Earls of Cromartie > [NSLBLANK]

1714.] WARRANT TO TREAT WITH THE CLANS. exxxiii
cause of much expense to many who were obliged to give great compositions
for finding out and extracting ancient writs. 1
The warrant which was granted by King William to Lord Tarbat to
pacify the clans is in the following terms : —
" William K. — We doe by these comand and authorize yow, G[eorge]
V[iscount] T[arbat], to treat with the Highlanders who are in rebellion against
us in Scotland, viz., with Sir Donald M'Donell, M'Lean, the Captain of Clanranell,
Glengary, Lochiell, M 1 ' Colline M'Kenzie, unckle to the Earl of Seafort, and
others there associats, dependers and followers, for bringing them in to submit to
our Royall autority and lawes, and secure there obedience to us : And for that end
to treat and comune with them, ether by word or writt, by himself, or such others
as he thinks fitt to employ ; and wee not only authorize and impower the said
Viscount so to doe, but wee by these secure him and those imployed by him from
all danger, hurt, and inconvenience whatsoever, that he may incurr by treating or
comuneing with these rebels, or any of them, quhether they be forfaulted, out-
lawed, or declared fugitives. And for incouradging those Highlanders to return
to there duty, wee doe heerby impower the said Viscount to offer, in our name,
such honor under that of Earle, and such summes of money, not exceeding
£2000 sterling, to any on cheeff and tribe of these above mentioned ; as also to
secure them in all they possess be law, or were secured in by gifts from our royall
vnckle King Charles, under his Great Seall of Scotland, and to indemnify them,
and evry on of them, who shall come in and submitt to us and our lawes in maner
forsaid, against all accusationes, punishment, and danger, from all crimes and deeds
committed by them, preceeding there submission ; and wee promise to perform
what the said Viscount shall undertake in our name in the matters, according to
what is above said. — Whithall, the 25 March 1690.'" 2
It appears from Lord Tarbat's letters to Lord Melville that this Com-
mission was attended with much trouble. He complains of the evils of
the Highland war and robberies. 3
King William and Queen Mary were, however, so sensible of the services
1 The Level) and Melville Papers, p. 373. 3 Ibid. p. 551, et seq. Vide also pp. 82,
- Ibid. pp. 422-423. S3, infra.