Clan Gillean

Additions and Corrections. 521
Neil and Terlach. Margaret, daughter of Hugh Fraser, Lord
Lovat, ivas the mother of Alexander. Three of Heclor Buie's
sons, Ewen, Ferchar, and Terlach, survived him.
Page 280. — For " In the same year," &c, read, On Jamiary
6th, 1 5 10, fames IV. gave to Ewen Maclean a charter of Kilmalieu,
Blaaich, and other lands, all of which had been formerly held by him
under the Lord of the Isles. It is certain that the lands thus granted
to him had belonged to his father. — Reg. Mag. Sig., Lib. X V., No. 71.
Page 307. — Handfasting. In his History of the Macleans,
Seannachie makes the following statements: — "John, fourth
laird of Ardgour, had two sons by a daughter of Mac Ian of
Ardnamurchan, whom he had taken upon the prospect of
marriage if she pleased him. At the expiration of two years —
the period of her noviciate — he sent her home to her father,
but the children by her were reputed lawful children, because
their mother was taken upon a prospect of marriage."
The assertion that the children by Mac Ian's daughter were
reputed lawful children is not true. John of Inverscadale, the
elder of the two sons, was a man of ability and prominence ;
but there was no attempt to make him chieftain of the Macleans
of Ardgour. Had he been a lawful son he would certainly
have been appointed chieftain.
According to the lowest conception which can be formed of
marriage as a divine institution, it is necessary that a man and
woman should take each other as husband and wife until God
shall separate them by death. In the handfasting ceremony a
man merely stood up before witnesses, took a woman by the
hand, and declared that he accepted her as his wife for a year
and a day or perhaps a longer period. It is clear that there is
nothing of the nature of marriage in this ceremony. It is
equally clear that the children of handfasting persons were
simply illegitimate.
The Ardgour MS. contains the following statements : —
" Allan, fourth laird of Ardgour, had two sons by a daughter
of Mac Ian of Ardnamurchan, whom he had taken upon a
prospect of marriage. After living with him for a year or two,
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