Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

78
THE LOYALL DISSUASIVE
Sect. XIII
What use and improvement the famous Andrew of Cluny made
of what passed.
As this discourse gained no small reputation to your brother
dureing the time he stayed thereafter at the College; so did
it likewayes contribute to inspire him with those high and
generous thoughts, that (to the astonishment of all that knew
him) he begun so soon to put in practise, as (for instance) first
he loved dearly to be in the conversation of the best quality,
who commonly (in his time) were the worst company, but it
was easy and naturall for him, to preserve his virtue,—as the
ivy does its greenness in the middle of rubbish. Secondle he
maintained his rank all his time, not only against the young
lairds and cadets, but the old ones also. Told the Laird of
Balnagown,1 one of the first and best Cheefs in the Kingdome,—
upon some difference of that kind happened betwixt them at
Edinburgh—that for quality he stood upon even ground with
him, and though he did not think it worth while to dispute
or struggle for precedency, he would let him understand, it
was what he did not owe to him nor any Cheef in the High¬
lands. 3ly He hade the charming art to prevaille with all
those of his kinsmen, who for severall ages, hade adhered 2 to
MTntoshe, to renounce him for ever, and own him and him
only for their Cheef, in a full and formal bond drawn up for
that effect, signed by the deceased John M‘pherson of Inver-
eshie and all the other gentlemen of the name, and family.
4ly When by the King’s letter of concurrence and express order
he accompanyed the present laird of MTntoshe in his expedi¬
tion against the Laird of Lochiel, at the head of six hundred
of his name and blood, after they hade agreed on all other
termes, and were the length of Garvae, on their March, he
hade the pressence of mind to stop and send a message to
M‘Intoshe to tell him, that he did not atall grudge to serve
his friend or any honest nighbour, but least MTntoshe (after
the manner of his ancestors) might be ready to misconstruct
1 Sir David Ross of Balnagowan.
2 For relatioiis of leading families of Macphersons with Mackintosh, see
Introduction.