immediately after her marriage to James VI., the king ordered Lord Drummond of Perth, who was "principal forester of Glenartney," to provide venison for a feast. His deputy, Drummond of Drummondernoch, found in the forest some trespassers of clan Donald of Glenco, whose ears he cropped and let them go. The Macdonalds, however, returned with others of their clan, killed Drummond, and cut off his head. The atrocious acts of barbarism which followed need not be told here. They ultimately took the head with them, and proceeded to Balquhidder, among their friends the M‘Gregors, whose conduct is best described in the words of the king's proclamation against their clan, which, after denouncing the "manifest reifs, and stouths" committed by them, and the murder of Drummond, proceeds thus:
"Likeas after ye murther committed, ye authors yrof cutted aff ye said umqll Jo. Drummond's head, and carried the same to the Laird of M‘Gregor, who, and his haill surname of M‘Gregors, purposely conveined upon the next Sunday yrafter, at the kirk of Buchquhidder; qr they caused ye said umqll John's head be pnted to them, and yr avowing ye sd murder, laid yr hands upon the pow, and in Ethnic and barbarous manner, swear to defend ye authors of ye sd murder."
Henry G. Tomkins.
Weston super Mare.
Rhymes on Places (Vol. v., pp. 293. 374. 500.).—Roger Gale, in a letter dated August 17, 1739, states that he saw the following lines in a window at Belford (between Newcastle and Berwick):
"Cain, in disgrace with heaven, retired to Nod,
A place, undoubtedly, as far from God
As Cain could wish; which makes some think he went
As far as Scotland, ere he pitch'd his tent;
And there a city built of ancient fame,