Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 6, 1898

^4
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
SCENES FROM "OSSIAN'S POEMS."
ILLUSTRATED BY J MOYR SMITH.
" Inistore rose to sight and Carric-thura's mossy towers. But the sign of distress was on their top,
the warning flame edged with smoke." — Carric-thura.
TRAOITION OF KINTYRE AND THE
CLAN CAMPBELL."
IpraHE following story, told me in Cantire,
W^ shows the popularity of the ducal family
'^J^ of Argyll at the Land's end of the
Western Highlands. It is that of"-
THE SAILOE, THE CHAMPION, AND
MAC CAILEIN MOK.
I must preface it by saying that, up to the
latter part of the fifteenth century, champions
were common to the Continent. Each French
district supported its own peculiar champion,
who travelled from place to place, according as
his services were required. These champions
were allowed to act as substitutes in judicial
duels and trials by liattle for those who had lost
a limb, or were over sixty years of age, or were
" From the MS. on Kintyre by the late Cuthbert
Lede, in the Editor's possession.
suffering from illness— such as fever or gout ; or
who were even laid up (or supposed to be laid
up) with toothache. Women and monks were
also permitted to engage the champion's services.
According to the statutes of David II., King of
Scotland, the Scottish knights and nobles also
enjoyed the privilege of engaging the services of
the champion in all cases of robbery and assault;
but serfs, and such as had no patent of nobility,
were condemned to do battle for themselves
with the champion. The following Cantire story
evidently refers to one of these champions ;
although it is hazy in its chronology, and,
probably, in its topography. The phrase,
" above a century ago," certainly leaves a wide
margin for the date of the story. But " I tell
the tale as 'twas told to me."
" Above a century ago, James Fisher, a native
of Campbeltown, was master of a fine little
vessel, with which he fished, and at other times
dealt in commerce. One time, being at the quay
of Ayr, and wanting a man to work the vessel
with him, a young man came forward and offered