Red and white book of Menzies

336 THE "RED 6- WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 1690.
repair to the said garrison, under the pain of cashiering them from their respective
offices, and such officers as are sent out for recruits to bring with them such men as
they have already levied." — Charter Room, Castle Menzies, No. 152.
The reports proved true about General Buchan. This is referred to in the
next letter from Colonel Hill, which reads thus : —
"Colonel John Hill to the Laird of Weem. Inverlochy, 28 August 1690.
Sir, I lately writ yow at large by the post, and desired you to communicate what
I writt to my Lord Commissioner, my Lord Leaven, Lord Tarbat, and the Major-
Generall, for that I could not write to them for want of paper, my stocke being
run out (tho' prittie considerable), and the ships from Glasgow, wherein I have
more, not yet come. The last night came to me some Highland newes, that
Buchan had 400 horse and 100 dragoones, that my Lord Aboyn and Lord Fraser
of Monghall, my Lord Kintore, and Sir Peter Fraser had joyned him ; that he
was come to Colloden's house, and had been there two or three dayes (tis pritty if
true), that noebody was within to wellcome him, and that he went that wayes in
order to joyne my Lord Seafort, who (as they say), has a thousand foote and
120 dragoones, and is marched down to Rosse, and that the Major-Generall is
marched north ; and that all the Church of England is for King James : and that
there are still 50,000 men in armes for him in Ireland. But both Lochiel and
Glengarry send me word they will not rise to joyne Buchan ; for Lochiel beleeus
Buchan's foundation will not stand, for tho' all Scotland were in arms for King
James, if England were not for him, or nott divided amoungst themselves, 'twould
all signifie nothing — soe that hee resolves to be quiet. He believes MacLean will
be hot-headed and not governable, tho' quiet at present, the broken condition of
his estate rendering him desparate. The country was quiet. They had ' brave '
weather, and the works were very ' forward ' and well done. Fears a general
desertion of the soldiers for want of pay." — Charter Room, Castle Menzies, No. 154.
The rising of Buchan and others, referred to in this letter, had a damper put
upon it by General Mackay having a report circulated through the Western
Highlands that he was fitting out a fleet at Glasgow, with men and military stores,
to take possession of the Western parts of the Highlands, and strengthen the forts
of Inverlochy. This had the effect of preventing many from joining, and waver
in their intention of coming out for King James. Among those was Stewart of
Appin, of whom Colonel Hill thus writes : —
"Colonel John Hill (?) to Commander Robert Meingeis, the Laird of Weem.
Circa 1690. The tutor of Appin seemed 'very fair.' Most of the people of Appin
and Glencoe had come in and submitted to the Government, except the Lairds of
Appin and Glencoe, who were not at hand. The tutor desired only time for
delivering Island Stalker, till the writer had acquainted the Government with the
tutor's condition, that he had spent 5000 merks in obtaining and maintaining the