There is no mention
elsewhere of Robert Auchinleck; but Shields includes in his list a man
called Auchinleck, of Christian name unknown, who was killed in similar
circumstances; and Wodrow gives a different version of the death of one
William Auchinleck, both assigning the act to one Captain Douglas, who
was marching from Kirkcudbright with a company of foot.[65]
These instances have been chosen as the most notorious and the most
circumstantially recorded of the indictments made against Claverhouse.
Of the traditions that gathered in the following century about his name
I have taken no notice, nor of the vague charges brought by writers of
still later date on no better authority than those traditions.[66] It
was inevitable that as time wore on these floating legends would be
gathered to one common head, and that the most important figure would be
selected to bear the sins of all. It is of course possible that many and
more damning instances might be added to the foregoing list, of which
the record has now perished. But the most that can be done is to take
what the counsel for the prosecution have brought forward, and to
examine it as strictly as can now be possible.
It must always be difficult to reconsider with absolute impartiality any
verdict that has been generally accepted for close upon two hundred
years.
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