No. XX.

MEMOIR of a Plan for preserving the Peace of the Highlands: written a short time after the Revolution.

[The Original is in the hand-writing of Duncan Forbes, of Culloden, the President's father; and every part of his plan seems to have been closely followed, in every point of any consequence.]

THE strength of the kingdom of Scotland did stand anciently in the power of Superiors over ther Vassalls, and Cheeffs over ther Clanes; which power, as it was always burdensome to the King and Kingdom in tyme of peace, because thes great Superiors and Cheeffs, proud of it, acted often insolently, and would neither be commanded by King nor Law; so was that same power of thers even as hurtfull in tymes of War: which may appear by the conduct of the Scots affairs at Flowdon, Pinkie, Solloway Moss, and many other occasions, when competition amongst them ruined the King's affairs; for such as he could neither humor nor engage by benefite, were often tempted to desert the common interest, & leave it a prey to the Enemy.

Wherefor the Kings of Scotland made it ther Bussines to break the power of these Superiors & Cheeffs, particularly K James the 5', as may be seen in the wholl transactions of his reigne; but all endevors to this purpose proved weak and ineffectuall, till the Gospell came to be established in the kingdome by a Reformation from Popery.

Since the Reformation, the strenth of the Nation stands upon another bottome; for the preaching of the Gospell haveing brought in a light upon the consciences of the people, the far greater part of the nation now weill neither follow superior nor cheef, but in so far as they are convinced that the undertaking is consonant to the Laws of God & the Kingdom.

And when K. Charles the 2 came to the Crown, he found the designe of his Predecessors so weell accomplished, that the nation was in ane inteir peace; theeft & Robbery extinguisht; vassallages and Clanes brok; exact obedience to the Law; the Gospel pleached over all the Kingdome; & ane orderly discipline exercised in a weell governed Presbiterian Church, without shisme, division, or so much as contradiction. So that never Prince was better stated then he; for he governed easily a people who had nothing to crave, save but to have his Commands and obey.

But the designes of the two last reignes being to introduce Popery and arbitrary power, and men of conscience being improper instruments for bringing such purposes about, so contrary to their ingrained principles, it was found necessary to overturne all the good establishment already made in the nation, and act contrary to the Pollitick of former Kings, by setting up Superiors and Cheeffs again, demolishing the streinths built amongst the Highland Clanes; so giving them loose reines to rob, and reassume ther former barbarity; whereby they became fitt instruments for destroying Men of conscience, who were lyke to stand in the way of thes alterations that were intended to be made upon the Religion and liberty of the Nation.

This designe was prosecute, as is known, with much bloodshed; torture, rapine, & ruine of familys; and was ending in the overthrow of all rights, both sacred & civil, when the Lord in his Mercy raised up his Majesty who now reignes, to delyver Scotland from Misery, and setle it upon its old and trew foundations; which is very neer accomplished, and that by methods lyke to those which were used by former Kings in making the nation happy, viz. By makeing the parliaments free; by settleing the Church in its former integrity; by restoreing the opprest to their liveings; & by

settling

settling Garrisons upon the necks of those barbarous people who were the tools of oppression, and are the constant disturbers of the nation. Were this fully compleated, ther rests no more but that the King command what he will, and have the pleasure to see the people joyfully obey all his Comands, to the utmost farthing of ther Estates, and last drop of ther blood.

And certainly the present course of affairs can terminate in nothing but this, unless some contrary methods be taken to those which have lately been so successful in gaining the hearts of the people to the King; which will hardly happen, if ther be not ill designing men put in trust, who may weaken the hands of such as would serve the King best.

Therfor it is to be mynded, that ther is a party in Scotland whose affections can never be gaind to the King; and those are they who call themselves Episcopal, but really are indifferent of that & all matters of that nature, and are adicted to nothing but King James, under whose protection they formerly opprest others; and, in spyte of all the kyndness & forbearance can be show'd them, will only comply to gain opportunity to bring him back if they can. The certainty of this appears as clear as the sun, from three or four following Evidences.

First, from the testimony of the best Officers in the Army; who declare, that after all ther converse & favourable endevors with these Men, they find not one in Scotland, who favors Episcopacy, but to the best of ther conjectures he hates the King and the Government, & would have back King James; nor doe they find one Presbiterian, lett him have never so many other faults, but would venter all for his Majesty, both ag" K. James and all his other enemys.

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Secondly, This appears to be trew, from these Mens takeing the Oaths to His Ma jesty in Parliament, after they were in compact with K. James to bring him back. They having sworn only to the effect they might have Latitude to act & vote agst the interest of him to whom they swore, & advance the Interest of him whom by ther Oaths & subscriptions they had renounced.

A third Evidence, and a most convinceing one, that they will omitt no opportunity of bringing back K: Ja: if they can, is ther Deportment upon the miscarriadge of the fleet; the King being in Ireland, Maj: Gen' Makay in Lockaber with the Forces, all Letters and Intelligence being stopt from England for severall Posts; then the Jacobite, or Episcopal party as they please to call themselves, contryved fals news anent his Majesties death, & K: James his Landing in England with a French Army, to whom the people had joyned, & the State had intirely submitted; upon which ther were many forged Letters. Ther Preachers were very active in spreading these Reports, & in affoording Horses to any who would take Armes; by which means a body of 4 or 500 Horse were got together, who came the length of Stirling, boasting great things, & burning the Countrey. While, in the mean tyme, upon the first report of ther Insurrection, & a small Invitation from the King's Commissioner, some seaven thousand presbeterians had drawen themselves together about Glasgow, marching towards Stirling, wher the Enemy were; And, as is said, litle fewer than 14 thousand more out of the Westerne Shyres were following with Carseland & Buntine; the terror whereof not only chased these Jacobites, already on foot, away to the north, but also quashed all that was feard at that tyme from Northumberland, the South border, & some great men within the Kingdome. By which it is evident, who are for the King, & who agst him; who are willing to serve him, & who not; who are able, & who not; and, consequently, who ought to be trusted, & who not..

Fourthly, It is also to be remembered, that those few unhappie men who attempted the overthrow of the Government of late, no sooner fell in any disgust with his Majesty,. but they joyned themselves in with these Jacobites, with whom they entered into league,

received i

received impressions from them, & formed dessignes with them of bringing back K James; which was prosecute with such bold endevors amongst themselves, & such dark subtility amongst good people to whom they durst never discover the bottome, that it wanted litle, at several stepps, of takeing its damnable effect. The craftiness of ther Insinuations was such, to persuade that the K: would never doe the things which are now doon; And so great was ther influence, that the most & best of the people were become desparate, & out of hope of any good at all from his Majesty; whilst in the mean tyme the Jacobites asserted (wher they durst be free), that K: James was ready to doe all that could be requyred of him. But no sooner was ther any thing done in Parliam' to the satisfaction of the people, but ther hearts began to warme towards the King; and the Jacobite Combination began to break, which certainly had no power in its self, but in so farr as they were able by Craft & lyes to discourage honest men, & lay them asyde from owneing the King's intrest. By all which it is evident, that the following positions are undeniably trew; viz.

That the things now doon are of infinite value to the nation, & without which the people could never be easie, & therfore behooved to be doon.

2° That the nation, having receaved so great obligations from the King, will never be ingrate to him; but will make returnes to him of all they are worth, ask it when he will.

3° That no Jacobite, or hardly any in Scotland who calls himself Episcopall, can be trusted by his Mătie.

4 That His Majesties Commissioner, in manadgeing as he did, & gaining the hearts of the people to the King, has doon both King and Countrey the best service could be doon; And by that means hes rendered himself the welcomest Agent that His Majesty can hereafter employ to that nation.

I know that evill designeing men suggest two inconveniencies in what is doon, & they are both groundless.

The first is, that the Presbiterian Churchmen will employ the freedome the King & Parliament has given them too rigorously agst those of the Episcopall Profession, which may irritate the Church of England. Verily, such as suggest this know very litle of the Presbiterian Ministers' Concerne for the King's satisfaction, & prosperity of his affairs. I am confident they will rather omitt ther own affairs then trouble his, which will presently be seen in the Deportment of this Assembly.

Another suggestion is, that the Commission of Parliament will be too rigorous in applying the Act anent Forfaulturs & fynes; which is also groundless; For that Comittee is so tender in these matters, that indeed, in my sense, they are not so just as they ought to be withall, ther Power is but to report, & then is the wholl mater entire in the King's own hands.

From all that is said it may be concluded, that if what is already in freame were compleited, and that one very small Article past anent the constant President, wholly indifferent to the King, but considerable to the People, hardly can Scotland wish for

more.

For compleiting what is so farr advanced, ther may be 3 things reckoned necessary. 1. That the Councell of Estate be not mixt with troublesome Members.

2. That the Garrisons in the Highlands be rightly placed, & the Peace of thes Countreys secured.

3. That the well-affected part of the nation be put in a condition to defend the Comon Interest; & either armed, or at least armes provyded, that may be put in their hands in case of necessity.

As to the first, it is in the King's hand.

As

As to the second, anent posting of Garrisons, & securing the Peace of the Highlands, His Majesty will find it necessary to employ 1800 foot in Garrisons, which are to be placed in eleven severall places; which places are so advantageously scituate, as that they comprehend the whole highlands. That if the King's forces be marching. through these Countreys, ther is no place they can be in, but they are within 12 miles of two or three of thes Garrisons at once. They are proper for Magazins in tyme of Warr, and will save the trouble of Baggage horses when the forces are upon a March, and are most proper for curbeing theefts & depredations in tyme of Peace.

The first & most considerable post is Inver-Lockie, which requires 1200 men; out of which ther may be a Detachment of 40 at Keppach, Six myles above Inverlockie, which opens the way into Baddenoch. into Baddenoch. At Rutven, in Baddenoch, there may be another Detachment of 80 men, also from Inverlockie. At Blair in Atholl 80, of the other Forces. At the castle of Bray Marr 60. At Drumond, in Perthshyre, 50. At Fin Larik upon Loch Tay, 50. At Dunstafnage 50; which place, with the Castle Kilchume, ought to be both kept by the Countreymen of Argyleshyre, upon the Earle's Account (whilst his Bussines is a doeing with Mull), & needs non of the King's forces. And upon the other side of Inverlockie, is requisite ther be a Detachment of 80 men from thence, placed at Invergarry, which opens the ways to the Shyres of Invernes & Ross. At Invernes it is fit ther be a body of three hundred men, out of which 60 may be posted at Erchelish in Strathglass (14 myles from Invernes & 12 from Invergarry); that being upon the pass from Seafort & Lovat's Countreys to Lockaber.

These posts are all possest already by His Majestie's forces, excepting Keppach & Invergarry, which may be easily had; and according as the Countrey becomes peaceable, the lesser Garrisons may be disbanded; only Inverlockie cannot be left, but if possible must be improven to a place of Comerce, to the effect the country about it may be made Civill.

And that the Governement may be the sooner liberate from the necessity of keeping these lesser Garrisons, it is humbly proposed, that His Majesty grant a Commission of Justiciary, for securing the Peace of the Highlands, to some select Gentlemen living in the Shyres most contiguous to them, as was doon in the tyme of K. Charles the second; which will, undoubtedly, have a powerful influence for suppressing of theefts & robberys, especially the forces being posted as is above said. It did good in K: Charles & K: James his tyme, when it was designed for none, nor yet put in any good hands; so that now it cannot miss to doe good, being in honest mens hands, the Governement weell disposed for the support of it, and the forces posted in a maner for the very use of it. It is alfo fit ther be Conveeners named in each District; that these Conveeners have some allowance per Annum, for the Incident charges they must be at beyond the rest; lest, through the shifting to be at expence, the thing become less effectuall, as it did in K James his tyme. The Comander of each Garrison ought to be upon the Commission, & the Governor of Inverlockie a Conveener.

It is also requisite for Inverlockie, that it have a particular Jurisdiction over the barbarous Countreys adjacent, as it had in former tymes; lest any encouradgement should be wanting to the Governor now which he had formerly.

As it is requisite that the Governor of Inverlocky be in no relation to any of the adjacent Superiors or Cheefs of Clanes, so it is necessary that none of the highland sort, who speak a languadge not understood by the present Governor, be put in with him in that place; and what is presently amiss of that kynd would be rectified.

And that this may be the more effectually doon, Collonell Hill his own recommendation would be had anent his Officers, who certainly will think of none but such as the Governement may best trust.

It is also necessary that Hill's Regiment consist of 1200 men; in which case it will Imploy all the Centinells that now are in the Regiments of Glencarne, Kenmure, & Grant; these three Regiments being pitifully defective, as can be made appear. And as by the reducing these three to one, ther will be no fewer men in the service then now ther are; so it will save the King twenty thousand lb Sterline yeirly, which may be employed to buy armes.

As to the 3 generall conclusion laid down for the security of the Governement; viz'. that the weell affected part of the nation be armed, & put in a condition to defend the Comon Interest; the above proposall will contribute to it some thing. And if that be short, when the Parliam' meets his Majesty hes it in his power to persuade them to accelerate the tearmes of the Cess, at the rate of a Concession very easy to him, & which will bring in the Money & seasonably, as every thing may be doon to satisfaction.

No. XXI.

Cessation of Hostilities for a stated Time.

WE, Major General Buchan, Brigadeer, and S' George Barclay, Generall officers. of K: James the Seventh his Forces within the Kingdome off Scotland, to Testifie our aversion of shedding Christian Blood, & y' wee design to appear good Scotsmen, and to wish y' this nation may be restored to its wonted and happie peace, Doe agree & consent to a forebearance of all acts of hostilitie & depredan, to be committed upon the subjects of this nation, or England, untill the first day of October next; providing y there be no acts of hostility or depredan committed upon any of the King's subjects who have been, or are, ingaged in his service under our command either by Sea or Land; Wee haveing given all necessary orders to such as are under [our] Command, to forbear acts of hostility by Sea or Land untill the afford tyme. Subscribed at Achallader, ye 30th of June 1691.

Whereas the Cheiftains of Clans have given Bonds not to comitt acts of hostility or depredan before the first day of Octob' next, upon the Conditions contain'd in the afford Bonds; & in regard y' the Officers sent by King James to command ye said Chieftains have, by one unanimous consent in their Council of Warr, agreed to ye said forbearance; Therefore I, as having Warrant from King William & Queen Mary to treat with the forsd Highlanders concerning the peace of the Kingdom, doe hierby Certifie y' the s" officers & Chieftains have signed a forbearance of acts of hostility & depredan till the first of October next. Wherefor it's most necessary, just, and reasonable, y' noe acts of hostillity by sea or Land, or depredans, be comitted upon the saids Officers or any of their partie whom they do command, or upon the Chieftains, or their Kinsmen, friends, tennents, or followers, till the forŝd first day of Octob'. Subscribed att Achallader, the 30th day of June 1691.

BINI

BRAIDALBINE,

PRIVATE ARTICLES.

1.-That if their be either ane Invasion from abroad, or a rising of his Maties subjects in Britain, y" this Agreement is null.

2.—If his Matie doe not approve of the said agreement, it is also null. 3.-And to that purpose there is a passport to be granted to two Gentlemen, to acquaint the King therewith in all heast.

4-That if their forces goe abroad, then wee will rise.

9.

5.-That