Table of Contents
Welcome to James Kemp's Wiki
This is a collaborative web platform that allows people to edit1) the web pages to provide additional content for some of the stories I have written and the roleplaying games that I am involved in, whether as a player or GM.
There are several namespaces operating slightly different wiki subjects. These are, in no particular order:
- Skyss - Story Background - a fantasy novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2016.
- Perfects - background for the near future story and some police roleplaying that I ran in that universe
- Theocracy of Daprav - A D&D campaign that I ran with Glasgow University Games Society around 2002-3.
- Jim Wallman's Universe - a roleplaying by e-mail campaign that I play in, this is an unofficial wiki and none of it is canon unless Jim says it is.
- Interstellar Freelance Unlimited - subset of the Universe pages covering the activities of a mercenary company that we are currently roleplaying every Full Moon.
- Earth Imperium pages. These cover the activities of the Government of the Solar republic (aka Earth Empire) in Jim's Humanity Will Prevail campaign, including the Earth Imperium News Items.
- Free Worlds Alliance - covering the activities of another emerging polity in the Humanity Will Prevail campaign. Mostly contributed by Eric Moroney.
- Universe Background - page collecting the various bits of background info that have come up in various e-mail discussions for the campaigns set in Jim Wallman's Universe.
- Master map of the Universe (6Mb PDF, as at 3212).
- Delta Green - some roleplaying campaigns about horror and conspiracy. The main one was set in Berlin in 1953.
- Free games rules - a collection of free rules for wargames and other sorts of face to face games that I have designed or run.
- Wargames rules - I'm not just a player of games, I also do rules for them from time to time as well as one-off games. A primary outlet for this is through Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Other free rules - at the moment just those for the 1689 (Orange or Lemon? and Bonnie Dundee, respectively about the debates in the Scots Parliament and then the military campaign of Viscount Dundee during 1689) and The Other Side of the COIN (about what makes people become insurgents). All games that I have have produced for Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Background for a near future universe where I have written some fiction and also run some roleplaying games in.
Comments and complaints to me at webmaster@full-moon.info please.
James Kemp
Tag Cloud
Recent Additions
John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee
Offices Held
- Commander in Chief of the Army
- Privy Councillor
- Constable of Dundee
- Provost of Dundee (i.e. mayor)
Reputation
- Dundee is fiercely loyal to King James VII.
- Known as 'Bluidy Claverhouse' to many from his campaigning against the Covenanters in the South West during the 1670s and early 1680s. He is much hated by those who are Covenanters.
Religion
- Church of Scotland, not terribly devout
Military Service
Began in 1672, as a Lieutenant in Sir William Lockhart's Scots Regiment. This regiment was under the command of the Duke of Monmouth in the service of the French King Louis XIV. By 1674, Graham was a Cornet in William of Orange's guards. He was present at the Battle of Seneffe and rescued the young Prince when his horse fell in marshy ground. As a reward for his actions Dundee received a Captain’s commission. Two years later Graham resigned his commission and returned to Scotland. William wrote a letter to James, Duke of York (later James VII), who was both his uncle and father-in-law, recommending James Graham as a soldier.
Graham was appointed captain by Charles II in 1678 with orders to suppress conventicles (Lowland Presbyterian meetings) that the king deemed seditious. His reputation for relentless repression of the Covenanters, as they are known today, in Dumfries and Galloway earned the nickname of “Bluidy Clavers”. The difficulties of his task, the hostility of the populace, and the nature and extent of the country he was required to watch were too great for the leader of a small body of cavalry, and in spite of his vigorous and energetic action, Graham accomplished little. He conducted his occupation with zest, however, and interpreted consistently the orders he received, acting as both judge and executioner. In 1685 he summarily executed John Brown for his refusal to acknowledge the supremacy of the King.
On 1 June 1679 the Covenanters routed him and his army at the Battle of Drumclog, whereupon he fled to Glasgow, successfully defending it until his party left on 3 June, heading towards Stirling. Later joined by the Duke of Monmouth, the whole of the militia, and two regiments of dragoons, both sides met again at the Battle of Bothwell Brig, on 22 June, and the Covenanters were convincingly routed. In 1680 he was despatched to London to influence the king against the indulgent method adopted by the Duke of Monmouth with the extreme Covenanting party. The king seems to have been fascinated by his loyal supporter, and from that moment Graham was destined to rise in rank and honors. Early in 1680 he obtained a royal grant of the barony of the outlawed Macdougal of Freuch, and the grant was after some delay confirmed by subsequent orders upon the exchequer in Scotland.
In January 1681 he was appointed to the sheriffships of Wigtown, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Annandale. In December 1682 Graham was appointed colonel of a new regiment raised in Scotland. He had still greater honors in view. In January 1683 the case of the earl of Lauderdale was debated in the House of Lords. Lauderdale was proprietor of the lands and lordship of Dundee and Dudhope, and the decree of the Lords against him was in March 1683 issued for the sum of 72,000 pounds. Graham succeeded in having part of the property of the defaulter transferred to him by royal grant, and in May he was nominated to the privy council of Scotland.
Surprisingly, he married Lady Jean Cochrane, a daughter of a fiercely Covenanting family in 1674. Shortly after the death of Charles II in 1685, Graham incurred a temporary disgrace by his deposition from the office of privy councillor; but in May he was reinstated, although his commission of justiciary, which had expired, was not renewed. In 1686 he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and had added to his position of constable the dignity of provost of Dundee. In 1688 he was second in command to General Douglas in the army which had been ordered to England to aid the falling dynasty of the Stuarts. In 1688, however, he was created Viscount Dundee by James II while with the Scots army in England.
The Three Estates
The members were collectively referred to as the Three Estates (Middle Scots Thrie Estaitis), or 'community of the realm' (tres communitates), composed of:
- the first estate of prelates (bishops and abbots)
- the second estate of lairds (dukes, earls, parliamentary peers and lay tenants-in-chief)
- the third estate of burgh commissioners (representatives chosen by the royal burghs)
A Shire Commissioner was the closest equivalent of the English office of Member of Parliament, namely a commoner or member of the lower nobility. Because the parliament of Scotland was unicameral, all members sat in the same chamber, as opposed to the separate English House of Lords and House of Commons.
The Parliament also had University constituencies. The system was also adopted by the Parliament of England when James VI ascended to the English throne. It was believed that the universities were affected by the decisions of Parliament and ought therefore to have representation in it.
Act Declaring the Scottish Convention a Free and Lawful Meeting
March 16, 1689
A printed version of the text can be found on pages 1 and 2 of The acts & orders of the meeting of the estates of the kingdom of Scotland held and begun at Edinburgh, the 14th day of March, 1689, Edinburgh: Printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson, 1690 (Wing / S1161).
Forasmuch as there is a letter from King James the Seventh presented to the meeting of the Estates, they before opening thereof declare and enact that, notwithstanding of anything that may be contained in that letter for dissolving them or impeding their procedure, yet that they are a free and lawful meeting of the Estates, and will continue undissolved, until they settle and secure the Protestant religion, the government, laws and liberties of the kingdom.
The Clergy and Nobility subscribed thus:
Jo. Glasgow; Jo. Dunkelden; Will. Moravien; Io. Rossen; Robert Dumblanen; Arch. Sodoren; And. Orcaden; Duke of Hamilton; Douglas; Atholl; Crafurd; Lothian; Mortoun; Linlithgow; Eglington; Forfar; Lovit; Bellanden; Lindores; Newark; Blantyre; Archibald Campbell, 10th Earl of Argyll; Sutherland; Glencairn; Airlie; Leven; Annandale; Tweedale; Panmure; Tarras; Dundonnald; Balcarres; Stormont; Kenmure; Arbushnet; Tarbat; John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee; Carmichael; Cardross; Belhaven; Rutherford; Bargany; Ross; Torpichen; Forrester; Rollo; Elphingstoun; Duffus; Ruthven.
The Barons subscribed thus:
J. Maitland; Robert Sinclair; Ad. Cockburn; Andrew Agnew; Da. Arnot; Wm Elliot; Pat. Scot; Thomas Drummond; Pat. Ogilvie; W. Anstruthers; Will. Mcdougal; Patrick Murray; D. Carmichael; W. Baillie of Lamingtoun; David Boyl; H. Mcguffock; James Foulis; James Montgomery; Blair of that Ilk; Da. Erskine Dun; Jo. Maxwel; Ar. Cockburn; Jo. Dempster; J. Houstoun; William Colquhoun; Charles Erskine; Pat. Hume of Polwart; S. D. Ca. Auchinbreck; Ar. Murray; Geo. Pringle; Ad. Gordon; Go. Dalzell; Ja. Johnston; Tho. Dumbar; T. Burnet; Da. Bruce; C. Hamilton; Io. Haldan; William Scot; Lodovick Grant; Ja. Ramsay; Alexander Arbuthnet; William Cunninghame; Al. Duff; D. Forbes; Jo. Gordon; Ja. Moire; A. Brodie; John Campbel Carrick.
The Burgesses subscribed thus:
John Hall; Geo. Stirline; Robert Smith; Ja. Fletcher; Jo. Anderson; J. Murray; Ja. Ogilvie; Jo. Dalrymple; Hugh Kennedry; James Smith; John Moor; Ar. Ged; Alexander Spitle; Alexander Cunninghame; I. Mudie; Jo Ewart; Robert Melvill; I. Cuthbert; Ja. Kennan; Ja. Smollet; Will. Coltrain; Charles Halket; Geo. Smith; T. Hamilton; Io. Boswall; Pat. Steven; Ja. Stuart; Jo. Muir; Hugh Wallace; Pat. Murdoch; I. Carnegie; Ja. Smith; Io. Scot; Robert Cleland; Will Ross; G. Gordon; Jo. Ross; Hugh Brown; John Anderson; Wa. Stuart; Will. Hamilton; Tho. Tulloch; David Spence; Will. Heggins; Jo. Boswell; A. Gordon; Will. Arskine; Will. Cochran; Patrick Wallace; Alexander Gordon.
Letter of King James VII to the Scottish Convention
March 1, 1689
King James VII wrote this letter while he was aboard the St Michael on the way to Ireland. It was alleged2) that Melfort intercepted the letter that Viscount Dundee and other Privy Council members had asked him to send and substituted this less than helpful version in its place. It was delivered to the Scottish Convention on March 16, 1689, by a certain Mr Craine. Before opening the letter, the Convention voted an act declaring itself a free and lawful meeting.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Whereas we have been informed that you the peers and representatives of the shires and boroughs of that our Ancient Kingdom who are to meet together at our good town of Edinburgh some time in this instant March by the usurped authority of the Prince of Orange, we think fit to let you know that we have at all times relied upon the faithfulness and affection of your our Ancient People, so much that in our greatest misfortunes heretofore we had recourse to your assistance and that with good success to our affairs.
So now again we require of you to support our royal interest, expecting from you what becomes loyal and faithful subjects, generous and honest men, that will neither suffer yourselves to be cajoled nor frighted into any action misbecoming true-hearted Scotsmen. And that to support the honour of the nation, you will contemn the base examples of disloyal men and eternise your names by a loyalty suitable to the many professions you have to us. In doing whereof you will choose the safest part, since thereby you will avoid the danger you must needs undergo, the infamy and disgrace you must bring upon yourselves in this world, and the condemnation due to the rebellious in the next, and you will likewise have the opportunity to secure to yourselves and your posterity, the gracious promises which we have so often made of securing your religion, laws, properties, and rights, which we are still resolved to perform as soon as it is possible for us to meet you safely in a Parliament of our Ancient Kingdom.
In the meantime, fear not to declare for us your lawful sovereign, who will not fail on our part to give you such speedy and powerful assistance as shall not only enable you to defend yourselves from any foreign attempt, but put you in a condition to assert our right against our enemies, who have depressed the same by the blackest of usurpations, the most unjust as well as most unnatural attempts, which the Almighty God may for a time permit and let the wicked prosper, yet then must bring confusion upon such workers of iniquity.
We further let you know, that we will pardon all such as shall return to their duty before the last day of this month inclusive; and that we will punish with the rigour of our laws all such as shall stand in rebellion against us or our authority. So not doubting that you will declare for us, and suppress whatever may oppose our interest, and that you will send some of your number to us with an account of your diligence, and the posture of our affairs; we bid you heartily farewell.
Given on board the St. Michael, March 1, 1689.
By His Majesty's Command, Melfort.
A printed version of the text can be found on pages 52-56 of Royal Tracts (Paris: Printed for Estienne Lucas, 1692) (Wing J384).
Letter from Prince William of Orange to the Scottish Convention
March 16, 1689
This letter was presented to the Scottish Convention, March 16, 1689, by the Earl of Leven.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
We are very sensible of the kindness and concern that many of your nation have evidenced towards us and our undertaking for the preservation of religion and liberty which were in such eminent danger. Neither can we in the least doubt of your confidence in us, after having seen how far so many of your nobility and gentry have owned our declaration, countenancing and concurring with us in our endeavours, and desiring that we should take upon us the administration of affairs, civil and military, and to call a meeting of the Estates, for securing the Protestant religion, the ancient laws and liberties of that Kingdom, which accordingly we have done.
Now it lies on you to enter upon such consultations as are most probable to settle you on sure and lasting foundations, which we hope you will set about with all convenient speed, with regard to the public good and to the general interest and inclinations of the people, that after so much trouble and great suffering, they may live happily and in peace, and that you may lay aside all animosities and factions that may impede so good a work.
We were glad to find that so many of the nobility and gentry, when here at London, were so much inclined to an union of both kingdoms, and that they did look upon it as one of the best means for procuring the happiness of these nations, and settling of a lasting peace amongst them, which would be advantageous to both, they living in the same island, having the same language, and the same common interest of religion and liberty, especially at this juncture when the enemies of both are so restless, endeavouring to make and increase jealousies and divisions, which they will be ready to improve to their own advantage and the ruin of Britain. We being of the same opinion as to the usefulness of this union, and having nothing so much before our eyes as the glory of God, the establishing of the reformed religion, and the peace and happiness of these nations, are resolved to use our utmost endeavours in advancing everything which may conduce to the effectuating the same. So we bid you heartily farewell.
From our Court at Hampton, the seventh day of March 1688/9.
William R.
A printed version of the text can be found on pages 1 and 2 of The acts & orders of the meeting of the estates of the kingdom of Scotland held at Edinburgh, beginning on the 14th day of March, 1689, Edinburgh: Printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson, 1690 (Wing / S1161).
