Source:Collectanea (Fragment)

"Fragment of a Manuscript History of the Macdonalds" Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis

FRAGMENT OF A MANUSCRIPT HISTORY OF THE MACDONALDS. written in the reign of charles ii. [from the gregory collections.]

Sommerled, the son of Gilbert, began to muse on the low condition and misfortune to which he and his father were reduced, and kept at first very retired. In the meantime, Allin MacVich Allin, coming with some forces to the land of Morverin for pillage and herships, intending to retire forthwith to Lochaber, from whence he came. From this Allan descended the family of Lochiel. Sommerled thought now it was high time to make himself known for the defence of his country, if he could, or at least see the same, having no company for the time. There, was a young sprout out of a tree near the cave which grew in his age of infancy. He plucked it up by the root, and putting it on his shoulder, came near the people of Morverin, desired them to be of good courage and do as he did, and so by his persuasion, all of them having pulled a branch, and putting the same on their shoulder, went on encouraging each other.

Godfrey Du had possession of the Isles of the north side of Ardnamurchan from the king of Denmark. Olay compelled the inhabitants of some of these Isles to infest Morverin by landing some forces there. The principal surnames in the country were MacInnes's and MacGilvrays, who are the same as the MacInnes's. They being in sight of the enemy could act nothing without one to command them. At length they agreed to make the first person that should appear to them their general. Who came in the meantime but Sommerled, with his bow, quiver, and sword? Upon his appearance they raised a great shout of laughter. Sommerled enquiring the reason, they answered they were rejoiced at his appearance. They told him that they had agreed to make the first that would appear their general. Sommerlid said he would undertake to head them, or serve as a man otherwise. But if they pitched upon him as their commander, they should swear to be obedient to his commands ; so, without any delay, they gave him an oath of obedience. There was a great hill betwixt them and the enemy, and Sommerled ordered his men to put off their coats, and put their shirts and full armour above their coats. So, making them go three times in a disguised manner about the hill, that they might seem more in number than they really were, at last he ordered them to engage the Danes, saying that some of them were on shore and the rest in their ships ; that those on shore would fight but faintly so near their ships. Withal he exhorted his soldiers to be of good courage, and to do as they would see him do, so they led on the charge. The first whom Sommerlid slew he ript up and took out his heart, desiring the rest to do the same, because that the Danes were no Christians. So the Danes were put to the flight ; many of them were lost in the sea endeavouring to gain their ships ; the lands of Mull and Morverin being freed at that time from their yoke and slavery. After this defeat given to the Danes, Sommerlid thought to recover Argyle from those who, contrary to right, had possessed it, being wrung out of the hands of his father unjustly by MacBeath, Donald Bain, and the Danes.

It is strange that some of our writers should, through malice or want of information, make him ignobly born, and yet call him Thane of Argyle, which title was not given him by the then present king, but they understood he had it by right from his predecessors. Some of the Argathelians made resistance, but were defeated. Macphadin, by joining with Sommerled, was reconciled to him. In a short time he mastered Lorn, Argyle, Kintyre, and Knapdale ; most of the inhabitants, knowing these lands were his by right, as formerly belonging to and possessed by his predecessors. After this, Olay, surnamed the Red, King of Man, Isla, Mull, and Isles southward of the point of Ardnamurchan, came with his fleet to Loch Stornua in order to subdue all the Isles south and north, pretending his right from the king of Denmark, to whom the ancient Danes north of Ardnamurchan refused allegiance ; and, as Olay encamped at Loch Stornua, Sommerled came to the other side of the loch, and cried out, if Olay was there, and how he fared? Olay replied, that he was well. Then said Sommerled, I come from Sommerled, Thane of Argyle, who promises to assist you conditionally in your expedition, provided you bestow your daughter on him. Olay answered, that he would not give him his daughter, and that he knew that he himself was the man ; but that he and his men should follow him in his expedition. So Sommerled resolved to follow Olay. There was at that time a foster brother of Olay's, one Maurice MacNeill, in Olay's company, who was a near friend of Sommerled; and when Sommerled brought his two galleys near the place where Olay's ship lay, this Maurice aforesaid came where he was, and said that he would find means by which he might come to set Olay's daughter. So, in the night time, he bored Olay's ship under water with many holes, and made a pin for each hole, overlaying them with tallow and butter. When they were up in the morning and set to sea, after passing the point of Ardnamurchan, Olay's ship sprung a leak, casting the tallow and butter out of the holes by the ship tossing on the waves, and beginning to sink, Olay and his men cried for help to Sommerled. Maurice replied, that Sommerled would not save him unless he bestowed his daughter upon him. At last, Olay being in danger of his life, confirmed by an oath that he would give his daughter to Sommerled, who received him immediately into his galley. Maurice went into Olay's galley, and fixed the pins in the holes which he had formerly prepared for them, and by these means they landed in safety. From that time the posterity of Maurice are called MacItyres (or wright's sons) to this day. On this expedition Olay and Sommerled killed MacLier, who possessed Strath within the Isle of Sky. They killed Godfrey Du, or the Black, by putting out his eyes, which was done by the hermit MacPoke, because Godfrey Du had killed his father formerly. Olay, surnamed the Red, killed MacNicoll in North Uist likewise. Now Sommerled marrying Olay's daughter, and becoming great after Olay's death, which death, with the relation and circumstances thereof, if you be curious to know, you may get a long account of it in Camden. Now, Sommerled being envied by the rest of the nobility of Scotland for his fortune and valour, king Malcolm being young, thought by all means his kingdom would suffer by the faction, ambition, and envy of his leading men, if Sommerled's increasing power would not be crushed. Therefore, they convened and sent an army to Argyle under the command of Gilchrist, Thane of Angus, who, harassing and ravaging the country wherever he came, desired Sommerled to give up his right of Argyle or abandon the Isles. But Sommerled, making all the speed he could in raising his vassals and followers, went after them ; and, joining battle, they fought fiercely on both sides with great slaughter, till night parted them. Two thousand on Sommerled's side, and seven thousand on Gilchrist's side, were slain in the field. Being wearied, they parted and marched off at the dawn of day, turning their backs to one another. After this, when the king came to manhood, the nobles were still in his ears, desiring him to suppress the pride of Sommerled, hoping, if he should be crushed, they should or might get his estate to be divided among themselves, and at least get him expelled the country. Sommerled being informed hereof, resolved to lose all, or possess all, he had in the Highlands ; therefore, gathering together all his forces from the Isles and Continent, and shipping them for Clyde, he landed in Greenock. The king came with his army to Glasgow in order to give battle to Sommerled, who marched up the south side of the Clyde, leaving his galleys at Greenock. The king's party quartered at Renfrew. Those about him thought proper to send a message to Sommerled, the contents of which were, that the king would not molest Sommerled for the Isles, which were properly his wife's right ; but, as for the lands of Argyle and Kintyre, he would have them restored to himself. Sommerled replied, that he had as good a right to the lands upon the continent as he had to the Isles ; yet these lands were unjustly possessed by the king MacBeath and Donald Bain, and that he thought it did not become his majesty to hinder him from the recovery of his own rights, of which his predecessors were deprived by MacBeath, out of revenge for standing in opposition to him after the murder of king Duncan. As to the Isles, he had an undoubted right to them, his predecessors being possessed of them by the good will and consent of Eugenius the First, for obligations conferred upon him : That, when his forefathers were dispossessed of them by the invasion of the Danes, they had no assistance to defend or recover them from the Scotish king, and that he had his right of them from the Danes ; but, however, he would be assisting to the king in any other affairs, and would prove as loyal as any of his nearest friends, but, as long as he breathed, he would not condescend to resign any of his rights which he possessed to any ; that he was resolved to lose all or keep all, and that he thought himself as worthy of his own as any about the king's court. The messenger returned with this answer to the king, whose party was not altogether bent upon joining battle with Sommerled, neither did the king look much after his ruin, but, as the most of kings are commonly led by their councillors, the king himself being young, they contrived Sommerled's death in another manner. There was a nephew of Sommerled's, Maurice MacNeill, his sister's son, who was bribed to destroy him. Sommerled lay encamped at the confluence of the river Pasley into Clyde. His nephew taking a little boat, went over the river, and having got private audience of him, being suspected by none, stabbed him, and made his escape.

The rest of Sommerled's men hearing the death and tragedy of their leader and master, betook themselves to their galleys. The king coming to view the corpse, one of his followers, with his foot, did hit it. Maurice being present, said, that though he had done the first thing most villanously and against his conscience, that he was unworthy and base so to do ; and withal drew his long Scian, stabbed him, and escaped by swimming over to the other side of the river, receiving his remission from the king thereafter, with the lands which were formerly promised him. The king sent a boat with the corpse of Sommerled to Icollumkill at his own charges. This is the report of twenty writers in Icollumkill, before Hector Boetius and Buchanan were born. These partial pickers of Scotish chronology and history never spoke a favourable word of the Highlanders, much less of the Islanders and Macdonalds, whose great power and fortune the rest of the nobility envied, because they judged best to comply with the humour of those who ruled the helm of the state, and men who knew nothing of their own descent, and careless to know that of others. Buchanan, indeed, was a learned acute man, and very well read in foreign history, and the best of the Scotish writers, discoursed of their origin, exactly so, that if he was as learned in the first history as he was in other histories, he would do it better, and exceed all our historians. When the Earl of Murray was Regent, he had an aim to be Archbishop of St Andrews, and so wrote any thing to please the Regent's humour and the reformers of the time. When Morton was Regent, he did conform himself to him as he did formerly to Murray. When he was frustrated by Morton in his expectations, in revenge, he became afterwards instrumental in contriving his death and ruin, as of late some papers written by the then Captain of the Edinburgh Castle show the antipathy he had against him. He was still in hopes to be advanced to some great station when the king should come to his majesty, but being likewise disappointed of that, in revenge, he wrote his book, De Jure Regni apud Scotos. He never spoke any thing good of the king or of his mother, the queen, or of the Highlanders, much less of the Islanders. He knew very well that his last writings would not relish with Highlanders,calling them all Fures et Latrones when he treats of them, when it is well known that he himself was a Highlander. Boetius did not write the sixth part of the actions done by the Scots since the beginning of king Fergus' reign, yet he relates that such and such kings went to suppress rebellion here and there, but makes no mention of the causes and pretences for these rebellions. He relates often that the king went to pacify rebellions in the Islands, whereas, it is well known that the Islanders are as loyal and less injurious to their neighbours than any people in Scotland.

Boetius knew very well, and so did Buchanan, that Sommerled was Thane of Argyle, which was one of the highest titles in those times, being equal to a prince, and yet they tell us he was ignobly born, and of obscure parents, at the same time, that they knew full well that he was not created Thane by that king, but pursued for his rights, for there were eight or nine of Sommerled's predecessors who were Thanes of Argyle; so that the falsity of these writers may be easily discovered. This may be easily proven by several passages out of their own writings and their histories. Sommerled was a well tempered man, in body shapely, of a fair piercing eye, of middle stature, and quick discernment. He had Dugall, a natural son, of whom are descended the Macdugalls of Lorn. He had, by Olay the Red's daughter, Sommerled, Reginald or Ranald, and Olay ; he had Gillies by a woman of the Bissets, and had one only daughter called Beatrix, who was prioress of Icollumkill. Moreover, if Sommerled was descended of obscure parents, how could he immediately come to so great a fortune, as to get so many men and followers as those writers who defame him report he had?

After Sommerled, his son Sommerled succeeded him as Thane of Argyle. Reginald his brother, the Isles, Dugall, Lorn, and Gillies had Kintyre, by the disposition of their father. Sommerled pretended that the people of Cowal and Lennox harrayed his lands of their store and cattle, and therefore made incursions on them, of which they complained to the king. Furthermore, he would have the lands which were left by his father to his brethern at his own disposal. The king sent the Earl of March with a considerable body of men against him, who was so favourable that he advised, at a private conference, that since he lost his affection for his brethern, by seizing on those lands which their father left them, he could not stand out against the king and them, and therefore that it was best he should go along with him, and he would procure for him the king's pardon and favour; so he did, and was pardoned by the king. Shortly thereafter he died, leaving two sons, John and Maolmory, who were both young. Of this John are descended MacEans of Ardnamurchan. He was buried at Icollumkill. Reginald his brother become tutor to John, and bad several bickerings with Dugall of Lorni his brother, about the Isles of Mull. Dugall, after he had received the 700 merks lands west of[Sic.] Lorn, from the head of Lochleven, till you come to Asknish in Argyleshire, resolved to have the Isles of Mull by force from Reginald, though he had no right thereto by his father's will, his other brethern having the Isles resigned to them by right of their mother; Dougall, being a natural son, had no right to the Isles, but the good will of his father bestowed upon him the lands of Lorn. When John, Sommerled's son, and nephew to Reginald, passed the years of his minority, he desired his uncle Reginald to send a party with him to apprehend Muchdanach, who held the lands of Moidart and Ardnamurchan, who always assisted Dugall against his uncle Reginald, for Dugall had most of his children by the Muchdanach's daughter. So John and Clement Clericus, so called being a scholar, killed the Muchdanach, but when they returned home, Reginald was very wroth with them for killing him. Although he wished to have him apprehended, he did not desire to have him killed. John said he would ask no more of his father's but the lands of Ardnamurchan and Glassridh in Argyle, and 20 pound lands of Isla, which his uncle granted him. Reginald was married to MacRandel's daughter, or, as some say, to a sister of Thomas Randel Earl of Murray, for by her the Macdonalds challenged proper to themselves some lands in the Braes of Murray. He had by her Donald, he had Angus, of whom descended the Robertsons in Athol, and MacLulichs, who are now called in the low country Pittullichs. He had another son, John Maol, or ye Bald, who went for Ireland, of whom descended the Macdonalds of Tireoin. In the meantime, Reginald died in the 54th year of his age, and was buried in Icollumkill. Donald his son succeeded him in the Lordship of the Isles and Thaneship of Argyle. He married the daughter of Gillies, by whom he had Angus, Alexander, and Sommerled. He went to Denmark, and brought with him many of the ancient Danes of the Isles, namely, the Macduffies and Macnagills ; Macdougall his uncle went with him, where by his own rights and the peculiar rights he had for the Isles by Olay the Red's daughter, were renewed by Magnus King of Denmark. For until that time the Danes on the north side of Ardnamurchan held of the King of Denmark. After this he and his uncle Dugall became enemies, so that at last he was forced to kill Dugall. After this, King Alexander sent Sir William Rollock as messenger to him to Kintyre, desiring to hold the Isles of him, which he had now from the King of Denmark. Donald replied, that his predecessors had their rights of the Isles from the crown of Denmark, which were renewed by the present King thereof, and that he held the Isles of his Majesty of Denmark, before he renounced his claim to his Majesty of Scotland. Sir William said, that the King might grant the superiority of the Isles to whom he pleased. Donald answered to this, that Olay the Red, and Godfrey the Black's father, from whom he had the most of the Isles, had the Isles by their conquest, and not from the King of Denmark or Scotland. So that he and Sir William could not end the debate. In law or reasoning, Donald being advised by wicked councillors, in the dawning of the day surprised Sir William and his men. Sir William with some of his men were killed. He banished Gillies out of the Isles to the glens in Ireland, where some of his offspring remain until this day. He killed Gillies' young son called Callum Alin. He brought the MacNeills from Lennox, to expel Gillies out of Kintyre. After this he went to Rome, bringing seven priests in his company, to be reconciled to the Pope and church. These priests declaring his remorse of conscience for the evil deeds of his former life, the Pope asked if he was willing to endure any torment that the church was pleased to inflict upon him? Donald replied, that he was willing should they please to burn him in a caldron of lead. The church seeing him so penitent, dispensed with him. Some writers affirm that he had his rights from the Pope of all the lands he possessed in Argyle, Kintyre, and the rest of the continent. After his return home, he built the Monastery of Sadell in Kintyre, dedicated to the honour of the Virgin Mary. He mortified 48 merks lands to that Monastery, and the Island of Heisker to the Nuns of Iona. He died at Shippinage in the year 1289, and was buried at Icolumkill. He had three sons, Angus, Alexander, and Sommerled. Angus was proclaimed Lord of the Isles with the consent and goodwill of all the Highlanders. He was always a follower of King Robert Bruce in all his wars, assisting him with his men in recovering the Hold of Dundonald, and another castle in Carrick from the English. The King stayed with him half a year at Sadell in Kintyre, sent his galleys and men with him to Ireland, transported Edward Bruce very often to Ireland, and furnished him with necessaries for his expedition. But Alexander, Angus' brother, who was called by the Scottish writers Thane of Argyle, having his lands in Knapdale and Argyle, being married to a daughter of Macdougall of Lorn, otherwise called John Baccach, or Lame, and living in Castle-Swin, would by no means own King Robert's quarrell, but fought always against him with Macdougall, and likewise with Macdougall against his brother Angus, Lord of the Isles ; for the Macdougalls for a long time fought against the Macdonalds, pretending that the Island of Mull was left to Macdougall by Sommerled his father, which was by no means just, for Dougall was only a natural son of Sommerled, and not lawfully begotten on Olay the Red's daughter, as his other brethern were. At a time when Macdougall went to Isla, thinking to surprise Angus, Lord of the Isles, he sent a spy before him to know where Angus then was. There was a countryman ploughing near the harbour, and the Lord of the Isles walked for his recreation after the plough. The spy knew him immediately. They asked him whither he was going, and whence he came? He answered, he was lately of Macdougall's followers, but that he was now seeking another master. Macdonald desired him to ask his master when he would see him, if the little black horse would overtake the great red horse, for himself was black, and Macdougall redhaired. Macdougall being informed of this by the spy, left the country that same night, but continued always to molest Macdonald and the family of Ardnamurchan, for Angus the son of Ranald was killed by an arrow at Dunelike, of whom descended the family of the Robertsons, and still bickered with them until the time of John Lord of the Isles. The reason why Macdougall opposed King Robert Bruce's interest was, because John of Lorn was nephew to Cummin, killed by King Robert at Dumfries. The King besieged Alexander, brother to Angus Lord of the Isles, very strictly at Castle-Swin, till he was obliged to surrender the castle. When he was taken, he was confined prisoner in the castle of Dundonald, where he died. They granted Castle-Swin and all his lands to his brother, Angus of the Isles, who went with five thousand men to assist Bruce against the English in the battle of Bannockburn, where he behaved himself most faithfully. The king, in return for his good services, bestowed on him Lochaber, after the forfeiture of the Cummins, one of whom was Earl thereof. It was by persuasion of Macdougall, the Cummins, and the rest of the Baliol faction, that MacPhaden fought against Wallace, being promised great lands and possessions by them. He went to Ireland, carrying his extraction from the ancient Rurices, and brought from hence 1500 men, who with himself were all cut off at a place called Branch near Lochow. Their ancient arms were a star and arrow. This Angus of the Isles was a little black man, of a very amiable and cheerful disposition, and more witty than any could take him to be by his countenance. He had three or four concubines, by whom he had children. The first, John of Ardnamurchan's daughter, by whom he had John, who came to Uist and married Macleod's daughter, by whom be had a son called Murdo. Of him descended the ancient branch of the Macdonalds called Shiol Mhurchy or Murdos, descended from Murdo their progenitor. He had other three sons, called Gill-Callum Allan, Sommerled the Fair, and Iver an Eanidh. He had a concubine, a daughter of MacMurich of Ardpun in Jura, by whom he had Alexander or Alister Durach, of whom are descended the Macalisters of Loup and Tarbert, and the Macnabs, who derive their extraction from an Abbot of this name. He had another concubine, a daughter of John Gruamach Mackay, by whom he had a daughter, who was married to Duncan, first laird of Struan in Athole. He had by the daughter of John, the mother of the first laird of Macintosh ; for a son of MacDuff, Thane of Fife, coming after manslaughter to shelter himself in Macdonald's house, got his daughter with child, went to Ireland with Edward Bruce, where he was killed ; by which means, Macintosh is of a natural descent, his progenitor being got in that manner. Macintosh in the ancient language signifies a Thane's son. The boy was brought up by Macdonald, who, in process of time, procured a competent estate for him in the Braes of Lochaber, and in the Braes of Murray. But he had Angus Ogg, his lawful son, by the daughter of Sir Colin Campbell, who succeeded him. He died at Kilcummin in Isla, anno 1300, and with the accustomed solemnity of his predecessors, was buried at Icolumkill. In the minority of Ogg his son, Reginald, or, as he was styled by the vulgar, Reynald Armin of the Lord, did challenge Angus to be his tutor, and not only so, but that he was the son of the above mentioned John of Ardnamurchan, son of the second Sommerled, who was the eldest son of the first Sommerled, and consequently by right he should be the Lord of the Isles himself, whereas it stood otherwise by his father's disposition. Isla and Mull were allotted to Reginald ; to Sommerled was allotted Argyle and Knapdale; to Gillies, Kintyre; besides, John resigned all his right of the Isles to his cousin german, Donald aforesaid, Lord of the Isles, when he supplied him with men to recover Ardnamurchan from the Muchdanachs; and besides, before this time, Donald, Lord of the Isles, procured his rights from the King of Denmark, Donald granted him then the stewartry of the Isles. This Reginald cleaved fast to King Robert the Bruce, and David Bruce his son, with whom he was in great esteem. This Reginald was married to Macleod of Harris's daughter. Being intimate with King David, he purchased some of Macleod's rights from the King. Moreover, he took upon him the sole government of the Isles for nine years, and banished the sons of Alexander, Thane of Argyle, the son of Donald, Lord of the Isles, whom before we told died a captive in Dundonald. Hector, and his son Sommerled, and Isaac, whom they aim at in pronouncing the word Scipio, of whom descended the Macdonalds in Connaught, Munster, and Leinster, to the number of nine septs, who procured for themselves the being and estate of Squires, till they lost all in Queen Elizabeth's time. And John, surnamed the Bald, the son of the first Reginald, the brother of Donald, the Lord of the Isles, was forced to go likewise for Ireland, of whom are descended the Macdonalds of Tireoin. O'Neill gave him a portion of land called Crock-Conight then ; for other services he procured other lands, and the proportion of Clancairnice in the county of Armagh. This Reginald married a brother's son of his grandfather's to an heiress of the name of the Morrisons in the Lewis. At last, as King David was making up a great army to invade England, he and the Earl of Ross did quarrel about precedency at St Johnston. He was killed by the Earl of Ross, which was a great hinderance to that expedition. In the meantime, Angus Ogg, being yet a minor, who steps in uncalled for, but Duncan, the son of Angus, the son of the first Reginald, of whom descended the lairds of Struan, of this Duncan descended the Robertsons, called by the ancient Scots Clan-Dunchi. This man ruled the Isles for three years at pleasure, but had no right thereto, his father being a natural son of the first Reginald. But Ewan Roy MacFingon, gathering all those that were faithful to Angus Ogg, chased Duncan out of the Isles, and killed the rest of his followers. Duncan, after this defeat, betook himself to the Braes of Lochaber, and took on to serve the Prior of Killmanivais, a little priory dependent on Ardchattan. It happened one day as he and other twelve men were keeping the stores and cattle of the friars there, they fell a planning, and judged that one of their company deserved death. Upon this they made a gallows, hauled him up, but did not in reality intend to hang him. At that very time there came a wolfe near the sheep, which made Duncan and his followers to pursue him, until they killed him; but before they returned their companion was dead. Duncan, for fear of the prior and the friars, durst not return home. He told the rest, that if they would be led by him, and obey his orders, he would procure a livelihood both for himself and them. Thus he became a great robber. At last he went to the Braes of Athole. There was living at that time there a laird of the name of Stewart, called Malcolm Roy, who had 80 merks lands ; he had no children, but one only daughter, and as Duncan and his men came above the town, a woman went up in search of some cattle, and as he perceived the woman, he desired the men to remain still where they were, and that he would meet the woman. He cast off all his clothes, and stark naked, (there being a small rivulet of water ane mire near to it,) he threw himself into the mire. Whenever the woman perceived him, she screamed aloud, desiring him for God's sake, if he was a man of this world, to tell what he was. He cautioned her not to be afraid, that he would do her no harm, that his residence was there always, and that his name was Gurisglich; and that she should go to Malcolm Stewart, and tell him that such a man had met her, who desired Malcolm Stewart to bestow his daughter on him who would come in at the last part of mass, (there being mass to be in three days,) with twelve men, which, if he did not, he would never prosper. On the mass day, who comes in but Duncan, with his twelve men at his heels, whom Malcolm stedfastly beholding, desired that he should remain with him that night. The matter was at last made up between Duncan and Malcolm's daughter. After this, there was great complaints made of Duncan's robbery to the king. Duncan put on a woman's habit, and a great broach in his breast, alleging that he himself was Duncan's mother ; and so went to Stirling to intercede for Duncan, whom the king pardoned conditionally, he should get bail for his good behaviour thereafter. He said he would be cautioner for him, and make him reform his life. When he procured the king's pardon, he made himself known, and told that he himself was the man which raised laughter against the king and court. At another time, King Robert the Second being on a journey, accompanied only by one gentleman, (as often his manner was,) he was apprehended by these Robertsons, who brought him to Lochtamer, and though they knew him well to be the king, they did not make it known. They had beef, of which they cut some steaks, and when they roasted them on the coals, welcomed the king heartily to eat, who had not a great appetite to eat of their dressing, and asked if they always used such diet? They replied, they had no better. On the morrow, the king was willing to go to St Johnston, but they begged his pardon, and said they did not know him to be the King, yet now they would convey him to St Johnston, and would prove a safeguard and defence for his person. The king bestowed 100 merks land upon them. Duncan died at Strathallan, and was buried in Weems. After this, the Robertsons advanced in their fortunes, for it was they that apprehended the Earl of Atholl after murdering King James the First. The Laird of Struan is truly chief. The Lairds of Lude, Strathloch, Killkur, &c. are the descendants of the second marriage by Macdonald's daughter. Angus Ogg, after he had chased Duncan from the Isles, was proclaimed Lord of the Isles, and Thane of Argyle and Lochaber, being then 22 years of age. He was at his first entry upon his possessions much opposed by MacDougall Lorn, on account of the Island of Mull, to which he pretended right. He married Margaret, daughter of Guy O'Kaine in Ireland. She was the mother of Brian Balloch O'Neill, of whom descended the O'Neals of both the Clan Buys. The portion or tocher he had by her was seven score men out of every surname under O'Kain, viz. the Munroes, so called, because they came from the Innermost Roe-water in the county of Derry, their names being formerly O'Millans, the Roses of Killraack, the Fairns, Dingwalls, Glasses, Beatons, so now called, but improperly, that being a French name, whereas they are Irish, of the tribe of O'Neals, and took the name first from following the name of Beda. Our Highland shenakies say that Balfour Blebo, and these Beatons that came from France, went formerly from Ireland, but for this they have no grounds to go upon. The Macphersons, who are not the same with the Macphersons of Badenoch, but are of the O'Docharties in Ireland ; the Bulikes in Caithness, of whom is the Laird of Tolingail, and many other surnames, which, for brevity, we pass over, many of whom had no succession. Now, Angus Ogg being at Ardhorinish in Morvein, in the time of Lent, Macdougall sent the two sons of Gillian in message to him. To know of these, viz. the sons of Gillian, I will tell you from whence they came, viz. John of Lorn, commonly called John Baccach, went off to harry Carrick in Galloway, the property of Robert Bruce, afterwards King Robert, and there meeting with one Gillian by name, son of Gilleusa, son of John, son of Gilleusa-More, he came to John Baccach in Lorn in quest of better fortune. Macdougall gave him a spot of land in the Isle of Sael, called Bealachuain. He had three sons. Hector, of whom descended the family of Lochbuy, and was the oldest ; Lachlin, whom descended the family Duairt, and the rest of the name ; and a natural son, John, of whom others of the name descended. Now, in the Scots language, they were called Maclean, from that Gillian that made the first fortune there ; but the ancient Scots called them MacGillian. The two sons of Gillian, as related above, were sent ambassadors to Macdonald at Ardhorinish, where, at the time, he held his Lent, as the custom of the time then was. They, after landing, had some conference with Macdonald about the Isle of Mull. Macdonald denying any of his proper right of lands to Mac, desired MacFinnon, who was master of his household, to use the gentlemen kindly, and to cause them dine alone. MacFinnon caused set before them bread and gruthim, consisting of butter and curds mixed together, which is made in harvest, and preserved until time of Lent. The gruthim was so brittle, that it was not easily taken up with their long knives. Macdonald, coming up at the same time, and perceiving the men at meat in that posture, desired to give them some other sort of meat. MacFinnon replied, that if they could not eat that meat as it was, they should put on the nabs of hens, with which they might gather it up easily ; which reproachful answer touched the sons of Gillian nearly. Macdonald being that same day to cross the Sound of Mull to Aros, to solemnise the festival of Pasch there, he took a small boat for himself, leaving MacFinnon behind with his great galley and carriage, and the rest of his men. When MacFinnon went to the shore, to follow Macdonald, the sons of Gillian taking the opportunity of revenge, and calling MacFinnon aside, stabbed him, and straight with his galley and their own men followed Macdonald across the Sound, who was not aware of them, thinking it was MacFinnon with his own galley that followed him, till they leaped into the boat wherein he was, and after apprehending him, made him prisoner, and brought him to Dunstafnage in Lorn. They remained without. Macdougall being, in the meantime, at dinner, who, hearing of their arrival, and that Macdonald was prisoner with them, said he was glad Macdonald was safe, and was very well pleased to have him his prisoner ; but that Gillian's children were very bold in their attempt, and that he would through time bridle their forwardness and insolence. There was a young son of Macdougall's hearing what his father had said : This boy, fostered by Gillian, and his son, coming out to meet them, told what his father said of them. They being perplexed, and musing what to do in this so precarious an affair, thought best to have their recourse to Macdonald, and told him that all men knew that they were of no power or capacity to apprehend him, but by accident, as it fell out; and seeing it was so, that he knew if he pleased to do them any good, and forgive them their former crime, he was more in power than their former master ; that they would join with him, go along with him, and deliver him from the present danger. So, taking Macdonald to his own galley again, Macdougall neither seeing him or them, they went for Mull, taking the Lord of the Isles upon his word, as they might. For he gave fourscore merkslands to Hector the oldest brother, and to Lauchlane the youngest he gave the chamberlainship of his house, and made MacFinnon thereafter marshall of his army. Now, these made up the surname of Maclean, for they never had a rigg of land but what they received from Macdonald ; to the contrary of which I defy them, or any other, to produce any argument ; yet they were very thankful for the good done them afterwards. When the Macdonalds were in adversity, which happened by their own folly, they became their mortal enemies, as may be seen in the sequel of this history. Angus Ogg of the Isles was a personable, modest man, affable, and not dissaffected either to king or state. He created Macguire or Macquarry a Thane. He had a natural son, John, by Dougall MacHenry's daughter, she being her father's only child. This John by his mother enjoyed the lands of Glencoe, of whom descended the race of the Macdonalds. He had his legitimate son John, who succeeded him, by O'Kain's daughter. He had not many children that came to age. He had a daughter married to MacLean, and that by her inclination of yielding. Angus died at Isla, and was interred at Icolumbkill. I thought fit to annex the ceremony of proclaiming the Lord of the Isles. At this the Bishop of Argyle, the Bishop of the Isles, and seven priests, were sometimes present ; but a Bishop was always present, with the chieftains of all the principal families, and a Ruler of the Isles. There was a square stone, seven or eight feet long, and the tract of a man's foot cut thereon, upon which he stood, denoting that he should walk in the footsteps and uprightness of his predecessors, and that he was installed by right in his possessions. He was clothed in a white habit, to shew his innocence and integrity of heart, that he would be a light to his people, and maintain the true religion. The white apparel did afterwards belong to the poet by right. Then he was to receive a white rod in his hand, intimating that he had power to rule, not with tyranny and partiality, but with discretion and sincerity. Then he received his forefathers' sword, or some other sword, signifying that his duty was to protect and defend them from the incursions of their enemies in peace or war, as the obligations and customs of his predecessors were. The ceremony being over, mass was said after the blessing of the bishop and seven priests, the people pouring their prayer for the success and prosperity of their new created Lord. When they were dismissed, the Lord of the Isles feasted them for a week thereafter ; gave liberally to the monks, poets, bards, and musicians. You may judge that they spent liberally without any exception of persons. The constitution or government of the Isles was thus : Macdonald had his council at Island Finlaggan, in Isla, to the number of sixteen, viz. four Thanes, four Armins, that is to say, Lords or sub-Thanes, four Bastards, (i. e.) Squires, or men of competent estates, who could not come up with Armins or Thanes, that is, freeholders, or men that had their lands in factory, as Macgee of the Rinds of Isla, MacNicoll in Portree in Sky, and MacEachern, Mackay, and MacGillevray in Mull, Macillemhaoel or MacMillan, &c. There was a table of stone where this council sat in the Isle of Finlaggan ; the which table, with the stone on which Macdonald sat, were carried away by Argyle with the bells that were at Icolumkill. Moreover, there was a judge in every Isle for the discussion of all controversies, who had lands from Macdonald for their trouble, and likewise the eleventh part of every action decided. But there might still be an appeal to the Council of the Isles. MacFinnon was obliged to see weights and measures adjusted ; and MacDuffie, or MacPhie of Colonsay, kept the records of the Isles. John, Lord of the Isles, was at peace with the king always, and had a strong party of standing forces, under the command of Hector More Macillechoan, for defending Lochaber and the frontiers of the country from robbery and incursions of the rest of the Scots. He cohabited for nine or ten years with a concubine, a gentlewoman of the Macdougalls of Lorn, Algive by name, daughter of Allan, son of Roderick Macdougall. He had by her three sons and a daughter, viz. Godfrey, Reginald, and Marius, the last of whom was drowned in his youth going for Ireland. Of Godfrey descended a branch of the Macdonalds in North Uist, called Shiol Ghiorry, or Godfrey's offspring. He had from his father a large portion of land, as North Uist, Benbicula, the one half of South Uist, Boysdale, Canna, Slate, and Knoydart. It was he gave Boisdale to MacNeill of Barra; and gifted Hirta or St Kilda to the Laird of Harris. He was very liberal, but his offspring were very unfortunate and lost all. He died a year after his father's death. To Reginald, of whom the family of Mudart descended, his father allotted the rest of Soutn Uist, Egg, Rum, Mudart, Moror, and Arisaig. This gentlewoman that was their mother, being a good virtuous woman, procured to her children from their father their proportion and estates before he married. She built the Trinity church at Carinish in North Uist. This John of the Isles mortified much land to the church in his time, and enriched the family church with several priviledges. Algive likewise built the castle of Borve in Benbicula, and castle Tirrim in Mudart. She built the parish church of St Columb in Benbicula, and the little oratory in Grimsay, all at the expense of John of the Isles, who mortified eight merk lands in forth Uist to the church, two farms in Benbicula. At last he abandoned Algive, by the consent of his council and familiar friends, particularly by the advice of MacInnes of Argour, who, being his foster father, advised him to take to wife the king's daughter. So declining Algive, who cursed MacInnes for his advice to his foster father's son, the marriage went on, for he married Lady Margaret Stewart, daughter to King Robert II., Sir Adam Moor's daughter being her mother. When John of the Isles was to be married, some of his followers and familiars advised him to behave courteously before the king, and to uncover himself as others did. He said he did not well know how the king should be reverenced, for all the men he ever saw should reverence himself; and with that threw away his cape, saying he would wear none. At different times he had the rights of Lochaber, and Morveirn, Mudort, and Knoydort, from the king his father-in-law. Algive thereafter lived a solitary life, but was the ruin of MacInnes of Argour. John had by the King's daughter Donald, who succeeded him ; John More, of whom descended the Macdonalds of Kintyre, Antrim, and Sanay, Leargy, and Isla. He had Alister Carrick, of whom descended Keppoeh and the Macdonalds in the Braes of Lochaber, which I hold to be the third noblest branch of the Macdonalds in order of their descent, as being legitimately begotten before the rest. John had a daughter by Lady Margaret Stewart married to Montgomery of Eglinton, who had Macdonald's arms in their house for a long time ; till of late years a countess in the family removed the bloody hand out of the arms, because it held a cross ; she being a rigid Presbyterian. John had another daughter by Algive, who was married to Kenneth Achiench Mackenzie, so called being nourished on a spot of land of that name near the head of Lochaw. John of the Isles went two different times to see if he could make Brian Ballach O'Neill (his brother by the mother) O'Neal, which he could not carry on. He created many thanes in his time, for the Lords of the Isles created thanes and sub-thanes at pleasure. He contracted a severe flux at Argoar, a little before his death. By means of Algive and her children some indecent language was reported of MacInnes; as, that when he came to the Lord of the Isles, the house in which he lay did not smell well ; and one near hand said there was a hound lying there ; and that MacInnes said any company would be the better of a dog ; and this was done by Algive and her children, because MacInnes was the most forward in advising John of the Isles from marrying her. Forthwith Donald Maclean, son of Lauchlane, had commission to kill MacInnes, which accordingly he did ; and having also killed his five sons, got himself possessed of Ardgoar, which his posterity enjoy to this day. The Lord of the Isles was carried while yet alive to Ardhorinish, where he died the third night thereafter, in the 55th year of his age, and was interred at Icolumkill. In the minority of Donald, Godfrey, eldest son of John by Algive, died the year after his father, and Reginald, the second son by Algive, became tutor both to Donald and to Godfrey's children, for the space of nine or ten years. The children of Algive were possessed of their patrimony during their father's lifetime. The children legitimately begotten by the king's daughter were left to the disposal of their eldest brother Donald. Godfrey left four sons, Ronald, John, Angus, and Archibald, but none of them ever enjoyed their father's patrimony ; for Ronald, their uncle, took hold of all their share of South Uist to himself, with the Isle of Canna, in time of his tutelage, they being young, and not come to any years of perfection. Ranald, their uncle, married the daughter of Duncan Stewart of Lennox. He had children by her, Allan, of whom descended the families of Mudort and Morar, and Donald, of whom the family of Glengarry descended, John, and Angus Beusich, and another called Donald. He gave over the tutory to Donald, his brother, in Egg. He died at Castle Tirrim, and was buried at Icolumkill. Donald began to govern the Isles, Argyle, Kintyre, and Lochaber. He married Margaret Lesly, daughter of William Lesly, Earl of Ross, who had no children except her and a son called Alexander. This Alexander was married to the Duke of Albany's daughter, left no issue but one daughter named Eupheme. She being very young, the governor, her grandfather, took her to his own family, and having brought her up, they persuaded her by flattery and threats to resign her rights of the earldom of Ross to John, his second son. Earl of Buchan, as it was given out, and that much against her will. But others were of opinion she did not resign her rights ; but thereafter she was bereaved of her life, as most men thought by the contrivance of the governor. Donald, Lord of the Isles, claimed right to the Earldom of Ross, but could get no other hearing from the governor but lofty menacing answers ; neither could he get a sight of the rights which the Lady Eupheme gave to his son John. The governor thought that his own sway and strength could carry every thing according to his pleasure in the kingdom, still hoping for the crown, the true heir thereof (James I., nephew to the Duke of Albany) being prisoner in England. He likewise was at enmity with the Lord of the Isles, because Sir Adam Moor's daughter was his grandmother, knowing right well that he would own the true heir's cause against him. The Lord of the Isles told the governor he would either lose all he had or gain the Earldom of Ross, to which he had such a good title. The Duke replied, he wished Donald would be so forward as stick to what be said. Donald immediately raised the best of his men, to the number of 10,000, and chose out of them 6600, turning the rest of them to their homes. They thought first they would fight near to Inverness, but, because the duke and his army came not, Donald's army marched through Murray, and over the Spey. The governor, Alexander Stewart, Earl of Murray, and John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, the governor's son, having gathered an army of 9700 men, desired the Lord of the Isles to stay, and that they would meet them near Inverness and give him battle ; but he would not leave his own men foraging in his own country of Ross. Therefore he marched forward, resolving to take his hazard near their doors, assuring himself of victory. Huntly, who was Macdonald's friend, sent him a private message, desiring him to commit no hostilities in his country, by the way of assuring him he would not own the governor's quarrels, and wishing Macdonald good success, and desiring him to be of good courage. The Lord of the Isles went forward till both armies met at Harlaw, a place in Garrioch, in the Braes of Buchan. There came several in the governor's army out of curiosity to see Macdonald and his Highlanders routed, as they imagined ; others came to be rewarded by the governor, as they did not expect to see any other king in all appearance, but he and his offspring ; others came through fear of the Duke's great authority. Macdonald set his men in order of battle as follows. He commanded himself the main battle, where he kept the most of the Islanders, and with the Macleods, John of Harris, and Roderick of Lewis. He ordered the rest to the wings, the right commanded by Hector Roy Maclean, and the left by Callum Beg Macintosh, who that day received from Macdonald a right of the lands of Glengilly in Lochaber, by way of pleasing him for yielding the right wing to Maclean, and to prevent any quarrel between him and Maclean. Macintosh said he would take the lands, and make the left behave as well as the right. John More, Donald's brother, was placed with a detachment of the lightest and nimblest men as a reserve, either to assist the wings or main battle, as occasion required. To him was joined Mackenzie, and Donald Cameron of Locheill. Alister Carrick was young, and therefore was much against his will set apart, lest the whole of the brothers should be hazarded at once. The Earls of Marr and Buchan ordered their men in a main battle, and two small fronts : the right front was commanded by Lords Marishall and Erroll; the left by Sir Alexander Ogilvie, Sheriff of Angus. They encountered one another; their left wing was forced by Maclean, and the party on Macdonald's right was forced to give way. There was a great fold for keeping cattle behind them, into which they went. The Earl of Marr was forced to give ground, and that wing was quite defeated. Marr and Erroll posted to Aberdeen, the rest of Macdonald's men followed the chase. There were killed on the governor's side 2550. The Lord Marishall was apprehended safe, and died in his confinement of mere grief and despair. Sir Alexander Ogilvy, Sheriff of Angus, was killed, with seven knights, and several other gentlemen. On Macdonald's side Maclean fell ; he and Irvin of Drum fought together till the one killed the other. Drum's two brothers, with the principal men of that surname, were killed, so that a boy of the name, who herded the cattle, succeeded to the estate of Drum. Two or three gentlemen of the name of Munroe were slain, together with the son of Macquarry of Ulva, and two gentlemen of the name of Cameron. On Macdonald's side were lost in all 180. This battle was fought anno 1411. Macdonald had burnt Aberdeen, had not Huntly dissuaded him from it, saying, that by his victory in all appearance he gained his own, yet it was ridiculous in him to destroy the town, and that citizens would always join with him who had the upper hand. Now, to prove these fabulous and partial writers, particularly Buchanan, it is well known to several men of judgment and knowledge, that Macdonald had the victory there, and gained the Earldom of Ross for four or five generations thereafter, and that Macintosh, whom they say was killed, lived twenty years thereafter, and was with the Earl of Marr when Alexander Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, was captive at Tantallon, in the battle fought at Inverlochy against Donald Balloch, Alexander's cousin-german. This Donald Balloch was son to John More, brother of Donald of the Isles, and Earl of Ross. Now, it happened that this same Callum Begg Macintosh was with King James I. after his releasement from his captivity in England, in the same place where the battle was fought. The king asked him how far they followed the chace? MacIntosh replied, that they followed it farther than his majesty thought. So the king, riding on a pretty pace, asked Macintosh if they came that length? He answering, said, that, in his opinion, there was a heap of stones before them, and that he left there a mark to shew that he followed the chace that length ; and with that he brought a man's arm with its guantlet out of the heap. The king, beholding it, desired him to be with him that night at Aberdeen. The king, upon his arrival there, going to his lodgings, Macintosh said, in presence of the bystanders, that he had performed his word to the king, and now he would betake himself to his own lodgings; whereupon he immediately left the town,for he dreaded that the king would apprehend him. Patrick, Earl of Tullibardin, said, as the other noblemen were talking of the battle of Harlaw, we know that Macdonald had the victory, but the governor had the printer. The rights which Alexander and John, who were Donald's successors, gave, shew by their date that they were wrote at Dingwall, as some of them bear to be given under our hand, at our court of Dingwall, in presence of our worthy friend and counsellors Macleod of the Lewis and John of Isla. Surely the Regent's party had not the advantage of the field, but those, who, as I formerly mentioned, fled on the Regent's right wing and went into the fold, the rest of Macdonald's army missing them, and following the chace, when they were out of sight, those in the fold came out and plundered all they could get hold of, which must be of very little value. After the battle Macdonald returned again to the Isles, no opposition being made to him all his lifetime in Ross. When his father died, he and his younger brothers were left minors under the tuition of their eldest brother Ranald, who, with other illegitimate children, were infefted in their patrimonies previous to their father's death. John More received 120 merks lands in Kintyre, and 60 merks lands in Isla. Alexander Carrick refused the country of Trotternish in the Isle of Sky, preferring to it the forrest lands of Lochaber, and so received the lands beyond the river Lochy, Mamore, and Glen Spean. Now John More married the heiress of the Glens in Ireland, being John Bissett's daughter, the fifth in descent from the Bissett who was banished from Scotland for the slaughter and murder of Walter Cumin, Earl of Athol, and, although the queen and some of her train attested that he was among the residue of her attendants the night on which the murder was committed ; yet the Cumin was such a potent name, that he was forced to leave the kingdom for Ireland, where he procured a good estate for himself. The Frasers and others enjoyed his inheritance. About this time lived the subtle and wicked councillor, the Green Abbot Finnon, by whose daughter John More had a natural son called Ranald Bain, of whom descended the house of Lairgy. MacLean fostered Donald Balloch, John More's eldest legitimate son, by the abbot's advice, who told John More that he had but a small portion of his father's estate, and that he would seize upon all that was beyond the Point of Ardnamurchan southward. The abbot being a subtle eloquent man, brought over to his side the chief of the MacLeans and MacLeod of Harris, to get the Islands for themselves from the Lords of the Isles, who, hearing a rumour of the insolence of the new faction, raised some powerful forces, viz., the men of Ross, MacLeod of Lewis, his own brother Alister Carrick, Macintosh, Mackenzie, the chief of the Camerons, the Islanders, the men of Urquhart and Glenmoriston, the Glencoe people, and Macneill of Barra. Now John and his party could not withstand the forces of his brother ; so, leaving Kintyre, he went to Galloway. Macdonald followed them. John went from Galloway to Ireland, and remained in the glens. Donald returned to Isla. John More and his faction seeing that both they themselves and their interest were like to be lost, unless Macdonald pardoned himself, and spared the rest, for his sake, thought it their best course to go to Isla, where Macdonald resided in Killcummin. Upon John More's coming in his brother's presence, and prostrating himself on the ground, his brother rose and took him up, and embraced him kindly. This sedition was owing to MacFinnon and his kinsman, the Green Abbot. MacFinnon being found guilty, and convicted, was hanged, and the abbot was all his lifetime confined at Icolumkill, his life being spared because he was a churchman, where he built a stately tomb for himself, which is still to be seen. His children were so wicked and covetous, that they killed a son of MacFinnon's, who was fostered with Donald Ferguson, grandchild of Baron Ferguson. Afterwards, by the help of MacFinnon, the Fergusons killed the abbot's two sons. All these broils being quailled, MacFinnon was reinstated in his own, getting Maosinish in exchange from Macdonald for the lands of Ross, in Mull, which lands belonged formerly to the church, and MacFinnon had more convenient passage from Strath in Sky to Maoshinish than to Ross in Mull. Macdonald enjoyed the Earldom of Ross all his lifetime without any competition or trouble, he being the king's near cousin ; but as long as the king was captive in England, the Duke of Albany the Regent used all his power to oppose him and impair his greatness, being vexed that he lost the battle of Harlaw; and he and his son having an eye to the crown of Scotland, thought such a man as Macdonald might be a great hindrance to their designs, and would not forsake the king his cousin on their account. Moreover, he was a man that would not be tainted or troubled with any hazardous or difficult enterprises; and, finally, he was one of the best spirited men of the nation in his time, and especially of his own name ; for any man that is well known and read in history, will know the king's issue were the greatest traitors and oppressors in the kingdom. Donald had three or four children who died very young. He died himself at Ardhorinish in Morvairn, in the forty-fifth year of his age, and was buried at Icolumkill, after the rites and ceremonies, of his predecessors. Alexander his son succeeded to his father's estate, and was proclaimed Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles after the accustomed manner, a man born to much trouble all his lifetime. First, he took to him the concubine, daughter to Patrick Obeolan, surnamed the Red, who was a very, beautiful woman. This surname Obeolan was the surnames of the Earls of Ross, till Farquar, born in Ross, was created earl by King Alexander, and so carried the name of Ross since, as best answering the English tongue. This Obeolan had its descent of the ancient tribe of the Manapii; of this tribe is also St Rice or Rufus. Patrick was an abbot, and had Carlebay in the Lewis, and the church lands in that country, with 18 merks lands in Lochbroom. He had two sons and a daughter. The sons were called Normand and Austin More, so called from his excessive strength and corpulency. This Normand had daughters that were great beauties, one of whom was married to Mackay of Strathnavern ; one to Dugall MacRanald, Laird of Mudort ; one to Macleod of Aissint; one to MacDuffee; and another, the first, to MacLean

of Bororay. Patrick's daughter bore a son to Alexander Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, who was called Austin,

That this is false can be proven from a charter granted by his father to Austin, wherein is mentioned that the Earl of Huntly's daughter was her mother, who was likewise married to Alexander.

or, as others say, Augustine. She was twice brought before the

king, as MacDonald could not be induced to part with her, on occasion of her great beauty. The king said, that it was no wonder that such a fair damsel had enticed MacDonald«  At last, by the king's persuasion, he married Margaret Livingston, daughter to Sir Alexander Livingston, the Regent, who bore to him John and other two, who died in their infancy. Many malicious and ignorant writers impute to Alexander several mischievous actions, whereof he was innocent. The courtiers about King James, and especially the offspring of Robert the Second, who were defeated by his father Donald at Harlaw, and disappointed in their designs, became his mortal enemies. These being always in the king's ears, made him believe that MacDonald's power was so extensive, that he ought to be crushed in time. At that time he possessed and governed all the lands between the Mull of Kintyre along the sea coast, and Strathnavern, with the Western Isles: Whereupon the king summoned him to compear, but as he was about to go, was privately warned by the family of the Douglasses, the Lords of Hamilton and Crawford, who were against the king, and dreaded that the opposite party would bring Macdonald to their own side. Macdonald having waited for some time at Inverness, the king sent thither privately Sir William Grighton, William Hay, and Stewart of Atholl, with a strong party, who, leaving their men in the hill all day, went into town, pretending to have a private message from the king to him ; but when it was night, their men came into town, and surprised Macdonald. They carried him off a prisoner to the king, who, finding nothing hurtful laid to his charge, freely discharged him. Though Macdonald took this sort of usage as a slight offence and disgrace, yet he contented himself, being innocent. He contracted his son John to the Earl of Orkney, and Alexander Lord of the Isles, as they happened to be at meat in Edinburgh, some sort of pudding iwas laid before theni. Macdonald pressed the Earl of Orkney to eat, who said he would not eat light. Macdonald replied, that, as he himself was not used to such light, he would eat of it. The Earl of Orkney asked what sort of light was wont to be burnt in his presence. Macdonald, turning about, and seeing Lauchlane Maclean behind him, desired the earl to enquire at that man standing. MacLean said there was no other light but wax burnt before Macdonald. Upon this subject they discoursed until such time as the Earl of Orkney invited Macdonald to breakfast with him next morning. Macdonald invited the Earl of Orkney rather to breakfast with him, who answered, that his breakfast would be sooner ready. Macdonald said, not so. Wagers being laid, and pledges given on both sided, in the night time the Earl of Orkney sent twelve men through the town, desiring that none should dress or make meat ready for Macdonald that night, and likewise should supply him with no fuel for firing early in the morning. MacLean getting up by times next day, could get no fuel, and remembered what happened the preceding night between the Earl of Orkney and his own master ; whereupon he cutt so many bows in their company, of which he made fire, and prepared a veneson breakfast. Orkney being disappointed when called to breakfast with Macdonald, and much incensed, said to Macdonald, do you think to equal or cope with me in power and authority? Macdonald said, he had a young son at home, who would be his equal and match in the full, and would undertake to harrass his country, if he himself would procure liberty from the king. The Earl of Orkney said, if Macdonald would undertake to fulfil his engagements, he would procure the king's leave. These promises being ratified, they went home. At this time Macdonald gave the Isle of Tirie to MacLean, and sent his son Austine, with all the young heritors of lands, to harrass the Orkney inhabitants, who expected and waited for their arrival, and had encamped in a little promontory pointing out in the sea, thinking the islanders would land there, and be defeated on their landing. But Austine took another course ; for there was another point directly opposite to that, in which the people of Orkney were encamped, separated by a long arm. of the sea ; here he landed his men. The Orcadians had to go round the head of this bay before they could come at their enemies. At first they came on furiously, but being as bravely resisted, they fell back in confusion, on which a great slaughter ensued, for the common people there are said to be no great warriors, whatever their gentry are. One of their best soldiers, called Gibbon, was killed. The Earl of Orkney himself was killecH single hand, by one of William MacLeod of Harris's men, called Murdo MacCotter, who was afterwards Mac Lean's ensign-bearer. Having routed the enemy, Austin and his party began to ravage the country, that being the only reward tney had for their pains and fatigue ; with which having loaded thfeir galleys, returned home. Austine having halted at Caithness, he got a son by the Crowner of Caithness' daughter, of the name of Gun, which at that time was a very flourishing name there, descended of the Danes. This son was called Donald Gallich, being brought up in that country in his younger years ; for the ancient Scots, until this day, call the county of Caithness Gallibh. Alexander of the Isles afterwards went to Edinburgh, fearing no mischa\ice. At that time there happened to be a Spanish gentleman-traveller in town, of whom, after he returned to his own country, it was asked what was the greatest wonder he had seen in Scotland? He said it was a grand man, called Macdonald, with a great train of men after him, and that he was called neither Duke nor Marquis. At the time, however, he was made prisoner by the king, and sent to Tantallen. His mother was secured, and sent to MilcoUum's Inch. The king proposed he should hold of him. Macdonald replied, that what rights his grandfather got from the king, when he married his daughter, he was willing to renew, with what he had on the continent, which was holden of the Crown of Scotland ; but as for the Isles, he held them of the Crown of Denmark ; yet he was as ready to assist the king with his men and fortune against the invasion of strangers, or any other peril that would threaten his majesty, as any subject in the kingdom. Yet [this] could not satisfy the envy and malice of those who stood in opposition to Macdonald, his power and grandeur being the only thing pernicious to his cause, to which his correspondence with the Douglasses, Hamiltons, and Lindsays, did not help a little, these being the greatest pillars, and the most dangerous to be offended of any in the nation. These inconsiderate writers who affirm that Macdonald was a traitor, do not demonstrate what his treason was ; for the king can make any subject a traitor at pleasure, he being the law. Indeed, every opposition against him is rebellion, and rebellion is treason. We know and read of many kings who pronounced their subjects traitors on purpose to come at their estates. Alexander of the Isles proposed to refer the decision of the controversy about the Isles to the arbitration of foreign princes. The king said, as he was a subject, he would not refer the decision of the cause to any other prince. There is nothing for the subject, in such a case, to be done, but to pray to God that he would relent the king's heart to mercy, and to remain patient in hopes his successors may be more merciful. There are few subjects, who see themselves in any power or capacity when they are brought to the brink of destruction by mere oppression, but will go all the lengths they can for their own defence, and either lose all or win all their estates. In the meantime, the king sent John Campbell, to know if John More of Kintyre, Macdonald's uncle, would send to take all. his nephew's lands ; but it was a trap laid to weakeif them that they might be the more easily conquered. James Campbell sent a man with a message to John of Kin* tyre, desiring him to meet him at a point called Ard*du with some prudent gentlemen, and that he had matters of consequence from the king to be imparted to him. John came to the place appointed with a small retinue, but James Campbell with a very great train, and told of the king's intentions of granting mm all the lands possessed by Macdonald, conditionally he would, if he held of him and serve him. John said he did not know wherein his nephew wronged the king, and that his nephew was as deserving of his rights as he could be, and that he would not accept of those lands, nor serve for them, till his nephew would be set at liberty ; and that his nephew himself was as nearly related to the king as he could be. James Campbell, hearing the answer, said that he was the king's prisoner. John made all the resistance he could, till, overpowered by numbera, he was killed. His death made a great noise through the kingdom, particularly among the faction in opposition to the king, viz. the Hamiltons, Douglasses, and Lindsays. The king at last being much ashamed of what had happened, he pursued James Campbell as the murderer ; and although Campbell protested he had the king's authority for so doing, yet the king denied having given any other orders than that of apprehending him, if he would not come into the terms proposed to him ; and because Campbell had no written order from the king to produce in his defence, be was taken and beheaded, which shews the dangerous consequences of undertaking such a service without due circumspection. All those about the king wished to impair Macdonald's estate and diminish his grandeur, to which the king himself was not very averse. They thought it now a convenient time, Macdonald being in prison and bis uncle dead, to seize on the lands of Lochaber. Wbereupon Alexander Earl of Marr, baving received a grant of tbose lands from the king, did levy a great army by the king's directions, viz. Huntley, Allan Lord Caithness, Fraser of Lovat, Macintosh, Mac Kay of Strathnavern. the Grants, the Chief of the Camerons, wbd enticed the rest of Macdonald's vassals, by making them great promises to join with them, and that the rights they formerly neld of Macdonald would be confirmed to them by the king. The vassals and freeholders looking upon Macdonald's power as altogether gone and ruined, and believing they would never more see them installed in their possessions, thro' greed and oovetousness joined the king's party. So, coming to Lochabber, they pitched their tents near the Castle of Inverlochy. Fraser of Lovat was sent to harass the country of Sunort and Ardnamurchan with 3000 men, for provision for the army and camp. Macdonald had got information hereof, and finding an opportunity, sent a message from Tantallan to the Highlands, desiring all those whom he trusted most to face the enemy, though they never would see a sight of him. So Donald Ballich, his cousin-german, (John More's son being at this time but 18 years of age,) being fostered by Mac Lean, gathered all those who faithfully adhered to Macdonald's interest, came to Cama, an Island in Loch Sunart, where meeting with the Laird of Ardnamurchan, Allan, son to Allan of Muidort, and his brother, Ranald Bain, for these were the most principal men of the name, who were with them, picked out the best of their men, to the number of 600, mostly gentlemen and freeholders, and came in their galleys to Inversbippinish, two miles south of Inverlochy. Now Alister Carrick, Macdonald's younger uncle, held the lands of Lochabber, east of Lochy, and whose posterity are yet there, took possession of the hill above the enemy, with 220 archers, being unable, by the smallness of his number, to face them, but expected that some of his friends would at last come to his relief. Upon seeing his nephew, Donald Ballich, he was much animated. Now, as Donald Ballich drew near, Lord Huntly stept into the Earl of Marr's tent, where he and Macintosh were playing at cards. Huntly desired them to lay up their cards, for their enemys were near hand. They asked if they were numerous. Huntly answered, they were not very numerous, but he understood by them, they were bent on fighting. Well, said Macintosh, we'll play this game, and dispute with these fellows afterwards. So Huntly looked out again, and saw the enemy driving on fariously towards them : he goes a second tfane to thetent, saying, gentlemen, fight stoutly, or render yourselves to your enemies. Macintosh replied, they would play that game, and would do with the enemy what they pleased ; that he knew very well the doings of the big-bellied carles of the Isles. Whatever they be, said Huntly, they will fight like • men this day. Macintosh said, that tho' he himself should assist them, their party would defeat them both. Hunt* ly in a rage went out, and said he would fight none against tnem that day, so drew his men to a side by themselves, and was rather a spectator than of either party. Then joining battle, Donald Ballich made a main battle and a front of his men. The front was commanded by MacEan of Ardnamurchan, and John MacLean of Coll ; the main battle by Ranald Bain, son of the foresaid John More, killed by James Campbell, a natural son of Donald Ballich being progenitor of the family of Largy, and Allan, son to Allan, Laird of Muidart, of whom descended the ancient family of Knoydart, and MacDuifeeof Colonsay, and MacQuire of Ulva, and MacGee of the Rinds of Isla. As they faced one another, Alexander aforesaid came down the brae with the 220 archers, and shot theh* arrows so thick on the flank of the earl's army, as to force them to give ground. Allan Lord Caithness was killed, a son of Lovat, and 990 men. Hugh Mackay of Strathnavem was taken, who married thereafter a daughter of Alexander Macdonald of Keppoch, of whom descended the race of MacKays, called Slioc Ean Abrich. On Donald Ballich's side was lost 27 men. The Earl of Marr was wounded in the thigh by an arrow, and was in the hills, accompanied only by his servant, for two nights, in a starving condition, they having no victuals. At last he fell in with some women, who were looking after cattle, who happened to have a little barley meal for their own use, with which they relieved the earl and his servant, mixing it with a little water in the heel of the earl's own shoe. After he and servant had satisfied their hunger, he composed the following verse in Gaelic :

“Sma an coch dira an Pacris smeirg a ni taleuis air biadh

“Fuarag oirne a sail mo bhroige biadh is fear a huair mi riamh.”

The earl gave his own clothes to the woman, that he might disguise himself, and travelled in the night time till he came to a little house belonging to a poor man, on a spot of land called Beggich, who was an Irishman, by name Obirrin ; that he was one of the Earl of Marr's followers, and that necessity obliged him to disguise himself for fear of being known. The poor man got a cow from the camp, and beginning to slaughter ity desired his guest, as he termed him, to hold the cow. The earl was more willing to obey his landlord's orders than skillfull to act as butcher. The landlord, not pleased with any assistance that he gave him, cursed those who took such a blockbead abroad to be a soldier. At last he cut out some collops, of which he gave some to the earl to dress for himself, which the earl could not very well do, until his landlord did it for him, by roasting them upon the coals. At going to bed, he washed the earl's feet in warm water, cleaned and washed his wound. When the earl laid himself down, he could not sleep with cold, being very scarce of bed clothes. Obirrin got up, took the cow's hide, and warming it to the -fire, wrapped it about the earl, which warmed him so much, that he perspired during the whole night. In the morning, after such refreshment as they had, the earl said he would go to Badernoch. Obirrin asked if he knew the way, who answered in the negative, but would do his best to get there. Obirrin desired him to take some flesh in his pocket, and went himself three or four miles, to shew him the way. As they were about to part, the earl desired him, if his case thereafter should be low, he should remember to go to Killdrummin, the Earl of Marr's seat, and ask for Alexander Stewart, and that he would cause the Earl of Marr reward him for his good offices to him. Thus bidding him adieu, he proceeded on his journey. It happened in process of time, that Obirrin was reduced to a very low situation, went to Killdrummin, and knocking at the gate, the porter asked what he was, or what he wanted. Obirrin said that he wanted to speak to Alexander Stewart. The porter said he was a fool, there was no such man there ; but Obirrin continued to knock till the Earl of Marr heard him, and calling to the porter, asked who it was that stood knocking at the gate. The porter replied, that he was some fool enquiring for Alexander Stewart. The earl, musing a little, starts up, and looking stedfastly at the man, presently knew him to be Obirrin, caused the gate to be opened to him, and kindly embraced him. Being come in, he composed to him the following verse in Gaelic :

“Oiche dho bhi an 'theach air mhoran bidhidh is air bheag idich

“Huaris sadh mhor do dh'foil air droch bhrich uadb Obirrin sa Bhaggech.”

The earl sent for a tavlor, and ordered a suit of clothes to be made for Obirrin. He desired Obirrin also to bring his wife and son to Kildrummin, but he told the earl that his wife was old, and would not be prevailed on to leave her native country. The earl having entertained Obirrin at Kildrummin for some time, sent him home, with sixty milch cows, enjoyning him to send his son ; who came sometime thereafter, and was made a laird of a small estate, which has fallen since to a gentleman of the name of Forbes, whereby it may be seen, that a good turn to a generous or noble person is not always lost. Now Macdonald, being liberated from Tantallen, came to Auras, by the mediation of Douglas, and Lord Hamilton, Crawford, and many other noblemen. He knew very well that he was rather confined and secured for his greatness, than for any other crime laid to his charge, and that his liberty was owing not only to the intercession of the above mentioned noblemen, but likewise to the disturbances which were feared from the rest of his clan. Those partial writers who say that Donald's head was sent to the king from Ireland, never were at the trouble to examine into the reality of what they advanced. For Donald Ballich was then but 18 years of age at most, and it was five years thereafter that he married Counn O'NeilFs daughter, who was of the Clan-Buys in Ireland, by whom he had all his children. It is of him that most of the Macdonalds in the south are descended, as those of Antrim, Sanay, &c. Besides that, he had as strong a country as any in Ireland, to protect him from the pursuit of nis enemies, the seven proportions of the glens being his property; at the same time, he was much more beloved in Ireland than the King of Scots, for generally those Irish who were not very obedient to the Crown of England, cared very little for that of Scotland ; and his own tribe and kindred were so strong, that none durst undertake the beheading of him. Those likewise who say that the king came to Dunstaffnage after the battle of Inverlochy, and that 300 of Donald Ballicb's followers were executed, are very much mistaken ; for no such thing ever happened, and none of them were ever missed, or as much as lamented in the isles, or in any other place. Besides, they had their choice, in case of being pursued, either to betake themselves to the hills, or to go to Ireland. That Donald Ballich died after another manner can be proved by four contemporary wi iters, who say that he died on an inch in a loch in his own country, called Lochdunord. After the death of King James, Macdonald being set at liberty, as above mentioned, was very wroth that the King disposed of the lands of Lochabber to Huntly, which were formerly his, and which were possessed by his predecessors for a long time back. Lawyers, on the other side, pleaded, that as these lands were his uncle Alexander's patrimony, they were forfeited for his rebellion, he having fought against the king's pai;ty at Inverlochy. Macdonald said, that what he had done was only in his just defence, the king having unjustly assigned these lands to the Earl of Marr, which were given by King Robert Bruce to his pi*edecessors after the forfeiture of the Cummins, and afterwards confirmed to them by King Robert the Second. How could Macintosh claim the lands of Glenroy, which he heldof the Lord of the Isles, for his services in the battle of Harlaw, where he fought against the king's or regent's party, Macdonald himself having forfeited (by way of argument) his right to them by his conduct there? Yet the king, after Macdonald's resignation to him, confirmed all the rights granted formerly oy Macdonald to all the vassals and ffreeolders under him ; from which may plainly be understood, that Macdonald was only envied and hated for his greatness and power, and not for any treason or guilt committed by him. After all this, Macdonald went with 3000 men to the king to the seige of Roxburgh, who was very well pleased at his arrival. Yet it was impossible to satisfy the humour of the king, or the caprice of the courtiers, or to convince them that Macdonald would still join with the Douglasses, Hamiltons, and Lindsays, after he was relieved from his last captivity. Afterwards, when he came home to Aros in Mull, he held a great feast, to which most of the Islanders, and many of the Mainland people, resorted. One John Macdonald, tutor to Roderick his nephew, Laird of Mudort, and Maclean and some other gentlemen conversing, MacLean kept silent for a time ; at which John Macdonald asked the reason of his silence? He replied, he had no occasion to speak. The tutor said, he knew very Well MacLean's office was to set the Macdonalds in order to-morrow at dinner, and that he should see all the principal men there placed according to their rank and station ; out if MacLean would give him a black hound he had, he would supply his place the next day. MacLean consented to this, and gave the hound. At dinner time next day, John stood at the end of Macdonald's table, and desired the Laird of Ardnamurchan to sit down. This family, indeed, might claim to be lords since King David Bruce's time ; but the old Scots were careless of their prerogatives. Then he desired MacFinnon and MacQuire to sit, for Mac Quire was an ancient Thane. Then desired Beatton, the principal physician, then MacMurrich, the poet, to take their seats. Now, saith he, I am the oldest and best of your surnames here present, and will sit down ; as for these fellows who have raised up their heads of late, and are upstarts, whose pedigree we know not, nor even they them" selves, let them sit as they please. MacLean, MacLeod of Harris, and MacNeill of Barra, went out in a rage, and very much discontented. MacLeod of Lewis remained within ; the other three were determined, as soon as an opportunity offered, to be fully revenged of John Macdonald for the affront, as they thought, he had given. After this, MacLeod of Harris and the family of Mudort were never intimate or in good terms. MacLeod of Harris, upon his return home, ravaged and plundered the families and Isles belonging to Mudort, which was revenged by that family. Thereafter John was made prisoner by the MacLeods, and lost his sight during his confinement at Dunvegan, and was thereafter called John Daul, or Blind. He wanted his sight for a whole year before it was known. Concerning this Macdonald in Ross, of whom some were pleased to write, many things were omitted for want of information, which ought to have been mentioned. None can justify the actions laid to his charge. Although the Macdonalds might be as guilty as any others, yet they never could expect common justice to be done them by a Lowland writer. But he that committed the fact was a cousin-german of John Macdonald, of whom we spoke lately, being the natural son of Dugall, the son of Ranald. His chief being in Isla, he went with a set of loose fellows to Ross, as often the custom then was with the Highlanders. It was this man that injured the widow, and if he had not been apprehended before his chiefs return from Isla, he would have hanged him, together with all his followers. After this, Alexander Lord of the Isles sought to punish his vassals, and those who fought against him at the battle of In verlochy, as Macintosh, thechief of the Camerons, MacLean, &c. With that intention, he came with a strong party through Lochabber, Badenoch, and the Braes of Murray, partly to chastise his vassals, and partly to support the faction of the Douglasses, Hamiltons, and Lindsays. The chief of the Camerons fled to Ireland, and the verses sent by Cameron from that place, composed to Macdonald during his exile, are still extant, and Macdonald's answer to these verses. At this time, Macdonald gave to the Laird of Coll a right of the 40 pounds lands of Locheill, and gave Largey to Ranald Bain, for his active and faithful services at Inverlochy battle, for it was none of John More's patrimony. At last he went to Ireland, where he died, and wad burned with great funeral pomp, leaving only two sons, who came to manhood, Austin and John, who succeeded him. John succeeded his father, a meek, modest man, brought up at court in his younger years, and a scholar, more fit to be a churchman than to command so many irregular tribes of people. He endeavoured, however, still to keep them in their allegiance, by bestowing gifts on some, and promoting others with lands and possessions ; by this he became prodigal and very expensive. He had a natural son, begotten of MacDuflFee of Colonsay's daughter, and Angus Ogg, his legitimate son by the Earl of Angus's daughter. He gave the lands of Morvairn to MacLean, and many of his lands in the north to others, judging by these means to make them more faithful to him than they were to his father. His son, Angus Ogg, being a bold, forward man, and high-minded, observing chat his father very much diminished his rents by his prodigality, thought to deprive him of all management and authority. Many followers adhered to him. His father being at Isla, he went after him with a great party, forced him to change seven rooms to lodge in, and at last to take his bed, during the whole of the night, under an old boat. When he returned to his house in the morning, he found his son sitting with a great croud about him. MacFinnon rising up, desired Macdonald to sit down ; who answered, that he would not sit till he would execute his intention, which was to curse his son. So, leaving Isla with only six men, he went to the mainland and to Inverary, and having waited without till one of the Argyle gentlemen came forth in the morning, who, observing Macdonald, went in immediately, and told Argyle of the matter, who could scarcely believe him, saying, if he was there, he would certainly send some person to inform him before hand. With that he started up, and going out, finds Macdonald, and having saluted him, and brought him in, he said, I do not wonder at your coming here ; but I am surprised you did not warn me before your arrival, and that your retinue is so small. That is little, said Macdonald, to the revolutions of the times, and thou shall be the better of my coming ; and so, after dinner, he bestowed on him the lands of Knapdale Rilisleter, from the river Add to the Fox-burn in Kintyre, 400 merks lands, and desired Argyle to convey him to Stirling, where the king was at that time, and for his son's disobedience, he would resign all his estates to the king. So they went to Stirling, and from thence to Air, in company with the king, when John resigned all into his hands, excepting the barony of Kinloss in Murray, of Kinnaird in Bachan, and of Cairndonald, in the west, which he retained to support his own grandeur during his lifetime. Angus Ogg Maodonald, his son, followed his former courses, came to Inverness, and demolished the castle. When his brother Austin saw how matters went on, and that John had resigned all to the king, he goes to Edinburgh, and takes his charters from the king for all his patrimony which his father and mother bestowed on him formerly, in favor of his heirs-male, legitimate or illegitimate ; which patrimony consisted of North Uist, the parish of Hough in South Uist, Canna, Benbicula, Slate, Trotternish, and Lochbroom. But Angus Ogg, his nephew, continuing his former pretensions, resolved not to surrender any of his father's lands to the king, or to his father himself. The Earl of Athole was ordered with a party against him. He joined others in the north, who had the same injunctions from the king, viz. the Mackays, Mackenzie, the Brodies, some of the Erasers and Rosses. Angus Ogg came from Isla and Kintyre to the west, and raising some of his own name, viz. Alexander Macdonald of the Braes of Lochabber, John of Glengarry, the Laird of Knoydort, and some of the Islanders, he goes to Ross, where, meeting Atbole and his party near Lagebread, he gave them a defeat, killing 517 of their army. Mackay was made prisoner; Athole and Mackenzie made their escape. The Earl of Crawford afterwards was ordered by the king to go by sea, and Huntly with a party to go by land, to harass and discourage Angus Ogg's adherents ; but neither of them executed their orders. Argyle and Athole were sent to the Islanders, desiring them to hold of the king, and abandon Angus Ogg, and that the king would grant them the same rights they had formerly from Macdonald. This offer was accepted by severals. But when the Macdonalds, and heads of their families, saw that their chief and family was to be sunk, they began to look up to Angus Ogg, the young lord. About this time Austin, his uncle, died, and was buried in Sand in North Uist. The Lords and principal men in the Isles gathered together in the Sound of Mull, and Angus Ogg, after an interview with his father, Argyle, and the Earl of Athol, was on the north side of Ardnamurchan with his men detained by bad weather for the space of five whole weeks, and in very great want of provisions ; at last, the weather changing, he got round the Point. In the meantime, the Laird of Ardgour, coming through the Sound, and perceiving Macdonald and his party, displayed his colours in his galley, which Macdonald took for Maclean's; upon which he steered directly towards him. They on the other side left their own harbour to the relief of Ardgour, such as Maclean, William Macleod of Harris, and Macneill of Barra; the rest of the faction, seeing themselves in danger at least of losing their galleys, thought best to enter their harbour. Macdonald coming on as swiftly as he could, accompanied by Donald Gallich of Sleat, Austin's son, and Ranald Bain, Laird of Mudort's eldest son, the last of whom grappled side to side with Macleod of Harris's galley. There was one called Edmond More Obrian along with Ranald Bain, who thrust the blade of an oar in below the stern-post of Macleod's galley, between it and the rudder, which prevented the galley from being steered. The galley of the heir of Torkill of the Lewis, with all his men, was taken, and himself mortally wounded with two arrows, whereof he died soon after at Dunvegan. Angus Ogg and Allan Laird of Mudort attacked Macleod, and took him prisoner, with a great slaughter of his men. Angus Ogg would have hanged Maclean immediately, had he not been prevented by the Laird of Mudort saying, he would have none to bicker with if Maclean was gone. Sometime thereafter, giving his oath of fidelity, he was pardoned. Macneill of Barra made his escape about Coll, and three galr leys in pursuit of him. After this conflict, the Earl of Athole, being provided with boats by Argyle, crossed over privately to Isla, where Angug Ogg's lady, daughter of Argyle, was, and apprehended Donald Du, or “the Black,” a child of three years of age, and committed him prisoner to Inch Chonnil, so called from the builder, Connil, son of the first Dougall of Lorn, where he remained in custody until his hair got grey. Yet Angus Ogg, Donald Du's father, was still advised by the Earl of Angus and Hamilton to hold out and maintain his rights. After this, John of the Isles gave up to the king all these lands which he formerly held back for the support of his grandeur, and betook himself to the fraternity of Paisley, where he lived a monasterial life for two years previous to his death. He ordered, when on his death-bed, himself to be buried a-side King Robert. Sometime thereafter, Angus Ogg went to Athol, apprehended the earl, and imprisoned him in Isla for a year. Some writers affirm that he pillaged and burnt a church in Athole, where he apprehended the earl, where he took sanctuary, and that, in consequence of this, he sometime thereafter got mad, which is absolutely false, and advanced only by those who had no good will to the Macdonalds ; yet he made no appology for him. If we search antiquaries, we will find few names in Scotland that mortified more lands to the church than the Macdonalds did. However, I cannot deny but his father's curse seems to have lighted on this man. He took a journey south, where he killed many of the Macalisters in Arran, and also of his own name, for seizing and intromitting with some of his lands without his consent. Returning through Argyle and Lochabber, he came to Inverness. Mackenzie was like to be killed, or at least banished, by Maodonald, because he was always against him, contriving all the mischiefs he could, least, upon recovering his own, he would deprive Mackenzie of these lands which he held of the king. There was another circumstance which shortened Macdonald's days, viz. there was a lady of the name of Macleod, daughter of Rory, surnamed the Black, who was tutor to the lawful heir of the Lewis, married to the Laird of Muidort. The tutor, her father, being resolved not to acknowledge, by any means, the true heir of the Lewis, and engross the whole to himself, was displaced by Macdonald, and the rightful heir put in possession. This lady having a spite at Macdonald for dispossessing her father, together with John Mackenzie, contrived his death in the following manner : There was an Irish harper of the name of Art O'Carby, of the county of Monaghan in Ireland, who was often at Macdonald's, and falling in love with Mackenzie's daughter, became almost mad in his amours. Mackenzie seeing him in that mood, promised him his daughter, provided he would put Macdonald to death, and made him swear never to reveal the secret. This fellow being afterwards in his cups, and playing upon his harp, used to sing the following verse, composed by himself in the Irish language:—

“Tanmin do dhia a mharcruch neich crichd Bhalbhrichd

“Gu bherl tanmin an cansiort mata puinsuin an Gallfit ;”

meaning, that the rider of the dapple horse was in danger of his life, (for Macdonald always rode such a one,) if there was poison in his long knife, which he called Gallfit. As Macdonald went to bed one night, there was none in the room along with him but John Cameron, brother to Ewan, Laird of Locheill, and Macmurrich the poet. This John bad some rights from Macdonald of the lands of Mammore in Lochabber, written the day before, but not signed by Macdonald. The harper rose in the night-time, when he perceived Macdonald was asleep, and cut his throat, for which he was apprehended, but never confessed that he was employed by any body so to do, although there were several jewels found upon him, which were well known to have belonged formerly to Mackenzie and the lady of Muidort. The harper was drawn after horses till his limbs were torn asunder. After the death of Angus, the Islanders, and the rest of the Highlanders, were let loose, and began to shed one another's blood. Although Angus kept them in obedience while he was sole lord over them, yet, upon his resignation of his rights to the king, all families, his own as well as others, gave themselves up to all sorts of cruelties, which continued for a long time thereafter. We know, and might easily prove, that the Macdonalds are accused by many ignorant and malicious writers of treasons, rebellions, and such like crimes, for which they have no other grounds to go upon than that of their magnanimity in opposing some of the king's descendants, who wished to deprive them of their natural rights, and who were greater traitors towards the Macdonalds than the Macdonalds towards them ; as any man versed in the affairs of the kingdom may easily discern. But had the law of Appenins in France been practised in Scotland as it had been there, the kingdom would have enjoyed more peace, and been at less trouble with our kings, than it generally has. There were many kings murdered in Scotland since Collan Uabhais came from Ireland, yet we could never learn to this hour that Macdonald had a hand in any of their deaths, which, if he had, it could by no means be concealed. The following kings lost their lives in this manner: Constantin the 1st, Conranos, Eugenius 8th, Fergus the 3d, Donald the 5th, Malcolm 1st, Duffus, Culenus, Kenneth the 3d, Grimius, Malcolm 2nd, Duncan 1st, and two Jameses, 1st and 3d ; Queen Mary and her husband, with the attempts on her son ; King Charles 1st of England, with banishment of his two sons. Neither can any one say that a Macdonald ever signed that unhappy convent against Charles 1st, although few in Scotland suffered more than they did, severals of them having lost their own lives and those of their followers for his sake. If any writer hereafter writes that the Macdonalds were guilty of such acts of treason, he certainly must advance what no preceding author has ventured to do. How much times are changed when men commit no treason against the king, but what is committed against the Parliament and Council. In any rebellion, the king's party are called traitors when weakest. There are few names in Scotland who have not been sometime or other guilty of treason, although their names have not been eternized to posterity with infamy and disgrace, as many have attempted to do of the Macdonalds. But to return to our subject.

John of the Isles aforesaid had a base son called Gillespig, by MacDuffee of Colonsay's daughter, to whom his father left as his patrimony Slias Rittachi, the one side of Strathford in Sutherland, Loehcarron, and Lochailsh, with other lands in the Braes of Ross, and the Lairdship of Kildin. In his latter years he became blind. He had a son called Alexander, and three daughters, of whom one was married to Ewan Mao Allan, Chief of the Camerons; another to Chisholm of Strathglass ; and the third to Mr Robert, Earl of Sutherland's son. As Archibald was one day hunting in the Braes of Ross, having a leash of hounds in his hands, upon their scenting the deer they rushed forward and threw him against the stock of an old tree, some of the branches of which piercing his side occasioned his death. He got Alexander by his father's brother's daughter, and finding no clergyman to marry them, he cohabited with her all his lifetime against the consent of all his friends. This Alexander thought he became heir to the Earldom of Ross and the Isles upon his uncle's death Angus Ogg, his cousin-german, Donald Angus Ogg's son, being then prisoner in Inchconnil. Alexander had a natural son called Angus Roy, got in Ireland by a daughter of Ranald Bain, first Laird of Lairgy. This Angus died in Ross. He had ta wife Hugh Eraser's daughter, by whom he had two sons, John Caum and Angus. Alexander was married to Lovat's daughter, by whom he had three daughters and a son called Donald Gauld. The eldest of the daughters was first betrothed to Alexander Macdonald, son of Dugall, first Laird of Morar. Alexander of Glengarry, third Laird of that family, married first a brother's daughter of his grandfather. Angus Reavick, who was mother to Allan, of whom descended Lundy and Pitmain, who are not legitimate of that family, and having turned her off, he married the second daughter. The third was such an idiot, that she was sent to Heiskier, a remote island, lest she should be seen of strangers, to the care of a gentleman living there, a Macdonald called Donald Du Maclauchlane. Now Alexander, after the death of his uncle Angus Ogg, was infefted in his father's lands in Ross, because his father was infefted there before the resignation of his grandfather : and not content with this, he bethought himself of possessing all Macdonald's lands, or, as he pretended, to hold them in tutelage, for Donald Du, the son of Angus Ogg, who was detained prisoner in Inchconnil ; Gillespig Du, the wicked murderer of his brother, rulings the family of Sleat after the death of his father Austin Macdonald. Alexander, of whom we spoke above, went to Ross with a small body of the Ross people, having Alexander of Glengarry his son-in-law in company. This Alexander of Glengarry having dismissed his lawful wife, Angus Reavick's daughter, he ravished Alexander MacGillespig's daughter, merely to advance his fortune, his estate at that time being very small, possessing only the plain side of Glengarry, his cousin-german the offspring of Angus having the rugged side. Laggan Achadrom was one of the first holdings that Mackenzie had. Abertarf belonged of right to the Erasers. At that time the lands of Knoidart did not belong to him, for they were possessed by a younger branch of the family of Muidort. Alexander, as I mentioned above, going to Ross, many men gathered to him from the Isles and adjacent country. Alexander of Keppoch was going to his aid with 240 men, but young Mackenzie gathered together a number of Ross people, and that of the north, particularly such as held Macdonald's lands, at that time of the king ; he had commission to oppose Alexander, in case he aimed to regain Macdonald's lands, and fearing for himself to have those whom he formerly offended as his Deighbours, he got all those who then held of the king to join him. Alexander thought that Mackenzie would by no means venture to attack him, but Mackenzie knowing that if Alexander obtained any kind of superiority or advantage over him, that he would be reduced to a very low condition, became desperate in the attempt, and surprised Alexander and his people while in their beds resting in security and safety as they thought in Park. Their confusion became so great, that more were drowned in the river Connil than killed; 43 perished in all, but when Keppoch arrived with his men, he plundered Mackenzie's lands, wlho at that time kept the fort of the Island Donnen. Alexander MacGillespig joining afterwards, came south to Colionsay to raise more men to recover his lands in Ross, but was, contrary to humanity or justice, killed by John Brayoch MacEan of Ardnamurchan and Alexander Macdonald of Isla and Kintyre, at Oronsay, being then well stricken in years. The reason assigned for this was, that if he possessed Macdonald's ancient heritage, he would without doubt lessen those estates which they possessed at that time. Now Donald Gauld, Alexander MacGiilespig's son, was in a very low condition ; he had a dauvich of lands from his uncle Lovat. He gathered a great many necessaries, such as seed, &c., among the best men in Ross, for his being a great man's son. There was a common fellow in his company, Paul, who gathered together his thigging in Ross. This man asked Donald Gauld what he meant to do with all the trash he was gathering? Donald Gauld answered. That mean and low as that was, he could do no better, and as it was God's will to reduce him to that low and despondent state, he ought to be content. Then, says Paul, if you will be advised by me, you will sell all your seed and thigging, for you will never raise yourself to any notice or respect by contmuing a farmer ; therefore, it is your interest to make money of all you have gathered, and hire as many men therewith as you can, to apprehend, in the first place, the Laird of Raisay, being the weakest and least powerful of all the island Lairds, and after succeeding in this, you can act according to circumstances. This advice being followed, they came to the Isles, apprehended Raisay, to whom they communicated their intentions. Raisay goes along with them to the Lewis, and remained that night within the castle of MacLeod of the Lewis. After that, Raisay had a consultation with his chief, the Laird of Lewis. It happened that night that a great many whales ran ashore in the Bay of Stornoway. MacLeod in the morning goes out to behold the diversion, and to kill them with broad swords. Donald Gauld and his company go out likewise. Raisay advised Donald Gauld, when MacLeod began to strike at the whales, to keep close at his heels to assist him ; to which advice Donald invariably adhered. MacLeod having gone home, asked what that young man was who assisted him in killing the whales. Being informed he was Donald Gauld, MacLeod said, that it was reasonable and proper that he should be assisted to some honour and preferment. After this, MacLeod of the Lewis, and some others of the Islanders, held a meeting at Kyleakin. Alexander of Kintyre came there for Donald Gruamach, son of Donald Gallick, to make him Lord of the Isles, and imparted his sentiments on the subject to MacLeod. MacLeod said he was willing that Donald Gruamach should be made Lord of the Isles, and that he was nearer related to him than Donald Gauld. Alexander of Kintyre had a double meaning in this offer. He well kiiew it did not belong to himself by right, and had a greater respect for Donald Gruamach, who had a greater right to that title, than for Donald Gauld, who, according to his opinion, was not so fit for the place, either by his actions or friendship; besides, he did not wish to prefer Donald Gauld, he himself having a hand in his father's murder. Upon this, MacLeod spoke to Donald Gruamach upon this subject, who answered, that it was a cause not very easily carried through ; that he doubted much the loyalty of the Islanders ; and that he would no ways have a hand in that affair so long as Donald Du, Angus Ogg's son, was alive. Alexander of Kintyre undertook this journey to create Donald Gruamach Lord of the Isles, fearing that if Donald Gauld succeeded, he would revenge his father's death, of which he was a partaker. This Alexander of Kintyre being married to John of Ardnamurchan's daughter, was easily induced by his father-in-law to stand as heir, and to look for great honour and preferment, if Alexander MacGillespig was cut off. John of Ardnamurchan's purpose was to set them by the ears, in case he himself might get some of their lands to purchase. Donald Gruamach rejecting the offer made him of being created Lord of the Isles, the MacLeods thought to make Donald Gauld Lord of them. With this intention going to Morveirn, where they met Maclean, Alexander of Kintyre being also in company, comporting with the times, because he formerly told his mind to these men, they proclaimed Donald Gauld Lord of the Isles. When Brayack of Ardnamurchan was desired to compear, Maclean sent him a private message not to come, to which he paid no attention, but appeared, and was paid the same deference as any of the rest. As he sat in the tent, his son, John Sunoirtich, expressed his surprise that all the gentry of the Isles were called to Macdonald's tent, and he not treated as the rest. His father observed, it was his own fault, by having a hand in Donald's father's death. His son said, if his advice was followed, they would attack Macdonald's tent; but his father said, they were too weak against Donald Gauld's party. In the meantime, he ordered one of his men to look to the shore, and see if his galley was afloat ; upon this there came a black sheep into the tent, and the person sent to see the galley came back with a salmon fish wanting an eye, telling him his boat was not afloat. John Brayack asked what was the place's name in which they were? Being answered it was called Ballepaig, he said that three things had come to pass, of which the old woman who nursed him desired him to be aware, viz. The black sheep, the salmon with one eye, and Ballepaig, wherein she warned him never to remain a night; and now, said he, the last period of my life must certainly be at hand. At that very moment one rushed out of Donald Gauld's tent, crying out. Kill, and do not spare the MacEans ; which commands were instantly obeyed. MacEan fled for the space of a mile, but was overtaken by Mr Allan Morison, and killed by the Laird of Raisay. His son John was killed, together with a young son called Angus : in short, all of them that could be taken. This happened at a place called Craiganairgid. In the evening thereafter, Alexander of Kintyre observmg that the death of Donald's father was amply revenged, because it was John of Ardnamurchan that apprehend* ed him ; but Donald Gauld said that his father's death was not yet fully revenged, while Alexander, who was equally guilty with John Brayach, was in life. Alexander hearing this, slipt away privately in the night time, and left them. Donald Gauld after this went to Tyree, and died in the Inch of Teinlipeil, five weeks after he was proclaimed Lord of the Isles. Alexander of Kintyre and his two sons, one of whom was called John Cathanach, were afterwards by the King's orders hanged at the Borrowmuir, near Edinburgh, because, after the resignation of John of the Isles, they neither would take their rights from the King, nor deliver up to him those lands which Macdonald had in Isla and Kintyre.

Timeline

Below is a list of events that are evidenced by this source. They should appear in the 'Timeline' section of articles about people and places involved in the events.

• between 1660 and 1688 - The English ‘History of the Macdonalds’ was written by a ‘a Highland Sennachie’ no earlier than the reign of James the 2d. In it, we find,

“Alexander his son succeeded to his father's estate, and was proclaimed Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles after the accustomed manner, a man born to much trouble all his lifetime. First, he took to him the concubine, daughter to Patrick Obeolan, surnamed the Red, who was a very, beautiful woman. This surname Obeolan was the surnames of the Earls of Ross, till Farquar, born in Ross, was created earl by King Alexander, and so carried the name of Ross since, as best answering the English tongue. This Obeolan had its descent of the ancient tribe of the Manapii; of this tribe is also St Rice or Rufus. Patrick was an abbot, and had Carlebay in the Lewis, and the church lands in that country, with 18 merks lands in Lochbroom.”
<ref name="Collectanea p. 304" />

• 1847 - A fragment of the history of the Macdonalds, written no earlier than the reign of James the 2d by a ‘a Highland Sennachie’, was published for the first time by the Iona Club.
  <ref name="Collectanea p. 282" />

Discussion

The copy (watermarked 1829) is ascribed by Donald Gregory in 1836 (‘History of the western Highlands and Isles of Scotland’, page 10) to a Hugh Macdonald. Hand anonymous, probably that of a clerk. Gregory’s ascription to Hugh Macdonald may result from a misreading of Sir William MacLeod Bannatyne’s preface, in which ‘Austin’ (Hugh) in fact occurs twice although the words ‘Austin being himself’ resemble ‘written by himself’. Gregory had the history copied (watermarked 1827); the only ascription to Hugh Macdonald therein is modern (in list of contents).

When William Forbes Skene had the manuscript in 1833; nowhere does he ascribe it to more than ‘a Highland Sennachie’. The Hugh Macdonald ascription was followed, without comment, by J R N MacPhail in his edition of the text in ‘Donald Gorme his genealogie from Hugo Alexander’ in ‘Highland Papers’, volume 1, pages 101-102.

Source citation

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This source also needs to be included in the 'Sources' section of an article by adding the following:

* {{Macdonald fragment full}}

Sources

• Iona Club, ed. (1847). "Fragment of a Manuscript History of the Macdonalds". Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, Consisting of Original Papers and Documents Relating to the History of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Edinburgh: T. G. Stevenson.
• [{{{url}}} "{{{title}}}"]. National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division. {{{id}}}.Property "Has NLS archives identifier" (as page type) with input value "{{{id}}}" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.
• Airt, Seán Mac; Niocaill, Gearóid Mac (1983). The Annals of Ulster (xv + 2 plates) (1st ed.). School of Celtic Studies (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) – via Corpus of Electronic Texts.
• Baillie, W. R, ed. (1850). Ane Breve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross. Including notices of the Abbots of Fearn, and of the family of Ross of Balnagown. Edinburgh: T. Constable. OCLC 1039478538. OL 25119441M.
• Black, Ronald (Nov 2019). "1467 MS: The Green Abbot". West Highland Notes & Queries. 4 (11).
• Gordon, Robert, Sir, Bart; Gordon, Gilbert of Sallagh (1813) [1651]. A Genealogical history of the Earldom of Sutherland, from its origin to the year 1630; with a continuation to the year 1651. Edinburgh: A. Constable. OCLC 1045568280. OL 25515694M.
• MacPhail, J. R. N., ed. (1914). Highland Papers. 1. Edinburgh: Scottish History Society. OCLC 1045978143. OL 23303390M.