Page:Life and exploits of Rob Roy M'Gregor (3).pdf/12

 of the chieftains were arraying their followers to be in readiness for acting in favour of the house of Stewart. Argyle attached himself to the Prince of Orange; but not having been restored to his property, since the attainder and judicial murder of his father, he was hesitating in his sentiment; and, aware that Rob, in the event of a war, would be a valuable auxiliary, he renewed his overtures to him, and warmly solicited his assistance.

The suspicious Montrose soon discovered that a correspondence had commenced between M‘Gregor and Argyle; and, eager for the destruction of a family that had rivalled him in greatness, he wrote a letter to Rob Roy, in which he promised, that if he would go to Edinburgh, and give such information as would convict Argyle of treasonable practices, he would both withdraw the mortgage upon his property, and give him a large sum of money. Rob Roy received this infamous proposal with the lofty contempt and proud scorn of a M‘Gregor,* and without deigning to


 * A chieftain of the M‘Gregors, residing on his freehold in Glenorchy, had a son who had gone in the shooting season, with a party of young associates, to the moors. They met with a young gentleman, of the name of Lamont, from Cowel, who, attended by a servant, was going