A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

FIDELITY TO CHIEFS. 139
npntence against him for arrears of rent; but in all cases where the
chief was a party, he could not judge in person. The criminal jurisdic-
tion of a baron, according to the laws ascribed to Malcolm Mackenneth,
extended to all crimes except treason, and the four pleas of the crown,
viz. robbery, murder, rape, and fire-raising. Freemen could be tried
by none but their peers. Whenever the baron held a court, his vassals
were bound to attend and afford such assistance as might be required.
On these occasions, many usefiil regulations for the good of the community
were often made, and supplies were sometimes voluntarily
granted to the chief to support his dignity. The bounty of the vassals
was especially and liberally bestowed on the marriage of the chief, and
in the portioning of his daughters and j'ounger sons. These donations
consisted of cattle, which constituted the principal riches of the country
in those patriarchal days. In this way the younger sons of the chief
were frequently provided for on their settlement in life.
The reciprocal ties which connected the chief and his clan were al-
most indissoluble. In return for the kindness and paternal care be-
stowed by the former on the latter, they yielded a ready submission to
his authority, and evinced a rare fidelity to his person, which no adver-
sity could shake. Innumerable instances of this devoted attachment
might be giveu, but two will suffice. In the battle of Inverkeithing,
between the royalists and the troojis of Oliver Cromwell, five hundred
of the followers of the Laird of Maclean were left dead on the field.
Sir Hector Maclean being hai'd pressed by the enemy in the heat of
the action, he was successively covered from their attacks by seven
bi'others, all of whom sacrificed their lives in his defence ; and as one
fell another came up in succession to cover him, crying, " Another for
Hector." This phrase, says General Stewart, has continued ever since
a proverb or watchword, when a man encounters any sudden danger that
requires instant succour. The other instance is that of a servant of the
late James Menzies of Culdares, who had been engaged in the rebellion
of seventeen hundred and fifteen. Mr Menzies was taken at Preston in
Lancashire, was carried to London, where he was tried and condemned,
but afterwards reprieved. This act prevented him from turning out in
seventeen hundred and forty-five : but to show his good wishes towards
Prince Charles, he sent him a handsome charger as a present, when ad-
vancing through England. The servant who led and delivered the
liorse was taken prisoner and carried to Carlisle, where he was tried
and condemned. Every attempt was made, by threats of immediate
execution, in case of refusal, and promises of pardon, on giving informa-
tion, to extort a discoveiy from liim of the person who sent the horse,
but in vain. He knew, he said, what would bo the consequence of a
disclosure, and that his own life was nothing in comparison with that
which it would endanger. Being hard pressed at the place of execution
to inform on his master, he asked those about him if they were
really serious in supposing that he was such a villain as to betray hia