TheancestorofFergusMac-Ivor，aboutthreecenturiesbefore，hadsetupaclaimtoberecognisedaschiefofthenumerousandpowerfulclantowhichhebelonged，thenameofwhichitisunnecessarytomention。Beingdefeatedbyanopponentwhohadmorejustice，oratleastmoreforce，onhisside，hemovedsouthwards，withthosewhoadheredtohim，inquestofnewsettlements，likeasecondneas。ThestateofthePerthshireHighlandsfavouredhispurpose。Agreatbaroninthatcountryhadlatelybecometraitortothecrown；Ian，whichwasthenameofouradventurer，unitedhimselfwiththosewhowerecommissionedbythekingtochastisehim，anddidsuchgoodservice，thatheobtainedagrantoftheproperty，uponwhichheandhisposterityafterwardsresided。HefollowedthekingalsoinwartothefertileregionsofEngland，whereheemployedhisleisurehourssoactivelyinraisingsubsidiesamongtheboorsofNorthumberlandandDurham，thatuponhisreturnhewasenabledtoerectastonetower，orfortalice，somuchadmiredbyhisdependentsandneighbours，thathe，whohadhithertobeencalledIanMac-Ivor，orJohnthesonofIvor，wasthereafterdistinguished，bothinsongandgenealogy，bythehightitleof_IannanChaistel，_orJohnoftheTower。Thedescendantsofthisworthyweresoproudofhim，thatthereigningchiefalwaysborethepatronymictitleofVichIanVohr，_i。e。_thesonofJohntheGreat；whiletheclanatlarge，todistinguishthemfromthatfromwhichtheyhadseceded，weredenominated_SliochdnanIvor，_theraceofIvor。
ThefatherofFergus，thetenthindirectdescentfromJohnoftheTower，engagedheartandhandintheinsurrectionof1715，andwasforcedtoflytoFrance，aftertheattemptofthatyearinfavouroftheStuartshadprovedunsuccessful。Morefortunatethanotherfugitives，heobtainedemploymentintheFrenchservice，andmarriedaladyofrankinthatkingdom，bywhomhehadtwochildren，FergusandhissisterFlora。
TheScottishestatehadbeenforfeitedandexposedtosale，butwasre-purchasedforasmallpriceinthenameoftheyoungproprietor，whoinconsequencecametoresideuponhisnativedomains。ItwassoonperceivedthathepossessedacharacterThishappenedonmanyoccasions。Indeed，itwasnottillafterthetotaldestructionoftheclaninfluence，after1745，thatpurchaserscouldbefoundwhoofferedafairpricefortheestatesforfeitedin1715，whichwerethenbroughttosalebythecreditorsoftheYork-BuildingsCompany，whohadpurchasedthewhole，orgreaterpart，fromGovernmentataverysmallprice。Evensolateastheperiodfirstmentioned，theprejudicesofthepublicinfavouroftheheirsoftheforfeitedfamiliesthrewvariousimpedimentsinthewayofintendingpurchasersofsuchproperty。
ofuncommonacuteness，fire，andambition，which，ashebecameacquaintedwiththestateofthecountry，graduallyassumedamixedandpeculiartone，thatcouldonlyhavebeenacquiredSixtyYearssince。
HadFergusMac-IvorlivedSixtyYearssoonerthanhedid，hewould，inallprobability，havewantedthepolishedmannerandknowledgeoftheworldwhichhenowpossessed；andhadhelivedSixtyYearslater，hisambitionandloveofrulewouldhavelackedthefuelwhichhissituationnowafforded。Hewasindeed，withinhislittlecircle，asperfectapoliticianasCastruccioCastrucanihimself。Heappliedhimselfwithgreatearnestnesstoappeaseallthefeudsanddissensionswhichoftenaroseamongotherclansinhisneighbourhood，sothathebecameafrequentumpireintheirquarrels。Hisownpatriarchalpowerhestrengthenedateveryexpensewhichhisfortunewouldpermit，andindeedstretchedhismeanstotheuttermost，tomaintaintherudeandplentifulhospitality，whichwasthemostvaluedattributeofachieftain。Forthesamereason，hecrowdedhisestatewithatenantry，hardyindeed，andfitforthepurposesofwar，butgreatlyoutnumberingwhatthesoilwascalculatedtomaintain。Theseconsistedchieflyofhisownclan，notoneofwhomhesufferedtoquithislandsifhecouldpossiblypreventit。Buthemaintained，besides，manyadventurersfromthemothersept，whodesertedalesswarlike，thoughmorewealthychief，todohomagetoFergusMac-Ivor。Otherindividuals，too，whohadnoteventhatapology，wereneverthelessreceivedintohisallegiance，whichindeedwasrefusedtononewhowere，likePoins，propermenoftheirhands，andwerewillingtoassumethenameofMac-Ivor。