5.-That if King William and Queen Mary deny any or all of these Articles, then my Lord Braidalbine is to joyne us with a thousand Men, which he promises to perform both on oath and honour. And thir Gen" Articles are, beside, the particular soums of money and oy' conditions promitted to ye seall Chieffes. Those sent to King James, by Major Generall Buchan and y Clans are Lieut Coll Charters, and Major Duncan Meynes. Their Errand, to crave a speedy reliefe, or a libertie to capitulate and doe the best they can for themselves. No. XXII. ORDERS upon which the Massacre of Glenco proceeded; by which 38 persons lost us. William R. their lives. Instructions from the King to Coll' Hill. 16 Jañy 1692. 1. THE copy of that paper given by Macdonald of Aughtera to you hath been shewn We did formerly grant passes to Buchan and Cannon, and we do authorize and allow you to grant passes to them, and ten servants to each of them, to come freely and safely to Leith; from that to be transported to the Netherlands before the 15th of March next; to go from thence when they please, without any stop or trouble. 2. We doe allow you to receive the submissions of Glengarry and those with him, upon their taking the oath of alledgiance, and delivering up the house of Invergarry; to be safe as to their lives, but as to their estates to depend upon our mercy. 3. In case you find that the house of Invergarry cannot probably be taken, in this Season of the year, with the artillery and provision ye can bring there; in that case we leave it to your discretion to give Glengarry the assurance of entire indemnity for life and fortune, upon delivering of the house and arms, and taking the oath of alledgi In this you are to act as you find the circumstances of the affair do require; but it were much better that those who have not taken the benefit of our indemnity, in the terms within the diet prefixt by our proclamation, should be obliged to render upon mercy. The taking the oath of alledgiance is indispensable, others having already taken it. 4. If M'Ean of Glenco and that trybe can be well separated from the rest, it will be a proper vindication of the public Justice to extirpate that sect of theives. The double of these instructions is only communicated to Sir Tho' Livingstone. No. XXIII. COPY of Letter from Sir Tho' Livingstone to Coll' Hamilton. W. REX. Sir, Edin 23 Jañy 1692. SINCE my last, I understand that the Laird of Glenco, comeing after the prefixt time, was not admitted to take the oath; which is very good news to us here, being that at Court it is wishd that he had not taken it; so that the very nest might be entirely routed out; for the secretary*, in three of his last letters, has made mention of him and it is known at court that he has not taken it. So, Sir, here is a fair occasion to shew you that your garrison serves for some use; and being that the order is so posi The Master of Stair, who was afterwards dismissed for his conduct. D 2 tive tive from Court to me, not to spare any of them that were not timously come in, as you may see by the orders I sent to your Collonel, I desire you would begin with Glenco, and spare nothing of what belongs to them; but do not trouble the Government with prisoners. I shall expect with the first occasion to hear the progress you have made in this, and remain, Sir, your YOU are, with four hundred of my regiment, and the four hundred of my lord. Argyll's regiment under the command of Major Duncanson, to march straight to Glenco, and there put in due Execution the orders you have received from the Commander in chieff. Given under my hand at Fort William the 12th July 1692. J. HILL. To Lieut. Col. James Hamilton. (sic sub') No. XXV. COPY L Col. James Hamilton to Major Robert Duncanson, of the Earl of Argyll's Regiment. Sir, Ballechylls, 12 Feb 1692. PERSUANT to the commander in chief and my Collonel's order to me, for putting in Execution the King's command against these rebells of Glenco, wherein you, with the party of the Earl of Argyll's regiment under your Command, are to be concerned: You are therefore forthwith to order your affair so, as that the several posts already assign'd you be by you and your several detachments faln in activeness precisely by five of the clock tomorrow morning, being Saturday; at which time I will endeavour the same with those appointed from this Regiment for the other places. It will be most necessary you secure well those avenues on the south side, that the old fox, nor none of his cubbs, get away. The orders are, that none be spared of the sword, nor the Government troubled with prisoners; which is all, until I see you, from, Sir, your most humble Servant Please to order a guard to secure the ferry, and boats there; and the boats must be all on this side the ferry after your men are over. For their Majs service. To Major Robert Duncanson, of the Earl of Argyll's Regt. No. XXVI. Sir, (COPY) Major Robert Duncanson to Cap" Robert Campbell, of Glenlyone. 12 Feb 1692. YOU are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebells the Macdonalds of Glenco, and put all to the sword under seventy. You are to have a special care that the old fox and his sons do not escape your hands; you are to secure all the avenues, that no man escape. This you are to put in Execution at five of the clock precisely; and by that time, or very shortly after it, I will strive to be at you with a stronger party. If I do not come to you at five, you are not to tarry for me, but to fall on. This is by the King's speciall commands, for the good and safety of the Countrey, that these miscreants be cut off, root and branch. See that this be put in Execution without fear or favour; or you may expect to be dealt with as one not true to king or government, nor a man fit to carry commission in the King's Service. Expecting you will not fail in the fulfilling hereof, as you love yourself, I subscribe this with my hand at Ballychylls, the 12 Feby 1692. (sic sub') ROBERT DUNCANSON. Dear Sir, No. XXVII. Sir John Hill to the Laird of Culloden.* Fort William, 9th O&* 1692. I HEARTILY wish this may find you in good health; and 'tis to let you know, that I am under some apprehensions (not ill grounded) that there are Ill Designs on foot; to make way for which, it will perhaps be pushed on to lessen the Force and take off the small 'Garrisons (which were alike to me, if as conduceable to his Majesty's Service and the common Good), and to settle a Highland Militia. I have 3 Companys at Inverness, one at Ruthen & Islandonaw, one at Invergarry, and a sixth at Dowart & Carnburge, with 7 Companys here, which are few enough; for we must not have barely such a number as may keep the fort, but to send one, two, or 300 Men upon parties as occasion offers. To lessen these forces, and to set up the other (prima facie), looks very ill; and tho' the Highlanders seem at present inclined to peace, yet too much trust is not to be given, nor too many advantages put into their hands; lest upon any Design of Invasion, or other unhappy Chance of War, they may apprehend their Interest better another Way, & may enterprise accordingly. If these things prove otherwise, I am sure they have been once designed. I only give these private Hints, that honest Men may look about them, and be upon their Guard; keep me secret for the present, lest my Lords Polwarth & Saltoun know what I say. I have, by the inclosed, referred them to You; and I know you may be free with Secretary Jonston; only beware of the Lords; & start nothing of this, unless you find any to stirr in it; but let them be narrowly watched. I had a very kind letter from the M' of Stair, wherein he tells me there will be no alteration made in this Regiment or Garrison, and that the Establishment will be shortly settled, and that he will also do all he can therein for our Advantage. He also writ about the Jurisdiction (which he thought had been settled as well as it can be till the parliament sit), that it may be erected into a Shire, and that some more Lands may be added to those formerly so erected. I made him return, and gave him two Memoirs, whereof the inclosed are Copies. The Major gave you an Account of a slender, tall, perpendicular Man, gone to London under pretence of a furlough for Ireland, obtained without my knowledge from the Commander in Chief, gain'd by the mediation of the principal of his faction here, who in like manner hath got a furlough for Ireland; but from thence intends for England, as he told me just as he was taking boat, and not before. They should be watched; for w'ever ill they can do, I am sure they will do no good. I wish my people so happy as to be eased of them. I pray that what I write *This Sir John Hill seems to have been a man of some address; as Cap' Carleton, in his Memoirs, states, that he found him in 1690 Governor of Fort William; having been placed there by Oliver Cromwell, and retained his Government during all the changes that took place in the intervening period. may may be only to yourself, & those you know to be honest friends. Make me as acceptable as you can to Secretary Jonston, to whom I have now written. We are all peaceable. The by-gone Cess will be got in through the Isle & Highlands; but, coming all together, it falls heavy. The Glenco Men are abundantly civil; I have put them under my Lord Argyle, & have Arkenloss' surety for them till my Lord comes; for they are now my Lord Argyle's Men; for 'twas very necessary they should be under some person of power, and of honesty to the Government. My Lord Braedalbane is lately become very friendly, & moved hard in some things for us in the Treasury; which some there wondered at. The reason of this I will not venture to guess at; tho' perhaps I might do it, without being beside the purpose. Let the World go which way it will, I will be found faithful to my trust, & just to honest Men and principles; And will always be, as obliged, Sir, Your most affectionate & very humble Servant JO. HILL. Secretary Jonston was saying, he believed the King might be induced to settle a pension on me during Life; and if soe (if no better can be found for a fund), I could wish it were upon the rents of Ila. There is some more reason for it than the World generally knows; for I laid out upwards of £300 S on the Irish, and managed so as to keep the Town of Bellfast from utter ruin & burninge, which they were several times resolved to do; otherways the King could have had no Landing-place nor reception for his Stores & sick Men in all the North of Ireland. I pray your favour, Sir, and such friends as you thinke fit to trust, to promote this for me. Í know the secretary Jonston will further it, and I believe my Lord Portland also, for he is very kind to me. The King had a certificate from the Magistrates of the Town, under the seal of the Town, which my Lord T. sent him. Dear Sir, No. XXVIII. Sir John Hill to the Laird of Culloden. Fort William, 15th May 1695. I Do by these salute you, but not trouble you with much at this time, seeing the Major can discourse you in all things of this concerne; but I pray that if you find mouthes open in parliament to our detriment, you will, with the help of other friends, endeavour to stop them. Not that any can say justly what might turn to injury; but yet they may cast Dirt, thinking to make some stick. The Major can tell you I am right with the Secretary Jonston, and I hope with all other honest Men; yet all Men that are honest are not wise; but of all men I admire Grant (whose Father I preserved from a Great Injury intended him), whose Mouth is open against me in all Companys, & I have never merited the least of it. I know not any reason, except that I cannot Dance after a wooden piper. Pray take off this Bull Dog; for I am full of Informations of his Discourse (as full of Malice as it is of untruth); But let that lie bye, & no more of him at this time. I remember I read a passage in Mr. Caryll's Exposition upon Job, which is both pleasant and true enough: it is on these Words, "Then Job opened his Mouth, & spake:" from hence he observed, That wise Men open their Mouths when they speak, and fools speak with their Mouths open. I desire that my true service may be presented to my good Lord Polwarth, and to my good friend Com' Munro. you so I need not wish you to continue true to King & the Kirk, since I know much devoted that way already. God give wisdom to the Parliament, that all may run in the right Channel, for the honour of God, the safety and honour of the King, and the welfare of the people. I am, with all Sincerity, Sir, Your true well wisher & humble Servant, No. XXIX. King Will Order to liberate the Earl of Seaforth from Inverness Garrison, 1696-7. (Suprascrivit) William R. RIGHT trustie and right well beloved Councellours, &c. We greet you well. Whereas we are informed, that Kenneth Earle of Seaforth did surrender himself Prisoner to the Commander of our Garrison at Inverness, and hes thrown himself on our Royall mercie: It is our will and pleasure, and we heirby authories and require you to set the said Earle of Seafort at Liberty, upon his finding Bail and Security to live peaceably under our Government, and to compeare before you when called.. And that you order our Advocat not to insist in the process of treasone waged against. him, untill our further plesur be known therein. For doing whereof, this shall be your Warrand. Warrand. So we So we bid you hearetily ferwel. Given at our Court at Kensingtone, the first day of March 1696-7, and of our reigne the eight year. By His Majesty's Command, (sic sub') : Dear Sir, No. XXX. TULLIBARDINE. Simon Fraser (afterwards Lord Lovat) to the Laird of Cullodin. Beaufort, y 26th of Oct 1697. THIR Lds att Inverness, w' ye rest of my implacable Enemies, does so confound my Wife, that she is uneasy till she see them. I am afraid y' they are so madd w' this disapointment, y' they will propose something to her y" dangerous, her brother having such power w' her; so y' really, till things be perfectly accommodatt, I do nott desire they should see her, & I know not how to manage her. So I hope you will send all the advice you can to I AM much concerned that your Neighbour Beaufort hath played (not the Fool, but) the Madman. If, by your persuation, he cannot be induced to deliver up the (so This alludes to Simon of Beaufort's marriage, as he called it, with the Dowager Lady Lovat. much |