A lot of people talk about the Massacre of Glencoe, unfortunately not many people have taken the time to read about the events leading up to the event. I am sure Here is one perception about the event by Alistair Moffat from his book “The Highland Clans” (this is only on point of view I’m sure there are perspectives on the matter): “After the replacement of James VII with William of Orange and Mary II in 1688, London and Edinburgh worried about the allegiances of the western clans - all except the Campbells. It was decided that the chiefs should swear an oath of loyalty and a deadline was set for 1 January 1692. Many of the chiefs contacted the exiled James VII for permission to make the submission and after much dithering, it was granted by mid-December. That left little time for the formalities to be observed. Maclan, chief of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, was late, but not for the want of trying. It was a deep and snowy winter as the old chief set out for the government garrison at Inverlochy Castle. Mistakenly believing that his old friend, Colonel Hill, could administer the oath, Maclan was horrified to discover that he had in fact to make his way to Inveraray, a very long way to the south. Nevertheless, fully realizing the importance of this loyalty test, he reached the town a few days later - only to find that the Sheriff was absent on holiday after the New Year celebrations. Maclan waited. And several days later he signed his name as a loyal subject of William of Orange. It was not to be enough to save him and his people. John Dalrymple, the Master of Stair, and Secretary of State for Scotland, saw the breaking of the deadline as an opportunity to make an example. It could be a proper vindication of public justice to extirpate that sept of thieves.These were not the words of Dalrymple or a vengeful henchman, but part of a statement signed WR, or William Rex, King William I. The Highland clans would be taught a lesson.The Glencoe MacDonalds were to be massacred, all of them, and approval for this appalling proposal had, literally, the seal of royal approval. As Maclan made his way back through the winter from Inveraray plans were laid. On 1 February Robert Campbell of Glenlyon led a company of soldiers who happened to be Campbell clansmen, but were nevertheless soldiers in the British army acting under specific orders, into Glencoe. Since the MacDonalds had yet to pay their taxes, troops could be billeted in their houses. Glenlyon had their orders in writing:You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe and put all to the sword under seventyThe soldiers waited five days, becoming familiar, even friendly with their hosts. Once both ends of Glencoe had been sealed by companies of soldiers, so that there could be no escape, the killing began. At dawn on 6 February soldiers cut the throats of Maclan, his wife and two of their younger sons. Another 34 MacDonalds were slaughtered and many who ran for their lives later died of exposure in the snow. There is some evidence that the Campbell soldiers allowed many to flee. It would not have happened in the Lowlands. The Massacre of Glencoe was meted out to people who were considered savages, sub-humans who spoke a barbarous language and lived in primitive conditions in a wild and uncivilized landscape. Sadly it was an extreme, even shocking, example of the widening gulf between clan society and the rest of Scotland. But even by the standards of the time it was thought a disgrace, a shameful episode and a stain on history.”
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 23:03:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015