SEPTEMBER 213 



mises, 'me lord,' being under the influence of Culzean, 

 ' geff na ansuer, bot lat the samin pass ouer with sylense.' 



And so ended this strange and brief armistice, and the 

 laird of Bargany set about equipping and drilling his 

 forces. It was harvest-time, and the earl and the laird 

 both claimed the teinds that is, the tithe crop on the 

 lands of Girvanmains. Bargany was first on the ground, 

 with no fewer than seven hundred horsemen (including 

 one hundred of Lord Ochiltree's) and two hundred mus- 

 keteers. Cassilis arrived soon after, with nearly a thousand 

 men ; but, finding his adversary strongly posted, declined 

 battle. 



He must have been preux chevalier, this lawless laird 

 of Bargany, and the chronicler waxes enthusiastic in 

 describing him : 



' He was the bra west manne that was to be gottin in ony land ; 

 of hiche statour and weill maid ; his hair blak, bott of ane cum- 

 lie face ; the brawest horsmanne and the ebest [champion] of 

 mony at all pastymis, for he was feirse and feirry [sturdy] and 

 winder nembill.' 



All these fine qualities did not prevent him engaging 

 in a detestable plot with the laird of Blairquhan to 

 take Culzean's life, for whom they laid an ambush in 

 Glentressock to intercept him on a journey to Galloway. 

 Auchendrayne, however, who was in Bargany 's confidence, 

 warned Culzean of what was in store for him, and Culzean 

 sent forward his squire, Lancelot, to spring the ambush. 

 Lancelot was taken prisoner, and Culzean appealed for 

 protection to the king ; the misdemeanants were sent for, 

 and the old farce was repeated: 'the King gart thaim 

 drink togidder and schaik handis.' 



Matters might have gone on simmering for a long time 



