The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands

FOLK-TALES OF THE '15 AND THE '45
The spot in Glen Moriston, at which the innocent pedlar
met his death, is marked by a cairn.
The Seven Men of Glen Moriston.
After the rout of the clans at Culloden, a small band of
Glen Moriston men, whose homes had been razed because
of their allegiance to the Stuarts, took upon themselves the
vow that never would they conclude their peace with the
House of Hanover. And they took up their abode in a cave
on the hillside, a goodly way up the glen. Here they lived
the lives of outlaws, spending as much of their time as
possible in harrying the Red Coats and their dependants.
For a while Prince Charlie rested with these men during
one of his flights ; and it was while the Prince sojourned
with them in this cave that he had occasion to reprimand
them for their swearing and cursing.
Nearly two hundred years have passed by since Charlie
came this way; but even to this day tales are told of the
Seven Men of Glen Moriston. Their number consisted of
three Chisholms, two MacDonalds, one MacGregor, and one
Grant. These men had banded themselves together into " a
small association of offence and defence against the Duke of
Cumberland and his army (he and the Laird of Grant having
betrayed so many of their countrymen upon giving up their
arms) never to yield but to die on the spot, never to give up
their arms, and that for all the days of their lives."
The Seven Men of Glen Moriston confined their attention
not merely to harassing or killing any Red Coats that came
their way, but also to inflicting summary vengeance upon
any Highlander whom they believed to have been guilty of
conspiring with the enemy. And it was to the custody of
these dauntless fellows that MacDonald of Glenaladale
committed Prince Charlie at a later stage in his wanderings.
One of the Seven Men soon recognised their charge. His
name was John MacDonald. " At the sight of him the poor
man changed colours," says Iain Og of Borrodale of John
MacDonald, " and turned as red as blood, and addressed
him in the following manner :
' I am sorry to see you in
such a poor state, and hope if I live to see you yet in a
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