Page:Celebrated Trials - Volume 1.djvu/490

"That since her stars had so directed the actions of her life, that she had no power of herself to contradict them, she resigned herself to him, and said, that it was to no purpose to stifle her inclinations for him any longer; for, to be plain with him, she had loved him from their first acquaintance together, before all the men she had ever seen, and that she hoped there was no transgression in an affair which her destiny ruled; and if the world proved censorious, she did not care."

In short, an assignation was made, and a porch of one of the churches in Glasgow designed to be the place where these two lovers were to meet. Nothing in the world gave the lawyer so much satisfaction as the thought of having obtained the consent of his fair mistress, who had declared her love to him, and resigned herself up to his arms. Hamilton promised to make her a present of a purse of a hundred pounds sterling; and she on her side assured him, that he might expect all the kindness she was able to afford him. Here they parted, and the lawyer thought the time very long till the hour appointed was come. It arrived, and both appeared in the porch. Hamilton wanted to know where Mr. Cunningham, her husband, was; and was informed, that he was gone a short journey into the country, which, however, would take him up eight days; whereas madam had posted him, or he had done it himself, in a private place in his chamber at home. Hamilton seemed extraordinarily pleased at his success, and the repose he should find in indulging his passion, now his antagonist was out of the way, as he thought. In a little time both went to Sawney's house, and having entered his bed-chamber, where he was concealed, and a good fire burning, Mr. Hamilton pulled out two purses of gold and gave them to her, and then going to undress himself, Sawney sprang out of his hiding place, and with one stroke of a club he had in his hand, knocked Mr. Hamilton down; not contented with his wife's having received the two purses of gold, he determined to have the lawyer's cloaths too; and therefore redoubled his blows, till the poor gentleman died at Mrs. Cunningham's feet. Mrs. Cunningham not dreaming her husband would have carried matters to such an issue, seemed frightened to the last extreme at what had been done; but Sawney endeavoured to give her ease, by telling her, that he would work himself out