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Rob Royby Walter ScottFor why? Because the good old rule
Sufficeth them; the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can.
Rob Roy's Grave Wordsworth
"rob roy ebook" ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST EDITION
When the Editor of the following volumes published, about two
years since, the work called the ``Antiquary,'' he announced that he
was, for the last time, intruding upon the public in his present
capacity. He might shelter himself under the plea that every
anonymous writer is, like the celebrated Junius, only a phantom,
and that therefore, although an apparition, of a more benign, as well
as much meaner description, he cannot be bound to plead to a charge
of inconsistency. A better apology may be found in the imitating
the confession of honest Benedict, that, when he said he would die a
bachelor, he did not think he should live to be married. The best of
all would be, if, as has eminently happened in the case of some distinguished
contemporaries, the merit of the work should, in the
reader's estimation, form an excuse for the Author's breach of promise.
Without presuming to hope that this may prove the case, it is only
further necessary to mention, that his resolution, like that of Benedict,
fell a sacrifice, to temptation at least, if not to stratagem.
It is now about six months since the Author, through the medium
of his respectable Publishers, received a parcel of Papers, containing
the Outlines of this narrative, with a permission, or rather with a
request, couched in highly flattering terms, that they might be given
to the Public, with such alterations as should be found suitable.<*>
* As it maybe necessary, in the present Edition(1829), to speak upon the square,
* the Author thinks it proper to own, that the communication alluded to is entirely
* imaginary.
These were of course so numerous, that, besides the suppression of
names, and of incidents approaching too much to reality, the work
may in a great measure be, said to be new written. Several anachronisms
have probably crept in during the course of these changes;
and the mottoes for the Chapters have been selected without any
reference to the supposed date of the incidents. For these, of course,
the Editor is responsible. Some others occurred in the original
materials, but they are of little consequence. In point of minute
accuracy, it may be stated, that the bridge over the Forth, or rather
the Avondhu (or Black River), near the hamlet of Aberfoil, had not
an existence thirty years ago. It does not, however, become the
Editor to be the first to point out these errors; and he takes this
public opportunity to thank the unknown and nameless correspondent,
to whom the reader will owe the principal share of any amusement
which he may derive from the following pages.
1st December 1817.
INTRODUCTION---(1829)
When the author projected this further encroachment on the patience
of an indulgent public, he was at some loss for a title; a good name
being very nearly of as much consequence in literature as in life.
The title of _Rob Roy_ was suggested by the late Mr. Constable, whose
sagacity and experience foresaw the germ of popularity which it
included.
No introduction can be more appropriate to the work than some
account of the singular character whose name is given to the title-page,
and who, through good report and bad report, has maintained
a wonderful degree of importance in popular recollection. This
cannot be ascribed to the distinction of his birth, which, though that
of a gentleman, had in it nothing of high destination, and gave him
little right to command in his clan. Neither, though he lived a
busy, restless, and enterprising life, were his feats equal to those of
other freebooters, who have been less distinguished. He owed his
fame in a great measure to his residing on the very verge of the
Highlands, and playing such pranks in the beginning of the 18th
century, as are usually ascribed to Robin Hood in the middle ages,---
and that within forty miles of Glasgow, a great commercial city, the
seat of a learned university. Thus a character like his, blending the
wild virtues, the subtle policy, and unrestrained license of an
American Indian, was flourishing in Scotland during the Augustan
age of Queen Anne and George I. Addison, it is probable, or Pope,
would have been considerably surprised if they had known that there,
existed in the same island with them a personage of Rob Roy's
peculiar habits and profession. It is this strong contrast betwixt
the civilised and cultivated mode of life on the one side of the Highland
line, and the wild and lawless adventures which were habitually
undertaken and achieved by one who dwelt on the opposite side of that
ideal boundary, which creates the interest attached to his name.
Hence it is that even yet,
Far and near, through vale and hill,
Are faces that attest the same,
And kindle like a fire new stirr'd,
At sound of Rob Roy's name.
There were several advantages which Rob Roy enjoyed for sustaining
to advantage the character which he assumed.
The most prominent of these was his descent from, and connection
with, the clan MacGregor, so famous for their misfortunes, and the
indomitable spirit with which they maintained themselves as a clan,
linked and banded together in spite of the most severe laws, executed
with unheard-of rigour against those who bore this forbidden surname.
Their history was that of several others of the original Highland
clans, who were suppressed by more powerful neighbours, and either
extirpated, or forced to secure themselves by renouncing their own
family appellation, and assuming that of the conquerors. The
peculiarity in the story of the MacGregors, is their retaining, with
such tenacity, their separate existence and union as a clan under
circumstances of the utmost urgency. The history of the tribe is
briefly as follows------But we must premise that the tale depends in
some degree on tradition; therefore, excepting when written documents
are, quoted, it must be considered as in some degree dubious.
The sept of MacGregor claimed a descent from Gregor, or
Gregorius, third son, it is said, of Alpin King of Scots, who
flourished about 787. Hence their original patronymic is MacAlpine,
and they are usually termed the Clan Alpine. An individual
tribe of them retains the same name. They are accounted one
of the most ancient clans in the Highlands, and it is certain they
were a people of original Celtic descent, and occupied at one period
very extensive possessions in Perthshire and Argyleshire, which they
imprudently continued to hold by the _coir a glaive,_ that is, the right
of the sword.
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