O then, cryed out the scullion boye,
      As loud as loud might be,
    “O save her life, good master cook,
      And make your pyes of me.”

The tradition adds that Sir William was not unmindful of the scullion boy’s heroic conduct, for he made him heir to his possessions.

Another cruel case of woman’s jealousy, which, happily, was not so disastrous in its result as the former, relates to Maria, daughter of the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, second son of Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, who was Maid of Honour to Queen Caroline.  Report goes that between this young lady, who was one of the greatest beauties about the Court, and a Mr. Price, an admired man about town, there subsisted a strong attachment.  Unfortunately for Miss Mackenzie, Mr. Price was an especial favourite of the celebrated Countess of Deloraine, who, to get rid of her rival in beauty, poisoned her.

But this crime was discovered in time, antidotes were administered with success, and the girl’s life was saved; although her lovely complexion is said to have been ruined, ever after continuing of a lemon tint.  Queen Caroline, desirous of shielding the Countess of Deloraine from the consequences of her act, persuaded “the poisoned beauty” to appear, as soon as she was sufficiently recovered, at a supper, given either by the Countess of Deloraine or where she was to be present.  Accordingly, on the night arranged, some excitement was caused by the arrival of Miss Mackenzie, for as she entered the room, someone exclaimed, “How entirely changed!”

But Mr. Price, who was seated by Lady Deloraine remarked, “In my eyes she is more beautiful than ever,” and it only remains to add that they were married next morning.

Like jealousy, thwarted love has often been cause of the most unnatural crimes, and a tragic story is told of the untimely death of Mr Blandy, of Henley, in Oxfordshire, who, by practice as an attorney, had accumulated a large fortune.  He had an only child, Mary, who was regarded as an heiress, and consequently had suitors many.  On one occasion, it happened that William Cranstoun, brother of Lord Cranstoun, being upon a recruiting party in Oxfordshire, and hearing of Miss Blandy’s “great expectations,” found an opportunity of introducing himself to the family.

The Captain’s attentions, however, to Miss Blandy met with the strong disapproval of her father, for he had ascertained that this suitor for his daughter’s hand had been privately married in Scotland.  But against this objection Captain Cranstoun replied that he hoped to get this marriage speedily set aside by a decree of the Supreme Court of Session.  And when the Court refused to annul the marriage, Mr. Blandy absolutely refused to allow his daughter to have any further communications with so dishonourable a man; a resolution to which he remained inexorable.