his proceedings while in Scoon. vereign to maintain the established religion. This occasioned the putting off that ceremony for a time; and, as his avowed bigotry to Popery occasioned great divisions among his few counsellors, so it cooled the affections of his female friends, the Episcopal ladies, who, entertaining the notion of his being a Protestant, had excited their husbands to take arms for him. Upon the 17th of January, he gave an impolitic instance of his cruelty; for hearing that the Duke of Argyle made great preparations to march against him, he signed the following order for burning the towns, villages, and houses, and destroying the corn and forage between Dunblane and Perth: 'JAMES REX, • Whereas, it is absolutely necessary for our service and the public safety, that the enemy should be as much incommoded as possible, especially upon their march towards us, if they should attempt any thing against us or our forces, and as this can by no means be better effected than by destroying all the corn and forage which may serve to support them on their march, and burning the houses and villages which may be necessary for quartering the enemy, which nevertheless it is our meaning should only be done in case of absolute necessity, concerning which we have given our full instructions to James Graham, younger of Braco: These are therefore ordering and requiring you, how soon this order shall be put into your hands by the said James Graham, forthwith, with the garrison under your command, to burn and destroy the village of Auchterarder, and all the houses, corn, and forage whatsoever within the said town, so as they may be rendered entirely useless to the 1 Preparations of the Duke of Argyle enemy, For doing whereof, this shall be to you, and all you employ in the execution hereof, a sufficient warrant. Given at our Court of Scoon, this 17th day of January, in the fifteenth year of our reign, 1715-16. By His Majesty's command, To Colonel Patrick Graham, MAR.' or the Commanding Officer, for the time, of our garrison The Duke of Argyle, being assured that the last of the Dutch troops were come past the borders, in order to join him, and that the great train of artillery which was shipped off at London for this expedition, was wind-bound in the mouth of the Thames, and seeing that the season of the year promised rather a continued storm than any hopes of a change of weather, and that the circumstances of his Majesty's affairs required all possible despatch; sent to the governor of Berwick to fur nish him with as many great guns, as, with those that could be got in the castle of Edinburgh, might make a sufficient train for the present occa sion; which being readily complied with, his Grace, upon Wednesday the 3d of January, sent Brigadier Petit, a skilful engineer, and the Commissary of the Scots field train, to Edinburgh, with express orders to make up a train of twelve battering guns, of 18, 12, and 9-pounders, and six small field pieces of 6's and 4's, from Edinburgh castle and to prevent the advance of the Chevalier. Berwick, to be added to the six 3-pounders former · at the camp at Stirling, with six mortars, making in all twenty-four pieces of cannon, and six mortars; and to hire out of the Dutch and British troops, fifty who were skilled in gunnery, to be added to the old Scots corps of gunners, then at Stirling, consisting of twenty; with power to appoint proper officers. They were likewise ordered to get what ammunition and other warlike stores would he necessary for the said train, and nine thousand men, either for siege or battle, in readiness with the utmost expedition; together with pontoons for crossing rivers, &c. which was accordingly begun, on the 4th, with all possible diligence. On the 8th, General Cadogan was sent to Edinburgh to order the proper officers to press fifteen hundred horses to bring the said cannon from Berwick, which was done also under a guard of five hundred men. Next day, he returned to Stirling, to assist at a general council of war, which the It is very remarkable, that the councils of war, and all the concerts and meetings of the general officers at Stirling, against the Chevalier, were held and concluded in the very same room wherein the Earl of Argyle entertained King James, then Duke of York, in the year 1680; at the conclusion of which entertainment, the Duke of York proposed to him the taking away the penal and sanguinary laws against Papists, &c. for refusing to concur in which, the Earl was at length involved in those circumstances, which occasioned the loss of his life. Preparations of the Duke of Argyle Duke of Argyle had called; and the Dutch troops having all arrived, the march of the army was fully concerted, and orders given to have every thing in readiness by the time the artillery could come up. On the 21st of January, Colonel Guest, with two hundred dragoons, was detached from Stirling to reconnoitre the roads leading to Perth, which were covered with a very deep snow; and to discover, if possible, the posture of the enemy. The Colonel did as he was commanded, and brought back accounts to the general. His rapid pro gress much alarmed the enemy, and put the town of Perth into great confusion, some country people coming in full speed and telling them that the Duke of Argyle, with all his cavalry, and 4000 foot mounted on horses, were in full march to attack them. Nor was their fright abated till a party of horse, being sent to Tullibardine to view the roads in every direction, sent word all things were quiet, and that no enemy appeared. From this time, however, till the rebels left Perth, there was nothing to be seen but planting of guns, marking out breast-works and trenches, digging up stones in the streets, and laying them with sand, to prevent the effects of a bombardment; in short, all possible preparations were made, as if they had really intended to defend the place, (though some think they had no such design) insomuch that all our to prevent the advance of the Chevalier. public accounts, at that time, assured us, that the Chevalier and his people resolved to fight his Ma jesty's army. Soon after, the Duke of Argyle sent out General Cadogan with a strong detachment of horse and foot, to take post at Dunblane, and to send a party to Doune; and on the 24th, his Grace marched out to Dunblane, with two hundred horse, and, taking thence General Cadogan with as many more, went to view the roads, as far as Auchterarder, and returning at night to their respective quarters. This march put the rebels into so great a consternation, that they abandoned their garrisons, and retired behind the river Ern, where they gave out that they were resolved to rally and fight the King's army, commanded by the Duke of Argyle. And having intelligence that his Grace had posted 3000 men, as his advanced guard, at Dunblane and Doune, they sent 3000 Highlanders from the garrisons of Braco, Tullibardine, and other neighbouring garrisons, who, agreeably to the Chevalier's orders, burned the towns and villages of Auchter arder, Crieff, Blackford, Dunning, and Muthil; with what corn and forage they were unable to carry away. The poor inhabitants were exposed to the inclemency of the season, and some decrepid people and children were smothered in the flames. The same day, the Duke went to view the roads, |