Official Clan MacTavish Society

                                    since 1997

They came in the night, while our men were asleep,
this band of Argylls, through snow soft and deep,
like murdering foxes, among helpless sheep,
they slaughtered the house of MacDonald.

Repeat Chorus ----

Some died in their beds, at the hands of the foe,
some fled in the night, and were lost in the snow,
some lived to accuse him, who struck the first blow,
but gone was the house of MacDonald.

Repeat Chorus ----

Oh cruel as the snow that sweeps Glencoe,
and covers the graves o' Donald,
Oh cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe,
and murdered the house of MacDonald,
and murdered the house of MacDonald.

Words: J. McLean
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A Scottish lament.

Fortunately some MacDonalds escaped to tell of the slaughter. Yet before we condemn the Campbells for this horrifying act, this is the same clan, several centuries earlier that helped an outlaw named Robert the Bruce, who was hiding from the English and enemy Scots alike, shortly after being made king of Scotland.

It is easy to look at the Highland Clans now, and make judgements against or for them. It was not so black and white then. Of course, what the Campbells did was terrible, and for that single act, they are remembered by many, many Scots for this incident, in a bad light.

No present day person is responsible for any crime against the Glencoe MacDonalds. Nor are they responsible for the crimes of their distant relatives. I am simply telling history, on this ONE article, from a Scottish Highland perspective. Not all Scottish history is full of proud moments and ALL clans have their ugly sides. This one stands out because of the nature of the crime, and the fact that it was endorsed, nay, encouraged by the king himself.

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R. Gunn
Author, Medieval Historian       http://members.aol.com/skyelander/index.html

Scottish Highlands and Islands - Scottish History by Robert Gunn

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MacTavish International a.k.a.  Dunardry Heritage Association supports Clan MacTavish interests worldwide and includes both the Dunardry and Stratherrick Clan MacTavish sites.