118 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



the signal for every wrong and oppression. The act alluded to, so revolting 

 in its nature, and followed by such terrible consequences to the Macgregors 

 (but who, it must be remembered, were only secondary in the transaction) is 

 thus recorded : A party of young men, Macdonalcls of Glenco, having been 

 found trespassing in the royal deer-forest of Glenartney, were sentenced by 

 the under forester Drummond-Ernoch, to have their ears cropped for the trespass, 

 which was immediately carried into effect. In retaliation for this barbarous 

 act, Drummond was waylaid and killed by the kinsmen of the Macdonalds, 

 while providing venison for the grand banquet which was to welcome Anne of 

 Denmark to the Scottish throne. Not satisfied, however, with the death of 

 the individual, they planned a. further act of diabolical vengeance, and, having 

 cut off his head, adjourned to the house of Mrs. Stewart of Ardvorlich, 

 Drummond's sister. From her, who little suspected the atrocious murder of 

 which they had just been guilty, they received a cold reception, having only 

 bread and cheese set before them. Her husband being from home, she left 

 the room where the uninvited guests were sitting; and they, taking advantage of 

 that interval to effect their fiend-like revenge upon an innocent and defenceless 

 woman, placed Drummond's bloody head upon the table with a morsel of the 

 bread and cheese between the jaws. On Mrs. Stewart's return to the apart- 

 ment, the ghastly spectacle caught her eye, the shock overcame her reason, 

 and, in a few minutes, as if pursued by some terrible spectre, she rushed to 

 the mountains, a piteous and distracted maniac. To excite a still deeper 

 interest for the object of this barbarous experiment, she was in that state which 

 demanded from her family every mark of indulgence expecting shortly to 

 become a mother. The murderers, gratified at having so well succeeded in 

 their vengeance, hastened from the spot to the church of Balquhidder, where the 

 Macgregors and their chief, laying their hands on the head of Drummond, swore 

 on the altar * to defend the authors of the deed. 



News of the murder, and its consequences, spread in every direction ; and 

 government, determined to make a lasting example of the clan, issued " letters 

 of fire and sword" against the Macgregors. Among those appointed to carry 

 these instructions into execution, Colquhoun of Luss was indefatigable. On 

 the other hand, Alexander, chief of the Macgregors of Glenstrae, at the head 

 of Loch-awe, was anxious to effect a reconciliation ; and, having solicited a 

 conference for that purpose, set out with two hundred of his clan, to a place 

 appointed in the valley of Leven : but, on their return from this conference, 



This was made tlie subject of " Clan Alpin's Vow," a spirited poem, by the late Sir Alexander Bos- 

 well, Bart. See " LEGEND OF MONTROSE," Append. No. I. p. xx. ed. 1832. 



