The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

i86 THE HIGHLANDERS [part ii
the Highlanders from the Picts, to have existed in the Highlands
before the Irish or Dalriadic system was introduced, but
we can exen ascertain from him the origin of the later system,
and the cause of its obtaining such universal belief.
It appears from John Elder's letter, that the clergy of Scot-
land asserted the descent of the Highlanders from the Scots of
Dalriada, and that the older Highland families held a different
tradition, which agrees with the system contained in this Work.
The object of John Elder's letter, however, was to assure the
King of England of support in the Highlands in his plans of
obtaining influence in Scotland, and the Highland chiefs who
held this older tradition are just those whom he afterwards
names to King Henry as in the English interest. Now it is
very remarkable, that the first trace of the Dalriadic system
which we can discover, is in the famous letter addressed to the
Pope in 1320 b)- the party who asserted the independence of
Scotland. To this party the clergy of Scotland unquestionably
belonged, while it is equally clear that the Highland chiefs, with
very few exceptions, belonged to the English party ; and
comparing the traditionary history upon
upon
which Edward I.
founded his claim, and which of course his party in Scotland
must have believed, we actualh' find it to be a part of the
same tradition which John Elder asserts to have been held
by the older Highland families, and which included a belief
of their descent from the Picts. The cause of the prevalence
of the Scottish story is now clear ; for the question of the
independence of Scotland having been most improperly placed
by the two parties on the truth of their respective traditions,
it is plain that as the one part}' fell, so would the tradition
which the}' asserted ; and
that the final supremacy of the
independent part}' in the Highlands, as well as in the rest of
Scotland, and the total ruin of their adversaries, must have
established the absolute belief in the descent of the Highlanders,
as well as the kings and clergy of Scotland, from the
Scots of Dalriada.
We see, however, from John Elder, that, notwithstanding
the succession of false traditions which prevailed in the Highlands
at different times, traces of the true one were still to
be found.