The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

6 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
by renouncing their own family appellation, and assuming that of the conquerors. The peculiarity in the story of the MacGregors, is their retaining,
with such tenacity, their separate existence and union as a clan under circumstances of the utmost urgency. The history of the tribe is briefly as
follows -But we must premise that the tale depends in some degree on
tradition; therefore, excepting when written documents are quoted, it must
be considered as in some degree dubious.
The sept of MacGregor claimed, a descent from Gregor, or Gregorius,
third son, it is said, of Alpin King of Scots, who flourished about 787.
Hence their original patronymic is MacAlpine, and they are usually termed
the Clan Alpine. An individual tribe of them retains the same name. They
are accounted one of the most ancient clans in the Highlands, and it is certain they were a people of original Celtic descent, and occupied at one period
very extensive possessions in Perthshire and Argyleshire, which they imprudently continued to hold by the coir a glaive, that is, the right of the sword.'Their neighbours, the Earls of Argyle and Breadalbane, in the meanwhile,
managed to have the lands occupied by the MacGregors engrossed in those
charters which they easily obtained from the Crown; and thus constituted
a legal right in their own favour, without much regard to its justice. As
opportunity occurred of annoying or extirpating their neighbours, they
gradually extended their own domains, by usurping, under the pretext of
such royal grants, those of their more uncivil neighbours. A Sir Duncan
Canmbell of Lochow, known in the Highlands by the name of Donacha Dhu
nan Thhurraichd, that is, Black Duncan with the Cowl, it being his pleasure
to wear such a head-gear, is said to have been peculiarly successful in those
acts of spoliation upon the clan MacGregor.
The devoted sept, ever finding themselves iniquitously driven from their
possessions, defended themselves by force, and occasionally gained advantages, which they used cruelly enough. This conduct, though natural,
considering the country and time, was studiously represented at the capital
as arising from an untameabletaind innate ferocity, which nothing, it was
said, could remedy, save cutting off the tribe of MacGregor root and
branch.
In an act of Privy Council at Stirling, 22d September 1563, in the reign
of Queen Mary, commission is granted to the most powerful nobles, and
chiefs of the clans, to pursue the clan Gregor with fire and sword. A similar warrant in 1563, not only grants the like powers to Sir John Campbell
of Glenorchy, the descendant of Duncan with the Cowl, but discharges the
lieges to receive or assist any of the clan Gregor, or afford them, under any
colour whatever, meat, drink, or slothes.
An atrocity which the clan G:igor committed in 1589, by the murder of
John Drummond of Drummond-ernoch, a forester of the royal forest of
Glenartney, is elsewhere given, with all its horrid circumstances. The clan
swore upon the severed head of the murdered man, that they would make
common cause in avowing the deed. This led to an act of the Privy Council,
directing another crusade against the "wicked clan Gregor, so long continuing in blood, slaughter, theft, and robbery," in which letters of fire and
sword are denounced against them for the space of three years. The reader
will find this particular fact illustrated in the Introduction to the Legend of
Montrose in the present edition of these Novels.
Other occasions frequently occurred, in which the MacGregors testified
contempt for the laws, from which they had often experienced severity, but
never protection. Though they were gradually deprived of their possessions, and of all ordinary means of procuring subsistence, they could not,
nevertheless, be supposed likely to starve for famine, while they had the
means of taking from strangers what they considered as rightfully" their
own. Hence they became versed in predatory forays, and accustomed to
bloodshed. Their passions were eager, and, with a little management on