| During 1690 and 1691 the Jacobites caused the
government much trouble and anxiety by their ceaseless plotting to up an insurrection, in
which they were to be assisted by supplies from France. Many men, professedly loyal to
King William, gave, from various motives, their secret countenance to these attempts; and
the Highlanders especially proved a galling and distracting thorn in the side of the
government. As early as 1690, Lord Tarbet, (subsequently Earl of Cromarty,) proposed a
scheme for the quieting of the Highlands, which Lord Breadalbane offered to carry into
execution; but it was at the time abandoned. In 1691, however, negotiations were again
renewed, and, as has been seen, Breadalbane was intrusted with a sum of money to
distribute among the chiefs, or rather to buy up the claims which Argyle and other
superiors had over their feudal vassals, and which was the real cause of the strife and
dissatisfaction existing in the Highlands. The Secretary of state, Sir John Dalrymple,
known as the Master of Stair, son of the Earl of Stair, appears latterly to have been at
the bottom of the scheme, and was certainly most anxious that it should be successfully
and speedily carried out, having at first apparently no thought of resorting to measures
of cruel severity. Not much appears to have resulted
from the meeting which Breadalbane had with the chiefs at Achallader; indeed, he showed
very little of an earnest desire for conciliation, as his threatening conduct induced
Alexander Macdonald, or MacIan, of Glencoe, to leave the meeting abruptly for his own
safety. Between Breadalbane, who was a Campbell, and Macdonald much bad blood appears to
have existed; indeed, nothing but the bitterest hatred was cherished by the whole tribe of
the Macdonalds to the Campbells, as the latter had from time to time, oftener by foul than
by fair means, ousted the former from their once extensive possessions. The Macdonalds of
Glencoe, especially, still considered the lands and property of the Campbells as their
own, and without hesitation supplied their wants out of the numerous herds of the latter.
It was some recent raid of this sort which roused the wrath of Breadalbane; and on poor
Macdonald's head lighted all the blame and the punishment of the ineffectual negotiation.
What became of the money has never been clearly ascertained; but much can be inferred from
Breadalbane's answer when asked afterwards by Lord Nottingham to account for it, "The
money is spent, the Highlands are quiet, and this is the only way of accounting among
friends."
Like many of his contemporaries, Breadalbane attached
himself openly to King William's government only because it was for the time the winning
side; while at the same time he professed secretly to be attached to the interest of the
exiled King James. He told the Highland chiefs that in urging them to enter into terms
with the government, he had their own interests and those of King James at heart; for
there being then "no other appearance of relief, he thought they could not do better
than sue for a cessation, which would be a breathing to them, and give them time to
represent their circumstances to King James." A contemporary characterises him as
being "cunning as a fox; wise as a serpent; but as slippery as an eel. No government
can trust him but where his own private interest is in view."
As the chiefs did not seem in any hurry to come to terms, a
proclamation was issued, in August 1691, requiring them to take the oath of allegiance
before the 1st. of January 1692, threatening all those who did not comply with
"letters of fire and sword." This had the proper effect, as, one by one, the
chiefs swore fealty to the government, Macdonald of Glencoe, from pride or some other
reason, being the last to comply with the terms of the proclamation. the difficulty in
getting the chiefs to come to terms. and thus allowing the government to pursue its other
schemes without anxiety, seems at last to have irritated Sir John Dalrymple so much
against them, that latterly he eagerly desired that some, and especially the various
tribes of Macdonalds, might hold out beyond the time, in order that an example might be
made of them by putting into execution the penalty attached to the non-fulfilment of the
terms of the proclamation. In a letter to Breadalbane of Dec.2nd., he thinks "the
clan Donald must be rooted out and Lochiel," and is doubtful whether the money,
"had been better employed to settle the Highlands, or to ravage them." In
another written on the following day he mentions with approval Breadalbane's "mauling
scheme", artfully rousing the latter's indignation by speaking of the chiefs'
ungratefulness to him, using at the same time the significant phrase delenda est Carthago.
He and Breadalbane seemed however likely to be cheated of their vengeance, for even the
obstinate and hated MacIan himself, after holding out to the very last day, hastened to
fulfil the requirements of the proclamation, and thus place himself beyond the power of
the strong arm of the law.
On the 31st. December, 1691, Glencoe made his way to Fort
William, and presented himself to Colonel Hill the governor, asking him to administer the
required oath of allegiance. The Colonel, however, declined to act, on the gerund, that
according to the proclamation, the civil magistrate alone could administer them. Glencoe
remonstrated with Hill on account of the exigency of the case, as there was not any
magistrate whom he could reach before the expiration of that day, but Hill persisted in
asserting that it was out of his power to act in the matter. He, however, advised Glencoe
to proceed instantly to Inverary, giving him at the same time a letter to Sir Colin
Campbell of Ardkinglass, sheriff of Argyleshire, begging him to receive Glencoe as "a
lost sheep, " and to administer to him the necessary oaths. Hill also gave Glencoe a
letter of protection , and an assurance that no proceedings should be instituted against
him under the proclamation, till he should have an opportunity of laying his case before
the king or the privy council. |
