SIR ROBERT SIBBALD. 
45 
some searching for me, of our owne people, 1 
joined them, and came home. They had broken 
up the utter door, and soon after the other door 
was opened to them ; they entered with durks 
and axes, and for-hammers, and one fetcht a 
stroak with a durk to have killed my wyfe, bot 
was hindered by one that told she was a Prote- 
stant. They searched the Bed, and not finding 
me, went away, after they had sworn they would 
* Itathillet’* me. I was conveyed down to the 
Abbey by Lieutenant Generali Drumond in 
his coach, with Claverous, who was then Viscount 
of Dundee, and finding the spighte continued 
against me, I took journey with Lieutenant 
Drumond of the lyfe guard, and went to Berwick, 
where I .mett with the Earl of Traquaire, Mr 
Irwin, and Mr Lindsay, and wee road post to 
London in six days. At Stonegate hold we 
perceived six Highway men, three upon each 
side of the road, waiting for us : we rode through 
them without any harme. At Stamford, after 
we had mounted our horses, and were riding out 
* An allusion to the murder of Archbishop Sharpe, in 
which Halkerston of Rathillet was a principal actor. 
Hence, the populace adopted the phrase “to Rathillet” 
in lieu of “to assassinate,” and as more forcibly expres- 
sing the same thing. In like manner, the word “ Burked” 
has recently come into general use, as indicating the 
peculiar mode of assassination by suffocation, used by that 
execrable miscreant, William Burke Note by Mr 
Muidment . 
