第84章

Indeed，thelevyingofblack-mailwas，before1745，practisedbyseveralchiefsofveryhighrank，who，indoingso，contendedthattheywerelendingthelawstheassistanceoftheirarmsandswords，andaffordingaprotectionwhichcouldnotbeobtainedfromthemagistracyinthedisturbedstateofthecountry。TheauthorhasseenamemoirofMac-PhersonofCluny，chiefofthatancientclan，fromwhichitappearsthatheleviedprotection-moneytoaverylargeamount，whichwaswillinglypaidevenbysomeofhismostpowerfulneighbours。Agentlemanofthisclanhearingaclergy-manholdforthtohiscongregationonthecrimeoftheft，interruptedthepreachertoassurehim，hemightleavetheenforcementofsuchdoctrinestoClunyMac-Pherson，whosebroadswordwouldputastoptotheftsoonerthanallthesermonsofalltheministersofthesynod。

NoteG，p。<？p120>-RobRoy。

Anadventure，verysimilartowhatisherestated，actuallybefelthelateMr。AbercrombyofTullibody，grandfatherofthepresentLordAbercromby，andfatherofthecelebratedSirRalph。Whenthisgentleman，wholivedtoaveryadvancedperiodoflife，firstsettledinStirlingshire，hiscattlewererepeatedlydrivenoffbythecelebratedRobRoy，orsomeofhisgang；

andatlengthhewasobliged，afterobtainingapropersafe-conduct，tomaketheCateransuchavisitasthatofWaverleytoBeanLeaninthetext。Robreceivedhimwithmuchcourtesy，andmademanyapologiesfortheaccident，whichmusthavehappened，hesaid，throughsomemistake。

Mr。Abercrombywasregaledwithcollopsfromtwoofhisowncattle，whichwerehungupbytheheelsinthecavern，andwasdismissedinperfectsafety，afterhavingagreedtopayinfutureasmallsumofblack-mail，inconsiderationofwhichRobRoynotonlyundertooktoforbearhisherdsinfuture，buttoreplaceanythatshouldbestolenfromhimbyotherfreebooters。Mr。Abercrombysaid，RobRoyaffectedtoconsiderhimasafriendtotheJacobiteinterest，andasincereenemytotheUnion。

Neitherofthesecircumstancesweretrue；butthelairdthoughtitquiteunnecessarytoundeceivehisHighlandhostattheriskofbringingonapoliticaldisputeinsuchasituation。ThisanecdoteIreceivedmanyyearssince(about1792)fromthemouthofthevenerablegentlemanwhowasconcernedinit。

NoteH，p。<？p127>-KindGallowsofCrieff。

Thiscelebratedgibbetwas，inthememoryofthelastgeneration，stillstandingatthewesternendofthetownofCrieff，inPerthshire。Whyitwascalledthe_kind_gallows，weareunabletoinformthereaderwithcertainty；butitisallegedthattheHighlandersusedtotouchtheirbonnetsastheypassedaplacewhichhadbeenfataltomanyoftheircountrymen，withtheejaculation-Godblesshernainsell，andtheTeiltamnyou！’’Itmaythereforehavebeencalledkind，asbeingasortofnativeorkindredplaceofdoomtothosewhosufferedthere，asinfulfilmentofanaturaldestiny。

NoteI，p。<？p130>-Caterans。

Thestoryofthebridegroom，carriedoffbyCaterans，onhisbridal-day，istakenfromonewhichwastoldtotheauthorbythelateLairdofMac-Nab，manyyearssince。TocarryoffpersonsfromtheLowlands，andtoputthemtoransom，wasacommonpracticewiththewildHighlanders，asitissaidtobeatthepresentdaywiththebandittiinthesouthofItaly。Upontheoccasionalludedto，apartyofCateranscarriedoffthebridegroom，andsecretedhiminsomecavenearthemountainofSchehallion。

Theyoungmancaughtthesmall-poxbeforehisransomcouldbeagreedon；andwhetheritwasthefinecoolairoftheplace，orthewantofmedicalattendance，Mac-Nabdidnotpretendtobepositive；butsoitwas，thattheprisonerrecovered，hisransomwaspaid，andhewasrestoredtohisfriendsandbride，butalwaysconsideredtheHighlandrobbersashavingsavedhislife，bytheirtreatmentofhismalady。

NoteK，p。<？p136>-HighlandPolicy。

ThissortofpoliticalgameascribedtoMac-IvorwasinrealityplayedbyseveralHighlandchiefs，thecelebratedLordLovatinparticular，whousedthatkindoffinessetotheuttermost。TheLairdofMacwasalsocaptainofanindependentcompany，butvaluedthesweetsofpresentpaytoowelltoincurtheriskoflosingthemintheJacobitec