156 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



that was attached in those days to the most daring delin- 

 quents. An obelisk was placed on the spot where the 

 execution took place, by Duke James, in 1735 ; and the 

 mound is still called " The Hangman's Mount." 



The forest of Atholl seems to have been celebrated for 

 the sports it afforded for many ages. 



King Malcolm, called Cean-Mohr (great head), who reigned 

 in Scotland from 1056 to 1093, frequently hunted in it ; 

 and many places in the forest are named after him, such as 

 the King's Cairn, etc. 



The Lord of Atholl Forest has the privilege of hunting 

 over the Lude property ; and the proprietor of the latter is 

 obliged to keep his ground clear of cattle and sheep for the 

 space of three weeks previous to a grand hunt, if desired 

 to do so. This right was kept up for a considerable period^ 

 but has not been exercised of late years. 



In Piscottie there is a description of an entertainment 

 given to royalty by the third Earl of Atholl, which, how- 

 ever well known, is of so splendid and unusual a character, 

 and so directly to the purpose, that I cannot, I think, omit 

 it with propriety. 



" In 1529, King James the Fifth passed to the Highlands 

 to hunt in Athole, and took with him his mother Margaret, 

 Queen of Scotland, and an ambassador of the pope, who 

 was in Scotland for the time. The Earl of Athole hearing 

 of the king's coming, made great provision for him in all 

 things pertaining to a prince ; that he was well served and 

 eased with all things necessary to his estate, as he had been 

 in his own palace of Edinburgh. For I heard say this 

 noble earl gart make a curious palace to the king, to his 

 mother, and to the ambassador, where they were so honour- 

 ably eased and lodged, as they had been in England, France, 

 Italy, or Spain, concerning the time, and equivalent for 

 their hunting and pastime ; which was builded in the midst 

 of a fair meadow, a fair palace of green timber, wind (1) 

 with green birks (2) that were green both under and above, 

 which was fashioned in four quarters, and in every quarter 



1 " Wi nd >" Wound, or bound. 



2 " Birks," Birch trees. 



