Indeed，thelevyingofblack-mailwas，before1745，practisedbyseveralchiefsofveryhighrank，who，indoingso，contendedthattheywerelendingthelawstheassistanceoftheirarmsandswords，andaffordingaprotectionwhichcouldnotbeobtainedfromthemagistracyinthedisturbedstateofthecountry。TheauthorhasseenamemoirofMac-PhersonofCluny，chiefofthatancientclan，fromwhichitappearsthatheleviedprotection-moneytoaverylargeamount，whichwaswillinglypaidevenbysomeofhismostpowerfulneighbours。Agentlemanofthisclanhearingaclergy-manholdforthtohiscongregationonthecrimeoftheft，interruptedthepreachertoassurehim，hemightleavetheenforcementofsuchdoctrinestoClunyMac-Pherson，whosebroadswordwouldputastoptotheftsoonerthanallthesermonsofalltheministersofthesynod。
NoteG，p。-RobRoy。
Anadventure，verysimilartowhatisherestated，actuallybefelthelateMr。AbercrombyofTullibody，grandfatherofthepresentLordAbercromby，andfatherofthecelebratedSirRalph。Whenthisgentleman，wholivedtoaveryadvancedperiodoflife，firstsettledinStirlingshire，hiscattlewererepeatedlydrivenoffbythecelebratedRobRoy，orsomeofhisgang；
andatlengthhewasobliged，afterobtainingapropersafe-conduct，tomaketheCateransuchavisitasthatofWaverleytoBeanLeaninthetext。Robreceivedhimwithmuchcourtesy，andmademanyapologiesfortheaccident，whichmusthavehappened，hesaid，throughsomemistake。
Mr。Abercrombywasregaledwithcollopsfromtwoofhisowncattle，whichwerehungupbytheheelsinthecavern，andwasdismissedinperfectsafety，afterhavingagreedtopayinfutureasmallsumofblack-mail，inconsiderationofwhichRobRoynotonlyundertooktoforbearhisherdsinfuture，buttoreplaceanythatshouldbestolenfromhimbyotherfreebooters。Mr。Abercrombysaid，RobRoyaffectedtoconsiderhimasafriendtotheJacobiteinterest，andasincereenemytotheUnion。