#glen coe

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5th January 1692 saw the MacDonalds of Glencoe finally sign the oath of allegiance to King William III at Inveraray.

This was five days after the official deadline; and gave the authorities the excuse to "extirpate" this troublesome Jacobite clan, leading to the infamous Glencoe massacre.

On 27 August 1691 King William offered the Highland clans a pardon for their part in the first Jacobite rising - if they agreed to pledge allegiance to him before New Year’s Day. The oath had to be made before a magistrate. Many Highland Chiefs waited for word to come from the exiled King James before they took the oath.

Alasdair MacIain, the Chief of Glencoe, arrived at Fort Willliam on 31 December 1691 to take the oath but was told that he would have to travel some 70 miles to the sheriff at Inveraray. MacIain finally took the oath on 5th January 1692. He was given assurances that his allegiance would be accepted and that he and his people - the McDonalds of Glencoe - were safe.

John Dalrymple, Master of Stair, was the Secretary of State. He was hoping for an excuse to make an example of one of the Highland Clans. When he heard that Alasdair MacIain had not sworn allegiance by 31st December he was delighted.