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THE MEN OF THE MOSS-HAGS
_BEING A HISTORY OF ADVENTURE TAKEN FROM THE PAPERS OF WILLIAM GORDON OFEARLSTOUN IN GALLOWAY AND TOLD OVER AGAIN BY_
S. R. CROCKETT
New YorkMACMILLAN AND CO.AND LONDON1895_All rights reserved_
COPYRIGHT, 1895,BY MACMILLAN AND CO.
Norwood PressJ. S. Cushing & Co--Berwick & SmithNorwood Mass. U.S.A.
_To ANDREW LANG Poet, Romancer, Scholar, and Friend of the goodly fellowship of the White Rose I, born of the Hill-Folk dedicate this attempt at a true history of some who fought bravely beneath the Banner of Blue_
_PREFATORY NOTE._
_I desire to express grateful thanks to my researchers, Mr. JamesNicholson of Kirkcudbright, who examined on my behalf all the localrecords bearing upon the period and upon the persons treated of in thisbook; and to the Reverend John Anderson of the Edinburgh UniversityLibrary, who brought to light from among the Earlstoun Papers and fromthe long-lost records of the United Societies, many of the materialswhich I have used in the writing of this story._
_I owe also much gratitude to the Library Committee of the University ofEdinburgh, for permission to use the letters which are printed in thetext, and for their larger permission to publish at some future time,for purposes more strictly historical, a selection from both the sets ofmanuscripts named above._
_Most of all, I am indebted to my friend, Mr. John McMillan of Glenheadin Galloway, who has not only given me in this, as in former works, thebenefit of his unrivalled local knowledge, but has travelled with memany a weary foot over those moors and moss-hags, where the wanderers ofanother time had their abiding places. Let him accept this word ofthanks. He is not likely to forget our stay together in the wilds ofCove Macaterick. Nor I our journey home._
_S. R. CROCKETT._
_Penicuik, Aug. 5, 1895._
CONTENTS.
I. MY GOSSIP, MAISIE MAY
II. GAY GARLAND CARRIES DOUBLE
III. GAY GARLAND COMES HOME SADDLE EMPTY
IV. SANDY GORDON COMES OVER THE HILL ALL ALONE
V. THE CLASH OF WORDS
VI. THE CLASH OF SWORDS
VII. THE FIELD OF BOTHWELL BRIG
VIII. THE CURATE OF DALRY
IX. THROUGH DEATH'S DARK VALE
X. THE GRAVE IN THE WILDERNESS
XI. THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS
XII. WE RIDE TO EDINBURGH
XIII. WULLCAT WAT DARES HEAVEN AND HELL
XIV. THE THING THAT FELL FROM TRAITOR'S GATE
XV. THE BICKER IN THE SNOW
XVI. THE GREY MOWDIEWORT
XVII. OVER THE MUIR AMANG THE HEATHER
XVIII. AULD ANTON OF THE DUCHRAE
XIX. THE SWEET SINGERS OF THE DEER-SLUNK
XX. THE HOME OF MY LOVE
XXI. THE GREAT CONVENTICLE BY THE DEE WATER
XXII. PEDEN THE PROPHET
XXIII. BIRSAY THE COBBLER
XXIV. THE SANQUHAR DECLARATION
XXV. THE LAST CHARGE AT AYRSMOSS
XXVI. HIDING WITH THE HEATHER-CAT
XXVII. THE WATER OF THE WELL OF BETHLEHEM
XXVIII. THE WELL-HOUSE OF EARLSTOUN
XXIX. CUPBOARD LOVE
XXX. THE BULL OF EARLSTOUN'S HOMECOMING
XXXI. JEAN'S WA'S
XXXII. PLAIN WORDS UPON MEN
XXXIII. THE GARDENER OF BALMAGHIE
XXXIV. THE TESTING OF THE TYKE
XXXV. KATE OF THE DARK BROWS
XXXVI. THE BLACK HORSE COMES TO BALMAGHIE
XXXVII. A CAVALIER'S WOOING
XXXVIII. IN COVE MACATERICK
XXXIX. THE BOWER OF THE STAR
XL. MARDROCHAT THE SPY
XLI. THE HOUSE OF THE BLACK CATS
XLII. THE NICK O' THE DEID WIFE
XLIII. THE VENGEANCE OF "YON"
XLIV. A DESIRABLE GENERAL MEETING
XLV. THE OUTFACING OF CLAVERS
XLVI. THE FIGHT AT THE CALDONS
XLVII. THE GALLOWAY FLAIL
XLVIII. THE FIGHT IN THE GUT OF THE ENTERKIN
XLIX. THE DEATH OF MARDROCHAT
L. THE BREAKING OF THE THIEVES' HOLE
LI. THE SANDS OF WIGTOWN
LII. THE MADNESS OF THE BULL OF EARLSTOUN
LIII. UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH
LIV. ROBBERY ON THE KING'S HIGHWAY
LV. THE RED MAIDEN
LVI. THE MAID ON THE WHITE HORSE
FOLLOWETH THE AUTHOR'S CONCLUSION
THE MEN OF THE MOSS-HAGS.