Children of the Mist

 I have slipped out of my chronological reread of Nigel Tranter's novels with this one, which is based on the story of the MacGregors in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. We are back to James I & VI, a Tranter favourite that borders on obsession. The description 'Children of the Mist' either comes from their ability to disappear into the mountains or their persecution; either way, it was a later invention.

This is almost a century before the most famous MacGregor, Rob Roy. The chief in this period was Alastair MacGregor, who became the clan chief after his father was murdered by the Campbells in 1570. The Campbells wanted the MacGregor lands and were behind most of the schemes to persecute them. The saying, 'never trust a Campbell,' is a reference to the infamous Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, but it could easily have been the title of this book.

Tranter invents a whole range of efforts that Alastair makes to counter the Campbell influence with the King and the Privy Council. In practice, the MacGregors relied on their fighting skills and remote lands to fight off the Campbells and their allies. This included the Battle of Glen Fruin (1603), where the Colquhouns were driven into the Moss of Auchingaich, where their cavalry was useless, and over 200 were killed. 

In April 1603, the King issued an edict proclaiming the name MacGregor 'altogidder abolisheed'. This meant that anyone who bore the name must renounce it or suffer death, and allowed bounty hunters to kill MacGregors. In a final effort to plead his case with the King, he was tricked into capture by the Campbell chief, who promised safe passage. In 1604, Alastair MacGregor and eleven of his chieftains were hanged at Mercat Cross, Edinburgh. The prescription was not lifted until 1774, and MacGregors took many different names to avoid further persecution.

It is a grim story, told well by Tranter, whose mother had one of the many names the MacGregors took. If your name is Campbell, this is one novel to avoid😁.

Some of my early-period Highlanders, taking on lowland infantry.