The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-11
STORY OF GR1sELL CoCHRANE.

STORY OF GRISELL COCHRANE.
The Cochranes are an old family in
Scotland. They rose to distinction in
the fifteenth century, and have ALWAYS
been remarkable for courage and in
genuity. Sir William Cochrane was |
elevated to the peerage as Baron Coch- |
rane in 1647, and advanced to the dig |
nifty of Earl of Dundonald in 1869. His |
grandson was Sir John Cochrane, of |
Ochiltree, who along with Sir Patrick |
Hume, of Polwarth, was concerned in |
the political troubles which, in the reign
of James H., brought ruin on the Stuart
dynasty. While Hume was SO fortunate
as to escape abroad, Cochrane was
taken prisoner in the rising under the
Earl of Argyle, and, being conducted to
Edinburgh, was ANONYMOUSLY lodged
in the Tolbooth, on the Sd of July,
1886, there to await his trial as traitor.
The day of trial came, and, as a matter
Of course, he was condemned to death.
Sir John Cochrane was married, and
had family of several sons, and at
least one daughter, Grisell, about
IS years of age.
While lying under sentence of death
in that gloomy Tolbooth, Sir John
Cochrane was permitted to see the
members of his family. Afraid, how
ever, of duplicating his sons, he for
bade them to visit him until they could
take last farewell on the night preyi
Gus to his execution. His daughter
however, was allowed to come as often
rs she pleased. The chief subject of
their conversation was an appeal made
to the King for mercy. Although sew
eral friends interested themselves in
trying to procure a remission of the
sentence, there were no sanguine ex-
pectatiops that they would be success
ful. As the time wore on Griselrs
fears increased to intensity; and
without explaining herself to any
one, she resolved to make
bold attempt to postpone her fathers
fate, if not to save him. A short time
beforethe death warrant was expected
by the Privy Council in Edin burgh, she
mentioned to her father that some
urgent affair would prevent her from
seeing him again for q few days.
Next morning, long ere the inhabit-
ants were astir, Grisell WAS some miles
en- her road to the borders. She had
attired herself as young serving
woman, journeying on borrowed horse
to the house of her mother. So equip
ped, and well-mounted, she on the
second day reached, in safety, the
abode of her old nurse, who lived ON
the English side of the Tweed, four
miles below the town of Berwick. In
this woman she knew she could place
implicit confidence, and to her, there
fore, she revealed her secret. She had
resolved, she said, to make an attempt
to save her fathers life by stopping the
postman, an equestrian like herse. +, and
forcing him to deliver up his bags, in
which she expected to find the fatal
warrant. In pursuance of this design
she had brought with her a brace of
small pistols, together with horse
mans cloak tied up in a bur die, and
hung on the curt of her saddle, and
now borrowed from her nurse the attire
of her foster-brother, which, as he was
q slight made lad, fitted her reasonably
well.
At that period those appliances which
at this day accelerate the progress of
the traveller were unknown, and the
mail from London, which now arrives
in less than twenty hours, took eight days
in reaching the Scottish capital. Miss
Cochrane thus alculated on a delay of
sixteen or seventeen days in the execu-
ton of her fathers SENTENCE space of
time which she deemed amply sufficient
to give fair trial to the treaty set on
foot for his liberation. She had, by
means which it is unnecessary here to
detail, possessed herself of the most
minute information with regard to the
places at which the postmen rested on
their journey, one of which was small
public house kept by a widow on the
outskirts of the little town of Belford.
There the man who received the bag at
Durham was accustomed to arrive
about o'clock in the morning, and
take a few hours repose before proceed
ing further on his journey. She ar
rived at this inn about an hour after the
man had composed himself to sleep.
Having put her horse into the stable
which was duty that devolved on the
guests at this little pubhc-house, from
its mistress having no hostler-she en-.
tered the only apartment which the
house afforded, and demanded some re-
the table," said the old woman, <'1a1
the best have to give you IS there d
ready and be pleased, my bonny mar
to make as little noise as you can, fol
there's one asleep in that bed that
like i'll to disturb" Miss Cochrant
promised fairly and after attempting
to eat some of the viands, which were
the remains of the sleeping mans meal
she asked for some cold water.
ssWhat," said the old dame, as sh'
handed it, to her, "ye are water
drinker, are Ve? It's but an Ill custom
for change-house."
ssI am aware of that" replied hel
guest, s. and therefore, when in pub
1ic-honse, always pay for it the price O
the strong potation, which canno
take"
ssIndeed well, that is but just, re
sponded the dame; ''and think The
more of you for such reasonable con
duct"
'sIs the well where you get this watel
near at hand p said the young lady
50 for if you viii take the trouble tx
bring me some from it, as this is rathe
Eepid, it shall be considered in the reck
Oning.
cit is a good bit off," said tn,
woman; "but cannot refuse TO fetcl
some for such civil, discreet lady AMI
will be as quick as can. But, for an,
sake, take care and don't meddle witt
these pistols, !" she continued, pointing
Go pair of pistols on the table, $50
they are loaded and I'm always afraic
of them"
Saving thisshe disappeared : and Mis-