The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ringan Gilhaize, by John Galt

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Title: Ringan Gilhaize
or The Covenanters

Author: John Galt

Release Date: December 24, 2009 [EBook #30749]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's note

Inconsistencies in language and dialect found in the original book have
been retained. Minor punctuation errors have been changed without
notice. Printer errors have been changed and are listed at the end.

RINGAN GILHAIZE

Their constancy in torture and in death--
These on Tradition's tongue still live, these shall
On History's honest page be pictured bright
To latest times.

GRAHAME'S SABBATH.

Ringan
Gilhaize

OR

_THE COVENANTERS_

BY

JOHN GALT

AUTHOR OF

"_Annals of the Parish_," "_Sir Andrew Wylie_," "_The Entail_," _Etc._

EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY

Sir GEORGE DOUGLAS, Bart.

London
GREENING & CO., LTD.
20 Cecil Court, Charing Cross Road
1899

INTRODUCTION

A NEGLECTED MASTERPIECE

There have, of course, been many men of genius who have united with
great laxity and waywardness in their lives a high and perfect respect
for their art; but instances of the directly contrary practice are much
rarer, and among these there is probably none more prominent than that
of the author of _Ringan Gilhaize_. Gifted by nature with a faculty
which was at once brilliant, powerful and genial, he led an industrious
life, the upright and generally exemplary character of which has never
for a moment been called in question. But, in the sphere of his art, it
is as undeniable as unaccountable that he cared little or nothing to do
his best. The haps or whims of the moment seem, indeed, to have governed
his production with an influence as of stars malign or fortunate.
Furthermore, we know that the profession of authorship--that most
distinguished of all professions, as, speaking in sober