Chronicles of the Canongate (Volume 3) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1828. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. - This Austin humbly did."--" Did hcf quoth he. "Austin may do the same again for me." Pope's Prologue to Canterbury Tales from Chaucer. The course of our story will be best pursued by attending the course of Simon Glover. It is not our purpose to indicate the exact local boundaries of the two contending clans, especially since they are not clearly pointed out by the historians who have transmitted accounts of this memorable feud. It is sufficient to say, that the territory of the Clan Chattan extended far and wide, comprehending Caithness and Sutherland, and having for their paramount chief the powerful Earl of the latter shire, thence called Mohr ar chat. In this general sense, the Keiths, the Sinclairs, the Guns, and other families and clans of great power, were included in the confederacy. These, however, were not engaged in the present quarrel, which was limited to that part of the Clan Chattan occupying the extensive mountainous districts of Perthshire and Inverness-shire, which form a large portion of what is called the north-eastern Highlands. It is well known that two large clans, unquestionably known to belong to the Clan Chattan, the MacPhersons and the Macintoshes, dispute to this day which of their chieftains was at the head of this Badenoch branch of the great confederacy, and both have of later times assumed the title of Captain of Clan Chattan. Non nostrum est-- But, at all events, Badenoch must have been the centre of the confederacy, so far as involved in the feud of which we treat. Of the rival league of Clan Quhele, or, as it is called by later authorities, Clan Kay, we have a still less distinct account, for reasons which will appear in the sequel. Buchanan and later authors have since identified them with the numerous and p...