Part 1 (2/2)
He appears at this period first to have re at Inversnaid, ten or twelve Scots lish) farther into the Highlands, and commenced the lawless sort of life which he afterwards followed The Duke of Montrose, who conceived hior's conduct, eal means to recover the money lent to hiular foral procedure, and his stock and furniture made the subject of arrest and sale
It is said that this diligence of the law, as it is called in Scotland, which the English more bluntly term distress, was used in this case with uncoal satellites, not usually the gentlest persons in the world, had insulted MacGregor's wife, in a hts of unbounded vengeance She was a wohty temper, and is not unlikely to have disturbed the officers in the execution of their duty, and thus to have incurred ill treath, for the sake of humanity, it is to be hoped that the story soeration It is certain that she felt extre expelled fros in a fine piece of pipe-music, still well known to aitive is thought to have found his first place of refuge in Glen Dochart, under the Earl of Breadalbane's protection; for, though that faors in forreat yle was also one of Rob Roy's protectors, so far as to afford hihland phrase, wood and water--the shelter, namely, that is afforded by the forests and lakes of an inaccessible country
The greatanxiously a, or military retainers, were also desirous to have at their disposal men of resolute character, to whoht at tie the lands or destroy the tenants of a feudal ene responsibility on their patrons The strife between the na the civil wars of the seventeenth century, had been stamped with reat Marquis of Montrose on the one side, the defeat at Inverlochy, and cruel plundering of Lorn, on the other, were reciprocal injuries not likely to be forgotten Rob Roy was, therefore, sure of refuge in the country of the Ca assumed their name, as connected by his mother with the family of Glenfalloch, and as an eneyle's possessions, and the power of retreating thither in any eee which he had adopted
This was nothing short of the ainst the Duke of Montrose, whom he considered as the author of his exclusion from civil society, and of the outlawry to which he had been sentenced by letters of horning and caption (legal writs so called), as well as the seizure of his goods, and adjudication of his landed property Against his Grace, therefore, his tenants, friends, allies, and relatives, he disposed himself to eh this was a circle sufficiently extensive for active depredation, Rob, who professed hi his sphere of operations against all whoovernment, or to that dohbours of the Lowlands who had anything to lose, or were unwilling to co him an annual sues
The country in which this private warfare, or system of depredation, was to be carried on, was, until opened up by roads, in the highest degree favourable for his purpose It was broken up into narrow valleys, the habitable part of which bore no proportion to the huge wildernesses of forest, rocks, and precipices by which they were encircled, and which was, moreover, full of inextricable passes, ths, unknown to any but the inhabitants theround were capable, with ordinary address, of baffling the pursuit of nuhbours to the Highland line were also highly favourable to Rob Roy's purpose A large proportion of theor, who claihland districts, as having been part of the ancient possessions of their tribe; though the harsh laws, under the severity of which they had suffered so deeply, had assigned the ownershi+p to other families The civil wars of the seventeenth century had accustomed these men to the use of arms, and they were peculiarly brave and fierce fros The vicinity of a coreat te to other clans, habituated to contempt of industry, and to the use of arms, dreards an unprotected frontier which promised facility of plunder; and the state of the country, now so peaceable and quiet, verified at that time the opinion which Dr Johnson heard with doubt and suspicion, that the hlands were those which lay nearest to the Lowland line There was, therefore, no difficulty in Rob Roy, descended of a tribe which idely dispersed in the country we have described, collecting any nuht be able to keep in action, and to maintain by his proposed operations
He hiularly adapted for the profession which he proposed to exercise His stature was not of the tallest, but his person was uncoreatest peculiarities of his frareat and alth of his arms; so re, tie the garters of his Highland hose, which are placed two inches below the knee His countenance was open, er, but frank and cheerful in his hours of festivity His hair was dark red, thick, and frizzled, and curled short around the face His fashi+on of dress showed, of course, the knees and upper part of the leg, which was described to hland bull, hirsute, with red hair, and evincing th similar to that animal To these personal qualifications hland sword, in which his length of are--and a perfect and intie of all the recesses of the wild country in which he harboured, and the character of the various individuals, whether friendly or hostile, hoht come in contact
His mental qualities seem to have been no less adapted to the circuh the descendant of the blood-thirsty Ciar Mhor, he inherited none of his ancestor's ferocity On the contrary, Rob Roy avoided every appearance of cruelty, and it is not averred that he was ever the means of unnecessary bloodshed, or the actor in any deed which could lead the way to it His schemes of plunder were contrived and executed with equal boldness and sagacity, and were almost universally successful, from the skill hich they were laid, and the secrecy and rapidity hich they were executed Like Robin Hood of England, he was a kind and gentle robber,--and, while he took froht in part be policy; but the universal tradition of the country speaks it to have arisen from a better motive All whom I have conversed with, and I have in ive him the character of a benevolent and humane man ”in his way”
His ideas ofsuch as naturally arose out of his wild education Supposing Rob Roy to have argued on the tendency of the life which he pursued, whether from choice or from necessity, he would doubtless have assumed to himself the character of a brave hts by the partiality of laws, endeavoured to assert the hand of natural power; and he is h-toned poetry of ifted friend Wordsworth: Say, then, that he ise as brave, As wise in thought as bold in deed; For in the principles of things He sought his enerous Rob, ”What need of Books? Burn all the statutes and their shelves! They stir us up against our kind, And worse, against ourselves
”We have a passion, uide us or control; And for the law itself we fight In bitterness of soul
”And puzzled, blinded, then we lose Distinctions that are plain and few; These find I graven on my heart, That tells me what to do
”The creatures see of flood and field, And those that travel on the wind With them no strife can last; they live In peace, and peace of ood old rule Sufficeth them; the simple plan, That they should take who have the power, And they should keep who can
”A lesson which is quickly learn'd, A signal through which all can see; Thus, nothing here provokes the strong To wanton cruelty
”And freakishness of mind is check'd, He taht Each fashi+ons his desires
”All kinds and creatures stand and fall By strength of prowess or of wit; 'Tis God's appointment who must sway, And who is to subest life is but a day, To have hts, I'll take the shortest way”
And thus ah sule, he was lord above, And Rob was lord below
We are not, however, to suppose the character of this distinguished outlaw to be that of an actual hero, acting uniformly and consistently on suchby his grave, has vindicated his fame On the contrary, as is common with barbarous chiefs, Rob Roy appears to have e alloy of craft and dissi the civil war is sufficient proof It is also said, and truly, that although his courtesy was one of his strongest characteristics, yet soance of h-spiritedoutlaw into frequent disputes, from which he did not always come off with credit From this it has been inferred, that Rob Roy w as more of a bully than a hero, or at least that he had, according to the coed men who knew him well, have described him also as better at a taich-tulzie, or scuffle within doors, than in mortal coe; while, at the same time, it must be allowed, that the situation in which he was placed rendered hi was to be had save blows, and where success would have raised up against hie was still considered as a duty rather than a cri his passions on such occasions, far froor had to perform, was essentially necessary, at the period when he lived, to prevent his career fro cut short
I may here mention one or two occasions on which Rob Roy appears to have given way in the manner alluded to My late venerable friend, John Ramsay of Ochtertyre, alike eister of the ancient history and manners of Scotland, infor at a bonfire in the town of Doune, Rob Roy gave soentlehter of Lord Rollo (see Maclaurin's Crior to quit the town on pain of being thrown by him into the bonfire ”I broke one off your ribs on a former occasion,” said he, ”and now, Rob, if you provoke me farther, I will break your neck” But it must be remembered that Edmondstone was a man of consequence in the Jacobite party, as he carried the royal standard of James VII at the battle of Sheriffmuir, and also, that he was near the door of his own mansion-house, and probably surrounded by his friends and adherents Rob Roy, however, suffered in reputation for retiring under such a threat
Another well-vouched case is that of Cunninghaentleshi+re, who, like h spirit and daring character with an affectation of delicacy of address and e and affectation of foppery were united, which is less frequently the case, with a spirit of innate 's satirical verses, entitled ”Argyle's Levee:”
”Six times had Harry bowed unseen, Before he dared advance; The Duke then, turning round well pleased, Said, 'Sure you've been in France! A more polite and jaunty man I never saw before:' Then Harry bowed, and blushed, and bowed, And strutted to the door”
See a Collection of original Poems, by Scotch Gentlemen, vol ii p 125
He chanced to be in company with Rob Roy, who, either in conteht him a safe person to fix a quarrel on (a point which Rob's enerossly that a challenge passed between thehaed the house in quest of his own or so Hill, the appointed place of co for his antagonist In the ed out an old sword, and, entering the ground of contest in all haste, rushed on the outlaith such unexpected fury that he fairly drove hiain for so has a softened account of this anecdote in his new edition of Nishi+re; still he records Rob Roy's discomfiture
Occasionally Rob Roy suffered disasters, and incurred great personal danger On one remarkable occasion he was saved by the coolness of his lieutenant, Macanaleister or Fletcher, the Little John of his band--a fine active fellow, of course, and celebrated as a or and his party had been surprised and dispersed by a superior force of horse and foot, and the as given to ”split and squander” Each shi+fted for hioon attached hi him, struck at him with his broadsword A plate of iron in his bonnet saved the MacGregor froh to bear hi as he fell, ”Oh, Macanaleister, is there naething in her?” (ie in the gun) The trooper, at the saht your night-cap!” had his arm raised for a second blohen Macanaleister fired, and the ball pierced the dragoon's heart
Such as he was, Rob Roy's progress in his occupation is thus described by a gentleman of sense and talent, who resided within the circle of his predatory wars, had probably felt their effects, and speaks of theht be expected, with little of the forbearance hich, froarded
”This acity, and neither wanted stratage abandoned himself to all licentiousness, set hirant, and desperate people of that clan, in the west end of Perth and Stirling shi+res, and infested those whole countries with thefts, robberies, and depredations Very feho lived within his reach (that is, within the distance of a nocturnal expedition) could promise to themselves security, either for their persons or effects, without subjecting themselves to pay him a heavy and sharee of audaciousness that he committed robberies, raised contributions, and resented quarrels, at the head of a very considerable body of arovernment”
Mr Grahahlands See Jamieson's edition of Burt's Letters from the North of Scotland, Appendix, vol ii p 348
The extent and success of these depredations cannot be surprising, e consider that the scene of theeneral laas neither enforced nor respected
Having recorded that the general habit of cattle-stealing had blinded even those of the better classes to the infamy of the practice, and that as men's property consisted entirely in herds, it was rendered in the highest degree precarious, Mr Graharound, no improvement of pastures, and from the same reasons, no manufactures, no trade; in short, no industry The people are extremely prolific, and therefore so nu to its present order and economy, for the one-half of them Every place is full of idle people, accusto but rapines and depredations As buddel or aquavitae houses are to be found everywhere through the country, so in these they saunter away their tial purchases Here the laws have never been executed, nor the authority of the istrate ever established Here the officer of the law neither dare nor can execute his duty, and several places are about thirty miles from lawful persons In short, here is no order, no authority, no government”
The period of the rebellion, 1715, approached soon after Rob Roy had attained celebrity His Jacobite partialities were now placed in opposition to his sense of the obligations which he owed to the indirect protection of the Duke of Argyle But the desire of ”drowning his sounding steps aeneral war” induced hih his patron the Duke of Argyle was at the head of the arors, a large sept of them at least, that of Ciar Mhor, on this occasion were not coor MacGregor, otherwise called Jayle, and still better remembered by the Gaelic epithet of Ghlune Dhu, ie Black Knee, froarb rendered visible There can be no question, however, that being then very young, Glengyle must have acted on most occasions by the advice and direction of so experienced a leader as his uncle
The MacGregors assean even to threaten the Lowlands towards the lower extremity of Loch Lomond They suddenly seized all the boats which were upon the lake, and, probably with a view to some enterprise of their own, drew theress of a large body of west-country whigs ere in ar in that direction
The whigs made an excursion for the recovery of the boats Their forces consisted of volunteers from Paisley, Kilpatrick, and elsewhere, ith the assistance of a body of sea to the shi+ps of war then lying in the Clyde At Luss they were joined by the forces of Sir Humphrey Colquhoun, and James Grant, his son-in-laith their followers, attired in the Highland dress of the period, which is picturesquely described The whole party crossed to Craig-Royston, but the MacGregors did not offer coht they arrived at Luss, where they were joined by Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss, and James Grant of Plascander, his son-in-law, followed by forty or fifty stately fellows in their short hose and belted plaids, arun on his shoulder, a strong handsoet, with a sharp-pointed steel of above half an ell in length screwed into the navel of it, on his left arm, a sturdy claymore by his side, and a pistol or tith a dirk and knife, in his belt”--Rae's History of the Rebellion, 4to, p 287
If we are to believe the account of the expedition given by the historian Rae, they leapt on shore at Craig-Royston with the ut to oppose them, and by the noise of their drue of their artillery and sors, whom they appear never to have seen, out of their fastnesses, and caused thehlanders at Strath-Fillan The low-country reat expenditure of noise and courage, and little risk of danger
Note C The Loch Lomond Expedition
After this temporary removal from his old haunts, Rob Roy was sent by the Earl of Mar to Aberdeen, to raise, it is believed, a part of the clan Gregor, which is settled in that country These men were of his own family (the race of the Ciar Mhor) They were the descendants of about three hundred MacGregors whom the Earl of Murray, about the year 1624, transported froainst his enemies the MacIntoshes, a race as hardy and restless as they were themselves
But while in the city of Aberdeen, Rob Roy met a relation of a very different class and character from those whoory (by descent a MacGregor), the patriarch of a dynasty of professors distinguished for literary and scientific talent, and the grandfather of the late eory of Edinburgh This gentlee, Aberdeen, and son of Dr Jauished in science as the inventor of the reflecting telescope With such a family it may seem our friend Rob could have had little communion But civil war is a species of ory thought it a point of prudence to claim kindred, at so critical a period, with a man so formidable and influential He invited Rob Roy to his house, and treated hienerous bosoratitude which seemed likely to occasion very inconvenient effects
The Professor had a son about eight or nine years old,--a lively, stout boy of his age,--hose appearance our Highland Robin Hood was much taken On the day before his departure from the house of his learned relative, Rob Roy, who had pondered deeply how he ory aside, and addressed hi what I could do to show my sense of your hospitality Now, here you have a fine spirited boy of a son, who hi, and I aood-will to you and yours, to take him with me and make a man of him” The learned Professor was utterly overwhelmed when his warlike kinse which i a proposal which, would be, and ought to be, accepted with the uty or explanation was of a ht have been considerable danger in suffering Rob Roy to perceive that the promotion hich he threatened the son was, in the father's eyes, the ready road to the gallows Indeed, every excuse which he could at first think of--such as regret for putting his friend to trouble with a youth who had been educated in the Lowlands, and so on--only strengthened the chieftain's inclination to patronise his young kinsman, as he supposed they arose entirely fro ti off the youth by a certain degree of kindly violence, whether his father consented, or not At length the perplexed Professor pleaded that his son was very young, and in an infirm state of health, and not yet able to endure the hardshi+ps of a mountain life; but that in another year or two he hoped his health would be fir condition to attend on his brave kinsman, and follow out the splendid destinies to which he opened the way This agree his honour to carry his young relation to the hills with hiory, doubtless, praying in his secret soul that he ory, who thus escaped being his kinsman's recruit, and in all probability his henche, and, like uished by his scientific acquirements He was rather of an irritable and pertinacious disposition; and his friends ont to remark, when he showed any sy been educated by Rob Roy”
The connection between Rob Roy and his classical kinsman did not end with the period of Rob's transient power At a period considerably subsequent to the year 1715, he alking in the Castle Street of Aberdeen, arory, when the drums in the barracks suddenly beat to ar fro out,” said Rob, taking leave of his cousin with great composure, ”it is ti, he dived down a close, and, as John Bunyan says, ”went upon his way and was seen no s the highest pitch of civilisation so closely in contact with the half-savage state of society, I have heard told by the late distinguished Dr Gregory; and the members of his family have had the kindness to collate the story with their recollections and family documents, and furnish the authentic particulars The second rests on the recollection of an old man, as present when Rob took French leave of his literary cousin on hearing the drums beat, and communicated the circuory by e, who is still alive