Ayrshire > Volume 2

THE EARLDOM OF GLENCAIRN 315
which took place the following morning at daylight
without anybody in the house being aware of it.
Glencairn was accompanied by his servant alone ; on
the other side were the two Munros.
" They were both well mounted. Each of the
parties was to use one pistol, after discharging of
which they were to decide the quarrel with broad-
swords. Their pistols were fired without doing any
execution, and they made up to each other with
their broadswords drawn. After a few passes his
lordship had the good fortune to give Sir George a
stroke on the bridle hand, whereupon Sir George
cried out to his lordship, and he hoped he would allow
him to fight on foot. ' You base carle, I will show you
that I can match you either on foot or horseback.'
Then they both quitted their horses and furiously
attacked each other on foot. At the very first bout
the noble earl gave him so sore a stroke on the brow,
about an inch above his eyes, that he could not see
for the blood that issued from the wound. His
lordship was then just going to thrust him through
the body, but his man, John White, forced up his
sword, saying — ' You have had enough of him, my
lord, you have got the better of him.' His lordship
was very angry with John, and in a great passion
gave him a blow over the shoulder. He then took
horse and came back to his quarters. Munro came
straight away to the headquarters, and his brother
had much ado to get him conveyed there, by reason
of the blooding, both of his hand and head."
Middleton placed the Earl of Glencairn under arrest in
his quarters. Two other officers took sides over the
same business, and one of them, who had championed
the cause of the Earl, was killed. Glencairn saw to his
funeral, and, a few days later, marched for the south
country with his own troop of men, about an hundred
strong. He was joined by other reinforcements, but he
realised that the royal cause was for the time being