Historical memoirs of Rob Roy and the Clan Macgregor

46 HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF
mediate decrees of Parliament for the suppression of their
outrages, and the general reformation of their country.
The exile of Charles the Second, and the subsequent
usurpation of Cromwell, were incidents of extreme vexa-
tion to the Highlanders ; and the moment the commander
of Cromwell's troops left Scotland, some inefficient gather-
ings of the clans began to take place. When accounts of
their defection had reached the Lowlands, the earl of
Glencairn, with a degree of romantic chivalry which at-
tended all his exploits, hastily set out to join them and
take the command ; and having procured the co-operation
of several chiefs, among whom the chieftain of Glengyle,
with two hundred of his men, attended, he marched from
the neighbourhood of Lochearn, and at the pass of Aber-
foyle met, and beat with great loss, a large party of the
Protector's army from the castle of Stirling.
Macgregor and his clan accompanied the small army
of Glencairn, afterwards consisting of five thousand men,
through various parts of the Highlands, until the latter
was superseded by lord Middleton, who took the command.
While this desultory army was in Ross-shire, a circum-
stance took place, which, though not immediately con-
nected with our subject, may still be narrated, as exhibit-
ing the rude manners of the times : — The first act of
Middleton's authority was to order a review of the troops,
which accordingly took place ; and when it was over,
Glencairn invited the general and superior officers to dine
with him, at the laird of Kettle's house, four miles south
of Dornoch, where he had his quarters. They were
entertained with all the hospitality the country could
afford ; and after dinner, Glencairn, addressing their new
commander, said, — " My lord general, you see what a
gallant army these worthy gentlemen here present and I