He affected great reverence for the royal commission, but he dropped three or four words which were perfectly understood by the pages and armourbearers, who watched every turn of his eye.

"Is none of my lads so clever as to send this judge packing?
I have seen them get up a quarrel when there was less need of one." In a moment a brawl began in the crowd, none could say how or where.

Hundreds of dirks were out: cries of "Help" and "Murder" were raised on all sides: many wounds were inflicted: two men were killed: the sitting broke up in tumult; and the terrified Sheriff was forced to put himself under the protection of the chief, who, with a plausible bow of respect and concern, escorted him safe home.

It is amusing to think that the man who performed this feat is constantly extolled as the most faithful and dutiful of subjects by writers who blame Somers and Burnet as contemners of the legitimate authority of Sovereigns.

Lochiel would undoubtedly have laughed the doctrine of nonresistance to scorn.