. The Scottish nation; or, The surnames, families, literature, honours, and biographical history of the people of Scotland. and man-ners, in a feudal age, were peculiarly fitted tocommand popularity. Their stature was almostgigantic; their countenances cast in the mouldof manly beauty; and their ah- so dignified andwarlike that when the father and the two sonsascended the scaffbld, it was impossible to beholdthe scene without a feeling of involuntary pityand admiration. Behind them came the earl ofLennox, a venerable nobleman in his eightiethyear; and, when he laid his head upon the block,and
. The Scottish nation; or, The surnames, families, literature, honours, and biographical history of the people of Scotland. and man-ners, in a feudal age, were peculiarly fitted tocommand popularity. Their stature was almostgigantic; their countenances cast in the mouldof manly beauty; and their ah- so dignified andwarlike that when the father and the two sonsascended the scaffbld, it was impossible to beholdthe scene without a feeling of involuntary pityand admiration. Behind them came the earl ofLennox, a venerable nobleman in his eightiethyear; and, when he laid his head upon the block,and his grey hauS were stained with blood, athrill of hon-or ran through the crowd, which, inspite of the respect or terror for the royal name,broke out into expressions of indignation at theunsparing severity of the vengeance. From theplace of his execution Duke Murdoch might see in the distance the fertile territory of Menteith, whichformed part of his fjimily estates, and even distin-guish the stately castle of Doune, which had beenhis own vice-regal residence. Of this magniflceniedifice the following is a wood-cut. r=. The title and possessions of the duke ol Albanywere forfeited, and the latter annexed to the obtain these was, no doubt, the cause of hisdeath. A contemporary narrative of the mm-derof liing James, preserved in the General RegisteiHouse, and printed by Pinkerton, represents thegeneral impression to have been that the kyngdid rather that rigorous execucion upon the lordesof his kyne for the covetise of thare possessionsand goodes, thane for any rightful cause; althoehe fonde colourabill wayes to serve his intent ynthe contrarye. [Pinkerions Hist. vol. i. p. 463.]The estates of the earl of Lennox, his father-in-law, were allowed to remain unforfeited. DukeMurdochs marriage to Isabella, the eldest daughterof Duncan, earl of Lennox, who had been left awidower without male issue, took place in the marriage contract, it was agreed thatshould the earl o
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Keywords: ., bookauthorandersonwilliam180518, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870
