My mother was waiting-maid to the Lady of Arngask, whose name was
Miss Margret Gibb, at which time two gentlemen paid addresses to
her; the one a Mr Jamieson, a writer in Strathmiglo, the other a Mr
Graham, of Bracko Castle, who was the subject of the story; but his
love did not meet with a return suitable to his wishes; he therefore
came to the strong resolution of taking her away by force. It will
be proper to mention that he came two nights previous, when my
mother was in the barn dighting corn, and accosted her thus: Tiby, I
want to see Margret. She answerd: I doubt, Mr Graham, you canna see
her the night, but I’ll gang an tell her. She went and was orderd to
tell him that he could not see her; which put him in such a frenzy
that he ran up and down the barn through chaff and corn up to the
middle; however, he forced in to her company, but what passed
betwixt them my mother did not know. But on the second night after,
at midnight, when in bed (my mother alway sleeping with Miss
Gibb),[125] a very sharp knock was heard at the door, which alarmd
them very much, it being a lonely place. My mother went and called,
who was there; she was answered, Open the door, Tiby, and see. She
said: Keep me! Mr Graham, what way are you here at this time? Ye
canna won in the night. She drew the bar, and was almost frighted
out of her sences by the appearance of above thirty Hillandmen on
horseback, all armed with swords and dirks, &c. She atempted to shut
the door again, but Mr Graham pressed his knee in and forced his
way. He went ben, and ordered them to put on their clothes an go
along with him. Miss Gibb insisted on stoping ere daylight, and she
would go with good will; but he would admit of no delay, but ordered
her to dress herself imediately, otherwise he would do it by force.
She then said she would not go unless Tiby acompanied her, which he
said he intended to propose had she not mentioned it; but my mother
would not go, she said, to ride behind none of these Hillandmen. Mr
Graham then proposed to take her behind himself. They did then all
mount; he at the same time used the precaution of placing sentries
on the houses where the other servants lodged, to prevent them
giving the alarm, and also three stout men at the bell of the
church, to prevent it being rung. They kept their posts till they
thought them a sufficient distance on the way, Mr Graham always
joking to my mother about something or other, asuring her so soon as
he had all over he would make her happy and comfortable all the days
of her life. They rode on over hill and dale till within sight of
Bracko Castle, when all of a sudden the Hillanmen dispersed, or
deserted them, excepting his own imediate servants; which my mother
thought was because he had deceived them, saying that the lady was
willing to marry him but her friends would not alow, which by this
time they must have found out. He told my mother that a minister was
waiting them at Bracko, but he must have been disappointed, for the
minister never appeared; else, she always thought, they would been
married. Report said that Mr Jamieson had so contrived to stop his
arrival. My mother and Miss Margret were then secured in an uper
room in the castle till the next day, when there appeared mostly all
the men of the parishes of Arngask and Strathmiglo, demanding their
lady; my father among the rest, demanding my mother as his intended
wife. It seemed so soon as the Hillan sentries were gone from the
houses and church-bell of Arngask, that the servants ran to the
bell, and rang such a peal as made all the Ochles resound wi the sad
news that their lady was stowen awa by Graham an his clan. Mr
Jamieson was no less busy in alarming and rousing the indignation of
the good folk of Strathmiglo, who were much atached to her interest,
so that both parishes rose to a man, and armed themselves with
whatever came in the way, and marched in a body to make an attack on
the castle, and rescue their much esteemed lady. But on their making
their appearance before the castle in such formidable array, Mr
Graham thought it prudent to surender rather than sustain the attack
of such a body of desperate men. Mr Graham conducted them down
stairs with his cap in hand (the gentlemen in those days wore velvet
caps), and addressed her thus: I shall see you on your horse,
Margret, for a’ the ill you’ve done me, and bade her a long and
lasting farewell; at which she stamped with her foot and recommended
him to the devil. They all came home in safety, and the bells, that
so lately rang to alarm and spread the dismal news, were again rung
to proclaim the happy return of the lady that was stowen awa.
Bonefires were also erected on the highest of the Ochles. She was
married that same year to Mr Jamieson, and I suppose some of their
children are alive to this day. It was generaly reported that Mr
Graham was so much affronted at the dissapointment that he left the
country soon after.
Such, sir, is the story that gave rise to the song you are so much
in request off, which I have gathered from Isobell Dow, and put in
order according to my weak capacity, knowing it will fall into
better and abler hands, and that, altho the song be a wanting, there
is ample mater for composition.