'd reach nigh to the
place. They therefore return'd all to Penrith, and the artilirie marched up in
good order. Nor did the Duke of Comberland ever afterwards dare to come within a
day's march of the Prince and his army dureing the course of all that retreat,
which was conducted with great prudence and safety when in some manner
surrounded by enemies.«
 
94 As the heathen deities contracted an indelible obligation if they swore by
Styx, the Scottish Highlanders had usually some peculiar solemnity attached to
an oath which they intended should be binding on them. Very frequently it
consisted in laying their hand, as they swore, on their own drawn dirk; which
dagger, becoming a party to the transaction, was invoked to punish any breach of
faith. But by whatever ritual the oath was sanctioned, the party was extremely
desirous to keep secret what the especial oath was, which he considered as
irrevocable. This was a matter of great convenience, as he felt no scruple in
breaking his asseveration when made in any other form than that which he
accounted as peculiarly solemn; and therefore readily granted any engagement
which bound him no longer than he inclined. Whereas, if the oath which he
accounted inviolable was once publicly known, no party with whom he might have
occasion to contract would have rested satisfied with any other. Louis XI. of
France practised the same sophistry, for he also had a peculiar species of oath,
the only one which he was ever known to respect, and which, therefore, he was
very unwilling to pledge. The only engagement which that wily tyrant accounted
binding upon him was an oath by the Holy Cross of Saint Lo d'Angers, which
contained a portion of the True Cross. If he prevaricated after taking this
oath, Louis believed he should die within the year. The Constable Saint Paul,
being invited to a personal conference with Louis, refused to meet the king
unless he would agree to ensure him safe conduct under sanction of this oath.
But, says Comines, the king replied, he would never again pledge that engagement
to mortal man, though he was willing to take any other oath which could be
devised. The treaty broke off, therefore, after much chaffering concerning the
nature of the vow which Louis was to take. Such is the difference between the
dictates of superstition and those of conscience.
 
95 A pair of chestnut trees, destroyed, the one entirely, and the other in part,
by such a mischievous and wanton act of revenge, grew at Invergarry Castle, the
fastness of Macdonald of Glengarry.
 
96 The first three couplets