STEWART OK ARDSHIEL. 91 



but was not successful. In his last and almost despairing visit, he fell in on his 

 way with Rob Roy, who happened to be at his brother's, at the clachan of 

 Balquhidder. During the course of their conversation a quarrel took place ; 

 and each being provided with an Andrea Ferrara, they immediately encountered 

 in a kail-yard. Ardshiel was the conqueror ; and Rob Roy, on his way up the 

 glen, was not only heard in the greatest fury exclaiming that ' Ardshiel was 

 the first that ever drew blood of him,' but it is said, moreover, that he 

 threw his broadsword into Lochvail, nearly opposite to Stronvarr House, where 

 there is reason to believe it still remains. But Ardshiel not only conquered 

 Rob Roy he also won the fair lady; for, on the report of the rencontre 

 reaching Landrick Castle, Miss Haldane was so flattered with it, that she 

 favoured his addresses. This account of the matter is well known to several 

 of the inhabitants in the parish of Balquliidder ; and there is no doubt of its 

 being the correct one." 



This encounter is also mentioned by General Stewart of Garth.* " As 

 the laird of Invernahyle was brother to Stewart of Ardshiel, it is probable," 

 says onr correspondent, " that, in the many conversations which Sir "Walter 

 Scott held with his friend, (the late Stewart of Invernahyle, nephew of the 

 aforesaid,) adventures were related of the chief which were afterwards set 

 down to the name of the narrator. Ardshiel was throughout the ' forty-five' 

 employed in the most confidential transactions, and the most perilous enterprises. 

 He was one of the first who rallied round the 'Tandem triumphans' standard, 

 and was from the beginning in the council of Charles Edward. He was present 

 at the surprise of Edinburgh, the rush upon the artillery, as already noticed, 

 at Preston Pans, and was employed to cover the retreat from Penrith. He 

 joined other leading chieftains in advising the abandonment of the Lowlands, 

 after the battle of Falkirk ; and even after the disastrous field of Culloden, 

 pledged himself to re-assemble with the remaining Gaelic bands. Soon after 

 this last declaration, however, he was, like his prince, obliged to screen himself 

 from " his pursuers, and remained for some months sequestered among the 

 peasantry of the Appin district, until his escape to France. It is probable, that 

 upon this simple web Sir Walter Scott, as above stated, has so beautifully 

 embroidered the tale of the concealment of Baron Bradwardine. Stewart 

 of Ardshiel, who died at Sens, received for many years a voluntary rent from 

 his former tenants, who could never be reconciled to the compulsory system 

 adopted of farming the revenue of the forfeited estates." 



Between the two lakes just noticed, the Creran and Etive, the antiquarian will 



Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland. Notes to Vol. II. Append, p. xx. 



