 - a bird inconstant by nature, as frequenting the three elements of
water, earth, and air, indifferently, and being, of course, »to one thing
constant never.«
    Now I protest to thee, gentle reader, that I entirely dissent from Francisco
de Ubeda in this matter, and hold it the most useful quality of my pen, that it
can speedily change from grave to gay, and from description and dialogue to
narrative and character. So that, if my quill display no other properties of its
mother-goose than her mutability, truly I shall be well pleased; and I conceive
that you, my worthy friend, will have no occasion for discontent. From the
jargon, therefore, of the Highland gillies, I pass to the character of their
Chief. It is an important examination, and therefore, like Dogberry, we must
spare no wisdom.
    The ancestor of Fergus Mac-Ivor, about three centuries before, had set up a
claim to be recognised as chief of the numerous and powerful clan to which he
belonged, the name of which it is unnecessary to mention. Being defeated by an
opponent who had more justice, or at least more force, on his side, he moved
southwards, with those who adhered to him, in quest of new settlements, like a
second Æneas. The state of the Perthshire Highlands favoured his purpose. A
great baron in that country had lately become traitor to the crown; Ian, which
was the name of our adventurer, united himself with those who were commissioned
by the king to chastise him, and did such good service, that he obtained a grant
of the property, upon which he and his posterity afterwards resided. He followed
the king also in war to the fertile regions of England, where he employed his
leisure hours so actively in raising subsidies among the boors of Northumberland
and Durham, that upon his return he was enabled to erect a stone tower, or
fortalice, so much admired by his dependents and neighbours, that he, who had
hitherto been called Ian Mac-Ivor, or John the son of Ivor, was thereafter
distinguished, both in song and genealogy, by the high title of Ian nan
Chaistel, or John of the Tower. The descendants of this worthy were so proud of
him, that the reigning chief always bore the patronymic title of Vich Ian Vohr,
i.e. the son of John the Great; while the clan at large, to distinguish them
from that from which they had seceded, were denominated Sliochd nan Ivor, the
race of Ivor.
    The father of Fergus, the
