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on the other hand, open depredations were carried on with systematic order, and they saw no greater moral turpitude in levying a creach, heading a foray, or in " lifting" the cattle which "cropped the grass of an enemy," than we now discover in the reprisals and exploits of our men of war and privateers, or in the killing of deer and game, the latter of which subjects the offenders to punishment, if detected, while no shame or disgrace attaches to the deed, whether discovered or not.

In a country in which the ablest and most active of the people despised the labour necessary to raise their subsistence from the soil, and in which the use of arms was thought the most honourable occupation, every excuse was

Highlanders are undergoing a process of civilization by new manners, new morals, and new religion, the progress of which is at once rapid and deplorable. An inquiry into the cause of this loss of principles and morals in an age when so much is done to enlighten and educate, would certainly be extremely interesting.

• Creach is a very appropriate term, and means spoliation. If much resisted in these forays, and if lives were lost, great destruction frequently ensued in revenge for the loss sustained ; but in common incursions, either against the Lowlanders, or rival tribes, personal hostilities were avoided, except in retaliation of some previous death or insult. The creachs of the Highlanders, though sufficiently calamitous, were trifling when compared with the raids or forays on the borders of England and Scotland. The following account of the devastation committed by the English upon the Scotch, in the year 1544, will serve as a specimen of the miseries to which the border countries were exposed. The sum-total of mischief done in different forays, from the 2d of July to the 17th of November of that year, is thus computed :-"Towns, towers, steads, parish churches, castle houses, cast down or burnt, 192; Scots slain, 403; prisoners taken, 816; nolts, i. e. horned cattle, taken, 10,386; sheep, 12,498; nags and geldings, 1296; goats, 200; bolls of corn, 850; insight gear, (i. e. household furniture,) not reckoned." In another inroad by the Earl of Hertford, in the year 1545, he burnt, rased, and destroyed in the counties of Berwick and Roxburgh," Monasteries and friars' houses, 7; castles, towers, and piles, 16; market towns, 5; villages, 243; milns, 13; hospitals, 3. All these were cast down or burnt." As the Scots were equally ready and skilful in this irregular warfare, we have many similar instances of the damage done in their wasteful and destructive raids or inroads into Fogland.

eagerly seized for commencing hostilities. If overtaken in their depredations, the plunderers were generally prepared for resistance, and for ennobling an act of robbery, by the intrepidity of their defence. Such an event, however, was rather avoided than courted; and the rapidity of their retreat, joined to the acuteness of their vision, formed generally their best security, as well as one of their readiest means for recovering their cattle. It is said, that habit had rendered their sight so acute, that, where a common observer could perceive nothing, they could trace the cattle, by the yielding of the heath over which they had passed. If cattle were thus traced to a man's property, without any marks of their having proceeded beyond his boundary, he was held responsible, and an immediate quarrel ensued, unless he agreed to make ample restitution, or compensation for the loss.

Besides the occasional spoliations, committed by those who did not regard them as dishonourable, but exercised them at times, as the means of weakening or punishing their enemies, there was a peculiar class, called Cearnachs. This term, originally applied to the character of soldiers, was equivalent to the catherons of the Lowlands, the kernes of the English, and the catervæ of the Romans,-denominations, doubtless, of the same import. In their best

*

*It has been suggested by a learned author, that the Lake, celebrated in the Poem of the " Lady of the Lake," and known by the name of Loch Katrine, derives its name from the word above mentioned, and is the Loch of Cearnachs, or Catherons.-Some of these cearnachs died in my remembrance. They had completely abandoned their old habits, and lived a quiet domestic life, but retained much of the chivalrous spirit of their youth, and were respected in the country. One man was considered an exception to this general description, as it was supposed that he was not altogether convinced of the turpitude of cattle-lifting. However, as he had the character of being a brave soldier, these suspicions against his moral opinions were less noticed. His name was Robert Robertson, but he was called in the country Rob Bane. He was very old when I knew him, but he had not lost the fire and animation of earlier years.-In autumn 1746, a party, consisting of a corporal and eight soldiers, marching north to Inverness, after passing Tummel Bridge,

days, the cearnachs were a select band, and were employed in all enterprises where uncommon danger was to be encountered, and more than common honour to be acquired. Latterly, however, their employments were less laudable, and consisted in levying contributions on their Lowland neighbours, or in making them pay tribute, or Black Mail,* for protection. The sons of the tacksmen, or second order of gentry, frequently joined these parties, and considered their exploits as good training in the manly exercises proper for a soldier.

The Highlanders of the counties of Perth, Stirling, and Dumbarton, inhabiting chiefly a border country, had the most frequent encounters with their southern neighbours, and also skirmishes with the Lochaber, Badenoch, and northern cearnachs, whom, on their return from their expeditions to

halted on the road side, and placed their arms against a large stone some yards behind them. Robert Bane observed the soldiers, and the manner in which they disposed of their arms. This, as he said, was a good opportunity to make a dash at his old friends the Seidar dearg, or red coat soldiers, whom he had met at Gladsmuir, Falkirk, and Culloden. None of his neighbours were at home to assist him; but he sallied out by himself, armed with his gun, pistols, and broadsword, and, proceeding with great caution, got close to the party undiscovered, when he made a sudden spring, and placed himself between the soldiers and their guns. Brandishing his sword in one hand, and pointing his gun with the other, he called out to them, in broken English, to surrender instantly, or he would call his party, who were in the wood behind, and would kill them all. The soldiers were so taken by surprise, that they permitted the cearnach to carry off their arms for the purpose of delivering them, as he said, to his companions in the wood. He quickly returned, however, and desiring the soldiers to follow him quietly, else those in the woods would be out, he conducted them to Tummel Bridge inn, where he left them, and repairing to the wood, took possession of the arms as fair spoils of war. The soldiers soon discovered the truth, and hurried back to recover their arms, and to get hold of the man who, by his address and courage, had thus disgraced them; but the cear. nach had taken care to place himself and his prize out of danger. When the soldiers reached Inverness, they were tried and punished for the loss of their arms.

*See Appendix, G.

the south, they sometimes attacked, with an intention of stripping them of their booty, either on their own account, or for the purpose of restoring it to the owners.

The borderers, being thus placed in the centre of agitation, and having arms always ready, were prepared to turn out whenever their services might be required. The clan Farquharson, and the Highlanders of Braemar, placed in the same circumstances with regard to the Lowlands of the counties of Banff, Aberdeen, and Kincardine, as the Athole Highlanders were in regard to those of Perth, Stirling, and Angus, acquired similar habits; and both of them being actuated by similar political principles, they generally took the field together on all important occasions. An instance. of the warlike disposition thus cherished, appeared in the rebellion during the reign of Charles I., when the Marquis of Montrose always found "his brave Atholemen" his never-failing support, both in his numerous victories, and under his greatest reverses. At his call they were always ready. On one occasion, being dressed in the common Highland garb, and attended only by the Laird of Inchbrakie and one servant, he came among them so unexpectedly, that some Irish soldiers who had been sent over by the Earl of Antrim, under Macdonnell, (or Alister M'Colla, as he was called by the Highlanders,)" could hardly be persuaded the man they saw was the Marquis of Montrose, till he was saluted by the Atholemen, who knew him perfectly, and almost paid him the honours of a guardian angel ;" † and the following day, "the Atholemen, to the number of eight hundred, put themselves in arms, and offered their services most cheerfully to Montrose." In the same manner we

• This brave loyalist, and able partisan, was a native of the county of Antrim. The Marquis of Montrose placed the utmost confidence in his talents and intrepidity, intrusting to his command the most difficult enterprises. To this day his memory is held in the highest veneration by the Highlanders, who retain many traditional anecdotes of him.

Bishop Wishart's Memoirs of Montrose.

find, (as will be afterwards noticed,) that "fifteen hundred men of Athole, as reputable for arms as any in the kingdom," joined Lord Dundee to support King James. The storming of the town of Dundee, and the skilful and masterly retreat effected by Montrose and his Atholemen in the face of a greatly superior force, affords another instance in point, and is the only further example of the same kind which I shall adduce. In the year 1645, Montrose, being deceived by false information from his spies, mistook the motions of the enemy, and resolving to punish the town of Dundee," a most seditious town, being the securest haunt and receptacle of the rebels in those parts, and a place that had contributed as much as any other towards the rebellion," marched from Dunkeld, at twelve o'clock at night, with one hundred and fifty horse, and six hundred Atholemen, and reaching Dundee at ten o'clock next morning, instantly stormed and carried the town; but had scarcely taken possession, when he received information that General Baillie and Colonel Hurry, two veteran and experienced officers, with eight hundred horse, and three thousand infantry, were on their march towards him, and within little more than a mile of the town. Montrose immediately recalled his men, and marched off pursued by the enemy, who dividing their force, sent one part to intercept, and the other to pursue him. During the retreat he occasionally halted, and opposed their successive attacks, and by a circuitous route regained the Grampians through the pass of Glen Esk with a trifling loss." And this was that so much talked-of expedition to Dundee, infamous indeed for the mistakes of the scouts, but as renowned as any for the valour, constancy, and undaunted resolution of the General; and admirable for the hardiness of the soldiers in encountering all extremities with patience: for threescore miles together, (Scotch miles, equal to ninety English,) they had been often in fight, always

• General Mackay's Memoirs.

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