152 LOCHIEL'S BEECHES 



many other Scottish landowners at that time, in 

 improving his estates by reclaiming waste land and 

 planting trees ; being encouraged to that enterprise by 

 a degree of security for life and property such as had 

 not been known in Scotland since the death of Alex- 

 ander in. in 1286. Under the firm and temperate rule 

 of that monarch the realm attained a measure of peace 

 and prosperity without precedent in its annals. Men 

 looked wistfully back upon it in the coming centuries 

 of wasteful war with England, as expressed by Andrew 

 of Wyntoun, father of Scottish history, in his Oryginal 

 Cronykil : 



' Quhen Alysander oure Kyng was dede, 

 That Scotland led in love and le, 

 Away wes sons of ale and brede, 

 Of wyne and wax, of gamyn and gle. 

 Our gold wes changyd into lede ; 

 Chryst, born into Virgynete", 

 Succour^ Scotland, and remede, 

 That stad is in perplexite.' 



Union of the Scottish and English Legislatures in 

 1707 had prompt and beneficial effect upon Scottish 

 commerce and industry, and Lochiel was among those 

 who took earliest advantage of the change. But in 

 July 1745 work upon his land was rudely interrupted 

 when Prince Charles Edward landed at Borrodale and 

 summoned the Highland chiefs to his standard, which 

 he caused to be unfurled at Glenfinnan on 19th August. 

 Lochiel, who was then fifty years of age, well foresaw 

 the desperate nature of the enterprise, and sent his 

 brother Archibald to endeavour to dissuade the Prince 

 from attempting it. When his remonstrance failed of 



