SEPTEMBER 219 



assassins, and we seem to read his sentiments in the cold 

 reference to the dead man's character : 



' He was ane werry potenteous man, and werry wyise ... be 

 ane moyane and wther [by one means and another] had con- 

 quessit ane gude leiwing [amassed a good fortune].' 



The immediate effect of this murder was the reconciliation 

 of Cassilis and his brother, the master, who united their 

 efforts to bring the assassins to justice. To do this, how- 

 ever, took some years, while the hounds were puzzling 

 over a false scent, and there were stirring deeds enacted 

 after the old sort, enough to make men slow to go abroad 

 without their harness. It is almost incredible that, in 

 a district so well settled and cultivated as that lying 

 round the town of Ayr, a miscreant like Thomas Kennedy 

 of Drummurchie, who had been an outlaw for years, 

 should have been able to maintain himself at large. But 

 so it was ; and one evening in May 1602 the Countess 

 of Cassilis was returning from Galloway, escorted by 

 the master and a retinue of fifteen horsemen, when 

 they suddenly found themselves confronted with a body 

 of nine horsemen and twenty-four musketeers, led by 

 Drummurchie. Among the countess's men rode John 

 Dick, who had slain Bargany, and his life Drummurchie 

 was resolved to have. Seeing that his party was out- 

 numbered, the master seized the bridle of Lady Cassilis's 

 horse, and, giving the word to his men, galloped off to 

 Auchensoul, a small house belonging to one Crauford. 

 Drummurchie's party, consisting chiefly of infantry, 

 were slow in pursuit but sure, for they surrounded the 

 house and set it on fire. Thereupon a parley ensued. 

 Drummurchie's conditions being the surrender of John 

 Dick, that worthy wisely took the hint and escaped under 



