Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

INTRODUCTION
xlv
Macpherson of Invereshie and Macintosh of Kinrara brother1 to
the Laird of Macintosh. Sir iEneas was naturally warm in temper,
and well knowing the many injuries brought upon the Clan
Chattan and Cluny since the marriage of the heiress, handles the
subject warmly, otherwise extremely well. His antagonist writer
Macintosh was a man of parts, education and cunning as well as
coolness. He wrote sometime after he had seen the manuscript
of Sir iEneas, who never saw that of Macintosh, else he would
have entirely confuted him. Kinrara found the field he was to
go upon, was he to speak out, would betray him, wherefore he
skims over and glosses, the best he can, the real contest of chief¬
taincy by art. He at last solely rests upon the first decree of the
Council of Scotland as ambiguously construed by his brother 2 and
Lord Lyon, and upon the plate stole out by them. He forgets
the second review of that sentence, and explanatory final decision
whereby Macintosh is ordered not to use the plate thus surrepti¬
tiously taken out and Cluny allowed to bear the ancient ensigns
armorial of his family. Kinrara’s structure hereby is easily over¬
thrown whenever properly attacked whereas that of Sir ^Eneas
can be supported by written and traditional proof. Collier s
Dictionary,z an English author attests it, and it is worth supporting
in an age like ours when Chieftainary and Highlandism are in vogue.'
Duncan Macpherson in the previous year, 1673, had fortified
himself by entering into a Band of Friendship with yEneas,
Lord Macdonell and Arros. Cluny takes ‘ burden upon him¬
self for the whole name of Macpherson, and of some others, all
called Old Clan Chattan, as chief and principal man thereof.’
The signature of iEneas Macpherson, which is upon it as a
witness, may be noticed. As it is a characteristic specimen
of these Bands we may here give it entire. It is from the
Cluny Charter Chest.
f At Annat and 4 the twentie day of October and
the day of jm vj° seventie three yeares.
It is contracted agreed and condescendit upon betuixt the parties
1 Another confusion ! Kinrara was uncle of the Laird of Mackintosh. The
whole paper is very inaccurate.
2 See previous note.
3 But /Eneas supplied the matter of the article in Collier’s Dictionary.
4 Cluny signed at Annat, now a solitary place, on the Roy, above the famous
glen. It was on the path by which Claverhouse led his force from Dalmacomer