The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

310 LUPOVK'K CKANT, KIGH']]! OF FrvKUCHlK AND OF GHA.NT. [1GC3-
the fiMuioi's of tliat resolutinn o\' llie Estates wliicli declaiod tliat King
James had forfeited tlie rij/ht to the Crosvii, and that tlie tin-one had
become vacant.' The same committee also framed the Claim of Kight and
the oft'ei- of the Crown to the Kin;^' and (.j)neen of Ivigland, in terms ol'
v.-Jiich the Estates ]ii".-laimed Williair, and Mary to b;' iving and Queen of
Scotland.'- A list of L;rievanci'> was likewise draAvii up,' some of Avhlch led
to di.seussion, but all which, with the Claim of lli'du, were read to and
accepted bj the new King and (^ueen before they took the (_>ath.^
The fact that the Laird of Freuchie was thus chosen bv vote to take
part in measures so greatly affecting the welfare of the nation, tends to
show the confidence reposed in his loyalty to the State. The work of this
Connnittee of Settlement, of which the Laird of Grant was a member, may
have been the cause of his delay in hastening noi'th, at the connnand of
Maior-tieneral Mackav, to i-'uard the fords of the Snev a"ainst Dundee,
who, towards the end of April 1089, began his fimous campaign on behalf
of King James. It was certainly not from lack of loyalty, as on ] [)th
April, the day preceding Dundee's leaving Glen Cgilvy, the Lairtl of
Freuchie is named anionu" those who offered to lew men for the i)ublic
service, having volunteered to raise and equip six hundred men, and
three days afterwards lie was appointed colonel of his own regiment.^ For
these levies he i-eceived warrant, on 25th April, to buy and import six
hundred stand of arms, and on 7th May orders were given for the payment
to him of i'So sterling, f )r the use of each company in his regiment.'' On
the 24th April the Laird was appointed, during pleasure. Sheriff of Inver-
ness-shire, m room of the Earl of ^lurray, and on the OOth he, in connnon
Avith other northern sherifls, was commi.ssioned to call together the heritors
and fencible men within his jurisilietion, as well armed as possible, to
dissipate any rebel forces in that rieighbourliood.'
These conmiissions did not, however, imply any military capacity in
tlie Laird or others who raised men for the Government ;
and
as the levies
were ofUcered by men of their own clan or friends, and not by experienced
soldiers, the new regiments with tlieir leaders frequently fell under the
1 Acts of the rarliaments cif Sccitlar.il. vcl. ,'),'!. ix. -
p. Jlii'l. ]>. 3S. ' /iii/. p. 45.
* • Ibid. p. 93. Jbi'l. pp. 50, 57, ' Jiid. p. (i;t. App. [.. n>.
" Jhid. App. p. '2.