Source:Highland Papers (Macdonalds)
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| "History of the Macdonalds" Highland Papers (vol. 1) |
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The following History of the Macdonalds—of which both the beginning and the end are obviously wanting—is attributed to Hugh Macdonald, a Skye seannachie, and is said to have been written in the reign of Charles ii. That it was certainly written after 1628 is apparent from the reference on p. 31 to Patrick, Earl of Tullibardine, whose patent is dated 30th January 1628. As the period which it covers extends roughly from 1100 to 1500, it has not the authority of a contemporary record, and in many places it is inaccurate in detail. But it is of great value as embodying and preserving the traditional beliefs current some three hundred years ago among the Skye Macdonalds with regard to the history of their race. Partly printed for the Iona Club it is generally recognised as an authority, and is used as such by Mr. Gregory himself, and by subsequent writers. From such things as his reference to Camden (p. 8), and his incisive criticism of George Buchanan (p. 10), it is also plain that the author's knowledge of Scots history was not confined to Hebridean legends. Occasional notes have been added for such purposes as fixing dates, or correcting serious errors, but otherwise the seannachie is allowed to tell his own story.
Out of the material available it is impossible to construct a satisfactory pedigree of the descendants of Somerled. But in the belief that a diagrammatic representation of the descent and connection of the more important families will make the history easier to follow, it has[2] been thought well to prefix the genealogy contained in Scotland under her Early Kings (vol. ii. Appendix A.) Even if in some details this should appear open to criticism, any statement by Mr. Robertson may, in the absence of contrary evidence, be deemed worthy of at least provisional acceptance.
A few explanatory and illustrative documents, which seem of interest, follow the history.[3]
Sommerled, the son of Gilbert,1 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, Allinn 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 Maclnnes's and MacGilvrays, who are the same as the Maclnnes's. They being in sight of the enemy could act nothing wdthout 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[4]
- Somerled, the son of Gillebride, the son of Gilledomnan, must have been born about 1100. He was killed in 1164. For a fuller account of his origin see the 'Book of Clanranald,' printed in Reliqiiæ: Celtiæ, vol. ii., at pp. 153-155.
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 Summerlid 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[5]
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 daughter1 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 fuid means by which he might come to get 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. "Wlien 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. jMaurice 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 Mac- Intyres (or wright's sons) to this day. On this expedition Olay and Sommerled killed MacLier, who possessed Strath within the Isle Sky. They killed Godfrey Du, or the Black,[6]
- According to Torfæus her name was Raguhildis.
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 knoAv, 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.1 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[7]
- This must have been followed by a treaty, for, as Gregory points out, a charter is dated 'in natali domini proximo post concordiam regis at Sumerledi.'—History of the Western Highlands, p. 15.
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 IMacBeath and Donald Bain, and
that he thought that 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[8] 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 anything to please the Regent's humour and the reformers of the time. When Morton was Regent, he did not 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,1 but being likewise disappointed of that, in revenge, he wrote his book, De Jure Regni apud Scotos.2 He never spoke anything[9]
- Quare majority?
- A good illustration of Buchanan's 'frigid and calculated' mendacity is given by Mr. Moir Bryce in The Scottish Grey Friars, i. pp. 121 et seq.
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 prmce, 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.1 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 a 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 waiters who defame him report he had ?[10]
- Dugall was not illegitimate. The Rev. A. J. Macdonald, however (Scots Peerage, vol. v., s.v. 'Macdonald, Lord of the Isles') denies that he was the oldest son, or the ancestor of the Macdougalls of Lome. But no authorities are cited. And the reasoning by which similar views are supported in The Clan Donald, i. pp. 6l et seq., is not convincing.
After Sommerled, his son Sommerled succeeded him
as Thane of Argyle. Reginald, his brother, the Isles,
Dugall, Lorn, and GilHes 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
these 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 John1 are descended MacEans of Ardnamurchan. He
was buried at Icollumkill. Reginald his brother became
tutor to John, and had several bickerings with Dugall of
Lorn, his brother, about the Isles of Mull. Dugall, after
he had received the 700 merks lands west of 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
IMuchdanach, but when they returned, Reginald was very
wroth with them for killing him. Although he wished to[11]
- Vide post, p. 14, note.
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
3IacLulichs, 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.1
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 Macdufiies 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 [him] 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[12]
- He founded the Benedictine monastery there. Vide post, p. 82.
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 Galium 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 cauldron 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 lona. He died
at Shippinage in the year 1289,1 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[13]
- There is here a good deal of confusion, e.g. Donald must have died long before 1289. Further, he had at least two sons, Angus Mor and Alexander. Angus Mor, who succeeded, had by his wife, the daughter of Sir Colin Campbell, three sons—Alexander, Angus Oig, and John Sprangach, the ancestor of the Maclans of Ardnamurchan. On the death of Angus Mor he was succeeded by Alexander, and it was he who opposed Bruce and died at Dundonald, when he was succeeded by his brother Angus Oig.
Thane of Argyle, having his lands in Knapdale and Argyle,.
being married to a daughter of Macdougall of Lorn,1 otherwise
called John Baccach, or Lame, and living in Castle-
Swin, would by no means own King Robert's quarrel],,
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 IMacdougall 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
red-haired. 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,2 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[14]
- The family was otherwise known as de Ergadia or of Lorn.
- Alexander de Ergadia married the third daughter of Sir John Comyn the elder, by whom he had John of Lorn (Wyntoun, viii. 1 153). She was the aunt of the Red Comyn killed at Dumfries.
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 Avent to Ireland, carrying
his extraction from the ancient Rurices, and brought
from hence 1500 men, who wdth himself were all cut
off at a place called Brarich near Lochow. Their ancient
arms were a star and arrow. This..Angiis_ofJhe_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 he 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[15]
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 1800, and with the accustomed solemnity of his predecessors, was buried at Icolumkil. In the minority of Angus Ogg his son, Reginald, or, as he was styled by the vulgar, Reynald Armin or 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, [viz.] Hector, and his son Sommerled, and Isaac, whom they aim at in pronouncing the word Scipio, of whom descended the IMacdonalds in Connaught, Munster and Leinster, to the number of nine septs, who procured for themselves the being aad estate of Squires, till they lost all in Queen Elizabeth's time. And John, suniamed the Bald, the son of the first Reginald, the brother of Donald, the Lord of[16]
he 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 procvired 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 uj) 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.1 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.2 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 Mac- Fingon, 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.[17]
- The murdered man was not the Reginald mentioned in the text, but Reginald MacRuari of Garmoran, who held the lands of Kintail of the Earl of Ross. The scene of the murder was the monastery of Elcho, where Reginald had taken up his quarters.
- Vide Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections, Scot. Hist. Soc.,vol. xxxiv. p. 301.
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 only one 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 and 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 GurisgHch ; 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 kiiig'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[18]
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, etc., 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'lMillans, 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 Macpherspns, who are not the same with the Macphersons of Badenoch, but are of the O'Docharties in Ireland ; the Butikes in Caithness, of whom is the Laird of Tolingail,1 and many[19]
- The reference is probably to the family of Budge, long proprietors of Toftingal.
other surnames, which, for brevity, we pass over, many of
whom had no succession. Now, Angus Ogg1 being at Ardhorinish
in Morvein, in the time of Lent, Macdougall sent
the two sons of Gilhan in message to him. To know of
these, viz. :—the sons of Gilhan, 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
«ome conference with Macdonald about the Isle of Mull.2
Macdonald denying any of his proper right of lands to
Macdougall, 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
griithim, consisting of butter and curds mixed together,
which is made in hai'vest, 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[20]
- The story cannot relate to Angus Oig, vide post, p. 23, note 2.
- John of Yle had his right to Mull recognised by David 11. in a charter dated I2th June 1343, printed in vol. xii. of the Acts of Parliament. A remarkable deed, in which he and John of Lorn in 1354 settled this and other questions between them, is printed post, p. 75. This John of Lorn was the grandson of John Baccach, being the son of his son Alan. He married Joanna, daughter of Thomas Isaac and the Princess Matilda, and thus granddaughter of Robert I., and had considerable part of the family possessions restored to him.
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 merks lands to Hector the oldest brother,,
and to Lauchlane the youngest he gave the chamberlain[21]
ship of his house, and made MacFinnon thereafter marshal! of his army.1 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 disaffected either to king or state. He created Macguire or Macquarry a Thane. He had a natural son, John, by Dougall Mac- Henry'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.2 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[22]
- The oldest Maclean account of this incident (written after 1715) will be found in Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections, Scot. Hist. Soc, vol. xxxiii. p. 122, and maybe usefully compared with the grandiose descriptions of modern writers on Maclean history. The anonymous author is a partisan of the family of Duart, for whose seniority he argues at length. But the tradition preserved by Hugh Macdonald, who in this matter may be regarded as impartial, is quite definite both as to the rise of the Maclean family and the seniority of the two brothers. The greater importance to which the younger branch uhimaiely attained is easily accounted for by its closer connection with the Lords of the Isles, Skene, Collectanæ de Rebus Albanicis, p. 362, asserts Lachlan to be the elder. - He refers to a MS. written in 1467, and makes this extraordinary statement : ‘This MS. having been written during the lifetime of the two brothers, it may be held as settling the question.’
- The Lord of the Isles, on whom this trick is said to have been played, cannot have been Angus Oig, who died about 1330. There is printed post, p. 78, a papal letter to the Bishop of Sodor, dated May 1367 relative to the marriage of Lachlan Maguilleon and Mary delnsulis, which shows that the lady was a daughter of John, Lord of the Isles, by his first marriage, and also explains Hugh Macdonald's quaint phrase ‘by her inclination of yielding.’
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. \Vlien 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 of 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 Armius 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 MacEachem, Mackay,
and MacGillevray in Mull, Macillemhaoel or MacMillan, etc.
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[23]
eleventh part of every action decided. But there might be still an appeal to the Council of the Isles. MacFinnon was obliged to see weights and measures adjusted ; and Mac- Duffie, 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.1 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 irom 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.2 To Reginald, of whom the family of Mudart descended, his father allotted the rest of South Uist, Egg,[24]
- It is hardly necessary to state that the lady referred to was not Algive or a Macdougall, but Amie MacRuari, the sister of Reginald MacRuari, on whose death (vide ante, p. i8, note i) she succeeded to the great lordship of Garmoran. That she was no concubine, but the lawful wife of John de Insulis, is proved conclusively by the Dispensation, dated 13th June 1337, printed post, p. 73. Divorce in the sense of dissolution of a valid marriage was of course impossible by ecclesiastical law. But, in Scotland at least, it was seldom impossible to satisfy the authorities that there had been some latent impediment, not dispensed from, which rendered the marriage ab initio null without reflecting on the character of the lady or affecting the legitimacy of the issue. The I Dispensation for the marriage with Margaret Stewart is dated 14th June 1350. It is printed by Father Theiner, Vet. Mon., p. 294.
- He was alive on 7th July 1389, when, by charter dated at his castle of Elane Tyrym, he confirmed to InchafTray a grant by Christina filia Alani and Reginaldus dictus M'Rodry (The Charters of Inchaffray Abbey, Scot. Hist. Soc, vol. lvi. p. 136). This charter in its turn along with the previous grant was confirmed by Godfrey's brother, Donald de Yle, Dominus Insularum, by charter dated at his castle of dun Aros, in Mulle, 6th December 1410 (ibid., p. 137).
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 North 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 Maclnnes
of Ardgour, who, being his foster father, advised him to take
to wife the king's daughter. So declining Algive, wha
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 [cap?], saying he would wear none. At different times
he had the rights of Lochaber, and Morvern, Mudort,,
and Knoydort, from the king his father in law. Algive
thereafter lived a solitary life, but was the ruin of Maclnnes
of Ardgour. John had by the King's daughter1 Donald,
who succeeded him ; John More of whom descended the
Macdonalds of Kintyre, Antrim, and Sanay, Leargy, and
Isla. He had Alister Carrich, of whom descended Keppoch
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 legitimatelv begotten before the[25]
- Her relations with her sons seem to have been far from friendly, vide post, p. 81.
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 Ardgour, a little before his death. By means of Algive
and her children some indecent language was reported of
Maclnnes ; 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 IMacInnes
said any company would be the better of a dog ; and this
was done by Algive and her children; because Maclnnes
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 Ardgour, 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[26]
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's1 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, hut 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 giandmother, 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[27]
- Robert, Duke of Albany, governor of the realm, 1406-1420.
he 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,1 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 IMacdonald 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. IMacdonald 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 IMaclean, and the left by Galium. Beg
Macintosh, who that day received from Macdonald a right
of the lands of Glengary in Lochaber, by way of pleasing
him for yielding the right wing to Maclean, and to prevent
any quarrel between him and jMaclean. Macintosh said[28]
- Obviously a mistake for Mar (vide post, p. 30). A bastard son of the Wolf of Badenoch. He obtained a liferent of the earldom of Mar through his wife.
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 Carrich 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 disuaded him from it, saying that by his victory
in all appearance he gained his own, yet it was ridiculous
to 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[29]
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.1 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 gauntlet 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,2 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, 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[30]
- In 1431. Vide post, p. 40.
- So created in 1628.
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 illegitimate1
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 land 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,2 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 Erasers and others enjoyed his
inheritance. About this time lived the subtle and wicked
councillor, the Green Abbot Finnon,3 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,.[31]
- Vide ante, p. 25, note 1.
- The victim was Patrick, Earl of Atholl, son of the Countess Isabella and Thomas of Galloway. He was nearly related to the Comyns, who were prominent in attacking Walter Bisset for his alleged complicity in the murder.
- Brother of Niall, son of Gillebride (Celtic Scotland, iii. 489). For one of the legends about him see The Queen's Wake.
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 IMacdonald resided in Kilcummin. Upon John
Flore'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.1 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 pow'er to oppose him and impair his greatness,
being vexed that he lost the battle of Harlaw ; and he and[32]
- For interesting information regarding a personage whom it seems reasonable to identify with the Green Abbot and his kinsmen, vide post, p. 83.
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.1 He died himself at Ardhorinish in
Morvairn, in the forty-fifth2 year of his age, and was buried
at Icolumkill, after the rights 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, bom in
Ross, was created earl by King Alexander, and so carried
the name of Ross since, as best answering the English
tongue.[note 1] 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 Strathnavem ; one to Dugall
MacRanald, Laird of Mudort ; one to Macleod of Assint ;
one to MacDuffee ; and another, the first, to MacLean of[33]
- He had a daughter Marion married to Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath prior to 24th October 1429 (Additional Sutherland Case, p. 128). See Thanes of Cawdor, p. 16.
- As he was old enough to be given as a hostage on 15th November 1369 (Act of Parliament, vol. xii. p. 16), and died circa 1420 (Gregory, History, p. 33), he must have been more than forty-five at his death.
- This marginal note appears in the transcript as if it had been added by some reader of the original manuscript. The use of Austin for Uisdean or Hugh is one of the many instances in which classical names are utilised to represent Gaelic names of a somewhat similar sound—e.g. Aeneas, Hector, Scipio, Julia.
- Alexander, Lord of the Isles, is generally said to have been married to Elizabeth Seton, sister of the first Earl of Huntly, vide post, p. 47, note 3. His wife's name certainly was Elizabeth, and their relations seem to have become strained, vide post, p. 93.
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 was laid
before them. 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 burnit 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 sides, 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[35]
time Macdonald gave the Isle of Tirie to MacLean, and sent his son Austine,1 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 killed, single hand, by one of William MacLeod of Harris's men, called Murdo MacCotter, who was afterwards MacLean's ensign-bearer. Having routed the enemy, Austin and his party began to ravage the country, that being the only reward they had for their pains and fatigue ; with which having loaded their galleys, returned home. Austine having halted at Caithness, he got a son by the Crowner of Caithness'2 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 mischance. At that time there happened to be a Spanish gentlemantraveller in town, of whom after he returned to his own country, it was asked what Avas the greatest wonder he had seen in Scotland ? He said it was a grand maa, called Macdonald, with a great train of men after him, and that he was called neither Duke nor Marquis. At the time, however,[36]
- Gregory gives the date as 1460.—History, p. 60, footnote.
- He was known in Gaelic as Am Brastaich Mohr, because of a brooch which he wore in token of his office.
he was made prisoner by the king, and sent to Tantallon.
His mother was secured, and sent to Milcollum'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 to 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 John1
Campbell, to know if John More of Kintyre, Macdonald's[37]
- Apparently a mistake for James.
uncle, would send to take all his nephew's lands ; but it
was a trap laid to weaken them that they might be the
more easily conquered. James Campbell sent a man
with a message to John of Kintyre, 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 him
all the lands possessed by Macdonald, conditionally he
would, if he held of him and ser\'e 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, over-powered by numbers, 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, he
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
IMacdonald'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 his uncle dead, to seize on the lands of Lochaber.
Whereupon Alexander Earl of ]\Iarr, having received a
grant of those lands from the king, did levy a great army
by the king's directions, viz. Huntley, Allan Lord Caithness, [38]
Fraser of Lovat, Macintosh, MacKay of Strathnavern, the Grants, the Chief of the Camerons, who enticed the rest of Macdonald's vassals, by making them great promises to join with them, and that the rights they formerly held 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 covetousness 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 would never 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 MacLean, gathered all those who faithfully adhered to Macdonald's interest, came to Carna, 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 Invershippinish, two miles south of Inverlochy.1 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 cards. Huntly desired them to lay up their cards, for their enemys were[39]
- 1431.
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 '11 play this game, and dispute with these fellows afterwards.
So, Huntly looked out again, and saw the enemy
driving on furiously towards them : he goes a second time
to the tent, saying, gentlemen, fight stoutly, or render
yourselves to your enemies. Macintosh replied, they would
play that game, and Avould do with the enemy what they
pleased ; that he knew very well the doings of the bigbellied
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. Huntly in a rage went out, and said
he would fight none against them 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 IMore, 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 MacDuffee
of 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 their 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
Strathnavern 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[40]
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.’1
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 it, 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 blockhead 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[41]
- See Nicolson's Gaelic Proverbs, p. 272 ; also Waifs and Strays of Celtic Tradition, i. p. 77, where the lines are attributed to Robert Bruce.
him for his good offices to him. 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, causing 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
- Hiiaris sadh nihor do dh'foil air droch bhrich uadh Obirrin sa Bhaggech.’
Immediately the earl sent for a taylor, 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 Angus, 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[42]
what they advanced. For Donald Balhch was then but 18 years of age at most, and it was five years tliereafter that he married Counn O'Neill's 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, etc. Besides that, he had as strong a country as any in Ireland, to protect him from the pursuit of his 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 Ballich'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 Avriters, 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 party 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 predecessors 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 held of the Lord of the Isles,[43]
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 by Macdonald to all the vassals and ffreeholders 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 ; but 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 MacQuire 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[44]
not, nor even they themselves, 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 chief's 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 Inverlochy, as Macintosh, the chief of the Camerons, MacLean, etc. 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[45]
gave to the Laird of Coll a right of the 40 pounds lauds 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,1 and was buried with great funeral pomp, leaving only two sons, who came to manhood, Austin and John, who succeeded him. John2 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 MacDuffee of Colonsay's daughter, and Angus Ogg, his legitimate son by the Earl of Angus's daughter.3 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 that 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 ;[46]
- He is generally said to have died at Dingwall, and was buried in the Chanonry of Ross on 8th May 1449 (Chronicle of the Earls of Ross, p. 10).
- He was fifteen years of age when he succeeded, and was therefore born in 1434 (Exchequer Rolls, vol. v. xcii.).
- John is here confused with his father, Alexander, Lord of the Isles, who was the father also of Hugh of Sleat and Celestine of Lochalsh. John's only known wife was Elizabeth Livingstone, and by her he had no issue. According to the Auchinleck Chronicle (p. 44) he was, while a boy of sixteen, partly coerced, partly cajoled into this marriage by King James II. See also ante, p. 35, and Mackay's Glenurquhart and Glenmoriston, p. 44. He had two natural sons : John, who predeceased him, and Angus.
who answered, that he would not sit down 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 hiin 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 Buchan, and of
Cairndonald, in the west, which he retained to support
his own grandeur, during his lifetime. Angus Ogg Macdonald,
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 ;1 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, [47]
- The reference is to a crown charter, dated 10th November 1495, confirming a charter by John de Yle, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, to his brother Hugo Alexandri de Insulis, bearing to be dated at Aros, 28th June 1409 (sic). It is printed post, p. 96.
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 Athole 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 to 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[48]
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 sternpost 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 galleys in pursuit of him. After this conflict, the Earl of Athole, being provided with boats by Argyle, crossed over privately to Isla, where Angus 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,1 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.2 He ordered, when on[49]
- A stronghold of the Campbells on an island in Loch Awe.
- He is generally said to have been forfeited, but no official record of such forfeiture exists, and the evidence is not conclusive ; vide Act. Dom. Audit., 14th June 1493. He seems to have been a good deal at court, and the royal accounts contain numerous entries of the expenses of himself and his servants. King James iv. was at Dundee from 4th to 10th January 1502-3. John of the Isles, who was there also, took ill and died. A payment was made on 10th January to ‘Johne of Ilis liand seik in Dunde’ (Treasurer's Accounts, vol. ii. p. 354), and on 5th February money was remitted to Dundee to pay for ‘Johne of Ilis furthbringing and berying and to lous his gere’ (ibid., p. 357). The authors of The Clan Donald, after giving the date of his death as 1498, thus interpret these facts: ‘At last we find him falling sick in Dundee, where he dies in an obscure lodging-house; and the sums due to his landlady, and the expenses of his "furthbringing," are charged to the Scottish Treasury. All this is quite consistent with the tradition that his remains were buried at his own request in the tomb of his ancestor Robert ii. in the ancient Abbey of Paisley’ (vol. i. p. 2S2). It may be mentioned incidentally that the tomb of Robert ii. is not at Paisley but at Scone.
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 apology for him. If we search antiquaries,
we will find few names in Scotland that mortified more
lands to the church than the JNIacdonalds 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 banislied, by Macdonald, 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[50]
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 y. would put Macdonald to death, and made him swear never to reveal the secret. The fellow being afterwards in his cups, and playing upon his harp, used to sing the following verse, composed by himself in the Irish language :—
- ‘I'Tanmin do dhia a mharcruch neich criclid Bhalbhrichd Gu bheil 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. Tliis~5ohn had 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[51]
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 ihe affairs of the kingdom might 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 3rd, 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 lives and those of their followers for his sake. If any writer hereafter writes that the Macdonalds Avere 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 some time 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,1[52]
- Vide ante, p. 47, note 3. Gillespig is generally known as Celestine of Lochalsh. He was brother and not son of John, Lord of the Isles. For some mysterious reason the names Gilleasbuig, Archibald, and Celestine are regarded as synonyms.
by Macduffee of Colonsay's daughter, to whom his father
left as his patrimony Shas Rittachi, the one side of Strathford
in Sutherland, Lochcarron, 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 MacAllan, 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 cousingerman,
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 to
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.1 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 Reavich), 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[53]
- Donald Galda, otherwise Sir Donald of Lochalsh.
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, ruling 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 sonin-
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 Frasers.
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 neighbours,
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 Connil1 than
killed ; 43 perished in all, but when Keppoch arrived with[54]
- Conon.
his men, he plundered Mackenzie's lands, who at that time
kept the fort of the Island Donnen. Alexander Mac-
Gillespig joining afterwards, came south to Collonsay 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 MacGillespig'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, etc., 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 continuing 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 moniing 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[55]
MacLeod began to strike at the whales, to keep close at his heels to assist him ; to -svhich 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, IMacLeod 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,1 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 Gniamach 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 knew 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-inlaw 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[56]
- Of Sleat, vide post, p. 69.
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 Brayach
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 obsei*ved, 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 Brayach 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 MacEeans ; 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.1 In the evening
thereafter, Alexander of Kintyre observing that the death[57]
- In 1519.
of Donald's father was amply revenged, because it was
John of Ardnamurchan that apprehended 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.1 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 these lands which Macdonald had in Isla and
Kintyre.[note 2] Now all the offspring of John Lord of the Isles
legitimate or illegitimate being extinct, we must of course
return to Austin son of Alexander Earl of Ross, and the
only brother of the said John Lord of the Isles. This
Austin being contemporary with King James the Third
upon his brother's resignation of his rights, took his Charters
likewise from the King of all the patrimony wherewith his
father provided him, and that also by the consent of his
brother viz. :—North Uist, the Parish of Hough in South
Uist, Benbicula, Canna, Trotternish, Sleat and Lochbroom.
He was bound by his father's Will not to marry but by the
consent of twelve of the principal men of his name and
the Heritors of the Isles.2 He was obliged by his Charters
from the King to have planting. Cotemporary with him
of his own name was Allan Laird of Muidort, who then
possessed the lands of Hough Benbicula, Canna, which he
had to that time from the time of Ranald his great grandfather,
the first Laird of Muidort. These lands were
Godfrey's patrimony, who was son to John Lord of the
Isles as related above,3 and was older than Ranald his
brother. But upon his father's and Godfrey's death,
Ranald became tutor to Donald Lord of the Isles and to[59]
- According to MacVurich he died at Carneburg.
- Vide ante, p. 48 and note. This curious charter is printed post, p. 96.
- Vide ante, p. 25.
Godfrey's children when Donald succeeded to the Lordship
of the Isles, leaving no children but Alexander and none of
Godfrey's offspring being anywise qualified to succeed their
father he would not troidDle the issue of Ranald about these
lands until Alexander granted them to Austin's son. But
Allan Laird of Muidort opposed Austin so far that he was
necessitated to apprehend him and carry him where the
Lord of the Isles lived and render up the lands to his
Chief ; yet they never were of any profit to Austin's
posterity for the lands of Muidort always kept possession
of them tho’ contrary to right ; neither had they any legal
tithe to their other holdings till King Charles the Second's
time. Cotemporary was John Cathanach grandchild of
Donald Ballach formerly mentioned, who when the Chief
John resigned his right to the King would not give up Isla
nor accept of Charters from the King ; at which time John
Brayach MacEan of Ardnamurchan (being a natural son
of the former McEan by Eve daughter of Lachlan
MacIllemhool) acted as tutor to his uncle Donald Roy MacEan's
children and slighting them, after they came to their
majority, and seized upon their lands to himself being a
bold intrepid man, and not altogether sound in his intellects
alledging that he was descended of Sommerled, who was an
elder brother than Ranald of whom the rest of the Macdonalds
descended they being both sons of the first
Sommerled yet it is mo*St certain that John, son of the last
Sommerled resigned all his interest to his cousin german
Donald for aiding him in the conquest of Ardnamurchan.
Reginald was infefted in the lands of Isla and Mull and
Sommerled had the land of Argyle allotted to him by his
father. This moved John Brayach who was first married
to Argyle's and again to theTainisdairof Muidort's daughter
to undertake by the instigation of Argyle and Glencairn
to surprise John Cathanach. So coming to Islay he surprised
himself and his two sons John Gauld and John
Gallich.—John Cathanach being informed of John Brayach's
design against him thought he could catch in his
own snare. John Brayach hearing this made as speedy a
despatch as possible and apprehended John Cattanach and[60]
his two sons and brought them to Edinburgh where they were hanged upon the Borrowmuir. John Brayach had from the King a grant of Isla, and Glencairn had a grant of Kintyre. John Catlianach had sons besides these who were executed Alexander begotten by the Savages daughter in the County of Downe in Ireland and spouse of Achilles Bay MacCartin, they being both at the time his prisoners. He had another natural son Donald Maol or the Bald. MacCartcn being prisoner with John offered for his releasement to divide the Island of Jura in two and to make Kintyre an island by cutting a canal from the one Tarbert to the other which was denied him. Alexander John Cathanach's son when his father was seized by John Brayach was under a necessity of abandoning Isla and betake himself to the Glens of Ireland where he resided for a time. As to John Brayach in Isla he had two sons Donald [and] Somerledby Argyle's daughter who were lusty young strong men, the eldest of whom one day overthrew in wrestling all his father's train. At last his father said he would try him himself. The son answered that his father was too old and he young and in his fall strength, therefore it was not decent for him to throw down his father. But the old man would by no means be persuaded from wrestling with his son ; so engaging he was thrown down by the son. The old fellow said you naughty boy, you would sooner act my tragedy- than expel Alexander John Cathanach's son from the Glens in Ireland. Immediately upon this a levy of men was made and sent with the two sons of John Brayach to Ireland. When they landed Alexander was in Glenseith with 140 men and seeing them land thought it best to encounter them without delay, so immediately he led on to the attack. When MacEan's sons saw him and his men advance, they asked their own men (seeing Alexander's party so small) whether they believed he had a mind to fight. The men answered in the affirmative, and the smith of Isla said that few as they were in number, they would be a venomous thorn in their side that day, and that he for his own part would rather be on their side than that of MacEan's. MacEan[61]
said it was much better for them to want any man who thought so at heart than have him in their company. The smith singling himself from the rest asked if any other that pleased to follow him should be hindered MacEan said that they would not. Upon this 50 men more separated themselves from the company and following the smith made straight for Alexander. The attack immediately commenced on both sides. The MacEans were routed the most of whom with MacEans two sons were killed. That very night Alexander took the enemies' boats with which he transported over his own men to Isla and went accompanied by one man for intelligence and falling in with MacNiven, constable of Dunivaig who knowing Alexander asked him whence he came. Alexander answered from Ireland. MacNiven enquired of him if he knew what was become of that unfortunate man Alexander MacJohn Cathanich since the MacEans went to Ireland, and whether he was alive or not. Alexander answered that he was alive and asked what was his concern for that man. MacNiven told him he was a constable of Dunivaig and would deliver up the castle to him, and likewise that John Brayach was in the Inch of Lochgairn. Without loss of time Alexander surprised the Castle of Dunivaig and gets straight forward to Lochgairn where he besieges MacEan in the island who at length surrenders on condition that he should give up Isla and quite all his rights thereof to Alexander and that Alexander should marry John Brayach's daughter. This being agreed to John Brayach left Isla and Alexander married his daughter. Once Alexander was possessed of Isla, it was impossible for Glencaira to retain possession of Kintyre. When John Brayach was married to MacLean's daughter she had a pyet which was taught to say ' the son of Eve,' because Eve was a low born woman and the mother of John Brayach who was a natural son. But John Brayach taking umbrage at this gathered together all his mother's surname brought MacLean's daughter home to Douart and left her there. Now Austin's children were the following :—1. Donald Gallich by Elizabeth Gun the Crowner of Caithness's[62]
daughter ; 2. John by the daughter of John Brayach aforesaid whom he ravished ; 3, Donald Harrich by John MacLeod of Harris's daughter ; 4. Archibald by the daughter of Torkill MacLeod of the Lewis ; 5, Angus Collach by a natural daughter of the Laird of Coll ; 6. Angus Du by the daughter of Maurice vicar of South Uist. Contemporary with him was Allan son of Rodrick Laird of Muidort Alexander of Keppoch John and Alexander of Glengarry. Maurice's daughter was red haired ruddy faced, lived by turns in Argyle and in Oransay in North Uist where she died and was buried in Collumkill in Sand. Donald Gallich succeeded to his father Austin as may be inferred from the premises. I hold this family to be the chiefest and the most ancient of all the Macdonalds and that for the following reasons.1 First all men who have the least knowledge or tincture of the antiquity of this name, knows that the Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles was chief of the Macdonalds and none of the other distinct branches, saving the family of Sleat, I mean the posterity of Austin are lineally descended of the Earls of Ross, and that none else who is head of a family remains who is descended of the Earls of Ross is beyond doubt. When John, Austin's brother, resigned his rights to the King the whole name of consequence were obliged to hold of the King likewise, altho' formerly the whole of them did hold of their Chief. But we hear of none of the families of Kintyre, Muidort, Glengarry or Lochabber ever since they became collateral branches with the family of Macdonald or became distinct families ever granted any patents or rights of lands to other people. Besides they were descended after Donald first Earl of Ross and brother to the rest of these heads of families. The family of Sleat has likewise the oldest Charter from the King that any of the name can produce. That family has also a better estate than any of the rest to support its Grandure, and likewise a degree of honour beyond the rest. Besides this, they can produce a paper signed by all the principal men of the name,[63]
- Hugh Macdonald is of course an avowed partisan of the Sleat family.
wherein they acknowledge the head of the family of Sleat
as chief1 and it is well known that their predecessors at all
times gave place to his predecessors, yet some of them
deny this, pretending that he was of a natural descent
whereas almost all of themselves have doubled or tripled
that kind of generation, before and after the birth of
Austin. Besides every person must grant that by the law
of nature of two brothers illegitimately begotten the eldest
should have pre-eminence over the younger. I shall
subjoin Glengarry's pretentions to the Chieftainship of the
Macdonalds. I have already obsei-ved that Austin's
brother John of the Isles had a natural son called Archibald2
to whom he gave as a patrimony the lands of Killdin in
Ross. This Archibald had another natural son Alexander.
Alexander had by Lovat's daughter Donald Gauld and
three daughters besides Angus Roy his natural son and was
suffered to possess his own because Archibald was infefted
before his grandfather resigned all to the king which lands
he himself lost again for attempting to recover all Macdonald's
lands which were resigned by his grandfather.
So that Donald Gauld before he was proclaimed Lord of
the Isles after his father's death had no share of his father's
estates, the true heir being prisoner at the time in Inchconnel,
and those who had a preferable claim to that title
declining it while the true heir lived. Alexander of Glengarry
third laird of that family descended from the second
son of Ranald first laird of Muidort his great-grandfather's
brother's daughter by whom he got Allan of whom descended
Lundy and Pitmain who are the first legal successors
of that family. Then dismissing his lawful wife,
he ravished the daughter of Alexander pretended Earl of
Ross and son of Archibald, taking her away from the
house of Ewan MacAllan, Laird of Locheill, who was her
uncle-in-law, being married to her aunt at the time, but
could not get himself married to her while his former wife
lived. At this time the Laird of Muidort Dougall Mac-
Ranald was killed by his own cousin germans John and[64]
- Probably the document printed in The Clan Donald, vol. iii. p. 654.
- Better known as Celestine of Lochalsh ; vide ante, p. 53, note.
Allan. His two sons, likewise Angus and Alexander were
apprehended by Alexander of Glengarry and killed, for
which deed he got some lands in Morar. By the untimely
death of Dugall the estate fell to a natural brother called
John Muidortach, who without doubt was a man truely
worthy of the preferment. A son of this Dugall MacRanald
married the eldest daughter of Alexander, he being
the true heir of Muidort and because John IMuidortich got
possession of the estate in an unlawful manner. Glengarry
and others by threats compelled him again to dismiss his
wife, otherwise he should be treated like the rest of his
brethern, a conduct truely worthier of a man who pretends
to the chief of such a family. This daughter of Alexander
which Dugall was obhged to dismiss was the eldest of her
sisters and again married to Dingwall of Killdin. Donald
Gallich was a moderate man inclined to peace, black
haired, and fair skinned, and lived in the time of Kings
James 3 and 4th. He divided all his lands and possessions
M'ith his brother Donald Harrich when he arrived at his
majority by giving him North Uist, the upper Davich of
Sleat and the Davich of Dunskaich with 4 davichs on the
west side of Trottemish and kept the rest of the lands and
the estate of Lochbroom to himself. Two of their brethern
were alloted particularly for their jDatrimony to each of
them. Donald Gallich was to provide for Archibald and
for Angus Collach. Donald Harrich was to provide for
John and Ang-us Du. The principal people in the Isles
holding tryst at Aros in Mull, MacFinnon being Archibald's
foster father observed that his fostering him was in vain.
When his father's property was divided between the son
of the Crowner of Caithness's daughter and the son of
MacLeod of Harris's daughter. From that very day he
was resolved to murder his two brothers Donald Gallich
and Donald Harrich and calling his brothers Angus Collach
and Angus Du to Tarskivaig in Sleat he revealed his design
to them of murdering their brethern and promised that he
would augment their patrimony greatly if they were to
join him, to which they consented and going all three to
Uist, Donald Harrich being at the time sick of a fever on[65]
the little Inch of Lochpabill, and married then to a daughter of Allan MacRory's Laird of Muidort they entered the Island to see him but he suspecting their design called a servant whom he ordered to go for South Uist, and desire Ranald Bain, Laird of Muidort his brother in law to send him 60 ells fine linnen and 60 ells coarse linnen. But they apprehended the man and forced him to reveal his errand to them who judged that their brother wished Ranald Bain to send him 60 gentlemen and 60 common soldiers. They carried their brother off to the Inch of Lochskolpig where they bored two holes through the partition and drawing a thong thro' the holes with a noose at the end of it, in this they put their brother's neck when a fellow of the paul was desired to pull hard at the cord until it broke. Donald said to his brethern, if they meant to take away his life, they should do it cleanly. With this they made a spit red hot in the fire wherewith they pierced his body thro' the fundament until it came out at his throat. After this they went to the Isle of Sky where hearing that their brother Donald Gallich was at Kishorn building two galleys one for himself and the other for Donald Harrich, they went there in the night time, and coming to the place where Donald Gallich lodged early in the morning they went in where he was, and after discoursing on different subjects Donald Gallich came out with a plaid wraped about him and his night cap on and walked with his brothers a little below the house to the place where the gallies were building on the stocks. Archibald bowed under the quarter of one of the galleys and said the carpenter had placed a plank there in a very crude manner. Donald Gallich stooping to see the plank was stabbed by Archibald with his long skean or knife. Donald Gallich leaning over a little rivulet near the place, and turning about said that he was sure his brother Donald Herrich was not in life. Archibald leaping over the same rivulet said he was not. Neither would he be any longer, and stabbed him a second time ordering his brothers at the same time to lay on, that they might be equally guilty, which they obeyed, and came back the very same day to Strath.[66]
Mackinnon being informed of the murder of Donald Gallicli brought his corpse from Kishoni and buried it in Killchrist. Donald Gallich had by Agnes daughter of1 Donald Gruamach. She was first married to Torkill MacLeod of the Lewis, by whom she had John a very brave man who procured his rights from the King and died at Tain in Ross. Donald Gallich had another natural son by an Irishwoman called Alexander Roy. He had Archibald Bain by a daughter of Mackinnon Porter of Aros. He had another son called Angus. Donald Herrich had children, Ranald and Donald Glass he had before he married Angus Glass and Donald Badenoch and another son John who was killed in Ireland. Archibald, the son of Austin, the foresaid murderer was forced by Ranald Bain Laird of Muidort to betake himself to the Southern Isles, where joining with two of the MacAllisters, Ranald More, and Alister Bearnich, who robbed all ships and passengers they could lay hold of. He remained with these miscreants three whole years. His brother during that time was Laird of Sleat. Donald Bain of Muidort, hearing he was to bring Archibald back again he discharged him from being tutor any more. This Donald Bain died at Perth, having received his charters from the King, which did his family little service as they never came to their hands. Now Archibald after the death of Muidort, married a daughter of MacLean. This MacLean advised Archibald to surprise his copartners John More and Alister Bearnich whom he apprehended, by which means he obtained pardon for his former crimes.2 During the time that Archibald kept company with these outlaws Angus Collach his brother went with a great train to Uist, and as the custom then was he must needs have for his partner that night the goodman's daughter, or in case of his having no daughter he must have his own wife. He came to St. Marys, the[67]
- Something is left out in the MS. Agnes was the daughter of Macdonald of Dunnyveg.
- The Registrum Secreti Sigilli, vol. i. No. 1649, contains 'A Respit to Archibald Huchonsoun of the Ilys and xxviii utheris,' dated at Edinburgh 6th April 1508.
principal church of North Uist, nigh to which Macdonald
of Bebranald lived, a gentleman descended of Godfrey
who had to his wife a daughter of John Brainish son to
Allan the son of Roderick of Muidort who had Benbicula
for his patrimony. This gentleman Donald Macdonald
being in the meantime absent from home, his wife went to
the church to hear Mass and Angus Collach meeting her at
the church and saluting her told her he meant to lodge with
her next night to which she made him welcome. He
observed that she must herself partake of a share of his bed.
She replied when he came to the house, she would give him
an answer. So Angus went to her house next night and
was received by her very kindly. Upon this he began to
urge her earnestly to perform her promise. She replied
that it was not yet bed time, and when it was that she
would be his partner for the night. So before she ordered
supper to be brought them, she got a horse ready to the
house, and while he and his retinue were at supper, she
rides under night to Benbicula where her father was, her
husband coming home went after her to bring her back,
but she would not go home telling him, that she married
him with an unsullied character, and as he was not willing
to preserve her from infamy she would remain with her
own relations, whereupon they conveened a consell, who
were unanimous for revenge. 60 men were sent with
Donald MacRanald to North Uist where he gathered
together the most of the offspring of Godfrey with whom he
surprised Angus Collach at Kirkibost, and killed 18 of his
men and took himself prisoner, and sent him to the Laird
of Muidort to South Uist where he was tied up in a sack
and cast into the raging sea. He was afterwards found upon
the shore of Carinish where he was buried. Alexander
MacLeod of Harris, having married the Laird of IMuidort's
daughter sent her home some time thereafter, but the Laird
of Muidort afterwards apprehending him in Egg hanged
MacLeod's brother and kept himself prisoner for seven
years at Castle Tirrim where he got his back broke which
made him hunch backed all his lifetime. Angus Du
Austin's son was apprehended by Ranald of Muidort, and[68]
was kept for a long time in close custody but was like to escape coming down the strand near Asturnish in South Uist by making trial if he could run with as much speed then after his long confinement as he did before, and seeing that he could run tolerably well he attempted to outdo the guards, who closely pursued him, and at last one of them shooting at him with an arrow wounded him in the leg in such a manner that it could not be cured and so put a period to his life with a sword. Archibald Du ruled the estate of his father after the death of Ranald of Muidort. He killed the offspring of Godfrey to the number of 18. Of those who assisted him, and his brothers to the murder of their other brothers Donald Gallich and Donald Herrach though it happened by the just judgment of God, yet he did it to be revenged of his brother Angus Collach's death. Archibald being four years married to MacLean's daughter had no children he sent for Donald Gruamach, Donald Gallichs son who lived then in the Earl of Murray's house and likewise for Donald Herrich's son both his nephews. Donald Gruamach had then come to some years being come to age altho' very young when his father was murdered. He took to wife the relict of John Brayach who was killed at Mull. But Archibald the wicked murderer of his father courted her twice or thrice to satiate his ungovernable lusts, and once she left her head-dress in his hand and got off. She was a very good and wise lady the daughter of Alexander Tanister of Muidort and son of Allan. Donald Gruamach took this behaviour of his uncle's very ill and communicated the matter to his cousin and that he was doubtful what to do, that he was certain it was out of no love to them that they were sent for, neither did he entertain the least idea of making them his successors because he had not any family by his own wife, but for getting an opportunity of murdering them as he did their fathers. And that in his opinion he had a greater desire to bestow their proper profession1 on his own base son than on them. At any rate he advised Ranald to be silent for a while and[69]
- Quare possession ?
forbear for a time. Sometime after this Archibald was
entertained by a gentleman at Vallay. Donald Gruamaeh
desired Ranald always to sit aside him wherever he sat,
and not allow any one whatever to sit between them.
The day before the feast as Archibald was to take breakfast
at Hosta, Ranald had in his custody the cup out of which
Archibald was wont to drink. Ranald in the meantime
was playing at some sort of game with other people, but
was sent word to go with the cup and attend upon his
uncle at breakfast. Ranald said he would finish his game
first and then go at his own leisure that it signified very
little to him whether he took his breakfast or not those
who went for Ranald when they went back told all he had
said to Archibald who was highly incensed against him.
When Ranald came in his uncle's presence he called
Ranald a jackanapes telling him he would teach him better
manners, to which Ranald replied that he was not a jackanapes
at any rate he could expect no goodwill from him,
and desired him to give him his father's sword that he
might go in quest of his fortune. Archibald asked him his
real intention, or whether he meant to revenge his father's
death or not. Upon this Donald Gruamaeh advised his
cousin-german Ranald to hold his tongue. After this
when they went to Valay and began to drink and get a
little hearty and cheerful John MacLean of Borrerary1
rising up out of his own seat, wished to have a place between
Donald and Ranald which Donald refused suspecting
John's fidelity towards them he being particularly in
favour with Archibald, because he had IMacLean's daughter
to wife. Ranald had a better opinion of John, but had a
very bad opinion of Ewen, John's brother, yet John would
insist upon sitting between them when he was denied by
Ranald. He desired to exchange long skians or knives
with either of them, which they both refused, Donald
saying, they were men of no fortune, and were not fit
companions for wealthy people. When John saw that he
could not prevail with them he bad them farewell. So[70]
- See Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections, Scot. Hist. Soc.,vol. xxxiii. p. 128.
next day leaving Vallay on the Strand Ewan MacLean
John's brother meets them and makes up to Ranald asking
him what they intended to do, to know if possible what
affection they had for their uncle Archibald. Ranald
answering him very frankly said that he would not be his
secretary. Donald Gruamach coming near them desired
Ranald not to speak a word to Ewan. They went to
Oransay that night. John MacLean was preparing an
entertainment for them at Barreray and not being as well
provided as he would wish Archibald said that he would
not go to Barreray until John was better provided but
would go to the hills to hunt the deer. John JMacLean
asked him whom would he have in his company. Archibald
said he would have both his nephews and some of the
rest of the company. John said if he would be advised by
him he ought to shun the company of his nephews. Archibald
said there was no hazard. They went to a hill called
Lee upon the east side of the country and about six miles
from the habited side thereof. Ranald was sent to drive
the deer to the strait, and Archibald had a leash of hounds
in his hands near the entry of it. Donald Gruamach had
another leash in his hand at some distance from him and
was ordered by Archibald not to let loose his dogs till his
own went off first. When Donald saw that his uncle had
let loose his dogs, he himself did the same to his, one of
which getting hold of a deer, angered Archibald very much,
when he observed that it was Donald's dog that caught
him, and in a passion called Donald a jackanapes, that he
was both bold and impertinent but that he would soon
chastise his pride and insolence. Donald said that he had
done nothing but what he himself commended him formerly
and thus did forbear until he saw Ranald coming near
Archibald leaping over a small ditch. Donald gave him a
small thrust in the shoulder blade with his dagger which
pierced not very deep, having stnick on the bone. Archibald
turning about wrested the dagger out of Donald's
hand, he being a very strong and active man, but the dagger
stuck fast in the bone. Archibald desired Ranald to give
him his sword for the villain had stabbed him with his[71]
dagger. Ranald said he should have it as he deserved, and with that gave him two or three strokes upon the head which laid him dead upon the ground. They sent Finlay M'Queen home to Oransay desiring him to despatch and turn Archibald's relict out of her room and place Donald's lady in her place. Archibald's body was carried home and hurried. Donald Gruamach succeeded his father Donald Gallich in the lands of Trotterness Sleat North Uist, Canna, Lochbroom and Kishorn. He married the daughter of Alexander, son of Allan of Moidart who was formerly married to John Brayach who was killed in Mull. Donald gave a third of the lands of his estate to his cousingerman Ranald who left but one only son legitimately begotten called Angus. Donald Gruamach1 was a very lively man and got by his lawful wife Donald Gorm his eldest son. He afterwards had Gilespig Clerich by a daughter of Torkill MacLeod his married wife being then alive for she slipt away from her own child without the least offence being given her.
- He was killed while attacking Eilan-Donan Castle in the year 1539-40; vide post, pp. 102, 215. It is often said that he died in 1537, and that it was his son Donald Gorm who was killed in Kintail. Mr. Gregory accepted that view in his History, p. 145. But in the Collections (vol. vii.) he gives reasons for what is now said. Donald Gorm, who succeeded, was implicated in a rising in 1544, and seems to have fled with the Earl of Lennox to England and died there. For the further descent of this family see the statement of his pedigree in 1596 by a subsequent Donald Gorm ; vide post, p. 101.
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- 1914 - The History of the Macdonalds—of which both the beginning and the end are obviously wanting—was published in Highland Papers. It is attributed to Hugh Macdonald, a Skye seannachie, and is said to have been written in the reign of Charles II. This printing includes sections not included in the 'fragment' published by the Iona Club in 1847.[2]
<ref name="Highland Papers vol. 1 p. 2" />
Discussion
This is the longer version of the "Fragment of a Manuscript History of the Macdonalds" published by the Iona Club in 1847.
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.[1]
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{{Highland papers full|volume=1}}
Sources
- ↑ "Manuscript copy of the English 'History of the Macdonalds', ascribed by Donald Gregory to a Hugh Macdonald". Archives and Manuscript Catalogue. 1 Mar 2024. Retrieved 1 Mar 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 MacPhail 1914, p. 2
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 3.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 5.
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- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 54.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 55.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 56.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 57.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 58.
- ↑ Iona Club 1847, p. 324.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 59.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 60.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 61.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 62.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 63.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 64.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 65.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 66.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 67.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 68.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 69.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 70.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 71.
- ↑ MacPhail 1914, p. 72.
- MacPhail, J. R. N., ed. (1914). Highland Papers. 1. Edinburgh: Scottish History Society. OCLC 1045978143. OL 23303390M.
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