In the exigencies of the unfortunate wars in which the king became
involved with Spain and France, he was led to the strange idea of
raising a small troop of Highland bowmen. This weapon, which had
long since declined in most European countries before the advance of
firearms, was still in use in the north of Scotland--indeed, continued
partially so for sixty years yet to come. Most probably it was the
chief of the MacNaughtans, now a gentleman of the Privy Chamber, who
had suggested such a levy to the king, for he it was who undertook to
raise and command the corps. At the date noted, Charles wrote to the
Privy Council of Scotland, to the Earl of Morton, and the Laird of
Glenurchy, asking assistance and co-operation for MacNaughtan in his
endeavours to raise the men, it being declared that they should have
‘as large privileges as any has had heretofore in the like kind.’
It appears that MacNaughtan came to the Highlands in the course of the
autumn, and engaged upwards of one hundred men for this extraordinary
service. ‘George Mason’s ship’ was placed at Lochkilcheran, to receive
the men as they were engaged, and carry them to their field of action.
It seems to have been designed that they should join a regiment
commanded by the Earl of Morton, which was now lying at the Isle of
Wight, designed to support the Duke of Buckingham in the dismally
unfortunate expedition he had made for the relief of Rochelle. It was
not till some weeks after that affair was concluded by his Grace’s
evacuation of the Isle of Ré, that the bowmen, to the stinted number of
one hundred, left their native shores. Departing in the very middle of
winter, the ship encountered weather unusually tempestuous, was chased
by the enemy, and obliged to put into Falmouth. There MacNaughtan
wrote to the Earl of Morton--‘Our bagpipers and marlit plaids served
us to guid wise in the pursuit of ane man-of-war that hetly followit
us.’ He told his lordship he would come on with his men to the Isle of
Wight as soon as possible, _being afraid of a lack of victuals where
he was_; and meanwhile he entreated that his lordship would prepare
clothes for the corps, ‘for your lordship knows, although they be men
of personages, they cannot muster before your lordship in their plaids
and blue caps.’
What came of these ‘poor sojours, quho ar far from thair owin
countrie,’ we nowhere learn.[10]
[Sidenote: 1627.