Scottish history - the Dunbar martyrs.

[Phil]

Durham is one of my favourite cathedrals and I never knew that.

History is full of such things alas and there are many buried far from their native soil. Certainly a plaque or memorial could be appropriate but whether the disinterring and reburial etc would be appropriate or desirable I am not convinced.

It is not always possible to correct the wrongs of history, especially after some centuries have elapsed.

I take some comfort from the fate of Cromwell's corpse at the Restoration.

I do agree with you and I think that the website also does. It is also fairly clear that Cromwell left the fate of these poor souls in the hands of others so he cannot be entirely to blame. The fascinating aspect, though, is that so many were sold as slaves and I wonder how many Americans of Scottish descent realise that they may well have slave ancestors. While it cannot compare with the scale of the dreadful trade in African slaves, it is worth noting that they were not the only ones to suffer such a fate. It is also interesting that there have never been calls for an official apology to the Scots people of the sort proferred by Tony Blair et al not so long ago - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6185176.stm.

[McClef]

When you read about Cromwell's contempt for human life as whole - massacre of Drogheda, treatment of the Levellers etc, the fact that he "left the fate of these poor souls in the hands of others" doesn't really excuse him.

He created the political agenda for such things to happen and we well know even in the 20th century what that could lead to.

Baldwin's Law carefully circumnavigated there...

[Phil]

When you read about Cromwell's contempt for human life as whole - massacre of Drogheda, treatment of the Levellers etc, the fact that he "left the fate of these poor souls in the hands of others" doesn't really excuse him.

He created the political agenda for such things to happen and we well know even in the 20th century what that could lead to.

Baldwin's Law carefully circumnavigated there...

But was it not very much what happened in those times? Look at Francis Drake (before he became "Sir") and his English troops massacring some 600 unarmed men, women and children on Rathlin Island off the north coast of Ireland in 1575 or the Campbells who committed a far worse atrocity in Rathlin island in 1640 than anything they did in Glencoe.

[McClef]

I am not implying that Cromwell is unique in the massacre stakes.

But having captured what was the power of the State he was Monarch in all but name and he became more despotic than the King he had replaced.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

How very sad. I hope that the campaign gains steam and that this dark matter finally has some light shed upon it.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention Phil.
Sara

[macwilkin]

But was it not very much what happened in those times? Look at Francis Drake (before he became "Sir") and his English troops massacring some 600 unarmed men, women and children on Rathlin Island off the north coast of Ireland in 1575 or the Campbells who committed a far worse atrocity in Rathlin island in 1640 than anything they did in Glencoe.

<sigh>

Except, once again...the Campbells, as a clan, had absoultely nothing to do with the Glencoe Massacre. Yes, there were individual Campbells present, probably about 20 of them out of a total government force of 135-140 soldiers...but the officer who ordered it was a Duncan (sorry, Sketraw!) and there were others present.

John has a very good article about Glencoe here:

http://www.clan-duncan.co.uk/duncanson-glencoe.html

If you want to blame someone for it, blame the Earl of Stair and William III. The Earl of Breadalbane certainly was involved, but he made Glenlyon the fall guy.

Regards,

Todd