Kenmure Castle. 191 



i.e., the cask of brandy which he carried at the head of his troops. 

 Xot only that, but they marched about the country robbing and 

 making prisoners in the King's name. Under these circum- 

 stances it is hardly likely anyone would ever dream of eulogising 

 such a man, employed in such an unpopular cause. The his- 

 torical a.spect of the rebellion of 1715 is entirely different. The 

 cause was popular, and Kenmure was unwilling to take the com- 

 mand until the enthusiasm of his wife and the influence of his 

 brother-in-law. Lord Carnwath, overcame his scruples. When 

 the news flashed forth that Kenmure had at last agreed to place 

 himself at the head of the forces, the joy of the Gallovidians 

 knew no bounds. It was this enthusiasm which prompted the 

 words of the old song. The literary style of the song itself bears 

 this out. Further, Burns himself recognised this when he re- 

 wrote the old song, because he was in sympathy with the cause. 



The Killing Times. 



Robert was succeeded by Alexander, the 5th Viscount. He 

 was also a Royalist. It was during his regime that the rising at 

 Dairy took place in 1666. In 1668 I find him, along with Lord 

 Galloway, making representations to the Government as to the 

 extortions practised in the Stewartry by the military. The result 

 was that he, Lord Nithsdale, and the laird of Craigdarroch were 

 appointed a Commission to enquire into the conduct of Sir James 

 Turner and Sir William Ballantyne. Turner was dismissed, 

 Ballantyne fined, and the troops withdrawn from Galloway for a 

 time. Kenmure commanded a regiment at Killiecrankie in 1689. 

 His sympathies with the Covenanters during the "killing time" 

 drew upon himself the suspicion of the Royalists. On the 21st 

 October, 1662, he received a letter from Graham of Claverhouse 

 ordering him to remove from Kenmure Castle in order to allow 

 the troops to be garri.soned there. This was probably owing to 

 the fact that he declined to subscribe the oath under the " Test 

 Act." From a letter by Claverhouse, dated Newton of Gallo- 

 way, 16th February, 1682, I take the following extract: — " I was 

 last night to wait on my Lady Kenmure, my Lord Kenmure being 

 from home. I told her what pains your Lordship had been to 

 keep her house from being a garrison, and she seemed \'ery sen- 

 sible of it. I am sorry I must acquaint you, but I shall do it to 

 nobody else, that I am certainly informed that Lord Kenmure has 

 conversed frequently with rebels, particularly with Barscobe. In 



