Commission

An example of a Commission from the Chiefs as High Commissioner for New Zealand awarded to Donald MacDonald Webster.

The Text Reads:

COMMISSION of ARD-TOSACH-DEORY or HIGH COMMISSIONER by the CHIEFS of CLAN DONALD in favour of

DONALD MACDONALD WEBSTER

BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS, that We, the Right Honourable Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, Lord Macdonald of Slate, High Chief of Clan Donald, the Much Honoured Ian Godfrey Bosville Macdonald of Sleat, Baronet of Nova Scotia, Chief of Clan Uisdean, the Much Honoured Aeneas Ranald Euan MacDonell of Glengarry, Chief of Glengarry, the Much Honoured Ranald Alexander Macdonald of Clanranald, The Captain and Chief of Clanranald, the Right Honourable Alexander Randal Mark MacDonnell of Antrim, the Earl of Antrim, Chief of the MacDonnells of Antrim, who together are the High Council of Clan Donald in that they are the Chiefs of the main Clans which form together the Mighty Clan Donald, We send GREETINGS. WHEREAS, We take into consideration that Our Clan flourishes, and has now spread from Our native Highlands and Islands of Scotland, widely throughout the world’s continents; it is thus necessary that We appoint Commissioners to personally represent the Chiefs of the Royal Blood of Clan Donald among Our Great Clan, Considering that the Office of Ard-Toshach-Deory or High Commissioner for Our Clan in New Zealand is now vacant, it is necessary and requisite for the faithful preservation of the spirit of kinship and the traditions of Clan Donald in all its parts. Being well satisfied of all his Good Qualities and his Loyalty to the Chiefs and to his upholding the traditions of Clan Donald We do nominate, constitute and appoint Donald MacDonald Webster as Our Ard-Toshach-Deory or High Commissioner until 31st December 2006, unless previously recalled. Granting to the said Donald Macdonald Webster Our full power and commission and warrant to represent Us and Our Persons as the embodiment of the haill race of Clan Donald, to hold Our place and display the appropriate banner within the said Country of New Zealand, specially appointed for that effect with power and commission to do all the ordinary matters of administration, organisation and ceremony which We might do if We were personally present for the convening and administration under the existing foresaid hereditary Chiefs of the Clan which together make up the mighty Clan Donald reporting to Us from time to time concerning to the well being of Our said Clans which combined are Clan Donald within New Zealand and We command all Our good Clansmen and Clanswomen and Senclaithe and Claithe-og of Clan Donald, its Septs and Adherents to acknowledge, reverence, honour and obey the said Donald MacDonald Webster as our High Commissioner or Ard-Toshach-Deory. This Commission issued during Our pleasure, or until its expiry, which unless previously recalled or extended shall subsist until the 31st December 2006. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF We have signed These Presents at the High Council at Armadale, Isle of Skye. This the 15th of January in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Four and being the Fifty-second Year of Our Sovereign Lady, Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the faith.