“The same day, the Lords of Secret Council being
crediblie informed of ye cruel and mischievous proceeding
of ye wicked Clangrigor, so lang continueing in blood,
slaughters, herships, manifest reifts, and stouths
committed upon his Hieness’ peaceable and good
subjects; inhabiting ye countries ewest ye brays of
ye Highlands, thir money years bybgone; but specially
heir after ye cruel murder of umqll Jo. Drummond
of Drummoneyryuch, his Majesties proper tennant and
ane of his fosters of Glenartney, committed upon ye
day of last bypast, be certain of ye said clan, be
ye council and determination of ye haill, avow and
to defend ye authors yrof qoever wald persew for revenge
of ye same, qll ye said Jo. was occupied in seeking
of venison to his Hieness, at command of Pat.
Lord Drummond, stewart of Stratharne, and principal
forrester of Clenartney; the Queen, his Majesties
dearest spouse, being yn shortlie looked for to arrive
in this realm. Likeas, after ye murder committed,
ye authors yrof cutted off ye said umqll Jo. Drummond’s
head, and carried the same to the Laird of M’Grigor,
who, and the haill surname of M’Grigors, purposely
conveined upon the Sunday yrafter, at the Kirk of
Buchquhidder; qr they caused ye said umqll John’s
head to be pnted to ym, and yr avowing ye sd murder
to have been committed by yr communion, council, and
determination, laid yr hands upon the pow, and in eithnik,
and barbarous manner, swear to defend ye authors of
ye sd murder, in maist proud contempt of our sovrn
Lord and his authoritie, and in evil example to others
wicked limmaris to do ye like, give ys sall be suffered
to remain unpunished.”
Then follows a commission to the Earls of Huntly,
Argyle, Athole, Montrose, Pat. Lord Drummond,
Ja. Commendator of Incheffray, And. Campbel
of Lochinnel, Duncan Campbel of Ardkinglas, Lauchlane
M’Intosh of Dunnauchtane, Sir Jo. Murray
of Tullibarden, knt., Geo. Buchanan of that Ilk, and
And. M’Farlane of Ariquocher, to search
for and apprehend Alaster M’Grigor of Glenstre
(and a number of others nominatim), “and all
others of the said Clangrigor, or ye assistars, culpable
of the said odious murther, or of thift, reset of
thift, herships, and sornings, qrever they may be
apprehended. And if they refuse to be taken, or
flees to strengths and houses, to pursue and assege
them with fire and sword; and this commission to endure
for the space of three years.”
Such was the system of police in 1589; and such the
state of Scotland nearly thirty years after the Reformation.
V. NOTES.
Note I.—FidesetFiduciasuntrelativa.
The military men of the times agreed upon dependencies
of honour, as they called them, with all the metaphysical
argumentation of civilians, or school divines.
