AN INRODUCTION TO ‘WHEN FATE DICTATES’
In 1688, the Protestant William III and Mary II deposed the Roman Catholic King of Britain, James II. The English, whilst not ecstatic about their new monarch, were content.
The Highlands of Scotland however were still very much in support of the deposed King James II and proved, at best, difficult to appease.
Finally in 1691, in an attempt to gain control and peace in the Highlands, King William negotiated an amnesty scheme with the clan leaders of the Highlands.
A requirement of the scheme was that all clan chieftains take an oath of allegiance to William and Mary before
the 1st January 1692. A lot of clan chiefs left taking the oath until the last minute, yet despite this, all but one, MacDonald of Glencoe, made the deadline.
A combination of bad luck and a fierce snow storm prevented MacDonald from taking the oath on time. However, MacDonald returned to Glencoe, believing his oath legal and his clan safe.
The authorities chose to make an example of the MacDonald clan declared the oath invalid.
They ordered a military force of Campbells, loyal supporters of the crown, under the command of Robert Campbell into Glencoe.
Under the guise of friendship the Campbells convinced the MacDonalds that they had come in peace. The MacDonalds welcomed their old adversaries into their homes, entertained, fed them and shared their food and clothes.
Very early on the morning of February 13th 1692 the following order was issued to Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon.
‘You are hereby ordered to fall upon the Rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under 70. You are to have especial 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 can 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 at five, you are not to tarry for me but 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 Favor, else you may expect to be treated as not true to the 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 subscribed these with my hand...’
signed] Robert Duncanson
For Their Majesties Service
To Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon
In the context of my story, Corran is a MacDonald; a highlander, born and raised by her grandmother on the fertile farmland of Glencoe.
The MacDonalds were no saints themselves; personally responsible for a great many atrocities against the Campbells they had spilt their fair share of blood in the name of clan rivalry.
However, what made the events of February 13th 1692 so heinous was the matter of ‘murder under trust’.
Simon is a Campbell of Glenlyon, a highlander, serving as a soldier for the English king, as did many Campbells.
I have tried to show, through Simon, how many of the Campbell soldiers had no stomach for the orders they had been given. Indeed it is questionable whether the soldiers, garrisoned with the MacDonalds for eleven days, had any knowledge of the job they had been sent to do, prior to the morning of February 13th 1692.
The Campbells, although politically astute and supporters of the English king, were still Highlanders, bound like any other Highlander to their Highland code.
The events of February 13th 1692 broke that code in the worst possible way and I sincerely doubt this would have been done willingly if at all by many.
The Highlands of Scotland however were still very much in support of the deposed King James II and proved, at best, difficult to appease.
Finally in 1691, in an attempt to gain control and peace in the Highlands, King William negotiated an amnesty scheme with the clan leaders of the Highlands.
A requirement of the scheme was that all clan chieftains take an oath of allegiance to William and Mary before
the 1st January 1692. A lot of clan chiefs left taking the oath until the last minute, yet despite this, all but one, MacDonald of Glencoe, made the deadline.
A combination of bad luck and a fierce snow storm prevented MacDonald from taking the oath on time. However, MacDonald returned to Glencoe, believing his oath legal and his clan safe.
The authorities chose to make an example of the MacDonald clan declared the oath invalid.
They ordered a military force of Campbells, loyal supporters of the crown, under the command of Robert Campbell into Glencoe.
Under the guise of friendship the Campbells convinced the MacDonalds that they had come in peace. The MacDonalds welcomed their old adversaries into their homes, entertained, fed them and shared their food and clothes.
Very early on the morning of February 13th 1692 the following order was issued to Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon.
‘You are hereby ordered to fall upon the Rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under 70. You are to have especial 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 can 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 at five, you are not to tarry for me but 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 Favor, else you may expect to be treated as not true to the 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 subscribed these with my hand...’
signed] Robert Duncanson
For Their Majesties Service
To Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon
In the context of my story, Corran is a MacDonald; a highlander, born and raised by her grandmother on the fertile farmland of Glencoe.
The MacDonalds were no saints themselves; personally responsible for a great many atrocities against the Campbells they had spilt their fair share of blood in the name of clan rivalry.
However, what made the events of February 13th 1692 so heinous was the matter of ‘murder under trust’.
Simon is a Campbell of Glenlyon, a highlander, serving as a soldier for the English king, as did many Campbells.
I have tried to show, through Simon, how many of the Campbell soldiers had no stomach for the orders they had been given. Indeed it is questionable whether the soldiers, garrisoned with the MacDonalds for eleven days, had any knowledge of the job they had been sent to do, prior to the morning of February 13th 1692.
The Campbells, although politically astute and supporters of the English king, were still Highlanders, bound like any other Highlander to their Highland code.
The events of February 13th 1692 broke that code in the worst possible way and I sincerely doubt this would have been done willingly if at all by many.
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