Yet, ere again ye sought this spot, 66 Warrior, but yester-morn, I knew Who, in the Regent's court and sight, VI. Wrothful at such arraignment foul, 1 [ MS.—“ Which else in hall had peaceful hung."] Dark lower'd the clansman's sable scowl. There is scarcely a more disorderly period in Scottish history than that which succeeded the battle of Flodden, and occupied the minority of James V. Feuds of ancient standing broke out like old wounds, and every quarrel among the independent nobility, which occurred daily, and almost hourly, gave rise to fresh bloodshed. "There arose," says Pitscottie, "great trouble and deadly feuds in many parts of Scotland, both in the north and west parts. The Master of Forbes, in the north, slew the Laird of Meldrum, under tryst : " (i. e. at an agreed and secure meeting :) "Likewise, the Laird of Drummelzier slew the Lord Fleming at the hawking; and, likewise, there was slaughter among many other great lords," p. 121. Nor was the matter much mended under the government of the Earl of Angus for though he caused the King to ride through all Scotland, "under the pretence and colour of justice, to punish thief and traitor, none were found greater than were in their own company, And none at that time durst strive with a Douglas, nor yet a Douglas's man; for if they But then, thy Chieftain's robber life!— VII. The Gael beheld him grim the while, Deep waving fields and pastures green, would, they got the worst. Therefore, none durst plainzie of no extortion, theft, reiff, nor slaughter, done to them by the Douglasses, or their men; in that cause they were not heard, so long as the Douglas had the court in guiding."—Ibid. p. 135. And well the mountain might reply,— Your own good blades must win the rest.' Shall, with strong hand, redeem his share. Seek other cause 'gainst Roderick Dhu." The ancient Highlanders verified in their practice the lines of Gray: An iron race the mountain cliffs maintain, What wonder if, to patient valour train'd, They guard with spirit what by strength they gain'd; VIII. Answer'd Fitz-James,-" And, if I sought, (As lawless force from confidence will grow,) Fragment on the Alliance of Education and Government. So far, indeed, was a Creagh, or foray, from being held disgraceful, that a young chief was always expected to show his talents for command so soon as he assumed it, by leading his clan on a successful enterprise of this nature, either against a neighbouring sept, for which constant feuds usually furnished an apology, or against the Sassenach, Saxons, or Lowlanders, for which no apology was necessary. The Gael, great traditional historians, never forgot that the Lowlands had, at some remote period, been the property of their Celtic forefathers, which furnished an ample vindication of all the ravages that they could make on the unfortunate districts which lay within their reach. Sir James Grant of Grant is in possession of a letter of apology from Cameron of Lochiel, whose men had committed some depredation upon a farm called Moines, occupied by one of the Grants. Lochiel assures Grant, that, however the mistake had happened, his instructions were precise, that the party should foray the province of Moray, (a Lowland district,) where, as he coolly observes, "all men take their prey." |