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St. CLAIR OF THE ISLES: 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE OUTLAWS OF BARRA, 
 
 A SCOTTISH TRADITION. 
 
 By ELIZABETH HELME. 
 
 IN FOUR VOLUMES. 
 V O L. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 , FRINTED BY A. STRAEAN, PRINTERS-STREET, 
 
 FOR T. N. LONGMAN AND Oi REES, 1»AT£RN0ST£R,R0W. 
 
 1803. 
 
. . 5 
 v,|- 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MOST NOBLE 
 
 THE MARCHIONESS OF ABERCORN. 
 
 s 
 
 f Madam, 
 
 Favours conferred with the condefcen- 
 fion with which you Vv^ere pleafcd to 
 patronife the following iheets, redouble 
 -^the obligation, and imprefs the mind 
 '- with a fcntlment of refped and gratitude 
 r which rank alone never yet gave rife 
 Q to. — That the errors of the work may 
 ^ be many I readily believe, but the fame 
 ogoodnefs and candour which honoured 
 ^ me in the firfi: inftance, will, I doubt 
 f not, plead for me in the fecond, particu- 
 larly if it be remembered that it was 
 "^ written under the fevere imprcflions of 
 ^ fickncfs and fufFcring. 
 
 3 In 
 
 
[ iv ] 
 
 In a period of fixreen years I have 
 to thank the public for the partiality 
 with which they have received twenty- 
 eight volumes of original works, and 
 twenty -four of tranflations and abridg- 
 ments, and now peculiarly feel the value 
 of that favour, as it has procured me the 
 honour of addreiTing your Ladyfliip. 
 
 J am, 
 
 With the utmoft rcfpedt. 
 Your Ladyship's 
 
 Obliged humble Servant, 
 
 ELIZABETH HELME. 
 
St. CLAIR OF THE ISLES: 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE OUTLAWS OF BARRA. . 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Sreak, ye rude wave^ of the Northern 
 Seuy break on the tower of M^Leod. — 
 Like the rock on which it is founded^ it 
 tnocks your efforts. — Lonely andforjaken^ 
 its halls are defolate^ and its chambers 
 the retreat of birds, who mijiake its 
 galleries for the receffes of the mountain, 
 '—'Soony Joon^ fhall they afford refuge to 
 the eagle ^ who under his wing fhall rear 
 the bloody arm on which fJiall hang ths 
 future fate of Scotland. ' ' 
 
 VOL. r. B Rifing 
 
1 2] 
 
 Rifing from one of bis prophetic 
 dreams, thus fpoke the Sccr of Rofkelyn 
 Glen J his affrighted fpirit projeding his 
 eye balls, his checks pale, his lips livid, 
 and his grey hair ftiffened and cred. 
 
 Again entranced he lay, when wildly 
 darting, he continued : — '^ And ye lofty 
 turrets of Rofkelyn* s wide domain^ your 
 pride fliall bow, till the dif grace of your 
 ancient houje becomes its high eft glory,''* 
 
 He ceafcd for fome moments, then 
 again exclaimed :-— " Ah me! fad fight ! 
 m what a field of blood will fliine the 
 glorious fun! — See, the parties tneet I ~^hark 
 to theclaftiing of their fpears! — they ft r ike ^ 
 they fink, they fall! - — Again they rife ; again 
 renew the attack with more than mortal 
 fury !'^ 'They bleed !-^Their /pears are 
 broken! — They draw their /words -, their 
 armour is cleft in twmn !'^^The bloody arm 
 triumphs, and Scotland is once more free 
 from the tyrant yoke cf England!^* 
 
 . Such 
 
£3] 
 
 Such was the vifion that intruded itfelf 
 on the aged Seer, who, faint and power- 
 Icfs, when nature recovered her ufual 
 tone, craved a draught of water from 
 two youthful Ihepherds, who had wit- 
 ncffed the prophetic fpeeches which he 
 had uttered 5 then praying them to lead 
 hinfi to his humble home, he flretched 
 himfelf on his couch, and endeavoured 
 to colledl his wandering fpirit. 
 
 The Seer compofed to reft, the 
 fhephcrds left him : — " Donald," faid 
 Robert as they walked forward, " in 
 good truth, but I tremble in every limb; 
 what think you of what we have heard? 
 I pray ye heed it well." 
 
 " I will," anfwered Donald. " When 
 the fpirit fpeaks thus in infpired men, we 
 fhould indeed mark it ; but a clofe 
 mouth makes a wife head. The pre- 
 diftion fecmed to allude in part to 
 the houfe of our noble lord, and to 
 B 2 mention 
 
[4] 
 
 Tnentlon that might involve us in 
 ruin." 
 
 '* Troth might it : my advice is for 
 us to confult the holy monk John of 
 Inverefk; we can give him the ac- 
 count together, and he will advife for 
 the bed.'* 
 
 *' Right, Robert J I like your counfel 
 well, we will away thither. The Seer 
 fpoke of the tower of M^Leod, know 
 ye where that is fituated ?" 
 
 " Not in the lowlands, as I Ihould 
 conjedure," anfwered Donald. " The 
 Seer himfelf is of the weftern ifles, 'tis 
 probably there : but what think you of 
 the eagle who fhali rear the bloody 
 arm ?" 
 
 *' Nay, I know not ; our poor coun- 
 try is never free from warfare. Some 
 deadly battle is furely foretold, and all 
 we can fay is, the will of Heaven muft 
 be fulfilled. It may, perhaps, never 
 
 take 
 
[5] 
 
 take place in our time; for thefe infpired 
 men fee forward for many years." 
 
 Thus converfing, by the clofe of day 
 they reached the chapel of Inverefk, 
 where they relieved their minds to the 
 monk: he heard them with attention, 
 and took their depofitions down in 
 writing; then, giving them his bleffing, 
 difmiffed them, with a ftridb injunflion 
 to conceal what they had heard, as it 
 could anfwer no purpofe to difclofe it, 
 but might breed confunon by inflaming 
 weak minds; that the will of Heaven 
 would be, in its own time, undoubtedly 
 accomplished ; and that all erring mor- 
 tality could efFedl was, to receive its 
 decrees with pious refignation. 
 
 BJ" 
 
in 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 During the latter years of James I. 
 of Scotland, in an ancient fortrefs, fitu- 
 atcd in the ifland of Barra *, rcfidcd 
 St, Clair Monteith, an outlaw. Young, 
 open, and generous, he was univerfally 
 beloved, not only by the poor inhabit- 
 ants of Barra, but throughout the iflands, 
 which he fometimes indifcriminately 
 vifited, and from whence the power of 
 James himfelf could fcarcely againfl his 
 will have forced him. 
 
 St. Clair Montcith, or St. Clair of the 
 Ifles as he was more commonly called, 
 was at the period of his outlawry not 
 more than twentv-two. He had been 
 
 * One of the Hebrides. 
 
 bred 
 
E7] 
 
 bred and trained to arms by his uncle 
 Monteith, who at his death left him 
 confiderable poflefiions in the fouth of 
 Scotland, but which on his outlawry had 
 been feized by the ftrong hand of power^ 
 and the produce devoted to the ufe of 
 his enemies. Confined by the royai 
 mandate to the ifle of Barra, he had 
 taken up his refidence in an old fortreft 
 called the tower of M'Leod, where, 
 could he have forgotten pad events, 
 he might have lived happily, for he had 
 four companions, well born and valiant, 
 who had voluntarily fhared his misfor* 
 tunes and difgrace. To thefe, at different 
 times, others in fimilar circumftanceS, 
 though without the fentence of the law, 
 had joined j fo that St. Clair, if occailon 
 needed, wanted neither commanders nor 
 men, for in his companions he had 
 chiefs, and in every iflander a willing 
 B 4 foidier.. 
 
[ 8 ] 
 
 foldier. The court of Scotland well 
 knew his power, but as he was peaceable, 
 ro means were ufed to cheek ir, either 
 from fear or prudence. The money he 
 had brought to the ifland on his firft 
 eutlawry he had fpread with a liberal 
 hand, and for cattle or other necelTarics 
 which he had fince purchafed, he had 
 given orders to the amount on an agqnt 
 in the vicinity of Edinburgh. 
 
 The oudaws, companions of St. Clair, 
 were ; firft. Sir James Rofs, a valiant 
 knight, and a noble gentleman, the 
 companion of St. Clair's youthful days, 
 ^nd the fworn friend of his riper years. 
 Allan Hamilton, of a fimilar charafter, 
 learned and refledivejadifpofition which 
 4ie had yet more cultivated fince his 
 refidcnce at Barra. The Chevalier de 
 Bourg, a French knight, lively, ge- 
 nerous, and volatile, and who, in- 
 volved 
 
C9l 
 
 volved in St. Clair's difgrace, had volur>r 
 tarily (harec} his captivity, rather thaa 
 attempt an 6fcape to his native country. 
 The laft was James McGregor, bold, 
 undaunted, and revengeful where he 
 was difpleafed, but willing to facrifice 
 his life and fortune in the caufe of honour 
 or friendfhip. Thefe gentlemen, as 
 well as St. Clair, were bachelors -, and 
 though for fome time the rocks of 
 Barra had in general confined them, 
 they looked forward to the time when 
 they fhould burft their bonds, and again 
 become adtive members of fociety. 
 
 The characters who had at different 
 times joined them, were of divers 
 kinds, but in general men of talents, 
 and well born; who had either left 
 their country from difference of political 
 opinion, family quarrels, debt, or other 
 caufe, and, as the name and character 
 
 B 5 of 
 
[ to] 
 
 of St. Clair were well known, had inliftcd 
 under his banners : thefe lafl: amounted 
 to twelve; the whole inhabitants making 
 feventcen. 
 
C"l 
 
 CHAP. IIL 
 
 "Fill your goblet; nay, fill to the 
 brim ; my pledge is, * May the generous 
 foul profper, and the oppreffor fink into 
 deferved infamy!' — Nay, drink it to 
 the dregs ; what though we are outlaws, 
 we arc men. From eighteen to twenty- 
 one, the world plundered and laughed 
 at me ; now, though they fi:ill plunder 
 me, they tremble at my name, for feair 
 of what may come. At the final ac- 
 count which pricfts fay we all mud 
 give, let the widow I have wronged, 
 the orphan I have oppreiTed, or the 
 virgin I have betrayed. Hand forth and 
 bruit it to my face.'* 
 
 " Your inclinations, St. Clair, did not 
 naturally lead to thefe points," anfwered 
 
 B 6 the 
 
[ 12] 
 
 the Chevalier de Bourg, " therefore 
 you poflefs the lefs virtue in having 
 avoided them ; but woe to you, if 
 broken heads, and an invincible fpirir^ 
 are included in the a6ls of condemnation. 
 Never fince you were fixtccn have I 
 feen you fo quietly inclined, as fince 
 James did us the favour of ordering us 
 here." 
 
 ** The reafon is obvious," replied 
 St. Clair ; " from my earlicft youth my 
 heart was alive to gratitude ; and do not 
 our poor neighbours here, and the in- 
 habitants of the adjacent ifles, all love 
 and reeard us? I am therefore careful 
 
 o 
 
 to fupport a condu(51: proper to juftify 
 their opinion ; and, by my foul, if I 
 knew one among us ftoop to meannefs 
 cr difhonour, my voice and arm fhould 
 be the firft to banifh him from our 
 fociety." 
 
 " Your 
 
[13] 
 
 '« Your wifhes have hitherto been 
 our law, and ftriflly obferved/' an- 
 fwered one of the number. 
 
 *' 'Tis well! then let the proud court 
 of Scotland bow to the barren rocks of 
 Barra, and confefs the fupcriority of 
 nature's commoners. Not only our 
 own honour demands our adling as we 
 have hitherto done, but alfo common 
 prudence ; for in our old dwelling here, 
 though it be crumbling with age, and 
 perifhing with negleft, we are as fecure 
 as in a ftrongly defended caftle, for there 
 is not one of our neighbours but would 
 fight, bleed, or die for us." 
 
 " True," anfwered McGregor; "yet 
 I have often thought that it would be 
 prudent to repair our fortrefs, and in- 
 creafe our number of inmates. James 
 may not always be fo pacific, and 
 in cafe of danger wc are but feven- 
 tcen." 
 
 « Pcrifh 
 
[ 14 J 
 
 i '^'Perifh the thought !"replled St. Chir j 
 '* feventeen men are enough to procure 
 all the neceflaries we want. In all our 
 contcfts hitherto, feventeen men have 
 been enough for vidlory; and in cafe 
 vi^e fall, feventeen men are enough to 
 die." 
 
 ^« That's readily allowed," faid Rofs> 
 yet methinks McGregor advifcs well; 
 your enemies are powerful, and will 
 never think themfelves fecure while you 
 have life." 
 
 " Perhaps fo," anfwercd St. Clair, 
 *' but my unhappy fortune has already 
 involved too many of my friends ; but 
 our die is call and muft be abided. 
 For thefc gentlemeiTLithat have volun- 
 tarily joined us, likc> ourfelves, I furmifc 
 they have fome ftrong quarrel with the 
 world : but for the iflanders, they have 
 none 5 they labour in the manner of 
 their fathers, and are content with the 
 
 ftatiou 
 
[IS] 
 
 ftation allotted them. ShaB we then 
 break on their quiet? No furelyj lee 
 them vegetate in happy obfcurity ; la- 
 bour and peace for them, the buftle of 
 life and jollity for us. But fee, the 
 goblets (land j drink round, drown re- 
 fleaion." 
 
 The party drank.—" I efpoufc St. 
 Clair -s opinion,'* faid Hamilton,*' we are 
 inmates enough for peace ; and in cafe 
 of danger, the ftandard of St. Clair would 
 colled an army.'* 
 
 «* For men," faid De Bourg, « adl as 
 you pleafe. I am as willing to fight, 
 hay, to die, in a good caufe, as another ; 
 but for a Frenchman of my age and 
 conftitution to be ftewed up like a monk 
 in a cell is too much. A few women 
 now would render all eafy." 
 
 " Women," repeated St. Clair, " by 
 Heaven, Chevalier, when you introduce 
 them, ye lofe me : bring mc toads, 
 
 fcrpents. 
 
[ i6 ] 
 
 ferpents, tigers, devils, fiends, but fparc 
 me from women. Are ye tired of 
 quiet that ye named them? Bring 
 women, and you bring difientions never 
 to be appeaftd, and all the concomitant 
 horrors of quarrels, blood, and murder. 
 *— No, we will have no miftreflcs but 
 the bottle, no crime but drunkennefs." 
 
 *' St. Clair is right," anfwercd Hamil- 
 ton, *' women would but breed con- 
 tention, and more men confufion. If 
 we live like monks, at leafl we are 
 merry ones, and our penances eafy.'* 
 
 <^ Well obferved, wifdom ;" faid one 
 of the party who had lately come to 
 the iflandi "from you I expefled as 
 much, but from St. Claires complexion 
 far otherwifc. Had ye never mothers, 
 or did ye never love ?'' 
 
 " A mother I undoubtedly had," 
 replied St. Clair, a burning blulh mant- 
 ling through his dark complexion, and 
 
 ovcr-» 
 
C n ] 
 
 overfhadowing his manly features, " but 
 (he was a wolf, and fo fierce and in* 
 human, that fhe not only refufed to 
 nourifh my infancy, but would if pof- 
 fible have devoured me in my riper 
 years. Like other fools, too, I fell in 
 love J that is, the glittering creft of a 
 ferpent caught my eye, and I purfued ic 
 till it fixed a (ling in my heart. For a 
 while I yielded to my folly, but at length, 
 calling reafon to my aid, I made a ftrong 
 effort, and plucked at once the venom 
 from my heart.'* 
 
 The horn at the gate of the fortrefs 
 at that moment gave notice of ftrangers, 
 and proved fome herdfmen from Loch- 
 aber, from whom St. Clair had received 
 oxen and Iheep, not only for the ufe 
 of the fortrefs, but alfo to help the poor 
 iflanders who had been greatly diftrcfTcd 
 during the winter, which had been un- 
 commonly fevere. For the value of 
 
 thefc 
 
[ >8 ] 
 
 thefe he had given an order on an agent 
 near Edinburgh, but who had declined 
 accepting the drafts, faying, that he 
 had received orders from the Earl of 
 Rofkelyn to difregard any fuch as 
 might be fent him from St. Clair, whofe 
 eftatc the king had awarded to his fole 
 iife. 
 
 St. Clair rofe haftily from table, his 
 face flufhing with anger, and, his eyes 
 fparkling with indignation, — " The mif* 
 creant !" exclaimed he i " by my foul 
 I will once more proclaim him villain^ 
 tven to the tyrant's face. Tis not the 
 order of James that (hall confine me to 
 Barra; with the firfl fair wind I will 
 away to Scotland, and retrieve mine 
 own, or die." 
 
 Rofs, Hamilton, De Bourg, and 
 M'Gregor, laid their hands upon their 
 fwords. *^ Let good or ill befal,*'' 
 exclaimed they in one voice, " we go 
 
 . with 
 
[ «9] 
 
 with you, neither fhall you fall alone 
 nor unrevenged." h- 
 
 « Nay, then we all go/' added 
 fome of the party that had joined them; 
 *' St. Clair mud leave none of his friends 
 behind." 
 
 St. Clair looked affedionately round 
 him, " Do not unman me,** faid he, 
 " no man whofe life is in danger (hall 
 leave the ifland. A day may yet come 
 when we fhall regain our rights, though 
 for a while injuftice triumphs. The 
 prefent quarrel is only mine, and I alone 
 will meet it." 
 
 " By my honour (hall you not,'* 
 replied Rofs; ^' if you refolve to 
 brave deftruftion, I will (hare the dan- 
 
 ger. 
 
 The whole party interrupted Rofs 
 with a cry to the fame purport. " Men, 
 friends," exclaimed St. Clair, " can you 
 wi(h me to live dilhonoured, that you 
 
 ufe 
 
C 20 ] 
 
 life the only means that can dlfluade mc 
 from my purpofe?" 
 
 " No," replied M'Gregor^ *' but 
 prudence is fometlmes better than cou- 
 rage : — to go now to the court of Scot- 
 land, would be to brave danger, to die 
 the death of fools. Think you, St. Clair, 
 that vengeance fleeps ? or that the death 
 of the Duke of Albany, his fons, and 
 that of the Earl of Lenox is forgotten* ? 
 No, the world yet remembers that the 
 tyrant fent in triumph to the widowed 
 countefs the bleeding heads of her fons, 
 of her father, and of her huiband. Pre- 
 ferve your life then, and thofc of your 
 friends, for a better caufc than perty 
 animofny. S:ay till you (hall be called 
 upon in the caufe of your country, and 
 live or fall nobly.'* 
 
 * Thefe noblemen were condemned to death 
 by James I. Their crime is not fpccitied by hif- 
 toiians. 
 
 « And 
 
I ii ] 
 
 ** And let the villain Rofkelyn revel 
 in my wealth, and even refufe to pay 
 thofe juft debts which neceflity forces 
 me to contra(5l?" 
 
 '^ Could you gratify your enemies 
 more than by fubjedling yourfelf to the 
 penalty annexed to your returning from 
 your oudawry?** afked Hamilton. 
 
 St. Clair paufed. " I will think nil 
 to-morrow/' anfwered he ; " Monteith 
 muft live with honour, or he muft ceafe 
 to live.*' 
 
 " Perilh the paltry confideration of 
 diftindl property among us !'* faid Rofs. 
 " What man here has not fliared St, 
 Clair's? and what right has he to claim 
 a fuperiority of fricndfhip over us? 
 The man who cannot receive an aft 
 of kindnefs, is unworthy to confer 
 one. 
 
 One of the party named Randolph, 
 who was intimately acquainted with all 
 
 St. Clair's 
 
[21] 
 
 St. Clair's misfortunes, then fpoke. He 
 was elder brother to M'Gregor, of the 
 feme charader, but more deeply co- 
 loured. — *^ The tide of paiTion muft 
 have way," faid he, " and thofe who 
 attempt to ftem its courfe, may be 
 likened to thofe who reafon with mad- 
 men. St. Clair, we all know, values not 
 his own life, but he will be careful of 
 thofe of his friends. Rofs, Hamilton, 
 De Bourg, and M'Gregor, muft there- 
 fore remain with him in Barra. For 
 me, held here by no law, unknown at 
 the court of James, and a ftranger to 
 John of Rofkelyn, I am a proper mef- 
 fcnger to carry St. Claires demand. My- 
 fclf, and another in fimilar circumftances, 
 will repair to the fouth with his order ; 
 and from the refult of our errand he 
 can form his future defigns. 
 
 All approved of this meafure except 
 St. Clair i but the danger of his friends 
 
 abated 
 
diated his ardour, and made him deli- 
 berate on the fubjed. 
 
 " For this titne give way," faid 
 Rofs, '* if Randolph brings not back 
 an anfwer to your wifhes, every voice, 
 as well as arm, is in your favour. We 
 will raife the men of the iflands, and 
 away to Scotland, call together the val^ 
 fals of your uncle's houf^, thofe of mine 
 and of all our friends j then claim our 
 freedom, rights, and property j obtain 
 them or perifh in the attempt." 
 
 This arrangement was fo warmly fe« 
 conded, that Monteith was forced to 
 yield, and that perhaps the more wil- 
 lingly, as he conceived that Randolph, 
 being a ftranger, incurred no danger. 
 All the party who were free claimed the 
 privilege of accompanying Randolph, 
 who, at length, inftead of one compa- 
 nion, was obliged to accept of three; 
 and having made a provifion for the 
 .:\M I journey. 
 
[ 44 ] 
 
 journey, and being well armed, they 
 refolved to adventure with the firft fair 
 wind to Scotland, in one of the fifhing- 
 boats that lay on the coaft. 
 
 In the intervening time, a private con- 
 fiiltation had taken place between Rofs, 
 Hamilton, McGregor, and Randolph, 
 in which the three firfl: impowered the 
 hft to claim, on their refpedive cftates, 
 what fums of money were due to them, 
 and to give their difcharge ; for the pro- 
 perty of Monteith, as principal, had 
 alone been confifcated. 
 
[^5] 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 All being prepared, Randolph and his 
 companions, fimply clothed as men of 
 the common rank, departed -, St. Clair 
 giving them a letter to this purport : 
 
 *^ To the Agent Carnegie* 
 
 ** W-hereas I feme time fince fent an 
 order on you for the payment of twenty 
 marks, which fum you have refuted to 
 difcharges this is to command the pay-» 
 ment of fixty; a fmall fum compared to 
 what you have of mine in your hands : 
 fee therefore that it be paid, or I fhall 
 be neceffitated to enforce the demand 
 in perfon, at once, from the villain who 
 
 VOL, I, c ufurps 
 
[ 26] 
 
 ufurps my right, and from you, the 
 dcfpicable tool of his treachery. 
 
 '^ St. Clair Monteith." 
 
 The journey, after they reached the 
 main land of Scotland, was long; but they 
 loft no time on their way; and, reaching 
 Edinburgh, they prcfented St. Clair's 
 letter to the agent. He perufed it with 
 vifible emotions but carefully exami- 
 ning the mefifengers, and finding nothing 
 in their perfonal appearance to alarm 
 his fears, he anfwered them haughtily, 
 ordering them to attend on the morrow 
 at Rofkelyn. 
 
 " Troth, mafter, will we,'* replied 
 Randolph, affuming a language fuitable 
 to his habit, " and I hope you will then 
 difpatch our bufincfs, for we are not 
 ufed to dance attendance like courtly 
 lackeys, and cannot eafily brook it. 
 Wc alk, I prcfume, nothing but what 
 
 is 
 
[ 27 ] 
 
 is the brave St. Clair's right, and it 
 would not be honed, or mannerly, to 
 rcfufe ir, as that might give him the 
 trouble to come himfclf.** 
 
 *' Infolent varlet/' replied Carnegie, 
 " know you that Sr. Clair dares not {he^v 
 hk face in Scotland, under forfeiture of 
 his life?" 
 
 *' Marry, I know not the place where 
 St. Clair ^^r^»; not fliew his face: and 
 for his life, who ever attempts that, 
 with all fubmilTion, will rx^ufe a hornec*s 
 
 . *' Do you threaten,- villain!" fa id Car- 
 
 FiCg'.e. 
 
 " Marry, Heaven forbid/' anfvvered 
 Randolph, '^ we poor lads of the ifles 
 are not given to threaten ; we are not 
 courtiers., mafter.; we are more for deeds 
 than words.** 
 
 Carnegie viewed the party fafpi- 
 
 cioufly. " I will confulc the Lord of 
 
 ' 2 Rofkelyn/' 
 
[28 ] 
 
 Rofelyn," faid he ; ** meet me at his 
 caftle to-morrow at noon.'* So faying 
 he left them, and they retired to procure 
 reft and refrefhnient. 
 
 Careful to their appointment, Ran- 
 dolph and his companions reached Rof- 
 kelyn at the appointed hour. For a 
 confiderable time they waited in the 
 outward court, fubjedted to the gaze 
 and rude jefts of the lackeys, who 
 ufually, imitating the manners of their 
 maders, and wanting their education 
 and rank, convert pride and haughtinefs 
 into vulgar rudenefs and illiberal info- 
 lence. 
 
 At length they were fummoned into 
 the great hall, where, feated on coftly 
 chairs covered with rich embroidery, 
 fat the Lord of Rofkelyn, and his 
 haughty but beautiful countefs, fur- 
 rounded by a numerous train of ladies 
 and attendants. 
 
 Judging 
 
[29] 
 
 Judging by the rudenefs of the ilran- 
 gers' appearance, they were aftonidie^ 
 to fee them (hew no figns of admiration 
 or reftiaint at the grandeur and pomp 
 around them ; for Randolph entered with 
 a careiefs unembarrafled air, his cap 
 upon his head, and his left arnri wrapped 
 in his pbid. 
 
 '* You come from the outlaw Su 
 Clair," faid the Earl j *^ know you the 
 confequence of making a demand of 
 property no longer his ; ever mine by 
 right, but now mine both by juflice, and 
 the will of the King ?'* 
 
 " Marry, I underftand not that," re- 
 plied Randolph ; *^ it may however be 
 thr courtly fafhion^ but in the Ifles, no 
 king has a right to rob a man of his own." 
 
 " Rude clown,*' faid Carnegie, who 
 
 flood at a humble diftance from the 
 
 Earlj '' knovv^ you to whom you fpeak 
 
 thus rudely ? and in whofc prefence 
 
 c 3 you 
 
[ JO J 
 
 ''youfland, that you do not move your 
 cap r 
 
 " I fpeak to John ofRofkelyn I trow; 
 I told you before I knew no courtly 
 falhions. I wear my cap, for I took 
 cold by waiting fo long among the lac- 
 keys in the entry.*' 
 
 *' The lackeys furcly are company 
 good enough for thee," faid the Lady 
 Rofkelyn ; " but thou haft learned in- 
 folence from thy employer.** 
 
 <* I came not to talk with women,*' 
 replied Randolph-, " I am afraid of 
 their tongues. Will the demand of 
 St. Clair be paid?" 
 
 « It will not," anfwered Roflcelyn, 
 <' and mark my words, rogue, if thou 
 do'ft not depart hence immcdiarely, I 
 will punifii thee for thy infolcnce." 
 
 «« Punilh mel" repeated Randolph; 
 «« if all rogues were punilhed, honcft 
 men would have their right." 
 
 " Wilt 
 
i I 
 
 " Wilt thou, once rnore I repeat 
 ir, take thy anfwer and begone ; ere 
 I make thee repent thy daring ?" 
 
 " A time will come for repentance 
 for all>" anfwered Randolph, contemp- 
 tuoufly throwing down his glove. S^ 
 faying, without waving his cap, or bend- 
 ing his body, he and his companions 
 prepared to leave the hall. 
 
 " Come back/' cried Rofkely^; 
 " what meaneft thou by throwing down 
 thy glove ? thou furely, hind as thou 
 art, dofl not carry thy infolence far 
 enough to defy me I" 
 
 " I mean," anfwered Randolph, 
 "that who will may pick ic up; and 
 fliould any one defy me^ though it were 
 even John of Rofkelyn, I would anfwer 
 
 as a man." 
 
 ** Villain ! thou art not what thou 
 fecmeft/' exclaimed Rofkelyn. ^ 
 
 c 4 "My 
 
«c 
 
 [ 32] 
 
 " My good lord/' faid the countefs, 
 
 why h (v y- u your temper with this 
 wretch? who, rude as the catterenes'^y 
 among whoni he dwells, is lent pur- 
 posely to affront you s give him in 
 charge to your vafTais ; in the prifon of 
 the caftle let him learn refpedl." 
 
 " In the halls of the caftie j nay, 
 lady, in your bridal chamber, learn you 
 that truth and modefty is the crown of 
 a woman ; and that (he who proflitutes 
 her perfon, though under the fandion 
 of marriage, is little better than a har- 
 lot." 
 
 " Infufferable infolence!" exclaimed 
 Rofkelyn ; *' feize and bear thefe men 
 to the prifon of the tower : I repeat, 
 they are not what they feem, and the 
 public tranquillity may require them to 
 be punidied." 
 
 * Highland banditti. 
 
 «' And 
 
i33-i 
 
 ^f And' who will punlfh us," replied 
 Randolph, *' not John of Rofkelyn I 
 trow? his fears won'c let him, whatever 
 his inclinatioji may be. Come, lead 
 the way,*' continued he, addrefTing his 
 companions, " the air of this perfumed 
 hall is too heavy for me, I love a purer 
 atmofphere." 
 
 '^ Away with him^ I will hear no 
 more," cried RoHcelyn. 
 
 " Marry but you will, and fhortly 
 too ; you have a long account to dif- 
 charge." 
 
 The attendants prevented more by 
 attempting to feize Randolph and his 
 companions i but, drawing their broad 
 fwords from under their garments, they 
 cleared the way to the gates, where, 
 mounting their horfes, they foon loll 
 fight of the towers of Rofkelyn, and 
 ufing their utmoil fpeed reached the Frith 
 of Forthi which having cro{red,.theypra-» 
 c 5 ceeded 
 
[ 34 ] 
 
 ceeded to St. John's Town (Perth), 
 where they refrefhed themfelves and 
 their beads, confidering themfelves fe- 
 cure from the purfuic of Rofkelyn, 
 
 The bufinefs they had to tranfafl for 
 Rofs, Hamilton, and McGregor, now 
 alone prevented their return to the 
 ifland. That of Rofs was in the fhire 
 of Invernefs; that of M'Gregor nearly 
 in the fame place; and Hamilton's near 
 where they then were. 
 
 A few days completed the lad 
 named ; they then journeyed to Inver- 
 nefs> and received various fums for 
 Rofs; but the perfon Randolph was 
 the mod anxious to fee was his elder 
 brother, Sir Alexander McGregor, who 
 at this time happened to be about as far 
 diftant as Tiviotdale upon the Englifh 
 borders. 
 
 Since the outlawry of his younger bro- 
 ther James, Sir Alexander had received 
 
 his 
 
[35] 
 
 his revenues with unblemidied honour, 
 and protedled his property fro ra depre- 
 dation. Randolph's wifb, however, to 
 fee him, was not foleiy on account of 
 pecuniary concerns, but alfo to confulc 
 him on the meafures the outlaws (hould 
 purfue, as he had no doubt but St. Glair 
 would be deaf CO all but revenge. 
 
 After confulting with his companions, 
 they difpatched a trufty mefTcnger to 
 bear a letter to Barra, which was to 
 inform St. Clair that their abfence would 
 be unavoidably protracted two months 
 longer i bur, fearful of exafperating him, 
 they palliated as much as pofTible the 
 condiidt of Rofkclyn, and concluded by 
 cntrearing him to bear all with patience 
 until their return, which was only de- 
 layed by their wifli to confult Sir Alex- 
 ander McGregor on the proper (leps to 
 purfue. 
 
 c 6 This 
 
[3n 
 
 This point arranged, they departed 
 for the fouth, clothed and accoutred 
 in a manner fuitable to their rank ; and, 
 reaching Tiviotdale, enjoyed the fatif- 
 fadlion of meeting the elder McGre- 
 gor. 
 
 A wary politician, as well as a brave 
 warrior, Sir Alexander for the prefent 
 difapproved all hoftile meafures, as he 
 conceived they muft ultimately end in 
 ruin. ^' James," faid he, " is daily more 
 obnoxious to the people i but for the 
 prefent, furrounded with power, all at- 
 tempts would be vain. St. Clair's caufe 
 is juft-, and I would willingly hazard 
 my life to reinftate him in his right; 
 but let us a(fl wich prudtrnce, and though 
 we delay the blow, let it be decifive 
 when it falls. My fortune he is wel- 
 come to fiiare, and let him not hefitate, 
 for I feci allured the day will come when 
 he can repay al! his friends." 
 
 As 
 
C 37 ] 
 
 As Sir Alexander McGregor meant 
 fpeedily to return to the highlands, Ran- 
 dolph and his companions awaited his 
 leifure in order to accompany him, (o that 
 their flay from Barra by the length of 
 their journey, the delay of bufinefs, and 
 other unavoidable caufes^ had been pro- 
 longed to near four months, three of 
 which had elapfed fince they quitted 
 Rofkelyn. 
 
 All being prepared, they took the 
 way homeward; the elder McGregor 
 with four domeftics, and Randolph and 
 his companions, in all forming a com- 
 pany of nine. 
 
 On the fecond evening, pafling a de- 
 folate and extenfive moor, a horfeman 
 overtook them, his cloches and accou- 
 trements richly emblazoned with the 
 arms and devices of the houfe of Rof- 
 kelyn. 
 
 " Give 
 
[38 ] 
 
 " Give you good even/' faid Ran- 
 dolph, '* you ride haftily, ferve you 
 the EarlofRofl<:elyn?'' 
 
 <* No, the dowager countefs is my 
 lady, fhe is behind in a covered lit- 
 ter." 
 
 *' A rich miftrefs, friend, and fame 
 fays, once amongft the faireft of our 
 Scottifh dames/' 
 
 " Troth was fhe, and even now 
 might vie with mod; not more than 
 forty-four fummers having palTed over 
 her." 
 
 " You may then expedl a new lord ; 
 for, perfonal attractions added to her 
 weahh, (he cannot fail of fuitors." 
 
 " She doth not : but their fuit is vain ; 
 all her affcdions appear wedded to her 
 grandfon the young Montrofe of Rcf- 
 kelyn, who for the laft two months has 
 been her gueft at Eufdale : Ihe is now 
 
 conducing him home." 
 
 " The 
 
[ 39'\ 
 
 « The child muft be young/' an- 
 fwered Randolph, " methinks it is not 
 long fince the Earl was wedded." 
 
 " It is nearly three years/* replied 
 the man, " but the child hath not more 
 than two months completed his firfl: 
 year, yet is a fine hearty lad. — But fare- 
 well, mailers, the evening draws in, and 
 I ride forward to procure entertain- 
 ment befitting the equality of the noble 
 guefts." 
 
 So faying, he fet fpurs to his beaft, 
 and foon loft fight of the party. Ran- 
 dolph at the fame time made a ftop, 
 and exclaimed^ ^' Brother, revenge is 
 in our power, St. Clair Ihall be free^ 
 for you will not furely refufe to join 
 in a plan that cannot fail to liberate 
 him.'* 
 
 " I fee none that is at prefent likely 
 to efi^edt that purpofe," faid M'Gregor j 
 f' if you depend on the dowager of Rof- 
 
 kelyn. 
 
kelyn, (he is among the greateft of his 
 
 enemies.'* 
 
 " I know that well, I expefl nothing 
 from her; but what think you of 
 making the young Montrofe the hof- 
 tage for his father's honour. Once in 
 the iflands, Roikelyn, nor even James 
 himfclf, dare attack the outlaws ; or 
 fhould they, they could away to Nor- 
 way, and be fccure from danger," 
 
 "By mine honour, *tis a noble daring, 
 if it could be done with fafttyl" 
 
 "Safety '."repeated Rindo'ph; "arm* 
 ed as we are, we need not fear treble 
 our number; the night draws on too, 
 and our perfons arc unknown ; and for 
 the prefcnt it will only be furmifed an 
 incurfion of the Engiilh for the fake of 
 ranfom." 
 
 McGregor, after fome confideration, 
 agreed to the plan, if it fhould fecm 
 pradicablci and, calling his party toge- 
 ther. 
 
C 41 ] 
 
 ther, they were acquainted with the 
 fcheme in agitation, and fworn to fe- 
 crecy. 
 
 The bufinefs was fcarcely arranged, 
 when the cavalcade approached ; four 
 horfemen rode before the htcer, fix be- 
 hind, and two on each fide, — a number 
 thought fully adequate, as the country 
 was then at peace. Randolph, as pro- 
 jedor of the plan, rod- firft, and orlered 
 them to hair, which they refufed; but 
 rurtiing forward, he in a moment threw 
 down the driver, and a fcene of univer- 
 fal confufion enfued ; for, uncertain of 
 the (Irength of their alTailants, their 
 fears and the darknefs of the night mul- 
 tiplied their number, 
 
 ^f Let no man ftir," exclaimed Ran- 
 dolph, " we mean no injury^ our bufinefs 
 is a few words with the countefs ; we 
 will effect our purpofe or perilh, — op- 
 pofition is ufelefs," 
 
 The 
 
• [40 
 
 The domcftics were however true 
 to their trud, until, feeing fome of their 
 companions fall an eafy prey to the 
 fuperior fldll and valour of Randolph 
 and his party, they fled, or, cryin;> for 
 mercy, threw down their arms. Ran- 
 dolph then approached the litter, in 
 which was feated the dowager of Rof- 
 kclyn, and three female attendants, one 
 of whom held the young Montrofe on 
 her knees, in fo found a fleep, that all 
 the confufion had not awakened him. 
 
 The Lady Rofl^elyn was bufied in 
 taking off her bracelets and jewels, to 
 prefent the luppofed robbers: but, put- 
 ling back her hand, Randolph faid, 
 ** Keep your trinkets, ladyj t-hc young 
 Lord of R( fkclyn is our aim -, he (hall 
 however be fafely returned for ranfom, 
 and carefully nurtured during the inter- 
 vening time.'* — So faying, he ftretched 
 out his arms for the child : but Lady 
 
 Rofkelyn> 
 
[ 43 ] 
 
 RcfKcIyn, throwing herklf on her knees, 
 entreated him to relinquidi his purpofe. 
 Her prayers were vain; for Randolph 
 was deaf to her entreaties, and callous 
 to her tears ; and again ordering the 
 trembling woman who held the child 
 to refign him, Ihe reiudlantly complied. 
 Wrapping the infant within his cloak, 
 and preiTing him to his rough bread, he 
 faid to the lady, " Fear not for the boy; 
 did our hearts want afFedion, even as 
 much as yours hath hitherto done, this 
 child is fccure from danger; for inter efi^ 
 the force of which you are well ac- 
 quainted with, will keep him fafe. 
 Farewell.*' 
 
 " Say then where you bear him," 
 exclaimed (he in an agony of grief, 
 " that the demanded ranfom may be 
 prepared and fent." 
 
 '^ To England. Reft fatisficd with 
 the promife obtained." 
 
 So 
 
[44] 
 
 So faying, he gave the word to his 
 conipanions, who, turning their horles^ 
 retook their wav towards the Lnjilifh 
 border, tre better to deceive and pre- 
 vent purfuit, 
 
 A'tcr a journey of fome miles, the 
 party, commodioufly concealed between 
 two mountains, fcnt forward one of 
 their companions to procure wine, meat, 
 and bread, which Randolph offered the 
 infant when he awoke at day break, 
 
 Lookino- round for a few moments 
 he cried bitterly, but in a (hort time 
 appeared fenfible of the carefTes of his 
 Jiardy nurfe, examined him carefully, 
 played with his fword, and at length 
 took the food offered him. 
 
 ** By mine honour," faid Sir Alexan- 
 der, laughing, ^^ nature made a ftrange 
 miftake when (he deemed thee a war- 
 rior, for thou art one of the mod expert 
 nurfes I ever faw," 
 
 " By 
 
[45 1 
 
 <* By Heaven !" exclaimed Randolph ; 
 *« if not corrupted by the court, and 
 the pride and arrogance of hib fannily, 
 I'll warrant he'll be a noble fellow j he 
 drinks wine already like an outlaw 5 
 methinks he refcmbles St. Clair.*' 
 
 After more converfation of the fame 
 nature, they all partook of fome re- 
 frefhment; then, remounting their horfes 
 which they had left to graze, they took 
 the way to Dumfries, the young Lord 
 of Rc^fkelyn placed before Randolph, 
 apparently well pleafed with the novelty 
 of all around him. 
 
 Taking a Ihort repofe at Dumfries, 
 they proceeded to Kirkcudbright, where 
 finding a vtird bound to Port Patrick, 
 they immediately embarked, and with 
 a fair wind reached Ireland, 
 
 Fearful of injuring the infant's health 
 by a continued travel, they devoted a 
 few days to reft 3 during which time they 
 
 engaged 
 
[46 ] 
 
 engaged a careful nurfe to attend him* 
 They then procured a fecond vcflel to 
 convey them to Barra, leaving Sir 
 Alexander and his attendants, who, after 
 remaining a few weeks in Ireland, re- 
 turned to his paternal home. 
 
 During this interval, the news of the 
 lofs of the child had reached his parents; 
 meflengers were difpatched in all quar- 
 ters in order to obtain information, and 
 particularly to England, where they had 
 no doubt he had been conveyed : for the 
 mod difbnt idea of his being taken for 
 the purpofe of liberating St. Clair never 
 intruded ; and though the Earl of Rof- 
 kelyn had no doubt but Randolph and 
 h'S companions were not what their 
 drefs appeared to denote, yet the length 
 of time fince their departure, and their 
 deftination to the iflands, and the cap- 
 ture of his child on the Englilh borders, 
 completely ba/Hcd all fufpicion rcfpedt- 
 
 mg 
 
[ 47 ] 
 
 ing them, and forced him to yield to 
 time the developement of what he could 
 not comprehend. 
 
 In daily expectation of the ranfom 
 for the child being claimed, the coun- 
 tefs in the interim gave birth to a fe- 
 cond fon ; who, though not able to 
 banifh the remembrance of their lofs, 
 at lead alleviated its bitternefs. 
 
[48 ] 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Randolph and his companions having 
 reached the fhores of Barra, the party 
 landed 5 and, leaving the nurfe to follow, 
 took the way to the fortrefs, Randolph 
 carrying the young Rofkelyn, who was 
 grown fo attached to him, that he pre- 
 ferred him to every other perfon. 
 
 In their pafTage from the fhore they 
 met a piper, whom Randolph ordered 
 to precede them playing one of his molt 
 lively airs ; and, thus arranged, they 
 reached the tower of M'Leod. 
 
 St. Clair and his companions were in 
 the hall, when the mingled founds of the 
 pipe, a loud exclamation of triumph, 
 and the horn at the gate, ftruck his ear. 
 
 "By 
 

 C 4s T 
 
 By Heaven!" cried he, ftarting up; 
 
 'tis furely Randolph ; but why fuch 
 founds of fatisfadlionj is beyond my com- 
 prehenfion." 
 
 As he fpoke he rufhed forward, but 
 was met at the entrance by Randolph, 
 who exclaimed; — ^* Triumph St. Clair, 
 I bring thee a noble prifoner^ a mine of 
 wealth i and, what is yet more precious, 
 I have wrung the hearts of all thine 
 enemies. Nay, man, never gape with 
 wonder, hold out thv arms and receive 
 my charge, 'tis a noble gift, no lefs, 
 by my foul, than the heir of the 
 houfc of Rofkelyn, the young Mon- 
 trofe." 
 
 St. Clair appeared tranfixed with af- 
 tonifhmcnt, his eyes rivetted on the 
 child, but drew back his hands as 
 though they had recoiled from a fer- 
 pent. " It is impoffible,'' at length 
 cried he; " but even fuppofing it as 
 
 VOL, u D ^ you 
 
[ 5o] 
 
 you fay, what is the child of John of 
 F^ofkelyn to mc ?'* 
 
 " What a qncftion!" anfwered Ran- 
 dolph ; " the (on of John of Roflcclyn 
 is to thee, wealth, liberty, rank, and for- 
 tune reftored." 
 
 «' I know not how/' replied St. Clair; 
 " but prithee, Randolph, explain this 
 myfterious jeft, for I am convinced it is 
 ajeft?" 
 
 " *Tis the mofl true one then, "anfwered 
 
 Randolph, *' thou ever heard'll. In few 
 words, Roflsielyn behaved like a villain, 
 and fortune threw revenge in my way 
 in the peribn of this boy, whom thoa 
 iiiay'ft be aflTured his parents will be glad 
 to regain at the expcnce of all they have 
 purloined from thee/' 
 
 «* Poor child !" faid St. Cl.\ir emphat- 
 ically ; '* art thou, too, doomed to luffer 
 for the crimes of thy parents!" 
 
 -^Sufierl" 
 
[ SI J 
 
 ^* Suffer!*' repeated Randolph i ** no 
 fufferings are attached to the pare 
 h^ has to ad; and as to the family 
 of Rofkelyn, their punifhmenc is de^ 
 fcrved." 
 
 «« It is/' anfwered St. Clair; " but 
 excufe mc, Randolph, I will never 
 owe the recovery of my right to this 
 child.'' 
 
 Randolph looked difpleafed. — *' Thus 
 It is/' faid he,** that over-ofiicious friend- 
 iliip is ever repaid.'* 
 
 " Dear Randolph," exclaimed Sr. 
 Glair, " I feel the extent of your friend* 
 (hip in its full force; but confider whh 
 what eyes I mufl view this child ; on 
 one fide the offspring of pride, diffimu- 
 laiion, and avarice ; on the other, of 
 treachery, meannefs> and falfehood." 
 
 ** By my life," faid Rofs, « if the boy 
 inherits thofc qualities, they bear good 
 features/* 
 
 B 2 ^^ He 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 n^Mv;rP<i\7V OF ILLINOIS 
 
[ 5^ ] 
 
 " He ftrilvingly relcmbles St. Clair/' 
 obferved Hamilton. 
 
 " Truly doth ht^," faid the Chevalier, 
 *^ Hearkee, Sr. Clair, is there any na- 
 tural caufe for the likenefs ?" 
 
 <^ A truce with jefts," replied Sr. 
 Clair; '' for pity's fake, R^andoiph, ex- 
 plain this bufmefs." 
 
 Randolph then related the whole ac- 
 count of his expedition, including the 
 iinall hopes Sir Alexander entertained of 
 fuccefs, in an attempt at the prefenc 
 period to recover St. Clair's property, 
 and concluded his relation by faying : — 
 " On our arrival in Ireland I was 
 heartily weary of nurfing, and engaged 
 the old woman to fupply my place. 
 Little explanation was necelTary with her, 
 and that fimply was that I was convey- 
 ing the child to you, its father, ics mother 
 being lately dead ; and for a name, 
 thinking it prudent to* fink that of 
 
 Montrofc 
 
'[ 53 1 
 
 Montrofe of Rofkelyn, I gave him in 
 iieu chat of Randolph Monceith ; and 
 in faith I think you may be proud of 
 your fon." 
 
 Whatever St. Clair's thoughts were, 
 he fupprcfTed them, only faying, *^ I 
 fhouid be fincercly forry if by this 
 bufinefs, as the perfons of children alter 
 greatly, he (hould hereafter be difovvned 
 by his family, aijd declared an impof* 
 
 tor/' 
 
 ** That I defy them to do/' replied 
 Randolph ; '* nacure herlclf hss Aampe t 
 his birth-right beyond all power of dif- 
 pure." — So faying, he fcrippcd up :he 
 young Montrclc^s flceve, and fnewed 
 his right arm, which v^as wine marked 
 of the colour of blood, from the wrill 
 to the elbow. 
 
 ** A providential mark j" faid St. 
 
 Clair i and, as you fay, cannot fail to 
 
 identify hiii) at any future period : as 
 
 D 3 for 
 
1 54] 
 
 taking ranforn, I decline ir, Bui moft 
 of this fubjed hereafter; come on, our 
 ctlbr (hali reftify we rejoice at your 
 return ; even Rofkeiyn iliall be for- 
 gotten; this night we give to joy. To- 
 morrow we will talk of bufincfs/' — So 
 faying, they feated themlcives at table, 
 and gave the evening to conviviality 
 until they retired to reit. 
 
 Even wine had not power to bani/h 
 from the mind of St. Clair what had 
 pafled. In the lonely quiet of his 
 chamber every unpleafant occurrence 
 returned with redoubled violence ; he 
 felt, as he had before truly faid, the 
 full force of Randolph's friend fhip, 
 U'hich had made him ftcop to a deed 
 he deemed difhonorable, but which Ran- 
 dolph thought no more of than taking 
 a captive in battle. **Ahi St. Clair," 
 faid he mentally, '' how art thou fallen! 
 pupil of the valiant and noble Mon- 
 te ith. 
 
[ a ] 
 
 telth, wouldM thou be worthy thy tufor, 
 toowe thy freedom to a child ! Revenge, 
 indeed^ is mine ; but this is not the re- 
 venge for which my heart ihirfts, 1 would 
 have the vengeance of a man. Oh! 
 Fortune, give me but once the means 
 to meet this Rofkelyn hand to hand, 
 without the minions that prote(fl him; 
 and if I ^o not prove Ir.s blood bafe, 
 and mine true, may the curfc remain 
 upon me for ever." 
 
 How to 2iCi. in refDCvfl: to the child he 
 knew not : to return him was impoiTible, 
 wiihouc involving Randolph in difgrace, 
 and himfclf in a quarrel with one who 
 had {o truly exerted his friendiliip fjr 
 him, and, indeed, with all liis compa- 
 nions; for they ail appeared to coniider 
 fuch a prifoner as Montrofe of the ut- 
 mo(l confequence, as at any time he 
 would enable either St. Clair, or them- 
 felves, to make their own terms, 
 
 D 4 Oa 
 
C 56 ] 
 
 On the enfuing day a didant apart- 
 ment in the fortrefs was appointed for 
 the child and his nurfe. St. Clair, how- 
 ever, fclr the mod lively vexation on 
 being neceflltated to pafs for his father i 
 but Randolph having made that decla- 
 ration to the nurfe, it became abfolutcly 
 necefTary to continue the deception, led 
 a change might excite fufpicion. 
 
 In a fhort time the young Randolph, 
 as he was called, became the favourite of 
 the whole party, except St. Clair, who 
 always viewed him v^ith a mixture of con- 
 cern J and if not with diflike, a fentiment 
 Dcarly refembling itj for he recalled to 
 his memory many unpleafsnt circum- 
 fiances. Such, however, is the power 
 of infancy and innocence over a heart 
 naturally kind, that he frequently forgot 
 his difgufl, to anfvyer his infantile ca- 
 refltsj but the tender naine of father, 
 v\hich young Randolph begr.n to arti- 
 culate 
 
[ 57 ] 
 
 culate plainly, ever afled like an eleflric 
 fiiock, and never failed to awaken all 
 the diTcordant pafiions of his foul. 
 
 Young Rofkelyn had been about two 
 months at Barra, when one of the fi{"hing 
 veiTcls brought a Granger who enquired 
 for St. Clair i and being admitted into 
 the fortrcfs, Munteith was aftonifhed 
 to fee* a young lad whofe appearance 
 befpoke him to be far fuperlor to their 
 general vificors. 
 
 He was formed with the flightefl, 
 but mofl graceful fymmetry; and hit 
 face exhibited a model of natural beauty, 
 at once bcfpeaking fweetnefs and dig- 
 nity. On his entrance, bowing his 
 head : — ^^ My bufinefs is with the chief, 
 St. Clair Monteith, I pray you diredt 
 me to hrm.'* 
 
 ** I am fo called," replied Monteith ; 
 *^ and pleafant 1 ween mud the bufinefs 
 be that is borne by fuch a mcOcnger.'* 
 D 5 *^ 1 truft 
 
[ 58 ] 
 
 " I trufl: fo; five weeks Hnce I Icfr 
 the court of Scotland ; and before mv 
 departure was intruded with a fmall 
 rafl^et to deliver here, if occafion fuited. 
 To effc(5l this I have crofled froni 
 R f^fliire, and rejoice to have executed 
 the tafl< requeued.'*— So faying, he de- 
 livered a imall box carefully fcaled into 
 the hands of St. Clair, who faid :— • 
 " Gende youth, you can perhaps inform 
 irse of the contents, and favour me with 
 the name of thofe who fent it." 
 
 '^ My orders went no further than 
 to deliv-er it," anfwcred he •, *^ perhaps 
 more information may be contained 
 within: (n pleafe you, 1 will retire while 
 you examine it." 
 
 " Not fo," anfwercd St. Clair, '' I 
 pray you be feated." — So faying, he 
 brc.ke tlic feal and opened the cafkct, 
 where, to his great afbonilliment, the 
 firfl ariidc that prtfcntcd was a gold 
 
 chain^,; 
 
 I 
 
[ 59] 
 
 chain, that had appertained to his uncle 
 Monteith, with various other jewels ; 
 under thefe a purfe containing fixty 
 marks, and at the bottom of the caikec 
 a letter to this import : 
 
 ^* The inclofed jewels and money 
 appertaining to St. Clair Monteith, are 
 remitted to him by a friend. For the 
 prefent he is requefted to bear his fitua- 
 tion with patience, as any attempt to 
 leave the iflands would end in his dc- 
 (Irudion, his enem/ies only wanting a 
 pretence to take a life which keeps 
 them in perpetual dread for their own. 
 By the meffenger let him remit fome 
 trifling memorial that the caficet has 
 been received." 
 
 ** Strange!" exclaimed Sr, Clair: 
 ** that the jewels were my uncle's and 
 afterwards mine, is mod true ; but how 
 thefe Ihould efcape the general wreck 
 is beyond comprehenfion i the money 
 D 6 too. 
 
C 60] 
 
 too.— Indeed, mygood youth, thou mufl: 
 tell me who this unknown friend is, 
 that if ever occafion fcrves, I may thank 
 him." 
 
 "I am a lad, Chief,'* replied he; 
 but I can keep a fecret like a man ; 
 and, pardon me, but it becomes you not 
 to tamper for a friend's fecrets." 
 
 " Truly faid, my brave boy ; but is 
 there no middle way? John of Rof- 
 kelyn, nor the agent Carnegie, have 
 nothing to do with this bufinefs I 
 ween.'* 
 
 «* Nothing, on mine honour." 
 
 ** Yet rny whole property is in their 
 hands." 
 
 ** It is, but it is impoflible for them 
 to fell or alienate it ?" 
 
 " Undoubtedly not; but then it be- 
 comes the property of another, and I 
 
 kave no right." 
 
 *' You 
 
[ 61 ] 
 
 *' You have a jull right to what I 
 have brought; and moft probably will 
 hear again from the lame quarter: but 
 your friend muft choofe another mef. 
 fcnger, for I love not to be too clofely 
 queftioned." 
 
 *^ The gift, for I can confider it 
 no other, would lofe half its value by 
 any other hand ; thy fpirit charms me. 
 But fay, I pray thee, as thou cam'ft 
 from courtj how tends all there ?*' 
 
 ** Not plcafantly ; the king is at 
 variance with many of his nobles, viho 
 lament the lofs of the old regent. 
 The Earl of Rofkelyn, three months 
 fince, lofb his Ton near the Englifh 
 borders, and can fince obtain no tidings 
 of him." 
 
 " A fcvere grief," faid St. Clair. 
 
 " Yes, to the Earl and Dowager i 
 but the Lady Rofkelyn bears it brave- 
 ly." 
 
 " 'Tis 
 
[ 62 ] 
 
 *' 'TIs well; yet a mother's feelings 
 are faid to be the mod acute/' 
 
 *' True; but if I miftake nor^ the 
 Lady Rofkelyn was never famed for 
 the fofter qualities of her fex." 
 
 " Juftly obferved, I find thou know- 
 eft her; her face and heart 3re at 
 variance ; the firft is fair and beautifi:-!, 
 the fecond hard, falfc, and ungrateful.'* 
 
 " You fpeak feelingly, Chief; the 
 world fays flie treated you unwor- 
 thily." 
 
 " Thou art a (hrewd youth. What 
 age art thou?'* 
 
 " Nineteen.'* 
 
 «« Thou appear'ft not near fo much, 
 I fear to offend by qucftions, but haft 
 thou preferment near the court?" 
 
 " No, 1 love it not; even this ifland 
 is more pleafant to me than the court of 
 James.'* 
 
 « 
 
 That 
 
[ 63 1 • 
 
 *' Th:U is (Irange ; but thou wiic 
 hereafter think otherwife ; a few years 
 over, and the down of manhood on thy 
 chin, the courtly dames will emulate 
 each ochcr for thy favour." 
 
 *' And when they have gained ir, 
 throvv me away from them, for the firlt 
 fool who has more rank or wealth than 
 my felf. Think you ivt fo. Chief?'* 
 
 'f Faith! like enough; replied St. 
 Clair J but, notwithftanding thy youth, 
 thou appears to be for.varned^ and muft 
 therefore act with caution." 
 
 *' I mean it; the woman on whom I 
 beftow my heart fhall give proofs nor 
 only that (he prefers me to all others, 
 but if occafion fo wills it, fhall be con^ 
 tent to (hare poverty, forrow, and un- 
 merited difgrace with me; (he (hali 
 likewife yield up without a figh the 
 vanities of the world, for the privilege 
 of reigning fole emprcfs over my heart." 
 
 " Thou 
 
[ 64 ] . 
 
 " Thou art a romantic lad, and 
 think'ft like nineteen; but when thoi) 
 meetefl: this phoenix, I pray thee "ive 
 her this chain, and tell her that Sr. Clair 
 honours her above all women.** 
 
 *' Not fo : have you forgotten fl:e is 
 to be fuperlor to a love of trinkets? 
 That gold chain in the cxhauiled (late 
 of your finances may be more ufefuliy 
 employed. I will only a ring, or feme 
 article of fmall value to convey to your 
 friend, that he may know I have executed 
 his commands." 
 
 <« Thou fhalt J bur, for thyfelf, I in- 
 fift: that thou takeft a memorial of me : 
 were I more fortunate^ I would wi(h thy 
 further acquaintance, as it is I need 
 no more companions in forrow; but 
 (hould ever ill fortune fo far aflail thee 
 as to render fo poor a friend necef- 
 fary, I prithee note in thy memory St. 
 Clair.*' 
 
 " I 
 
[ 65 ] 
 
 " I will," anfwered the youth klfUng 
 his hand. " Time and chance happencth 
 TO all i and reft alTurcd the fortune of 
 Montcith will again change. That he 
 hath friends to whom his happinefs is 
 truly dear refb afifured, and who will 
 lofc no opportunity to forward his in* 
 tereft/' 
 
 ** Why not gratify my curiofity by 
 naming thofe friends,*' faid St. Clair i 
 at leaft tell me thy name.'' 
 
 " Ambrofc : parent ? I have none, 
 but a tyrannic guirdian imbitters my 
 days." 
 
 *^ Poor youth \ but thou haft a 
 friend, for him thou namcft mine is 
 doul)tltrs thine, by the truft repofed in 
 thee." 
 
 *' He is, but alas! his means are 
 limited as mine own j could he a<5l 
 according to his wifl-its, not only wealth 
 
 and 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 and rank wculd be St. Claires, fcratevtiy 
 worldly blefTing," 
 
 '' I thank rhce for him ; bat thv 
 fafcinating dircourfc hach made mc 
 rcgardlcfs of ihc rights of hofpita- 
 lity ; I will prefcnt thee to my friends, 
 and thou mufl: gratify us by tarrying 
 a fhorc time with us to repofe thy- 
 fclf." 
 
 " It is ImpofTible, I mud away to- 
 morrow." 
 
 ** I grieve at ir;«— take this ring I 
 pray thee, for a token to my unknown 
 friend, and tell him that St. Clair's life 
 gains value froni his affe6i:ion. For 
 thyfelf I infift thou weartfl this chain; 
 nay, I will not be refufcd," added he, 
 throwing it round his neck ; ^' in faith 
 thy complexion might vie with the 
 fnow of our mountains, for it Hiames 
 that of the faired maid 1 ever faw." 
 
t^7l 
 
 •^ N-iV^ Clutf," replied the youth 
 blufliing; " reproach me noc with what 
 I cannot help; if I cannot otherwife 
 gain a more manly appearance, I will 
 try the winrry winds of B^.rra and che 
 fummer fun/' 
 
 *' And welcome (liak thou be; but, 
 come, our board waits ; thou wile nei- 
 ther find courtly provifion, nor a courtly 
 welcome, only plain food, and rude 
 honeft hearts more ready to a6fc than to 
 promife." — So faying^ St. Clair led the 
 way to the hal!^ where he introduced 
 the youthful Ambrofe to his compa- 
 ricns, who received him vvirh the 
 kindnefs and cordiality his errand de- 
 manded. 
 
[ ^8 ] 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 St. Clair placed his guefl by his fide 
 at the focial board, and the refl being 
 fcated around, they vied with each other 
 in attention to the ftranger, who ate 
 and Ipoke little. The meat being with- 
 drawn, in vain he was urged to take 
 wine ; he faid it made him Tick and 
 fcvcrifib, and all their repeated inftancts 
 could obrain, was to make him mingle 
 a fmail quantity with the water he 
 drank. 
 
 The Chevalier fit next him, and 
 appeared to view him with an actcntiun 
 that evidently gave him p tin -, and ac 
 length addrcllmg him, he laid: — " Ir. 
 faith, fwtct youth, I liave feen lomc Oi 
 
 the 
 
[ hi 
 
 the faired hands in the French, the 
 Englifli, and the Scottidi courts, but 
 thine exceeds them ail.'* 
 
 *' I love not compliments,*' replied 
 the youth j ^^ and fhould lead have 
 expeded to find them at Barra/* 
 
 *' Truth ought to be met with every^ 
 where/* replied De Bourg. 
 
 '^ I muft endeavour then to bronze 
 my complexion, if it will fave me from 
 unpleafant remarks.** 
 
 *■ The Chevalier is a Frenchman,*' 
 faid St. Clair ; " and thou doubtlefs has 
 heard, Ambrofe, they inherit from na- 
 ture the gift of flattery; befides, 'tis fo 
 long fmce he poflefTed the virtue of 
 modefly, that he hath forgotten it, and 
 can make no allowance for thine.'* 
 
 ** I will take kflons from thee, thou 
 woman-hater, but the hour will come 
 when I fhall fee thee as docile to the fex, 
 as I myfelf am inclined to be.*' 
 
 *» I 
 
[ 7D ] 
 
 *' 1 know not when; my heart is 
 whole now, and I will take care to 
 preferve it fo." 
 
 Rofs, Hamilton, and the refl, then 
 joined in the converfation on various 
 topics. The flranger appeared well 
 acquainted with every fiibjedV, and pof- 
 feflcd of a thorough knowled2;e of the 
 court and its dependants, but gave his 
 opinion with modefty and referve. 
 
 They fat till the night was far ad- 
 vanced, when St. Clair flievved his gueft 
 to an apartment in the fortrefs, when, 
 taking his hand, he wifned him a good 
 red. 
 
 At an early hour Sr. Clair arofc, 
 the occurrences of the former day 
 having kept him waking. The myf- 
 terious manner of his receiving the 
 jewels and money puzzled his imagina- 
 tion : that the firft were his own he could 
 iiot miftake ; and appeared only fcnt 
 
 to 
 
[y ] 
 
 to afcertain that the money remitted he 
 had an equal right to. The Earl of 
 Roflcelyn, his inveterate enemy, his 
 coiintcfs, or the dowager, he too well 
 knew to cxped: any thing from them, 
 and whom elfe could be in pofTcfTion of 
 his jewels? Thus thinking, he walked 
 down to the fca-fhore, where to his greac 
 adonifhrnent he beheld the little fifliing- 
 vefTei that had brought the ftranger 
 quitting the coad, being already at fomc 
 diftance from the land. Gazing at it, 
 to his further amazement he difcovered 
 on the deck the youthful Ambrofe, 
 who waved his white hand, and then, 
 as if to teftify his friendfhip, laid it on 
 his bread. St. Clair involuntarily raifed 
 his as if to pray his return, but in vain 5 
 the vefTel purfued her way, though the 
 drained eyes of St. Clair could difcover 
 the graceful form of the youth in the 
 fame podure while (he remained in fight. 
 
 Vexed 
 
[ 72 ] 
 
 Vexed and loft in a labyrinth of con- 
 je(5t'iirej he returned to the fortrefs, and 
 calling to-gethcr his friends, informed 
 them of the flrange departure of Am- 
 brofe. Their opinions were various ; 
 fome regarded him as a fpy fent by thcf 
 houfe of Rofkelyn, and congratulated 
 St. Clair and themlelves that the child 
 had not been fcen by him. 
 
 Others deemed his errand merely as 
 he himfclf had given out, from a con- 
 cealed friend of St. Clair's, in which 
 opinion himfclf joined, only the private 
 departure of Ambrofe made him fome- 
 what waver. 
 
 " My opinion differs from you ail," 
 faid the Chevalier ; " you think like 
 men and warriors, I confider the fubjedt 
 as a Frenchman, and an admirer of 
 beauty , and my furmifes were noc loft, 
 I am convinced, on Ambrofe as he calls 
 himfelf. I was fomcwhat at firft: inclined 
 
 5 to 
 
[73 3 
 
 to think St. Clair in the fecret, but am 
 now convinced of the contrary. The 
 feminine lightnefs of figure, the extra- 
 ordinary beauty of features, the delicacy 
 of complexion, the foftnefs of the eyes, 
 the ivory whitenefs and form of the 
 hands ; and if all thefe do not confirm 
 it, the palpitation of my own heart when 
 I fat next this Ambrofe, convinces me 
 that our vifitor is either a woman or an 
 
 j> 
 
 angel in difguife. 
 
 " Ridiculous!" cried St. Clair; *' for 
 what purpofe fhould a woman, and fuch 
 a woman, come to the ifle of Barra?*' 
 
 " In troth, to comfort thee,'' replied 
 the Chevalier. ** Oh! would to for- 
 tune fhe had come on fuch a charitable 
 errand to me. Had'fl: thou pofTefled 
 ought but a heart of ftone, thou muft 
 have difcovered the fecret.'* 
 
 A (hort confideration made many of 
 the party efpoufe this opinion, nor did 
 
 VOL. I. E they 
 
[74] 
 
 they fail to attribute the fudden departure 
 to a fear of difco very, which the ardent 
 gaze of the Chevalier might have ren- 
 dered probable. 
 
 St. Clair treated the whole with ridi- 
 cule, though the fufpicions of De Bourg 
 were not without their effedl upon his 
 mind, and he was no fooner alone, than 
 he walked to the chamber where the 
 ftranger had repofed. 
 
 Here frelh aftonifhment awaited him, 
 for on the table lay the golden chain, 
 and by it the tablets of Ambrofe, in 
 which were written : 
 
 ** Opprefied by your generofity, 
 which in the prefent (late of your 
 affairs is miftimed, I return your gift, 
 not for v/ant of value for the donor, 
 but becaufe you may appropriate it in a 
 manner more confonant to my wifhes. 
 In the mean time be aflured that your 
 friends will be anxious for your wel- 
 fare. 
 
r 75 ] 
 
 fare, and among them none more (6 
 
 than 
 
 ^^ Ambrose." 
 
 St, Clair, piizzled with various con- 
 ^edures, endeavoured to recall to mind 
 the difcourfe he had when alone with the 
 youthful ftranger, and which rather con- 
 firmed than refuted the Chevalier's con- 
 jedures ; yet unwilling to give into an 
 idea that caufed him incteafcd vexation, 
 he endeavoured to badifli it from his 
 tnind. 
 
 " No, no,'* faid he, " the fiippofi- 
 tion is vague and ridiculous, and built 
 merely on the beauty of the boy's fecc, 
 and the delicacy of his perfon: — his 
 manners too are effeminate, but then 
 his underflanding appears flrong and 
 cultivated. He has alfo imbibed ro- 
 mantic notions of love and friendfhip ; 
 the latter, his leaving the fortrefs pri- 
 vately, rather than take the chain, mod 
 E 2 evidently 
 
[76 ] 
 
 evidently prove?. — No, if I could think 
 this ftranger a woman, I would decline 
 ufing the money fo remitted. The 
 jewels to a certainty confirm my right; 
 and I will not for the abfurdity of De 
 Bourg deprive myfelf of what is at this 
 time fo efTcntial." 
 
 As no more was heard of the ftranger, 
 and as his myfterious vifit was followed 
 by no particular confequence, he infcn- 
 fibly became daily lefs thought of in 
 the fortrefs. The adlive mind, how- 
 ever, of St. Clair, was neither infenfible 
 or forgetful of the kindnefs he had 
 received from his unknown friend, nor 
 of the injuries he had received from 
 the houfc of Rofkelyn, and ardently as 
 he wiQied to repay the firft, no lefs 
 ardently did he long to revenge the 
 latter. 
 
 An epidemic ficknefs that had for 
 feme months ravaged the neighbouring 
 
 ifles. 
 
[ n I 
 
 illes, at this period reached Barra, and 
 all the kindnefs of the inhabitants 
 of the fortrefs was called forth to 
 affid the diftreffed fuffcrers. Alive 
 to humanity, they liberally (hared their 
 ftorcs with the Tick, and perfonally went 
 among them to fee the tnoft proper 
 means ufed to extirpate the malady. 
 Though fearlefs of danger, the infedlion 
 at length reached them, and the tower 
 of M*Lcod in its turn became a re- 
 ceptacle of fick warriors. Death equally 
 attacks the weak and powerful; and 
 among the firft who fell a facrifice, was 
 the friendly Randolph, a lofs that was 
 fpeedily followed by two more of the 
 party that had joined the outlaws. 
 
 Even James M'Gregor himfelf, 
 though much diftrefled at his brother's 
 death, did not apparently feci it fo 
 fevercly as did St. Clair i he watched 
 his friend day and night with unwearied 
 E 3 afliduity. 
 
[78] 
 
 afTidiiity, and faw the deadly ravagw- 
 of difeafe with an anguifli he could not 
 intirely conceal from the fufferer, who> 
 himfelf died as he livedo infenfiblc of 
 danger, and fearlefs of death. 
 
 ** St. Clair," faid he fome hours 
 before his dcceafe> ** my ftrength fails 
 me, but my heart is dill the fame -, one 
 of its warmeft wifhcs is, that thou 
 mayeft be avenged of the houfe of 
 Rofkclyn; promifc me, therefore, that 
 thou wilt not deprive thyfelf of the 
 means which fortune made me the in- 
 ftrument of putting into thy hands. 
 When occafion ferves, thou canft bring 
 forward the boy ; or if a length of 
 time fhould firfl elapfe, thou wilt have 
 the fatisfaflion of controverting nature, 
 and, if he doth not inherit too much of 
 his father and mother, of making him 
 a brave fellow and an honed man ; and 
 thcfe qualities once having taken root, 
 
 they 
 
[79] 
 
 they may find fome trouble to difplace 
 them. As to the arrangement of my 
 property, that I have fettled with my 
 brother, and intirely to his liking j and I 
 only require a promife from thee to adl 
 according to my wifhes, after which I 
 fhall have nothins: to do but to refign 
 myfclf to the fate which awaits me. 
 Yet, St. Clair, if hereafter fpirits live, 
 in the hour of retribution remember, 
 that of Randolph (hall hover over thee ; 
 —give me thy hand, and promife.'*— 
 St. Clair fwore to a£t according to 
 the defire of Randolph, who, after 
 fhaking hinds with all the refidents at 
 the fortrefs, compofed himfelf for fome 
 hours ; when turning fuddenly, and fee- 
 ing St. Clair penfively fitting by his 
 fide, he faid : — " Monteith, thou art 
 weak as a woman ; had I fallen in the 
 field, thou wouldft not have been thus 
 fad a away with griefs death is the 
 £ 4 common 
 
t 80 ] 
 
 common lot of all, and, to a mind rc- 
 folved, lefs painful than thou thinkcft. 
 Farewell." 
 
 Such were the laft words of Ran- 
 dolph, his companions (landing round 
 his couch in deep dejcdtion. ** Arc 
 thou then indeed gone?'* faid St. Clair; 
 *^* would that my fortune was for ever 
 Rdfkelyn's, fooner than I fliould have 
 fccn this day!" 
 
[ 8i ] 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 The young heir of Rolkelyn, or Ran- 
 dolph as he was called, now two years 
 old, was ftrong, hardy, and playful as 
 the mountain-kid ; too young to recall 
 to his memory the luxurious indulgence 
 at the caftle of his father, the fum of 
 all the greatnefs he wilhed or dcfired 
 was confined to Barra. His young 
 heart attached to Randolph, who warm- 
 ly returned his affedion; he had been 
 accuftomed to run conftantly after 
 him, and not only plainly articul ted 
 his name, but could alfo cxprefs his 
 own wants and wifhes. His cuftom was 
 at early morn to cfcape if poffible from 
 his nurfe, and haften to Randolpn's 
 E 5 chamber. 
 
[ 82] 
 
 chamber; when, if the door was clofed, 
 he beat until it was opened to him, or> 
 if unbarred, he climbed upon the couch, 
 and awakened the rough warrior with 
 his careffes. Infenfible of the lofs of 
 his friend the morning fucceeding his 
 death, he followed his ufual cuftom: 
 the chamber was unbarred, and on the 
 couch lay the lifelefs body of Randolph i 
 he climbed up, and with infantile fond- 
 nefs endeavoured to awaken him by his 
 playful carefies, till at length, weary with 
 the unavailing effort, he laid his head 
 upon his bofom, and fell afltrep. In 
 this fituation he was found by St. Clair, 
 who, entering the chamber of his friend, 
 was aftonifhcd to find him fo accom- 
 panied. 
 
 A fentimcnt of afFcdion which he had 
 never before felt for the infant arofc in 
 his bofom J and, gently awakening him, 
 he aikcd him what he did there, 
 
 " Warm 
 
[ 83 ] 
 
 '^ Warm Randolph/* replied he, 
 fliuddering with the cold that had com- 
 municated itfelf to his own body.— 
 *' He won't fpeak." 
 
 *^ Boy," faid St. Clair, fcarcely re- 
 flraining a darting tear, *^ from whence 
 inherited thou that fentiment of gra- 
 titude r 
 
 " Wake Randolph,'* continued the 
 child, gazing at him, " he won't love 
 me now." 
 
 " For his fake I could almofl love 
 thee," faid Sr. Clair; and taking him 
 in his arms, he haftened away to the 
 nurfe, whom he chid for her negledt 
 in fufFcring him to wander from her; 
 ordering her at the fame time to wafh 
 him and change his cbthes, to prevent 
 if pofiible the infedion. 
 
 From this day it appeared that the 
 
 Chief and young Randolph were more 
 
 warmly attached to each other, fo that 
 
 E 6 the 
 
[ 84] 
 
 the firfl: would fometimes fay, *» Ran- 
 dolph, boy, was thy friend both living 
 and dead, for he loved thee living, and 
 by his death has infenfibly transferred 
 that afFedion to me," 
 
 The attachment of the iflanders to 
 the Chief and his friends was ftrongly 
 exemplified at the funeral of Randolph 
 and the two inmates of the fortrefs; who 
 dying within a few days of each other, 
 one folemnity ferved for all. Not only 
 the inhabitants of Barra attended, but 
 alfo fevcral hundreds from the adjacent 
 ifles repaired thither in whatever vef- 
 fels they could procure. A prieft alfo 
 attended from Kifmul; and, all prepared, 
 the bodies were depofued in the higheft 
 part of the ifland. 
 
 The funeral proccfllon was commenced 
 by pipers playing martial tunes ; after 
 which was borne the armour of Ran- 
 dolph, with his fpcar and fword re- 
 
 vcrfed. 
 
[85] 
 
 verfcd. Then walked the pried; next 
 came the bodies, borne by men who 
 had ferved in battle ; after them fol- 
 lowed the inhabitants of the fortrefs, 
 armed, but their heads uncovered, and 
 their fwords pointed to the earth ; and, 
 laftly, the numerous vifuors chat had 
 aflemblcd on the occafion, with their 
 heads bare, and who at intervals filled 
 the air with piercing and monotonous 
 yells of mourning. The bodies de- 
 pofited, the earth fprinkled with the 
 facred water, and the holy rites ended, 
 they all returned to the fortrefs, where 
 a plentiful entertainment was pro- 
 vided J which having partaken of, and 
 repofed in the bed manner they could 
 during the night, they arole at early 
 dawn, and, the labour rendered light by 
 numbers, they ereded a monument of 
 fuch ftones as the ifland afforded, placing 
 at the top a rude crofs formed of the 
 
 fame 
 
[ 86] 
 
 fame materials, to defend thofe it co- 
 vered from the power of evil fpirits. 
 Pleafed with their fnendfhip and attach- 
 ment, Sc. Clair and his companions 
 detained them two daysj after which, 
 every one took his way to his refpeclive 
 home. 
 
 The firfl: effufion of grief over, 
 McGregor one day, addrefllng the par- 
 ty, faid; — '* One duty yet remains 
 unperformed to our beloved Randolph, 
 With his own tremulous hand he wrote 
 ^ teftament, which I myfelf and Hamil- 
 ton figned. 1 will take this opportunity 
 to read it."-r-So fa\ing, he unfolded a 
 parchment, and read as follows : 
 
 '' Whereas, I Randolph McGregor 
 being called by the will of God to lay 
 down my life in a fick-bcd, unbefitting 
 ft warrior, but beft as he decrees itj I 
 will that my worldly property be dif- 
 pofed as follows ii-r-my Jbrptjiers Alex- 
 ander 
 
[ 87 ] 
 
 ander and James being well provided 
 with the gifts of fortune, the firfl from 
 his father, the fecond by his uncle ; I 
 give the whole of my eftates, bequeathed 
 me by my patron Randolph Bruce> 
 unto St. Ciair Monteich, for his natural 
 life ', and at his death, to his fon, my 
 namefake, the young Randolph: fo that 
 if ever 1 have injured that child, I may 
 make what reftitution is in my power. 
 My armour I bequeath to my brother 
 Alexander, my fpear and fpurs to James, 
 and my fword and (hield to St. Clair; 
 praying them to bear my death as 
 becomes men and foldiers, that truft to 
 live again : — in which hope I die. 
 
 " Randolph McGregor.'* 
 
 St. Clair heard the will in filencc, 
 and appeared loft in thought. 
 
 ** St. Clair,'' faid Rofs, « rife from 
 this grief that clouds thy future pro- 
 
 fpcdts. 
 
[ 88 ] 
 
 ipe6ls. Men thou knoweft arc mortal, 
 and born to die." 
 
 " Men are indeed mortal, and while 
 they, are fo they mufl: feel,'' replied 
 St. Clair. " I revere the memory of 
 Randolph, and his intention in my 
 favour, but will never profit by it.'* 
 
 <* And fo be forfworn/* anfwered 
 M'Gregor. " Randolph injured not his 
 family oy the bequeft, as what he in- 
 herited was from Randolph Bruce, who 
 anfwered for him at the font j thou mufl: 
 therefore keep thy promife to him^ or 
 forfeit thy honour.'' 
 
 <« Why, good Heaven!" exclaimed 
 St. Clair ; ** didfl: thou form me with a 
 mind to confer benefits, yet doom me 
 only to receive them? O Randolph! 
 would I flept at peace with thee, thou 
 zealous and true friend ! but, wretch 
 that 1 am, I am condemned to wafte 
 my days in idlenefs and inglorious eafe !*' 
 
 For 
 
[ 89 ] 
 
 For fome time a heavy gloom hung 
 over the inhabitants of the fortrefs; 
 it at length, however, began to fubfide, 
 but lead Co in St. Clair, whofe efforts to 
 appear cheerful were evidently forced. 
 The infult, and lofs he had indured 
 through the Lord of Rofkelyn preyed 
 upon his fpirits, and though revenge 
 was in his power in the perfon of his 
 fon, yet it was not that rctaliadon 
 for which his heart thirfted. For the 
 agent Carnegie, he merely regarded 
 him as he truly was, the creature of the 
 Earl, and defpifed him accordingly. 
 
 Some fifhermen, who occafionally 
 traded to the main land of Scotland, at 
 this time brought intelligence that a 
 grand tournament of three days* durance 
 was to be held at Perth in honour of 
 the Queen, at which the flower of the 
 Scottilh nation, as well as foreigners, 
 were expected to be aflembled. St. 
 
 Clair 
 
[90] 
 
 Clair declared nothing fhould prevent 
 him going ; and, to calm the apprehen- 
 fions of his companions for his fafety, he 
 promifed to go difguifed, and to enter 
 into no quarrel that might endanger his 
 fafety. 
 
 Though no one approved the plan, yet 
 the heavy opprcflion that hung over 
 him inclined them to confent, in hopes 
 that it might tend to difllpate it, pro^ 
 vided he would feledl fome of his friends 
 to accompany him. This, however, he 
 warmly declined ^ but, after fome con- 
 fultation on the fubjedl, it was agreed 
 that Rofs and De Bourg Ihould be of 
 the party, and three other of their com^ 
 panions, that were unreftrained by law, 
 that in cafe of danger they might inform 
 McGregor and Hamilton, who could at 
 a ihort notice raife a number of menj 
 which, added to their having the young 
 hf ir of Rofl^elyn in their power, might 
 
 free 
 
[9' I 
 
 free them from their enemies. The 
 bufinefs arranged, they failed to the lOe 
 of Mull, where St. Clair, Rofs, and De 
 Bourg, took the habits of knights, and 
 their companions thofe of their efquires> 
 and crofling to the main land, pafTcd 
 themfelves for Danes, who were curious 
 to fee the tournament. 
 
 Purchafing chargers, they continued 
 their way, and arrived one day before 
 the celebration of the entertainment at 
 Perth; where, keeping clofc, and at 
 feme diftance from the town, tl^y 
 caufed no fufpicion. 
 
 The morning of the tournament was 
 tifliered in by mufic and every demon- 
 flration of joy that could be devifed ; 
 and at the hour of ten, the whole court 
 and all the knights alTembled on an 
 extenfive plain near the city to begin 
 the fport. The Queen and the ladies 
 fat in front on raifed feats^ according 
 
 to 
 
[ 9^ ] 
 
 to their rank and dignity. On one 
 fide was placed the King, his courtiers, 
 attendants, and the umpires ; on the 
 other, the knights and vifitors who 
 came to view the tilting i in front of 
 whom were the firft candidates for fame 
 and conqueft. 
 
 St. Clair and his friends gazed fcar- 
 lefsly arrund : their faces concealed by 
 their vifors, they without rellrainc re-- 
 marked and recognifed feveral, yet 
 remained themfelves unknown. At fome 
 diltance from the Queen fat the dowager 
 of Rofl<c]yn, and her daughter-in-law 
 the young countefs. St. Clair, in the 
 glance he caft round, fixed his eyes 
 momentarily on them, bur, withdrawing 
 them with a fentiment of contempt, 
 he dircded his attention to other ob- 
 je6ls. 
 
 The E^rl of Rofkelyn, as he was not 
 among the courtiers or umpires, St. 
 
 Clair 
 
[93] 
 
 Clair concluded was among the cham- 
 pions, and curioufly examined each, to 
 difcover him. 
 
 The fport at length commenced, and 
 feveral knights, both ScotciQi and fo- 
 reign, tried their fkill and fortune with 
 various fucccfs ; until at length a young 
 Scottifh knight, gallantly accoutred 
 in biack embolTed armour, advanced, 
 and by the herald proclaimed Qjeen 
 Jane, wife of King James I. of Scot- 
 land, the faireft of women, defying all 
 to combat who averred to the con- 
 trary." 
 
 An Englifh knight accepted the chal- 
 lenge, afferting the fuperiority of the 
 Countefs of Salilbury ; and the combat 
 began. Equal prowcfs and dexterity 
 for a time kept the fpedators in fuf- 
 penfe, but the Englifh knight at length 
 gave way, and the Scot was declared 
 vidtor, A French knight then took 
 3 *c 
 
t 94] 
 
 the vanqulflied's place, but was equall7 
 iinfuccefsful as his predeceflbr, being 
 oblised to confefs the charms of his fair 
 miftrefs, the Dutchefs of Bedford, filler 
 of the Duke of Burgundy, eclipfed by 
 thofe of the Scottifh Queen. 
 
 Elated with his triumph, the young 
 knight, taking the arms of the van- 
 quifhed, and kneeling, laid them at the 
 Queen's feet.— ^* Rife, Sir Knight of 
 Lorn," faid (he 5 " though you have 
 chofen a face and perfon unequal to 
 contend wiih the pecrlefs beauties of 
 France and England, yet you have fup- 
 ported your claim nobly, and I thank 
 you. Your gallantry muft pleafe all 
 women, and well I know there is one 
 who can repay the obligation I owe you. 
 Sir James Stuart, brother to the Lord 
 of Lorn, of the noble houfe of Darnley, 
 though himfelf a younger branch, may 
 afpire, both from birth and accompli(h« 
 
 ments. 
 
[95] 
 
 ments, to the higheft and faireft of the 
 Scottifh maids*." 
 
 The Queen then turning to her at- 
 tendants, faid: — " Call forward the 
 Dowager Countefs of Rolkelyn, and 
 pray her to bring in her hand her fair 
 charge the heirefs of Kintail ; I would a 
 Ihort conference with them." 
 
 The Dowager of Rolkelyn immedi- 
 ately advanced with the young maid, 
 whofe beauty, added to the Queen's re- 
 quefl:, attracted all eyes but ihofe of 
 St. Clair, who haftily withdrew his from 
 an object fo obnoxious as the countefs. 
 The heirefs of Kintail was drefled in 
 white, her arms and bofom decorated 
 with pearls, her golden locks held toge- 
 ther behind with a clufler of the fame, 
 and the luxuriant curls with which 
 
 * Sir James Stuart, called the Black Knight 
 of Lorn, after the king's death married the 
 ^ucen., 
 
 nature 
 
[ 96] 
 nature had decorated her alabafter fore- 
 head confined in proper boundaries by 
 firings of the fame confl:ru6lion. 
 
 A profound filence reignt^d through- 
 out the aflemblyj the dowager and the 
 young maid knelt at the Queen's feet, 
 who condefcendingly commanded them 
 to rife, and prepared to addrefs them, 
 
 ** Monteith," exclaimed De Bourg 
 in a low voice, but with marked afto- 
 Tiifhment, " art thou blind ? my eyes 
 cannot furely deceive me. Do we not 
 in the heirefs of Kintail recognife thy 
 friend Arr^brofe ?** 
 
 St. Cliir ftarred. " It is impoflible,** 
 anfwered he, forgetting the difguft oc- 
 cafioned by the fight of the countefs, 
 and gazing ardently on the fcene before 
 him. " By Heaven ! 'tis like— yet it 
 cannot be. Peace, De Bourg, attend to 
 her voice, if fhc fpeaks 1 cannot be de- 
 ceived." 
 
 « To 
 
[97] 
 
 " To the Dowager of Roflcelyn/* 
 faid the Queen, " the court owes many 
 thanks, for introducing to it one of the 
 faireft ornaments of the country, the 
 heirefs of Kintail. To keep her near 
 us is one of our warmed wifhes, and if 
 fhe would accept a hufband from the 
 hand of the Qneen of Scotland, I fhould 
 be happy to prefent her my knight Sir 
 James Stuart. To the Dowager of Rof- 
 kelyn as her guardian, I have fome time 
 /ince exprefTed my wifhes ; fhe coincides 
 with them i and though hitherto maidenly 
 xnodefty may have reftrained the young 
 lady, let me hope that the gallant be- 
 haviour of the Knight of Lorn this day, 
 added to my defire, as well as that of 
 the King, may influence her to deter- 
 mine in his favour." 
 
 The young heirefs for fome moments 
 appeared confufed, but by the time the 
 Queen ended, fccmed to collect herfelf, 
 
 VOL, I. F and 
 
C 98 ] 
 
 and ralfing her downcaft eyes, (lie fixed 
 them with dignified compofurc Firil on 
 the Qjjeen, and then on the K ng'/. 
 Lorn. — " Gracious lady,'* faid llu, d i- 
 drefling the Queen, " on this fi)bjrr1 I 
 have been long perfccuteit, and liave 
 repeatedly, without fubterfuge, declared 
 my repugnance to the Lady Rofkriyn, 
 who, becaufe Sir James Stuart is her 
 relation, or for fome other caufe, wiflies 
 me to efpoufe him. Now, in the pre- 
 fence of the whole court of Scotland, 
 and of all the nobles from foreign 
 courts, the claim is again brought for- 
 ward, cither becaufe your grace meant 
 to do me public honour, or becaufe the 
 Lady Rofkclyn, prefuming on your 
 grace's power, thought that a maid's 
 courage could not fupport her in fo full 
 an aflembly, and that my confent mull 
 therefore unavoidably be obtained. To 
 Sir James Stuart I owe my thanks for 
 
 his 
 
199] 
 
 his firfi: addrefs, as his difllnguifhing me 
 from other women was a compliment 
 I feel the weight of; but I gave him 
 then my anfwer, and his perfccution fincc 
 becomes neither a noble gentleman, nor 
 a brave and courteous knight. Pardon 
 me, my liege ;' I am rude, being moun- 
 tain-born and bred, and become not the 
 manners of the court; and cannot, nay, 
 will not, give my hand without my 
 heart; and my heart will never beat in 
 unifon with that of the Knight of Lorn/' 
 
 " Amazement !" exclaimed Monteith 
 to De Bourg. " By my foul 'tis the 
 fame; — a woman, and what a woman ! 
 an angel in mind and perfon.** 
 
 " Ambrofine,'* faid the Dowager of 
 Roflcelyn, " know you in whofe pre- 
 fence you (land, that you fpeak thus 
 boldly, and with unthankfulnefs dafh 
 back the happinefs offered by the gra* 
 cious Queen ?'* 
 
 F 2 « If, 
 
[ ^oo ] 
 
 '' If, Indeed," refumed the Queen, 
 '*' your heart was engaged, there might 
 be a fubjed of excufe : but the Lady 
 Rofkelyn afTures me to the contrary." 
 
 " The Lady Rofkelyn/* replied 
 Ambrofine, " though deepl/ (killed in 
 worldly knowledge, has yet, my liege, 
 to learn to read the human heart." 
 
 " Bold, perverfe girl," faid the dow- 
 ager, " would you infer to her grace 
 that you have engaged your affeflions? 
 If you have done fo to one worthy you, 
 declare it: if to fome low-born wretch, 
 you are beneath my care." 
 
 «* When, lady, did you ever find mc 
 regardlefs of either my rank in life, 
 or the duties annexed to it ? Never 
 will Ambrofine of Kintail profi:itute her 
 perfon by an ill-afibrted marriage, nor 
 ever give her heart to one of bafer 
 blood than that which flows in your 
 own veins," 
 
 " Enough," 
 
[ loi ] 
 
 " Enough," faid the King. "* You 
 vex the maid; fhe is fair enough to 
 demand a ten years' fiege, and then by 
 my fairh the man would be well repaid 
 who won her." 
 
 « We will then/' replied the Queen, 
 " grant her a truce j — on maturer 
 thoughts fhe will, I truft, yield to our 
 wiflies." 
 
 " To none, fo pleafe your grace, in 
 which the Knight of Lorn hath a fhare." 
 —So faying, Ambrofine followed the 
 Lady Rofkelyn to her feat, and the 
 jufting recommenced, which, after Lift- 
 ing till the day was far advanced, the 
 King, Queen, and court, retired to a 
 grand entertainment provided on the 
 occafion. 
 
 St. Clair and his companions alfo re- 
 tired. 
 
 '' Well/' faid De Bourg, " how fare 
 you St. Clair? how beats your heart?*' 
 F 3 "In 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 *' In faith, fickly j I am overpowered 
 by furprife and curiofity ; I would, if 
 pofnble, difbelieve my light, yec the 
 proof is fo ftrong it is impofTible." 
 
 " Fortune, thou feeft, Monteith, in 
 fpite of thy enemies," faid Rofs, ''^ drops 
 in thy lap.'' 
 
 " In a very humiliating manner,'* 
 replied St.- Clair, " doubtlefs this fair 
 maid, if it be indeed the idendcal Am- 
 brofe, hearing of my diftrefics, contrived 
 a way to relieve them i — a curfe on my 
 wayward fortune for fubjedling me to 
 fuch difgraccl** 
 
 " And a curfe upon my wayward 
 fortune,'* faid De Bourg, *' for not 
 fubjrdling me to fuch difgrace ; why, 
 hang thee now, thou phlegmatic Scotch- 
 man, I could quarrel with thee, and 
 almoft, in fober ladnefs, cut thy throat. 
 The connexion of the fair Ambrofine 
 with the family of Rofkclyn has doubt- 
 lefs 
 
[ ^<^3 ] 
 
 lefs put It in her power not only to learn 
 thy ftory, but alfo perhaps to fave Tome 
 of thy property from the general dc- 
 {lru6lion ; and that to thee is difgrace! 
 Marryj I know but one difgrace in the 
 bufinefs, and that is, throwing away 
 fuch a heart as hers upon fuch a piece 
 of living lumber as thou art." 
 
 ** On me! ridicuioub! could fhe love 
 a man (he never faw?" 
 
 « Nay, I knov7 not/' faid Rofs, 
 how that may be, but I think with 
 De Bourg, that love alone could in- 
 fluence a woman to aft as (he has done. 
 If thou haft indeed won her heart, gain 
 her hand, it will be glorious revenge on 
 the Lady Rofkelyn." 
 
 " II" replied St. Clair j *« no,— no 
 more love for me — " 
 
 " And vyhy, I pray ye ?" faid Rofs, 
 " Is not this heirefs of Kintail as fair as 
 your once boafted Ellen?'* 
 
 F 4 Granted i 
 
[ 104 ] 
 
 " Granted ; fhe is too fair, and ap- 
 parently too good for the wife of a 
 ruined outlaw, even if Ihe were willing, 
 which I am far from fuppofing. 
 
 " Afk her the queftion, man," faid 
 the Chevalier. 
 
 " Yes, and be denied like a fool j 
 no, no, De Bourg, I mufl firft borrow 
 fome of thy charadleriftic impudence." 
 
 *' Oh to fortune, that I could impart 
 a portion! — fuch a woman! by Heaven, 
 Ihe infpires me! — Am-bro-fine: — there 
 is mufic in the very name : were I in 
 thy place, I would fing it to an hundred 
 different tunes; I would write fonnets to 
 her eyes, her nofe, her hands, her hair, 
 and defy any man to the death, who 
 fhould but dare fay there was a fingle 
 dcfcd in her whole compofition." 
 
 " Noted you the wife of John of 
 Rofkelyn?'*ilud Monteith. <* From the 
 flight glance I caught, neither her beauty 
 
 or 
 
[ 105 ] 
 or fpirlts appeared leflened by the lofs 
 of her fon." 
 
 *^ I did/' replied Rofs; "flie feemed 
 uncommonly cheerful. I ever told thee, 
 St. Clair, that woman had no heart, but, 
 fafcinated with her beauty, thou wert 
 regardlefs of more fubftantial qualities." 
 
 " I confefs it: but it was merely the 
 ebullition of eighteen i I felt for her not 
 ^^ love, but frenzy j and the paroxyfm once 
 paffed, my mind was again itfelf, I 
 blufhcd for my folly, and would have 
 given my life to retrieve it." 
 
 *' I wonder how the heirefs of Kintai! 
 came to fall into the hands of the dow- 
 ager," faid De Bourg. 
 
 ** That I know not, except that I 
 have heard there was once a great 
 intimacy between the Lady Kintail and 
 the dowager," replied St. Clair. " Sir 
 John was a brave man, and even of 
 the heirefs I have heard much^ not 
 • F J only 
 
[ io6] 
 
 only In the (hire of Rofs, but alfo in 
 the illeofSkie?'' 
 
 '^ Mean you of her beauty, or the 
 qualities of her mind?" faid Rofs. 
 
 «< Of both. — My uncle Monteith was 
 well beloved by Sir John, but death 
 broke off the connexion ; he died after 
 my uncle, I fhould conjedure not more 
 than two years fince." 
 
 " What expe6l you from to-morrow's 
 fport?" faid De Bourg. 
 
 " I know not : — I fhould like to try 
 a breathing, leaft our arms get rufty; 
 but as yet have feen no opponent worth 
 meeting, except this Knight of Lorn." 
 
 « I heard to-day," faid Rofs, " that 
 he is the particular favourite of the 
 Queen, and that fhe ncglecls no means 
 to promote his fortune ; hence her wifh 
 to unite him to the heirefs ; we will, 
 however, if we find occafion, try a few 
 turns to-morrow," 
 
 " Agreed," 
 
[ 107 ]^ 
 
 " Agreed/' faid St. Clair i « though 
 this day has brought forward a difcovery 
 that cannot, I think, be equalled by 
 any event of the fucceeding one." 
 
 T 6 
 
[ 108 ] 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 At an early hour the outlaws haftened 
 to the field of fports. The company 
 was aiTembled; and the viftor of the 
 former day, the Knight of Lorn, again 
 proclaimed the charms of his fovereign 
 unrivalled. Twice the trumpet founded, 
 and no one entered the lifts againft him; 
 at the third charge it was anfwered from 
 another part of the field, and fuddenly 
 St. Clair ftepped forward. " Sir Knight,'* 
 faid he, afFeding a foreign accent, " are 
 you a lover, and yet ftand forth the 
 champion of another lady ? If you fee 
 not in Ambrofine all perfedion, you 
 deferve her not j I affirm (he is fecondary 
 
 to no woman." 
 
 (C 
 
 I fee 
 
[ 109 ] 
 
 " I fee in the heirefs of Kintail the 
 beloved of my foul," replied Sir James, 
 *' and would willingly devote my life to 
 her fervicej but in my royal miftrefs 
 I contemplate a goddefs, whom at a 
 diftance I revere and adore." 
 
 " Well then. Sir Knighr, my gage 
 againft yoursj nor goddeflcs, nor queens, 
 direA my fword j neither do I acknow- 
 ledge the charms of any of our Danifh 
 virgins ; no, nor even thofe of the heir- 
 efs of Kintail, — but of Ambrofme the 
 Highland maid, with an angel's form 
 and a hero's fpirit; therefore look to 
 your feat, for if I unhorfe you not in 
 three turns, the difgrace be mine." 
 
 " Sooner faid than done,*' replied 
 Sir James; " though you challenge 
 me unfairly, ufing the name of her I 
 love I — but have with you. Sir Knight." 
 So faying, they fpurred their courfers, 
 and attacked each other with a fury in- 
 ^ creafed 
 
creafed by pride and emulation : but the 
 llcill cf the Kn'ght of Lorn was not 
 to be put in competition with the 
 flrength, adivity, and knowledge of 
 Montcith, who, true to his word, in 
 the third turn unhorfed his adver- 
 fary. 
 
 " Did not I tell you/' faid Monteith 
 ironically, and dill maintaining his fo- 
 reign accent, *' that queens and god- 
 deflcs muft yield to the Highland maid? 
 A^e yc for another encounter, or have ye 
 cnous-h ?" 
 
 o 
 
 '* Not fo," replied Sir James; " to 
 my lad breath I will maintain the charms 
 of the Scottilh Queen unrivalled." — 
 So faying, he drew his fword, but only 
 to experience fre(h difgrace, for, in fpitc 
 of his utmoft efforts, he was difarmcd 
 with fuch violence, that the King com- 
 manded him, on his favour, not to hazard 
 a third encounter, 
 
 *c No 
 
. C "II ] 
 
 No cries of triumph, nor any found of 
 fatisfa(5lion, marked Monteith's vidlory; 
 for the Scottiih nobles, difcomftted at 
 the difgrace of the Queen's knight by a 
 flranger, fwore to avenge him; while 
 Monteith, alone in the ring, his vifor 
 flill down, thus addrefled them : — 
 
 *^ Nobles and knights; a ftrangcr 
 among ye, I have no wifh to carry off 
 unearned the palm of vi(flory. I am 
 not yet breathed ; Ambrofine flill hangs 
 upon my fword ;*— let mc not earn 
 honour fo eafily." 
 
 " We mean it not," faid the Knight 
 of Traquair, riding forward -, *' we all 
 allow the beauty of the fair heirefs, but 
 the queen of Scotland yields to none/* 
 
 " That, time will fhew," replied 
 Monteith. " Come on ; — the charms 
 of Ambrofine, though known but yef- 
 terday, might finew a weaker arm than 
 
 mine*'* 
 
 A giant 
 
[ 112 ] 
 
 A giant ftrength appeared to animate 
 the graceful but manly body of Mon- 
 tcith ; for in a few minutes he gave his 
 opponent fuch a fevere fall, that he de- 
 clined all farther conteft: nor were three 
 that afterwards replaced him more for- 
 tunate, for they experienced an equal 
 difgrace. 
 
 " Now have with thee, though thou 
 wert the devil," cried a knighr, riding 
 forward, whom Monteith knew inftantly 
 for the Lord of Rofkelyn. " Hitherto 
 thou haft borne it bravely : the Queen 
 of Scotland nerves my arm, as thou 
 fay'ft of AiTibrofincj therefore beware, 
 thou foreign boafter." • 
 
 The heart of St. Clair beat high, but, 
 preferving his feigned accent and man- 
 ner, he faid: — *' Alas, poor Queen! I 
 would fhe had a better champion. But, 
 Sir Knight, remember you are now 
 perhaps to exhibit your prowefs before 
 
 the 
 
[ n3 ] 
 
 the chofen of your heart j if To, let her 
 fee that you are not only able to love, 
 but, if occafion need, to prote6V her." 
 
 The perfon of Rofkelyn was ftrongly 
 formed and adive, yet he was not equal 
 to enter the lids againft Monteich ; for, 
 though he for fome time appeared to 
 fupport the confli(5l with great (kill, he 
 at length (harcd the fate of thofe that 
 preceded him, being unhorfed with 
 fuch violence, that he was unable to 
 renew the conteft. 
 
 " If it be thus in jeft," faid St. Clair, 
 *' wc fhould be unequal opponents in a 
 ferious conteft. I grieve that you have 
 not more bodily ftrength, as fome day 
 you may find occafion for it." 
 
 No other champion prefenting for the 
 Queen, the fports were adjourned until 
 the morrow ; Monteith firft taking the 
 weapons of the vanquifhed, and laying 
 them at the feet of Ambrofine, 
 
 <^ Sir 
 
[ 114] 
 
 " Sir Knighr/' faid fne, « I can 
 fcarcely return you fhanks for a com- 
 pliment that w^ill make me many foes. 
 You are apparently ftrong, fkilful, and 
 experienced in warlike encounters, and 
 will doubtlefs find divers occafions to 
 diftinguifh yourfelfagainft your enemies 5 
 but even in that cafe I pray ye re- 
 member mercy as the mod glorious 
 quality in a conqueror, and Ambrofinc 
 will always recoiled the undcferved ho- 
 nour you have paid her with gratitude." 
 
 " Lady," anfwered Monteith, ftill 
 in a feigned accent, *' while 1 remember 
 Ambrofine, I mud remember rnercy: 
 and who that has once feen fo fair a 
 maid, can forget herj— a maid who 
 to the perfedion of beauty adds the 
 higher qualities of the mind , who, un- 
 biased by rank, power, or wcsikh, /eeks 
 out the opp7'eJfed^ and foothes them with 
 
 the foft language of coniblation ?'* 
 
 '' You 
 
C i'5 ] 
 
 *^ You rate me above my deferts," 
 anfwered flie, blufning; ^^ but I thank 
 you, Profpcrous gales waft ye fafe 
 to the Danifh (hore, where feme fair 
 maid, I trud, will pay the debt of Am- 
 brofine!" 
 
 " I feek no return, lady, I dare not 
 Jove J but if ever Ambrofine fnouki 
 need a knight, remember (he hath one 
 who is ready to facrifice his life in her 
 fervice." — So faying, St. Clair remount- 
 ed his courfer, and with his friends left 
 the field of fports. 
 
 On the enfuing morning, Monteith, 
 Rofs, and De Bourg, were the firft that 
 entered the lifts, proclaiming by the 
 herald the merit and beauty of Ambro- 
 fine, declaring themfelves her knights, 
 and defying all who refufed to acknow- 
 ledge her claim : none, however, were 
 found to oppofe them, for the defeats 
 of the fecond day had damped all 
 
 valour^ 
 
[ i«6 ] 
 
 valour, and made the whole aflembly 
 refolve not to encounter the ftrange 
 knight, or his companions, who they 
 doubted not were as dangerous as him- 
 fclf. 
 
 " Fair one,'* faid the King, " your 
 knights multiply: in cafe of danger, 
 methinks your name might raife me an 
 army." 
 
 " A number of champions, my liege, 
 are no boaft to a fimple maid like me,'^ 
 replied Ambrofme ; " one true knight 
 is all my heart hath a right to expedl." 
 
 " And why will you not fee that fa- 
 voured knight in Sir James Stuart?" faid 
 the King. 
 
 " Becaufe my heart refufes to ac- 
 knowledge him," faid (he. *' I have 
 always found it a faithful counfellor, and 
 like not to adt againft its didlates." 
 
 *^ Beware leli it at length deceive 
 you. You have bold and powerful 
 
 cham- 
 
C i'7 ] 
 
 champions in thefe Danes : know ye 
 them?'' 
 
 " I am perfonally acquainted wich 
 no Dane, my liege/' 
 
 The fports of the day, as all declined 
 encountering the flrange knights, were 
 few, fo that all returned at an early 
 hour to the feafting provided, and which 
 was to clofe the entertainment. 
 
 St. Clair and his companions imme- 
 diately left Perth, and took the way to 
 Edinburgh, in order to execute a plan 
 which they had formed ; and repofing 
 themfelves in a cottage by the way, 
 on the following morning they purfued 
 their journey. 
 
 In the environs of Edinburgh dwelt 
 Carnegie, on a fmall eftate which had 
 been a part of the patrimony of St. 
 Clair, and which, in the divifion of his 
 
 right. 
 
[ Ii8 ] 
 
 tight, had been given for the refidencc 
 of the ading agent of the unjuft de- 
 cree. 
 
 Thither the outlaws at the clofe of 
 day direded their fteps, and demanding 
 entrance at the gate, were fpeedily ad- 
 mitted by the domeftics, who had no 
 idea of other intruders, than fome of 
 the noble knights who were returning 
 from the tournament, and who might 
 have bufinefs with their mafler. 
 
 The pretended efquires were left at 
 the gates but Monteith, Rofs, and De 
 Bourg, were ufhered into the hall, 
 where Carnegie, nothing doubting they 
 were vifitors, from whom either his 
 pride, avarice, or perhaps both, might 
 be gratified, rofe to receive them with 
 all the fycophant humility he v/as ac- 
 cuftomed to ufe to thofc he confidcrcd 
 as his fuperiors. 
 
 *' Noble 
 
[ 119] 
 
 «' Noble knights," faid he, " you 
 honour my dwelling; I pray ye be 
 feated, remove your helmets, and take 
 fuch refrefhrnent as my houfe affords.'* 
 
 The knights bowed, but remained 
 filent. 
 
 " Ye went out fportively inclined, 
 and returned the fame,'* faid Carnegie. 
 *' Ye will however take refreihment, 
 when ye may perhaps pleafe to difclofe 
 yourfclvesj for wine, it is faid, gladden- 
 eth the foul, and openeth the heart of 
 
 man." 
 
 The knights laughed, but made no 
 reply; while Carnegie called to his men, 
 who, to the number of four, entered with 
 wine and food. 
 
 De Bourg, who was unknown to Car- 
 negie, then raifed his vifor, and taking 
 a bumper of wine, faid: — " Carnegie, 
 I'll give thee a health; nay, fill thy 
 goblet to the brim, for by my foul I 
 
 will 
 
[ 1-0 ] 
 
 will flick my dagger in the man*s heart 
 that refufcs it.'* 
 
 Carnegie looked fomewhat alarmed, 
 bur, concluding the whole a jcfl, did as 
 he was commanded. 
 
 " St. Clair Monteith, then," faid De 
 Bourg, ^' and confufion to his ene- 
 mies ! 
 
 Carnegie ftarted, and dropped the 
 cup, while his domeitics, no lefs alarmed, 
 attempted to advance towards the door, 
 
 " Stir not for your lives," faid Rofs, 
 oppofing their paffage ; '^ if ye remain 
 quiet, ye are fafe, but death attends 
 refiftance -, remain in your places, and 
 hear all in filence." 
 
 Their enemies were too formidable 
 to be refilled, the men therefore re- 
 fumed their ftation at the lower end of 
 the hall.. 
 
 " Nay, the pledge, the pledge," 
 cried Dc Bourg, filling another cup, 
 
 and 
 
[ 121 ] 
 
 and pre Tenting it to Carnegie. *' Marry, 
 fhonld it choak thee, it may favc thee 
 from a more unworthy end." 
 
 Trembling in every limb, Carnegie 
 drank the pledge, and then remained 
 filent. 
 
 '^ Carnegie," continued De Bourg, 
 '^ thou art a wife fellow, and one of 
 thy fayings I will treafure in my memory, 
 * Wine gladdeneth the foul ^ and openeth the 
 heart of man * Now, to open thy heart, 
 is my irrimediate bufinefs. Hark thee, 
 Carnegie, thou haft confiderable arrears 
 of Sr. Clair's in thv hands, thefe muft 
 away with me to Barra, or, by my 
 father's foul, thou thyfclf llialt go in 
 their ftead." 
 
 Carnegie turned pale.— '^ Indeed, Sir 
 Knight," faid he, " you treat me harfh- 
 ly, 'tis by the King's own order I 
 receive the revenues of the chief Sr. 
 Clair, for the Lord of Rofkelyn." 
 
 VOL. I. G " What 
 
[ 122 ] 
 
 *^ What right has the King to feizc 
 en what is not his own ?" replied De 
 Bourg. '* Mark, Carnegie, I fpcak no 
 treafon, but if any other man had done 
 this, he would have been a knave. 
 For the Lord of Rofkelyn, he is an 
 errant varlet, and for thee, thou art- 
 nay, never tremble or look pale, thou 
 art fafe, man, if thou doth well : but we 
 have tarried long enough ; come, give 
 me the money, or prepare to accompany 
 US; we have men at the gate, and a yet 
 (Ironger reinforcement at a fhort dif- 
 tance." 
 
 *' Patience, good Sir, patience, and 
 hear me ? Not more than fix months 
 fince I accounted with the Lord of Rof- 
 kelyn, and at this time have not more 
 than two hundred and fifty marks of the 
 Chief Monteith's in my hands ; fhould 
 I pay that to flrangcrs, which ye are 
 to me, it might be thought I invented 
 7 a flory 
 
[ 123 ] 
 
 a ftory to appropriate the money to my 
 own ufe." 
 
 ** Had ye then Monteith's order, ye 
 would be fafe from blame," faid Dc 
 Bourg. 
 
 " Not fo; it could only teftify that 
 I paid it perforce." 
 
 " And that thofc fellows can witnefs 
 for thee," faid De Bourg. 
 
 *' 'Tis not fufficient to infure him 
 belief," faid St. Clair, lifting up hi$ 
 helmet. *^ Behold I am here, thou 
 poor knave, and now what fubterfuge 
 hafl: thou ?" 
 
 Carnegie trembled univerfally. — *^ I 
 will fetch what money I have," faid he, 
 ** fo pleafe you to write me a dif- 
 charge.*' 
 
 *^ I will accompany thee," faid De 
 Bourg. " By Heaven ! I will not lofc 
 fight of thee." 
 
 G 2 So 
 
t IH 1 
 
 "So faying, he accompanied Carnegie 
 into an inner aparcmenr^ where, unlock- 
 ing a ftrong cheft, he (hewed De Bourg 
 ieveral bags, each of which was marked 
 with the name of the different eft.ue 
 whofe revenue it contained. Four of 
 thcfe appertained to St. Clair, and which, 
 with a heavy figh, Carnegie delivered 
 to De Bourg, who peremptorily de- 
 manded if the're was no more. 
 
 " No, by the Virgin and blcfled 
 angels," replied Carnegie ; ^' there is 
 the v/liole now in my hands." 
 
 " Pifn, man," replied De Bourg, 
 " what are virgins to thee ? and for 
 angels, unlefs they are golden ones, thou 
 heeded them -as little." 
 
 " What then fhall I fwear by?" 
 faid Carnegie. 
 
 ** Faith, by nothing; varlet that thou 
 art, I would not damn thee ; thou 
 may*fl: yet live to make a monk, and 
 
 by 
 
[ *25 ] 
 
 by enriching fome monaftery with thy 
 ill-gotten wealth, die Turrounded with 
 bald pates Tinging requiems to thy de- 
 parting fpirit i — but look to it, for thy 
 foul once beyond the holy walls, the 
 devil will have a hard druggie for his 
 own." — So faying, followed by Carne- 
 gie, he joined Sr. Clair and Rofs in the 
 hall. 
 
 " Bring me ink, and I will v/rite a 
 difcharge for the fum I receive,'* faid 
 St. Clair. " But mark me well, and 
 tell the fame to Rofkelyn, that the next 
 time ye give me this trouble, ye get 
 not off fo eafily. For James of Scot- 
 land, if he wifhes to chaflife me, I am 
 to be found in Barra." 
 
 St. Clair then wrore the acquittal, 
 and ftriking Carnegie on the back with 
 the flat of his fword, he faid: — ^' Re- 
 member this lefifon, and profit by it. 
 Farewell." With thefe words they left 
 G 3 the 
 
[ 1^6 ] 
 
 the dwelling without oppofition, and 
 joining their friends, travelled during 
 the night with the utmofl fpeed, in the 
 morning concluding themfelves fafc from 
 purfuit. 
 
 Carnegie was too much alarmed and 
 panic (Iruck to leave his dwelling until 
 the enfuing morning, when fomewhac 
 rcafTured by finding all quiet about his 
 environs, he ventured to mount his 
 horfe, and attended by his four do- 
 mcflics, haftened to the caftle of Rof- 
 kclyn. 
 
[ 127 ] 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 On reaching Rofkelyn, Carnegie found 
 the lord of the domain had arrived late 
 the evening before, and being admitted 
 into the hall, found him feated with 
 ihe countefs his wife, the dowager his 
 mother, and the heirefs of Kintail, 
 
 Carnegie's looks were indicative that 
 all was not well, and Lord Rofkelyn 
 addrefllng him immediately, afked the 
 Gaufe. To his great aftonifhment he 
 learned what had paiTed with the out- 
 laws, and from the defcription had no 
 doubt but the Danifh flrangers were the 
 fame. The difgrace of his defeat in the 
 jufting, the contemptuous manner of his 
 opponent, his boidnefs in demanding 
 0-4 his 
 
[ »^8 ] 
 
 his own, all confpired to awake the fears 
 and to wound the pride of Rofkelyn, 
 who v\ith the mod deadly imprecations 
 vowed revenge. 
 
 The dowager faid little, but appeared 
 confufcd and grieved ; while the young 
 countefs, with a glance of contempt at 
 her lord, only wiilied that Heaven had 
 made her a man, in which cafe (he would 
 neither have fufFered perfonal difgrace, 
 nor have been outwitted by St. Clair 
 Montcith. 
 
 Such was the effei5t that Carnegie's 
 account had upon three of the party, 
 while on the fourth, Ambrofine, it had 
 a contrary effedV, exciting only her 
 mirth, and caufing her to laugh fo heart- 
 ily, as to draw upon her the rebukes of 
 the whole family. 
 
 *« Out upon you, rude girl," faid 
 the dowager. " You faid truly that 
 you were mountain-born and bred, but 
 
 why 
 
[ 1^9 ] 
 
 why an afFalr, To replete with vexativon 
 to us, fhould be a caufe of mirth to you, 
 I cannot comprehend." 
 
 " I pray you pardon me," replied 
 Ambrofinei *^ women, you know, are 
 naturally pleafed with brave men, and 
 that fuch a one as St. Clair fhould fuc- 
 ceed, delights me." 
 
 " Delights youT* repeated the dow- 
 ager; '' this is furely too much to avow 
 in the prefence of the injured party." 
 
 " Heaven forefend that I fhould in- 
 creafe the vexation of any perfon that 
 was injured," anfwered Ambrofme. 
 " Lord Rofkelyn comes not under that 
 defcription." 
 
 " Wonder not at Ambrofine!" faid 
 4 the countefs, fpitefully, " Have you 
 forgotten the attention the villain paid 
 her at the tournament ? To a young 
 maid unaccuftomed to the attentions of 
 men, carrying away the claim of beauty 
 G 5 was 
 
[ ijo ] 
 
 was fo flattering a compliment, that I 
 ihould not be furprifcd to fee her throw 
 hcrfelf into the arms of her champion.** 
 
 " And Ihould they open to receive 
 me/' anfwered Ambrofine, " I fhould 
 be an objeft of univerfal envy. The 
 proud dames of the fertile fouth flretched 
 on filken beds by their liftlefs lords, 
 would envy the wife of Monteith amidft 
 the barren rocks of Barra, defended by 
 the arms of an hero." 
 
 " Think you fo," replied the coun- 
 tefs fcornfully ; " how comes it then 
 that he hath not wedded, the world fays 
 he has already loved." 
 
 *« I have heard fo, but I believe it 
 not. Boys and girls form ftrange fan- 
 cies, and call it love ; but when reafon 
 and age gives maturity to their know- 
 ledge, fuch trifles are no longer thought 
 of, or at Icaft only remembered with 
 difguft*" 
 
 St. 
 
[ i3t ] 
 
 «« St. Clair's paQion was faid not to be 
 of that light nature/* replied the coun-. 
 tcfs with vifible pique, 
 
 *^ At leaft then/* anfwered Ambro* 
 fine, " he bears difappointment well. 
 On a hero like Monteith, a flight paf- 
 fion, or a love unjuftly created, would 
 make no impreflion beyond the pafTing 
 hour j but one defcrving his hearty and 
 worthily returned, would take a root 
 never to be effaced but with life it- 
 fdf," 
 
 , ** On my word/* faid the dowager, 
 *^^ had you ever feen Monteith before 
 the tournament, when I am convinced 
 you faw not his face, I fhould fay 
 you were prepollerous enough to love 
 him/' 
 
 " I never fliall love a man for his 
 
 face ; I could as well love a ftatue or a 
 
 picture. Even from my infancy I have 
 
 G 6 been; 
 
[ 132 ] 
 
 been charmed with valiant adions; and 
 when our minftrels were accuftomed to 
 fing of noble deeds, my heart ufed 
 to fwell almofl too large for my bo- 
 fom." 
 
 " I will away to Edinburgh," faid 
 Lord Rofkelyn ; " the King is returned 
 thither, he will not fuffer his commands 
 to be broken with impunity." — So 
 faying, he called for his retinue, and 
 taking horfe, loft no time in haftening 
 to the city. He found the King af- 
 fernbled in council with hi« nobles, and 
 immediately preferred his complaint, 
 which was heard with a mixture of 
 wonder and anger; the firft at the bold- 
 nefs of the outlaws -, the fecond at the 
 little heed they paid to the fentcncc 
 pafTcd againft them. 
 
 " Call together," faid the King, " a 
 competent force, and haften to bring 
 
 thoff 
 
[ ^33 ] 
 
 thofc traitors before me : we will fliew 
 them we are not to be infuked with im- 
 punity." 
 
 Sir Alexander Livlngftone, though 
 no friend to Monteith, was too good a 
 politician not to fee the danger and 
 difficulty of fuch an enterprize. " My 
 liege," faid he, " what force think you 
 will be necelTary on this occafion," 
 
 *' Nay, I know not ; fend fifty, nay, 
 an hundred men, if it be necelTary, to 
 fcize the varlets." 
 
 " With fubmifilon, my liege, on fuch 
 an errand, I would not command a 
 body of a thoufand, to be mafter of the 
 crown of Scotland. Accuftomed to 
 the iflands, and to the northern coaft 
 from his infancy, St. Clair is acquainted 
 with every ftrong hold and faftnefs of 
 the country beyond moil other men. 
 From being pardy bred among the in- 
 habitants, and now again having refided 
 
 among 
 
[ ^34 3 
 
 among them for a confiderable time, 
 during which he hath carefully cultivated 
 their fritndfhip, they would fight or die 
 in his defence ) and, on the appearance 
 of danger, his banner once difplayed, 
 would flock to it by thoufands; and, 
 glad of a pretence to plunder, crofs 
 over to our coafts, and like fwarms 
 of locufts, fpread devaftation and ruin 
 around them/' 
 
 " Though there may be fome truth 
 in this,'* replied the King, " would you 
 that the traitors fhould a<5t with im- 
 punity V* 
 
 *^ My liege,'* replied Livingftone,. 
 •< I could wifli that St. Clair Monteith 
 had never been exiled to Barra, from 
 whence I confider he never now can be 
 forced^ but by a wade of blood and 
 treafure too great to be expended on fo 
 infignificant a fubjedt. Hitherto him- 
 feif and his companions have been quict> 
 
 except 
 
[ '35 1 
 
 except in this inftance, which, with ftib- 
 mifilon, I think had better be difregarded;, 
 unlefs they could have been feized when 
 here. Their appearance at the tourna- 
 ment fliould alfo, I think, be confidered 
 as only the mere warmth of youth, and 
 doubclefs a want of money infligaced 
 St. Clair*s vifit to the agent, where he 
 confidered the Turn, though extraded 
 by force, as only a juft appropriation of 
 his own property." 
 
 Livingftone paufed, but the King 
 making no reply, he continued.— 
 *^ Strong and ferocious as wolves, the 
 iflanders are good friends, but dreadful 
 enemies ; and though if an infurreclion 
 fhould happen, there is no doubt they 
 would be fubdued, yet the toil would be 
 great, and the expence heavy ; and 
 whether it be worth while to incur 
 ic in this cafe, I leave to your grace's 
 better judgment," 
 
 *' There 
 
C 136 ] 
 
 '* There Is great truth and reafon in 
 what thou fayeft, Livingftone," replied 
 the King j " but thou doft not con- 
 fider rny contemned authority, and the 
 wounded feelings of Rofkelyn." 
 
 *' I do, my liege ; and think, as I faid 
 before, that could Monteith have been 
 taken when here, his life would have 
 been a necelTary facrifice to infure future 
 tranquillity j but, as the bufinefs now 
 (lands, I hold my firfl: opinion." 
 
 On a further confultation the advice 
 of Livingftone was adopted, at leaft 
 until fuch time as means could be de- 
 vifed to get him into their hands. 
 
 In the mean time, fafe from danger, 
 and laughing at what had pafled, Mon- 
 teith, Rofs, De Bourg, and their com- 
 panions, reached the coaft, and fpeedily 
 
 failed 
 
failed to Barra, where chey were warmly 
 received by their friends, who had not 
 been free from alarm during their ab- 
 fence. What alfo gave the whole party 
 pleafure, was the revived fpirits of St. 
 Clair, who appeared to have thrown 
 off the heavy gloom that hung over him 
 before his departure. The little Ran- 
 dolph clung about his neck, and by a 
 a thoufand kiffcs welcomed his return, 
 while St. Clair preffed him in his arms, 
 faying: — " Boy, either thy face and 
 manners partake of the deeped hypo- 
 crify, or thou wilt neither refemble 
 father nor mother." 
 
 The difcovery of the youth Ambrofc 
 in the perfon of the heirefs of Kintail, 
 aflonifhed all ^ though all attributed the 
 vifit (he had made them to one caufe, 
 the love of St. Clair s but no one could 
 conjedure how, or at what period that 
 affcdlion had taken place. 
 
 St. 
 
[ »38 ] 
 
 St. Clair, however he treated the idea 
 with ridicule, felt his heart flattered by 
 it, and infenfibly Ambrofine mingled 
 in his thoughts, until he began to 
 conjeflure, that had his firfl: love been 
 placed upon fo wouhy an objcfl, it 
 had not been fo ungratefully returned. 
 
 About a month after their return, St* 
 Clair fignified an inclination to go to 
 the ifle of Skie, in which excurfion he 
 was accompanied by De Bourg and 
 McGregor. After palTing fome time 
 there, they croflcd the narrow frith to 
 Kintail, where, in the ordinary guife of 
 travellers, they vifited the caftle of the 
 heirefs. Making fuch common quef- 
 tions as might give no fufpicion, they 
 learned that the fair millrcfs was almoft 
 idolifed among her vafTals ; that, by the 
 will of her mother, (he was left for the 
 years of her minority in the charge of 
 the dowager of Rofkelyn, with whom 
 
 they 
 
[ ^39 ] 
 
 they expected her foon to vific her pa- 
 ternal dwelling. 
 
 " Is it long fince you faw your mif- 
 trefs/' faid St. Clair, carelefsly addreflfiDg 
 the domeftic. 
 
 " Not more than fix months," re- 
 plied he ', '* but her day was fhort, the 
 Lady Rofkelyn was impatient to return 
 to the fouth, and even left the Lady 
 Ambrofine for the laft month ; but flie 
 joined her at Invernefs." 
 
 ** The identical time/* faid St. Clair, 
 in a low voice, to De Bourg : then ad- 
 drefling the man, he added j " you 
 cxpe6b her fpeedily to return, faid you 
 not fo?" 
 
 " Daily; feveral arrangements fpe- 
 cified in the Lady Kintaifs teftament 
 remain to be fulfilled, and (he mult 
 come to execute them." 
 
 Having fatisfied their curiofity, they 
 retired, and after fome converlation, it 
 
 was 
 
[ HO I 
 
 was refolved they- fl:iou]d again vifjt 
 Kintail before they returned to Barr-J^ 
 but in the mean time to tarry in the iflc 
 of Skie to bafBc fufpicion. 
 
 By paflengers that were perpetually 
 crolTing the frith, they in about ten 
 days learned that the heirefs of Kintail 
 was arrived at her caftle, and that by 
 the orders of Lady Rofkclyn, great 
 preparations were making to entertain 
 a gallant company, which entertainment 
 fome whifpered would terminate by the 
 marriage of the heirefs, 
 
 " If her heart is willing," laid Sf. 
 
 Clair, " happy may fne be ; but by 
 
 rnv foul, if otherwife, not Lady Rof- 
 
 kelyn, nor all her fiends to back her, 
 
 . fhall force the fvveet maid/* 
 
 De Bourg burfl into a fit cf laughter. 
 " Give me tygers-, fends jferpe^iiSy devils i 
 
 any 
 
[ 141 ] 
 
 any thing hut womanT* exclaimed he. 
 " Oh how 1 like to fee a fellow brouo^hc 
 to his fenfcs.*' 
 
 '^ To lofe them rather/* replied 
 Monteith. ** Laugh, De Bourg, I give 
 thee free licenfe, thou art welcome, I 
 defcrve it all ; but fay, cand thou 
 allow nothing for repentance ?— nay, 
 to gratify thee at once man, were I 
 mafter of my fortune, I would lay it 
 at the feet of Ambrofinej but as it 
 is, I decline ail but fricndiliip for 
 her.'' 
 
 *' Commend me to the fiiendfhip 
 of a fellow of twenty-feven like thee, 
 and a girl of nineteen like Ambrofine," 
 cried De Eourg. '' ^y Heaven! if 
 thou carrycft not off this heirefs, I will 
 proclaim thee a poltroon.'* 
 
 ** Then thou undoubtedly will do 
 io^'' replied Monteith 5 ^^ could I give 
 
 her 
 
t 142] 
 
 her happinefs, my heart and hand would 
 be ready, but to overwhelm her with 
 my difgrace and poverty, is both againft 
 mv honour and inclination." 
 
[ H3 3 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 The information which the outlaws had 
 received of the hcircfs being arrived at 
 her caftle of Kintail was true, and many 
 vifitors of the higheft rank were ex- 
 pelled to join them in a (hort time. 
 Splendor and fhew were ever the higheft 
 gratifications to the dowager of Rof- 
 kelyn, and the lofs of the young Mon- 
 trofc, her grandfon, appeared by no 
 means to have deadened thefe inclina- 
 tions, for indifllpationflie endeavoured to 
 difpel not only that, but alfo fome other 
 very unpleafant rccoUedlions* *Tis true 
 no means of enquiry were fpared to 
 difcover the youthful heir, but a year 
 having nearly elapfed, it began to be 
 
 con- 
 
[ M4 ] 
 
 conje6l'jred that his death had pre- 
 vented the robbers from claiming the 
 ranfom. 
 
 Ambrcfine, when fhe could gratify 
 the dowager without injuring her own 
 feelings and happinefs, readily coincided 
 in her love of pleafure, not that (he 
 was pleafcd with the buftje and page- 
 antry of greatnefs, but willingly paid the 
 compliment to one her mother had 
 conflituted her guardian. 
 
 Some evenings after their arrival, 
 one of the vaflals entering the hall 
 where the dowager and Ambrofine were 
 feated at fupper, informed them that 
 three minftrels requefled to be ad- 
 mitted. " They are old men," added 
 he, *^ and have in their youth ferved in 
 the wars, for two are lame, and the 
 third is disfigured by the lofs of an eye. 
 But truly they play rarely ; one on the 
 fmall pipes, another on the harp, and 
 
 the 
 
• [ '45 ] 
 
 the third with the blind eye fings better 
 than any minftrel I ever heard." 
 
 " So much for their merits," faid 
 Ainbrofinej " I pray ye give them 
 meat, and, with the Lady Rofkelyn^s 
 leave, admit them. My heart is heavy, 
 and mufic will banifh thought." 
 
 '* And why (hould your heart be 
 heavy?" faid the dowager. " Youth, 
 wealth, and beauty are yours, and one 
 of the firft knights in Scotland is willing 
 to devote his life to you." 
 
 *^ If he is inclined to continue his 
 folly, I cannot at prefent prevent it; 
 but were it only for the perfecution, 
 I fhould hate him." 
 
 At that moment the lackey enter- 
 ed with the minftrels j they appeared, 
 as he faid, to have been foreiy wounded, 
 for two walked with difHcuicy, and the 
 third wore an enormous patch to con- 
 ceal the lofs of an eye. They were 
 
 VOL. I. ' H how- 
 
[ h6 ] 
 
 however clean and refpedfully clad, and 
 their white hairs and beards demanded 
 rcfped and compaflion. 
 
 The dowager of Rofkelyn was too 
 haughty to exchange words with crea- 
 tures (he regarded fo far beneath her; 
 but Ambrofine*s hcarr, at once unaf- 
 fumlng and gentle, ftruck with their 
 appearance, thus addrelTed them: "Good 
 fellows, ye are old to follow this wander- 
 ing trade ; your country, in cafes fuch 
 as yours, ought to furnifh a fecure 
 afylum, for ye have fecn hard fervice." 
 
 *^ Truly, lady, have we," faid the 
 one-eyed minflrel; " we fought in the 
 wars of Robert Stuart, under the banner 
 of the brave Archibald Douglas, and 
 that of his fon William. We were 
 at the bloody field of Otterburn, and 
 faw Henry and Ralph Percy taken pri- 
 foners, — bur, woe's the day! covered with 
 wounds, we alfo faw the valian: Earl of 
 
 ' Douglas 
 
t H7 ] 
 
 Douglas f^Il. We afterwards fought 
 in the fervice of Robert III. and were 
 going under the banner of William 
 Douglas againft the enemies of the 
 crofs, when our gallant leader was 
 treacheroufly flain on the bridge of 
 Danfkin by the daftard arts of the Lord 
 Clifford/' 
 
 '* Poor fellows ! give them/' faid 
 fhe to the lackey, " each a bumper of 
 wine, it will comfort their age and re- 
 novate their fpirits." 
 
 The lackey did as he was com- 
 manded, and, the muficians beginning 
 to play, the blind minftrel fung the 
 coronation of Robert Bruce by the lady 
 Buchan, the battle of Bannockburn, 
 and various others, all of which his 
 companions accompanied with their in- 
 liruments, until at length he paufed, 
 and alked what he fhould fing next, 
 
 H 2 " Lady 
 
[ 148 ] 
 
 *« Lady Rofl<:eiyn will choofc,'* faid 
 Ambrofine; " you have a goodly col- 
 ledion, and (hall flay awhile at the 
 caftle." 
 
 *' Nay," replied the dowager, *^ I care 
 not what, name fonie," 
 
 *^ Will you lady,** faid the minftrel, 
 *' Hardicanute, the Lady Barbara, the 
 Danilh Defeat, or — " 
 
 <* Thefe are all old," faid the dow. 
 ager interrupting him, " know ye 
 nothing new ? know ye none of the 
 court fongs ?'* 
 
 *' None, lady; they fuit not my voice: 
 but we have an Erfe fong that pleafeth 
 well ; it is called The hanijhed Man and 
 the Angel: (hall I fing that?" 
 
 *' If you will: but I hate the lan- 
 guage, and do not comprehend it al- 
 together, therefore give us firfl the 
 argument." 
 
 <* Willingly, 
 
 I 
 
[ 149 ] 
 
 *^ Willingly, lady. — In the reign of 
 one of our Scottidi kings, (I know not 
 which,) fome men, unjuftly treated, were 
 banifhed to an ifland on the weftern 
 coaft, and left a prey to the mod poig- 
 nant vexation. The fonp; confifts of an 
 account of how thev were vifited by 
 an angel, who not only came to relieve 
 their wants, but left an impreffion of gra- 
 titude on their hearts never to be erafed." 
 Ambrofine flarted at the beginning 
 of the argum^ent, but at the near con- 
 clulion interrupted the minftrel, and 
 with her cheeks dyed with blufhes, faid : 
 — ** I pray you fing not that, I know 
 it well, there is fomething in it refpe6ling 
 a damfel who forgot the decorum of her 
 
 fex. — I like it not," 
 > 
 
 «* You miftake, lady 3 in the conduft 
 of the maid there was nothing at which 
 the chafiity of a fainted virgin need 
 blufh, and— ^*' 
 
 H 3 «' Out 
 
[ 150 ] 
 
 '* Out upon the filthy fellow 1" in- 
 terruprcd the dowager j "would he (hock 
 our ears with his unchafte ditties?" 
 
 '* Not fo:— the pureft maid of Scot- 
 land was not more prailc-worthy than 
 the damfel: but the young lady miflakcs 
 the fong for fome other." 
 
 *' No, not fb," replied AiDbrofinc ; 
 *' to prove that 1 know it, did not the 
 banifhed men want to bribe the angel, 
 and to make her tipfy?" 
 
 ** No, on my life, lady," replied the 
 minftrel, fcarce refraining from laughter^ 
 ** they knew her not at the time ; but, 
 once difcovercd^ they worfhipped her.*' 
 
 ** Oh, I can tell you every wordj"* 
 anfwered Ambrofine. ^^ Say what you 
 pleafe, they wanted to bribe her with 
 a chain of gold^ and there was one 
 impudent fellow with great eyes, who 
 frightened her away at day- break. Was 
 it not fo?" 
 
 «* Some- 
 
C '5' J 
 
 *' Something like it I believe, lady/* 
 anfwered the minftrel, glancing at one 
 of his companions : " but were all to be 
 judged by him ?" 
 
 ** Nay, I know not; can you fing 
 Alexander, or Duncan, or the Seer of 
 Skie, or in (hort any thing you pleafc 
 except the Banifhcd Man and the An- 
 
 gel?" 
 
 " Ay, ay, fo as it be proper for us 
 to hear," faid the Lady Rofkelyn. 
 
 The minftrel then fung the valorous 
 ads of Alexander 1., furnamed the 
 Fierce, in fo ftrong and lofty a ftrain, 
 that it might have infpired the coldeft 
 heart with courage ; then, changing his 
 note to plaintive harmony, he fung the 
 Death of the beauteous Maud, wife of 
 David I., and the Lamentation of her 
 Huiband, who for her fake forfwore 
 all women, Thefe were in fo foft and 
 touching a ftrain, that Ambrofine's bo- 
 H 4 fom 
 
[ '52 ] 
 
 fom fwelled, and tear'- ftreamed from 
 her eyes, for thole whofe bodies had 
 been three htindred years mingled 
 with the duft. Even the dowager was 
 charmed with the harmony, and, turning 
 to Ambrofine, fhe faid : — " We will 
 retain thefe minftrels, they will furniih 
 amufement for our noble guefts/' 
 
 Ambrofine made no reply, but re- 
 mained with her eyes caft down, and 
 averted from the muficians. 
 
 The minftrels received the Lady Rof- 
 kelyn's order to (lay with thanks, and, 
 having been fupplied by the vafTals with 
 food, retired to an apartment allotted 
 them. 
 
 In the mean time Ambrofine was 
 overwhelmed with confufion, for on a 
 near examination fhe had rccogniled in 
 the minftrels three of the outlaws, and 
 particularly in the finger, the chief 
 Monteith; a difcovery which would have 
 
 efcapcd 
 
1^53 1 
 
 efcaped her, (they were fo carefully dif- 
 guifed,) had noc he himfelf made the 
 avowal, by alluding to what had pafled 
 at Barra, How to conduct herfelf re- 
 fpedling them (he knew notv to betray 
 them to the dowager was an a(5l fhe 
 would fooner have yielded her life than 
 have been guilty of; yet to connive ac 
 their flay in the caftle, was contrary to 
 the maidenly modefty that reigned in 
 her bofom. That fhe loved Montcith' 
 beyond all men, was moft truej and at 
 the clofe of the tournament when he 
 addrelTed her, fhe recognifed him in 
 the Danifh knight, and was moft happy 
 when fhe learned by Carnegie of his 
 departure. 
 
 Though fhe ardently wifhed to fpealc 
 to Monteith, yet the conftrudlion fne 
 was convinced muft be put on her vifit 
 to Barra filled her with confufion ; yer^ 
 determined not to confcnt to their flay 
 H 5 ia 
 
C '5+] 
 
 in the caftle, (he refolved to overcome 
 it, and at once to fatisfy the decorum 
 of her fex by commanding his abfence ; 
 and to fatisfy her fears for his fafety by 
 caufing him to return to the fortrefs. 
 
[ ^S:5 ] 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Ambrosine, accudomed to a country 
 life, rofe early; while the dowager, fol- 
 lowing the manners of the court, (lepc 
 late. The former, therefore, rcfolving 
 to take advantage of the opportunity 
 that occurred, ordered the minftrcis to 
 be called to play during her breakfafl:, 
 difmilTing the other attendants. On 
 finding her commands obeyed, and her- 
 felf alone with the muficians, her con- 
 fufion for fome moments was {o great 
 as to deny her utterance, until iMonteith,. 
 ftepping forward, faid j — " Pardon, fair 
 Ambrofine, a deception of which gra-- 
 titude is alone the caufe. With hearts 
 warm with love and friendlhip for our 
 H 6 bene- 
 
[ IS6 ] 
 
 benefadtor Ambrofe, what was our rap- 
 ture to recognife him in the heirefs of 
 Kintail! To exprefs our thanks in fo 
 public an affembly, was impofTible j which 
 induced us to pra(5lire the fubterfuge 
 we have now made ufe of. I return, 
 fwcet maid, the drofs which gained 
 value by your gift ;" — fo faying, he laid 
 a bag at her feet -, — *^ but the obligation 
 is written upon my heart in characlcrs 
 never to be effaced/' 
 
 Ambrofine fomewhat colleded her- 
 felf during the time that Monteith 
 fpoke, and with dignified modefty re- 
 plied: — " I am convinced my condufl 
 mufl: appear extraordinary, and needs 
 interpretation ; but the fecret is with 
 men of honour, and confequently fafc. 
 —My father," continued (he, " firil 
 interefted me for St. Clair Monteith; 
 he fpoke of him as the vidim of the 
 pride and vice of his , mother, and a 
 
 monu- 
 
C IS7 ] 
 
 monument of the difgraceful weaknefs 
 of his father ; as the pride of his uncle^s 
 age, and, but for fome youthful im- 
 prudencies, an honour to his name and 
 country. Misfortunes and valour are 
 interefting to woman. I wifhed to fee 
 Monteich; but no opportunity happened 
 until about two years fince, when after 
 my father's death I accompanied my 
 mother to Lewes. There, again, Mon- 
 teith was recalled to my memory by 
 repeated accounts which I heard of the 
 benevolence himfelf and companions 
 had fhewn to the inhabitants lof the 
 different ides during the preceding win- 
 ter, which had been uncommonly fe- 
 vere. After this, one morning failing to 
 Bernera with a youthful party on a plea- 
 furable excurfion, one of my companions 
 fixed my attention by pointing out the 
 Chief himfelf, who, with feveral of his 
 friends, was alfo juft landing on the 
 
 coaft. 
 
[ r J8 ] 
 
 coaft. They pafTed us with the common- 
 falutation of touching their caps, and I 
 faw them no more till 1 faw them at 
 Barra." 
 
 " I remember it well," faid St. Clair; 
 ^^ but, blind infidel that I was, I noticed 
 no particular obje6l. Ambrofine, once 
 feen, is not formed to be overlooked." 
 
 " You have not forgotten to com- 
 pliment," faid Ihe ; ** but excufe me, I 
 wi(h to take advantage of this oppor- 
 tunity to, in fome meafure, exculpate 
 my own conduct, and alfo to fatisfy the 
 euriofity which I am convinced you 
 muft have on the fubjed." 
 
 Monteith and his companions bowed, 
 and remained filcnt. 
 
 *< Soon after our return to Kintail 
 1 loft my mother. Diftantly allied by 
 blood, but nearer by the friendftiip of 
 their early days, fhe left to the dow.iger 
 of Rofkelyn the care of my minority; 
 
 and. 
 
[ 159 ] 
 
 and, the laft duties performed, I was far 
 the firfl: time condudled to the fouch of 
 Scotland. 
 
 " When I became an inmate of the 
 caille of Rofkelyn, Monteith there was 
 a conftant theme, and, had I not before 
 formed a decided opinion of him, I 
 fhould from account have confidered 
 him a monfter. During my ftay there, 
 the dowager vifited her caftle of Eufdale, 
 and took with her the young heir of 
 Rofkelyn, in order to fhew him to his 
 future vaflals. On her return, they were 
 befet near the borders by Englifh rob- 
 bers, who feized the infant^ who doubt- 
 lefs died, for ranfom hath never been 
 claimed for him. 
 
 " A confiderable time previous to this 
 event, Monteith had fent an order for fixty 
 marks on his eflate -, it was refufed with 
 infult 5 and, hearing the account, I racked 
 my imagination how to do an ad which 
 
 I know 
 
[ i6o ] 
 
 I know my honoured father, had he Jived, 
 would not have difapproved ; I refer to 
 advancing the fum in a manner to infure 
 its being received, I neither loved the 
 Dowager nor the Countefs of Rofl^Lelyn j 
 and for the Earl, at once the tool of his 
 afpiring mother, and the flave of his 
 arrogant wife, I felt a fcntiment to which 
 I can give no other name than concemp\ 
 The lofs of the young Montrofe for 
 fome time fat heavily on the dowager 
 and the earl -, but, though I could not 
 refufe them commiferation, I felt their 
 puniQiment juil. For the young countefs, 
 poflefiTed of no afFe(5lion beyond that 
 for herfclf, fhe awakened all the diflike 
 my heart was capable of feeling, by the 
 unconcern (lie fhewed on the occafion. 
 Indeed I ever thought fhe loved not the 
 unfortunate infant ; her complexion, and 
 alfo that of the earl, is fair, and their 
 eyes blue ; that of the young Montrofe 
 
 was 
 
[ >6i ] 
 
 was a clear brown, and his eyes black -, 
 hence flie was accuftomed to call him a 
 true Manteith, or any name to the fame 
 allufion which fhe considered as con- 
 tempjuousj while in reality he was a boy 
 that the proudeft mother might have 
 clafped to her bofom with tranfport, 
 and, to have judged from infancy, have 
 gloried in the refleftion of what he 
 promifed to be when time fhould have 
 flamped him man."— 
 
 As the rcfrefhing Ihowers of Heavei) 
 fall upon parched land, fo did the words 
 of Ambrofineon the heart of Monteith, 
 who viewed her with a fentiment of 
 refped and admiration that he had never 
 before experienced, 
 
 ** My (lory beguiles me," faid fhe, 
 " and I ftray from my fubjecT, The 
 earl's refufal to pay the demand of fjxty 
 marks, as I heard it accurately related, 
 filled me with anger and contempt i 
 
 and 
 
[ i6a ] 
 
 and fome time after, feigning a difl-k/C 
 to fome jewels I wore, I perfuaded 
 the countefs to exchange with me for 
 thofe I brought to Barra, and which 
 1 had accidentally heard from an old 
 domeftic were originally yours. — You 
 are now mariers of the whole fecret, 
 except the means I ufed to vifit the 
 fortrefs. 
 
 " The countefs dowsger at my rc- 
 qutft accompanied me to Kintailj but 
 after a few days (lay, finding it, as fhe 
 faid, gloomy, Hie vifited her friends in 
 the vicinify of Invernefs. During her 
 abfcnce 1 executed my projed, by 
 engaging a fmall vefTel which appertains 
 to my nurfe's hufbanJ, which conveyed 
 mc fafcly to yon, and afterwards home. 
 —Such is my ftory : I confefs I ftcpped. 
 over the boundaries prefcribcd my fex,;. 
 but the motive excufcs me to myfclf, 
 and I truft will alio to you.'* 
 
[ '63 ] 
 
 '' As finners think of blefTed fpU 
 rlts who leave their heavenly abode 
 to adminiiler peace and confolation to 
 , finking fouls, fo doth Monteith confider 
 Ambrofine. O maid mod honoured ! 
 I have no words to cxprefs my gratitude 
 and veneration. The flave of folly, the 
 dupe of a face without a heart, to have 
 been an objed: of attention to fuch 
 a mind as thine, I bludi for myfelf;, 
 bur, gaining confcquence by the diftinc- 
 tion, will endeavour to dcfcrve it." 
 
 " To pretend a difregard to the fafety 
 of Monteith, whom I Ihall ever be 
 happy to rank among my friends, would 
 be a prerenfion to female refinement 
 which I do not polTefs, He is not 
 fafe at Kintail, and, if he will liften 
 to the voice of reafon/ will immediately 
 return to the foitrefs of Barra, Nay, 
 Chief, at the ^' ox d fafety y you look as 
 if you fcorned icj 1 muft therefore uf^ 
 
 another 
 
[ i64 J 
 
 another incentive. *Tis againfl the 
 honour of a maid lilcc mc, to con-. 
 nivc at young men being in the caftle 
 difguifcd. The pun(5tilious refinements 
 of my fcx 1 do not comprehend, but 
 the road to honour is plain, and never 
 willingly (hall Ambrofinc deviate from 
 its paths." , 
 
 " Painful as thefe commands may be, 
 they ihall be obeyed/* faid Monteich ; 
 " for the honour of Ambrofme is dearer 
 than the blood that warms my heart/* 
 
 <^ I thank you/' replied (he; ** we 
 Ihali meet again ; but gratify me, I pray 
 you, by taking back the money; I need 
 k not, and a time will come for pay- 
 ment/* 
 
 " Deareft maid, you forget that, in 
 my journey to the fourh, I robbed my- 
 feif in the perfon of Carnegie, and am 
 yet fo well fupplied, that you mud 
 pardon me for declining your kindnefs, 
 
 —For 
 
1 165 ] 
 
 —-For the jewels I muft: ftill remain 
 your debtor." 
 
 " To contend with you on the fub- 
 Jeft will, I fee, be ufelefs ; but re- 
 member, I pray you. Sirs that you 
 have all a friend, (hould occafion need; 
 and now, however unwilling, I muft 
 bid you farewell." 
 
 Monteith gazed on her in filence, 
 but De Bourg, throwing himfelf at her 
 fccty faid : — " Lady, you have honoured 
 us by calling uS your friends, furely 
 you have not lefs kindnefs for that 
 name than for the blind and lame min- 
 ftrels whom you condefcended to invite 
 for a while to remain at the caftle," 
 
 " The Chevalier Dc Bourg, if I re- 
 colled right," faid Ambrofine fmiling. 
 
 De Bourg bowed. 
 
 « Indeed, Chevalier," continued fhe, 
 *' were you both blind and lame, I 
 know not whether I fhould fufFer your 
 
 flay; 
 
[ i66 3 
 
 ftay ; as II is, it is impofTiblc : — nay, 
 I owe you a return, for I proteft you 
 drove me from the fortrcfs fome hours 
 before I intended, and now I do but the 
 fame by you," 
 
 *' A plague on the impudence of my 
 eyes,*' replied he ; " for that offence, 
 if I do not put them under fuch dif- 
 cipline, that thofe of the moft demure 
 monk in Scotland lliall not outdo them; 
 they (ball never more dare glance at 
 beauty, except in an oblique diredion.*' 
 
 " I dare not afk," faid Monteith, 
 *^ even the refpite of a few hours; yet 
 our difguife baffles detection, and I wi(h 
 to a{k of Ambrofme a quedion of fome 
 moment." 
 
 " Aflc it now. — Nay, you hefitate,'* 
 added fhe, after a fhort paufe ; " of 
 what nature can it be, not to be difculTed 
 before friends fo fmcere as thofe before 
 us?" 
 
 2 «♦ My 
 
[ '-67 ] 
 
 " My queftion, lady, concerns only 
 your own happlnefs; Monteich \\ill never 
 forget he is a banifhed man." 
 
 The animated hcc of Ambrofine fud- 
 denly became fcrious. ^* That reproach 
 was unmerited," faid fhe; " but (lay if 
 you fo pleafe until to-morrow morn, 
 and then Heaven fend you fair winds 
 and a fafe return to Barra. I grieve to 
 receive you in a manner fo little worthy 
 you, but necefTity mud plead my ex- 
 cufe." — So faying, (he held her hand 
 alternately to each of the outlaws, and 
 then with a ftep as light as that fabled 
 of Sylph, or Fairy, left the hall, 
 
 « By my foul," faid M'Gregor, '' I 
 will never marry; the graces of all the . 
 women I ever faw colledled, would not 
 equal the beauties of this maid." 
 
 " True," replied De Bourg, " how 
 have we heard the beauties of Ellen 
 chanted forth, and what fools have we 
 
 all 
 
[ i68 ] 
 
 all been for that jilt; who, compared to 
 this maid, is no more than one of 
 nature's every-day produ6tions, while 
 ilie is a mafterpiece of ail that is beau- 
 tiful and excellent?" 
 
 " By my life, but ye are both in 
 love,'* faid Monteith j ^^ and, in good 
 faith, if ye need another fool to the 
 number, add St. Clair. Oh, Ellen! 
 Ellen! never till this day did I feel the 
 extent of my obligation to thee." 
 
 " The devil you did not/* replied 
 McGregor. " I underftand not that/' 
 
 *' No!" anfwered Monteith; " did 
 (he not furfeit me with ingratitude, folly, 
 and falfhood, leaving me a heart free for 
 an afredion which, though I will never 
 indulge, rnuit be the pride and glory 
 of my life?" 
 
 During the refl of the day the min- 
 ftrels were fo diligent in the duties of 
 their profefiion, that they appeared never 
 
 to 
 
[ '69] 
 
 to have followed any other, and fo far 
 gained the good will of the dowager, 
 that fhe repeated her commands for 
 their remaining at the caftle. After 
 fupper Ambrofme approaching them, 
 as if to order fome particular fong, faid 
 in a low voice to Monteith, ** if you 
 have any thing to communicate to me, 
 I (hall be in the fouth gallery when the 
 bell tolls the hour of midnight." 
 
 The evening concluded, and the dow- 
 ager and the vaflals retired to reil:, 
 Monteith haftened to the appointment, 
 where, after waiting near half an hour, 
 he was joined by Ambrofine, who 
 brought with her a lighted taper. " For 
 this condefcenfion much thanks," faid 
 he J " what I have to fay will not long 
 detain you, and I (hould have departed 
 heavily, had I not been permitted to afk 
 a queftion which, though our new ac- 
 
 voL. I, I quaintance 
 
[ Vyo ] 
 
 quaintance may not authorlfe/fd^bV can- 
 dour will, I truft, excufe." 
 
 *' In meeting you thus," replied fhe, 
 *' I feel I a(5l improperly as a young 
 unprotefled maid, whofe adlions, as well 
 as her mind, fhould be free from re- 
 proach; but I know my own heart, 
 and trufl: in the integrity of yours. 
 Speak freely, therefore, all you wifh to- 
 night, and crofs the frith at early dawn, 
 be it only to free me from the anxiety 
 I experience while you are here.** 
 
 " Your wifncs are commands, dear- 
 eft maid J my life, heretofore of no value, 
 will gain eftimation in my own eyes, by 
 the confideration that you are intereftcd 
 for me." 
 
 *• Every hour," faid (lie, *^ may bring 
 the expefled guefts, in which cafe I 
 could not fupport the dread of a dif- 
 covcry J and though I have no doubt 
 
 your 
 
[ '71 ] 
 
 your friends and the iflanders would ufe 
 every means in their power, yet they 
 could neither fecure you from treachery, 
 which, if all other means fhould fail, 
 would be had recourfe to, nor me from 
 the difgrace of having men difguifed in 
 the caftle." 
 
 Monteith, almoft unknown to him- 
 felf, had taken the hand of Ambrofine. 
 '^ Pardon me/' faid he, " but who are 
 your expelled guefts?" 
 
 ** The Lord and Lady Rofktrlyn, 
 and the whole of their courtly friends. 
 They mean to pafs a month here." 
 
 *^ Comes the Knight of Lorn with 
 them?*' 
 
 " I know not, but I exped fo, he 
 is the dowager's fhadow." 
 
 *' The dowager is not his magnet, 
 fair Ambrofine ? May I take the liberty 
 of a friend, and a(k you, if you can love 
 him?" 
 
 12 *' I love 
 
[ »72 ] 
 
 "*' I love him not; his pcrfeverance is 
 iifelefs ; he comes on a fruiclefs errand, 
 and will return difappointed.** 
 
 " The dowager has caufcd a report to 
 be fpread among your vaffals, that you 
 came here to be wedded." 
 
 ^^ She will then have the trouble to 
 tell them that the marriage is poftponed 
 till I am in the humour; I know her 
 well, but am neither to be frightened nor 
 foothed into compliance. Know ye of 
 the attack the queen gave into on the 
 firft: day of the tournament ?'* 
 
 " It was then I firfl: recognifed you, 
 or rather the Chevalier, for I felt in- 
 clined to difbelieve the evidence of my 
 fenfeF." 
 
 '* I wonder not at it. It was a bufi- 
 nefs arranged among them to take me 
 by furprife, in fo public an afTcmbly, 
 but the fchcme failed. The Queen is 
 partial to the Knight of Lorn, and 
 
 wiihes 
 
[ »?3 ] 
 
 wiflies to enrich him at my cxpence. 
 The dowager too has motives, the one 
 to bring wealth into her family, as the 
 Knight is her relation, the other to in- 
 gratiate herfclf with the Queen, who 
 pays her diftinguiOied attention." 
 
 *' My queftion is anfweredi from what 
 I heard at the tournament, 1 judged Sir 
 James Stuart was not in polTcirion of 
 your heart. The dowager is defigning 
 and deep in policy where (he wifhes to 
 gain her end, and, pardon me, the gentle 
 Ambrofmc will be no match for her 
 arts." 
 
 ** She dares not ufe them j but even 
 fhould (he, I am here furrounded by 
 the va(rals of my father's houfe, whom, 
 if occafion needed, I would call together, 
 and let her fee that whatever I may be 
 in the caftle of Rofkelyn, I am miftrefs 
 here/^ 
 
 13 *^ Nobly 
 
t '74] 
 
 " Nobly refolved! But fay, fweet 
 maid, in fuch a cafe, whofe arm would 
 be nerved (o ftrongly as that of Men* 
 teith? Methinks the name of Am« 
 brorme gives me a giant's flrcngth : — 
 and mud I leave you undefended to 
 perfecution and infult?'* 
 
 Ambrofine made no reply, and Mon- 
 teith continued. 
 
 '* Deareft Ambrofine, friend of my 
 foul, I fpeak not to difluade you from 
 marriage, but it mud be to a man 
 worthy of fo eftimable a heart, one 
 equally loving and beloved i — then will 
 Monteith claim him as a brother, and, 
 in the happinefs of Ambrofine, en- 
 deavour to forget his own misfor- 
 tunes/' 
 
 " Monteith," faid (he, " I will never 
 marry." 
 
 '' Oh yes!" replied he; " Ambro- 
 fine is formed to make the bed and 
 
 firft 
 
[ 1/5 ] 
 
 firft of men happy, to live in ho^ 
 nour, and to die furrounded by her 
 children; at once the Hay and pride of 
 her age." 
 
 Ambrofine was moved at St. Clair's 
 energy. " Is this happincfs to be found 
 at court?** faid fhe, in a tremulous 
 tone. 
 
 ** It is to be found wherever you 
 refide," replied Monteith, ** be it in a 
 co,urt, or in a cottage." 
 
 " In a court I will never feek it.-^ 
 But, deceiver that you are,*' added fhe, 
 " you were not content in the payment 
 of the cxadl fum, the contefted chain I 
 found concealed in the bag ; and to 
 fhew you that I know how to receive 
 a favour, I accept it, — it fhall be a 
 pledge between us ; — and, as there is no 
 man's alTiftance, in cafe of neceffiry, 
 that I would io foon claim as yours, 
 when I return it, it fhall be either to 
 I 4 demand 
 
C 176 ] 
 
 demand your prefence or council. Here, 
 I am convinced, there is no danger ^ 
 what there may be on our return to the 
 fouth I know not, though I do not 
 fear." 
 
 *' A thoufand blefllngs for this af- 
 furance,'* replied he, kilTing her hand. 
 Oh! Ambrofine, I will now haften back 
 to Barra, and once more remember I 
 am a banifhed man/* 
 
 " The decrees of James are not thofe 
 of fate," replied fhe. 
 
 " True! but I have a deeper for- 
 row,— an ouccaft to my family and 
 name ; that difgrace can never be over- 
 
 come.'' 
 
 " Where lies the difgrace, but in 
 your own idea?" replied (he-, *' fuch 
 weakncfs is beneath Monteith. I pray 
 you rife fuperior to ir, and thank 
 Heaven for having given you a nobler 
 name than your father's, and a better 
 
 heart 
 
C 177 ] 
 
 heart than your mother's. But we 
 have beguiled the time in converfation, 
 the taper burns in the focket, and 
 the ftrcaks of day enlighten the ho- 
 rizon; prudence requires you fhould 
 be gone, but ere we part give me 
 one promife ? In cafe of danger, I 
 have pledged my word to claim your 
 afTiftance, give me your honour, that, 
 (hould you need ir, you will claim 
 mine, my revenues are now large, 
 and, I pray you, command them. 
 Hazard no more fuch encounters as 
 that with Carnegie; — nay, in this you 
 mud oblige me, or our contract is 
 void." 
 
 Monteith, thus entreated, made the 
 promife required, and prelTing Am- 
 brofinc's hand, firft to his lips, and 
 then to his heart, he tore himfelf from 
 her, and left the gallery. 
 
 I 5 He 
 
C 178 ] 
 
 He immediately joined McGregor 
 and De Bourg, and haftening to the 
 frith, they crofled to the ifle of Skie, 
 from whence they failed to Barra. 
 
[ 179 ] 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Charmed with the mufic of the min- 
 flrels, the dowager called for them ac 
 the hour of dinner, when one of the 
 domcftics being fent to feek them, 
 brought word they were no where to 
 be found. This omiffion of their duty 
 made but little impreffioni but when 
 night came, and alfo the enfuing day 
 without bringing them, the dowager 
 ordered a diligent fearch to be made, 
 left they fhould have conveyed ought 
 of value from the caftle. Nothing 
 being miffing, the furprize in a few 
 days fubfided, though it was a caufe of 
 wonder that they departed without the 
 pay they had fo juftly earned, 
 
 I 6 Some 
 
[i8o] 
 
 Some few days after arrived the noble 
 cavalcade, which confided of the fa- 
 milies of Rolkelyn and Stuart. The 
 young hoftefs received the guefts with 
 a grace and politenefs peculiar to herfelf, 
 though the combined efforts of both 
 families, added to all the entreaties and 
 addrefs of Sir James himfelf, could ef- 
 fect nothing in his favour 5 and, after a 
 ftay of a month, the party returned to 
 Rolkelyn, accompanied by the dowager 
 and the heirefs. 
 
 As Ambrofine conjedlured, the per- 
 fecution refpeding the Knight of Lorn 
 was there renewed with greater im- 
 portunity. The queen alfo fenc for her 
 to Stirling, and preffed her to deter- 
 mine in his favour, or to declare whether 
 her heart felt a prediledion for any 
 other, adding, that her bed friend, the 
 Dowager of Rofkelyn, was as anxious 
 for the marriage as herfelf i and alfo 
 
 a fibred 
 
C i8i ] 
 
 aflured her, that had the Lady Kintail 
 been living, (he would have warmly 
 adopted it. 
 
 " 'Tis moft probable my mother 
 might have done fo," replied the heir- 
 cfs, " for the Lady Rofkelyn had great 
 power over her, and (he herfelf was 
 more attached to the fplendour of pub- 
 lic life than I am: bur, had ihe even 
 adopted the fame meafures, 1 (hould 
 ftill have cxercifed a free will in a 
 bufinefs of fo much importance as my 
 own future happinefs. My father, I 
 am convinced, had he lived, would 
 have left me at liberty j he knew my 
 heart, and that the honour of my family 
 and name was as dear to me as to 
 himfclf. The Dowager of Rolkelyn 
 hath, indeed, power over me for near 
 two years, but if that is exerted too far, 
 fhe may reduce me to the neccffity of 
 adopting fomc hafty meafure, or to take 
 
 refuge 
 
[ 182 ] 
 
 refuge in a convenr, from her tyranny, 
 in either of which cafes (he will be 
 more to blame than I. No decided 
 ftcp will I take during my minority, 
 unlefs compelled, and then felf-defcnQe 
 is the firft and ftrongeft law of nature/' 
 
 " You refufe decidedly then/* re- 
 plied the Queen -, " but you have not 
 anfwered to the queftion of your heart 
 being engaged." 
 
 *' Becaufe, pardon me, I revere your 
 grace as Queen of Scotland, and not as 
 my confefTor." 
 
 " You are too fhrewd and afTuming 
 for a young maidj and I have con- 
 defcended too far, and will trouble my- 
 fclf no more in the bufinefs." 
 
 " I thank your grace, and (hall be 
 happy to fpare you the trouble." — So 
 faying, Ambrofine made her obeifance, 
 and left the apartment. 
 
 In 
 
[ 183 3 
 
 In the mean time, the outlaws had 
 fafely reached Barra, where the confine- 
 ment was now doubly irkfome to St, 
 Clair. Ambrofine, in fpite of all his 
 efforts, became his daily and nightly 
 thoughts : that he had forfeited his li- 
 berty, and loft his fortune, for an un* 
 grateful woman, ftung him with double 
 violence, when he refledled that it had 
 alfo debarred him from offering his heart 
 to a maid whofe mind, as well as perfon, 
 could have made him completely happy. 
 The frivolities and vanity of the one, 
 and the dignified and unafluming man- 
 ners of the other, were ftrongly con- 
 trafted in his thoughts ; and the re- 
 memberance of his firfl: love, which 
 ufed ever to be recalled to his memory 
 with anger and bitternefs, now loft its 
 acrimony, and funk into that calm con- 
 tempt, that fcarcely ever intruded on 
 his fancy, unlefs to raife the virtues of 
 
 Ambrofine 
 
[ i84] 
 
 Ambrofine by the comparifon. Much 
 as he loved her, her honour was yet 
 dearer to him than the pofTefTion of her 
 perfon i and he refolved, at all events, 
 never to forget himfclf fo far, as to 
 make her the wife of an outlaw. 
 
 De Bourg and the reft of the party 
 laughed at his fcruples; they all truly 
 wifned the happinefs of St. Clair, but 
 thwartins: the favourite views of the 
 houfe of Rofkelyn gave them yet fupe- 
 rior delight. The heir already in their 
 poflcflion, and Monteith once married 
 to the heirefs of Kintail, their power, 
 not only in the iflands; but alfo in Rofs- 
 fhire, where her pofTefTions lay, would 
 be unbounded. While they revolved in 
 their minds the utility of the plan, and 
 the weight and confequence it would 
 give Monteith, hs^ confidered only her 
 welfare and honour. Happy he thought 
 he could make her, as he would wil- 
 lingly 
 
[ 185 3 
 
 llngly have devoted his life to that 
 purpofe J but his heart funk at the 
 unmerited difgrace fhe muft fhare, and 
 the warm imagery of love, with all its 
 glowing fafcination, vanifhed, leaving 
 only a gloomy retrofpedion of the pad. 
 Sometimes he refolved to leave his 
 country, and in the fervice of fomc 
 foreign prince to gain fame and fortune; 
 but to leave Ambrofine a defencelefs 
 prey to perfecution, and himfelf to ef- 
 poufe quarrels in which his heart had 
 no fhare, and to fight for an hireling's 
 price, never failed to crufh the idea 
 as it rofe, and for the prefent, at lead, 
 made him rcfolve to remain at Barra. 
 
 In this (late three months pafTed, 
 when one morning a flranger was an- 
 nounced at the fortrefs, inquiring for 
 Monteith, he was immtdiately admitted. 
 " I bring a trinket and a letter,'* faid 
 be, " which I was commanded to de- 
 liver 
 
C 186 ] 
 
 liver into the hands of the Chief. I 
 have ufcd much difpatch in travelling 
 from Rofkelyn, for 1 was nobly paid, 
 and will only wait for an anfwcr, to 
 return." 
 
 St. Clair fcarcely heard what he faid, 
 before tearing open the letter, he read 
 as follows : 
 
 " I am befet with fools, and fur- 
 rounded with knaves, and am refolved 
 to bear it no longer. Ufe all prudence, 
 for I would not avoid a fmall evil ac 
 the expence of a greater. I put no 
 fuperfcription ncrr name in cafe of lofs 
 or other failure, but ycu will know the 
 writer by the token. Adieu." 
 
 At the conclufion, Monteith paufed 
 until the mtirenger recalled him to re- 
 colledlion by aflcing him for a reply. 
 
 " Return, my good friend, with all 
 fpeed," replied Monteith; *^ but I have 
 a meffcnger that will be more fwift than 
 
 you ; 
 
[ »87 ] 
 
 you ; however, fhould you reach Rof- 
 kelyn before him, the anfwer is, — All 
 is welL and fear not,^^ 
 
 The outlaws then gave him refrefh- 
 ment, and St. Clair making him an 
 ample prefent, he haftened away. 
 
 Willing as they all were to volunteer 
 in this caufe, it was thought necefTary 
 for two of the principals to remain at 
 Barra, and drawing lots for that purpofe, 
 the chance fell on McGregor and Ha- 
 milton. Monteith, Rofs, and De Bourg, 
 with the companions who had attended 
 them to the tournament, then imme- 
 diately engaged a vefTel, and the wind 
 ferving, fafely reached the port of Ard- 
 namurchan, where they landed, and 
 purchafing horfcs, continued their way^ 
 with unremitting fpeed until they arrived 
 at a fmall hamlet within fix miles of 
 Rofkeiyn. There they left their horfes ; 
 and, according to a hafty plan they had 
 
 formed 
 
[ 188 ] 
 
 formed at Barra, Montelth, Rofs, and 
 De Bourg clad themfelves in palmer*s 
 weeds, and fo ocherwife difguifed their 
 perfons, that it was next to impolTible 
 their nearrft friends fhould know them, 
 unlefs prevroufly apprized of the decep- 
 tion. Ac a little diftance they were fol- 
 lowed by their companions, who, veiled 
 in the habiliments of herdfmen, called 
 themfelves brothers returning from the 
 highlands, where they had been to take 
 poflefTlon of a fmall patrimony. 
 
 On reaching the vicinity of Rofkelyn, 
 the friends of the outlaws took up their 
 refidence in a cottage, in order, as they 
 faid, to recover from their fatigue, 
 while the pretended pilgrims proceeded 
 to the cartle, intreating admittance and 
 refrefhment for the love of the blelTcd 
 St. Curhbert, to whofe fhrine they were 
 travelling, in order to expiate the fins 
 of their youth. 
 
 Though 
 
[ i89 ] 
 
 Though the inhabitants of the caftle 
 were not famed f)r hofpitality, this 
 appeal was too ftrong to be refufed, 
 and to the dud of St. Cuthbert was 
 granted what would have been drnied 
 to the wants of mortal men, the vaflils 
 immediately admitting the fuppofed pil- 
 grims into an outward hall among the 
 domeftics, v/here they were furnifhed 
 with fuch food as cold charity allows. 
 
 Thankful of having any how gained 
 an entrance, they foon, by carelcfs quef^ 
 tions, and attention to the difcourfc of 
 the vaflals, learned that Sir James Stuart 
 was then at the caftle, the Lord and 
 Lady Roflcelyn with the court at Stir- 
 ling, and that the dowager, and her 
 young charge, were, on their return, to 
 depart to Berwick. 
 
 <« Well, to be fure," faid one of the 
 lackeys, " it is a ftrange bufinef^ but, 
 according to the old faying, one man's 
 
 ^ meat 
 
[ 190 ] 
 meat is another's poifon, for a more 
 gallanr, or a handfomer, knight than 
 Sir James Stuart, doth not tread Scot- 
 ti(h ground." 
 
 '« However true that may be," re- 
 plied a female fcrvant that fat fpinning, 
 " flie is his equal every way, for a 
 fairer maid neither England nor Scot- 
 land can produce ; and if fhe don't like 
 him, that alters the cafe. I fee no 
 reafon why fhe fhould be fent to a 
 nunnery; marry, becaufe the dowager 
 fays fhe has fome lover in fecrec. She 
 had better go to a nunnery herftlf, for 
 there be liars abroad, if (he hath not 
 more occafion to mourn the fins of her 
 youth than the Lady Ambrofine." 
 
 " Oh! but a convent will foon bring 
 her to reafon," anfwered he j " fine hath 
 naturally a merry heart, and the moping 
 of the nuns won't fuit her, fo that Ihc 
 will be glad to change them for Sir 
 4 James. 
 
t ipl 1 
 
 Jafhes. Tm fure you would yourfeJf; 
 Bridget." 
 
 *' Thafs more than you know, fool; 
 but, if I was in her place, I would do 
 neither. The Lady Ambrofine hath 
 money enough to choofe a hufband for 
 herfclf, and if I was flie, I would try 
 whether my legs would not run as fafl 
 as the dowager's head could contrive, 
 before I would be a (lave to her vaga- 
 ries : one night when I attended her to 
 bed I told her as much ; bur, poor 
 foul, fhe only fighed, and faid : * Alas ! 
 I have no one to receive me, Brid- 
 get/' 
 
 At that moment being the hour of 
 fupper, the lackies went to their re- 
 fpedtive duties, and the maid was left 
 alone with the pilgrims. 
 
 « Holy St. Cuthbert," faid De Bourg 
 in a fandified drawling tone, " have ye 
 forgotten, brethren, the dream I related 
 
 to 
 
t '92 ] 
 
 to ye the night I fell aflcep at the foot 
 of St. Bridget's (brine.*' 
 
 Monteith made no reply, but Rofs 
 fuppofing he had fome motive in the 
 queftion, anfwered : " No, truly, bro- 
 ther, it was a wonderful infpiration, and 
 you fliould be careful to obey its dic- 
 tates." 
 
 ** I mean it, — pardon me, fair maid, 
 the queftion, but either my ears deceived 
 me, or fome one called you Bridget?" 
 
 " My name is Bridget, pilgrim 3 but 
 why afk you?" 
 
 *' From no vain motive : St. Bridget 
 hath been my patronefs from my youth,- 
 at her feet have I wearied her with my 
 petitions, and at her altar have I offered 
 up my wealth, until at length fhe yielded 
 to my prayers; then by her fide have I 
 flept, till, finncr that I am, my wanderings 
 carried me from her, and (he fought 
 another votary. Pa(ring lately through 
 
 ' Rofsfhire, 
 
[ 193 ] 
 
 Rofsfliire, while my brethren proftrated 
 themfelves before St. Duthac, I foughc 
 out my faint, and, overcome with in- 
 voluntary deep, funk at the foot of her 
 altars when methought fhe flood before 
 me, and, ftriking me with a branch Ihe 
 held in her hand, called thrice in a 
 fevere and folemn tone of voice, " So- 
 lortion, Solomon, Solomon ! recreant 
 that thou art, after fo long an abfence, 
 why vifitefl: thou me?" Trembling at 
 her frown, methought I entreated her 
 pardon, when, afluming a milder air, ihe 
 faid: " Once more then I try thee; 
 obferve my words; and when thou 
 meeteft a maiden who Ihall bear my 
 name, give her in token from me the 
 ruby ring thou wear^ft upon thy finger, 
 and tell her that my comqiands are, that 
 (he difclofe the prcfent to no one but to 
 a true virgin, under twenty years of age, 
 of high blood, and the only child of her 
 VOL. I. K father. 
 
[ 194 ] 
 
 father, which virgin fhall further in(lru(fl 
 her in my wilhes." 
 
 " Holy faints!" exclaimed the maid, 
 *' my name is Bridget fure enough -, but 
 why her faintlhip (hould be fo kind to 
 me, 1 cannot tell." 
 
 ** *Tis not for you to judge," replied 
 De Bourg. " If you can tiuly affure 
 me your name is Bridget, and that y.pu 
 will ftridlly obey her commands, I will 
 execute my commiQion.'* 
 
 ** Gracious goodnefs ! ye may fcarch 
 the book 5 I was baptized at the church 
 of the Holyrood, in the city of Edin- 
 burgh." 
 
 " No, I will take your word, I cannot 
 fuppofe you would feek to deceive me. 
 Brother," addrefllng Monteith, ** give 
 me the ring: — fearful, after fo folcma 
 an injundlion, of lofing the identified 
 jewel, I gave it into the truft of my bro- 
 ther, who is more careful than myfelf.** 
 
 Monteith 
 
[^95] 
 
 Monteith immediately gave him a 
 ring which he had received among the 
 jewels from Ambrofe, 
 
 *' Take it, maiden," faid De Bourg; 
 " but obferve the conditions, difclofe 
 the mifiion to no one but a true maiden, 
 under twenty, of high blood, and the 
 only child of her father, and, according 
 to the holy Bridget, you (hall then 
 hear further, — Know you any fuch?** 
 
 ** Marry, I mud confideri there*s 
 my dear friend Barbara Macgowrie, (he 
 is under twenty ; and her own father's 
 mother was fccond-coufm by father's 
 fide to McLean, who ferved in King 
 Robert's wars." 
 
 " I think not fhe is a true maid,'* 
 faid Dc Bourg. <^ Is (he the only child 
 of her father?" 
 
 «* Holy goodnefs, no! there be nine 
 
 of them ; — but, as for the fcandal of 
 
 John Anderfon, I am fure it is falfe, 
 
 K 2 for 
 
[ 196] 
 
 for llie has told me fo a tLouland 
 
 times." 
 
 cc 
 
 Her word is not to be taken ; you 
 muft heed how you tranfgrefs the com- 
 mands of holy Bridget ; for, if you do, 
 you will hear no more, and alfo incur 
 her fevcre difpleafure,'* 
 
 *' The goodnefs forbid! I fear I fhall 
 be obliged to keep the fecrer, for I 
 know no one who exadly anfwers the 
 defcription." 
 
 ** You muft then have patience; 
 the faint who fent the ring can alfo 
 fend a maid proper to reveal it to.— 
 Kath the Lady Roflcelyn a daugh- 
 ter?'* 
 
 " No, fhe hath only a fon, fhc is 
 not herfelf more than four-and-twenty ; 
 and the dowager hath no child but the 
 Lord of Rofkelyn, — Oh the goodnefs I" 
 exclaimed fhe after a paufe, " what a 
 fool am I ; if there is not the Lady 
 
 Ambrofine, 
 
[ 197 ] 
 
 Ambrofine, who, I will be bound to 
 fwear, is a true virgin, and the only 
 child of her father, the Lord of Kin- 
 tail.'* 
 
 " 'Tis doubtlefs the very maid Sc. 
 Bridget intended,'* replied De Bourg 
 in his fanflified tone. " If flie be what 
 you fay, difclofe it to her, but with 
 prudence and fecrecy.** 
 
 A few moments after, Bridget was 
 called to her houfehold duties, when 
 De Bourg repeating his command, 
 and (he her promife of obfcrvance, Icfc 
 them. 
 
 " A thoufand thanks to thy inventive 
 genius, dear Solomon,** faid Montcithj 
 but for this lie, though we are in the 
 houfc, we fhouid have found innu- 
 merable difficulties in letting her know 
 it.** 
 
 '* A lie, quotha,'* replied De Bourgj 
 '^ the foundation of the ilory is true, 
 
 K 3 I only 
 
[ »98 ] 
 
 I only heightened the colouring, and 
 added a few incidents." 
 
 " What, cien," faid Rofi laughing, 
 •' in truth the holy Bridget vificed thy 
 dreams/' 
 
 "In faith hath (he,** replied he ; 
 *' for when I was a lad in France, 
 the name of my firft love was Bridget, 
 at her feet I fighed and fucd, and 
 racked my brains and emptied my purfc 
 to obtain her favour j but, alas, once 
 gained, the inconftancy of man affailed 
 me, and, travelling to Normandy, for 
 a whole year I negleded my love j fo 
 that when I returned, I found fhe had 
 chofen a better votary, for the Duke of 
 Burgundy had taken my place : — fo far 
 hiftorical, the reft apocryphal; and, 
 marry, St. Bridget will ferve you a 
 good turn, I hope, in which cafe you 
 will owe her a wax taper, of a pound 
 
 weight at Icaft." 
 
 '* And 
 
[ 199 3 
 
 *' And truly will I pay her ; fo thou 
 wilt place is before her (brine/* replied 
 Monteith. — *' But to a more material 
 fubjcdl ; what think you of the condu(5b 
 of the dowager to Ambrofine ?*' 
 
 " *Tis worthy of the reft of her 
 deeds/* anfwcrcd Rofs :— " incapable of 
 bending the will of the heirefs to her 
 wifhes, file would, if poflible, imbitter 
 two of the bcft years o^ her life j but 
 thou haft not the heart of a man if thou 
 doft not prevent it,** 
 
 " Rofs, I dare not be a villain ; 
 Heaven witnefs for me, that, had I 
 worlds, I would fiiare them with fo 
 noble-minded a maid ; but to reward 
 her generous friendfhip with difgrace, 
 I cannot bear.** 
 
 " Hift 1" interrupted De Bourg, " fome 
 
 one comes; fcrew up the mufcles of your 
 
 face to the extreme point of hypocrify, 
 
 and tune your voices to the fame note." 
 
 K 4 The 
 
[ 2CO ] 
 
 The intruder was one of the vaflals, 
 who came to (hew the pilgrims to a 
 chamber allotted forfuch gueRs in the 
 Itft tower of the caftje, and, where fur- 
 nifliing them with clean ftraw and co- 
 verlids, he left them. 
 
[ 201 ] 
 
 « 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Interested as the pilgrims were ta 
 procure an interview with Ambrofine, 
 the impatience of Bridget equalled theirs, 
 and haftening to the apartment of the 
 heirefs, fhe found her feated in deep 
 refledtion, *' Sweet lady/' faid ihe, 
 " you were ever kind and good, and I 
 have news to tell you." 
 
 ** To tell me, Bridget j prithee then 
 relate it.** 
 
 " There be three pilgrims come 
 to the caftle to-night j they travel to 
 Durham, to the fhrine of St. Cuth- 
 berr.'' 
 
 " Heaven fpeed them ; I hope the 
 
 faint will proted them on their journey, 
 
 K 5 and 
 
[ 202 ] 
 
 and reward their piety.— Is this all thy 
 news?** 
 
 « No, lady 5 (Jie blcflcd St. Bridget 
 herfelf has fcnt me a mcflage." 
 
 *' A meflage to thee 5 I pray thee to 
 what purport.*' 
 
 ** Yes, lady, even to fuch a poor 
 lowly damfcl as myftlf; and I was to 
 declare it to no one but a true maid, 
 under twenty, and who was the only 
 child of her parents j and now, lady, as 
 1 am fure that muft be you, I will reveal 
 
 it.** 
 
 " What knave haih perfuaded thee 
 to believe fuch folly?" 
 
 " No folly, lady -, and for knaves, if 
 the pilgrims be knaves, they be mod 
 portly ones;— their faces, indeed, are 
 hardly to be feen for their hair, and the 
 great hats they wear flouched over their 
 foreheads, but they look like lords at 
 lead i and for one of them, who is quite 
 
 filcnt. 
 
[ 203 ] 
 
 filent, if noble looks would make a king, 
 he would be king of the whole world. 
 As I (looped to pkk up my thread, 
 I caught a better view of his face,— 
 fuch fine black eyes, lady, and fuch 
 a fine fhaped nofe, I never faw be- 
 fore." 
 
 ** They have beguiled thee with their 
 hypocrifyj — give me my night-rail, I 
 will away to bed, vexation hath made 
 me heavy." 
 
 ".Dear lady, ere you go, hear what 
 I have to fay, as you alone can inform 
 me what St. Bridget's commands are 
 for me. — Sinner that I am, fhould I 
 difregard her token, I dare not go to 
 bed." 
 
 " Her token," repeated Ambrofinc; 
 " prithee, Bridget, what token hath fhc 
 fent thee ? a pair of ftriped garters, a 
 fwcet-cake in the fhape of a heart, or 
 the parings of her nails in a filk bag to 
 K 6 wear 
 
[ 204 ] 
 
 wear about thy neck, in order to drive 
 away evil fpirits; if the lad, I pray thee 
 hade to put it on, that thou mayft not 
 be fo eafily duped." 
 
 " You have a merry heart, lady, 
 whatever betides you ; but, pardon mc> 
 'tis finful to jeft on fuch fubjedls. The 
 bleffed Bridget commanded one of the 
 pilgrims in a dream to give me neither 
 more nor lefs than this beautiful ring.'* 
 
 ** Gracious Heaven I" exclaimed Am- 
 brc fine, fnatching the ring ; " is it pof- 
 fiblc? Is William returned from the 
 commiffion I Tent him upon ?" 
 
 " No, lady; had he, right well do I 
 know that he would have been here, 
 not only for your fake, but for mine." 
 
 «' True,** anfwercd Ambrofine, pau- 
 fing ; ^* it is impoffible he fliould.— But 
 thcfc pilgrims, thou fay'ft, are men of 
 noble port, one panic ularly." 
 
 <c 
 
 Yes, 
 
[ 205 ! 
 
 " Yes> lady ; the filent one is fo tall 
 and (lately, that when he ftood by the 
 vafTals of the houfe, he feemed to look 
 down upon them, and, furely, ifftran- 
 gers had come in, they would have 
 drawn back, and have fuppofed him the 
 lord of the caftle at leaft ; — in good truth, 
 I felt afhamed to fee them feated in the 
 outward hall/* 
 
 " Bridget, I mud fee thefe pilgrims/" 
 *« You, lady !— will you then tell me 
 further of the will of the faint?" 
 
 ** Undoubtedly, if (he communicates 
 it to me.—- Where is the Dowager and 
 the Knight of Lorn?" 
 
 " In the great hall> at fupper/* 
 " Where are the pilgrims?'* 
 " In the traveller's chamber in the 
 left tower :— fhall I order them to attend 
 you, lady?" 
 
 ** Not for your life, dear Bridget; 
 vthis bufinefs muft be privates the family 
 
 retired 
 
[ 206 ] 
 
 retired to reft, we will adventure to the 
 tower, and hear further both of thy fate 
 and mine.'* 
 
 " Think you then, lady, that thefe 
 men be diviners?" 
 
 «c Noj — yet, if I miftake not, the 
 future happinefs or mifery of my l.fc 
 depends upon one of them, and 'tis ne« 
 ceflary I confult him thereon, yet fee 
 thou keep it fecrct.** 
 
 " I will; but I pray you, do not 
 forget, lady, to 2(k him furrher refpedl- 
 ing the commands of St. Bridget to 
 me. 
 
 ** Undoubtedly not, though I caa 
 already in part inform thet, — If thou 
 keepcft this fecret with truth and honour, 
 it is the will of the holy Bridget that 
 thou wed William, and that 1 give thee 
 a marriage portion.** 
 
 " Holy virgin!** exclaimed (he, "re- 
 ward the l>lefred faint for her kindnefsi 
 
 to 
 
[ 207 ] 
 
 to me, and you alfo: — but, did you 
 dream it, lady?" 
 
 «* It matters not, now, for you to 
 know how I gained the inf>rmation I 
 poffe^s ; fo thou getteft a good hufbind, 
 and a marriage portion ; but, (hould a 
 word efcape rht-e, 'tis all void.** 
 
 " Never fear me; I would fooner 
 be dumb a month, than hazard fuch a 
 lofs." 
 
 " 'Tis well ; here, take thy ring, but 
 for the prefent (hew it to no one ; and 
 for the white robe I wore yeflerday, 
 take that, thou may'ft convert it into a 
 wedding garment ; nay, no thanks, defer 
 them, I pray thee j hie thee into the 
 caftle, and carefully oblcrve when all are 
 gone to reft ; and bring me intelligence, 
 and alfo a frefh taper to light us to the 
 ftrangers,*' 
 
 " Shall you not fear to venture to 
 the tower to-night, lady?" 
 
 ** Surely 
 
[ 208 ] 
 
 «« Surtlynoti if thou fearcft, remain 
 behind." 
 
 «^ M^rry, Heaven forbid, — I would 
 follow you to the world's end j St. 
 Bridget, I have no doubt, will guide us 
 through every danger/* 
 
 " Hafte thee away then, but be cau- 
 tious: I will extinguilh my taper, as if 
 I were retired to reft, and will wait thy 
 return in darknefs.** 
 
 Bridget did as (he was commanded ; 
 a huft}and, and a marriage portion, were 
 objedls too material to be loft for fa 
 trivial a duty; and, though flie longed 
 to relate the high favour (he was in 
 with the faint, yet fhe refolved to reftrain 
 herfelf until either the pilgrims or Am- 
 brofine fet her tongue at liberty on the 
 fubjcdl. 
 
 Ambrosine, 
 
C 209 ] 
 
 Ambrosine, left alone, could fcarcely 
 believe it poflible that the outlaws (hould 
 have reached Rofl^elyn in fo fhort a 
 fpace oftime. The conduft of Monteith 
 at Kintail, and the almoft incredible 
 fpeed he had ufed, flattered her that (he 
 was not indifferent to him ; but the dif- 
 traded pafTion he was faid to have 
 entertained for the Lady Rofkelyn four 
 years before, fickened her at heart; 
 yet, refleding on the fubjcd, fhe faid 
 mentally : — " Away with fuch thoughts, 
 I blufh to let them find harbour a 
 moment in my bofom ; the mind of 
 Monteith is fuperior to fuch folly, he 
 cannot love without efteem ; and let 
 me but once claim an intereft in his 
 heart, if 1 hold it not, the fault be mine. 
 Vanity might prompt him at the tour- 
 nament to hold me unrivalled, and gra- 
 titude might bring him to Kintail j but 
 his emotion when we converfed in the 
 
 gallery 
 
[ 210 ] 
 
 gallery there, was furcly neither occa- 
 fioned by vanity nor gratitude/ Of 
 women well may he think cheaply, 
 they have been the bane of his life. 
 Oh 1 fhould it be the fortune of mine to 
 retrieve the charadtcr of my fcx in the 
 iiiind of fo noble a man, how gladly 
 (hould I relinquilh all the falfe glare of 
 the court for the dreary rocks among 
 which he dwells.'* 
 
 Such were the reflcflions of Ambro- 
 fine till Bridget joined her, when ihc 
 informed her all was quiet in the caftle, 
 and the lights extinguifhcd, after a (hort 
 confultation they took the way to the 
 tower where the pilgrims were lodged. 
 As they paffed along, an idea of fear ftruck 
 Ambrofine, that the pilgrims might 
 not be the perfons fhe hoped; yet the 
 identity of the ring in great mcafure 
 difpelled ir. As they paficd through the 
 lower galleries of the caltlc, and croflcd 
 
 the 
 
[2.1] 
 
 the courts, the owls and bats, difturbed 
 by the glare of the taper from their 
 ivy haunts on the turrets, hooted and 
 Ikimmtd around them, to the great 
 annoyance of Bridget, who, confidering 
 ihem as the harbingers of goblins or 
 devils, did not ccafe a moment recom- 
 mciiding herfelf in filent prayer to her 
 patron faint j while Ambrofine, fuperior 
 to a dread of objcds whom flie never 
 knew or injured, paflcd fcarlefsly and 
 lightly forward, waving the taper to 
 defend herfelf from the too near ap- 
 proach of fuch difagrecable intruders. 
 
 On reaching the tower, Ambrofine 
 left Bridget below, and wich k-fs firm- 
 nefs afcended the ftairs, and having 
 gained the apartment, he fi rated fcveral 
 times whether (he (houlJ knock. At 
 length, with forced courage, (he ft ruck 
 gently at the door, and was inflantly 
 anfwered by Monteith, who demanded 
 
 who 
 
[ 212 ] 
 
 who was there. Certified by the voice 
 of St. Clair, fhe replied, " Ambrofinc 
 of Kintail, who wiflies to hold a (hort 
 conference with the pilgrims, whom (he 
 will wait for in the lower apartment." 
 
 Before Ambrofine could defcend, the 
 door was unbarred, and fhe faw the 
 outlaws all completely clothed, though 
 without their cloaks, and fcated on ben- 
 ches in the apartment, had their fwords 
 unlheathed before them, and daggers in 
 their girdles. 
 
 She (huddered at the fighr, but St. 
 Clair advancing, reafTured her : — *' Firft 
 of women V* faid he, " why have you 
 ventured here at this hour ? to-morrow 
 might have been more convenient, than 
 eroding the caftle in the dead of night, 
 as you mud have done. We have 
 dcvifcd the means offtaying another day. 
 De Bourg will feign fickncfs, and the 
 rights of hofpitaiity cannot be denied us. 
 
 Ambrofine 
 
[ 213 ] 
 
 Ambrofme held out her hand. " I 
 grieve," faid (he, '* to give you this 
 trouble, and tremble left I ihould in- 
 volve you in danger; but young and 
 defencelefs, I have no one to take my 
 part, and have only a refplte of a few 
 days allowed me, to determine whether 
 I will wed the Knight of Lorn, or pafs 
 the remaining two years of my minority 
 in the convent of Francifcan nuns ac 
 Berwick. The knight I think not of, 
 nor have I any decided averfion to a 
 convent, except to that of the mlnorefles, 
 whofe abbefs 1 well know to be a crea- 
 ture of the dowager's, and I have no 
 doubt would make my lituation very 
 difagreeabie there. What I would in- 
 treat is, that you would afTift me in 
 getting hence. On the north fide of 
 the Tay, at the foot of the Grampian 
 Hills, there is a monaftery of black 
 monks, and alfo a convent of nuns, 
 1 who 
 
[ 214 ] 
 
 who would doubtlefs receive me for a 
 good confideration, until I could claim 
 my own." 
 
 Monteith prefled her hand to his 
 heart in filence, while De Bourg and 
 Rofs fwore to die in her defence. 
 
 « Heaven forbid," faid (he, " I 
 fhould need fo dangerous a proof of 
 your friendfhip j prepare but fleet hor- 
 fes, I can ride with the beft of ye, and 
 we will foon be fafe from purfuit.*' 
 
 «' We are,'* replied Monteith, " al- 
 ready provided, they are not more than 
 fix miles from hence, and can eafily be 
 brought hither, one for you is alone 
 wanting, and that we will immediately 
 procure." 
 
 " Need you money?" faid (he. 
 
 " No," interrupted De Bourg, <* I 
 am cadi-bearer, and the trafh is plenty," 
 
 " 'Tis well,'* replied Ihe, " I muft 
 haftcn, for time waftes. To-morrow, 
 
 ac 
 
[ 215 ] 
 
 at the hour of midnight, crofs the court 
 that leads to this tower, and under the 
 portal, on the right hand, is a fmall door 
 which opens to the chapel j you may 
 eafily unbar ir, and in the aifle wait my 
 coming. The lamp that conftantly 
 burns before the altar will give you 
 fufficient light, and I fhall bring a taper, 
 as I cannot pafs the avenues of the 
 caftle in darknefs/' 
 
 '^ Suffer me to accompany you 
 through them,** faid S". Clair. 
 
 *^ For your life enter not the interior 
 of the dwelling," replied Ambrofine; 
 " fear not for me, I am fafe. There is 
 a paflage through the facrifty which 
 leads to the outfide of the rampart 
 wall, by which I mean to efcape ; and 
 in the wood adjoining you may con- 
 ceal your horfes. — But — adieu, 1 muft 
 away, as I much queftion whether St. 
 Bridget hcrfelf hath been able to prc- 
 
 ferve 
 
[ 2l6 ] 
 
 fcrve her poor votary from the horrors 
 of fear during the fhort interval which 
 Ihe hath waited at the entrance of the 
 tower.'* 
 
 So faying, fhe held her hand to each, 
 but laft to Monteithj who, clafping it, 
 and taking his fword, declared he would 
 fee her acrofs the court. Ambrofine 
 would have denied, but St. Ciair in- 
 fifting, fhe gave him the taper, when 
 placing her arm under his, he defcended 
 the flairs, where they found the trem- 
 ling Bridget awaiting the return of her 
 miftrcfs. 
 
 «* Bridget/' faid Ambrofine, '^ all is 
 well, remember the promife of fccrecy ; 
 not only thy fate> but mine, depends 
 upon it." 
 
 Bridget made no reply, but by a bend 
 of the knees, fo great was her aftonifh- 
 ment to fee her midrefs accompanied 
 by the handfomc pilgrim, who now 
 
 appeared 
 
[ 217 J 
 
 appeared a thoufand times more fo, when 
 his head was uncovered, and his form 
 undifguifed by the palmer's cloak. 
 
 Pafling through the courts, the owls 
 and bats again annoyed them ; Monteith 
 ufed the fame means to keep them off 
 as Ambrofine had before done, and 
 confidered her with admiration devoid 
 of that puerile weaknefs, which, in fpite 
 of his former love for Ellen, he could 
 not even then avoid thinking, partook 
 of folly and afFedlation. 
 
 On reaching the lower gallery, Am- 
 brofine (lopped, and v/ould have bidden 
 him farewell, bur, holding her hand, 
 he entreated her (lay a few moments. 
 Placing the taper in a recefs, and Brid- 
 get retiring a few paces, he faid :— 
 " Flattered by the reflection that you 
 confider me as a friend, pardon the 
 queftion, — but is there no plan that 
 could be formed better than your 
 
 VOL, I. L wading 
 
[ 2l8 ] 
 
 vvaRlng two of the beft years of your 
 Hfe in a convent, and from whence you 
 are not certain but the partiality of the 
 Queen for rhe dowager of RofKelyn, and 
 the Kniglu of Lorn, might force you?" 
 
 *^ I fee all my danger, but know no 
 alternative,'* replied (hcj " know you 
 of any?" 
 
 <« Alas, no,'* anfwered he, ^' with a 
 heavy figh. ^^ Oh Ambrofine, could I 
 recai the pad! — but the wifli is vain, 
 forrow is mine for ever.*' 
 
 . *' Say not foi when we met lad, 
 you queftioned me clofely; (hall I ufc 
 the fame freedom with you?" 
 
 *' Ailuredly ; I will (hew you my 
 heart as openly as *tis before the Creator 
 who made it.** 
 
 " You afkcd me if I loved the Knight 
 of Lorn ; 1 replied, truly, that I did noti 
 now anfwer to me, Love you ftill the 
 Lady RoQcelyn?'* 
 
 " No, 
 
[ 219 ] 
 
 ** No, on my foul and honour -, three 
 years has fhe been to me as nothing; 
 in the firft paroxifm of my difappoint- 
 ment I • hated her, in the fecond I 
 thought of her with contempt, but now 
 without either. — If I remember her 
 at all, it is with fatisfa6lion that fhe 
 has fpared me the greateft of all my 
 misfortunes, that of being her huf- 
 band." 
 
 " I am a (Irange bold girl, — but 
 pardon me ; love you any one eifc ?" 
 
 " Ambrofine, I am a banifhed man, 
 and daf-e not love/* 
 
 ** Ridiculous refinement! — Topunidi 
 your enemies in the mod effecSlual man- 
 ner, would be to let them fee you 
 happy in fpite of their machinations ; — 
 but we muft part, the day will foon 
 dawn. Fail not to be with your 
 companions in the chapel at midnight, 
 and leave the reft to fortune : but ere 
 h 2 we 
 
L 220 J 
 
 we part fay, know you the way back to 
 your friendhi*** 
 
 ^' I do, I obferved ir well; I was 
 alfo here once in mv boyiOi djys wiih 
 tpy uncle Monteith." 
 
 " Farewell, then," faid (lie; «< re- 
 member to-morrow night, and Heaven 
 guide you.*' 
 
 '*^ Angels, with hearts pure as your 
 own, watch round you!** anfwered he, 
 prefTing her hand to his lips, and pre- 
 paring to kave her. 
 
 " Will you not the taper ?" faid llie, 
 detaining him. 
 
 '' No. Oh Ambrofine,"* replied he, 
 with an emotion he could not reprefs a- 
 gain feizing and kilTing her hand -, " would 
 I had known thee fooner, or never — " 
 
 " Finifh not the fentence," laid Ihe 
 jeftingly ; *' know you not the proverb, 
 ' Belter late than never,' But, once 
 niofc^, fu re well." 
 
 Monteith 
 
[ 22X ] 
 
 Montelth made no reply, but, leaving 
 the court, gained the tov/er> where his 
 companions awaited him. 
 
 Ambrofine, in the mean time, with 
 Bridsret, croffed through the interior of 
 the caftle in filence. Thev were, how- 
 ever, fomewhat alarmed, in pafllng the 
 dowager's chamber, to hear her dog 
 bark; but, ufing their ucmoft fpeed, 
 they foon reached the apartment of 
 Ambrofine, where (he detained Bridget 
 during the remainder of the night, or 
 rather morning. 
 
 ^3 
 
[ 222 ] 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Bridget, on being reqiiefted, readily 
 gave Ambrofine an oath of kcreCy ; 
 who then informed her, that her lover 
 William had-been the meflenger to fetch 
 the pilgrims, though fhe evaded faying 
 from whence they came. Ambrofine 
 alfo repeated her promifc of giving her 
 a marriage-portion, and commanded her, 
 if fhe was fuccefsful in leaving the caftle 
 on the enfuing night, to demand her 
 difmifllon, and, firft making William 
 her fpoiife, to travel to Kintail, where, 
 to infure her a proper reception, fhe 
 gave her an order under her own hand,. 
 and money alfo, to defray her journey 
 thither; then, coUcdling her moll va- 
 luable 
 
[ ^23 ] 
 
 luable jewels, fhe laid herfelf down to 
 red, with Bridget by her fide. The 
 latter, though the flattering idea of 
 being under the immediate protecTtion 
 of a faint was fomewhac diminiQied, 
 yet confoled herfelf fo well with the 
 patronage of the heirefs, that fhe foon 
 fell afleep. Not fo Ambrofinej the 
 bold ftep fhe had taken, under a firm 
 reliance on Monteith's honour, and the 
 altnofl certainty that he loved her, kept 
 her awake, and fhe looked forward with 
 the pleafurable hope of making him 
 amends for all the evils of fortune, and 
 of conftituting the happinefs of the only 
 man that could make her fo. 
 
 In the morning, De Bourg feigned 
 
 ficknefs fo artfully, that he was eafily 
 
 permitted to remain all day in the 
 
 apartment allotted the travellers -, Rofs, 
 
 L 4 .the 
 
[ 2^4 ] 
 
 the better to flipport the deception, 
 remained with him ; while Monteith 
 joined his companions at the cottage, 
 and gave them in charge to fetch the 
 horfes from where they h^d left them, 
 and alfo to purchafe one for Ambro- 
 fine. 
 
 Twice in the day, under pretence of 
 carrying fomething to the fick pilgrim, 
 they were vinted by Bridget, who 
 brought them intelligence that at noon 
 the fame day William had arrived fafe, 
 
 De Bourg, perceiving that Bridget 
 treated him witlv more diftance than his 
 companions, from the remembrance of 
 the faint, faid : — " My dear maid, look 
 -not at me with that averted eye, left 
 ye make me guilty of forfwearing St. 
 Bridget for ever, in which cafe the fin 
 will be yours, not mine, I vow to you, 
 that, fatisfitd with the candour and 
 beauty of your countenance, I Giould at 
 
 once 
 
[ 225 3 
 
 once have difclofed the bufinefs to you, 
 without any fubterfugc ; but the over- 
 caution of my companions prevented ic, 
 and- reduced me to have recourfe to ^ 
 deception for which even at the time 
 my heart reproached me :— condemn 
 me not, therefore, for their fault." 
 
 Bridget accepted the apology. 
 
 *< Nay then," added he, <* give me 
 your hand, and a kifs-of reconciliation^ 
 I infift. — Mifcrable man tJiat I am, I have 
 neither rings, chains, lockets, crofTcs, 
 or trinkets fit to prefent to a maiden;^ 
 —but the will with a generous mind 
 like thine, Bridget, will be taken for 
 the deed J — fuffcr me, therefore, I pray 
 thee, to beg thee to accept this piece 
 of gold for my fake." 
 
 ** Indeed, generous fir^ I cannot; the 
 Lady Ambrofine pays me nobly; iffhe 
 will fuffer me, I will live and die with 
 her." 
 
 L 5 « Thou 
 
[ 226 ] 
 
 y " Thou art a good girl,*' anfwered 
 he : *' but thou doft not pardon me 
 unlefs thou takeft my prefent; for, 
 though it is not a trinket for thee to 
 wear, thou mayeft hereafter drill a hole 
 through it, and hang it round thy-eldeft 
 fon's neck; I promife thee it v;ill be 
 of wonderful efficacy in making him cue 
 his teeth." 
 
 Monteith and Rofs. both laughed, nor 
 could Bridget forbear. — " From which 
 of thy faints doth it pofiefs chat virtue?'* 
 faid St. Clair.'' 
 
 " What is that to thee, infidel ?" 
 anfwered De Bourg. " I am punifhed 
 for thy guilt." 
 
 " Nay, Bridget will accept thy pre- 
 fent," faid Monteith, " and alfo the 
 fame from me and Rofs, fo that the 
 elder child may not have the advantage 
 of the two that fuccced." 
 
 (( 
 
 Yc 
 
[ 227 ] 
 
 " Ye are merry hearts; firs/' fard 
 Bridget ; «* my lady willed me to afk 
 you if you remembered the way to the 
 ehapel?" 
 
 " We do," replied Monteith j '^ bear 
 to her our beft wifhes, we will not 
 fail her/' 
 
 During the whole of the day, Am- 
 brofine kept her apartment as much as^ 
 pofilble, without appearing particular-i 
 for, confcious of her intention, (he 
 thought the Knight of Lorn, and the 
 dowager, viewed her with fcrutinizing 
 eyes J and towards evening, complaining 
 of indifpofition, fhe retired early. 
 
 It was an hour beyond midnight be- 
 fore all was quiet in the caftle y when,, 
 taking her jewels, fhe refolved to ad-r 
 venture. Bridget, who had been wcepw 
 ing all the afternoon, would fain have 
 accompanied her, but that Ihe peremp-y 
 torily rcfufed J for, however (he widied 
 L 6 a fe- 
 
[ 228 ] 
 
 a female companion, fhe well knew it 
 would impede their flight : — repeating, 
 therefore, the former command, for her 
 to wed William as foofi as poflible, and 
 to repair to Kintail, ihe took her taper, 
 and, difmifling Bridget to reft, left the 
 chamber. With a light but trembling 
 ftep, fhe pafTed the gallery where her 
 own chamber was fituated, and, eroding 
 the great flairs that led, to the grand 
 apartments, fhe entered the gallery ap- 
 pertaining to the dov/ager and her re- 
 tinue. 
 
 She recollecled the barking of the 
 dog the preceding night with fomc 
 alarm: but now all appeared quiet a- 
 round her, until, leaving the fuite of 
 chambers to dcfcend to the lower ftory, 
 fhe thought ihe heard a ftep above, and 
 the whifpering of diflant voices, which 
 the echo of the high roof conveyed to 
 her car. Thoroughly alarmed, yet too 
 
 far 
 
[ 229 ] 
 
 far advanced to draw back, (he cxtln- 
 tinguifhed her taper, and proceeded in 
 fjlent hafte through the lower galleries 
 into the firfb court, where, by the im- 
 pcrfedl light of the moon, fhe difcovered 
 a nnan leaning againft one of the but- 
 trelTes. Her alarm was, however, of 
 fhort duration^ for, direded by her 
 white garment, he advanced. — ^^Deareft 
 Ambrofine,'* faid Monteith, " I have 
 fufFcred more than I can defcribe by 
 your (lay; a few minutes more, and I 
 ihould have endeavoured to feek you in 
 the caftle.*' 
 
 <c Peace, on your life," faid (he, in 
 a low voice ; " I fear I am purfued, 
 and that the cxtinguifning my taper 
 iias alone prevented my being over- 
 taken." 
 
 Monteith clafped her hand, and haf- 
 tening forward, faid : — " They mud be 
 bold fellows who take you from me s 
 
 mechinks. 
 
[ 23^ ] 
 
 methinks. In this caufe, I could encoun* 
 ter an army.** 
 
 As they pafTed forward, he informed 
 her that himfelT, Rofs, and De Bourg, 
 had been in the chapel ever fince mid- 
 night 5 that, weary with waiting, they 
 had fought out, the paffage through the 
 facrifty, and unbarred the gate which 
 opened beneath the ramparts ; where 
 their companions, fearful of danger from 
 their protra(51:ed flay, had joined them> 
 having firft faftened their horles in the 
 wood. — '•' And now," faid he, " furely 
 there is no caufe to fear, we are fix, 
 and, well armed, are equal to treble our 
 number." 
 
 As he fpoke, they reached the door 
 of the chapel; when Ambrofine, turning, 
 faw a light crofling the outward gallery 
 of the court, and the moment after 
 heard feveral voices articulating her 
 name. Trembling almoft to fainting, 
 
 (be 
 
[ ^31 ] 
 
 "fhe threw herfelfinto Montelth's arms: 
 — '« Oh fly, Sc. Clairr* faid (he, <^ I 
 conjure thee ; I have brought ihee here- 
 to death, (for thy enemies will pre- 
 vail,) wretch that I am, when I would 
 have given my life to have faved 
 thine !*' 
 
 " Beloved of my foul," faid St. Clair, 
 forgetting both prudence and caution, 
 and clafping her to his heart, '* fear not; 
 all will be well, your difbrefs can alone 
 unnerve my arm." As he fpoke, he 
 bore her into the chapel, where he in- 
 formed his companions of the danger, 
 and bade them (land prepared, as he 
 feared their enemies were too near to 
 be avoided. 
 
 The light which beamed through the 
 door of the chapel, and which Monteith 
 in his halle had left unciofed, diredled 
 their purfuers, who a moment after 
 rufhed in to the number of ten, at the 
 I head 
 
[ ^3^ ] 
 
 head of whom were the Knight of Lorn 
 and the Lady Rofkelyn. 
 
 Monteith inftantly placed Ambrofine, 
 who fcarcely breathed, on the fteps of 
 the altar, and with his companions un- 
 flieathed his fword, advancing in a 
 pofture of defence. The vafTals had 
 been haftily called, and, moft of them 
 being unarmed, drew back at fo for- 
 midable a fight J but Sir James, who 
 at his entrance had caught a glimpfe of 
 Ambrofme in the arms of Monteith,. 
 coming forward, and fingling him out, 
 faid : — *^ If thou arc worthy the love of 
 the heirefs of Kintail, thy Tingle arm to 
 
 mine." 
 
 <• Willingly," faid St. Clair •, " 'tis- 
 not the firft time thou and I have met; 
 thou owed a fall to the Danifh knight, 
 take death from the arm of Mon- 
 teith." 
 
 •* Mon. 
 
(( 
 
 [ ^33 3 
 
 Wonteithl" exclaimed Sir James, 
 ftarting, and drawing back fome paces, 
 leaning on his fword, 
 
 " It is Monceith/* faid the dowager, 
 *' the daring outlaw, who, regardlefs of 
 his king, fets his commands at defiance, 
 and tnmples on the rights of the Lord 
 of Rofkelyn ; and now, to complete 
 the meafure ef his guik, not only 
 commits theft in the perfon of the 
 hcirefs, but alfo adds the crime of facri- 
 kge/' 
 
 ** Talk you, unfeeling woman, of 
 rights deftroyed, when you look at 
 me?" replied Montcith, " The Knight 
 fpeaks nobly ; — hand to hand let us 
 decide it t — if I fall, fo reft my foul, as 
 I free him from my death ! and as my 
 blood flows, lady, remember it hath 
 no difgrace but what it inheriteth from 
 you/' 
 
 The 
 
r 234 ] 
 
 The dowager trembled, and leant on 
 one of the attendants, while Sir James 
 drew yet farther back. 
 
 " Nay, Sir Knight, fliun me noti-— 
 fee you that monument,*' continued he, 
 pointing to one of the late Lord Rcflcely n ; 
 — *' under it lies the hufband of that 
 woman: — may his fpirit witnefs the com- 
 bat, and if there be dilhonour, that ic 
 fits not on the (hield of Monteich! — 
 You tremble, vain woman, and turn 
 pale i— you — you talk of facrilege,— 
 you, who have prophaned every duty 
 facred and human. — Your firft fault 
 was venial, but your next was of the 
 dye of hell: — and here I warn you 
 to repentance, — here, before the altar 
 of your God, and of my God, — and be- 
 fore the tomb of your hufoand, and of 
 my father! — '* 
 
 " Gallant Monteith," faid the Knight 
 of Lorn, throwing down his fword; ** if 
 
 it 
 
[ '^35 ] 
 
 it be poflible, grant me thy pardon !— 
 The tale of St. Clair's wrongs, forrows, 
 and oppreflions, I have heard indiftinft- 
 lyj but till this hour never knew their 
 
 amount/* 
 
 " Nor do you now, brave Stuart,'* 
 replied Monteith, following his example,, 
 and throwing down his weapon; " com- 
 mand my life, at the call of friendfhip^ 
 it (hall freely come forth : — but for 
 Ambrofine, (he hath a dearer claim,— 
 Ihe J/iall be free ; for though a banifhed 
 man mud not love her, he can ftill pro- 
 teft her/' 
 
 " Valiant Chief, I yield ; when I add 
 to your misfortunes, may they revert on 
 my own head!" Then, turning to the 
 dowager, he added : — " Difmifs your 
 vafTals, lady, neither you nor I fhall 
 gain honour by this bufinefs : for you, 
 St. Clair, you mud yield to necefTityi 
 but (hould opportunity ever offer, re- 
 member 
 
[ 236 ] 
 
 member you have a friend in James 
 Stuart/' 
 
 As he fpoke he held out his hand, 
 which Monteith receiving, faid : — ** I 
 thank ye, noble Knight, and if you can 
 accept that of an outlaw, command 
 
 mine." 
 
 (C 
 
 And will you fuffcr him," faid the 
 dowager, addrefling Sir James, " to 
 bear away Ambrofine? Is this the af- 
 fiflance I claimed from you?*' 
 
 '« Lady," rcpHedlie, " the flory of 
 St. Clair Monteith, though his perfon 
 was unknown to me, has long been fa- 
 miliar to my ear, and made the impref- 
 fion which we feel from fabled forrow 
 and opprefTion. To-night I find the 
 truth of what I before heard, certified 
 4 by him, and undenitrd by you ; and 
 never ihall my f^ord be raifed a- 
 gainft him. For your defigns in my 
 favour, much thanks : but 1 rclinquifh 
 
 aU 
 
[ 237 ] 
 
 all claim to the Lady Ambrofine, and 
 intreat (he may fpeak her own intentions 
 and wifhes, in which 1 fwear tocoincide." 
 Ambrofine, fomewhat recovered by 
 the amicable converfation that had palT- 
 ed, flood up, and faid: — ** Sir James, a 
 better lov^ than mine hangs over you; 
 may you be bled to the extent of your 
 wiihes! For me j here at the holy altar, 
 I declare, in the prefence of the blefTed 
 faints, that I will no hufband, unlefs it be 
 Montekh, and, if he refufes me, to live 
 and die a virgin. For the prefent, it is 
 my intention to take refuge in a convent, 
 for I like not the court, nor the guar- 
 dianlhip of the dowager of Rofkelyn. 
 If I remain fingle two years, (he may 
 receive my revenues during that pe- 
 riod; if 1 marry, I ihall claim them, 
 as by my father's te(lamea^*uie right is 
 only mine from the day of marriage, pay- 
 able to my own difcharge, and no other." 
 
 *' Fortune 
 
[ 238 ] 
 
 *f Fortune attend you/' replied Sir 
 Jame^. " Lady Rofkelyn, I withdraw, 
 I win no more to do in this bufinefs:"^ 
 fo faying, he left the chapel. 
 
 •< Poltroons," exclaimed the dowager, 
 turning to the vaffais ; ** why ftand ye 
 like ftatues? call your comrades; though 
 a woman, 1 am not to be braved 
 thus/' 
 
 " The man that offers to (tir, dies,'* 
 faid Monteith. " Your rage and force 
 are equally vain; Ambrofine fhall be 
 fecured from your malice. Come, 
 fwcet maid," added he, placing her 
 arm under his, and taking his fword in 
 his right hand, " you fhall be our pilot, 
 fear not, they muft fight well who rob 
 us of fo fair a prize." — So faying, he 
 took the way from the chapel through 
 the facrifty, preceded by De Bourg 
 with a taper, and followed by the reft 
 
 of his companions. 
 
 They 
 
C 239 ] 
 
 They loft no time in gaining the 
 wood and mounting their horfes; Mon- 
 teith wrapped his palmer's cloak round 
 Ambrofine, at once to conceal her figure, 
 and to fhield her from the cool morn- 
 ing air 3 at the fame time, tying the hat 
 over her face, he faid : — " In faith, 
 Ambrofine, thou baffleft my fldll, I 
 cannot make thee lefs lovely." 
 
 Confcious they fhould' be purfued, 
 and alfo aware that the greater pare 
 of the vafifals of the houfe, buried in 
 ilecp, would take fome time in pre- 
 paration, they ufed their utmoft fpeed, 
 Ambrofine keeping pace with the fore- 
 moft. As they conjedtured their ene- . 
 mies would purfue northward, they took 
 their way to the fouth, and by ten in 
 the morning reached Selkirk, where 
 procuring fome refrernment for them- 
 felves and their beafcs from a cottager, 
 they continued to Drumlanrig, where 
 
 they 
 
C 240 ] 
 
 they r^pofed for a few hours, when they 
 purfued their way to the coaft, where 
 they embarked in a veficl bound to 
 Carrickfergus, at which place they con- 
 fidercd they fliould be fafc from pur- 
 fuit. 
 
 In the mean time the dowager had 
 difpatched meflengers different ways, but 
 particularly to the north, in order to 
 gain intelligence of the heircfs : but in 
 vain; none could be obtained, and in- 
 creafcd vexation was alone the refult of 
 the inquiry, not only to her, but to 
 Lord and Lady Rofkclyn, who haftened 
 home on the firft intelligence they re- 
 ceived of what had happened. 
 
 Bridget was alfo queftioned ; bur, 
 true to her truft, (lie confefTed only 
 that (he vifited the pilgrims with Am- 
 brofine, but denied that (ke confidered 
 
 them 
 
[ 241 ] 
 
 them in no other light. This confefTion 
 fhe was reduced to make by the dow- 
 ager, who declared that the night pre- 
 ceding the flight of Ambrofine, a light 
 fhining through the lattice over the 
 door of her chamber, and her dog 
 barking, fhe had haftily rifen, and to 
 her great amazement feen the heirefs 
 and Bridget pafTing through the gallery 
 with a taper. 
 
 The circumftance, however, made 
 but a tranfient impreflion, as Ambro- 
 fine frequently fat till very late in the 
 upper gallery that faced the fea, admiring 
 the view by the light of the moon. 
 
 The reftraint of Ambrofine, and her 
 unufual thoughtfulnefs the cnfuing day, 
 were not loft on the dowager; it 
 awakened her fufpicion, and fiie com- 
 municated what Ihe had feen the night 
 before to Sir James Stuart, and intreated 
 him to watch with her the enfuing 
 
 voL.i, M night. 
 
night. An hour after midnightj Am-^ 
 brofine pafled with her taper, and, to their 
 farther aftonilhment, alone; on which the 
 knight in (ilence purfued her; but, being 
 deceived by her extinguidiing the light, 
 he was bewildered in the way, and ob- 
 liged to return to the dowager's cham- 
 ber. Alarmed at the knight's report 
 of Ambrofine's caution, {he immedi- 
 ately accompanied him in the purfuir, 
 awakening the vafTals who flept in that 
 department of the caftle. Calling loudly 
 on Ambrofine, they hadened through 
 the galleries ; but her fpeed had exceeded 
 theirs, and (he had in all probability 
 efcaped undifcovered, had not the light 
 from the chapel direded their fteps: 
 oppofnion was however fruitlefs, and the 
 dowager only was punifhed with hearing 
 hardi truths, which rankled and feftercd 
 in her heart; while the Knight of Lorn, 
 at once convinced of the impodlbility of 
 
 gaining 
 
[ 243 ] 
 
 gaining Ambrofine from fo formidable 
 a rival, nobly gave up his pretenfions. 
 
 ■ Thedifinterefted condu(flof Sir James 
 gave much difpleafure to the family of 
 Roikelyn ; bur, fatisfied with the ap- 
 plaufe of his own heart, he left the caftle, 
 and in the pleafures and buftle of the 
 court foon forgot his difappointment. 
 
 M 2 
 
[ 244 ] 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 The travellers, on landing at Carrick- 
 Fergus, concluding thcmfelves fafe from 
 danger, tarried a few days to repofe 
 from their fatigue ; Ambrofine pur- 
 chafing a change of apparel, and en- 
 gaging a female attendant. Cheerful 
 without levity, and informed without 
 affedation, (he became daily more cfti- 
 mable ; though the companions of St. 
 Clair, true to the call of honour, con- 
 fidered her only as a beloved fiftcr, 
 while he himfelf, now accuftomed to her 
 fociety, knew no happinefs but what 
 depended on her : — yet the rcflcdlion of 
 his unhappy fuuation made him druggie 
 
 againft 
 
[ 245 I 
 
 sgainft his pafTion, which was, however, 
 too vifibie to be overlooked j for, though 
 his words were reilrained, his eyes, his 
 adions, both declared it, and the flat- 
 tering convidlion was as certain as the 
 heart of Ambrofine could wifh. 
 
 One day, Monteith being alone with 
 her, (he faid : — *' St. Clair, though our 
 aftions be pure as thofe of angels, what 
 thinkeft thou the world will fay of a 
 damfel of my age, wandering by land, 
 and voyaging by fea, with luch a fet 
 of bold fellows as thee and thy com- 
 rades?" 
 
 " Ambrofine,'* replied he, *^ do not 
 awaken unpleafant refledlionsj thy ho- 
 nour is dearer to me than my life, and 
 never will I fufFer it to be fuUied by the 
 breath of flander.'^ 
 
 " Then wilt thou need as many arms 
 
 as the giant Briareus, and as many lives 
 
 as he had heads, yet find them all too 
 
 M 3 fewj — 
 
[ 246 ] 
 
 few ; — btfides, thinkeft thou that the 
 retailers of fcandal will choofe, in this 
 cafe, to difplay their talenrs before thtre ? 
 — No ; I mud Expiate this mad freak 
 in a. convent :— where thinkeft thou I 
 Ihall be beft placed ? — in England, Ire- 
 land, or Scotland?" 
 
 " Alas ! I (hudder at the bare 
 thought of parting from you; — but ic 
 mud be :— choofe 'where you will, I will 
 fee ycu fafe,— and then, what farther 
 bufinefs hath Monteith with life?'* 
 
 The depreflion with which he fpoke 
 funk to the heart of Ambrofine. — 
 **^ Monteith," faid fhe, turning from him 
 to conceal the burning crimfon that co- 
 vered her face and bofom. *' doft thou 
 Ipve me:'* 
 
 " Love thee !" repeated he, all cau- 
 tion banithed by the quellion ; '^ no, 
 , the word is too poor, and bears no 
 fimilitude to my feelings j thou ait 
 
 dearer 
 
dearer to me tlian light or life;— I adore 
 thee!" ....:. 
 
 *' Then muft I go to a convent?'' 
 
 *^ Alas ! I know not.— I am' but 
 man; fpare me, beloved Ambrofine, 
 from a temptation which is fo hard to 
 rend/' 
 
 '* Monteith/* faid fhe, raifing her 
 foft blue eyes to his ; " have ye no 
 room for me to dwell at Barra ?" 
 
 " Angelic tempter!** exclaimed he, 
 clafping her vvaift with his arm ; " thou 
 dwelled in my heart, and never fliall it 
 know another love. — But, to take thee 
 to Barra, — impoflible!— thee, to wafte 
 thy youth and beauty amidfl: the favage 
 mountains of the Hebrides 1" 
 
 " There is no criterion for tafle," 
 anfwered fhe. — " But enough; I will 
 away to the firft convent, I have Hepped 
 over the boundaries prefcribed my fex, 
 and thou loved me not," 
 
 M 4 *' Cruel 
 
[ 248 ] 
 
 " Cruel and unjuft accufationf — 
 Nay, thou knoweft otherwife ; and that, 
 did I poflcfs a diadem, it could only 
 gain value by being fharcd with 
 thee/' 
 
 <^ Then pride is ftronger than love 
 in thy heart, — Remember, Monteith, 
 that love had conquered pride in mine, 
 or I had never come to Barra, cr claimed 
 thy protedion at Rolkelyn." 
 
 '* Generous maid! never can it be 
 forgotten. O Ambrofme 1 wherever 
 thou goell-, thou wilt ever be my daily 
 thoughts and my nightly dreams j — in 
 the ringing of birds 1 fliall recognife the 
 notes of thy fweet voice, but never (hall 
 I fee thy counterpart, unlefs it be in a 
 better and a happier world." 
 
 " That I love you, Monteith, I, alas! 
 have given proofs beyond all denial ; 
 and we but court pain to prolong a 
 fcparation which inevitably mud take 
 
 place. 
 
[ 249 ] 
 
 place. — In the vicinity of Belfaft there 
 is a convent of Benedictine fidersi and 
 thither will I with to-morrow*s dawn.** 
 
 " Hateful thought 1 muft we fo foon 
 part?'* 
 
 <' You faid fo," anfwered flie. 
 
 ** Deareft maid, cruel in your kind- 
 mefs! the effort muft be yours, I can 
 never make it." 
 
 *' Nay then, how fhould I, that am 
 a weak woman? — But my mind is fixedy 
 and (hall remain firm to its purpofe.*' 
 
 De Bourg and Rofs entering, pre- 
 vented more difcourfe. Monteith ap- 
 peared out of fpirits during the evening, 
 and Ambrofine retired early to reft. 
 
 In the morning they were but jull 
 aflembled, when Ambrofine entered ac- 
 coutred for a journey. — " Good day," 
 faid ihe, addrefllng them, *' I go to 
 Belfaft: — ye are not old but ye are 
 dear friends 5 prolong not, I pray 
 M 5 ye. 
 
[ ^50 ] 
 
 y.e,- the taking leave; for, though ys 
 may bear it hke heroes, /(hall feel ic 
 like a woman." 
 
 They all crouded round her ; one 
 afkihg the reafon of fuch fudden hafte j 
 another intreating her to defer her in- 
 tention ; a third praying the refpite of 
 a days while De Bourg, prefTing her 
 hand refpedfully to his lips, at once 
 dropped a tear on ir, and muttered a 
 curfe on folly and falfe honour. 
 
 Rofs and Monteith fl:ood apart. Ad- 
 vancing towards the firft, Ambrofine 
 faidi— '* Accept at once, Sir James, 
 my thanks and farewell; — think of me 
 as- a filler, and as kind brothers will I 
 remember all at the fortrefs." 
 
 Rofs railed her hand to his lips in 
 filent emotion. 
 
 -" And. now, Monteith," faid flie, 
 
 with aflfumed firmnefs, " farewell : — \tx, 
 
 not, I . cgnijur^ .you, your impetuous 
 
 . -^1 valour 
 
Valcitir lead 3^)11 mtb dangers: your ene- 
 mies mayj indeed, a' while triumph, buc 
 the fun of profperity will again fiiine 
 upon Sr. Clair." ' As fhe concluded, 
 her voice was lefs articulatej and a fickly 
 palenefs ovcrfpread her tranfparcnt cofh- 
 plexion. 
 
 " O Ambrofine!" exclaimed Mon- 
 teith, clafping her in his arms ; " be- 
 loved of my foul, it is impofTiblci I 
 can fooner yield my life, — thou makeft 
 me a villain j thou miift never leave me. 
 —Say, angel that thou art, canft thou 
 condefcend to be the wife of a baniOied 
 man?" 
 
 Ambrofine made no reply, but with- 
 drew herfelf from his arms ; and, with 
 her face dyed with bluflics, left the 
 apartment. 
 
 Monteith inftantly followed her.— - 
 
 " Ambrofine," faid he, " I dare hot 
 
 refle(5t i— I, that would willingly makd 
 
 M 6 thee 
 
[ 252 ] 
 
 thee emprefs of the whole world, have 
 nothing to offer thee but a heart, and 
 that bleeding with a thoufand wrongs." 
 
 Ambrofine'seyes were bathed in tears; 
 but, difperfing them, with a fmile fhe 
 replied, *^ I will endeavour to heal them, 
 Monteith." 
 
 Monteith kifled ofif a tear that hung 
 on her cheek, and, while clapfed to his 
 heart, he prefTed her to let the rites of 
 the holy church immediately make them 
 one. 
 
 Confcious of the impropriety of her 
 lituation, Ihe complied ; and at an early 
 hour the enfuing morning, they were 
 united in a fmall chapel at Carrick- 
 fergus, her female attendant, and their 
 mutual friends, being prefent. 
 
 The rites ended, Monteith embraced 
 his beauteous bride. — '* Though James 
 of Scodand," faid he, " hath driven me 
 forth an outlaw, at this moment I am 
 
 richer 
 
I ^53 1 ' 
 
 richer far than he, for Heaven hath 
 given me an angel : and, when I forfeit 
 my truft, may all the forrows I have 
 encountered be redoubled upon my head 
 for ever!" 
 
 Aware of the uneafinefs their com- 
 panions at Barra mufl fuffer on their 
 account, they refolved to haften thither 
 as fpeedily as poffible, Ambrofine voy- 
 aging with them with the utmoft cheer- 
 fulnefs ; in the company of Monteith 
 regardlefs of every other objedl in the 
 creation, and he, in her gentle converfe> 
 forgetting he was a baniihed man. 
 
[ 254 y 
 
 CHAP. XVI. :-- 
 
 During their voyage, St. Clair had 
 wifhed to inform Ambrofine of the 
 capture of the heir of Rolkelyn, but 
 a promife the refidents of the fortrcfs 
 had unanimoufly made, not to difclofe 
 the fecret without the concurrence of 
 each other, reftrained him -, yet, to pre- 
 vent her being furprifed by the fight 
 of a child at her arrival, he one day 
 befoYe his companions faid : — " Pardon 
 me, dear Ambrofine, but I have ufed 
 one deception towards you ; 1 have a 
 young boy at Earra, for whom I muft 
 befpeak your affedion.'* 
 
 ** Indeed !" replied fhe, fomewhat 
 furprifed s but, fmiling, flie added, — 
 
 " Then 
 
t ?55 1 
 
 •^ Then 'tis part of my duty, I fuppofe^ 
 to love him ; — Monreith is a man of 
 honour, and has doubtlcfs done his by 
 the mother." 
 
 •" His mother is far 'rom hence, and 
 never more do I wifh t ; behold her.** 
 
 " Doth fhe need pecuniary aflift- 
 ance ?" faid Ambrofine. 
 
 " No; fhe revels with the richeft 
 dames of the fouth. — I am bound, by 
 promife to my companions not to be 
 more explicit, bur, on my arrival, they 
 will doubtlefs fet me free: for, with one 
 
 heart, Ambrofine, we muft have but 
 
 . ■''' 
 
 one mmd,'* 
 
 On their arrival at Barra they were « 
 received with tranfport, but particularly 
 Ambrofine, whom they all regarded as 
 the inflrument of their friend's happi* 
 nefs, and future profperiry. j 
 
 Scarcely were the travellers feated, ^ 
 and refrefhment placed before them, 
 
 when 
 
when the little flurdy Randolph ran in; 
 and, feeing Monttith, climbed upon his 
 knees, and faluted him with the name 
 of Faiher. Monteith tenderly kifled 
 him, iaying, '* Thou corned unexpefb- 
 edly.— I wiflied firft,'* added he, look- 
 ing at his companions, " to have entered 
 into fome explanation with Ambrofine.*' 
 —As he fpoke, he placed the young 
 Randolph on her knee, but was afto- 
 niihed to fee her pale, and fcarcely able 
 to fupport herfelf upon her feat. 
 
 " Ambrofine!" cried he, in a voice 
 of alarm, *' why thus difordered ? The 
 fight of the inf^^nt furely could not 
 caufe it? — Thou knoweft I told thee — '^ 
 
 *' Monteith," faid (he, haftily inter- 
 rupting him, " art thou a man of ho- 
 nour?" 
 
 " Have I lived to hear thee doubt 
 it?** anfwered he. 
 
 cc 
 
 Then 
 
[ ^57 ] 
 
 *' Then whence conies It this boy 
 is here ?'* faid (he, fixing her eyes ftrong- 
 ly upon him. 
 
 ** That is what I widied to explain 
 to' thee, but was not at liberty without 
 the confent of my companions." 
 
 " Monteith/' laid (he in a folemn 
 voice, " when I firit loved thee, it was 
 not for thy perfon, for then, in truth, 
 I had never fcen thee -, but when my 
 father fpoke of thy unmerited perfecu- 
 tions, and the forrows that had ; ttc nded 
 thee, even from thy infancy, 1 in vo- 
 luntarily wept, and knew not that I was 
 nouriihing the firft feeds of love. Whea 
 h)5 fpoke of thy courage and noble 
 daring, my heart fwellcd, and I wifhed 
 thee fucccfs in all thy undertakings; 
 and when he deplored the impetuofity 
 of thy temper, which led thee into 
 youthful errors, I endeavoured to pal- 
 liate and excufc them,'' 
 
 Monteith 
 
C 258 ] 
 
 Monteiih took her hand, and attempt- 
 ed to reply, but (he prevented hini' by 
 faying, — " Suffer me to conclude ; I 
 will then liften with the obedience I 
 owe thee.— It was no light pafTion that 
 could influence me to nft as I have 
 dene to gain thy heart and hand. — No, 
 Monteith, it is an affe^lion interwoven 
 with my very exiftcnce j and when I. no 
 longer dare love thee, I mud ceafe to 
 live.— Nay, interrupt me nor -, — let them 
 banifh thee to the frozen fnores of 
 Lapland, or to the fcorching climes of 
 India, thither will Ambrofine attend thee, 
 in poverty, ficknefs, or unmerited dif- 
 grace 5 but if real difhonour comes, 
 Ambrofine dies, and Monteith is again 
 free," 
 
 The whole party viewed her with 
 admiration, Monteith with a fentiment 
 of refpe6l that increafcd his affedion. — 
 « My beloved," faid he, *' you fufped 
 
 me 
 
[ "^59 ] 
 me oC f^jme unworthy ad^ yet -explain 
 
 itfiot." 
 
 <c 
 
 How comes it then," replied (lie, 
 " that I find iut heir of Rofl^clyn in the 
 iHeofBarra?" 
 
 " Know ye the boyr" faid Monteich. 
 
 ^* I do; even without the teftimony 
 of his arm, which, being covered, I 
 have not yet {^tn. — When in the caftle 
 of Roikelyn, he was my favourite com- 
 panion, and, by his fondnefs for me, 
 appeared to confiuer me as more nearly 
 allied to him than his mother.** 
 
 " The boy had judgment,*' faid Mon- 
 tcith J ** our fecrec difcovered, my com- 
 panions will explain the whole, and en- 
 deavour to recover your good opinion J* 
 
 The outlaws then related the means 
 by which Montrofe had fallen into their 
 hands; the dilTatisfadlion of Monteich 
 on the occafion ; the dying requeft of 
 Randolph McGregor, and his bequcd, 
 
 —" So 
 
[ 26o ] 
 
 — ** So far for the preftnt, lady," faicf 
 Hamiiton ; " now for the ufe we xr.^:m 
 to make of him in future. — In cafe of 
 danger, think you not that this boy 
 will always infure us good terms? though 
 there is not a man here but what would 
 rather die than do him the fmallefl: in- 
 jury. Bred among us, he will love 
 us all, but more particularly Monteiih, 
 ^^'hom he is tciught to confider as his 
 father. Should we find ic convenient 
 to detain him to a more advanced age, 
 he fhali want no advantages that we caa 
 bellow, and, bred a brave fellow and 
 an honeft man, we fliall have done bim 
 no injury, but have nurtured to Mon- 
 teith a friend and fon, out of the very 
 jiearefl blood of his enemies." 
 
 Ambrofine made no reply. 
 
 " Had the grief of his parents been 
 fuch as I think mine would have been 
 for the lots- of fuch a child," faid St. 
 
 Clair, 
 
[ 26I ] 
 
 » Ciair, *^ no perfonal advantage could 
 have obliged me to detain him ; bur, 
 on my inquiry even when I firft faw 
 you, Ambrofine, you remarked his 
 mother's want of feeling." 
 
 " It is too true," replied fhe, " I 
 pray ye all pardon me: but, though I 
 could wifh this deed undone, I cannot 
 but confefs that good, rather than evil, 
 may refult from it. — Come then, my 
 poor boy," faid (he, taking him to her 
 bofom, ** thou (halt not want a mother. 
 Can'ft thou call me mother?" 
 
 Randolph attempted to repeat the 
 word ; it was his firft effort to articulate 
 the name, and he failed ^ but, attraded 
 by her frailes and kindnefs, he wound 
 her golden trefTes round his chubby fin- 
 gers, and repeatedly kifTed her lips and 
 forehead. 
 
 The marriage of Monteith was not 
 only celebrated in the ifland, but alfo 
 
 in 
 
[ 262 ] 
 
 jn all thofe around; 2nd if, tierefoforf, 
 Ambrofine found herfelf an objcft of 
 attention at Kintail and the court of 
 Scotland, at Barra (he was regarded as 
 a queen, and revered as a goddefs. 
 
 As the houfehold economy is ever 
 beft conduced by a female, the fortrcfs 
 jpeediiy began to aflurne a new afpedV, 
 the inhabited part was repaired, and 
 Ambrofine difpatched a veflel to Kin- 
 tail, ordering fuch furniture to be 
 fent as made it commodious to them 
 all. She alfo difpatched letters by the 
 fame conveyance to her vafTals, dcfiring 
 them to celebrate her marriage at her 
 6wn expence, and to pay no fums but 
 to h^r rectipt, which, by her father's 
 will, as heirefs, (he was empowered to 
 give, even independently of her hufband. 
 She alfo requefted that, when William 
 and, Bridget fhould come to Kintail, 
 that they might repair by the firft veiTcl 
 to Barra, 9 
 
 The 
 
[ a63 ] 
 
 ' TJie.polifhed and adlive mind of Am- 
 brofinc by infenfible degrees fmooihed 
 the roughnefs of the manners of her 
 companions, who were all fo refpedfully 
 attentive to her wilhes, that (he would 
 fometimes fay, *V Surely there is not a 
 woman in this country, nor I believe 
 in any other, fo happy as myfelf, for 
 I have the beft hufband in the world, 
 and a family of the moft afFedionate 
 brothers." 
 
 When the weather was fair, (he failed 
 with them among the iflands, and par- 
 took of their amufements j in the dreary 
 feafon, fhe fung, or tuned her lute or 
 harp, to beguile their hours. Their 
 table, ever covered with plenty, was 
 now arranged with fkill ; and, beguiled 
 by other purfuits, they loft the cuftom 
 of drinking wine to excefs : fo that De 
 Bourg was accuftomed to declare, that .. 
 he fhould dedicate his leifure hours tOr* 
 
 writing 
 
[ 2^4 ] 
 
 vvricing a treatife on temperance, and 
 addrefs it to the court of Scotland. 
 
 Thefe pleafurable hours were broken 
 upon by an information which they re- 
 ceived from William and Bridget, who 
 reached them during the gloom of 
 winter: it was, that the Dowager and 
 the Lord Rofkclyn, by repeated appeals, 
 had at length fucceeded in perfuading 
 the King to fend a force fufficient to 
 bring the whole of the inhabitants of 
 the fortrefs to Edinburgh ; a plan which 
 was, however, to be deferred till the 
 cnfuing fpring. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME, 
 
 Printed by A. Strahan, 
 Printers-Street. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILUN0I8-URBANA 
 
 \'- 
 
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