EGEND OF ONTROSE

CHAP. I.

Such as do build their faith upon
The holy text of pike and gun,
Decide all controversies by
Infallible artillery,

And prove their doctrine orthodox,

By apostolic blows and knocks.-BUTLER.

T was during the period of that great and bloody
Civil War which agitated Britain during the

seventeenth century, that our tale has its commencement. Scotland had as yet remained free from the ravages of intestine war, although its inhabitants were much divided in political opinions; and many of them, tired of the control of the Estates of Parliament, and disapproving of the bold measure which they had adopted, by sending into England a large army to the assistance of the Parliament, were determined on their part to embrace the earliest opportunity of declaring for the King, and making such a diversion as should at least compel the recall of General Leslie's army out of England, if it did not recover a great part of Scotland to the King's allegiance. This plan was chiefly adopted by the northern nobility, who had resisted with great obstinacy the adoption of the Solemn League and Covenant, and by many of the chiefs of the Highland clans,