Book 3 — APPENDIX.

397

I. TRANSLATION of a part of the Book of Clanranald, containing the Legendary History of the Lords of the Isles, as given by the Macvurichs, hereditary Sennachies of the Clan.

The children of Eochaidh Duibhlein, son of Cairbre Lithfeachar, son of Cormac, were three sons, who were called the three Collas,—Colla Uais, Colla Da crioch, and Colla Meann; their baptismal names were Caireall, Aodh, and Muireadhach, as says the poet—

Caireall, the first name of Colla Uais;

Aodh, of Colla Meann of great vigour;

Muireadhach, of Colla Da chrioch;

They were imposed on them after rebelling.

Colla Uais, son of Eochaidh Duibhlein, assumed the sovereignty of Erinn in the year of the age of Christ 322; and he was four years in the sovereignty of Erinn when Muireadhach Tireach opposed him with a powerful army, and gave battle to the three Collas, and expelled them to Alban, where they obtained extensive lands, for Oileach, daughter of the king of Alban, was their mother. In the time when Cormac Finn was in the sovereignty over Alban, 362 (326), they spent some time in Alban, until a war broke out between Muireadhach Tireach, king of Erinn and the Ulltaibh, viz., the Clanna Rughruidhe; and he invited the sons of his father’s brother, that is, the three Collas, to Erinn to assist him against the Clanna Rughruidhe and the adjoining districts. They responded to the king of Erinn, and waged a fierce war against the Clanna Rughruidhe; and Feargus Foga, king of Uladh, and his three sons, fell by them; and they took possession of the province of Uladh, and of the Oilltrian of the province of Connacht, and many other possessions which 398were inherited by their race in succession from the kings of Erinn.

As to Colla Uais, after he had terminated that war he returned back to Alban, and left all those possessions to his brothers; and having spent fifteen years there he went on a free visit to Erinn, and died at Teamhair of the kings, Anno Domini 335.

Colla Uais had four good sons, namely, Eochuidh and Fiachra Tort, and Fearadhach and Maine. All the Clann Domhnuill in Alban and in Erinn are of the race of Eochuidh. The Turtruighe and Fir Luirg are of the race of Fiachraidh Tort. The Fir Li and Fir Lacha are of the race of Fearadhach. The race of Main is not known to us.

A goodly race, descended from Colla Da chrioch, flourished in Erinn, namely Maguire, chief over the country of Fermanagh; Mac Mahon, chief over the country of Monaghan; O’Hanlon, and O’Kelly, and many others.

I have seen nothing written of the race of Colla Meann, except such holy men of them as went into the Church. Many of the holy people of Alban and Erinn were descended from the three Collas.

Here is the direct line of descent from Colla Uais. Eochaidh was begotten of Colla Uais; Carran was begotten of Eochaidh; Earc was begotten of Carran; Maine was begotten of Earc; Fearghus was begotten of Maine; Gothfruigh was begotten of Fearghus; Niallghus was begotten of Gothfruigh. [The genealogy of Macdomhnuill of Clann cheallaigh: Flannagan, son of Tadhg, son of Fearmara, son of Tadhg, son of Lochlann, son of Art, son of Fianacht, son of Domhnall, from whom are the Clann Domhnaill of Clann Ceallaidh, son of Colgan, son of Ceallach, son of Tuathal, son of Maolduin, son of Tuadan, son of Tuathal, son of Daimhinn, son of Cairbre, son of Dom Airgid, son of Niallghus.] Suibhne was begotten of Niallghus; Mearghach was begotten of Suibhne; Solomh was begotten of Mearghach; Giolla OghamhnanOghamhnan was begotten of Solomh. It is from this Giolla Oghamhnan descended the Clann Domhnaill of Ros Laogh, from a brother of Giolla Bride, son of Giolla Oghamhnan; and it was Giolla Oghamhnan that erected Mainistir-na-Sgrine, in Tir Iarach, in the county of Sligo, in the province of 399Connacht, and his name is there. (And be it known to you that the constant title borne by the clann of this tribe, from Ragnall, son of Somairli, up to Colla Uais, was O’Colla and Toisech of Eargaoidheal.) Giolla Bride, son of Gille Oghamhnan, son of, and from him, the Toisechs of Earargaoidheal (Argyll), having been among his kindred in Erinn, that is, from the Clann Colla, which are the Manchuidh and Mathdamnaidh, viz., the tribes of Macguire and Macmahon, it happened that this tribe held a meeting and conference in Fermanagh, on the estate of Macguire, and among the matters to be transacted was that Giollabride should get some estate of his own country, since he had been in banishment from his inheritance, by the power of the Lochlannach and Fionngallach (Norwegians). When Giollabride saw a large host of young robust people in the assembly, and that they were favourable to himself, the favour he asked of his friends was, that so many persons as the adjacent fort in the place could hold should be allowed to go to Alban with him, in the hope that he might obtain possession of his own inheritance and portion of it.

Giolla Bride proceeded with that party to Alban, where they landed. They made frequent onsets and attacks on their enemies during this time of trouble, for their enemies were powerful and numerous at that time. All the islands from Manann (Mann) to Arca (Orkneys), and all the Oirir (border land) from Dun Breatan (Dumbarton) to Cata (Caithness) in the north, were in the possession of the Lochlannach; and such of the Gaedhal of those lands as remained were protecting themselves in the woods and mountains; and at the end of that time Giolla Bride had a good son, who had come to maturity and renown.

It happened that the small party who were followers of Giolla Bride and Somairli (Somerled) were in the mountains and woods of Ardgobbar (Ardgour) and of the Morbhairne (Morvern), and they were surprised there by a large force of Lochlannach and Fionnghallach. All the soldiers and plundering parties which Somerled had, gathered round him, and he arranged them front and rear. Somerled put them in battle order, and made a great display of them to his enemies. He marched them three times before them in one company, so that they supposed there were three companies there. After that he 400attacked them, and they were defeated by Somerled and his party, and he did not halt in the pursuit till he drove them northward across the river Sheil, and a part escaped with their king to the Isles; and he did not cease from that work till he cleared the western side of Alban of the Lochlannach, except the Islands of the Fionnlochlann (Norwegians), called Innsigall; and he gained victory over his enemies in every field of battle. He spent part of his time in war and part in peace, until he marched with an army to the vicinity of Glaschu (Glasgow), when he was slain by his page, who took his head to the king, in the year of our Lord 1180 (1164). His own people assert that it was not to make war against the king that he went on that expedition, but to obtain peace, for he did more in subduing the king’s enemies than any war he waged against him.

Somerled had a good family, viz., Dubhghal and Raghnall, and the Gall mac Sgillin, this man being so named from whom are descended the Clann Gall in the Glens. Bethog, daughter of Somerled, was a religious woman and a Black Nun. It is she that erected Teampall Chairinis, or the Church of Cairinis, in Uibhist (Uist). Dubhgal, son of Somerled, took the chiefship of Eargaoidheal and Ladharna (Argyll and Lorn). Raghnall and his race went to Innsigall and Ceanntire, where his posterity succeeded him.

Ragnall, king of Innsigall, and Oirirgaoidheal (the Isles and Argyll), was the most distinguished of the Gall or Gaoidheal for prosperity, sway of generosity, and feats of arms. Three monasteries were erected by him, viz., a monastery of Black Monks (Benedictines) in I (Iona), in honour of God and Columcille; a monastery of Black Nuns in the same place, and a monastery of Grey Friars at Saghadul (Saddle in Kintyre), and it is he also who founded the monastic order of Molaise.

Be it known to you that Ragnall with his force was the greatest power which King Alexander had against the King of Lochlann at the time he took the Islands from the Lochlannach, and after having received a cross from Jerusalem, partaken of the Body of Christ, and received unction, he died, and was buried at Reilic Oghran in I (Iona) in the year of our Lord 1207. And it was some time after this that Ragnall, son of Gofraidh, king of the Fionngall (Norwegians), was treacherously 401killed by Amhlamh, son of Gofraidh, in the year of our Lord 1229. From this forth the rightful inheritance of Innsigall came to Ragnall, and his race after him, for the daughter of Amhlamh Dearg, son of Gofraidh, was the mother of Ragnall, son of Somerled. This daughter of Amhlamh was the lawful heir of her father and of her two brothers, viz. Ragnall and Amhlamh Dubh.

Messages came from Teamhair (Tara in Ireland) that Domhnall, son of Ragnall, should take the government of Innsigall and of the greater part of the Gaoidheal. He had good children, viz. Aonghus Mor, the heir, and Alasdair, from whom descended the Clann Domhnaill Renna, Mac William of the province of Connaught, and the Clann t-Sidhigh (Sheehy) of Munster, who are sprung from Siothach an Dornan, son of Eachuin, son of Alasdair.

Aonghus Mor, son of Domhnall, son of Ragnall, took the place of his father, and it was in his time that the war of the Baliols and the Bruces broke out. The tribe of Dubhgal, son of Somerled, took the side of the Baliols, and the race of Ragnal, son of Somerled, the side of Robert Bruce, and all the garrisons from Inbhear Feothfar (Dingwall) in the Ross to the Mull of Kintyre were in the possession of MacDubhgal during that time, while the tribe of Ragnall were under the yoke of their enemies.

Aonghus Mor had good children, viz. Aonghus Og, the heir, and Eoin, from whom sprang the Clann Eoin of Ardnamurchan, and Alasdair, from whom descended the Clann Alasdair; and Aonghus na Conluighe, from whom are sprung the Clann Donchaidh and Robertsons; and much may be written about this Aonghus Mor which is not here. He died in Ile (Isla) in the year of our Lord 1234 (1294).

Aonghus Og, son of Aonghus Mor, son of Domhnall, son of Ragnall, son of Somerled, the noble and renowned high chief of Innsigall. He married the daughter of Cuinnbhuighe O’Cathan. She was the mother of Eoin, son of Aonghus, and it is with her came the unusual retinue from Erinn, viz. four-and-twenty sons of clan families, from whom sprang four-and-twenty families in Alban. Aonghus had another son, viz. Eoin Og an Fhraoich, from whom descended the Clann Eoin of Glencomhan (Glencoe), who are called the Clann Domhnall an Fhraoich (of 402the heather). This Aonghus Og died in Ile (Isla), and his body was interred in I (Iona) in the year of our Lord 1306 (1326).

Eoin, son of Aonghus Og, succeeded his father in the chief government of Innsigall. He had good children, viz. three sons by Anna, daughter of Ruadhri, son of Ailin, high chief of Lagarna (Lorn), and one daughter Mairi, and that Mairi was the wedded wife of Eachduinn MacGiolla Eoin (Hector MacLean), Lord of Dubhard (Duart), and Lochlan was his brother, and she was interred with the Lord of Coll in I (Iona), in the church of the Black Nuns.

The eldest sons of Eoin were Ragnall, Gothfruigh and Aonghus; however he did not marry the mother of these men from the altar, but came to the resolution of marrying her at the time of her death, for she was a sufficient wife for him; but his advisers opposed him regarding it, for it appeared to them that he could get a suitable match if an heir was made from his first progeny, although he was young and vigorous. Therefore he made a provision for his son Ragnall, and that was all the land which extended from Cillchuimin in Obuirthairbh (Abertarff) to the river Sheil, and from the river Sheil to the Belleith in the north, Eig and Rum, and the two Uibhists (North and South Uist). And after that he proceeded to the mouth of the river of Glascu, and had threescore long-ships with him, and he married Margaret, the daughter of Robert Stuart, whom we call King of Alban, but the real person was Robert, Earl of Fife, that is the brother-german of old Robert Fearingiora, that is the king, and he was governor of Alban. And she bore to Eoin three good sons, viz. Domhnall of Ile, the heir, and Eoin Mor the Tanist, and Alasdair Carrach, the third son. Eoin had another son, viz. Marcos, from whom descended the Clann Domhnall of Cnoic-an-chluith in Tir Eoghain (Tirone in Ireland). This Eoin enjoyed a long life. It is he that made donations to Icolumcille in his own time, and it is he also that covered the chapel of Elan Eorsag and the chapel of Elan Finlagan, and the chapel of Elan Suibhne (island in Loch Sween), with all their appropriate instruments for order and mass and the service of God, for the better upholding of the monks and priests this lord kept in his company; and it is he that erected the monastery of the Holy Cross a long time before his death; and he died in his own castle of Ardtorinis, while 403monks and priests were over his body, he having received the body of Christ and having been anointed, his fair body was brought to Icolumcille, and the abbot and the monks and vicars came to meet him, as it was the custom to meet the body of the king of Fionnghall, and his service and waking were honourably performed during eight days and eight nights, and he was laid in the same grave with his father in Teampal Oghrain in the year of our Lord 1380.

Ragnall, the son of Eoin, was High Steward over Innsigall at the time of his father’s death, being in advanced age and ruling over them. On the death of his father he called a meeting of the nobles of Innsigall and of his brethren at one place, and he gave the sceptre to his brother at Cill Donan in Egg, and he was nominated MacDonald and Domhnall of Ile (Isla) contrary to the opinion of the men of Innsigall. A man of augmenting churches and monasteries was this Ragnall, son of Eoin, son of Aonghus Og, from whom the name of Clann Raghnall has been applied to his race. He bestowed a Tirunga (unciata) of land in Uibhisd (Uist) on the monastery of I (Iona) for ever, in honour of God and of Columcille. He was governor of the whole of the Northern Oirir (Coastland) and of the Isles, until he died in the year of the age of Christ 1386, in his own manor of Caislen Tirim, having left a family of five sons.

We shall now treat of Domhnall a hile (Donald of Isla), son of Eoin, son of Aonghus Oig, the brother of Ragnall, how he took the lordship with the consent of his brethren and the nobles of Innsigall, all other persons being obedient to him, and he married Mairi, daughter of the Earl of Ros, and it is through her that the earldom of Ros came to the Clan Domhnall. He was styled Earl of Ros and MacDomhnall, and High Chief of Innsigall. There are many exploits and deeds written of him in other places. He fought the battle of Gairfech (Garrioch or Harlaw) against Duke Murdoch in defence of his own right and of the earldom of Ros, and on the return of King James the First from the captivity of the King of Sagsan (England), Domhnall of Ile obtained the king’s goodwill and confirmation of Ros and the rest of his inheritance, and Duke Murdoch and his two sons were beheaded.

He (Domhnuill) was an entertainer of clerics and priests and 404monks in his companionship, and he gave lands in Mull and in Isla to the monastery of I, and every immunity which the monastery of I had from his ancestors before him; and he made a covering of gold and silver for the relic of the hand of Coluimcille, and he himself took the brotherhood of the order, having left a lawful and suitable heir in the government of Innsigall and of Ros, viz. Alasdair son of Domhnaill. He afterwards died in Isla, and his full noble body was interred on the south side of Tempall Oghran.

Alasdair, his son, succeeded his father in the earldom of Ros and lordship of Innsigall. He married Margaret Livingston, daughter of the Earl of Lithcu; she was mother of Eoin, who was called Eoin of Ile or Isla, son of Alasdair of Ile, son of Domhnall of Ile.

Aonghus Og, son of Eoin, who was called the heir of Eoin, married the daughter of Mac Cailin (Earl of Argyll), and a disagreement arose between him and his father about the division of his territory and land, in consequence of which a war broke out between the chiefs of Innsigall and the tribe of MacDomhnaill, the tribe having joined Aonghus, and the chiefs having joined Eoin. And the affair having been thus carried on, Eoin went to Mac Cailin and gave him all that lay between Abhuinn Fhada (the river Add) and Altna Sionnach at Braigh Chinntire (that is, the lands of Knapdale), for going with him before the king to complain of his son. Shortly afterwards this Aonghus Og had a large entertainment with the men of the north side at Inbhearnis, when he was murdered by Mac ICairbre, his own harper, who cut his throat with a long knife.

His father lived a year after him, and all the territories submitted to him, but, however, he restored many of them to the king.

The daughter of Mac Cailin, the wife of Aonghus, was pregnant at the time he was killed; and she was kept in custody until she was confined, and she bore a son, and Domhnall was given as a name to him, and he was kept in custody until he arrived at the age of thirty years, when the men of Gleann Comhan (Glencoe) brought him out by a Fenian exploit. On his coming out of custody he came to Innsigall, and the nobles of Innsigall rallied round him.

During the time that Domhnall Dubh had been in custody there was a great struggle among the Gaoidheal for power, so 405that Mac Ceaain of Ardnamurchan almost destroyed the race of Eoin Mor, son of Eoin of Ile and of Ceanntire. Eoin Cathanach, son of Eoin, son of Domnall Balloch, son of Eoin Mor, son of Eoin, son of Aongus Og, Lord of the race of Eoin Mor, and Eoin Mor, son of Eoin Cathanach, and Eoin Og, son of Eoin Cathanach, and Domhnall Balloch, son of Eoin Cathanach, were treacherously taken prisoners by MacCeain on the island of Fionnlagan in Ile; and he conveyed them to Duneidin, and a gallows was erected for them at that place which is called Baramuir (Boroughmuir), and they were executed, and their bodies buried in the church of Saint Francis, which is called Teampal Nua (New church) at this time. There were none left of the children of Eoin Cathanach but Alasdair, son of Eoin Cathanach, and Aongus Ileach, who were hiding in the Glens in Erinn. And it is related of MacCeaain that he expended much wealth of gold and silver in making axes for the purpose of cutting down the woods of the Glens, in the hope he might be able to banish Alasdair, son of Eoin Cathanach, out of the Glens and out of the world. It happened at length that MacCeaain and Alasdair made an agreement and a marriage-contract with each other. Alasdair married his daughter, and she bore a good family to him.

In a similar manner a misfortune came over the Clann Domhnall of the north side, for after the death of Eoin of Ile, Earl of Ros, and the killing of Aongus, Alasdair, son of Giollaeaspuig, son of Alasdair of Ile, took possession of the earldom of Ros and of the northern Oirir entirely, and married the daughter of Morbhair Moireagh (Earl of Moray). However, some of the men of the northern side came, when the Clann Choinnidh (Mackenzies) and others rose up in opposition to Alasdair, and fought the battle of Blar, which they call Blar na Pairce.

Alasdair had no men left but such as he had of the men of Ros. Alasdair came to the coast after that to seek for a force in Innsigall, and he embarked in a long-ship to the southern Oirir to see if he could find a few remaining of the race of Eoin Mor. Mac Ceaain observed him, and followed him on his track to Oransay of Colonsay, and entered the house upon him, where Alasdair, son of Gilleaspuig, was killed by Mac Ceaain and by Alasdair, son of Eoin Cathanach.

This matter remained so for a space of time, until Domhnall 406Gallda, son of Alasdair, son of Gilleaspuig, came of age; and he came from the Galltachd (the Lowlands) by the direction of Morbhar Moireagh (the Earl of Moray), until he came to Innsigall; and he brought Macleod of Leoghas with him, and a good number of the nobles of Innsigall. They went out on Rudha-Ardnamurchan (the Point of Ardnamurchan), and there they met Alasdair, son of Eoin Cathanach, and he and Domhnall, son of Alasdair, made a compact and agreement with each other; and they together attacked Mac Ceaain at a place called Creagan Airgid, and he and his three sons and many of his people were slain there.

Domhnall Gallda was nominated Mac Domhnall of this side of Ruga Ardnamurchan (the Point of Ardnamurchan), and the men of Innsigall submitted to him; but he did not live after that but seven or eight weeks. He died at Cearnaborg in Mull, leaving no family or heir; but three sisters he had, viz. the three daughters of Alasdair, son of Gilleaspuig. A settlement was made on those daughters in the northern Oirir, but they gave up Ros. Alasdair, son of Gilleaspuig, had a natural son, of whose descendants there is some account, viz. Eoin Cam, son of Alasdair, from whom are sprung the men of Achuidh na Cothaichean in the Braighe, and Domhnall Gorm, son of Raghnall, son of Alasdair Dubh, son of Eoin Cam.

With regard to Domhnall Dubh, son of Aongus, son of Eoin of Ile, son of Alasdair of Ile, son of Domhnall of Ile, son of Eoin of Ile, son of Aongus Og, viz. the lineal lawful heir of Innsigall and of Ros, on his release from confinement he came to Innsigall, and the men of Innsigall gathered about him; and he and the Earl of Leamnachd (Lennox) made an agreement to raise a large army for the purpose of his getting into possession of his own property; and a ship came to them from England to Caol Muile (Sound of Mull), with money to help them in the war. The money was given to MacGilleoin of Dubhard (MacLean of Duart) to divide among the leaders of the army; they did not get as much as they desired, and therefore the army broke up. When the Earl of Leamhnachd heard that he dispersed his own army, and made an agreement with the king. Macdomhnaill then proceeded to Erinn to request a force to carry on the war, and on his way to Baile Atha Cliath (Dublin) he died at Droichead-Ath 407(Drogheda) of a fever of five nights, without leaving a son or daughter as his offspring.

O’Henna made this on Eoin of Ile:—

The sovereignty of the Gael to the Clann Colla,

It is right to proclaim it;

They were again in the same battalions,

The heroes of Fodla (a name of Ireland).

The sovereignty of Erinn and of Alban

Of the sunny lands

Was possessed by the sanguinary sharp-bladed tribes,

The fighting champions.

The government of the entire tribes was obtained

By Eoin of Ile.

Alasdair, the lord of hospitality, obtained

The profit of kings.

Domhnall, Eoin, and two Aonghus’,

Who were hospitable and joyful,

Four that gained tribute from kings,

And to whom the Gael submitted.

Domhnall and Raghnall to kings

Never did give;

Somairle, who was not deceived by flattery,

The chief of heroes.

Four from Somairle of the blue eyes

Up to Suibhne;

Four whose dignity was not obscure,

It is right to remember them.

Six from Suibhne before mentioned

To king Colla;

Wine they had on the banks of the Banna

In angular cups.

Were I to enumerate all those connected with him

Of the nobles of the Gael,

I might give every generation up to Adam,

Such as no other man has attained.

This is a sketch of the genealogies of the Gael,

As I have promised;

This tribe with whom no comparison should be made,

And to whom sovereignty was due.

Age of our Lord 1473, the year that Giollaespuig, son of Alasdair of Ile, died, and his body was interred at Rosmhaircni, viz. the brother of Eoin of Ile, and the father of Alasdair, son of Giollaespuig, was killed by Mac Ceaain in Orbhansaigh Colbhansaigh (Oransay of Colonsay); and the daughter of Mac Duibhsithe of Lochaber was the mother of this Giollaespuig, son of Alasdair of Ile.

408Age of the Lord 1437. In this year the King of Alban, viz. King James the First, was treacherously killed in the town of Pheart (Perth) by his father’s brother, viz. Morbhair Athfall (Earl of Athole).

In the same year died Aonghus, bishop of Innsigall, son of Domhnall of Ile, son of Eoin, son of Aonghus Og. His noble fair body was buried, with his crozier and his episcopal habit, in the transept on the south side of the great choir, which he selected for himself while alive. Domhnall of Ile had another son, a monk, and it was in his time that Baile-an-Mhanuidh in Uibhisd (Uist) was given to the church, anno Domini 1440.

In this year died Mairi Leisli Banmorbhair (Countess) of Ros, and Lady of Innsigall, viz. the wife of Domhnall of Ile.

I have given you an account of everything you require to know of the descendants of the Clanns of the Collas and Clann Domhnall to the death of Domhnall Dubh at Drochead Atha, viz. the direct line who possessed Innsigall, Ros, and the Garbhchriochan (rough bounds) of Alban. This Domhnall was the son of Aonghus (that was killed at Inbhernis by his own harper Mac IChairbre), son of Eoin of Ile, son of Alasdair, son of Domhnall of Ile, son of Eoin of Ile, son of Aonghus Og, and I know not which of his kindred or friends is his lawful heir. Except these five sons of Eoin, son of Aonghus Og, whom I set down to you, viz. Raghnall and Gothfraigh, the two sons of the daughter of Mac Dubhgaill of Lagairn (Lorn), and Domhnall, and Eoin Mor, and Alasdair Carrach, the three sons of Mairgred Sdiuord, daughter of the Earl of Fife, and governor of the King of Alban.

The race of Raghnall, Lord of Clann Raghnaill, viz. the House of Oilen Tirim, and the Lord of Gleann Garadh (Glengarry).

Gothfruith left no offspring, except a few poor people who are in North Uibhisd.

The offspring of Domhnall of Ile, the eldest son of Mairgred Stiubhord, was Alasdair of Ile, Earl of Ros and Morbhair of the Islands. This Alasdair married Mairgred Livisdon, daughter of the Earl of Lithcu, to whom she bore Eoin the Earl. Alasdair had other children, viz. Huisdinn, by a daughter of Giolla Phadraig Riaigh, son of Ruaighri, son of the Green Abbot, son of the Earl of Ros, whose surname was of the Rosses. He had for patrimony the third part of Lewis, and other lands upon the 409mainland. It is he that was killed in the parts of Gallolach (Garrioch) when along with Mac Domhnall, viz. Domhnall of Ile. For there were four that went out of the army before any part of the main force went with them, viz. Tormord Macleoid and Torcuill his brother, Lochluinn mac Gillemhaoil and Giolla Padraig mac Ruaighri. Giolla Padraig mac Ruaighri and Lochluinn mac Giollamhaoil were killed, but Tormoid and Torcuill escaped safe from the pursuit.

It was this Huisdinn, son of Alasdair, that plundered Orcain (Orkney), and William Macleoid of Heradh (Harris), and the youth of Innsigall were along with him in that expedition. Huisdinn caused Domhnall Gallach, son of Huisdinn, to marry the daughter of Cruner Gall (the Coroner of Caithness), and she was of the Gunns. Huisdinn had other good children, viz. Domhnall Herach, son of Huisdinn, and the daughter of Macleoid of Heradh was his mother; and Eoin, son of Huisdinn, and the daughter of Mac Cean of Ardnamurchan was his mother; but that Eoin left no issue, and Giollaespuig, son of Huisdinn, possessed the lordship, and other sons who are not mentioned here. Domhnall Gruamach, son of Domhnall Gallach, and Domhnall Gorm, son of Domhnall Gruamach, and Catriana, daughter of Alasdair, son of Ailin, Lord of Clann Raghnaill, was his mother, whose descendants still possess the lordship.

Giollaespuig, son of Alasdair of Ile, whose mother was daughter of Mac Duibhsithe of Lochabar, and Alasdair, son of Giollaespuig, who obtained possession of the earldom of Ros, and Domhnall, his son, died without issue.

Eoin Mor, son of Eoin, son of Aonghus Og, the Tanist to Mac Domhnall, married Mairi Bised, and it was with her the seven Tuaths of the Glens came into the possession of the Clann Domhnall.

Alasdair Carrach, the third son, married the daughter of Morbbair Leamhna (the Earl of Lennox), but she bore no children to him. Aonghus, son of Alasdair, whose mother was a daughter of Mac Dubhshibhe, but she was not married to him. Alasdair, son of Aonghus, from whom are descended the race of Alasdair, son of Aonghus, in the Braes of Lochabar.

There you have the descendants of these four sons of Eoin, son of Aonghus Og.

410

II. BAILE SUTHAIN SITH EAMHNA.

An Irish poem relating to the Kingdom of the Isles, copied from a fragment (paper) of an Irish MS. written circa A.D. 1600, in the possession of W. M. Hennessy, Esq., collated with a copy contained in the Book of Fermoy (R. I. Academy), transcribed about A.D. 1457.

II.

TRANSLATION

BY W. M. Hennessy, Esq.

I.

Baile suthain sioth Eamhna,

Cruthaidh an chrioch a ttarla,

Raith chaomh os cionn gach diongna

’Nab iomdha craobh fhionn abhla.

I.

A perpetual place is Sith-Eamhna,

Beauteous the territory in which it is found

A fair Rath above every fort,

In which fair apple-trees are plenty.

II.

Eamhoin abhlach as uire,

Teamhoir na tteaghlach mbuaidhe,

Tearc dun na cnoc as caoimhe,

Na mbrot naoidhe (naeighi) n-ur n-uaine.

II.

Eamhain of the apples, the freshest,

The Tara of the victorious households,

Few the duns and hills more fair,

In their young, fresh, green garments.

III.

Eamhuin raith aoibhin ionnfhuar (fhinnfhuar),

Raith as faoilidh fa fhionndan,

Geabhuidh rod go ro seandun,

Bo bheannur og ar ioman.

III.

Emhain, the delightful, cool Rath,

The Rath to which fair art is welcome;

The road to the old fort will

A young-horned cow a-driving take.

IV.

Iomhda an Eamhoin fhinn fhear uir

D’fhearaibh ar a sil saor shuil,

Marcach eich duinn go dioghair

Tre dhreich siodhain ccuir (cuir) ccraobhuir (craebair).

IV.

In bright Emhain of the fresh grass,

Many the men on whom a noble eye looks;

Many the vehement rider of a brown steed

Approaching in peace through the branchy woods.

412V.

Iomhda an (ind) Eamhoin (Emain) na n-innbhear (indmher),

Ris nar dhealaigh a doinnfleadh,

Guirt ar na nar a bhfagmar (an fhamur),

Dharbhar ghlan chuirp an choimdeadh (choimghedh).

V.

Many in Emhain of the estuaries

(From which their deep floods have not departed)

The fields tilled in harvest

With clear corn of the Lord’s body.

VI.

Suairc bfhairche fhir an dumha (fir in duma),

Atibh na tairthe meala,

Dul go sidh (cu sid) bhlaith an (in) bhrogha.

Dola go (cu) raith mhin meadha.

VI.

Joyous the estate of the man of the dumha

Which has drunk the showers of honey;

To go to the sweet sidh of the Brug

Is to go to the smooth Bath of mead.

VII.

Eamhain (Em̄) abhlach na n-iobhar

Sleamhain barrdhath a bileadh,

Baile nua san (fan) dubh droighean,

Nar hoilead lugh ua an fhilead.

VII.

The appley Emhain of the yews,

Smooth, top-coloured are its trees;

A new place under the black thorn,

In which was nursed Lugh, descendant of the poet.^[512]

VIII.

Eamhain (Em̄) na nabhall ccumhra (cumra),

Teamhair (Temair) Mhanann gan (cin) mheabhla,

As iad (assiat) cuaine saor (saer) Sadhbha,

Abhla craobh (craebh) n-uaine n-Eamhna.

VIII.

Emhain of the juicy apples,

The Tara of Manann, without disgrace;

The noble progeny of Sabia

Are the apples of the green branch of Emhain.

IX.

Tusa (tussa) mac Sadhbha saoire,

As (is) tu an slat (intshlat) abhla as (ar) aille,

Ca dia do bhru na boinne

Do roine ria thu a taidhe.

IX.

Thou, the son of noble Sabia,

Thou the most beauteous apple rod;

What God from Bru of the Boyne

Created thee with her in secret?

X.

A Raghnuill, a ri an (in) diongna,

Ra dhruim (druim) dha (da) thi ar ti tearla (herrla)

Do gheabhae (ghebha) a meic saoir Sadhbha,

Labhra on leic a ttaoibh (ttaeibh) Theamhra.

X.

O Raghnall, king of the fortress,^[513]

If thou comest with the object of seeking it,

Thou wilt obtain, O son of noble Sabia,

A sound from the flag by the side of Tara.^[514]

414XI.

Da madh leat sloigh fhear (bfher) bhfuinigh (fhuinidh).

O bhoinn go mbean (cu mben) re tibhir.

Mo dheit ar mhil ’sar mheadair (megair)

Eamhain mheic Lir mheic Mhidhr.

XI.

If thine were the hosts of the men of the setting (the west),

From Boyne till it touches the Tiber,

Greater to thee for joy and pleasure,

Were the Emhain of the son of Lir, son of Midir.^[515]

XII.

A mheic Gofraidh chaoimh (chaeimh) cruthaig,

Nar lo traigh (traid) re taoibh (taeibh) tacair (tacoir),

Ni miadh (miad) leath (lat) e (he) ot athair,

Macathach (mac ath) retre ad rathaigh (rathoigh).

XII.

O son of the fair, shapely Goffraidh,

That withdrawest not a foot in battle;

It beseems not, on thy father’s account,

That any man in thy time should be thy surety.

XIII.

Nior (nir) uaisle (uaisli) inaoi (inai) ri Romhan,

As (is) i do ghnaoi (ghnai) an (in) ghnaoi (ghnai) lainfhial,

Nor uaisle rath riogh (righ) Suiriam,

Na sgath chuilfhiar griobh (gribh) Ghailian.

XIV.

Not nobler was the king of the Romans than thou,

Thy face is the generous face;

Not higher the fortune of the king of Syria,

Than that of the long-tressed griffin of Gailian.^[516]

XIV.

Anu ni fhuighbhe (fuidbhi) Eamhain (Emain),

Suirghe mar thu, as tu an cobhair (in chabhair),

Tulchan mar e (he) na aghaidh,

Faghaigh e (he) ar drumchlar domhain.

XIV.

To-day, Emhain will not obtain

A lover like thee—thou art the help;

A hillock like it in comparison,

Find ye it on the surface of the earth.

XV.

Doirse t’ fhearainn (ferainn) as iomdha (imdha),

Soillse inaid (inait) sreabhainn ghorma,

As (is) daoibh (dib) a chraobh (craebh) chuain Eamhna (Emna)

Uaim fhearna, uaim chaomh cnodhbha (chnoghdha).

XV.

Many are the doors of thy country,

Brighter than the blue rills;

Of them, O branch of the stock of Emhain,

Are the cave of Ferna, the fair cave of Knowth.

XVI.

Do raghainnse gan ro (a) luing

Is ann (in) Manainn (Manaind) se (si) mholaim

Go mbeinn (cu mbeind) thuaidh re taobh thfearainn,

Da leanainn uaim chaoimh chorainn.

XVI.

I would go, without a stately ship,

Into this Manainn which I extol;

That I might be north near thy land,

If I followed the noble cave of Corann.

416XVII.

Roinnfe (roindfi) ar dho Mhanuinn mhaigh (do Manaind maid) reidh,

Ar raluing is ar ionnshloigh,

Sleibhte ar fhud do ghort n-glainreidh

Tug daighmheinn ort a fionn bhoinn (find bhoind).

XVII.

The smooth-plained Manann, thou wilt divide in two,

For fleets and also for large armies;

The hills along thy clear level fields,

That have given thee beauty, O fair Boyne.

XVIII.

Coisgfe ar (fher) agus airgfe,

Loisgfe teagh agus tolgbfae (tolcfaidh),

Nar ladh caor ar dho ceardchae,

Seargfae ar a lar caol colpae.

XVIII.

Thou wilt restrain menslaughter, and wilt plunder,

Thou wilt burn houses and wilt demolish;

That no bolt may fall on thy forge,

The narrow Colpa thou wilt dry up.

XIX.

Airgfe Ath cliath an chomhlainn,

Is do sgiath ar sgath do ghlanbhuinn,

Ait toighe ar ttocht (thocht) go Duibhlinn,

Cuinghim ort roimhe a Raghnuill.

XIX.

Thou wilt plunder Ath-cliath of the combat,

With thy shield guarding thy clear side;

The site of a house, on coming to Dublin,

I ask of thee in advance, O Raghnall.

XX.

A Raghnaill, a ri an Domhnan,

A ri dha ttabhraim (da thabhraim) tulgradh,

Ad dhiaigh um chnoc o Colman,

Buaidh orghan stoc is sdurghan.

XX.

O Raghnaill, O King of the Domhnan;^[517]

O king, to whom I give ardent love;

After thee, about Cnoc-O’Cholman (Tara),

Shall be organs, trumpets, and clarions.

XXI.

Maith theangnamh, cruaidh do chroidhe,

A fhlaith ceannghlan chuain Mhuile,

Cloidheamh cruaidh oigfhir eile

Beire a truaill bhroighib (broigil) bhuidhe.

XXI.

Good thy prowess, brave thy heart,

O bright-headed prince of the harbour of Mull;

The hard sword of another young man

Thou wilt bear in a yellow-bordered scabbard.

XXII.

Do shleagh dhearg ar dho (do) dhearnainn,

Gach fear a searg (scarc) re a slimrinn,

Gombi (cumbi) a grainne (graine) tre a ghlandruim (geal no glan),

Saidhe a Raghnuill i (hi) a n-ïmlinn.

XXII.

Thy red spear in thy right hand,

With (from) whose slim (sharp) point every man is in love (sickness),

Until its edge is through the clear back,

Thrust it, O Raghnaill, in the navel.

418XXIII.

Geibhe ghlaic (glaic) a cuirr chairre (cnairre),

Geibe shlait (slait) nduinn gan duille,

Do theid (teit) chruinn (cruinn) shleamhain (slemain) sreinge,

Seinne a cuirr leabhair luinge.

XXIII.

Take, in thy round, stout hand,

Take a brown leafless rod,

Thy round smooth, strung rope,

Whilst we are on the poop of thy roomy ship.

XXIV.

Sibhse fir na mbarc mbreactha.

Ni mo chin tracht na ttiocfa (ticfa),

Aitnidh dhaoibh troigh re toptha (tophta),

Do ghoin ochta caoimh chniochta.

XXIV.

You, ye men of the speckled barks,

I love not the strand to which ye come not;

To you is known the quick step,

To the wounding of the bosoms of noble knights.

XXV.

A ua ghil Gofraidh Mhearaigh (Mheraigh),

A fhir do lotraigh luirigh,

Do mhoid (moit) a ri re (ri) rioghain (righain),

Do dhiogail si ar a suilibh.

XXV.

O fair descendant of Godfrey Mearagh,^[518]

O man that hast hacked coats of mail;

A king has boasted to a queen,

That he would avenge thee before her eyes.

XXVI.

A mheic (mic) Ghofraidh fheil fearrdha (fherrdha),

A mheic reidh sochraigh shadbha,

Dho bhloghais do moigh (bhloigh) dhomhna (domna),

Chomhla solais ngloin ngarrdha.

XXVI.

O son of generous manly Godfrey,

O mild sedate son of Sabia;

Thou hast broken off from Magh-Domhna (a part of Domhna)

The clear bright garden gate.

XXVII.

A ua Lachluinn na laoidheang

A ua glan Chuinn na ngeibhionn

Iarrfam (iarfain) cuan ar cul Arann

Ag (ac) sur traghann nfhuar n-eirionn (n Erenn).

XXVII.

O descendant of Lochlainn of the ships;

O fair descendant of Conn of the fetters;^[519]

We will ask a harbour behind Aran,

Whilst searching the cold strands of Erin.

XXVIII.

Iomdha (Imda) ad luing ar lar bhleighe (bleidhi),

Ris nach buing sal na suidhe (snidi),

Peisd is i na hor bhuidhe,

Is duine ag ol di dighe (dhighi).

XXVIII.

Many is the goblet in the hold of thy ship,

Fixed and untouched by the brine;

Circled by a serpent of yellow gold,

Out of which a man quaffs a drink.

420XXIX.

Deocha dod (dot) chuirm (cuirm) nom ceanglann (nomcenglann)

Do mhuirn ga muirn nach diongbhann,

Duadh (duna) ga nibhe ni fhoghbham,

Mire chormann bfhuar (fuarr) bFhionnghall.

XXIX.

Draughts of thy ale bind me;

What delight does not thy delight repel!

Fatigue in quaffing it I feel not;

Merrier it is than the cold ale of Fingal.^[520]

XXX.

Ceim (ceir) ad thigh (atigh) ar ti comhoil.

Fir dhon fheinn a ri ad ralaimh

Easgra (escra) caomh fad chuirm nglanthuair,

Laom (laem) ra ghuail nguirm ar gabbail.

XXX.

To advance into thy house to banquet,

Men of the Fiann, O King, are at hand,

Fair goblets are under thy clear cool ale,

As the blaze of blue coals is ascending.

XXXI.

A Radhnaill a ri Cola

Gach ni ad ghlanluing do gheabha

Rug ar shluagh sniomh an mhara,

Fion tana fhuar na heala.

XXXI.

O Raghnall, O King of Coll,

All things in thy fair ship thou ’lt find;

Which to the host has the winding sea brought—

The thin cold wine of the swans.

XXXII.

[B]og an dream re (ac) dail rochruidh,

Fearr ina a dhail go (cu) dochraid,

Cruaidhe ne fir re (ri) fearthoin (ferthoin),

Fearchoin (ferchoin) cuaine (chuaine) ghil Ghofraidh.

XXXII.

Generous the band in distributing stock;

Better this than to deal it niggardly;

Hardy the men for fighting—

The man-dogs of the pack of fair Godfrey.

XXXIII.

Beri bhuidhin (bhuighin) mbrat ccuanda (cuanna),

Lat do na muighibh mora

Gluaisid gaoth dhod chionn craobha,

Mar chaonna (caenda) fhionn mhaoth mhona (find maeth mona).

XXXIII.

Take a company elegantly clothed

With thee, from the great plains.

May the wind blow over thy topmasts

Gently, as the rustling of soft white moor-grass.

XXXIV.

Aithne ar dho (do) bharr ag bandail (cun banail),

Anall tar faithche fhainn fheoir,

Gluaisid cuirn do chuil chlann uir,

Mhall (mall) shuil nguirm n-uir (uir) dha haindeoin.

XXXIV.

The women will admire thy head,

As thou comest past the prone-grassed green;

Before the rustling of thy youthful locks

The soft blue eye will unwillingly move.

422XXXV.

Dorad (dorat) daoibh (daibh) snuadh ar shambchnaibh,

Ag ad (acat) shluagh a shaoir shochraig,

Leaga corn ur re a n-aighthibh (n-aighthibh),

Aithghin shul ngorm o n-Gofraidh.

XXXV.

The choicest of hues on happy limbs

Is with thy army, O noble, honest chief;

As the sounding of full trumpets before their faces,

Is the glance of the blue eye of Godfrey’s heir.

XXXVI.

Do rosg (rosc) mar bhogha an (in) bharraidh (barraid),

Ag tocht tar rogha an (in) rinn fheoir,

Cosmhail blath do chuil choimmoir,

Re snath bronnoir uir dhinneoin.

XXXVI.

Thine eye is like the modest hyacinth

Peeping through the surface of the pointed grass;

The hue of thy flowing locks is like

Fresh thread of gold from the anvil (or furnace).

XXXVII.

Ni tearc a craobh ur eadtrom (etrom),

Searc (serc) dhod (dot) chul shaor mar seadbharr (sedbharr);

Ni tug (tuc) bean (ben) ead (et) ar thogbhonn (tocbonn),

A gheag (gheg) brogdhonn (broccdhonn) gheal gheagmhar (ghegmhar).

XXXVII.

Not scarce, a fresh, light branch,

Is love for thy glorious gem-like locks;

No woman has been without jealousy regarding thee,

Thou brown-white mighty scion of a great branch.

XXXVIII.

A ghoill do gleire an (in) bhrogha (brogha),

Mar teidhe (theighi) tar moing mhara,

Ruisg chuanda (cuanna) a cuirr na heala,

Buinn gheala gruadha glana.

XXXVIII.

O Gall of the choicest of the Brugh,

As thou goest across the surface of the sea;

Bright are thine eyes, thou of the swan-like neck,

The white feet and the clear cheeks.

XXXIX.

Camdhlaoi ar chaoin (camdlaidarchain) do dhonnbhairr (donnbharr),

A i (hi) Amhlaoibh shaoir sheangdhuinn,

Red laochlaimh reidh a Raghnaill,

Samhlaim eill maothbhain meamruim.

XXXIX.

On thy brown head is a twisted tress,

Thou descendant of the noble, slender-brown Amhlaibh;^[521]

To thy soft hero-hand, O Raghnall,

I compare a strip of soft white parchment.

XL.

Samlaim do li is li an chubhair,

A Raghnaill as ri ar Eamhain (Emain),

Realta (relta) ghlas mall fad (fat) mhalaigh,

Samail bharr na n-gas n-geamhair (ngedhair).

XL.

Thy colour I compare to the hue of foam,

O Raghnall, who art king over Emain;

Under thy brows are slow blue stars

Like to the tops of blades of corn-grass.

424XLI.

Maith thinneall chuil (tindell cuili) is cheibhe,

Ar a silleann (sillenn) suil uaine,

Gris chaomh ar ccar (char) a smaile,

Aille thaobh nglan do ghruaidhe.

XLI.

Good is thy arrangement of tresses and locks,

On which a blue eye looks;

With noble ardour is inflamed

The bright surface of thy cheek.

XLII.

Taobh gruaidhe uir dho ionnlais,

Craobh uaine ad (at) shuil mar shamfhrais,

Ar fhraoch thfuilt (hfhuilt) a i (hi) Fhearghais (Fherghais),

Do earmais (ermais) gaoth (gaeth) phuirt Parrthais.

XLII.

Thy fair fresh cheek thou hast bathed;

In thine eye is a blue beam soft as summer showers;

Over the locks of thy hair, O descendant of Fergus,^[522]

The wind of Paradise has breathed.

XLIII.

A fhir na greadha gile,

A fhir na heala duibhe,

Garbh shaithe agus min mheile,

Sgin (scin) eimhe blaithe buidhe.

XLIII.

O man of the white steed;

O man of the black swan,

The fierce band and the gentle mood,

The sharp blade and the lasting fame.

XLIV.

Tugais (tucais) ruaig mhadhma ar Maoilbheirn,

Is badhbha uaid na hurdhuirn,

Iomdha a n-glinn fir faonmhaidhm,

A (o) shaorbhaidhbh ghil shing shul ghuirm.

XLIV.

Thou hast inflicted a rout-defeat on Maelbheirn;^[523]

Fierce on thy part were the heavy blows;

Numerous are the men dispersed in the glen,

O (from the) noble bright slender blue-eyed hero.

XLV.

A i (hi) Chuinn, a i (hi) Chormaic,

Gus an luing na luing raidhbhric,

Sgaoi (scai) do chreich ar each (ereach) ionnraic,

Do iomlait neach eich aimhghlic.

XLV.

Descendant of Conn, and descendant of Cormac

Thou with the speckled ship of ships;

Pursue thy raids on a worthy steed;

For a foolish steed carries one astray.

XLVI.

Olc dhuinn (dhunn) gan an (in) ghlais (glais) ghaibhnionn (ngaibhnenn),

Anocht ga chul (cul) tais tiormfhann (tirmfhann),

Olc dhunn (dhun) gan an dubh soighleann,

Ar sgur goirmsheang ur Fhionnghall.

XLVI.

Evil for us that the Glas-Gaibhnionn^[524]

Is not now in her soft dry sloping corner;

Evil for us that the Dubh-Soinglenn^[525]

Is not now in the brilliant stud of Fingal.

426XLVII.

Mo chuairt thall tuillmheach dhamhsa,

A bharr suairc druimneach donnso,

Do guala a ri saor seaghsa,

Leamsa ar don i ’sa n-orsa (hi san orrsa).

XLVII.

Profitable to me was my visit yonder,

O joyous, diademed, brown head;

Thy shoulder, O noble king of Seghais

Were to me equal to this gold.

XLVIII.

Ar n-dol damlisa od dheaghthoigh (ot degh thoigh),

Mhalmsa ni halmsa dochraig,

Measa an teagh riogh dha (da) rachair,

Marthain ag siol geal Ghofraidh.

XLVIII.

On my going from thy good house,

My alms were not pitiful alms;

No better king’s house canst thou go to;

Long life to the bright race of Godfrey.

XLIX.

A mheic Gofraidh ghuirt Mhuile,

Do ghuirt gonfaidh ar n-aire,

Tain go trachtaibh do thighe,

Biri o thraigh mbarc ghloin m-baile.

Baile Suthain.

XLIX.

O son of Godfrey of Mull’s field

Our attention shall thy fields retain;

Spoils to the shores of thy house bear thou,

From the bright-barbed Traigh-bhaile.^[526]

427Notes.

428

III. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLES OF SCOTLAND.^[527]

The haill Iles of Scotland were devidit in four pairts of auld, viz. Lewis, Sky, Mule, and Yla, and the remanent haill Iles were reknit but as pertinents and pendicles of the said four Iles, and were devidit amangis thir four Iles and annext thairto in this manner. First to the Ile of Lewis wes annext the Iles of Wist, Barra, Harragis, Ronalewis, Pabla in Harreik, Helsker, Collismown, and Iit.

To the Ile of Sky were annext Raarsa, Eg, Romb, Canna, Ellan na muck, and Scalpa.

Perteining to the Ile of Mule were Lismoir, Tuahannais, Ulloway, Commatra, Inschkennycht, Sanct Colmisinche alias Colmkill, Tireich, and Coll.

And to the fourth Ile of Yla wes conjoynit the Iles of Dewra alias Jura, Colonsa, Geiga, Rauchlyne, Seillonyng, Scarba.

But now thir Iles are becum under sundrie mens dominions, quhairthrow thai answer not to the saids four principall Iles, yit thai keip the lawis and uses of the samine for the maist pairt, and speciallie of thair yeirlie dewties, as heireftir shall be declairit. Be thir Iles foirsaids thair is mony small Ilands and Inches in Scotland, quhairof the names are not publist, nor yit in reputation, but worthie of habitation or descryving, quhairthrow we omitt the samyn quhill thai be better inhabite and esteimit of.

Thair is also ane Ness passand southwest fra the lands of Ardmwrche, quhilk Ness is called Romwrche (Point of Ardnamurchan), and divides thir haill Iles in twa; viz. in South and North Iles, viz. the Iles of Yla and Mule with thair saids pertinents, lyand fra the said Ness to the south, and the Iles of Lewis and Sky to the north.

429The first Ile callit Lewis is conjoynit with Harreik, but the sea cummis almaist betwix thame, saifand ane small grip of the lenth of twa or thrie pair of buttis, quhilk narrow grip is haldin the march betwix the Iles of Lewis and Herreis. They are baith 40 miles of lenth, quhairof Lewis is 32 miles, and Herreis 8 miles. The pairt of this Ile that is callit Lewis perteins to McCloyd Lewis. His kin are callit Clan Leod, alias callit Sheill Torquill, that is, the offspring of that man namet Torquill. His principall place thair is callit the Castell of Steornoay, and he may raise on this pairt of this Ile callit Lewis 700 men with Rona, by thame that labours the ground, of the quhilkis nane are chairgit or permittit to gang to ony oisting or weiris in all the haill Iles, but are commandit to remane at hame to labour the ground.

This Ile of Lewis is very profitable and fertile alswell of corns as all kind of bestiall wild fowl and fishes, and speciallie of beir, sua that thair will grow commonlie 20, 18, or at the leist 16 bolls beir yeirlie eftir ilk bolls sawing. It is 40 lb. land of auld extent and pay is yeirlie 18 score chalders of victuall, 58 score of ky, 32 score of wedderis, and ane great quantitie of fisches, pultrie, and quhyte plaiding by thair Cuidichies, that is, feisting thair master quhen he pleases to cum in the cuntrie, ilk ane thair nicht or twa nichtis about, according to thair land and labouring.

Thair is na great waters nor rivers in this Ile, but small schaule burnis quhairby the salmond and uther fishes swymming thairupon will appear twa pairt dry for fault of water to cover thame, and are slane with treis and bastonnis, and hes na uthir craft nor ingyne to slay thame. Thair is na woods in the Lewis, but ane great wildernes or forest callit Osirsdaill, quhairin is sustenit mony deir, thairfor it is pleasant hunting.

In this Ile thair is ane little Cove biggit in form of ane kirk, and is callit the Pygmies Kirk. It is sa little, that ane man may scairslie stand uprichtlie in it eftir he is gane in on his kneis. Thair is sum of the Pygmies banes thairinto as yit, of the quhilkis the thrie banes being measurit is not fullie twa inches lang.

The uther pairt of this Ile callit Harrayis perteins to McCloyd Harreis. His kin and surname is callit Sheall Tormoyd, that is, 430the offspring of that man callit Tormoyd, and albeit this man McCloyd hes landis, as ye shall heir heireftir, and that his principall place callit Dunvegane be in the Ile of Sky, yit he is stylit be this Ile of Herreis. He may raise seven score of able men. This Ile of Herries is also fertile, commodious, and profitable in all sorts effeirand to the quantitie thairof as the Ile of Lewis. Thair is nather woods, great waters, nor rivers thairin, but small burnis as in the Ile of Lewis, and the people thairof as unskilfull in slaying of the fishes and salmond that cummis as thair neighbours are.

Thair is ane fair forrest called Otterisdaill in this Ile, quhairin is mony deer and thairthrow pleasand hunting, albeit it be but 20 merk land of auld extent. This Ile payis 3 bolls malt and 3 bolls meill for ilk day in the yeir, 40 mairtis and eight score wedderis, by customs, pultrie, meill, with oist silver.

The Ile of Wist is 40 miles of length, but of small breid, and the north pairt thairof perteins to ane clan callit Clandoneill, the south pairt thairof to Clan Ranald. The haill is reknit to be sevenscore merk land, quhairof the Clan Doneill hes threescore merk land, and the Clan Ranald fourscore merk land. The Clan Doneill on thair pairt thairof will raise 300 men, and the Clan Ranald on thair pairt thairof will raise 300 men. Thair is na woods nor great rivers in it, but thair is mony deir in it. Ilk merk land in this Ile payis 20 bolls victuall, by all uther customes, maills, and oist silver, quhairof thair is na certane rentall. The customes of this Ile are splendit, and payit at the Landslordis cumming to the Ile to his Cudicht.

The Ile of Barra perteins to McNeill Barra. His surname and kin are callit Clan Neill. His principall dwelling-place thair is callit Keissadull, quhilk is ane excellent strenth, for it standis on the seaside under ane great craig, sua that the craig cummis over it, and na passage to the place but be the sea, quhairof the entrie is narrow, but that ane scheip may pass throw, and within that entres is an round heavin and defence for schippis from all tempestis. This Ile is five miles of lenth or thairby, and is 20 lb. land, and may raise on this Ile, with four or five small Iles that he hes beside it, 200 gude men. Item, in this Ile is ane weill quhairin growis cockles, quhilk is at the fute of ane hill callit the Hill of Barra, twa mile fra the sea.

431Rona^[528] (Bernera) Lewis is ane Ile of four mile long perteining to McCloyd Lewis, and it is 80 merk land. It payis 120 bolls victuall yeirly by all uther customes and maillis. It is verie fertile of corns and store of gudes and quhyte fisches, but saltis na fisches, but eittis thair staiking and castis the rest on the land, and will raise 60 men.

Pabba is ane little Ile ane mile lang. It perteins to McCloyd Hereik, and albeit it be but twa merk land, it payis yeirlie 60 bollis victuall, and will raise 40 gude men to the weiris. Bernera^[528] (Rona) is ane uther little Ile of the lyk quantitie and payment, perteining to McCloyd Hereik.

Helsker is ane gude, commodious, and fertile Ile, alsweill of gudes as of corns; for albeit it be but ane mile lang and ane merk land of auld extent, it payis yeirlie to the monasterie of Colmkill, to quhom it apperteins, 60 bollis victuall by uther customes. It is possesst evir by ane gentill man of the Clandonald. Thair is nather moss nor woods in this Ile, but all manurit arable land. It will raise 20 or 24 men.

Colsmon is but ane little Ile of ane quarter mile lang and als mekell breid, quhairin is na inhabite nor manurit land, but lyes waist. Mony fisches resortis and hantis thairto and generis within the same; and the principall man of the north end of Wyist, wha is ane of the Clandoneill (as said is), passes with ane number of men in cumpanie anes in the yeir to this Ile, and slayis and takis sa many as they please of the selches, and careyis away with thame.

Irt (St. Kilda) is ane little Ile of ane mile lang, perteining to McCloyd Hereik. It is maist fertile of scheip and foullis, quhairof it payis ane great matter yeirlie to the said McCloyd and his factors. And albeit thay use na pleuchis, but delvis thair corn land with spaiddis, yet thai pay yeirlie 60 bollis victuall. Thair is na horse nor meiris in this Ile, and but few nolt to the number of 60 or thairby. Thair cummis na men furth of this Ile to oisting or weiris, becaus they are but a poor barbarous people unexpert that dwellis in it, useand na kind of wappinis; but thair daylie exercitation is maist in delving and labouring the ground, taking of foullis and gaddering thair eggis, quhairon thay leif for the maist pairt of thair fude. Thay make na labour to obtene or slay ony fisches, but gadderis sum in the craigis, albeit thai 432micht have abundance thairof utherwayis gif thai wald ony way make labour thairfore. Anes in the yeir ane Priest or Minister cummis to thame and baptizes all the bairnis born amangis thame sin his last being thair, and celebrattis marriage to the parteis desyrand, and makes sic uther ministration of the sacraments to thame as he thinkis gude, and gifts thame sic directiounis as he wills thame to use and keip for ane yeir thairefter, and gadderis payment of thair teinds (quhilk thai pay maist thankfullie and justlie of ony people), and departs quhill the next yeir agane. In all times thai sustenit ane auld priest or clerk continuallie amangis thame, to shaw and tell to thame the halie dayis to be keipit in the yeir.

The Ile of Sky is ane Ile 40 mile lang and alsmuckle of breid, swa that it is almaist round. It perteinit all haill in auld times to McConneill, but now be his disposition thair is divers heritors of sundrie pairts thairof, the maist thereof extending to 80 merk land lyand almaist in the middis of the Ile caleit Trouternes, and 30 merk land lyand at the south pairt of the Ile quhilk is caleit Slait. It pertenis to Scheall Hutcheoun, that is to say, the offspring of that man callit Hutcheoun, but his principall surname is Clandoneill.

Trouternes payis yeirlie ilk merk land thairof twa bollis meill, twa bollis malt, four mairtis, 16 wedderis, 16 dozen of pultrie, twa merks by the auld maills and utheris dewteis accustomat. Thair was ane castell in Trouternes callit Duncolmen, quhairof the wallis standis yit.

Slait is occupiet for the maist pairt be gentlemen, thairfore it payis but the auld deuteis, that is, of victuall, buttir, cheis, wyne, aill, and aquavite, samekle as thair maister may be able to spend being ane nicht (albeit he were 600 men in companie) on ilk merk land. There is twa strenthie castells in Slait, the ane callit Castell Chammes, the uther Dunskeith. Trouternes will raise 500 men, and Slait 700 men. Ane pairt of this Ile of Sky callit Strathvardeill pertenis to ane Laird callit McKynvin, given to him be McConneill for to be judge and decide all questionnis and debaitts that happenis to fall betwin pairties throw playing at cairtis or dyce or sic uther pastime, and will raise aucht score men. McKynvin hes a castell thair callit Dewnakin. McCloyd Lewis hes 20 merk land in this Ile callit Watternes, 433quhairon he will raise 200 men. McCloyd Herreis hes three cuntries in this Ile, the first callit Durenes quhilk is 28 merk land, and will raise twelf score men, quhairin he hes ane strenthie dwelling place. The second callit Bracadale, quhilk is 16 merk land, and will raise sevin score men. Thair is mony woods in all pairtis of this Ile of Sky, speciallie birkis and orne; but the maist wood is in Slait and Trouternes. Thair is ane wood in Slait, of aucht mile of lenth, with mony deer and rae, and it is verie fertile, with all kinds of bestiall and corns. Thair is great plentie of salmond and hering tane in this Ile. Thair is mony lochis in this Ile, and speciallie in Strathvardill, quhilk is callit Loch Slepan, Loch na Neist, and Loch na Daill. Betwixt Trouternes and Strathtodill lyes ane loch callit Loch Sleggasthe.

Raarsa is ane Ile of five mile lang and thrie mile braid, perteining to the Bischop of the Iles; but it is occupiet and possest be ane gentleman of McCloyd Lewis kin, callit Gillechallum Raarsa. His offspring bruikis the same yit, and are callit Clan Gillehallum of Raarsa. He hes ane strange little castell in this Ile, biggit on the heid of ane heich craig, and is callit Prokill. It is but 8 merk land, and will raise 80 men. It payis yeirlie to the bischop 16 merks, but to the capitaine thairof it payis of sundrie tributes better nor 500 merks. Thair is na woods, but great heich craigis in this Ile. It is commodious for corn and all kinds of bestiall, and chieflie horses.

Eg is ane Ile verie fertile and commodious baith for all kind of bestiall and corns, speciallie aittis, for eftir everie boll of aittis sawing in the same ony yeir will grow 10 or 12 bollis agane. It is 30 merk land, and it perteins to the Clan Rannald, and will raise 60 men to the weiris. It is five mile lang and three mile braid. Thair is mony coves under the earth in this Ile, quhilk the cuntrie folks uses as strenthis hiding thame and thair geir thairintill; quhairthrow it hapenit that in March, anno 1577, weiris and inmitie betwix the said Clan Renald and McCloyd Herreik, the people with ane callit Angus John McMudzartsonne, their capitane, fled to ane of the saidis coves, taking with thame thair wives, bairnis, and geir, quhairof McCloyd Herreik being advertisit landit with ane great armie in the said Ile, and came to the cove and pat fire thairto, and smorit the haill people thairin to the number of 395 persones, men, wyfe, and bairnis.

434Romb is ane Ile of small profit, except that it conteins mony deir, and for sustentation thairof the same is permittit unlabourit, except twa townis. It is thrie miles of lenth, and alsmekle of breid, and all hillis and waist glennis, and commodious only for hunting of deir. It perteinis heretablie to ane Barron callit the Laird of Challow (Coll), quha is of McClanes kin, but is possest and in the handis of Clan-Rannald. It is ten merk land, and will raise 6 or 7 men.

Canna. This Ile is gude baith for corn and all kind of bestiall. It perteins to the Bischop of the Iles, but the said Clan-Rannald hes it in possessioun. It is thrie mile lang and ane braid. It is six merk land and will raise 20 men. In this Ile is ane heich craig callit Corignan weill braid on the heicht thairof, and but ane strait passage, that men may scairslie climb to the heid of the craig, and quhan the cuntrie is invadit the people gadderis thair wives and geir to the heid of the craig and defend thame selfis utherwayis the best thay may, and will not pass to the craig, because it may not be lang keepit onlie for fault of water.

Ellan na Muk is but ane little Ile of ane mile lang and half mile braid. It perteins also to the foirsaid Bischop, and is possesst be the Laird of Ardinmwrthe callit Maken. It is four merk land, and payis to the said Laird and his factors aucht score bollis victuall, quhairof four score to the Bischop and four score to the Laird. It will raise to the weiris 16 able men.

Scalpa is four merk land perteining heritablie to McClane, gevin to him be McConneill. It is thrie mile lang, twa mile braid, mair fertile and commodious for deir and hunting nor it is ather for corns or store. It will raise 20 men.

Mule. This Ile is 24 mile of lenth and in sum pairtis 16 mile braid, and in uther pairtis thairof but 12 mile braid. It is all 300 merk land, and will raise 900 men to the weiris. McClane Doward, callit Great McClane, hes the maist pairt thairof, extending to aucht score merk land and ten, and will raise on it with the pairt he hes of the Bischop 600 men thairupon. McClane of Lochbuy hes thriescore merk land, and will raise 200 men thairon. The Bischop hes 30 merk land thair, but McClane Doward hes it in his possession occupiet be his kin. The Laird of McKynvin hes 20 merk land, and the uthir 20 435merk land pertenis to the Laird of Schellow (Coll) but thay will raise 100 thairon. Thair is mony woods and saltwater lochis in this Ile, and it is verie plentifull of all kind of fisches, speciallie hering and salmond. It is na less commodious for guides and store nor ony of the remanent Iles; but not sa gude for cornes. In everie pairt thairof are mony deiris, raes, and wild foullis. McClaue of Doward hes twa castellis in this Ile, the ane named Doward, the uther callit Aross, quhilk sumtime perteinit to McConneill. McClane of Lochbuy hes ane castell thairintill callit the Castell of Lochinbuy. Ilk merkland in this Ile payis yeirlie 5 bollis beir, 8 bollis meill, 20 stanes of cheese, 4 stanes of buttir, 4 mairtis, 8 wedderis, twa merk of silver, and twa dozen of pultrie, by Cuddiche, quhanevir thair master cummis to thame.

Lismoir is ane Ile of aucht mile lang lairge, and twa mile breid. It is 80 merk land of auld, and pertenit sumtime to McConneill, but now to my Lord Argile the twa pairt thairof, and the third pairt thairof to the Laird of Glenurquhir. McCowle of Lorn hes the stewardship of the haill Ile and manrent thairof, and will raise thairon to ony weir 100 men. It is very fertile for all kind of corns and speciallie for beir, and will grow alsmekle eftir ane boll sawing as in the Lewis or ony pairt thair with less gudeing or labour; for in mony pairtis thairof are great mosses, and thay will cast ane fowssie or stank throw the ane pairt of the moss, quhairby the water may easier pass away, and teillis syne the remanent of the moss, sa far at the leist as becumis dry be vertue of the fowssie castin, and takis it that thai cast out of the fowssie and guidis the teillit earth thairwith, and thairon will grow the best beir in the Iles, of sic quantitie that I think shame to write it, albeit that I have honest authors to affirm the same. It is plane land without ony woodis or hillis, but all manurit land and moss. It is commodious also for nolt and horses, but best for cornes. It is gude for saltwater fisches, and na uther. It has na set rentall of dewtie, because it is everie yeir alterit or set. Thair is twa castellis thairin upon the pairt perteining to my Lord Argile, ane callit Dunnagaill, but it is not mantenit, albeit it wes of auld ane great strenth for saltwater fisches, ane uther callit the castell of Auchindewne, upon the west side thairof anent the Mule, quhilk wes biggit be 436ane Bischop of the Iles. On the uther Laird Glenurquhirts pairt thairof wes ane auld castill callit Bealwothar, but is not mantenit.

The twa Iles callit the Hwnayis, the ane thairof and maist pertenis to ane kinsman of the said McCoule of Lorn. It is twa mile lang and ane braid, ane plane land but ony hills, but all arable land, moss and birkin wood, quhairthrow it is onlie gude for corn, nolt, and horse; it is 8 merk land. The uther pertenis to John Stewart of Hoping (Appin); it is ane mile lang and half mile braid; it is four merk land. The said John Stewart hes it all under maynes, and quhan he settis the same it payis six score bollis victuall, by all uther dewties. Baith thir Iles will raise three score men.

Ulloway is ane Ile twa mile lang, ane mile braid. It is twelf merk land perteining to McCower (McQuarrie). It is plane land but ony hillis or woodis, and will raise thrie score men. Ilk merk land payis conform to the Ile of Mule.

Coamatra is ane Ile of ane mile lang conteinand but twa towns. It is four merk land, and pertenis to McClane of Dowart; it is plane, fair, and verie commodious for corns and catell of sa mekle. It payis yeirlie as Mule payis. It will raise 16 or 20 men.

Inschenycht (Inchkenneth) is ane Ile perteining to the said McClane, of a lyke lenth, halding payment and commodities in all sortis as the said Ile of Coamatra.

Sanct Colms Inche (Iona) is ane Ile ane mile lang, large half mile braid, but is 30 merk land. In this Ile is the Bischop of the Iles principall dwelling places. Thair is twa religious places—ane thairof for monkis, ane uther for nunnes. In this Ile is the sepulchre of all the kingis of Scotland of auld. It is verie commodious for corns and catell, but na woodis nor mosses, quhairthrow thai are scant of fire, but that that cummis to thame furth of other Iles be sea. In this are all the Gentlemen of the Iles buryit as yit.

Collow (Coll) is ane Ile of 12 mile of lenth, 4 or 6 mile of breid in sum pairtis thairof. It is 30 merk land, and pertenis to the Laird of Collow, quhairin he hes ane castell callit Brekauche, quhilk is ane great strenth be reason of the situation thairof verie neir to the sea, quhilk defendis the half thairof, and 437hes three walls about the rest of the castell and thairof biggit with lyme and stane, with sundrie gude devises for defending of the tower. Ane uther wall about that, within the quhilk schippis and boittis are drawin and salvit. And the third and the uttermost wall of tymber and earth, within the quhilk the haill gudes of the cuntrie are keipit in tyme of troublis or weiris. It is very fertile alsweill of corns as of all kind of catell. Thair is sum little birkin woodis within the said Ile. Ilk merk land payis yeirlie as is declarit of the Ile of Mule, and will raise seven score men.

Tierhie (Tiree) is ane Ile of aucht mile of lenth, and in sum pairtis but thrie mile braid, and at the braidest is six mile braid. But it is commodious and fertile of corns and store of gudes. It is 140 merk land, and will raise to the weiris 300 men. It pertenis to great McClane of Doward, gevin to him be McConneill. It was callit in all tymes McConnells girnell; for it is all teillit land, and na girs but ley land, quhilk is maist nurischand girs of ony other, quhairthrow the ky of this Ile abundis sa of milk that thai are milkit four times in the day. The yeirlie dewtie thairof is sa great of victuall, buttir, cheis, mairtis, wedderis, and other customes, that it is uncertain to the inhabitants thairof quhat, thai should pay, but obeyis and payis quhatevir is cravet be thair maister for thair haill deuties, only to tak sa mony firlotts as micht stand side be side round about the haill Ile full of victuall, half meill, half beir, and it wes refuseit.

Ila is ane Ile of 24 mile lang and twenty mile braid. It is 18 score merk land, and will raise 800 men. McClane of Doward hes the half thairof, and the other half pertenis to ane of the Clan Donald cum of McConneills house. This Ile is plenteous of woodis, quhairin are mony deir, raes, and wild foullis. It is also commodious for all kinds of fisches, and speciallie salmond, be reason of diverse rivers rynnand throw the same, quhairin swymes not only mony salmond, but in all the small burnis of this Ile are multipill of salmond and other fisches. McClane hes ane strenthie castell thairin, quhilk standis in ane niche within ane fresche-water loch callit Lochgormen; the uther castell pertenis to the Cland-donald, it is callit Downerie. Ilk merk land in this Ile payis yeirlie three mairtis and ane half, 14 wedderis, 2 geis, 4 dozen and 8 pultrie, 5 bollis malt with ane peck to 438ilk boll, 6 bollis meill, 20 stane of cheis, and twa merk of silver. And ilk merk land man sustein daylie and yeirlie ane gentleman in meit and claith, quhilk dois na labour, but is haldin as ane of their maisters household men, and man be sustenit and furneisit in all necessaries be the tennent, and he man be reddie to his maisters service and advis. Ilk town in this Ile is twa merk land and ane half, and payis yeirlie of Gersum at Beltane four ky with calf, four zowis with lamb, four geis, nine hennis, and 10s. of silver.

Jura, alias Deura, is 24 mile lang, and 8 mile braid quhair it is braidest. It is 30 merk land. The half pairt thairof pertenis to the said McClane, and the uther half to the Clan Donald. The haill will raise, with the Ile of Scarba (quhilk is baith but ane parochin), 100 men. Sa mekle as is labourit and teillit of this Ile is excellent land, and verie fertile for corns; but it is for the maist pairt wildernes and woodis, quhairin is mony deir, raes, and other wild beistis, quhairthrow thair is better hunting in this Ile nor ony of the rest. Sa mekle labourit land as is in this Ile, it payis alike to Ila of dewties.

Collonsa and Orandsay are baith ane Ile, except that the full sea of the flwde flowis in betwix thame. Collonsa is 18 mile of lenth and five mile braid. It is 30 merk land, and pertenis to the Laird thairof callit Makasie (Macduffy), ane dependar on the Clan Donald. Orandsay is but ane mile of lenth, and alsmekle of breid. It is 4 merk land, quhairin is but ane town, quhilk is an abbay place dedicat to St. Columb, it pertenis to the Bischop of the Iles. Thir twa Iles will raise 100 men, and payis according to the Ile of Ila. Na woodis nor wildernes is in thir Isles, but all teillit land.

Seill is ane Ile of 5 mile lang, thrie mile braid, and is threescore merk land. It pertenis to the Earle of Argile, and will raise thairon six score men. It is all plane manurit land, but ony wildernes or woodis, quhairby it is verie fertile of store and corns and payis zeirlie conform as we have spoken before of the Ile of Lismoir.

Loyng is ane little Ile thrie mile lang, twa myle braid, and is fourty merk land. It pertens heritablie to my Lord Argile, but McClane Doward hes it of my Lord Argile for service. This Ile payis zeirlie of mairtis and ferme as Lismoir and Seill payis.

Scarba is ane Ile thrie mile lang and twa mile breid. It is 4394 merk land, and pertenis to McClane of Lochbuy in heritage. It is all woodis and craigis, except twa tounis, and thairfore it is better for sustentation of bestiall nor for cornes. It payis zeirlie samekle as is labourit thairof, as the remanent Iles payis, and will raise 17 men.

Geiza (Gigha) is ane Ile of five mile lang, twa mile braid, and is 30 merk land; it pertenis to the Clan Donald. It is very plane, profitable, and fertile land for all kind of corns, but any woodis, hillis, or craigis; and ilk merkland thairof payis as Ila payis, except in mairtis and wedderis, because it is not gude for store. It will raise 100 men.

Rauchlynne is an Ile five mile lang, thrie or four mile braid; it is 30 merk land. It pertenis to the Clan Donald, and is but four mile of sea fra Irland. It is fair, fertile, and profitable baith for girs and corn, with sum grene hillis in it, and na woodis nor craigis. Thairfore thair zeirlie dewtie is conform to use and consuetude of Ireland, quhilk is to sustein ane number of men in meit and fie, and payis ane certane quantitie of all kind of thing that growis amangis thame anes in the yeir to thair maister, and sum taxations as thair maister happens to have ado, and may raise 100 men. Thair is ane auld castell, verie strenthie, callit the Auld Castell.

Thair is twa Iles that pertenis to thir saids four Iles named Arran and Boyd (Bute). Arran is 24 miles lang, 12 and 8 miles in sum pairtis braid, and is 300 merk land, perteining to my Lord Hamiltoun, quhairin is twa castells. Arran will raise 100 men. Boyd is aucht mile lang, four mile braid, quhairin stands ane great Burrowstown callit Rosa. It will raise 300 men, and is of na less commoditie and profit nor Arran.

Thir haill Iles abovewritten, gif thai were on ane end, are fourteen score and twelve mile of lenth and miles of breid. The common accustomat of raising of thair men is 6000 men, quhairof the 3d pairt extending to 2000 men aucht and sould be cled with attounes and haberchounis, and knapshal bannetts, as thair lawis beir. And in raising or furthbringing of thair men ony time of yeir to quhatsumevir cuntrie or weiris, na labourers of the ground are permittit to steir furth of the cuntrie quhatevir thair maister have ado, except only gentlemen quhilk labouris not, that the labour belonging to the teiling 440of the ground and wynning of thair corns may not be left undone, albeit thai byde furth ane haill zeir, as ofttimes it happins quhen ony of thair particular Ilands hes to do with Irland or neighbours, that the haill cuntriemen bides furth watching thair enemies ane zeir, half ane zeir, or thairby, as thai please. Not the les the ground is not the war labourit, nor the occupiers thairof are nather molestit, requirit, troublit, nor permittit to gang furth of thair awin cuntrie and Ile quhair thay dwell.

Finis.

Notes.

441

IV. On the AUTHENTICITY of the LETTERS PATENT said to have been granted by King William the Lion to the Earl of Marr in 1171.^[529]

This deed was first made known by the learned antiquary John Selden, who printed it in his ‘Titles of Honor’ (p. 700) to illustrate his remarks upon the title of Thane. It is in the form of letters patent, and not of a charter; and is addressed by William, King of Scots, to all bishops, earls, abbots, priors, barons, knights, thanes, and provosts, and all other good men of the whole land, as well cleric as laic. It then narrates that Morgund, son of Gillocher, formerly Earl of Marr, had come before the king at Hindhop Burnemuthe, in his new forest, on the tenth day of the calends of June, in the year of grace 1171, demanding his right to the whole earldom of Marr, before the common council and army of the kingdom of Scotland there assembled: that the king had caused inquisition to be made into his claim by several men worthy of credit, who were barons and thanes of his kingdom, and who found that Morgund was the lawful son and heir of the said Gillocher, Earl of Marr; upon which the king granted and restored to Morgund the whole earldom of Marr, in which his father Gillocher had died vest and seized, to be held by the said Morgund and his heirs of the king and his heirs in fee and heritage, with all pertinents, liberties, and rights, as freely, quietly, fully, and honourably as any other earl in the kingdom of Scotland; he and his heirs rendering to the king and his heirs the ‘forinsecum servicium videlicet servicium Scoticanum,’ as his ancestors had been wont to render to the king and his ancestors. Further, on the same day and at the same place, after doing homage before the common council of the kingdom, the said Morgund demanded that right should be done him for the whole earldom of Moray, in which Gillocher 442his father had died vest and seized; upon which petition, inquisition having been made by several men worthy of credit, who were barons, knights, and thanes of the kingdom, they found that Morgund was the true and lawful heir of the earldom of Moray; and because at that time the king was engaged in the heavy war between him and the English, and the men of Moray could not be subjected to his will, he was unable to do justice to Morgund, he promised that, when he could terminate the war between him and his enemies, and subjugate the rebels of Moray, he would well and truly recognise the right of Morgund and his heirs to the earldom of Moray. And in order to certiorate to others this deed, the king gave these letters patent to the said Morgund. They then conclude with these words: ‘Teste meipso eodem anno die et loco supradicto.’ This is undoubtedly a very remarkable production, if genuine; and Selden adds: ‘I have it writ in parchment in a hand of the time wherein it is dated, but without any seal to it.’ It is referred to by Lord Hailes in his additional case for the Countess of Sutherland, without any doubt being expressed as to its authenticity; and no suspicion seems to have attached to it till the late George Chalmers assailed it in 1819 in a paper printed in the nineteenth volume of the ‘Archæologia’ (p. 241). In this paper he proposes to show that this document is supposititious. He states his objections to it under nine heads, and concludes that Selden had been imposed upon with a spurious deed. His first objection relates to the orthography of the document; the second to the formula of the address; the third to the history of the earldom; the fourth to the minuteness of the date; the fifth to the reserved services; the sixth to the claim to the earldom of Moray; the seventh to the allusion to the war with England; the eighth to the form of letters patent; and the ninth to the words ‘teste meipso,’ which is peculiar to letters patent as distinguished from charters, which at this period invariably have a list of witnesses. The form ‘teste meipso’ first occurs, he says, in 1190.

Professor Cosmo Innes, in his preface to the first volume of the ‘Acts of Parliament,’ alludes to this document, ‘the authenticity of which,’ he says, ‘however, is very doubtful;’ and he prints it in a note with the following remarks; ‘Selden’s authority is not lightly to be rejected; and some of the reasons 443against the genuineness of this charter, urged by the late Mr. Chalmers in a paper in the “Archæologia,” founded on the spelling, etc., are of no weight. But it is open to serious objections, whether we consider the narrative or the occasion, and the time and place of its granting and the manner of testing. For instance, it is almost certain that in 1171 there was no war with England. On the other hand, it is difficult to devise a motive for inventing such a document. If it should be considered a very early forgery it is scarcely less important than if admitted to be genuine’ (p. 13). Professor Innes’s authority on such a question is of course very great; and not less so is that of the late Dr. Joseph Robertson. He says, in the ‘Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff,’ vol. iv. p. 691, that ‘Earl Morgund is said to have been the son of Gillocher, Earl of Marr. But this rests only on the letters patent of King William the Lion, first printed by Selden, which I think it is impossible to receive as authentic. The facts which they set forth may perhaps be true in part, but as a whole I don’t see how they are to be reconciled with what is elsewhere recorded on undoubted authority. Nor do I think that the letters can be successfully defended from the objections to them on other grounds—such as their style, the time and place of granting, and the manner of testing. I must, therefore, believe them to be spurious. It is obvious, at the same time, that they were forged at an early period. The learned and accurate Selden thought them to be in a hand of the time, and they seem to be alluded to in the year 1291. They may have been forged at that time, or more probably during the contests for the earldom of Marr between the earl in possession and Thomas Durward before 1228, and between Earl William and Alan Durward in 1257. These contests supply what seems to have been thought wanting—”a motive for inventing such a document.”’

In the main I concur with the opinions of the late Professor Innes and Dr. Joseph Robertson, and especially with that of the latter, which shows his usual acuteness and sagacity. I consider that the first and second objections made by Chalmers have no weight. With regard to the third, which is that the deed is inconsistent with the known history of the earldom, there is good reason for thinking that some such transaction really took place; 444for Sir Francis Palgrave prints, in his ‘Documents and Records relating to the Affairs of Scotland,’ preserved in the Treasury of Her Majesty’s Exchequer, an appeal prepared in the name of the seven earls of Scotland, and of the community of the realm, to Edward the First of England, which concludes with the following memorandum: ‘That when William, King of Scotland, restored to Morgund, son of Gyloclery, the predecessor of the Lord Dovenald, Earl of Marr, this earldom of Marr, according as the same is contained in a writing which Dovenald, Earl of Marr, possesses, there was wanting then to the said Morgund, and there is still wanting to the earl, three hundred pound land, partly in domain and partly in holdings and more, for which he claims that right should be done him’ (Palgrave, p. 21). The writing here referred to seems to have been this very deed. The fourth and fifth objections have also no weight. Hindhop Burnemuthe is a hamlet on the coast about five or six miles south of Berwick, and there is no improbability in there having been a royal forest there while Northumberland belonged to the Scottish king. With regard to the sixth objection, that the Earl of Marr could have no claim to the earldom of Moray, the documents printed by Sir Francis Palgrave, in connection with the competition for the crown, do show that the Earl at that time did claim to represent the earldom of Moray; for in the same document Dovenald, Earl of Marr, appeals in name of himself as one of the seven earls of Scotland, and in name of the freemen of Moray, and the other relations, connections, and friends of the said Earl. But while I reject all these grounds of objection as not conclusive, I am obliged to admit that the seventh objection, which relates to the allusion to the war with England, and to insurrection in Moray, is fatal to the authenticity of the deed. The war with England did not commence till two years afterwards, in 1173; and the insurrection in Moray broke out after the captivity of the king in 1174, and Moray continued in a state of rebellion from that year till 1181. But during the first eight years of King William’s reign he was at peace with England, and there was no appearance of the royal authority not having been recognised in Moray. Unfortunately it is during this period that the supposed letters patent are dated. Then as to the last two objections, which relate to the form of the deed as letters patent, 445and form of the testing, ‘teste meipso,’ there is no instance, so far as I am aware, of this form being used at as early a period as the reign of William the Lion.

It is somewhat remarkable, that while these distinguished antiquaries were discussing the question of the authenticity of the letters patent as printed by Selden, it seems never to have occurred to any of them to endeavour to ascertain what became of the original, which Selden said he possessed, and whether it might not be recovered. Selden left his papers to Sir Matthew Hale, and Hale left his to the benchers of Lincoln’s Inn, by whom they were deposited in their library. The search was therefore not a difficult one, and on examining these papers the so-called original was at once found, which I have had photographed by the autotype process. It is undoubtedly a very old document, but not so old as the reign of King William the Lion. The handwriting is, I think, that of the early part of the reign of King Alexander the Third, and it must have existed prior to the document printed by Sir Francis Palgrave already quoted. In this reign, too, there are frequent specimens of deeds in the form of letters patent with the form of ‘teste meipso.’ Three of them are printed in the National MSS. of Scotland, Nos. 62, 63, and 64, and dated respectively in 1261, 1275, and 1282, and if the handwriting is compared it will be seen at once that this document belongs to the same period. The Earl of Marr at this time was William, grandson of Morgund by his son Duncan. He was one of the most powerful barons of Scotland at the time, and was chamberlain of Scotland in 1252. He was one of those who were removed from the administration of affairs in Scotland at the instance of King Henry the Third of England in 1255, being replaced, among others, by Alan Durward. He was recalled to the king’s council in 1257, and took a leading part in Scotland till the year 1273, when he appears to have died. Now we find that in 1257 a question was raised between Alan Durward and William, Earl of Marr, as to the right of the latter to the earldom. A papal rescript issued in that year, directing an inquest to be held, proceeds on the narrative that ‘Our beloved son the nobleman Alan called the Dorrward hath signified to us that, whereas the nobleman William of Marr of the diocese of Aberdeen 446hath withheld the earldom of Marr of right belonging to the aforesaid Alan, and the same doth occupy to the prejudice of him the said Alan, and that Morgund and Duncan deceased, to whom the said William asserts his succession in the said earldom, were not begotten in lawful matrimony,’ William, however, remained in possession, and certainly the production of a charter finding that Morgund was the lawful son and heir of his father, and containing a grant of the earldom to him and his heirs, would be most opportune in determining this question, and, if a genuine deed of this kind did not exist, probably the earl would neither have much difficulty nor much scruple in producing one that would pass muster. If the letters patent are a forgery, I think it must have been manufactured about this time, and I am not sure that we have far to seek for the forger. A charter by William, Earl of Marr, confirming a grant by his grandfather, Morgund, in 1267, is witnessed among others by ‘Magistro Ricardo Veyrement.’ This Master Richard Veyrement was one of the canons of St. Andrews, and I have shown in the introduction to Fordun’s Chronicle that he is probably the author of a ‘Historia’ which existed in the Great Register of St. Andrews, now lost; and the veritable Veremundus, from whom Hector Boece says he derived a great part of his fabulous history. His connection with William, Earl of Marr, at this very time, and his witnessing a charter confirming a grant by that Morgund whose legitimacy was challenged, certainly leads to the suspicion that the clever manufacturer of these letters patent was no other than the arch-forger of the spurious history of Scotland, and that if he had not been unfortunate in the selection of his date, it might even now have escaped detection.

The following is the text of the document:—

Willielmus Rex Scotorum universis Episcopis Comitibus Abbatibus Prioribus Baronibus Militibus Thanis et Praepositis et omnibus aliis probis hominibus totius terrae suae tam clericis quam laicis salutem eternam in Domino: Sciatis presentes et futuri Morgundum filium Gillocheri quondam Comitis de Marre in mea præsentia venisse apud Hindhop Burnemuthe, in mea nova foresta decimo kalendarum Junij Anno Gratiæ MCLXXI. petendo jus suum de toto Comitatu de Marre, coram communi Consilio et exercitu Regni Scotiae ibidem congregato. Ego vero cupiens eidem Morgundo et omnibus aliis jura facere secundum 447petitionem suam jus suum inquisivi per multos viros fide dignos, videlicet per baronias et thanos Regni mei per quam inquisitionem inveni dictum Morgundum filium et haeredem legitimum dicti Gillocheri Comitis de Marre per quod concessi et reddidi eidem Morgundo totum Comitatum de Marre tanquam jus suum hæreditarium sicut praedictus Gillocherus pater suus obiit vestitus et saisitus; Tenendum et habendum eidem Morgundo et hæredibus suis de me et hæredibus meis in feodo et hæreditate cum omnibus pertinentis libertatibus et rectitudinibus suis adeo libere quiete plenarie et honorifice sicut aliquis Comes in Regno Scotiæ liberius quietius plenarius et honorificentius tenet vel possidet; Faciendo inde ipse et hæredes sui mihi et haeredibus meis forinsecum servicium videlicet Servicium Scoticanum sicut antecessores sui mihi et antecessoribus meis facere consueverunt. Eodem vero die et loco post homagium suum mihi factum coram communi Consilio Regni mei prædictus Morgundus petiit sibi jus fieri de toto Comitatu Moraviae de quo praedictus Gillocherus pater suus obiit vestitus et saisitus super qua petitione sua per quamplures viros fide dignos Barones Milites et Thanos Regni mei inquisitionem facere feci et per illam inquisitionem inveni dictum Morgundum verum et legitimum hæredem de comitatu Moraviæ et quod eodem tempore propter guerram inter me et Anglicos graviter fuissem occupatus et Moravienses pro voluntate mea non potuissem justificare dicto Morgundo nullum jus facere potui. Sed cum guerram inter me et adversarios meos complere et rebelles Moravienses superare potero et dicto Morgundo sibi et hæredibus suis promitto pro me et hæredibus meis fideliter et plenarie jus facere de toto comitatu Moraviæ. Et ut hoc factum meum aliis certificaretur prædicto Morgundo has literas meas dedi Patentis. Teste me ipso eodem anno die et loco supra dicto.

Note.

448

V. ON THE EARLDOM OF CAITHNESS.^[530]

The earldom of Caithness was possessed for many generations by the Norwegian Earls of Orkney. They held the Islands of Orkney under the King of Norway according to Norwegian custom, by which the title of Jarl or Earl was a personal title. They held the earldom of Caithness under the King of Scotland, and its tenure was in accordance with the laws of Scotland.

We find from the Orkneyinga Saga that during this period the Orkney Islands were frequently divided into two portions, and each half held by different members of the Norwegian family, who each bore the title of earl. We likewise find that the earldom of Caithness was at such times also frequently divided, and each half held by different Earls of Orkney, though whether both bore the title of Earl of Caithness does not appear.