Agnews of Lochnaw

l602.] THE AMBUSH. 237
Maybole, and there dictated to a schoolmaster a message he had
received, which, with the other letter, he despatched by a poor
scholar named William Dalrymple to the place where Mure was
said to be.
These were duly delivered to Mure, who, on reading the
letters, returned them to the bearer, bidding him give them back
to the tutor's servant, and not mention he had found him.
Auchindrane at once communicated the news to Kennedy of
Drummurchie, the deceased Bargany's brother, and to Mure of
Clencaird, another deadly enemy of the tutor's ; and all having
agreed that this was too favourable an opportunity to be lost,
they proceeded next morning, with three or four retainers well
armed, to lie in wait for their victim among the sandy hills
close to St. Leonard's Chapel.
Sir Thomas meanwhile set out on the morning of the 12th of
May, and called on his way on Kennedy of Baltersane, at
Greenan (who a few months before had acted as arbiter for Sir
Andrew Agnew, the Sheriff, in his arrangement with Lord
Cassilis). Greenan Castle stood on a rock overhanging the sea,
about two miles from Ayr; and its esplanade was distinctly
visible to the liers-in-wait among the sand-hills. 1
Here Culzean remained some time in conversation with the
laird, when, wishing him adieu (all this being seen plainly by
the assassins), he mounted, crossed the water of Ayr at Holm-
stone-ford, and, attended by one servant only, came on riding
at an ambling pace, " being in full securitie of his dangerless
estate." Here his enemies " brak at him, and slayed him most
cruelly with shots and strokes :" they then plundered him Of his
purse with eleven score rose nobles ; a ring of gold, certain
other rings containing nine diamonds set therein; six dozen
gold buttons of goldsmith's work, as well as his sword, belt, and
1 "The Laird of Colzeone, cuming to the Greine and lichttitt, and remaynitt
with Balterssane ane lang speace. The quhilk Thomas and his, being in Air
seing him licht at the Greine, thay drew thame selffs in among the sandy hills,
and held thame quyatt quhill he cuming by the toune, ryding one ane small
haikney they brak att him," etc. — Historic