But then, thy Chieftain's robber life!— VII. The Gael beheld him grim the while, 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 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. 133. Deep waving fields and pastures green, Shall, with strong hand, redeem his share. Is aught but retribution true? Seek other cause 'gainst Roderick Dhu." 1 1 The ancient Highlanders verified in their practice the lines of Gray : "An iron race the mountain cliffs maintain, To tame the savage rushing from the wood; They guard with spirit what by strength they gain'd: The rough abode of want and liberty, (As lawless force from confidence will grow), Insult the plenty of the vales below?" 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 shew 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." VIII. Answer'd Fitz-James,-" And, if I sought, "" Well, let it pass; nor will I now To chafe thy mood and cloud thy brow. In To match me with this man of pride: This rebel Chieftain and his band!" I [MS." This dark Sir Roderick and his band."'] IX. "Have, then, thy wish!"-he whistled shrill, And he was answer'd from the hill; From crag to crag the signal flew.1 1 [MS.-"From copse to copse the signal flew. 4 [The Monthly reviewer says "We now come to the chef d'œuvre of Walter Scott,-a scene of more vigour, nature, and animation, than any other in all his poetry." Another anonymous critic of the poem is not afraid to quote, with reference to |