Whereas, the castle of the Kerrs was very strong.

It was a disappointment to his retainers when they heard that he could not at once return among them; but they saw the force of his reasons, and he promised that if Scotland was freed and peace restored, he would again make Glen Cairn habitable, and pass some of his time there.
"In the meantime," he said, "I shall be but eight miles from you, and the estate will be all one.

But now I hope that for the next three months every man among you will aid me--some by personal labour, some by sending horses and carts--in the work of strengthening to the utmost my new castle of Aberfilly, which I wish to make so strong that it will long resist an attack.

Should Scotland be permanently conquered, which may God forfend, it could not, of course, be held; but should we have temporary reverses we might well hold out until our party again gather head." Every man on the estate promised his aid to an extent far beyond that which Archie, as their feudal superior, had a right to demand from them.

They had had a hard time under the Kerrs, who had raised all rents, and greatly increased their feudal services.