Maitland Club > Miscellany of the Maitland Club > Volume 3, Parts 1 and 2

1716. MUTHILL, CRIEFF, ETC. 453
was, was immediately snatch'd upp and plunder'd by the Ilebells, being
it was with great difficulty they cou'd save theire children and infants.
Janet Miller spouse to William Greeme one of the Duke of Mon-
tross's Vassals seeing her house on fire, nothing preserv'd and her chil-
dren in danger, run in, where she perished and was consumed to ashes
by the flames.
This morning there had been one of the most terrible blowings and
falls of snow that ever man saw, and the snow was so exceeding deep
that many aged people, women and children, who were designing when
they saw theire houses burnt to go shelter themselves in the church, were
so incumbered with the snow that they cou'd not walk through, but lay
sweltering amongst it, where they were stript of theire cloaths, and
robb'd of theire money and every thing they had about them, and left
by the cruel Rebels, who minded nothing but burning and plundering,
to perish in the cold.
Clanranald now seeing every house on fire, and many of the best
fall'n down, rode along the streets, conveen'd his men and march'd. All
the way he pray'd the people whom he saw weeping, to Forgive him, but
was answer'd with silence, and so departed to do the like in other places.
His men before they went seized all the horses they cou'd find to carry
off theire plunder.
I shall now give account how some particular persons were treated,
that thereby you may judge the better of the behaviour of these Barba-
rians.
William Davidson mentioned before, to whom Clanranald had pro-
mised so much kindness, was, after his house was all in flames about
his Ears, carry'd out sick and aged as he was and with much difficulty,
at last by his Daughter and Daughter in law brought through the depth
of the snow to the Church where he lay severall days in a most miser-
able condition.
James Shearer son in law to William Davidson, for having disobey'd