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excuse so great a crime as I have been guilty of it； that of Rebellion。 But
I humbly beg leave to lay before your Excellency some particulars in the
circumstance of my guilt； which； I hope； will extenuate it in some
measure。 It was my misfortune； at the time the Rebellion broke out； to
be liable to legal diligence and caption； at the Duke of Montrose's instance；
for debt alledged due to him。 To avoid being flung into prison； as I must
certainly have been； had I followed my real inclinations in joining the
King's troops at Stirling； I was forced to take party with the adherents of
the Pretender； for the country being all in arms； it was neither safe
nor indeed possible for me to stand neuter。 I should not； however； plead
my being forced into that unnatural rebellion against his Majesty； King
George； if I could not at the same time assure your Excellency； that I not
only avoided acting offensively against his Majesty's forces upon all
occasions； but on the contrary； sent his Grace the Duke of Argyle all the
intelligence I could from time to time； of the strength and situation of the
rebels； which I hope his Grace will do me the justice to acknowledge。
As to the debt to the Duke of Montrose； I have discharged it to the
utmost farthing。 I beg your Excellency would be persuaded that； had it
been in my power； as it was in my inclination； I should always have acted
for the service of his Majesty King George； and that one reason of my
begging the favour of your intercession with his Majesty for the pardon of
my life； is the earnest desire I have to employ it in his service； whose good…
ness； justice； and humanity； are so conspicuous to all mankind。…I am；
with all duty and respect； your Excellency's most； &c。；
‘‘Robert Campbell。''
No。 V。…LETTER。
ESCAPE OF ROB ROY FROM THE DUKE OF ATHOLE。
The following copy of a letter which passed from one clergyman of the
Church of Scotland to another； was communicated to me by John Gregorson；
Esq。 of Ardtornish。 The escape of Rob Roy is mentioned； like other
interesting news of the time with which it is intermingled。 The disagreement
between the Dukes of Athole and Argyle seems to have animated the
former against Rob Roy； as one of Argyle's partisans。
‘‘Rev。 and dear Brother；
Y of the 28th Jun I had by the bearer。 I pleased
yo have got back again y Delinquent which may probably safe you of the
trouble of her child。 I'm sory I've yet very little of certain news to give
you from Court tho' I've seen all the last weekes prints； only I find in
them a pasage which is all the account I can give you of the Indemnity
y when the estates of forfaulted Rebells Comes to be sold all Just debts
Documented are to be preferred to Officers of the Court of enquiry。 The
Bill in favours of that Court against the Lords of Session in Scotland in
past the house of Commons and Come before the Lords which is thought
to be considerably more ample y formerly w respect to the Disposeing of
estates Canvassing and paying of Debts。 It's said y the examinations of
Cadugans accounts is droped but it wants Confirmations here as yet。 Oxford's
tryals should be entered upon Saturday last。 We hear that the
Duchess of Argyle is w child。 I doe not hear y the Divisions at Court
are any thing abated or of any appearance of the Dukes having any thing
of his Maj： favour。 I heartily wish the present humours at Court may
not prove an encouragm to watchfull and restles enemies。
My accounts of Rob Roy his escape are y after severall Embassies between
his Grace （who I hear did Correspond w some at Court about it）
and Rob he at length upon promise of protectione Came to waite upon the
Duke & being presently secured his Grace sent post to Ed to acquent the
Court of his being aprehended & call his friends at Ed and to desire a
party from Ge Carpinter to receive and bring him to Ed which party
came the length of Kenross in Fife； he was to be delivered to them by a
party his Grace had demanded from the Governour at Perth； who when
upon their march towards Dunkell to receive him； were mete w and returned
by his Grace having resolved to deliver him by a party of his own
men and left Rob at Logierate under a strong guard till y party should be
ready to receive him。 This space of time Rob had Imployed in taking the
other dram heartily w the Guard & q all were pretty hearty； Rob is delivering
a letter for his wife to a servant to whom he most needs deliver
some private instructions at the Door （for his wife） where he's attended
wt on the Guard。 When serious in this privat Conversations he is making
some few steps carelessly from the Door about the house till he comes
close by this horse which he soon mounted and made off。 This is no small
mortifican to the guard because of the delay it give to there hopes of a
Considerable additionall charge ag John Roy。 my wife was upon
* _i。e。_ John the Red…John Duke of Argyle； so called from his complexion； more
* commonly styled ‘‘Red John the Warriour。''
Thursday last delivered of a Son after sore travell of which she still continues
very weak。 I give y Lady hearty thanks for the Highland plaid。
It's good cloath but it does not answer the sett I sent some time agae
w McArthur & tho it had I told in my last y my wife was obliged to provid
herself to finish her bed before she was lighted but I know y let came
not timely to y handI'm sory I had not mony to send by the
bearer having no thought of it & being exposed to some little expenses last
week but I expect some sure occasion when order by a letter to
receive it。 excuse this freedom from &c。
‘‘_Manse of Comrie； July_ 2_d；_ 1717。
‘‘I salute yr lady I wish my 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
her Daughter much Joy。''
No。 VI。…HIGHLAND WOOING。
There are many productions of the Scottish Ballad Poets upon the lion…like
mode of wooing practised by the ancient Highlanders when they had
a fancy for the person （or property） of a Lowland damsel。 One example
is found in Mr。 Robert Jamieson's Popular Scottish Songs：…
Bonny Babby Livingstone
Gaed out to see the kye；
And she has met with Glenlyon；
Who has stolen her away。
He took free her her sattin coat；
But an her si1ken gown；
Syne roud her in his tartan plaid；
And happd her round and roun'。
In another ballad we are told how…
Four…and…twenty Hieland men；
Came doun by Fiddoch Bide；
And they have sworn a deadly aith；
Jean Muir suld be a bride：
And they have sworn a deadly aith；
Ilke man upon his durke；
That she should wed with Duncan Ger；
Or they'd make bloody works。
This last we have from tradition； but there are many others in the collections
of Scottish Ballads to the same purpose。
The achievement of Robert Oig； or young Rob Roy； as the Lowlanders
called him； was celebrated in a ballad； of which there are twenty different
and various editions。 The tune is lively and wild； and we select the fol…
lowing words from memory：…
Rob Roy is frae the Hielands come；
Down to the Lowland border；
And he has stolen that lady away；