Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

70
THE LOYALL DISSUASIVE
in any part of Christendome. If Invercauld was rich and had
got a good estate, what then ? said I, it is only for himself,
and puts Clunie under no sort of obligation.
My friend finding me thus warm, seemed to have repented
that he was so free, and was very careful to talk no more of this
general project any time thereafter, in which he was certainly
in the right, for we were not Jike to agree on that unwealdie
subject, tho1 in all things else that may concern his honour or
his interest, without encroaching upon yours, I have promissed
to be in his hand, and will be sure to serve him all I can.
But in this affair so often mis-called the general good, I
declair in the sight of God, now that for quality and antiquity,
you stand upon a levall with any chieff in the Highlands, con¬
sidering the honour you have alreadie gained by asserting of
your Right, both to yourself and family, and the probable
measures that are taken to make you more considerable, I
would not be the villain that would advise you to renounce
your Right for any friend his Estate, far less for any assistance
he is capable to give me for the recovery of my own.—Nay, not
to save my life at present, prisoner as I am, if that was made
the condition on’t. And I hope your other Kinsmen, who
have the luck to be better stated, may be no less careful of
your honour, and firm and faithful to your service.
But yet at the same time, I want not my own fears, that
MTntosh must have a partie among you, some treacherous
friend or other that has undertaken to influence you, else ’tis
morally impossible, that MTntosh himself or any other in his
name, would have the confidence to make such ridiculous
proposals.
I have often told you that it is the grand politick of your
Enemys to divide you among yourselves. The ambition of
some and insatiate avarice of others have furnished them ane
easie handle to debauch your Kinsmen, which your adversarys
from time to time could the better afford to do, that with the
heiress of your family, their predecessor had got one of the
greatest Estates at that time in the Kingdom, and whilst he
has ane Auchlichytte1 or but a summer Shealling to dispose of,
1 Achadh leth cheud, i.e. ‘ the plain of fifty,’ meaning, I suppose, a'
pasturage for fifty head of cattle.