To this Kintail consented, and before morning he obtained the
"paper" for ten thousand merks - a third of the sum originally
asked for it. "Such familiar relationship of the chief with his
people," our authority says, "may now-a-days be thought fabulous;
but whoever considers the unity, correspondence, and amity that was
so well kept and entertained betwixt superiors and their followers
and vassals in former ages, besides as it is now-a-days, he need not
think it so; and I may truly say that there was no clan in the
Highlands of Scotland that would compete with the Mackenzies, their
vassals and followers, as to that; and it is sure their superiors
in former times would not grant their daughters in marriage without
their consent. Nor durst the meanest of them, on the other hand,
give theirs to any stranger without the superior's consent; and I
heard in Earl Colin's time of a Kintail man that gave his daughter
in marriage to a gentleman in a neighbouring country without the
Earl's consent, who never after had kindness for the giver, and,
I may say, is yet the blackest marriage for that country, and others
also, that ever was among their commons. But it may be objected
that now-a-days their commons advice or consent in any matter of
consequence is not so requisite, whereas there are many substantial
friends to advise with; but its an old Scots phrase, 'A king's
advice may fall from a fool's head.
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