The clan consider
the chief as their father, they bear his name, they believe
themselves descended from his family, and they obey him as their
lord, with all the ardour of filial love and veneration; while
he, on his part, exerts a paternal authority, commanding,
chastising, rewarding, protecting, and maintaining them as his
own children. If the legislature would entirely destroy this
connection, it must compel the Highlanders to change their
habitation and their names. Even this experiment has been
formerly tried without success -- In the reign of James VI a battle
was fought within a few short miles of this place, between two
clans, the M'Gregors and the Colquhouns, in which the latter were
defeated: the Laird of M'Gregor made such a barbarous use of his
victory, that he was forfeited and outlawed by act of parliament:
his lands were given to the family of Montrose, and his clan were
obliged to change their name. They obeyed so far, as to call
themselves severally Campbell, Graham, or Drummond, the surnames
of the families of Argyle, Montrose, and Perth, that they might
enjoy the protection of those houses; but they still added
M'Gregor to their new appellation; and as their chief was
deprived of his estate, they robbed and plundered for his
subsistence.
Pages:
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466