Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

THE LOYALL DISSUASIVE
and victory with which you were like to be contented, you
obtained two, and your adversarie forced to leave the field in
much confusion and disorder.
It was taken notice of at this time, that the Earl Marishal1
never appeared more like himself, and a stanch friend than
on this occasion. In the first Debate his Lordship was cool
and calm, trusting to the Justice of the Council, but foreseeing
now by the Chancellor and the general air and disposition of
the Council, how matters were like to goe, he did not think it
safe to wait till it came to his turn to give his vote, but stood
up and told the Chancellor * 4 That he humbly supposed it was
manifest to their Lo.p. from what was said in behalf of
MTntosh, that his pretence of being Chieff of the Clanchattone
was no more than that his predecessor was married to a
Daughter of the family whom he was pleased to call ane
heiress. Therefore desired their Lordships might consider :
‘That if they sustained that alone sufficient to make a
chief!', without taking of the name and bearing of the family,
it might be of dangerous consequence to those of any Quality
in the Kingdom. There was,’ he said, ‘ few or none at that
Councill board, but had the honour to be Chieffs or Heads of
very considerable familys, and he hoped that for their own
sakes, their Lordships would be tender of making a precedent
in Cluny’s case, that in time might reach themselves.
‘But besides this,’said my Lord, ‘and what else has been
urged in behalf of the Laird of Cluny by his learned Lawyers
from the Justice of his cause, I reckon myself obliged in virtue
of my alledgiance to tell your Lordships, that it may not be
for the King our master’s service, that this Honourable Board
by any act or Deed of theirs fix the Dependence of this worthy
Loyal family on any other of a contrair temper, who may not
faill so far as they have authority to debauch their principles
and misemploy their services.’
This short and sententious speech was so seasonable and
well timed, that however the Council might have been dis-
* The Earl Marishal his speech before the Privy Council in behalf of
the Laird of Clunie.
See Index—‘Marishall.’