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jlfi Gaelic Society of Inverness.
But the Bishop, in i)rosonting him to the incumbency, encroached
on the rights of Sir Hugh Camplx^ll of GaAvdor, ancestor
of tlie present Earl of Cawdor, and on 2Gth Februaiy 1073, that
gentleman appeared personally Ijefore the Presbytery at Inverness,
and " produced three several charters each of them containing his
right of patronage to the Parochin of Dunlechitie, and in respect
the saids kirks of Dunlechitie and Daviot are united in ane
parochin, alledged this to be his vice of the })atronage, and right
to j)reFent a minister to tiiese united parishes now vacand Ihrough
the depositione of Mr Alexr. Fraser, late minister yrof, who was
presented by the Bishope of INIoiTay, and protested against the
admissione, collatione, and institution of Mr Michael flraser to the
saidis united kirks or cure." Campbell offered to present the Rev.
Donald Macpherson, minister of Cawdor, to the vacant charge ;
but the moderator declared that ]\Ir Michael would be admitted
minister of the parish on 4th March 1G73, and accordingly on that
date he was so admitted in presence of a considerablt^ number of
the brethren, who were ordered to attend " to bear witness to his
admissione."
The Thane of Cawdor, however, was not prepared to submit
to these high-handed proceedings ; and in the end the Bishop
yielded, and on 4th June the following
ing of the Presbytery :
letter was read at a meet-
" Reverend Breyrn,
" Elgine, 25th April 1673.
" If I hade seen the Laird of Calders right sooner to the
patronage of Dunlechitie, it might possiblie have preNcnted sonic
of our difl'ers anent the planting of that kirk. But now having
seen the Laird of Calder's forsd right (and out of oui- desyre to
settle things amicablie), I thought fitt to show you that I have
resolved and promised to remove Mr Michael Fraser, btitwixt and
the fifteenth day of October next, that the Laird of Calder may
present ane other the next vice to the united kirks of Dunlechitie
and Daviot, and this is not to derogate from Mr Michael, or to
inferr any blame on him, who is found to be sulticientlie qualified.
—Your aftectionat broyr in Christ,
MURDO, Bp. of Morray.
But Mr Michael acted his part so well that before October
he made a ]>lace for himself in tlir aflection of the people, and
Cawdor, having gained liis point, presented him anew to the charge.
The Presbytery visited Daviot on 9th September, when the gentle