HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH REGIMENTS. SECOND ROYAL NORTH BRITISH DRAGOONS, OR SCOTS GREYS. THE CHAPTER I. "Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can, For it's up wi' the bonnets o' bonnie Dundee." MACDONALDS EARLY HISTORY-COVENANTERS-BATTLES OF DRUMCLOG AND BOTHWELL BRIDGE—ARGYLE'S REBELLION-THE RAID OF - FLIGHT OF JAMES II. - DUNDEE'S REBELLION-BATTLES OF KILLIECRANKIE AND CROMDALE -MASSACRE OF GLENCOE-1660-1693. THE page of history presents to us many dark scenes of oppression, where one man, trampling upon the rights of another, and disregarding the heaven-born principle of charity, has sold his brother in o bondage. Nay, more, (as especially illustrated in the case of Spain groaning beneath the thraldom of the Papacy), some men have even succeeded in en slaving the mind; stopping up with vile trash the avenues of knowledge, and so defacing and ruining that mirror of the intellect which reflects so much of its Creator, which originally bore the impress of divinity, and was moulded in the likeness of God. But the pride of the human heart, and the unhallowed passion of man, stay not here, but have attempted more--to subdue the soul—but in vain. It is possible to fetter or destroy the body, nay, it is even possible to enslave, or annihilate in madness, the mind, but it is impossible for man to bind the undying soul. Nevertheless, it has been the infatuation of tyrants, deluded by false creeds, in many countries and in many ages, to seek, but in vain, to usurp the dominion of the soul. The soul, like "the bush burned but not consumed," lives still, lives for ever, defying the fires of persecution, the wasting famine, and the devouring sword. It comes forth scatheless, purified, living; having shaken off the corruption of earth, it appears clothed in the garments of immortality. There can be no better testimony to the suitableness of the true religion to meet the wants of man than this-that whilst all others have proved themselves to be so many systems of tyranny, bereaving man of his beloved liberty, the religion of Jesus is free, and is always to be welcomed as the herald of civil and religious liberty; wherever its blessing rests, its benign influence is felt, and its glorious light shines. It was in such a time as this in Scotland, when the iron will of Charles II., already oppressing the persons and the minds of his people, aspired to the dominion of their soul and conscience, by calling upon them to introduce into their simple forms of worship a host of objectionable mummeries, savouring of Popery, and threatening thereby to corrupt the purity of the Presbyterian faith. In vain they petitioned for liberty of conscience and protested against these intrusions. Persisting in the introduction of these idle rites, and denying redress, the monarch preferred plunging the nation into all the horrors of civil war, rather than depart from his purpose. To enforce these requirements the king raised in Scotland two troops of Life Guards, afterwards disbanded; a regiment of horse, known as Claverhouse's Troopers "The bonnets o' bonnie Dundee;" a regiment of Foot Guards; a regiment of foot, now the Twenty-first, North British Fusiliers; and, in 1678, two troops of dragoons, which, increased by the addition of other troops in 1681, constituted the Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons, now known familiarly as the Scots Greys. The corps was originally commanded by Sir Thomas Dalziel, who in 1681 was appointed the first colonel of the regiment. He was always a staunch adherent of the House of Stuart, had been taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, but escaping from the Tower, served with distinction in the Russian army during the Tartar wars. Returning to Scotland at the Restoration, he was employed by the king in enforcing his will upon the Presbyterians, and he discharged his duty with all the scrupulous exactness of a soldier. To the Covenanters he has left a most unenviable memory-as a monster of cruelty, devoid of mercy. |