Page:King Edward VII. as a sportsman by Watson, Alfred Edward Thomas.djvu/258

 of the lands, no easy matter with any property connected with the Earldom of Mar. George's grandson Alexander, who died in 1596, was known as 'Black Alister,' and had a wild reputation. Most notable among his exploits was his attack on the Forbeses of Strathgirnock. Abergeldie broke into his house, hanged Forbes, and afterwards declared himself heir to the lands of Strathgirnock. Alexander Gordon, the eighth laird, was involved in the feud between John Gordon of Brachlie and the Black Colonel of Inverey in 1666, a well-known Highland legend. In 1689 Dundee directed his operations against General Mackay from Abergeldie Castle. Mackay burned the country for twelve miles round Abergeldie, destroying 1400 houses, among them Inverey. He eventually got possession of Abergeldie itself, and held it with a garrison of seventy-two men.

Abergeldie was leased by the Queen from Mr. Hugh Mackay Gordon, the seventeenth laird, until the year 1922. Her Majesty made considerable additions to the old Castle, which was occupied by King Edward, when Prince of Wales, for many years.

In the latter part of her reign it was used for the reception of distinguished visitors; among others, the Empress Eugenie frequently resided in it during the autumn, the Prince of Wales at this time paying only flying visits to Balmoral. After his accession to the throne, King Edward spent some two or three weeks only in the year at Balmoral. The affairs of State were never for a moment neglected for his personal recreations, and he was not free from them even at