Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 4

THE CELTIC MA.GAZINE. 431
WILLIAM GRANT OF GLEN-UEQUHART.
Many long years have passed away, and many changes liave taken place
since Glen-Urquhart was the scene of the following legend. Then, the
Glen was thickly wooded with magnificent trees, under the spreading
branches of which sported the graceful and lively fawn, the squirrel gam-
bolled amidst the green boughs, and the timid hare burrowed at the root,
without fear of molestation ; while the stately stag reclined under the
grateful shade, during the hot noon time of the summer day. But a
change came over this lovely sylvan retreat. Its solitude, rather
than its beauty, attracted the notice of a party of aliens, who found in its
forests a secure place from pursuit, as well as a grand hunting field, well
stocked with venison and game.
These aliens did not belong to any particular clan or sept, but were,
as their name implied, aliens from all the clans. Some of them had been
hounded from their home and people for misconduct ; others had volun-
tarily severed themselves from the ties of kindred and clanship, and, dis-
owning subjection to their own chiefs, lived in uncontrolled liberty, which,
alas ! only too often lapsed into license and lawlessness. As " birds of a
feather flock together," so did these men by degrees band together for
mutual protection, and, in course of time, became very formidable ene-
mies, not only to the Lowlanders, but to all the neighbouring clans. As
they owned allegiance to none but their self-elected captain, they plun-
dered their neighbours indiscriminately, except where they were bought
off by the payment of black mail. It not unfrequently happened, when
one clan opposed another, for one of the rival chiefs to engage the aliens
to fight on his side ; and, as they were free from all clan obligations
and hereditary feuds, they cared not on whose side they fought, provided
they were well paid ; and, according to the old proverb, " honour among
thieves " while so engaged, they not only served their temporary leader
i'aithfully, but held his property sacred from attack. But as soon as the
term for which they had been engaged had expired, they held themselves
quite as much at liberty as before to carry off his cattle and burn his barns
by a midnight raid.
At length their numbers increased so fast, and their depredations be-
came so frequent and formidable, that the surrounding proprietors com-
plained to the Governor of Strone Castle for allowing such a lawless set
of men to settle within his territories to be a source of annoyance to his
neighbours, and pleaded with him to order them to quit the Glen at once
and for ever.
The Governor accordingly sent one of his men to the alien Captain,
with a message to the effect that they must vacate the Glen, and seek
other quarters. A week would be allowed for their removal, but after
that time any of them found lingering in Glen-Urquhart, or any of the
lands under his jurisdiction, would be proceeded against with fire and
sword.
The alien leader listened in grim silence to the message as it was in-
timated to him by the bearer ; then, breaking out in a rage, he bade the