NOTE 15.—­HIGHLAND POLICY

This sort of political game ascribed to Mac-Ivor was in reality played by several Highland chiefs, the celebrated Lord Lovat in particular, who used that kind of finesse to the uttermost.  The Laird of Mac—­ was also captain of an independent company, but valued the sweets of present pay too well to incur the risk of losing them in the Jacobite cause.  His martial consort raised his clan, and headed it in 1745.  But the chief himself would have nothing to do with king-making, declaring himself for that monarch, and no other, who gave the Laird of Mac—­ ’half a guinea the day, and half a guinea the morn.’

NOTE 16.—­HIGHLAND DISCIPLINE

In explanation of the military exercise observed at the Castle of Glennaquoich, the author begs to remark, that the Highlanders were not only well practised in the use of the broadsword, firelock, and most of the manly sports and trials of strength common throughout Scotland, but also used a peculiar sort of drill, suited to their own dress and mode of warfare.  There were, for instance, different modes of disposing the plaid,—­one when on a peaceful journey, another when danger was apprehended; one way of enveloping themselves in it when expecting undisturbed repose, and another which enabled them to start up with sword and pistol in hand on the slightest alarm.

Previous to 1720, or thereabouts, the belted plaid was universally worn, in which the portion which surrounded the middle of the wearer, and that which was flung around his shoulders, were all of the same piece of tartan.  In a desperate onset, all was thrown away, and the clan charged bare beneath the doublet, save for an artificial arrangement of the shirt, which, like that of the Irish, was always ample, and for the sporran-mollach, or goat’s-skin purse.

The manner of handling the pistol and dirk was also part of the Highland manual exercise, which the author has seen gone through by men who had learned it in their youth.

NOTE 17.—­HIGHLAND ABHORRENCE OF PORK

Pork, or swine’s flesh, in any shape, was, till of late years, much abominated by the Scotch, nor is it yet a favourite food amongst them.  King Jamie carried this prejudice to England, and is known to have abhorred pork almost as much as he did tobacco.  Ben Jonson has recorded this peculiarity, where the gipsy in a masque, examining the king’s hand, says,—­

—­’you should, by this line, Love a horse, and a hound, but no part of a swine.’—­The gypsies metamorphosed.

James’s own proposed banquet for the devil was a loin of pork and a poll of ling, with a pipe of tobacco for digestion.

NOTE 18.—­A HIGHLAND CHIEF’S DINNER-TABLE