pp. 284-285] THE MACKINTOSHES 339
locorum collationem inter
Regias Prærogativas annumerandam
esse, neque, propterea, a quolibet Subdito (non consentiente
ipso Rege) tractandam, et quod sufficiens honor est homini
cùm dignus honore est. 2do, Nullum promotionis locum
ulli
Privato Subdito infra Baronetum debitum, civiltatis duntaxat
gratiâ nonnullis in more positum esse, aliis, consideratâ
eorum
Dignitate, Stemmate aut consuetudine inter Majores excultâ,
non nunquam etiam (nullo trium enumeratorum in dubium
revocato) divitiarum habità ratione, Primatum offere,
omnesque
verò Familiarum Nominis Catanei partes, Andreæ Makpherson
a Cluny, Dignitate, Stemmate aut Consuetudine inferiores.
Imò, quorum res familiaris minor esset (ni, trium præmemora-
torum respectû, excelsiorem mererentur gradum), libentissimè
cessuros. Neque plus, ullo rationis prætextû, rogitari
potest.
SECUNDO Articulo hunc in
modum obviam itum est. Sicut
nullo jure asseri quivit, aliquos Dominorum a Makintosh,
ullos
unquam ex Clanwurichis, a nativis suis possessionibus (non
suffragantibus ipsis), pepulisse, ita, neque majori jure
affirmari
potest, quemlibet ex Tribû Makintoshianâ, ullos, Clanwurrich-
orum avitas Possessiones violenter et illegitimè
comparâsse,
reckoned to be among the
royal prerogatives; and therefore not to
be dealt with by any subject without the consent of the king;
and
that there is honour enough to a man when he is worthy of
it.
2. That no place of
preferment is due to any private subject
below a baronet; to some it is given, by custom, for the sake
of civility only; to others in consideration of their worth,
their
lineage, or custom honoured among the forefathers. Sometimes
even (when none of the three points mentioned are called in
question) on account of wealth; and, indeed, all heads of the
families of the Chattan name, inferior in dignity, lineage,
or
custom to Andrew Macpherson of Cluny, yea whose estate was
less than his (unless they merited higher rank in respect of
the
three points before mentioned), would freely yield to offer
him
precedence; and no more, on any pretence of reason, could be
demanded.
The second article was
met in this way. As it could not be
asserted on any just ground that any of the lairds of Mack-
intosh had ever driven off the Clan Vurrich from their native
possessions (without their own consent), so neither could it
be
affirmed that any one of the Clan Mackintosh had violently
and
unlawfully acquired any of the ancient possessions of the
Clan