Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

ONE day's JOURXEY TO THE HIGHLANDS. 311
crown, and by King James the VI., was bestowed on the
Duke of Lennox, one of whose successors sold the same co
the family of Smythe of Braco, ever since designed of Meth-
ven. Here we could not pass over these grounds Avithout
remembering of the fatal battle of Methven, which is thus
related by our historians : — Soon after the coronation of
King Robert Bruce^ at Scone, in 1306, he encamped his
small force near Methven, where he and his army were un-
fortunately surprised on the night of the 19th of July, by
the English, assisted by the Scots malcontents, under the
command of the Earl of Pembroke. 1 hey forced, and made
themselves masters of the camp. The greater part of the
Scots army being newly levied, and consequently raw and
inexperienced, fled at the first onset, and left the king and
a small number of adherents to withstand the attack of the
English army. They made a glorious defence, though at
length obliged to retreat before their numerous assailants.
King Robert was nearly made prisoner, but bravely rescued
by Sir Christopher Seton. lie fled to the Highlands, where
he remained till the following 3'ear, when he took the field,
matters being changed in his favour. The Castle of Meth-
ven, which is situated farther west than formerly, is a very
elegant building, and from its situation to the south, has a
commanding prospect of the adjacent country ; and, on
account of a handsome turret on each side of the four angles,
has the appearance of a square fortress or castle.
Four miles north-west from thence, stretches the moor of
Methven, and we arrive at Buchanty, crossing over the
Almond. Here the river runs between two jutting rocks,
forming a very deep lin or pool. We stopped at a village
named Kincraggan, eight miles from Perth ; here we
found the inhabitants spoke the Gaelio language, being on