Lairds of Glenlyon

THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON. 3 1
and follies, the national eye of Scotland followed with fond
desire the heir of her hundred kings. The Covenanters and
Highlanders met at last on common ground : these hoping,
on the exaltation of Charles, to expiate the affront offered to
the whole Celtic race by the expulsion of the Stuarts ; those
hoping, under a Prince who had signed the Covenant, to re-
cover their lost theological supremacy and independence —
both trusting to retrieve the honour of their country, and re-
cover the martial wreath lost at Worcester and Dunbar.
During Cromwell's domination, the spirit of loyalty among
the Campbells themselves attained such strength as to
quench personal feuds and enmities of long standing. The
first thing in which we find the name of Robert Campbell is
a precept of Clare Constat, from Sir Robert Campbell of
Glenorchy to Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, dated 20th July,
1655. The son of Black Duncan with the Cozvl and the grand-
son of M'Cailein became fast friends in their eagerness to
serve their Prince. Monk, who appears to have been well
aware of the intrigues among the clans, prudently provided
against any opportunity of an outbreak, and with such success
as to be able, whenever he pleased, down to the end of the
Protectorate, to date his despatches from the Castle of Fin-
larig ; but as he passively connived at loyal movements, if
he not actually fostered them, it seems highly probable he
wished the spirit to spread, and the knowledge that such
materials for a royal army existed in Scotland certainly in-
fluenced his conduct on the death of Oliver.
Perhaps it was unfortunate for the laird of Glenlyon that
war did not break out ; as it was, young and comparatively
rich, he plunged headlong into the pleasures of the Resto-
ration, and soon reduced himself to difficulties from which