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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
mitigated when it was found that the thief； having emptied the king's
pocket at the unguarded moment of his merriment； had left them both the
poorer。
Such were Gilderoy's interludes of gaiety； and when you remember the
cynical ferocity of his earlier performance； you cannot deny him the credit
of versatility。 He stayed in France until his ominous reputation was too
widely spread； whereupon he crossed the Pyrenees； travelling like a
gentleman； in a brilliant carriage of his own。 From Spain he carried off a
priceless collection of silver plate； and he returned to his own country；
fatigued； yet unsoftened； by the grand tour。 Meanwhile； a forgetful
generation had not kept his memory green。 The monster； who punished
Scotland a year ago with fire and sword； had passed into oblivion； and
Gilderoy was able to establish for himself a new reputation。 He departed
as far as possible from his ancient custom； joined the many cavaliers； who
were riding up and down the country； pistol in hand； and presently proved
a dauntless highwayman。 He had not long ridden in the neighbourhood
of Perth before he met the Earl of Linlithgow； from whom he took a gold
watch； a diamond ring； and eighty guineas。 Being an outlaw； he naturally
espoused the King's cause； and would have given a year of his life to meet
a Regicide。 Once upon a time； says rumour； he found himself face to
face with Oliver Cromwell； whom he dragged from his coach； set
ignominiously upon an ass； and so turned adrift with his feet tied under the
beast's belly。 The story is incredible； not only because the loyal
historians of the time caused Oliver to be robbed daily on every road in
Great Britain； but because our Gilderoy； had he ever confronted the
Protector； most assuredly would not have allowed him to escape with his
life。
Tired of scouring the highway； Gilderoy resolved upon another
enterprise。 He collected a band of fearless ruffians； and placed himself at
their head。 With this army to aid； he harried Sutherland and the North；
lifting cattle； plundering homesteads； and stopping wayfarers with a
humour and adroitness worthy of Robin Hood。 No longer a lawless
adventurer； he made his own conditions of life； and forced the people to
obey them。 He who would pay Gilderoy a fair contribution ran no risk of
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
losing his sheep or oxen。 But evasion was impossible； and the smallest
suspicion of falsehood was punished by death。 The peaceably inclined
paid their toll with regret； the more daring opposed the raider to their
miserable undoing； the timid satisfied the utmost exactions of Gilderoy；
and deemed themselves fortunate if they left the country with their lives。
Thus Scotland became a land of dread； the most restless man within
her borders hardly dare travel beyond his byre。 The law was powerless
against this indomitable scourge； and the reward of a thousand marks
would have been offered in vain； had not Gilderoy's cruelty estranged his
mistress。 This traitressPeg Cunningham was her nameless for avarice
than in revenge for many insults and infidelities； at last betrayed her
master。 Having decoyed him to her house； she admitted fifty armed men；
and thus imagined a full atonement for her unnumbered wrongs。 But
Gilderoy was triumphant to the last。 Instantly suspecting the treachery of
his mistress； he burst into her bed…chamber； and； that she might not enjoy
the price of blood； ripped her up with a hanger。 Then he turned defiant
upon the army arrayed against him； and killed eight men before the others
captured him。
Disarmed after a desperate struggle； he was loaded with chains and
carried to Edinburgh； where he was starved for three days； and then
hanged without the formality of a trial on a gibbet； thirty feet high； set up
in the Grassmarket。 Even then Scotland's vengeance was unsatisfied。
The body； cut down from its first gibbet； was hung in chains forty feet
above Leith Walk； where it creaked and gibbered as a warning to evildoers
for half a century； until at last the inhabitants of that respectable quarter
petitioned that Gilderoy's bones should cease to rattle； and that they should
enjoy the peace impossible for his jingling skeleton。
Gilderoy was no drawing…room scoundrel； no villain of schoolgirl
romance。 He felt remorse as little as he felt fear； and there was no crime
from whose commission he shrank。 Before his death he confessed to
thirty…seven murders； and bragged that he had long since lost count of his
robberies and rapes。 Something must be abated for boastfulness。 But
after all deduction there remains a tale of crime that is unsurpassed。 His
most admirably artistic quality is his complete consistence。 He was a
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
ruffian finished and rotund； he made no concession； he betrayed no
weakness。 Though he never preached a sermon against the human race；
he practised a brutality which might have proceeded from a gospel of hate。
He spared neither friends nor relatives； and he murdered his own mother
with as light a heart as he sent a strange widow of Aberdeen to her death。
His skill is undoubted； and he proved by the discipline of his band that he
was not without some talent of generalship。 But he owed much of his
success to his physical strength； and to the temperament； which never
knew the scandal of hesitancy or dread。
A born marauder； he devoted his life to his trade； and； despite his
travels in France and Spain； he enjoyed few intervals of merriment。 Even
the humour； which proved his redemption； was as dour and grim as
Scotland can furnish at her grimmes： and dourest。 Here is a specimen
will serve as well as another： three of Gilderoy's gang had been hanged
according to the sentence of a certain Lord of Session； and the Chieftain；
for his own vengeance and the intimidation of justice； resolved upon an
exemplary punishment。 He waylaid the Lord of Session； emptied his
pockets； killed his horses； broke his coach in pieces； and having bound his
lackeys； drowned them in a pond。 This was but the prelude of revenge；
for presently （and here is the touch of humour） he made the Lord of
Session ride at dead of night to the gallows； whereon the three malefactors
were hanging。 One arm of the crossbeams was still untenanted。 ‘By
my soul； mon；' cried Gilderoy to the Lord of Session； ‘as this gibbet is
built to break people's craigs； and is not uniform without another； I must
e'en hang you upon the vacant beam。' And straightway the Lord of
Session swung in the moonlight； and Gilderoy had cracked his black and
solemn joke。
This sense of fun is the single trait which relieves the colossal
turpitude of Gi