Lord Tarbat - Page 2

to make
inquiry in this uncouth sight, and to acquaint me therewith; which they
did, and all found an agreement in these generals, and informed me of
many instances confirming what they said. But though men of discretion
and honour, being but at second-hand, I will choose rather to put myself
than my friends on the hazard of being laughed at for incredible
relations.

I was once travelling in the Highlands, and a good number of servants
with me, as is usual there; and one of them, going a little before me,
entering into a house where I was to stay all night, and going hastily to
the door, he suddenly slipped back with a screech, and did fall by a
stone, which hit his foot. I asked what the matter was, for he seemed to
be very much frighted. He told me very seriously that I should not lodge
in that house, because shortly a dead coffin would be carried out of it,
for many were carrying of it when he was heard cry. I, neglecting his
words, and staying there, he said to other of his servants he was sorry
for it, and that surely what he saw would shortly come to pass. Though
no sick person was then there, yet the landlord, a healthy Highlander,
died of an apoplectic fit before I left the house.

In the year 1653 Alexander Monro (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel to the
Earl of Dumbarton's regiment) and I were walking in a place called
Ullapool, in Loch Broom, on a little plain at the foot of a rugged hill.
There was a servant walking with a spade in the walk before us; his back
was to us, and his face to the hill. Before we came to him he let the
spade fall, and looked toward the hill. He took notice of us as we
passed near by him, which made me look at him, and perceiving him to
stare a little strangely I conjectured him to be a seer. I called at
him, at which he started and smiled. "What are you doing?" said I. He
answered, "I have seen a very strange thing: an army of Englishmen,
leading of horses, coming down that hill; and a number of them are coming
down to the plain, and eating the barley which is growing in the field
near to the hill." This was on the 4th May (for I noted the day), and it
was four or five days before the barley was sown in the field he spoke
of. Alexander Monro asked him how he knew they were Englishmen. He said
because they were leading of horses, and had on hats and boots, which he
knew no Scotchman would have there. We took little notice of the whole
story as other than a foolish vision, but wished that an English party
were there, we being then at war with them, and the place almost
inaccessible for horsemen. But in the beginning of August thereafter,
the Earl of Middleton (then Lieutenant for the King in the Highlands),
having occasion to march a party of his