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.
XVII.
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.
XXIII.
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.
XXIX.
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.
XXXV.
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.
XLI.
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.
XLVII.
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]
NOTES.
-----
Footnote 512:
Lugh mac Ethlenn, for whom see O’Curry’s
_Lectures_, p. 388.
Footnote 513:
Reginald, son of Godred, Norwegian King of Man
and the Isles from 1188 to 1226.
Footnote 514:
The Lia Fal at Tara, which sounded at the
tread of the rightful heir to the throne. See
O’Curry’s _Lectures_, p. 388.
Footnote 515:
Manannan Mac Lir, one of the Tuath De Danann.
He is connected by tradition with Emhain
Abhlach, or Emain of the apples, which is
explained to mean the Island of Arran. See
_Four Ancient Books of Wales_, vol. i. p. 78.
Footnote 516:
Gailian, a rude form of the name of the
Gaileon in Leinster, one of the three tribes
of the Firbolg.
Footnote 517:
Domhnan, another of the three tribes of the
Firbolg.
Footnote 518:
This was Godred Crovan, called in the Irish
Annals Gofraidh Meranach, the founder of the
Norwegian kingdom of Man and the Isles, and
ancestor of Reginald.
Footnote 519:
This line alludes to Reginald, son of
Somerled, who ruled over part of the Isles
from 1164 to 1204, and who was supposed to be
descended, through Colla Uais, from Conn of
the Hundred Battles, one of the traditionary
kings of Ireland.
Footnote 520:
It is doubtful whether the Ossianic hero can
be referred to here, or in St. 46. He never
appears in Irish poetry under the form of
Fionngall, but simply Fionn. Fionngall was a
name applied to the Norwegians, and to the
land they occupied. Hence the Lord of the
Isles was called in poetry ‘Ri Fhionngall,’
from the Islands having belonged to the
Norwegians.
Footnote 521:
Olaf Bitling, grandfather of Reginald, son of
Godred; but he was also grandfather of the
other Reginald, whose mother was his daughter.
Footnote 522:
Reginald, son of Somerled, was supposed to be
descended from a certain Gofraidh, son of
Fergus.
Footnote 523:
Perhaps Morvaren.
Footnote 524:
The celebrated Cow of Gaibhnen the Smith. See
_Annals of Four Masters_, note to A.M. 3330.
Footnote 525:
One of Cuchulain’s horses.
Footnote 526:
Dundalk strand.
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.
The 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, the 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.
Rona[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 micht 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, quhairon 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.
Romb 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 merk 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 ane 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 hes 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 ilk 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 4 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 of 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.
-----
Footnote 527:
This description must have been written between 1577 and 1595, as the
former date is mentioned in connection with the cruel slaughter of the
inhabitants of Egg by the Macleods, and John Stewart of Appin, who
died in 1595, is mentioned as alive at the time it was written. It has
all the appearance of an official report, and was probably intended
for the use of James the Sixth, who was then preparing to attempt the
improvement of the Isles, and increase the royal revenue from them.
See Gregory’s _History of the Highlands and Islands_, ch. vi.
Footnote 528:
The names of Rona and Bernera have been here misplaced. The larger
island is obviously Bernera, and the smaller Rona.
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 his 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 against 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; for 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, and 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 hath 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
petitionem 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.
-----
Footnote 529:
This paper was read to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland on the
8th of April 1878, and appears in their _Proceedings_ for that
Session, p. 603. The photograph of the Letters Patent was deposited in
their library.
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.
It is unnecessary for our purpose to go further back than the rule of
Thorfinn, Earl of Orkney, who died about A.D. 1056, and undoubtedly held
the whole of the Orkneys and the entire earldom of Caithness for a long
period.
He had two sons, Paul and Erlend, who after his death ruled jointly
without dividing the earldoms, and their descendants may be termed the
line of Paul and the line of Erlend.
After their death the islands were divided between Hakon, son of Paul,
and Magnus, son of Erlend, each bearing the title of earl. The latter
was the great earl known as St. Magnus. After his death, Earl Hakon
appears to have possessed the whole.
Earl Hakon had two sons, Harald Slettmali and Paul, who again divided
the islands, each having an earl’s title, but Earl Harald appears to
have held the whole of Caithness from the King of Scots. On his death
Earl Paul obtained possession of the whole.
In the meantime the line of Erlend failed in the male line, in the
person of Earl Magnus, but his sister Gunhild married a Norwegian called
Kol, and had by him a son Kali, who claimed a share of the islands, when
the King of Norway gave him the name of Rognwald, an earl’s title, and
divided the islands between him and Earl Paul.
Earl Paul’s sister Margaret had married Maddad, Earl of Atholl, and had
by him a son Harald, and, by a revolution which took place, Earl Paul
abdicated, and his nephew Harald was made earl in his place, and shared
the islands with Earl Rognwald. The latter then went on a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem, and in his absence Malcolm IV. made Erlend Ungi, son of
Harald Slettmali, Earl of Caithness, and gave him half of Caithness,
Earl Harald Maddadson having the other half.
Earl Rognwald then returns, and on Erlend’s death Orkney and Caithness
were shared between him and Earl Harald.
The line of Erlend again failed on the death of Earl Rognwald, who left
an only daughter Ingigerd, who married a Norwegian, Eirik Slagbrellir,
and had three sons, Harald Ungi, Magnus Mangi, and Rognwald, and three
daughters, Ingibiorg, Elin, and Ragnhild.
Earl Harald now possessed Orkney and Caithness, but soon after the King
of Norway gave Harald Ungi an earl’s title with the half of the Orkneys,
and by agreement with Earl Harald, King William the Lion gave Harald
Ungi the half of Caithness which had belonged to Earl Rognwald, but they
afterwards quarrelled, and Earl Harald Ungi was slain by the other Earl
Harald, who again possessed the whole.
Owing to the mutilation of the Bishop of Caithness by Earl Harald, he
was attacked by King William in 1201, and only allowed to retain
Caithness on payment of 2000 merks of silver, while the district of
Sutherland was taken from him and given to Hugo Freskin de Moravia.
Earl Harald died in 1206, and was succeeded by his son David, who died
in 1214, when his brother John became Earl of Orkney and Caithness.
Fordun tells us that King William made a treaty of peace with him in
that year, and took his daughter as a hostage, but the burning of Bishop
Adam in 1222 brought King Alexander II. down upon Earl John, who was
obliged to give up part of his lands into the hands of the king, which,
however, he redeemed the following year by paying a large sum of money,
and by his death in 1231 the line of Paul again came to an end.
In 1232, we find Magnus, son of Gillebride, Earl of Angus, called Earl
of Caithness, and the earldom remained in this family till between 1320
and 1329, when Magnus, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, died; but during
this time it is clear that these earls only possessed one half of
Caithness, and the other half appears in the possession of the De
Moravia family, for Freskin, Lord of Duffus, who married Johanna, who
possessed Strathnaver in her own right, and died before 1269, had two
daughters, Mary married to Sir Reginald Cheyne, and Christian married to
William de Fedrett, and each of these daughters had one-fourth part of
Caithness, for William De Fedrett resigns his fourth to Sir Reginald
Cheyne, who then appears in possession of one-half of Caithness (Chart.
of Moray, Robertson’s Index). These daughters probably inherited the
half of Caithness through their mother Johanna.
Gillebride having called one of his sons by the Norwegian name of
Magnus, indicates that he had a Norwegian mother. This is clear from his
also becoming Earl of Orkney, which the King of Scots could not have
given him. Gillebride died in 1200, so that Magnus must have been born
before that date, and about the time of Earl Harald Ungi, who had half
of Caithness, and died in 1198. Magnus is a name peculiar to this line,
as the great Earl Magnus belonged to it, and Harald Ungi had a brother
Magnus. The probability is that the half of Caithness which belonged to
the Angus family was that half usually possessed by the earls of the
line of Erlend, and was given by King Alexander with the title of Earl
to Magnus, as the son of one of Earl Harald Ungi’s sisters, while
Johanna, through whom the Moray family inherited the other half, was, as
indicated by her name, the daughter of John, Earl of Caithness of the
line of Paul, who had been kept by the king as a hostage, and given in
marriage to Freskin de Moravia.
Magnus, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, the last of the earls of the Angus
line, died before 1329, when ‘Caterina Comitissa Orcadiae et
Cathanesiae’ grants a charter ‘in viduitate.’ In 1330 we find a claim on
the earldom of Caithness by Simon Fraser and Margaret his spouse, one of
the heirs of the Earls of Caithness (Acta Parl. vi.). In 1331 we find
Malise, Earl of Stratherne, charged on the Chamberlain Rolls (p. 404)
with the rents of the fourth part of Caithness; and in 1334 Malise
appears as earl of the earldom of Stratherne, Caithness, and Orkney
(Chart. Inchaffray). It is clear, therefore, that the half of Caithness
which belonged to the Angus earls, had like the other half passed to two
co-heirs, and that the title of earl, with one-fourth of the earldom,
had gone to the Earl of Stratherne, and the other fourth to Margaret,
wife of Simon Fraser.[531]
There is some difficulty in clearing up the history of the last few
earls of Stratherne, and of discriminating between them, as they all
have the name of Malise. The first of the name of Malise was the son of
Robert, Earl of Stratherne, and Fordun (Bower) fixes the date of his
death when he says, in 1271, ‘Malisius comes de Stratherne in partibus
Gallicanis decessit et apud Dunblane sepelitur.’ In giving the death of
Magnus, king of Man, in 1269, he adds, ‘cujus relictam comes Malisius de
Stratherne _postea_ duxit videlicit filiam Eugenie de Ergadia;’ but the
_postea_ refers to after 1271, and this was the second Malise the son of
the former, for we find in 1291, Malise, Earl of Stratherne, does homage
to Edward I. at Stirling on 12th July, and twelve days after ‘Maria
Regina de Man et Comitissa de Stratherne’ does homage at Perth in
presence of Earl Malise. He died before 1296, as among the widows who
are secured in their possessions by the King of England in that year is
‘Maria quæ fuit uxor Malisii Comitis de Stratherne.’
In point of fact Malise (2d) must have died before February 1292, for in
that year ‘Maria Comitissa de Stratherne quæ fuit uxor Hugonis de
Abernethyn’ is summoned to Parliament to show cause why Alexander de
Abernethyn, son of Hugo, should not have his lands in Fyfe and Perth
(Act. Parl. vi.); and that she was not the same Maria as the Queen of
Man is clear from this, that she appears along with her in the list of
widows in 1296 as ‘Maria quæ fuit uxor Hugonis de Abernethyn.’ She must
therefore have been the wife of Malise (3d), son of Malise (2d).
This Malise (3d) is said in Wood’s ‘Peerage’ to have been killed at the
battle of Halidon Hill in 1333; but he died long before, for we find
that his second wife was Johanna de Menteith, whom he married in the
reign of Robert Bruce, as that king confirms a grant by Malise, Earl of
Stratherne, to Johanna, daughter of John Menteith, his spouse (Rob.
Index), and she after his death married John, Earl of Atholl, for there
is in Theiner a dispensation in 1339 for the marriage of Johanna,
Countess of Stratherne, widow of John, Earl of Atholl, to Maurice de
Moravia. Now this John, Earl of Atholl, was himself undoubtedly killed
at the battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. In point of fact Malise (3d) must
have died before 1320, for King Robert also grants a charter to Maria de
Stratherne, wife of Malise of Stratherne, of the lands of Kingkell,
Brechin, which were David de Brechin’s (Rob. Index). She must have been
therefore married to Malise (4th) during the lifetime of his father
Malise (3d), as he is not termed earl; but this Maria is undoubtedly the
Comitissa de Stratherne who was implicated along with David de Brechin
and William de Soulis in a conspiracy in 1320 (Fordun), and Malise (4th)
must then have been earl.
Malise (3d) had two daughters—Matilda, married to Robert de Tony, and
Maria to Sir John Murray of Drumsagard; for in 1293 we find him
contracting for the marriage of his daughter Matilda, then under 20, to
Robert de Tony (Hist. Doc. i. 394); and in the Chartulary of Inchaffray
are two charters by Malisius Comes de Stratherne to John de Moravia and
his heirs by Maria filia nostra; and his son Malise (4th) confirms a
grant soon after 1319 by Malisius ‘pater noster quondam comes de
Stratherne’ to John de Moravia et Maria filia Comitis.
In 1320, Malise, Earl of Stratherne, signs the letter to the Pope. This
must have been Malise (4th); and in 1334, in a charter in which he
styles himself earl of the earldoms of Stratherne, Caithness, and
Orkney, he grants to William, Earl of Ross, the marriage of his daughter
Isabel by Marjory his wife, declaring her his heir of the earldom of
Caithness failing an heir-male of the marriage of the said Earl Malise
and Marjory (Cart. Inch.) She must have been his second wife. It has
usually been assumed that Isabel married the Earl of Ross, but this is
impossible, for in another deed in 1350 the Earl of Ross styles Marjory,
Countess of Stratherne, his sister. He was therefore Isabel’s uncle, and
the deed was granted at the time of Earl Malise’s forfeiture, when
Isabel was probably still a child, and was intended if possible to
protect the succession.
Earl Malise (4th) had several other daughters. In 1353 Erngils, a
Norwegian, gets from the King of Norway the title of Earl of Orkney in
right of his mother Agneta, which he forfeits in 1357. In that year
Duncan son of Andrew protests for Alexander de le Arde in right of his
mother Matilda, called eldest daughter of Earl Malise. In 1364 Euphemia
de Stratherne appears as one of the heirs of the late Earl Malise. In
1374 Alexander de le Arde resigns his rights through his mother Matilda
to the King. In 1379 Henry St. Clair and Malise Sperre claim the Earldom
of Orkney. Henry becomes earl and calls his mother Isabella St. Clair in
a charter of lands of which she was heiress. Matilda was probably
daughter of Maria the first wife, and the little favour shown to her
rights may have arisen from her mother’s complicity in the conspiracy in
1320. The other daughters were probably children of Marjory, and the
Earl of Ross appears to have married his niece Isabella to Sir William
St. Clair, the father of Henry.
It is clear the right to Orkney and Caithness could not have come to the
Earls of Stratherne through the Queen of Man, wife of Malise (2d), nor
through either of the wives of Malise (4th), as his daughters by both
wives claimed. He must, therefore, have derived his right through his
mother, one of the wives of Malise (3d), but this could not have been
Johanna de Menteith, and therefore Maria, widow of Hugo de Abernethyn,
seems the only possible heiress of the earldom of Caithness.
NOTES.
-----
Footnote 530:
This paper was also read to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland on
11th March 1878, and appears in their _Proceedings_ of that Session,
p. 571.
Footnote 531:
In 1375 Alexander de le Arde resigned to King Robert the Second the
earldom of Caithness, the principal manor or mansion, with the title
of Earl, and all other rights belonging to him in right of his mother
Matilda, eldest daughter of Earl Malise; and King Robert granted to
his son David the castle of Brathwell, its lands, and all other lands
inherited by Alexander de le Arde in right of Matilda de Stratherne,
his mother (Robertson’s _Index_, pp. 120, 129). The castle of
Brathwell, now Braal Castle, is in the vale of the Thurso river, and
the possession of the principal messuage carried the title of Earl.
The other lands of the earldom appear to have been held in _pro
indiviso_ fourths.
VI.
ORIGINAL OF THE POEM ON THE LENNOX.
MUIREADHACH ALBANACH, C͞C.
Saer do lennan a Leamhain,
Alun og mac Muireadhaigh
A chul druimnech gan duibhe,
Ua Luighdech a liathmhuine.
Maith do chonach gilla ngeal,
O do charais do cheidfhear,
Mac righ bealaigh do bhi an dan,
[Gur] bhi Leamhain a leannan.
Gearr-abhand hainm eacht oile,
A reimheas na rioghroidhe,
Go riacht Corc Muimnech tar muir;
Folt druimnech os a dhearcuibh.
Da tainic Fearadhach fionn,
Mac righ Alban na noirphioll,
Da ndearna re Corc cleamhnas,
Ar thocht ina thighearnas.
Tug Fearadhach, feirrde leom,
A inghean do Corc chuil-fhionn,
Lan da tairm Teamhair Mide,
Leamhain ainm na hinghine.
Toircheas rioghna rug Leamhain,
Maine mac Chuirc chuil-leabhair,
Do thaisigh na hucht an ten,
Do Chore Chaisil na coilen.
Aen do laithibh do Leamhain,
Mathair Mhaine mheirleabhair,
Caega inghen fa ban bonn,
Ag snamh innbhir na habhonn.
Baidhter i an ucht an chalaidh,
Leamhain inghean Fhearadhaigh,
Baister Leamhain ort da eis,
Meabhair nach olc re a fhaisneis.
Dob annamh ceim catha gall,
Fa timlibh uaine a abhann,
Fa meince leat a Leamhain,
Mac eillte fa tinnbhearaibh.
Do fhas chughat Alun og,
Mac Muireadhaigh na min rod,
Aluinn snuadh a ghlac nglan-ur,
Slat do chuan an ched Alun.
Noch ar leathchumthach leanna,
Alun og ua hOilealla,
Bi an gheag do fhine Alun,
Cead ag ibhe in aen ghalun.
Gen co beith acht aen tunna dfhion,
Ag fine Chuirc na caeimhriog,
Ni sochma siol ceann-glan Chuirc,
Da ndearna fion do anairt.
Mormhaer Leamhna leaca mhin,
Deagh-mhac inghine Ailin,
A gheal-lamh, a thaebh, a throigh,
Saer do leannan a Leamhain.
Saer.
VII.
COMPARISON between the HIGHLAND CLANS and the AFGHAUN TRIBES. Written in
1816 by Sir Walter Scott.
The genealogies of the Afghaun tribes may be paralleled with those of
the Clans; the nature of their favourite sports, their love of their
native land, their hospitality, their address, their simplicity of
manners, exactly correspond. Their superstitions are the same, or nearly
so. The _Gholée Beabaun_ (demons of the desert) resemble the _Boddach_
of the Highlanders, who ‘walked the heath at midnight and at noon.’ The
Afghaun’s most ordinary mode of divination is by examining the marks in
the blade-bone of a sheep, held up to the light; and even so, the Rev.
Mr. Robert Kirk assures us, that in his time, the end of the sixteenth
century, ‘the seers prognosticate many future events (only for a month’s
space) from the shoulder-bone of a sheep on which a knife never came. By
looking into the bone, they will tell if whoredom be committed in the
owner’s house; what money the master of the sheep had; if any will die
out of that house for a month; and if any cattle there will take a
_trake_ (_i.e_. a disease), as if planet-struck.’[532]
The Afghaun, who, in his weary travels, had seen no vale equal to his
own native valley of Speiger, may find a parallel in many an exile from
the braes of Lochaber; and whoever had remonstrated with an ancient
Highland chief on the superior advantages of a civilised life, regulated
by the authority of equal laws, would have received an answer something
similar to the indignant reply of the old Afghaun: ‘We are content with
discord, we are content with alarms, we are content with blood, but we
will never be content with a master.’[533] The Highland chiefs,
otherwise very frequently men of sense and education, and only
distinguished in Lowland society by an affectation of rank and
stateliness somewhat above their means, were, in their own country, from
the absolute submission paid to them by their clans, and the want of
frequent intercourse with persons of the same rank with themselves,
nursed in a high and daring spirit of independent sovereignty which
would not brook or receive protection or control from the public law or
government, and disdained to owe their possessions and the preservation
of their rights to anything but their own broadswords.
Similar examples may be derived from the History of Persia by Sir John
Malcolm. But our limits do not permit us further to pursue a parallel
which serves strikingly to show how the same state of society and
civilisation produces similar manners, laws, and customs, even at the
most remote period of time, and in the most distant quarters of the
world. In two respects the manners of the Caubul tribes differ
materially from those of the Highlanders; first, in the influence of
their Jeergas, or patriarchal senates, which diminishes the power of
their chiefs, and gives a democratic turn to each separate tribe. This
appears to have been a perpetual and radical difference; for at no time
do the Highland chiefs appear to have taken counsel with their elders,
as an authorised and independent body, although, no doubt, they availed
themselves of their advice and experience upon the principle of a
general who summons a council of war. The second point of distinction
respects the consolidation of those detached tribes under one head, or
king, who, with a degree of authority greater or less according to his
talents, popularity, and other circumstances, is the acknowledged head
of the associated communities. In this point, however, the Highlanders
anciently resembled the Afghauns, as will appear when we give a brief
sketch of their general history. But this, to be intelligible, must be
preceded by some account of their social system, of which the original
and primitive basis differed very little from the first time that we
hear of them in history until the destruction of clanship in
1748.—Review of Culloden Papers, _Quarterly Review_, vol. xiv. p. 289.
VIII.
LEGENDARY DESCENT OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS,
ACCORDING TO IRISH MSS.
I.
CLANS supposed to be descended from FERGUS LEITH DERG, son of Nemedh,
who led the Nemedian colony to Ireland.
I.
GENELACH CLANN CAILIN ANNSO[534] GENEALOGY OF THE CLAN COLIN OR
CAMBELLS, NOW CAMPBELLS.
Cailin oig mac Sir Colin Cambell of Lochaw (chr.
in 1407) son of
Gillaeaspic ruaidh mic Sir Archibald Cambell (has a chr.
in 1368 of lands as freely as his
progenitor Duncan Mac Duine) son
of
Cailin mic Sir Colin Cambell of Lochow son of
Neill mic Sir Neill Cambell of Lochaw son of
Cailin moir mic Sir Colin Mor Cambell of Lochaw son
of
Gilleeaspic mic Gillespic Cambell (1266, Exch.
Rolls) son of
Dubgaill Cambel a quo mic Dugald Cambel, from whom came the
name of Cambell, son of
Donnchach mic Duncan son of
Gillaeaspic mic Gillespic son of
Gillacolaim renabarta mic Duibne Malcolm, called Mac Duine, son of
mic
Duibne[535] on raithir mic Duibhne, from whom the name is
taken, _son of_
Eiranaid or Fearadoig mic _Fearadoig son of_
Smeirbi mic _Smeroie son of_
Artuir mic _Arthur son of_
Uibher .i. rig andomain[536] mic _Uibher, king of the world (Uther
Pendragon), son of_
Ambrois mic _Ambrosius son of_
Considin mic _Constantine son of_
Amgcel mic _Amgcel son of_
Toisid mic _Toisid son of_
Conruirg mic _Conruirg son of_
Considin mic _Constantine son of_
Artuir na laimh mic _Arthur of the hand, son of_
Laimlin mic _Laimlin son of_
Artuir laimberg mic _Arthur Redhand son of_
Bene Briot mic _Bene Briot son of_
Artuir mic _Arthur son of_
Allardoid mic _Allardoid son of_
Artuir Fad Eaglais mic _Arthur of the long church, son of_
Lamdoid mic _Lamdoid son of_
Findluga mic _Findlay son of_
Artuir oig mic _Arthur the young, son of_
Firmara mic _Firmara or the man of the sea, son
of_
Artuir moir mic _Arthur the great, son of_
Bene Briot mic _Bene Briot son of_
Briotus mic _Briotus son of_
Briotan o bfuilid Breatnan mic _Briotan, from whom came the
Britons, son of_
Fergusa Leithderg mic _Fergus Redside, son of_
Nemed _Nemedius_.
-----
Footnote 532:
_Essay on the Nature and Actions of the Subterranean Invisible People
going under the name of Elves, Fairies, and the like._ London, 1815.
Footnote 533:
_Account of Caubul_, p. 174 note.
Footnote 534:
From the MS. 1467, Kilbride MS., c. 1540, and MacFirbis’s Gen. MS.
Footnote 535:
The later spurious pedigrees made this Duibhne, son of Diarmaid
McDuimhn, by Graine his wife, from whom the Campbells were called Siol
Diarmaid, _i.e_. Diarmed’s seed, and place between him and Earanaid
seven imaginary Duimhns, Arthurs, and Fearathors (Campbell’s _West
Highland Tales_, iii. p. 89), thus importing the Ossianic hero Diarmed
o Duine into the pedigree from mere similarity of name. There is no
reason to suppose that the clan were ever really called Siol Diarmed.
Footnote 536:
MS. 1467 stops here, but elsewhere says the Cambells and Macleods were
descended from Nemedius. The earlier part is taken from two other MSS.
MacFirbis gives a different list of names, eleven in number, but
likewise terminating with Briotan, son of Fergus Lethderg. They are
‘Iobar or Uther Mac Lidir mic Brearnaird mic Muiris mic Magoth mic
Coiel mic Catogain mic Caidimoir mic Catogain mic Bende mic Mebrec mic
Grifin mic Briotain, o taid Bretnaig, mic Fergusa Leithderg mic
Nemid,’ etc.
II.
GENELACH MIC LEOD ANNSO[537] GENEALOGY OF MACLEOD here.
(Alasdran) mic Alexander Macleod son of[538]
( ) mic William Macleod son of
( ) mic John Macleod son of
( ) mic William Macleod son of
(Giollacolum) mic Malcolm Macleod son of
(Tarmoid) mic Tormode Macleod son of[539]
Leod on raithir mic Leod, from whom the clan is named,
_son of_
Oloig mic _Oil the young, son of_
Oib mic _Oib son of_
Oilmoir mic _Oib the great, son of_
Iamhar oig mic _Ivor the young, son of_
Sin Iamhar mic _Old Ivor son of_
Sgoinne Sgandlan mic _Sgandlan of Scone, son of_
Iamhar Athacliath mic _Ivor of Dublin, son of_
Connla mic _Connal son of_
Connaill cl. derg mic _Connall of the red sword, son of_
Ceallach mic _Ceallach son of_
Mardoid mic _Mardoid son of_
Ceallach Catluanid mic _Ceallach Catluanid son of_
Cuilinnan mic _Cuilinnan son of_
Connla mic _Connal son of_
Dergdian Sgotheg mic _Dergdian Sgotheg, son of_
Manuis oig mic _Manus the young, son of_
Magnus na luingi luaithe mic _Magnus of the swift ship, son of_
Magnus Aircin mic _Magnus of Orkney, son of_
Iamhar uallach mic _Ivor the skilful, son of_
Dergi mic _Dergi son of_
Arailt mic _Harald son of_
Iamhar nam Breat mic _Ivor of the judgments, son of_
Ubhaidh mic _Ubhaidh son of_
Arailt mic _Harald son of_
Aspuig mic _Aspac son of_
Ceallach mic _Ceallach son of_
Connla mic _Connal son of_
Lamus mic _Lamus son of_
Lungbard mic _Longobard son of_
Lamus mic _Lamus son of_
Lochlan mic _Lochlan son of_
Arailt mic _Harald son of_
Laigh laidere o.r. clann Laigh mic _Laigh the strong, from whom called
Clan Laigh, son of_
Fergus Leighderg _Fergus of the red side_.
-----
Footnote 537:
From the Kilbride MS., c. 1540. The first six names have been
carefully erased, probably by a partisan of the rival house. They are
supplied from other sources.
Footnote 538:
Alexander Macleod has charters as son and heir of the deceased William
John Maclodeson of Dunvegan, on the forfeiture of the Lord of the
Isles in 1498.—_Reg. Mag. Sig._
Footnote 539:
There is a charter by David II. to Malcolm, son of Tormode Macloyde,
of two parts of Glenelg.—R. I.
III.
GENELACH MIC NICAIL GENEALOGY OF THE NICOLSONS.[540]
Eoin mic John son of
Eogain mic Ewen son of
Eoin mic John son of
Nicail mic Nicail son of
Aigi mic Aigi son of
Neailb mic Neailb son of
Nicail mic Nicail son of
Gregill mic Gregill[541] son of
Gillemure mic Gillemure _son of_
Sealbar mic _Sealbar son of_
Toircinn mic _Toircinn son of_
Tottha mic _Tottha son of_
Trostain mic _Trostain son of_
Sdacaill mic _Sdacaill son of_
Erble o fuiled ic Erble mic _Erble, from whom Mac Erble, son
of_
Arailt mic _Harald son of_
Murechaich mic _Murechach son of_
Fogacail mic _Fogacail son of_
Poil mic _Paul son of_
Ailin mic _Allan son of_
Airfin mic _Airfin son of_
Taidg mic _Teague son of_
Amlaim mic _Amlaimh son of_
Turcinn Atacliath mic _Turcinn of Dublin, son of_
Arailt mic _Harald son of_
Asmainn mic _Asmainn son of_
Airdil _Airdil_.
-----
Footnote 540:
This genealogy is added from MS. 1467, as it contains a jumble of
Gaelic and Norwegian names somewhat similar to that of the Macleods.
It will be observed that the Pictish name Trostain or Drostain occurs
among them.
II.
Clans supposed to be descended from COLLA UAIS, son of Eochaidh
Doimlein, King of Ireland.
I.
NA TRI COLLA.[542]
A deir an croinicil go ttugadar na tri Colla seacht ccatha re seacht
laithe a ndiaigh a cheile dultachaibh agus gur marbadh ri uladh san
chath deigheanach didh .i. Fergus fogha .i. i cath achaidh deirg. Don
taobh a bhus do ghlionn Righe do rinneadh torann gleanna righe on iobur
anuas eatarra agus Clanna Rughraidhe, agus nir fhilleadar Clanna
Rughraidhe anun o sin ale. Do chuir Ri eireann .i. Muireadhach Tireach
gairm ar chlainn Eachach Duiblen .i. na tri Colla agus tugadh go
teamraigh iad agus tug saorrse agus sochra dhoibh fein agus da
noighrighibh na ndiaigh go siordhaighe agus do mhaith marbhadh a athar
doibh ar a ccongnamh do beith leis o sin amach agus tug a noireadsa do
dhutbaigh doibh as cionn a ngabaltais a nultaibh .i. Triocha ced in gach
cuigeadh eile deirinn agus baile in gach Triocha ced agus teach agus
garrdha in gach baile. Ag so an chuid eile dona sochraibh .i.
coimheirghe rompa ar fhearuibh eirionn a naonach agus a noireachtus acht
Ri eireann amhain agus gan iadsan deirghe re cach. Trian eadala a
ccuantaibh long doibh. Tus dighe tus leapta agus ionnalta re mileadhaibh
eireann i ttighibh miodhcurta aca. Coinnmeadh da ndaoinibh ar fhearaibh
eireann an feadh beidis gan buanacht dfhaghail. Gan eiric fola do dhul
uatha. Coimhed ghiall eireann aca. Giodh be do rachadh ar a nionchuibh
comairce go ceann mbliadhna aige. Gach arm nochtar a naonach no a
noireachtus do beith aca. Ni raibe ag righ eireann acht braighde ar
braighdibh uatha. Leathghuala Righ eireann ag righ sleachta na ccolla
agus fad a laimhe agus a lainne dfholmhughadh eder e agus cach.
Coinnmeadh eachra agus chon o shamuin go bealtuine ar feadh eirenn aca.
Da mbuantaoi creach na ndiaigh dhiobh agus siad ar sluaigheadh righ
eireann se ba san bhoin doibh uadha. Bo ar fich agus tuarasdul do gach
aoin da maithibh o righ eireann ar sluaigheadh. Triocha colg ded.
Triocha balt airgid. Triocha sleagh. Triocha brat o righ eireann do righ
sleachta na ccolla iar bhfhilleadh da sluaigheadh agus da mbeidis geill
uatha ag righ eireann ni bhiodh do chuibhreach ortha acht slabrad oir.
No a mbeith fa reir a ccuideachtain righ eireann. Oir as uime a dearar
oirgiallaibh riu .i. or as glais da ngiallaibh. Ag sin a sochair maille
re sochraibh eile nach airmtear annso. A siad na ceithre haibhne as
uaisle a nultaibh toranna fearainn chloinne na ccolla .i. Boinn, Banna,
an Eirne agus an Fhionn. Iomthusa Cholla Uais nior bhfhiu leis fuireach
ar a chuid don duthuigh no do na sochraibh sin a dubramar o do bi ere
agus an rioghacht aige fein roime sin. Ragbhais a fhearann agus na
sochair sin aga braithribh. Dala Colla Uais anais a mbun a gabaltais
fein a nalbain agus a bhfhionnlochlannuibh o shoïn ale agus a
ngablaigheann uadha acht ar fhill go heirinn diobh a mbun a nduthchasa.
Ase so craobhsgaoileadh shleachta righ eireann .i. Colla Uais .i. Clann
Domnaill a neirinn agus a nalbain agus a ngablaigeann uatha. Mar a taid
Clann Raghnaill a tuaigh agus Clann Eoin Airnamurchann agus
Macdubhghuill lathairn agus Clann Alasdair a neirinn agus a nalban agus
Clann tsithigh na Munchan agus moran do maithibh oile nach airemtear
sonn.
OF THE THREE COLLAS. The chronicle says that the three Collas fought
seven battles during seven days, one after another, to the Ulidians, and
that the king of Ulad, _i.e_. Fergus Fogha, was slain in the last battle
of them, viz. the battle of Achadh-derg. On this side of Glen-Righe the
boundary of Glen-Righe from the Ibar down (from Newry northwards) was
made between them and the Clan Rughraidhe, and the Clan Rughraidhe did
not return across from that to this. The king of Erin, viz. Muredach
Tireach, invited the sons of Eochaidh Duiblen, viz. the three Collas;
and they were brought to Tara; and he gave freedom and emoluments to
themselves and their heirs after them for ever. And he forgave them the
killing on condition that they would aid him from henceforth. And he
gave them this much of possessions beyond their acquisitions in Ulad,
viz. a Triocha ced in every other province of Erin, and a bally in every
Triocha ced, and a house and garden in every bally. This is another part
of the privileges, viz., that the men of Erin, excepting the king alone,
should rise up before them in fair and assembly, and that they should
rise up before none. They should have a third of the profits of
ship-harbours; precedence of drink, bed, and ablutions before the
knights of Erin, in banquet-halls. Coigny for their people whilst they
might be without getting Bonaght. That they should not lose blood-eric;
should have the guarding of the hostages of Erin; that whoever sought
their guarantee should have protection for a year; that they should have
every weapon unsheathed in fair or assembly. The king of Erin had from
them only pledge for pledge. The king of the race of the Collas should
have the half-shoulder of the king of Erin (the right to sit or stand
beside him), and the length of his hand and spear should be vacant
between him and all others. They should have maintenance for horse and
hound throughout Erin from Allhallowtide to May. If a prey were taken
from them in their rear, when on the hosting of the king of Erin, they
should have six cows from him for every cow. The pay of each of their
goodmen from the king of Erin, on a hosting, was 21 cows. The king of
the race of the Collas should get from the king of Erin, after returning
from his hosting, 30 swords, 30 silver belts, 30 spears, 30 garments,
and if the king of Erin had any hostages from them, there was no manacle
on them save a gold chain, or they would be under control in the suite
of the king of Erin; for the reason they are called Oirgialla is that
gold (_or_) is the lock (_glas_) for their hostages (_gialla_). These
are their privileges, together with other privileges not enumerated
here. The four noblest rivers in Ulad are the boundaries of the lands of
the Clan Colla, viz. the Boyne, the Bann, the Erne, and the Finn. As
regards Colla Uais, he did not think it worth while remaining with his
share of the country, or of those privileges we have mentioned, for he
himself had Erin and the kingship ere then. He left the land and those
privileges to his brothers. With regard (further) to Colla Uais, he
remained in the foundation of his own acquisitions in Alban and
Finnlochlann (Innsigall) from that time to this, and all who descend
from him, except those that returned to Erin or the foundation of their
inheritance. These are the branches of the race of the king of Erin,
viz. Colla Uais, viz. the Clan Donald of Erin and Alban, and those who
descend from them, as are the Clan Ranald of the north, the Clan Ian
Ardnamurchan and MacDougall of Lorn, and the Clan Alaster of Erin and
Alban, and the Clan Sheehy of Munster, and many other good men not
enumerated here.
II.
GENEALACH MIC DOMHNALL NA GENEALOGY OF THE MACDONALDS OF
HALBAN[543] ALBAN.
Eoin mac John (_Lord of the Isles, died
1380_) son of
Aengusa oig mic Angus og (_Lord of the Isles_) son
of
Aengusa moir mic Angus mor (_Lord of the Isles_) son
of
Domhnall mic Donald (_Lord of the Isles_) son of
Raghnaill mic Reginald, King of the Isles, son of
Somairli mic Somerled (_Kinglet of Argyll_) son
of
Gillebrigde mic Gillebride son of
Gilleadamnain mic Gilladomnan son of
Solaimh mic Solomon son of
Imergi[544] mic Jehmarc (_did homage to Canute
1029_) _son of_
Suibhne mic _Suibhne son of_
Niallgusa mic _Niallgusa son of_
Amaini mic _Maine son of_
Gofraidh mic _Godfrey son of_
Fergusa mic _Fergus son of_
Eirc mic _Erc son of_
Echach mic _Echach son of_
Colla Uais _Colla Uais_.
-----
Footnote 541:
The author of the Statistical Account of Edderachylis (_Stat. Acct._,
vi. p. 278) mentions that the Nicolsons are traditionally descended
from a certain Krycul, who must have lived in the thirteenth century,
and so far the pedigree may be genuine.
Footnote 542:
From MS. T.C.D., H. 3, 18. The author is indebted to Mr. Hennessy for
the translation of this tract.
Footnote 543:
Taken from the Books of Ballimote and Leccan.
III.
CRAEBSGAIELED CLANN DOMNALL ANSO THE BRANCHES OF THE CLAN-DONALD
.i. Clann Eoin a hile[545] Eoin here, viz. the children of John,
agus Ragnall agus Gofraig tri mic Lord of the Isles, John and
E. mhic Ruaidri; Domnall og agus Reginald and Godfrey, the three
Eoin agus Aengus agus Alexandair sons of Amie mac Rory; Donald og
IIII. mhic inghen Galtin .i. rig and John and Angus and Alexander,
Alban. four sons of the daughter of
Galtur (Robert), king of Alban.
Ag Eoin a hile condregaid Clann The Clan Donald, Clan Ranald, and
Domnall agus Clann Ragnall agus Clan Godfrey meet at John Lord of
Clann Gofruig. the Isles.
Clann Ragnall Ailin agus Eoin dobi The children of Reginald were Allan
dall fadeoig agus Domnall agus and John, who was blind from
Aengusa Riabhach agus Dubgaill youth, and Donald and Angus
agus ag so clann a sin .i. Clann Riabhach and Dugald; and these
Ailin Ruaidri agus Uisdinn agus are the children of Allan, viz.
Eoin. Roderic and Huistein and John.
Clann Domnall mhic Ragnall Eoin dar The children of Donald son of
mathair Laiglib inghen Cimair Reginald were John, whose mother
agus Alexandair na caillie agus was Laiglib daughter of Cimair,
Aengus oig Clann inghean mhic and Alexander of the woods, and
Cimisin. Angus og, children of the
daughter of Macimie.
Eoin dall acu mac les .i. Eoin. Blind John had but one son, viz.
John.
Aengus Riabhach aen mac mait aige Angus Riach had one good son, viz.
.i. Aengus oig aig airobusa fein Angus og, and had in him a
amaelanac oig. bald-headed youth.
Clann Dubgaill mhic Ragnall The children of Dugald son of
agus Aengus Ruadh. Clann Reginald are ... and Aengus the
Gofruig Aengus agus Eoin agus red. The children of Godfrey were
Somairli agus Ragnall. Angus and John and Somerled and
Reginald.
Aengus trath nir fagail clann mae Angus dying early did not leave any
agb ata sil. male children who had offspring.
-----
Footnote 544:
MacFirbis gives this name as Meargaidhe, and adds _a quo_. He terms
the clan Ua Meargaidhe, meaning that this name was derived from this
Meargaidhe. The name is unknown in Scotland.
Footnote 545:
Taken from MS. 1467.
IV.
THE CLAN ALASTAIR.[546]
Marcus mac Marcus son of
Somairlig mic Somerled son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Aengusa mor Angus mor, Lord of the Isles.
Eoin mac John son of
Raghnaill[547] mic Reginald son of
Alexandair mic Alexander son of
Aengusa moir Angus mor.
Aengus og mac Angus og son of
Aengusa mic Angus son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Aengusa moir Angus moir.
Eoin mac John son of
Somairli mic Somerled son of
Eoindub mic Black John son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Angus mor Angus mor (_Lord of the Isles_).
Godfrey mac Godfrey son of
Angus mhic Angus son of
Alexander oig Alexander oig.
Angus odhar mac Angus the pale son of
Toirdealbach mhic Tearlach son of
Alexander oig Alexander oig.
Somairli mac Somerled son of
Gillabrigdi mic Gillebride son of
Gofraig mic Godfrey son of
Alexandair oig Alexander oig.
-----
Footnote 546:
The following branches, descended from Alaxandair, son of Angus mor,
are taken from the Books of Ballimote and Leccan and MS. 1467, and,
though bearing no title, are obviously the Clan Alasdair.
Footnote 547:
Raghnall mac Alaxandair, heir of the Clann Alaxandair, is mentioned in
the Annals of Ulster in 1363.
V.
THE CLAN IAN OF ARDNAMURCHAN.[548]
Domnall mac Donald son of
Aengus mic Angus son of
Eoin sprangaig mic John the bold son of
Aengusa mor Angus mor (_Lord of the Isles_).
VI.
Domnall mac[549] Donald son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Domnaill mic Donald (_Lord of the Isles_) son of
Raghnaill mic Reginald (_Lord of the Isles_) son
of
Somairli Somerled.
Dondchad agus Eachond da mhic Duncan and Eocha two sons of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Domnall mic Donald son of
Raghnaill Reginald.
Eoin agus Gillaespic da mhic John and Gillespie two sons of
Donnchaid mic Duncan son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Domnaill mic Donald son of
Raghnaill Reginald.
Toirdealbach agus Lochlan da mhic Tearlach and Lochlan two sons of
Eachduind mic Eocha son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Domnaill mic Donald son of
Raghnaill Reginald.
VII.
GENEALACH MAC DUBHGAILL[550] GENEALOGY OF MACDOUGALL.
Eoin mac John son of
Ailin mic Alan son of
Eoin mic John son of[551]
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Eogan moir mic Ewen mor son of
Donchadh mic Duncan son of
Dubhgaill mic[552] Dougall son of
Raghnaill Reginald
gu concraigid na tri cineduigh .i. where the three tribes of the Clan
Clann Domnaill agus Clan Dubgaill Donald, Clan Dubgall, and MacRory
agus MacRuaidri converge.
Eoin mac[553] John son of
Eoin mic John son of
Alaxandair Alexander.
Alaxandair og mac Alexander og son of
Eoin mic John son of
Alaxandair Alexander.
Eoin agus Somairli agus Ailin agus John and Somerled and Allan and
Alaxandair og Ceithri mhic Eoin Alexander og were the four sons
mic of John son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Donnchaidh Duncan.
-----
Footnote 548:
This pedigree, taken from Book of Leccan and MS. 1467, though without
a title, is evidently that of the Clan Ian Ardnamurchan.
Footnote 549:
The following descendants of Alexander, son of Donald, Lord of the
Isles, from Book of Leccan and MS. 1467.
Footnote 550:
From Book of Ballimote and MS. 1467. It also occurs in Book of Leccan
under the name of ‘Clann Somairli.’
Footnote 551:
Appears in 1491 as Dominus Johannes de Ergadia filius nobilis viri
Domini Alexandri de Ergadia.
Footnote 552:
Dubgall is erroneously made son of Reginald. In Book of Leccan he is
correctly made son of Somerled.
Footnote 553:
From the Book of Leccan.
VIII.
CLANN EOIN BOGAIG[554] CLAN OF JOHN THE LAME.
Eoin mac John son of
Lochland mic Lochlan son of
Somairli mic Somerland son of
Donnchadh mic Duncan son of
Dubhgail Dougall.
Dondchad mac Duncan son of
Alaxandair mic Alexander son of
Eoin mic John son of
Donchaid Duncan.
Malcolaim mac Malcolm son of
Lochland mic Lochlan son of
Eoin mic John son of
Donchad Duncan.
Fearchar agus Lochland agus Imar Ferchard and Lochlan and Ivor three
tri mhic sons of
Gillacolum mic Malcom son of
Imair mic Ivor son of
Dubhgaill mic Douugall son of
Lochland mic Lochlan son of
Donchad mic Duncan son of
Dubgaill Dougall.
Alaxandair agus Somairli da mhic Alexander and Somerled two sons of
Eoin mic John son of
Alaxandair mic Aalexander son of
Donnchaidh mic Duncan son of
Dubhgaill Dougall.
IX.
GENEALACH MHIC RUAIDRI[555] GENEALOGY OF MACRORY.
Tomas mac Thomas son of
Ragnall finn mic Ranald the white, son of
Lochloind mic Lochlan son of
Ailin mic Allan son of
Ruaidri mic Roderic or Rory son of
Ragnaill Reginald (_Lord of the Isles_).
Ragnall finn eile mac[556] Another Ranald the white, son of
Ruaidri mic Roderic son of
Ailin mic Allan son of
Ruaidri mic Roderic son of
Ragnaill Reginald (_Lord of the Isles_).
Fearchar agus Donnchad da mhic[557] Ferchard and Duncan two sons of
Dondchaid mic Duncan son of
Dubgaill mic Dougall son of
Ruaidri mic Roderic son of
Raghnaill Reginald (_Lord of the Isles_).
Do Raghnall sin Comraig Clann At this Reginald meet the Clan
Domnall agus Clann Ruaidri[558] Donald and Clan Rory, for Roderic
.i. Ruaddri agus Domnall da mhic and Donald were the two sons of
Raghnall. Dearbrathair do Reginald. His brother-german was
Raghnall sin Dubgall a quo Clann Dougall, from whom were descended
Dubgaill the Clan Dougall.
-----
Footnote 554:
From Book of Leccan and MS. 1467.
Footnote 555:
From Books of Ballimote and Leccan and MS. 1467.
Footnote 556:
From Book of Leccan and MS. 1467. Reginald filius Roderici has a
charter of Garmoran and other lands from David II., and his father
Roderic filius Alani of the same lands from Robert Bruce.
Footnote 557:
From Book of Leccan.
Footnote 558:
MS. 1467 has erroneously Condrecaidh Clann Ruaidri agus Clann Domnall
agus Clann Dubgaill—converged the Clan Rory, Clan Donald, and Clan
Dougall.
III.
Clans supposed to be descended from the HY NEILL or race of Niall Naoi
Giallach, king of Ireland, through Niall Glundubh, head of the northern
Hy Neill and king of Ireland, slain 917.
I.
GENELACH CLANN LADMANN[559] GENEALOGY OF THE CLAN LADMANN OR
LAMONTS.
Roibert mac Robert son of
Donchadh mic Duncan son of
Eoin mic John son of
Giollacoluim mic Malcolm son of
Ladmainn mic Ladmann son of
Giollacoluim mic Malcolm son of
Fearchair mic Ferchard son of
Duinsleibe mic Duinsleibhe _son of_
Aeda Alain .i. Buirche mic _Aeda Alain the Buirche, son of_
Anradan mic _Anradan son of_
Flaithbertaig mic _Flaherty son of_
Murcertach mic _Murcertach son of_
Domnall mic _Donald son of_
Murcertach mic _Murcertach son of_
Neill Glundub _Niall Glundubh (or Black Knee)_.
-----
Footnote 559:
This and the three following are from the MS. 1467 and MacFirbis.
II.
DOGENELACH MHIC LACHLAN OG GENEALOGY OF MACLACHLAN.
Caineach mac Kenneth son of
Eoin mic John son of
Lachlan mic Lachlan son of
Gillapadruig mic Gillapadrig son of
Lachlan moir mic Lachlan Mor son of
Gillapadruig mic Gillapadrig son of
Gillacrist mic Gillacrist _son of_
Aeda Alain _Aeda Alain_
renabarta Buirche mic _called Buirche son of_
Anradan condregaided _Anradan, where it converges with_
Clanna Neill Nai Giallach _the Clan Niall Naoi Giallach_.
Caitrina ingen Catherine the daughter of
Donchadh mic Duncan son of
Ladmann mathair Ladmann was mother of
Cainig agus Padraig agus Gillaespic Kenneth, Patrick, and Gillespie,
agus and Agnes the daughter
Agais ingen of Macdonald was the
mic Domnaill mathair mother of
Eoin agus John and
Ealusaid ingen Elizabeth daughter of
Mormair Comgaill mathair the Lord of Cowall was
Lachlain oig agus mother of Lachlan og and
mathair Gillapadruig ingen the mother of Gillapadrig
Domnall mic was the daughter of Donald
Eiri mic son of Eric mac Kennedy Lord
Ceinnedon tigerna Cairge agus of Carrick and the daughter of
ingen Lachlan mic Lachlan mac Rory was the
Ruaidri mathair mother of Gillapadric, viz.
Gillapadruig .i. Ateg no M. Ateg or M.
III.
GENELACH CLANN SOMAIRLE GENEALOGY OF THE CLAN SORLEY.
Domnall mac Donald son of
Gillaespic mic Gillespic son of
Aengusa mic Angus son of
Domnaill mic Donald son of
Somairle mic Somerled son of
Ferchair mic Ferchard son of
Duinsleibe son of Buirche Dunslebhe _son of Burche_.
IV.
GENELACH MHIC EOGAIN NA HOITREAC GENEALOGY OF MACEWEN OF OTTER HERE.
ANNSO
Baltuir mac Walter son of
Eoin mic John son of
Eogain mic Ewen son of
Gillaespic mic Gillespic son of
mic son of
mic son of
Saibairan mic Saveran son of
Duinsleibe mic Dunslebhe _son of_
Aeda Alain renabarta _Aeda Alain called_
Buirche mic _Buirche son of_
Anradan mic _Anradan son of_
Flathbertaigh _Flaherty_.
IV.
Clans supposed to be descended from CORC, son of Lughaidh, king of
Munster, of the line of Heber.
I.
Mungfhionn ingen Fearadaig[560] Mungfinn daughter of Feradach
Finn Feachtnaigh righ Finn Fachtnaigh king of the
Cruithneach Alban[561] mathair Picts of Alban was the mother
ceithre mhic do Corc .i. of four sons to Corc, viz.
Cairbre Cruithnechan agus Cairbre Cruithnechan and
Maine Leamna a quo Maine Leamna from whom are
Leamnuigh an Alban the people of Lennox in Alban.
Cairbre a quo Eoganacht From Cairbre are the Eoganacht
Muighegearrain in Alban[562] of the Mearns in Alban.
Cairbre Luachra a quo Cairbre Luachra from whom
Eoganacht Locha Lein are the Eoganacht of Lochalein,
agus Aois arta agus Aois Aos Arta, Aos Alla and Aos
Alla agus Aois greine Greine;
Cronan a quo Cruithn Cronan from whom are the
rige Eamain Cruithnigh of the kingdom of
Eamania.
An da Cairbre .i. Cairbre The two Cairbres viz. Cairbre
Luachra[563] agus Cairbre Luachra and Cairbre Cruthnechan,
Cruthneachan amus diobh settled in Alban on
an Alban orba mathair the inheritance of their
do Cruithneachanuibh mother who was of the Picts
Alban .i. Cairbre Cruthneachan of Alban viz. Cairbre Cruthnechan
a Muighgearrain in the Mearns
agus Maine Leamna a and Maine Leamna in
Muighe Leamna the plain of the Leven.
-----
Footnote 560:
From MS. T. C. D., H. 25. There is another edition of this legend in
MS. Bod. Rawl., 502.
Footnote 561:
The Bodleian MS. has Cruithintuath, that is, Pictland.
Footnote 562:
The Bod. MS. adds ‘dia rabi Aengus ri Albain,’ ‘through whom was
Angus, king of Alban,’ a name given by Tighernac to Angus, son of
Fergus, king of the Picts, who died in 761.
Footnote 563:
Cairbre Luachra is here inserted by mistake for Maine Leamna.
II.