CAWDOR CASTLE 239 



and sent my sone Archie and the lightest lads I hade after 

 them. They were overtaken in the breas of Strathherrick 

 and brought back. One of their boyes was likewayes 

 catcht and brought prisner. And just as this letter is a 

 writting, I have advertisement from severall friends off 

 the brea of Strathnairn that ther is a partie off five or six 

 score Lochabber men past by with them, who is like may 

 make ane onset this night somewher in our breas. If we 

 knew wher, we would endeavour to buckle a touch with 

 them.' 



These light-footed Camerons of Lochaber were ever 

 the sworn scourges of the prosperous Campbells; 

 and such were the diversions of a country gentleman 

 two hundred years ago. As for the ladies, edifying 

 literature was provided for such of them as had 

 learning ; for Sir Hugh himself was rather bookish, 

 and the author of An Essay on the Lord's Prayer, 

 published in 1704. The 'Inventar of Lady Calder 

 her Books' reveals nothing more trivial than The 

 Book of Palmistry, The Art of Complaisance, and 

 Kuthven's Ladies' Cabinet Enlarged; the bulk of it 

 being made up with such exhilarating matter as 

 Sighs from Hell, Balm of Gilead, and Calamy's Divine 

 Meditation. 



Sir Hugh paid his tailor punctually ; and it is to 

 be noted that in all the many bills for clothes, there 

 is not a single instance of tartan or Highland dress. 



