. The western shires of +Scotland had been in a state of insurrection ever since the Pentland +rising, if there be any meaning in the word at all. And, though it is +true that on May 1st (the day of Brown's death) Argyle was in Holland, +it is no less true that on the second he had left Holland for Scotland; +that since April 21st the Privy Council had been well informed of his +designs; that measures had been taken for putting the whole kingdom in a +state of defence against him; and that arrests had been already made on +account of treasonable correspondence with him.<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> But the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> question is +not one of probabilities, and moreover against these probabilities it +may be very fairly urged that Claverhouse's own despatch proves that the +nephew's confession and the discovery of the underground armoury were +not made till after the uncle's death. Nor is there any word in this +despatch to show that Claverhouse had any previous knowledge of Brown or +was acting on particular information. The real question, and the only +question, is, was Claverhouse legally—not morally, that belongs to +another part of the case—was he legally justified in ordering the man +to be shot? To this there can be but one answer, so long as the phrase +"legal justification" bears the meaning it has hitherto borne for those +who use the English tongue: both by the spirit and the letter of his +commission he was justified in what he did. By the law of the Government +whose servant Claverhouse then was, the death of John Brown on that +Ayrshire moor was as lawful an act as the death on the scaffold of any +prisoner to-day found guilty by a jury of his countrymen. In October, +1684, the Covenanters had published a declaration, drawn up by Renwick, +of their intention to do unto all their enemies whom they could lay +hands on, civil no less than military, as their enemies had done and +should do unto them; and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> deliberate murder of two troopers of the +Life Guards in the following month had shown (what, to be sure, can have +needed very little proof) that this was no idle threat.<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> An Act, +therefore, was hastily passed to the effect that, "Any person who owns +or will not disown the late treasonable declaration on oath, whether +they have arms or not, be immediately put to death, this being always +done in the presence of two witnesses, and the person or persons having +commission to that effect." With the severity, the folly, or the +injustice of such a law we are not for the moment concerned. The fact +remains that such was the law; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> Claverhouse transgressed no jot of +it in ordering John Brown to death. It was no question of form of +religion: it was no question of previous misconduct. The man would not +take the oath; and he was accordingly shot in the presence of the +requisite number of witnesses by the order of a competent authority.</p> + +<p>On the truth of the details given both by Wodrow and Walker it is +impossible to form any conclusion. Wodrow gives no authority for his +version. "I am well informed," he says, "I am credibly informed," and so +on; but the sources of his information he nowhere gives. Walker is more +communicative; he, as we have seen, professed to have learned his story +from Brown's wife; but no statement of Walker's can be accepted for +absolute truth, and his uncertainty about even the names of his +witnesses does not add the stamp of conviction to their testimony.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> +Beyond the bare fact that the man was shot in the presence of +Claverhouse nothing is certain. On the rest of the story each must make +up his mind as seems best to him.</p> + +<p>With the death of Peter Gillies and John Bryce Claverhouse is not +directly charged by Wodrow. Walker, however, quotes an epitaph said to +have been inscribed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> on the grave of these men, who, with three others, +were hanged, without trial, at Mauchline by</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Bloody Dumbarton, Douglas, and Dundee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Moved by the devil and the Laird of Lee."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>These lines must have been composed some years after the event, inasmuch +as the men were hanged on May 6th, 1685, and the patent of Claverhouse's +peerage bears the date November 12th, 1688. This proves, what indeed few +people can have doubted, that the damning testimony of "The Cloud of +Witnesses" wants at least the weight of contemporary evidence. An +authority, however, for this particular epitaph can be traced back to +1690, when Alexander Shields published his martyrology.<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> "The said +Claverhouse," he wrote, "together with the Earl of Dumbarton and +Lieut.-General Douglas, caused Peter Gillies, John Bryce, Thomas Young +(who was taken by the Laird of Lee), William Fiddisone, and John +Buiening to be put to death upon a gibbet, without legal trial or +sentence, suffering them neither to have a Bible nor to pray before they +died."<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> Defoe has evidently followed Shields;<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> but Walker, though +he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> quotes the aforesaid epitaph, does not himself implicate +Claverhouse.</p> + +<p>Wodrow does not appear to have heard any of these stories. He names only +Gillies and Bryce, quoting from the indictment, which does not specify +the other sufferers, to show that the men were tried before General +Drummond and a tribunal of fifteen soldiers on May 5th, and hanged on +the following day. We have already seen that a few days previously +Claverhouse had sent a prisoner for trial to this same General Drummond, +because he had himself at that time no commission to try prisoners. +Unless, therefore, we are ready to suppose that officers were in the +habit of sitting on a jury with their own troopers, or to believe that +within three days a change had taken place in Claverhouse's position of +which there is no record either in his own letters or in any other +existing document, we must accept Wodrow's narrative as the true one, +and exonerate Claverhouse from all responsibility for the deaths of +Gillies and his unfortunate fellow-sufferers.</p> + +<p>Two cases yet remain of the five cited by Macaulay. With one of +these—the case of the three men shot near Glasgow for refusing to pray +for the King—no writer has ever pretended to implicate Claverhouse +personally;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> but with the other he is directly concerned. Andrew Hislop +was the son of a poor widow in whose house a proscribed Covenanter had +lately died. This was discovered by one Johnstone of Westerhall, an +apostate Presbyterian, and, like most of his class, particularly bitter +against his former associates. He turned the woman with her younger +children into the fields, pulled down her house, and dragged the eldest +son before Claverhouse, then marching through that part of the country. +So Macaulay tells the story, following for once the "Cloud of Witnesses" +rather than Wodrow. According to the latter, Claverhouse found Hislop +wandering about the fields, and carried him before Westerhall, "without +any design, as appeared, to murder him." Westerhall voted for instant +death, while Claverhouse pleaded for the lad, and only yielded at last +on the other's insistence, saying: "The blood of this poor man be upon +you, Westerhall. I am free of it." He thereupon ordered the captain of a +Highland company, then brigaded with his own men, to provide a +firing-party; but the Highlanders angrily refused, and the troopers had +to do the work. Both versions, it will be seen, agree in representing +Claverhouse as inclined to mercy but overborne by Westerhall. The +question remains, how was it that the former, a masterful man and not +easy to be silenced when he was in the right, could not save this poor +lad if he had a mind to do so?</p> + +<p>The answer is in truth not easy to find. The explanation that Westerhall +was at that particular time superior in authority to Claverhouse will +hardly serve. It is true that the latter had just then no civil +jurisdiction at all, either to condemn or pardon—no commission of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +justiciary, as he wrote to Queensberry. He had been since the close of +the previous year in disgrace at headquarters, in consequence of a +quarrel between him and the Treasurer, arising out of some action of +Colonel James Douglas, the latter's brother, of which Claverhouse seems +to have expressed his disapproval rather too warmly. His name had +accordingly been removed from the list of Privy Councillors soon after +James's accession, and himself deprived of all his civil powers. His +punishment did not indeed last long, nor was it allowed to affect his +military rights. An order for his restoration to the Council had been +signed on the very day of Hislop's death (though he did not take his +seat again till July), but his civil powers had not been renewed. +Westerhall was one of those who had in the previous year been empowered +by royal commission to try prisoners, and his commission was still +running when Claverhouse was disgraced. But on April 20th General +Drummond was appointed to the supreme authority in all the southern and +western shires, and his appointment was expressly declared to cancel all +other civil commissions previously granted. Unless, therefore, some +particular reservation had been made in Westerhall's favour, of which +there is no existing record, he had no more jurisdiction than +Claverhouse, and both were equally guilty of breaking the law. It was, +indeed, still open to Claverhouse to act as he had acted with John +Brown—to put the abjuration oath, and, on its being refused, to order +the recusant to instant execution. There is no mention by any of the +Covenanting writers that this oath was offered to Hislop. But unless it +was, it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> difficult to see how either Westerhall or Claverhouse could +have been empowered to kill him. Nor is it likely that the latter, +knowing well how many sharp eyes were on the look-out in Edinburgh to +catch him tripping, would have ventured on so flagrant a breach of the +law. It must also be remembered that neither Wodrow nor Walker, nor any +writer on that side, has charged Claverhouse with exceeding the law. +They cry out against the cruelty of the deed, but on its unlawfulness +they are silent. We must suppose, therefore, that Hislop's case was the +case of John Brown: he had refused the oath, and was therefore liable to +death. But we cannot suppose that if Claverhouse had stood firm he could +not have saved the lad's life. It is absurd to believe that at the head +of his own soldiers, with another captain of the same way of thinking by +him, such a man as Claverhouse was not strong enough to carry his own +will against one who had not even the powers of an ordinary justice of +the peace. We must, therefore, conclude that he was unwilling at that +time to run the risk of further disgrace by any charge of unreasonable +leniency to rebels. Like Pilate, he was willing to let the prisoner go; +but, like Pilate again, he preferred his own convenience, and the +prisoner was put to death.</p> + +<p>On Defoe's list of victims murdered, as he calls it, by Claverhouse's +own hand is the name of Graham of Galloway. The young man, he says, +being pursued by the dragoons, had taken refuge in his mother's house; +but being driven out thence was overtaken by Claverhouse and shot dead +with a pistol, though he offered to surrender and begged hard for his +life. Shield so words<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> his version of the story as to make it doubtful +whether the shot was fired by Claverhouse himself. In the "Cloud of +Witnesses" it is not even made certain that Claverhouse was present. At +the close of the year in which this alleged murder was committed Sir +John Dalrymple brought his action against Claverhouse. It is not likely +that so shrewd a lawyer would have overlooked such a chance as this, a +case of murder committed in his own country; for murder it would +certainly have been, were Defoe's story true. In 1682 military +executions had not been sanctioned by law; and for a soldier to shoot a +man offering to surrender would have been as clear a case of murder as +was the butchery on Magus Moor. Yet throughout Dalrymple's indictment is +no hint of any such offence. Claverhouse is accused of oppression by +excessive fines and illegal quartering of troops, of malversation, and +so forth; but of taking man's life unlawfully there is no single word.</p> + +<p>Another of Defoe's victims is Matthew Mekellwrath. Claverhouse, he says, +riding through Camonel in Carrick, saw a man run across the street in +front of the soldiers, as though to get out of their way, and instantly +ordered him to be shot, without any examination. In the "Cloud of +Witnesses" an epitaph is quoted to show that the man was shot for +refusing the abjuration oath.</p> + +<p>Next we find four men dragged out of a house at Auchencloy, on Dee-side, +where they had met for prayer, and shot before the door, without any +examination. Defoe gives the names of the four as John Grier, Robert +Fergusson, Archibald Stuart, and Robert Stuart. Shields substitutes for +Archibald Stuart the name of James<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> Macmichael. In "The Cloud of +Witnesses" only Grier, Robert Stuart, and Fergusson are named. In +Wodrow's pages the four men become eight: of these four, as given by +Shields (Macmichael, however, being spelt Macmichan), were shot at once: +two more, Smith and Hunter, were carried to Kirkcudbright and hanged +after a form of trial: two, unnamed, got safe away. "It may be," adds +Wodrow, "the rescue of some prisoners at Kirkcudbright by some of the +wanderers, a little before this, was the pretext for all this cruelty."</p> + +<p>It may indeed have been so, and something more than a rescue of +prisoners may have helped. The affair on Dee-side took place December +18th, 1684. On the 11th of the same month (just after Renwick's +proclamation of war) a party of men, headed by James Macmichael, +murdered Peter Peirson, minister of Carsphairn, at his own door. Wodrow +cannot shirk this fact: he finds it detestable, and generally denounced +and disowned by the more respectable of the Covenanters; but he also +manages to find as many excuses for it as he conveniently can in the +provocation given by the victim. Peirson, he says, was "a surly, +ill-natured man, and horridly severe." He was of great service to Lagg +in ferreting out rebels, used to sit in court with him to advise him of +the prisoners' characters, and generally make himself obnoxious to the +Covenanters. He was also accused of leaning to popery, and is said on +one occasion to have openly defended the doctrine of purgatory; on +another he maintained Papists to be much better subjects than +Presbyterians—as, indeed, from the Government's point of view they +certainly were. How far Peirson deserved this character we cannot surely +tell.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> The fact of his being hated by the Covenanters is not necessarily +to his discredit; but we may assume that he was not conciliatory in his +speech, that he meddled more in civil matters than became his cloth, +and, in short, was probably made much after the same pattern as some of +the chosen vessels of the Covenanting tabernacle. He lived alone in his +manse, without even a servant, but took care always to have his firearms +handy. The accounts of the murder vary a little in detail. One says that +he was killed in a scuffle arising out of his furious and unprovoked +treatment of a deputation which waited on him at midnight, to request +him to come outside and speak with some friends who meant him no harm—a +request which in the circumstances he can hardly be blamed for having +received with some degree of suspicion. But the most authentic version +represents him as shot dead the instant he opened his door. Macmichael +fired the shot, and the man who called Peirson out was Robert Mitchell, +nephew to James Mitchell, who was hanged five years previously for an +attempt on Sharp's life.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>A week later, on December 18th, a party of Covenanters more than one +hundred strong burst into Kirkcudbright ("the most irregular place in +the kingdom," Claverhouse used to call it), killed the sentry who +challenged them, broke open the gaol, set all the prisoners free, and +then marched victoriously off, beating the town drum, with such of their +rescues as would go with them, and all the arms they could lay hands on.</p> + +<p>It is clear, then, from a comparison of the dates and names, that the +men killed at Auchencloy were no innocent folk met together for prayer, +but certainly included Peirson's murderer, and probably some of those +concerned in the rescue at Kirkcudbright, as the place where they were +surprised was but a few miles from that town. Moreover, it appears from +another account that, so far from these men having been shot +unresistingly, they were part of a larger force which had only been +dispersed after a sharp skirmish.<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p> + +<p>One more instance, and this part of my business will be done. Defoe +names Robert Auchinleck as shot by Claverhouse without examination for +not answering his challenge, the man, as was subsequently discovered, +being too deaf to hear what was said to him. There is no mention +elsewhere of Robert Auchinleck; but Shields includes in his list a man +called Auchinleck, of Christian name unknown, who was killed in similar +circumstances; and Wodrow gives a different version of the death of one +William Auchinleck, both assigning the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> act to one Captain Douglas, who +was marching from Kirkcudbright with a company of foot.<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a></p> + +<p>These instances have been chosen as the most notorious and the most +circumstantially recorded of the indictments made against Claverhouse. +Of the traditions that gathered in the following century about his name +I have taken no notice, nor of the vague charges brought by writers of +still later date on no better authority than those traditions.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> It +was inevitable that as time wore on these floating legends would be +gathered to one common head, and that the most important figure would be +selected to bear the sins of all. It is of course possible that many and +more damning instances might be added to the foregoing list, of which +the record has now perished. But the most that can be done is to take +what the counsel for the prosecution have brought forward, and to +examine it as strictly as can now be possible.</p> + +<p>It must always be difficult to reconsider with absolute impartiality any +verdict that has been generally accepted for close upon two hundred +years. On the one hand, there is a not unnatural disinclination for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +trouble necessary to re-open a case already heard and judged: on the +other, is a most natural inclination to take every fresh fact +discovered, or every old blunder detected, as of paramount importance. +The explorer in strange lands is too apt to take every mole-hill for a +mountain. And when the verdict is one that has been endorsed by +Macaulay, he must be a bold man indeed who thinks to upset it. +Nevertheless, something has, I hope, been done to bear out my belief +that Claverhouse has been too harshly judged. No attempt has been made +to gloss over or conceal any crime that can be brought fairly home to +him. The case of Andrew Hislop (a far blacker case than the more +notorious one of John Brown) has been left as it stands, so far as the +imperfect evidence enables us now to judge it. If that one case be held +enough to substantiate the general verdict, if nothing can be set +against it, there is no more to be said—save that, if this be justice, +many a better man than Claverhouse must go to the wall.</p> + +<p>One thing, at least, should be clear. He was no capricious and +unlicensed oppressor of a God-fearing and inoffensive peasantry, but a +soldier waging war against a turbulent population carrying arms and +willing to use them. I have nowhere tried to soften the bitter tale of +folly, misrule, and cruelty which drove those unhappy men into +rebellion, nor to heighten by a single touch their responsibility for +their own misfortunes. I have not tried to find excuses for the men +whose orders Claverhouse obeyed, nor arguments to show that in the +circumstances such orders were inevitable. But I have tried to show that +in no single instance, of which the record is complete,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> did he go +beyond the letter of his commission, and that in more than one instance +he construed its spirit with a mildness for which he has never yet been +given credit.</p> + +<p>But nothing will avail to save him in the eyes of those who maintain +that the law of human morality is fixed and immutable, and that men of +every age and every country can only be judged, and must be judged, by +the eternal laws of right and wrong. They, of course, will not allow the +excuse that he was a soldier obeying the orders of his superior +officers, even should they be disposed to admit that he did no more than +that. The orders, they will say, were cruel and unjust: he should have +refused to obey them. But is this unswerving standard possible as a +gauge of human actions? Who then shall be safe? There are offences +which, in Coleridge's happy phrase, are offences against the good +manners of human nature itself. The man who committed such offences in +the reign of Chedorlaomer was no doubt as guilty as the man who should +commit them in the reign of Victoria. But are the offences which can be +fairly laid to Claverhouse's account of such a kind? His most able and +his bitterest accuser pronounces him to have been "rapacious and +profane, of violent temper and obdurate heart." Yet every attempt of his +enemies to convict him of extortion or malversation broke signally down. +The decorum of his life and conversation was allowed even by the +Covenanters; and it is recorded as a notable thing that, however +disturbed or thwarted, he was never known to use profane language. The +imperturbable calm of his temper is said by one of their own party to +have at once exasperated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> and terrified those who were brought before +him far more than the brutal fury of men like Dalziel and Lag.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> His +heart was indeed hard to those whom he regarded as plotters and +murderers, traitors to their King and enemies of the true religion. He +was indeed in his own way as much a fanatic as the men whom he was +empowered to crush. His devotion to the Crown and to the Protestant +faith was a passion as deep and sincere as that which moved the simple +peasants of the West to find the gospel of Christ in the horrible +compound of blasphemy and treason which too often made up the eloquence +of the Conventicles. But his hardness, if not tempered with mercy, was +at least guided by more justice than was common among his colleagues. He +both advocated and practised the policy of distinguishing between the +multitude and their ringleaders. The just punishment of one of the +latter might save, he said, many of the former;<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> and his entreaty for +the prisoners whom he found under sentence of death at Dundee proves +that his actions were dictated by no vulgar thirst for blood. When +judged by the general manners of the age, the circumstances of the time +and his position, I do not believe him to have been cruel by nature or +careless of human life. The standard of military morals in vogue two +hundred years ago cannot be weighed by that in vogue to-day. The +humanity of one generation is not the humanity of the next.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> Wellington +was certainly not a cruel man, and he certainly was a most strict +disciplinarian. Yet it is well known that many things were done during +the Peninsular campaign which no general now would dare to pass +unpunished, which no soldier now would even dare to do; and it is quite +possible that eighty years hence our descendants will read with horror +of the deeds done by their grandsires among the rocky passes of +Afghanistan or on the burning sands of Egypt. I do not claim for +Claverhouse that he was gentle, merciful, or humane beyond his time, +though I believe him to have had as large a share of those qualities as +any of his contemporaries would have displayed in similar circumstances. +But I do claim for him that his faults were the faults not of the man +but of his age; and I maintain that his age cannot in such matters be +tried by the standard of this.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p><div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> I have been much indebted in this chapter to an anonymous +pamphlet entitled "A Note to the Pictorial History of Scotland, on +Claverhouse," apparently printed at Maidstone; but when, or on whose +authority, I have been unable to discover. It was sent to me by an +equally nameless benefactor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Napier, iii. Appendix 3, and his "Case for the Crown": +Blackwood's Magazine, December 1863. On the other side see Barton, vii. +255: Macmillan's Magazine, December 1862; and a pamphlet by the Rev. +Archibald Stewart, "History Vindicated in the case of the Wigtown +Martyrs," 2nd ed. 1869.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> According to "The Cloud of Witnesses," first published in +1714, the epitaph ran as follows: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Murdered for owning Christ supreme<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Head of his Church, and no more crime<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But her not owning Prelacy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And not abjuring Presbytery.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Within the sea, tied to a stake,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She suffered for Christ Jesus' sake."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +The stone on which these lines were inscribed covered, according to the +same authority, "the body of Margaret Wilson, who was drowned in the +water of the Blednock upon the 11th of May, 1684 [5], by the Laird of +Lagg."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> In Colonel Fergusson's most entertaining chapter of family +history, "The Laird of Lagg," he mentions an old lady, still alive in +1834, who remembered her grandfather's account of the execution, which +he declared he had himself witnessed: "There were cluds o' folk on the +sands that day in clusters here and there, praying for the women as they +were put down."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Charles Kingsley, for example, wrote in "Alton Locke" of +"the Scottish Saint Margaret whom Claverhouse and his men bound to a +stake."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Wodrow, iv. 244.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Claverhouse to Queensberry, May 3rd, 1685. Napier, i. 141; +and iii. 457.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> "John Inglis, captain of a troop of dragoons, lying in +garrison at Newmills, in the West, a house belonging to the Earl of +Loudon, having taken some of these fanatics prisoners, and though he had +power to execute them, yet keeping them alive, some of their desperate +comrades breaks in upon the garrison and rescues them, to their great +shame; for which Inglis was degraded, and his place was given to Mr. +George Winrahame, a bigot Papist." Fountainhall, quoted by Napier, iii. +457. This Winrahame may be the Winram who had to do with the Wigtown +Martyrs. According to "The Cloud of Witnesses," +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The actors of this cruel crime<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was Lagg, Strachan, Winram, and Grahame."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +A letter more or less in a name was of no account in the cacography of +those times.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> "The new reign was not to remain long undisturbed; before +the end of April there was the apprehension of a great civil war, and in +May the news came that it had begun both in England and Scotland." These +are Burton's words (vii. 258), and no one can accuse Burton of undue +partiality to James or his government. See also Aytoun's Appendix to his +"Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," which, however, was written before the +publication of Napier's book had proved Claverhouse's responsibility for +the death of John Brown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Wodrow, iv. 148-9. He prints the declaration in full from +a copy in Renwick's own handwriting. The following extracts will give +some idea of it: "We have disowned the authority of Charles Stuart (not +authority as God's institution, either among Christians or heathens) and +all authority depending upon him, for reasons given elsewhere +(disclaiming all such things as infer a magistratical relation betwixt +him and us); and also we have declared war against him, and his +accomplices such as lay out themselves to promote his wicked and hellish +designs.... We do hereby declare unto all that whosoever stretcheth +forth their hands against us ... by shedding our blood actually, either +by authoritative commanding, such as bloody counsellors ... especially +that so-called justiciary, generals of forces, adjutants, captains, +lieutenants, and all in civil and military power, who make it their work +to embrue their hands in our blood, or by obeying such commands, such as +bloody militia men, malicious troopers, soldiers, and dragoons; likewise +such gentlemen and commons who, through wickedness and ill-will, ride +and run with the foresaid persons ... we say all and every one of such +shall be reputed by us enemies to God and the covenanted work of +reformation, and punished as such, according to our power and the degree +of their offence.... Let not any think that (our God assisting us) we +will be so slack-handed in time coming to put matters in execution as +heretofore we have been, seeing we are bound faithfully and valiantly to +maintain our covenants and the cause of Christ."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> For example, in the earliest edition of the pamphlet +containing his version of this affair ("The Life of Peden") an "old +singular Christian woman named Elizabeth Menzies" is mentioned as the +first neighbour who came to condole with Mrs. Brown. In later editions +Elizabeth Menzies becomes Jean Brown. The wife also is sometimes Isabel +and sometimes Marion. Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana" is a +collection of tracts published by him at different times, of which this +"Life of Peden" is the earliest and the best.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> "A Short Memorial of the Sufferings of the +Presbyterians."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> This Buiening is called Bruning in "The Cloud of +Witnesses," and may be the Brownen of Claverhouse's letter, that is to +say, the nephew of John Brown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> "It seems somebody had maliciously told this Graham they +were of the Whigs who used the field meetings, upon which, without any +trial or other sentence than his own command, his soldiers fetched them +all to Mauchline, a village where his headquarters were, and hanged them +immediately, not suffering them to enter into any house at their coming, +nor at the entreaty of the poor men would suffer one to lend them a +Bible, who it seems offered it, nor allow them a moment to pray to God." +Defoe's "Memoirs of the Church of Scotland" were first published in +1717, a few years before Wodrow's History. Elsewhere in the same work he +states that Claverhouse had "among the rest of his cruelties barbarously +murdered several of the persecuted people with his own hands," also that +"this man is said to have killed above a hundred men in this kind of +cold blood cruelty." But Defoe's qualifications for a historian of those +times are, to say the least, uncertain. He mentions Cameron and Cargill +as alive and busy in 1684, four years after one had died fighting at +Aird's Moss, and the other on the scaffold at Edinburgh.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> Wodrow, iv. 197; Napier, i. 89. I have called this the +most authentic version because it professes to have come from the +murderers themselves. It is to be found in a letter to Wodrow (printed +by Napier) now in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. The date is 1715, +and the writer, who only signs his initials, J.C., calls Wodrow +"cousin." "I give you the account," he writes, "from the best +information it's possible to be got, viz., from Robert Dun, in Woodheade +of Carsphairn, and John Clark, then in that parish, now in Glenmont, in +the parish of Strathone, anent the curate's death of Carsphairn, which +they had from the actors' own mouths." Wodrow adds a little touch of his +own—"Mr. Peirson with fury came out upon them with arms"—and is silent +on the fact of Mitchell's presence.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> Fountainhall's "Historical Notices," and a letter to +Queensberry from Sir Robert Dalzell and others, quoted by Napier, ii. +427-8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Wodrow, iv. 184.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> For example, the story told of Claverhouse sparing a man's +life for the sport his capture had afforded, but ordering his ears to be +shorn off. This may be found in a book called "Gleanings among the +Mountains, or Traditions of the Covenanters," published at Edinburgh, in +1846, by the Rev. Robert Simpson, of Sanquhar. The same gentleman is +responsible for an earlier volume, "The Times of Claverhouse," in which +the Covenanters are described as a class of "quiet and orderly men," +maintaining the standard of their gospel in "the most peaceful and +inoffensive way." In neither volume is any authority offered for these +stories: even the evidence of time and place is rarely vouchsafed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana:" Lochiel's Memoirs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> See <i>ante</i>, p. 92: also Napier, ii. 360, for a letter to +the Lord Chancellor, June 9th, 1683. "I am as sorry to see a man die, +even a Whig, as any of themselves. But when one dies justly, for his own +faults, and may save a hundred to fall in the like, I have no scruple."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>Both in Scotland and England events were now moving fast to their +inevitable conclusion, but of Claverhouse's part in public affairs there +is for the next three years little record. Only two of his letters have +survived between May, 1685, and October, 1688, when the disastrous march +into England began. From one of these it is clear that his restoration +to favour at Whitehall had not improved his position at Edinburgh. +Gratitude was not then a common virtue among public men. Claverhouse had +done for his colleagues all that he had promised. The recollection of +their debt to him, and the unlikelihood of their being able to increase +it, did not serve to endear to them this successful soldier of fortune, +who had indeed helped them to their ambition, but who had thereby shown +a dangerous capacity for helping himself. At the head of these +malcontents was, of course, Queensberry, though, as the King had shown +himself determined not to lose the services of his brilliant captain, it +was necessary for the Treasurer to give his jealousy a guarded form. He +complained to Dumbarton (then commanding the forces in Scotland) that +Claverhouse had misused some of his tenants, though in what manner is +not clear. There is a letter from Claverhouse expressing in respectful +terms his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> regret at Queensberry's annoyance, which he declares to have +been founded on misapprehension of the facts.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am convinced (he writes) your Grace is ill-informed; for, after you +have read what I wrote to you two days ago on that subject, I daresay I +may refer myself to your own censure. That I had no desire to make great +search there, anybody may judge. I came not from Ayr till after eleven +in the forenoon, and went to Balagen with forty heritors again night. +The Sanquhar is just in the road; and I used these men I met +accidentally on the road better than ever I used any in these +circumstances. And I may safely say that, as I shall answer to God, if +they had been living on my ground I could not have forborne drawing my +sword and knocking them down. However, I am glad I have received my Lord +Dumbarton's orders anent your Grace's tenants, which I shall most +punctually obey; though, I may say, they were safe as any in Scotland +before."<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p></div> + +<p>The previous letter here referred to has been lost; but it is probable +that the complaint originated in Claverhouse's summons to these +heritors, or small proprietors, to take arms in the King's service, as +they were bound to do. Men will mostly follow their master's lead. The +Treasurer's tenants knew well, we may be sure, how little love their +master bore for the imperious soldier, and were no doubt somewhat saucy +in their remonstrances; and sauciness Claverhouse would not brook from +any man alive, whatever his quality.</p> + +<p>But Queensberry and his crew had to nurse their grudge in secret. Much +as the knowledge may have chafed them, they knew well that Claverhouse +was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> one man on whom they could depend for wise counsel and prompt +action in emergency. A few weeks before this matter of the tenants he +had received an urgent despatch from Edinburgh, signed by "his +affectionate friends and servants" of the Council, authorising him to +take what steps he thought best for disposing the troops. Argyle was on +the sea, and the Campbells were mustering fast to their chief's call. +Measures had already been taken in the northern shires. Athole had been +appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Argyleshire, and held Inverary with a large +force of his Highlanders. The Gordons, under their new-made Duke, were +guarding the sea-board of Invernessshire. Glasgow was occupied by a +strong body of militia. Ships of war watched the Firth of Clyde. To keep +the Western Lowlands and the Border quiet was Claverhouse's charge. It +is unnecessary to remind my readers what followed. Within little more +than a month from his landing in Scotland Argyle stood upon the scaffold +in Edinburgh; and a fortnight later Monmouth closed his short unhappy +life on Tower Hill.</p> + +<p>In this same despatch Claverhouse was told that the King had raised him +to be a brigadier of both horse and foot, that James Douglas had +received the same promotion, and that the latter's commission bore +priority of date. He wisely took no notice of this slight,—for, +comparing the weight of his services to the Government with the services +of Douglas, a slight it undoubtedly was, and was meant to be. He knew +that it did not come from the King, and he was much too prudent and too +proud to let the others see that he was annoyed by a stupid insult he +was powerless to resent. But there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> exists a letter from Secretary +Murray to Queensberry which makes the business very clear. It is worth +quoting as significant of the petty intrigues in which men of rank and +position were not then ashamed to indulge.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The King ordered two commissions to be drawn, for your brother and +Claverhouse to be brigadiers. We were ordered to see how such +commissions had been [drawn?] here, and in Earl Middleton's office we +found the extract of one granted to Lord Churchill, another to Colonel +Worden, the one for horse, the other for foot. So Lord Melfort told me +the King had ordered him to draw one for your brother for the foot and +Claverhouse for the horse. I told him that could not be; for by that +means Claverhouse would command your brother. To be short, we were very +hot on the matter. He said he knew no reason why Colonel Douglas should +have the precedency, unless that he was your brother. I told him that +was enough, but that there was a greater, and that was, that he was an +officer of more experience and conduct, and that was the King's design +of appointing brigadiers at this time. He said Claverhouse had served +the King longer in Scotland. I told him that was yet wider from the +purpose, for there were in the army that had served many years longer +than Claverhouse, and of higher quality, and without disparagement to +any, gallant in their personal courage. By this time I flung from him, +and went straight to the King and represented the case. He followed, and +came to us. But the King changed his mind and ordered him to draw the +commissions both for horse and foot, and your brother's two days' date +before the other; by which his command is clear before the other. I saw +the commissions signed this afternoon, and they are sent herewith by +Lord Charles Murray. Now, I beseech Your Grace, say nothing of this to +any; nay, not now to your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> brother. For Lord Melfort said to Sir Andrew +Forrester, that he was sure there would be a new storm on him. I could +not, nor is [it] fit this should have been kept from you; but you will +find it best for a while to know or take little notice, for it gives him +but ground of talking, and serves no other end."<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a></p></div> + +<p>But these jealous fellows were not to have it all their own way. In the +autumn of the same year Claverhouse was summoned to London with +Balcarres to be heard on a complaint he had in his turn to make against +Queensberry. Early in the spring he had been peremptorily ordered to +discharge a bond he had given to the Treasury for fines due from +delinquents in Galloway. He answered that his brother (then +Deputy-Sheriff of that shire) was collecting the fines, and requested +more time for payment. On being told that he might take five or six +days, he replied that, considering the difficulty of collection and the +distances to be travelled, they might as well give him none. "Then," +answered Queensberry, "you shall have none."<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> Claverhouse had many +times applied for leave to be heard in his own defence; but Murray had +hitherto persuaded the King to answer that no audience could be granted +to him until he had made his peace with the Treasurer and been restored +to his seat at the Council. But the name of Queensberry was not now the +power it had been at Whitehall. It is difficult to believe that he was +much more concerned with religion than Lauderdale; but he was, at any +rate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> by profession, a staunch Protestant, and there were those among +his colleagues ready to take every advantage of this passport to James's +disfavour. It was determined to hear what Claverhouse had to say for +himself. He was summoned to London, graciously received by the King, and +pleaded his cause so effectually that the Treasurer was ordered to +refund the money.</p> + +<p>Claverhouse and Balcarres returned to Edinburgh on December 24th. With +them came the Chancellor Perth and his brother, John Drummond, the new +Lord Melfort. The brothers were in James's best books, for they had +recently professed themselves converted to the Roman Catholic faith by +the convincing logic of the papers found in Charles's strong-box and +made public by the King.<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> But they were not so popular in Edinburgh. +The new year opened with something very like a No Popery riot. Lady +Perth was insulted on her way home from mass by a baker's boy. The Privy +Council ordered the lad to be whipped through the Canongate, but the +'prentices rose to the rescue of their comrade. The guard was called +out: there was firing, and some citizens fell. There was disaffection, +too, among the troops: one soldier was arrested for refusing to fire on +a Protestant: another was shot for threatening to run his sword through +a Papist. In the Council Perth moved that one Canaires, minister at +Selkirk, should be arraigned for preaching against the Pope; but he +found no man on his side except Claverhouse, who, though Protestant to +the backbone, had no mind to see his King insulted under the cloak of +religion. James's famous scheme of Universal Toleration was soon found +to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> what every sensible man had foreseen—a scheme of toleration for +his own religion and of persecution for all others.</p> + +<p>But the history of the next three years, with its wretched tale of +violence and folly, of oppressions that broke the hearts of the loyal, +and concessions that only moved the scorn of the mutinous, may be read +elsewhere. The last appearance of Claverhouse on the scene is at the +Council in February, 1686, where he supports Perth in his motion to +bring the indiscreet minister to book, till he appears again in his +proper character as a soldier commanding the cavalry of the Scottish +contingent on its march south to join the army of England. We know, +however, that in that same year, 1686, he was promoted to be +Major-General, and in March, 1688, was made Provost of Dundee. We must +now pass to the memorable autumn of the latter year.</p> + +<p>In September, 1688, a despatch in James's own hand was sent down to the +Council at Edinburgh announcing the imminent invasion of England by the +Prince of Orange. Perth, still Chancellor and a Papist, was told to do +nothing without consulting Balcarres and Tarbat. Their advice was +unquestionably the best that could have been given for James and the +worst for England; for, had it been followed, instead of the short +Highland campaign of the following year, that began at Killiecrankie and +ended at Dunkeld, there would in all probability have been civil war +throughout the kingdom. They advised that the regular troops under +Douglas and Claverhouse, now between three and four thousand strong, +should be augmented by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> a force of twelve thousand raised from the +Highland clans and the militia, and that these troops should be +distributed along the Border and through the northern shires of England. +Preparations were at once begun to this effect. The chiefs of the great +clans were ordered to hold their claymores ready: the castles of +Edinburgh and Stirling were munitioned for war: the militia was called +out in every county, and volunteers enrolled in every town. In the midst +of the bustle arrived a second despatch from James, ordering the regular +troops to march at once for England to join the army under Feversham. +This foolish order was Melfort's doing, urged by his secretary, Stewart +of Goodtrees, who, after having been concerned in all the most notorious +plots of the last twenty years, and actually condemned to death for his +share in Argyle's rebellion, had now blossomed into an Under-Secretary +of State. Remonstrance was useless. "The order," wrote Balcarres, "was +positive and short—advised by Mr. James Stewart at a supper, and wrote +upon the back of a plate, and an express immediately despatched +therewith."</p> + +<p>And so "with a sorrowful heart," he goes on to remind the exiled King, +"they began their march—three thousand effective young men—vigorous, +well-disciplined and clothed, and, to a man, hearty in your cause, and +willing, out of principle as well as duty, to hazard their lives for the +support of the Government as then established both in Church and +State."<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> loyalty of some of these fine fellows was, however, +destined soon to suffer a change in the disturbing atmosphere of +England.</p> + +<p>The full strength of the Scottish contingent was three thousand seven +hundred and sixty-three men. Douglas was in command, with Claverhouse +under him at the head of the cavalry, which mustered eight hundred and +forty-one sabres, including his own regiment, Livingstone's troop of +Life Guards, and Dunmore's dragoons, a regiment which, as the Scots +Greys, has since earned a reputation second to none in the British Army. +The infantry was made up of Douglas's own regiment of Foot Guards, now +the Scots Guards: Buchan's regiment, now the Twenty-first of the Line, +or, to give them their latest title, the Royal Scots Fusiliers; and +Wauchope's regiment:—two thousand nine hundred and twenty-two men in +all.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> They left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> Scotland in the beginning of October, the foot +marching by way of Chester, the horse by way of York, on London. Early +in November they reached the capital, where they lay for a few days: +Claverhouse, with his own regiment and the Horse Guards, being quartered +in Westminster, the dragoons in Southwark, and Douglas, with his Foot +Guards, in Holborn. On the tenth of the month they marched for +Salisbury, where the King's army was now gathered. During the march +Claverhouse received the last and most signal proof of favour James was +to give him. On November 12th he had been created Viscount of Dundee.</p> + +<p>In the royal camp all was confusion and doubt. William was at Axminster, +and not a single enemy was in his rear. Many of the great English houses +had already joined him, and each hour brought news to Salisbury of fresh +disaffection in every part of the kingdom. James was at first anxious to +fight, but Feversham warned him that, though the men were steady, few of +his officers could be depended on. Before leaving London the King had +called his chief captains together and offered passes to all who were +desirous to leave him for the Prince of Orange, "to spare them," he +said, "the shame of deserting their lawful sovereign." All were profuse +in professions of loyalty, and among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> them were Churchill, Grafton, and +the butcher Kirke. Churchill, we know, continued these professions up to +the eleventh hour. On the evening of the 24th James held a council of +war, in which Churchill's voice was loudest for battle. That night he +left Salisbury for Axminster, and Grafton went with him. Some of the +Scottish officers stood firm, but not all. Dumbarton offered to lead his +regiment alone against the enemy. Dundee urged James to do one of three +things: to fight the Prince, to demand from him in person his business +in England, or to retire into Scotland with his faithful troops. But the +King still hesitated, and while he hesitated the moment passed. Kirke, +who commanded the advance guard at Warminster, flatly refused to obey +the orders sent him from Salisbury, and a rumour spread that he had gone +over to William with all his men. The King broke up the camp and began +his retreat to London; and before he had got farther on his way than +Andover, Ormonde and Prince George had joined the deserters, taking with +them young Drumlanrig. Douglas did not himself go over; but one of his +battalions did, without any attempt on his part to stop them. He had +sounded Dundee on the expediency of making terms for themselves with +William; but as he had done so under an oath of secrecy, Dundee felt +himself bound in honour to keep silence, and we may suppose made it a +part of the bargain that Douglas should stay where he was.</p> + +<p>James left no orders behind him, and after his retreat the movements of +his army are somewhat confused. Dundee marched his cavalry to Reading, +where he was joined by Dumbarton. Thence they were ordered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> to Uxbridge +to consult with Feversham on the chances of a battle. But hardly had +they got there when the latter received orders to disband the army, and +heard at the same time of the King's flight from London. The Scottish +troops clamoured for Dundee to lead them back to their country. He +marched them to Watford, and while there, it is said, received a letter +from William, who had now advanced to Hungerford, bidding him stay where +he was and none should harm him.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> According to Balcarres, Dundee made +at once for London on the news of the King's flight, and was still there +on his return. But the fact is that few of these contemporary writers +descend to dates, and it is almost impossible therefore to track any one +man's movements through those troubled days. It is, however, certain +that a meeting of the Scottish Council was summoned in London by +Hamilton at some period between James's first flight and his return, and +that Dundee attended it. That Hamilton meditated declaring for William +is certain, and that he would have taken all his colleagues with him, +except Dundee and Balcarres, is probable; but the King's sudden return +to Whitehall postponed matters for a time.</p> + +<p>James reached London from Rochester on the afternoon of Sunday, December +16th. William was then at Windsor, and James expressed a wish to meet +him in London, offering St. James's Palace for his quarters. William +sent an answer that he could not come to London while there were any +troops there not under his command. On the 17th a council was held at +Windsor, with Halifax in the chair, to determine what should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> done +with James. William himself would not be present. It was decided that +James must, at any rate, leave London, and the decision was brought to +him that night as he lay asleep in bed. No resistance was possible, had +any been intended. The Dutch had occupied Chelsea and Kensington early +in the afternoon; and when Halifax, Shrewsbury, and Delamere arrived +with their message from Windsor, three battalions of foot, with some +troops of horse, were bivouacked in St. James's Park, and Dutch +sentinels were posted at Whitehall.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the 17th Dundee and Balcarres had waited on the +King. None were with him but some gentlemen of his bedchamber. Balcarres +told him that he had orders from his colleagues to promise that, if the +King would give the word, an army of twenty thousand men should be ready +within four-and-twenty hours. "My lord," replied James, "I know you to +be my friend, sincere and honourable: the men who sent you are not so, +and I expect nothing from them." It was a fine morning, and he said he +should like a walk. Balcarres and Dundee attended him into the Mall. +When they had got there the King asked them, how came they still to be +with him when all the world had forsaken him for the Prince of Orange? +Both answered that their fidelity to so good a master would be ever the +same, and that they had nothing to do with the Prince of Orange. "Will +you two," then asked the King, "say you have still attachment to me?" +"Sir," was the answer, "we do." "Will you give me your hands upon it as +men of honour?" They did so. "Well," said the King,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> "I see you are the +men I always took you to be; you shall know all my intentions. I can no +longer remain here but as a cypher, or to be a prisoner to the Prince of +Orange, and you know there is but a small distance between the prisons +and the graves of kings. Therefore I go for France immediately; when +there you shall have my instructions—you, Lord Balcarres, shall have a +commission to manage my civil affairs, and you, Lord Dundee, to command +my troops in Scotland."</p> + +<p>They then parted. On the next morning, the morning of the 18th, in dark +and rainy weather, the royal barge was ready at Whitehall stairs, under +an escort of boats filled with Dutch soldiers. Halifax, with his +colleagues from Windsor, attended the King to the water-side. Dumbarton, +Arran, and a few others followed him down the river, and stayed by him +during the few painful days he lingered at Rochester. At dawn of the +23rd James left England for ever.</p> + +<p>Dundee stayed on in London. His regiment had been disbanded, and the +rest of the Scottish forces, after a spirited but futile attempt to take +matters into their own hands, had settled quietly down under their new +colonels, some of the most doubtful ones being sent out of harm's way to +Holland. Dunmore had thrown up his command, and his dragoons were now in +the charge of Sir Thomas Livingstone. Schomberg was placed, to their +intense disgust, at the head of Dumbarton's infantry, once James's +favourite regiment. Some of his old troopers, however, still kept by the +captain whom they had known as Claverhouse.</p> + +<p>Hamilton and his party pressed William to exempt from the general +amnesty certain members of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> Scottish Council whom they named as +particular and unscrupulous instruments of James's tyranny, and unsafe +to be let go at large. But the Prince with his usual good sense refused +to drive any man into opposition: the past even of the most guilty +should, he said, be forgotten till he was forced to remember it. Against +Dundee and Balcarres he had been especially warned. He remembered both +well: Balcarres had married a lady of his family, and Dundee had fought +by his side. He asked them both to enter his service. They refused, and +Balcarres, plainly avowing the commission entrusted to him by James, +asked if, in such circumstances, he could honourably take service with +another. "I cannot say that you can," was the answer, "but take care +that you fall not within the law, for otherwise I shall be forced +against my will to let the law overtake you." Dundee was told that if he +would live quietly at home, no allegiance should be exacted from him and +no harm done to him. He answered that he would live quietly, if he were +not forced to live<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> otherwise. Early in February the two friends left +London for Edinburgh.<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p><div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Claverhouse to Queensberry, June 16th, 1685.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Napier, iii. 464: this Murray was Alexander Stuart, Earl +of Murray, descendant and heir of the famous Regent. He declared himself +a convert to the Church of Rome at the same time as Perth and Melfort.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Napier, iii. 435: quoted from Fountainhall.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Burnet, ii. 341.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> The memoirs of Colin Lindsay, third Earl of Balcarres, +were presented to James at Saint Germains in 1690. The edition I have +used is that printed for the Bannatyne Club in 1841 by the late Lord +Crawford, from a transcript made by James, the son of the writer, and +great-grandfather of Lord Crawford. The editions previously printed in +1715 and 1754, and in Walter Scott's edition of Somers's Tracts +published in 1814, contain many passages not to be found in the first +transcript, and declared, by its latest editor, to reflect the opinions +and sentiments of the copyist rather than those of the original author.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army:" Napier, +iii. 475-76. Claverhouse's own regiment was disbanded early in the +following year. The first colonel of the Greys, then officially known as +"The Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons," was Dalziel, Lord Charles Murray +(afterwards created Earl of Dunmore) serving as captain under him. +Dalziel died in 1685, and was succeeded in the command by Dunmore. +Napier gives the muster-roll of Claverhouse's regiment for May, 1685. It +consisted of six troops, of which the colonel, as the custom then was, +commanded the first in person, the other captains being Lords +Drumlanrig, Ross, Airlie, Balcarres, and William Douglas; hardly the +men, perhaps, to sanction the pranks of Macaulay's Apollyons and +Beelzebubs. Napier also quotes an amusing passage in a letter from +Athole to Queensberry, which, as he says, may recall memories of a +certain historic injunction of later times, "to take care of Dowb." +Athole had been superseded in his command of the Life Guards by +Montrose, and when the latter fell sick, made interest with Queensberry +to be reinstated. "As you will oblige me," the passage runs, "pray +remember Geordie Murray [who held a commission in the regiment], but not +in wrath."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> Creichton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> It is not clear that Dundee had an audience of William. +Macaulay says in one place that he was not ungraciously received at +Saint James's, and in another that he employed the mediations of Burnet. +Both statements are of course compatible with each other. The latter +rests on Burnet's own authority; but for the former I can find none in +any of the writers from whom Macaulay has taken his narrative of these +days. Dalrymple's words are, "Dundee refused without ceremony," which +may mean anything. It is, I think, not improbable that William employed +Burnet to sound Dundee, and that the good bishop, among whose qualities +tact was not pre-eminent, managing the matter clumsily, met with an +unceremonious refusal for his pains. The point, however, is of no +importance. It is clear enough that William, would have been glad to see +both men in his service, and that they both declined to enter it. As +Macaulay has called Dundee's conduct disingenuous, apparently on +Burnet's authority, it may be well to give the bishop's own words. "He +[Dundee] had employed me to carry messages from him to the King, to know +what security he might expect if he should go and live in Scotland +without owning his government. The King said, if he would live +peaceably, and at home, he would protect him: to this he answered, that, +unless he was forced to it, he would live quietly." "History of My Own +Time," iii. 29. Macaulay's paraphrase is as follows. "Dundee seems to +have been less ingenuous. He employed the mediation of Burnet, opened a +negotiation with Saint James's, declared himself willing to acquiesce in +the new order of things, obtained from William a promise of protection, +and promised in return to live peaceably. Such credit was given to his +professions, that he was suffered to travel down to Scotland under the +escort of a troop of cavalry." "History of England," iv. 281. I do not +think the text quite bears out the commentary; and indeed elsewhere in +the chapter Macaulay seems inclined to allow more credit to these +professions. The "escort" under which Dundee was "suffered to travel" +consisted of his own troopers, who had followed him from Watford to +London, and stayed with him to the end.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>All eyes were now turned to Scotland. England had practically accepted +William, and although the terms of acceptance were still in some +quarters kept open to question, there was no longer fear that the final +answer would have to be given by the sword. In Scotland the case was +different. Many of the great nobles and other dignitaries had indeed +professed themselves in favour of William, but political morality, a +custom nowhere in those days very rigidly observed, may be said to have +been honoured by Scottish statesmen almost wholly in the breach. No man +trusted his neighbour, and his neighbour was perfectly aware of the +fact. It was impossible to say what an hour might not bring forth; and +in this flux of things no man could guarantee that the Whigs of to-day +would not be the Jacobites of to-morrow. Hamilton was the recognised +leader of the Whigs, Athole of the Jacobites. Both were great and +powerful noblemen. The influence of Hamilton was supreme in the Western +Lowlands: only Mac Callum More could muster to his standard a larger +gathering than the lord of Blair, and the glory of Mac Callum More was +now in eclipse. Yet Hamilton had been one of James' Privy Councillors,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +and had not declared for William till the Dutch guards were at +Whitehall. His son Arran and his brother Dumbarton were both on the +other side: Arran had accompanied James to Rochester, and Dumbarton had +refused to hold his commission under the Prince of Orange. Athole had +more than once coquetted with the Whigs, and his present Jacobitism was +shrewdly suspected to be due to the coolness with which his advances had +been received: his son Lord Murray, who had married a daughter of +Hamilton, had declared for William. These great noblemen had indeed the +satisfaction of feeling that, however the die might fall, their titles +and estates were at least secured. But the wisdom of their family +arrangements did not increase their reputation with their parties. The +Duke of Gordon held the castle of Edinburgh for James; and, though the +Duke was a weak creature, his position was strong. The bulk of the +common people were undoubtedly Whigs: the bishops, and the clergy +generally, were, if not exactly Jacobites, undoubtedly Tories.</p> + +<p>There were religious troubles of course to swell the political ones. +When the news of James's flight reached Edinburgh, Perth had been +imprudently induced to disband the militia, and the Covenanters had been +quick to take advantage of the imprudence. The Episcopal clergymen were +rabbled throughout all the western shires. Their houses were sacked, and +themselves and their families insulted and sometimes beaten: the +churches were locked, and the keys carried off in triumph by the pious +zealots. In Glasgow the Cathedral was attacked, and the congregation +pelted through the streets. In Edinburgh Holyrood Palace was carried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> by +storm: the Catholic chapel, which James had built and adorned with great +splendour, was gutted, and the printing-press, employed to publish +tracts in favour of the Catholic religion, was broken up. Perth fled for +his life, but was overtaken at sea, carried back and lodged in Stirling +Castle, followed by the threats and curses of the mob. Such was the +temper of the Scottish nation when the Convention of Estates, summoned +by William, met at Edinburgh on March 14th, 1689.</p> + +<p>The Act depriving the Presbyterians of the franchise had been annulled, +and the elections had gone strongly in favour of the Whigs. Hamilton had +been chosen President by a majority of forty votes over Athole, +whereupon twenty ardent Jacobites went straightway over to the other +side. The next thing to be done was to get rid of Gordon. It was +impossible, they said, for a free Parliament to deliberate under the +shadow of hostile guns. Two of his friends, the Earls of Lothian and +Tweeddale, were accordingly sent to the Duke with a message from the +Convention, offering him favourable terms of surrender. He asked a night +for consideration; but during the night he was also visited by Dundee +and Balcarres. They showed him the commissions entrusted to them by +James, and told him that if things did not go better for their party +they had resolved to exercise their power of summoning a new Convention +to Stirling. At his request Dundee also gave him a paper guaranteeing +his action in holding the castle as most necessary to the cause. On the +following day, when the earls returned, Gordon told them he had decided +not to surrender his trust except upon terms too extravagant to be +seriously considered. He was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> accordingly summoned in form by the +heralds: guards were posted round the castle, and all communications +between it and the town declared treasonable. The Duke replied by a +largess of money to the heralds to drink King James's health, telling +them that they should in common decency have turned the King's coats +they wore on their backs before they came to declare the King's subjects +traitors.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a messenger had arrived with a sealed despatch for the Estates +from James. It seemed strange both to Dundee and Balcarres that the +message had not been to them, or at least accompanied by a letter +informing them of its purport; but they had no suspicion of its +contents, and willingly agreed to the terms on which the Whigs consented +to hear it read. These terms were, that the Convention was a legal and +free meeting, and would accept no order to dissolve until it had secured +the liberty and religion of Scotland. The vote was passed, and the +letter was read, to the consternation of the Jacobites and the delight +of the Whigs. Of all the foolish acts committed by James the despatch of +this letter was, in the circumstances, the most foolish. Not a word did +it contain of any intention to respect the religion or the liberty of +men whom it still professed to address as subjects. Pardon was promised +to all who should return to their allegiance within a fortnight: to all +others punishment was threatened in this world, and damnation in the +next. Nothing was wanting to heighten the imprudence. The letter was in +the handwriting of Melfort, who was equally odious to both parties; and +it had been preceded by one from William expressed in terms as wise and +moderate as the others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> were headstrong and foolish. But the feeling of +the more temperate Jacobites will best be shown in the account Balcarres +himself gave to his master of the effect produced by this fatal epistle. +"When the messenger was announced," he wrote,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"His coming was joyful to us, expecting a letter from your Majesty to +the Convention, in terms suitable to the bad situation of your affairs +in England, and as had been advised by your friends before we left +London; and so assured were they of their advices being followed, that +they had encouraged all the loyal party, and engaged many to come to the +Convention, in hopes such full satisfaction would be given in matters of +religion and liberty, that even most of those who had declared against +you would return to their duty. But, as in place of such a letter as was +expected, or letters to particular persons, as was advised, came a +letter from your Majesty to the Convention, without any copy to show +your friends, in terms absolutely different from those we had agreed +upon, and sent to your Majesty by Mr. Lindsay from London. Upon other +occasions such a letter might have passed, if there had been power to +have backed it, or force to make good its reception; but after the +Parliament of England had refused to read a letter from your Majesty +because of the Earl of Melfort's countersigning it [and considering] +that England had made the Prince of Orange their King, and that it was +known you had none to sustain your cause but those who advised letters +of another strain, it was a fault of your advisers hardly to be +pardoned.... Crane was brought in and the letter read, with the same +order and respect observed upon such occasions to our Kings; but no +sooner was it twice read and known to be Earl Melfort's hand and style, +but the house was in a tumult—your enemies in joy and your friends in +confusion. Glad were your enemies to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> find nothing so much as promised +of what we had asserted should be done for their satisfaction, [they] +having much feared many of their party would have forsaken them if your +Majesty's letter had been written in the terms we advised from London. +Mr. Crane could give no account why the advice of your friends was not +followed, but Mr. Lindsay made no secret of it after he came back from +St. Germain's, but informed us that, after he had delivered to [the] +Earl of Melfort the letters and advices of your friends at London to +your Majesty, his Lordship kept him retired, and he was not suffered to +attend you—fearing that what he had written to your Majesty relating to +his Lordship might spoil his project of going to Ireland with you. We +had observed at London the great aversion men of all professions had at +his being employed, and we knew he was in no better esteem in his own +country, which made us entreat your Majesty to leave him in France, and +some, upon his own account, advised his not coming over, knowing the +danger he might be in; but his Lordship either suppressed our letters or +gave our advices another turn than was intended, by which all our hopes +of succeeding in the Convention vanished, nor was ever seen so great an +alteration as was observed at the next meeting after your letter was +read, which made all your friends resolve to leave Edinburgh and to call +a Convention of Estates at Stirling, as your Majesty had given the +Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Viscount of Dundee, and myself the power +to do this by a warrant sent by Mr. Brown from Ireland."</p></div> + +<p>Dundee was anxious to be gone. He saw that the game was up in the +Convention, and there were other reasons. For many days past troops of +strange, fierce-looking men, carrying arms but half-concealed beneath +their plaids, had been flocking into Edinburgh. These<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> were the men of +the hill-sides and moorlands of the West, the wild Western Whigs, who +feared and hated the name of Claverhouse more than anything on earth. +Their leader was William Cleland, a survivor from the fields of Drumclog +and Bothwell, a brave and able young man, of good education and humane +above his fellows, but who, it was well known, was burning to have +vengeance upon Dundee. Some of these men had been heard to mutter that +the tables were turned now, and "bloodly Clavers" should play the +persecutor no more. Word was brought to Dundee that a plot was on foot +to assassinate him and Sir George Mackenzie, the most hated of all +James's lawyers. Whether the rumour were true or not, it was at least +too probable to be disregarded. Dundee laid the matter before Hamilton, +offered to produce his witnesses, and demanded that these armed +strangers be ordered to leave the town. Hamilton (who was, in fact, +responsible for their presence) answered that the Convention had more +important matters to think of, that the city could not be left +defenceless to Gordon and his rebellious garrison, and, it is said, +twitted Dundee with imaginary fears unbecoming a brave man.</p> + +<p>A meeting of the Jacobites was held. It was decided to call a fresh +Convention at Stirling. Mar, who held the castle there, professed +himself staunch, and Athole promised to have a force of his Highlanders +in readiness. This was on Saturday, March 16th: it was determined to +leave Edinburgh on the following Monday.</p> + +<p>When Monday came Athole proposed to wait another day. As his +co-operation was of the greatest importance, his proposal was accepted. +But Dundee<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> would wait no longer. In vain Balcarres told him that his +haste would ruin all their plans. He answered that he would take no +action without the agreement of the rest, but in Edinburgh he would stay +no longer. He had made an appointment for that day with some friends +outside the walls, and he could not break it. His troopers had been in +readiness since an early hour, and Dundee returning to his lodgings gave +signal to mount. The streets were thronged with scowling faces, but they +shrank to right and left as those stern riders came clattering down the +Canongate. A friend called from the crowd to know whither they went. +Dundee raised his hat from his head and answered: "Wherever the spirit +of Montrose shall direct me." When clear of the walls he led his men to +the left up the Leith Wynd and along the bank of the North Loch, the +ground now occupied by the busy and handsome thoroughfare known as +Prince's Street. The road to Stirling winds beneath the Castle rock, and +as the cavalcade came on, their leader saw the Duke on the ramparts, +making signals to him for an interview. Dundee dismounted, and scrambled +up the steep face of the rock. What passed between them is not clearly +known. Balcarres says Dundee told the Duke of the design for Stirling, +and once more prayed him to stand firm. But it seems clear that Dundee +had by that time abandoned all hopes of a fresh Convention, and it is +doubtful whether he had any definite plan in his mind. Dalrymple's +report of the conversation seems more likely to be the true one. +According to him Dundee pressed the Duke to come north with him, leaving +the castle to the charge of the Lieutenant-Governor, Winram, a man who +had made himself too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> odious to the people to leave room for any doubt +of his fidelity to James. But these bold ventures were not to the Duke's +taste: his courage was of that sort which shows best behind stone walls: +and his answer was ingeniously framed to conceal his timidity under a +show of discipline. "A soldier," he said, "cannot in honour quit the +post that is assigned to him."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the city was in an uproar. A number of people had gathered +round the foot of the rock to stare at the strange sight. The watchers +from the city magnified this idle crowd into a hostile force. A +messenger came in haste to the Convention with the news that Dundee was +at the gates with an army, and that the Duke of Gordon was preparing to +fire on the town.</p> + +<p>Hamilton, who, while affairs were still in the balance, had behaved with +unexpected moderation, now gave loose to his temper. The time had come, +he said, for all good friends of order to see to their safety when +enemies to their liberties and religion were taking arms. There was +danger within as well as without. The traitors must be kept close; but +true men had nothing to fear, for thousands were ready to start up in +their defence at the stamp of his foot. He then ordered the room to be +locked, and the keys to be laid on the table. The drums beat to arms: +the town-guard, and such force of militia as was still in the city, fell +in; while from garrets and cellars the Westland men came thronging into +the streets, with weapons in their hands, and in their faces fury and +fear of their terrible enemy. After a time, as the news came that Dundee +had ridden off northward and that all seemed quiet in the castle, the +tumult subsided. The doors of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> Parliament House were opened, and the +members came out. Hamilton and his party were greeted with loud cheers: +threats and execrations no less loud assailed the few and downcast +Jacobites. From that memorable day the friends of William had nothing +more to fear in the capital of Scotland. For a while, indeed, some show +of opposition was still maintained, faintly stimulated by the arrival of +Queensberry from London. But he had come too late. His power was no +longer what it had been; nor were his professions of loyalty regarded by +men like Balcarres as above all suspicion. For Queensberry had been wise +with the wisdom of Hamilton and Athole. The great House of Douglas was +prudently divided against itself, and come what might it should not +fall. And Athole now, after with great show of bravery urging Gordon to +fire on the town, had grown somewhat less than lukewarm, while Mar, the +Governor of Stirling Castle, put an end for ever to any thoughts of a +fresh Convention in that city by boldly declaring for William. The hopes +and the hearts of the Jacobites had gone northward with Dundee; and in +truth there was not at this moment a brave company of either.</p> + +<p>Dundee did not draw rein in Stirling. He galloped through the town, +across the bridge, and on by Dunblane, where he stayed the night, to his +own home at Dudhope, where his lady was then waiting her confinement. +The only man of his own quality who had ridden with him from Edinburgh +was George Livingstone, Lord Linlithgow's son, whose troop of Life +Guards had been taken from him in the general re-arrangement of +regiments that had followed the fiasco of Salisbury; and he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> left +his companion on the road to make for Lord Strathmore's house at Glamis. +For a week of unwonted quiet, the last he was to know on earth, Dundee +rested at Dudhope. Then his enemies found him. On the morning of the +26th Hamilton's messengers appeared before his gates, summoning him to +lay down his arms and return to his duty at the Convention, on pain of +being proclaimed traitor and outlaw. Dundee replied by a letter which, +as it has been styled both disrespectful and disingenuous, it is worth +while to print in full.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Dudhope, March 27th, 1689.</p> + +<p>"May it please your Grace:—The coming of an herald and trumpeter to +summon a man to lay down arms that is living in peace at home, seems to +me a very extraordinary thing, and, I suppose, will do so to all that +hear of it. While I attended the Convention at Edinburgh I complained +often of many people being in arms without authority, which was +notoriously known to be true; even the wild hill-men; and no summons to +lay down arms under the pain of treason being given them, I thought it +unsafe for me to remain longer among them. And because a few of my +friends did me the favour to convey me out of the reach of these +murderers, and that my Lord Livingstone and several other officers took +occasion to come away at the same time, this must be called being in +arms. We did not exceed the number allowed by the Meeting of Estates. My +Lord Livingstone and I might have had each of us ten; and four or five +officers that were in company might have had a certain number allowed +them; which being, it will be found we exceeded not. I am sure it is far +short of the number my Lord Lorn was seen to march with. And though I +had gone away with some more than ordinary, who can blame me when +designs of murdering me was made appear? Besides, it is known to +everybody<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> that, before we came within sixteen miles of this, my Lord +Livingstone went off to his brother, my Lord Strathmore's, house; and +most of the officers and several of the company went to their respective +homes or relations. And, if any of them did me the favour to come along +with me, must that be called being in arms? Sure, when your Grace +represents this to the Meeting of the States, they will discharge such a +groundless pursuit, and think my appearance before them unnecessary. +Besides, though it were necessary for me to go and attend the meeting, I +cannot come with freedom and safety, because I am informed there are +men-of-war and foreign troops in the passage; and till I know what they +are and what are their orders, the Meeting cannot blame me for not +coming. Then, my Lord, seeing the summons has proceeded on a groundless +story, I hope the Meeting of States will think it unreasonable I should +leave my wife in the condition she is in. If there be anybody that, +notwithstanding of all that is said, thinks I ought to appear, I beg the +favour of a delay till my wife is brought to bed; and in the meantime I +will either give security or parole not to disturb the peace. Seeing +this pursuit is so groundless, and so reasonable things offered, and the +Meeting composed of prudent men and men of honour, and your Grace +presiding in it, I have no reason to fear further trouble.</p> + +<p>"I am, may it please your Grace, your most humble servant,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dundee.</span></p> + +<p>"I beg your Grace will cause this read to the Meeting, because it is all +the defence I have made. I sent another to your Grace from Dunblane with +the reasons of my leaving Edinburgh. I know not if it be come to your +hands."</p></div> + +<p>The letter was read to the Convention on the following day, and on +Saturday, March 30th, John Graham,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> Viscount of Dundee, was proclaimed +traitor with all the usual ceremonies. Thrice was his name called within +the Parliament House, and thrice outside its doors, and thrice with +sound of trumpet at the market-cross of the good town of Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>About the same time happened a still more untoward thing. James was now +in Ireland. He had learned how matters had gone in Scotland, and +conceived that the moment for action had come. A commission was +accordingly despatched to Dundee, constituting him Lieutenant-General +and Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, together with a letter in James's +own hand, informing him that five thousand foot and three hundred horse +would presently be at his disposal. There were letters also from Melfort +both to Dundee and Balcarres. Either by the folly or the knavery of the +messenger the papers fell into the hands of Hamilton, who read them to +the Convention. As usual, Melfort's letters were in the most foolish and +violent language. "You will ask no doubt," he wrote to Dundee, "how we +shall be able to pay our armies; but can you ask such a question while +our enemies, the rebels, have estates to be forfeited? We will begin +with the great and end with the small ones." To Balcarres he wrote in +the same strain. "The estates of the rebels will recompense us. You know +there were several lords whom we marked out, when you and I were +together, who deserved no better fate. When we get the power, we will +make these men hewers of wood and drawers of water." No man was +mentioned by name, so that each man was at liberty to take these threats +for himself. "You hear," cried Hamilton, "you hear, my lords<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> and +gentlemen, our sentence pronounced. We must take our choice, to die, or +to defend ourselves." There was a terrible uproar, the new Whig recruits +being among the loudest in their exposition of the dangers to which +their love for their religion and their country was likely to expose +them. Leven was ordered with two hundred of his new regiment to arrest +both Dundee and Balcarres.<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> The latter was taken easily enough, and +clapped into the Tolbooth. But Dundee got wind of his danger, and was +off before the soldiers could reach Dudhope. He went northward still, to +Glen Ogilvy, his wife's jointure-house, in the parish of Glamis, not far +from the old historic castle of Macbeth; and thither Leven did not think +it prudent to pursue him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> During the first alarm raised by Dundee's departure the +Convention had passed an order to raise and arm a regiment of eight +hundred men, and had given the command to Leven. It is said that the men +were found within two hours. See "An Account of the Proceedings of the +Estates in Scotland," London, 1689.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>Dundee had ridden out of Edinburgh with no clear plan of action before +him. Balcarres afterwards declared that his friend had no intention of +making for the Highlands till he learned that warrants were out for his +apprehension. Yet it is probable that the idea of a Highland campaign +had already begun to take shape in Dundee's mind before Mackay's advance +forced him over the Grampians. His orders were, in the event of the +Estates declaring for William, to keep quiet till the arrival of a +regular force from Ireland should enable him to take the field with some +chance of success. And, indeed, he had at that time no alternative. It +was clear to him that the game was lost in the Lowlands, but it was not +yet clear to him that anything was to be gained in the Highlands. The +example of his famous kinsman might indeed serve to fire both his +imagination and his ambition; but it could hardly serve to make him +hopeful of succeeding with the weapons which had failed Montrose. A few +thousand claymores would no doubt prove a useful supplement to the small +body of troops James might be able to spare from Ireland; but even a +mind so ardent and sanguine as Dundee's might well have shrank from +facing the chances of war with no other resources than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> a handful of +troopers and a rabble of half-armed, half-naked, and wholly +undisciplined savages. And in truth experience had shown that these +fierce and jealous spirits were little less dangerous as allies than as +enemies. Every clan had its hereditary feud, and no one could say that +on the day of battle the claymores might not be drawn against each other +instead of against the common foe. Branches even of the same stock did +not conceive themselves inevitably bound by the tie of blood, though it +was a claim never forgotten when it was convenient to make or allow it. +Sometimes a few of the smaller clans would make common cause against the +oppressions of a more powerful, or the cattle of a wealthier neighbour; +but it was rarely that friendship went beyond the conditions of an armed +neutrality. Though the feudal system had long prevailed in many parts of +the Highlands, it had never superseded the older patriarchal system. The +chief of the clan might pay homage to a great lord like Argyle or +Athole; but in the clan he was king, and his word was law. Moreover, +brave as the Highlanders undoubtedly were, they were not a warlike race. +They would rise to the signal of the fiery cross, without questioning +the cause; and they would on occasion fight for their own hand, for +revenge or plunder. But the long service of a regular war was little to +their taste. Of military science and military discipline they knew +nothing. To win the battle with the rush of the first onset, and when +the battle was won to make off to their homes with all the plunder they +could lay hands on,—this was their notion of warfare, and it was a +notion which the chiefs were too ignorant or too prudent to interfere +with.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> What chance could there be of inducing such spirits as these to +combine in one great confederacy, and to undertake a long and desperate +struggle for the sake of a king of whom the most part had never heard, +and of a cause which they could not understand?</p> + +<p>But Dundee had learned something at Dunblane which had given him fresh +views. During the few hours he had passed there he had talked much with +a Highland gentleman, Alexander Drummond of Bahaldy, son-in-law to Sir +Ewan Cameron of Lochiel, the great chief of the clan Cameron. Drummond +told him that Lochiel had been busy all the winter among his neighbours, +that they were now ripe for war, and were only waiting a leader and some +succours of regular troops and ammunition; that James had been +communicated with, and had approved their plan in a letter written with +his own hand to Lochiel; and that an early day had been appointed for a +rendezvous of the clans in Lochaber, the headquarters of the Camerons.</p> + +<p>It is now generally acknowledged that on this occasion, however it may +have been in the next century, the action of the Highland chiefs was not +inspired by devotion to the House of Stuart. Lochiel himself may indeed +have been moved by some personal consideration for the exiled King. He +had fought bravely under Montrose for Charles the First, and under +Middleton for Charles the Second. From the latter King he had received +more than one letter full of those flattering assurances Charles knew so +well how to make. By James he had been graciously welcomed at Whitehall, +and had received the honour of knighthood from the royal hand. He was +brave, wise, generous, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> faithful, and, even in a less rude society +than that in which his lot was cast, his manners would have been called +agreeable and his education certainly not contemptible. But even +Lochiel's loyalty was not suffered to run counter to his interests. In +Lochaber the name of James was as nothing compared with the name of Evan +Dhu, and the law of the King of England gave place to the law of the +great Chief of the Camerons. As for the rest, the dispute between Whigs +and Jacobites was no more to them than the dispute between the Guelphs +and Ghibellines had been to their ancestors. They cared not the value of +a single sheep whether James or William sat on the throne of Great +Britain, so long as neither interfered with them. No later than the +previous year the authority of James had been insulted and his soldiers +beaten by one of these independent lordlings—Colin Macdonald of +Keppoch, familiarly known as Coll of the Cows, for his skill in tracking +his neighbour's cattle over the wildest mountains to the most secret +coverts.<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a></p> + +<p>But for what loyalty to the House of Stuart was powerless to effect a +motive was found in the hatred to the House of Argyle. Nearly all the +chiefs of the Western Highlands were vassals to Mac Callum More, the +head of the great clan of Campbell. The numerous branches of the +Macdonalds, who had once been lords of the Hebrides and all the mountain +districts of Argyleshire and Invernessshire, the Camerons, the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>Macnaghtens, the Macleans, the Stuarts of Appin, all these paid tribute +(it would be probably more correct to say owed tribute) to the Marquis +of Argyle, and all were ready to welcome any chance of freedom from that +odious bondage. The early loyalty of Lochiel had probably been as much +inspired by the fact that he was fighting against an Argyle as for a +Stuart, as it is possible had been the loyalty of Montrose himself. In +1685 he had cheerfully summoned his clan to repel the invasion of +another chief of that hated House; and now the Revolution had brought +back from exile yet another to exercise the old tyranny. This was enough +to make the Revolution a hateful thing in the eyes of Lochiel and his +neighbours. But it was also believed that James had conceived the idea +of buying up from the great Highland nobles their feudal rights over the +clans, and had only been prevented from carrying his idea into effect by +the Revolution. In the minds of these Western chiefs, then, William was +the oppressor and James the deliverer. Throughout the winter they had +watched eagerly for news from the South. At length they learned that the +Estates had declared for William; that their prime enemy was restored to +favour and power; and that Dundee, whose exploits against the party of +which for three generations an Argyle had been the acknowledged head +were well known to them, was an outlaw and a fugitive. In him they at +once recognised the leader for whom they waited. Drummond was +accordingly sent to invite him to their councils, and to promise that a +sufficient escort should be ready at the proper time to convey him to +the appointed meeting-place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile it had become necessary for Dundee to look to his own safety. +A more dangerous enemy than Leven was now in the field against him. As +soon as William had learned the decision of the Estates he had +despatched a body of troops into Scotland under General Mackay. Hugh +Mackay, of Scourie, was himself of a Highland stock. Like Dundee, he had +learned the art of war first in France, and afterwards in the Low +Countries, where he had risen to the command of the Scots Brigade, as +those regiments were called which upwards of a century before the new +Protestant enthusiasm of England had raised to support Holland against +the tyranny of Spain. He was a good man, a brave if not a dashing +soldier, a prudent tactician, and well skilled in all the machinery of +war.</p> + +<p>Mackay at first contented himself with sending Livingstone and his +dragoons after Dundee, while he turned his attention to Gordon, who was +still maintaining some show of resistance in the castle. But Livingstone +was too late. He found the nest warm, but the bird had flown. Dundee had +gone northwards over the Grampians into the Gordons' country, where the +Earl of Dunfermline, the Duke's brother-in-law, at once joined him with +a most welcome addition to his little band of troopers. Mackay foresaw +that the Highlands were to be the real scene of operations, and that no +danger need be apprehended from the vapouring Gordon. He sent word, +therefore, to Livingstone to await him in Dundee, and marched himself +for that place with some two hundred of his own brigade and one hundred +and twenty of Lord Colchester's dragoons.<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is as difficult for the reader to follow Dundee through these April +days as Mackay found it. In the sounding hexameters of the "Grameis," +his movements are indeed described with more labour than lucidity; but +at this early stage of the campaign it is not necessary to track him +over every mountain and river, and by every town and castle.<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> It will +be enough to say that in an incredibly short space of time he beat up +for recruits the greater part of the counties of Aberdeen, Inverness, +and Perth, while the bewildered Mackay, whose training and troops were +alike unfitted to this sort of campaigning, toiled after him in vain. He +also found time for a flying visit to Dudhope, where his wife had been +safely delivered of a son. He can have stayed with her but a day at +most; and when he left her, he was to see her face no more.</p> + +<p>From Dudhope Dundee crossed the Grampians again for Inverness. Here it +had been arranged for him to meet Keppoch and the promised escort of +Highlanders. And here, accordingly, he found them; but he also found a +state of things which gave him a lively foretaste of the character and +conduct of his new allies.</p> + +<p>Between the clan of Macdonald and the clan of Mackintosh there had +existed for many centuries a deadly feud, the exact origin of which had +long been lost in the mists of fable. On the other hand, a good +understanding had long existed between the Mackintoshes and the town of +Inverness. Though the town in those days consisted only of some five +hundred mean buildings surrounded by a crazy wall, the busy little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +colony of artisans which inhabited it, and the occasional visit of a +trading vessel to its port, had invested it among the Highlanders with +the reputation of vast wealth. Here was an opportunity for gratifying +his love of revenge and his love of plunder which Keppoch was not the +man to lose. He advanced through the territory of the Mackintoshes, +harrying and burning as he marched, up to the walls of Inverness. For +two days he lay before its crazy gates threatening fire and sword, while +the burghers mustered to arms within, and the ministers exhorted them +from the market-place. Such was the state of affairs Dundee found when +he and his troopers rode into the Highland camp on the first day of May.</p> + +<p>Keppoch tried to excuse himself. The town, he said, owed him money, and +he sought only to recover his own. On the other hand, the magistrates +said that he had forced them to promise him four thousand marks. Dundee +answered that Keppoch had no warrant from him to be in arms, much less +to plunder. But it was not yet safe for him with his handful of horse to +use such brave language to the chief at the head of his eight hundred +claymores. He therefore temporised. By his advice the magistrates agreed +to pay two thousand dollars: half of this sum was raised on the spot +with some difficulty: for the other half Dundee gave his bond to +Keppoch. He also promised the magistrates that, when James was restored +to his throne, the money should be refunded to them. Dundee had saved +the town, but for the present he had lost his allies. Keppoch and his +thieves, laden with the silver of Inverness and the cattle of the +Mackintoshes, retired in dudgeon to their mountains.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Dundee was destined to achieve something before he joined the muster +at Lochaber. After he had parted from Keppoch he turned westward down +the valley of the Ness, by the noble castle of Glengarry, which +Cumberland destroyed after Culloden, by Kilcummin, where Fort Augustus +now stands, memorable in his eyes as the spot whence Montrose had led +the clans to break the power of the Campbells at Inverlochy, and so +southwards again through the forest of Badenoch to the Tay. As he was +painfully toiling through this vast and rugged recruiting-ground word +was brought to him that a regiment of cavalry was being raised in Perth +under the auspices of the Laird of Blair, a rich and powerful gentleman +who had married into Hamilton's family. He determined on a bold stroke. +He was sorely in need of powder, provisions, money, and especially of +fresh mounts for his troopers, the long rapid marches, cold weather, and +scanty forage having reduced his horses to a very sorry plight. In Perth +he might lay hands on all these, and possibly on a few recruits into the +bargain. He was in Blair when the messengers found him on May 10th. With +his handful of sabres he swooped down on Dunkeld, which he reached just +in time to relieve a tax-collector of the dues he had been successfully +raising for William. At Dunkeld he rested his men till nightfall, and +then rode straight for Perth. At two o'clock in the morning he entered +the city, surprised Blair and his lieutenant, Pollock, in their beds, +collected forty horses, a store of arms and powder, some provisions, and +some of the public money, and was off again with his booty and his +prisoners before the startled citizens had fairly realised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> the weakness +of their invaders. He recrossed the Tay, and halted at Scone to refresh +himself and his men at the charges of Lord Stormont, an involuntary act +of hospitality on the latter's part for which he had some trouble to +excuse himself in Edinburgh.<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a></p> + +<p>While in the wilds of Badenoch Dundee had received another message which +had interested him much. In the dragoons now under Livingstone's command +were several of Dunmore's old officers still well affected to James. +Chief among these were William Livingstone,<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> a relation of the +colonel, and that Captain Creichton of whom mention has been already +made. While lying in garrison at Dundee Creichton found means to get +secretly into Dudhope, and to assure Lady Dundee that he and many of his +comrades were only waiting an opportunity to join her husband. She sent +off word of this to the wanderer, who managed to convey an assurance to +Creichton of his plans, and of the strength of the reinforcements he +expected from Ireland. On their landing, he added, he should expect the +dragoons to join him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>This note was received by Creichton from the hands of a ragged +Highlander two days after he had marched with a part of his regiment to +join Mackay at Inverness. Could he have waited a little longer he would +have seen his correspondent in person. On the afternoon of Monday, May +13th, the inhabitants of the town which had given this terrible +Claverhouse his title saw to their amazement the crest of the high +ground to the north glittering with steel-clad riders. At the same time +Lord Rollo, who was camped outside the walls with some new levies of +horse, came flying through the gates with the news that Dundee was upon +them. The drums beat to arms: the gates were closed; and barricades +hastily thrown up in the principal streets, while the citizens crowded +on the walls to stare at the audacious foe.</p> + +<p>It is possible that Dundee, who was ignorant of Creichton's departure, +thought that his appearance might bring the dragoons over to his side at +once. But the officer who was then in command kept his troops quiet; and +after manœuvring his men up to the very walls of the town Dundee drew +off as night fell to Glen Ogilvy.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> It is impossible that even he can +have conceived the idea of a serious attack on the place; and the story +of his actually entering and plundering the town is certainly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +apocryphal, though his men very probably made free with Rollo's camp.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mackay at Inverness was busy in his turn among the clans. +Lochiel had only sent the cross round among those chiefs who, like him, +hated the Campbells. Dundee had gone further afield, but had not been +successful. The gratitude of the Mackintoshes was not enough to do more +than keep them neutral,—which was perhaps fortunate, for had they +joined the muster at Lochaber they would inevitably have been at blows +with the Macdonalds before a day had passed. The Macphersons also kept +aloof, and the Macleods. Mackay's invitations were received with the +same indifference. Some of the Grants, whose chief had suffered under +the late Government for his allegiance to Argyle, joined him; and from +the northern shires of Ross and Sutherland a few Mackays came to fight +for a captain of their own blood. But the two sources on which the +Government had mainly relied for help were both found wanting. The +Campbells had suffered so severely from the invasion of Athole in the +previous year that Argyle found it impossible to rally them in time to +be of service in the present campaign. The Covenanters, though hailing +the rule of William as a deliverance from the rule of James, were +persuaded by their ministers that it was a sin to take military service, +even against the abhorred Dundee, with men whose orthodoxy was, to say +the least, not above suspicion. Seaforth, Lovat, Breadalbane, and the +other great lords of the east and south Highlands, would not bid their +vassals arm for either side. Athole had indeed once more professed +allegiance to the new order, but while affairs were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> still in an +uncertain state he would not commit himself to any decisive action. It +was clear to Mackay that the name of William was no name to charm with +in Scotland, and that the most he could hope to effect was to prevent a +general rising of the clans for James. The sagacious Tarbat had already +pointed out to him how this might be done. Five thousand pounds, he +said, would be ample to satisfy all Argyle's claims upon the chiefs who +owed him vassalage. If these claims were satisfied, and the clans +assured that under William they would secure the freedom they had hoped +for from James, though it might not be possible to persuade them to +fight for the former, not a single claymore would follow Dundee to the +field for the latter. William was now induced to try the experiment. But +by a blunder so extraordinary as to suggest treachery somewhere, the +agent entrusted to manage the affair was himself a Campbell. The chiefs +naturally refused to listen to such a messenger, and treated all +subsequent overtures with a contemptuous refusal or a still more +contemptuous silence. It is not certain that any money was actually +expended; but if so, it is very certain that not a penny of it went to +any Cameron or Macdonald.</p> + +<p>Dundee had now reached Lochaber, where he was cordially welcomed by +Lochiel, and lodged in a building close to the chief's own house, a rude +structure of pine-wood, but in his men's eyes a magnificent palace. The +clans had proved true to their tryst. Every Cameron who could wield a +broadsword was there. From the wild peaks of Corryarrick and Glen Garry, +from the dark passes of Glencoe and the storm-beaten islands of the +western seas, the men of Macdonald came trooping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> in. Sir John of Duart +brought a strong gathering of Macleans from Mull, promising that more of +the name were on the road. Young Stewart of Appin had led his little +band from the shores of Loch Finnhe. The Macnaghtens were there from the +very heart of the great enemy's country, where the hated towers of +Inverary cast their shadow on the waters of Loch Fyne. Fraser of Foyers +and Grant of Urquhart, disregarding the action of their respective +chiefs, each brought a small following of his own vassals.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to calculate the exact force which, at any time during +his short campaign, Dundee had at his disposal. But the number of +claymores which this first muster brought to Lochaber cannot have been +less than two thousand. Besides these, there was his little body of +cavalry, some fifty sabres in all, partly composed of his own troopers, +and partly of Dunfermline's followers. That nobleman and Lord Dunkeld +were of the party. Dundee's own brother, too, seems to have been with +him, and a member of the Duntroon branch of the Grahams. Certain +gentlemen from the Lowlands had also joined him: Sir Alexander James of +Coxtone, Sir Archibald Kennedy of Cullean, Hallyburton of Pitcur, Murray +of Abercairny, and others.</p> + +<p>Still there was no sign from Ireland, and Dundee hesitated to take the +field against Mackay with such capricious and irregular allies. He did +not doubt the courage of his Highlanders, but he had grave doubts of +their obedience. That they would fight bravely when it was their cue to +fight, he knew well; but he was much less confident that they would take +their cue from him. He had at first conceived the idea of putting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> them +through some course of military training, but Lochiel urged so many and +such weighty reasons against it that he gave up the plan. "There is not +time," said the sagacious old chief, "for our men to learn your method +of warfare. They would merely unlearn their own. This is one which must +seem strange to your notions of war; but it is one which they thoroughly +understand, and which makes them, when led by such a general as you, a +match for the most practised veterans. Think of what they did under +Montrose, and be sure that they will show the same courage and win as +great victories under you." It, therefore, became more than ever +necessary that the promised succours should be no longer delayed. Some +regular troops, however few, would serve both as a rallying-point and as +an example to the Highlanders. And, indeed, it had been only on the +promise of such support that Lochiel had induced the chiefs to arm. +Dundee sent letter after letter to Ireland full of cheerful accounts of +the good promise of affairs, but urging the instant despatch of troops, +together with a store of money, ammunition, and all the other +necessaries for an army about to take the field, of which there was, in +truth, a most plentiful lack in Lochaber. There were not above fifty +pounds of powder in the camp; and though the Highland fashion was to +trust more to the cold steel than the bullet, powder was a necessity of +war that could not well be altogether dispensed with. Dundee also urged +upon Melfort the good effect James' own presence would have upon his +Scottish allies. If that could not be managed, he said, at least let him +send the Duke of Berwick. There was no petty jealousy in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> Dundee's +character. He would have cheerfully put himself under the command of any +man if by so doing he were likely to further the cause he had at heart. +But no answer came to these appeals. In one of the last letters Dundee +wrote, he reminds Melfort that for three months he had received not a +single line from him or from James.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, his tact, his good temper, courtesy, and liberality had won +the hearts of his new allies. With the money he had brought with him +from the Lowlands, and the supplies his wife and some of his friends +were able occasionally to send him, he contrived to maintain an +establishment that was at least superior to anything which most of his +new friends were accustomed to. Every day he entertained some of the +chiefs at his table. He made himself acquainted with the faces and names +of the principal tacksmen of each clan, and mastered a few words of +Gaelic to enable him to address and return salutations. In the field he +lived no better than the meanest of his men, sharing their coarse food +and hard lodging, and often marching on foot by their side over the +roughest country and in the wildest weather. His powers of endurance +extorted the wonder even of those sturdy mountaineers who had been +inured from childhood to the extremes of hunger and fatigue. More than a +century after his death it was still told with admiration how once, +after chasing Mackay from dawn to sunset of a summer's day over the +ruggedest part of the Athole country, he had spent the night in writing, +only resting his head occasionally on his hands to snatch a few moments +of sleep. Among the Camerons he was always spoken of as the General, and +honoured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> next to Lochiel himself. At the same time, he was careful to +maintain his authority and to exact the respect due to his position. He +knew well that among those lawless spirits he who would be obeyed must +be feared. On one occasion he administered a public rebuke to the +arch-thief, Keppoch, who had found time for another raid on the +Mackintoshes. In the presence of all the chiefs Dundee told the offender +that he would sooner serve in the ranks of a disciplined regiment than +command men who were no better than common robbers; that he would +countenance such outrages no more, nor any longer keep in his army those +who disgraced the King's cause by their private quarrels. Keppoch, who +would infallibly have struck his dirk into any other man who had used +such language to him, attempted some lame excuses, muttered an apology, +and ended by promising for the future neither he nor any of his men +would stir a foot save at the General's command. There is no stronger +proof of Dundee's genius and capacity for affairs than the singular +influence he was able in a few short weeks to gain over men who could +not speak his language and who hated his race. When on the dark day of +Culloden the wavering clans looked in vain to their Prince, an old +chief, who had heard his father talk of Ian Dhu Cean (Black John, the +Warrior), exclaimed in a passion of rage and grief, "Oh, for an hour of +Dundee!"</p> + +<p>But loth as he was to engage Mackay with the Highlanders alone, Dundee +knew that he could not hope to keep them long together inactive. +Provisions were running short. If they could not harry James's enemies, +they would make free with their own. Dundee was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> particularly anxious to +give no cause of offence to those clans whose neutrality he hoped to be +able to turn into friendship. Already a serious prospect of disunion had +threatened the little army. A party of the Camerons had made a raid on +the Grants, in which a Macdonald of Glengarry had been killed. The man +had become affiliated to the Grants, and had refused to join the muster +of his own tribe. He had therefore forfeited all the right of clanship. +Yet Glengarry, as much perhaps from policy as from any overpowering +sense of kinship, demanded vengeance; and it needed all the combined +tact of Dundee and Lochiel to prevent him from drawing out his men to +attack the Camerons. When, therefore, Dundee learned that Mackay had +left Inverness to join some reinforcements from Edinburgh, he determined +on action.</p> + +<p>The troops Mackay expected to find in Badenoch were six hundred men of +his own Scots Brigade under Colonel Ramsay. Ruthven Castle on the Spey +was the place of meeting, and May 26th the time. But Ramsay had been +detained in Edinburgh by an alarm of an invasion from France, and it was +not till the 27th that he entered the Athole country. Here he learned +that Dundee was on the march to meet him. The population did not seem +friendly: he could get no news of Mackay; and on the whole he judged it +prudent to retire to Perth. That he might do this with more speed he +blew up his ammunition train, to prevent it falling into Dundee's hands. +Mackay, who, as soon as he learned that Ramsay was fairly on the road, +had marched with all speed from Inverness, was too late to save Ruthven +Castle. It had been surrendered by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> governor, Captain Forbes, on the +29th, and reduced to a heap of ruins.</p> + +<p>This was the beginning of a series of marches and counter-marches on the +part of the two generals, which lasted far into June, without any +advantage on either side. On one occasion a party of the Macleans of +Lochbuy, marching to join Dundee in Badenoch, came to blows with some of +Livingstone's dragoons; and there were other skirmishes, of no material +result, at none of which was either general present in person. More than +once Dundee was in striking distance of Mackay; but he never found +himself in a position to engage with sufficient assurance of victory. A +defeat he dared not risk; and even victory, unless complete enough to +need no second blow, had its dangers. An army which considered the safe +storage of his booty as the first duty of a successful soldier could not +safely be trusted to make good the result of a doubtful battle. And in +fact he found his forces each day diminishing as food became more scarce +in those barren wilds, or as some lucky raid necessitated a departure +for home with the prize. At length, wisely determining to sanction what +he could not prevent, and feeling that even his iron frame and dauntless +spirit were in need of rest, Dundee dismissed the clans for the present, +on their giving a promise to join him again when he should require them. +Keeping only some two hundred of the Macleans with him, he returned to +his old quarters, on the pressing invitation of Lochiel, who swore to +him that while there was a cow in Lochaber neither he nor his men should +want. Mackay did not attempt to follow him. At such a game of +hide-and-seek he saw that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> his men were no match for the active +light-marching Highlanders. He accordingly put garrisons into certain +fortified parts of Invernessshire and Perthshire, sent the rest into +quarters, and himself repaired to Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>From the middle of June to the end of July the war therefore languished. +But Dundee was not idle. The arts of diplomacy were as familiar to him +as the arts of war. He still maintained an active correspondence with +the neutral chiefs, and kept Melfort well informed of all he had done +and proposed to do for his master's service. I shall conclude this +chapter with an extract from the last despatch he sent to Ireland. It is +long; but it gives so graphic an account of his proceedings since the +muster at Lochaber, of the state of the country, and the relative +positions and prospects of the two parties, that its length may be +excused. It also shows, what one would not perhaps have otherwise +surmised, that the writer had some little touch of humour. The letter is +dated from Moy, in Lochaber, June 27th, 1689. I omit the first part, +which seems to refer to some complaints Melfort had made of his having +been ill-spoken of by Dundee.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"My Lord, I have given the King, in general, account of things here; but +to you I will be more particular. As to myself, I have sent you it at +large. You may by it understand a little of the state of the +country.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> You will see there, when I had a sure advantage I +endeavoured to profit on it; but on the other hand, shunned to hazard +anything for fear of a ruffle. For the least of that would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +discouraged all. I thought if I could gain time, and keep up a figure of +a party without loss, it was my best till we got assistance, which the +enemy got from England every day. I have told the King I had neither +commission, money, nor ammunition. My brother-in-law and my wife found +ways to get credit.<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> For my own nobody durst pay to a traitor. I was +extremely surprised when I saw Mr. Drummond, the advocate, in Highland +habit, come up to Lochaber to me, and gave account that the Queen had +sent 2,000<i>l</i>. sterling to London, to be paid to me for the King's +service, and that two more was a-coming. I did not know the Queen had +known anything of our affairs. I received a very obliging letter from +her with Mr. Crane, but I know no way to make a return. However, when +the money comes, I shall keep count of it and employ it right. But I am +feared it will be hard to bring it from Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>"When we came first out I had but fifty pounds of powder. More I could +not get. All the great towns and seaports were in rebellion, and had +seized the powder, and would sell none. But I had one advantage—the +Highlanders will not fire above once, and then take to the broadsword.</p> + +<p>"But I wonder, above all things, that in three months I never heard from +you, seeing by Mr. Hay I had so earnestly recommended it to you, and +told of this way by Inverlochy as sure. If you could not have sent +expresses, we thought you would at least have hastened the dispatch of +those we sent. McSwyne has now been away near two months, and we know +not if the coast be clear or not. However, I have ventured to advise Mr. +Hay to return straight, and not go further in the country. He came not +here until the 22nd, and they surrendered on the 13th.<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> was not +Mr. Hay's fault he was so long of coming, for there has been two English +men-of-war and the Glasgow frigates amongst the islands till of late. +For the rest of the letters I undertook to get them delivered. Most of +the persons to whom they are directed are either put in bond, or in +prisons, or gone out of the kingdom. The Advocate is gone to England, a +very honest man, firm beyond belief,<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> and Athole is gone too, who did +not know what to do. Earl Hume, who is very frank, is taken prisoner to +Edinburgh, but will be let out on security. Earl Breadalbane keeps close +in a strong house he has, and pretends the gout. Earl Errol stays at +home. So does Aberdeen. Earl Marischal is at Edinburgh, but does not +meddle. Earl Lauderdale is right, and at home. The Bishops? I know not +where they are! They are now the Kirk invisible. I will be forced to +open the letter, and send copies attested to them, and keep the original +till I can find out our Primate. The poor ministers are sorely oppressed +over all. They generally stand right. Duke Queensberry was present at +the Cross when their new mock king was proclaimed, and, I hear, voted +for him, though not for the throne vacant. His brother, the +Lieutenant-General, some say is made an earl. He is come down to +Edinburgh, and is gone up again. He is the old man, and has abused +[deceived] me strangely. For he swore to me to make amends. Tarbat is a +great villain. Besides what he has done at Edinburgh, he has endeavoured +to seduce Lochiel by offers of money which is under his hand. He is now +gone up to secure his faction (which is melting), the two Dalrymples and +others, against Skelmorly, Polwart, Cardross, Ross, and others, now +joined with that worthy prince, Duke Hamilton. Marquis Douglas is now a +great knave, as well as beast, as is Glencairn, Morton, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> Eglinton. +And even Cassilis is gone astray, misled by Gibby.<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> Panmure keeps +right and at home. So does Strathmore, Southesk, and Kinnaird. Old +Airlie is at Edinburgh under caution. So is Balcarres and Dunmore. +Stormont is declared fugitive for not appearing. All these will break +out, and many more, when the King lands, or any from him. Most of the +gentry on this side the Forth, and many on the other, will do so too. +But they suffer mightily in the meantime, and will be forced to submit +if there be not relief sent very soon. The Duke of Gordon, they say, +wanted nothing for holding out but hopes of relief. Earl of Dunfermline +stays constantly with me, and so does Dunkeld, Pitcur, and many other +gentlemen, who really deserve well, for they suffer great hardships. +When the troops land, there must be blank commissions sent for horse and +foot for them, and others that will join. There must be a Commission of +Justiciary, to judge all but landed men. For there should be examples +made of some who cannot be judged by a council of war. They take our +people, and hang them up, by their new sheriffs, when they find them +straggling.<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a></p> + +<p>"My Lord, I have given my opinion to the King concerning the landing. I +would first have a good party sent over to Inverlochy; about five or six +thousand, as you have convenience of boats; of which as many horse as +conveniently can. About six or eight hundred would do well, but rather +more. For had I had horse, for all that yet appeared I would not have +feared them. Inverlochy is safe landing, far from the enemy, and one may +choose, from thence, to go to Moray by Inverness, or to Angus by Athole, +or to Perth by Glencoe, and all tolerable ways.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> The only ill is the +passage is long by sea, and inconvenient because of the island; but in +this season that is not to be feared. So soon as the boats return, let +them ferry over as many more foot as they think fit to the point of +Kintyre, which will soon be done; and then the King has all the boats +for his own landing. I should march towards Kintyre, and meet, at the +neck of Tarbet, the foot, and so march to raise the country, and then +towards the passes of Forth to meet the King, where I doubt not but we +would be numerous.</p> + +<p>"I have done all I can to make them believe the King will land +altogether in the west, on purpose to draw their troops from the north, +that we may easier raise the country if the landing be here. I have said +so, and written it to everybody; and particularly I sent some +proclamations to my Lady Errol, and wrote to her to that purpose, which +was intercepted and carried to Edinburgh, and my Lady taken prisoner. I +believe it has taken the effect I designed; for the forces are marched +out of Kintyre, and I am just now informed Major-General Mackay is gone +from Inverness by Moray, towards Edinburgh. I know not what troops he +has taken with him as yet; but it is thought he will take the horse and +dragoons (except a few) and most of the standing forces; which, if he +do, it will be a rare occasion for landing here, and for raising the +country. Then, when they hear of that, they will draw this way, which +will again favour the King's landing. Some think Ely a convenient place +for landing, because you have choice of what side, and the enemy cannot +be on both. Others think the nearer Galloway the better, because the +rebels will have far to march before they can trouble you. Others think +Kirkcudbright or thereabouts, because of that sea for ships, and that it +is near England. Nobody expects any landing here now, because it is +thought you will alter the design, it having been discovered. And to +friends and all I give out I do not expect any.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So I am extremely of opinion this would be an extreme proper place, +unless you be so strong that you need not care where to land. The truth +is, I do not admire their mettle. The landing of troops will confound +them terribly. I had almost forgot to tell you that the Prince of +Orange, as they say, has written to his Scotch Council, telling them he +will not have his troops any more harassed following me through the +hills, but orders them to draw to the West, where, he says, a great army +is to land; and, at the same time, gives them accounts that eight sail +of men-of-war is coming from Brest, with fifteen thousand men on board. +He knows not whether they are designed for England or Ireland. I beg you +will send an express before, whatever you do, that I may know how to +take my measures; and if the express that comes knows nothing, I am sure +it shall not be discovered for me. I have told Mr. Hay nothing of this +proposal, nor no man. If there come any party this way, I beg you send +me ammunition, and three or four thousand arms of different sorts—some +horse, some foot.</p> + +<p>"I have just now received a confirmation of Mackay's going south, and +that he takes with him all the horse and dragoons, and all the standing +foot. By which I conclude, certainly, they are preparing against the +landing in the west. I entreat to hear from you as soon as possible; and +am, in the old manner, most sincerely, for all Carleton can say, my +lord, your most humble and faithful servant,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">"Dundee."</span></p></div> + +<p>It appears by a postscript added on the following day, that before +Dundee's messenger left Lochaber letters had arrived from Melfort. They +seem to have been again full of complaints of the hard things said about +him, and of the undeserved dislike with which all classes in Scotland +seemed to regard him. But of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> help there was no more than the usual +vague promises, and glowing accounts of apocryphal successes in Ireland. +Dundee congratulated the Secretary on their master's good fortune, +diplomatically fenced with the question of unpopularity, and reiterated +his appeal for succour.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For the number" [he wrote], "I must leave [that] to the conveniency you +have. The only inconveniency of the delay is, that the honest suffer +extremely in the low country in the time, and I dare not go down for +want of horse; and, in part, for fear of plundering all, and so making +enemies, having no pay. I wonder you send no ammunition, were it but +four or five barrels. For we have not twenty pounds."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> The passage in which Macaulay has explained the condition +and sentiment of the Highlanders at this time, will be familiar to every +reader. What may be less familiar is a pamphlet entitled "Remarks on +Colonel Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders," published at Edinburgh +in 1823, the year after Stewart's book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Now the Third Dragoon Guards.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> In Napier's third volume will be found many translations +in prose from this poem, from which I have taken a few touches.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> Napier (iii. 552, note) quotes the following minute in the +records of the Estates:—"13th May, 1689: A missive letter from the +Viscount of Stormont to the President was read, bearing that the +Viscount Dundee had forced his dinner from him at his house of Scone, on +Saturday last, and therefore desiring that his intercommuning with him, +being involuntary, might be excused." He was cited, however as a +delinquent, together with his father-in-law, Scott of Scotstarvet and +his uncle, Sir John Murray of Drumcairn (a Lord of Session), who had +also to assist at the involuntary banquet. Throughout his short campaign +Dundee was careful never to take a penny from the pocket of any private +person. He considered, he said, that he was justified in appropriating +the King's money to the King's use.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Creichton calls him Lord Kilsyth, but he had not then +succeeded to the title. He is the same who afterwards married Lady +Dundee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> It is doubtful who this officer was. Mackay, in his +memoirs, says it was William Livingstone, calling him either a coward or +a traitor for not showing fight. If Livingstone it was, he may not have +felt sure enough of the men who were left with him to join Dundee in so +open a manner, and to fight was not his cue. But another account puts +one Captain Balfour in command. The whole account of the affair is even +more confused than are most of Dundee's exploits. But that he did make a +demonstration of some sort against the town is proved by the Minutes of +the Estates.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> None of his previous despatches from the Highlands are in +existence.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Robert Young of Auldbar had married Dundee's youngest +sister, Anne.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> The Duke of Gordon surrendered the Castle of Edinburgh on +June 13th, after a resistance which towards the end assumed the +character almost of a burlesque.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Sir George Mackenzie.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> Gilbert Burnet, the bishop. His wife was a sister of Lord +Cassilis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> On Dundee's retreat from Badenoch, some of his men who had +straggled for plunder had been caught and hung by Gordon of Edenglassie, +Sheriff of Banff.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>Mackay had now decided on a new plan of campaign. He would apply to the +service of war a device employed by the Highlanders in the chase, and +put in practice against them their own tactics of the tinchel.<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> A +chain of fortified posts was to be established among the Grampians, and +at various commanding points in Invernessshire. On the west a strong +garrison was to be placed in the castle of Inverlochy, the northernmost +point of Argyle's country overlooking the stronghold of the Camerons. A +small fleet of armed frigates drawing a light draft was to cruise off +the western coasts, and to watch those dangerous islands whence issued +the long war-galleys of the Macdonalds and the Macleans. Stores and +transport enough to keep a considerable force in the field for one month +was to be collected; and a skilled body of pioneers, equipped with all +the tools necessary for road-making, was to accompany the column.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having already sketched out this plan in a letter to Hamilton, Mackay +was in hopes to find on his arrival in Edinburgh that measures had been +begun to put it into operation. He was grievously disappointed. He found +nothing but quarrels and intrigues in the Parliament House and out of +it. Each man was too intent on out-manœuvring his neighbour in the great +struggle for place, to spare a thought for a foe who was happily +separated from them by a vast barrier of mountains and many hundreds of +miles of barren moorland, deep waters, and dense forests. He saw that +his plan for subduing the warriors of the Highlands must wait till the +Lowland politicians were at leisure to listen to him; yet he determined +to return to his duty, and to do his best with such means as he could +find or make for himself. It was possible that Argyle might now have +sufficiently repaired his affairs to be able to render some assistance +from the West; and there was an ally in Perthshire who might, if he +would, prove of even more value than Argyle.<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a></p> + +<p>Lord Murray, Athole's eldest son, had, unlike his father, made up his +mind early in the Revolution and kept to it. But it happened that there +was one now in possession of Blair Castle who had also chosen his side +with equal resolution. Athole had slunk off to England, leaving his +castle and his vassals to the charge of his agent, Stewart of Ballechin. +Ballechin was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> sturdy Jacobite; and though he had not yet dared to arm +the Athole men for James, he had managed on more than one occasion to do +timely service to Dundee. Blair was one of the most important posts in +the proposed line of garrisons. It commanded on one side the only road +by which troops could march from the low country of Perth into the +Highlands, and on the other the passes leading to the Spey and the Dee. +Whoever held Blair practically held the key of the Highlands. Mackay +therefore urged Murray, who was then in Edinburgh, to get rid of this +unjust steward and make sure of so valuable a stronghold for the +Government. Murray promised to do what he could. He did not profess to +be very sanguine of persuading the men of Athole to fight for William; +but for the castle, he could not suppose that Ballechin would dare to +shut the gates of his own father's house against him. "Keep the Athole +men from joining Dundee," said Mackay, "and that is all I ask, or can +expect from your father's son." He pressed Murray to start at once for +Blair, promising to follow as soon as he could collect the necessary +force of troops and stores.</p> + +<p>It was tedious work preparing for a campaign in Edinburgh, where, nobody +feeling himself in immediate danger, nobody was concerned to guard +against it. Mackay was detained longer than he had expected, and before +he could take the field bad news had come down from Perthshire. +Ballechin was strongly entrenched in Blair, and resolute not to budge an +inch. The Athole men had gathered readily enough to their young lord's +summons; but when they found he had summoned them to fight for King +William they had gone off in a body<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> shouting for King James.<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> And +there was yet worse news. The fiery cross was speeding once more through +the Western Highlands. There could be no doubt that Ballechin was acting +under orders from Dundee. A few men had stayed with Murray, and with +these he proposed to watch the castle and the pass till Mackay should +come. But the clans were mustering fast. Dundee himself was said to be +in the neighbourhood. Unless troops could be brought up at once, Blair +would be irretrievably lost, and the key of the Highlands in the hands +of Dundee.</p> + +<p>Dundee was in the neighbourhood. He was at Struan, close to Blair, +whence he wrote more than one letter to Murray, using every argument he +could think likely to influence the interests or the prejudices of +Athole's son. Professing to be convinced that Murray was really for +James, though doubtful about the time for declaring himself, he declared +that he had only sent help to Ballechin to keep the rebels at bay till +Murray was able to act as his principles and education would naturally +suggest. The King, he said, had seen the mistakes into which Melfort had +hurried him. He had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> now given his word to secure the Protestant +religion as by law established, to allow full liberty of conscience to +all dissenters, and to grant a general pardon for all except those who +had been actively engaged in dethroning him. What more might be +necessary to satisfy the people, Dundee begged Murray to let him know. +The King was particularly anxious for advice on these points, and ready +to go all reasonable lengths; and Murray, he well knew, would advise +nothing unreasonable. No more was to be feared from Melfort, who had +promised to forgive all old quarrels, and even to resign his office +rather than force himself upon those who were unwilling to receive him. +Finally (keeping to the last the most powerful argument he could +devise), he declared that it was now in Murray's power to "have the +honour of the whole turn of the King's affairs." Murray would make no +answer, refused to see Dundee's messengers, and sent all his letters on +to Mackay.<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dundee knew the importance of Blair as well as Mackay. As soon as he +heard from Ballechin of Murray's action, he threw a garrison into the +castle, and sent signal to the clans to join him at once. The time was +short: too short even to muster all the outlying Camerons. Some days +must elapse before he could expect to see round him such a force as he +had commanded two months earlier, and every hour was precious. Lochiel +urged him to march at once for Blair with such forces as were at hand, +promising to follow with the rest. But Dundee was loth to advance +without Lochiel. He relied much on the old chief's sagacity and +experience, on his knowledge of the Highland character, and his tact in +managing it: without his counsel and support he did not feel even now +certain of his quarrelsome captains. He prayed Lochiel, therefore, to +come with him, leaving his son to bring on the late musters.</p> + +<p>As they marched through Badenoch they were joined by the long-promised +succours from Ireland—three hundred ragged Irish recruits, half +starved, badly armed, and entirely ignorant of war. Their leader was an +officer named Cannon, who bore a commission from James giving him rank +next to Dundee, a position which neither his abilities nor his +experience entitled him to hold in such an army. Some stores of powder +and food had been sent with them; but the vessels containing them had, +through Cannon's negligence, been taken in the Hebrides by English +cruisers. Dundee had neither powder nor food to spare. There had been no +time to collect provisions; and for many days past his officers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> had +eaten no bread and drunk nothing but water. The great promises of help +on which the Highlanders had so confidently relied, on the assurance of +which they had taken the field, and for which their general had +repeatedly given his own word, had shrunk to this—three hundred empty +mouths to feed, and three hundred useless hands to arm.<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p>And now word came that Mackay was approaching. He had marched by way of +Stirling to Perth, at which place he had appointed his muster. At +Stirling he had found six troops of dragoons, which he had ordered to +follow him to Perth. On July 26th he was at Dunkeld, where he received +word from Murray of Dundee's arrival at Blair, but not the dragoons he +was expecting from Stirling. His own cavalry consisted of but two +troops, chiefly composed of new levies. He dared no longer trust +Livingstone's dragoons in the face of the enemy. Half of the officers he +had been obliged to send under guard to Edinburgh as traitors: the rest +of the regiment was out of harm's way in quarters at Inverness. The +horses of Colchester's men were in such a plight after their marches +among the Grampians that they could not carry a saddle. Mackay knew well +how important cavalry was to the work before him. A mounted soldier was +the one antagonist a Highlander feared; and his fear was much the same +superstitious awe that a century and a half earlier the hordes of +Montezuma had felt for the armoured horsemen of Cortez. But the messages +from Murray were urgent, and he dared not delay. At break of day on +Saturday, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> 27th, he marched out from Dunkeld for the glen of +Killiecrankie.</p> + +<p>His force, according to his own calculation, was between three and four +thousand strong; but barely one half of these were seasoned troops. +There was the Scots Brigade, indeed, of three regiments, his own, +Balfour's, and Ramsay's. But before despatching them to Scotland William +had ordered them to be carefully weeded of all Dutch soldiers, that the +patriotism of the natives might be offended by no hint of a foreign +invasion; and the gaps thus made had been hastily filled up in +Edinburgh. Besides this brigade were three other regiments of infantry: +the one lately raised by Lord Leven (now the Twenty-fifth of the Line, +and still recognizing its origin in its title of The Borderers), +Hastings' (now the Thirteenth of the Line), and Lord Kenmure's.<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> Of +these, Hastings' was manned chiefly by Englishmen, and seems to have +been the only one of the three that had had any real experience of war. +One troop of horse was commanded by Lord Belhaven: the other should have +been commanded by Lord Annandale, whose name it bore, but Mackay could +persuade neither him nor Lord Ross to take the field. Some feeling of +compunction may have kept the latter from drawing his sword against an +old comrade in arms; but Lord Annandale<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> had always been fonder of +wrangling than fighting. Mackay makes no mention of any artillery; but +it appears that he had a few small field-pieces of the kind known as +Sandy's Stoups from the name of their inventor.<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a></p> + +<p>It is only possible to guess at Dundee's numbers. When he broke up his +army early in June he seems to have had about three thousand claymores +under him. The second muster was, we know, much smaller than the first; +and though it was slightly increased on the march, and while he waited +at Blair, the whole force he led at Killiecrankie cannot have much +exceeded two thousand men. Over and above the claymores he had not four +hundred. The Irish were three hundred, and his cavalry mustered about +fifty sabres. Highland tradition puts the claymores at nineteen hundred; +and this is probably much about the truth. Artillery, of course, he had +none.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was known that Mackay was at the mouth of the pass, Dundee +called a council of war.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> Three courses, he told his officers, were +before them: to harass Mackay's advance with frequent skirmishes, +avoiding a general engagement till the reinforcements a few days would +certainly bring had made the numbers more equal: to attack him in the +pass; or to wait till he had reached the level ground above it. His own +officers, and the Lowland gentlemen generally, were in favour of the +first plan. Some of the chiefs were in favour of the second. Dundee +listened courteously to all, and then turned to the old chief of the +Camerons who had not yet spoken. What, he asked, did Lochiel advise? +Lochiel had no doubt. They must fight and fight at once, were the enemy +three to one. Their men were in heart: they would have all the advantage +of the ground: let Mackay get fairly through the pass that the +Highlanders might see their foes, and then charge home. He had no fear +for the result; but he would answer for nothing were the claymores to be +kept back now the Saxons were fairly at their feet.</p> + +<p>Those who watched Dundee saw his eye brighten. He answered that he +agreed with every word Lochiel had spoken. Delay would bring +reinforcements to Mackay as well as to them, and Mackay's reinforcements +would almost certainly include more cavalry. To fight them in the pass +was useless. In that narrow way the weight of the Highland onset would +be lost. The claymores would not have room for their work, and half the +column would escape. They must fight on open ground and on fair terms, +as Montrose would have fought.<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was no more opposition. The word for battle went through the +clans, and was hailed with universal delight. Then Lochiel spoke again. +He had always, he said, promised implicit obedience to Dundee, and he +had kept his promise; but for once he should command. "It is the voice +of your Council," he went on, "and their orders are that you do not +engage personally. Your Lordship's business is to have an eye on all +parts, and to issue out your commands as you shall think proper. It is +ours to execute them with promptitude and courage. On you depends the +fate not only of this little brave army, but also of our King and +country." He finished by threatening that neither he nor any of his clan +should draw sword that day unless his request were granted. Dundee +answered that he knew his life to be at that moment of some importance, +but he could not on that day of all days refuse to hazard it. The +Highlanders would never again obey in council a general whom they +thought afraid to lead them in war. Hereafter he would do as Lochiel +advised, but he must charge at the head of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> men in their first +battle. "Give me," he concluded, "one <i>Shear-Darg</i> (harvest-day's work) +for the King, my master, that I may show the brave clans that I can +hazard my life in that service as freely as the meanest of them."<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> + +<p>Mackay had reached the mouth of the pass at ten in the morning. Here he +found Murray and his little band, who had not judged it prudent to +remain longer in the neighbourhood of Blair. Two hundred picked men were +accordingly sent forward to reconnoitre under Colonel Lauder; and at +noon, the ground having been reported clear in front, the whole column +advanced.</p> + +<p>The pass of Killiecrankie is now almost as familiar to the Southron as +to the Highlander. It forms the highest and narrowest part of a +magnificent wooded defile in which the waters of the Tummel flowing +eastward from Loch Rannoch meet the waters of the Garry as it plunges +down from the Grampians. Along one of the best roads in the kingdom, or +by the swift and comfortable service of the Highland railway, the +traveller ascends by easy gradations from Pitlochrie, through the +beautiful grounds of Faskally to the little village and station of +Killiecrankie, where a guide earns an unlaborious livelihood by +conducting the panting Saxon over the famous battle-field and to various +commanding points of the defile. How the scene must have looked in those +days, and what thoughts it must have suggested to men either ignorant of +war or accustomed to pursue it in civilised countries, has been +described by Macaulay in a passage which it were superfluous to quote +and impertinent to paraphrase. Near sixty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> years later, when some +Hessian troops were marching to the relief of Blair Castle, then +besieged by the forces of Prince Charles, the stolid Germans turned from +the desperate sight and, vowing that they had reached the limits of the +world, marched resolutely back to Perth. The only road that then led +through this Valley of the Shadow of Death was a rugged path, so narrow +that not more than three men could walk abreast, winding along the edge +of a precipitous cliff at the foot of which thundered the black waters +of the Garry. Balfour's regiment led the van of this perilous march: the +baggage was in the centre, guarded by Mackay's own battalion: +Annandale's horse and Hastings' foot brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>For about the last mile and a half the pass runs due north and south; +but at the summit the river bends westward, and the mountains sweep back +to the right. As the head of the column emerged into open air it found +itself on a small table-land, flanked on the left by the Garry, and on +the right by a tier of low hills sparely dotted with dwarf trees and +underwood. Above these hills to the north and east rose the lofty chain +of the Grampians crowned by the towering peaks of Ben Gloe and Ben +Vrackie. In front the valley gradually opened out towards Blair Castle, +about three miles distant, and along this valley Mackay naturally looked +for the Highland advance. He sent some pioneers forward to entrench his +position, and as each regiment came up on to the level ground, he formed +it in line three deep. Balfour's regiment thus made the left wing +resting on the Garry, while Hastings was on the right where the ground +began to slope upwards to the hills. Next to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> Balfour stood Ramsay's +men, and then Kenmure's, Leven's, and the general's own regiment. The +guns were in the centre, and the two troops of horse in the rear of the +guns.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Dundee had not been idle. Sending a few men straight +down the valley, he led his main body across the Tilt, which joins the +Garry just below the castle, round at the back of the hills till he had +reached the English right. Mackay was in front with his skirmishers, +watching what he supposed to be the approach of Dundee's van, when word +was brought to him that the enemy were occupying the hills on the right +in force. Mackay saw his danger at a glance. The Highlanders would be +down like one of their own rivers in flood on his right flank, and roll +the whole line up into the Garry. On one of the hills overlooking his +position stood what is now known as Urrard House, but was then called by +its proper name of Renrorie.<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> Immediately below this stretched a +piece of ground large and level enough in Mackay's judgment for his army +to receive, though not to give, the attack. He made no change in his +line, but wheeling it as it stood upon the right wing, he marched it up +the slope on to this new ground in the face of the enemy.<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> His +position was now better than it had been; but it was bad enough. The +river was in his rear, and behind the river the inhospitable mountains. +His only way of escape, should the day go against him, lay through that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +terrible pass up which, with no enemy to harass him, he had just climbed +with infinite toil. He could hardly hope to make good his retreat down +such a road with a victorious army maddening in his rear. In the +preliminary game of tactics he had been completely out-manœuvred by +his old comrade.</p> + +<p>The clans were now forming for battle. The Macleans of Duart held the +post of honour on the right wing. Next to the Macleans stood Cannon with +his Irish. Then came the men of Clanranald, the men of Glengarry, and +the Camerons. The left wing was composed of the Macdonalds of Sleat and +some more Macleans. In the centre was the cavalry, commanded not as +hitherto by the gallant Dunfermline, but by a gentleman bearing the +illustrious name of Wallace. He had crossed from Ireland with Cannon; +but nothing is heard of him till apparently on the very morning of the +day he produced a commission from James superseding the Earl of +Dunfermline in favour of Sir William Wallace of Craigie. What would +otherwise appear one of those inexplicable freaks by which James ever +delighted to confound his affairs at their crisis, is amply explained by +the fact that the new captain was the brother of Melfort's second wife. +Fortunately Dunfermline was too good a soldier and too loyal a gentleman +to resent the slight. As Mackay's line was much longer than his, Dundee +was compelled to widen the spaces between the clans for fear of being +outflanked, which left for his centre only this little cluster of +sabres. Lochiel's eldest son, John, was with his father, but Allan, the +second, held a commission in Mackay's own regiment. As the general saw +each clan take up its ground, he turned to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> young Cameron and said, +pointing to the standard of Lochiel, "There is your father with his wild +savages; how would you like to be with him?" "It signifies little what I +would like," was the spirited answer; "but I recommend you to be +prepared, or perhaps my father and his wild savages may be nearer to you +before night than you would like!"<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> + +<p>Each general spoke a few words to his men. Dundee reminded his captains +that they were assembled that day to fight in the best of causes, in the +cause of their King, their religion and their country, against rebels +and usurpers. He urged them to behave like true Scotchmen, and to redeem +their country from the disgrace cast on it by the treachery and +cowardice of others. He asked nothing of them but what they should see +him do before them all. Those who fell would fall honourably like true +and brave soldiers: those who lived and conquered would have the reward +of a gracious King and the praise of all good men. Let them charge home +then, in the name of King James and the Church of Scotland. Mackay urged +the same honourable duty on his battalions; but he added one very +practical consideration which suggests that he was not so confident of +the issue as he afterwards professes to have been, and which was perhaps +not very wisely offered. They must fight, he said, for they could not +fly. The enemy was much quicker afoot than they, and there were the +Athole men waiting to pounce on all runaways. Such thoughts would hardly +furnish the best tonic to a doubtful spirit. Nevertheless the troops +answered cheerfully that they would stand by their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> general to the last; +which, adds the brave old fellow ruefully in his despatch, "most of them +belied shortly after."<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></p> + +<p>A dropping fire of musketry had for some time been maintained between +the two lines, and on the English left there had been some closer +skirmishing between Lauder's sharpshooters and the Macleans. Mackay was +anxious to engage before the sun set. He doubted how his raw troops +would stand a night-attack from a foe to whom night and day were one: +still more did he fear what might happen in the darkness during the +confusion of a retreat down that awful pass. But he could not attack, +and Dundee would not, till his moment came. The darkness the other +feared would be all in his favour. A very short time he knew would be +enough to decide the issue of the battle. Should that issue be +favourable to King James, as he felt confident it would be, he had +determined that before the next morning dawned there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> should be no army +left to King William in the Highlands.</p> + +<p>The sun set, and the moment he had chosen came. The Southrons saw +Dundee, who had now changed his scarlet coat for one of less conspicuous +colour, ride along the line, and as he passed each clan they saw plaids +and brogues flung off. They heard the shout with which the word to +advance was hailed; but the cheer they sent back did not carry with it +the conviction of victory. Lochiel turned to his Camerons with a smile. +"Courage!" he said, "the day is our own. I am the oldest commander in +this army; and I tell you that feeble noise is the cry of men who are +doomed to fall by our hands this night." Then the old warrior flung off +his shoes with the rest of them, and took his place at the head of his +men. Dundee rode to the front of his cavalry. The pipes sounded, and the +clans came down the hill.</p> + +<p>They advanced slowly at first, without firing a shot, while Mackay's +right poured a hot volley into their ranks, and the leathern cannon +discharged their harmless thunder from the centre. A gentleman of the +Grants, who was fighting that day among the Macdonalds, was knocked over +by a spent ball which struck his target. "Sure, the Boddachs are in +earnest now!" he said, as he leaped to his feet with a laugh. It was not +till they had reached the level ground that the Highlanders delivered +their fire. One volley they poured in, and then, flinging their muskets +away, bounded forward sword in hand with a terrific yell. The soldiers +had not time to fix their bayonets in the smoking muzzles of their +muskets before the claymores<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> were among them and the battle was +over.<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> On the left wing scarcely a trigger was pulled: the men broke +and ran like sheep. The famous Scots Brigade, in fact, set the example +of flight. Their officers behaved like brave soldiers. Balfour, +abandoned by his men, defended himself for a time against overwhelming +odds, till he was cut down by a young clergyman, Robert Stewart, a +grandson of Ballechin. Eight officers of Mackay's own regiment were +killed, including his brother, the colonel; and many of Ramsay's. In +vain was the cavalry ordered to charge. In vain did Belhaven like a +gallant gentleman gallop to the front. In vain did Mackay place himself +at their head, and, calling on them to follow him, spur into the thick +of the flashing claymores. Before his horse they fell back right and +left in such a way as to justify his boast to Melville that with fifty +stout troopers he could have changed the day even then; but one of his +own servants alone followed him. A few of the dragoons discharged their +carbines at random. Then all turned and spurred off among the crowd of +footmen to the mouth of the pass. Some of the fugitives tried to cross +the Garry, and were either drowned in its swift waters, or cut down as +they scrambled drenched and unarmed through its fords. Down the pass to +Pitlochrie the rout went. The men of Athole, no longer doubtful of the +issue, pounced from their lair upon the easy prey; and even women lent +their hands to the butchery.<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p><p>Well might Mackay bitterly complain, "There was no regiment or troop +with me but behaved like the vilest cowards in nature except Hastings +and my Lord Leven's."<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> For on the right matters had fared rather +better with the Lowlanders. Many of Leven's Borderers had stood firm and +Hastings' Englishmen; and where the Southrons stood firm the Highlanders +wavered. But they were too few for Mackay to have any hopes of +retrieving the fortune of the day. The Highlanders were now busy with +the baggage, which offered a more tempting and less troublesome prize +than the struggling mass of fugitives. Mackay therefore collected the +few men he could get together, and led them across the Garry by a ford +above the field of battle over the mountains towards Stirling. On his +march he overtook some more of his runaways whom Ramsay was leading in +the same direction. Mackay did all it was possible for a brave man to do +to encourage his men and keep them together. But many were too +frightened to heed his words, or even the pistol with which he +threatened to shoot the first man he saw leaving his ranks. The news of +his defeat had spread with marvellous rapidity: the whole country was +up: every glen and mountain sent out its reapers to the rich harvest. +And where enemies did not exist, the fears of these poor wretches found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +them. Every drover with his herd, every shepherd with his flock, was +magnified into a fresh array of the terrible Highlanders. On the evening +of Monday, the 29th, Mackay reached Stirling with barely one-fifth of +the force with which he had marched out of the town a week earlier.</p> + +<p>The Highland loss was calculated at nine hundred men. The Macdonalds and +Camerons were the principal sufferers, their position on the left and +left-centre having brought them in contact with the battalions who had +kept their ground. Glengarry's brother was among the killed, with +Macdonald of Largo, and no less than five cousins of Macdonald of the +Isles. Among the Lowlanders fell Hallyburton of Pitcur, and Gilbert +Ramsay, Dundee's favourite officer, who had dreamed overnight of the +victory and of his death. But though the battle had been won for James, +he had suffered a greater loss than William. A fresh army could replace +Mackay's broken battalions; but no one could replace Dundee, and Dundee +was dead.</p> + +<p>He had ridden at the head of his cavalry straight on Mackay's centre. +But for some unexplained reason his troopers had not followed him close; +whether their new captain did not like the guns, or had misunderstood +his orders, is not clear. Dunfermline, seeing his general's plumed hat +waving above the smoke, had spurred out of the ranks with sixteen +gentlemen, and with these sabres the guns were taken and silenced. +Dundee, seeing that all went well on the right wing, turned to the left +where the Macdonalds were wavering before the firmer front of Hastings' +Englishmen. As he galloped across the field to bring them to the +charge,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> a shot struck him in the right side immediately below his +breastplate. For a few strides further he clung swaying to his saddle, +and then sank from his horse into the arms of a soldier named Johnstone. +Like Wolfe on the heights of Abraham, he asked how the day went. "Well +for the King," said the man, "but I am sorry for your Lordship." And +like Wolfe, Dundee answered, "It is the less matter for me, seeing the +day goes well for my master." As his officers returned from the pursuit +they found him on the field, and it is said, though one would be glad to +disbelieve it, stripped by the very men whom he had led to victory. By +his side was found a bundle of papers. Among them was a letter from +Melfort, bidding him be sure that both he and James would feel +themselves bound by no promise of toleration circumstances had induced +them to make. Well might Balcarres, who knew his friend's disposition +better than Melfort, tell James how such foolish and disingenuous +dealing had grieved Dundee and all who wished honestly to the +cause.<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></p> + +<p>Dundee's body, wrapped in a plaid, was carried to the castle, and a few +days later buried in the old church of Blair. In 1852 some bones, +believed to be his, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> removed from Blair to the Church of Saint +Drostan in the parish of Old Deer, in Aberdeenshire; and eleven years +later a window of stained glass was placed in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> same church, bearing, +on a brass plate in the window-sill, this inscription: "Sacred to the +memory of John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, who died in the +arms of victory, and whose battle-cry was 'King James and the Church of +Scotland!'"</p> + +<p>As no stone was ever known to mark his first grave; there is, of course, +ample room for the incredulous to smile over this late tribute to his +memory. But in truth the shadow of doubt broods over him in death as in +life. It is certain only that he received his death-wound on the field +of battle, and in the moment of victory. What else fell with him there +was well expressed by William. When the news from Killiecrankie came +down, the King was urged at once to send a large army into the +Highlands. "It is needless," he answered, "the war ended with Dundee's +life."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> See the sixth canto of "The Lady of the Lake." +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"We'll quell the savage mountaineer,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As their tinchel cows the game."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +The tinchel was the name given to the circle of hunters which, gradually +narrowing, hemmed the deer into a small space, where they could be +easily slaughtered.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> Mackay complains bitterly in his Memoirs of "the +unconcerned method of the Government in matters which touch them nearest +as to their general safety, each being for his particular, and fixed +upon his private projects, so as neither to see nor be concerned for +anything else."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> "When in front of Blair Castle their real destination was +disclosed to them by Lord Tullibardine [the heir of Athole did not +assume this style till 1695]. Instantly they rushed from their ranks, +ran to the adjoining stream of Banovy, and, filling their bonnets with +water, drank to the health of King James; and then, with colours flying +and pipes playing, 'fifteen hundred of the men of Athole, as reputable +for arms as any in the kingdom' [Mackay's words], put themselves under +the command of the Laird of Ballechin and marched off to join Lord +Dundee." Stewart's "Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland," i. 67. But +this is not strictly true. They joined neither Ballechin nor Dundee, but +went off on their own account to the mountains to watch the issue of +events.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> Probably Dundee wrote more confidently than he felt. He +owned that Murray might "have more to do to believe" Melfort's assurance +than James's; but, in fact, there was too good reason to disbelieve +both. From the first letter written from Struan it appears that the +despatch from James which had fallen into Hamilton's hands was much more +temperate and conciliatory than the earlier one brought to the +Convention by Crane. Dundee had not seen this despatch; and it is +possible that he described it rather as his own good sense urged him to +believe it must have been, than as it really was. The letters to +himself, which he summarises for Murray's benefit, must have been those +acknowledged in the postscript to Melfort of June 28th. It is, as we +shall presently see, certain that about this time James was induced to +assume, as he had before assumed when it was too late, the virtue of +toleration. How much of these promises Dundee really believed, it is +impossible to say. The history of our own time has shown, and is every +day showing, that neither wisdom nor experience will always avail to +prevent a man from believing that which it is his interest to believe.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> Memoirs of Balcarres and of Lochiel.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> I have given the modern style of these regiments as they +were before the last freak of the War Office. What they may be now, I do +not know; nor is the knowledge important, for the style I have used will +probably be most familiar to my readers. "My Uncle Toby," it will be +remembered, was of Leven's regiment. There exists a letter from +Schomberg to Lord Leven, especially commending to the latter's care a +gentleman of the name of Le Fevre. See the "Leven and Melville Papers."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> Mackay says in his Memoirs that he left Edinburgh with two +troops of horse, and four of dragoons. It is certain that only the +former were engaged at Killiecrankie. But the general's narrative is +throughout extremely confused, and sometimes barely intelligible. +Perhaps the larger force was that he had counted on having; or the four +troops of dragoons may have been those he ordered to follow from +Stirling. +</p><p> +Alexander Hamilton, who commanded the artillery in the Covenanter's army +with which Leslie and Montrose made the famous passage of the Tyne in +1640. From Burton's description of them they can hardly have been very +dangerous, at least to the enemy. "They seem to have been made of tin +for the bore, with a coating of leather, all secured by tight cordage. A +horse could carry two of them, and it was their merit to stand a few +discharges before they came to pieces." "History of Scotland," vi. 302.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> It is said that one of Dundee's arguments against +attacking in the pass was, that it did not become brave soldiers to +engage a foe at disadvantage, an argument which I should imagine Dundee +was much too sensible a man to employ to Highlanders. Had his force been +sufficient for him to close up the mouth of the pass after the +Lowlanders had entered, it is hard to imagine he would have lost the +chance of catching Mackay in such a trap. But his force was too small to +divide: while the nature of the ground would of course have told as much +against those who made as against those who met a charge, besides +inevitably offending the jealous point of honour which forbad one clan +to take precedence of another. It may be, too, that Dundee was not very +well served by his scouts. Mackay certainly seems to have got well on +his way through the pass before the other knew that he had entered it. +See the "Life of Mackay," and the "Rebellions in Scotland."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> Memoirs of Lochiel.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> For long afterwards the battle was known among the +Highlanders as the battle of Renrorie.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> Mackay's Memoirs: "a quart de conversion" is his own +phrase for this change of front.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> "Sketches of the Highlanders."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> Among the Nairne Papers is what purports to be a copy of +Dundee's speech. It has been contemptuously rejected by some writers as +a manifest forgery, on the ground that no Highlander would have +understood a word of it. But there were Dundee's own officers and men to +be addressed; and, moreover, his language would have been perfectly +intelligible to some, at least, of the chiefs, who would have conveyed +its purpose to their men. It was still the fashion for a general to +harangue his troops before leading them into action, and it was a +fashion particularly in vogue among the Highlanders. I see no reason, +therefore, to doubt the general authenticity of this speech. Exactly as +it stands in the Nairne Papers probably Dundee did not deliver it; the +style being somewhat more grandiloquent than he was in the habit of +employing. But its general purpose, which I have endeavoured to give in +a paraphrase, seems to be very much what such a man would have said at +such a moment. The authority for Mackay's speech will be found in his +own despatch to Lord Melville after the battle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> It was the disastrous experience of this day that led +Mackay to devise a plan of fixing the bayonet to the musket so that each +could be used, as now, without interfering with the other.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> "History of the Rebellions in Scotland." Even the men who +had stood by Lord Murray joined in the slaughter. He did his best to +keep them quiet, but was forced to own afterwards to Mackay that he had +not been very successful. "It cannot be helped," he wrote, "of almost +all country people, who are ready to pillage and plunder whenever they +have occasion." See the Bannatyne edition of Dundee's Letters, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> Mackay's opinion was that "the English commonalty were to +be preferred in matter of courage to the Scots."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> One tradition, for a long while current among the +Lowlands, declares him to have been shot by one of his own men in the +pay of William Livingstone, who afterwards married Lady Dundee; +Livingstone having been for some weeks a close prisoner in Edinburgh +with the other disaffected officers of his regiment. Lady Dundee, the +story goes on to say, was aware of his intentions, and on the following +New Year's day sent "the supposed assassin a white night-cap, a pair of +white gloves, and a rope, being a sort of suit of canonicals for the +gallows, either to signify that she esteemed him worthy of that fate, or +that she thought the state of his mind might be such as to make him fit +to hang himself." Another tradition makes Dundee fall by a shot fired +from the window of Urrard House, in which a party of Mackay's men had +lodged themselves. He was watering his horse at the time at a pond +called the Goose-Dub, where the Laird of Urrard's geese were wont to +disport themselves. This story is evidently part of the old nurse's +prophecy mentioned on page 3. For these and many other anecdotes of the +battle, see the "History of the Rebellions in Scotland." I have taken my +account of Dundee's death from the memoirs of Balcarres and Lochiel, and +from the depositions, printed by Napier, of certain witnesses examined +afterwards at Edinburgh, among them being an officer of Kenmure's +regiment, who was carried prisoner into the castle after the battle and +heard Johnstone's story. As for the letter said to have been written by +Dundee to James after the battle, and now among the Nairne Papers, there +is more to be said for it than some have allowed. Macaulay, alluding to +it as dated the day after the battle, calls it as impudent a forgery as +Fingal. But in fact it bears no date at all: the handwriting is declared +on the best authority to be beyond question contemporary; and there is +no absolute proof that Dundee did not live long enough at least to +dictate an account of his victory to James. It is tolerably certain that +he would have done so had his strength permitted him. But in a letter +written from Dublin in the following November by James to Ballechin, +there is no mention of any letter from Dundee, and his death is there +alluded to as having occurred at the beginning of the action. This, of +course, is not conclusive; James's actual words are, "the loss you had +... at your entrance into action," which need not imply instant death. +On the whole, however, the balance of evidence seems to me to prove that +Dundee died where he fell, and that the letter is not genuine, though +certainly no forgery of Macpherson's. Those who are still curious on a +point which is, after all, of no very great importance, will find it +amply discussed in a note to the edition of Dundee's letters published +for the Bannatyne Club, and in an appendix to Napier's third volume. A +stone still marks the spot where Dundee is said to have fallen, and was +seen by Captain Burt less than fifty years after the battle.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Abjuration oath, the, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acts against the Covenanters, <a href="#Page_35">35-6</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Aird's Moss, skirmish at, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Annandale, Lord, <a href="#Page_200">200</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Argyle, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Earl of (son of preceding), <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Earl of (son of preceding), <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Athole, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Footnote_74_74">145 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">men of, behaviour of the, <a href="#Footnote_92_92">196 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a> and <a href="#Footnote_104_104"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Auchencloy, execution of Covenanters at, <a href="#Page_128">128-31</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Auchinleck, Robert, execution of, <a href="#Page_131">131-2</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Balcarres, Earl of, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">memoirs of the Revolution by, <a href="#Footnote_73_73">144 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Balfour, Colonel, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">of Burley, John, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ballechin, Stewart of, <a href="#Page_194">194</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">letter to, from James, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">215 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Belhaven, Lord, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blair Castle, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Church, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bothwell Bridge, battle of, <a href="#Page_83">83-6</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brown, John, execution of, <a href="#Page_116">116-22</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bruce, Andrew, of Earlshall, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Buchan, Colonel, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Burnet, Bishop, on Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Footnote_76_76">151 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cameron of Lochiel, Sir Ewan, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, +<a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">memoirs of, <a href="#Footnote_2_2">5 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Allan, <a href="#Page_207">207-8</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Richard, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cameronians, the, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cannon, Colonel, joins Claverhouse with Irishmen, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cargill, Rev. Donald, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Charles the Second, signs the Covenant, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">crowned in Scotland, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his opinion of Lauderdale's administration, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">acquits Claverhouse of malversation, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Charles the Second appoints Claverhouse to a regiment of cavalry, <a href="#Page_97">97</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his goodwill to Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_100">100</a> and <a href="#Footnote_42_42"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">settles Claverhouse in possession of Dudhope, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Claverhouse, birth of, <a href="#Page_1">1</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">family and education, <a href="#Page_2">2-7</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">supposed to have served in French army, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_9">9</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">gallant action at Seneff, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">resigns commission in Dutch service, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">story of his reasons for resigning, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Footnote_6_6">16 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">applies to Montrose for employment, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">receives lieutenant's commission, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">portrait of, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">refuses to interfere illegally with Covenanters, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">appointed Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire, <a href="#Page_55">55</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">at Drumclog, <a href="#Page_70">70</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">at Glasgow, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">at Bothwell Bridge, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">accused of malversation, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Footnote_35_35">91 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire, <a href="#Page_92">92</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his policy towards the Covenanters, <a href="#Page_92">92-3</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a> and <a href="#Footnote_68_68"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">receives command of cavalry regiment, <a href="#Page_97">97</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his quarrel with the Dalrymples, <a href="#Page_95">95-7</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his visit to England, <a href="#Page_97">97-100</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">made a Privy-Councillor, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">obtains estate of Dudhope, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his marriage, <a href="#Page_101">101-5</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">merciful conduct to prisoners, <a href="#Page_109">109</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">examination into charges against, <a href="#Page_111">111-36</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">in disgrace, <a href="#Page_125">125-6</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his character, <a href="#Page_134">134-5</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his quarrel with Queensberry, <a href="#Page_139">139-42</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">second visit to England, <a href="#Page_142">142</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Provost of Dundee and Major-General, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">marches into England, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">quartered in London, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">joins James at Salisbury, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">created Viscount of Dundee, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his advice to James, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">marches to Reading, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">receives a message from William at Watford, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">attends Scottish Council in London, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">waits on James at Whitehall for the last time, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">negotiations with William, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">returns to Edinburgh, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">plot to assassinate him, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">leaves Edinburgh, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his interview with the Duke of Gordon, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">proclaimed traitor by the Convention, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">escapes to Glen Ogilvy, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">a son born to him, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">saves Inverness from Keppoch, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his raid upon Dunkeld and Perth, <a href="#Page_175">175</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">demonstration outside Dundee, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">at Lochaber, <a href="#Page_179">179</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">the muster of the Clans, <a href="#Page_179">179-80</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his popularity with the Highlanders, <a href="#Page_182">182-3</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">returns to Lochaber, <a href="#Page_185">185</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">re-assembles the Clans, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">garrisons Blair Castle, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">holds Council of War, <a href="#Page_201">201-4</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">addresses his soldiers, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">death and burial, <a href="#Page_213">213-15</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cleland, William, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Cloud of Witnesses," the, value of the testimony of, <a href="#Page_123">123</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cochrane, Lady Jean, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Convention of Estates, the, <a href="#Page_155">155-9</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161-2</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165-6</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Covenanters, assembly of, at Mauchline, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">under Strachan, <a href="#Page_28">28</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">cruelties of, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">character of, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">address of, to Charles, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">rising of, in the West, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">divisions among, <a href="#Page_77">77-80</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">declarations by, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Footnote_58_58">121 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">treatment of, after Bothwell Bridge, <a href="#Page_87">87-8</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">rabble the Episcopalian clergy, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Creichton, Captain, <a href="#Page_176">176-7</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cromwell, Oliver, his advice to the Presbyterians, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">negotiates with Argyle, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his policy towards the Presbyterians, 25-6</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dalrymples of Stair, their quarrel with Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_95">95-7</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dalziel, Thomas, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Footnote_74_74">145 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Declaration of Indulgence, the, <a href="#Page_8">8</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">repeal of, <a href="#Page_9">9</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">the Rutherglen, <a href="#Page_63">63</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">the Hamilton, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">the Sanquhar, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Defoe on Claverhouse, <a href="#Footnote_62_62">123 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">value of his testimony, <a href="#Footnote_62_62">124 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Douglas, General James, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139-40</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Drumclog, battle of, <a href="#Page_64">64-71</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Drumlanrig, Viscount, <a href="#Footnote_74_74">145 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Drummond, General, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Alexander, of Bahaldy, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">John, of Bahaldy, <a href="#Footnote_2_2">5 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Drunken Parliament, the, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dumbarton, Earl of, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dundee, Viscount of. <i>See</i> Claverhouse memoirs of, <a href="#Footnote_6_6">16 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Viscountess of, second marriage and death, <a href="#Footnote_45_45">105 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">story of, and Col. Livingstone, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">214 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dundonald, Earl of, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dunfermline, Earl of, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dunmore, Earl of, <a href="#Footnote_74_74">145 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Edinburgh, riots in, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154-5</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Enterkin Hill, rescue of Covenanters at, <a href="#Page_109">109</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Episcopal clergy, Scotch, Burnet's complaint against, <a href="#Footnote_16_16">48 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Feud between Macdonalds and Mackintoshes, <a href="#Page_123">123</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Field-preaching, Act against, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gordon, Duke of, in command of Edinburgh Castle, <a href="#Page_155">155-6</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160-61</a>, <a href="#Footnote_86_86">187 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Graham, David, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Graham, Robert, <a href="#Page_68">68</a> and <a href="#Footnote_26_26"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grameis, the, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grierson, Sir Robert. <i>See</i> Lag</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hackston of Rathillet, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hamilton, Duke of, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161-3</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165-6</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Robert, <a href="#Page_62">62-3</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71-3</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77-9</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82-4</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Highland Host, the, <a href="#Page_41">41-2</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Highlanders, loyalty of, <a href="#Page_169">169-71</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">their value as soldiers, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hislop, Andrew, execution of, <a href="#Page_125">125-7</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">James the Second, as Duke of York, favours Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">High Commissioner in Scotland, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">promotes Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_139">139-40</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">summons him to London, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">announces invasion of England to Scotch Council, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">orders Scotch troops to England, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">at Salisbury, <a href="#Page_145">145-7</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his flight and return, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">ordered to leave the capital by William, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his last interview with Balcarres and Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_149">149-50</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">leaves England, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his foolish letter to the Estates, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his letter to Claverhouse falls into hands of Hamilton, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his promises of toleration, <a href="#Footnote_93_93">197 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his letter to Ballechin, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">215 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Keppoch, Colin Macdonald of, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173-4</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Killing-time, the, <a href="#Page_111">111-36</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">King, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lag, the Laird of, <a href="#Page_49">49-53</a>, <a href="#Footnote_52_52">114 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Latin poem on Battle of Bothwell Bridge, <a href="#Footnote_26_26">68 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lauderdale, Duke of, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Earl of, <a href="#Page_98">98-101</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leather guns, <a href="#Page_201">201</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leighton, Bishop, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leslie, David, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Letters from Claverhouse to Archbishop Burnet, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">to Duke of Hamilton, <a href="#Page_163">163-4</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">to James, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">215 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">to Earl of Melfort, <a href="#Page_186">186-92</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">to Linlithgow, <a href="#Page_48">48-9</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64-5</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">to Lord Murray, <a href="#Page_196">196-7</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">to Queensberry, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Footnote_39_39">96 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#FNanchor_41_41">99 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_103">103-4</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leven, Earl of, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Linlithgow, Earl of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Livingstone, George, Lord, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162-3</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">William, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Footnote_83_83">177 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">214 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Macaulay on Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Footnote_76_76">151 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Macdonald of Keppoch, <a href="#Page_170">170</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Macdonalds, killed at Killiecrankie, <a href="#Page_213">213</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mackay, General, story of his alleged quarrel with Claverhouse, <a href="#Footnote_6_6">16 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">commands the troops in Scotland, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">tries to raise the Clans for William, <a href="#Page_178">178-9</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">marches against Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_184">184-5</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">new plan of campaign, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">sends Lord Murray to Blair Castle, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">takes the field again, <a href="#Page_199">199</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">the strength of his army, <a href="#Page_200">200-1</a> and <a href="#Footnote_96_96"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">marches through the Pass of Killiecrankie, <a href="#Page_204">204-5</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his order of battle, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his address to his troops, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his bravery, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his opinion of English soldiers, <a href="#Footnote_105_105">212 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his retreat to Stirling, <a href="#Page_212">212-13</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">John, of Rockfields, his biography of General Mackay, <a href="#Footnote_6_6">16 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mackenzie, Sir George, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Colin, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Macpherson, James, alleged forgery of letters from Claverhouse by, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">215 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Martyrs, the Wigtown, <a href="#Page_112">112-15</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mekellwrath, Matthew, execution of, <a href="#Page_128">128</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Melfort, Earl of, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156-8</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mitchell, James, attempt to assassinate Sharp by, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mitchell, Robert, <a href="#Page_130">130</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Monmouth, Duke of, appointed to command army in Scotland, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his leniency to the Covenanters, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">executed, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Montrose, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_44">44-5</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Munro, Dr., on Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Murray, Earl of, letter from to Queensberry, <a href="#Page_140">140</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lord Charles. <i>See</i> Earl of Dunmore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lord, <a href="#Page_194">194-7</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Footnote_104_104">211 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Muster-roll of Claverhouse's regiment, <a href="#Footnote_74_74">145 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nairne Papers, the, <a href="#Footnote_102_102">209 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">215 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Napier, Mark, his "Life and Times of Dundee," <a href="#Footnote_2_2">5 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peirson, Rev. Peter, murder of, <a href="#Page_129">129-30</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Perth, Earl of, 39 <i>note</i>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154-5</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Pilliwincks," torture of the. <i>See</i> Thumbkin</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Plot to assassinate Claverhouse and Mackenzie, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Queensberry, Duke of, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137-8</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>. <i>See</i> Letters from Claverhouse to</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ramsay, Lieut.-Col., <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Gilbert, <a href="#Page_213">213</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Remonstrants, the, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25-8</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Renwick, head of the Covenanters, proclamation by, <a href="#Footnote_58_58">121 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Resolutioners, the, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25-8</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ross, George, Lord, <a href="#Footnote_22_22">57 and <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">William, Lord, <a href="#Page_105">105</a> and <a href="#Footnote_44_44"><i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rullion Green, battle of, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rutherford, Rev. Samuel, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ruthven Castle destroyed, <a href="#Page_184">184</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Saint Drostan, church of, memorial to Claverhouse in, <a href="#Page_215">215-6</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sanquhar Declaration, the, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scotch troops ordered to England, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scotland, state of, reviewed, <a href="#Page_17">17-76</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scott, Sir Walter, his account of Drumclog in "Old Mortality," <a href="#Page_67">67</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his account of Bothwell Bridge in the same, <a href="#Page_85">85</a> and <a href="#Footnote_34_34"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Seneff, battle of, <a href="#Page_12">12</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sharp, James, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">consecrated Primate of Scotland, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">murdered, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Simpson, Rev. Robert, on Claverhouse and the Covenanters, <a href="#Footnote_66_66">132 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, Robert, evidence on battle of Bothwell Bridge, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stormont, Viscount of, <a href="#Page_176">176</a> and <a href="#Footnote_81_81"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thumbkin, torture of the, <a href="#Footnote_12_12">39 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tinchel, the, <a href="#Page_193">193</a> and <a href="#Footnote_90_90"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Traditions about Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Footnote_15_15">47 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Footnote_106_106">214 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Turner, Sir James, <a href="#Page_36">36-8</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Walker, Patrick, on Claverhouse, <a href="#Footnote_3_3">7 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his opinion of Wodrow, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">on death of John Brown, <a href="#Page_116">116-17</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a> and <a href="#Footnote_59_59"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Welsh, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_56">56-7</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Westerhall, Johnstone of, <a href="#Page_125">125</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Western Shires, the, nursery of the Covenanters, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whiggamores' raid, the, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whigs, origin of the name of, <a href="#Footnote_8_8">23 <i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">brought into Edinburgh by Hamilton, <a href="#Page_158">158-9</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">William the Third, stories of his early acquaintance with Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15-16</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his message to Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">tries to persuade Claverhouse and Balcarres to enter his service, <a href="#Page_151">151</a> and <a href="#Footnote_76_76"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">his opinion of Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Winrahame, George, <a href="#Footnote_56_56">118 <i>note</i></a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wodrow, Rev. Robert, his "History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland," <a href="#Page_51">51-2</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">vagueness of his charges against Claverhouse, <a href="#Page_88">88</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">on the Wigtown Martyrs, <a href="#Page_113">113-14</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">on the death of John Brown, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Andrew Hislop, <a href="#Page_127">127</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">on the murder of Rev. Peter Peirson, <a href="#Page_129">129-30</a> and <a href="#Footnote_63_63"><i>note</i></a></span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p><b>VARIANT SPELLINGS</b></p> +<p>Page vi: John Mackay is of Rockfield (p. vi); and Rockfields (p. 16 and +index, under Mackay). Amended Rockfield to Rockfields.</p> + +<p>Page vi.: Variant spelling of Scourie and Scowrie retained, however, as +the author could well have spelled it Scowrie (though online historical +sources suggest Hugh Mackay was born at Scourie).</p> + +<p>Page 133: Hyslop has been in all other instances spelt Hislop; corrected.</p> + +<p>Page 159: "bloodly Clavers" matches book: retained.</p> + +<p>Variant spelling of doggerel/doggrel (one instance of each) retained.</p> + +<p><b>VARIANT CAPITALISATIONS</b></p> +<p>Inconsistent capitalisation of Council-Board and Council-board (one +instance of each) retained.</p> + +<p>Capitalisation of Churchman (p. 9) and Legislature (p. 9) retained</p> + +<p>The Killing Time variously capitalised as killing-time, Killing-time, +Killing-Time and Killing Time (one of each). Two of these are enclosed +in quote marks and one is in the index. Retained.</p> + +<p>Popery and popery/popish and Popish variant capitalisations retained +(read properly in context).</p> + +<p><b>VARIANT SPELLINGS IN QUOTED LETTERS</b></p> +<p>While the author notes that Claverhouse could not spell correctly (for +example p. 6), the only misspellings that appear in the reproduced +letters are proper names: there are no other spelling errors. It would +appear that the transcriber was correcting the common English without +correcting the proper names. Subsequently the following misspelled +proper names have been corrected:</p> + +<p>Page 108: Mauchlin corrected to Mauchline.</p> + +<p>Page 138: Sanquar corrected to Sanquhar (spelt correctly in a previous +letter, p. 108).</p> + +<p>Page 188: Variant spelling of Locheil, elsewhere Lochiel, corrected. In +the same letter there is a reference to Queenberry (otherwise +Queensberry), ditto corrected.</p> + +<p>Page 190: Kircudbright corrected to Kirkcudbright (spelt correctly in at +least 3 previous letters, see pp. 54, 93 and 94).</p> + +<p><b>HYPHENS</b></p> +<p>One instance of each headquarters, head-*quarters and head-quarters. +Settled on headquarters as the more common spelling.</p> + +<p><b>PUNCTUATION</b></p> +<p>Page 69: "; amended to ;", which is the standard punctuation arrangement +in the book.</p> + +<p>Page 188: "strangely, For" amended to "strangely. For".</p> + +<p>Page 192: Editorial comment in quoted letter (that) is in parentheses +and not square brackets as has been used elsewhere in book. Amended to +square brackets.</p> + +<p><b>MISCELLANEOUS</b></p> +<p>Table of Contents created for this version of the text (none present +in the original book).</p> + +<p>Page 117: "...I caused shoot him dead;" checks out against original +book. Left as is.</p> + +<p>Index: Page reference for Whigs, origin of name fixed to page 23 +(footnote 8); no note on page 82 (original reference in book).<br /><br /></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLAVERHOUSE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18254-h.txt or 18254-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/2/5/18254">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/2/5/18254</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Claverhouse + + +Author: Mowbray Morris + + + +Release Date: April 25, 2006 [eBook #18254] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLAVERHOUSE*** + + +E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +English Worthies + +Edited by Andrew Lang + + +CLAVERHOUSE + +by + +MOWBRAY MORRIS + + + + + + + +New York +D. Appleton and Company +1887 + + + + +A LIST OF AUTHORITIES FOR THE LIFE OF CLAVERHOUSE. + + +"An Account of the Proceedings of the Estates in Scotland:" London, +1689. + +Balcarres' "Memoirs touching the Revolution in Scotland:" printed for +the Bannatyne Club, 1841. + +Browne's "History of the Highlands and the Highland Clans:" 2nd ed., +1845. + +Burnet's "History of My Own Time," ed. 1809. + +Burt's "Letters from the North of Scotland," ed. 1818. + +Burton's "History of Scotland," 2nd ed. + +Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army." + +"Memoirs of Captain John Creichton:" Scott's edition of Swift's Works, +vol. xii. ed. 1883. + +"Memoirs of Sir Ewan Cameron of Lochiel:" printed for the Abbotsford +Club, 1842. + +Chambers's "History of the Rebellions in Scotland:" Constable's +Miscellany, vol. xlii. + +"The Cloud of Witnesses," 1714. + +Dalrymple's "Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland," 2nd ed., 1771. + +Defoe's "Memoirs of the Church of Scotland," 1714. + +"Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dundee," &c., 1714. + +"Letters of the Viscount of Dundee, with Illustrative Documents:" +printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1826. + +Lt.-Colonel Fergusson's "Laird of Lag," 1886. + +Fountainhall's "Historical Notices of Scottish Affairs:" printed for the +Bannatyne Club, 1848. + +Howie's "Heroes for the Faith, or Lives of the Scots Worthies," edited +by William McGavin, ed. 1883. + +Kirkton's "True History of the Church of Scotland from the Restoration +to the year 1678," edited by C.K. Sharpe, 1817. This edition includes +Russell's account of the murder of Archbishop Sharp and of the affairs +at Drumclog and Glasgow. + +"The Lauderdale Papers:" printed for the Camden Society, 1884-5. + +"The Leven and Melville Papers:" printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1843. + +"The Lives of the Lindsays," 2nd ed., 1858. + +Macpherson's "Original Papers," 1775. + +Macaulay's "History of England," ed. 1882. + +"Memoirs of the War carried on in Scotland and Ireland, 1689-91," by +Major-General Hugh Mackay: printed for the Abbotsford Club, 1833. + +"Life of Lieut.-General Hugh Mackay of Scowrie," by John Mackay of +Rockfields, 1836. + +Napier's "Memorials and Letters Illustrative of the Life and Times of +John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee," 1859-62. + +"New Statistical Account of Scotland," 1845. + +Pennant's "Tour in Scotland," 1774. + +Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather." + +Simpson's "Times of Claverhouse," 1844. + +Simpson's "Gleanings in the Mountains," 1846. + +Shield's "Short Memorial of the Sufferings and Grievances of the +Presbyterians in Scotland," 1690. + +Stewart's "Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland," 1822. + +"Remarks on Col. Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders," 1823. + +Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana," 1732, reprinted at Edinburgh 1837. + +Wodrow's "History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland," Burn's +ed. 1838. + + + + +CLAVERHOUSE. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +John Graham, Viscount of Dundee, best known, perhaps, in history by his +territorial title of Claverhouse, was born in the year 1643. No record, +indeed, exists either of the time or place of his birth, but a decision +of the Court of Session seems to fix the former in that year--the year, +as lovers of historical coincidences will not fail to remark, of the +Solemn League and Covenant.[1] + +He came of an ancient and noble stock. The family of Graham can be +traced back in unbroken succession to the beginning of the twelfth +century; and indeed there have been attempts to encumber its scutcheon +with the quarterings of a fabulous antiquity. Gram, we are told, was in +some primeval time the generic name for all independent leaders of men, +and was borne by one of the earliest kings of Denmark. Another has +surmised that if Graham be the proper spelling of the name, it may be +compounded of Gray and Ham, the dwelling, or home, of Gray; but if +Grame, or Graeme, be the correct form, then we must regard it as a +genuine Saxon word, signifying fierce, or grim. Such exercises are +ingenious, and to some minds, possibly, interesting; but they are surely +in this case superfluous. A pedigree, says Scott laughingly as he sits +down to trace his own, is the national prerogative of every Scottishman, +as unalienable as his pride and poverty; but he must be very poor or +very proud who cannot find his account in the legitimate pedigree of the +House of Montrose. + +The first of the branch of Claverhouse, which took its name from a small +town in Forfarshire a few miles to the north of Dundee, was John, son of +John Graham of Balargus in the same shire. Graham of Balargus was the +son of another John, who was the second son of Sir Robert Graham of +Fintrey, the eldest son of Robert Graham of Strathcanon, son and heir of +Sir William Graham of Kincardine, by his wife the Lady Mary Stuart, +widow of George first Earl of Angus and daughter of King Robert the +Third--the unhappy king of "The Fair Maid of Perth." The grandson of +John Graham was Sir William Graham of Claverhouse, the chosen friend of +his cousin, the gallant and unfortunate Marquis of Montrose. By his wife +Marion, daughter of Thomas Fotheringham of Powrie, Sir William had two +sons, George and Walter, of whom the latter was the ancestor of those +Grahams of Duntroon who at a later period assumed the title of Dundee. +George left one son, another Sir William, who married Lady Jean +Carnegie, daughter of the first Earl of Northesk, and by her had four +children--two daughters, Margaret and Anne, and two sons, John and +David. David is, as will be seen, not unrecorded in the annals of his +country; but his name has been completely eclipsed by that of his elder +brother, the "bloody Claver'se" of the Whigs, the "bonnie Dundee" of the +Jacobites, one of the most execrated or one of the most idolised +characters in the history of this kingdom, according to the temper and +the taste of the writers and readers of history. + +The register of that year shows that the two brothers matriculated at +Saint Leonard's College in the University of Saint Andrews, on February +13th, 1665. Before this date all is a blank. Of John's boyish years +history and tradition are equally silent. Long after his death, indeed, +some idle stories became current, as their fashion is, of prophecies and +prodigies in that early time. His nurse is said to have foretold that a +river taking its name from a goose would prove fatal to him, and to have +lamented that her child's career of glory had been frustrated because he +had been checked in the act of devouring a live toad. This last story +sounds much like a popular version of the Grecian fable of Demophooen, as +told in the Homeric hymn to Demeter. But, as a matter of fact, it was a +legend current of the infancy both of the Regent Morton and of Montrose +himself before it was given to Claverhouse; and possibly of many other +youthful members of the Scottish aristocracy, who happened to make +themselves obnoxious to a class of their countrymen whose piety seems +to have added no holy point to their powers of invective. There is an +ingenious fancy, and, at least, as much reason as is generally displayed +in mythological researches, in the surmise that this particular legend +may have owed its origin to the French connection with Scotland, a +connection which would naturally have found little favour in the eyes of +the followers of John Knox. + +Claverhouse seems to have neglected neither the studies nor the +discipline of the University. He has, indeed, in our own time been +denied enough even of the common intellectual culture of his day to save +him from ridicule as a blockhead. But there is no reason for this +contemptuous statement. His own contemporaries, and others, who if not +exactly contemporaries have at least as good right to be heard as a +writer of our own time, have left very different testimony. Burnet, who, +though connected by marriage with Claverhouse and at one time much in +his confidence, was the last of men to praise him unduly, has vouched +both for his abilities and virtues. Dalrymple, who was certainly no +Jacobite, though censured by the Whigs for his indulgence to James, has +described him as from his earliest youth an earnest reader of the great +actions recorded by the poets and historians of antiquity. More +particular testimony still is offered by a writer whose work was not, +indeed, undertaken till nearly fifty years after the battle of +Killiecrankie, but whose pictures of those men and times have all the +freshness and colour of a contemporary. The author of those memoirs of +Lochiel of which Macaulay has made such brilliant use, has credited +Claverhouse with a considerable knowledge of mathematics and general +literature, especially such branches of those studies as were likely to +be of most use to a soldier. Lastly, Doctor Munro, Principal of the +College of Edinburgh, when charged before a Parliamentary Commission +with rejoicing at the news of Killiecrankie, denied at least that he had +rejoiced at the death of the conqueror, for whom he owned "an +extraordinary value," such as, in his own words, "no gentleman, soldier, +scholar, or civilised citizen will find fault with me for."[2] + +It would be as foolish to take these witnesses too literally, as it is +foolish to call Claverhouse a blockhead because he could not spell +correctly. For many years after his death men of position and abilities +far more distinguished and acknowledged than his, were not ashamed to +spell with a recklessness that would inevitably now entail on any +fourth-form boy the last penalty of academic law. Scott says that +Claverhouse spelled like a chambermaid; and Macaulay has compared the +handwriting of the period to the handwriting of washerwomen. The +relative force of these comparisons others may determine, but it is +certain that in this respect at least Claverhouse sinned in good +company. The letters of even such men as the Lord Advocate, Sir George +Mackenzie, and the Dalrymples,--letters written in circumstances more +favourable to composition than the despatches of a soldier are ever +likely to be--are every whit as capricious and startling in their +variations from the received standard of orthography. If it is +impossible quite to agree with his staunch eulogist, Drummond of +Bahaldy, that Claverhouse was "much master in the epistolary way of +writing," at least his letters are plain and to the purpose; and the +letters of a soldier have need to be no more. + +It is, of course, unlikely that he could have been, even for those days, +a cultivated man. The studies of youth are but the preparation for the +culture of manhood; and after his three quiet years at Saint Andrews +were done, his leisure for study must have been scant indeed. But all we +know of his character, temperament, and habits of life forbid the +supposition that he wasted that precious time either in idleness or +indulgence. His bitterest enemies have borne witness to his singular +freedom from those vices which his age regarded more as the +characteristics than the failings of a gentleman. The most scurrilous of +the many scurrilous chroniclers of the Covenanters' wrongs has owned in +a characteristic passage that his life was uniformly clean.[3] Gifted by +nature with quick parts, of dauntless ambition and untiring energy both +of mind and body, he was not the man to have let slip in idleness any +chance of fortifying himself for the great struggle of life, or to have +neglected studies which might be useful to him in the future because +they happened to be irksome in the present. It is only, therefore, in +reason to suppose that he managed his time at the University prudently +and well, and this may easily be done without assuming for him any +special intellectual gifts or graces. + +But, as a matter of strict fact, from the date of his matriculation to +the year 1672 nothing is really known of Claverhouse or his affairs. It +has, however, been generally assumed that, after the usual residence of +three years at the University, he crossed over into France to study the +art of war under the famous Turenne. As the practice was common then +among young men of good birth and slender fortune, it is not unlikely +that Claverhouse followed it. A large body of English troops was a few +years later serving under the French standard. In 1672 the Duke of +Monmouth, then in the prime of his fortune, joined Turenne with a force +of six thousand English and Scottish troops, amongst whom marched John +Churchill, a captain of the Grenadier company of Monmouth's own +regiment. But the military glory Claverhouse is said to have won in the +French service cannot have been great: his studies in the art of war +must have been mainly theoretical. In the year 1668, the year in which +Claverhouse is said to have left Scotland for France, Lewis had been +compelled to pause in his career of conquest. The Triple Alliance had in +that year forced upon him the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. He had been +compelled to restore Franche Comte, though he still kept hold of the +towns he had won in the Low Countries. But the joy with which all +parties in England welcomed this alliance had scarcely found expression +when Charles, impatient of the economy of his Parliament and indifferent +to its approval, opened those negotiations which, with the help of his +sister the Duchess of Orleans, and that other Duchess, Louisa of +Portsmouth, resulted in the secret treaty of Dover. We are not now +concerned to examine the particulars of a transaction which even Charles +himself did not dare to confide entirely to his ministers, familiar as +the Cabal was with shameless deeds. It is enough for our present purpose +to remember that, in return for a large annual subsidy and the promise +of help should England again take up arms against her king, Charles +bound himself to aid Lewis in crushing the rising power of Holland and +to support the claims of the House of Bourbon to the throne of Spain. +Supplies were obtained for immediate purposes by closing the Exchequer, +an act which ruined half the goldsmiths in London. As a set-off against +this, a royal proclamation, arrogating to itself powers only Parliament +could rightly exercise, suspended the laws against Nonconformists and +Catholics. The latter were, indeed, allowed to say Mass only within +their private houses, but to dissenters of every other class was granted +the freest liberty of public worship. + +The declaration of war followed close on the declaration of indulgence. +The immediate result of the latter was the release of John Bunyan from +an imprisonment of twelve years, and the publication of the "Pilgrim's +Progress." A more important and lasting result was the Revolution of +1688. Both declarations were unpopular, but the Declaration of +Indulgence was the most unpopular of the two. It was unpopular with the +zealous Churchman for the concessions it made both to Papist and +Puritan. It was unpopular with the Puritan because he was compelled to +share it with the Papist. It was unpopular with the Papist because it +was less liberal to him than to the Puritan. It was unpopular with all +classes of patriotic Englishmen alike, because it directly violated that +prerogative of the Legislature for which so much English blood had been +already shed. It was soon, indeed, repealed, and its repeal was soon +followed by the dissolution of the Cabal, the passing of the Test Act, +and peace with Holland. But though the fears of the nation were thus +laid to rest for a time, it now first became clear to those who could +look beyond the passing day, and whose vision was sharpened by the +memory of what had been, how surely England was moving under the son +back again to a state of things which had cost the father his crown and +his life. + +But to return to the declaration of war. Lewis received, and probably +expected to receive, but little support from his English allies, and in +a furious action fought off the coast of Suffolk De Ruyter more than +held his own against the combined fleets of France and England. But on +land the French King carried all before him. Led by Conde and Turenne, +the ablest captains of the age, a vast host poured across the Rhine. The +Dutch were waked from the vain dreams of a French alliance, into which +they had been lulled by the chiefs of the great merchant class which had +risen to power on the fall of the House of Orange, only to find +themselves helpless. Town after town opened its gates to the invader: +three out of the seven provinces of the Federation were already in his +hands: his watch-fires were seen from the walls of Amsterdam. In the +first mad paroxysm of their despair the people rose against their +leaders. De Ruyter, who had borne their flag to victory on many a hard +fought day, was insulted in the public streets: the Grand Pensionary, +John De Witt, and his brother Cornelius were brutally murdered before +the palace of the States-General at the Hague. The office of Stadtholder +was re-established; and the common voice called back to it a prince of +that House which twenty years ago had been excluded for ever from the +affairs of a State which had never existed without it. + +William Henry, great-grandson of the founder of the Dutch Republic, +hereafter to be known as William the Third of England, was then in his +twenty-second year. The heroic spirit of William the Silent lived again +in the frail body of his descendant. Without a moment's hesitation he +accepted the hard and thankless task imposed upon him. With wise counsel +and brave words he calmed and revived the drooping hearts of his +countrymen. He rejected with scorn the offers both of Charles and Lewis +to seduce him from his allegiance. He replied to Buckingham's +remonstrances on the folly of a struggle which could only mean ruin to +the Commonwealth, that he would fight while there was a ditch left for +him to die in. His courage spread. The Dutch flew to arms: without a +regretful voice they summoned to their aid their last irresistible ally: +the dykes were cut, and soon the waters, destroying to save, spread over +all that trim and fertile land. The tide of invasion was checked, and +with the next spring it began to roll slowly backward. The great princes +of the Continent became alarmed at this new prospect of French ambition. +The sluggish Emperor began to bestir himself. Spain, fast dwindling to +the shadow of that mighty figure which had once bestrode two worlds, +sent some troops to aid a cause which was, indeed, half her own. By sea +the Dutch could do no more than keep their flag flying, but it says much +for their sailors that they could do that against a foe their equal in +skill and courage, and almost always their superior in numbers. On land +they were more successful. The Bishop of Munster was driven back from +the walls of Groningen: Naerden and Bonne were retaken: before the +summer was over the whole electorate of Cologne was in the hands of +William and his allies. The campaign of 1674 was less fortunate to the +young general. Charles had, it is true, been compelled by his Parliament +to make a peace more favourable than the Dutch could have hoped for; but +in almost every direction Lewis made good again the ground he had lost +in the previous year. William, indeed, took Grave, but he was compelled +to raise the siege of Oudenarde. A large force of Germans under the +Elector of Brandenburg was driven out of Alsace across the Rhine by +Turenne, who had a short while before completely routed the Imperial +troops under the Duke of Lorraine at Sintzheim. Franche Comte was +reconquered in a few weeks. But the most notable action of the year was +the battle of Seneff, fought near Mons on August 11th between William +and Conde. It was long, bloody, and indecisive; but it raised William's +reputation for courage and ability to the highest pitch, and drew from +his veteran opponent one of those compliments a brave soldier is always +glad to pay a foeman worthy of his steel. "The Prince of Orange," said +Conde, "has acted in everything like an old captain, except in venturing +his life too like a young soldier." + +The battle of Seneff has for us, too, a particular importance. It gives +us, according to some of his biographers, the first glimpse of +Claverhouse as a soldier. The story goes that, at an early period of the +fight, William with a handful of his men was closely beset by a large +body of French troops. In making his way back to his own lines the +Prince's horse foundered in some marshy ground, and he would inevitably +have been either killed or made prisoner had not Claverhouse, who was of +the party, mounted him on his own charger and brought him safe out of +the press. For this service William gave the young soldier (who was, +however, the Prince's senior by seven years) a captain's commission in +his own regiment of Horse Guards, commanded by the Count de Solmes who +led the English van on the day of the Boyne. This story has been +contemptuously rejected by Macaulay as a Jacobite fable composed many +years after both actors in the scene were dead. The story may not be +true, but Macaulay's reasons for rejecting it are not quite exact. +Reports of Claverhouse's gallantry at Seneff were certainly current +during his lifetime. It is mentioned, for example, in a copy of doggerel +verses addressed to Claverhouse by some nameless admirer on New Year's +Day 1683.[4] And there is yet more particular testimony, though, like +the former, it is of that nature which a historian will always feel +himself at liberty to reject if it does not match with the rest of his +case, and which counsel on the opposite side are accordingly at equal +liberty to make use of. In the memoirs of Lochiel mention is made of a +Latin poem written by a certain Mr. James Philip of Amryclos, in +Forfarshire, who bore Dundee's standard at Killiecrankie. Lochiel's +biographer does not quote the Latin text, but gives translations of +certain passages. The original manuscript, bearing the date 1691, is now +in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. Napier had seen this "Grameis," +as the work is called, and compared it with the translations, which he +declares to be very imperfect, as, from the specimens he gives, they +undoubtedly are. Macaulay, who never saw the Latin text, owns to have +taken a few touches from the passages quoted in the memoirs for his +inimitable picture of affairs in the Highlands during the days +immediately preceding Killiecrankie; but the passage recording the early +gallantry of the conqueror at Killiecrankie he did not take.[5] + +It is unfortunate that the tale of these early years should assume so +controversial a tone. But where all, or almost all, is sheer conjecture, +it is inevitable that the narrative must rest rather on argument than +fact. The precise moment when Claverhouse transferred his services from +the French to the Dutch flag is, in truth, no more certain than the +date of his birth is certain, or his conduct at Saint Andrews, or, +indeed, than it is certain that he ever at any time served under Lewis. +The tale of those English services under the French King is in the last +degree confused and doubtful. If it is so in the case of such a man as +Marlborough, small wonder that it is so in the case of such a man as +Claverhouse, whose name was practically unknown till ten years before +his death. That he did, however, at one time bear arms in the Dutch +ranks seems as indisputable as any part of the scanty story of the first +two-and-thirty years of his life can be said to be. But beyond this it +is impossible to go. + +In 1677 he left William's service and returned to Scotland. An idle +story was circulated some years afterwards of a brawl with one of +William's officers who had received the regiment promised to +Claverhouse, of a reprimand from William, and an indignant vow never to +serve again under a prince who had broken his word. The judicial weight +that has been brought to demolish this slender fabric is unnecessary. +The story itself is not consistent with the characters of either men. It +is very possible that the young soldier, like another young man of those +days, may have grown "tired with knocking at preferment's door;" but, in +truth, a reason to account for their parting is very easily found. With +the campaign of 1677 all fighting on the Continent was stayed for a +time. Claverhouse's profession was fighting. After the peace of Nimeguen +in 1678 Scotland was the only European country then offering a chance of +employment to a soldier of fortune. In 1677, accordingly, he resigned +his commission in the Dutch service and crossed over into England, +taking with him a reputation for courage and ability that at once +recommended him to the King and Duke of York for a man likely to be +useful in such affairs as they had then on hand. Indeed, the character +that it is clear he brought back with him from Holland is alone +sufficient to disprove the story of the quarrel in the courtyard at +Loo.[6] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Fountainhall's "Historical Notices:" Napier's "Memorials of Dundee," +i. 183. The decision in question is dated July 24th, 1687, and certainly +appears to prove that Claverhouse did not attain his majority till 1664, +which would fix his birth in the year above given. + +[2] The "Memoirs of the Life of Sir Ewan Cameron of Lochiel" were +printed for the Abbotsford Club in 1842. They are believed to have been +written between 1730 and 1740 by John Drummond of Bahaldy, a grandson, +or great-grandson, of Lochiel. Several copies of the manuscript are in +existence, of which the best is said by the editor to be the one then in +the possession of Mr. Crawfurd of Cartsburn. It is written in a clear +hand upon small quarto paper, and bound in two volumes. On the fly-leaf +of the first volume is written "Aug. 7. 1732, Jo. Drummond." See also +Burnet's "History of My Own Time," ii. 553; Dalrymple's "Memoirs of +Great Britain and Ireland," i. 344; Burton's "History of Scotland," vii. +360; Napier's "Memorials of Viscount Dundee," i. 16-32, and 178-9. +Burnet married Lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the Earl of Cassilis +and aunt of Lady Dundee. In point of style and arrangement, of taste and +temper--in everything, in short, which helps to make literature, +Napier's book is perhaps as bad as it is possible for a book to be. But +his industry is unimpeachable; and, through the kindness of the late +Duke of Buccleuch, he was able to publish no less than thirty-seven +letters written in Claverhouse's own hand to the first Duke of +Queensberry, not one of which had been included in the collection +printed for the Bannatyne Club in 1826, nor was, in fact, known to be in +existence by anyone outside the family of Buccleuch. His book includes +also the fragment of a memoir of Dundee and his times, left in +manuscript by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, of Hoddam, Walter Scott's +friend. The memoir was thrown up, it is said, in despair on the +appearance of "Old Mortality." Some idea of the extent to which Napier +suffered from the _Lues Boswelliana_ may be gathered from the fact that +he regards even the Claverhouse of that incomparable romance as a libel. + +[3] "The Hell wicked-witted, bloodthirsty Graham of Claverhouse hated to +spend his time with wine and women."--"Life of Walter Smith," in +Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana." + +[4] + + "I saw the man who at St. Neff did see + His conduct, prowess, martial gallantry: + He wore a white plumach that day; not one + Of Belgians wore a white, but him alone + And though that day was fatal, yet he fought, + And for his part fair triumphs with him brought." + +Laing's "Fugitive Scottish Poetry of the Seventeenth Century." + +[5] The passage occurs in the fifth book. Dundee, retreating before the +forces of the Convention, is represented as musing over his camp-fire on +the ingratitude of the Prince whose life he had once saved. + + "Tu vero, Arctoae gentis praedo improbe, tanti + Fons et origo mali, Nassovi, ingrate virorum, + Immeritum quid me, nunc Caesaris arma secutum, + Prosequeris toties, et iniquo Marte fatiges? + Nonne ego, cum lasso per Belgia stagna caballo + Agmina liligeri fugeres victricia Galli, + Ipse mei impositum dorso salientis equi te + Hostibus eripui, salvumque in castra reduxi? + Haecne mihi meriti persolvis praemia tanti? + Proh scelus! O Soceri rapti nequissime sceptri!" + +The translation, which is certainly, as Napier calls it, both imperfect +and free, is to this effect: + + "When the fierce Gaul through Belgian stanks you fled, + Fainting, alone, and destitute of aid, + While the proud victor urged your doubtful fate, + And your tired courser sunk beneath your weight; + Did I not mount you on my vigorous steed, + And save your person by his fatal speed? + For life and freedom then by me restored + I'm thus rewarded by my Belgick Lord. + Ungrateful Prince!" + +[6] The stories of Claverhouse's conduct at Seneff, and of the quarrel +at Loo, are told in the "Life of Lieut.-General Hugh Mackay," by John +Mackay of Rockfields, and in the "Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dundee," +published in 1714, and professing to be written by an officer of the +army. This little book is remarkable chiefly as being the first recorded +attempt at a biography of Dundee. The writer was possibly not an +officer, nor personally acquainted with Dundee. But he had certainly +contrived to learn a good deal about him and his affairs; and as later +research has either corroborated or, at least, made probable, much of +his information, it seems to me quite as fair to use it for Dundee, as +to use the unsupported testimony of the Covenanters against him. +According to his biographer, Mackay himself was Claverhouse's successful +rival. According to the earlier writer, the man was David Colyear, +afterwards Lord Portmore, and husband of Catherine Sedley, Lady +Dorchester, James's favourite and ugliest mistress. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It will be necessary now to review the condition of Scotland at the time +when Claverhouse began first to be concerned in her affairs, and of the +causes political and religious--if, indeed, in Scottish history it be +ever possible to separate the two--which produced that condition. +Without clearly understanding the state of parties which then distracted +that unhappy country, it will not be possible clearly to understand the +position of Claverhouse; and without a clear understanding of his +position, it will certainly not be possible to form a just estimate of +his character. It is by too readily yielding to the charm of a writer, +who had not then for his purpose the impartial estimate of a human +character so much as the embellishment of a political principle, that +public opinion has been for many years content to accept a savage +caricature in place of a portrait. It would be impertinent to say that +Macaulay did not understand the circumstances into which Claverhouse was +forced, and the train of events which had caused them; but it would not +have suited his purpose so clearly and strictly to have explained them +that others might have traversed the verdict he intended to be +established. He heard, indeed, and he determined to hear, only one side +of the case: indeed, at the time he wrote, there was not much to be +heard on the other; and on the evidence he accepted the verdict was a +foregone conclusion. It is impossible altogether to acquit Claverhouse +of the charges laid to his account, nor will any attempt here be made to +do so; but even the worst that can be proved against him, when +considered impartially with the circumstances of his position and the +spirit of the time, will, I think, be found to take a very different +complexion from that which has been somewhat too confidently given to +them.[7] + +When Charles the Second was restored to the throne of his fathers he was +hailed in Scotland with the same tumultuous joy that greeted him in +England. The Scottish nation was indeed weary of the past. It was weary +alike of the yoke of Cromwell and of the yoke of the Covenant. The first +Covenant--the Covenant of 1557--had been a protest against the tyranny +of the Pope: the Covenant of 1643 was a protest against the tyranny of +the Crown. It was the Scottish supplement, framed in the religious +spirit and temperament of the Scottish nation, to the English protest +against ship-money. The voice, first sounded among the rich valleys and +pleasant woods of Buckinghamshire, was echoed in the churchyard of the +Grey Friars at Edinburgh. Six months later the triumph of +Presbyterianism was completed, when in the church of Saint Margaret's at +Westminster the Commons of England ratified the Solemn League and +Covenant of Scotland. Over the wild time which followed it will be +unnecessary for our purpose to linger. The work was done: then followed +the reaction. In both countries the oppressed became in turn the +oppressors. The champions of religious liberty became as bigoted and +intolerant as those whose intolerance and bigotry had first goaded them +into rebellion. The old Presbyterian saw the rise of new modes of +worship with the same horror that he had shown at the ritual of Laud. +Milton protested that the "new Presbyter is but old Priest writ large." +Within only four years of the outbreak of the civil war no less than +sixteen religious sects were found existing in open defiance of the +principles of faith which that war was pledged to uphold. One common +bond, indeed, united these sects in sympathy: one and all repudiated +with equal energy the authority of the Church to prescribe a fixed form +of worship: a national Church was, in their eyes, as odious and +impossible a tyranny as the divine right of kings. But this common +hatred of the interference of a Mother Church could not teach them +tolerance for each other. Cardinal Newman has described the enthusiasm +of Saint Anthony as calm, manly, and magnanimous, full of affectionate +loyalty to the Church and the Truth. "It was not," he says, "vulgar, +bustling, imbecile, unstable, undutiful." The religious enthusiasm of +the two nations at this time, though at heart sincere and just, was +unfortunately in its public aspect the exact opposite of Saint +Anthony's. There was the essential great meaning of the matter, to +borrow Carlyle's words, but there were also the mean, peddling details. +It was the misfortune of many, of three kings of England among the +number, that the latter should seem the most vital of the two. +Presbyterian and Independent, Leveller and Baptist, Brownist and Fifth +Monarchy Man, one and all stood up and made proclamation, crying, "Look +unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and +there is none else." Well might Cromwell adjure them in that war of +words which followed the sterner conflict on the heights of Dunbar, "I +beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be +mistaken." + +Though the number and variety of the dissentients in England were far +greater than in Scotland, where the bulk both of the people and the +clergy stood firmly within the old Presbyterian lines, yet in the latter +country the separation was far more bitter and productive of far more +violent results. In the former the strong hand of Cromwell, himself an +Independent, but keen to detect a useful man under every masquerade of +worship, and prompt to use him, kept the sects from open disruption. +Quarrel as they might among themselves, there was one stronger than them +all, and they knew it. The old Committee of Estates, originally +appointed by the Parliament as a permanent body in 1640, was not strong +enough to control the spirit it had helped to raise: it was not even +strong enough to keep order within its own house. The new Committee was +but a tool in the hands of Argyle. The old Presbyterian viewed with +equal dislike the sectaries of Cromwell, the men of the Engagement which +had cost Hamilton his head, and the Malignants who had gathered to the +standard of Montrose. The Resolutioner, who wished to repeal the Act of +Classes, was too lukewarm: the Remonstrant was too violent. It was by +this last body that the troubles we have now to examine came upon +Scotland. + +After the collapse of Hamilton's army at Uttoxeter in August 1648, a +body of Covenanters assembled at Mauchline, in Ayrshire, to protest +against the leniency with which the Engagement had been treated in the +Estates, where, indeed, a considerable minority had been inclined openly +to countenance it. Their leader was at first the Earl of Eglinton, a +staunch Covenanting lord; but as they gathered strength Argyle joined +them with his Highlanders, and the command soon passed into his hands. +The Protesters marched upon Edinburgh. In an attempt to take Stirling +Castle they were defeated by Sir George Monro with a division of +Hamilton's army which had not crossed the border; but Argyle had better +tools to work with than the claymores of his Highlanders. He opened +negotiations with Cromwell, who led an army in person into Scotland, +renewed the Covenant, laid before the Estates (the new Estates of Argyle +and his party) certain considerations, as he diplomatically called them, +demanding, among other things, that no person accessory to the +Engagement should be hereafter employed in any public place or trust. +The Committee were only too willing to have the support of Cromwell to +what they themselves so vehemently desired. Two Acts were quickly +passed: one reversing many of the acts of its predecessors and +confirming the considerations: the other, known in history as the Act of +Classes, defining the various misdemeanours which were to exclude men +from sitting in Parliament or holding any public office, for a period +measured by their offences, and practically to be determined by the +judicatories of the Kirk. + +This Mauchline Convention was popularly known at the time as the +Whiggamores' Raid, a name memorable as the first introduction into +history of a word soon to become only too familiar, and still a part of +our political vocabulary.[8] Its immediate result was to throw the +direction of affairs still more exclusively into the hands of the +clergy: indirectly, but no less surely, it was the cause of the Pentland +Rising and the savage persecution which followed, of the murder of +Archbishop Sharp, of the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge, and of +those terrible years still spoken of in Scotland as the "killing-time." +It was, in short, like the wrath of Achilles, the spring of unnumbered +woes. + +Then followed the execution of Charles. Against this the whole body of +Presbyterians joined in protesting. The hereditary right of kings was, +indeed, as much a principle of the Covenant as their divine right was +opposed to it; and the execution at Whitehall on January 30th, 1649, was +regarded with as much horror by the Presbyterians of England as by the +Presbyterians of Scotland. + +The first act of the Estates was to proclaim the Prince of Wales king of +Great Britain, their next to send a deputation to Holland to invite him +to take possession of his kingdom. It had been better both for Charles +and for Scotland that the invitation had never been accepted. The terms +on which alone the Scots would see the son of Charles Stuart back among +them as crowned king were such as only the direst necessity could have +induced him to accept: they were such as it seems now amazing that even +the most bigoted and inexperienced could really have believed that the +son of his father, or, indeed, any man in his position, would keep one +moment longer than circumstances compelled him. But his advisers, led on +by Wilmot and Buckingham, bid him sign--sign everything, or all would be +lost. He signed everything. First he put his hand to the Solemn League +and Covenant: then to a second declaration promising to do his utmost to +extirpate both Popery and Prelacy from all parts of his kingdom: +finally, he consented to figure as the hero of a day of public fasting +and humiliation for the tyranny of his father and the idolatry of his +mother. And while he was acquiescing to each fresh demand with a shrug +of his shoulders and a whispered jest to Buckingham, and in his heart as +much hatred for his humiliators as he was capable of feeling for +anybody, he was all the while urging on Montrose to strike that wild +blow for his crown which was to lead the brave marquis to the scaffold. +The deaths of Hamilton and Huntly had preceded the death of Montrose by +a few weeks: a few more weeks and Charles was in Scotland, a crowned +king in name, virtually a prisoner. Within little more than a year the +fight at Dunbar, and the "crowning mercy" of Worcester, had bitterly +taught him how futile was all the humiliation he had undergone. + +It will be enough to briefly recall the main incidents of the years +which intervened between the battle of Worcester and the Restoration. +After the establishment of the Protectorate an Act of Indemnity was +passed for the Scottish people. From this certain classes were excepted. +All of the House of Hamilton, for instance, and some other persons of +note, including Lauderdale: all who had joined the Engagement, or who +had not joined in the protestation against it: all who had sat in +Parliament or on the Committee of Estates after the coronation of +Charles at Scone: all who had borne arms at the battle of Worcester. +From this proscribed list, however, Argyle managed to extricate +himself. He had fortified himself at Inverary, and summoned a meeting of +the Estates to which the chiefs of the Royalist party had been bidden. +To conquer him in his own stronghold would have been difficult, perhaps +impossible, to English soldiers unused to such warfare. Cromwell wisely +preferred to negotiate, and Argyle was not hard to bring to terms. He +bound himself to live at peace with the Government, and to use his best +endeavours to persuade others to do so. In return he was to be left +unmolested in the free enjoyment of his estates, and in the exercise of +religion according to his conscience. + +The politicians were now silenced; but a noisier and more troublesome +body had still to be reckoned with. In July, 1653, the General Assembly +was closed, and Resolutioners and Remonstrants were sent to the right +about together. Some measures, however, had to be taken to prevent them, +not from cutting each other's throats, which would have suited the +Government well enough, but from stirring up a religious war, which they +would inevitably have done if left to the free enjoyment of their own +humours. It was necessary so to strengthen the hands of one of the two +parties that the other should be compelled to refrain at least from open +hostilities. The Resolutioners, as the most tolerant and the +mildest-mannered, would have been those Cromwell would have preferred to +see in the ascendency. But the Resolutioners had acknowledged Charles, +and were, after their own fashion, in favour of the royal title. The +Remonstrants were accordingly preferred. They, indeed, denied the +authority of the Commonwealth over spiritual matters, but they also +denied the authority of Charles; and it was felt that at such a crisis +the civil allegiance was of more value than the religious. A law was +accordingly established dividing Scotland into five districts, in each +of which certain members of the Remonstrant clergy were empowered to +ordain ministers, as it were, to the exercise of their functions. At the +same time it was not the object of Cromwell to exalt one party at the +expense of the other so much as to strike a balance between the two; and +in doing this he was much served by the tact and good sense of James +Sharp, whose name now first begins to be heard in Scottish history. He +was on the side of the Resolutioners, but he so managed matters as to be +favourably regarded by the Government as a person likely to be of +service to them in the event of any open disruption between the two +bodies, without losing the confidence of his own party. The Court of +Session was the next to go, and in its place rose the Commission of +Justice, of which James Dalrymple, afterwards Lord Stair, the first +Scottish lawyer of his day, was the most conspicuous member. In 1654 the +Act for incorporating the Union between England and Scotland was passed +by the Commonwealth. With that Commonwealth disappeared the Union, but +the few years of its existence were fruitful of at least one great boon +to Scotland. In those years was established free-trade between the two +countries: a boon for Scotland which she never properly appreciated till +she lost it by the Navigation Act of the Restoration: an alleged +grievance to England which had its share in bringing that Restoration to +pass; for it was then, and for long after, a fixed principle in the +philosophy of English commerce that free-trade between the two +countries meant pillaging Englishmen to enrich Scotchmen. A regular +postal service was also established. The abortive rising known as +Glencairn's Expedition was the only act of open hostility that broke +those few years of comparative tranquillity; and the lenient terms +granted by Monk to the Highland leader tended more than anything to show +how weary of the long rule of disorder and bloodshed all the best of the +two nations were growing. On September 3rd, 1658, Oliver Cromwell died, +and in November of the following year Monk began his famous march to +London. On May 25th, 1660, Charles the Second landed at Dover. + +Though the Remonstrants had won the upper hand for a time, the bulk of +the Scottish nation had been all along on the side of the Resolutioners. +Much as the character and religious views of Charles were to their +distaste, the principle of the Covenant was for a king, and it was by +the principle of the Covenant that the Scottish nation stood. The stern +and narrow bigotry of the Remonstrants, whom their short taste of power +had made of course more fanatical and more quarrelsome than ever, had +almost succeeded in forcing the more moderate Presbyterians into the +arms of the Royalists. A little tolerance, a little tact on the English +side would probably have cemented the alliance. But it was not to be. + +It is important to remember this. The extreme party with which +Claverhouse had to deal no more represented the Scottish nation than the +Irishmen who follow Mr. Parnell's call in the House of Commons represent +their nation now, or than men like Napper Tandy and Wolfe Tone +represented it a century ago. It seems still a common belief that +Claverhouse and his troopers were sent to force upon a sober, patient, +God-fearing nation a religion and a king that they abhorred. Nothing +could be farther from the truth. The large majority of the Scottish +nation was as eager to welcome Charles as the old squires who had lost +their fortunes for his father, or the young bloods who hoped to find +fortunes under the son. The narrow and blatant form of religion +professed by the extreme party was as repulsive to the bulk of their +countrymen as to the King himself. + +These men were a remnant of the old Remonstrants of the Mauchline +Convention. They had originally, as we have seen, looked to Argyle as +their leader; but when Argyle ranged himself on the side of the young +King there were some among them who would not follow him. These +maintained, and so far they were unquestionably right, that the "young +man Charles Stuart" was, for all his protestations and oaths, as much at +heart a Malignant as his father; and that those who pretended to believe +him were playing the Kirk and the Covenant false. When Cromwell marched +into Scotland to win the battle of Dunbar these men had formed +themselves into a separate party under Colonel Archibald Strachan, an +able soldier who commanded that division of Leslie's army which had +defeated Montrose in Rossshire. Strachan's design seems to have been to +stand aloof for the present from either side; but from some not very +intelligible cause he fell into disgrace with his party, and this is +said to have so preyed upon his mind as to have caused his death. From +that time the Wild Westland Whigs, as they began now to be called, had +no ostensible leader. They withdrew sullenly to their own homes, +contenting themselves during the remaining years of the Commonwealth +with protesting against everybody and everything outside their own +narrow circle. They must not be confounded with the general body of the +Remonstrants, between whom and the Resolutioners Cromwell had to keep +the balance. They were a people apart. Throughout the wild +hill-districts of the Western Lowlands they preached their fierce +crusade against all who were not prepared to stand by the spirit of the +Covenant as they chose to interpret it. The toleration they demanded +they would not give. No man should be free to worship God as he pleased: +every man must worship Him in the way which seemed good to them, and in +that way only. The moderate Presbyterians were as hateful to them as +Charles himself and all his bishops; and they in their turn were as +obnoxious to the majority of the Scottish nation as to the English +Government. Cleric and layman alike was weary of the unending squabbles +that had distracted the Church of Scotland since the days of Knox. They +wished for peace; and no peace was possible so long as an ignorant and +noisy minority would suffer it only at their own price. + +One other point should also be remembered. It has been the custom to +excuse the cruelties of the Covenanters, when they could not be denied, +as the acts of men goaded into madness by years of persecution. This +excuse will hardly serve. It might, indeed, serve to explain the murder +of Sharp and the savage deeds of such men as Hamilton and Burley; but +long before that time the Scottish fanatic had proved himself a match +in ferocity for the bloodiest Malignant of them all. After Philiphaugh +one hundred Irish prisoners were shot in cold blood, while a minister of +the Covenanting Church stood by, reiterating in savage glee, "The wark +goes bonnily on." About the same time eighty women and children were in +one day flung over the bridge at Linlithgow for the crime of having been +followers of the camp of Montrose. In 1647 three hundred of the +Macdonalds who held a fortified post on a hill in Kintire surrendered at +discretion to David Leslie. It is said that Leslie would have let them +go but for his chaplain, John Nave. Borrowing the words of Samuel, "What +meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of +the oxen which I hear?" in a long and fiery harangue this man of God +exhorted the conquerors to finish their work, and threatened their +captain with the curse of Saul who spared the Amalekites. The prisoners +were butchered to a man.[9] + +If, then, it be but a delusion of later times that Scotland could at the +Restoration have been conciliated into accepting a moderate form of +Episcopacy, it is at least clear that there was at that time a strong +party in the country anxious for a compromise between the two Churches, +and willing to make all reasonable advances towards one. Unfortunately +the first move on both sides was of a nature to make all chances of a +compromise impossible. + +Charles had conceived a violent dislike to Presbyterianism, and with +his experiences of it the dislike was not unnatural. It was not, he told +Burnet, a religion for gentlemen, and he found few among his court to +contradict him. Scarcely had he settled himself in his capital when the +Presbyterians were upon him. Sharp had already been some months in +London as ambassador of the moderate party, the party of the old +Resolutioners. But an easy way of reconciling Sharp's conscience was +soon found. It is not precisely clear when the bargain was struck which +was to convert the chosen champion of the Presbyterian Church into an +archbishop, but struck it was, and in no long time. He had by Monk's +advice visited Charles at Breda, and some suppose that the first +interview completed the transformation. If so, he managed to delude his +party very skilfully. His letters to the Assembly, though the light of +subsequent events enables us to translate them more clearly than was +possible at the time, were full of wise counsel, of apparently honest +confessions of the many difficulties he foresaw in the way, and of +protestations of fidelity and firmness which were no less implicitly +believed. "I told him," said his colleague Robert Douglas, a man of very +different stamp, when Sharp went up to London later for his ordination, +"I told him the curse of God would be on him for his treacherous +dealing; and that I may speak my heart of this man, I profess I did no +more suspect him in reference to Prelacy than I did myself."[10] + +Meanwhile the extreme party had not been idle. It will be perhaps most +convenient henceforth to distinguish them as Covenanters: to call them +Whigs, as Burnet and other historians of the time call them, would not +convey to modern ears the significance it had for their contemporaries. +Even those stern and unbending Tories of whom Mr. Gladstone was once the +spokesman have long ceased to regard the men who are still sometimes +called Whigs as the most fanatical members of the body politic. It would +be no mere fanciful application of modern terms to distinguish the two +parties of the Scottish Church as Liberals and Radicals; but it will for +many reasons be best henceforth to write of them as Presbyterians and +Covenanters. + +The Covenanters, then, had not been idle. Shortly after the Restoration +they had, through a deputation of their elders and ministers, called +upon their brethren of the Church to unite with them in an address to +the King, praying him, as a member of the Covenant with themselves, to +remember his obligations to that sacred institution and zealously to +prosecute its blessed work in all his three kingdoms. Toleration in +things religious was especially denounced as a vast mischief disguised +under the specious pretence of liberty for tender consciences. +Schismatics were to be stamped out as sternly as Papists and Prelatists; +and by Schismatics were meant all men, members of their own Church no +less than of others, who ventured to differ from them on any point of +doctrine whatsoever. + +The Committee of Estates, which had resumed its sittings, did not like +the job. They called the deputation a private meeting of some protesting +ministers, and clapped the leaders into prison. + +A government had now been formed for Scotland. Middleton was Lord High +Commissioner, a soldier of fortune who had been raised to the peerage +for the occasion. He was also named commander-in-chief of the forces and +governor of Edinburgh Castle. With him were associated Glencairn as Lord +Chancellor, Lauderdale as Secretary of State, Rothes as President of the +Council, and Crawford as Lord Treasurer. The first proceeding of this +Parliament, known in the gossip of the time as the Drunken Parliament +from the too frequent condition of its chiefs, was to pass a Rescissory +Act, repealing all measures that had become law since the year 1633, +including even those passed by the Parliament professing the authority +of Charles himself. This was followed by an Act "concerning religion and +Church government," in which, after some pious but vague protestations +of the royal design to "encourage the exercise of religion both public +and private, and to suppress all profaneness and disorderly walking," it +was promised that the administration by sessions, presbyteries, and +synods would not for the present be interfered with. That present, +however, soon passed. On May 27th, two days before the anniversary of +the Restoration of the Monarchy, the Act for the Restoration of +Episcopacy was made law. A previous Act had ordained May 29th to be kept +holy; and the opposition taken to this by those who objected to all +holidays as idolatrous had in turn produced a measure which practically +marks the beginning of that system of vague bullying, as Dr. Burton has +happily called it, which was in no long time to pass into a persecution +anything but vague. On December 15th, in Westminster Abbey, Sharp was +consecrated Primate of Scotland, and at the same time Fairfoul was +raised to the see of Glasgow, Hamilton to the see of Galloway, and the +good and gentle Leighton to the see of Dunblane. + +Meanwhile the English Parliament had by its Navigation Act crushed for +the time the short-lived hopes of Scottish commerce, and was now busy +with an Act of Indemnity. This had been practically one of the +conditions of the Restoration, but Scotland had not been included in the +bargain. Argyle was the first to suffer from the omission. He had gone +up to London to pay his court to the new King, but had been refused an +audience. He was arrested, and, after a short sojourn in the Tower, sent +back to Edinburgh to stand his trial for high treason before the +Estates. He was found guilty and beheaded in the High Street on May +27th, 1661, two days after the anniversary of the more shameful death +which he had helped to bring upon Montrose. As he had been expressly +pardoned during the King's short reign in Scotland for all acts +committed by him against the Crown up to the year 1657, and as his +accusers could find no evidence of communications with the Parliament +after that time, he must have been acquitted had it not been for Monk, +who at the last moment produced certain letters written by Argyle to him +when acting for Cromwell. Johnstone of Warriston was another victim, +whom, like Argyle, it was no hard matter for judges who had a mind that +way to bring within the compass of the law of treason. He, however, +managed to get across to the Continent before he could be arrested. He +was tried and condemned in his absence. After two years of painful +shifts and wanderings he was tracked down in France by a man known as +Crooked-back Murray, and sent back to his fate. A third victim was James +Guthrie, the most vehement and active of the Covenanters, the framer of +the original Remonstrance and author of a seditious pamphlet called "The +Causes of the Lord's Wrath." With him would probably have suffered +Samuel Rutherford, a minister as zealous as Guthrie, but of more +education and manners. Fortunately for him, he died before the reign of +punishment began; and the Government was forced to content itself with +ordering his book "Lex, Rex," to be burned by the hangman at the Cross +of Edinburgh and at the gate of the University of Saint Andrews, where +he had been Professor of Divinity. In 1662, an Act of Indemnity was made +law, by which future punishment for the past was adjusted by a scale of +fines. + +Close on the heels of the Act of Indemnity followed one demanding from +all persons holding any office of public trust a public abjuration of +the Covenant, and another requiring all clergymen who had been appointed +since 1649 to receive collation from the bishop of their diocese. Those +who did not obey were, after a short respite, expelled from their +parishes. Those who obeyed were regarded by their congregations as +backsliders and self-seekers. Three hundred and fifty ministers were +driven with their families from their homes in the depth of winter; and +to supply their places new ministers were appointed, popularly known as +the King's Curates. Another Act required attendance at the parish church +on penalty of a fine graduated according to the rank of the absentee. +Finally, to crown all, the Solemn League and Covenant was publicly +burned at the market-cross of Edinburgh; and an aggravated copy of the +English Five-mile Act against Non-jurors, known as the Mile Act, was +passed, prohibiting all recusant clergymen from residing within twenty +miles of their old parishes, within six miles of Edinburgh or any +cathedral town, and within three miles of any royal burgh. The +punishment for transgressing this law was to be the same as that for +sedition. + +Enough has now been said to show the nature of the bullying adopted by +the Government. Over the years which still lie between us and the entry +of Claverhouse on the stage I must pass more rapidly. + +In 1663 Rothes succeeded Middleton as commissioner. The latter had been +rash enough to measure his strength with Lauderdale, and had been +signally worsted. To complete the legislative machinery a Conventicle +Act was passed this year, declaring all assemblies of more than five +persons, besides members of the family, unlawful and seditious. As most +of their congregations had followed the expelled ministers into the +wilderness, this new law so mightily increased the labours of the +authorities that it was found necessary to institute a new tribunal of +justice for the especial treatment of ecclesiastical offences. This was +no less than a renewal of that old Court of High Commission which had +been abolished by the Long Parliament twenty years before to the joy of +the whole nation. To strengthen its hands a body of troops was sent down +into the western shires, now the stronghold of the Covenant, to impose +and exact the fines ordained by the Commission. Their leader was Sir +James Turner, a man of some education, but rough and brutal. He had +served on the Continent under Gustavus Adolphus, had fought under Leslie +in the Presbyterian ranks, and had accompanied Hamilton with the +Engagers into England. Turner, in his own memoirs, declares that he not +only did not exceed his orders, but was even lenient beyond his +commission. When, a few years later, in a momentary fit of indulgence, +his acts were called in question by the Privy Council, the evidence +hardly served to establish his assertion. + +At length the West rose. On November 13th, 1666, four countrymen came +into the little village of Dalry, in Galloway, in search of refreshment. +There they found a few soldiers, driving before them a body of peasants +to thresh out the corn of an old man who would not pay his fines. There +was an argument and a scuffle: a pistol was fired and a soldier fell: +the rest yielded. It was now too late to go back. Turner was posted at +Dumfries with a considerable sum of money in his charge. It was +determined to seize him. The four champions had now been joined by some +fifty horsemen and a large body of unmounted peasants. Turner was made +prisoner; and the money restored to the service of those from whose +pockets it had been originally drawn. + +The number of the insurgents had now risen to three thousand. They +determined to march on Edinburgh, thinking to gather recruits on the +way; but when they came within five miles of the city their hearts +failed them. The weather was bitterly cold: provisions and arms were +scarce: the peasantry of the more cultivated districts had proved either +lukewarm to the cause or openly hostile: no recruits had come in, and +their own ranks were growing daily thinner. At length they turned on +their tracks and made once more for their western fastnesses. But they +had now to reckon with a more dangerous foe than Turner. + +The garrison in Edinburgh was commanded by Thomas Dalziel, a ferocious +old soldier who had learned his trade in the Russian wars. His dress was +as uncouth as his manners, and he wore a long white bushy beard that no +steel had been suffered to touch since the death of the first +Charles.[11] With all the regulars he could muster Dalziel was quickly +after the fugitives. He came up with them on Rullion Green, a ridge of +the Pentland Hills. Though now numbering scarce a thousand men, the +Covenanters were strongly posted, and defended themselves bravely. The +royal troops were twice driven back before they could carry the ridge, +and night had fallen before the insurgents were fairly broken. The +slaughter was not great; and it is significant of the unpopularity of +their cause that the fugitives suffered more from the Lothian peasantry +than from the victorious soldiers. + +The Government could now assume the virtue of those who are summoned to +quell an open rebellion. Dalziel was put in command of the insurgent +districts, and his little finger was indeed found thicker than Turner's +loins. Twenty men were hanged on one gibbet in Edinburgh and many others +in various parts of the country: crowds were shipped off to the +plantations: torture was freely applied, and the ingenious devices of +the boot and the thumbkin were in daily requisition.[12] Dalziel was in +his element. A prisoner reviled him at the council board for "a Muscovy +beast who roasted men." The old savage struck the man with the hilt of +his sword so fiercely in the mouth that the blood gushed out. + +At length there came a lull. Weary of the useless butchery, which, +hitherto, they had not perhaps fully realised, the English Government +determined to see if indulgence could persuade where persecution was +powerless to force. Orders to that effect were sent up to Edinburgh. The +soldiers were withdrawn from the western shires. Sharp was bidden to +retire to his see. Lauderdale took the place of Rothes as commissioner. + +The character of Lauderdale is one of the most curious problems of the +time. In his youth he had been as zealous for the Covenant as he now +appeared to be zealous for Episcopacy. Hence some have supposed that his +real design was by favouring the intolerance of the bishops to bring +them to discomfiture, and to re-establish on their ruin the old +Presbyterian Church, for which, despite the profligacy of his life and +conversation, he was still believed to entertain as much veneration as +he was capable of feeling for any form of religion. But whatever may +have been his regard for the old Covenant of his youth, he was set as a +rock against the men who were now as much opposed to any moderate +observance of Presbyterian worship as the most inveterate Malignant at +Whitehall. + +The first Indulgence was passed in 1669, in favour of the ministers whom +the Act of 1662 had driven from their parishes. Such as had since that +time kept from open violation of the law were now to be reinstated in +their livings where vacant. The manse and the glebe were to be theirs as +formerly, but the stipend was not to be renewed. These terms were +accepted by some forty or fifty clergymen. By the advice of the gentle +Leighton, who almost alone among his brethren seems at this time to have +dared, or to have been even willing, to counsel tolerance, a deputation, +nicknamed "the Bishop's Evangelists," was sent into the West to preach +the doctrine of this Indulgence. The pious crusade was in vain. The +failure of the Pentland rising and its terrible sequel had turned those +stubborn hearts to madness. Their weaker brethren were now classed with +the apostate Sharp and the butcher Dalziel; and the Indulgence was +declared a snare for the soul far more deadly than any torture the +Government could devise for the body. Nor, if time could have +strengthened Leighton's hands, was time allowed him. Following close +upon the Indulgence came a fresh Act, now making not only all +field-preaching a capital offence, but even laying heavy penalties on +any exercise of the Presbyterian worship except under an Indulged +minister. This again was soon followed by a fresh law against +Intercommuning--that is to say, against all who should offer even the +simplest act of common charity to a Covenanter--and promising large +rewards to all who should give information against them or their +protectors. By this law it is said that thousands of both sexes, +including many persons of rank, suffered severely; and from it sprang a +curious incident in the miserable history of this time. + +An order was issued to the landed gentry of Renfrew and Ayr, the shires +where the disaffection was strongest, requiring them to give bail that +their servants and tenants should not only abstain from personal +attendance at conventicles, but also from all intercourse with +intercommuned persons. The gentry answered that such assurance was +impossible. It was not, they said, within the compass of their power to +do this thing. The reply from Edinburgh was short and conclusive: if the +landlords could not keep order in their districts, order must be kept +for them. A body of English troops had already been moved up to the +border and an Irish force collected at Belfast; but a more ingenious +mode of punishment was now devised. Since the barbarous excesses of the +Highland clans under Montrose, it had become an acknowledged breach of +the rules of civilised warfare to employ men who, like the Red Indians +used in our own American wars, were amenable to no discipline and +recognised no principles of humanity. Eight thousand of these savages +were now let loose on the disobedient Lowlanders. The result was, +indeed, not all that had been anticipated at Edinburgh. The Council had +naturally enough expected that the descent of these plaided barbarians +would be the signal for a general insurrection, which would relieve them +of their troubles as certainly and much more conveniently than Dalziel's +dragoons and Perth's thumbkins. While Highlander and Lowlander were +cutting each other's throats, Lauderdale and his colleagues would have +ample leisure to decide on the apportionment of the booty.[13] In this, +however, they were disappointed. No armed resistance was offered. During +the two months these marauders lived at free quarters, without any +distinction between friend and foe, on a land which, compared with their +own barren moors and mountains, was a paradise flowing with milk and +honey, only one life was lost, and that the life of a Highlander. At +length the scandal became too great even for Lauderdale. Hamilton, who, +like his brother before him, had always stood by the Crown, went up to +London with several gentlemen of rank to protest against a tyranny which +they vowed was that of Turks rather than Christians. According to one +account, the King would not see them: according to another, he admitted +Hamilton to an interview, and, after hearing his protest, owned that +many bad things had been done in Scotland, but none, so far as he could +see, contrary to his interests. It was clear, however, that in this +matter Lauderdale had gone too far. The Highlanders were ordered to +return to their homes. They returned accordingly, laden with spoil such +as they had never dreamed of, and of the use of a large part of which +they were as ignorant as a Red Indian or a negro.[14] + +The departure of the Highland host leaves the stage free for +Claverhouse. It was at this crisis he returned to Scotland, and here +this summary of one of the most miserable chapters in British history +may fitly end. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] This is, perhaps, the best place to disclaim all intention of +scoffing at this great writer and historian. It is a common impertinence +of the day in which I have no wish to join. It is not, I hope, an +impertinence to say that only those who have, for their own purposes, +been forced to follow closely in his tracks can have any just idea of +the unwearying patience and acuteness with which he has examined the +confused and so often conflicting records of that time, or of the +incomparable skill with which he has brought them into a clear +continuous narrative. To glean after Macaulay is indeed a barren task. +So far, then, from affecting to cavil at his work, I must acknowledge +that without his help this little book would have been still less. Yet I +do think he has been hard upon Claverhouse. Perhaps the scheme of his +history did not require, or even allow him, to examine the man's +character and circumstances so closely as a biographer must examine +them. It is still more important to remember that the letters discovered +by Napier in the Queensberry Archives were not known to him. Had he seen +them, I am persuaded that he would have found reason to think less +harshly of their writer. + +[8] "The south-west counties of Scotland have seldom corn enough to +serve them round the year; and the northern parts producing more than +they need, those in the west come in the summer to buy at Leith the +stores that come from the north; and from a word 'whiggam,' used in +driving their horses, all that drove were called the 'whiggamores,' and +shorter, the 'whiggs.' Now in that year, after the news came down of +Duke Hamilton's defeat, the ministers animated the people to rise and +march to Edinburgh; and they came up, marching on the head of their +parishes, with an unheard-of fury, praying and preaching all the way as +they came. The Marquis of Argyle and his party came and headed them, +they being about 6,000. This was called the Whiggamores' Inroad: and +even after that all that opposed the Court came in contempt to be called +Whiggs: and from Scotland the word was brought into England, where it is +now one of our unhappy terms of distinction."--Burnet, i. 58. See also +Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," ch. xii. Mr. Green, however, thought +the word _whig_ might be the same as our _whey_, implying a taunt +against the "sour-milk faces" of the fanatical Ayrshiremen.--"History of +the English People," iii. 258. + +[9] Sharpe's notes to Kirkton's "History of the Church of Scotland," pp. +48-9. See also Wishart's "Memoirs of Montrose." + +[10] "The Lauderdale Papers." The most important passages in Sharp's +letters will be found in Burton's history, vii. pp. 129-146. + +[11] "Memoirs of Captain John Creichton," pp. 57-9. + +[12] The torture of the thumbkin is said to have been introduced into +Scotland by Lord Perth, who had seen it practised in Russia. But, +according to Fountainhall, something very like it had been previously +known under the homely name of "Pilliwincks," or "Pilniewinks." + +[13] "Duke Lauderdale's party depended so much on this that they began +to divide, in their hopes, the confiscated estates among them, so that +on Valentine's Day, instead of drawing mistresses they drew +estates."--Burnet, ii. 26. + +[14] "When the Highlanders went back one would have thought they had +been at the sacking of some besieged town, by their baggage and luggage. +They were loaded with spoil. They carried away a great many horses and +no small quantity of goods out of merchants' shops, whole webs of linen +and woollen cloth, some silver plate bearing the names and arms of +gentlemen. You would have seen them with loads of bedclothes, carpets, +men and women's wearing clothes, pots, pans, gridirons, shoes and other +furniture whereof they had pillaged the country."--Wodrow, ii. 413. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Claverhouse was not left long in idleness. In 1664, the year of the +first Indulgence, it had been determined to withdraw the regular troops +altogether from Scotland, leaving their place to be supplied by the +local militia, which was now practically raised to the condition of a +standing army and, contrary to immemorial law, placed under the +immediate authority of the Crown. But the bishops and their clergy had +demurred. They had little fancy for being left with no other protection +than a half-disciplined rabble, who, ready as they might be to act +against their troublesome countrymen, had no more respect for a lawn +sleeve than for a homespun jerkin. A few troops of regular cavalry were +therefore retained, and one regiment of Foot Guards. The former were +commanded by Athole, the latter by Linlithgow. Towards the end of 1677 a +fresh troop of cavalry was raised, and the command given to the young +Marquis of Montrose, grandson to him who had died on the scaffold and +kinsman to Claverhouse. + +Claverhouse applied to him for employment, and it appears from +Montrose's answer that the application had been warmly backed by the +Duke of York. "You cannot imagine," runs the letter, "how overjoyed I +should be to have any employment at my disposal that were worthy of your +acceptance; nor how much I am ashamed to offer you anything so far below +your merit as that of being my lieutenant; though I be fully persuaded +that it will be a step to a much more considerable employment, and will +give you occasion to confirm the Duke in the just and good opinion which +I do assure you he has of you." The writer goes on to say that he +himself was expecting instant promotion, and to promise his kinsman a +share in whatever fortune might befall him: none but gentlemen, he adds, +are to ride in his troop. The offer was accepted, and the promotion was +not long delayed. + +The Indulgence had failed, as by some at least of those who had +countenanced it it had been expected to fail. The Opposition, led at +Edinburgh by Hamilton and Argyle, and backed in London by Monmouth and +Shaftesbury, which had for some time past been working openly against +Lauderdale, had also for the moment failed. The Commissioner's hands +were strong. With the King and the Duke of York at his back, and, in +Edinburgh, Sharp, Burnet, and the majority of the Episcopalian clergy, +together with all the needy nobles who loved best to fish in troubled +waters, Lauderdale could afford, as he thought then, to laugh at all +opposition. To assume that his design had been from the first to goad +the West into open rebellion affords, indeed, a simple explanation of a +policy that in its persistent unwisdom and brutality seems strangely +irrational and monstrous, even for such times and men. But it is rash to +take any policy as certain in those dark and crooked councils, unless it +be--as probably in Lauderdale's case it was, and as it assuredly was in +the case of most of his creatures--the policy of personal +aggrandisement. At any rate, after the failure of the Indulgence had +been made clear even to those hopeful spirits who still, with Leighton, +had believed it possible to efface years of wrong by a few grudging +concessions, the cruel game was renewed with fresh vigour. The +Highlanders, indeed, had gone, but their place was now to be filled by a +more dangerous because a more disciplined foe. Orders were given to +raise three new troops of cavalry for special service in Scotland. The +Earls of Home and Airlie were chosen by Lauderdale to command two of +these troops: the third was, at the King's express desire, given to +Claverhouse. At the same time, Athole, who was now in opposition with +Hamilton and Argyle, was superseded by Montrose, and Linlithgow named +commander-in-chief of all the royal forces in Scotland. + +Claverhouse now for the first time steps in his own person on the stage +of Scottish history. Eleven years later, in 1689, he passes off it for +ever. It is with the tale of that brief time, so crowded with action, so +variously recorded, that we shall be from this point concerned. + +He was now in his thirty-fifth year. Confused and conflicting as the +witnesses of his life and character may be, of the man himself as he +looked to the eyes of his contemporaries there is the clearest +testimony. Over the mantelpiece of Scott's study in Castle Street hung +the only picture in the room--a portrait of Claverhouse. An original +portrait Lockhart calls it, but which of the five portraits engraved in +Napier's volumes it may have been, if any of them, I cannot tell. All +these engravings, with a unanimity not common in the portraiture of the +time, show the same face: a face of delicate, almost feminine beauty, +framed in the long full love-locks of the period.[15] The eyes are large +and dark, the figure small but well made, and the general expression of +the countenance one of almost boyish smoothness and simplicity. His +manners were gentle and courteous, though reserved: his habit of life +was, as has been already said, singularly decorous: he was scrupulous in +the observance of all religious ordinances. After his death an old +Presbyterian lady, who had lodged below him in Edinburgh, told Lochiel's +biographer how astonished she had been to find one of his profession so +regular in his devotions. In truth, one of the most curious, and at the +same time one of the most indisputable, points in the life of this +singular man is the contrast between those public actions which have had +so large a share in moulding the popular impression, and his private +character and conduct. And not less curious is the contrast between the +reality of his personal appearance and the counterfeit presentment +likely to be fostered by a too liberal adherence to that impression. It +would be difficult to imagine a more complete surprise than awaits those +who turn for the first time from the stern, brutal, and profane soldier +of the historian's page to the high-bred and graceful gentleman of the +painter's canvas. + +Claverhouse seems to have received his commission in the autumn of 1678. +The earliest of his letters extant is dated from Moffat, a small town +in the north of Dumfriesshire, on December 28th. It is addressed to Lord +Linlithgow, and contains this significant passage: "On Tuesday was eight +days, and Sunday there were great field-conventicles just by here, with +great contempt of the regular clergy, who complain extremely when I tell +them I have no order to apprehend anybody for past misdemeanours."[16] +And this scrupulous observance of his orders, at a time when a little +excess of zeal was unlikely to be regarded as a very serious blunder, is +yet more strikingly illustrated in his next letter, written a week later +from Dumfries. In that town, at the southern end of the bridge over the +Nith, the charity of some devout Covenanting ladies had lately set up a +large meeting-house. The clergy, as wild against the Covenanters as +Lauderdale himself, were very importunate with Claverhouse to demolish +this hotbed of disaffection; but he, though he confessed privately to +his chief his annoyance at seeing a conventicle held with impunity "at +our nose," answered all importunities with a calm reference to his +orders. The southern end of the bridge was in Galloway, and in Galloway +his commission did not run. The authority of the Deputy-Sheriff of the +shire was therefore called into play, and with his countenance the +offending building was quickly razed to the ground. In his report of +this business Claverhouse writes:--"My Lord, since I have seen the Act +of Council, the scruple I had about undertaking anything without the +bounds of these two shires is indeed frivolous, but was not so before. +For if there had been no such act, it had not been safe for me to have +done anything but what my order warranted; and since I knew it not, it +was to me the same thing as if it had not been. And for my ignorance of +it, I must acknowledge that till now, in any service I have been, I +never inquired further in the laws than the orders of my superior +officers." This will not be the only occasion on which Claverhouse will +be found keeping strictly within the lines of his commission, instead +of, as he has been so frequently charged with doing, wantonly and +savagely exceeding it. + +This Deputy-Sheriff (or Steward, as the phrase then ran) needs a word to +himself, both on his own account, as representing a certain phase of +character unfortunately too common to the time, and as the real author +of many of the cruel deeds of which Claverhouse so long has borne the +blame. Sir Robert Grierson of Lag was regarded in his own district with +an energy of hatred to which even the terror inspired by Claverhouse +gave place, and which has survived to a time within the memory of men +still living. In the early years of this century the most monstrous +traditions of his cruelty were still current, and are not yet wholly +extinct. In a vaulted chamber of the house in which he lived, on the +English road some three miles south of Dumfries, is still shown an iron +hook from which he is said to have hung his Covenanting prisoners; and +a hill in the neighbourhood is still pointed out as that down which he +used, for his amusement, to send the poor wretches rolling in a barrel +filled with knife-blades and iron spikes,--an ingenious form of torture, +commonly supposed to have been invented by the Carthaginians two +thousand years ago for the particular benefit of a Roman Consul. The +dark and mysterious legend of Sir Robert Redgauntlet, with which +Wandering Willie beguiled the way to Brokenburn-foot, was a popular +tradition of Sir Robert Grierson, or Lag (as, in the familiar style of +the day he was more commonly called) in Scott's own lifetime: the fatal +horseshoe, the birth-mark of all the Redgauntlet line, was believed to +be conspicuous on the foreheads of every true Grierson in moments of +anger; and it was a grandson of old Lag himself who sat to Scott for the +portrait of the elder Redgauntlet, the rugged and dangerous Herries of +Birrenswark. Within the last fifty years it was a custom of Halloween in +many of the houses in Dumfriesshire and Galloway to celebrate by a rude +theatrical performance the evil memory of the Laird of Lag.[17] + +Born of a family which had held lands in Dumfriesshire since the +fifteenth century, and had figured at various times on the troubled +stage of Scottish history, Lag was undoubtedly a man of some parts and +capacity for public affairs, but coarse, cruel and brutal beyond even +the license of those times. The Covenanting historians charge him with +vices such as even they shrank from attributing to Claverhouse; and, +careful as it is always necessary to be in taking the evidence of such +witnesses, it is abundantly clear that even these ingenious romancists +would have been hard put to it to stain the memory of Lag. Later +historians have been sometimes less careful in distinguishing between +the two men. At least in one striking instance, the misdeeds of this +ruffian have been circumstantially charged to the account of his more +famous and important colleague. + +It will be remembered that in the picture Macaulay has drawn of +Claverhouse the soldiers under his command, and by implication +Claverhouse himself, figure as relieving their sterner duties by a +curious form of relaxation. They would call each other, he says, by the +names of devils and damned souls, mocking in their revels the torments +of hell. The authority for this surprising statement is Robert Wodrow, +who was not born when Claverhouse returned to Scotland, and whose +history of the Scottish Church was not published till more than thirty +years after the battle of Killiecrankie.[18] Wodrow's work is very far +from being the contemptible thing some apologists for Claverhouse would +have us believe; but he is not a witness whose unsupported testimony it +is always safe to take for gospel-truth. He wrote at a time when the +naturally romantic imagination of the Scottish peasantry, stimulated by +the memories of old men who had known the evil times, had largely +embellished the facts he set himself to chronicle; and following the +fashion of his day (indeed, as one may say, the fashion of many +historians who cannot plead Wodrow's excuse), he was not always careful +to separate the romance from the reality, even where the latter might +have better served his turn. But considering all the circumstances--the +circumstances of the time, of his subject, and of his own +prepossessions, he is a writer whom it is impossible to disregard; and, +indeed, compared with the other Covenanting chroniclers he stands apart +as the most sober and impartial of historians. Where he got the story +that has been so ingeniously fashioned into an indictment against +Claverhouse is not clear. The passage runs as follows:--"Dreadful were +the acts of wickedness done by the soldiers at this time, and Lag was as +deep as any. They used to take to themselves, in their cabals, the names +of devils and persons they supposed to be in hell, and with whips to +lash one another, as a jest upon hell. But I shall draw a veil over many +of their dreadful impieties I meet with in papers written at this time." +This is not exactly the sort of evidence any judge but a hanging judge +would allow, though it would serve well enough the turn of a prosecutor. +It is at any rate evidence which no one, with any experience of the sort +of gossip the annalists of the Covenant were content to call history, +would care to take seriously. But whatever its value may really be, so +far as it goes it is evidence not against Claverhouse but against Lag. +It is clear from Wodrow that the story refers not to the royal soldiers +but to the local militia; and a writer a little later than Wodrow makes +it still more clear that the men supposed thus to have disported +themselves in their cups were those commanded by Lag. John Howie, an +Ayrshire peasant and a Cameronian of the strictest sect, who was not +born till fourteen years after Wodrow had published his history, has +given Lag a particular place in the Index Expurgatorius of his "Heroes +for the Faith." There we may read how this "prime hero for the promoting +of Satan's kingdom" would, "with the rest of his boon companions and +persecutors, feign themselves devils, and those whom they supposed in +hell, and then whip one another, as a jest upon that place of torment." +Claverhouse, as has been already shown, was himself singularly averse to +all rioting and drunkenness, as well as to profane amusements of every +kind; and, as he was indisputably one of the sternest disciplinarians +who ever took or gave orders, it is unlikely that he would have +countenanced any such unseemly revels in the men under his command, with +whom, moreover, he was in these years thrown into unusually close +personal contact. But, in truth, the story, so far as he is concerned, +is too foolish to need any solemn refutation. It has been only examined +at this length as furnishing a signal instance of the recklessness with +which the misdeeds of others have been fathered on him.[19] + +The work Claverhouse now found to do must have been singularly +distasteful to one who had seen war on a great scale under such captains +as William and Conde. It was at once undignified and dangerous; and +though danger was all to his taste, it was one thing to risk one's life +in open battle with enemies worthy of a soldier's steel, and another and +very different thing to run the chance of a stray bullet from behind a +haystack or through a cottage window. The line of country he had to +patrol (for his work was really little more than that) was all too large +for the forces at his disposal. The enemies with whom he had mostly to +deal were either old men or women, for the Covenanters were well +supplied with intelligence, and generally had ample warning of his +movements, quick and indefatigable as they were. "If your lordship give +me any new orders, I will beg they may be kept as secret as possible, +and sent for me so suddenly as the information some of the favourers of +the fanatics are to send may be prevented."[20] And again: + + "I obeyed the orders about seizing persons in Galloway that + very night I received it, as far as it was possible; that is + to say, all that was within forty miles, which is the most + can be ridden in one night; and of six made search for, I + found only two, which are John Livingston, bailie of + Kirkcudbright, and John Black, treasurer there. The other + two bailies were fled, and their wives lying above the + clothes in the bed, and great candles lighted, waiting for + the coming of the party, and told them, they knew of their + coming, and had as good intelligence as they themselves; and + that if the other two were seized on, it was their own + faults, that would not contribute for intelligence. And the + truth is, they had time enough to be advertised, for the + order was dated the 15th, and came not to my hands till the + 20th. I laid the fellow in the guard that brought it, so + soon as I considered the date, where he has lain ever since, + and had it not been for respect to Mr. Maitland + [Lauderdale's nephew] who recommended him to me I would have + put him out of the troop with infamy."[21] + +The letters written during the first months of his commission are full +of warnings of this sort. And he had other complaints to make, which +must have been still more against the grain. He was so inadequately +supplied with money by the Council that he found it a hard matter to pay +his men, and harder still to pay the country people for the necessary +provisions and forage; for, so far from quartering his men at large upon +the peasantry, he seems, at any rate in those first months, to have been +scrupulous to pay at the current rates for all he required to a degree +that matches rather with the niceties of modern warfare than the customs +of those rough times. + +In March Claverhouse was appointed Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire by a +particular warrant from Whitehall, and Andrew Bruce of Earlshall, one of +his lieutenants, was nominated with him. This step gave great offence to +Queensberry, who, as Sheriff of the shires of Dumfries and Annandale, by +law held all such patronage in his own hand, and marks the beginning of +the petty jealousy which from this time forward he seems to have shown +to Claverhouse whenever he dared, and which rose afterwards, as we shall +see, to a serious height. But Queensberry was no match for Lauderdale; +and Claverhouse was duly settled in his new office, which, while +strengthening his hands and enabling him to dispense with many tedious +formalities, at the same time considerably increased his labours. + +And so winter passed into spring, and still Claverhouse found no work +more worthy of him than patrolling the country, arranging for his men's +quarters, examining suspected persons, and endeavouring to persuade the +Government to leave him not entirely penniless. More than once he sent +word to Edinburgh that he believed something serious was afoot. "I +find," he writes to Linlithgow on April 21st, "Mr. Welsh is accustoming +both ends of the country to face the king's forces, and certainly +intends to break out into open rebellion." This Welsh is a famous figure +in Covenanting history. Grandson to a man whose name was long held in +affectionate memory by his party as that of the "incomparable John Welsh +of Ayr," and great-grandson to no less a hero than John Knox himself, he +was on his own account a memorable man. He had inaugurated the first +conventicle, and had ever since been zealous in promoting them and +officiating at them among the wild hills and moorlands of the western +shires, till his name had become a byword among the soldiers for his +courage in braving and his skill in evading them. But though one of the +most resolute and indefatigable of the ministers of the Covenant, he was +also one of the most moderate and sensible. Had no one among them been +more eager than he to carry the war into the enemy's country there had +been no Bothwell Bridge. And, indeed, we shall find him seriously taken +to task by the more extreme of the party as a backslider from the good +cause for his endeavour to avert that disastrous affair. + +Yet Claverhouse was right. Something very serious was soon to be afoot. +During the last few weeks the Covenanters had been notoriously growing +bolder. They did not always now, as hitherto, content themselves with +evading the soldiers: they became in their turn the aggressors. More +than once an outlying post of Claverhouse's men had been fired upon; +and on one occasion a couple of the dragoons had been savagely murdered +in cold blood. Even Wodrow found himself forced to own that about this +time "matters were running to sad heights among the armed followers of +some of the field meetings." But the trouble did not arise through John +Welsh. It came through a servant of the Crown who had been a sorer +plague to his countrymen than a myriad of disaffected ministers. + +On May 5th, Lord Ross[22] from Lanark, and on the 6th Claverhouse from +Dumfries, sent in their despatches to the commander-in-chief at +Edinburgh as usual. It is clear that neither of them had at that time +heard any rumour of an event which had happened a few days previously at +no very great distance from their quarters. On May 2nd the Primate of +Scotland had been dragged from his carriage as he was driving across an +open heath three miles out of Saint Andrews, and murdered in open day +before the eyes of his daughter. + +James Sharp, Archbishop of Saint Andrews, was at that time probably the +best-hated man in Scotland. Like all renegades he was in no favour even +with his own party, though Lauderdale found after trial that he could +not dispense with his support. Even the moderate Presbyterians, who +regarded the uncompromising Covenanters as the real cause of their +country's troubles, looked askance upon Sharp, as the man whom they had +chosen out of their number to save them and who had preferred to save +himself. By the Covenanters themselves he was assailed with every form +of obloquy as the Judas who had sold his God and his country for thirty +pieces of silver, and who had hounded on the servants of the King to +spill the blood of the saints. Yet his murder was but an accident. +Eleven years before an attempt had, indeed, been made upon his life by +one Mitchell, a fanatical and apparently half-witted preacher, who was +after a long delay put to the torture and finally executed on a +confession which he had been induced to make after a promise from the +Privy Council that his life should be spared. It is said that Lauderdale +would have spared him, but Sharp was so vehement for his death that the +Duke dared not refuse. + +The chief promoters of the Archbishop's murder were Hackston of +Rathillet, Russell of Kettle, and John Balfour of Burley, or, more +correctly, of Kinloch. These three men were typical of the class who at +this time began to come to the front among the Covenanters, and by their +incapacity, folly, and brutality discredited and did their best to ruin +a cause whose original justice had been already too much obscured by +such parasites. It is impossible to believe that they, or such as they, +were inspired by any strong religious feelings. Hackston and Balfour +were men of some fortune, who had been free-livers in their youth, and +were now professing to expiate those errors by a gloomy and ferocious +asceticism. Both had a grudge against Sharp. Balfour had been accused of +malversation in the management of some property for which he was the +Archbishop's factor, and Hackston, his brother-in-law, had been +arrested as his bail and forced to make the money good. Russell, who has +left a curiously minute and cold-blooded narrative of this murder,[23] +was a man of headstrong and fiery temper. They had all those dangerous +gifts of eloquence which, coarse and uncouth as it sounds to our ears, +was, when liberally garnished with texts of Scripture, precisely such as +to inflame the heated tempers of an illiterate peasantry to madness. It +is important to distinguish men of this stamp from the genuine sufferers +for conscience' sake. The latter men were, indeed, often wrought up by +their crafty leaders to a pitch of blind and brutal fury which has done +much to lessen the sympathy that is justly theirs. But they were at the +bottom simple, sincere, and pious; and they can at least plead the +excuse of a long and relentless persecution for acts which the others +inspired and directed for motives which it would be difficult, perhaps, +to correctly analyse, but assuredly were not founded on an unmixed love +either for their country or their faith. Stripped of the veil of +religious enthusiasm which they knew so well how to assume, men of the +stamp of Sharp's murderers were in truth no other than those brawling +and selfish demagogues whom times of stir and revolution always have +brought and always will bring to the front. There need, in these days, +be no difficulty in understanding the characters of men who dress Murder +in the cloak of Religion and call her Liberty. + +Every child knows the story of the tragedy on Magus Moor. It will be +enough here to remind my readers, once more, that it was no preconcerted +plan, but a pure accident--or, as the murderers themselves called it, a +gift from God. The men I have named, with a few others, were really +after one Carmichael, who had made himself particularly odious by his +activity in collecting the fines levied on the disaffected. But +Carmichael, who was out hunting on the hills, had got wind of their +design and made his way home by another route. As the party were about +to separate in sullen disappointment, a messenger came to tell them that +the Archbishop's coach was in sight on the road to Saint Andrews. The +opportunity was too good to be lost. Hackston was asked to take the +command, but declined, alleging his cause of quarrel with Sharp, which +would, he declared, "mar the glory of the action, for it would be +imputed to his particular revenge." But, he added, he would not leave +them, nor "hinder them from what God had called them to." Upon this, +Balfour said, "Gentlemen, follow me;" and the whole party, some nine or +ten in number, rode off after the carriage, which could be seen in the +distance labouring heavily over the rugged track that traversed the +lonely expanse of heath. How the butcher's work was done: how Sharp +crawled on his knees to Hackston, saying, "You are a gentleman--you will +protect me," and how Hackston answered, "Sir, I shall never lay a hand +on you": how Balfour and the rest then drew their swords and finished +what their pistols had begun; and how the daughter was herself wounded +in her efforts to cover the body of her father--these things are +familiar to all. + +From May 6th to 29th no letters from Claverhouse have survived; but on +the latter date he sent a short despatch from Falkirk, announcing his +intention of joining his forces with Lord Ross to scatter a conventicle +of eighteen parishes which, he had just received news, were about (on +the following Sunday) to meet at Kilbryde Moor, four miles from Glasgow. +The following Sunday was June 1st, on which day Claverhouse was indeed +engaged with a conventicle; but in a fashion very different from any he +had anticipated. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] It is said that he used to tend these curls with very particular +care, attaching small leaden weights to them at night to keep them in +place,--a custom which, I am informed, has in these days been revived by +some dandies of the other sex. + +[16] This very much bears out Burnet's complaint against the Episcopal +clergy in Scotland, which has been so strenuously denied by Creichton. +"The clergy used to speak of that time as the poets do of the golden +age. They never interceded for any compassion to their people; nor did +they take care to live more regularly, or to labour more carefully. They +looked on the soldiery as their patrons; they were ever in their +company, complying with them in their excesses; and, if they were not +much wronged, they rather led them into them than checked them for +them."--"History of My Own Time," i. 334. + +[17] "The Laird of Lag," by Lieut.-Col. Fergusson, pp. 7-11. + +[18] His "History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland" was first +published in 1721. + +[19] This confusion was first pointed out by Aytoun in an appendix to +the second edition of his "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers." + +[20] Claverhouse to Linlithgow, December 28th, 1678. These letters are +all quoted from Napier's book. I have thought it better to give the date +of the letter than the reference to the page. + +[21] Claverhouse to Linlithgow, February 24th, 1679. + +[22] George, eleventh Lord Ross, was joined with Claverhouse in the +command of the western shires. He had married Lady Grizel Cochrane, +daughter of the first Earl of Dundonald, and aunt of the future Lady +Dundee. + +[23] Printed in Sharpe's edition of Kirkton's "History of the Church of +Scotland." It differs in some, but not very important, points from the +account printed in the same volume from Wodrow's manuscripts. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The die was now fairly cast. In a general rising lay the only hope of +safety for Sharp's murderers. Desperate themselves, they determined to +carry others with them along the same path, and by some signal show of +defiance commit the party to immediate and irretrievable action. The +occasion for this was easily found. May 29th, the King's birthday, had +been, as already mentioned, appointed as a general day of rejoicing for +his restoration. This had from the first given offence as well to those +members of the Presbyterian Church who saw in his Majesty's return no +particular cause for joy, as to those more ascetic spirits who objected +on principle to all holidays. May 29th was therefore hailed as the day +divinely marked, as it were, for the purpose on hand, a crowning +challenge to the King's authority. + +The business was put in charge of Robert Hamilton, a man of good birth +and education, but violent and rash, without any capacity for command +and, if some of his own side may be trusted, of no very certain courage. +With him went Thomas Douglas, one of the fire-breathing ministers, +Balfour and Russell and some seventy or eighty armed men. Glasgow had +been originally chosen for the scene of operations; but a day or two +previously a detachment of Claverhouse's troopers had marched into that +city from Falkirk, and the little town of Rutherglen, about two miles to +the west of Glasgow, was chosen instead. + +On the afternoon of the 29th Hamilton and his party made their +appearance in Rutherglen. They first extinguished the bonfire that was +blazing in the King's honour; and, having then lit one on their own +account, proceeded solemnly to burn all the Acts of Parliament and Royal +Proclamations that had been issued in Scotland since Charles's return. A +paper was next read, containing a vigorous protest against all +interferences of the English Government with the Presbyterian religion, +and especially those subsequent to the Restoration. This paper, which +was styled the Declaration and Testimony of some of the true +Presbyterian party in Scotland, was then nailed to the market-cross of +the little town, and the party withdrew. All this, be it remembered, was +done within only two miles of the royal forces, some of whom, it is +said, were actually spectators of the whole affair at scarce +musket-shot's distance. It was fortunate for the party that Claverhouse +was not in Glasgow at the time. + +He was then in Falkirk, from which place he had, as we have seen, +written to Linlithgow on the very day of the Rutherglen business of a +rumour he had heard of some particular gathering appointed for the +following Sunday, June 1st. Though he did not believe it, he thought it +well to join forces with Ross in case there might be need for action. +This was done at Glasgow on Saturday; and at once Claverhouse set off +for Rutherglen to inquire into the affair of the 29th. As soon as he +had got the names of the ringleaders he sent patrols out to scour the +neighbourhood for them. A few prisoners were picked up, and among them +one King, a noted orator of the conventicles, formerly chaplain to Lord +Cardross, whose service he had left, it is said, on account of a little +misadventure with one of the maid-servants. The troops halted for the +night at Strathavon, and early next morning set off with their prisoners +for Glasgow. On the way Claverhouse determined on "a little tour, to see +if we could fall upon a conventicle," which, he ingenuously adds, "we +did, little to our advantage." + +During his search for the Rutherglen men he had heard more of the plans +for Sunday. It was clear something was in the air, and report named +Loudon Hill as the place of business, a steep and rocky eminence marking +the spot where the shires of Ayr, Lanark, and Renfrew meet. To Loudon +Hill accordingly Claverhouse turned his march, and soon found that +rumour had for once not exaggerated. + +Two miles to the east of the hill lies the little hamlet and farm of +Drumclog, even now but sparsely covered with coarse meadow-grass, and +then no more than a barren stretch of swampy moorland. South and north +the ground sloped gently down towards a marshy bottom through which ran +a stream, or dyke, fringed with stunted alder-bushes. On the foot of the +southern slope, across the dyke, the Covenanters were drawn up; and the +practised eye of Claverhouse saw at a glance that they had gathered +there not to pray but to fight. "When we came in sight of them," he +wrote to Linlithgow, "we found them drawn up in battle upon a most +advantageous ground, to which there was no coming but through mosses and +lakes. They were not preaching, and had got away all their women and +children."[24] They were ranged in three lines: those who had firearms +being placed nearest to the dyke, behind them a body of pikemen, and in +the rear the rest, armed with scythes set on poles, pitchforks, goads +and other such rustic weapons. On either flank was a small body of +mounted men. Hamilton was in command: Burley had charge of the horse; +and among others present that day was William Cleland, then but sixteen +years old, and destined ten years later to win a nobler title to fame by +a glorious death at the head of his Cameronians in the memorable defence +of Dunkeld. + +As usual, it is impossible to estimate with any exactness the strength +of either side. According to one of their own party, who was present, +the Covenanters did not exceed two hundred and fifty fighting men, of +whom fifty were mounted and the same proportion armed with guns. These +numbers have been accepted, of course, by Wodrow, and also by Dr. +Burton. But within a week this handful had, on Hamilton's own testimony, +grown to six thousand horse and foot; and though, no doubt, the success +at Drumclog would have materially swelled the Covenanting ranks, if they +were only two hundred and fifty on that day, the most liberal +calculation can hardly accept the numbers said to have been gathered on +Glasgow Moor six days later. Probably, if we increase the former total +and diminish the latter, we shall get nearer the mark; but it is +impossible to do more than conjecture. Sharpe, in the fragment printed +by Napier, rates Hamilton's force at six hundred. Claverhouse's own +estimate was "four battalions of foot, and all well armed with fusils +and pitchforks, and three squadrons of horse." His experience was more +likely to serve him in such matters than the untrained calculations of +men who were, moreover, naturally concerned to magnify the defeat of the +King's troops as much as possible; while it is clear from the tone of +his own despatch, which is singularly literal and straightforward, that +he had no wish, and did not even conceive it necessary, to excuse his +disaster. But here again the estimate helps us little, owing to the +vague use of the terms battalion and squadron. For the same reason we +can but guess at the strength of the royal force. In the writings of the +time Claverhouse's command is indiscriminately styled a regiment and a +troop. It is certain that he was the responsible officer, so that, +whatever its numerical strength, he stood to the body of men he +commanded in the relation that a colonel stands to his regiment. But it +is probable that his regiment, with those commanded by Home and Airlie, +were practically considered as the three troops of the Royal Scottish +Life Guards of whom the young Marquis of Montrose was colonel. From a +royal warrant of 1672, it appears that a troop of dragoons was rated at +eighty men, exclusive of officers, and that a regiment was to consist of +twelve troops. But it is hardly possible that this strength was ever +reached. From a passage in the third chapter of Macaulay's history it +does not seem as if the full complement of a regiment of cavalry can +have much exceeded four hundred men; but, I repeat, the indiscriminate +use of the terms troop and regiment, battalion and squadron, makes all +calculations theoretical and vague.[25] Scott puts the King's forces at +Drumclog at two hundred and fifty men; and, as a detachment had been +left behind in garrison with Ross's men at Glasgow, this is probably not +over the mark, if Macaulay's estimate of a regiment be correct. He also, +in the report Lord Evandale makes to his chief, rates the Covenanters at +near a thousand fighting men, which would probably tally with +Claverhouse's estimate. But, whatever the strength of either side may +have been, it is tolerably certain that the advantage that way was on +the side of the Covenanters. + +The description of the fight in "Old Mortality" is an admirable specimen +of the style in which Scott's genius could work the scantiest materials +to his will. All contemporary accounts of the fray are singularly meagre +and confused; and, indeed, the art of describing a battle was then very +much in its infancy. It is difficult, from Claverhouse's own despatch, +to get more than a general idea of the affair, which was probably after +the first few minutes but an indiscriminate _melee_. No doubt it was his +consciousness of some lack of clearness that inspired his apologetic +postscript: "My Lord, I am so wearied and so sleepy that I have written +this very confusedly." The flag of truce, which in the novel Claverhouse +sends down under charge of his nephew Cornet Graham to parley with the +Covenanters, was of Scott's own making, though it seems that a couple +of troopers were despatched in advance to survey the ground. Nor does +Claverhouse mention any kinsman of his, or any one of his name, as +having fallen that day: the only two officers he specifies are Captain +Blyth and Cornet Crafford, or Crawford, both of whom were killed by +Hamilton's first fire. But though Claverhouse mentions no one of his own +name, others do. By more than one contemporary writer one Robert Graham +is included among the slain. It is said that while at breakfast that +morning in Strathavon he had refused his dog meat, promising it a full +meal off the Whigs' bodies before night; "but instead of that," runs the +tale, "his dog was seen eating his own thrapple (for he was killed) by +several." Another version is, that the Covenanters, finding the name of +Graham wrought in the neck of the shirt, savagely mangled the dead body, +supposing it to be that of Claverhouse himself.[26] + +But to come from tradition to fact. The affair began with a sharp +skirmish of musketry on both sides. To every regiment of cavalry there +were then joined a certain proportion of dragoons who seem to have held +much the position of our mounted infantry, men skilled in the use of +firearms and accustomed to fight as well on foot as in the saddle. A +party of these advanced in open order down the hill to the brink of the +dyke and opened a smart fire on the Covenanters, who answered with +spirit, but both in their weapons and skill were naturally far inferior +to the royal soldiers. Meanwhile, some troopers had been sent out to +skirmish on either flank, and to try for a crossing. This they could not +find; but, unable to manoeuvre in the swampy ground, found instead +that their saddles were emptying fast. Then Hamilton, seeing that his +men were no match at long bowls for the dragoons, and marking the +confusion among the cavalry, gave the word to advance. By crossings +known only to themselves Burley led the horse over the dyke on one +flank, while young Cleland followed with the bulk of the foot on the +other. Claverhouse thereupon called in his skirmishers, and, advancing +his main body down the hill, the engagement became general. But in that +heavy ground the footmen had all the best of it. The scythes and +pitchforks made sad work among the poor floundering horses. His own +charger was so badly wounded that, in the rider's forcible language, +"its guts hung out half an ell;" yet the brave beast carried him safely +out of the press.[27] The troopers began to fall back, and Burley, +coming up on sound ground with his horse, flung himself on them so hotly +that the retreat became something very like a rout. Claverhouse, to +whose courage and energy that day his enemies bear grudging witness, did +all that a brave captain could, but his men had now got completely out +of hand. "I saved the standards" (one of which had been for a moment +taken) "and made the best retreat the confusion of our people would +suffer." So he wrote to Linlithgow, but he made no attempt to disguise +his defeat. He owns to having lost eight or ten men among the cavalry, +besides wounded; and the dragoons lost many more. Only five or six of +the Covenanters seem to have fallen, among whom was one of Sharp's +murderers. This does not speak very well for their opponents' fire; but +then we have only the testimony of their own historians to go by. +Claverhouse himself could say no more than that "they are not come +easily off on the other side, for I saw several of them fall before we +came to the shock." + +Pell-mell went the rout over the hill and across the moorland to +Strathavon, through which the Life Guards had marched but a few hours +before in all their bravery. As their captain passed by the place where +his prisoner of the morning, John King, was now lustily chanting a psalm +of triumph, the reverend gentleman called out to him, with audacity +worthy of Gabriel Kettledrummle, "to stay the afternoon sermon." At +Strathavon the townspeople drew out to bar their passage, but the fear +of their pursuers lent the flying troopers fresh heart: "we took +courage," writes Claverhouse, "and fell to them, made them run, leaving +a dozen on the place." Through Strathavon they clattered, and never drew +rein till they found themselves safe in Glasgow among their own +comrades. + +Fortunately the pursuit had slackened, or it might have gone ill with +the garrison in Glasgow. Claverhouse's men had no doubt fine tales to +tell of the fury of the Whig devils behind them; and had Hamilton been +strong enough in cavalry to enter the town at the heels of the flying +troopers it is not likely that he would have met with much opposition. +The pursuit, however, did not follow far. Thanksgivings had to be made +for the victory, and the prisoners to be looked to. All these, according +to Wodrow, were let go after being disarmed; but Hamilton himself tells +a very different tale. His orders had been strict that there should be +no quarter that day; but on his return from the pursuit he found that +his orders had been disobeyed. Five prisoners had been dismissed, and +were already out of his reach: two others were waiting while their +captors debated on their fate. Then Hamilton, furious that any of +"Babel's brats" should be let go, slew one of these with his own hand, +to stay any such unreasonable spirit of mercy, "lest the Lord would not +honour us to do much more for him."[28] + +That night the Covenanting captains stayed at Lord Loudon's house, +where, though the master had deemed it prudent to keep out of the way, +they were hospitably entertained by her ladyship. The next morning they +continued their march to Glasgow. + +Claverhouse was ready for them. The town was too open a place to be +properly barricaded, but he had caused some sort of breastwork to be +raised near the market-cross as cover for his men, and patrols had been +out since daybreak to watch Hamilton's movements. That worthy was +reported to be dividing his men into two bodies, one of which presently +marched on the town by the Gallowgate bridge, while the other took a +much longer route by the High Church and College. It was thus possible +to deal with the first before the latter could come to its assistance. +This was very effectually done. About ten in the morning the attack was +made by way of the bridge, led by Hamilton in person.[29] But the +welcome which met them from the barricades was too warm for the +Covenanters. They broke and fled at the first fire, Claverhouse and Ross +at the head of their men chasing them out of the town. Meanwhile, their +comrades, descending the hill on the other side, saw what was going on, +and, having no mind for a similar welcome, turned about and made off by +the way they had come. The two parties joined and halted for a while at +the place they had occupied on the previous night; but when they heard +Claverhouse's trumpets sounding again to horse they fell back to +Hamilton Park, where it was not thought prudent to follow them. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[24] Claverhouse to Linlithgow, June 1st, 1679. This is the famous +despatch which Scott says was spelled like a chambermaid's. The original +is now among the Stow Manuscripts in the British Museum. + +[25] Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army" (Second +Dragoons): Macaulay's History, i. 305-8. + +[26] Russell's account of Sharp's murder, Kirkton, p. 442. See also +Creichton's Memoirs, though the captain was not present at the fight, +having remained in garrison at Glasgow. In a Latin poem, "Bellum +Bothuellianum," by Andrew Guild, now in the Advocates' Library at +Edinburgh, are the following lines: + + "Tum rabiosa cohors, misereri nescia, stratos + Invadit, laceratque viros: hic signifer, eheu! + Trajectus globulo, Graemus, quo fortior alter + Inter Scotigenas fuerat, nec justior ullus: + Hunc manibus rapuere feris, faciemque virilem + Foedarunt, lingua, auriculis, manibusque resectis + Aspera diffuso spargentes saxa cerebro." + +The passage is quoted at length in the notes to "Old Mortality." Sharpe, +in his notes to Kirkton, says, on the authority of Wodrow, that Cornet +Graham was shot by one John Alstoun, a miller's son, and tenant of Weir +of Blackwood. This is not correct. There was a Cornet Graham so killed, +but not till three years after Drumclog. + +[27] "With a pitchfork they made such an openeing in my rone horse's +belly." Sir Walter, following tradition, has mounted Claverhouse on a +coal-black charger without a single white hair in its body, a present, +according to the legends of the time, from the Devil to his favourite +servant. See also Aytoun's fine ballad "The Burial March of Dundee": + + "Then our leader rode among us + On his war-horse black as night; + Well the Cameronian rebels + Knew that charger in the fight." + +[28] Kirkton, 444, note. + +[29] It was reported by some of his own party that as his men entered +the town Hamilton withdrew into a house at the Gallowgate to wait the +issue. But it would be no more fair to take this report for truth than +it would be to assume that Claverhouse really forbad burial to the dead +Whigs, that the dogs might eat them where they lay in the streets. There +was too much quarrelling in the Covenanting camp to allow us to take for +granted all their judgments on each other when unfavourable; and at +Drumclog Hamilton seems by all accounts to have borne himself bravely +enough, whatever he may have done subsequently. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +There is no letter from Claverhouse in this year, 1679, later than that +reporting the defeat at Drumclog. There was, indeed, no occasion for him +to write. As soon as the news of his defeat and the attack on Glasgow +had reached the Council, orders were at once sent for the forces to +withdraw from the latter place and join Linlithgow at Stirling. After +Bothwell Bridge had been won he was sent again into the West on the +weary work that we have already seen him employed on. But during the +intervening time his independent command had ceased. At the same time +there is no reason to suppose that he was in any disgrace for the defeat +at Drumclog. He had committed the fault, not uncommon, as military +history teaches, with more experienced leaders than Claverhouse, of +holding his foe too cheaply: he had committed this fault, and he had +paid the penalty. There is some vague story of a sealed commission not +to be opened till in the presence of the enemy, and when opened on the +slope of Drumclog containing strict orders to give battle wherever and +whenever the chance might serve. But the story rests on too slight +authority to count for much. His own temperament would have made him +fight without any sealed orders; and, indeed, he had not long before +written to Linlithgow that he was determined to do so on the first +occasion, and had warned his men to that effect. The wisdom of his +resolve is clear. Disgusted with their work, discontented with the +hardness of their fare and the infrequency of their pay, in perpetual +danger of their lives from unseen enemies, his soldiers were getting out +of hand. Claverhouse was the sternest of disciplinarians; but the +discipline of those days was a very different thing from our +interpretation of the word. It was more a recognition by the soldier of +the superior strength and possibilities of his officer, than trained +obedience to an inevitable law. When they once had satisfied themselves +that their captain was unable to bring the enemy to book, was unable +even to provide them with proper rations and pay, no love for the flag +would have kept them together for another hour. It was essential for +Claverhouse to show them that he and they were more than a match for +their foes whenever and in whatever form the opportunity came. +Unfortunately for him it came in the form of Drumclog, and the proof had +still to be given. + +But it is abundantly clear that no stain was considered to rest either +on his honour or his skill. The only ungenerous reference to his +discomfiture came a few years later in the shape of a growl from old +Dalziel against the folly of splitting the army up into small +detachments at the discretion of rash and incompetent leaders. +Claverhouse was removed from his independent command only because the +circumstances of the moment made it necessary. When it was found +necessary to despatch a regular army against the insurgents (as, for all +their provocation, they must after Drumclog be styled), he took his +proper place in that army as captain of a troop in the Royal Scottish +Life Guards. When the brief campaign had closed at Bothwell Bridge, and, +worst fortune for him, affairs had resumed their original complexion, he +went back to his old position. + +It will be necessary, then, to supply this gap in Claverhouse's +correspondence by a brief review of the state of things from the battle +of Drumclog to the date of his new commission. + +The garrison of Glasgow had, as we have seen, joined Linlithgow at +Stirling. There they lay for a day or two till orders were received from +the Council for the whole army, which only numbered about eighteen +hundred men in all, to fall back on Edinburgh. In the capital the +greatest consternation reigned. The first proceeding of the Council was +to proclaim the rising "an open, manifest, and horrid rebellion," and +all the insurgents were summoned to surrender at discretion as +"desperate and incorrigible traitors." Having thus satisfied their +diplomatic consciences they wisely proceeded to more practical measures. +The militia was called out, horse and foot, in all the Lowlands, save in +the disaffected shires. For those north of the Forth the rendezvous was +at Stirling, for those south on the links of Leith. Each man was to +bring provisions with him for ten days. The magistrates were ordered to +remove all the powder and other munitions of war they could find in the +city to the Castle. An armed guard was stationed night and day in the +Canongate, and another in the Abbey. Finally, a post was sent to London +on Linlithgow's advice to urge the instant despatch of more troops, and +two shillings and sixpence a day of extra pay was promised to every foot +soldier. + +They were not disturbed in their preparations. The Covenanters were too +busy with their own affairs to take much heed what their enemies might +be doing. They did, indeed, march into Glasgow, but beyond shooting a +poor wretch whom they vowed they recognised as having fought against +them on the 2nd, and possibly indulging in a little looting, they did +nothing. They did not stay long in the town. Plans they seem to have had +none, nor any settled organisation or discipline. Moving restlessly +about the neighbourhood from village to village and from moor to moor, +their preachers exhorted and harangued as much against each other as +against Pope or Prelate, and their leaders quarrelled as though there +were not a King's soldier in all Scotland, nor Claverhouse within a +dozen miles of them eager for the moment to strike. There was no lack of +arms among them, and their numbers seem at this time to have been not +far short of eight thousand. But no men of any position or influence in +the country had joined them with the exception of Hamilton; and his +authority, whether the story of his cowardice at Glasgow be true or not, +was not what it had been at Rutherglen and Drumclog. The preachers +seemed to have exercised the only control over the rabble; and such +control, as was natural, seems rarely to have lasted beyond the length +of their sermons, which, indeed, were not commonly short. As the +Covenanters (to keep to the distinguishing name I have chosen) were an +extreme section of the Presbyterians, so now the Covenanters themselves +were divided into a moderate and an extreme party. The chiefs of the +former, or Erastians as their opponents scornfully termed them, were +John Welsh and David Hume. Of Hume there is no particular account, but +Welsh we have met before. Though he had been under denunciation as a +rebel ever since the Pentland rising (in which he had, indeed, borne no +part), he had never given his voice for war; and, though assuredly +neither a coward nor a trimmer, had always kept from any active share in +the proceedings of his more tumultuous brethren. His plan, and the plan +of the few who at that time and place were on his side, was temperate +and reasonable. They asked for no more than they were willing to give. +Against the King, his government, and his bishops they had no quarrel, +if only they were suffered to worship God after their own fashion. +Though they themselves had not accepted the Indulgence, they were not +disposed to be unduly severe with those who had. In a word, they were +willing to extend to all men the liberty they demanded for themselves. +Had there been more of this wise mind among the Covenanters--among the +Presbyterians, one may indeed say--though it is hardly possible to +believe that Lauderdale and his crew would not still have found occasion +for oppression, it would be much easier to find sympathy for the +oppressed. + +On the other side, Hamilton himself, Donald Cargill, and Thomas Douglas +were the most conspicuous in words, while Hackston, Burley, and the rest +of Sharp's murderers were, of course, with them. Hamilton and Douglas we +know. Cargill, like Douglas, was a minister: he had received a good +education at Aberdeen and Saint Andrews, but had soon fallen into +disgrace for the disloyalty and virulence of his language. In a sermon +on the anniversary of the Restoration he had declared from his pulpit +that the King's name should "stink while the world stands for treachery, +tyranny, and lechery."[30] In this party all was confused, extravagant, +fierce, unreasoning. What they wanted, what they were fighting to get, +from whom they expected to get it, even their own historians are unable +to explain, and probably they themselves had no very clear notions. They +talked of liberty, by which they seem to have meant no more than liberty +to kill all who on any point thought otherwise than they did: of +freedom, which meant freedom from all laws save their own passions: of +the God of their fathers, and every day they violated alike His precepts +and their practice. To slay and spare not was their watchword; but whom +they were to slay, or what was to be gained or done when the slaying was +accomplished, no two men among them were agreed. For the moment the +current of their fury seems to have set most strongly against the +Indulgence and those who had accepted its terms. A single instance will +show pretty clearly the state of insubordination into which those +unhappy men had fallen. It was announced that one Rae, a favourite +expounder on the moderate side, was about to preach on a certain day in +camp. Hamilton, who still retained the nominal command, sent him a +letter bidding him not spare the Indulgence. To this Rae, who does not +seem himself to have been in any position of authority, made answer that +Hamilton had better mind what belonged to him, and not go beyond his +sphere and station.[31] It would not be difficult to draw a parallel +between the condition of the Covenanting camp at that time and the +so-called Irish Party of our own time. Indeed, if any body will be at +the trouble to examine the contemporary accounts of Hamilton and his +followers, and particularly their language, much of which has been +faithfully chronicled by their admirers, they will be surprised to find +how closely the parallel may be pushed. + +Meanwhile, on the other side preparations went briskly forward. A strong +detachment of regular troops was at once despatched from London, with +the young Duke of Monmouth himself in command. Great pains have been +taken both by contemporary and later writers to explain the reason of +this appointment. It was designed, they have said, to render him +unpopular in Scotland. It is certainly possible that he might have been +sent to Scotland to get him out of the way of his admirers in England, +who just at that time were somewhat inconveniently noisy in their +admiration. But the appointment does not seem to need any very subtle +explanation. Monmouth was the King's favourite son. He had served his +apprenticeship to the trade of war in the Low Countries, and under such +captains as Turenne and William of Orange. He was popular with the +people for his personal courage, his good looks, his pleasant manners, +and above all for his Protestantism--a matter with him possibly more of +policy than principle, but which served among the common people to gain +him the affectionate nickname of The Protestant Duke, and to +distinguish him in their eyes as the natural antagonist to the unpopular +and Popish James. With all his faults Monmouth was no tyrant, and +Charles himself was rather careless than cruel. This appointment, +therefore, was taken in Scotland to signify a disposition on the King's +part to employ gentle means if possible with the insurgents, and as such +was not altogether approved of. Gentle means were not much to the taste +of the presiding spirits of the Council-Board at Edinburgh, whose native +ferocity had certainly not been softened by the fright and confusion of +the last few days. It was particularly requested, therefore, that +Dalziel might be named second in command, who might well be trusted to +counteract any unseasonable leniency on Monmouth's part. Fortunately for +the insurgents the old savage did not receive his commission till the +day after the battle. + +Monmouth left London on June 15th and reached Edinburgh on the 18th. He +at once took the field. Montrose commanded the cavalry, Linlithgow the +foot: Claverhouse rode at the head of his troop under his kinsman, and +the Earls of Home and Airlie were there in charge of their respective +troops: Mar held a command of foot. Many other Scotch noblemen and +gentlemen of position followed the army as volunteers. Some Highlanders +and a considerable body of militia made up a force which has been put as +high as fifteen thousand men, but probably did not exceed half that +number. + +The near approach of the royal troops only increased the quarrelling and +confusion in the insurgent camp, which was pitched now at Hamilton. Some +friends at Edinburgh had sent word to them that Monmouth might be found +not indisposed to treat; and that it would be best for them to stand off +for a while, and not on any account be drawn into fighting. But the idea +of treating only inflamed the more violent. On the 21st a council was +called which began in mutual recrimination and abuse, and ended in a +furious quarrel. Hamilton drew his sword, vociferating that it was drawn +as much against the King's curates and the minions of the Indulgence as +against the English dragoons, and left the meeting followed by Cargill, +Douglas and the more violent of his party. Disgusted with the scene, and +convinced of the hopelessness of a cause supported by such men, many +left the camp and returned to their own homes. Welsh and the moderate +leaders resolved to take matters into their own hands. On the morning of +the 22nd Monmouth had reached Bothwell. His advance guard held the +little town about a quarter of a mile distant from the river: his main +body was encamped on the moor. Shortly after daybreak he was surprised +by a visit from Welsh, Hume and another of their party, Fergusson of +Caitloch. Monmouth received them courteously, and heard them with +patience while they read to him a paper (known in Covenanting annals as +the Hamilton Declaration) they had drawn up detailing their grievances +and their demands. The first were indisputable: the second were, as has +been said, moderate. Monmouth was, however, forced to answer that he +could not treat with armed rebels. If they would lay down their arms and +surrender at discretion, he promised to do all he could to gain them not +only present pardon but tolerance in the future. Meanwhile, he said, +they had best return to their camp, report his message, and bring him +back an answer within half an hour's time. They returned, only to find +confusion worse confounded, and their own lives even in some danger from +the furious Hamilton. + +The half-hour passed, and no further sign of submission was made. +Monmouth bid the advance be sounded, and the Foot Guards, commanded by +young Livingstone, Linlithgow's eldest son, moved down to the bridge. +Just at that spot the Clyde is deep and narrow, running swiftly between +steep banks fringed on the western side with bushes of alder and hazel. +The bridge itself was only twelve feet wide, and guarded in the centre +with a gate-house. The post was a strong one for defence, and had there +been any military skill, or even unity of purpose, among the defendants, +Monmouth would have had to buy his passage dear. Hackston of Rathillet +had thrown himself with a small body of determined men into the +gate-house, while Burley, with a few who could hold their muskets +straight, took up his post among the alder-bushes. The rest stood idly +by while their comrades fought. For about an hour Hackston held the gate +till his powder was spent. He sent to Hamilton for more, or for fresh +troops, but the only answer he received was an order to retire. He had +no choice but to fall back on the main body, which he found at that +supreme moment busily engaged in cashiering their officers, and +quarrelling over the choice of new ones. The English foot then crossed +the bridge: Monmouth followed leisurely at the head of the horse, while +his cannon played from the eastern bank on the disordered masses of the +Covenanters. A few Galloway men, better mounted and officered than the +rest of their fellows, spurred out against the Life Guards as they were +filing off the narrow bridge, but were at once ordered back by Hamilton. +The rest of the horse in taking up fresh ground to avoid the English +cannon completed the disorder of the foot--if, indeed, anything were +wanted to complete the disorder of a rabble which had never known the +meaning of the word order; and a general forward movement of the royal +troops, who had now all passed the bridge, gave the signal for flight. +Hamilton was the first to obey it, thus, in the words of an eye-witness, +"leaving the world to debate whether he acted most like a traitor, a +coward, or a fool."[32] Twelve hundred of the poor wretches surrendered +at discretion: the rest fled in all directions. Monmouth ordered quarter +to be given to all who asked it, and there is no doubt that he was able +considerably to diminish the slaughter. Comparatively few fell at the +bridge, but four or five hundred are said to have fallen, "murdered up +and down the fields," says Wodrow, "wherever the soldiers met them, +without mercy." Mercy was not a conspicuous quality of the soldiery of +those days; and the discovery of a huge gallows in the insurgents' camp, +with a cartload of new ropes at the foot, was not likely to stay the +hands of men who knew well enough that had the fortune of war been +different those ropes would have been round their necks without any +mercy. But it is clear that Monmouth was able to save many. When Dalziel +arrived next day in camp and learned how things had gone, he rebuked +the Duke to his face for betraying his command. "Had I come a day +sooner," he said, "these rogues should never have troubled his majesty +or the kingdom any more."[33] + +There is no authority for attributing to Claverhouse himself any +particular ferocity. We may be pretty sure that the Covenanting +chroniclers would not have refrained from another fling at their +favourite scapegoat could they have found a stone to their hand; but as +a matter of fact, in no account of the battle is he mentioned, save by +name only, as having been present with his troop in Monmouth's army. The +fiery and vindictive part assigned to him by Scott rests on the +authority of the most amazing tissue of absurdities ever woven out of +the inventive fancy of a ballad-monger.[34] He had no kinsman's death to +avenge, and he was too good a soldier to directly disobey his chief's +orders, however little they may have been to his taste. + +There is, moreover, positive evidence to the contrary. Six years after +the battle one Robert Smith, of Dunscore, who had been among the rebel +horsemen at Bothwell, deposed that as they, some sixteen hundred in +number, were in retreat towards Carrick, he saw the royal cavalry halted +within less than a mile from the field, and this was considered by the +fugitives to have been done to favour their escape. "For," he went on, +"if they had followed us they had certainly killed or taken us all." It +is clear, therefore, that whatever Claverhouse might have done had he +been left to himself, or whatever he may have wished to do--what he did +do was, in common with the rest of the army, to obey his superior's +orders. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[30] "Lives of the Scots Worthies," p. 383. + +[31] Wodrow, iii. 93. + +[32] Wodrow, iii. 107. + +[33] Creichton, pp. 37-8. + +[34] See some doggrel verses on the battle in "The Minstrelsy of the +Scottish Border," in which Claverhouse is represented as posting off to +London from the field of battle and, by means of false witnesses, +bringing Monmouth to the scaffold as a traitor who had given quarter to +the King's enemies. Sir Walter, of course, knew very well what he was +about; but it did not seem to him necessary to write fiction with the +nice exactness of the historian; nor was he, happily for us, of that +scrupulous order of minds which conceives that a cruel wrong has been +done to the reputation of a man who has been in his grave for nearly a +century and a half by employing the colours of tradition to heighten the +pictures of fancy. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Could Monmouth's influence have lasted, their defeat at Bothwell Bridge +might have turned out well for the Covenanters. As soon as he had led +his army back into quarters, he hastened to London, where he so strongly +represented the brutal folly and mismanagement of Lauderdale's +government, that he prevailed upon the King to try once more the effect +of gentler measures. An indemnity was granted for the past, and even +some limited form of indulgence for the future. But the unexpected +return of the Duke of York from Holland put an end to all these humane +counsels. Monmouth was himself soon again in disgrace; and Lauderdale, +though his power was now past its height, was still strong enough to +mould to his own will concessions for which the time had now perhaps +irrevocably gone. + +The twelve hundred prisoners from Bothwell were marched in chains to +Edinburgh, and penned like sheep in the churchyard of the Grey Friars, +the building which barely forty years before had witnessed the +triumphant birth of that Covenant which was, if ever covenant of man +was, assuredly to be baptized in blood. Two of them, and both ministers, +were immediately executed: five others, as though to appease the cruel +ghost of Sharp, were hanged on Magus Moor: of the rest, the most part +were set at liberty on giving bonds for their future good behaviour, +while the more obstinate were shipped off to the plantations. + +Claverhouse was now sent back to his old employment. Though none of his +own letters of this time have survived, it is clear from an Order of the +Privy Council that shortly after the affair at Bothwell he was again +entrusted with the control of the rebellious shires. There is +unfortunately no record of his own by which it is possible to check the +vague charges of Wodrow, who wisely declines to commit himself to +particulars on the ground that "multitudes of instances, once flagrant, +are now at this distance lost," while not a few, he candidly admits, +"were never distinctly known." In the rare cases in which he becomes +more specific in his complaints, he does not make it clear that the +offences were committed in Claverhouse's presence, nor even that they +were always committed by soldiers of his troop--"the soldiers under +Claverhouse" seem to stand with him for all the royal forces then +employed in the western shires. That what he calls "spulies, +depredations, and violences" were committed on Claverhouse's authority +may be freely granted: they were precisely such as a strict obedience to +the letter (and no less to the spirit) of his commission would have +enjoined--the levying of fines, the seizure of arms, horses, and other +movable property from all suspected of any share in the rebellion who +would not absolve themselves by taking the oath of abjuration, and from +all resetters, or harbourers, of known rebels. It would be idle to +refuse to believe that many unjust and cruel acts were not committed at +this time, as we know they were committed subsequently, merely because +they cannot be succinctly proved. It is unlikely that Claverhouse +himself wasted over-much time on sifting every case that was brought in +to him by his spies; and where he was not himself present--and it must +be remembered that he was not the only officer engaged in this service, +and also that his own soldiers were often employed under his lieutenants +on duties he was personally unable to attend to--it is hard to doubt +that much wild and brutal work went on. The whole case, in short, except +in a very few instances (which will be examined elsewhere), is one +solely of hearsay and tradition; and it is no more than common justice +in any attempt to define Claverhouse's share in it, to give him the +benefit of the doubt where it is not directly contrary to the proved +facts and the evidence of his despatches. For Claverhouse, it should be +also and always remembered, may be implicitly trusted to speak the truth +in these matters, for the simple reason that he was not in the least +ashamed of his work. We may well believe that it was not the work he +would have chosen; but it was the work he had been set to do; and his +concern was only to execute it as completely as possible. He was a +soldier, obeying the orders of his superiors, for which they and they +only were responsible. That their orders matched with his feelings, +religious as well as political, for Claverhouse was as thorough in his +devotion to the Church as he was in his devotion to the Crown, mattered +nothing. The whole question was to him one of military obedience. Sorely +as he may have chafed at the order, he halted his troopers on the banks +of the Clyde when Monmouth's trumpets sounded the recall, with the same +readiness and composure that he showed in leading them to the charge +down the slopes of Drumclog; and he would have led them against his +brothers-in-arms Ross or James Douglas, had they turned rebels, as +straightly and keenly as he led them against Hamilton and Burley. At the +same time both his letters and his actions show that he did his best to +discriminate between the ringleaders and the crowd: between the brawling +demagogues or the meddlesome priests and the honest ignorant peasants, +whose only crime was that they wished to worship God after a fashion the +Government chose to discountenance. It is not necessary to assume that +he was moved thereto by any softness of heart: common-sense, and a +sense, too, of justice, would suffice to show him where to strike. And +it will hereafter be seen that, where his commission was large enough, +he more than once exercised a discretion not entirely to the taste of +the more thorough-going zealots of the Edinburgh Council-board. + +The only distinct evidence we have of him at this time is contained in +the aforesaid Orders of Council. From these it appears that he had been +charged by the Scottish Treasury with appropriating the public moneys to +his use. He had been appointed for his services trustee to the Crown of +the estate of one Macdowall of Freugh, an outlawed Galloway laird; and +of this estate it was alleged that he would render no accounts, nor of +the fines he had been commissioned to levy on the non-abjuring rebels. +With characteristic fearlessness Claverhouse went straight to London, +and in a personal interview satisfied Charles of his innocence, who +forthwith ordered him to be reinstated in his commission and all the +privileges belonging to it.[35] It is clear, however, that during the +greater part of the year 1680 Claverhouse was suspended from both his +civil and military employments, and this will account for the duty of +punishing the authors of the Sanquhar Declaration devolving not upon +him, but upon his lieutenant, Bruce of Earlshall. + +The prime mover of the Sanquhar Declaration was Richard Cameron, who had +now become the head of the extreme party, henceforth to be known by his +name--a name which still survives as that of a distinguished regiment of +the British army. It was framed in much the same language and to much +the same purpose as its predecessor of Rutherglen, though it would not +be right to degrade Cameron to the level of Hamilton and his ruffianly +associates. It took its title from having been fixed to the market-cross +of Sanquhar, a small town in Dumfriesshire, on June 22nd, 1680. Exactly +a month later Claverhouse's troopers (though, as I have said, not +commanded by Claverhouse himself) came upon the Cameronians in a +desolate spot among the wilds of Ayrshire, known as Aird's Moss. Richard +Cameron was killed at the first charge: Donald Cargill and Hackston of +Rathillet were made prisoners. Both were taken to Edinburgh and +executed, the latter with circumstances of needless barbarity. + +Though Claverhouse was reinstated in his commission, he does not appear +to have been actively employed during the year 1681, the second year of +the Duke of York's administration in Scotland, and the year also of the +Test and Succession Acts, which were destined to cost another Argyle his +head. Early in 1682 the Duke of York returned to England, to which fact +Wodrow attributes "a sort of respite of severities," notwithstanding +that Claverhouse was once more commissioned for his old work in the +West, and with even ampler authority than before. In addition to his +military powers, he was appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire and +Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire and the Stewartries of Kirkcudbright and +Annandale; and he was also specially invested with a commission to hold +criminal courts in the first-named shire and to try delinquents by jury. +His letters to Queensberry[36] begin in February 1682, and from this +time onward his actions become easier to follow. These letters give a +very full and fair idea of his method of procedure, and in one of them +is a passage worth quoting as evidence how far that method as yet +deserved the hard epithets which have been so freely lavished on it. The +despatch is dated from Newton in Galloway, March 1st, 1682. + + "The proposal I wrote to your Lordship of, for securing the + peace, I am sure will please in all things but one,--that it + will be somewhat out of the King's pocket. The way that I + see taken in other places is to put laws severely, against + great and small, in execution; which is very just; but what + effects does that produce, but more to exasperate and + alienate the hearts of the whole body of the people; for it + renders three desperate where it gains one; and your + Lordship knows that in the greatest crimes it is thought + wisest to pardon the multitude and punish the ringleaders, + where the number of the guilty is great, as in this case of + whole countries. Wherefore, I have taken another course + here. I have called two or three parishes together at one + Church, and, after intimating to them the power I have, I + read them a libel narrating all the Acts of Parliament + against the fanatics; whereby I made them sensible how much + they were in the King's reverence, and assured them he was + relenting nothing of his former severity against dissenters, + nor care of maintaining the established government; as they + might see by his doubling the fines in the late Act of + Parliament; and in the end told them, that the King had no + design to ruin any of his subjects he could reclaim, nor I + to enrich myself by their crimes; and therefore any who + would resolve to conform, and live regularly, might expect + favour; excepting only resetters and ringleaders. Upon this, + on Sunday last, there was about three hundred people at + Kirkcudbright Church; some that for seven years before had + never been there. So that I do expect that within a short + time I could bring two parts of three to the Church. But + when I have done,--that is all to no purpose. For we will be + no sooner gone, but in comes their Ministers, and all repent + and fall back to their old ways. So that it is vain to think + of any settlement here, without a constant force placed in + garrison. And this is the opinion of all the honest men + here, and their desire. For there are some of them, do what + they like, they cannot keep the preacher from their houses + in their absence, so mad are some of their wives." + +His remedy was to raise a hundred dragoons for a permanent garrison: the +Crown was to pay the soldiers, and the country would find maintenance +for the horses, he bearing his own part as "a Galloway laird," which he +was as trustee of Macdowall's estate. The command of this new force he +was willing to undertake without any additional pay. + +It does not seem that this remedy was ever sanctioned; but at any rate +Claverhouse so managed matters that a month later he was able to report +to the Council that all was "in perfect peace." + + "All who were in the rebellion are either seized, gone out + of the country, or treating their peace; and they have + already so conformed, as to going to the Church, that it is + beyond my expectation. In Dumfries not only almost all the + men are come, but the women have given obedience; and + Irongray, Welsh's own parish, have for the most part + conformed; and so it is all over the country. So that, if I + be suffered to stay any time here, I do expect to see this + the best settled part of the Kingdom on this side the Tay. + And if these dragoons were fixed which I wrote your Lordship + about, I might promise for the continuance of it.... All + this is done without having received a farthing money, + either in Nithsdale, Annandale, or Kirkcudbright; or + imprisoned anybody. But, in end, there will be need to make + examples of the stubborn that will not comply. Nor will + there be any danger in this after we have gained the great + body of the people; to whom I am become acceptable enough; + having passed all bygones, upon bonds of regular carriage + hereafter."[37] + +For these services Claverhouse was summoned to Edinburgh to receive the +thanks of the Council, to whom he presented an official report of his +proceedings which is no more than a summary of his letters to +Queensberry.[38] + +It was not likely that a man so uniformly successful and of such high +spirit would be able to steer clear of all offence to men, who probably +felt towards him much as Elizabeth's old courtiers felt towards the +triumphant and masterful Raleigh. Nor, conscious of his own powers and +confident in the royal favour, is it probable that he was always at much +pains to avoid offence, for, though neither a quarrelsome nor a wilful +man, he had his own opinions, and was not shy of expressing them when he +saw fit to do so. With all his constitutional regard for authority and +his soldier's respect for discipline, Claverhouse would suffer himself +to be browbeaten by no one. In those jealous intriguing days a man who +could not fight for his own hand was bound to go down in the struggle. +Claverhouse was now to give a signal proof that he both could and would +fight for his when the need came. + +The Dalrymples of Stair had been settled in Galloway for many +generations. Sir James, the head of the house, was one of the first +lawyers of the day, and had held the Chair of Philosophy in the +University of Glasgow: the son, Sir John (afterwards to earn an undying +name in history as prime mover in the Massacre of Glencoe), was +heritable Baillie in the regality of Glenluce. There had been bad blood +between them and Claverhouse for some time past. The father had not +profited sufficiently by his studies either in law or philosophy to +recognise the folly of a man in disgrace venturing to measure swords +with one of fortune's favourites. And Sir James at the time of his +quarrel with Claverhouse was in disgrace. At the close of 1681 he had +been dismissed from the office of President of the Court of Session for +refusing the Test Act; and for some while previously he had been coldly +regarded for his advocacy of gentler measures than suited Lauderdale and +his creatures. The Dalrymples were strict Presbyterians; and though the +men were too cautious to meddle openly with treasonable matters, their +womenfolk were notoriously in active sympathy with the rebels. All +through Claverhouse's letters of this time run allusions to some great +personage whom it might be wise to make an example of, and he himself +had taken an early opportunity of impressing on Sir James the necessity +of caution.[39] But the latter would not be warned. He set himself +against Claverhouse at every opportunity, both openly and in secret. He +wrote long querulous letters to Edinburgh, complaining of the latter's +disrespect. Finally, when he found it prudent to leave the country for a +while, his son carried the business to a height by bringing a formal +charge against Claverhouse of extortion and malversation. The latter saw +his opportunity, and at once carried the war into the enemy's country. +He preferred a specific bill of complaint against Sir John, in the +course of which it came out that he had been offered a bribe both by +father and son not to interfere with their hereditary jurisdictions; +and, notwithstanding the exertions of Sir George Lockhart and +Fountainhall, the most eminent counsel of the Scottish bar, utterly +defeated him on every point. The Court found that Sir John Dalrymple had +been guilty of employing rebels and of winking at treasonable practices: +of not exacting the proper fines by law ordained for such misdemeanours: +of stirring up the country-folk against the King's troops; and, finally, +of grossly misrepresenting Claverhouse to the Council. For these +offences he was sentenced to pay a fine of five hundred pounds and the +whole costs of the proceedings, and to be imprisoned in the Castle of +Edinburgh till the money should be paid. Claverhouse, on his side, +received not only a full and most complimentary acquittal from all his +adversary's charges, but also a signal proof of the royal favour in the +presentation to a regiment of cavalry raised especially for this +purpose. His commission was dated December 25th, 1682, and in the +following March he was sent into England with despatches from the +Council to the King and the Duke of York, who was still nominally +Commissioner for Scottish Affairs.[40] + +Hitherto Claverhouse may be said to have stood conspicuous among the men +of his time for his persistent refusal to enrich himself at the public +cost. He had certainly had many opportunities, as had a still more +famous captain after him, of wondering at his own moderation, yet his +enemies had been unable to bring home to him a single instance of +malpractice. But we have now come to an episode in his life for which +an extremely virtuous or an extremely censorious moralist might, were he +so minded, find occasion to re-echo the popular epithet of rapacious. +Claverhouse was in no sense of the word an avaricious man; but, like all +sensible men, he had a strong belief in the truth of the maxim, the +labourer is worthy of his hire. He had laboured long and successfully; +and the time, he thought, had now come for his hire. + +Lauderdale was dying, and from every side the vultures were flocking +fast to their prey. In those days politicians looked for promotion +mainly to the death or disgrace of their comrades, and the death of any +powerful statesman generally meant the disgrace of his family. All +parties were now busy in anticipation over the rich booty that was so +soon to come into the market. His brother and heir, Charles Maitland of +Hatton, was attacked before the breath was out of the old man's body. +Among the many lucrative posts he enjoyed, the most lucrative was that +of Governor (or General, as the style went) of the Scottish Mint. At the +instigation of Sir George Gordon of Haddo, who had become in quick +succession President of the Court of Session, Lord Chancellor, and Earl +of Aberdeen, a Commission was appointed to inquire into the state of the +coinage, with the result that Maitland (by this time Earl of Lauderdale, +for the dukedom began and ended with his brother) was declared to have +appropriated to his own use no less than seventy thousand pounds of the +revenue. In the general division of spoil which this verdict gave signal +for, Claverhouse saw no reason why he should go empty away. Eleven years +previously, when the old statesman was at the height of his evil power, +his brother had been appointed Constable of Dundee and presented with +the estate of Dudhope, lying conveniently near to Claverhouse's few +paternal acres. A bargain, which would have seemed in those days no +disgraceful thing to any human being, was accordingly struck between +Claverhouse and the various claimants for the dead man's shoes. +Queensberry, though but lately advanced to a marquisate, had set his +heart upon a dukedom: the Chancellor was in want of money to support his +new honours. And there were other petitioners for the good offices of +the ambassador to Whitehall: Huntly and the Earl Marischal and Sir +George Mackenzie had each marked his share of the general prize. To one +and all Claverhouse promised his services; and they on their part were +to advance by all means in their power his designs on the fat acres of +Dudhope. All this, no doubt, sounds very contemptible to us now, who +manage these matters so much more circumspectly; but it must be +remembered that Lauderdale, though his offence was probably greatly +exaggerated, and though a large part of the fine in which he had been +originally cast was in fact remitted, had certainly been guilty of gross +carelessness, if not of actual malversation; while Claverhouse on his +pact offered to pay, and did pay, whatever sum might be legally fixed as +due for his share of the booty.[41] + +All these bargains were in time brought to a successful issue. +Claverhouse was in England from the beginning of March to the middle of +May. He was with the Court at Newmarket, Windsor, and London, always in +high favour, but at the former place finding the King more eager for his +company at the cockpit and race-course than in the council-chamber.[42] +Early in May he returned to Scotland, and shortly after his return he +took his seat at Edinburgh as a Privy Councillor. This was his present +reward: Dudhope and the Constabulary were to follow later, with +Queensberry's and Huntly's dukedoms and the other honours. But Dudhope +was not destined to drop into his lap. The Chancellor, whom he counted +as his particular friend, had played him false. Lauderdale's fine had +been reduced by Charles from seventy thousand pounds to twenty thousand, +sixteen thousand of which were granted to the Chancellor and four +thousand to Claverhouse. But should Lauderdale and his son agree to +assign to the Chancellor under an unburdened title the lands and +lordship of Dundee and Dudhope, then the whole sum was to be remitted, +Lauderdale binding himself to discharge the fines inflicted on his +subordinates. Power was also given to Claverhouse to redeem this +property from the Chancellor at twenty years' purchase; and it seems +also to have been privately agreed between them that the purchase-money +was not to be exacted, on condition of the former buying certain other +lands in the neighbourhood that the latter wished to dispose of. But the +crafty Chancellor saw an easier and quieter way to get hold of his +money. For the sum of eight thousand pounds he privately relinquished +all his rights to Lauderdale, thus leaving the latter free to deal with +Claverhouse on his own terms. This bit of sharp practice was effected in +August 1683; and it was not till the following March that the business +was finally settled, after a long and tedious wrangle before the Court, +in the course of which Claverhouse seemed to have found occasion to +speak his mind pretty sharply to the Chancellor. On the question of the +former's right to demand Dudhope on the terms of twenty years' purchase +Lauderdale had to give way; but on the other question of clearing the +title he was so difficult to deal with that the King himself had to +interfere; and not till a peremptory order had gone down from Whitehall, +cancelling the royal pardon till all the terms of the original agreement +had been satisfactorily settled, was the affair finally closed, the +title cleared, and Claverhouse established as master of the long-coveted +estate. + +It was not till the autumn of 1684 that Claverhouse found himself master +of Dudhope and Constable of Dundee. Meanwhile one of the few domestic +events of his life that have come down to us had taken place. On June +10th he had been married to the Lady Jean Cochrane, granddaughter to the +old Earl of Dundonald. + +This young lady was the daughter of William, Lord Cochrane, by +Catherine, daughter of the Presbyterian Earl of Cassilis and sister to +that Lady Margaret Kennedy whom Gilbert Burnet had married. Her father +had died before Claverhouse came on the scene, leaving seven children, +of whom Jean was the youngest. Her mother, whose notoriously Whiggish +sympathies had brought both her husband and father-in-law into +suspicion, was furiously opposed to the match; though worldly prudence +may have touched her heart as well as religious scruple, for +Claverhouse, though he had risen fast and was marked by all men as +destined to rise still higher, was hardly as yet perhaps a very eligible +husband for the pretty Lady Jean. But in truth it was a strange family +for him to seek a wife in, and many were the whispered gibes the news of +his courtship provoked at Edinburgh. Was this strong Samson, men asked, +to fall a prey at last to a Whiggish Delilah? Hamilton, whose own +loyalty was by no means unimpeachable, and who was no friend to +Claverhouse, affected to be much distressed by the Lady Susannah's +partiality for the young Lord Cochrane, and made great parade of his +disinclination to give his daughter to the son of such a mother without +the express consent of the King; and this Claverhouse chose to take as a +hit at him, who had not thought it necessary to ask any one's permission +to choose his own wife. Affairs were still further complicated by the +backslidings of Sir John Cochrane, Lady Jean's uncle, a notorious rebel +who was then in hiding for his complicity with Russell and Sidney, and +was even suspected of knowing something of that darker affair of the Rye +House. Claverhouse was furious at the gossip. "My Lord Duke Hamilton," +he wrote to Queensberry, + + "has refused to treat of giving his daughter to my Lord + Cochrane, till he should have the King and the Duke's leave. + This, I understand, has been advised him, to load me. + Wherefore I have written to the Duke, and told him that I + would have done it sooner, had I not judged it presumption + in me to trouble his Highness with my little concerns; and + that I looked upon myself as a cleanser, that may cure + others by coming amongst them, but cannot be infected by any + plague of Presbytery; besides, that I saw nothing singular + in my Lord Dundonald's case, save that he has but one rebel + on his land for ten that the lords and lairds of the south + and west have on theirs; and that he is willing to depone + that he knew not of there being such. The Duke is juster + than to charge my Lord Dundonald with Sir John's crimes. He + is a madman, and let him perish; they deserve to be damned + that own him. The Duke knows what it is to have sons and + nephews that follow not advice. I have taken pains to know + the state of the country's guilt as to reset; and if I make + it not appear that my Lord Dundonald is one of the clearest + of all that country, and can hardly be reached in law, I am + content to pay his fine. I never pleaded for any, nor shall + I hereafter. But I must say I think it hard that no regard + is had to a man in so favourable circumstances--I mean + considering others--upon my account, and that nobody offered + to meddle with him till they heard I was likely to be + concerned in him.... Whatever come of this, let not my + enemies misrepresent me. They may abuse the Duke for a time, + and hardly. But, or long, I will, in despite of them, let + the world see that it is not in the power of love, nor any + other folly, to alter my loyalty." + +And again on the same day: + + "For my own part, I look upon myself as a cleanser. I may + cure people guilty of that plague of Presbytery by + conversing with them, but cannot be infected. And I see very + little of that amongst those persons but may be easily + rubbed off. And for the young lady herself, I shall answer + for her. Had she not been right principled, she would never, + in despite of her mother and relations, made choice of a + persecutor, as they call me."[43] + +The young lady seems to have been well-favoured, though it is not easy +to learn much from the female portraits of those days, which are all +very much of a piece. What else she may have been it is impossible to +say. She is a name in her husband's history and nothing more, and in the +few stormy years that were yet to run for him she could not well have +been much more. However, she seems to have been well pleased with her +handsome lover; and, in spite of her mother's opposition, the marriage +was pushed briskly forward. The contract was signed at Paisley on June +10th, and on the following day the marriage was celebrated at the same +place. Lady Catherine's is not among the signatures; but there is to be +seen the almost illegible scrawl of the old grandfather and of Euphrame +his wife, a daughter of Sir William Scott of Ardross. The bride's eldest +brother, whose own marriage with the Lady Susannah Hamilton was soon to +follow, and her cousin John, son of the outlaw of Ochiltree, were also +among the witnesses; and for the bridegroom, his brother-in-arms Lord +Ross[44] and Colin Mackenzie, brother of the Lord Advocate, Sir George +of Rosehaugh. The lady's jointure was fixed at five thousand merks Scots +(something over two hundred and seventy pounds of English money), +secured on certain property in Forfarshire and Perthshire; while she on +her side brought her husband what in those days was reckoned a very +comfortable fortune for a younger child.[45] + +The marriage was made under an evil star. Hardly had the blessing been +spoken when word came down in haste from Glasgow that the Whigs were up. +Since the Sanquhar Declaration and the deaths of Cameron and Cargill, +the Covenanters had been comparatively quiet. The work of pacification +had indeed not slackened, but rather taken a fresh departure in the +appointment of a Court of High Commission, or Justiciary Circuit, which +in the summer of 1683 was held in the towns of Stirling, Glasgow, Ayr, +Dumfries, Jedburgh, and Edinburgh. Claverhouse was expressly ordered to +attend the justices in their progress as captain of the forces, except +at places where the Commander-in-Chief would naturally be present. But +though the discovery of the Rye House Plot had just then stirred the +kingdom to its centre, and given fresh energies both to the Government +and its enemies, only three men suffered during this circuit, of whom +two were convicted murderers. In each town members of the gentry as well +as of the common people flocked to take the Test; some to clear +themselves of suspicion, others only to air their loyalty, but all, in +the words of the report, cheerfully. Where time, moreover, was asked for +consideration, it was granted on good security. But from the end of +July, 1683, to the day of his marriage, Claverhouse seems to have been +occupied almost entirely with his duties as Councillor at Edinburgh, and +only to have left the capital for brief tours of inspection through the +western garrisons. + +But with the day of his marriage came a change. On the previous Sunday +news had been brought to Glasgow of an unusually large and well-armed +conventicle to be held at Blacklock, a moor on the borders of +Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire. Dalziel (who was in church when the +message came, but who did not suffer his duty towards God to interfere +with his duty towards man) put the soldiers on the track at once; but +for the next eight-and-forty hours the country from Hamilton northwards +to the ford of Clyde was scoured in vain. The Covenanters marched fast, +and the country folk, many of them probably still fresh from the Test, +kept their secret well. Claverhouse was sent for in haste from Paisley. +He was in the saddle and away before the bridal party could recover from +their first shock of surprise. But even Claverhouse was foiled. His +lieutenant, however, had better luck. Colonel Buchan, as he was +returning to Paisley by way of Lismahago, came upon an ambuscade of two +hundred Covenanters, whose advanced post fired on and wounded one of the +soldiers.[46] "They followed the rogues," wrote Claverhouse to +Queensberry, "and advertised Colonel Buchan; but before he could come +up, our party had lost sight of them. Colonel Buchan is yet in pursuit +and I am just taking horse. I shall be revenged some time or other of +this unseasonable trouble these dogs give me. They might have let +Tuesday pass." This despatch was written from Paisley on the morning of +the 13th, while fresh horses were being saddled. By noon he was off +again, and for the next three days rode fast and far, leaving "no den, +no knowl, no moss, no hill unsearched." He could track his game from +Aird's Moss to within two miles of Cumnock town, and thence on towards +Cairntable. But there all traces of them had vanished. + + "We could never hear more of them. I sent on Friday night + for my troop from Dumfries, and ordered them to march by the + Sanquhar to the Muirkirk, to the Ploughlands, and so to + Streven. I sent for Captain Strachan's troop from the + Glenkens, and ordered him to march to the old castle of + Cumloch, down to the Sorne, and through the country to + Kilbryde, leaving Mauchline and Newmills on his left, and + Loudon-hill on his right. By this means they scoured this + country, and secured the passages that way. Colonel Buchan + marched with the foot and the dragoons some miles on the + right of my troop, and I, with the Guards and my Lord Ross + and his troop, up by the [Shaire?]. We were at the head of + Douglas. We were round and over Cairntable. We were at + Greenock-head, Cummer-head, and through all the moors, + mosses, hills, glens, woods; and spread in small parties, + and ranged as if we had been at hunting, and down to + Blackwood, but could learn nothing of those rogues. So the + troops being extremely harassed with marching so much on + grounds never trod on before, I have sent them with Colonel + Buchan to rest at Dalmellington, till we see where these + rogues will start up. We examined all on oath, and offered + money, and threatened terribly, for intelligence, but we + could learn no more."[47] + +The "rogues" were to start up soon and with a vengeance. On a day in +July (the date is not specified) a party of troopers were escorting +sixteen prisoners to Dumfries. They were Claverhouse's men, but their +captain was not with them. At Enterkin Hill, a narrow pass with a deep +precipice on either side, a rescue was attempted by a considerable body +of men,--English Borderers, it was whispered. Some of the prisoners +escaped: others were killed in the scuffle or broke their necks over the +precipice: only two were brought into Edinburgh: a few of the soldiers +were also killed. This audacious affair spurred the Government on to new +energies. The garrisons were increased through all the western shires. +Claverhouse, with Buchan for his second in command, was put in charge of +all the forces in Ayrshire and Clydesdale, and a special civil +commission was added to their military powers. + +At length, towards the end of August, there was a lull, and the master +of Dudhope was able at last to enjoy the society of his bride and the +pleasures of a country life. But of the latter he soon grew weary. +"Though I stay a few days here," he wrote to Queensberry on August 25th, +"I hope none will reproach me of eating the bread of idleness." That, at +least, is a reproach his worst enemies have never tried to fasten on +him. To be doing something was, indeed, a necessity of his existence; +and his duties as Constable soon furnished him with something to do. In +the Tolbooth of Dundee lay a number of poor wretches whom the hard laws +of the time had sentenced to death for various offences, the gravest of +which did not rise above theft. It was within the Constable's power to +order them at any moment for execution; and doubtless some of those who +have meddled with his life, had they been aware of this circumstance in +it, would have risked the conclusion that he did so. Yet, strange as it +may seem, he exerted himself to save the prisoners. And he exerted +himself so successfully that not only was the capital sentence reprieved +to such milder punishment as he might order, but the same license was +granted to him for dealing with all future criminals of the same +class.[48] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[35] "We have spoken to him about it," runs the royal Order, "and he +doth positively assert that while he was in Scotland he received not one +farthing upon that account" (Napier, ii. 238). The two Orders are dated +respectively February 3rd and 26th, 1681. + +[36] The Marquis of Queensberry was then Lord Treasurer, and +practically, since Lauderdale's disgrace, first Minister of Scotland. + +[37] Claverhouse to Queensberry, April 1st, 1682. + +[38] A copy of this report was printed in the Aberdeen Papers (1851) +from the original in Claverhouse's own hand: Napier, ii. 276. + +[39] "Here in the shire I find the lairds all following the example of a +late great man, and still a considerable heritor here among them; which +is, to live regularly themselves, but have their houses constant haunts +of rebels and intercommuned persons, and have their children baptized by +the same; and then lay all the blame on their wives; condemning them, +and swearing they cannot help what is done in their absence." +Claverhouse to Queensberry, March 5th, 1682. + +[40] Napier, ii. 285-309. + +[41] "I must beg your Lordship's assistance in that business of the +lands of Dudhope. My Lord Chancellor designs nothing but to sell it, and +buy lands in the north, seeing he is to get Stirling Castle to dwell in. +Wherefore I desire leave to ask the house of Dudhope, and the +Constabulary, and other jurisdictions of Dundee belonging to my Lord +Lauderdale; and I offer to buy forty chalders of victual from my Lord +Chancellor lying about it [meaning the land bearing so much, at a +valuation], though I should sell other lands to do it. I have no house, +and it lies within half-a-mile of my land; and all that business would +be extremely convenient for me, and signify not much to my Lord +Chancellor, especially seeing I am willing to buy the land. I would take +this for the greatest favour in the world, for I cannot have the +patience to build and plant." Claverhouse to Queensberry, March 20th, +1683. + +[42] "It is hard to get any business done here. I walked but nine miles +this morning with the King, besides cock-fighting and courses." +Claverhouse to Queensberry, Newmarket, March 9th, 1683. + +[43] Both these letters were written from Edinburgh, May 19th, 1684. + +[44] William, twelfth Lord Ross, son of the one previously mentioned. + +[45] Napier, ii. 385-393. The contract was first printed in the volume +of Claverhouse's letters edited by George Smythe for the Bannatyne Club +in 1826. That volume contains also portraits of the bride and +bridegroom, a drawing of which was made by Sharpe for Napier. The +portrait of the latter is the one known as the Leven portrait, now in +possession of Lady Elizabeth Cartwright. The portrait of Lady Jean is +from a picture then belonging to the editor. There is also an engraving +of a mourning ring belonging to the editor's grandmother, Catherine +Cochrane, wife of David Smythe of Methven, said to have been given to +her by her father, Lady Dundee's brother. The ring contains a lock of +Dundee's hair, on which the letters V.D. are worked in gold, with a +Viscount's coronet above. The motto is "Great Dundee for God and me. J. +Rex." One child was born of the marriage in April 1689, and he died +three months after his father fell at Killiecrankie. Lady Dundee married +secondly William Livingstone, afterwards Lord Kilsyth, of whom mention +will be made elsewhere. A son was born also of this marriage, but in the +autumn of 1695 both mother and child were killed by the fall of a house +in Holland. Lord Kilsyth was "out in the Fifteen," and died an outlaw at +Rome in 1733, after which the title became extinct. Napier (iii., +Appendix 2) gives a curious account of the opening of Lady Dundee's +coffin more than a hundred years after her burial in the family vault at +Kilsyth Church. + +[46] "So when we came to Streven (Strathavon), I left the command to +Colonel Buchan, and desired him to return the troops to their quarters; +but, in his march, to search the skirts of the hills and moors on the +Clydesdale side; which he did, and gave me an account that, going in by +the Greenock-head, he met a man that lives down on Clydeside, that was +up buying wool, who told him that on Lidburn, which is in the heart of +the hills on the Clydesdale side, he had seen a great number of rebels +in arms, and told how he had considered the commanders of them. One of +them, he said, was a lusty black man with one eye, and the other was a +good-like man, and wore a grey hat. The first had on a velvet cap. But +before he (Colonel Buchan) could come near the place, a party of foot, +that he had sent to march on his right, fell accidentally on them. Four +of our soldiers going before to discover, were fired on by seven that +started up out of a glen, and one of ours was wounded. They fired at the +rebels, who, seeing our party of foot making up, and the horse in sight, +took the alarm, and gained the hills, which was all moss." Claverhouse +to the Archbishop of Saint Andrews (Alexander Burnet), Paisley, June +16th, 1684. + +[47] Claverhouse to the Archbishop, Paisley, June 16th, 1684. + +[48] "Privy Council Register," Edinburgh, September 10th, 1684: Napier, +ii. 410. + + + + +CHAPTER VII.[49] + + +I propose now to examine, with more care than there has yet been +occasion for, those charges of wanton and illegal cruelty which have for +close upon two centuries formed the basis of the popular--I had almost +written the historical--conception of the character of Claverhouse. I +have used the words "illegal cruelty" because Claverhouse is not only +commonly believed to have far surpassed all his contemporaries in his +treatment of the Scottish Covenanters, but to have even gone beyond the +sanction of a law little disposed to be illiberal in such matters. Some +reason has, I trust, been already shown for at least reconsidering the +popular verdict. But as we are now approaching that period of his life +when, for a time all too short for his own reputation, Claverhouse at +last found free play for those eminent abilities which none have denied +him, it will be well, before passing into this larger field, to be +finally rid of a most tiresome and distasteful duty. The controversial +element is, I fear, inseparable from this part of the subject, but I +shall endeavour to do with as little of it as possible. + +Although the significant title of "the Killing Time" seems to have been +occasionally used in Scotland during the subsequent century to cover the +whole period from Lauderdale's administration to the Revolution, yet the +phrase was originally and more properly applied to the years of James's +reign alone. The most notorious of the acts attributed to Claverhouse +were, as a fact, committed within that time; but it will be more +convenient not to adhere too rigidly to chronological sequence, and to +take the charges rather in order of their notoriety and of the +importance of those who have assumed them to be true. Following this +order, the two first on the list will naturally be the death, by +Claverhouse's own hand, of John Brown, and the deaths, by drowning on +the sands of Solway Firth, of the two women, Margaret Maclachlan and +Margaret Wilson--popularly known as the Wigtown Martyrs. + +An attempt has been made to prove that this last affair is a pure +romance of Covenanting tradition. It has never been disputed that the +women were tried for high treason (that is to say, for refusing to +abjure the Covenant and to attend Episcopal worship) and condemned to +death; but it has been denied that the sentence was ever carried into +effect, on the strength of a reprieve granted by the Council at +Edinburgh before the day of execution. That a reprieve, or rather a +remand, was granted is certain, as the pages of the Council register +remain to this day to testify. But it is not so certain that the +decision of the Council at Edinburgh ever reached the magistrates at +Wigtown; and that, if it did reach them, they at least paid no attention +to it, remained for upwards of a century and a half the fixed opinion +of all writers and readers of history. The women were sentenced on April +18th, 1685: the remand is dated April 30th, but the period for which it +was to run has been left blank, pending the result of a recommendation +for full pardon with which it was accompanied: the sentence was executed +on May 11th--in Wodrow's words, "a black and very remarkable day for +blood in several places." + +It will be sufficient to indicate where the arguments employed to +discredit this affair may be found.[50] They do not practically amount +to more than this--that as a reprieve was certainly granted in the +Council Chamber at Edinburgh, the execution could not possibly have +taken place on the sands of the Solway. The case is indeed one which +those who will accept nothing that cannot be proved with mathematical +certainty will always find reasons for doubting; but at least they must +have read the history of those times to little purpose if they can +accept such an argument as conclusive. For the rest, it will be enough +to say that the story first found its way into print in 1687, and that +it was more circumstantially repeated in 1711, when the records of the +Kirk Session of the parish of Penninghame were published by direction of +the General Assembly. At that time Thomas Wilson, a brother of the +younger sufferer, was still alive, with many others to whom the +Killing-Time was something very much more than a tradition. In 1714 +(possibly to a later date, but certainly in that year) a stone in +Penninghame churchyard still marked the grave of Margaret Wilson, and +told the story of her death.[51] The ruins of the church may still be +seen, but the stone has long ago gone to join the dust that was once the +bones of Margaret; and an obelisk, raised within our own times on the +high ground outside the busy little seaport, now serves in statelier, if +less vital, fashion to recall to the traveller the memory of the Martyrs +of Wigtown. It is difficult to believe that a story so well and widely +recorded, and so firmly implanted in the hearts of so many generations +of men, can have absolutely no foundation in fact.[52] It is indeed +possible that time has embellished the bald brutality of the deed, +though the graphic narrative of Macaulay is practically that which +Wodrow took from the records of Penninghame. But that the two women +were drowned in the waters of the Blednock on May 11th, 1685, is surely +a fact as well authenticated as any in the martyrology of the Scottish +Covenant. + +There is, as I have said, an excellent reason for not dragging my +readers through the obscure and barren mazes of this controversy; and +like all good reasons it is a very simple one. Claverhouse was present +neither at the trial nor the execution. He had, indeed, no more to do +with the deaths of these two women than Cameron, who had been five years +in his grave, or Wodrow, who was but five years old. It is true that one +of his family was present, but this was his brother, David Graham, +Deputy Sheriff of Galloway, and but lately made one of the Lords +Justices of Wigtownshire. Macaulay does not directly name Claverhouse as +concerned in this affair; but it is one out of five selected by the +historian as samples of the crimes by which "he, and men like him, +goaded the Western peasantry into madness"--a consummation which, it may +be observed in passing, had been effected twelve years before +Claverhouse had drawn sword in Scotland. It is not certain that Macaulay +believed the Graham who sat in judgment on these women to have been John +Graham of Claverhouse. But it is certain that the effect of his +narrative has been, in the minds of most English-speaking men, to add +this also to the long list of mythical crimes which have blackened the +memory of the hero of Killiecrankie.[53] + +But over the other affair there rests no shadow of doubt. That +Claverhouse, and he alone, is responsible for the death of John Brown +stands on the very best authority, for it stands on his own. It is not, +indeed, certain that he shot the man with his own hand. This is Wodrow's +story, and as usual he gives no authority for it. "With some +difficulty," he writes, + + "he was allowed to pray, which he did with the greatest + liberty and melting, and withal in such suitable and + scriptural expressions, and in a peculiar judicious style, + he having great measures of the gift as well as the grace of + prayer, that the soldiers were affected and astonished; yea, + which is yet more singular, such convictions were left in + their bosoms that, as my informations bear, not one of them + would shoot him or obey Claverhouse's commands, so that he + was forced to turn executioner himself, and in a fret shot + him with his own hand, before his own door, his wife with a + young infant standing by, and she very near the time of her + delivery of another child. When tears and entreaties could + not prevail, and Claverhouse had shot him dead, I am + credibly informed the widow said to him, 'Well, sir, you + must give an account of what you have done.' Claverhouse + answered, 'To men I can be answerable, and as for God, I'll + take him into my own hand.' I am well informed that + Claverhouse himself frequently acknowledged afterwards that + John Brown's prayer left such impressions upon his spirit + that he could never get altogether worn off, when he gave + himself liberty to think of it."[54] + +Patrick Walker, the pedlar, writing a very few years after Wodrow (whom +he notices only to abuse for his inaccuracy and backsliding), and +professing to have got his version from the wife, tells a different +tale. "Claverhouse," he says, "ordered six soldiers to shoot him. The +most part of the bullets came upon his head, which scattered his brains +upon the ground." Of any refusal, or even disinclination, on the part of +the soldiers to obey their orders there is not a word. Then we have +Claverhouse's own report to Queensberry, written two days later from +Galston, a village between Kilmarnock and Ayr. + + "On Friday last, amongst the hills betwixt Douglas and the + Ploughlands, we pursued two fellows a great way through the + mosses, and in end seized them. They had no arms about them, + and denied they had any. But being asked if they would take + the abjuration, the eldest of the two, called John Brown, + refused it; nor would he swear not to rise in arms against + the King, but said he knew no king. Upon which, and there + being found bullets and match in his house, and treasonable + papers, I caused shoot him dead; which he suffered very + unconcernedly. The other, a young fellow and his nephew, + called John Brownen, offered to take the oath, but would not + swear that he had not been at Newmills in arms, at rescuing + of the prisoners. So I did not know what to do with him. I + was convinced that he was guilty, but saw not how to proceed + against him. Wherefore, after he had said his prayers, and + carabines presented to shoot him, I offered to him that, if + he would make an ingenuous confession, and make a discovery + that might be of any importance for the King's service, I + should delay putting him to death, and plead for him. Upon + which he confessed that he was at that attack of Newmills, + and that he had come straight to this house of his uncle's + on Sunday morning. In the time he was making this confession + the soldiers found out a house in the hill, under ground, + that could hold a dozen of men, and there were swords and + pistols in it; and this fellow declared that they belonged + to his uncle, and that he had lurked in that place ever + since Bothwell, where he was in arms.... He also gives + account of those who gave any assistance to his uncle; and + we have seized thereupon the goodman of the uppermost + Ploughlands, and another tenant about a mile below that is + fled upon it.... I have acquitted myself when I have told + your Grace the case. He has been but a month or two with his + halbert; and if your Grace thinks he deserves no mercy, + justice will pass on him; for I, having no commission of + justiciary myself, have delivered him up to the + Lieutenant-General, to be disposed of as he pleases."[55] + +It is singular that neither Wodrow nor Walker makes any mention of this +nephew, whose presence on that day, taken in connection with his share +in the affair at Newmills,[56] puts the uncle in rather a different +light. There happen also to be one or two affairs known about this John +Brown which are worth noting. For instance, his name is found on a list +of proscribed rebels and resetters of rebels, appended to a royal +proclamation of May 5th, 1684, which will naturally account for his +"having been a long time upon his hiding in the hills," as Wodrow +ingenuously confesses. In other words, this Brown was an outlaw and a +marked man. He was by profession a carrier--"the Christian carrier," his +friends called him, for the fervour and eloquence of his preaching, +which was remarkable even in a neighbourhood where the gift of tongues +was not uncommon. A carrier is an extremely useful channel of +communication; and, in fact, there can be really no doubt that Brown had +been for some time engaged in practices which the most iniquitous +Government in the world could hardly be blamed for thinking +inconvenient. It has been suggested that Claverhouse was at that time +especially on the watch to intercept all communication between Argyle +and Monmouth, and that Brown was employed in carrying intelligence +between the rebel camps. Macaulay refuses this suggestion. He points out +with perfect truth that both Argyle and Monmouth were at that time in +Holland. But when he goes on to say that there was no insurrection in +any part of our island, he goes rather too far. The western shires of +Scotland had been in a state of insurrection ever since the Pentland +rising, if there be any meaning in the word at all. And, though it is +true that on May 1st (the day of Brown's death) Argyle was in Holland, +it is no less true that on the second he had left Holland for Scotland; +that since April 21st the Privy Council had been well informed of his +designs; that measures had been taken for putting the whole kingdom in a +state of defence against him; and that arrests had been already made on +account of treasonable correspondence with him.[57] But the question is +not one of probabilities, and moreover against these probabilities it +may be very fairly urged that Claverhouse's own despatch proves that the +nephew's confession and the discovery of the underground armoury were +not made till after the uncle's death. Nor is there any word in this +despatch to show that Claverhouse had any previous knowledge of Brown or +was acting on particular information. The real question, and the only +question, is, was Claverhouse legally--not morally, that belongs to +another part of the case--was he legally justified in ordering the man +to be shot? To this there can be but one answer, so long as the phrase +"legal justification" bears the meaning it has hitherto borne for those +who use the English tongue: both by the spirit and the letter of his +commission he was justified in what he did. By the law of the Government +whose servant Claverhouse then was, the death of John Brown on that +Ayrshire moor was as lawful an act as the death on the scaffold of any +prisoner to-day found guilty by a jury of his countrymen. In October, +1684, the Covenanters had published a declaration, drawn up by Renwick, +of their intention to do unto all their enemies whom they could lay +hands on, civil no less than military, as their enemies had done and +should do unto them; and the deliberate murder of two troopers of the +Life Guards in the following month had shown (what, to be sure, can have +needed very little proof) that this was no idle threat.[58] An Act, +therefore, was hastily passed to the effect that, "Any person who owns +or will not disown the late treasonable declaration on oath, whether +they have arms or not, be immediately put to death, this being always +done in the presence of two witnesses, and the person or persons having +commission to that effect." With the severity, the folly, or the +injustice of such a law we are not for the moment concerned. The fact +remains that such was the law; and Claverhouse transgressed no jot of +it in ordering John Brown to death. It was no question of form of +religion: it was no question of previous misconduct. The man would not +take the oath; and he was accordingly shot in the presence of the +requisite number of witnesses by the order of a competent authority. + +On the truth of the details given both by Wodrow and Walker it is +impossible to form any conclusion. Wodrow gives no authority for his +version. "I am well informed," he says, "I am credibly informed," and so +on; but the sources of his information he nowhere gives. Walker is more +communicative; he, as we have seen, professed to have learned his story +from Brown's wife; but no statement of Walker's can be accepted for +absolute truth, and his uncertainty about even the names of his +witnesses does not add the stamp of conviction to their testimony.[59] +Beyond the bare fact that the man was shot in the presence of +Claverhouse nothing is certain. On the rest of the story each must make +up his mind as seems best to him. + +With the death of Peter Gillies and John Bryce Claverhouse is not +directly charged by Wodrow. Walker, however, quotes an epitaph said to +have been inscribed on the grave of these men, who, with three others, +were hanged, without trial, at Mauchline by + + "Bloody Dumbarton, Douglas, and Dundee, + Moved by the devil and the Laird of Lee." + +These lines must have been composed some years after the event, inasmuch +as the men were hanged on May 6th, 1685, and the patent of Claverhouse's +peerage bears the date November 12th, 1688. This proves, what indeed few +people can have doubted, that the damning testimony of "The Cloud of +Witnesses" wants at least the weight of contemporary evidence. An +authority, however, for this particular epitaph can be traced back to +1690, when Alexander Shields published his martyrology.[60] "The said +Claverhouse," he wrote, "together with the Earl of Dumbarton and +Lieut.-General Douglas, caused Peter Gillies, John Bryce, Thomas Young +(who was taken by the Laird of Lee), William Fiddisone, and John +Buiening to be put to death upon a gibbet, without legal trial or +sentence, suffering them neither to have a Bible nor to pray before they +died."[61] Defoe has evidently followed Shields;[62] but Walker, though +he quotes the aforesaid epitaph, does not himself implicate +Claverhouse. + +Wodrow does not appear to have heard any of these stories. He names only +Gillies and Bryce, quoting from the indictment, which does not specify +the other sufferers, to show that the men were tried before General +Drummond and a tribunal of fifteen soldiers on May 5th, and hanged on +the following day. We have already seen that a few days previously +Claverhouse had sent a prisoner for trial to this same General Drummond, +because he had himself at that time no commission to try prisoners. +Unless, therefore, we are ready to suppose that officers were in the +habit of sitting on a jury with their own troopers, or to believe that +within three days a change had taken place in Claverhouse's position of +which there is no record either in his own letters or in any other +existing document, we must accept Wodrow's narrative as the true one, +and exonerate Claverhouse from all responsibility for the deaths of +Gillies and his unfortunate fellow-sufferers. + +Two cases yet remain of the five cited by Macaulay. With one of +these--the case of the three men shot near Glasgow for refusing to pray +for the King--no writer has ever pretended to implicate Claverhouse +personally; but with the other he is directly concerned. Andrew Hislop +was the son of a poor widow in whose house a proscribed Covenanter had +lately died. This was discovered by one Johnstone of Westerhall, an +apostate Presbyterian, and, like most of his class, particularly bitter +against his former associates. He turned the woman with her younger +children into the fields, pulled down her house, and dragged the eldest +son before Claverhouse, then marching through that part of the country. +So Macaulay tells the story, following for once the "Cloud of Witnesses" +rather than Wodrow. According to the latter, Claverhouse found Hislop +wandering about the fields, and carried him before Westerhall, "without +any design, as appeared, to murder him." Westerhall voted for instant +death, while Claverhouse pleaded for the lad, and only yielded at last +on the other's insistence, saying: "The blood of this poor man be upon +you, Westerhall. I am free of it." He thereupon ordered the captain of a +Highland company, then brigaded with his own men, to provide a +firing-party; but the Highlanders angrily refused, and the troopers had +to do the work. Both versions, it will be seen, agree in representing +Claverhouse as inclined to mercy but overborne by Westerhall. The +question remains, how was it that the former, a masterful man and not +easy to be silenced when he was in the right, could not save this poor +lad if he had a mind to do so? + +The answer is in truth not easy to find. The explanation that Westerhall +was at that particular time superior in authority to Claverhouse will +hardly serve. It is true that the latter had just then no civil +jurisdiction at all, either to condemn or pardon--no commission of +justiciary, as he wrote to Queensberry. He had been since the close of +the previous year in disgrace at headquarters, in consequence of a +quarrel between him and the Treasurer, arising out of some action of +Colonel James Douglas, the latter's brother, of which Claverhouse seems +to have expressed his disapproval rather too warmly. His name had +accordingly been removed from the list of Privy Councillors soon after +James's accession, and himself deprived of all his civil powers. His +punishment did not indeed last long, nor was it allowed to affect his +military rights. An order for his restoration to the Council had been +signed on the very day of Hislop's death (though he did not take his +seat again till July), but his civil powers had not been renewed. +Westerhall was one of those who had in the previous year been empowered +by royal commission to try prisoners, and his commission was still +running when Claverhouse was disgraced. But on April 20th General +Drummond was appointed to the supreme authority in all the southern and +western shires, and his appointment was expressly declared to cancel all +other civil commissions previously granted. Unless, therefore, some +particular reservation had been made in Westerhall's favour, of which +there is no existing record, he had no more jurisdiction than +Claverhouse, and both were equally guilty of breaking the law. It was, +indeed, still open to Claverhouse to act as he had acted with John +Brown--to put the abjuration oath, and, on its being refused, to order +the recusant to instant execution. There is no mention by any of the +Covenanting writers that this oath was offered to Hislop. But unless it +was, it is difficult to see how either Westerhall or Claverhouse could +have been empowered to kill him. Nor is it likely that the latter, +knowing well how many sharp eyes were on the look-out in Edinburgh to +catch him tripping, would have ventured on so flagrant a breach of the +law. It must also be remembered that neither Wodrow nor Walker, nor any +writer on that side, has charged Claverhouse with exceeding the law. +They cry out against the cruelty of the deed, but on its unlawfulness +they are silent. We must suppose, therefore, that Hislop's case was the +case of John Brown: he had refused the oath, and was therefore liable to +death. But we cannot suppose that if Claverhouse had stood firm he could +not have saved the lad's life. It is absurd to believe that at the head +of his own soldiers, with another captain of the same way of thinking by +him, such a man as Claverhouse was not strong enough to carry his own +will against one who had not even the powers of an ordinary justice of +the peace. We must, therefore, conclude that he was unwilling at that +time to run the risk of further disgrace by any charge of unreasonable +leniency to rebels. Like Pilate, he was willing to let the prisoner go; +but, like Pilate again, he preferred his own convenience, and the +prisoner was put to death. + +On Defoe's list of victims murdered, as he calls it, by Claverhouse's +own hand is the name of Graham of Galloway. The young man, he says, +being pursued by the dragoons, had taken refuge in his mother's house; +but being driven out thence was overtaken by Claverhouse and shot dead +with a pistol, though he offered to surrender and begged hard for his +life. Shield so words his version of the story as to make it doubtful +whether the shot was fired by Claverhouse himself. In the "Cloud of +Witnesses" it is not even made certain that Claverhouse was present. At +the close of the year in which this alleged murder was committed Sir +John Dalrymple brought his action against Claverhouse. It is not likely +that so shrewd a lawyer would have overlooked such a chance as this, a +case of murder committed in his own country; for murder it would +certainly have been, were Defoe's story true. In 1682 military +executions had not been sanctioned by law; and for a soldier to shoot a +man offering to surrender would have been as clear a case of murder as +was the butchery on Magus Moor. Yet throughout Dalrymple's indictment is +no hint of any such offence. Claverhouse is accused of oppression by +excessive fines and illegal quartering of troops, of malversation, and +so forth; but of taking man's life unlawfully there is no single word. + +Another of Defoe's victims is Matthew Mekellwrath. Claverhouse, he says, +riding through Camonel in Carrick, saw a man run across the street in +front of the soldiers, as though to get out of their way, and instantly +ordered him to be shot, without any examination. In the "Cloud of +Witnesses" an epitaph is quoted to show that the man was shot for +refusing the abjuration oath. + +Next we find four men dragged out of a house at Auchencloy, on Dee-side, +where they had met for prayer, and shot before the door, without any +examination. Defoe gives the names of the four as John Grier, Robert +Fergusson, Archibald Stuart, and Robert Stuart. Shields substitutes for +Archibald Stuart the name of James Macmichael. In "The Cloud of +Witnesses" only Grier, Robert Stuart, and Fergusson are named. In +Wodrow's pages the four men become eight: of these four, as given by +Shields (Macmichael, however, being spelt Macmichan), were shot at once: +two more, Smith and Hunter, were carried to Kirkcudbright and hanged +after a form of trial: two, unnamed, got safe away. "It may be," adds +Wodrow, "the rescue of some prisoners at Kirkcudbright by some of the +wanderers, a little before this, was the pretext for all this cruelty." + +It may indeed have been so, and something more than a rescue of +prisoners may have helped. The affair on Dee-side took place December +18th, 1684. On the 11th of the same month (just after Renwick's +proclamation of war) a party of men, headed by James Macmichael, +murdered Peter Peirson, minister of Carsphairn, at his own door. Wodrow +cannot shirk this fact: he finds it detestable, and generally denounced +and disowned by the more respectable of the Covenanters; but he also +manages to find as many excuses for it as he conveniently can in the +provocation given by the victim. Peirson, he says, was "a surly, +ill-natured man, and horridly severe." He was of great service to Lagg +in ferreting out rebels, used to sit in court with him to advise him of +the prisoners' characters, and generally make himself obnoxious to the +Covenanters. He was also accused of leaning to popery, and is said on +one occasion to have openly defended the doctrine of purgatory; on +another he maintained Papists to be much better subjects than +Presbyterians--as, indeed, from the Government's point of view they +certainly were. How far Peirson deserved this character we cannot surely +tell. The fact of his being hated by the Covenanters is not necessarily +to his discredit; but we may assume that he was not conciliatory in his +speech, that he meddled more in civil matters than became his cloth, +and, in short, was probably made much after the same pattern as some of +the chosen vessels of the Covenanting tabernacle. He lived alone in his +manse, without even a servant, but took care always to have his firearms +handy. The accounts of the murder vary a little in detail. One says that +he was killed in a scuffle arising out of his furious and unprovoked +treatment of a deputation which waited on him at midnight, to request +him to come outside and speak with some friends who meant him no harm--a +request which in the circumstances he can hardly be blamed for having +received with some degree of suspicion. But the most authentic version +represents him as shot dead the instant he opened his door. Macmichael +fired the shot, and the man who called Peirson out was Robert Mitchell, +nephew to James Mitchell, who was hanged five years previously for an +attempt on Sharp's life.[63] + +A week later, on December 18th, a party of Covenanters more than one +hundred strong burst into Kirkcudbright ("the most irregular place in +the kingdom," Claverhouse used to call it), killed the sentry who +challenged them, broke open the gaol, set all the prisoners free, and +then marched victoriously off, beating the town drum, with such of their +rescues as would go with them, and all the arms they could lay hands on. + +It is clear, then, from a comparison of the dates and names, that the +men killed at Auchencloy were no innocent folk met together for prayer, +but certainly included Peirson's murderer, and probably some of those +concerned in the rescue at Kirkcudbright, as the place where they were +surprised was but a few miles from that town. Moreover, it appears from +another account that, so far from these men having been shot +unresistingly, they were part of a larger force which had only been +dispersed after a sharp skirmish.[64] + +One more instance, and this part of my business will be done. Defoe +names Robert Auchinleck as shot by Claverhouse without examination for +not answering his challenge, the man, as was subsequently discovered, +being too deaf to hear what was said to him. There is no mention +elsewhere of Robert Auchinleck; but Shields includes in his list a man +called Auchinleck, of Christian name unknown, who was killed in similar +circumstances; and Wodrow gives a different version of the death of one +William Auchinleck, both assigning the act to one Captain Douglas, who +was marching from Kirkcudbright with a company of foot.[65] + +These instances have been chosen as the most notorious and the most +circumstantially recorded of the indictments made against Claverhouse. +Of the traditions that gathered in the following century about his name +I have taken no notice, nor of the vague charges brought by writers of +still later date on no better authority than those traditions.[66] It +was inevitable that as time wore on these floating legends would be +gathered to one common head, and that the most important figure would be +selected to bear the sins of all. It is of course possible that many and +more damning instances might be added to the foregoing list, of which +the record has now perished. But the most that can be done is to take +what the counsel for the prosecution have brought forward, and to +examine it as strictly as can now be possible. + +It must always be difficult to reconsider with absolute impartiality any +verdict that has been generally accepted for close upon two hundred +years. On the one hand, there is a not unnatural disinclination for the +trouble necessary to re-open a case already heard and judged: on the +other, is a most natural inclination to take every fresh fact +discovered, or every old blunder detected, as of paramount importance. +The explorer in strange lands is too apt to take every mole-hill for a +mountain. And when the verdict is one that has been endorsed by +Macaulay, he must be a bold man indeed who thinks to upset it. +Nevertheless, something has, I hope, been done to bear out my belief +that Claverhouse has been too harshly judged. No attempt has been made +to gloss over or conceal any crime that can be brought fairly home to +him. The case of Andrew Hislop (a far blacker case than the more +notorious one of John Brown) has been left as it stands, so far as the +imperfect evidence enables us now to judge it. If that one case be held +enough to substantiate the general verdict, if nothing can be set +against it, there is no more to be said--save that, if this be justice, +many a better man than Claverhouse must go to the wall. + +One thing, at least, should be clear. He was no capricious and +unlicensed oppressor of a God-fearing and inoffensive peasantry, but a +soldier waging war against a turbulent population carrying arms and +willing to use them. I have nowhere tried to soften the bitter tale of +folly, misrule, and cruelty which drove those unhappy men into +rebellion, nor to heighten by a single touch their responsibility for +their own misfortunes. I have not tried to find excuses for the men +whose orders Claverhouse obeyed, nor arguments to show that in the +circumstances such orders were inevitable. But I have tried to show that +in no single instance, of which the record is complete, did he go +beyond the letter of his commission, and that in more than one instance +he construed its spirit with a mildness for which he has never yet been +given credit. + +But nothing will avail to save him in the eyes of those who maintain +that the law of human morality is fixed and immutable, and that men of +every age and every country can only be judged, and must be judged, by +the eternal laws of right and wrong. They, of course, will not allow the +excuse that he was a soldier obeying the orders of his superior +officers, even should they be disposed to admit that he did no more than +that. The orders, they will say, were cruel and unjust: he should have +refused to obey them. But is this unswerving standard possible as a +gauge of human actions? Who then shall be safe? There are offences +which, in Coleridge's happy phrase, are offences against the good +manners of human nature itself. The man who committed such offences in +the reign of Chedorlaomer was no doubt as guilty as the man who should +commit them in the reign of Victoria. But are the offences which can be +fairly laid to Claverhouse's account of such a kind? His most able and +his bitterest accuser pronounces him to have been "rapacious and +profane, of violent temper and obdurate heart." Yet every attempt of his +enemies to convict him of extortion or malversation broke signally down. +The decorum of his life and conversation was allowed even by the +Covenanters; and it is recorded as a notable thing that, however +disturbed or thwarted, he was never known to use profane language. The +imperturbable calm of his temper is said by one of their own party to +have at once exasperated and terrified those who were brought before +him far more than the brutal fury of men like Dalziel and Lag.[67] His +heart was indeed hard to those whom he regarded as plotters and +murderers, traitors to their King and enemies of the true religion. He +was indeed in his own way as much a fanatic as the men whom he was +empowered to crush. His devotion to the Crown and to the Protestant +faith was a passion as deep and sincere as that which moved the simple +peasants of the West to find the gospel of Christ in the horrible +compound of blasphemy and treason which too often made up the eloquence +of the Conventicles. But his hardness, if not tempered with mercy, was +at least guided by more justice than was common among his colleagues. He +both advocated and practised the policy of distinguishing between the +multitude and their ringleaders. The just punishment of one of the +latter might save, he said, many of the former;[68] and his entreaty for +the prisoners whom he found under sentence of death at Dundee proves +that his actions were dictated by no vulgar thirst for blood. When +judged by the general manners of the age, the circumstances of the time +and his position, I do not believe him to have been cruel by nature or +careless of human life. The standard of military morals in vogue two +hundred years ago cannot be weighed by that in vogue to-day. The +humanity of one generation is not the humanity of the next. Wellington +was certainly not a cruel man, and he certainly was a most strict +disciplinarian. Yet it is well known that many things were done during +the Peninsular campaign which no general now would dare to pass +unpunished, which no soldier now would even dare to do; and it is quite +possible that eighty years hence our descendants will read with horror +of the deeds done by their grandsires among the rocky passes of +Afghanistan or on the burning sands of Egypt. I do not claim for +Claverhouse that he was gentle, merciful, or humane beyond his time, +though I believe him to have had as large a share of those qualities as +any of his contemporaries would have displayed in similar circumstances. +But I do claim for him that his faults were the faults not of the man +but of his age; and I maintain that his age cannot in such matters be +tried by the standard of this. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[49] I have been much indebted in this chapter to an anonymous pamphlet +entitled "A Note to the Pictorial History of Scotland, on Claverhouse," +apparently printed at Maidstone; but when, or on whose authority, I have +been unable to discover. It was sent to me by an equally nameless +benefactor. + +[50] Napier, iii. Appendix 3, and his "Case for the Crown": Blackwood's +Magazine, December 1863. On the other side see Barton, vii. 255: +Macmillan's Magazine, December 1862; and a pamphlet by the Rev. +Archibald Stewart, "History Vindicated in the case of the Wigtown +Martyrs," 2nd ed. 1869. + +[51] According to "The Cloud of Witnesses," first published in 1714, the +epitaph ran as follows: + + "Murdered for owning Christ supreme + Head of his Church, and no more crime + But her not owning Prelacy, + And not abjuring Presbytery. + Within the sea, tied to a stake, + She suffered for Christ Jesus' sake." + +The stone on which these lines were inscribed covered, according to the +same authority, "the body of Margaret Wilson, who was drowned in the +water of the Blednock upon the 11th of May, 1684 [5], by the Laird of +Lagg." + +[52] In Colonel Fergusson's most entertaining chapter of family history, +"The Laird of Lagg," he mentions an old lady, still alive in 1834, who +remembered her grandfather's account of the execution, which he declared +he had himself witnessed: "There were cluds o' folk on the sands that +day in clusters here and there, praying for the women as they were put +down." + +[53] Charles Kingsley, for example, wrote in "Alton Locke" of "the +Scottish Saint Margaret whom Claverhouse and his men bound to a stake." + +[54] Wodrow, iv. 244. + +[55] Claverhouse to Queensberry, May 3rd, 1685. Napier, i. 141; and iii. +457. + +[56] "John Inglis, captain of a troop of dragoons, lying in garrison at +Newmills, in the West, a house belonging to the Earl of Loudon, having +taken some of these fanatics prisoners, and though he had power to +execute them, yet keeping them alive, some of their desperate comrades +breaks in upon the garrison and rescues them, to their great shame; for +which Inglis was degraded, and his place was given to Mr. George +Winrahame, a bigot Papist." Fountainhall, quoted by Napier, iii. 457. +This Winrahame may be the Winram who had to do with the Wigtown Martyrs. +According to "The Cloud of Witnesses," + + "The actors of this cruel crime + Was Lagg, Strachan, Winram, and Grahame." + +A letter more or less in a name was of no account in the cacography of +those times. + +[57] "The new reign was not to remain long undisturbed; before the end +of April there was the apprehension of a great civil war, and in May the +news came that it had begun both in England and Scotland." These are +Burton's words (vii. 258), and no one can accuse Burton of undue +partiality to James or his government. See also Aytoun's Appendix to his +"Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," which, however, was written before the +publication of Napier's book had proved Claverhouse's responsibility for +the death of John Brown. + +[58] Wodrow, iv. 148-9. He prints the declaration in full from a copy in +Renwick's own handwriting. The following extracts will give some idea of +it: "We have disowned the authority of Charles Stuart (not authority as +God's institution, either among Christians or heathens) and all +authority depending upon him, for reasons given elsewhere (disclaiming +all such things as infer a magistratical relation betwixt him and us); +and also we have declared war against him, and his accomplices such as +lay out themselves to promote his wicked and hellish designs.... We do +hereby declare unto all that whosoever stretcheth forth their hands +against us ... by shedding our blood actually, either by authoritative +commanding, such as bloody counsellors ... especially that so-called +justiciary, generals of forces, adjutants, captains, lieutenants, and +all in civil and military power, who make it their work to embrue their +hands in our blood, or by obeying such commands, such as bloody militia +men, malicious troopers, soldiers, and dragoons; likewise such gentlemen +and commons who, through wickedness and ill-will, ride and run with the +foresaid persons ... we say all and every one of such shall be reputed +by us enemies to God and the covenanted work of reformation, and +punished as such, according to our power and the degree of their +offence.... Let not any think that (our God assisting us) we will be so +slack-handed in time coming to put matters in execution as heretofore we +have been, seeing we are bound faithfully and valiantly to maintain our +covenants and the cause of Christ." + +[59] For example, in the earliest edition of the pamphlet containing his +version of this affair ("The Life of Peden") an "old singular Christian +woman named Elizabeth Menzies" is mentioned as the first neighbour who +came to condole with Mrs. Brown. In later editions Elizabeth Menzies +becomes Jean Brown. The wife also is sometimes Isabel and sometimes +Marion. Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana" is a collection of tracts +published by him at different times, of which this "Life of Peden" is +the earliest and the best. + +[60] "A Short Memorial of the Sufferings of the Presbyterians." + +[61] This Buiening is called Bruning in "The Cloud of Witnesses," and +may be the Brownen of Claverhouse's letter, that is to say, the nephew +of John Brown. + +[62] "It seems somebody had maliciously told this Graham they were of +the Whigs who used the field meetings, upon which, without any trial or +other sentence than his own command, his soldiers fetched them all to +Mauchline, a village where his headquarters were, and hanged them +immediately, not suffering them to enter into any house at their coming, +nor at the entreaty of the poor men would suffer one to lend them a +Bible, who it seems offered it, nor allow them a moment to pray to God." +Defoe's "Memoirs of the Church of Scotland" were first published in +1717, a few years before Wodrow's History. Elsewhere in the same work he +states that Claverhouse had "among the rest of his cruelties barbarously +murdered several of the persecuted people with his own hands," also that +"this man is said to have killed above a hundred men in this kind of +cold blood cruelty." But Defoe's qualifications for a historian of those +times are, to say the least, uncertain. He mentions Cameron and Cargill +as alive and busy in 1684, four years after one had died fighting at +Aird's Moss, and the other on the scaffold at Edinburgh. + +[63] Wodrow, iv. 197; Napier, i. 89. I have called this the most +authentic version because it professes to have come from the murderers +themselves. It is to be found in a letter to Wodrow (printed by Napier) +now in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. The date is 1715, and the +writer, who only signs his initials, J.C., calls Wodrow "cousin." "I +give you the account," he writes, "from the best information it's +possible to be got, viz., from Robert Dun, in Woodheade of Carsphairn, +and John Clark, then in that parish, now in Glenmont, in the parish of +Strathone, anent the curate's death of Carsphairn, which they had from +the actors' own mouths." Wodrow adds a little touch of his own--"Mr. +Peirson with fury came out upon them with arms"--and is silent on the +fact of Mitchell's presence. + +[64] Fountainhall's "Historical Notices," and a letter to Queensberry +from Sir Robert Dalzell and others, quoted by Napier, ii. 427-8. + +[65] Wodrow, iv. 184. + +[66] For example, the story told of Claverhouse sparing a man's life for +the sport his capture had afforded, but ordering his ears to be shorn +off. This may be found in a book called "Gleanings among the Mountains, +or Traditions of the Covenanters," published at Edinburgh, in 1846, by +the Rev. Robert Simpson, of Sanquhar. The same gentleman is responsible +for an earlier volume, "The Times of Claverhouse," in which the +Covenanters are described as a class of "quiet and orderly men," +maintaining the standard of their gospel in "the most peaceful and +inoffensive way." In neither volume is any authority offered for these +stories: even the evidence of time and place is rarely vouchsafed. + +[67] Walker's "Biographia Presbyteriana:" Lochiel's Memoirs. + +[68] See _ante_, p. 92: also Napier, ii. 360, for a letter to the Lord +Chancellor, June 9th, 1683. "I am as sorry to see a man die, even a +Whig, as any of themselves. But when one dies justly, for his own +faults, and may save a hundred to fall in the like, I have no scruple." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Both in Scotland and England events were now moving fast to their +inevitable conclusion, but of Claverhouse's part in public affairs there +is for the next three years little record. Only two of his letters have +survived between May, 1685, and October, 1688, when the disastrous march +into England began. From one of these it is clear that his restoration +to favour at Whitehall had not improved his position at Edinburgh. +Gratitude was not then a common virtue among public men. Claverhouse had +done for his colleagues all that he had promised. The recollection of +their debt to him, and the unlikelihood of their being able to increase +it, did not serve to endear to them this successful soldier of fortune, +who had indeed helped them to their ambition, but who had thereby shown +a dangerous capacity for helping himself. At the head of these +malcontents was, of course, Queensberry, though, as the King had shown +himself determined not to lose the services of his brilliant captain, it +was necessary for the Treasurer to give his jealousy a guarded form. He +complained to Dumbarton (then commanding the forces in Scotland) that +Claverhouse had misused some of his tenants, though in what manner is +not clear. There is a letter from Claverhouse expressing in respectful +terms his regret at Queensberry's annoyance, which he declares to have +been founded on misapprehension of the facts. + + "I am convinced (he writes) your Grace is ill-informed; for, + after you have read what I wrote to you two days ago on that + subject, I daresay I may refer myself to your own censure. + That I had no desire to make great search there, anybody may + judge. I came not from Ayr till after eleven in the + forenoon, and went to Balagen with forty heritors again + night. The Sanquhar is just in the road; and I used these men + I met accidentally on the road better than ever I used any + in these circumstances. And I may safely say that, as I + shall answer to God, if they had been living on my ground I + could not have forborne drawing my sword and knocking them + down. However, I am glad I have received my Lord Dumbarton's + orders anent your Grace's tenants, which I shall most + punctually obey; though, I may say, they were safe as any in + Scotland before."[69] + +The previous letter here referred to has been lost; but it is probable +that the complaint originated in Claverhouse's summons to these +heritors, or small proprietors, to take arms in the King's service, as +they were bound to do. Men will mostly follow their master's lead. The +Treasurer's tenants knew well, we may be sure, how little love their +master bore for the imperious soldier, and were no doubt somewhat saucy +in their remonstrances; and sauciness Claverhouse would not brook from +any man alive, whatever his quality. + +But Queensberry and his crew had to nurse their grudge in secret. Much +as the knowledge may have chafed them, they knew well that Claverhouse +was the one man on whom they could depend for wise counsel and prompt +action in emergency. A few weeks before this matter of the tenants he +had received an urgent despatch from Edinburgh, signed by "his +affectionate friends and servants" of the Council, authorising him to +take what steps he thought best for disposing the troops. Argyle was on +the sea, and the Campbells were mustering fast to their chief's call. +Measures had already been taken in the northern shires. Athole had been +appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Argyleshire, and held Inverary with a large +force of his Highlanders. The Gordons, under their new-made Duke, were +guarding the sea-board of Invernessshire. Glasgow was occupied by a +strong body of militia. Ships of war watched the Firth of Clyde. To keep +the Western Lowlands and the Border quiet was Claverhouse's charge. It +is unnecessary to remind my readers what followed. Within little more +than a month from his landing in Scotland Argyle stood upon the scaffold +in Edinburgh; and a fortnight later Monmouth closed his short unhappy +life on Tower Hill. + +In this same despatch Claverhouse was told that the King had raised him +to be a brigadier of both horse and foot, that James Douglas had +received the same promotion, and that the latter's commission bore +priority of date. He wisely took no notice of this slight,--for, +comparing the weight of his services to the Government with the services +of Douglas, a slight it undoubtedly was, and was meant to be. He knew +that it did not come from the King, and he was much too prudent and too +proud to let the others see that he was annoyed by a stupid insult he +was powerless to resent. But there exists a letter from Secretary +Murray to Queensberry which makes the business very clear. It is worth +quoting as significant of the petty intrigues in which men of rank and +position were not then ashamed to indulge. + + "The King ordered two commissions to be drawn, for your + brother and Claverhouse to be brigadiers. We were ordered to + see how such commissions had been [drawn?] here, and in Earl + Middleton's office we found the extract of one granted to + Lord Churchill, another to Colonel Worden, the one for + horse, the other for foot. So Lord Melfort told me the King + had ordered him to draw one for your brother for the foot + and Claverhouse for the horse. I told him that could not be; + for by that means Claverhouse would command your brother. To + be short, we were very hot on the matter. He said he knew no + reason why Colonel Douglas should have the precedency, + unless that he was your brother. I told him that was enough, + but that there was a greater, and that was, that he was an + officer of more experience and conduct, and that was the + King's design of appointing brigadiers at this time. He said + Claverhouse had served the King longer in Scotland. I told + him that was yet wider from the purpose, for there were in + the army that had served many years longer than Claverhouse, + and of higher quality, and without disparagement to any, + gallant in their personal courage. By this time I flung from + him, and went straight to the King and represented the case. + He followed, and came to us. But the King changed his mind + and ordered him to draw the commissions both for horse and + foot, and your brother's two days' date before the other; by + which his command is clear before the other. I saw the + commissions signed this afternoon, and they are sent + herewith by Lord Charles Murray. Now, I beseech Your Grace, + say nothing of this to any; nay, not now to your brother. + For Lord Melfort said to Sir Andrew Forrester, that he was + sure there would be a new storm on him. I could not, nor is + [it] fit this should have been kept from you; but you will + find it best for a while to know or take little notice, for + it gives him but ground of talking, and serves no other + end."[70] + +But these jealous fellows were not to have it all their own way. In the +autumn of the same year Claverhouse was summoned to London with +Balcarres to be heard on a complaint he had in his turn to make against +Queensberry. Early in the spring he had been peremptorily ordered to +discharge a bond he had given to the Treasury for fines due from +delinquents in Galloway. He answered that his brother (then +Deputy-Sheriff of that shire) was collecting the fines, and requested +more time for payment. On being told that he might take five or six +days, he replied that, considering the difficulty of collection and the +distances to be travelled, they might as well give him none. "Then," +answered Queensberry, "you shall have none."[71] Claverhouse had many +times applied for leave to be heard in his own defence; but Murray had +hitherto persuaded the King to answer that no audience could be granted +to him until he had made his peace with the Treasurer and been restored +to his seat at the Council. But the name of Queensberry was not now the +power it had been at Whitehall. It is difficult to believe that he was +much more concerned with religion than Lauderdale; but he was, at any +rate by profession, a staunch Protestant, and there were those among +his colleagues ready to take every advantage of this passport to James's +disfavour. It was determined to hear what Claverhouse had to say for +himself. He was summoned to London, graciously received by the King, and +pleaded his cause so effectually that the Treasurer was ordered to +refund the money. + +Claverhouse and Balcarres returned to Edinburgh on December 24th. With +them came the Chancellor Perth and his brother, John Drummond, the new +Lord Melfort. The brothers were in James's best books, for they had +recently professed themselves converted to the Roman Catholic faith by +the convincing logic of the papers found in Charles's strong-box and +made public by the King.[72] But they were not so popular in Edinburgh. +The new year opened with something very like a No Popery riot. Lady +Perth was insulted on her way home from mass by a baker's boy. The Privy +Council ordered the lad to be whipped through the Canongate, but the +'prentices rose to the rescue of their comrade. The guard was called +out: there was firing, and some citizens fell. There was disaffection, +too, among the troops: one soldier was arrested for refusing to fire on +a Protestant: another was shot for threatening to run his sword through +a Papist. In the Council Perth moved that one Canaires, minister at +Selkirk, should be arraigned for preaching against the Pope; but he +found no man on his side except Claverhouse, who, though Protestant to +the backbone, had no mind to see his King insulted under the cloak of +religion. James's famous scheme of Universal Toleration was soon found +to be what every sensible man had foreseen--a scheme of toleration for +his own religion and of persecution for all others. + +But the history of the next three years, with its wretched tale of +violence and folly, of oppressions that broke the hearts of the loyal, +and concessions that only moved the scorn of the mutinous, may be read +elsewhere. The last appearance of Claverhouse on the scene is at the +Council in February, 1686, where he supports Perth in his motion to +bring the indiscreet minister to book, till he appears again in his +proper character as a soldier commanding the cavalry of the Scottish +contingent on its march south to join the army of England. We know, +however, that in that same year, 1686, he was promoted to be +Major-General, and in March, 1688, was made Provost of Dundee. We must +now pass to the memorable autumn of the latter year. + +In September, 1688, a despatch in James's own hand was sent down to the +Council at Edinburgh announcing the imminent invasion of England by the +Prince of Orange. Perth, still Chancellor and a Papist, was told to do +nothing without consulting Balcarres and Tarbat. Their advice was +unquestionably the best that could have been given for James and the +worst for England; for, had it been followed, instead of the short +Highland campaign of the following year, that began at Killiecrankie and +ended at Dunkeld, there would in all probability have been civil war +throughout the kingdom. They advised that the regular troops under +Douglas and Claverhouse, now between three and four thousand strong, +should be augmented by a force of twelve thousand raised from the +Highland clans and the militia, and that these troops should be +distributed along the Border and through the northern shires of England. +Preparations were at once begun to this effect. The chiefs of the great +clans were ordered to hold their claymores ready: the castles of +Edinburgh and Stirling were munitioned for war: the militia was called +out in every county, and volunteers enrolled in every town. In the midst +of the bustle arrived a second despatch from James, ordering the regular +troops to march at once for England to join the army under Feversham. +This foolish order was Melfort's doing, urged by his secretary, Stewart +of Goodtrees, who, after having been concerned in all the most notorious +plots of the last twenty years, and actually condemned to death for his +share in Argyle's rebellion, had now blossomed into an Under-Secretary +of State. Remonstrance was useless. "The order," wrote Balcarres, "was +positive and short--advised by Mr. James Stewart at a supper, and wrote +upon the back of a plate, and an express immediately despatched +therewith." + +And so "with a sorrowful heart," he goes on to remind the exiled King, +"they began their march--three thousand effective young men--vigorous, +well-disciplined and clothed, and, to a man, hearty in your cause, and +willing, out of principle as well as duty, to hazard their lives for the +support of the Government as then established both in Church and +State."[73] The loyalty of some of these fine fellows was, however, +destined soon to suffer a change in the disturbing atmosphere of +England. + +The full strength of the Scottish contingent was three thousand seven +hundred and sixty-three men. Douglas was in command, with Claverhouse +under him at the head of the cavalry, which mustered eight hundred and +forty-one sabres, including his own regiment, Livingstone's troop of +Life Guards, and Dunmore's dragoons, a regiment which, as the Scots +Greys, has since earned a reputation second to none in the British Army. +The infantry was made up of Douglas's own regiment of Foot Guards, now +the Scots Guards: Buchan's regiment, now the Twenty-first of the Line, +or, to give them their latest title, the Royal Scots Fusiliers; and +Wauchope's regiment:--two thousand nine hundred and twenty-two men in +all.[74] They left Scotland in the beginning of October, the foot +marching by way of Chester, the horse by way of York, on London. Early +in November they reached the capital, where they lay for a few days: +Claverhouse, with his own regiment and the Horse Guards, being quartered +in Westminster, the dragoons in Southwark, and Douglas, with his Foot +Guards, in Holborn. On the tenth of the month they marched for +Salisbury, where the King's army was now gathered. During the march +Claverhouse received the last and most signal proof of favour James was +to give him. On November 12th he had been created Viscount of Dundee. + +In the royal camp all was confusion and doubt. William was at Axminster, +and not a single enemy was in his rear. Many of the great English houses +had already joined him, and each hour brought news to Salisbury of fresh +disaffection in every part of the kingdom. James was at first anxious to +fight, but Feversham warned him that, though the men were steady, few of +his officers could be depended on. Before leaving London the King had +called his chief captains together and offered passes to all who were +desirous to leave him for the Prince of Orange, "to spare them," he +said, "the shame of deserting their lawful sovereign." All were profuse +in professions of loyalty, and among them were Churchill, Grafton, and +the butcher Kirke. Churchill, we know, continued these professions up to +the eleventh hour. On the evening of the 24th James held a council of +war, in which Churchill's voice was loudest for battle. That night he +left Salisbury for Axminster, and Grafton went with him. Some of the +Scottish officers stood firm, but not all. Dumbarton offered to lead his +regiment alone against the enemy. Dundee urged James to do one of three +things: to fight the Prince, to demand from him in person his business +in England, or to retire into Scotland with his faithful troops. But the +King still hesitated, and while he hesitated the moment passed. Kirke, +who commanded the advance guard at Warminster, flatly refused to obey +the orders sent him from Salisbury, and a rumour spread that he had gone +over to William with all his men. The King broke up the camp and began +his retreat to London; and before he had got farther on his way than +Andover, Ormonde and Prince George had joined the deserters, taking with +them young Drumlanrig. Douglas did not himself go over; but one of his +battalions did, without any attempt on his part to stop them. He had +sounded Dundee on the expediency of making terms for themselves with +William; but as he had done so under an oath of secrecy, Dundee felt +himself bound in honour to keep silence, and we may suppose made it a +part of the bargain that Douglas should stay where he was. + +James left no orders behind him, and after his retreat the movements of +his army are somewhat confused. Dundee marched his cavalry to Reading, +where he was joined by Dumbarton. Thence they were ordered to Uxbridge +to consult with Feversham on the chances of a battle. But hardly had +they got there when the latter received orders to disband the army, and +heard at the same time of the King's flight from London. The Scottish +troops clamoured for Dundee to lead them back to their country. He +marched them to Watford, and while there, it is said, received a letter +from William, who had now advanced to Hungerford, bidding him stay where +he was and none should harm him.[75] According to Balcarres, Dundee made +at once for London on the news of the King's flight, and was still there +on his return. But the fact is that few of these contemporary writers +descend to dates, and it is almost impossible therefore to track any one +man's movements through those troubled days. It is, however, certain +that a meeting of the Scottish Council was summoned in London by +Hamilton at some period between James's first flight and his return, and +that Dundee attended it. That Hamilton meditated declaring for William +is certain, and that he would have taken all his colleagues with him, +except Dundee and Balcarres, is probable; but the King's sudden return +to Whitehall postponed matters for a time. + +James reached London from Rochester on the afternoon of Sunday, December +16th. William was then at Windsor, and James expressed a wish to meet +him in London, offering St. James's Palace for his quarters. William +sent an answer that he could not come to London while there were any +troops there not under his command. On the 17th a council was held at +Windsor, with Halifax in the chair, to determine what should be done +with James. William himself would not be present. It was decided that +James must, at any rate, leave London, and the decision was brought to +him that night as he lay asleep in bed. No resistance was possible, had +any been intended. The Dutch had occupied Chelsea and Kensington early +in the afternoon; and when Halifax, Shrewsbury, and Delamere arrived +with their message from Windsor, three battalions of foot, with some +troops of horse, were bivouacked in St. James's Park, and Dutch +sentinels were posted at Whitehall. + +Early on the morning of the 17th Dundee and Balcarres had waited on the +King. None were with him but some gentlemen of his bedchamber. Balcarres +told him that he had orders from his colleagues to promise that, if the +King would give the word, an army of twenty thousand men should be ready +within four-and-twenty hours. "My lord," replied James, "I know you to +be my friend, sincere and honourable: the men who sent you are not so, +and I expect nothing from them." It was a fine morning, and he said he +should like a walk. Balcarres and Dundee attended him into the Mall. +When they had got there the King asked them, how came they still to be +with him when all the world had forsaken him for the Prince of Orange? +Both answered that their fidelity to so good a master would be ever the +same, and that they had nothing to do with the Prince of Orange. "Will +you two," then asked the King, "say you have still attachment to me?" +"Sir," was the answer, "we do." "Will you give me your hands upon it as +men of honour?" They did so. "Well," said the King, "I see you are the +men I always took you to be; you shall know all my intentions. I can no +longer remain here but as a cypher, or to be a prisoner to the Prince of +Orange, and you know there is but a small distance between the prisons +and the graves of kings. Therefore I go for France immediately; when +there you shall have my instructions--you, Lord Balcarres, shall have a +commission to manage my civil affairs, and you, Lord Dundee, to command +my troops in Scotland." + +They then parted. On the next morning, the morning of the 18th, in dark +and rainy weather, the royal barge was ready at Whitehall stairs, under +an escort of boats filled with Dutch soldiers. Halifax, with his +colleagues from Windsor, attended the King to the water-side. Dumbarton, +Arran, and a few others followed him down the river, and stayed by him +during the few painful days he lingered at Rochester. At dawn of the +23rd James left England for ever. + +Dundee stayed on in London. His regiment had been disbanded, and the +rest of the Scottish forces, after a spirited but futile attempt to take +matters into their own hands, had settled quietly down under their new +colonels, some of the most doubtful ones being sent out of harm's way to +Holland. Dunmore had thrown up his command, and his dragoons were now in +the charge of Sir Thomas Livingstone. Schomberg was placed, to their +intense disgust, at the head of Dumbarton's infantry, once James's +favourite regiment. Some of his old troopers, however, still kept by the +captain whom they had known as Claverhouse. + +Hamilton and his party pressed William to exempt from the general +amnesty certain members of the Scottish Council whom they named as +particular and unscrupulous instruments of James's tyranny, and unsafe +to be let go at large. But the Prince with his usual good sense refused +to drive any man into opposition: the past even of the most guilty +should, he said, be forgotten till he was forced to remember it. Against +Dundee and Balcarres he had been especially warned. He remembered both +well: Balcarres had married a lady of his family, and Dundee had fought +by his side. He asked them both to enter his service. They refused, and +Balcarres, plainly avowing the commission entrusted to him by James, +asked if, in such circumstances, he could honourably take service with +another. "I cannot say that you can," was the answer, "but take care +that you fall not within the law, for otherwise I shall be forced +against my will to let the law overtake you." Dundee was told that if he +would live quietly at home, no allegiance should be exacted from him and +no harm done to him. He answered that he would live quietly, if he were +not forced to live otherwise. Early in February the two friends left +London for Edinburgh.[76] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[69] Claverhouse to Queensberry, June 16th, 1685. + +[70] Napier, iii. 464: this Murray was Alexander Stuart, Earl of Murray, +descendant and heir of the famous Regent. He declared himself a convert +to the Church of Rome at the same time as Perth and Melfort. + +[71] Napier, iii. 435: quoted from Fountainhall. + +[72] Burnet, ii. 341. + +[73] The memoirs of Colin Lindsay, third Earl of Balcarres, were +presented to James at Saint Germains in 1690. The edition I have used is +that printed for the Bannatyne Club in 1841 by the late Lord Crawford, +from a transcript made by James, the son of the writer, and +great-grandfather of Lord Crawford. The editions previously printed in +1715 and 1754, and in Walter Scott's edition of Somers's Tracts +published in 1814, contain many passages not to be found in the first +transcript, and declared, by its latest editor, to reflect the opinions +and sentiments of the copyist rather than those of the original author. + +[74] Cannon's "Historical Records of the British Army:" Napier, iii. +475-76. Claverhouse's own regiment was disbanded early in the following +year. The first colonel of the Greys, then officially known as "The +Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons," was Dalziel, Lord Charles Murray +(afterwards created Earl of Dunmore) serving as captain under him. +Dalziel died in 1685, and was succeeded in the command by Dunmore. +Napier gives the muster-roll of Claverhouse's regiment for May, 1685. It +consisted of six troops, of which the colonel, as the custom then was, +commanded the first in person, the other captains being Lords +Drumlanrig, Ross, Airlie, Balcarres, and William Douglas; hardly the +men, perhaps, to sanction the pranks of Macaulay's Apollyons and +Beelzebubs. Napier also quotes an amusing passage in a letter from +Athole to Queensberry, which, as he says, may recall memories of a +certain historic injunction of later times, "to take care of Dowb." +Athole had been superseded in his command of the Life Guards by +Montrose, and when the latter fell sick, made interest with Queensberry +to be reinstated. "As you will oblige me," the passage runs, "pray +remember Geordie Murray [who held a commission in the regiment], but not +in wrath." + +[75] Creichton. + +[76] It is not clear that Dundee had an audience of William. Macaulay +says in one place that he was not ungraciously received at Saint +James's, and in another that he employed the mediations of Burnet. Both +statements are of course compatible with each other. The latter rests on +Burnet's own authority; but for the former I can find none in any of the +writers from whom Macaulay has taken his narrative of these days. +Dalrymple's words are, "Dundee refused without ceremony," which may mean +anything. It is, I think, not improbable that William employed Burnet to +sound Dundee, and that the good bishop, among whose qualities tact was +not pre-eminent, managing the matter clumsily, met with an unceremonious +refusal for his pains. The point, however, is of no importance. It is +clear enough that William, would have been glad to see both men in his +service, and that they both declined to enter it. As Macaulay has called +Dundee's conduct disingenuous, apparently on Burnet's authority, it may +be well to give the bishop's own words. "He [Dundee] had employed me to +carry messages from him to the King, to know what security he might +expect if he should go and live in Scotland without owning his +government. The King said, if he would live peaceably, and at home, he +would protect him: to this he answered, that, unless he was forced to +it, he would live quietly." "History of My Own Time," iii. 29. +Macaulay's paraphrase is as follows. "Dundee seems to have been less +ingenuous. He employed the mediation of Burnet, opened a negotiation +with Saint James's, declared himself willing to acquiesce in the new +order of things, obtained from William a promise of protection, and +promised in return to live peaceably. Such credit was given to his +professions, that he was suffered to travel down to Scotland under the +escort of a troop of cavalry." "History of England," iv. 281. I do not +think the text quite bears out the commentary; and indeed elsewhere in +the chapter Macaulay seems inclined to allow more credit to these +professions. The "escort" under which Dundee was "suffered to travel" +consisted of his own troopers, who had followed him from Watford to +London, and stayed with him to the end. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +All eyes were now turned to Scotland. England had practically accepted +William, and although the terms of acceptance were still in some +quarters kept open to question, there was no longer fear that the final +answer would have to be given by the sword. In Scotland the case was +different. Many of the great nobles and other dignitaries had indeed +professed themselves in favour of William, but political morality, a +custom nowhere in those days very rigidly observed, may be said to have +been honoured by Scottish statesmen almost wholly in the breach. No man +trusted his neighbour, and his neighbour was perfectly aware of the +fact. It was impossible to say what an hour might not bring forth; and +in this flux of things no man could guarantee that the Whigs of to-day +would not be the Jacobites of to-morrow. Hamilton was the recognised +leader of the Whigs, Athole of the Jacobites. Both were great and +powerful noblemen. The influence of Hamilton was supreme in the Western +Lowlands: only Mac Callum More could muster to his standard a larger +gathering than the lord of Blair, and the glory of Mac Callum More was +now in eclipse. Yet Hamilton had been one of James' Privy Councillors, +and had not declared for William till the Dutch guards were at +Whitehall. His son Arran and his brother Dumbarton were both on the +other side: Arran had accompanied James to Rochester, and Dumbarton had +refused to hold his commission under the Prince of Orange. Athole had +more than once coquetted with the Whigs, and his present Jacobitism was +shrewdly suspected to be due to the coolness with which his advances had +been received: his son Lord Murray, who had married a daughter of +Hamilton, had declared for William. These great noblemen had indeed the +satisfaction of feeling that, however the die might fall, their titles +and estates were at least secured. But the wisdom of their family +arrangements did not increase their reputation with their parties. The +Duke of Gordon held the castle of Edinburgh for James; and, though the +Duke was a weak creature, his position was strong. The bulk of the +common people were undoubtedly Whigs: the bishops, and the clergy +generally, were, if not exactly Jacobites, undoubtedly Tories. + +There were religious troubles of course to swell the political ones. +When the news of James's flight reached Edinburgh, Perth had been +imprudently induced to disband the militia, and the Covenanters had been +quick to take advantage of the imprudence. The Episcopal clergymen were +rabbled throughout all the western shires. Their houses were sacked, and +themselves and their families insulted and sometimes beaten: the +churches were locked, and the keys carried off in triumph by the pious +zealots. In Glasgow the Cathedral was attacked, and the congregation +pelted through the streets. In Edinburgh Holyrood Palace was carried by +storm: the Catholic chapel, which James had built and adorned with great +splendour, was gutted, and the printing-press, employed to publish +tracts in favour of the Catholic religion, was broken up. Perth fled for +his life, but was overtaken at sea, carried back and lodged in Stirling +Castle, followed by the threats and curses of the mob. Such was the +temper of the Scottish nation when the Convention of Estates, summoned +by William, met at Edinburgh on March 14th, 1689. + +The Act depriving the Presbyterians of the franchise had been annulled, +and the elections had gone strongly in favour of the Whigs. Hamilton had +been chosen President by a majority of forty votes over Athole, +whereupon twenty ardent Jacobites went straightway over to the other +side. The next thing to be done was to get rid of Gordon. It was +impossible, they said, for a free Parliament to deliberate under the +shadow of hostile guns. Two of his friends, the Earls of Lothian and +Tweeddale, were accordingly sent to the Duke with a message from the +Convention, offering him favourable terms of surrender. He asked a night +for consideration; but during the night he was also visited by Dundee +and Balcarres. They showed him the commissions entrusted to them by +James, and told him that if things did not go better for their party +they had resolved to exercise their power of summoning a new Convention +to Stirling. At his request Dundee also gave him a paper guaranteeing +his action in holding the castle as most necessary to the cause. On the +following day, when the earls returned, Gordon told them he had decided +not to surrender his trust except upon terms too extravagant to be +seriously considered. He was accordingly summoned in form by the +heralds: guards were posted round the castle, and all communications +between it and the town declared treasonable. The Duke replied by a +largess of money to the heralds to drink King James's health, telling +them that they should in common decency have turned the King's coats +they wore on their backs before they came to declare the King's subjects +traitors. + +Meanwhile a messenger had arrived with a sealed despatch for the Estates +from James. It seemed strange both to Dundee and Balcarres that the +message had not been to them, or at least accompanied by a letter +informing them of its purport; but they had no suspicion of its +contents, and willingly agreed to the terms on which the Whigs consented +to hear it read. These terms were, that the Convention was a legal and +free meeting, and would accept no order to dissolve until it had secured +the liberty and religion of Scotland. The vote was passed, and the +letter was read, to the consternation of the Jacobites and the delight +of the Whigs. Of all the foolish acts committed by James the despatch of +this letter was, in the circumstances, the most foolish. Not a word did +it contain of any intention to respect the religion or the liberty of +men whom it still professed to address as subjects. Pardon was promised +to all who should return to their allegiance within a fortnight: to all +others punishment was threatened in this world, and damnation in the +next. Nothing was wanting to heighten the imprudence. The letter was in +the handwriting of Melfort, who was equally odious to both parties; and +it had been preceded by one from William expressed in terms as wise and +moderate as the others were headstrong and foolish. But the feeling of +the more temperate Jacobites will best be shown in the account Balcarres +himself gave to his master of the effect produced by this fatal epistle. +"When the messenger was announced," he wrote, + + "His coming was joyful to us, expecting a letter from your + Majesty to the Convention, in terms suitable to the bad + situation of your affairs in England, and as had been + advised by your friends before we left London; and so + assured were they of their advices being followed, that they + had encouraged all the loyal party, and engaged many to come + to the Convention, in hopes such full satisfaction would be + given in matters of religion and liberty, that even most of + those who had declared against you would return to their + duty. But, as in place of such a letter as was expected, or + letters to particular persons, as was advised, came a letter + from your Majesty to the Convention, without any copy to + show your friends, in terms absolutely different from those + we had agreed upon, and sent to your Majesty by Mr. Lindsay + from London. Upon other occasions such a letter might have + passed, if there had been power to have backed it, or force + to make good its reception; but after the Parliament of + England had refused to read a letter from your Majesty + because of the Earl of Melfort's countersigning it [and + considering] that England had made the Prince of Orange + their King, and that it was known you had none to sustain + your cause but those who advised letters of another strain, + it was a fault of your advisers hardly to be pardoned.... + Crane was brought in and the letter read, with the same + order and respect observed upon such occasions to our Kings; + but no sooner was it twice read and known to be Earl + Melfort's hand and style, but the house was in a + tumult--your enemies in joy and your friends in confusion. + Glad were your enemies to find nothing so much as promised + of what we had asserted should be done for their + satisfaction, [they] having much feared many of their party + would have forsaken them if your Majesty's letter had been + written in the terms we advised from London. Mr. Crane could + give no account why the advice of your friends was not + followed, but Mr. Lindsay made no secret of it after he came + back from St. Germain's, but informed us that, after he had + delivered to [the] Earl of Melfort the letters and advices + of your friends at London to your Majesty, his Lordship kept + him retired, and he was not suffered to attend you--fearing + that what he had written to your Majesty relating to his + Lordship might spoil his project of going to Ireland with + you. We had observed at London the great aversion men of all + professions had at his being employed, and we knew he was in + no better esteem in his own country, which made us entreat + your Majesty to leave him in France, and some, upon his own + account, advised his not coming over, knowing the danger he + might be in; but his Lordship either suppressed our letters + or gave our advices another turn than was intended, by which + all our hopes of succeeding in the Convention vanished, nor + was ever seen so great an alteration as was observed at the + next meeting after your letter was read, which made all your + friends resolve to leave Edinburgh and to call a Convention + of Estates at Stirling, as your Majesty had given the + Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Viscount of Dundee, and + myself the power to do this by a warrant sent by Mr. Brown + from Ireland." + +Dundee was anxious to be gone. He saw that the game was up in the +Convention, and there were other reasons. For many days past troops of +strange, fierce-looking men, carrying arms but half-concealed beneath +their plaids, had been flocking into Edinburgh. These were the men of +the hill-sides and moorlands of the West, the wild Western Whigs, who +feared and hated the name of Claverhouse more than anything on earth. +Their leader was William Cleland, a survivor from the fields of Drumclog +and Bothwell, a brave and able young man, of good education and humane +above his fellows, but who, it was well known, was burning to have +vengeance upon Dundee. Some of these men had been heard to mutter that +the tables were turned now, and "bloodly Clavers" should play the +persecutor no more. Word was brought to Dundee that a plot was on foot +to assassinate him and Sir George Mackenzie, the most hated of all +James's lawyers. Whether the rumour were true or not, it was at least +too probable to be disregarded. Dundee laid the matter before Hamilton, +offered to produce his witnesses, and demanded that these armed +strangers be ordered to leave the town. Hamilton (who was, in fact, +responsible for their presence) answered that the Convention had more +important matters to think of, that the city could not be left +defenceless to Gordon and his rebellious garrison, and, it is said, +twitted Dundee with imaginary fears unbecoming a brave man. + +A meeting of the Jacobites was held. It was decided to call a fresh +Convention at Stirling. Mar, who held the castle there, professed +himself staunch, and Athole promised to have a force of his Highlanders +in readiness. This was on Saturday, March 16th: it was determined to +leave Edinburgh on the following Monday. + +When Monday came Athole proposed to wait another day. As his +co-operation was of the greatest importance, his proposal was accepted. +But Dundee would wait no longer. In vain Balcarres told him that his +haste would ruin all their plans. He answered that he would take no +action without the agreement of the rest, but in Edinburgh he would stay +no longer. He had made an appointment for that day with some friends +outside the walls, and he could not break it. His troopers had been in +readiness since an early hour, and Dundee returning to his lodgings gave +signal to mount. The streets were thronged with scowling faces, but they +shrank to right and left as those stern riders came clattering down the +Canongate. A friend called from the crowd to know whither they went. +Dundee raised his hat from his head and answered: "Wherever the spirit +of Montrose shall direct me." When clear of the walls he led his men to +the left up the Leith Wynd and along the bank of the North Loch, the +ground now occupied by the busy and handsome thoroughfare known as +Prince's Street. The road to Stirling winds beneath the Castle rock, and +as the cavalcade came on, their leader saw the Duke on the ramparts, +making signals to him for an interview. Dundee dismounted, and scrambled +up the steep face of the rock. What passed between them is not clearly +known. Balcarres says Dundee told the Duke of the design for Stirling, +and once more prayed him to stand firm. But it seems clear that Dundee +had by that time abandoned all hopes of a fresh Convention, and it is +doubtful whether he had any definite plan in his mind. Dalrymple's +report of the conversation seems more likely to be the true one. +According to him Dundee pressed the Duke to come north with him, leaving +the castle to the charge of the Lieutenant-Governor, Winram, a man who +had made himself too odious to the people to leave room for any doubt +of his fidelity to James. But these bold ventures were not to the Duke's +taste: his courage was of that sort which shows best behind stone walls: +and his answer was ingeniously framed to conceal his timidity under a +show of discipline. "A soldier," he said, "cannot in honour quit the +post that is assigned to him." + +Meanwhile the city was in an uproar. A number of people had gathered +round the foot of the rock to stare at the strange sight. The watchers +from the city magnified this idle crowd into a hostile force. A +messenger came in haste to the Convention with the news that Dundee was +at the gates with an army, and that the Duke of Gordon was preparing to +fire on the town. + +Hamilton, who, while affairs were still in the balance, had behaved with +unexpected moderation, now gave loose to his temper. The time had come, +he said, for all good friends of order to see to their safety when +enemies to their liberties and religion were taking arms. There was +danger within as well as without. The traitors must be kept close; but +true men had nothing to fear, for thousands were ready to start up in +their defence at the stamp of his foot. He then ordered the room to be +locked, and the keys to be laid on the table. The drums beat to arms: +the town-guard, and such force of militia as was still in the city, fell +in; while from garrets and cellars the Westland men came thronging into +the streets, with weapons in their hands, and in their faces fury and +fear of their terrible enemy. After a time, as the news came that Dundee +had ridden off northward and that all seemed quiet in the castle, the +tumult subsided. The doors of the Parliament House were opened, and the +members came out. Hamilton and his party were greeted with loud cheers: +threats and execrations no less loud assailed the few and downcast +Jacobites. From that memorable day the friends of William had nothing +more to fear in the capital of Scotland. For a while, indeed, some show +of opposition was still maintained, faintly stimulated by the arrival of +Queensberry from London. But he had come too late. His power was no +longer what it had been; nor were his professions of loyalty regarded by +men like Balcarres as above all suspicion. For Queensberry had been wise +with the wisdom of Hamilton and Athole. The great House of Douglas was +prudently divided against itself, and come what might it should not +fall. And Athole now, after with great show of bravery urging Gordon to +fire on the town, had grown somewhat less than lukewarm, while Mar, the +Governor of Stirling Castle, put an end for ever to any thoughts of a +fresh Convention in that city by boldly declaring for William. The hopes +and the hearts of the Jacobites had gone northward with Dundee; and in +truth there was not at this moment a brave company of either. + +Dundee did not draw rein in Stirling. He galloped through the town, +across the bridge, and on by Dunblane, where he stayed the night, to his +own home at Dudhope, where his lady was then waiting her confinement. +The only man of his own quality who had ridden with him from Edinburgh +was George Livingstone, Lord Linlithgow's son, whose troop of Life +Guards had been taken from him in the general re-arrangement of +regiments that had followed the fiasco of Salisbury; and he had left +his companion on the road to make for Lord Strathmore's house at Glamis. +For a week of unwonted quiet, the last he was to know on earth, Dundee +rested at Dudhope. Then his enemies found him. On the morning of the +26th Hamilton's messengers appeared before his gates, summoning him to +lay down his arms and return to his duty at the Convention, on pain of +being proclaimed traitor and outlaw. Dundee replied by a letter which, +as it has been styled both disrespectful and disingenuous, it is worth +while to print in full. + + "Dudhope, March 27th, 1689. + + "May it please your Grace:--The coming of an herald and + trumpeter to summon a man to lay down arms that is living in + peace at home, seems to me a very extraordinary thing, and, + I suppose, will do so to all that hear of it. While I + attended the Convention at Edinburgh I complained often of + many people being in arms without authority, which was + notoriously known to be true; even the wild hill-men; and no + summons to lay down arms under the pain of treason being + given them, I thought it unsafe for me to remain longer + among them. And because a few of my friends did me the + favour to convey me out of the reach of these murderers, and + that my Lord Livingstone and several other officers took + occasion to come away at the same time, this must be called + being in arms. We did not exceed the number allowed by the + Meeting of Estates. My Lord Livingstone and I might have had + each of us ten; and four or five officers that were in + company might have had a certain number allowed them; which + being, it will be found we exceeded not. I am sure it is far + short of the number my Lord Lorn was seen to march with. And + though I had gone away with some more than ordinary, who can + blame me when designs of murdering me was made appear? + Besides, it is known to everybody that, before we came + within sixteen miles of this, my Lord Livingstone went off + to his brother, my Lord Strathmore's, house; and most of the + officers and several of the company went to their respective + homes or relations. And, if any of them did me the favour to + come along with me, must that be called being in arms? Sure, + when your Grace represents this to the Meeting of the + States, they will discharge such a groundless pursuit, and + think my appearance before them unnecessary. Besides, though + it were necessary for me to go and attend the meeting, I + cannot come with freedom and safety, because I am informed + there are men-of-war and foreign troops in the passage; and + till I know what they are and what are their orders, the + Meeting cannot blame me for not coming. Then, my Lord, + seeing the summons has proceeded on a groundless story, I + hope the Meeting of States will think it unreasonable I + should leave my wife in the condition she is in. If there be + anybody that, notwithstanding of all that is said, thinks I + ought to appear, I beg the favour of a delay till my wife is + brought to bed; and in the meantime I will either give + security or parole not to disturb the peace. Seeing this + pursuit is so groundless, and so reasonable things offered, + and the Meeting composed of prudent men and men of honour, + and your Grace presiding in it, I have no reason to fear + further trouble. + + "I am, may it please your Grace, your most humble servant, + + "DUNDEE. + + "I beg your Grace will cause this read to the Meeting, + because it is all the defence I have made. I sent another to + your Grace from Dunblane with the reasons of my leaving + Edinburgh. I know not if it be come to your hands." + +The letter was read to the Convention on the following day, and on +Saturday, March 30th, John Graham, Viscount of Dundee, was proclaimed +traitor with all the usual ceremonies. Thrice was his name called within +the Parliament House, and thrice outside its doors, and thrice with +sound of trumpet at the market-cross of the good town of Edinburgh. + +About the same time happened a still more untoward thing. James was now +in Ireland. He had learned how matters had gone in Scotland, and +conceived that the moment for action had come. A commission was +accordingly despatched to Dundee, constituting him Lieutenant-General +and Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, together with a letter in James's +own hand, informing him that five thousand foot and three hundred horse +would presently be at his disposal. There were letters also from Melfort +both to Dundee and Balcarres. Either by the folly or the knavery of the +messenger the papers fell into the hands of Hamilton, who read them to +the Convention. As usual, Melfort's letters were in the most foolish and +violent language. "You will ask no doubt," he wrote to Dundee, "how we +shall be able to pay our armies; but can you ask such a question while +our enemies, the rebels, have estates to be forfeited? We will begin +with the great and end with the small ones." To Balcarres he wrote in +the same strain. "The estates of the rebels will recompense us. You know +there were several lords whom we marked out, when you and I were +together, who deserved no better fate. When we get the power, we will +make these men hewers of wood and drawers of water." No man was +mentioned by name, so that each man was at liberty to take these threats +for himself. "You hear," cried Hamilton, "you hear, my lords and +gentlemen, our sentence pronounced. We must take our choice, to die, or +to defend ourselves." There was a terrible uproar, the new Whig recruits +being among the loudest in their exposition of the dangers to which +their love for their religion and their country was likely to expose +them. Leven was ordered with two hundred of his new regiment to arrest +both Dundee and Balcarres.[77] The latter was taken easily enough, and +clapped into the Tolbooth. But Dundee got wind of his danger, and was +off before the soldiers could reach Dudhope. He went northward still, to +Glen Ogilvy, his wife's jointure-house, in the parish of Glamis, not far +from the old historic castle of Macbeth; and thither Leven did not think +it prudent to pursue him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[77] During the first alarm raised by Dundee's departure the Convention +had passed an order to raise and arm a regiment of eight hundred men, +and had given the command to Leven. It is said that the men were found +within two hours. See "An Account of the Proceedings of the Estates in +Scotland," London, 1689. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Dundee had ridden out of Edinburgh with no clear plan of action before +him. Balcarres afterwards declared that his friend had no intention of +making for the Highlands till he learned that warrants were out for his +apprehension. Yet it is probable that the idea of a Highland campaign +had already begun to take shape in Dundee's mind before Mackay's advance +forced him over the Grampians. His orders were, in the event of the +Estates declaring for William, to keep quiet till the arrival of a +regular force from Ireland should enable him to take the field with some +chance of success. And, indeed, he had at that time no alternative. It +was clear to him that the game was lost in the Lowlands, but it was not +yet clear to him that anything was to be gained in the Highlands. The +example of his famous kinsman might indeed serve to fire both his +imagination and his ambition; but it could hardly serve to make him +hopeful of succeeding with the weapons which had failed Montrose. A few +thousand claymores would no doubt prove a useful supplement to the small +body of troops James might be able to spare from Ireland; but even a +mind so ardent and sanguine as Dundee's might well have shrank from +facing the chances of war with no other resources than a handful of +troopers and a rabble of half-armed, half-naked, and wholly +undisciplined savages. And in truth experience had shown that these +fierce and jealous spirits were little less dangerous as allies than as +enemies. Every clan had its hereditary feud, and no one could say that +on the day of battle the claymores might not be drawn against each other +instead of against the common foe. Branches even of the same stock did +not conceive themselves inevitably bound by the tie of blood, though it +was a claim never forgotten when it was convenient to make or allow it. +Sometimes a few of the smaller clans would make common cause against the +oppressions of a more powerful, or the cattle of a wealthier neighbour; +but it was rarely that friendship went beyond the conditions of an armed +neutrality. Though the feudal system had long prevailed in many parts of +the Highlands, it had never superseded the older patriarchal system. The +chief of the clan might pay homage to a great lord like Argyle or +Athole; but in the clan he was king, and his word was law. Moreover, +brave as the Highlanders undoubtedly were, they were not a warlike race. +They would rise to the signal of the fiery cross, without questioning +the cause; and they would on occasion fight for their own hand, for +revenge or plunder. But the long service of a regular war was little to +their taste. Of military science and military discipline they knew +nothing. To win the battle with the rush of the first onset, and when +the battle was won to make off to their homes with all the plunder they +could lay hands on,--this was their notion of warfare, and it was a +notion which the chiefs were too ignorant or too prudent to interfere +with. What chance could there be of inducing such spirits as these to +combine in one great confederacy, and to undertake a long and desperate +struggle for the sake of a king of whom the most part had never heard, +and of a cause which they could not understand? + +But Dundee had learned something at Dunblane which had given him fresh +views. During the few hours he had passed there he had talked much with +a Highland gentleman, Alexander Drummond of Bahaldy, son-in-law to Sir +Ewan Cameron of Lochiel, the great chief of the clan Cameron. Drummond +told him that Lochiel had been busy all the winter among his neighbours, +that they were now ripe for war, and were only waiting a leader and some +succours of regular troops and ammunition; that James had been +communicated with, and had approved their plan in a letter written with +his own hand to Lochiel; and that an early day had been appointed for a +rendezvous of the clans in Lochaber, the headquarters of the Camerons. + +It is now generally acknowledged that on this occasion, however it may +have been in the next century, the action of the Highland chiefs was not +inspired by devotion to the House of Stuart. Lochiel himself may indeed +have been moved by some personal consideration for the exiled King. He +had fought bravely under Montrose for Charles the First, and under +Middleton for Charles the Second. From the latter King he had received +more than one letter full of those flattering assurances Charles knew so +well how to make. By James he had been graciously welcomed at Whitehall, +and had received the honour of knighthood from the royal hand. He was +brave, wise, generous, and faithful, and, even in a less rude society +than that in which his lot was cast, his manners would have been called +agreeable and his education certainly not contemptible. But even +Lochiel's loyalty was not suffered to run counter to his interests. In +Lochaber the name of James was as nothing compared with the name of Evan +Dhu, and the law of the King of England gave place to the law of the +great Chief of the Camerons. As for the rest, the dispute between Whigs +and Jacobites was no more to them than the dispute between the Guelphs +and Ghibellines had been to their ancestors. They cared not the value of +a single sheep whether James or William sat on the throne of Great +Britain, so long as neither interfered with them. No later than the +previous year the authority of James had been insulted and his soldiers +beaten by one of these independent lordlings--Colin Macdonald of +Keppoch, familiarly known as Coll of the Cows, for his skill in tracking +his neighbour's cattle over the wildest mountains to the most secret +coverts.[78] + +But for what loyalty to the House of Stuart was powerless to effect a +motive was found in the hatred to the House of Argyle. Nearly all the +chiefs of the Western Highlands were vassals to Mac Callum More, the +head of the great clan of Campbell. The numerous branches of the +Macdonalds, who had once been lords of the Hebrides and all the mountain +districts of Argyleshire and Invernessshire, the Camerons, the +Macnaghtens, the Macleans, the Stuarts of Appin, all these paid tribute +(it would be probably more correct to say owed tribute) to the Marquis +of Argyle, and all were ready to welcome any chance of freedom from that +odious bondage. The early loyalty of Lochiel had probably been as much +inspired by the fact that he was fighting against an Argyle as for a +Stuart, as it is possible had been the loyalty of Montrose himself. In +1685 he had cheerfully summoned his clan to repel the invasion of +another chief of that hated House; and now the Revolution had brought +back from exile yet another to exercise the old tyranny. This was enough +to make the Revolution a hateful thing in the eyes of Lochiel and his +neighbours. But it was also believed that James had conceived the idea +of buying up from the great Highland nobles their feudal rights over the +clans, and had only been prevented from carrying his idea into effect by +the Revolution. In the minds of these Western chiefs, then, William was +the oppressor and James the deliverer. Throughout the winter they had +watched eagerly for news from the South. At length they learned that the +Estates had declared for William; that their prime enemy was restored to +favour and power; and that Dundee, whose exploits against the party of +which for three generations an Argyle had been the acknowledged head +were well known to them, was an outlaw and a fugitive. In him they at +once recognised the leader for whom they waited. Drummond was +accordingly sent to invite him to their councils, and to promise that a +sufficient escort should be ready at the proper time to convey him to +the appointed meeting-place. + +Meanwhile it had become necessary for Dundee to look to his own safety. +A more dangerous enemy than Leven was now in the field against him. As +soon as William had learned the decision of the Estates he had +despatched a body of troops into Scotland under General Mackay. Hugh +Mackay, of Scourie, was himself of a Highland stock. Like Dundee, he had +learned the art of war first in France, and afterwards in the Low +Countries, where he had risen to the command of the Scots Brigade, as +those regiments were called which upwards of a century before the new +Protestant enthusiasm of England had raised to support Holland against +the tyranny of Spain. He was a good man, a brave if not a dashing +soldier, a prudent tactician, and well skilled in all the machinery of +war. + +Mackay at first contented himself with sending Livingstone and his +dragoons after Dundee, while he turned his attention to Gordon, who was +still maintaining some show of resistance in the castle. But Livingstone +was too late. He found the nest warm, but the bird had flown. Dundee had +gone northwards over the Grampians into the Gordons' country, where the +Earl of Dunfermline, the Duke's brother-in-law, at once joined him with +a most welcome addition to his little band of troopers. Mackay foresaw +that the Highlands were to be the real scene of operations, and that no +danger need be apprehended from the vapouring Gordon. He sent word, +therefore, to Livingstone to await him in Dundee, and marched himself +for that place with some two hundred of his own brigade and one hundred +and twenty of Lord Colchester's dragoons.[79] + +It is as difficult for the reader to follow Dundee through these April +days as Mackay found it. In the sounding hexameters of the "Grameis," +his movements are indeed described with more labour than lucidity; but +at this early stage of the campaign it is not necessary to track him +over every mountain and river, and by every town and castle.[80] It will +be enough to say that in an incredibly short space of time he beat up +for recruits the greater part of the counties of Aberdeen, Inverness, +and Perth, while the bewildered Mackay, whose training and troops were +alike unfitted to this sort of campaigning, toiled after him in vain. He +also found time for a flying visit to Dudhope, where his wife had been +safely delivered of a son. He can have stayed with her but a day at +most; and when he left her, he was to see her face no more. + +From Dudhope Dundee crossed the Grampians again for Inverness. Here it +had been arranged for him to meet Keppoch and the promised escort of +Highlanders. And here, accordingly, he found them; but he also found a +state of things which gave him a lively foretaste of the character and +conduct of his new allies. + +Between the clan of Macdonald and the clan of Mackintosh there had +existed for many centuries a deadly feud, the exact origin of which had +long been lost in the mists of fable. On the other hand, a good +understanding had long existed between the Mackintoshes and the town of +Inverness. Though the town in those days consisted only of some five +hundred mean buildings surrounded by a crazy wall, the busy little +colony of artisans which inhabited it, and the occasional visit of a +trading vessel to its port, had invested it among the Highlanders with +the reputation of vast wealth. Here was an opportunity for gratifying +his love of revenge and his love of plunder which Keppoch was not the +man to lose. He advanced through the territory of the Mackintoshes, +harrying and burning as he marched, up to the walls of Inverness. For +two days he lay before its crazy gates threatening fire and sword, while +the burghers mustered to arms within, and the ministers exhorted them +from the market-place. Such was the state of affairs Dundee found when +he and his troopers rode into the Highland camp on the first day of May. + +Keppoch tried to excuse himself. The town, he said, owed him money, and +he sought only to recover his own. On the other hand, the magistrates +said that he had forced them to promise him four thousand marks. Dundee +answered that Keppoch had no warrant from him to be in arms, much less +to plunder. But it was not yet safe for him with his handful of horse to +use such brave language to the chief at the head of his eight hundred +claymores. He therefore temporised. By his advice the magistrates agreed +to pay two thousand dollars: half of this sum was raised on the spot +with some difficulty: for the other half Dundee gave his bond to +Keppoch. He also promised the magistrates that, when James was restored +to his throne, the money should be refunded to them. Dundee had saved +the town, but for the present he had lost his allies. Keppoch and his +thieves, laden with the silver of Inverness and the cattle of the +Mackintoshes, retired in dudgeon to their mountains. + +But Dundee was destined to achieve something before he joined the muster +at Lochaber. After he had parted from Keppoch he turned westward down +the valley of the Ness, by the noble castle of Glengarry, which +Cumberland destroyed after Culloden, by Kilcummin, where Fort Augustus +now stands, memorable in his eyes as the spot whence Montrose had led +the clans to break the power of the Campbells at Inverlochy, and so +southwards again through the forest of Badenoch to the Tay. As he was +painfully toiling through this vast and rugged recruiting-ground word +was brought to him that a regiment of cavalry was being raised in Perth +under the auspices of the Laird of Blair, a rich and powerful gentleman +who had married into Hamilton's family. He determined on a bold stroke. +He was sorely in need of powder, provisions, money, and especially of +fresh mounts for his troopers, the long rapid marches, cold weather, and +scanty forage having reduced his horses to a very sorry plight. In Perth +he might lay hands on all these, and possibly on a few recruits into the +bargain. He was in Blair when the messengers found him on May 10th. With +his handful of sabres he swooped down on Dunkeld, which he reached just +in time to relieve a tax-collector of the dues he had been successfully +raising for William. At Dunkeld he rested his men till nightfall, and +then rode straight for Perth. At two o'clock in the morning he entered +the city, surprised Blair and his lieutenant, Pollock, in their beds, +collected forty horses, a store of arms and powder, some provisions, and +some of the public money, and was off again with his booty and his +prisoners before the startled citizens had fairly realised the weakness +of their invaders. He recrossed the Tay, and halted at Scone to refresh +himself and his men at the charges of Lord Stormont, an involuntary act +of hospitality on the latter's part for which he had some trouble to +excuse himself in Edinburgh.[81] + +While in the wilds of Badenoch Dundee had received another message which +had interested him much. In the dragoons now under Livingstone's command +were several of Dunmore's old officers still well affected to James. +Chief among these were William Livingstone,[82] a relation of the +colonel, and that Captain Creichton of whom mention has been already +made. While lying in garrison at Dundee Creichton found means to get +secretly into Dudhope, and to assure Lady Dundee that he and many of his +comrades were only waiting an opportunity to join her husband. She sent +off word of this to the wanderer, who managed to convey an assurance to +Creichton of his plans, and of the strength of the reinforcements he +expected from Ireland. On their landing, he added, he should expect the +dragoons to join him. + +This note was received by Creichton from the hands of a ragged +Highlander two days after he had marched with a part of his regiment to +join Mackay at Inverness. Could he have waited a little longer he would +have seen his correspondent in person. On the afternoon of Monday, May +13th, the inhabitants of the town which had given this terrible +Claverhouse his title saw to their amazement the crest of the high +ground to the north glittering with steel-clad riders. At the same time +Lord Rollo, who was camped outside the walls with some new levies of +horse, came flying through the gates with the news that Dundee was upon +them. The drums beat to arms: the gates were closed; and barricades +hastily thrown up in the principal streets, while the citizens crowded +on the walls to stare at the audacious foe. + +It is possible that Dundee, who was ignorant of Creichton's departure, +thought that his appearance might bring the dragoons over to his side at +once. But the officer who was then in command kept his troops quiet; and +after manoeuvring his men up to the very walls of the town Dundee drew +off as night fell to Glen Ogilvy.[83] It is impossible that even he can +have conceived the idea of a serious attack on the place; and the story +of his actually entering and plundering the town is certainly +apocryphal, though his men very probably made free with Rollo's camp. + +Meanwhile Mackay at Inverness was busy in his turn among the clans. +Lochiel had only sent the cross round among those chiefs who, like him, +hated the Campbells. Dundee had gone further afield, but had not been +successful. The gratitude of the Mackintoshes was not enough to do more +than keep them neutral,--which was perhaps fortunate, for had they +joined the muster at Lochaber they would inevitably have been at blows +with the Macdonalds before a day had passed. The Macphersons also kept +aloof, and the Macleods. Mackay's invitations were received with the +same indifference. Some of the Grants, whose chief had suffered under +the late Government for his allegiance to Argyle, joined him; and from +the northern shires of Ross and Sutherland a few Mackays came to fight +for a captain of their own blood. But the two sources on which the +Government had mainly relied for help were both found wanting. The +Campbells had suffered so severely from the invasion of Athole in the +previous year that Argyle found it impossible to rally them in time to +be of service in the present campaign. The Covenanters, though hailing +the rule of William as a deliverance from the rule of James, were +persuaded by their ministers that it was a sin to take military service, +even against the abhorred Dundee, with men whose orthodoxy was, to say +the least, not above suspicion. Seaforth, Lovat, Breadalbane, and the +other great lords of the east and south Highlands, would not bid their +vassals arm for either side. Athole had indeed once more professed +allegiance to the new order, but while affairs were still in an +uncertain state he would not commit himself to any decisive action. It +was clear to Mackay that the name of William was no name to charm with +in Scotland, and that the most he could hope to effect was to prevent a +general rising of the clans for James. The sagacious Tarbat had already +pointed out to him how this might be done. Five thousand pounds, he +said, would be ample to satisfy all Argyle's claims upon the chiefs who +owed him vassalage. If these claims were satisfied, and the clans +assured that under William they would secure the freedom they had hoped +for from James, though it might not be possible to persuade them to +fight for the former, not a single claymore would follow Dundee to the +field for the latter. William was now induced to try the experiment. But +by a blunder so extraordinary as to suggest treachery somewhere, the +agent entrusted to manage the affair was himself a Campbell. The chiefs +naturally refused to listen to such a messenger, and treated all +subsequent overtures with a contemptuous refusal or a still more +contemptuous silence. It is not certain that any money was actually +expended; but if so, it is very certain that not a penny of it went to +any Cameron or Macdonald. + +Dundee had now reached Lochaber, where he was cordially welcomed by +Lochiel, and lodged in a building close to the chief's own house, a rude +structure of pine-wood, but in his men's eyes a magnificent palace. The +clans had proved true to their tryst. Every Cameron who could wield a +broadsword was there. From the wild peaks of Corryarrick and Glen Garry, +from the dark passes of Glencoe and the storm-beaten islands of the +western seas, the men of Macdonald came trooping in. Sir John of Duart +brought a strong gathering of Macleans from Mull, promising that more of +the name were on the road. Young Stewart of Appin had led his little +band from the shores of Loch Finnhe. The Macnaghtens were there from the +very heart of the great enemy's country, where the hated towers of +Inverary cast their shadow on the waters of Loch Fyne. Fraser of Foyers +and Grant of Urquhart, disregarding the action of their respective +chiefs, each brought a small following of his own vassals. + +It is impossible to calculate the exact force which, at any time during +his short campaign, Dundee had at his disposal. But the number of +claymores which this first muster brought to Lochaber cannot have been +less than two thousand. Besides these, there was his little body of +cavalry, some fifty sabres in all, partly composed of his own troopers, +and partly of Dunfermline's followers. That nobleman and Lord Dunkeld +were of the party. Dundee's own brother, too, seems to have been with +him, and a member of the Duntroon branch of the Grahams. Certain +gentlemen from the Lowlands had also joined him: Sir Alexander James of +Coxtone, Sir Archibald Kennedy of Cullean, Hallyburton of Pitcur, Murray +of Abercairny, and others. + +Still there was no sign from Ireland, and Dundee hesitated to take the +field against Mackay with such capricious and irregular allies. He did +not doubt the courage of his Highlanders, but he had grave doubts of +their obedience. That they would fight bravely when it was their cue to +fight, he knew well; but he was much less confident that they would take +their cue from him. He had at first conceived the idea of putting them +through some course of military training, but Lochiel urged so many and +such weighty reasons against it that he gave up the plan. "There is not +time," said the sagacious old chief, "for our men to learn your method +of warfare. They would merely unlearn their own. This is one which must +seem strange to your notions of war; but it is one which they thoroughly +understand, and which makes them, when led by such a general as you, a +match for the most practised veterans. Think of what they did under +Montrose, and be sure that they will show the same courage and win as +great victories under you." It, therefore, became more than ever +necessary that the promised succours should be no longer delayed. Some +regular troops, however few, would serve both as a rallying-point and as +an example to the Highlanders. And, indeed, it had been only on the +promise of such support that Lochiel had induced the chiefs to arm. +Dundee sent letter after letter to Ireland full of cheerful accounts of +the good promise of affairs, but urging the instant despatch of troops, +together with a store of money, ammunition, and all the other +necessaries for an army about to take the field, of which there was, in +truth, a most plentiful lack in Lochaber. There were not above fifty +pounds of powder in the camp; and though the Highland fashion was to +trust more to the cold steel than the bullet, powder was a necessity of +war that could not well be altogether dispensed with. Dundee also urged +upon Melfort the good effect James' own presence would have upon his +Scottish allies. If that could not be managed, he said, at least let him +send the Duke of Berwick. There was no petty jealousy in Dundee's +character. He would have cheerfully put himself under the command of any +man if by so doing he were likely to further the cause he had at heart. +But no answer came to these appeals. In one of the last letters Dundee +wrote, he reminds Melfort that for three months he had received not a +single line from him or from James. + +Meanwhile, his tact, his good temper, courtesy, and liberality had won +the hearts of his new allies. With the money he had brought with him +from the Lowlands, and the supplies his wife and some of his friends +were able occasionally to send him, he contrived to maintain an +establishment that was at least superior to anything which most of his +new friends were accustomed to. Every day he entertained some of the +chiefs at his table. He made himself acquainted with the faces and names +of the principal tacksmen of each clan, and mastered a few words of +Gaelic to enable him to address and return salutations. In the field he +lived no better than the meanest of his men, sharing their coarse food +and hard lodging, and often marching on foot by their side over the +roughest country and in the wildest weather. His powers of endurance +extorted the wonder even of those sturdy mountaineers who had been +inured from childhood to the extremes of hunger and fatigue. More than a +century after his death it was still told with admiration how once, +after chasing Mackay from dawn to sunset of a summer's day over the +ruggedest part of the Athole country, he had spent the night in writing, +only resting his head occasionally on his hands to snatch a few moments +of sleep. Among the Camerons he was always spoken of as the General, and +honoured next to Lochiel himself. At the same time, he was careful to +maintain his authority and to exact the respect due to his position. He +knew well that among those lawless spirits he who would be obeyed must +be feared. On one occasion he administered a public rebuke to the +arch-thief, Keppoch, who had found time for another raid on the +Mackintoshes. In the presence of all the chiefs Dundee told the offender +that he would sooner serve in the ranks of a disciplined regiment than +command men who were no better than common robbers; that he would +countenance such outrages no more, nor any longer keep in his army those +who disgraced the King's cause by their private quarrels. Keppoch, who +would infallibly have struck his dirk into any other man who had used +such language to him, attempted some lame excuses, muttered an apology, +and ended by promising for the future neither he nor any of his men +would stir a foot save at the General's command. There is no stronger +proof of Dundee's genius and capacity for affairs than the singular +influence he was able in a few short weeks to gain over men who could +not speak his language and who hated his race. When on the dark day of +Culloden the wavering clans looked in vain to their Prince, an old +chief, who had heard his father talk of Ian Dhu Cean (Black John, the +Warrior), exclaimed in a passion of rage and grief, "Oh, for an hour of +Dundee!" + +But loth as he was to engage Mackay with the Highlanders alone, Dundee +knew that he could not hope to keep them long together inactive. +Provisions were running short. If they could not harry James's enemies, +they would make free with their own. Dundee was particularly anxious to +give no cause of offence to those clans whose neutrality he hoped to be +able to turn into friendship. Already a serious prospect of disunion had +threatened the little army. A party of the Camerons had made a raid on +the Grants, in which a Macdonald of Glengarry had been killed. The man +had become affiliated to the Grants, and had refused to join the muster +of his own tribe. He had therefore forfeited all the right of clanship. +Yet Glengarry, as much perhaps from policy as from any overpowering +sense of kinship, demanded vengeance; and it needed all the combined +tact of Dundee and Lochiel to prevent him from drawing out his men to +attack the Camerons. When, therefore, Dundee learned that Mackay had +left Inverness to join some reinforcements from Edinburgh, he determined +on action. + +The troops Mackay expected to find in Badenoch were six hundred men of +his own Scots Brigade under Colonel Ramsay. Ruthven Castle on the Spey +was the place of meeting, and May 26th the time. But Ramsay had been +detained in Edinburgh by an alarm of an invasion from France, and it was +not till the 27th that he entered the Athole country. Here he learned +that Dundee was on the march to meet him. The population did not seem +friendly: he could get no news of Mackay; and on the whole he judged it +prudent to retire to Perth. That he might do this with more speed he +blew up his ammunition train, to prevent it falling into Dundee's hands. +Mackay, who, as soon as he learned that Ramsay was fairly on the road, +had marched with all speed from Inverness, was too late to save Ruthven +Castle. It had been surrendered by the governor, Captain Forbes, on the +29th, and reduced to a heap of ruins. + +This was the beginning of a series of marches and counter-marches on the +part of the two generals, which lasted far into June, without any +advantage on either side. On one occasion a party of the Macleans of +Lochbuy, marching to join Dundee in Badenoch, came to blows with some of +Livingstone's dragoons; and there were other skirmishes, of no material +result, at none of which was either general present in person. More than +once Dundee was in striking distance of Mackay; but he never found +himself in a position to engage with sufficient assurance of victory. A +defeat he dared not risk; and even victory, unless complete enough to +need no second blow, had its dangers. An army which considered the safe +storage of his booty as the first duty of a successful soldier could not +safely be trusted to make good the result of a doubtful battle. And in +fact he found his forces each day diminishing as food became more scarce +in those barren wilds, or as some lucky raid necessitated a departure +for home with the prize. At length, wisely determining to sanction what +he could not prevent, and feeling that even his iron frame and dauntless +spirit were in need of rest, Dundee dismissed the clans for the present, +on their giving a promise to join him again when he should require them. +Keeping only some two hundred of the Macleans with him, he returned to +his old quarters, on the pressing invitation of Lochiel, who swore to +him that while there was a cow in Lochaber neither he nor his men should +want. Mackay did not attempt to follow him. At such a game of +hide-and-seek he saw that his men were no match for the active +light-marching Highlanders. He accordingly put garrisons into certain +fortified parts of Invernessshire and Perthshire, sent the rest into +quarters, and himself repaired to Edinburgh. + +From the middle of June to the end of July the war therefore languished. +But Dundee was not idle. The arts of diplomacy were as familiar to him +as the arts of war. He still maintained an active correspondence with +the neutral chiefs, and kept Melfort well informed of all he had done +and proposed to do for his master's service. I shall conclude this +chapter with an extract from the last despatch he sent to Ireland. It is +long; but it gives so graphic an account of his proceedings since the +muster at Lochaber, of the state of the country, and the relative +positions and prospects of the two parties, that its length may be +excused. It also shows, what one would not perhaps have otherwise +surmised, that the writer had some little touch of humour. The letter is +dated from Moy, in Lochaber, June 27th, 1689. I omit the first part, +which seems to refer to some complaints Melfort had made of his having +been ill-spoken of by Dundee. + + "My Lord, I have given the King, in general, account of + things here; but to you I will be more particular. As to + myself, I have sent you it at large. You may by it + understand a little of the state of the country.[84] You + will see there, when I had a sure advantage I endeavoured to + profit on it; but on the other hand, shunned to hazard + anything for fear of a ruffle. For the least of that would + have discouraged all. I thought if I could gain time, and + keep up a figure of a party without loss, it was my best + till we got assistance, which the enemy got from England + every day. I have told the King I had neither commission, + money, nor ammunition. My brother-in-law and my wife found + ways to get credit.[85] For my own nobody durst pay to a + traitor. I was extremely surprised when I saw Mr. Drummond, + the advocate, in Highland habit, come up to Lochaber to me, + and gave account that the Queen had sent 2,000_l._ sterling + to London, to be paid to me for the King's service, and that + two more was a-coming. I did not know the Queen had known + anything of our affairs. I received a very obliging letter + from her with Mr. Crane, but I know no way to make a return. + However, when the money comes, I shall keep count of it and + employ it right. But I am feared it will be hard to bring it + from Edinburgh. + + "When we came first out I had but fifty pounds of powder. + More I could not get. All the great towns and seaports were + in rebellion, and had seized the powder, and would sell + none. But I had one advantage--the Highlanders will not fire + above once, and then take to the broadsword. + + "But I wonder, above all things, that in three months I + never heard from you, seeing by Mr. Hay I had so earnestly + recommended it to you, and told of this way by Inverlochy as + sure. If you could not have sent expresses, we thought you + would at least have hastened the dispatch of those we sent. + McSwyne has now been away near two months, and we know not + if the coast be clear or not. However, I have ventured to + advise Mr. Hay to return straight, and not go further in the + country. He came not here until the 22nd, and they + surrendered on the 13th.[86] It was not Mr. Hay's fault he + was so long of coming, for there has been two English + men-of-war and the Glasgow frigates amongst the islands till + of late. For the rest of the letters I undertook to get them + delivered. Most of the persons to whom they are directed are + either put in bond, or in prisons, or gone out of the + kingdom. The Advocate is gone to England, a very honest man, + firm beyond belief,[87] and Athole is gone too, who did not + know what to do. Earl Hume, who is very frank, is taken + prisoner to Edinburgh, but will be let out on security. Earl + Breadalbane keeps close in a strong house he has, and + pretends the gout. Earl Errol stays at home. So does + Aberdeen. Earl Marischal is at Edinburgh, but does not + meddle. Earl Lauderdale is right, and at home. The Bishops? + I know not where they are! They are now the Kirk invisible. + I will be forced to open the letter, and send copies + attested to them, and keep the original till I can find out + our Primate. The poor ministers are sorely oppressed over + all. They generally stand right. Duke Queensberry was present + at the Cross when their new mock king was proclaimed, and, I + hear, voted for him, though not for the throne vacant. His + brother, the Lieutenant-General, some say is made an earl. + He is come down to Edinburgh, and is gone up again. He is + the old man, and has abused [deceived] me strangely. For he + swore to me to make amends. Tarbat is a great villain. + Besides what he has done at Edinburgh, he has endeavoured to + seduce Lochiel by offers of money which is under his hand. + He is now gone up to secure his faction (which is melting), + the two Dalrymples and others, against Skelmorly, Polwart, + Cardross, Ross, and others, now joined with that worthy + prince, Duke Hamilton. Marquis Douglas is now a great knave, + as well as beast, as is Glencairn, Morton, and Eglinton. + And even Cassilis is gone astray, misled by Gibby.[88] + Panmure keeps right and at home. So does Strathmore, + Southesk, and Kinnaird. Old Airlie is at Edinburgh under + caution. So is Balcarres and Dunmore. Stormont is declared + fugitive for not appearing. All these will break out, and + many more, when the King lands, or any from him. Most of the + gentry on this side the Forth, and many on the other, will + do so too. But they suffer mightily in the meantime, and + will be forced to submit if there be not relief sent very + soon. The Duke of Gordon, they say, wanted nothing for + holding out but hopes of relief. Earl of Dunfermline stays + constantly with me, and so does Dunkeld, Pitcur, and many + other gentlemen, who really deserve well, for they suffer + great hardships. When the troops land, there must be blank + commissions sent for horse and foot for them, and others + that will join. There must be a Commission of Justiciary, to + judge all but landed men. For there should be examples made + of some who cannot be judged by a council of war. They take + our people, and hang them up, by their new sheriffs, when + they find them straggling.[89] + + "My Lord, I have given my opinion to the King concerning the + landing. I would first have a good party sent over to + Inverlochy; about five or six thousand, as you have + convenience of boats; of which as many horse as conveniently + can. About six or eight hundred would do well, but rather + more. For had I had horse, for all that yet appeared I would + not have feared them. Inverlochy is safe landing, far from + the enemy, and one may choose, from thence, to go to Moray + by Inverness, or to Angus by Athole, or to Perth by Glencoe, + and all tolerable ways. The only ill is the passage is long + by sea, and inconvenient because of the island; but in this + season that is not to be feared. So soon as the boats + return, let them ferry over as many more foot as they think + fit to the point of Kintyre, which will soon be done; and + then the King has all the boats for his own landing. I + should march towards Kintyre, and meet, at the neck of + Tarbet, the foot, and so march to raise the country, and + then towards the passes of Forth to meet the King, where I + doubt not but we would be numerous. + + "I have done all I can to make them believe the King will + land altogether in the west, on purpose to draw their troops + from the north, that we may easier raise the country if the + landing be here. I have said so, and written it to + everybody; and particularly I sent some proclamations to my + Lady Errol, and wrote to her to that purpose, which was + intercepted and carried to Edinburgh, and my Lady taken + prisoner. I believe it has taken the effect I designed; for + the forces are marched out of Kintyre, and I am just now + informed Major-General Mackay is gone from Inverness by + Moray, towards Edinburgh. I know not what troops he has + taken with him as yet; but it is thought he will take the + horse and dragoons (except a few) and most of the standing + forces; which, if he do, it will be a rare occasion for + landing here, and for raising the country. Then, when they + hear of that, they will draw this way, which will again + favour the King's landing. Some think Ely a convenient place + for landing, because you have choice of what side, and the + enemy cannot be on both. Others think the nearer Galloway + the better, because the rebels will have far to march before + they can trouble you. Others think Kirkcudbright or + thereabouts, because of that sea for ships, and that it is + near England. Nobody expects any landing here now, because + it is thought you will alter the design, it having been + discovered. And to friends and all I give out I do not + expect any. + + "So I am extremely of opinion this would be an extreme + proper place, unless you be so strong that you need not care + where to land. The truth is, I do not admire their mettle. + The landing of troops will confound them terribly. I had + almost forgot to tell you that the Prince of Orange, as they + say, has written to his Scotch Council, telling them he will + not have his troops any more harassed following me through + the hills, but orders them to draw to the West, where, he + says, a great army is to land; and, at the same time, gives + them accounts that eight sail of men-of-war is coming from + Brest, with fifteen thousand men on board. He knows not + whether they are designed for England or Ireland. I beg you + will send an express before, whatever you do, that I may + know how to take my measures; and if the express that comes + knows nothing, I am sure it shall not be discovered for me. + I have told Mr. Hay nothing of this proposal, nor no man. If + there come any party this way, I beg you send me ammunition, + and three or four thousand arms of different sorts--some + horse, some foot. + + "I have just now received a confirmation of Mackay's going + south, and that he takes with him all the horse and + dragoons, and all the standing foot. By which I conclude, + certainly, they are preparing against the landing in the + west. I entreat to hear from you as soon as possible; and + am, in the old manner, most sincerely, for all Carleton can + say, my lord, your most humble and faithful servant, + + "DUNDEE." + +It appears by a postscript added on the following day, that before +Dundee's messenger left Lochaber letters had arrived from Melfort. They +seem to have been again full of complaints of the hard things said about +him, and of the undeserved dislike with which all classes in Scotland +seemed to regard him. But of help there was no more than the usual +vague promises, and glowing accounts of apocryphal successes in Ireland. +Dundee congratulated the Secretary on their master's good fortune, +diplomatically fenced with the question of unpopularity, and reiterated +his appeal for succour. + + "For the number" [he wrote], "I must leave [that] to the + conveniency you have. The only inconveniency of the delay + is, that the honest suffer extremely in the low country in + the time, and I dare not go down for want of horse; and, in + part, for fear of plundering all, and so making enemies, + having no pay. I wonder you send no ammunition, were it but + four or five barrels. For we have not twenty pounds." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[78] The passage in which Macaulay has explained the condition and +sentiment of the Highlanders at this time, will be familiar to every +reader. What may be less familiar is a pamphlet entitled "Remarks on +Colonel Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders," published at Edinburgh +in 1823, the year after Stewart's book. + +[79] Now the Third Dragoon Guards. + +[80] In Napier's third volume will be found many translations in prose +from this poem, from which I have taken a few touches. + +[81] Napier (iii. 552, note) quotes the following minute in the records +of the Estates:--"13th May, 1689: A missive letter from the Viscount of +Stormont to the President was read, bearing that the Viscount Dundee had +forced his dinner from him at his house of Scone, on Saturday last, and +therefore desiring that his intercommuning with him, being involuntary, +might be excused." He was cited, however as a delinquent, together with +his father-in-law, Scott of Scotstarvet and his uncle, Sir John Murray +of Drumcairn (a Lord of Session), who had also to assist at the +involuntary banquet. Throughout his short campaign Dundee was careful +never to take a penny from the pocket of any private person. He +considered, he said, that he was justified in appropriating the King's +money to the King's use. + +[82] Creichton calls him Lord Kilsyth, but he had not then succeeded to +the title. He is the same who afterwards married Lady Dundee. + +[83] It is doubtful who this officer was. Mackay, in his memoirs, says +it was William Livingstone, calling him either a coward or a traitor for +not showing fight. If Livingstone it was, he may not have felt sure +enough of the men who were left with him to join Dundee in so open a +manner, and to fight was not his cue. But another account puts one +Captain Balfour in command. The whole account of the affair is even more +confused than are most of Dundee's exploits. But that he did make a +demonstration of some sort against the town is proved by the Minutes of +the Estates. + +[84] None of his previous despatches from the Highlands are in +existence. + +[85] Robert Young of Auldbar had married Dundee's youngest sister, Anne. + +[86] The Duke of Gordon surrendered the Castle of Edinburgh on June +13th, after a resistance which towards the end assumed the character +almost of a burlesque. + +[87] Sir George Mackenzie. + +[88] Gilbert Burnet, the bishop. His wife was a sister of Lord Cassilis. + +[89] On Dundee's retreat from Badenoch, some of his men who had +straggled for plunder had been caught and hung by Gordon of Edenglassie, +Sheriff of Banff. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Mackay had now decided on a new plan of campaign. He would apply to the +service of war a device employed by the Highlanders in the chase, and +put in practice against them their own tactics of the tinchel.[90] A +chain of fortified posts was to be established among the Grampians, and +at various commanding points in Invernessshire. On the west a strong +garrison was to be placed in the castle of Inverlochy, the northernmost +point of Argyle's country overlooking the stronghold of the Camerons. A +small fleet of armed frigates drawing a light draft was to cruise off +the western coasts, and to watch those dangerous islands whence issued +the long war-galleys of the Macdonalds and the Macleans. Stores and +transport enough to keep a considerable force in the field for one month +was to be collected; and a skilled body of pioneers, equipped with all +the tools necessary for road-making, was to accompany the column. + +Having already sketched out this plan in a letter to Hamilton, Mackay +was in hopes to find on his arrival in Edinburgh that measures had been +begun to put it into operation. He was grievously disappointed. He found +nothing but quarrels and intrigues in the Parliament House and out of +it. Each man was too intent on out-manoeuvring his neighbour in the +great struggle for place, to spare a thought for a foe who was happily +separated from them by a vast barrier of mountains and many hundreds of +miles of barren moorland, deep waters, and dense forests. He saw that +his plan for subduing the warriors of the Highlands must wait till the +Lowland politicians were at leisure to listen to him; yet he determined +to return to his duty, and to do his best with such means as he could +find or make for himself. It was possible that Argyle might now have +sufficiently repaired his affairs to be able to render some assistance +from the West; and there was an ally in Perthshire who might, if he +would, prove of even more value than Argyle.[91] + +Lord Murray, Athole's eldest son, had, unlike his father, made up his +mind early in the Revolution and kept to it. But it happened that there +was one now in possession of Blair Castle who had also chosen his side +with equal resolution. Athole had slunk off to England, leaving his +castle and his vassals to the charge of his agent, Stewart of Ballechin. +Ballechin was a sturdy Jacobite; and though he had not yet dared to arm +the Athole men for James, he had managed on more than one occasion to do +timely service to Dundee. Blair was one of the most important posts in +the proposed line of garrisons. It commanded on one side the only road +by which troops could march from the low country of Perth into the +Highlands, and on the other the passes leading to the Spey and the Dee. +Whoever held Blair practically held the key of the Highlands. Mackay +therefore urged Murray, who was then in Edinburgh, to get rid of this +unjust steward and make sure of so valuable a stronghold for the +Government. Murray promised to do what he could. He did not profess to +be very sanguine of persuading the men of Athole to fight for William; +but for the castle, he could not suppose that Ballechin would dare to +shut the gates of his own father's house against him. "Keep the Athole +men from joining Dundee," said Mackay, "and that is all I ask, or can +expect from your father's son." He pressed Murray to start at once for +Blair, promising to follow as soon as he could collect the necessary +force of troops and stores. + +It was tedious work preparing for a campaign in Edinburgh, where, nobody +feeling himself in immediate danger, nobody was concerned to guard +against it. Mackay was detained longer than he had expected, and before +he could take the field bad news had come down from Perthshire. +Ballechin was strongly entrenched in Blair, and resolute not to budge an +inch. The Athole men had gathered readily enough to their young lord's +summons; but when they found he had summoned them to fight for King +William they had gone off in a body shouting for King James.[92] And +there was yet worse news. The fiery cross was speeding once more through +the Western Highlands. There could be no doubt that Ballechin was acting +under orders from Dundee. A few men had stayed with Murray, and with +these he proposed to watch the castle and the pass till Mackay should +come. But the clans were mustering fast. Dundee himself was said to be +in the neighbourhood. Unless troops could be brought up at once, Blair +would be irretrievably lost, and the key of the Highlands in the hands +of Dundee. + +Dundee was in the neighbourhood. He was at Struan, close to Blair, +whence he wrote more than one letter to Murray, using every argument he +could think likely to influence the interests or the prejudices of +Athole's son. Professing to be convinced that Murray was really for +James, though doubtful about the time for declaring himself, he declared +that he had only sent help to Ballechin to keep the rebels at bay till +Murray was able to act as his principles and education would naturally +suggest. The King, he said, had seen the mistakes into which Melfort had +hurried him. He had now given his word to secure the Protestant +religion as by law established, to allow full liberty of conscience to +all dissenters, and to grant a general pardon for all except those who +had been actively engaged in dethroning him. What more might be +necessary to satisfy the people, Dundee begged Murray to let him know. +The King was particularly anxious for advice on these points, and ready +to go all reasonable lengths; and Murray, he well knew, would advise +nothing unreasonable. No more was to be feared from Melfort, who had +promised to forgive all old quarrels, and even to resign his office +rather than force himself upon those who were unwilling to receive him. +Finally (keeping to the last the most powerful argument he could +devise), he declared that it was now in Murray's power to "have the +honour of the whole turn of the King's affairs." Murray would make no +answer, refused to see Dundee's messengers, and sent all his letters on +to Mackay.[93] + +Dundee knew the importance of Blair as well as Mackay. As soon as he +heard from Ballechin of Murray's action, he threw a garrison into the +castle, and sent signal to the clans to join him at once. The time was +short: too short even to muster all the outlying Camerons. Some days +must elapse before he could expect to see round him such a force as he +had commanded two months earlier, and every hour was precious. Lochiel +urged him to march at once for Blair with such forces as were at hand, +promising to follow with the rest. But Dundee was loth to advance +without Lochiel. He relied much on the old chief's sagacity and +experience, on his knowledge of the Highland character, and his tact in +managing it: without his counsel and support he did not feel even now +certain of his quarrelsome captains. He prayed Lochiel, therefore, to +come with him, leaving his son to bring on the late musters. + +As they marched through Badenoch they were joined by the long-promised +succours from Ireland--three hundred ragged Irish recruits, half +starved, badly armed, and entirely ignorant of war. Their leader was an +officer named Cannon, who bore a commission from James giving him rank +next to Dundee, a position which neither his abilities nor his +experience entitled him to hold in such an army. Some stores of powder +and food had been sent with them; but the vessels containing them had, +through Cannon's negligence, been taken in the Hebrides by English +cruisers. Dundee had neither powder nor food to spare. There had been no +time to collect provisions; and for many days past his officers had +eaten no bread and drunk nothing but water. The great promises of help +on which the Highlanders had so confidently relied, on the assurance of +which they had taken the field, and for which their general had +repeatedly given his own word, had shrunk to this--three hundred empty +mouths to feed, and three hundred useless hands to arm.[94] + +And now word came that Mackay was approaching. He had marched by way of +Stirling to Perth, at which place he had appointed his muster. At +Stirling he had found six troops of dragoons, which he had ordered to +follow him to Perth. On July 26th he was at Dunkeld, where he received +word from Murray of Dundee's arrival at Blair, but not the dragoons he +was expecting from Stirling. His own cavalry consisted of but two +troops, chiefly composed of new levies. He dared no longer trust +Livingstone's dragoons in the face of the enemy. Half of the officers he +had been obliged to send under guard to Edinburgh as traitors: the rest +of the regiment was out of harm's way in quarters at Inverness. The +horses of Colchester's men were in such a plight after their marches +among the Grampians that they could not carry a saddle. Mackay knew well +how important cavalry was to the work before him. A mounted soldier was +the one antagonist a Highlander feared; and his fear was much the same +superstitious awe that a century and a half earlier the hordes of +Montezuma had felt for the armoured horsemen of Cortez. But the messages +from Murray were urgent, and he dared not delay. At break of day on +Saturday, the 27th, he marched out from Dunkeld for the glen of +Killiecrankie. + +His force, according to his own calculation, was between three and four +thousand strong; but barely one half of these were seasoned troops. +There was the Scots Brigade, indeed, of three regiments, his own, +Balfour's, and Ramsay's. But before despatching them to Scotland William +had ordered them to be carefully weeded of all Dutch soldiers, that the +patriotism of the natives might be offended by no hint of a foreign +invasion; and the gaps thus made had been hastily filled up in +Edinburgh. Besides this brigade were three other regiments of infantry: +the one lately raised by Lord Leven (now the Twenty-fifth of the Line, +and still recognizing its origin in its title of The Borderers), +Hastings' (now the Thirteenth of the Line), and Lord Kenmure's.[95] Of +these, Hastings' was manned chiefly by Englishmen, and seems to have +been the only one of the three that had had any real experience of war. +One troop of horse was commanded by Lord Belhaven: the other should have +been commanded by Lord Annandale, whose name it bore, but Mackay could +persuade neither him nor Lord Ross to take the field. Some feeling of +compunction may have kept the latter from drawing his sword against an +old comrade in arms; but Lord Annandale had always been fonder of +wrangling than fighting. Mackay makes no mention of any artillery; but +it appears that he had a few small field-pieces of the kind known as +Sandy's Stoups from the name of their inventor.[96] + +It is only possible to guess at Dundee's numbers. When he broke up his +army early in June he seems to have had about three thousand claymores +under him. The second muster was, we know, much smaller than the first; +and though it was slightly increased on the march, and while he waited +at Blair, the whole force he led at Killiecrankie cannot have much +exceeded two thousand men. Over and above the claymores he had not four +hundred. The Irish were three hundred, and his cavalry mustered about +fifty sabres. Highland tradition puts the claymores at nineteen hundred; +and this is probably much about the truth. Artillery, of course, he had +none. + +As soon as it was known that Mackay was at the mouth of the pass, Dundee +called a council of war. Three courses, he told his officers, were +before them: to harass Mackay's advance with frequent skirmishes, +avoiding a general engagement till the reinforcements a few days would +certainly bring had made the numbers more equal: to attack him in the +pass; or to wait till he had reached the level ground above it. His own +officers, and the Lowland gentlemen generally, were in favour of the +first plan. Some of the chiefs were in favour of the second. Dundee +listened courteously to all, and then turned to the old chief of the +Camerons who had not yet spoken. What, he asked, did Lochiel advise? +Lochiel had no doubt. They must fight and fight at once, were the enemy +three to one. Their men were in heart: they would have all the advantage +of the ground: let Mackay get fairly through the pass that the +Highlanders might see their foes, and then charge home. He had no fear +for the result; but he would answer for nothing were the claymores to be +kept back now the Saxons were fairly at their feet. + +Those who watched Dundee saw his eye brighten. He answered that he +agreed with every word Lochiel had spoken. Delay would bring +reinforcements to Mackay as well as to them, and Mackay's reinforcements +would almost certainly include more cavalry. To fight them in the pass +was useless. In that narrow way the weight of the Highland onset would +be lost. The claymores would not have room for their work, and half the +column would escape. They must fight on open ground and on fair terms, +as Montrose would have fought.[97] + +There was no more opposition. The word for battle went through the +clans, and was hailed with universal delight. Then Lochiel spoke again. +He had always, he said, promised implicit obedience to Dundee, and he +had kept his promise; but for once he should command. "It is the voice +of your Council," he went on, "and their orders are that you do not +engage personally. Your Lordship's business is to have an eye on all +parts, and to issue out your commands as you shall think proper. It is +ours to execute them with promptitude and courage. On you depends the +fate not only of this little brave army, but also of our King and +country." He finished by threatening that neither he nor any of his clan +should draw sword that day unless his request were granted. Dundee +answered that he knew his life to be at that moment of some importance, +but he could not on that day of all days refuse to hazard it. The +Highlanders would never again obey in council a general whom they +thought afraid to lead them in war. Hereafter he would do as Lochiel +advised, but he must charge at the head of his men in their first +battle. "Give me," he concluded, "one _Shear-Darg_ (harvest-day's work) +for the King, my master, that I may show the brave clans that I can +hazard my life in that service as freely as the meanest of them."[98] + +Mackay had reached the mouth of the pass at ten in the morning. Here he +found Murray and his little band, who had not judged it prudent to +remain longer in the neighbourhood of Blair. Two hundred picked men were +accordingly sent forward to reconnoitre under Colonel Lauder; and at +noon, the ground having been reported clear in front, the whole column +advanced. + +The pass of Killiecrankie is now almost as familiar to the Southron as +to the Highlander. It forms the highest and narrowest part of a +magnificent wooded defile in which the waters of the Tummel flowing +eastward from Loch Rannoch meet the waters of the Garry as it plunges +down from the Grampians. Along one of the best roads in the kingdom, or +by the swift and comfortable service of the Highland railway, the +traveller ascends by easy gradations from Pitlochrie, through the +beautiful grounds of Faskally to the little village and station of +Killiecrankie, where a guide earns an unlaborious livelihood by +conducting the panting Saxon over the famous battle-field and to various +commanding points of the defile. How the scene must have looked in those +days, and what thoughts it must have suggested to men either ignorant of +war or accustomed to pursue it in civilised countries, has been +described by Macaulay in a passage which it were superfluous to quote +and impertinent to paraphrase. Near sixty years later, when some +Hessian troops were marching to the relief of Blair Castle, then +besieged by the forces of Prince Charles, the stolid Germans turned from +the desperate sight and, vowing that they had reached the limits of the +world, marched resolutely back to Perth. The only road that then led +through this Valley of the Shadow of Death was a rugged path, so narrow +that not more than three men could walk abreast, winding along the edge +of a precipitous cliff at the foot of which thundered the black waters +of the Garry. Balfour's regiment led the van of this perilous march: the +baggage was in the centre, guarded by Mackay's own battalion: +Annandale's horse and Hastings' foot brought up the rear. + +For about the last mile and a half the pass runs due north and south; +but at the summit the river bends westward, and the mountains sweep back +to the right. As the head of the column emerged into open air it found +itself on a small table-land, flanked on the left by the Garry, and on +the right by a tier of low hills sparely dotted with dwarf trees and +underwood. Above these hills to the north and east rose the lofty chain +of the Grampians crowned by the towering peaks of Ben Gloe and Ben +Vrackie. In front the valley gradually opened out towards Blair Castle, +about three miles distant, and along this valley Mackay naturally looked +for the Highland advance. He sent some pioneers forward to entrench his +position, and as each regiment came up on to the level ground, he formed +it in line three deep. Balfour's regiment thus made the left wing +resting on the Garry, while Hastings was on the right where the ground +began to slope upwards to the hills. Next to Balfour stood Ramsay's +men, and then Kenmure's, Leven's, and the general's own regiment. The +guns were in the centre, and the two troops of horse in the rear of the +guns. + +In the meantime Dundee had not been idle. Sending a few men straight +down the valley, he led his main body across the Tilt, which joins the +Garry just below the castle, round at the back of the hills till he had +reached the English right. Mackay was in front with his skirmishers, +watching what he supposed to be the approach of Dundee's van, when word +was brought to him that the enemy were occupying the hills on the right +in force. Mackay saw his danger at a glance. The Highlanders would be +down like one of their own rivers in flood on his right flank, and roll +the whole line up into the Garry. On one of the hills overlooking his +position stood what is now known as Urrard House, but was then called by +its proper name of Renrorie.[99] Immediately below this stretched a +piece of ground large and level enough in Mackay's judgment for his army +to receive, though not to give, the attack. He made no change in his +line, but wheeling it as it stood upon the right wing, he marched it up +the slope on to this new ground in the face of the enemy.[100] His +position was now better than it had been; but it was bad enough. The +river was in his rear, and behind the river the inhospitable mountains. +His only way of escape, should the day go against him, lay through that +terrible pass up which, with no enemy to harass him, he had just climbed +with infinite toil. He could hardly hope to make good his retreat down +such a road with a victorious army maddening in his rear. In the +preliminary game of tactics he had been completely out-manoeuvred by +his old comrade. + +The clans were now forming for battle. The Macleans of Duart held the +post of honour on the right wing. Next to the Macleans stood Cannon with +his Irish. Then came the men of Clanranald, the men of Glengarry, and +the Camerons. The left wing was composed of the Macdonalds of Sleat and +some more Macleans. In the centre was the cavalry, commanded not as +hitherto by the gallant Dunfermline, but by a gentleman bearing the +illustrious name of Wallace. He had crossed from Ireland with Cannon; +but nothing is heard of him till apparently on the very morning of the +day he produced a commission from James superseding the Earl of +Dunfermline in favour of Sir William Wallace of Craigie. What would +otherwise appear one of those inexplicable freaks by which James ever +delighted to confound his affairs at their crisis, is amply explained by +the fact that the new captain was the brother of Melfort's second wife. +Fortunately Dunfermline was too good a soldier and too loyal a gentleman +to resent the slight. As Mackay's line was much longer than his, Dundee +was compelled to widen the spaces between the clans for fear of being +outflanked, which left for his centre only this little cluster of +sabres. Lochiel's eldest son, John, was with his father, but Allan, the +second, held a commission in Mackay's own regiment. As the general saw +each clan take up its ground, he turned to young Cameron and said, +pointing to the standard of Lochiel, "There is your father with his wild +savages; how would you like to be with him?" "It signifies little what I +would like," was the spirited answer; "but I recommend you to be +prepared, or perhaps my father and his wild savages may be nearer to you +before night than you would like!"[101] + +Each general spoke a few words to his men. Dundee reminded his captains +that they were assembled that day to fight in the best of causes, in the +cause of their King, their religion and their country, against rebels +and usurpers. He urged them to behave like true Scotchmen, and to redeem +their country from the disgrace cast on it by the treachery and +cowardice of others. He asked nothing of them but what they should see +him do before them all. Those who fell would fall honourably like true +and brave soldiers: those who lived and conquered would have the reward +of a gracious King and the praise of all good men. Let them charge home +then, in the name of King James and the Church of Scotland. Mackay urged +the same honourable duty on his battalions; but he added one very +practical consideration which suggests that he was not so confident of +the issue as he afterwards professes to have been, and which was perhaps +not very wisely offered. They must fight, he said, for they could not +fly. The enemy was much quicker afoot than they, and there were the +Athole men waiting to pounce on all runaways. Such thoughts would hardly +furnish the best tonic to a doubtful spirit. Nevertheless the troops +answered cheerfully that they would stand by their general to the last; +which, adds the brave old fellow ruefully in his despatch, "most of them +belied shortly after."[102] + +A dropping fire of musketry had for some time been maintained between +the two lines, and on the English left there had been some closer +skirmishing between Lauder's sharpshooters and the Macleans. Mackay was +anxious to engage before the sun set. He doubted how his raw troops +would stand a night-attack from a foe to whom night and day were one: +still more did he fear what might happen in the darkness during the +confusion of a retreat down that awful pass. But he could not attack, +and Dundee would not, till his moment came. The darkness the other +feared would be all in his favour. A very short time he knew would be +enough to decide the issue of the battle. Should that issue be +favourable to King James, as he felt confident it would be, he had +determined that before the next morning dawned there should be no army +left to King William in the Highlands. + +The sun set, and the moment he had chosen came. The Southrons saw +Dundee, who had now changed his scarlet coat for one of less conspicuous +colour, ride along the line, and as he passed each clan they saw plaids +and brogues flung off. They heard the shout with which the word to +advance was hailed; but the cheer they sent back did not carry with it +the conviction of victory. Lochiel turned to his Camerons with a smile. +"Courage!" he said, "the day is our own. I am the oldest commander in +this army; and I tell you that feeble noise is the cry of men who are +doomed to fall by our hands this night." Then the old warrior flung off +his shoes with the rest of them, and took his place at the head of his +men. Dundee rode to the front of his cavalry. The pipes sounded, and the +clans came down the hill. + +They advanced slowly at first, without firing a shot, while Mackay's +right poured a hot volley into their ranks, and the leathern cannon +discharged their harmless thunder from the centre. A gentleman of the +Grants, who was fighting that day among the Macdonalds, was knocked over +by a spent ball which struck his target. "Sure, the Boddachs are in +earnest now!" he said, as he leaped to his feet with a laugh. It was not +till they had reached the level ground that the Highlanders delivered +their fire. One volley they poured in, and then, flinging their muskets +away, bounded forward sword in hand with a terrific yell. The soldiers +had not time to fix their bayonets in the smoking muzzles of their +muskets before the claymores were among them and the battle was +over.[103] On the left wing scarcely a trigger was pulled: the men broke +and ran like sheep. The famous Scots Brigade, in fact, set the example +of flight. Their officers behaved like brave soldiers. Balfour, +abandoned by his men, defended himself for a time against overwhelming +odds, till he was cut down by a young clergyman, Robert Stewart, a +grandson of Ballechin. Eight officers of Mackay's own regiment were +killed, including his brother, the colonel; and many of Ramsay's. In +vain was the cavalry ordered to charge. In vain did Belhaven like a +gallant gentleman gallop to the front. In vain did Mackay place himself +at their head, and, calling on them to follow him, spur into the thick +of the flashing claymores. Before his horse they fell back right and +left in such a way as to justify his boast to Melville that with fifty +stout troopers he could have changed the day even then; but one of his +own servants alone followed him. A few of the dragoons discharged their +carbines at random. Then all turned and spurred off among the crowd of +footmen to the mouth of the pass. Some of the fugitives tried to cross +the Garry, and were either drowned in its swift waters, or cut down as +they scrambled drenched and unarmed through its fords. Down the pass to +Pitlochrie the rout went. The men of Athole, no longer doubtful of the +issue, pounced from their lair upon the easy prey; and even women lent +their hands to the butchery.[104] + +Well might Mackay bitterly complain, "There was no regiment or troop +with me but behaved like the vilest cowards in nature except Hastings +and my Lord Leven's."[105] For on the right matters had fared rather +better with the Lowlanders. Many of Leven's Borderers had stood firm and +Hastings' Englishmen; and where the Southrons stood firm the Highlanders +wavered. But they were too few for Mackay to have any hopes of +retrieving the fortune of the day. The Highlanders were now busy with +the baggage, which offered a more tempting and less troublesome prize +than the struggling mass of fugitives. Mackay therefore collected the +few men he could get together, and led them across the Garry by a ford +above the field of battle over the mountains towards Stirling. On his +march he overtook some more of his runaways whom Ramsay was leading in +the same direction. Mackay did all it was possible for a brave man to do +to encourage his men and keep them together. But many were too +frightened to heed his words, or even the pistol with which he +threatened to shoot the first man he saw leaving his ranks. The news of +his defeat had spread with marvellous rapidity: the whole country was +up: every glen and mountain sent out its reapers to the rich harvest. +And where enemies did not exist, the fears of these poor wretches found +them. Every drover with his herd, every shepherd with his flock, was +magnified into a fresh array of the terrible Highlanders. On the evening +of Monday, the 29th, Mackay reached Stirling with barely one-fifth of +the force with which he had marched out of the town a week earlier. + +The Highland loss was calculated at nine hundred men. The Macdonalds and +Camerons were the principal sufferers, their position on the left and +left-centre having brought them in contact with the battalions who had +kept their ground. Glengarry's brother was among the killed, with +Macdonald of Largo, and no less than five cousins of Macdonald of the +Isles. Among the Lowlanders fell Hallyburton of Pitcur, and Gilbert +Ramsay, Dundee's favourite officer, who had dreamed overnight of the +victory and of his death. But though the battle had been won for James, +he had suffered a greater loss than William. A fresh army could replace +Mackay's broken battalions; but no one could replace Dundee, and Dundee +was dead. + +He had ridden at the head of his cavalry straight on Mackay's centre. +But for some unexplained reason his troopers had not followed him close; +whether their new captain did not like the guns, or had misunderstood +his orders, is not clear. Dunfermline, seeing his general's plumed hat +waving above the smoke, had spurred out of the ranks with sixteen +gentlemen, and with these sabres the guns were taken and silenced. +Dundee, seeing that all went well on the right wing, turned to the left +where the Macdonalds were wavering before the firmer front of Hastings' +Englishmen. As he galloped across the field to bring them to the +charge, a shot struck him in the right side immediately below his +breastplate. For a few strides further he clung swaying to his saddle, +and then sank from his horse into the arms of a soldier named Johnstone. +Like Wolfe on the heights of Abraham, he asked how the day went. "Well +for the King," said the man, "but I am sorry for your Lordship." And +like Wolfe, Dundee answered, "It is the less matter for me, seeing the +day goes well for my master." As his officers returned from the pursuit +they found him on the field, and it is said, though one would be glad to +disbelieve it, stripped by the very men whom he had led to victory. By +his side was found a bundle of papers. Among them was a letter from +Melfort, bidding him be sure that both he and James would feel +themselves bound by no promise of toleration circumstances had induced +them to make. Well might Balcarres, who knew his friend's disposition +better than Melfort, tell James how such foolish and disingenuous +dealing had grieved Dundee and all who wished honestly to the +cause.[106] + +Dundee's body, wrapped in a plaid, was carried to the castle, and a few +days later buried in the old church of Blair. In 1852 some bones, +believed to be his, were removed from Blair to the Church of Saint +Drostan in the parish of Old Deer, in Aberdeenshire; and eleven years +later a window of stained glass was placed in the same church, bearing, +on a brass plate in the window-sill, this inscription: "Sacred to the +memory of John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, who died in the +arms of victory, and whose battle-cry was 'King James and the Church of +Scotland!'" + +As no stone was ever known to mark his first grave; there is, of course, +ample room for the incredulous to smile over this late tribute to his +memory. But in truth the shadow of doubt broods over him in death as in +life. It is certain only that he received his death-wound on the field +of battle, and in the moment of victory. What else fell with him there +was well expressed by William. When the news from Killiecrankie came +down, the King was urged at once to send a large army into the +Highlands. "It is needless," he answered, "the war ended with Dundee's +life." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[90] See the sixth canto of "The Lady of the Lake." + + "We'll quell the savage mountaineer, + As their tinchel cows the game." + +The tinchel was the name given to the circle of hunters which, gradually +narrowing, hemmed the deer into a small space, where they could be +easily slaughtered. + +[91] Mackay complains bitterly in his Memoirs of "the unconcerned method +of the Government in matters which touch them nearest as to their +general safety, each being for his particular, and fixed upon his +private projects, so as neither to see nor be concerned for anything +else." + +[92] "When in front of Blair Castle their real destination was disclosed +to them by Lord Tullibardine [the heir of Athole did not assume this +style till 1695]. Instantly they rushed from their ranks, ran to the +adjoining stream of Banovy, and, filling their bonnets with water, drank +to the health of King James; and then, with colours flying and pipes +playing, 'fifteen hundred of the men of Athole, as reputable for arms as +any in the kingdom' [Mackay's words], put themselves under the command +of the Laird of Ballechin and marched off to join Lord Dundee." +Stewart's "Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland," i. 67. But this is +not strictly true. They joined neither Ballechin nor Dundee, but went +off on their own account to the mountains to watch the issue of events. + +[93] Probably Dundee wrote more confidently than he felt. He owned that +Murray might "have more to do to believe" Melfort's assurance than +James's; but, in fact, there was too good reason to disbelieve both. +From the first letter written from Struan it appears that the despatch +from James which had fallen into Hamilton's hands was much more +temperate and conciliatory than the earlier one brought to the +Convention by Crane. Dundee had not seen this despatch; and it is +possible that he described it rather as his own good sense urged him to +believe it must have been, than as it really was. The letters to +himself, which he summarises for Murray's benefit, must have been those +acknowledged in the postscript to Melfort of June 28th. It is, as we +shall presently see, certain that about this time James was induced to +assume, as he had before assumed when it was too late, the virtue of +toleration. How much of these promises Dundee really believed, it is +impossible to say. The history of our own time has shown, and is every +day showing, that neither wisdom nor experience will always avail to +prevent a man from believing that which it is his interest to believe. + +[94] Memoirs of Balcarres and of Lochiel. + +[95] I have given the modern style of these regiments as they were +before the last freak of the War Office. What they may be now, I do not +know; nor is the knowledge important, for the style I have used will +probably be most familiar to my readers. "My Uncle Toby," it will be +remembered, was of Leven's regiment. There exists a letter from +Schomberg to Lord Leven, especially commending to the latter's care a +gentleman of the name of Le Fevre. See the "Leven and Melville Papers." + +[96] Mackay says in his Memoirs that he left Edinburgh with two troops +of horse, and four of dragoons. It is certain that only the former were +engaged at Killiecrankie. But the general's narrative is throughout +extremely confused, and sometimes barely intelligible. Perhaps the +larger force was that he had counted on having; or the four troops of +dragoons may have been those he ordered to follow from Stirling. + +Alexander Hamilton, who commanded the artillery in the Covenanter's army +with which Leslie and Montrose made the famous passage of the Tyne in +1640. From Burton's description of them they can hardly have been very +dangerous, at least to the enemy. "They seem to have been made of tin +for the bore, with a coating of leather, all secured by tight cordage. A +horse could carry two of them, and it was their merit to stand a few +discharges before they came to pieces." "History of Scotland," vi. 302. + +[97] It is said that one of Dundee's arguments against attacking in the +pass was, that it did not become brave soldiers to engage a foe at +disadvantage, an argument which I should imagine Dundee was much too +sensible a man to employ to Highlanders. Had his force been sufficient +for him to close up the mouth of the pass after the Lowlanders had +entered, it is hard to imagine he would have lost the chance of catching +Mackay in such a trap. But his force was too small to divide: while the +nature of the ground would of course have told as much against those who +made as against those who met a charge, besides inevitably offending the +jealous point of honour which forbad one clan to take precedence of +another. It may be, too, that Dundee was not very well served by his +scouts. Mackay certainly seems to have got well on his way through the +pass before the other knew that he had entered it. See the "Life of +Mackay," and the "Rebellions in Scotland." + +[98] Memoirs of Lochiel. + +[99] For long afterwards the battle was known among the Highlanders as +the battle of Renrorie. + +[100] Mackay's Memoirs: "a quart de conversion" is his own phrase for +this change of front. + +[101] "Sketches of the Highlanders." + +[102] Among the Nairne Papers is what purports to be a copy of Dundee's +speech. It has been contemptuously rejected by some writers as a +manifest forgery, on the ground that no Highlander would have understood +a word of it. But there were Dundee's own officers and men to be +addressed; and, moreover, his language would have been perfectly +intelligible to some, at least, of the chiefs, who would have conveyed +its purpose to their men. It was still the fashion for a general to +harangue his troops before leading them into action, and it was a +fashion particularly in vogue among the Highlanders. I see no reason, +therefore, to doubt the general authenticity of this speech. Exactly as +it stands in the Nairne Papers probably Dundee did not deliver it; the +style being somewhat more grandiloquent than he was in the habit of +employing. But its general purpose, which I have endeavoured to give in +a paraphrase, seems to be very much what such a man would have said at +such a moment. The authority for Mackay's speech will be found in his +own despatch to Lord Melville after the battle. + +[103] It was the disastrous experience of this day that led Mackay to +devise a plan of fixing the bayonet to the musket so that each could be +used, as now, without interfering with the other. + +[104] "History of the Rebellions in Scotland." Even the men who had +stood by Lord Murray joined in the slaughter. He did his best to keep +them quiet, but was forced to own afterwards to Mackay that he had not +been very successful. "It cannot be helped," he wrote, "of almost all +country people, who are ready to pillage and plunder whenever they have +occasion." See the Bannatyne edition of Dundee's Letters, &c. + +[105] Mackay's opinion was that "the English commonalty were to be +preferred in matter of courage to the Scots." + +[106] One tradition, for a long while current among the Lowlands, +declares him to have been shot by one of his own men in the pay of +William Livingstone, who afterwards married Lady Dundee; Livingstone +having been for some weeks a close prisoner in Edinburgh with the other +disaffected officers of his regiment. Lady Dundee, the story goes on to +say, was aware of his intentions, and on the following New Year's day +sent "the supposed assassin a white night-cap, a pair of white gloves, +and a rope, being a sort of suit of canonicals for the gallows, either +to signify that she esteemed him worthy of that fate, or that she +thought the state of his mind might be such as to make him fit to hang +himself." Another tradition makes Dundee fall by a shot fired from the +window of Urrard House, in which a party of Mackay's men had lodged +themselves. He was watering his horse at the time at a pond called the +Goose-Dub, where the Laird of Urrard's geese were wont to disport +themselves. This story is evidently part of the old nurse's prophecy +mentioned on page 3. For these and many other anecdotes of the battle, +see the "History of the Rebellions in Scotland." I have taken my account +of Dundee's death from the memoirs of Balcarres and Lochiel, and from +the depositions, printed by Napier, of certain witnesses examined +afterwards at Edinburgh, among them being an officer of Kenmure's +regiment, who was carried prisoner into the castle after the battle and +heard Johnstone's story. As for the letter said to have been written by +Dundee to James after the battle, and now among the Nairne Papers, there +is more to be said for it than some have allowed. Macaulay, alluding to +it as dated the day after the battle, calls it as impudent a forgery as +Fingal. But in fact it bears no date at all: the handwriting is declared +on the best authority to be beyond question contemporary; and there is +no absolute proof that Dundee did not live long enough at least to +dictate an account of his victory to James. It is tolerably certain that +he would have done so had his strength permitted him. But in a letter +written from Dublin in the following November by James to Ballechin, +there is no mention of any letter from Dundee, and his death is there +alluded to as having occurred at the beginning of the action. This, of +course, is not conclusive; James's actual words are, "the loss you had +... at your entrance into action," which need not imply instant death. +On the whole, however, the balance of evidence seems to me to prove that +Dundee died where he fell, and that the letter is not genuine, though +certainly no forgery of Macpherson's. Those who are still curious on a +point which is, after all, of no very great importance, will find it +amply discussed in a note to the edition of Dundee's letters published +for the Bannatyne Club, and in an appendix to Napier's third volume. A +stone still marks the spot where Dundee is said to have fallen, and was +seen by Captain Burt less than fifty years after the battle. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Abjuration oath, the, 121 + + Acts against the Covenanters, 35-6, 40, 45, 121 + + Aird's Moss, skirmish at, 91 + + Annandale, Lord, 200 + + Argyle, Marquis of, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 34 + Earl of (son of preceding), 45, 119, 139 + Earl of (son of preceding), 171, 193 + + Athole, Marquis of, 44, 46, 139, 145 _note_, 153, 154, 159, 162, 188, 194 + men of, behaviour of the, 196 _note_, 211 and _note_ + + Auchencloy, execution of Covenanters at, 128-31 + + Auchinleck, Robert, execution of, 131-2 + + + Balcarres, Earl of, 141, 142, 143, 148, 149, 151, 155, 156, 157, 166, 189 + memoirs of the Revolution by, 144 _note_ + + Balfour, Colonel, 200, 205, 211 + of Burley, John, 58, 60, 62, 65, 69, 83 + + Ballechin, Stewart of, 194 + letter to, from James, 215 _note_ + + Belhaven, Lord, 200, 211 + + Blair Castle, 194, 195, 201, 214 + Church, 214, 215 + + Bothwell Bridge, battle of, 83-6 + + Brown, John, execution of, 116-22 + + Bruce, Andrew, of Earlshall, 55, 91 + + Buchan, Colonel, 107, 108, 109, 145 + + Burnet, Bishop, on Claverhouse, 4, 151 _note_ + + + Cameron of Lochiel, Sir Ewan, 169, 170, 171, 179, 181, 185, 198, 202, + 203, 210 + memoirs of, 5 _note_ + Allan, 207-8 + Richard, 91 + + Cameronians, the, 91 + + Cannon, Colonel, joins Claverhouse with Irishmen, 198 + + Cargill, Rev. Donald, 78, 79, 91 + + Charles the Second, signs the Covenant, 24 + crowned in Scotland, 24 + his opinion of Lauderdale's administration, 42 + acquits Claverhouse of malversation, 91 + + Charles the Second appoints Claverhouse to a regiment of cavalry, 97 + his goodwill to Claverhouse, 100 and _note_ + settles Claverhouse in possession of Dudhope, 101 + + Claverhouse, birth of, 1 + family and education, 2-7 + supposed to have served in French army, 8, 9 + gallant action at Seneff, 12, 13 + resigns commission in Dutch service, 15 + story of his reasons for resigning, 15, 16 _note_ + applies to Montrose for employment, 44 + receives lieutenant's commission, 45 + portrait of, 46, 47 + refuses to interfere illegally with Covenanters, 48 + appointed Deputy-Sheriff of Dumfriesshire, 55 + at Drumclog, 70 + at Glasgow, 72, 73 + at Bothwell Bridge, 85, 86 + accused of malversation, 90, 91 _note_ + appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire, 92 + his policy towards the Covenanters, 92-3, 135 and _note_ + receives command of cavalry regiment, 97 + his quarrel with the Dalrymples, 95-7 + his visit to England, 97-100 + made a Privy-Councillor, 100 + obtains estate of Dudhope, 101 + his marriage, 101-5 + merciful conduct to prisoners, 109 + examination into charges against, 111-36 + in disgrace, 125-6 + his character, 134-5 + his quarrel with Queensberry, 139-42 + second visit to England, 142 + Provost of Dundee and Major-General, 143 + marches into England, 145 + quartered in London, 146 + joins James at Salisbury, 146 + created Viscount of Dundee, 146 + his advice to James, 147 + marches to Reading, 147 + receives a message from William at Watford, 148 + attends Scottish Council in London, 148 + waits on James at Whitehall for the last time, 149 + negotiations with William, 151 + returns to Edinburgh, 151 + plot to assassinate him, 158 + leaves Edinburgh, 160 + his interview with the Duke of Gordon, 160 + proclaimed traitor by the Convention, 164 + escapes to Glen Ogilvy, 166 + a son born to him, 173 + saves Inverness from Keppoch, 174 + his raid upon Dunkeld and Perth, 175 + demonstration outside Dundee, 177 + at Lochaber, 179 + the muster of the Clans, 179-80 + his popularity with the Highlanders, 182-3 + returns to Lochaber, 185 + re-assembles the Clans, 198 + garrisons Blair Castle, 198 + holds Council of War, 201-4 + addresses his soldiers, 208 + death and burial, 213-15 + + Cleland, William, 65, 159 + + "Cloud of Witnesses," the, value of the testimony of, 123 + + Cochrane, Lady Jean, 101, 102, 104 + + Convention of Estates, the, 155-9, 161-2, 165-6 + + Covenanters, assembly of, at Mauchline, 21 + under Strachan, 28 + cruelties of, 29, 30 + character of, 29, 59 + address of, to Charles, 32 + rising of, in the West, 37 + divisions among, 77-80, 82, 83 + declarations by, 63, 91, 120, 121 _note_ + treatment of, after Bothwell Bridge, 87-8 + rabble the Episcopalian clergy, 154 + + Creichton, Captain, 176-7 + + Cromwell, Oliver, his advice to the Presbyterians, 20 + negotiates with Argyle, 21, 25 + his policy towards the Presbyterians, 25-6 + + + Dalrymples of Stair, their quarrel with Claverhouse, 95-7 + + Dalziel, Thomas, 38, 81, 85, 106, 145 _note_ + + Declaration of Indulgence, the, 8 + repeal of, 9 + the Rutherglen, 63 + the Hamilton, 82 + the Sanquhar, 91 + + Defoe on Claverhouse, 123 _note_, 127, 131 + value of his testimony, 124 _note_ + + Douglas, General James, 123, 126, 139-40, 145, 147, 188 + + Drumclog, battle of, 64-71 + + Drumlanrig, Viscount, 145 _note_, 147 + + Drummond, General, 126 + Alexander, of Bahaldy, 169 + John, of Bahaldy, 5 _note_ + + Drunken Parliament, the, 33 + + Dumbarton, Earl of, 123, 137, 138, 147, 150 + + Dundee, Viscount of. _See_ Claverhouse + memoirs of, 16 _note_ + Viscountess of, second marriage and death, 105 _note_ + story of, and Col. Livingstone, 214 _note_ + + Dundonald, Earl of, 101, 103 + + Dunfermline, Earl of, 172, 180, 189, 207, 213 + + Dunmore, Earl of, 145 _note_, 150 + + + Edinburgh, riots in, 142, 154-5 + + Enterkin Hill, rescue of Covenanters at, 109 + + Episcopal clergy, Scotch, Burnet's complaint against, 48 _note_ + + + Feud between Macdonalds and Mackintoshes, 123 + + Field-preaching, Act against, 40 + + + Gordon, Duke of, in command of Edinburgh Castle, 155-6, 160-61, + 187 _note_ + + Graham, David, 3, 115, 180 + + Graham, Robert, 68 and _note_ + + Grameis, the, 13, 173 + + Grierson, Sir Robert. _See_ Lag + + + Hackston of Rathillet, 58, 60, 83, 91 + + Hamilton, Duke of, 42, 102, 148, 153, 155, 159, 161-3, 165-6 + Robert, 62-3, 65, 71-3, 77-9, 82-4 + + Highland Host, the, 41-2 + + Highlanders, loyalty of, 169-71 + their value as soldiers, 168, 181 + + Hislop, Andrew, execution of, 125-7 + + + James the Second, as Duke of York, favours Claverhouse, 44 + High Commissioner in Scotland, 91, 97 + promotes Claverhouse, 139-40 + summons him to London, 141 + announces invasion of England to Scotch Council, 143 + orders Scotch troops to England, 144 + at Salisbury, 145-7 + his flight and return, 148 + ordered to leave the capital by William, 148 + his last interview with Balcarres and Claverhouse, 149-50 + leaves England, 150 + his foolish letter to the Estates, 156 + his letter to Claverhouse falls into hands of Hamilton, 165 + his promises of toleration, 197 _note_, 214 + his letter to Ballechin, 215 _note_ + + + Keppoch, Colin Macdonald of, 170, 173-4, 183 + + Killing-time, the, 111-36 + + King, Rev. John, 64, 71 + + + Lag, the Laird of, 49-53, 114 _note_ + + Latin poem on Battle of Bothwell Bridge, 68 _note_ + + Lauderdale, Duke of, 33, 39, 42, 58, 98 + Earl of, 98-101 + + Leather guns, 201 + + Leighton, Bishop, 34, 40 + + Leslie, David, 30 + + Letters from Claverhouse to Archbishop Burnet, 107, 108 + to Duke of Hamilton, 163-4 + to James, 215 _note_ + to Earl of Melfort, 186-92 + to Linlithgow, 48-9, 54, 56, 64-5, 67, 70 + to Lord Murray, 196-7 + to Queensberry, 92, 94, 96 _note_, 99 _note_, 103-4, 109, 117, 138 + + Leven, Earl of, 166, 200, 212 + + Linlithgow, Earl of, 44, 81 + + Livingstone, George, Lord, 83, 145, 162-3 + Sir Thomas, 150, 172, 185, 199 + William, 176, 177 _note_, 214 _note_ + + + Macaulay on Claverhouse, 13, 17, 18, 119, 125, 151 _note_ + + Macdonald of Keppoch, 170 + + Macdonalds, killed at Killiecrankie, 213 + + Mackay, General, story of his alleged quarrel with Claverhouse, 16 _note_ + commands the troops in Scotland, 172 + tries to raise the Clans for William, 178-9 + marches against Claverhouse, 184-5 + new plan of campaign, 193 + sends Lord Murray to Blair Castle, 195 + takes the field again, 199 + the strength of his army, 200-1 and _note_ + marches through the Pass of Killiecrankie, 204-5 + his order of battle, 206 + his address to his troops, 208 + his bravery, 211 + his opinion of English soldiers, 212 _note_ + his retreat to Stirling, 212-13 + John, of Rockfields, his biography of General Mackay, 16 _note_ + + Mackenzie, Sir George, 99, 159, 188 + Colin, 105 + + Macpherson, James, alleged forgery of letters from Claverhouse by, 215 + _note_ + + Martyrs, the Wigtown, 112-15 + + Mekellwrath, Matthew, execution of, 128 + + Melfort, Earl of, 142, 144, 156-8, 165, 186, 207 + + Mitchell, James, attempt to assassinate Sharp by, 58 + + Mitchell, Robert, 130 + + Monmouth, Duke of, appointed to command army in Scotland, 80 + his leniency to the Covenanters, 82, 84, 87 + executed, 139 + + Montrose, Marquis of, 44-5, 46 + + Munro, Dr., on Claverhouse, 5 + + Murray, Earl of, letter from to Queensberry, 140 + Lord Charles. _See_ Earl of Dunmore + Lord, 194-7, 204, 211 _note_ + + Muster-roll of Claverhouse's regiment, 145 _note_ + + + Nairne Papers, the, 209 _note_, 215 _note_ + + Napier, Mark, his "Life and Times of Dundee," 5 _note_ + + + Peirson, Rev. Peter, murder of, 129-30 + + Perth, Earl of, 39 _note_, 142, 154-5 + + "Pilliwincks," torture of the. _See_ Thumbkin + + Plot to assassinate Claverhouse and Mackenzie, 159 + + + Queensberry, Duke of, 55, 92, 99, 137-8, 141, 162. _See_ Letters from + Claverhouse to + + + Ramsay, Lieut.-Col., 184, 211, 212 + Gilbert, 213 + + Remonstrants, the, 21, 25-8 + + Renwick, head of the Covenanters, proclamation by, 121 _note_ + + Resolutioners, the, 21, 25-8 + + Ross, George, Lord, 57 and _note_, 61, 72 + William, Lord, 105 and _note_, 200 + + Rullion Green, battle of, 38 + + Rutherford, Rev. Samuel, 35 + + Ruthven Castle destroyed, 184 + + + Saint Drostan, church of, memorial to Claverhouse in, 215-6 + + Sanquhar Declaration, the, 91 + + Scotch troops ordered to England, 144 + + Scotland, state of, reviewed, 17-76 + + Scott, Sir Walter, his account of Drumclog in "Old Mortality," 67 + his account of Bothwell Bridge in the same, 85 and _note_ + + Seneff, battle of, 12 + + Sharp, James, 26, 31 + consecrated Primate of Scotland, 34 + murdered, 57, 60 + + Simpson, Rev. Robert, on Claverhouse and the Covenanters, 132 _note_ + + Smith, Robert, evidence on battle of Bothwell Bridge, 85 + + Stormont, Viscount of, 176 and _note_ + + + Thumbkin, torture of the, 39 _note_ + + Tinchel, the, 193 and _note_ + + Traditions about Claverhouse, 3, 47 _note_, 70, 182, 214 _note_ + + Turner, Sir James, 36-8 + + + Walker, Patrick, on Claverhouse, 7 _note_, 135 + his opinion of Wodrow, 116 + on death of John Brown, 116-17, 122 and _note_ + + Welsh, Rev. John, 56-7, 78, 82 + + Westerhall, Johnstone of, 125 + + Western Shires, the, nursery of the Covenanters, 29 + + Whiggamores' raid, the, 22 + + Whigs, origin of the name of, 23 _note_ + brought into Edinburgh by Hamilton, 158-9, 161 + + William the Third, stories of his early acquaintance with Claverhouse, + 12, 15-16 + his message to Claverhouse, 148 + tries to persuade Claverhouse and Balcarres to enter his service, 151 + and _note_ + his opinion of Claverhouse, 216 + + Winrahame, George, 118 _note_, 160 + + Wodrow, Rev. Robert, his "History of the Sufferings of the Church of + Scotland," 51-2 + vagueness of his charges against Claverhouse, 88 + on the Wigtown Martyrs, 113-14 + on the death of John Brown, 116 + Andrew Hislop, 127 + on the murder of Rev. Peter Peirson, 129-30 and _note_ + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: + +VARIANT SPELLINGS +Page vi: John Mackay is of Rockfield (p. vi); and Rockfields (p. 16 and +index, under Mackay). Amended Rockfield to Rockfields. + +Page vi.: Variant spelling of Scourie and Scowrie retained, however, as +the author could well have spelled it Scowrie (though online historical +sources suggest Hugh Mackay was born at Scourie). + +Page 133: Hyslop has been in all other instances spelt Hislop; corrected. + +Page 159: "bloodly Clavers" matches book: retained. + +Variant spelling of doggerel/doggrel (one instance of each) retained. + +VARIANT CAPITALISATIONS +Inconsistent capitalisation of Council-Board and Council-board (one +instance of each) retained. + +Capitalisation of Churchman (p. 9) and Legislature (p. 9) retained + +The Killing Time variously capitalised as killing-time, Killing-time, +Killing-Time and Killing Time (one of each). Two of these are enclosed +in quote marks and one is in the index. Retained. + +Popery and popery/popish and Popish variant capitalisations retained +(read properly in context). + +VARIANT SPELLINGS IN QUOTED LETTERS +While the author notes that Claverhouse could not spell correctly (for +example p. 6), the only misspellings that appear in the reproduced +letters are proper names: there are no other spelling errors. It would +appear that the transcriber was correcting the common English without +correcting the proper names. Subsequently the following misspelled +proper names have been corrected: + +Page 108: Mauchlin corrected to Mauchline. + +Page 138: Sanquar corrected to Sanquhar (spelt correctly in a previous +letter, p. 108). + +Page 188: Variant spelling of Locheil, elsewhere Lochiel, corrected. In +the same letter there is a reference to Queenberry (otherwise +Queensberry), ditto corrected. + +Page 190: Kircudbright corrected to Kirkcudbright (spelt correctly in at +least 3 previous letters, see pp. 54, 93 and 94). + +HYPHENS +One instance of each headquarters, head-quarters and one split over the +end of a line. Settled on headquarters as the more common spelling. + +PUNCTUATION +Page 69: "; amended to ;", which is the standard punctuation arrangement +in the book. + +Page 188: "strangely, For" amended to "strangely. For". + +Page 192: Editorial comment in quoted letter (that) is in parentheses +and not square brackets as has been used elsewhere in book. Amended to +square brackets. + +MISCELLANEOUS +TOC created for this text (no TOC in the original book) + +Page 117: "...I caused shoot him dead;" checks out against original +book. Left as is. + +Index: Page reference for Whigs, origin of name fixed to page 23 +(footnote 8); no note on page 82 (original reference in book). + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLAVERHOUSE*** + + +******* This file should be named 18254.txt or 18254.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/2/5/18254 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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