I。INTRODUCTIONTOALEGENDOFMONTROSE。
TheLegendofMontrosewaswrittenchieflywithaviewtoplacebeforethereaderthemelancholyfateofJohnLordKilpont,eldestsonofWilliamEarlofAirthandMenteith,andthesingularcircumstancesattendingthebirthandhistoryofJamesStewartofArdvoirlich,bywhosehandtheunfortunatenoblemanfell。
Oursubjectleadsustotalkofdeadlyfeuds,andwemustbeginwithonestillmoreancientthanthattowhichourstoryrelates。
DuringthereignofJamesIV。,agreatfeudbetweenthepowerfulfamiliesofDrummondandMurraydividedPerthshire。Theformer,beingthemostnumerousandpowerful,coopedupeightscoreoftheMurraysinthekirkofMonivaird,andsetfiretoit。Thewivesandthechildrenoftheill—fatedmen,whohadalsofoundshelterinthechurch,perishedbythesameconflagration。Oneman,namedDavidMurray,escapedbythehumanityofoneoftheDrummonds,whoreceivedhiminhisarmsasheleapedfromamongsttheflames。AsKingJamesIV。ruledwithmoreactivitythanmostofhispredecessors,thiscrueldeedwasseverelyrevenged,andseveraloftheperpetratorswerebeheadedatStirling。Inconsequenceoftheprosecutionagainsthisclan,theDrummondbywhoseassistanceDavidMurrayhadescaped,fledtoIreland,until,bymeansofthepersonwhoselifehehadsaved,hewaspermittedtoreturntoScotland,whereheandhisdescendantsweredistinguishedbythenameofDrummond—Eirinich,orErnoch,thatis,DrummondofIreland;andthesametitlewasbestowedontheirestate。
TheDrummond—ernochofJamestheSixth'stimewasaking'sforesterintheforestofGlenartney,andchancedtobeemployedthereinsearchofvenisonabouttheyear1588,orearlyin1589。
ThisforestwasadjacenttothechiefhauntsoftheMacGregors,oraparticularraceofthem,knownbythetitleofMacEagh,orChildrenoftheMist。Theyconsideredtheforester'shuntingintheirvicinityasanaggression,orperhapstheyhadhimatfeud,fortheapprehensionorslaughterofsomeoftheirownname,orforsomesimilarreason。ThistribeofMacGregorswereoutlawedandpersecuted,asthereadermayseeintheIntroductiontoROB
ROY;andeveryman'shandbeingagainstthem,theirhandwasofcoursedirectedagainsteveryman。Inshort,theysurprisedandslewDrummond—ernoch,cutoffhishead,andcarrieditwiththem,wraptinthecornerofoneoftheirplaids。
Inthefullexultationofvengeance,theystoppedatthehouseofArdvoirlichanddemandedrefreshment,whichthelady,asisterofthemurderedDrummond—ernoch（herhusbandbeingabsent）,wasafraidorunwillingtorefuse。Shecausedbreadandcheesetobeplacedbeforethem,andgavedirectionsformoresubstantialrefreshmentstobeprepared。Whileshewasabsentwiththishospitableintention,thebarbariansplacedtheheadofherbrotheronthetable,fillingthemouthwithbreadandcheese,andbiddinghimeat,formanyamerrymealhehadeateninthathouse。
Thepoorwomanreturning,andbeholdingthisdreadfulsight,shriekedaloud,andfledintothewoods,where,asdescribedintheromance,sheroamedaravingmaniac,andforsometimesecretedherselffromalllivingsociety。Someremaininginstinctivefeelingbroughtheratlengthtostealaglancefromadistanceatthemaidenswhiletheymilkedthecows,whichbeingobserved,herhusband,Ardvoirlich,hadherconveyedbacktoherhome,anddetainedhertheretillshegavebirthtoachild,ofwhomshehadbeenpregnant;afterwhichshewasobservedgraduallytorecoverhermentalfaculties。
Meanwhiletheoutlawshadcarriedtotheutmosttheirinsultsagainsttheregalauthority,whichindeed,asexercised,theyhadlittlereasonforrespecting。Theyborethesamebloodytrophy,whichtheyhadsosavagelyexhibitedtotheladyofArdvoirlich,intotheoldchurchofBalquidder,nearlyinthecentreoftheircountry,wheretheLairdofMacGregorandallhisclanbeingconvenedforthepurpose,laidtheirhandssuccessivelyonthedeadman'shead,andswore,inheathenishandbarbarousmanner,todefendtheauthorofthedeed。Thisfierceandvindictivecombinationgavetheauthor'slateandlamentedfriend,SirAlexanderBoswell,Bart。,subjectforaspiritedpoem,entitled"Clan—Alpin'sVow,"whichwasprinted,butnot,Ibelieve,published,in1811[SeeAppendixNo。I]。
ThefactisascertainedbyaproclamationfromthePrivyCouncil,dated4thFebruary,1589,directinglettersoffireandswordagainsttheMacGregors[SeeAppendixNo。II]。Thisfearfulcommissionwasexecutedwithuncommonfury。ThelateexcellentJohnBuchananofCambusmoreshowedtheauthorsomecorrespondencebetweenhisancestor,theLairdofBuchanan,andLordDrummond,aboutsweepingcertainvalleyswiththeirfollowers,onafixedtimeandrendezvous,and"takingsweetrevengeforthedeathoftheircousin,Drummond—ernoch。"Inspiteofall,however,thatcouldbedone,thedevotedtribeofMacGregorstillbredupsurvivorstosustainandtoinflictnewcrueltiesandinjuries。
[Iembracetheopportunitygivenmebyasecondmentionofthistribe,tonoticeanerror,whichimputestoanindividualnamedCiarMohrMacGregor,theslaughterofthestudentsatthebattleofGlenfruin。IaminformedfromtheauthorityofJohnGregorson,Esq。,thatthechieftainsonamedwasdeadnearlyacenturybeforethebattleinquestion,andcouldnot,therefore,havedonethecruelactionmentioned。Themistakedoesnotrestwithme,asIdisclaimedbeingresponsibleforthetraditionwhileI
quotedit,butwithvulgarfame,whichisalwaysdisposedtoascriberemarkableactionstoaremarkablename。——Seetheerroneouspassage,ROBROY,Introduction;andsosoftsleeptheoffendedphantomofDugaldCiarMohr。
ItiswithmingledpleasureandshamethatIrecordthemoreimportanterror,ofhavingannouncedasdeceasedmylearnedacquaintance,theRev。Dr。Grahame,ministerofAberfoil。——SeeROBROY,p。360。Icannotnowrecollecttheprecisegroundofmydeprivingmylearnedandexcellentfriendofhisexistence,unless,likeMr。Kirke,hispredecessorintheparish,theexcellentDoctorhadmadeashorttriptoFairyland,withwhosewondersheissowellacquainted。ButhoweverImayhavebeenmisled,myregretismostsincereforhavingspreadsucharumour;andnoonecanbemoregratifiedthanIthatthereport,howeverIhavebeeninducedtocreditandgiveitcurrency,isafalseone,andthatDr。GrahameisstillthelivingpastorofAberfoil,forthedelightandinstructionofhisbrotherantiquaries。]
MeanwhileYoungJamesStewartofArdvoirlichgrewuptomanhooduncommonlytall,strong,andactive,withsuchpowerinthegraspofhishandinparticular,ascouldforcethebloodfrombeneaththenailsofthepersonswhocontendedwithhiminthisfeatofstrength。Histemperwasmoody,fierce,andirascible;yethemusthavehadsomeostensiblegoodqualities,ashewasgreatlybelovedbyLordKilpont,theeldestsonoftheEarlofAirthandMenteith。
ThisgallantyoungnoblemanjoinedMontroseinthesettinguphisstandardin1644,justbeforethedecisivebattleatTippermuir,onthe1stSeptemberinthatyear。Atthattime,StewartofArdvoirlichsharedtheconfidenceoftheyoungLordbyday,andhisbedbynight,when,aboutfourorfivedaysafterthebattle,Ardvoirlich,eitherfromafitofsuddenfuryordeepmalicelongentertainedagainsthisunsuspectingfriend,stabbedLordKilponttotheheart,andescapedfromthecampofMontrose,havingkilledasentinelwhoattemptedtodetainhim。BishopGuthriegivesusareasonforthisvillainousaction,thatLordKilponthadrejectedwithabhorrenceaproposalofArdvoirlichtoassassinateMontrose。Butitdoesnotappearthatthereisanyauthorityforthischarge,whichrestsonmeresuspicion。
Ardvoirlich,theassassin,certainlydidflytotheCovenanters,andwasemployedandpromotedbythem。HeobtainedapardonfortheslaughterofLordKilpont,confirmedbyParliamentin1634,andwasmadeMajorofArgyle'sregimentin1648。SucharethefactsofthetaleheregivenasaLegendofMontrose'swars。Thereaderwillfindtheyareconsiderablyalteredinthefictitiousnarrative。
Theauthorhasendeavouredtoenliventhetragedyofthetalebytheintroductionofapersonagepropertothetimeandcountry。
Inthishehasbeenheldbyexcellentjudgestohavebeeninsomedegreesuccessful。Thecontemptofcommerceentertainedbyyoungmenhavingsomepretencetogentility,thepovertyofthecountryofScotland,thenationaldispositiontowanderingandtoadventure,allconducedtoleadtheScotsabroadintothemilitaryserviceofcountrieswhichwereatwarwitheachother。
TheyweredistinguishedontheContinentbytheirbravery;butinadoptingthetradeofmercenarysoldiers,theynecessarilyinjuredtheirnationalcharacter。Thetinctureoflearning,whichmostofthempossessed,degeneratedintopedantry;theirgoodbreedingbecamemereceremonial;theirfearofdishonournolongerkeptthemalooffromthatwhichwasreallyunworthy,butwasmadetodependoncertainpunctiliousobservancestotallyapartfromthatwhichwasinitselfdeservingofpraise。A
cavalierofhonour,insearchofhisfortune,might,forexample,changehisserviceashewouldhisshirt,fight,likethedoughtyCaptainDalgetty,inonecauseafteranother,withoutregardtothejusticeofthequarrel,andmightplunderthepeasantrysubjectedtohimbythefateofwarwiththemostunrelentingrapacity;buthemustbewarehowhesustainedtheslightestreproach,evenfromaclergyman,ifithadregardtoneglectonthescoreofduty。ThefollowingoccurrencewillprovethetruthofwhatImean:——
"HereImustnotforgetthememoryofonepreacher,MasterWilliamForbesse,apreacherforsouldiers,yea,andacaptaineinneedetoleadesouldiersonagoodoccasion,beingfullofcourage,withdiscretionandgoodconduct,beyondsomecaptainesIhaveknowne,thatwerenotsocapableashe。Atthistimehenotonelyprayedforus,butwentonwithus,toremarke,asI
thinke,men'scarriage;andhavingfoundasergeantneglectinghisdutieandhishonouratsuchatime（whosenameIwillnotexpresse）,havingchiddenhim,didpromisetorevealehimuntome,ashedidaftertheirservice。Thesergeantbeingcalledbeforeme,andaccused,diddenyhisaccusation,alleaging,ifhewerenopasteurthathadalleagedit,hewouldnotlieundertheinjury,Thepreacherofferedtofightwithhim,[inproof]thatitwastruthhehadspokenofhim;whereuponIcashieredthesergeant,andgavehisplacetoaworthier,calledMungoGray,agentlemanofgoodworth,andofmuchcourage。Thesergeantbeingcashiered,nevercalledMasterWilliamtoaccount,forwhichhewasevillthoughtof;sothatheretiredhome,andquitthewarres。"
Theabovequotationistakenfromaworkwhichtheauthorrepeatedlyconsultedwhilecomposingthefollowingsheets,andwhichisingreatmeasurewritteninthehumourofCaptainDugaldDalgetty。Itbearsthefollowingformidabletitle:——"MONROhisExpeditionwiththeworthyScotsRegiment,calledMacKeye'sRegiment,leviedinAugust1626,bySirDonaldMacKeyeLordReesColonel,forhisMajestie'sserviceofDenmark,andreducedafterthebattleofNerling,inSeptember1634,atWormes,inthePalz:
Dischargedinseveraldutiesandobservationsofservice,first,underthemagnanimousKingofDenmark,duringhiswarsagainsttheEmpire;afterwardsundertheinvincibleKingofSweden,duringhisMajestie'slifetime;andsinceundertheDirector—
General,theRex—ChancellorOxensterne,andhisGenerals:
collectedandgatheredtogether,atsparehours,byColonelRobertMonro,asFirstLieutenantunderthesaidRegiment,tothenobleandworthyCaptainThomasMacKenzieofKildon,brothertothenobleLord,theLordEarlofSeaforth,fortheuseofallnobleCavaliersfavouringthelaudableprofessionofarms。Towhichisannexed,theAbridgementofExercise,anddiversPracticalObservationsfortheYoungerOfficer,hisconsideration。EndingwiththeSoldier'sMeditationsongoingonService。"——London,1637。
Anotherworthyofthesameschool,andnearlythesameviewsofthemilitarycharacter,isSirJamesTurner,asoldieroffortune,whorosetoconsiderablerankinthereignofCharlesII。,hadacommandinGallowayandDumfries—shire,forthesuppressionofconventicles,andwasmadeprisonerbytheinsurgentCovenantersinthatrisingwhichwasfollowedbythebattleofPentland。SirJamesisapersonevenofsuperiorpretensionstoLieutenant—ColonelMonro,havingwrittenaMilitaryTreatiseonthePike—Exercise,called"PallasArmata。"
Moreover,hewaseducatedatGlasgowCollege,thoughheescapedtobecomeanEnsignintheGermanwars,insteadoftakinghisdegreeofMasterofArtsatthatlearnedseminary。
Inlattertimes,hewasauthorofseveraldiscoursesonhistoricalandliterarysubjects,fromwhichtheBannatyneClubhaveextractedandprintedsuchpassagesasconcernhisLifeandTimes,underthetitleofSIRJAMESTURNER'SMEMOIRS。FromthiscuriousbookIextractthefollowingpassage,asanexampleofhowCaptainDalgettymighthaverecordedsuchanincidenthadhekeptajournal,or,togiveitamorejustcharacter,itissuchasthegeniusofDeFoewouldhavedevised,togivetheminuteanddistinguishingfeaturesoftruthtoafictitiousnarrative:——
"HeereIwillsetdounaneaccidentbefellme;forthoghitwasnotaverystrangeone,yetitwasaveryodoneinallitsparts。MytuobrigadslayinavillagewithinhalfeamileofApplebie;myownquarterwasinagentleman'shouse,howasaRitmaster,andatthattimewithSirMarmaduke;hiswifekeepdherchamberreadietobebroughttobed。Thecastlebeingover,andLambertfarreenough,Iresolvedtogoetobedeverienight,haveinghadfatigueenoughbefore。'ThefirstnightIsleepdwellenough;andriseingnixtmorning,Imisdonelinnenstockine,onehalfesilkeone,andoneboothose,theaccoustrementunderabooteforoneleg;neithercouldtheybefoundforanysearch。
Beingprovidedofmoreofthesamekind,Imademyselfereddie,androdetothehead—quarters。Atmyreturne,Icouldhearenonewsofmystockins。ThatnightIwenttobed,andnixtmorningfoundmyselfejustsoused;missingthethreestockinsforonelegonlie,theotherthreebeingleftintireastheywerethedaybefore。Anarrowersearchthenthefirstwasmade,botwithoutsuccesse。Ihadyetinreserveonepaireofwholestockings,andapaireofboothose,greaterthentheformer。TheseIputonmylegs。ThethirdmorningIfoundthesameusage,thestockinsforonelegonlieleftme。Itwastimeformethen,andmyservantstoo,toimagineitmustberatsthathadshardmystockinssoinequalliewithme;andthisthemistressofthehouseknewwellenough,butwouldnottellitme。Theroome,whichwasalowparlour,beingwellsearchedwithcandles,thetopofmygreatboothosewasfoundatahole,inwhichtheyhaddrawnealltherest。Iwentabroadandorderedtheboardstoberaised,toseehowtheratshaddisposedofmymoveables。Themistresssentaservantofherounetobepresentatthisaction,whichsheknewconcernedher。Oneboardbeingbotalitleopend,alitleboyofminethrustinhishand,andfetchdwithhimfoureandtuentieoldpeecesofgold,andoneangell。Theservantofthehouseaffirmeditappertainedtohismistres。Theboybringingthegoldtome,Iwentimmediatlietothegentlewomanschamber,andtoldher,itwasprobableLamberthaveingquarterdinthathouse,asindeedhehad,someofhisservantsmighthavehidthatgold;andifso,itwaslawfulliemine;botifshecouldmakeitappeareitbelongdtoher,Ishouldimmediatliegiveither。Thepooregentlewomantoldmewithmanyteares,thatherhusbandbeingnoneofthefrugallestmen（andindeedhewasaspendthrift）,shehadhidthatgoldwithouthis,knowledge,tomakeuseofitasshehadoccasion,especialliewhenshelayin;andconjuredme,asI
lovdtheKing（forwhomherhusbandandshehadsufferedmuch）,nottodetainehergold。Shesaid,iftherewaseithermoreorlessethenfoureandtuentiewholepeeces,andtwohalfeones,itsouldbenoneofhers;andthattheywereputbyherinaredvelvetpurse。AfterIhadgivenherassureanceofhergold,anewsearchismade,theotherangellisfound,thevelvetpurseallgnawdinbits,asmystockinswere,andthegoldinstantlierestordtothegentlewoman。Ihaveoftenheardthattheeatingorgnawingofclothsbyratsisominous,andportendssomemischancetofallonthosetowhomtheclothsbelong。IthankGodIwasneveraddictedtosuchdivinations,orheededthem。Itistrue,thatmoremisfortunesthenonefellonmeshortlieafter;botIamsureIcouldhavebetterforseenethemmyselfethenratsoranysuchvermine,andyetdiditnot。Ihaveheardindeedmanyfinestoriestoldofrats,howtheyabandonhousesandships,whenthefirstaretobeburntandtheseconddround。
Naturalistssaytheyareverysagaciouscreatures,andIbeleevetheyareso;botIshallneverbeoftheopiniontheycanforseefuturecontingencies,whichIsupposethedivellhimselfecanneitherforknownorfortell;thesebeingthingswhichtheAlmightiehathkeepdhiddeninthebosomeofhisdivineprescience。AndwhitherthegreatGodhathpreordainedorpredestinatedthesethings,whichtousarecontingent,tofalloutbyaneuncontrollableandunavoidablenecessitie,isaquestionnotyetdecided。"[SIRJAMESTURNER'SMEMOIRS,Bannatyneedition,p。59。]
Inquotingtheseancientauthorities,ImustnotforgetthemoremodernsketchofaScottishsoldieroftheoldfashion,byamasterhand,inthecharacterofLesmahagow,sincetheexistenceofthatdoughtyCaptainalonemustdeprivethepresentauthorofallclaimtoabsoluteoriginality。StillDalgetty,astheproductionofhisownfancy,hasbeensofarafavouritewithitsparent,thathehasfallenintotheerrorofassigningtotheCaptaintooprominentapartinthestory。Thisistheopinionofacriticwhoencampsonthehighestpinnaclesofliterature;andtheauthorissofarfortunateinhavingincurredhiscensure,thatitgiveshismodestyadecentapologyforquotingthepraise,whichitwouldhaveill—befitedhimtobringforwardinanunmingledstate。ThepassageoccursintheEDINBURGHREVIEW,No。55,containingacriticismonIVANHOE:——
"Thereistoomuch,perhaps,ofDalgetty,——or,rather,heengrossestoogreataproportionofthework,——for,inhimself,wethinkheisuniformlyentertaining;——andtheauthorhasnowhereshownmoreaffinitytothatmatchlessspiritwhocouldbringouthisFalstaffsandhisPistols,inactafteract,andplayafterplay,andexercisethemeverytimewithscenesofunboundedloquacity,withouteitherexhaustingtheirhumour,orvaryinganotefromitscharacteristictone,thaninhislargeandreiteratedspecimensoftheeloquenceoftheredoubtedRitt—
master。ThegeneralideaofthecharacterisfamiliartoourcomicdramatistsaftertheRestoration——andmaybesaidinsomemeasuretobecompoundedofCaptainFluellenandBobadil;——buttheludicrouscombinationoftheSOLDADOwiththeDivinitystudentofMareschal—College,isentirelyoriginal;andthemixtureoftalent,selfishness,courage,coarseness,andconceit,wasneversohappilyexemplified。Numerousashisspeechesare,thereisnotonethatisnotcharacteristic——and,toourtaste,divertinglyludicrous。"
POSTSCRIPT。
Whilethesepageswerepassingthroughthepress,theauthorreceivedaletterfromthepresentRobertStewartofArdvoirlich,favouringhimwiththeaccountoftheunhappyslaughterofLordKilpont,differingfrom,andmoreprobablethan,thatgivenbyBishopWishart,whosenarrativeinferseitherinsanityortheblackesttreacheryonthepartofJamesStewartofArdvoirlich,theancestorofthepresentfamilyofthatname。Itisbutfairtogivetheentirecommunicationasreceivedfrommyrespectedcorrespondent,whichismoreminutethanthehistoriesoftheperiod。
"AlthoughIhavenotthehonourofbeingpersonallyknowntoyou,IhopeyouwillexcusethelibertyInowtake,inaddressingyouonthesubjectofatransactionmorethanoncealludedtobyyou,inwhichanancestorofminewasunhappilyconcerned。IalludetotheslaughterofLordKilpont,sonoftheEarlofAirthandMonteith,in1644,byJamesStewartofArdvoirlich。Asthecauseofthisunhappyevent,andthequarrelwhichledtoit,haveneverbeencorrectlystatedinanyhistoryoftheperiodinwhichittookplace,Iaminduced,inconsequenceofyourhaving,inthesecondseriesofyouradmirableTalesontheHistoryofScotland,adoptedWishart'sversionofthetransaction,andbeingawarethatyourhavingdonesowillstampitwithanauthenticitywhichitdoesnotmerit,andwithaview,asfaraspossible,todojusticetothememoryofmyunfortunateancestor,tosendyoutheaccountofthisaffairasithasbeenhandeddowninthefamily。
"JamesStewartofArdvoirlich,wholivedintheearlypartofthe17thcentury,andwhowastheunluckycauseoftheslaughterofLordKilpont,asbeforementioned,wasappointedtothecommandofoneofseveralindependentcompaniesraisedintheHighlandsatthecommencementofthetroublesinthereignofCharlesI。;
anotherofthesecompanieswasunderthecommandofLordKilpont,andastrongintimacy,strengthenedbyadistantrelationship,subsistedbetweenthem。WhenMontroseraisedtheroyalstandard,Ardvoirlichwasoneofthefirsttodeclareforhim,andissaidtohavebeenaprincipalmeansofbringingoverLordKilponttothesamecause;andtheyaccordingly,alongwithSirJohnDrummondandtheirrespectivefollowers,joinedMontrose,asrecordedbyWishart,atBuchanty。Whiletheyservedtogether,sostrongwastheirintimacy,thattheylivedandsleptinthesametent。
"Inthemeantime,MontrosehadbeenjoinedbytheIrishunderthecommandofAlexanderMacdonald;these,ontheirmarchtojoinMontrose,hadcommittedsomeexcessesonlandsbelongingtoArdvoirlich,whichlayinthelineoftheirmarchfromthewestcoast。OfthisArdvoirlichcomplainedtoMontrose,who,probablywishingasmuchaspossibletoconciliatehisnewallies,treateditinratheranevasivemanner。Ardvoirlich,whowasamanofviolentpassions,havingfailedtoreceivesuchsatisfactionasherequired,challengedMacdonaldtosinglecombat。Beforetheymet,however,Montrose,ontheinformationandbyadvice,asitissaid,ofKilpont,laidthembothunderarrest。Montrose,seeingtheevilsofsuchafeudatsuchacriticaltime,effectedasortofreconciliationbetweenthem,andforcedthemtoshakehandsinhispresence;when,itwassaid,thatArdvoirlich,whowasaverypowerfulman,tooksuchaholdofMacdonald'shandastomakethebloodstartfromhisfingers。Still,itwouldappear,Ardvoirlichwasbynomeansreconciled。
"AfewdaysafterthebattleofTippermuir,whenMontrosewithhisarmywasencampedatCollace,anentertainmentwasgivenbyhimtohisofficers,inhonourofthevictoryhehadobtained,andKilpontandhiscomradeArdvoirlichwereoftheparty。Afterreturningtotheirquarters,Ardvoirlich,whoseemedstilltobroodoverhisquarrelwithMacdonald,andbeingheatedwithdrink,begantoblameLordKilpontfortheparthehadtakeninpreventinghisobtainingredress,andreflectingagainstMontrosefornotallowinghimwhatheconsideredproperreparation。
KilpontofcoursedefendedtheconductofhimselfandhisrelativeMontrose,tilltheirargumentcametohighwords;andfinally,fromthestatetheywerebothin,byaneasytransition,toblows,whenArdvoirlich,withhisdirk,struckKilpontdeadonthespot。Heimmediatelyfled,andunderthecoverofathickmistescapedpursuit,leavinghiseldestsonHenry,whohadbeenmortallywoundedatTippermuir,onhisdeathbed。
"HisfollowersimmediatelywithdrewfromMontrose,andnocourseremainedforhimbuttothrowhimselfintothearmsoftheoppositefaction,bywhomhewaswellreceived。HisnameisfrequentlymentionedinLeslie'scampaigns,andonmorethanoneoccasionheismentionedashavingaffordedprotectiontoseveralofhisformerfriendsthroughhisinterestwithLeslie,whentheKing'scausebecamedesperate。
"Theforegoingaccountofthisunfortunatetransaction,Iamwellaware,differsmateriallyfromtheaccountgivenbyWishart,whoallegesthatStewarthadlaidaplotfortheassassinationofMontrose,andthathemurderedLordKilpontinconsequenceofhisrefusaltoparticipateinhisdesign。Now,Imaybeallowedtoremark,thatbesidesWisharthavingalwaysbeenregardedasapartialhistorian,andveryquestionableauthorityonanysubjectconnectedwiththemotivesorconductofthosewhodifferedfromhiminopinion,thatevenhadStewartformedsuchadesign,Kilpont,fromhisnameandconnexions,waslikelytobetheverylastmanofwhomStewartwouldchoosetomakeaconfidantandaccomplice。Ontheotherhand,theaboveaccount,thoughnever,thatIamaware,beforehintedat,hasbeenaconstanttraditioninthefamily;and,fromthecomparativerecentdateofthetransaction,andthesourcesfromwhichthetraditionhasbeenderived,Ihavenoreasontodoubtitsperfectauthenticity。Itwasmostcircumstantiallydetailedasabove,giventomyfather,Mr。Stewart,nowofArdvoirlich,manyyearsago,byamannearlyconnectedwiththefamily,wholivedtotheageof100。Thismanwasagreat—grandsonofJamesStewart,byanaturalsonJohn,ofwhommanystoriesarestillcurrentinthiscountry,underhisappellationofJOHNDHUMHOR。ThisJohnwaswithhisfatheratthetime,andofcoursewasawitnessofthewholetransaction;
helivedtillaconsiderabletimeaftertheRevolution,anditwasfromhimthatmyfather'sinformant,whowasamanbeforehisgrandfather,JohndhuMhor'sdeath,receivedtheinformationasabovestated。
"Ihavemanyapologiestoofferfortrespassingsolongonyourpatience;butIfeltanaturaldesire,ifpossible,tocorrectwhatIconceivetobeagroundlessimputationonthememoryofmyancestor,beforeitshallcometobeconsideredasamatterofHistory。Thathewasamanofviolentpassionsandsingulartemper,Idonotpretendtodeny,asmanytraditionsstillcurrentinthiscountryamplyverify;butthathewascapableofformingadesigntoassassinateMontrose,thewholetenorofhisformerconductandprinciplescontradict。Thathewasobligedtojointheoppositeparty,wasmerelyamatterofsafety,whileKilponthadsomanypowerfulfriendsandconnexionsableandreadytoavengehisdeath。