Gallienus redivivus, or, Murther will out, &c. being a true account of the de-witting of Glencoe, Gaffney, &c.

A LETTER from a Gentleman in SCOTLAND to his Friend at LONDON, who desir'd a Particular Account of the Business of GLENCO.

Edinburgh, April. 20th 1692.

SIR,

THE Account you desir'd of that strange and surprizing Mas∣sacre of Glenco, take as follows.

Mac-jan Mac-donald, Laird of Glenco, a Branch of the Mack-donalds, one of the greatest Clans (or Tribes) in the North of Scotland, came with the most Considerable Men of his Clan to Coll. Hill, Governour of Fort William at Inverlochy, some few days before the Expiring of the time for receiving the Indemnity appoint∣ed by Proclamation, which as I take it, was the First of January last, entreating he would administer unto him the Oaths which the foresaid Proclamation requir'd to be taken; that so submitting him∣self to the Government, he might have its Protection. The Col∣lonel receiv'd him with all Expressions of Kindness; nevertheless shifted the administring the Oaths to him, alledging that by the Proclamation it did not belong to him, but to the Sheriffs, Bailyffs of Regalities, and Magistrates of Burghs, to administer them. Mac-jan Complaining that by this Disappointment he might be wrong'd, the Time being now near the Expiring, and the Weather so extreme, and the Ways so very bad, that it was not possible for him so soon to reach any Sheriff, &c. got from Coll. Hill, under his Hand, his Protection; and withal he was assur'd, that no Orders from the Government against him should be put in Execution, un∣til he were first advertis'd, and had time allow'd him to apply him∣self to King or Council for his own Safety. But the better to make all sure, (tho' this might have seem'd Security enough for that time) with all dispatch imaginable he posted to Inverary, the Chief Town of Argylashire, there he found Sir Collin Camphel of Ardkinlis, Sher∣riff of that Shire, and crav'd of him the Benefit of the Indemnity, according to the Proclamation, he being willing to perform all the Conditions requir'd. Sir Collin at first scrupled to admit him to the Oaths, the Time which the Proclamation did appoint being elaps∣ed by one day, alledging it would be of no use to him then to take

them: But Mac-jan represented that it was not his Fault, he hav∣ing come in time enough to Collonel Hill, not doubting but he could have administred the Oaths to him, and that upon his refusal he had made such hast to Inverary, that he might have come in time enough, had not the extremity of the Weather hinder'd him; and even as it was, he was but one day after the Time appointed; and that would be very unbecoming the Government to take Advantage of a Man's coming late by one Day, especially when he had done his utmost to have come in time. Upon this, and his threatning to protest against the Sheriff for the Severity of this Usage, he admi∣nistred to him and his Attendants the Oaths, Mac-jan depending upon the Indemnity granted to those who should take them; and having so done, he went home, and lived quietly and peaceably un∣der the Government, till the day of his Death.

In January last, a Party of the Earl of Argile's Regiment came to that Country, the Design of their coming was then suspected to be to take course with those who should stand out, and not submit, and take the Oaths. The Garison of Inverlochy being throng'd, and Glenco being Commodious for Quartering, as being near that Garison, those Soldiers were sent thither to Quarter; they pre∣tended they came to exact Arrears of Cess and Hearth-Money, (a Tax never known in Scotland, until laid on by the Parliament, 1690, after the Parliament of England had eas'd themselves of it;) e er they entred Glenco, that Laird, or his Sons, came out to meet them, and asked them if they came as Friends, or as Enemies? The Of∣ficers answer'd, as Friends; and gave their Paroll of Honour, that they would do neither him nor his Concerns any harm; upon which he welcom'd them, promising them the best Entertainment the Place could afford. This he really perform'd, as all the Soldiers confess. He and they lived together in mutual Kindness and Friend∣ship fifteen days, or thereabouts; so far was he from fearing any Hurt from them. And the very last Day of his Life he spent in keeping Company with the Commander of that Party, Capt. Camp∣bell of Glenlyon, playing at Cards with him till 6 or 7 at Night, and at their parting mutual Protestations of Kindness were renew'd. Some time that very day, but whether before or after their part∣ing, I know not, Capt. Campbell had these Orders sent him from Major Duncanson, a Copy whereof I here send you.

Ballacholis, Feb. 12. 1692.

SIR,

YOƲ are hereby ordered to fall upon the Rebels the Mac-Donalds of Glenco, and put all to the Sword under 70. You are to have es∣pecial Care, that the Old Fox and his Sons do upon no account escape your

Hands; You are to secure all the Avenues, that no Man escape: This you are to put in Execution at five a Clock in the Morning precisely, and by that time, or very shortly after it, I'll 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 SPECIAL COMMAND, for the Good and Safety of the Country, that these Miscreants may be cut off, Root and Branch. See that this be put in Execution without Feud or Favour, else you may expect to be Treated as not true to the King or Go∣vernment, nor a Man fit to carry Commission in the King's Service. Expecting you will not fail in the fulfilling hereof, as you love your self. I subscribe these with my Hand,

Robert Duncanson.

For Their Majesties Service, to Capt. Robert Campbell of Glenlyon.

Duncanson had receiv'd Orders from Lieutenant Collonel Hamil∣ton, which were as follows.

Ballacholis, Feb. 12. 1692.

SIR,

PER Second to the Commander in Chief, and my Collonel's Orders to me, for putting in Execution the Service commanded against the Re∣bels in Glenco, wherein you, with the Party of the Earl of Argyle's Regiment under your Command are to be concern'd: You are therefore forthwith to order your Affairs so, as that the several Posts already as∣sign'd you, be by you and your several Detachments fallen in Action with, precisely by five a Clock to morrow 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 those Avenues on the South side, that the Old Fox, nor none of his Cubs get away. The Orders are that none be spar'd, from 70, of the Sword, nor the Govern∣ment troubled with Prisoners. This is all, until I see you. From

Your humble Servant. James Hamilton.

Please to order a Guard to secure the Ferry, and the Boats there; and the Boats must be all on this side the Ferry, after your Men are over.

For their Majesties Service, for Major Robert Duncanson, of the Earl of Arg••le's Regiment.

THE Soldiers being disposed five or three in a House, according to the Number of the Family they were to Assassinate, had their Orders given them secretly. They had been all receiv'd as Friends by those poor People, who intending no Evil themselves, little suspected that their Guests were design'd to be their Murtherers. At 5 a Clock in the Morning they began their bloody Work, Surpris'd and Butcher'd 38 Persons, who had kindly receiv'd them under their Roofs. Mac-jan himself was Murther'd, and is much be∣mo••n'd; He was a stately well-favour'd Man, and of good Courage and Sense: As also the Laird Archintrikin, a Gentleman of more than ordinary Judgment and Understanding, who had submitted to the Government, and had Coll. Hill's Protection in his Pocket, which he had got three Months before. I cannot without Horror represent how that a Boy about Eight Years of Age was murthered; he seeing what was done to others in the House with him, in a ter∣rible Fright run out of the House, and espying Capt. Campbell, grasp'd him about the Legs, crying for Mercy, and offering to be his Servant all his Life. I am informed Capt. Campbell inclined to spare him; but one Drummond, an Officer, barbarously run his Dagger through him, whereof he died immediately. The rehear∣sal of several Particulars and Circumstances of this Tragical Story, makes it appear most doleful; as that Mac-jan was killed as he was drawing on his Breeches, standing before his Bed, and giving Or∣ders to his Servants for the good Entertainment of those who mur∣thered him; While he was speaking the Words, he was shot through the Head, and fell dead in his Ladies Arms, who through the Grief of this and other bad Usages she met with, died the next day. It is not to be omitted, that most of those poor People were killed when they were asleep, and none was allowed to pray to God for Mercy. Providence ordered it so, that that Night was most boiste∣rous; so as a Party of 400 Men, who should have come to the o∣ther End of the Glen, and begun the like Work there at the same Hour, (intending that the poor Inhabitants should be enclosed, and none of them escape) could not march at length, until it was 9 a Clock, and this afforded to many an Opportunity of escaping, and none were killed but those in whose Houses Campbell and Glenlyon's Men were Quartered, otherwise all the Male under 70 Years of Age, to the Number of 200, had been cut off, for that was the Order; and it might have been easily executed, especially consider∣ing that the Inhabitants had no Arms at that time; for upon the first hearing that the Soldiers were coming to the Glen, they had conveyed them all out of the way; For though they relyed on the

promises which were made them for their Safety; yet they thought it not imp••obable that they might be disarmed. I know not whe∣ther to impute it to difficulty of distinguishing the Difference of a few Years, or to the Fury of the Soldiers, who being once glutted with Blood, stand at nothing, that even some above Seventy Years of Age were destroyed. They set all the Houses on Fire, drove off all the Cattle to the Garison of Inverlochy, viz. 900 Cows, 200 Horses, and a great many Sheep and Goats, and there they were divided amongst the Officers And how dismal may you imagine the Case of the poor Women and Children was then! It was lament∣able, past expression; their Husbands and Fathers, and near Re∣lations were forced to flee for their Live••; they themselves almost stript, and nothing left them, and their Houses being burnt, and not one House nearer than six Miles; and to get thither they were to pass over Mountains, and Wreaths of Snow, in a vehement Storm, wherein the greatest part of them perished through Hunger and Cold. It fills me with horror to think of poor stript Children and Women, some with Child, and some giving Suck, wrestling against a Storm in Mountains, and heaps of Snow, and at length to be over∣come, and give over, and fall down, and die miserably.

You see in Hamilton's Order to Duncanson, there's a special Cauti∣on, That the Old Fox nor none of his Cubs should escape; and in Dun∣canson's Order to Capt. Campbell of Glenlyon, That the old Fox nor none of his Sons escape; but notwithstanding all this wicked Caution, it pleas'd God that the two young Gentlemen, Mac-jan's Sons e∣scap'd. For it happened that the younger of these Gentlemen trust∣ed little to the fair Promises of Campbell, and had a more watch∣ful Eye over him than his Father or Brother, who suffered them∣selves by his reiterated Oaths to be deluded into a belief of his In∣tegrity: He having a strong Impression on his Spirit, that some mischievous Design was hidden under Campbell's specious Pretences, it made him, after the rest were in Bed, remain in a retired Corner, where he had an advantagious Prospect into their Guard. About midnight perceiving several Soldiers to enter it, this encreased his Jealousy; so he went and communicated his Fears to his Brother, who could not for a long time be perswaded there was any bad De∣sign against them, and Asserted, That what he had seen, was not a doubling their Guards in order to any ill design, but that being in a strange place, and at a distance from the Garison, they were to send our Centinels far from the Guard, and because of the Extremity of the Weather relieved them often, and that the Men he saw could be no more but these. Yet he presisting to say, That they were not so secure, but that it was fit to acquaint their Father with what

he had seen, he prevailed with his Brother to rise, and go with him to his Father, who lay in a Room contiguous to that they were in. Though what the younger Son alledged made no great Impression on his Father, yet he allowed his Sons to try what they could dis∣cover. They well knowing all Skulking places there, went and hid themselves near to a Centinel's Post, where instead of one they discovered eight or ten Men; this made them more inquisitive, so they crept as near as they could without being discovered, so near that they could hear one say to his Fellows, That he liked not this Work, and that had he known of it he would have been very unwilling to have come there; but that none, except their Commanders, knew of it till within a quarter of an hour. The Soldier added, That he was willing to fight against the Men of the Glen, but it was base to murder them. But to all this was answered, All the blame be on such as gave the Or∣ders; we are free, being bound to obey our Officers. Upon hearing of these words, the young Gentlemen retired as quickly and quietly as they could towards the House, to inform their Father of what they had heard; but as they came nigh to it they perceived it sur∣rounded, and heard Guns discharged, and the People shrieking; whereupon, being unarm'd, and totally unable to rescue their Fa∣ther, they preserved their own Lives in hopes yet to serve their King and Country, and see Justice done upon those Hell-Hounds, treacherous Murtherers, the Shame of their Country, and Disgrace of Mankind.

I must not forget to tell you, That there were two of these Of∣ficers who had given their Paroll of Honour to Mac-jan, who re∣fused to be concerned in that Brutal Tragedy, for which they were sent Prisoners to Glasco, where if they remain not still, I am sure they were some Weeks ago.

Thus, Sir, in obedience to your Commands, I have sent you such Account as I could get of that monstrous and most inhuman Mas∣sacre of the Laird of Glenco, and others of his Clan. You desire some Proofs of the truth of the Story; for you say there are many in Eng∣land who cannot believe such a thing could be done, and publick Justice not executed upon the Ruffians: For they take it for granted, that no such Order could be given by the Government; and you say they will never believe it without a downright Demonstration. Sir, As to the Government, I will not meddle with it; or whether these Officers who murdered Glenco, had such Orders as they pretended from the Government; the Government knows that best, and how to vindicate their own Honour, and punish the Murtherers who pre∣tended their Authority, and still stand upon it. But as to the Mat∣ter of Fact of the Murther of Glenco, you may depend upon it, as

certain and undeniable: It would be thought as strange a thing in Scotland for any Man to doubt of it, as of the death of my Lord Dundee, or with you that the Duke of Monmouth lost his Head. But to put you out of all doubt, you will e'er long have my Lord Argyle's Regiment with you in London, and there you may speak with Glenlyon himself, with Drummond and the rest of the Actors in that dismal Tragedy; and on my Life, there is never a one of them will deny it to you; for they know that it is notoriously known all over Scotland, and it is an Admiration to us that there should be a∣ny one in England who makes the least doubt of it. Nay, Glenlyon is so far from denying it, that he brags of it, and justifies the Acti∣on publickly: He said in the Royal Coffee-House in Edinburgh, that he would do it again; nay, That he would stab any Man in Scotland or in England, without asking the Cause, if the King gave him Orders, and that it was every good Subject's duty so to do; and I am credibly inform'd, that Glenlyon and the rest of them have address'd themselves to the Council for a Reward for their good Service, in destroying Glenco, pursuant to their Orders.

There is enough of this mournful Subject: If what I have said satisfy you not, you may have what farther Proof, and in what manner you please to ask it.

Sir,

Your humble Servant, &c.

N. B. That the Gentleman to whom this Letter was sent, did on Thurs∣day, June 30. 1692. when the Lord Argyle's Regiment was quartered as Brentford, go thither, and had this Story of the Massacre of Glenco from the very Men who were the Actors in it: Glenlyon and Drum∣mond were both there. The Highlander who told him the Story, expres∣sing Guilt which was visible in Glenlyon, said, Glenco hangs about Glenlyon Night and Day, and you may see him in his Face. I am told likewise that Sir John Lowther refused to accept of the Place of Lord Advocate of Scotland, unless he might have liberty to prosecute Glen∣lyon, and the rest of the Murtherers of Glenco, which not being grant∣ed, James Stuart (who was ferfeited for Treason by K. C. 2. and since Knighted by K. W.) has now the Place.