MASSACRE OF GLENCO. 



81 



The Stuart dynasty, it is well known, long after its fall and expulsion from 

 the throne, still maintained its influence among the Highland clans. Several 

 of these were blindly devoted to its restoration, and could perceive no evidence 

 of that misgovernment which had rendered the exiled house so odious in the 

 Lowland counties. They viewed the actual sovereign as an usurper, the Stuart 

 as a wronged monarch, and themselves as that portion of his ancient subjects 

 who were bound by every obligation of honour and loyalty to redress his wrongs. 

 Professing also the ancient religion, they found in this an additional motive 

 for exertion ; and, in espousing the Stuart cause, felt as if they had been agents 

 holding a direct commission from Heaven, to restore at once the altar and the 

 throne. Filled with this noble but mistaken enthusiasm, no enterprise appeared 

 hazardous, no sacrifice too severe, provided they could reestablish the ancient 

 regime, and place the crown once more on the head of the Stuart. In the 

 battle of Killicrankie, already described, the Clan M'lan, or " Macdonalds" of 

 Glenco, had fought in support of the exiled king under the Viscount Dundee, 

 whose death in the field imparted to that victory all the consequences of a 

 defeat. Early in the summer of 1691, a cessation of hostilities was proposed 

 on the part of government by the earl of Braidalbane, and accepted by several 

 of the Highland chiefs, among whom was the laird of Glenco. In the month 

 of August following, a proclamation was issued, by which all who had taken 

 an active part in the former rebellion were promised indemnity, on condition 

 that, within the current year, they should take the oath of allegiance to King 

 William. After considerable demurrer as to the part he should act whether 

 he should desert the Stuart cause, already hopeless, and embrace the terms of 

 the indemnity M'lan of Glenco repaired at length to Inverlochy, where 

 Colonel Hill, governor of the fort, was stationed to receive the oath of allegiance. 

 This was late in December ; but Glenco, on presenting himself, was informed 

 that the colonel had no instructions to administer the oath, and that he must 

 apply to Sir Colin Campbell at Inverary, to whom he was furnished with a 

 letter. The journey to this station was much retarded by deep snows, and 

 the almost pathless wastes that lay between Inverlochy and Inverary ; so that, 

 besides being detained for a whole day by an officer of government, Glenco 

 had great difficulty in accomplishing his journey. Three days also of continued 

 storms elapsed before the government functionary, to whom the letter was 

 addressed, could reach Inverary, and when he did so the term of indemnity 

 had expired. Thus circumstanced, Campbell had no power to act ; but moved 

 by the distress of Glenco, and his entreaties to be permitted to take the oath, 

 he administered it to him in due form, a certificate of which, along with Colonel 



VOL. II. Y 



