WILLIAM AND MART.

9

and Hill’s letter overcame Sir Colin’s scruples. The oath wasadministered; and a certificate was transmitted to the Council -at Edinburgh, setting forth the special circumstances whichhad induced the Sheriff to do what he knew not to be strictlyregular.*

The news that Mac Ian had not submitted within the pre-scribed time was received with cruel joy by three powerfulScotchmen who were then at the English Court. Breadalbanehad gone up to London at Christmas in order to give an accountof his stewardship. There he met his kinsman Argyle. Argylewas, in personal qualities, one of the most insignificant of thelong line of nobles who have borne that great name. He wasthe descendant of'eminent men, and the parent of eminentmen. He was the grandson of one of the ablest of Scottish po-liticians; the son of one of the bravest and most truehearted ofScottish patriots; the father of one Mac Callum More renownedas a warrior and as an orator, as the model of every courtlygrace, and as the judicious patron of arts and letters, and ofanother Mac Callum More distinguished by talents for businessand command, and by skill in the exact sciences. Both ofsuch an ancestry and of such a progeny Argyle was unworthy.He had even been guilty of the crime, common enough amongScottish politicians, but in him singularly disgraceful, oftampering with the agents of James while professing loyalty toWilliam. Still Argyle had the importance inseparable fromhigh rank, vast domains, extensive feudal rights, and almostboundless patriarchal authority. To him, as to his cousinBreadalbane, the intelligence that the tribe of Glencoe was outof the protection of the law was most gratifying; and theMaster of Stair more than sympathized with them both.

* Burnet, ii. 8, 9.; Report of the Glencoe Commission. The authoritiesquoted in this part of the Report were the depositions of Hill, of Campbellof Ardkinglass, and of Mac Ian’s two sons.

CHAP..

XVIII.

ni!) 2 .