One of King William’s Men 1898 by H. M. B. Reid – Scottish Diary Edition
 
One of King William’s Men – Being Leaves from the Diary of Col. William Maxwell of Cardoness (1685–1697)
Edited with Memoir and Notes by Rev. H. M. B. Reid
Published 1898 by John Menzies & Co., Edinburgh, and Adam Rae, Castle-Douglas
 
Bibliographic Details
 
Full title: One of King William’s Men: Being Leaves from the Diary of Col. William Maxwell of Cardoness, 1685–1697.
Editor: Rev. H. M. B. Reid
Publication year: 1898 (First edition)
Publishers: John Menzies & Co., Edinburgh, and Adam Rae, Castle-Douglas
Printer: J. H. Maxwell, Castle Douglas
Illustrations: 10 plates including a frontispiece – all present and accounted for.
Pagination: 224 pages, all present
Dimensions: Approx. 20.4 × 13.5 × 2.9 cm
Weight: Approx. 537 g
 
Historical Context
 
This rare 1898 publication presents the diary of Colonel William Maxwell of Cardoness, covering the years 1685 to 1697 – a turbulent period in Scottish and British history marked by the Glorious Revolution and the reign of King William III (William of Orange).

Edited by Rev. H. M. B. Reid, the diary offers a valuable first-hand perspective on the political, military, and religious events of late 17th-century Scotland. Colonel Maxwell, a member of a long-established Galloway family, provides detailed insight into local governance, loyalty, and the social landscape during the transition from the Stuart to the Williamite monarchy.
 
Printed in Castle Douglas, a detail of particular interest to regional collectors, this work also reflects the high-quality small-press craftsmanship of late Victorian Scotland.
 
Physical Description
 
Bound in blue cloth over boards and spine, with gilt lettering to both front board and spine.

The binding is intact and robust, showing only expected age-related cosmetic wear:
Light discolouration and fading to spine and board edges
Soft bumping to corners
Small and light surface marks
Extremely slight lean to spine
 
Interior Condition
 
Lightly tanned pages, printed on superior quality paper
Top edge gilt; other edges roughly cut
Occasional small marks and very light foxing only
A few tiny edge rips, none affecting text or illustrations
Light partial crack at page 141 and between 188–189 – both minimal
All pages are secure and clean throughout
No pen or pencil inscriptions
Tanned endpapers consistent with age
All ten illustrations are present, including the frontispiece.
A well-preserved and complete example of this scarce historical work.
 
Provenance & Rarity
 
Early copies are seldom found, especially those printed locally in Castle Douglas.
The combination of subject matter, regional printing, and historical significance – detailing life under King William III – makes this a notably collectible Scottish historical and military work.
 
Historical Context
 
This volume offers a rare glimpse into the political and military landscape of late seventeenth-century Britain. Colonel William Maxwell of Cardoness served under King William III during the turbulent years following the Glorious Revolution (1688–1689), a period that reshaped the monarchy and government of Britain. His diary records experiences from 1685 to 1697, spanning the Williamite War in Ireland and broader European conflicts involving England, Scotland, and the Netherlands. As such, One of King William’s Men provides valuable first-hand insight into the military campaigns and political atmosphere of the time, particularly from a Scottish perspective. It stands as a primary source of both military and political history, rather than colonial affairs, reflecting the domestic and European struggles that defined the reign of William III.