Wars of the Three Kingdoms

Honest Fanatics & Criminal Lunatics: Sheriff MacPhaill on Dunavertie & the Kirk

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:24:00 +0000

In 1646, forces under the ultimate control of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquis of Argyll, began to exact revenge on the allies of the Royalists in Scotland. A covenanter army led by Colin Campbell of Ardkinglass surrounded Lamonts at Ascog in June of that year. Sir James Lamont was brought to Ascog to persuade his clansman to surrender. After the fall of Ascog, the survivors were taken to Toward and then the kirkyard at Dunoon where thirty-five Lamont lairds were hanged in a single tree and some two hundred Lamont men, women, and children were fallen upon and murdered. Among the Campbell host was Reverend Colin MacLachlan, pastor of the kirk at Killin, who is believed to have enthusiastically urged on the Campbells in their bloody enterprise.

In Lamont and MacLachlan clan histories, or what is more accurately described as clan folklore, one "Sheriff MacPhaill" is claimed to have remarked subsequent to this massacre, "The difference between an honest fanatic and a criminal lunatic is difficult to define and of little difference to the victim." As it is used, the quotation conjures an image of a 17th century official stumbling across the aftermath of the carnage and remarking almost philosophically on the tragedy that befell the Lamonts. It would make for the final scene of a Hollywood film were made of these events with the sheriff and his men then mounting their horses or marching away after seeing to the disposition of the dead. A romantic image to be sure, but not one based in any reality.

Sheriff MacPhaill was a Scottish historian named James Robert Nicholson MacPhaill who lived from 1858 to 1933. He was the Sheriff of Sterling and edited a four volume set for the Scottish Historical Society called Highland Papers. It is in volume II at page 248 we find a piece entitled, "Documents Relating to the Massacre at Dunavertie".

Montrose's army was destroyed by David Leslie at Philliphaugh in September of 1645. Ardkinglass savaged the Lamonts in June of 1646. As the Marquis of Argyll slowly wrested control away from the remaining Royalists, Alasdair MacColla left a garrison of 500 men at Dunavertie Castle in May, 1647. Leslie laid seige to the castle and was able to secure its surrender under a promise of quarter for its defenders. Interestingly, promises of quarter had been used by Ardkinglass at Ascog and by Leslie himself at Philliphaugh. Much to what I would imagine to be the dismay of the prisoners, promises of quarter were frequently broken. Not that it should have been surprising, albeit somewhat disappointing, since the practice was not unheard of in the Royalist camp. Having thus surrendered, Leslie's men fell upon them and killed them to the man with the exception of one who was spared due to being a child.

MacPhaill's discussion tries to answer to two questions: Was there in fact a promise of quarter and who was responsible for the slaughter? He is able to make the argument there was in fact a promise of quarter made to the defenders of Dunavertie. As to who was responsible for the, he recognizes the Argyll probably influenced John Nevoy, a minister assigned to Leslie's command, who in turn talked Leslie into breaking his word. He also recognizes Leslie's cowardice in being unable to stand up to the representatives of the Kirk. Ultimately, however, it seems he places responsibility for this atrocity on James Nevoy and on the mindset of the leading faction of the Kirk at the time. Of James Nevoy, he writes:

A nephew of the Reverend Andrew Cant, and referred to withmuch appreciation in the Letters of Samuel Rutherford, Nevoy has most properly been held up to continuous execration. But though more notorious it does not follow that he was in reality worse than many of his neighbours, most of whom are fortunate in this, that their individual activities are not so clearly identified.Some exceptions, indeed, there are, such as the Reverend Colin Maclachlan, who took a leading part in the butchery of the Lamonts, and the Reverend David Dickson, whose ghoulish epinicion, ' the work goes bonnily on,' passed into a proverb. It must be remembered, too, that Nevoy was no obscure fanatic, but, like Dickson, one of the leaders of the Kirk (vide Professor Mitchell's General Assembly Commission Records, passim), and had been specially appointed by the Kirk to the Army. (Footnotes omitted.)

Continuing on page 253, MacPhaill continues with his description of the Kirk leadership:

The leaders of the Kirk at that time were, however, very different from the Knoxian Reformers. There were, of course, very many moderate men who cared more for the essentials of the Christian faith than for any special theological scheme or any particular form of Church government. But the theocratic theories of Andrew Melville and his associates had produced another and very unpleasant type. In the view of such men they and their followers were predestined from all eternity to be the Saints of God. All others were rebel's against the Almighty, and their extermination was the pleasant duty of the chosen people. Incidentally they claimed to have the power of the Keys and the right to make the lot of their opponents intolerable, not only in this life but also in that which is to come. Such a view of the universe, it is true, was not original—it was also wanting in perspective—and the scriptural language employed by its exponents sounds somewhat blasphemous to modern ears. It is not necessary to dispute their sincerity. But the difference between an honest fanatic and a criminal lunatic is difficult to define and is of little interest to the victim. (Footnotes omitted.)

One can only conclude the quote so often used in connection with the massacre of the Lamonts , and the participation in it by at least one MacLachlan, truly was made in the context of another atrocity nearly a full year later and then more generally in reference to the perspective held by those in power which led to acts of barbarism such as those at Dunoon and Dunavertie.

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COLONEL MacLACHLAN, MONTROSE, & ALFORD

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:33:00 +0000

In Britane’s distemper… Patrick Gordon of Ruthven mentions the efforts of “corronell M’Lachlen” during the battle of Alford. I assume this brief reference is the source taken by some chroniclers of Clan MacLachlan to claim, understandably given Gordon’s choice of spelling, the presence of a MacLachlan among the officer corps of Montrose’s army at Alford. This claim has further evolved to include the assertion that “corronell M’Lachlen” “ achieved the rank of colonel while in Montrose’s service and that after capture at Philliphaugh was taken to Edinburgh and hanged.

David Stevenson, in Highland Warrior: Alasdair MacColla and the Civil Wars, identifies Gordon’s “corronell M’Lachlen” as Major Thomas Laghtnan who was in fact captured at Philliphaugh and, along with Manus O’Cahan, subsequently hanged. Laghtnan was not from Scotland, but in fact came over with the three Irish regiments under MacColla’s command. I think support for Stevenson's position can also be found in fact that M'Lachlen is placed in command of a "braue regiment of Irrish foote" by Gordon rather than leading MacLachlan clansman.

Sources:
Gordon, Patrick, fl. 1649. A Short Abridgement of Britane's Distemper, From the Yeare of God M. DC. XXXIX. to M. DC. XLIX. Aberdeen: Printed for the Spalding club, 1844

Stevenson, David. Highland Warrior: Alasdair MacColla and the Civil Wars. Edinburgh: John Donald, 2003.

THE MUSE ELUDES ME

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:12:00 +0000

I'm eventually going to actually post something original and relevant on this blog. Preoccupation with life in the 21st century seems to be hampering the creative flow.

TIMELINES: This date in 1643

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:58:00 +0000

The King replies to Parliament's terms for a cessation; amongst other measures, he insists that naval commanders and governors of fortified towns be appointed by him.

-from British Civil Wars, Commonwealth & Protectorate, 1639-60

THIS DATE IN 1642...

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:24:00 +0000

The House of Lords issues a declaration proclaiming the power of Parliament to act for the good of the nation's defence independently of the King. The Militia Ordinance passed, giving Parliament control of the county Trained Bands

-from British Civil Wars, Commonwealth & Protectorate, 1639-60

THIS DATE IN 1643...

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:46:00 +0000

Sir William Waller occupied Winchester.

-from British Civil Wars, Commonwealth & Protectorate 1638-60

I really like this website. It's chock full of information and the timelines for each year from 1638 to 1660 are a nice feature.

TO KILL A KING (2003)-Saw the Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:27:00 +0000

I saw the trailer for To Kill A King (2003) this evening while cruising for something to watch on On Demand. I ended up watching Michael Moore's Sicko, but I'll be going back to catch what looks like a decent flick on events leading to the execution of Charles I. Costuming looked definitely better than 1970's Cromwell.

INTRODUCTION

noreply@blogger.com (Iain MacLachlainn) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:47:00 +0000

I don't honestly know if this will fly in the blogosphere, but I figure I couldn't do any worse generating interest than the blog I started regarding issues in my profession. I'd actually have to work at it to do worse. I suffer from an interest in the obscure. If all I do is collect my own thoughts on the matter at hand, well, okay. As this is the first post, I may be editing it over the next few days or deleting it altogether.

I am not a hardcore reenactor. I've been involved to the extent time and money have allowed, but haven't been active the last several years. I still maintain a keen interest in the period and the arts involved in creating historically accurate impressions.

I don't have a clear idea yet what I'll be writing about. I imagine I'll be posting about kit, clothing, historical events and the regiments that took part in them. I intend my main focus to be the seventeenth cenury, but as I have an interest in the Jacobite rebellions culminating in the '45, I'll be writing about those here and there as well.

A note about the links to reenactor groups. It is by no means meant to be exclusive. As it exists at the time of this writing, it is only as complete as my weary head allowed it be the evening I was setting it up. If you have an reenactment organization that's relevant to this blog, give me a shout and I'll include your link. I'll also be updating the link lists as I come across websites I've been previously unaware of or remember the ones I left out.