Lairds of Glenlyon

THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON. $g
outlawry were issued against Campbell ; but what could
be done ? " It was ill to tak his breeks off a Hielandman."
Robert could not pay, and there should be an end of it ;
but necessity has no laws ; another supply of meal must
be procured or the family must starve. Lord Breadalbane
owed Robert money, but at this, his hardest pinch, did not
or could not pay him. I suspect the latter ; for now that
the family were too reduced to be feared, and their
lands had passed into other hands, he favoured and sup-
ported them as a matter of policy. Robert's son-in-law,
Alexander Campbell of Ardeonaig, paid Sir Patrick, and
the necessary supply was obtained. To Ardeonaig was
assigned the bond on Lord Breadalbane, the only realisable
source of means in poor Glenlyon's possession. After care-
fully investigating the accumulating miseries entailed upon
his family by the raids of the M'Donalds — the proofs of
which I hold in my hands — I can almost understand the stern
joy with which Glenlyon carried out the outrageous behests
of his Sovereign, and slaughtered, without remorse, men
who had treacherously violated the protection of their
commander-in-chief, to plunder the lands of an in-
offensive man.
The M'lans, as hardened and habitual robbers, according
to the criminal code of that age, probably deserved, every
one of them that was above twelve years of age, the punish-
ment of the gallows. But at the Revolution, the executive
was not strong enough to vindicate and protect the life
and property of the subject, except through voluntary
obedience, beyond the Highland barrier. The Campbells
were the first to graft ideas of law and order upon the
uncongenial stock of clanship. By consummate tact the