Account of the depredations committed on the clan Campbell and their followers, during the years 1685 and 1686, by the troops of the Duke of Gordon, Marquis of Athol, Lord Strathnaver, and others

INTRODUCTION.
On the death of Charles II., James Duke of York
ascended the Throne, without any opposition, by
the title of James VII. Whatever objections had, in
the preceding reign, been made to a popish successor,
there was no party now to resist or disturb James in
his designs. An ambiguous declaration was made, that
he would never depart from his just prerogatives, nor
invade the established government in church or state.
This he laid down on the faith of a prince, whose
word had never yet been forfeited, which he represent-
ed as a security above all law. No sooner, however,
did he find himself securely seated on the Throne,
than he proceeded to act in the most despotic man-
ner, by causing certain laws to be enacted, in conse-
quence of which a number of the nobility, clergy, and
others, in Scotland and England, exiled themselves
from their native country, and took refuge in Holland,
where the Earl of Argyle had remained since his es-