Red and white book of Menzies

386 THE "RED & WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. i 745-1 746.
prisoner with him, entreated the judge to spare the life of his young master, but
the judge not acquiescing, he offered to go back to Glenquiech and get six of the
best men of Clan Menzies in Glenquiech to lay down their heads, along with his
own ! for his young chieftain ; but all was of no avail, the heartless English judge
could not appreciate the noble self-sacrifice of the true-hearted Highlander, but
regarded it as a sign of barbarism that a man should lay down his life for his friend
and chieftain. The young Chieftain Archibald Menzies of Shian was therefore
condemned to death and executed at Carlisle, as related traditionally, very much
in the same way as described by the prince of novelists, Sir Walter Scott, in
his Waverley, who represents him as the Vich Ian Vore, i.e., " The son of big
John " Menzies of Shian and Glenquiech.
It was in this conflict that Cumberland almost lost his life by a Highlander,
who got so near as to level his pistol at his head, but it missed fire : this they were
told by a prisoner taken on the field who saw the act. After the engagement was
over, the Highland army refreshed themselves at Penrith, and marched to Carlisle,
where they halted the whole of the 19th December 1745. They departed next
day — one division by way of Ecclefechan, Moffat, Douglas, Hamilton, and
Glasgow ; the other division, under Prince Charlie, consisting of the Menzies',
under Colonel Ian Menzies, and other clan regiments, by way of Annan,
Dumfries, Drumlanrig, Douglas, Hamilton, and Glasgow, where both divisions
arrived within a few hours of each other, Lord George Murray's in the forenoon,
and in the evening of the same day, 26th of December 1745, Prince Charles
on foot at the head of the Menzies' and other clan regiments, marched into
the city of Glasgow. As it was the first night that the Highland army were
in Glasgow, it was of great importance that a vigilant and reliable officer
should have command of the guard. The prince therefore appointed Chieftain
Colonel Ian Menzies of Shian — the father of Archibald — to the command of
the guard and ports, the Cross of Glasgow being the rendezvous. The order is
as follows : — ■
"Orders of 26th to 27th December 1745, Thursday. Parole — Charles and
Edinburgh. — Colonel Ian Menzies of Shian mounts the main -guard with
60 men and 3 officers. Glenbucket furnishes 20 men and an officer to each port.
The officers of the respective regiments are to take particular care of their men,
and in case of alarm they rendezvous at the Cross."
The entry of the prince was on a Christmas day, and he decided to halt and
refresh his army after their arduous march, and provide them with clothing. The
city had to provide the army with 1 2,000 shirts, 6000 coats, 6000 pairs of hose, 6000
waistcoats ; and the provost, for his conduct against Charles, had to pay a fine of
.£500. Having refitted his army, Charles reviewed the Highlanders on Glasgow
Green, and had the satisfaction that, exclusive of those men left at Carlisle, he had